A Fractured Song (Heartsong Book 2) by Deborah Grace White

Author:Deborah Grace White [White, Deborah Grace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Luminant Publications
Published: 2024-08-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Thirteen

“What are we supposed to be looking at?” Marieke asked blankly. Zev had to agree. He saw nothing but a further small alcove.

“I’ll show you.” Trina squatted down and crawled into the space. She turned her head back to them, her eyes flashing with mischief in the lantern light. “If he’d like to give me a boost, that is.”

“I’m sure Marieke can help you,” Zev said unemotionally. “She’s stronger than she lets on.”

“Shame,” said Trina, but she accepted Marieke’s help nonetheless. Zev couldn’t see much from his vantage point, but the girl disappeared from view upwards.

“And here I am.” Trina’s voice, faint but triumphant, echoed down. “Connected right through to one of our old, abandoned tunnels.”

“Impressive,” Marieke acknowledged. “You’d never know it was there unless you crawled right in here.”

“Come on, then,” encouraged the disembodied voice of Trina. “And bring that one-of-a-kind man of yours, too.”

Marieke didn’t reply, instead drawing in and releasing a deep breath as if summoning patience. She lowered her head enough for Zev to see her face through the alcove’s opening.

“Well, she’s precocious,” Marieke said flatly.

Zev raised an eyebrow, keeping a straight face with difficulty. “You really think there’s no one else like me?”

“Oh shut it,” Marieke said, abandoning dignity as she pulled her head back into the space.

Zev grinned at her legs as he passed the lantern through to her. “Shall I boost you up?”

“I can manage just fine, thank you,” Marieke said with a frostiness that didn’t fool Zev for a moment.

His grin broadened. “Shame,” he said, echoing Trina’s earlier reply.

He left Marieke to her splutter of protest as he went to haul the boulder back in place and hopefully hide their route out. By the time he returned, the alcove was empty but for the lantern. He squeezed himself into it, observing with interest the ledge that became visible at about his neck height. Marieke and Trina both knelt at the edge, Marieke receiving the lantern and Trina hauling at his arm in an attempt to help him up that was more eager than actually helpful.

“Let’s go,” Trina said, once they were reunited. “I’m pretty sure others don’t know about this route, but our voices might carry if we stay too close.”

She set off at a brisk walk, the others following.

“Does this lead all the way out?” Marieke asked hopefully.

“It does,” said Trina. “We’re actually not that far from the canyon opening. But I won’t take you straight out. I’m just getting far enough from the latrine for us to talk without fear of discovery. I have questions.”

“So do we,” Marieke said.

Trina nodded as she turned one corner, then another, ending in a decent open space.

“I’m sure. You go first.”

“Is it really safe for us to stop here?” Marieke asked. “Won’t they come looking for us?”

“I doubt it.” Trina settled herself on a rock that looked like it had fallen from the rough arch above, apparently unconcerned about the risk of the tunnel caving in further. “They’ll probably think you threw yourselves into the stream to escape.

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