Elydes

Chapter 313 - Traitors

“Are you sure that is the best way? It’s a crack in the wall.” Kea climbed over a boulder lodged in the cavern floor. Her boots scraped off a strip of luminescent moss and almost slipped.

Raising her hand with the light crystal, she spotted three branching passages. Water dripping from the ceiling pattered on her shoulder. The ground had grown steeper as they left the cultists' hideout—and hopefully toward an exit.

“That one follows the direction we were going.” She gestured to the widest tunnel.

Derrel rubbed his blond stubble with a stoic look. “The most straightforward way isn’t always the swiftest. Sometimes, we must step off the beaten path to reach our goals.”

Kea gave him a flat stare. “Stop with the nonsense. You’re just following your gut.”

“If you didn’t second-guess me every three seconds, I wouldn’t have to come up with made-up reasons.” Derrel scowled, raking a hand through his hair. “My Luck worked fine till now.”

It did not kill us…

Kea wiped the water off her coat. She had lost count of the number of arbitrary turns and damp tunnels Derrel’s gut made them crawl through, often when there was a sensibly dry passage beside them. Still, the mana density was falling; they were moving toward the surface, away from the Lake of Myst.

“We could already be out if we took a direct path,” she harrumphed with a glance back.

The hunched escapees trailing behind wore more mud than cloth. Their complaints had died down with their energy. It was a wonder how Flynn managed to keep them in a semblance of order and brush off their complaints patiently.

Fear and prayers had kept them going for the last hour—that and Kai’s tonics—but most wouldn’t get up if they sat to rest.

We must get out.

One thing she and Derrell agreed on was to never stop moving until they reached one of the Republic’s garrisons under the sun or moons—whatever the time was outside.

Kea eyed the cramped passage with a tired grimace. She finally got why people hated tight spaces. “We’ll have to squeeze to pass through.”

“Better than being dead.” Derrell hummed to himself.

“What?” She sharply grabbed his shoulder. It seemed forever since they saw any trace of the cultists, but she wouldn’t lower her guard. “Is there danger down the other tunnel?”

Those traitors… How could— Clenching her fists, she forced her mind to stay in the present.

Derrell shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

Kea suppressed the urge to shake him and pointed at the jagged passage. “How can you be sure we must go that way then?

“Because it’s the best way,” Derrell said as if she were too slow to understand simple logic. A gold coin with a strange effigy spun between his fingers—spirits knew where he hid it. “I even got three heads.”

You’re guiding us with a coin toss…?

Kea pressed her lips shut. It was maddening to hang their lives on gut feelings without logic, but they had few better alternatives. She had given up orienting in the underground maze. As long as they followed the upward incline, trusting Derrell or picking randomly was the same.

He hasn’t led us to a dead end yet.

Pinching her arm to stay alert, she headed down the narrow passage. They were still in a mana zone. She had spotted numerous beast tracks, though only skittish red critters crossed their path.

We must have gotten lucky. Oh, dammit…

Kea shook her head, raising the crystal light for the people behind. The tunnel's low ceiling forced her to bend over, but the passage was straighter than it appeared from outside.

“How… how much longer do we have to go…?” A grizzled man grumbled. Weeks of imprisonment weighed even on an adventurer. Niel hung between him and Mari, pale but conscious.

“Can’t we… rest a little?” Another feeble voice echoed behind.

The murmurs and dragging feet scraped off her patience. It’s not like any of them weren’t tired, but complaining helped no one.

“We’re almost there,” Flynn moved at the tail of the group, offering words of encouragement. “Soon we’ll see the sun.”

We will.

Kea straightened her back. She didn’t know how to cheer people up, but she could lead the way.

One step after another, no space for useless ponderings. The tunnel stretched into the cold darkness, narrowing till her shoulders brushed the opposite rock walls.

“Next one on the right. As my grandma always said, right is the bestest way…” Derrell’s blabbered nonsense sounded almost reassuring.

I must be going mad.

“Wait. Go left.” Derrel stopped her at the bifurcation, his coin clinking on the rock at his feet. “Left is better.”

Kea turned back with an arched eyebrow. “Wasn’t right the bestest way? What’s wrong with it?”

Despite the dubious logic, he had never changed his mind before.

“Left is the safest.” Derrell winked with his strangely colored eyes. His smile looked a little strained, though it could just be the poor lighting.

Uhm… why am I even arguing with him?

She’d sooner find sense debating the sea currents.

“Left then.” She pushed aside a rock with her foot. The left passage was wider, at least.

They walked in unusual silence till another passage opened on the right. “Where next?”

Derrell stared at the piece of gold between his thumb and index, brows scrunched up as if listening. “Keep going left.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah!” Derrell nodded, eyes trained on the coin. “That’s our best shot.”

I’ll lose my mind listening to him.

Kea waited for the trailing group to catch up, meeting Flynn’s gaze with a tired smile.

“C’mon, we’re almost out.” She tried to sound reassuring, though it came out stern.

She gave them no time to sit down and climbed the steep incline. A little further, the rocky passage opened into a vast cavern. Thin stalactites dangled from the ceiling, dripping on a carpet of luminescent moss.

Kea scanned the space for beasts—it was clear. Fifty meters across, the cavern shrank into a single tunnel.

At least we don’t have to choose. The exit can’t be far.

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She was about to scout past the bend when Derrell spoke. “We should wait here.”

“What do you mean, wewait?” Her voice pitched into incredulity.

“Sometimes staying put is the best option,” Derrell said wisely, then added in a lower voice just for her to hear. “And I think they’ve surrounded us…”

Kea was about to ask who, but the who was obvious. “You— what?” She barely contained a shout.

How did they find us?

She couldn’t retrace their meandering path if her life depended on it. Did they get marked with a tracking skill, or trigger a trip enchantment? How did the cultists get ahead of them?

Unless…

They headed straight for the exit.

One group chased from behind, and one waited ahead.

“You knew!” Kea pointed a finger at Derrell, recalling his earlier indecision. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Whatever way we picked, we’d run into them. This one gave us the best chance.”

Rotten gods!

Her heart raced in panic and anger, eyes darting around for a way out—a solution.

The limping prisoners were already streaming in, staring at the illuminated vast cavern with naive relief. They had discarded their makeshift weapons to conserve their energy; less than a third would be useful in a fight, and just barely.

“How many?” Kea pulled Derrell aside. “How many are coming? And how strong are they?”

“How am I supposed to know? I’m Lucky, not a snobby oracle.”

You’re a damned charlatan.

“Then how are we supposed to survive?” Kea slowly exhaled to control her temper. A cool head was most crucial in an emergency—Caeden taught her that, and she would well use it against that bastard’s cult.

“Well…” Derrell scratched his stubble, still nonchalant. “This path gives us the best shot. That doesn’t mean our chances are good.”

I’ll—

Kea kept her arms at her sides to avoid punching him—only cold, rational thoughts were allowed. “Can you fight? Did you hide a weapon somewhere?”

He should have a knife if he managed to hide a gold coin.

“Not unless you count my charming personality.” Derrell’s bright grin dimmed a little when it met her glower. “You see… I’ve never been particularly fond of violence myself. Though I’ve heard my looks are more striking than a sword.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“Basically, you’re useless in a fight.”

“Well, yes. But you don’t have to be so hurtful.” Derrell wrapped his arms around himself as if to physically fend off her words. “I brought you till here.”

“Here?” She gestured at the cavern. The escapees had already sat on the mossy rocks, including Niel and Mari—running away wasn’t an option. “Into a trap?”

“Yeah, but it could have been a way worse trap,” he said. “You gotta look at the upsides. Shouldn’t young people be more optimistic?”

Spirits, why—

“Kea,” Flynn walked up to them and lightly squeezed her shoulder. “Is everything alright?”

“No.” Kea snapped before immediately regretting it. “Sorry… I— they’re coming…”

She barely finished the explanation when a pale blue glow flickered from the opposite tunnel.

Dammit.

“Flynn, gather anyone able to fight. Even if they can just throw a rock.” “I’m going to stall for time.”

“I— okay. A minute will be enough. Be careful.” Flynn chewed his lip and ran back to organize the group.

“You too…” Kea said, looking at his back. With his stealth skills, he alone had a shot to escape. She would have screamed at him to run if she thought it’d convince him. “Derrell, you’re gonna help me buy time. I don’t care how, just distract them.”

“I… I’m not really a fan of the spotlight. Crowds give me anxiety—“

She grabbed his arm to drag him. “It’s a nice time to get over your fears.”

“Wait. Fine!” Derrell tried to jerk his sleeve free. “I’ll do it. Just let go.”

“I knew I could count on you.” She stopped near the cavern's center, thirty meters from the opposite entrance.

“Yeah…” Derrell mumbled. He combed his blonde hair with his fingers and dusted his worn-out shirt. “This is what I get for my good deeds.”

“We’re blessed to have you.” Kea nodded distractedly, counting the knives she had. Three. She would much rather have a bow.

Shadows danced on the opposite walls as their steps drew nearer. Kea closed her eyes to focus on Keen Senses. She counted six of them—less than she feared and way more than they could handle.

They could perhaps field a dozen people, but numbers were all they had. As for grades, weapons and physical condition, the difference was too large to even mention. She had fought many brutal battles, but none quite as hopeless.

Two would have already been a stretch.

A bunch of weakened, fleeing prisoners against a batch of fresh yellow professionals—it was going to be a massacre. Panicked voices sounded behind her as Flynn informed the group they had to fight.

We must do this anyway, no matter the odds.

Getting recaptured was a death sentence, probably involving some sick, gruesome experiment. She’d much rather go down swinging.

At least Kai’s not here…

Knowing her brother, he must have already made it out. Kea found herself smiling. Everyone said she was the one with the temper, but that was only because Kai hid his better. When he got mad, he wasn’t one for half-measures.

They’re here…

The shadows strode into the cavern—six of them as she predicted.

Kea stretched Mana Sense. Her head pounded with the effort to get an accurate read at that distance; Kai would surely nag her about it.

I’m good enough. He’s just ridiculous.

Five Yellow and one Orange, meaning one better than she predicted—the difference between dead and deader.

I have to buy time.

Speeches weren’t her strong suit, but she had to buy Flynn time to organize the backline. “Hi! You really—” The words died in her throat as the enemies came into view.

Five of them wore featureless black masks, one didn’t. A face so familiar, yet the expression on it was so alien.

Confusion, anger, and most of all betrayal swept away her plans.

“I should have known it’d be you.” The cultist said, blue eyes gleaming with cold amusement. “You never knew when to give up.”

“Caeli,” Kea hissed, her fingers closing on the hilt of her longest dagger. Only a thread of rationality kept her from lunging forward. Questions and feelings she buried burst into a single question. “Why?”

Why did she betray them? How could someone act like friends for months, share secrets, hopes and dreams, only to stab them in the back? How could a human do that?

“Huh? You really don’t get it?” Caeli huffed and sighed as if answering was a bother. “We needed some naive fools to parade around Limgrell. And you made ideal materials for the cult once things were done. Two silvers with one trick. Simple as that.”

“Simple as that…” Kea choked on the words. Her nails dug into her palm, drawing blood, though she didn’t feel pain. “ We—we’ve slept under the same roof for months. Cooked meals. Hunted together. How could you…”

Suddenly, she loathed herself for believing her lies, thinking she had found a friend who understood her.

“Could what…?” Caeli scoffed. “Is it really a betrayal if we planned it from the beginning? You said you were ready for the dangers of the mainland. We’re not on your idyllic little island where your biggest problem is your mother worrying too much about you. Some of us had to struggle to survive.

“I would have given you a painless death if you just stayed in your cell. Instead, you had to pull this stunt. How did you get rid of the manacles?” Ceali unsheathed a dark steel rapier. Four other cultists fanned out behind her. “Not that it matters. You’ll—”

The last masked man grabbed her elbow, whispering something that made her scowl.

“Don’t lecture me.” Caeli snapped, yanking her arm. “The mission would have turned out a mess without me! You can’t even show your face.”

“The orders were to bring back as many alive as we could,” the cultist said. His hands rose in hesitation before removing the mask. He had short black hair and a handsome face that made a dimple when he smiled.

You too.

Kea stared blankly. The face she had prayed every night to see again, now another blade twisting in her chest. The pain and anger seemed distant, like they belonged to someone else.

Perhaps she had grown numb to shock. Or there was a limit to the emotions a human could withstand in a single day.

He advanced his grade…

A memory of her and Caeden sharing their dreams on the roots of an oak tree, yellow leaves falling around. Such a silly thought. How many of those words had been lies? Had there ever been any truth?

Focus. Keep them talking.

If the crazy siblings wanted to squabble, Flynn could use the time.

“…waste your breath. Suit yourself.” Caeli crossed her arms with a sneer. “Just hurry. The praetor gets rid of the toys that displease her.”

Caeden threw a dirty look at his sister and turned his gaze across the cavern. “Kea.” His brow slightly furrowed; the blue eyes filled with worry. “Put down the knife. There is no need to fight.”

Yeah, right.

Kea ungripped the dagger, a finger at a time. “Happy?” She would much rather stick the blade in his lying heart, but had to feign some consideration to stall.

“Thank you.” Caeden smiled, that small dimple on his cheek. He slowly walked closer, stopping a few meters from her. “I’m sorry I lied… And for what happened. I’m truly sorry. It’s just… complicated. I promise I’ll explain everything. Just let me help you now.”

Not selling your friends to a murderous cult must be incredibly complicated.

“If you want to help, get your friends out of the way and let us leave.” Kea waved to the cultists blocking the passage. “As simple as that.”

Ceaden watched her with pitying eyes. “Kea, you know I can’t do that.”

“I thought so. You won’t help.”

“It’s not so simple.” He clenched his jaw. Palms raised, he took two steps closer—just out of range for an attack. “Please, put down your weapon. I promise I’ll protect you if you surrender. You know you can’t win this fight.”

Kea almost laughed in his face, as if her concern was saving her own skin. “We have the numbers.”

“Most of you can barely stand.” Caeden coldly regarded the people behind her. “You don’t have a single yellow fighter in shape and no proper weapons.” His voice lowered. “I can’t keep you safe if you resist. You’ll just die for nothing. You fought hard, but you must realize when you’ve lost. Surrender is the best option.”

The best for whom?

“That’s for me to decide.” She took a step back. Flynn must have—

“Kea, please.” Caeden stared at her with gleaming blue eyes. “I don’t want to watch you die.”

She almost believed him, but wasn’t foolish enough to repeat the same mistake twice. “What about everyone else?”

“What do you mean?”

“You said you’d help me,” Kea snorted. “What about everyone else?” He couldn’t even make a decent lie to deceive her; maybe he wasn’t that smart.

“I—” Caeden bit his lip, his gaze growing colder. “We can’t save everybody.”

“Right. Always the perfect excuse.” Kea watched him with disdain. “It’s not that you can’t, just that you aren’t willing to pay the price. But I am.”

“Kea—”

“Enough! You got your shot.” Caeli pushed her brother back and raised her enchanted rapier. “We wasted enough time. If she wants to die, let her.”

The four masked cultists drew their weapons behind her as she smiled cruelly. “Capture the blasphemers who challenged the Stygian Cult. Killing or maiming is acceptable if they resist.”