Page 55 of Earthbound

Alder saw Lettle’s gaze linger on the obeah and he said, ‘My brethren have always been welcome here, though few bound to the fae have discovered my location.’

He led them past a shimmering pool of water towards the far end of the cavern. It was only then that Lettle realised the mottled surface of the cave’s walls wasn’t stone, but books. Rows upon rows of books.

‘I’ve never seen so many books in all my lifetime,’ she breathed.

‘They took a while to garner,’ he said, smiling, and it was an expression she recognised from the Alder she knew. Both proud and unassuming at the same time.

Lettle’s hand automatically reached for the spine of one of the tomes, but Alder was there before her, his nails bared like claws to strike her away.

‘Those are not for you!’ His voice took on an otherworldly growl. It left her shaken.

I cannot let my guard down; this is not the man I once knew. The thought pierced her heart with a grief she was not ready to acknowledge.

‘Here.’ Alder pointed to a slip in the rock, calm once more. The sound of water coursed behind it and as Lettle drew near she could see the water rushing down.

‘That’s not an exit—’

‘That’s the waterfall in Caperly,’ Mia said, sweat peppering her brow despite her wet clothes.

Dart stepped forward, ducking his head through the gap. He returned drenched once more in freezing water.

‘It’s Caperly,’ he confirmed. ‘But I’m not exactly sure how you expect us to climb down from here. We’re behind a waterfall pouring hundreds of gallons a second.’

Alder held out his hand and a plant grew from the soil between his toes. Lettle watched in horrified fascination as it grew thick and long, its bark woody but its branches flexible and thin. With deft hands he manipulated and wove the plant into an object Lettle didn’t understand until he handed it over to Dart.

‘Silkvine,’ Dart whispered, turning the harness over in his hand. He held it as though it were glass. ‘You mean for us to use this to descend?’

‘There’s a ridge below that leads to a pathway into the centre of the city. But you must lower yourself down to it,’ Alder said.

Dart scoffed. ‘Come, Mia, we’ll figure another way out through the pool–this is too dangerous.’

Mia stumbled, her knees giving way. ‘Dart.’ He caught her before she fell.

‘We have no choice, Dart. Even if the stairs were still there this would be the better option. The quicker option. She needs help,’ Mortah said. She moved forward and inspected the harness. ‘Silkvine is strong, it will hold.’

‘I’ll go down first,’ Dart said.

‘No,’ Mortah replied. She looked at Lettle. ‘Will you be all right here?’

Lettle knew what Mortah was going to do and she nodded once. ‘Yes.’

Though Lettle wasn’t sure why she was so certain. She was in a strange land with a man she no longer knew, who had power she could not begin to fathom.

But he’s Alder, her mind said. I know who he is, even if he doesn’t know himself. And he wouldn’t hurt me.

Right?

‘Look after my stick,’ Mortah said, then she winked and lowered her voice. ‘It has bite.’ She reached for Lettle’s hand before pressing the walking stick into it, ensuring Lettle could feel the hinge in the wood.

Lettle met her eyes, conveying that she understood Mortah’s gift–a hidden blade.

I hope I do not have to use it.

Then, Mortah pulled the harness on. ‘You’ll know it’s safe when I remove the harness.’ Without a backwards glance she jumped out of the crag. She did not scream as she fell, but they knew she had stopped because the rope went taut.

Lettle leaned over the edge but she could not hear or see anything but water. Then the silkvine went slack and Dart pulled it back up.

‘It must be safe,’ he said. He still looked sick with worry as he helped Mia into the harness.