Page 44 of The Iron Fae
I step forward. "Are you happy?"
"Very." Rowan leans against the mountainside.
A droplet of rain lands on the bare skin of my arm. It's cold and rolls gently down me, following the curve of my forearm. Another drop follows. It'll be pouring soon and I'm not sure I want to meet the seer soaked to the bone.
"Good luck with the storm," I toss to the two men as I push myself through the skinny entrance.
Stone brushes against my chest as I hold in all of my breath. The light from the day only travels so far once I'm inside. Rot fills the cave. Carcasses, bones, mounds of only what I can only assume is old flesh, are tossed here and there. The smell of it burns on the way to my lungs. I gag, feeling my stomach lurch at the sight.
Beyond that there is only more darkness. Even as I try to allow my eyes time to adjust, nothing becomes clearer. How far back will I need to travel to meet the seer?
I check my neck for good measure, reassured that the necklace hasn't suddenly disappeared. As I brush it, it thrums against my skin. I feel the beat of it travel inside of my chest. The metal around the stone warms slightly. All of it disappearing after just a few seconds.
It's as if it's calling out to like magic. The seer couldn't be too far away then.
"Hello?" I try, automatically feeling like the idiot girl in the beginning of a horror film.See this... this is how people die, Briar.
The blade that Kai gifted me bounces against my leg. It rests inside of a sheath that's also clearly borrowed. I pull it gently out and hold it in front of me as I descend where my sight is no longer of use. My feet shuffle against the dust covered floors, echoing through the cave.
Another 'hello' rises to my lips, but this time I resist the urge to call out. The seer might live in this cave, but I'd imagine other animals could live here too. Or other sacrifices she hasn't needed to kill yet. If the panther Kai hunted was as large as it was, how big are the bears? How big are other already large animals?
Picturing some dragon looking creature curled at the back of this cave does my anxiety few favors. Sweat gathers between my palm and the hilt of the knife. I tighten my grip on it, letting the gems dig into my skin.
"Do you really think that will do you any good?" A sensual voice whispers. The sound surrounds me in such a way I can picture her both in front of and behind me.
I point the knife anyway, spinning in a circle. "Are you the seer?"
"Is that who you want me to be?" she says even softer.
What if it's another Wishing Spirit? Or some new monster I have yet to learn about?
"My name is Briar. Briar Anders." I swallow. "I'm here asking a favor to fill the debt of Kai Ziko."
"Yyyeeesssss," The sound is long, drawn out, and all too eerily similar to that of a snake’s hiss. "I can smell my old friend on you. If only he would come in so we can catch up."
"He said this is something I have to do on my own."
No matter how I try, my attention dances in the dark without any one spot to focus. The Seer is neither here nor there... if she's even a physical being at all. I think back to Lylix and her ghostly form. Is that what this Seer is too? A ghost? Or is she more like Lincoln? More Fae than anything.
"And what is it that you've come here to do?"
"Isn't that something a seer would already know?" I blurt. I bite my lip hoping I hadn't offended her. Remember... I need her help.
"You are young," the Seer laughs. "Your young tongue has yet to be tamed, I see. But I will indulge you. Miss Briar Anders, I've waited many years for your arrival. You've climbed my mountain and found the courage to enter my cave where your senses are of little use..." She sniffs the air loudly. "You have an object of magic."
"I do."
"I remember the piece. I also remember the frantic young girl, whom you so resemble, begging me to deliver you and hide you amongst the humans. You were too powerful from birth to walk among them and not be noticed." Even in the dark I imagine the Seer is smiling. "Now you're back to undo all my work."
"You met my mother?" My hands shake. I lower the knife, still holding it in my hand.
"She was a kind woman, too sweet for her own good. Your strength... the whit of it... that is of your father."
"I struggle to have any sympathy for my father who had my mother beheaded," I admit out loud.
"Don't let your turmoil stew like that. It will turn your soul black." The strings of the Seer's voice pull from all around. Her unidentified position narrowing to just a few feet ahead of me. In a single blink, a soft glow begins to fill the cave. A glow radiates off the seer's skin.
Only with her light am I able to make out her features. Soft brown skin without imperfection, large almond shaped eyes filled with uncapped knowledge, full pouting lips, and dark brown hair that hangs down her back, stopping at the back of her knees are all features that inspire an endless youth. Now without the darkness, I can see many more skeletons. Not all of them are animals.
