Apparently, it surprised Haji
too because she asked, “There’s more than one vault?”
“You’ll never find them without my help.”
“Why do you know about them if no one else does?” I tried to
appear unimpressed.
“Because I’m one of the few in Nethra who also has the
Concealment Gem bloodline. My ancestors were brought here to keep the island
and the other vaults hidden. I’ve been training for that job since I was ten.
If I stay, I’ll be sharing the responsibility with some of my relatives in a
couple more years.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“It’s not if you believe the way to preserve our safety is by
hiding. But I was born to fight and sitting in a chamber, guarding a vault is
not my idea of changing things for the better.”
I was silent for a long time as I pondered his words. I had
heard Lirig make comments about Perin’s decisions in the past that could be viewed
as unsupportive, but I’d always thought it was just a way for him to show off
his independence. Did he really disagree with Perin’s way of leading Nethra,
enough to actually desert the city?
“Oh, what’s the big deal, Sai?” Faema said as she shoved a
couple pieces of fruit in her pack. “We could use the help out there. Or are
you so threatened by another guy showing you up that you can’t admit that?”
I rolled my eyes. “I have much more at stake here than my
ego. Lirig can come, but only because I can use someone else to carry some of
my gear.” I tossed a sheathed knife and several sealed dart containers to him.
He caught them easily.
“Good choice,” he said.
“We’ll see.” I found a place for my last pack of darts and
glanced at Haji, wondering if she approved of my decision. Apprehension creased
her brow as she met my eyes. Smiling reassuringly, I said to Lirig, “Now, tell
me your plan.”
Before Lirig was willing to say much, he left for a while
with the promise to return. Haji was convinced he was reporting our
disobedience to Perin but I reminded her that he would have just forced us to
leave instead of taking us back to our beach if he didn’t want to help. The day
was waning when he finally returned, but he carried extra packs of supplies
including a better pack for Faema, fresh water, a few weapons, and an unlit
torch.
Once we began to follow him into the forests of Nethra, it
didn’t take me very long to realize Lirig was leading us to the abandoned
tunnel Aylen and I had discovered a few moon cycles back. Once we’d managed to
force the vine covered door open and saw the moldy, bug infested interior,
Aylen and I had been certain no one remembered it existed. In spite of the
filth coating the walls, we’d ventured in and explored every crevice until we
found an exit leading back into the city.
“Did you follow me and Aylen here at some point?” I asked
him, quietly pushing a cluster of leaves out of my way. I held onto them while
I waited for Haji and Faema to pass.
“I found it years ago as a kid. A few other people know it
exists, but nobody ever wants to explore it. I can’t understand why.” As we
reached the door set into the mountain, Lirig reached through the overgrown ivy
encompassing its surface and pulled. It groaned against the dried mud pressed
against its seams but opened when I added my strength to Lirig’s. As the pitch
black of the tunnel seeped out of the entrance, a dozen bats glided out as
well. A few of them squealed when they smacked into us.
“There’s no way I’m going in there,” Faema said, slowly
backing away. Haji grabbed her arm and yanked her toward the entrance.
“Of course you are. You’re the one that insisted on coming.”
Ignoring them, I turned to Lirig. “So, are you leading the
way or what?”
“Do you know how to get to the hidden vaults?”
“I wouldn’t have agreed to put up with your stench if I
did.”
Lirig paused for a moment, his nose wrinkling as he inhaled.
I laughed.
“Do you want my help or not?” he
too because she asked, “There’s more than one vault?”
“You’ll never find them without my help.”
“Why do you know about them if no one else does?” I tried to
appear unimpressed.
“Because I’m one of the few in Nethra who also has the
Concealment Gem bloodline. My ancestors were brought here to keep the island
and the other vaults hidden. I’ve been training for that job since I was ten.
If I stay, I’ll be sharing the responsibility with some of my relatives in a
couple more years.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“It’s not if you believe the way to preserve our safety is by
hiding. But I was born to fight and sitting in a chamber, guarding a vault is
not my idea of changing things for the better.”
I was silent for a long time as I pondered his words. I had
heard Lirig make comments about Perin’s decisions in the past that could be viewed
as unsupportive, but I’d always thought it was just a way for him to show off
his independence. Did he really disagree with Perin’s way of leading Nethra,
enough to actually desert the city?
“Oh, what’s the big deal, Sai?” Faema said as she shoved a
couple pieces of fruit in her pack. “We could use the help out there. Or are
you so threatened by another guy showing you up that you can’t admit that?”
I rolled my eyes. “I have much more at stake here than my
ego. Lirig can come, but only because I can use someone else to carry some of
my gear.” I tossed a sheathed knife and several sealed dart containers to him.
He caught them easily.
“Good choice,” he said.
“We’ll see.” I found a place for my last pack of darts and
glanced at Haji, wondering if she approved of my decision. Apprehension creased
her brow as she met my eyes. Smiling reassuringly, I said to Lirig, “Now, tell
me your plan.”
Before Lirig was willing to say much, he left for a while
with the promise to return. Haji was convinced he was reporting our
disobedience to Perin but I reminded her that he would have just forced us to
leave instead of taking us back to our beach if he didn’t want to help. The day
was waning when he finally returned, but he carried extra packs of supplies
including a better pack for Faema, fresh water, a few weapons, and an unlit
torch.
Once we began to follow him into the forests of Nethra, it
didn’t take me very long to realize Lirig was leading us to the abandoned
tunnel Aylen and I had discovered a few moon cycles back. Once we’d managed to
force the vine covered door open and saw the moldy, bug infested interior,
Aylen and I had been certain no one remembered it existed. In spite of the
filth coating the walls, we’d ventured in and explored every crevice until we
found an exit leading back into the city.
“Did you follow me and Aylen here at some point?” I asked
him, quietly pushing a cluster of leaves out of my way. I held onto them while
I waited for Haji and Faema to pass.
“I found it years ago as a kid. A few other people know it
exists, but nobody ever wants to explore it. I can’t understand why.” As we
reached the door set into the mountain, Lirig reached through the overgrown ivy
encompassing its surface and pulled. It groaned against the dried mud pressed
against its seams but opened when I added my strength to Lirig’s. As the pitch
black of the tunnel seeped out of the entrance, a dozen bats glided out as
well. A few of them squealed when they smacked into us.
“There’s no way I’m going in there,” Faema said, slowly
backing away. Haji grabbed her arm and yanked her toward the entrance.
“Of course you are. You’re the one that insisted on coming.”
Ignoring them, I turned to Lirig. “So, are you leading the
way or what?”
“Do you know how to get to the hidden vaults?”
“I wouldn’t have agreed to put up with your stench if I
did.”
Lirig paused for a moment, his nose wrinkling as he inhaled.
I laughed.
“Do you want my help or not?” he
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