Page 25 of Twisted Bonds
“Not here. Further. We’ll find somewhere to spend the daylight and travel only at night.”
We continue to skirt the area of the Sacred Grove looking for hints of our prey until the last rays of daylight disappear behind the thick canopy.
Sunder nods his head back towards the way we came, defeat written on his face. We failed. We didn’t find her. And now we have to go tuck our tails somewhere while we figure out what’s next.
As we turn to leave, a noise grabs my attention. I glance over my shoulder at a Keeper walking alone. Odd, since every other patrol had been in pairs or entire companies. I tap Sunder on the shoulder, silently motioning him to look at the new Centaur in the center of the grove. All the other patrols are strangely missing, and this guard keeps looking through the forest with heavy suspicion.
Anticipation?
Then I see it. Something pushing through the brush into the other side of the clearing. It’s a group of six common fae males moving in on the centaur like they are the ones to be feared in this situation.
Sunder and I exchange a confused glance. What is happening? I silently mouth to him.
Then a portal opens between them, lined with glowing verdant hues and wisps of honey. Within seconds, a transaction takes place. A human man with gray hair, in his fifties I’d guess, starts handing cardboard boxes to the males waiting. One after the other, like an assembly line of others are behind him. Until all the fae are carrying two or more boxes.
And just like that, the portal snaps shut. The fae don’t hurry their step as they move back to the break in the trees from where they came. The Keeper watches the clearing, a lookout, I realize.
As the men disappear into the night, the Keeper of the Portal, a protector of the Sacred Grove, saunters off as if nothing happened.
I stare after him, completely bewildered by what I just saw, when Sunder grabs my hand, leading me away from the clearing.
We make our way silently through the dense foliage. My mind spins with confusion. If Tairyn didn’t take Mira to the Sacred Grove. If he didn’t move her between realms, she’s still nearby. Near enough, at least.
I sense Sunder’s rising emotions through the bond. I don’t know if it’s anger or worry, but whatever it is, he needs to release it. Safely.
When we are far enough away from the Grove, I let out a heavy sigh of relief.
“There’s a cave nearby, tucked away behind a waterfall. It should be well-hidden from the guards and the Keepers,” I say.
Sunder replies, his voice tight, but determination reignited. “Take me there.”
As we make our way deeper into the forest, we finally hear the distant sound of rushing water. We exchange a knowing glance before quickening our pace, eager to find sanctuary within the hidden cave.
The waterfall comes into view, its shimmering curtain of water cascading down the moss-covered rocks. We scramble up the slippery stones, using the moss and vines to help us maintain our grip, until we finally reach the entrance of the cave.
“Here,” I whisper, gesturing for Sunder to follow me inside. The air is cool and damp, a welcome reprieve from the suffocating tension that has followed us throughout our journey. Careful to keep my light dim, I create a small orb of yellow light so we can see our surroundings.
The sound of the waterfall fills my ears as we slip behind its watery curtain, the droplets of water glistening like diamonds. A fine mist coats my skin, providing a refreshing respite from the tension that has been building within me. Sunder follows close behind, his eyes scanning our surroundings with a mix of caution and awe.
“Wow, Bobble, this place is incredible,” Sunder whispers, his voice barely audible over the roar of the falls. I beam at his praise, letting it wash over me. I love it when he uses my name instead of calling me a number. The cave is filled with a sweet coolness, the damp stone walls offering solace from the world outside.
“Yeah, I’ve always had a knack for finding cozy hideouts,” I reply with a grin, remembering my favorite hamper in Mira’s old apartment. We settle down on a dry patch of ground, our hearts still pounding from the adrenaline and fear of discovery. Our shoulders are so close they almost touch.
Sunder’s head drops into his hands, his broad shoulders slumping in defeat. My heart clenches at the sight as I wrap my arms around him. “We’ll find her,” I assure him.
But Sunder shakes me off, jumping to his feet to pace the length of the small cave. Hands behind his back, he prowls back and forth like a caged beast ready to unleash his rage. Maybe I should pick a fight with him, let him work out his frustrations that way. He’s not very receptive to physical comfort, but I know he needs something from me. But what?
“Alright,” Sunder says, running a hand through his wet hair. “We need a plan.”
“Agreed,” I nod, scratching my scruffy beard thoughtfully. He growls, the noise reverberating from the stone walls.
Ok silence is what he needs. I can be silent.
As the sound of thumping boots fills the cave, again I try to reach down the bond to Mira. I can only faintly sense an existence there. But it's comforting to know she’s alive. Then I reach for the faint thread in my mind that belongs to Sunder, bracing myself for his ire.
I don’t want to upset him, but he’ll feel better after he explodes. He always does. So, I push and push worry and anger against our bond, whispering my silent apologies. I watch as his jaw tightens and teeth clench, frustration clear in the lines creasing his brow.
Successful, then. He felt it.