Reflection- Thorn of the White Rose

by Rachel R. Smith

  Nerissa leaned forward eagerly. She distinctly recalled Hania telling her a similar story shortly after she woke up in Darnal. “Alden, was your great-grandfather friends with our Chief, Hania?”

  Alden cocked his head in surprise. “As a matter of fact, my father was the first member of our family not to be an informant. It was a conflict of interest with his role as governor. Both my grandfather and great-grandfather were Ohanzee informants. Why do you ask?”

  “Hania once told me he had a friend from Rhea who claimed crystals could be made to remember things.”

  “Then it seems I wasn’t the only one my great-grandfather shared his stories with,” Alden said.

  Indeed, you were not, Nerissa thought. According to Hania’s retelling, the phenomenon could either occur spontaneously or information could be embedded intentionally using a “lost art.” She already knew information could intentionally be stored on crystals. That much was confirmed by the explanation accompanying the machine diagrams included with the first portion of the prophecy. The reaction of the books’ crystals to her touch was tangible proof of the phenomenon’s existence. The more Alden spoke, the less outrageous his great-grandfather’s claims seemed to be and the more intriguing his friend Barr became.

  Alden continued on. “One of the tales he told me repeatedly was how Barr suggested they hide the heirloom book inside the cave and set a trap to ensure that no one other than the true owner would ever be able to take it.”

  “Wait,” Raysel said. “What exactly did he mean by the ‘true owner’? Why would he think that person was anyone other than your great-grandfather?”

  That term had piqued Nerissa’s interest as well. It gave the impression that Barr knew decades ago about the ‘One’ the books of prophecy were intended for—but that didn’t make sense.

  “I asked him the very same question. In response, he gave me the shard I showed you when we met, and he explained that Barr told him someone would eventually come and make the crystal glow. He wouldn’t say what made the book so important, but our family was supposed to keep it safe until the true owner came.” Alden gave Nerissa a knowing look as he spoke. “And here you are. You should know, he told me many, many fantastical stories. I believed every one of them to be the absolute truth at the time. When I related them back to my father, he dismissed them all as the products of a confused memory and mischievous mind. As I grew up, I also came to realize that much of what he told me was indeed nothing more than tall tales. I believed that right up until I saw that crystal glow in your hand, Caeneus. Even though I stopped believing, I still kept that shard because it reminded me of him. I’m glad that I did. Now I have to wonder how much truth they held. It is possible he and Barr really did set a trap to protect the book, so I think it would be safest if Caeneus went into the cave alone—”

  “There’s no way we will let the Heir of Chiyo walk into a potential trap with no backup and no protection,” Raysel declared without allowing Alden to finish.

  Alden’s placid expression remained unchanged in spite of Raysel’s exclamation. “That’s why I told you to bring so much rope—it can serve as his backup,” he explained patiently. “The chamber opening is just beyond the fourteenth support pillar, and there are no forks or sharp turns in the tunnel. Caeneus can go in carrying one end of the rope with him. If he runs into trouble, all he has to do is pull on it to signal for help, and it will lead you right to him.”

  “I absolutely will not let Caeneus go in alone,” Rian insisted. His blue eyes locked onto Nerissa’s as he spoke, and the intensity she saw there made her breath catch in her throat.

  Alden shrugged, spreading his upturned hands wide as he did so. “You are, of course, free to do as you wish. I have done my duty by warning you. If there is a trap and you all trigger it, my conscience is clean.”

  Nerissa realized she was clenching her fists so tightly her nails were digging into her palms. It was vexing that Alden had waited until the last minute to share such critical information. A great deal of deliberation and discussion was required to figure out how to best approach this situation. “Maybe we should go back to the city for today so we can give this more consideration.”

  Rian drummed his fingers on one knee in irritation. “The last thing I want is for you to be in danger, but no matter how much we talk about it, our options aren’t going to change.”

  To Nerissa’s surprise, Raysel nodded in agreement with Rian. “I don’t like to make decisions rashly, but I also don’t see any benefit in hesitating. There’s no question that Caeneus has to go in to retrieve the book, and letting him go in alone isn’t an option we can accept. I am Caeneus’ guardian, and I’ve already sworn to protect him—with my life, if necessary. The two of us will take the rope and go in together. The rest of you will wait here and come if we signal for help.”

  “I second the idea of sending in as few people as possible,” Rian said. “And it makes sense for you to be the one to go—except for one detail you’re glossing over.” He reached over and patted Raysel’s arm, causing his friend to let out an involuntary grunt of pain. “If Caeneus is going to be in danger, he needs the guardian at his side to be in top form. Right now, that person isn’t you.”

  Nerissa watched as the two went back and forth, growing progressively more annoyed that they were talking about her as if she weren’t there. This was not a decision that was solely up to them, and yet neither of them bothered to ask for her opinion.

  Raysel scowled and clamped his hand over his injured arm. “I am perfectly capable of wielding my sword left-handed.”

  “You are better with a sword left-handed than many of the Ohanzee are with their dominant hand, but you aren’t better than me,” Rian argued. “In this situation, I am better able to protect Caeneus than you.”

  Raysel’s expression darkened as he struggled to think of a counter to Rian’s argument, and Nerissa took the opportunity to interject. “I will go in with Rian,” she declared. When Raysel opened his mouth to argue, she cut him off. “Consider that to be a command from the Heir.”

  Chapter 3

  A Broken Glow Lamp

  Nerissa

  No matter how many uncertainties Nerissa had about going into the cave, she knew the security of the knots holding the rope segments of the lifeline together was one thing she wouldn’t have to worry about. Raysel tied each one of those himself, and he had poured every ounce of his frustration into the task. If the knots could survive his wrath, it was unlikely that anything in the cave could pull them apart.

  “I think we are as ready as we can be,” Nerissa said as she reached out to take the end of the rope from Raysel. As the tips of her fingers brushed the coarse fibers, he jerked his hand away.

  “It’s not too late to change your mind,” he said.

  The imploring look on Raysel’s face was such a rare sight that Nerissa was almost tempted to reconsider her decision to go into the cave with Rian. She might have been tempted, had she not noticed that he offered the rope to her with his left hand rather than his right. Regardless of how strong he was, he had ten stitches in his arm. Going with Rian ensured that Raysel wouldn’t worsen his injury by pushing himself too hard on her behalf. More importantly, if she were to be injured, it spared him from blaming himself for not doing more to protect her.

  Raysel took her hesitation as an opportunity to press his argument further. “I am not only your personal guardian; I am also First Swordsman of the Ohanzee. Even with my right arm injured, you know I am still completely capable of protecting you.”

  “I know that,” Nerissa said, feeling her resolve weakening.

  It was then that Rian strode over to the pair and unceremoniously plucked the rope from Raysel’s hand. “The First Swordsman of the Ohanzee should know better than to argue with a direct command from the Heir,” Rian admonished. He gave the end of the rope to Nerissa and then slung the pack containing the two torches and the flint-and-steel fire striker onto his back.

  Raysel huffed
with frustration, but he didn’t pursue the issue any further. Instead, his eyes locked with Nerissa’s. “I’m sure the trap Alden spoke of has to be related to the warning in the prophecy. If anything happens—anything—pull this three times, and I will come as fast as I can.”

  “I know.” Nerissa squeezed Raysel’s hand reassuringly. “We’ll be careful.”

  Rian clapped Raysel on the shoulder—his good shoulder this time. “I’ll protect Caeneus the same way you would. With my life, if necessary.”

  “Hold it,” Nerissa broke in. She pointed her pinky finger at Raysel, shaking it in the air in front of him as she spoke. “You should know better than to talk like that. We made a promise.”

  A hint of pink rose in Raysel’s cheeks, and he would have looked genuinely abashed if there hadn’t been a spark of amusement in his green eyes. “I haven’t forgotten it.”

  Seemingly satisfied with his answer, Nerissa rounded on Rian. “The whole reason why I began training was to learn to protect myself so that no one will ever need to sacrifice their health for my safety. My life is no more valuable than anyone else’s. So, while I am grateful for your willingness to fight by my side for the sake of Chiyo, I do not want anyone swearing to die for me. You may recite that nonsense in your head if you must. But if I hear those words uttered once more, I will not hesitate to issue an edict banning the use of that phrase.”

  Rian folded his arms across his chest, a lopsided smile on his lips. “I’d be a hypocrite to argue with you after lecturing Raysel for doing the same thing a few minutes ago, wouldn’t I?” he asked. He inclined his head toward the cave entrance. “Shall we go?”

  Although Rian’s answer was agreeable enough, Nerissa couldn’t squelch the feeling that she had lost the argument. “Yes, let’s go,” she replied. She picked up her glow lamp and followed Rian.

  No sooner did she reached the mouth of the cave than there came a sharp tug from the other end of the rope. She looked back, intending to give Raysel one final, confident smile and found that he and the others had already turned into formless shadows within the thick mist. Instead, she patted her chest where the fire-fire crystal pendant hung and gave the rope a gentle tug in return before stepping inside.

  In the absolute blackness of the cave, Nerissa’s and Rian’s glow lamps appeared to be little more than floating white orbs that bobbed in synchrony with the soft tapping of their owners’ footsteps. The darkness was so complete that it appeared to encroach on the soft glow rather than be scattered by it. However, once Nerissa’s eyes had adjusted, the lamps were more than enough to illuminate the surrounding tunnel.

  She walked beside Rian in silence, her ears straining to detect any peculiar sounds. There were few noises to be heard, aside from their footsteps and the scrape of the rope as it dragged along the cave floor. There was no sign of the spirit or Alden’s trap so far and not even a hint of the howling that fueled the locals’ claims that the mine was haunted. Still, she flinched at every unexplained creak and occasional crunch of pebbles underfoot. It was one thing to bravely state that she wouldn’t let the warning prevent her from fetching the book. It was another thing entirely to march into the unknown on wobbly knees.

  Suddenly, a low mumbling whisper reached her ears. Nerissa froze as the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. The voice had seemed so close that it could have come from right beside her. The glow lamp tumbled from her grasp, forgotten in her haste to reach for Harbinger’s hilt. The tinkle of broken glass echoed off the tunnel walls as it hit the floor.

  Rian, who had continued walking unaware of her alarm, whirled around at the clatter. By the time he turned to face her, he had already drawn Bane. The light from the remaining glow lamp caught on the blade, flashing up and down the length of the bare metal as the lantern swung in Rian’s free hand. “What’s wrong?”

  “I thought I heard a voice,” Nerissa said, glancing around nervously.

  Rian’s shoulders sagged, and he returned Bane to its sheath. “Of course you did. I was talking to you.”

  Nerissa’s cheeks flushed with shame as she stared down at the shattered remains of her lamp. “That was you? Why were you whispering?”

  Rian deliberately avoided meeting her eyes. “It’s really quiet in here. I didn’t want to speak too loudly and startle you, but it seems I did anyway.”

  “It’s my fault for overreacting,” Nerissa said, rubbing her forehead while internally scolding herself for her foolishness. “I need to get my nerves under control before it causes more problems.”

  “One broken lamp isn’t a big problem,” Rian said. “We still have mine. Do you want to light one of the torches?”

  Nerissa shook her head. “No, we don’t know how long they will last, and it’s best to save them until we absolutely need them. I can see well enough as long as you lead the way.”

  Rian nodded. “Make sure you stay close to me,” he said.

  “What did you say before?” Nerissa asked after they had walked in silence for a few minutes.

  She heard Rian inhale, and then his answer came in a rush of words as if he were reluctant to repeat them. “I said I felt bad about being so hard on Raysel earlier.”

  “I don’t think you were being unreasonable,” Nerissa said.

  “I insisted on being the one to come with you as much for his own good as for yours. He doesn’t ever talk about it, but I know he feels guilty for not being able to protect the Heiress on the night of the attack.” Rian hesitated before adding, “He’s too stubborn to admit when he needs help, and I don’t want him to end up feeling guilty if something were to happen to you.”

  Despite her anxiety, a warm feeling welled up inside her. Their concern for Raysel was another thing they had in common. “That was exactly my reasoning when I said I would go with you.”

  “I really will protect you with the same vigor as he would,” Rian said.

  He glanced over his shoulder at her, and his eyes held the same fierce determination that Nerissa had seen before they entered the cave. When Raysel spoke of protecting her then, he had said “we,” referring to the Ohanzee as a group. But Rian had said “I.” It was a subtle distinction. Maybe she was reading too much into it, but the look in his eyes—both then and now—made her wonder if the difference actually was significant. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. She was reading too much into that. Rian wouldn’t think of “Caeneus” in that way.

  When she didn’t reply right away, Rian said, “Are you sure that Raysel is actually adding length to the rope and not just following on the other end?”

  A chuckle had escaped Nerissa’s lips before she realized it. “If he were, I’m pretty sure he would have come running when I dropped the lantern.”

  Rian did laugh at that. “I have no doubt he would have.”

  They walked in silence again, stopping intermittently to check the numbers on the wooden support pillars. “I’m glad the fog didn’t go very far past the entrance,” Rian commented.

  He’s trying to make small talk to help me calm down. Nerissa smiled at the realization, simultaneously feeling pleased by his kindness and disappointed in herself for needing it. “Me too,” she said, fumbling to think of something more to add. You’ve had years of etiquette training. Why can’t you think of a single thing to say?

  The rope suddenly rose from the ground and pulled taut before slipping from her grasp. “Wait! I think we’ve run out of rope. Either that or it’s caught on something.” She bent down and gave it a single, firm tug, afraid anything more would be mistaken as a call for help. Despite her efforts, it didn’t budge.

  Rian walked back to the last support pillar they had passed and held his glow lamp out to better see the surface. The number fourteen had been seared into the wood at eye level. “Alden said the chamber was just past the fourteenth support pillar, so we’re not far from the book now. Let’s go on ahead, and we can pick up the rope on the way back.”

  Nerissa hesitated. It seemed unwise to leave behind their
sole connection to the others when the book, and whatever protected it, awaited them within the chamber ahead. She looked to Rian, who stood beside the pillar patiently waiting for her response. He had remained calm and collected this whole time, while her own nerves had her jumping at every sound. In this case, it was best to let cooler heads prevail.

  She laid the rope down near the pillar so it would be easy to find again when they passed on the way back. “Alright. Let’s go.”

  Chapter 4

  The Spirit in the Cave

  Nerissa

  The main chamber of the cave was both considerably taller and wider than the tunnel leading up to it. An opening in the far wall, which must once have led deeper into the mine, was now filled with fallen rocks and dirt as a result of the collapse decades before. Debris had spilled out from it, spewing broken stone halfway across the chamber. Rusted pickaxes and buckets lay haphazardly scattered across the floor, untouched since the day they had been hastily discarded by fleeing miners.

  Nerissa and Rian moved cautiously, following the wall and pausing every so often to examine the various items they came across. Everything in sight was blanketed in a thick layer of dust. Nerissa peered uncertainly overhead as the rotten wood supports groaned, straining under the weight of the surrounding rock and years of neglect. So far, there was no sign of a trap. If there was a spirit crystal protecting the book, it must be hidden somewhere or covered in detritus like everything else.

  “That must be what we’re looking for,” Rian said, pointing to a large chest against the wall a few feet ahead. “The exterior looks too fancy for a tool or supply chest, and it has a lot less dust on it than anything else in here.”

  “It does look out of place,” Nerissa agreed.

  “There’s not even a lock,” Rian observed once they were standing in front of the trunk. “I’ll open it. You should stand back in case opening the lid triggers the trap.”