Page 38 of Earthbound

Darkness settled around Alder like a cloak.

He’d never been curious to visit his origins before. Osei had told him of the den, and that had been enough to satisfy his curiosity. What was exciting about a cave after all? Caperly was full of them.

And maybe he’d been a little scared to see the squalor he’d been living in. Embarrassed that he couldn’t even remember his own name, so Osei had taken it from the trees that surrounded his home.

‘I can’t see a thing,’ Lettle said behind him. Her voice was tight with concern, probably because she was yet to fall for the fourth time. But Alder could not be preoccupied with anyone’s fear but his own. His heart was fluttering like a caged bird in his chest, bursting to get free of his ribs.

‘I’ve been here before.’ Even in the dark he recognised it. ‘The vision I had yesterday…it’s the same place.’

It was the smell he remembered first, sweet and earthy, like moss and ice.

The warm glow of fraedia light filled the cave as Lettle removed the crystal from her pack. But Alder wasn’t yet ready to face the truth of his origins so he squeezed his eyes shut.

The air got hotter as Lettle approached him, holding the gemstone torch. She rested her hand on his shoulder. ‘You can open your eyes; it’s just a cave.’ It was always a surprise when she spoke so gently.

He let his lashes flutter open.

The cave was empty, the obeah having disappeared entirely. The only shadows on the damp walls were their own. Stalactites hung from the ceiling, dripping calcium-rich deposits onto the ground which in turn grew stalagmites. The formations looked like teeth, jagged and scowling. The maw of the cave narrowed ahead of them.

Alder drew his arms around himself despite it being warmer in here than out by the lake. There were still pockets of frost glistening on the wood sorrel leaves, but they grew by the entrance where the small slip of light could nourish them.

A bat flew out of the darkness and Lettle screamed, dropping the fraedia to the floor with a clink.

Alder bent down to retrieve the crystal. It had fallen in a shallow pool of water, sending shards of light through its multi-faceted reflection.

‘I fell down,’ he whispered. ‘I fell down here.’

The memory was still faint, but he could now begin to see the broad strokes, if not the colours or details.

He began to slow his breaths without Lettle prompting. Their months of work had led them to this moment.

The cave wavered around him, merging with his past. The tightness around his stomach returned, and when he looked down, he could see the rope knotted tightly around his waist. Obeah lurked in the shadows watching him with eyes devoid of life–but not dead, just empty and haunting.

‘It’s the same memory, only clearer. I’m scared, no, I’m terrified. I don’t know where I am. I’m holding a letter. No,’ he shook his head as the vision solidified. ‘It’s not a letter, it’s an open page of a book.’ He snapped his head to Lettle, refocusing on the present once more.

‘I’m holding Afa’s grimoire.’

Lettle recoiled in shock. ‘The grimoire? Are you sure?’

Alder swallowed and dashed away the tears on his cheeks. The fear within his memory was so palpable it was hard to linger on. ‘Yes.’

Lettle was shaking her head in denial, even as she withdrew the grimoire and showed it to him. ‘This book? This was in your memory?’

‘Yes.’

Lettle’s breath fogged out long and slow. ‘Rayan’s father said he found the grimoire in Afa’s tomb.’

Alder passed the fraedia light back to Lettle, his shaking hands causing the light to flicker around them, making him feel dizzy. ‘I must have been looking for it too.’

Lettle’s skin turned sallow. ‘Alder, the prince found the grimoire thirty years ago.’

‘Is it safe?’ The voice made them both jump and they turned to the newcomer.

Dart’s worried face peered through the narrow cave opening. ‘You were meant to scout ahead and let us know.’

‘Sorry, Dart,’ Alder said. ‘I started to remember something.’

‘That’s good!’ Mia said, pushing past Dart and into the cave. ‘Was it helpful?’