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“Here,” he says. “I’ve found her trail.”
“It’s more than one set of tracks,” Sorinda puts in.
“Yes,” Deros agrees.
“Someone took her,” Mandsy says.
Even I can guess the lines tracing over the needle-covered ground indicate she was dragged.
“There’s blood, too,” Deshel says, her voice breathier than usual.
Deros moves us at a faster pace through the woods now that we’ve found the trail, whipping past tree branches, leaping over roots, dodging bushes and brambles.
The trail takes us back to the clearing. The blood droplets end right outside the mouth of the cave.
Chapter 12
THE STENCH OF THEcave is overwhelming. I can’t believe we couldn’t smell it from outside. It’s decaying flesh and human waste all wrapped into one. The airflow is limited, making the scents almost overpowering. Mandsy pulls her blouse over her nose.
The smell is not nearly so disturbing as the bones, however. They cover the floor like a carpet.
I lower one of the torches, which we fashioned out of branches, ripped cloth, and tree sap, to get a better look.
“I recognize deer, mountain cat, and rabbit bones,” Deros says.
“These are human,” I say, pointing to a pile of skulls.
“I thought we were following human tracks,” Riden says. “But this is the lair of some kind of beast.”
“I don’t understand it, either,” Deros says.
“Are we to stand here talking about what we don’t understand, or are we going to save my sister?” Deshel asks.
“I can’t pick out a trail in this, Captain,” Deros says. “I’m sorry.”
“I’ll take the lead now,” I say.
We walk single file, each of us holding a torch for light. Riden is at my back. He is followed by Mandsy, Deros, and Deshel. Sorinda takes up the rear.
We move slowly, doing our best not to make a sound, which is difficult when the bones crunch under our feet.
The cave walls are not smooth like the tunnels at the keep. They’re jagged and rough. Everything is wet. Water drips from the roof and trickles down the sides. There must be small openings all along the cave for the rain to get in.
It supports all the insect growth.
Webs dotted with raindrops nestle into the corners. Bugs with far too many legs race across the walls. Worms wriggle on top of the rocky soil at our feet. Crickets fill the space with their chirps.
My skin crawls at the sight. I would brave far worse for anyone in my crew, but did there have to be bugs?
When we come to a fork in the path, I make everyone halt.
“What are you waiting for?” Deshel asks. “Just split us up.”
Our group is small as it is, we need to be—
A scream—a sound of pure agony—rips through my senses, making my hair stand on end.
“Lotiya!” Deshel shouts. “I’m coming!”
