Kelfor (The Orthomancers)

Chapter 13

Linnith stands in front of us. She is thinner than those few weeks ago, when we set out on this journey. She looks honed by the harsh desert sands, older, much more mature. And, right now, she looks proud. It is time for her to finish her task.

"There are three signs left. We are close to Kelfor."

We are standing in the center of the chamber where Kalyka swung down on the lead Scoriat yesterday. Those Scoriats still alive have been ushered out of the Rift of the Timeworn by Torch and Jethran; there are only dead bodies left in the cavern. They have been placed in a small recess behind us, hidden under some loose rocks.

Linnith is nodding to herself. "Yes. This is one of the tells. There is a landmark here." She runs her hand over a piece of rock which juts out into one of the tunnels leaving the chamber. "This way."

There are no glowworms in this tunnel. At first it is completely dark. Our progress is slow, halting. The path dips steeply downward and we find ourselves slipping as we try to navigate in the blackness.

Furian has taken the lead. He is careful to help us over particularly difficult places, waiting to hand us down one by one.

We struggle on all day, stopping only to eat something and rest for a few minutes. The muscles all along the back of my legs are aching, causing me to gasp when the incline is very steep. I am almost wishing myself back in the dome. At least that would be familiar.

Vannis grabs at me just as I slide and pitch forward. "Watch where you are going!"

I pull my elbow back. "I don't need your help!"

He starts to laugh. "If you say so, youngling. I rather think you do!"

I put up my chin. "I am perfectly able to manage!"

He simply stares. He looks so superior I want to kick him. Then I blow out air. He did stop me from falling, I suppose. I bend my head. "All right. Thank you."

He preens.

That makes me want to push his over-white teeth down his throat.

I give a sigh and pass him. Suddenly I realize something. I was able to see his face. And he must have been able to see me – he caught hold of me before I fell."Furian!"

The whole party stops. "What?"

"I can see."

Ammeline of course, has to give her opinion. "Well, of course you can see, Remeny. You have eyes. Not large ones like mine, but they are there."

Furian frowns. "You are right. It must have come on so gradually that we haven't noticed. Look!" He points at the rocky ceiling, undulating above us. "I can make out the roof!"

"How is that possible?" Zivan, who has been carrying Kalyka to give the little girl's legs a bit of a rest, puts her down. "Where is the light coming from? There are no glowworms this far down. We are much further underground. Surely it should be getting darker, not lighter?"

Linnith is staring up. "The roof is much further away too. The tunnel is opening out. That is good. I need to start looking for the next landmark."

"Do you know why there is more light, Linnith?" Doven asks.

She hesitates, as if wondering whether to tell us or not, but nods. "We are getting to the trees. The Forest of Flame."

She sees we don't know what she means. She looks at me. "Remember that petrified trunk you saw, Remeny?"

"Yes. It was beautiful."

She smiles. "Red, orange, yellow, right?"

I nod.