The Gathering: Race For Immortality

Chapter Thirty: A Strategic Meal (Natalia)

Jaeson started the fire while Mhercee prepared the boar to be cooked.

I went into the forest and found some big logs for us to sit on. Our little camp was taking shape.  

The sky was clearing up and the clouds were turning purple as the sun set. I took a seat next to the fire, letting it warm me. My hair was still a little damp from the swim.

I looked around at the others, their faces tired and worn but still ambitious. I hoped the end was near. It felt like we were close, we'd found so many clues, faced so many fears, hadn't we earned immortality yet?

I picked up a twig and tossed it into the fire, watching it flicker. It's yellow glow lit up our faces.

Mhercee placed the boar over the fire, held up by sticks to keep it from burning.

The smell of it cooking made me salivate. I hadn't eaten a decent meal in days.

"I can't believe we've made it this far. We may fight at times, but we're a pretty good team." I commented.

"I wish we had marshmallows." Paz muttered, poking the fire with a stick.

"When we get back to Gengia I'll hold a big feast for all of us." I said.

"Doesn't the next clue take us there?" Mhercee asked.

"I don't know. Aeirah, do you remember what the clue said?" I asked.

"Snaking shadows swallows. Darkened halls filled with wallow. Beneath the sun is where men commit sin. Where strangers will act just as kin. Words will bind in your fate. Make haste or you will be too late. Find that who owns a king’s royal key, on that the final clue will be." She repeated it perfectly from memory.

"How do you do that?" Paz asked.

She shrugged, "I've always had a good memory."

"Beneath the sun is where men commit sin. It must be in the underworld." I said.

"It sounds like a black market." Mhercee said.

Instinctively, we all turned to look at Jaeson.

"So what do you know?" Mhercee questioned.

Jaeson sighed, "Nothing." He spoke.

"Come on, don't pretend like you're such a goody two shoes, we all know the kind of shit you're a part of." Paz said.

He looked at me.

"I'm not judging you Jaeson. What you say here, stays here." I spoke.

"Fine. But it's gonna be a little hard  for you to handle." He said.

"I can take it." I replied.

"And you have to agree not to do anything about it." He instructed.

"About what?" I demanded.

A silence fell over the group and our eyes rested on Jaeson.

"There's a city beneath Gengia. A sort of tunnel system. I think it may be what the clue is referring to. Mhercee's right, it is a black market. It's where the lowlifes of Gengia go to buy, sell, and trade their stolen goods. I've seen a lot of questionable items go through there, and it's riddled with people you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley."

An anger burned beneath my ribcage.

"That's ridiculous! How could this city go undetected by the Gengian authorities?" I growled.

"Keep it together, Nat." Mhercee sighed.

"This is precisely why I didn't wan to tell her." Jaeson muttered.