Page 86 of Trapped to Tame
Fie didn’t like it when their female was distressed. The bond between them was clearly becoming stronger as her fae side asserted itself.
‘I told her the truth,’ Drax said. ‘She's no quivering waif. She would rather know what might have to be done.’
Fie let out a breath. ‘You shouldn't have said anything until we know more.’
‘Our female is a Fourth, not a subordinate,’ Drax countered. ‘We should always ensure she knows as much as we do.’
‘Very well,’ Fie conceded. ‘Let's get this over with and gods help us if the children aren't there.’
All of them looking grim, they made their way through the densely packed forest. The trees up here were the largest Fie had ever seen and it made little sense as no sunshine seemed to filter through the cloud bank that whirled slowly above.
They reached the base of the cliff and looked up at the sheer face that rose up in front of them.
‘What might this door look like?’ Eve asked, peering at the dull, grey rock in front of them.
Priest shrugged. ‘It won’t be easily seen, but there will be one down here.’
‘How can you be so sure?’ she asked.
‘Because this temple mirrors others that exist in the Dark Realms,’ Priest said. ‘There will be a door here somewhere.’
‘Fan out,’ Fie ordered, ‘but make sure you can see the others.’
Fie dismounted, leading his horse towards the crag, keeping his eyes sharp and using his hands to feel for anything in the unnatural surface. The rock was unmarred, its surface solid and smooth as glass though it held no reflection.
‘This is magick.’
Priest nodded. ‘Dark Realm.’
‘Are you certain?’
Priest nodded. ‘The scent is faint, very old, but it's definitely Dark Realm.
Priest turned to Eve ‘Magick sometimes has a scent about it,’ he said. ‘Can you smell it?’
She took a sniff. ‘Like copper.’
Priest nodded, looking pleased.
‘It's stronger here,’ he said, walking the line where the cliff rose from the ground and hovering his hands over it.
They heard a clank and the sound of something dragging and even Priest jumped back.
‘What the fuck did you do?’ Drax snarled.
‘Nothing!’ Priest said. ‘I didn’t even touch it.’
A section of rock in front of them began to move, sliding away seamlessly to form a dark hole. The door. Stairs led upwards into pitch black, dust covering them and the empty webs of long dead spiders hung down.
‘Come,’ Priest said.
He whispered a word and an orb of light appeared in his palm.
Fie was surprised. Priest didn't usually expend the energy for mundane conjures when there were other ways. He was in a hurry, already entering the mountain, moving slowly up the stairs.
‘Wait. What about the horses?’ Eve asked, giving her mount a friendly stroke on his velvety nose.
‘We’ll have to come back for them in the spring,’ Drax said. ‘I doubt they’ll venture up into the colder passes with all the greenery down here to eat. We’ll leave them with our amulets and they’ll be safe enough until we return.’
