Chapter 15 - Fading Light

Violetta stepped forward and stared at a mass of strange white pillars in the middle of a large chamber. The pillars were in the center of the room on an elevated platform. Ten pillars in all they were eerily similar to a pair of hands rising out of the stone and pitched inwards as if whatever was between them was being held. However, nothing was in the middle. The crystals sat on a raised stand in the middle of the room; meaning it was not a natural formation.

" This… " Violetta approached the crystals. " A cleansing room? "

Violetta seemed to not know, but the large white pillars at their odd pitch did not interest Raeya so much as the tiered pools that appeared to be large baths that lined the room. As she approached, she saw that they were being filled and overflowing into one another from carefully carved notches in the stone. Tracing the path of the water up the baths seemed to be fed from this carved face in the stone which seems to be in a constant state of vomiting the water into the bath. The stone face appeared sharp and angled, with a wide forehead and long pointed ears. A Dwellin for sure. On the opposite wall with its baths was another face of a female Dwellin.

" Just one of these would buy a city. " Violetta turned to Raeya, " Did you know of this place? "

" No. " She peered into the bath and dipped her hand in. “Hot! It burned me.”

Violetta looked over and asked, " Hot? Cold? "

" Hot! " She stared at the bath, wondering how it was heated without a fire.

" We should be close. " Violetta left the crystals and peered further down the tunnel, " Another entrance should be near. "

Raeyn followed her down the tunnel, but as they proceeded there seemed to be nothing further. The crystal chamber was the only thing which stood out. Time passed and the winding tunnel which had no signs of worked stone pressed Violetta to her limit. The torch dimmed.

" We lingered too long. " Violetta’s frustration was apparent as she realized it was too late to make it back to the entrance in time. " We need to turn back now. "

" Why? " Raeyn did not understand the torch's fading light only gave little notice.

" We have to rely on them to reach us. " Violetta shook her head, " I misjudged our time here. There is no way to return safely in the darkness. Even the Dark Elves cannot see in total darkness. If only I had taken my pack with me. "

" I can see. " Raeya looked up at Violetta, " In total darkness. Gobbos can. "

" You are going to leave me? " Violetta’s voice was soft.

" No. " Raeya pulled up her tunic around her neck, bundling it as she had to escape from Rock’s attempt to strip her. " Leash. "

Violetta’s eyes widened as Raeya offered her the bundled hem of the tunic, " The flame dies and Belos leaves. I’ll save you, Violetta. "

" You will not leave me here? "

" No. "

Raeya knew that returning without Violetta would lead to a terrible outcome. Cade was looking to kill her. Returning without Violetta would be taken as excuse enough. Whether or not they could communicate with one another, Cade could get rid of her easily. Even if Violetta was aware of that, and it was likely, this seemed to be a test. Yes. This woman, this female Mahn, was a manipulator and liked to play tricks. If she were a Gobbo of the warren it would be likely that she could have rivaled the chief.

In the warren, the most naked form of power was taking something by force. Scratching, biting, kicking. Fighting for what you wanted within certain limits was the way it was. If you have and fight for it, then it is yours to keep. If it gets violent, as it did with the brothers Rock and Metal, only a higher power can end it. Above that were those who got their way by playing tricks on one another. Leaf pushing her to the Great Mother had gotten Agog to give her tunic with that line. The Great Mother saw through Leaf’s trick, but it was the Great Mother after all. Trying to deceive someone more skilled than you at it was dangerous. If she continued to be helpful and not work against her then it would be just like following the orders of someone stronger than you. It was not a way to ensure that you wouldn’t get hurt, but it made it less likely they would bother.

The torch went out as they made their path back to the large stone gate. Violetta’s steps were uncertain and slow, making the progress very slow. Violetta did not trust her and kept her hand against the wall to make sure that she was not being led astray. Walking through the darkness should have made her uneasy. Walking around with your eyes closed was dangerous even with a guide, but Violetta’s resolve and strong front should have been faltered. Raeya did not understand it. She did not need to. Not yet.

" Raeya…. " Violetta said as she stumbled into a protruding section of the wall and let go of the tunic as she felt her upper right thigh.

Raeya’s right hand gently grasped Violetta’s left hand, " Here. "

Her hand was cold and slightly damp, but a reassuring squeeze provoked Violetta with a little squeak-like noise that she had not expected. " I am not a child. " Violetta said but did not pull her hand free.

Raeya’s right hand offered the hem, and Violetta took hold of it quickly. They continued on to the stone gate and into the filthy guano of the bats. Violetta knew all on her own that changing from right to left was needed at this point. Even blinded, she was quite capable of making it out of here on her own. Raeya pushed onwards and through the muck, calling out the dangerous pit as if Violetta would ever stray far enough from that wall to risk falling into whatever that shallow depression concealed.

They continued on and on. There was no light to greet them beyond the bend. It was not long before Violetta’s eyes discerned the starlight from outside the cave. No torch light. No campfire.

" No fire. " Violetta’s voice dropped as she unsheathed her dagger. " Raeya. "

In the darkness, Violetta offered it to her. Her only weapon?

Raeya refused with a simple, " No. "

Was it a trick? Was it fear? Was it trust? There was not a lot of time to think such things over and thinking about it at all was quite difficult. She did not know how to fight with a knife, but she could see in complete darkness. The Dark Elves could not. Violetta should also have known of the Gobbos ability to see in the darkness. When she spoke to her in the Gobbi language it had been more than understandable, but it was not her own. Was that strange scroll the reason? The flame was her own means to understand more of Mahn’s words.

Another thought came to mind. Violetta wanted to test her. There was no need for the dagger the first time. Her eyes alone could make her unable to move, but what else could she do. The Great Mother could touch fire without being harmed. Violetta had healed her hand by placing a single finger into her mouth. From appearances alone neither seemed to be capable of such things. If you were strong, the muscles would show it. If you were smart, you could show it or hide it. That is the danger of trickery, even to the point that a divine gift could be figured out through guile. Violetta was a master of it. Too good. If anything, this vulnerability was another test or trick. She would not fall for it.

Sheathing the dagger and continuing on, they waded through the worst of the filth and crossed the spring. Returning to the entrance chamber the central pitfall trap could be easily avoided, but instead of allowing her to call out the danger Raeya stopped cold and called out, " Huron? "

A weak groan came from the pit followed by a soft, " Vio-letta? "

Violetta’s conversation with Huron was largely unintelligible, but as they spoke the tone of her voice seemed to relax and three figures appeared at the entrance. Huron had fallen in and was injured, but Cade, Stirge and Wilde were all waiting at the entrance. Raeyn found her guts clenching as it appeared that the Dark Elves had not attacked or fled. Was it because of her and Violetta being beyond reach? Was Cade too prepared? It was then that she realized that both of their eyes were locked onto her. On the night of the Dark Moon, they saw far into the cave and followed her silent footsteps with ease.

Violetta was wrong. They could see into the darkness.