A Breath of Mischief by MarcyKate Connolly

Author:MarcyKate Connolly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2022-10-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

We venture into the closest lava tube. From what Neoma said, it sounds like they all lead to the same place. We quickly discover the going is tricky and very slippery. In some places, the path slopes directly down.

I have no doubt we can get down to the candle. But I begin to worry whether we’ll be able to get back out again.

“Aria,” Gwyn whispers. “I don’t like this place.” She shivers as she hunches over as the passage narrows slightly. The only sound is that of shale shifting beneath our feet and our hearts throbbing in our chests.

I know what she means. It’s pitch-black down here. I have a few matches in my pack, and we’ve been using them as slowly as we can. No glowing moss or fungus grows here to illuminate our path.

Nothing thrives down here.

“You haven’t liked any of the places we’ve had to go to find these treasures,” I say, trying to keep my voice from trembling.

“But this…this one is different.”

A chill bursts over me. I wish the Wind were here. They have great power, and without them, I fear I am not a very good windling at all. But I can’t afford to wallow, so I shove the feeling off. We have a mission. We must save the Wind.

We’ve walked for some time when suddenly I lose my footing. I drop the rest of my matches as I land hard on my bottom then slide, unable to stop, headlong down the lava tube.

“Aria!” Gwyn cries. In her hurry to follow, she slides too.

Terrified, I scrabble at the walls, desperate to find something I can hold on to or use to break my fall. Gwyn’s claws and paws do the same, all to no avail.

I hit a bump and tumble head over heels. Finally, I manage to right myself but not slow to a stop.

We keep sliding and sliding and sliding.

My stomach is permanently lodged in my throat. It feels endless—then the earth rises to meet us without warning, and I roll, hard. I flop flat on my back on a field of ancient, solidified magma. Moments later, Gwyn thumps next to me in the most undignified landing I’ve ever seen.

Once our heads stop spinning, we see this space—huge as it is—is brighter than the tunnel we came down.

The source of that light is a burning candle set in the middle of the chamber. Unlike our other quests, there is no trick to figure out. I suppose the challenge is to get down here alive. Maybe to get out alive too.

After I get to my unsteady feet, I walk cautiously toward the burning flame. There might be hidden dangers I can’t fathom yet. But I make it to the candle itself without incident.

I lift it with trembling hands. It’s made from a deep yellow wax, set in a brass candlestick with a brass snuffer attached to the base. The flame is constant and gives off a pleasant warmth.

“I can’t believe it. We found them all.

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