Chapter 12

Royce chewed on his lip as all four marched steadily again. The trail on Duran’s mental map had been found after some thorough hunting. It was a slow single-file climb up the face of the cliff. The trail was moving away from the falls though, with the tumultuous spray and vibrant roar at their backs. Duran believed the map wouldn’t lead them astray as it lead them ever higher. Remy was currently riding on Duran’s pack in front of him, and Iba was flying above in short swoops, apparently giving Rune images of the trail they traversed.

There was a conundrum in Rune’s vision. If Royce could find the answer to the plaguing questions, he knew it would help them.

“Rune, this mage, Natugenus? If she does have the portal ability, what else could she do? Could you sense what type of mage she was?”

Rune canted his head to be able to hear in the front, replying, “The axe magic was old, centuries old. A mage’s signature is unique to their magic. I would say she is or was an earth mage.”

“So it’s possible she was alive when King Bail was murdered?” Royce tugged the strap on his pack, centering it better between his shoulders. The long hike wasn’t the worst he’d ever endured, but after the fight at the sandpit and unplanned dunk in the racing river, it was up there.

“Yes. If she was the one who purposely placed sabra spies to watch Jayce, then they had to have a way to follow us when they traced my portal spell. Sabra are not magic users.”

“Then if they followed you after you portal jumped to bring Jayce here, it would make sense either she or Carden gave them a spell to return in the event Jayce was found.”

Rune acknowledged him with a nod. “That is so. What are you thinking?”

He made sure to speak loud enough so his voice could be heard among them. “That it’s only a possibility she was working with Carden at the time of King Bail’s demise. Carden hid the Valda-Cree crown here and at that time, he couldn’t do it alone, since he is incapable of creating portals. With the sabra living next to Jayce, someone had easy knowledge and information about him. The possibility she also could have hidden the crown herself, letting Carden believe it had been destroyed, yet may not have anything to do with the king’s death, or Jayce’s surveillance is another guess. That puts a lot of possibilities in play as to what her end game would be.”

“All of which also means when I found Jayce, if someone was monitoring the sabra, that person could have known almost immediately.” Rune halted on the path and grumped. “It all does make probable sense, as we know those in Alendaren are aware Jayce has returned. There was a question of who the sabra’s employer could be. Natugenus is most likely as the axe had her signature in the magic. But it doesn’t mean she was behind the sabra.”

“I see what you’re thinking, to question her involvement in all of this. Why didn’t she have him killed if she knew of him?” Grayson pondered. “I’m glad he returned safely, but leaving him alive would seem to negate Carden’s actual plans. Something about that feels like we’re wrong about her part in the sabra’s presence. At least from what we know. We’re truly guessing at too much right now.”

Royce nodded. They had a lot of gaping holes to work through. “Rune, you’ve said time does not pass equally across planes? Why we only have three days here.” Royce noticed Duran was listening intently.

“Correct.”

Duran angled his head in consideration, picking up on Royce’s thought thread. “I’m going to take a guess the mage behind the sabra didn’t know how time would move within Jayce’s old world and didn’t think to install spies until much later. And he could have been seen as a null threat as the crown had then vanished to most people’s knowledge.” A quick nod was shared as they both seemed to see the same problem to the other mage’s involvement with the sabra.

“I don’t know of Jayce’s past with the sabra, only that he considered them friends because they lived as neighbors.” Rune’s brow furrowed. “But if I remember our early days together, he said they arrived a short while after he’d moved on to his secondary education. Which would be years in their future. So yes, it’s possible she wasn’t involved at all with their actual placement. I know he doesn’t like thinking about it because of what he had to do, but I believe they were there to watch him first, stop him only if needed. Why kill him if he wasn’t going to impact Kielbos or threaten Carden’s plans? Their secrets didn’t emerge until my appearance from what I could glean.”

“When Nolen and Harmony took him from Kielbos there was unquestionably someone who helped them escape,” Grayson added, taking up another tangent of the puzzle. Royce nudged him gently with a hand motion to keep going. “Does that mean there is yet another mage with portal ability who knew of his hiding, or how possible is it that this person aided them to begin with, thereby knowing exactly where he was all this time?”

All four stopped on the path, gaping at each other with wide eyes of incredulous shock.

“Which means, if it was her, she may have been helping for herself to hide him as a baby, or there was an ulterior motive to her plans centuries ago. We are assuming if she still lives now, or if she has anything to do with the army,” Grayson finished. “Carden could have aided the sabra’s return, Natugenus could have helped Jayce escape then been killed. Even the axe the sabra carried could have been stolen. There are too many answers we don’t know.”

“Goddess, we must find this crown and return. There are too many possibilities,” Rune stated, clearly shaken.

The weight of their goal bore heavily down on them all. There was silence as they marched on. These searched for answers were not what any of them expected, and were far too lacking. Foreboding urgency kept them all moving now.

 

* * * *

Their first day was finally reaching sundown when they agreed to stop. The trail’s climb had opened up to a rich river valley above the falls with shimmery pools of collected river water and bright, colorful, lush vegetation, differing from the grasslands which were flat and open. There were abundant trees and deeper into the shadows, there was the occasional rustle of small wildlife, the first wildlife they’d encountered in all their trekked miles. On the far side of the valley appeared a scattered honeycomb of cave openings in the mountain walls in the distance. High peaks and crags created a jagged outline against the teal sky.

Those mountains were their next destination. Somewhere in the depths of unseen mountain caves lay their prize. The Valda-Cree crown.

And most likely, a very unwelcoming dragon. But it was hard to believe as they hadn’t seen one yet. Their absence bothered Duran in so many ways. In a world of dragons, where were they?

Once camped, Duran took the first watch. It made sense a longer day meant a longer night and everyone would be able to get a healthy night’s rest. The presence of wildlife also meant there could be predators and after the battle with the scorpions, they weren’t taking any chances to be taken by surprise again.

A small fire and boundary spells kept the group safe overnight. Deadfall was everywhere along the higher river, keeping the campfire going strong. When Duran got to rest with Grayson taking over the next watch, he laid down close to Royce, watching his sleeping face shamelessly. He wondered about the shifter, inexplicably drawn to him in ways he was still discovering. His intelligence. His bravery. He smirked when he remembered the dash of arrogance, but considering what he did know, maybe it was earned. Royce held a valued position at Cedri’s side, and as such now was included as part of Jayce’s royal guard. Excellent tracking skills and fighting skills also were not to be dismissed. The skin shifter was a good man to have on their side. Duran didn’t want him merely to be on their side to fight. Not any longer.

Now there was no doubt Duran did want that kiss. He studied the contours of the other man’s jaw and the hollows and valleys of his neck where the flickering firelight illuminated pale skin. Royce was very handsome. There was no denying that. The pull Duran felt toward him when he let his guard down was so much stronger now, a thrum in his chest, making him want to gravitate toward the other man. He believed if either of them succumbed to the call of their promised kiss, there would be nothing else between them save bare skin and need for a very long time. He sighed gently, releasing the yearning bubbling at his core. There would be a time for them. Soon. He closed his eyes. Pale hair and shadows were his last memory before sleep took him under.

The sky was barely starting to lighten when he next opened his eyes. The red sun’s corona colored the sky from the deep green of night to fade with the encroaching sunlight’s rays to the blueish green they’d walked beneath the day before. The colors, all the surrounding beauty was so different, he wished they had more time to investigate and learn about this world.

Royce had a pot bubbling over the flame. The aroma of dark brew tickled at Duran’s senses. That alone was worth waking up for.

Grayson and Rune were still asleep in bedrolls, but he doubted they would be for long. With a palm braced below himself, he arched upward with a stretch and a rather unintentional moan.

Royce chuckled quietly at him. “Morning,” he murmured, cradling a cup. “Rested?”

“Mostly.” Discovering an extra blanket covered him, he realized Royce must have put his own while he’d been asleep. He held it up between his fingers, a question in his eyes.

Royce crouched close to the fire, palming a second cup to fill with steaming coffee. “You were shivering when I woke.” Shrugging like it wasn’t a big deal.

Maybe for Royce it wasn’t but that kind of thoughtfulness was cherished. “Thank you.”

“I’ve heated some of the rations.”

Heated food for breakfast sounded lovely. “Have there been any issues?” He joined Royce to be able to speak quietly and freely, accepting the offered cup of hot brew once he was settled.

Royce shook his head. “Rune hasn’t stirred at all, so we decided to let him sleep when I switched with Grayson. It wasn’t difficult to do three shifts.”

“Yesterday was challenging for all of us.” He hummed under his breath when the first sip of heat hit his tongue and traveled into his belly. A sigh of pleasure was impossible to repress.

“And you’re sure you’re okay?”

Duran raised his eyes enough to tangle with bright blue concern staring back at him, demanding only the truth. That this answer mattered to the cat shifter. Sliding a glance above the fire to ensure the other two were still fast asleep, he sought a free hand with one of his own, threading their fingers together between them. “Yes, kitten. I am fine. I would tell you if I wasn’t.”

“Kitten?” he asked, bemused.

A fine eyebrow arched gently in question. “Do you not like the nickname?”

Royce’s mouth popped open then he closed it and rolled a shoulder, staring into the fire. “Never had one.”

“I won’t if you don’t like it, but I like having something that is private, between us.”

Royce’s cheeks warmed with a light flush of color. He was fighting a smile when he said, “Then I could learn to like it as well.”

“Only if you want.” He gently squeezed the fingers he held. “I wish we could take time to explore what this is between us.”

“We will. Once we’ve accomplished our goal and have returned home, I plan on it.”

Duran leaned close, touching forehead to forehead. “As do I.” A snuffle of life from Grayson separated them.

“We will,” Royce repeated quietly enough to be heard by Duran. A promise.

Duran could put the need blooming through his blood aside but it wouldn’t wait forever. He was positive Royce wasn’t going to have an endless supply of patience, either. Whatever was happening between them was real.

Grayson gradually awakened to join them, leaving Rune as the last to rouse from deep sleep. Not even the emerging morning light that usually called to him brought him awake until the other three were alert and debating whether they should disturb his rest. With Rune finally awake and appearing visibly rested, the urgency to continue their journey pressed on them all. Mobile and packed, the campsite was cleared, the fire buried and safe.

“Do we know the next leg?” Rune asked as he shouldered his pack once more, staff in hand.

Duran nodded. He pointed. “The large opening to the left. There is a tunnel traveling deeper.”

“From a nest to a lair,” Royce muttered. None of them were at ease now.

“Let’s do this,” Grayson said.

Duran swung around to study the cave openings. The map was definitely tugging him to the far left. There was a glow almost when he focused on a single opening. A tangible sign when he compared the map outline on his closed vision to the rest of the cave network. Much like the trail, it was where the map’s focus seemed to draw him.

Remy fluttered down from the trees and took up his spot on top of Duran’s pack, nuzzling into his hair. “Morning, love.”

Whuhu.

“Good. Stay close from here, okay?”

Whuhu.

Duran smiled. Iba did the same to join them, resting on Rune’s shoulder. There was a sewn pad and leather for her talons to grip to stay secure as he moved. He knew Remy preferred the top of his pack when needed, and right now he wanted to keep Remy close. Aside from the herd of pegasi, they still hadn’t seen more than smaller rodents or foraging wildlife, and as Royce had pointed out, the lack of life on the surface caused him concerns.

Why was this world so barren of wildlife? It was disconcerting. And not a single sighting of the mighty dragons. Not a single one. None of it made sense. It was putting every nerve he had on edge.

The watchful group made their way through the trees, keeping alert to the sounds surrounding them.

“Any idea if we’re going to have to fight through anything at the entrance?” Royce teased Duran.

He pushed at Royce’s shoulder, shaking his head. “None.”

“It would have been far easier if the map had simply put us, say, within the same mile, don’t you think?” Grayson grumbled. “First horseback riding for a week to reach the keep, now walking into the unknown for days.”

“If it was meant to be easy to reach the crown, it would have been recovered long before now,” Duran pointed out. “Everyone thought it had been destroyed. The scribes even recorded when they believed it had been destroyed.”

“When Carden lied about it,” Rune mentioned.

“Exactly.”

“It does make me wonder if whoever actually hid the crown lied to him, as well.” Grayson looked upward through the trees. “No one would ever suspect it being on another world if he himself had no way to portal.”

“Somehow, I think we need to consider the possibility of Natugenus doing a possible double cross. The enchanted axe. The sabra being able to translocate behind Jayce and I. If whoever is helping Carden is actually doing so on their terms. Or if they had help for their own ends.” Rune shook his head, his brow furrowed. “Someone had to be there to help his rearing parents escape all those years ago.”

“We’ll figure it out,” Grayson stated. “We’re at best seeing a fraction of the picture, with the known history and our own challenges today.”

They fell silent, lost in their personal thoughts as they closed the distance to the cave openings. The shade of the trees were a nice change from the heat of the overhead sun during their hike along the river.

Duran halted beside Rune when they all paused at the mouth of the cave, at what felt like late morning but could have been midday at home. “We’ve been here a day given the current shadows. Going into the caves will skew our frame of time.”

“Iba will keep watch.” She squawked a harsh sound accompanied with a ruffle of feathers and Rune stilled.

“What’s wrong?” Grayson asked. All of them were watching the raven, wondering what had set her off.

“She’s refusing,” he informed them, his lips tight with confusion, yet listening and wary. “She says she must remain with us.”

“She’s never refused?” Grayson asked.

“Very rarely,” Rune replied, watching and listening thoughtfully. “But I trust her judgment.”

Duran debated for a moment, then, “Remy, do you feel the same?”

Whuhu.

“I see. You’re certain?”

Whuuhuu.

Duran’s smile was tight. “All right.” He addressed the group. “He says the same. They feel they must stay with us. They sense something within.”

“Something what? An animal? Magical?” Rune asked, not questioning he was getting the information from two very different avian types who couldn’t explain what they were sensing in common words.

Whuhuhuu.

“He feels magic, not malevolent, at least not that he can tell, but it’s strong.” Duran raised a hand, and Remy nuzzled against his offered knuckles.

“So it could be a dragon, or a spell,” Rune stated, sounding unsure of which he would prefer. He squinted into the darkness. About thirty feet beyond the mouth, the reaching light grew gloomy and impenetrable. “Very well.” He held his staff forward. “Illuminae!” A white light began to glow at the top of his staff in a bright ball. A single warning glance to each to stay alert was given before he faced the cave.

The brush of fingers against Duran’s hand had him reaching and squeezing Royce’s in answer. The four cautiously entered the lightless cave, the immediate space around them brightened by the staff’s magic glow. The walls were packed soil, so compacted it had the characteristics of being compressed over a long period of time. The deeper they went, the more earthen the air became, dry and slightly warm. There wasn’t a hint of water or humidity, which he would have expected given they were traveling underground and water commonly trickled from above, downward, yet not there. Much like the lack of natural life outside, the inside didn’t seem right either.

“Remy, keep your ears open.”

Whuhu.

“Thank you.”

There was no way to know how far into the mountain they traveled, following the mild slope of the cave as they marched their way into an endless darkness. The walls seemed to narrow and widen randomly but there was no other sign of wear, erosion, or passage. Through the white light cast by Rune’s spell, Duran couldn’t discern any marks or fresh scratches as possible claw marks. Much like the outside world, it felt devoid of life and was eerily quiet. He hid the shiver that rocked his shoulders. Remy had snuggled up closer on top of the pack, the slight flutter of his feathers brushing against skin a physical sign of his familiar’s wariness. He fully understood the owl’s behavior. This wasn’t normal.

“It feels wrong in here,” Grayson murmured, saying aloud what Duran was feeling.

Rune searched the ceiling, waving his staff high and around them. “I agree.” There wasn’t a single sign of a scurrying spider or the wisp of a web to note any life.

Grayson reached out with a hand to press it flat to the soil wall. His gaze became unfocused as he concentrated. “I can feel the life of the soil, but it feels…weak. When you were meditating, did you feel anything off in the energy of the roots?”

Rune’s frown was sad as he looked up and down the dirt wall. “I did. This world is struggling. But I don’t know why.”

“Do you think that has anything to do with the lack of life?” Royce neared Duran, whether it was for comfort or support, he didn’t know, but he appreciated the warmth from the other man.

“It’s possible. Let’s see if we can locate the crown. There may be more answers with it.” They all nodded, moving on, following the seemingly endless channel. Distance became an abstract, one foot in front of the other. Time passed with no visual markers.

Every now and then, Grayson would touch the wall and sadly shake his head. “I don’t understand it. This world should be thriving with wildlife and activity, yet it’s almost dead.” For the longest time, it felt like they were only four in existence within the tunnel, on the world. The eeriness of it all hovered like a warning to be heeded.

“Has the map changed any?” Rune asked Duran when the cavern channel arced to their right. It was also odd there didn’t appear to be any offshoots or branches leading from the main cave path they were following. There had been smaller openings on the face of the mountains. It seemed unnatural when none of those tunnels merged as branches with this one. As though they were false openings. All very odd.

Duran paused in his steps to close his eyes. After a moment of consideration of the visual on his closed eyelids, he shook his head. “No, though it does appear as we’ve made progress. If the map is true, there will be a cavern not much further. I can’t see anything more past it.” He bit at his lip. Was that where they were going?

“Good. Hopefully there will be more answers as well.”

The four continued through the darkness. Exactly like every step they’d already taken, there was little to mark their distance or time. The earth didn’t change color, there were no insects or subterranean life. It was an endless, lightless void.

Whuhu.

“Stop,” Duran said abruptly. “There’s something in the dark. He can hear breathing.”

Remy trembled, but didn’t release his clawed hold on Duran’s pack.

“In the cavern?” Grayson asked.

Duran attempted to peer beyond the light halo surrounding them. “Has to be. There isn’t a sign of any other tunnels from here. How that is, I don’t know.” So much of this felt wrong.

Rune held his staff aloft, spreading the illumination. “We have to keep going. Stay alert.”

Cautiously, they moved forward, foot by foot. The weightiness of the air began to shift. The slightest brush of current when there wasn’t any wisp of air or sign of life in the tunnel. They had to be nearing the cavern. After several more minutes, the hard exhales Remy warned them about reached them, each one sounding raw and pain filled.

Duran and Royce shared a confused look. What was in there?

“Dragon?” Royce mouthed silently.

Duran’s eyes widened, his shoulders rising in answer. He didn’t know, and wasn’t sure he wanted to. Rune started walking again, the others a bare step behind. The tunnel before them rose toward the ceiling of the space. Duran spun a little energy around his fingertips, a precaution. Whatever was sitting in the dark was huge.

Grayson put a hand on Duran’s shoulder, steadying him. “Wait. I feel it. I can feel… Dragon.”

“How?” Rune demanded sharply.

“I don’t know.” He moved a pace in front of Rune and lifted his palms outward. The silence stretched as he concentrated, as though reaching outward into the darkness. They waited expectantly. “I can feel its pain. Like the soil, the planet, it is hurting.”

A snuffle and an abrupt growl filled the darkness stretching before them, rumbling through the inky black to echo around them.

“Well, it knows we’re here,” Rune murmured. “Illuminae maxin!” The light halo rising from the top of his staff expanded by several yards, revealing the tunnel before them to expose the gaping opening of what had to be the cavern on Duran’s map.

“Grayson,” Duran hissed, but if he heard, he didn’t react. “What are you doing?” He was already several paces ahead of Rune.

“Something is calling me,” he murmured, his voice soft. The line of his shoulders was relaxed as were his hands at his sides. There was no threat to him. Then his voice cracked. “So much pain.”

The growl deepened, a rolling threat that created shivers down Duran’s spine. It cut off to a rumbled whine. A shuffle of movement eventually sharpened into a shaped outline of a large head from the expanded light. And appearing eerily out of the gathered darkness glowed a single citrine eye.