Page 58 of A Fractured Song

“Fun as our little chat has been, I think we’d best be on our way,” Zev said. “I don’t share your confidence that your people won’t come looking for us.”

“Fair enough.” Trina pushed herself to her feet. “I’ll show you the way out. If you head eastward, there’s another tunnel opening several leagues from here. It’s on the other side of the canyon, the southern side, and it contains a staircase that should go all the way up. The entrance to the staircase will be well hidden from the top, but it will be easy enough going up. You might just have to shift some rocks.”

Zev nodded. “So we’ll come out on the Aeltan side of the canyon,” he said. “Like we entered from. That’s good.”

“Yes,” Marieke agreed, her eyes fixed unseeingly on the stone wall in front of her. “Yes, that’s best.”

Zev didn’t ask her what she was thinking. They would have time enough to talk when they were navigating the canyon. He just put his hand below her elbow, lightly steering her after Trina. Marieke came out of her reverie and hoisted her pack up her shoulder, following their guide with Zev close behind.

When they emerged into the tunnel, Zev put an arm over his face. It was still before noon, and the daylight was blindingly bright compared to the dimness of the monarchists’ cavern system.

“This is where we part ways,” Trina said. “I’d better get back to the main area before anyone connects me with your disappearance. I’m sure there will be quite the bustle.” She grinned, apparently enjoying the prospect. She must have faith in her ability to act dumb.

“Thank you, Trina,” Marieke said. “We’re truly grateful. One night held captive underground was enough for me.”

Trina chuckled. “When you’re used to it, it’s really not such a bad life.” A defiant light came into her eyes. “I’m not going to spend my whole life underground, though. Who knows? Maybe we’ll meet topside one day.”

“I hope we do,” Marieke said, offering the other girl her hand. They shook, and Zev moved subtly backward, noting the calculating way Trina’s gaze slid to him. No need to give her the opportunity to try to hug him or something.

The next moment, Trina had turned and trotted westward, back toward the settlement.

“Come on.” Zev’s eyes scanned the area uneasily, painfully aware that he had no weapon. “I don’t think we should linger.” He felt vulnerable, and he didn’t like it.

“Agreed,” Marieke said. “I can’t see any sign of Rissin and his crew, and that’s more ominous than reassuring.”

They started walking, moving eastward as quickly as the uneven terrain would allow. They hugged the canyon wall, listening out for any sign that Svetlana’s people were pursuing them. A creek bubbled along in the center of the ravine, a few scraggly plants growing alongside it. But for the most part, it was barren rock.

At first they didn’t speak, Marieke seeming to feel the tension as much as Zev did. But when a quarter of an hour had passed without incident, they both began to relax.

“So, Trina was a surprise, wasn’t she?” Marieke said. “I didn’t expect help from anyone among the monarchists.”

Zev just grunted. If they knew who he was, he could probably command all the help he wanted from the self-described monarchists. But he’d felt no desire to reveal his identity. They might know some of the truth about the past, but as far as he could tell, they believed—like the original council—that the Aeltan royal line had been fully wiped out at the time of the coup. He had no idea what they would do with the information if they learned their mistake, but judging by their previous record, he doubted it would be anything useful. The last thing he wanted was to see misguided young people like Gorgon burning down the academy and killing people like Marieke in his name.

“She was very taken with you.” Marieke seemed determined to draw a response out of him, and he couldn’t help the hint of a smirk that tugged at his lips.

“Deplorable taste, I agree,” he said solemnly.

Marieke shot him a look, seeming unsure whether to laugh or be annoyed. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

“Do I?”

“Yes,” she said. Zev watched her navigate a shaley patch ofrock as she seemed to steel herself to speak again. “I know you know, because I’m not the one giving mixed signals. It’s you who—”

“Marieke, stop!”

She bit her lip. “Too direct? You have to admit that—”

“No, I mean stop!” Zev lunged forward and threw out his hand so that Marieke walked into his arm. Her foot stopped an inch from the netting Zev had spotted half-covered with dirt.

“What is that?” Marieke demanded, her eyes wide as they followed Zev’s gaze to see the net.

But Zev’s gaze had already flicked upward, searching the area frantically. “It looks like a trap, like a hunter might use in a forest.”

“A shame.” The high-pitched voice was laced with regret as Zev and Marieke both spun frantically to find it. “I’d really hoped not to need to use up another talisman.”

Zev let out a growl as his eyes latched on to Rissin, perched on a rocky shelf above them. His hands balled into fists as he stepped between the elf and Marieke. But he was still out of reach when the little creature raised a metal disc above his head, his hands poised to snap it in two.

Chapter

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