Page 77 of Queen of Legends and Lies
Despite her obvious annoyance at being told what to do, concern floods me.Herconcern.
“I’ll be careful,” I whisper, rubbing her scaly cheek as I steel myself for whatever lies ahead.
Navigating over the rocks, I follow the damp scent until I find the cavern. Like an upside-down smile, the dark opening spreads under the stone.
With a final glance at my faithful companion, I pivot and step into the yawning mouth of the cave, allowing the darkness to swallow me whole.
I duck as I enter, tucking my wings in tight so I won’t bump them against the walls or ceiling. I’d magic them away, but I need the enhanced vision.
The low, narrow entrance forces me to stoop. My boots scrape against the rough terrain, the sound bouncing off the walls.
After a few steps inside, my body practically vibrates, almost like my magic is gearing up to fight whatever unknown lies ahead. Tiny hairs prickle on the back of my neck. I take another step. Then another. My left wrist tingles. I rub my arm and inspect it. Nothing there. The vibration stops, replaced by an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Probably just nerves.
Boulders and pillars of granite rise up before me. I have to clamber over them, seeking handholds and footholds in the craggy rocks.
It’s slow going.
Or at least, time seems to drag. My focus is solely on locating the next place to put my feet. The farther I venture into the tunnel’s depths, the more lost and switched around I become. By the time the roof is high enough that I can walk upright, I have no idea how far or how deep I’ve gone.
What if I can’t find my way out? What if I’m trapped down here forever?
My heart races, and my breathing accelerates.
There are no real branches, no dead ends to worry about. But panic flutters in my chest like a caged bird. It’s so dark and cramped, and my toes and head hurt from banging into stone.
I’ve come this far. Just have to stay calm. At least there’s no pit of doom to plunge into if I lose my balance and fall. Just rock, uneven ground, and darkness.
What I wouldn’t give to be in Kinneck’s class, doing one of his ridiculous training exercises.
Feeling marginally better after my little pep talk, I summon my fire magic, focusing it into a torch to cast more light.
But it sputters weakly, barely illuminating a few feet in front of me. Is the lack of oxygen smothering my flames? The dampness?
Still, it’s enough light to make out glimmers along the walls. I lean closer to inspect them.
Crystals, embedded in the stone, catch and reflect the meager light. As I pass, they wink and shimmer. The deeper I go, the more numerous they become, until the walls are encrusted with them, glittering in a mesmerizing array.
Amethyst, citrine, emerald…every color imaginable. Their beauty robs me of my breath, and I almost forget about the knot of dread in my stomach.
Almost.
I have to keep moving, to uncover whatever’s hidden in the heart of this place. To unveil the answers I desperately seek.
But gods, I wish Sterling were here, and not just to behold this beauty. His steady presence always anchors me, keeps me from flying apart. Balances out my impetuousness.
With effort, I wrench my mind back to the task at hand and press onward. I have to do this on my own. For the sake of my kingdom, my people. No matter how much my wings ache to fly me out of this ethereal crystal labyrinth.
The only way out is through.
So I keep putting one foot in front of the other, trailing my fingers along the glimmering facets, and letting their refracted radiance guide me into the unknown.
The tunnel curves and narrows, which forces me to shift sideways and shimmy through a tight passage. My heart pounds against my ribs as the walls press in, threatening to trap me. I can’t let that happen.
I won’t.
I suck in my stomach and slip through the gap, the rough stone scraping my arms. And then I’m out and stumbling into a small chamber. The crystals are thin here, giving way to dark, craggy rock that seems to swallow the meager light.
