An hour or so later, Carina had given the group an extensive description of the inside of the castle with the help of the model standing on a table by itself in the cave room. She had been one of the residents there when Todmus was ruler of Drofoz. She was the realm's lead healer and head of the ovates. Lavish quarters in the castle had accompanied the title. Her escape from Arawn was made by the skin of her teeth. She dreaded to think how he would have used her if she hadn't eluded capture and found the caves. Since that day when Arawn had forcefully taken the realm, Carina had always felt guilty she'd been unable to get Allora and Skylar out, too. She couldn't bear to think what they may have been through over the years. She prayed with all her heart that Faedra and her friends would be successful in their plan to rescue Todmus's family. Carina developed a new appreciation for the Custodian while they were hashing out a plan for the rescue. It was obvious she cared deeply for Todmus and would do whatever it took to free his family and reunite them.
***
“How much longer before it gets dark?” Faedra asked Carina as they all left the cave room and headed towards the large cave where Faedra had lost control of her power a few hours prior. “A little while yet. We have a couple of spare rooms we can give you. You can freshen up and rest before we set out this evening.” That was music to Faedra's ears. She was starting to feel a little grimy, and the thought of splashing some water on her face and neck was a welcome one. Carina led the four of them though the main chamber and down another tunnel. This tunnel opened up into another cavern, smaller than the first. The walls of this one looked like a sponge. Lots of holes dotted the walls of the cavern creating small rooms. Faedra could see that many of them were already occupied; the inhabitants peeked out and looked at her and her friends with curious interest. As they walked further into the cavern, past all those faces, the energy in the room rose with every step. Whispers echoed around the walls. Faedra was blanketed in the familiar feeling of hope she was now accustomed to feeling when surrounded by these people. She looked around and gave a weak smile to those who made eye contact. Telling them with her eyes that she would do her best to free them from having to live in hiding. To some of the smaller children she saw, she was sure they knew no other life than being cooped up in a cage. Too much danger lurked outside for them to play carefree in the sunshine. She wondered if many of these children had ever been allowed outside at all. Had they ever had the sun warm their faces on a bright spring morning? Felt the cool drops of rain from an unexpected shower? “Here we are,” Carina said, snapping Faedra from her thoughts. Faedra turned her attention to her host. Now that she and her friends were going to free the family members of someone she held very dear to her heart, she couldn't view Carina as a kidnapper any more. Carina pointed to two holes in the cavern wall. One was above the other. A ladder made of tree branches and strapped with vines led to the highest one. “I will come and get you when night falls,” she said before turning and exiting out the way they came in. “Well, I guess Jocelyn and I will take this one and you two can take that one.” Faedra said, pointing to the lower of the two rooms. She noticed Etyran's expression fall as she divvied up the rooms, but he quickly recovered when Faen put his arm around Etyran's shoulder. “Come, my friend. Let us leave the ladies to get freshened up and rested before we leave. I want to go over tactics with you,” he said to Etyran as he led him towards the ladder. When Etyran put a foot on the first rung, Faen beat his wings a few times and ascended to their room. Faedra pushed the material hanging in the entrance for privacy aside and gestured for Jocelyn to