Page 24 of Marked
“We only had time to discuss the queen’s business before you showed up. Sorry. Do you want me to?—”
“No,” she said, her shoulders drooping.
Sley released my arm and motioned for me to stay quiet as we approached the storage house. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the trees, casting a silver glow over the weathered exterior of the building. A gust of wind made the old boards creak and groan while sounds of laughter and loud conversation from the nearby bonfire trickled through the forest.
“Did you close the door before you came to get me?” I asked.
“No.”
Great. We had a considerate thief.
“Wait here,” Sley whispered, disappearing into the shadows.
“Why?” I called out after her.
“Getting some light.”
I eyed the ground, soft with thick moss and debated whether I had time to lay down for a bit before Sley returned. But a nap wasn’t in my agenda for this evening, at least not right away. Finding the thief was more important. We depended on those supplies for harsh winters and if the chill in the air was any indication, this winter would be particularly nasty.
Minutes turned into an eternity before Sley reappeared with a lit torch in one hand, her expression a mix of triumph and caution. “Let’s go see what we can find,” she said, beckoning me to follow her inside.
I tiptoed behind Sley, my heart pounding as we entered the dimly lit storage house. Maybe I should’ve returned to my cabin to grab my bow. I only had a few daggers strapped to me.
The air was thick with the scent of aged wood, grain, hay and dust, making it difficult to breathe. My throat closed up and my eyes strained to adjust to the darkness as I scanned the shelves and crates lining the walls.
While I searched for possible villains to leap out of the shadows, Sley walked to each shelving unit, stack of crates and cluster of barrels, mentally cataloguing supplies.
“I think I found something,” she whispered.
“Another scarf?”
“Come here.” Sley led me toward a bunch of barrels stacked in the corner of the room. She crouched down, her nimble fingers moving smaller boxes out of the way before she pointed at the ground. “I thought so.”
“You found dirt?” Not exactly a surprise in this place.
She rolled her eyes and jabbed her finger in the air again. “Look harder, guardian.”
I squinted, trying to discern what Sley was pointing at. Then, I saw it. A trap door, hidden beneath a crate. The thief must’ve been in a hurry because the crate hadn’t covered one of the edges of the trap door, leaving it partially visible to anyone looking close enough. Unlike everywhere else in this place, no dust had settled over the surface, meaning it had been used recently.
“Did you know this was here?”
“Of course not.”
My heart skipped a beat as anticipation coursed through my veins. We’d stumbled upon something significant. I crouched down beside my best friend and together we moved the crate, revealing an iron latch. It took some effort, but we managed to pry it open, revealing a narrow staircase leading into darkness.
“Where does it lead?” I mused.
“How would I know? We just found it.”
“The question was rhetorical, Sley.”
“Doesn’t matter.” She shrugged. “Do I look like someone who would descend mysterious stairs into utter darkness?”
I grinned and leaned forward. “But I would.”
Sley nodded. “That’s really why I’m friends with you. Your complete disregard for danger and the tasty wine you bring home from Wast.”
“Come on, Sleyer.”