The Book of Never: The Complete Series by Ashley Capes

Author:Ashley Capes
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fantasy
Publisher: Close-Up-Books
Published: 2017-04-27T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6.

“Where are we then?” he asked. He brushed a finger across the nearest stone and it came away with a faint glowing powder. Nearby, a groove in the ground revealed recent scuff marks – the dwelling of the rock-turtle?

“An underground cave of some sort,” Luis said. “Bigger than I was expecting, that’s for certain.”

Tsolde jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “The Tremasch has a path, it leads outside – I can feel the air further along.”

“Elina?” Luis asked.

“She’s up there with a dozen men, maybe more. I doubt anyone will follow at first, but we should hurry. If they all swim down they’ll probably stage then set out together – they’re afraid of me,” he said. And why shouldn’t they be? Yet he kept most of the bitterness from his voice.

Tsolde led them quickly between the green columns to the sound of their boots squelching. It echoed in the cavern until the faint stirring of air met his face and Tsolde brought them to a halt. She knelt by a small opening – again, something they’d have to crawl – or wriggle – through in order to reach the other side.

“I’ll go first,” she said, sticking her head into the tunnel.

“Careful,” he said.

“I know, I know.”

Once Tsolde was through, Luis followed, pausing at one point. “Trouble?” Never asked.

Luis shifted and dragged himself forward. “It gets tight in the middle – just take a deep breath.”

Never sighed but when he reached the narrow part of the passage he was able to reach for handholds ahead, suck in the night air and haul himself through with little difficulty, and only a moment’s discomfort as what seemed to be the weight of the entire mountain pressed upon him.

And then Luis was helping him to his feet on the banks of another stream, this one empty of water, and only a jumble of rocks beneath. New starlight softened the hard edges. The scent of pine drifted across from the opposite bank.

He shivered. How inviting, the pines – whatever shelter they offered would be most welcome. And with no supplies, no climbing equipment, food or fire-making tools – they were in for a rough night.

“Can we close the opening?” Luis asked.

Never pointed to the dry riverbed. “If we pile up enough heavy rocks, we’d slow them at the very least. How’s your back feeling?”

“It’s shivering in anticipation.”

Never chuckled as he climbed into the riverbed.

Tsolde straightened. “Won’t that block the Tremasch?”

“He’ll find another home,” Never said as together, he and Luis lifted the first stone. The largest they could handle, they carried it to the edge of the bed then started to build a pile. Tsolde joined them, collecting smaller pieces and stacking them beside the tunnel.

Once they had enough stone, Never and Luis used the pile to help themselves lift the biggest ones out, grunting and muttering curses as they worked. Once the tunnel was half-covered, they returned for the stepping stones and added them to the top – sealing the opening as Tsolde added the smaller pieces, wedging them between gaps.

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