Abeke looked at the map. “We’re probably somewhere in this area,” she said, running her finger over a wide swath of what looked like empty space. “Which means we have a few more hours to go before we reach the mountain range.”
“It’ll probably be dark once we’re there.” Conor leaned over to peer up at the small ray of sunlight coming in through the airhole. “We could start hiking over the mountains with less chance of being spotted.”
“I can help guide you without even using the lantern,” Xanthe said. “So I like the idea. But why not simply go under the mountains like we’re doing now? Or is that something you think I shouldn’t know either?”
Meilin didn’t like Xanthe’s tone. Sure, she had helped them before and was risking a lot now, but if it came at the price of causing division among the Greencloaks, then they would have to continue on without her. “Xanthe, if you can’t accept not knowing a few things, then maybe—”
“Moving solid rock is much harder than shifting dirt and sand,” Rollan said, cutting Meilin off. “Plus, in the middle of a mountain, it’s not like we can go up thirty feet or so and be aboveground.” He glanced at Xanthe and widened his eyes. “And having you guide us in the dark again will be very helpful … especially since we have to go to that valley of death place.”
“That reminds me of something I once heard … ” Abeke stared at the ground, where she was mindlessly making small swirls in the loose dirt with her forefinger. “What was it?”
“Something about the valley of death?” Conor rolled his head from side to side, trying to crack his neck. “Maybe you heard about it in your village?”
“Maybe,” Abeke said, but she was lost in her own memories.
“Well, if Rollan’s feeling rested”—Meilin put her canteen back in her bag—“then I think we should start moving again. We still have a ways to go.”
“Better enter … valley of death … who can see,” Abeke mumbled. She paused, then slapped her leg. “That’s it!”
“Huh?” Rollan glanced over at her. “What did you say?”
“It’s something the Rain Dancer in my village once said,” Abeke explained. “It’s an old Niloan proverb … Better to enter the valley of death with someone who can see, than blindly run through life never knowing who surrounds you.”
“You think it has something to do with where we’re going?” Meilin asked.
Abeke shrugged. “No idea.”
Rollan pulled out the Heart of the Land, which hung under his shirt. “Sounds like it’s a warning about not being alone.”
“Really?” Conor took Rollan’s bag and slipped it over his shoulder. “How do you figure?”
“Well, I think it’s just saying that it’s better to die with someone who knows the real you than go through life never letting anyone get close.” Rollan paused. Everyone was staring at him with slightly surprised looks.
“What? I can’t be deep? I’ve read poetry before, if that surprises you.” Rollan gave a sheepish smile. “Or I could be completely wrong about the whole thing.”
“What you said does make sense.” Meilin was already on her hands and knees, ready to start crawling again. “Goes along with our belief that united Greencloaks are the best for Erdas.”
“Xanthe, which way do we go?” Anka asked from behind Meilin.
“Open the tunnel that way.” She pointed to a spot behind Rollan. “It’ll keep us headed east.”
The group continued crawling through Rollan’s tunnel for several more hours, taking small breaks every once in a while, until they bumped into a dead end where the compacted dirt changed to solid rock. At that point, Rollan took a deep breath and used the amulet to create a crack in the hard dirt above them, widening it to form a gaping hole.
Meilin, standing with the others, bent her head back and took in the starry sky. They were still about twenty feet down. “So, any suggestions on how to get up there?”
“Only one way,” Abeke said. “Together. The lightest person climbs on top of the others and then drops a rope. Normally, that would be me, but now I think it’s Anka.” Abeke turned around, searching for the camouflaged Greencloak. “Don’t you think, Anka? Anka? Anka, where are you?”
“I’m right here,” she answered. “And yes, make a pyramid and I’ll climb on top.”
“Before we do anything, let me have Essix check the area,” Rollan said as he released the gyrfalcon, who promptly took to the sky.
Meilin stared at Rollan. He had decided to squat down and was rubbing his temples. Under the layer of dirt that they all had covering them, his face looked flushed, and there was something about how his shoulders were drooping. “You’re looking a little … off.”
Rollan shook out his arms. “I’m fine. It just feels like that one time when I binged on a bag of sugar candies and my body crashed afterward. Maybe wielding all that power for hours without stopping does something similar.”
From high above, Essix squawked, giving the all clear to continue.
“That’s our cue.” Rollan took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Let’s do this. Conor and I can form the base.” Rollan motioned for Conor to get closer. “Meilin and Xanthe can climb on top and Anka can scale all of us to get to the top.”
“You sure you’re okay?” Abeke asked.
“I’m a little tired … but when has that stopped any of us?” Rollan replied with a grin.
“All right, then, if you’re sure.” Conor pulled out a rope from one of the bags and handed it to Anka. “Here you go.”
Anka took the rope, looping it over her head and right shoulder. As soon as the rope touched her, it began to blend into the shadows thrown by the lantern. “I’m ready.”
A few minutes later each of them had made their way out of the pit and were standing under the expansive night sky and full moon. They all stretched and filled their lungs with the cool air that drifted down the mountainside.
Loosening her long braid, Meilin shook out some of the dirt and pebbles stuck in her hair. It felt good after being confined underground all day, but what she really longed for was a bath. That was a luxury she rarely got to enjoy anymore. Not that she would ever trade her life as a Greencloak for her prior life in the palace. That lifestyle was best suited for other girls … like Princess Song.
Meilin felt a slight pain in her chest. She hadn’t thought of the princess in a while, but the two girls had much in common. Besides having grown up in Zhongese palaces, they’d both seen their fathers die violently. It was something Meilin could never forget, and she wouldn’t wish it on anyone. And not only had she and Princess Song witnessed those horrendous deaths, they’d both been forced to take charge of circumstances not of their own choosing. Meilin wondered if, after everything was over and the Greencloaks cleared their name, she and Princess Song would become friends. It felt like a distinct possibility.
“Why don’t we make camp here? Give Rollan a break for a while,” Anka said. “We could use the pit as a trap if any animals try to attack again.”
“I just need five minutes and I’ll be good to go,” Rollan said, having sat down and rested his head on his knees. “We have a lot of ground to cover.”
Conor and Abeke took the opportunity of finally being aboveground to release their spirit animals. Briggan and Uraza quickly took in their surroundings. Uraza first scratched the ground, then her nostrils flared. She stood motionless, having picked up the scent of something. Briggan, on the other hand, took one look around, decided that there was nothing of interest for him, and sat down to watch Uraza.
The leopard took two slow steps forward, paused, perked her ears, and then darted toward the mountain. She was on the hunt.
Conor laughed as Briggan jumped up and gave chase. “Looks like Briggan doesn’t want to be left out of whatever Uraza is up to.”
“Rrrr … ” Rollan let out a quiet snore. He had passed out while sitting on the ground.
“Poor guy,” Anka muttered. “He’s really tired.”
&nb
sp; “He looks uncomfortable.” Meilin sat across from him and began rebraiding her hair. “This should help.” She called out Jhi, who, upon seeing how exhausted Rollan was, snuggled up against him and pulled him to her chest. Rollan didn’t protest and simply sank into the bear.
Rollan’s five minutes turned into twenty, then thirty.
Essix had returned and was perched on a nearby acacia tree, waiting for the group to continue.
“Why don’t we split up for a while?” Abeke suggested. “Conor, Xanthe, and I can head up the mountain and find a place to make camp during daylight hours. A cave or something. That way Xanthe won’t have to deal with the sun. Essix can show you where we are whenever Rollan recovers.”
Meilin nodded, not wanting to risk waking Rollan up. She didn’t like seeing him like this. It reminded her of when he became ill with the Sunset Death when they were fighting the Devourer. So much had happened since that time … in the world and between her and Rollan.
“I think that’s a good idea,” Anka whispered. “We’ll meet up with you in a few hours. Just make sure you don’t go too far without us.”
Conor nodded. He and the others picked up their bags to begin the hike up the mountain. Meilin watched them leave for as long as she was able to, until the darkness of the savannah swallowed her friends from sight.
She pulled the sides of her cloak tighter across her chest. There was a chill in the air. She felt fidgety not having anything to do, so she decided to take an inventory of everything in her bag. Suddenly, she felt Jhi’s eyes on her.
“What?” she asked. The panda still had Rollan’s head resting on top of her belly.
Jhi blinked but didn’t move.
“I just don’t like sitting around doing nothing,” Meilin explained, repacking the medical supplies, fruit, jerky, and a small tin pot for cooking. “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere without him. I know he needs to rest.”
She sighed, leaning back on her elbows. They all needed to be at full strength if they were going to survive whatever waited for them in the valley of death.
“Anka?” Meilin listened carefully, trying to pinpoint her location. “Anka, you want to train a little more?”
“I think I’m done for the day,” Anka replied, her voice coming from a few feet away. “It’s too dark and I’m tired from all the crawling.”
Meilin strained her eyes to see Anka, but the elder Greencloak completely blended into the night.
“You know that I have no idea where you are right now. Between the clouds covering the moon and your camouflage ability … it’s like I’m talking into a void.”
There was a brief flash of light, then Meilin could see Anka’s silhouette leaning against her bag. Anka had returned Toey to his passive state as a tattoo on her wrist.
“Better?” she asked.
“Yes, it’s nice to somewhat see who I’m talking to.” Meilin wasn’t usually one to share her feelings, but over the course of their journey, she’d grown closer to Anka. It felt good to have someone a little older around, especially someone from Zhong. It felt as if she’d gained a big sister.
“Have you thought about what you’re going to do after all this is over?” Meilin asked her.
“You mean, when we complete the mission?” Anka paused, thinking about her answer. “I guess I’ll return to Zhong. Help in the recovery. Unless the Greencloaks need me elsewhere. What about you?”
“I’d like to go home to Jano Rion, even if only for a little while. Rollan and I were on the way there when Olvan called for us, and then all this happened.”
“You deserve the chance to go home,” Anka said. “You’re a legend over there.”
“I don’t know about the legend stuff.… I just want to see everyone.” Meilin sighed at the thought of the people who wouldn’t be there anymore. People like her father. “Speaking of seeing people,” Meilin said, hoping to change the subject. “Why do you keep yourself hidden most of the time?”
“I don’t know,” Anka answered. “Toey likes to be out and I don’t even think about it. It’s like if I’m breathing, my body automatically blends into the background. In fact, I have to concentrate if I want to be seen.”
“But doesn’t it bother you that people forget you’re around?”
Anka shrugged. “Not really. You’d be surprised at how much I get to see when people don’t remember I’m there. But the truth is that everybody conceals themselves, at least partly. Even from our friends. I’ll bet you do it, too, without really thinking about it. We skip details that are unflattering or scary, or cloak ourselves in the customs of the region we’re in. There are lots of ways to hide.… Mine is just the most noticeable.”
Meilin didn’t have anything else to say. Perhaps Anka was right and she was being the most honest of them all. Meilin did keep some things hidden. Feelings and fears that she didn’t even like admitting to herself. And not just silly things like being afraid of spiders: also the real worries, like being afraid to get hurt. She’d believed that a true warrior wouldn’t allow herself to be vulnerable, and that’s why she always kept her emotions in check.
But was love really a weakness, or was it a strength?
Meilin wasn’t always sure.
CONOR STUMBLED ON THE UNEVEN GROUND AND FELL onto his right knee. He quickly popped back up as if nothing had happened, grateful that the night shrouded his clumsiness. For the last few hours, he’d been trying to keep up with Xanthe, but these mountains were more like the ones in western Amaya, where they’d first encountered Arax, than the rolling hills near his home in Eura.
“Uraza, over there!” Abeke pointed to something a few yards away.
Briggan hurdled over a rock to beat the leopard to whatever animal they’d both been chasing.
“Looks like Briggan may have won,” Conor said, getting close enough to see the wolf sticking his snout into a small, rocky opening.
“Careful … hyraxes are tricky,” Abeke warned as Briggan tried pawing his way into the hole.
“Hyrax?” Conor repeated. “I thought it was a rabbit.”
“It sort of looks like a rabbit,” Abeke explained. “Except it has no tail and round ears. People call them rock rabbits because—”
“Look out, Briggan!” Xanthe called out, just as the hyrax darted between Briggan’s legs and right by Uraza’s snapping jaws.
The chase was on again, with Uraza and Briggan taking off after their small prey.
“Glad someone’s having fun out here,” Conor remarked, rubbing his knee. “Hope you’re about to tell us that the path gets a whole lot smoother up ahead.”
“Um, not quite,” Xanthe said. “We’re going to have to double back. It’s narrow and steep, and it looks like the path itself has fallen away. We’re going to have to find another way around.”
“But going around the base of these mountains might add an extra day or two.” Conor knew they’d taken the only visible path over the mountain. “We’ve bought some time with the hyena thing, but the Oathbound will keep looking for us. We can’t waste so much time out in the open.”
Abeke placed a hand on Uraza, who was now holding the dead hyrax in her mouth. “It’s not like we have a choice.”
“Well, we actually do. Follow me.” Xanthe backtracked down the path, stopped next to a large pile of rocks, and tried pushing a large boulder out of the way. “Conor, help me with this.”
Conor put his shoulder into it and the boulder shifted a few feet to reveal the opening to a dark cave. “You want to make camp in there?” He peered over some large rocks that still blocked the bottom of the entrance. He couldn’t see a thing inside.
“Yes.” Xanthe climbed over the rocks and went inside. “But more importantly, I’m thinking we can go through the mountain instead of going around it.”
“How far back do you think this thing goes?” Abeke motioned for Uraza to stay outside while she joined Xanthe.
“Pretty far, from the vibrations I get.” Xanthe’s voice echoed against the
walls. “But we can always have Rollan open it up whenever it dead-ends.”
Conor entered and quickly lit a match. In the flickering light he could see that the cave extended into tunnels. Abeke was still close to the entrance, but he could see Xanthe’s white hair as she explored the far side.
“Ow!” Conor flicked the match to the ground as the flame burned his fingertips. The cave immediately went black again, except for the fading red glow of the matchstick that now lay at Conor’s feet.
“I don’t think moving mountains is a good idea.” Conor headed back outside where it wasn’t quite as dark. “The Heart of the Land could cause a cave-in. We’d be trapped.”
“But we might face a bigger risk out there with the hyenas and the Oathbound,” Xanthe countered. “And this cave could stretch deep into the mountain. We can make camp in here while I go check it out.”
Uraza jumped inside, followed by Briggan. They both seemed to have made their own decisions to stay inside for the remainder of the night.
“Traitor,” Conor grumbled.
“Well, if there really is a field of skulls up ahead,” Abeke mused, “then hopefully whatever separated the skulls from their bodies won’t expect us to come through the mountain.” Abeke leaned over the group of rocks that formed a barrier to the cave entrance. She stared at the sky. “Any sort of trap would be set for those who come over or around it.”
“I guess, but let’s see what the others think before we decide,” Conor suggested. He took a seat near the cave entrance, where he could still feel the night air.
A bird screeched somewhere outside.
Conor sat a little straighter, his hearing amplified because of Briggan. “That sounds like Essix.”
Abeke pointed to something in the night sky. “It is! She knows we’re here.”
Briggan stretched out next to Conor. “Well, I’m guessing she’ll bring the others here in the morning.” Conor rubbed the wolf’s belly.
Abeke took out a small blanket from her bag and laid it flat on the ground. Uraza quickly curled up at the bottom of it. “Ahem, I was going to lie there.” Abeke smiled. “Guess we’ll share.”
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