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The weather up here is less stable. Last night a coat was almost necessary, and today I wish I could shed all my clothes under the stifling sun.
Parker passed the time with more tales of his family. The most intriguing one happened with his older brother as together they finagled a young, drunken friend into a canoe while he slept— waking to find himself in the middle of a lake with no way to get back but swim. I don’t believe half of what he tells me, but it paints a comforting picture of love and friendship.
Part of me wants to ask where they are now— his friends, his family. But my gut tells me that story isn’t as fun to tell being that he’s here with me instead of with them.
I realize now how a piece of me has clung to the stories of his home. There was a normalcy to his words as he told me of his mother and sister, his older brother, of friends from a time that seemed only yesterday, but must in reality have been from a time long past.
I’m finally creating my own stories. Ones worth telling at least. I roll my eyes, letting out a heavy sigh as I’m once again pushed against the fact that I’m not just exploring the mountains with a good friend. Somehow, being near Parker, I keep forgetting that truth.
As I stare into the dark abyss in front of me, I hope there will be a story I eventually get to tell as well. One where I come out the other side without being swallowed whole by some cave dwelling monster. Or worse, murdered by a knife in the back, courtesy of Onah. The way she looks at me, I wouldn’t take the possibility of that fate away just yet.
The woman marches past me, a makeshift torch in her hand. “This will be the last daylight you see, Aldren, if you don’t get this girl to the other side of this mountain, breathing and at least mostly intact. I don’t care if you have to listen to her scream the entire time while you carry her over your shoulder, or knock her out and drag her through. Just make it happen.” And just like that, she disappears into the darkness.
“Motivational as always, my friend!” Parker yells after her disappearing form.
I’ve never been one to be afraid of the dark. But something about this— the tight, confined space. The unknown of what lies beyond it. Is there enough air to breathe once we’re inside? What awaits me once I pass through? I’m standing frozen at its precipice, the claws of a shadowy strangeness reaching for me.
Parker strikes a spark a few steps away, lighting his own torch and holding it up to fend off the blackness inside. “If you’d like, you can hold the light. We can go side by side when it permits. And from there, I will go in front or behind, whatever you’re most comfortable with. It’s not long, maybe the time it might take for you to host a fancy dinner party.”
A dinner party. Obviously he hasn’t been to one hosted by my mother. They can go well into the night, and even to dawn depending on the celebration. It has been many years since Mother threw one of her grand parties, but I remember some from when I was a girl. It was truly awe inducing to watch. I always fell asleep halfway through, exhausted from eating and dancing more than I ever thought possible. Sadly, I won’t get the option to simply fall asleep here.
He holds out an arm, and I link mine with his— not even questioning how absurd it is that I’m seeking my captor for comfort. My breathing is heavy and uneven as we begin, entering the rocky void with as much confidence as a beetle about to conquer a falcon.
The first half is as horrible as I imagined— cramped, narrow, and demanding single file progress. When I have to unlink my arm with Parker’s in order to get through, I unintentionally grab his hand instead. He walks in front with his arm angled back to keep hold of mine. He doesn’t complain though, instead gripping me just as hard. Somehow knowing I’m not alone in here is enough to keep me from moving into complete panic.
We continue slowly, crawling and climbing, letting go and grabbing back together as soon as possible, like magnets finding their invisible bond once again.
“How often do people use this?” I huff out, my gaze darting across the rocks and shadows.
“Fairly often. I’ve been through a couple times. Never run into anyone else though,” he says.
“It doesn’t seem like much could get through here. Not much could be transported anyway.”
“Princesses seem to do ok.” I can’t see his face, but I know there’s a smile there. “I’ll have to send a note to the owner of this route and let him know.” I turn my glare back to him, sending a dark chuckle echoing through the cave.
“What do they use this for?” I ask. Curiosity clears away the tension and fear, giving a brief reprieve from my shaking legs.
“Mostly trade. Although, like you shrewdly noticed, there’s not room for much else than a person to fit through in some spots. I believe they have a system to get their goods in and out. Ropes and pulleys and such. Thenstra has a festival starting soon. This tunnel should be overflowing by next week to get everything in to prepare,” Parker tells me.
Surprise lights my face. A festival? “Nobody in Felshan knows about this. As far as we know, everything has been completely shut off. I’m surprised at least a trickle of knowledge hasn’t yet spread about this place. That not even the king of Thenstra has put an end to it.”
“Oh, he would if he knew. That’s why it’s very hush-hush. Only a dozen or so people know, and they have strict orders punishable by death.” He smiles again as he shares the information.
“How do you know all of this?”
“I don’t. But it would make sense. I only know of it from Onah, and I’m not sure how truthful she really is,” he says.
I turn and give him a shove in the shoulder, but it’s like trying to move a brick wall. “Onah is right. You really do talk too much, you know,” I say. He mocks an air dagger to his heart, feigning the pain of my words. “You’re insufferable,” I add.
“My words make sense, if you think about it. King Brekan closed all doors to neighboring kingdoms, and you think he’d be fine knowing there are tunnels connecting Felshan and Thenstra? Whoever built this did so on pain of death. There must be strict orders to keep it silent. They also must make quite a bit of money, because it looks well-traveled and taken care of.”
I look around me, noticing footprints in the tracked dirt beneath me. Scrapes and marks from some kind of metal lay on the rocks of this cave. How does one learn to notice such things without another pointing them out? The detail Parker sees slips easily past me. Everything looks like random dirt, rocks, and darkness to my eyes.
We move into a larger area, the space opening around us, and we are able to walk abreast instead of single file. After a few moments, I notice our hands are still tightly clasped together as they were before. It’s unnecessary now, but I don’t let go. My stomach is still twisting as my eyes search the path ahead. My breathing is shaky and labored even though it seems we’re past the worst of it.
My palms become slippery, and Parker grips my hand tighter. “For what it’s worth, I think you’d make a great queen. If that’s what you decided to do.” His words take me off guard, and not just because they are moot at this moment in time.
He thinks I would do a good job? We’ve been together not even two weeks, and he thinks he knows me that well? He did have time to watch me in the palace, to see me in a way I hadn’t realized. Color rises to my cheeks. I’m unused to such trust and faith in me.
