Truths in a Rift (The Traveling Rifts Trilogy: Book Two)

In the Waiting

Once Aris arrived back at the cave housing the refugees, she sat in her moss rock and told the others what had happened. She explained everything that happened since she stepped out of their company, except for the minor details. Since Taleryn had already been there when all of it happened, he remained outside in the sun. Luckily, this kept Yori occupied.

Once Aris had finished her story, Sage glided down and landed on the girl's knee. The fairy looked the same as she did the day before, her hair still up in a tight bun, and black dress as perfect as ever. Her violet eyes appeared shy, as always, her shoulders were hunched, and her ragged, black wings descended. Her fingers fiddled together.

Aris's eyes widened in surprise at Sage's motion, but she didn't make a move. After a moment, Sage fluttered softly to the girl's shoulder and huddled next to Aris's neck. Her little body was cold, just like any shadow creature. But Aris found something about her presence reassuring. She was glad the little fairy was finally showing some desire to be with people again. Aris wondered when she was going to start talking.

"So Athryn is here?" Raven questioned.

Aris gave a small nod. "He seemed eager to see you."

The banished prince sighed and propped himself up on his elbows with a grimace.

"My prince, you shouldn't be trying to get up," Faril said. "You have two cracked ribs from your fall."

"I'm fine, Faril," Raven responded. "So what's our plan? We got to the dragon rift and found that my brother is controlling it by threatening small dragons. But we don't know where, and the Empire is still in danger."

Hacker stirred in his moss-covered bed. He glanced around nervously, positioning himself to sit straighter. Aris noticed that he used a cloak as a blanket. The man glanced around the group and seemed to shrink.

"I..." he tried to say, voice disappearing. "I m-might be able to track the s-small dragons." The last part came out nearly as a squeak.

Aris's eyes widened. "The microchips! You can find them?"

He gazed at her and seemed to make himself even smaller. "... Yes."

"How long until you can find them?" Faril questioned in a steady tone.

Hacker took a deep breath, gazing around at all of them. After a moment of calming himself, the human appeared a little more composed. "I... It's n-not that simple. I need the proper resources. Being in a dragon rift, I doubt they keep that kind of technology around."

"He's right," Raven confirmed dejectedly, letting himself lie down again.

"Waverly, do you know if the Empire is still in the rift?" Tilan asked. The fact that she was decked in her full armor slightly unnerved the keeper.

Aris glanced to the elf. "Lyra said she was eavesdropping on someone... she had to have meant the Empire guards, so... I guess. As long as they haven't moved out yet."

"You think they have the proper technology," Faril stated, leaning back and crossing his arms.

"The Empire is one of the most high-tech civilizations in Aldenuur," Tilan responded. "They have to have something better than the dragons."

"That makes sense," Astil spoke for the first time, turning her head to look at the group, "but we don't know where they camp, who's there, or how many there are."

"Lyra can find that out," Aris told them. "The lake outside is connected to others throughout the rift. That's how she found out about the small dragons. If she can use the lakes to find the Empire, then we can find a way of getting their technology-"