Seven Lost Lords: The Anomaly

Ch. 14: Our Rest

I lifted a cup of warm tea to my lips as Illesior settled in his chair, and he leaned forward expectantly. Beside him was Unydae, the leader of the party heading to Undergrove. Her warriors, Ephamari, Irandor, and Owix, were behind her, and the Sorcerers stood menacingly off to the side. I noticed with a jolt that Shefaris was missing.

Illesior blinked at me and my friends. "Tell us everything that has happened since yesterday."

Before I could speak, Sophi began cheerfully. "Aven had us jump off that cliff that was at the edge of the forest. Turns out the forest was in a ravine!" She laughed, and the rest of us chuckled uncomfortably.

"Illesior, did you ever end up staying in the forest?" I asked as Sophi softened to a giggle. Illesior shook his head.

"I hadn't realized it was in a ravine, Aven," He replied. "No, we didn't go in there. Instead, after we fought off the Spectre, we took the long way around and headed straight for Undergrove. We arrived at about dawn today."

"How did you handle the storm?"

Illesior smiled. "The winds took a different direction after an hour or so and went west. But continue, Sophi. You have my curiosity piqued."

The orange aetyr tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Well, it took a while for all of us to find each other again. Kirune found me in a tree on the cliffside and guided me to the lake."

"I woke up in a bush nearby," Kirune chimed in, looking embarrassed.

"And what about you, Aven?" Illesior asked.

I shrugged. "I fell into the lake but thankfully was okay. I had cut my leg on a sharp stone but healed it using my magic." I propped up my leg to showcase my new scar, then continued. "I decided to go look for the others, but ran into Strubin. He was running from a Zenatile, which chased us back to the lake."

Illesior flinched. "Oh, I'm so sorry, my dear." He murmured with an unusual gentleness. "It must have been terrifying. How did you escape?"

Strubin answered for me. "We both went into the lake to try and swim away. I almost drowned, but Aven saved my life." He glanced at me fondly and my face felt hot. "We rested on an island in the lake for the night, then in the morning swam back to shore and cooked the Zenatile that had gone into a coma. Then Arius showed up with Kirune and Sophi."

For the entire exchange, Arius had been quiet, glaring at me with a silent fury. Finally he spoke as Strubin finished. "I dimly remember waking up on the island that Strubin and Aven regrouped on. Once they settled there, I left and found Sophi and Kirune at the edge of the cliff side. Then the next morning I took them to find the other two, and there we talked over our plans to escape the ravine and get to Undergrove."

"Aven had a map," Strubin broke in proudly. "She told us that we were previously in the Jade Hills and led us out of the ravine."

"I found the passageway!" Sophi said, looking indignant. "If it weren't for that, we wouldn't be here."

Illesior stared at me with a smug smile. "What happened after that?"

Kirune, the quiet one, decided to answer this time around. "Sophi found a passageway that led under the west side of the cliff, which traveled upwards and broke out on the other side. From there we raced along the river until nightfall, in which case we had finally entered the city."

"Excellent!" Illesior praised. "I knew I chose well when I picked you as my warriors! You all have a strong fighting spirit, and not even a storm nor a Spectre can bring you down. If only half of the nation's Black Manes were as determined as you!" But I caught him staring at me as he said this, rather than looking at my friends.