Page 109 of Trial of Thorns
I trust you.
I know those words aren’t true, but they still soothe the ache in my chest, so I hold on to them as tightly as I’ve held on to anything.
“This way,” I tell him and turn, taking slow but firm steps down a steep pathway toward the valley below. I vaguely recognize this. There is a large willow tree at the bottom of the valley that I know well. I use that as an anchor to reference my whereabouts. It’s been so long since I’ve been here, and even then they are not good memories—most of them at least. Finally, I find a slope that curls off to the right that I recognize. I walk faster.This is right.
“Do you think this is the right place?” Rev asks gently, not wanting to trigger another panic attack. “We only have a few hours until sundown.”
I chuckle. “What do you think happens if no one completes the challenge in time?”
The only other fae in the trials are certainly behind us. If we’re wrong, I highly suspect they will be too. We follow a path to a new cave, one I recognize. I still don’t like entering this place, but at least I know which tunnels to avoid and which should take us to the Wall of Mysteries. Where I assume the riddles will be.
“Look.” Rev points to a symbol on the side of the stone wall at the mouth of the cave. A flying bird in white paint. The symbol of the High Court.
“Guess that answers that question.”
We follow the main path through the cavern. I shiver at every deep shadow implying a branch-off tunnel.
“Remember.” My whisper echoes through the darkness as we duck below a stone overhang and press deeper into the cave system. “No matter what happens, do not go into one of the smaller tunnels. You’d be better off facing Drake and Brielle alone than facing what may lie beyond.”
Rev follows slowly, not speaking at all. The only sound our slow footsteps pounding and echoing off the walls.
The cave ceiling is suddenly hundreds of feet high, glowing stalactites hanging over us. “You won’t tell me what happened to you down here, will you?”
“Never,” I say firmly. “Never as long as I live.”
Rev
Caelynn is insanelyfrustrating. She has obvious trauma—although that shouldn’t be surprising. Somehow, it still bothers me. I’m too empathetic for my own good. I hate seeing someone in pain.
Even though, logically, I know she deserves it. I know I’m supposed to want her pain. I’m supposed to revel in. Drink it up.
But I can’t enjoy it.
Another part of me is insanely curious. What the hell is down here that has her so afraid? She showed no fear during the orb challenge. Dragons, goblins attacking while she was tied down, she rode aShadow-vyrnfor goodness sake. She’s fearless.
But this place is causing her to shake in her boots. And that thought alone has my eyes darting over my shoulder constantly, has me jumping at every shadow, and wincing every time she jumps—which is a lot. As a member of the Luminescent Court this place is my antithisis—I should feel uncomfortable here.
