Page 144 of Skalterra By Nightmare
It would probably be best to not speak out loud and conserve energy that way, but talking to Orla felt good. Maybe she could hear me. Maybe my voice would keep her here.
“I passed out in my friend’s bedroom when Galahad called me,” I explained to Orla’s unconscious body. “But my friend was missing, so I’m not sure if he’s come back yet. It’s going to scare the crap out of him when he finds me on his floor. Kind of like how you’re scaring the crap out of me right now.”
We passed by another window, and I drank in the fresh air.
I would be strong enough to get Orla home. I would have to be.
“Him and you,” I sighed. “You’re my only two friends, and he might be missing, and you might be dying. Dammit, Orla, Skalterra won’t be worth coming back to if you die. You’re too wonderful to die, alright?”
The glimpses I caught through the intermittent air vents showed a darker and darker night sky, until my tiny skalflame was once again the only source of light.
My legs grew numb beneath me as I put countless steps behind us. My back ached, but I fixed that by redirecting a small amount of Skal to kill the nerve endings in my muscles. This was a temporary body, anyway. I didn’t need pain to remind me to take it easy.
I’d started to think I would be climbing forever, when the stairwell widened. The steps became less steep, and more fresh air than the tiny vents could allow washed over me, extinguishing my flame and leaving me in the dull green glow of some unseen light source.
“Orla,” I hissed. “Orla, I think we’re there.”
She stayed silent on my back.
The stairs opened up to a massive cavern. Lanterns glowing with emerald skalflames lined the space and spat light up columns that looked like ancient lava pillars. A wide opening looked out over the dark landscape below to my right, and the wind that rolled through made the lantern light waver and dance.
“Who’s there?” a voice called out, and I twisted to see two guardsmen standing at the feet of a statue tall enough to dwarf Von Leer’s main college hall. The face of a stone man stared down at us from the shadows that clung to the cavern ceiling.
I staggered towards the guards. I’d made it. I hoped I wasn’t too late.
“I have Orla Quillguard! She needs help!”
“Alert the infirmary!” one of the guardsmen barked to the other before rushing to pull Orla off my back. The green light of the lanterns made her pale skin look all the more sickly in his arms.
“Is- is she dead?” My legs shook beneath me, and I stumbled after the man as he carried Orla to the massive tunnel between the statue’s feet.
“I don’t know,” he admitted. He gave me a sideways glance over Orla’s lolled head. “They mentioned you were coming, but they didn’t say who you are. How far did you carry her?”
“The whole way up.”
“That’s over fifteen thousand steps.”
“If Galahad could shuffle up this far, then so could I.”
“The other Riftkeepers arrived via the lift.”
I faltered mid-step.
“There’s alift?”
“Of course. You can’t expect us to walk fifteen thousand steps every time we want to come and go. Who did you say you are, again?”
“Oh, I’m—”
I cut off as we came out the tunnel’s other end. We were in the hollow peak of a mountain. Walkways, railings, and sweeping staircases carved directly out of the mountain’s dark stone circled the massive well that sat at the hive’s center. Soft blue light filtered upwards, reaching for the hole at the peak of the mountain that offered a glimpse of the stars above.
Rock formations resembling lava pillars cast shadows that were swallowed by dark alcoves and corridors.
“Orla!” A young man ran to meet us. Green cloaks billowed around him, and his hair stuck up like Ferrin’s. His nose had the same gentle swoop to it that Orla’s had, but his chin was more square. “What happened?”
“Ask the stranger.” The guard shouldered past the young man. “Out of my way, Cade. Orla needs the infirmary.”
“That’s my sister you’re holding!” the young man snarled. He shot me a glance, then chased after the guard. Curious faces peeked out at us from the off-shooting corridors and archways, but I ignored them.
