The Hidden Crystal

Chapter 57

Char guessed they walked for an hour in silence, although it was difficult to judge time in the endless darkness. Iris held tight to his hand and kept up with Rath's pace, tension written in every line of her face, and Char was glad she couldn't see their expressions. Rath's frequent glances back down the tunnel were unnerving, especially since Char still didn't know what had his brother spooked. And the fairies still hadn't caught up to them.

"Do you smell that?" Rath finally asked.

Char sniffed and nodded. "Fresh air."

"Yeah." Rath exhaled in a loud whoosh. "We should be safe now, but the sooner we can get above ground, the better."

"Safe from what?"

"Ah, well, I don't know what it's called. Father and I ran into one once. It just looks like a dark cloud, but it moves, and if you get stuck in it, you'll suffocate."

"But—you sent the fairies into it!" Iris exclaimed.

Rath shrugged, although she couldn't see it. "Well, they wouldn't have gone if they'd thought it was dangerous to them..."

"They'll do anything for Iris," Char reminded his brother, frowning, but Iris pressed her lips together and shook her head.

"No, he's right. They need convincing sometimes, but they didn't even hesitate when he asked."

Char squeezed her hand. He could see her worry in the tightness across her shoulders and the nervousness in her eyes, but there was nothing else he could do until—if—the fairies returned. Nothing except ply Rath for more information.

"I don't remember you or Father talking about anything like that."

"We... may have cut that one a bit close," Rath admitted. "He didn't want to worry Mother, especially since it was one of the first times he took me anywhere. You were still in flight school at the time."

"What happened?"

"Uh... Well... I passed out, so I don't really know all of it, but Kelnor was yelling at Father when I came to."

Char raised an eyebrow. "Kelnor bailed you out?"

"Yeah, maybe." Rath gave him a sheepish grin, and Char shook his head.

"What was he even doing there?"

"It was actually a mission assigned to him and Father, but Father thought it was going to be an easy one, so he asked me if I wanted to come along. Of course I said yes. We took off before he was supposed to meet up with Kelnor."

"Wait. The Black Mountain mission?"

Rath nodded, grimacing. "That's the one."

"That thing," Char continued, jerking a thumb over his shoulder, "is responsible for what happened at Black Mountain?"

"Not that particular one, but yeah."

"What happened at Black Mountain?" Iris asked.

"Unexplained disappearances and mass nightmares. It kept getting worse until the order came down for everybody to evacuate. It's been under guard ever since. Nobody's allowed in," Rath replied. "I don't know how Kelnor got us away from that thing, but we would have died if he hadn't shown up."

"A team went there after Father and Kelnor's mission failed, with a mage for extra support. They never came back." Char paused, staring wide-eyed at his brother. "You saved our lives."

Rath shrugged again, grinning. "It's a little early to say that. Hey, I think I see light up ahead."

Char saw it, too. Iris squinted into the darkness, and then her eyes widened, and a smile broke out on her face. "I see it, too."