Page 94 of Luthias

As Emery followed his directions she realized that the passage angled down slightly and grew cooler, which suggested part of it lay beneath the two curtain walls. Then, as she reached the end it angled back up. She had to use all her strength to lift the heavy iron bar securing the narrow door, but once she raised it she was able to walk outside to the path Camdyn had used when he’d taken her from the castle.

“I’ll just take a little stroll halfway to the river,” she promised herself, glancing back at the castle and then eyeing the empty woods in front of her. “And if I happen to spot Luthias and Taveon, and see out what they’re doing, I’ll just observe. For research purposes.”

At first it felt nice to be out of the stronghold, but as Emery made her way deeper into the woods she began wondering if she should turn around and go back. Ameron and Kyal might come to the forge looking for her. She had also been warned repeatedly not to wander around in the woods by herself. Luthias had gotten very mad the last time she’d disappeared; he might blame Camdyn for telling her about the secret passage and get into another rumble with him.

“I’d better go back,” she murmured, hugging herself with her arms.

Some sticks crackled behind her. “To where go you back, Emery?”

She stopped in her tracks, wincing as she realized who was behind her.

“Ah, to where everyone is waiting for me right now,” she said, turning to face Callen. “You must have some wood to cut, right? Don’t let me keep you from your work.”

He lifted the empty bucket in his hand. “The headman sent me for water, but ’tis my first time working these lands. Do you ken where I might find the river?”

“Sure.” She pointed down the trail. “Just walk that way. You can’t miss it.” Now she would turn around and head back to the castle, as fast as she could without looking like she was running.

“I frightened you at the camp, I reckon.” Callen bowed. “Forgive me. I shouldnae vex you, but I dinnae ken anyone here, and you seemed a friendly lass. Enjoy the day.”

As he walked past her, obviously intending to keep going without saying anything more, Emery suddenly felt ashamed. “Ah, you don’t have to apologize for anything. I’m just a little cautious around strangers.”

“As should you be, always.” He glanced back at her. “Had I a sister your size, I’d never permit her leave my sight.” He hesitated before he added, “Do you wish me to walk with you a ways, then? You shouldnae go alone in the woods.”

Emery wanted to say no, but he didn’t seem as much of a threat now as he had the first time she’d met him. On the contrary, he looked a little worried about her. “All right, that would be nice.”

Callen didn’t try to get close to her as they followed the trail, but kept a respectable distance, and looked all around them as they went, rather than at her. Maybe she had misjudged him, Emery thought. He smiled when he caught her watching him, but he didn’t say anything.

“Do you and the other woodcutters need anything at the camp?” Emery finally asked to break the now-awkward silence.

He shook his head. “We’ve plenty of food, and warm blankets for the nights. The farmers gave us a keg of ale to drink. ’Tis no more a man could ask, save for kin far from here.”

“You probably miss home a lot.” As handsome as he was, he probably had a girlfriend or wife back in the lowlands. “Are you able to write to your family or send messages?”

Callen shook his head. “I’ve no kin in the lowlands, Emery.”

“That’s a shame. I don’t, either, back home.” She had never liked the fact that her parents were gone, but she suspected her sudden disappearance would have terrified them. A glimmer through the trees caught her eye, and she pointed toward it. “There’s the river up ahead.” The more direct route to it would be through a dense patch of oaks, she realized. “We can take a shortcut through here.”

“Emery, wait.” Callen caught up with her. “You dinnae ken the land here.” He moved ahead of her, peering into the darkness ahead of them. “’Tis dangerous.”

“Why?” She froze as the shadows seemed to swallow him up. “Callen?” She took another step forward, and as her eyes adjusted to the dimness she saw what looked like an oval pit in the ground. “Are you okay?”

“Aye. Stay back.” A puff of glittering smoke erupted from the hole in the ground. “’Twill only catch us both.”

Emery stood on her toes, trying to see inside the pit. “Are you hurt? What is that smoke?”

“’Tis, ’tis fairy dust. Dinnae breathe the stuff.” He coughed a few more times, and then said in a much drowsier voice, “’Tis a sleeping hallow.”

“Is there a headless horseman in there, too?” she asked as she glanced back at the path. “Look, stay put. I’ll run back to the castle and get some help.”

“Dinnae go,” Callen said, sounding exhausted now. “If I fall asleep...I shallnae awake again.”

Emery suddenly felt a chill race down her spine. “Stop joking. This isn’t funny.”

“I dinnae jest.” A big hand appeared on the edge of the pit, groping the soil for a handhold. “Give me aid, my lady.”

Emery dropped down and grabbed his hand.

“Hold on.” She dug her heels into the soft earth and pulled. Her eyes felt suddenly, impossibly heavy, and she had to swallow a yawn as she yanked on his arm. Finally Callen’s other arm appeared, and he crawled out of the hole and fell beside her.