Raw Winter

Chapter 37: Weren't Your Fault

Adders leaned on the nearest wall. There were two walls on either side of them, thick and far apart. She considered discouraging him, but she could see no harm in it. They were solid and there was little chance it would reveal anything to the outside. She looked around in the meager torchlight for any sign the people outside could be aware. She was looking for signs of rungs or any kind of door, abandoned or otherwise. Any form of passage would suggest their insane luck wasn't luck.

She said to Whistle, "Do you know what time it is?"

"About 15, getting on to half-past," he answered, looking around at Mesmar and Adders.

"That'll do," Rawintr grunted. "I want to be sure it's still light out. You know what I'm thinking? I'm thinking once it gets dark there might be some sort of crack somewhere around here, and if there is, they might tell we're in here from it if we have our light on like that. Understand?"

Mesmar showed Rawintr his pocket watch despite how she didn't look, and none of them could make out what it said in the torchlight.

"Oh yeah," Whistle said, "I thought of that, but there wouldn't be a crack like that, would there? I mean, he's got to be pretty confident in a wall like this."

"Yeah, real confident," Adders hissed out, his lungs sounding like a bag ready to burst, though none of them said it. "That's why he won't think about cracks, aint that so?"

"Exactly what I'm thinking," Rawintr said, scanning the walls up and down. She grumbled as it wasn't the easiest task with one eye.

"But captain," Whistle said after a moment of silence, "if there's a crack where they can see light escaping from us, don't you think that we'd be able to see the light coming in from the outside too? You know, from the daylight?"

"Right," Rawintr answered. "I knew you were the smart one." She thought on it and finally said, "Let's put out that torch. That way we'll be able to see it if there's anything to see."

The moment the light went out and Adders stood straight to take a step with the rest of them down towards the parts of the wall, they couldn't yet see—no light showing yet—and they heard him falter. It was minor at first, Rawintr gritting her teeth as she knew he was struggling but considered if he wasn't complaining he was fine. Then came after when they knew he wasn't. It wasn't final, but it settled in each of their hearts like finality.

He fell forward to kneel on one knee. He cursed softly, but it was thunderous to the rest of them as they turned to face him.

"Adders?" Mesmar said, and it was a strangled whimper. It was the kind of sound that could have convinced them he was kicked. "Adders, are you alright, mate?"

The answer was a gurgling laugh, and he whispered something.

"What's that?" Mesmar asked, desperate and the only one close enough to hear what he said if only he could hear well enough.

"I said," he said, just a bit louder, though the last part was cut off. It was a grisly burbling that was only loud enough for Mesmar.

"For the sake of Pelartes and all her saints, light that damn thing," Mesmar said, his voice loud and strained.

Rawintr hadn't realized she hadn't moved an inch since he fell, but started inching closer when she felt Whistle stir and pass her. It was only then that she moved with him.

"I'm sorry, Cap'n," Adders wheezed. "I'm so fucking sorry. I shouldn't be keeping you like this. Go ahead. Don't worry none. I'll rest here. I'll be just fine here."

"Come on," Rawintr barked. "It's time to get back to the ship. Help me lift him. Whistle, you know the tunnels well by now, don't you? Lead the way so we don't end up dropping him."