Tinko nudged Loras. "Look how embarrassed they are," he whispered to his friend. And it was true. The other Reytana could no longer make eye contact with Tinko or the twins. They bowed their heads and remained silent as they walked on through the cave.
"And so, we have lived here since the war," Gracien continued. "Declin brings us news from the city when he can so that we know what's going on." Loras could detect a hint of anger in the Reytana's voice now. "Know this," continued Gracien, "the Gartune will not walk the streets of Reysa for much longer."
Loras was stewing. A hundred questions rattled around in his head, and he struggled to choose the one to ask first.
"There is a plan," answered Gracien before Loras could speak. "That will have to suffice for the time being. But now, we need to find you some accommodations."
Gracien led them into an offshoot of the main cave. They entered a long hall that contained hundreds of cots lined up in two perfectly straight rows. The beds were bunked three high. Each one was perfectly made – not a sheet unfolded or a blanket wrinkled. Gracien led the teens to the end of the hall and assigned them a stack of cots. "I'm sure you must be very tired," said Gracien. "Rest here for the evening and we will talk more in the morning."
"But we're not tired!" said Tinko. It was true; they were too excited to sleep and had several more questions that needed answers.
"You can't expect us to sleep after all of this," added Loras.
"Loras, you are a Reytana, a guardian of Reysa. You may do whatever you please. But you may find that you are more tired than you think." With that, he turned and began walking back towards the main cavern. "Even Tormada need to sleep, young warrior," he added over his shoulder as he walked out of the barracks.
"He's right," said Regan. "We haven't slept much in the past four days. Besides, after sleeping in the forest, these beds look pretty good." She climbed into the lower bunk and pulled the covers over her. Within a minute of closing her eyes, Regan was asleep.
"Well, maybe I am a little tired," said Tinko as he crawled into the middle bunk. He yawned once and was out before he could even slip under the sheets.
Loras looked toward the main cave for a few minutes, deciding what he wanted to do. A wave of exhaustion hit him as he was thinking. "Ah, screw it," he said, and he jumped effortlessly up into the top bunk. When he landed, the stack of beds shook. Tinko gave a muffled snore but did not wake up. Loras stared at the ceiling of the cave until his eyes became too heavy to keep open. It was not long before he was matching snores with Tinko.
Chapter Fourteen: Claustrophobia
"The tracks stop here," grunted Belkore. Frustration was thick on his voice. This mission had taken much longer than he had planned. By all accounts, he should have already been on his way back to Gartol with prisoners in tow. But ever since that first night, when Xander had ordered that they continue the search without breaking for camp, something had changed. Now, every time that they appeared to be closing in on the Reytana, Xander had inexplicably delayed the pursuit. Suddenly, Xander was very concerned that his companions were properly fed and rested. They had already stopped to eat three times that day. They even found time for a mid-afternoon nap. It didn't make any sense.
The group had been following the tracks along the river for the entire day. They were surprised to see that the trail continued on past Woodhaven, but they continued to follow its lead. Eventually, the tracks ended at a peculiar grouping of rocks. Xander joined Belkore in inspecting the spot where the footprints disappeared.
"Astute as always," replied Xander. "The tracks have indeed stopped here." Damnar and Damina snickered, having finally started catching onto the prince's humor. Belkore had insisted on taking over the tracking earlier that day because he said that their pace was too slow. Everyone knew that Xander was the cause for the slow-going with his insistence on stopping to eat and nap every couple of hours. Since nobody would openly blame the prince for the delay, Belkore chose to blame the twins for not tracking fast enough. Damnar and Damina had been sulking ever since their demotion, but now they were relieved to see someone else roasting on the spit. Belkore could sense their amusement and shot them a piercing look.
"You two find something funny? Why don't you start moving those rocks and then tell me how funny that is?" snapped Belkore. Damnar and Damina looked to Xander for advice, but the prince merely raised an eyebrow and nodded towards the rock pile. The twins grudgingly walked over to the pile and began to toss the rocks out of the way.
They labored for over ten minutes on the mound of rocks but made little progress. It was strange. Each time they moved a rock, another slipped right into its place. Though the pile was becoming shorter, the face of it was still perfectly level. The twins became frustrated. Each new rock that slid into the hole left by the previous one was a perfect match for the vacated space, so much so that there was little room for the Gartune to wrap their fingers around the edges to pry the new rocks free. It was maddening.
Eventually, the rock pile was no longer a pile. Instead, it was flat like a patch of cobblestone street that was flush with the riverbank. Each rock was nestled perfectly against the next. There was no room in between them and no way to extract any more. Xander inspected the rock floor that they had created as he tapped it with his eüroc. It was perfectly solid.
"Well that is something," he said in awe. This time there was no sarcasm in his voice. He was genuinely impressed. "Well, now we know two things. First, they obviously crossed the river here to avoid detection. Most likely, they're somewhere in Woodhaven by now. And second..." he tapped the rock floor one last time just to make sure there wasn't a stone loose. "Whoever is helping them is rather clever. This could be fun."
"I wouldn't call spending thirty minutes moving rocks around for no reason, 'fun,'" replied Damnar as he wiped sweat off of his brow.
"No? Well, let's see if we can find something to better entertain you." There was a glint of mischief in Xander’s eyes.
Back inside of The Hole, Loras awoke from his slumber and began to toss and turn in his cot. He had only gotten a few hours’ rest and his body begged him to sleep more, but he couldn't. Something inside of him was restless.
Loras had never been prone to claustrophobia before, but now it seemed like the walls of the cave were closing in on him. Also, a coldness had begun to grow inside his chest. Well, maybe not a coldness, but a decided lack of warmth. It was as if something was missing. He had felt the same when Declin was leading them through the underground tunnels. It was an entirely new sensation to Loras, and he didn't like it. All of the sudden, he had an insatiable need to get above ground.
Loras climbed out of his top bunk, making sure not to arouse Tinko and his sister. He wandered out of the barracks and back towards the main chamber. Even at this late hour, there was still plenty of activity inside of the cavern. Off to one side, several Reytana were sparring with each other. Their fiery swords threw sparks as they collided with shields made of the same glowing material. Loras was transfixed. He had previously only seen depictions of the Reytana's weapons but seeing them in person was nothing like he had imagined. It was as if the swords and shields grew right out of the Reytana's hands; like they were a part of them. In reality, their weaponry sprung from small devices in their palms. These devices connected to the Reytana's wrist bands. The light energy that lived inside each Reytana flowed through their wrist bands, into the palm devices where it was shaped into a sword or a shield. It was one of the many ways that the Reytana were able to transform and manipulate solar energy.
Sparks flickered in the golden eyes of the warriors as they swung their glowing weapons through the air with ferocious speed and accuracy. Loras lost track of time as he stood watching what he had previously only seen in his dreams. He only snapped out of his daze when a friendly hand patted him on his shoulder.
"Is it like you imagined?" asked a familiar voice from behind Loras. Loras turned to see Gracien standing behind him, smiling.
"
It is... but it isn't," replied Loras. "I mean, I knew how the weapons worked, but I just never knew how they worked."
Gracien laughed. "I remember when I first saw a ray blade. It was my father's. I remember thinking that I had never seen anything so terrifying and yet so wonderful at the same time. The light hurt my eyes, but I couldn't look away."
"I know the feeling," said Loras as he turned his attention back to the sparring Reytana. His father showed him his first ray blade... his father was a Reytana, like mine should have been. Loras thought about what it must have been like to grow up knowing that you were a Reytana. Even before he received his light, he would have been trained on how to use a sword and shield, how to jump and fight; how to be a Tormada. Eighteen years. Eighteen years had been lost. His entire life.
"When will I get mine?" he asked.
"Patience, young warrior. It takes time to master our weapons. We will begin your training once you are rested. Speaking of which, I thought you had decided to get some sleep?"
"I tried, but I can't," replied Loras. "Something about this cave is making me uneasy. It’s like it’s pressing down on me or something."
"I know the feeling," sighed Gracien. "Reytana were not meant to live underground. You learn to deal with it after a while, but it never feels natural. When the ceiling is open, it helps," he pointed to the hole in the ceiling which was now covered up for the night, "but it's not the same as being above ground where we can absorb the full energy of the sun. It is our lifeblood. It feeds us. Our bodies need it, which is why yours is now craving it."
"So how do you feed that hunger when you're underground?" asked Loras.
"You never really do. You can supplement it with other things. You can distract your mind with training and with work. But that is only temporary. That is why we all must travel above ground every now and then, even though it is extremely dangerous for us to do so. If we didn't, we would die."
"How?" asked Loras. "How do you go above ground without being detected?"
"Through the tunnels. Some of them lead to empty spots in the forest where we can emerge for a few hours to recharge. We always take a waif with us to scout the area first. Declin and his people have been an invaluable resource and have put themselves in great danger by doing so."
"Can Declin take me out to one of these spots? I need to get out of here. Just for a few minutes. I feel like I can't breathe in this cave," pleaded Loras.
"Declin has gone and won't be back until tomorrow. Besides, the sun is setting. There is nothing out there that can feed the hunger inside of you. You must wait."
"I can't wait!" exclaimed Loras, becoming frantic now. "I need to get out of this cave! I know the sun is down but just a few breaths of fresh air – that's all I need. Then I'll come right back, I promise!"
Gracien placed his hand back on Loras' shoulder. Loras swatted it away. Gracien's kind face became stern as he returned his hand to the teen's shoulder, more forcefully this time. Loras felt like his collar bone was being crushed. "I have given my answer and you will obey it. It is too dangerous for you to go outside, especially at night." Gracien's grip loosened on Loras' shoulder and his brow unfurrowed slightly. "Why don't you go back and try to get some sleep. You will feel better if you do."
"I told you, I can't sleep," said Loras as he wriggled his way loose of Gracien's grip. "Can I at least just walk around and watch for a while? Maybe that will help."
"Loras, you are a Reytana, a guardian of Reysa. You may do what you wish."
"Except leave this cave," quipped Loras.
"Except that," said Gracien with a smile as he walked away, leaving Loras to admire the training Reytana. Loras watched the sparring for another thirty minutes or so, but this time he was not interested in the combatants. His eyes scoured the cave searching for an exit. The only one he saw was the door they had arrived through that afternoon, and it was guarded by two Reytana.
Frustrated, Loras decided to go for a walk. He paced the perimeter of the cave, acting as if he was giving himself a self-guided tour of his new home. In reality, he was looking for anything that could be an exit. There has to be some sort of hidden door or passageway here, thought Loras. He ran his hands slowly over the sides of the cave's walls but could find nothing out of the ordinary. Eventually, he came to a small alcove at the far end of the cave. It couldn't have been more than thirty feet deep, a mere dimple in the side of the cavern. The back of the alcove was completely dark. Loras took one step in and was immediately overcome by a crushing sense of claustrophobia. The darkness from the back of the alcove rushed at him, engulfing him in blackness. He couldn't breathe. Immediately, he stepped back into the light. Once he was out of the darkness, he regained his breath and the claustrophobia dissipated.
Loras looked back into the alcove. Something had caught his eye an instant before his panic attack. There was a hint of light at the back of the room. He wasn't sure what it was, but he knew that he wanted a better look at it. Fighting off his fear, Loras stepped back into the recess. His body became cold the instant he left the light of the main cave. Again, the blackness enveloped him. Loras held his breath and squinted. There it was again; a tiny shaft of light running in a thin line at the base of the room. Loras could feel the walls closing in on him but he decided to take another step forward. The light became stronger. Loras exhaled loudly and gulped down another gasp of air. He took another step forward, and then another. The light at the back of the room became brighter. With each step, Loras could feel the blackness around him thinning. It became easier to breathe. Loras was now only a few feet from the light. He held out his hands in front of him, groping in the darkness, searching for the back wall. Two more steps brought him to it. The thin, horizontal line of light was now directly in front of his feet. His hands met the wall, but, instead of a jagged, rocky surface like he had expected, the stone was smooth and polished; cool to the touch. Loras ran his hands along the wall until he found what he was looking for: a latch.
He tried to move it. Nothing. He tried harder. Again, nothing. Loras shoved his whole body against the door and pushed as he tried to turn the latch. It did not budge. Frustration and panic overtook Loras. He kicked the door as hard as he could. Instantly, he regretted that decision. White-hot pain shot through Loras' foot and into his leg. His toes felt crushed inside of his boot. Loras collapsed onto the floor of the alcove and held his damaged foot as he rocked back and forth in agony. You moron, he thought to himself. Who kicks a stone door?
Loras sat by himself for a good ten minutes until the pain eventually began to subside. His mind began to clear. The pain in his foot had distracted him from his claustrophobia. The walls were no longer collapsing onto him and he could breathe normally, but it was still pitch black and this made him feel cold inside. He had just decided to leave the alcove and return to his bed when he heard footsteps approaching. Trapped, Loras had only one option. He scooted away from the door and huddled near the side of the room.
The silhouette of a Reytana appeared at the mouth of the alcove. Loras could not see his face, only the shape of his body. The figure stopped for a moment, looked behind him, and then proceeded directly toward the door in the back of the room. Loras pulled his feet tightly to his body as the Reytana walked past him in the darkness. When the Reytana reached the back of the room, Loras heard a faint scratching sound, then a series of clicks. The door slid open. Suddenly, the alcove was awash in soft, orange light and Loras was no longer hidden by darkness. He was visible for anyone to see – a frightened teenager huddled in a ball. Loras imagined the punishment that was sure to be doled out to him. He closed his eyes, anticipating a beating – but none came. Loras opened one eye just in time to see the shadow of the Reytana moving along the wall of the corridor beyond the door. The door – it was still open, although swinging shut quickly. There was no time to lose. Without thinking, Loras jumped up and stuck his arm through the opening in the door before it could close. The door was incredibly heavy, and it took all of Loras' s
trength to shove it back open so that he could squeeze through. A week ago, he would not have been able to hold the door open, but his newfound Tormada strength served him well. He slid his body through the opening and collapsed onto the dirt floor of the corridor. The door shut behind him with a click.
Loras looked up. The tunnel was lit by a series of torches spaced every ten feet along the walls. Even with the heat from the torch-fire, the tunnel was decidedly cool – but the air was fresher than inside the cave. Open air must be near, thought Loras. He crept up onto his feet. Ahead of him, he could faintly hear the Reytana walking through the tunnel. Tip-toeing as quietly as he could, Loras followed the footsteps in front of him.
Chapter Fifteen: Crossing
The moon shone off of the frothy, churning water of the Aeil River, giving it an even more ominous appearance than usual. Xander, Belkore, Damnar and Damina studied the zip lines that crossed over the angry river. All but two of the platform huts that connected the zips were closed for the evening. The two that were still available for passage, a single rider platform and a larger, multi-occupant platform, had torches flickering in them and a half-asleep waif lounging on the floor.
The Gartune approached the hut of the multi-occupant zip line. Damnar and Damina eyed the rusty steel cage that hung off the zip line overhead, then the rushing water. Looking back at the cage, it became clear that this mode of transport was obviously not made for Tormada. Xander watched his companions as they tried, unsuccessfully, to hide their anxiety. It amused him.
Xander yelled up to the half-sleeping waif on the zip platform. "You there – oh, master of the crossing! We seek passage on your finest vessel!"
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