Page 54 of A Fractured Song

“Well, she’s precocious,” Marieke said flatly.

Zev raised an eyebrow, keeping a straight face with difficulty. “You really think there’s no one else like me?”

“Oh shut it,” Marieke said, abandoning dignity as she pulled her head back into the space.

Zev grinned at her legs as he passed the lantern through to her. “Shall I boost you up?”

“I can manage just fine, thank you,” Marieke said with a frostiness that didn’t fool Zev for a moment.

His grin broadened. “Shame,” he said, echoing Trina’s earlier reply.

He left Marieke to her splutter of protest as he went to haul the boulder back in place and hopefully hide their route out. By the time he returned, the alcove was empty but for the lantern. He squeezed himself into it, observing with interest the ledge that became visible at about his neck height. Marieke and Trina both knelt at the edge, Marieke receiving the lantern and Trina hauling at his arm in an attempt to help him up that was more eager than actually helpful.

“Let’s go,” Trina said, once they were reunited. “I’m pretty sure others don’t know about this route, but our voices might carry if we stay too close.”

She set off at a brisk walk, the others following.

“Does this lead all the way out?” Marieke asked hopefully.

“It does,” said Trina. “We’re actually not that far from the canyon opening. But I won’t take you straight out. I’m just getting far enough from the latrine for us to talk without fear of discovery. I have questions.”

“So do we,” Marieke said.

Trina nodded as she turned one corner, then another, ending in a decent open space.

“I’m sure. You go first.”

“Is it really safe for us to stop here?” Marieke asked. “Won’t they come looking for us?”

“I doubt it.” Trina settled herself on a rock that looked like it had fallen from the rough arch above, apparently unconcerned about the risk of the tunnel caving in further. “They’ll probably think you threw yourselves into the stream to escape. If you had, you’d be dead for sure. It flows quickly, and stays fully underground for a long way.”

“Will you be in trouble for helping us?” Marieke asked, the question showing more consideration than Zev had thought to display for the monarchist girl.

“No, I’ll be fine.” Trina lounged back at her ease. “I doubt they’ll realize I helped you, but even if they did, it won’t be anything more drastic than latrine duty for a month. She might seem tough, but Svetlana would never hurt one of our own. And I’m part of this community, born and bred.” Her eyes passed over the pair of them. “Outsiders are another matter entirely, of course.”

“This is all well and good,” Zev said. “But whyareyou helping us escape?” He might have found the young girl entertaining, but that didn’t mean he trusted her.

“Because I don’t think Svetlana is right to hold you,” Trina said. “And I’m not even confident she will hold you rather than hand you over to Rissin and his group who, from what I can gather, are very eager to have you. I imagine they’ll offer her an excellent trade.”

“So your motives for helping us are purely selfless.” Zev remained skeptical.

Trina grinned again. “Not purely. I also have my own questions.”

“If one of those questions is will Zev carry you off into the sunset, the answer is no,” Marieke informed her brutally.

Trina somehow managed to look both amused and aggrieved. “Why are you answering for him?”

“Yes, why are you?” Zev’s voice was milder but no less humorous.

“Because I have it on good authority that your family are very picky about your love life,” Marieke said tartly. Her eyes flicked back to Trina. “Go back to what you said about the elves. Why are they so eager to have us?”

Trina shrugged. “Something about the movement of magic in the canyon. I didn’t really understand what it was all about.”

“Well, neither do I, and I’m an actual singer,” Marieke said. “There’s no rhyme or reason I can find when it comes to the magic down here. But I get the sense we don’t want to be passed off to Rissin and the other elves?”

Trina shook her head vehemently. “Rissin is dangerous. Elves are always a bit tricky to deal with, but that one is particularly slippery. Not my favorite of the expedition leaders.”

“Expedition leaders?” Marieke repeated, frowning. “What do you mean by expedition?”

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