Shooting an appreciative glance at my friend, I extended my senses once more, scanning the area. Creatures scurried on the shale, and the scent of ash lingered in the air, but I did not sense anything else.
“The path is clear,” I said after a moment.
Drawing my sword, I looked over my shoulder at met Daegal’s eye. The Fortune Elf nodded, slipping to the back of the group. We did not need to speak to confirm what I already knew.
Together, we would keep everyone safe.
* * *
Shadowfell Mountain was alive,or at the very least, enchanted. I led our group through the winding tunnels, stopping periodically to listen to our surroundings. Our footsteps were the only sound I could hear, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Kysha had conjured lights for us again, providing much needed illumination for those whose eyesight wasn’t as good as mine.
When we passed the same cluster of misshapen rocks for the third time, I held out my hand. “Stop.”
Aileana drew her dagger, her stance widening as she looked around. “What’s wrong?”
Turning in a circle, I groaned. This tunnel was familiar. Too familiar. There was no doubt in my mind that we’d been here before.
“It’s a gods-damned labyrinth,” I said, frustration leaking into my tone. “We’ve passed this same rock formation multiple times.”
Daegal cursed, the frustration in his voice mirror my own.
“A labyrinth?” Maiela groaned. “Are you serious?”
“Do you doubt me?” I asked.
Maiela huffed, her nostrils flaring as she crossed her arms. Out of the twins, she definitely had more of a temper. “No,” she said finally. “I’m just… this sucks.”
That it did.
“Why don’t we stop for the night?” Kysha suggested, placing her hand on her wife’s arm. “Get some rest and tackle this issue in the morning?”
She was right. Sleep had a way of making everything better. A quick glance around the group confirmed that everyone was exhausted. Both Fortune Elves had bags under their eyes, the Death Elf yawned every few steps, and my mate wasn’t feeling well again. She hadn’t said anything, but I noticed her slowing down, sipping her water slowly while the rest of us drank with vigor.
“Sleep… here?” Ryllae sounded alarmed. “But there are… creatures.”
Less than a heartbeat later, a loud skittering sound came from somewhere down the tunnel.
Aileana shuddered. “That sounds… not pleasant. But if we’re going to stop, then this seems as good a place as any.” She raised a brow. “At least it’s dry.”
“And hot,” Kysha added.
The air had steadily been getting warmer. Like a warm summer’s day, it was sticky and held traces of warmth that were incongruous with the winter month.
It was one of the many strange things about this mountain.
“Daegal?” I met the Fortune Elf’s eye. “What do you think?”
“This is a good place to camp.” Making a show of looking around, he slung his arm over Ryllae’s shoulder and pulled her against him. “The tunnel is wide enough that we should be able to rest comfortably. I vote for staying.”
That, it seemed, was that. Everyone was in agreement. We would remain here for the night, and tomorrow we would tackle the problem of the labyrinth.
“I’ll take first watch.” I dropped my pack on the ground, falling into my leadership role easily. It was where I belonged, and I felt most at home leading others. “The rest of you, find a place to sleep.”
An emerald green piercing glare came from my mate. “I think you mean ‘we’ll’ take the first watch, Xander.”
I shook my head. “You need to rest, love.”
She glared at me. “Are you telling me what to do?”