The Pit
DAPHNE
Having left a silhouette of some sparkling black substance in our wake, Klyesque and I fly into the night, the smoke and fury of our transports’ hooves the only flash of movement to be seen. We ride fast toward the Woodland realm, clearing the Trail of Fallen Rock before the sun has completely settled behind us and wary of the horns of alarm that sound somewhere far behind us.
The crack of stone beneath me is the only warning I am given before Delago and Trielle come to a near back breaking stop, cutting left just before the path into the thick of the meadow makes its return appearance.
Suddenly we are climbing, our horses expertly navigating over shards of ash colored stones toward a precipice that has me abating breath and leaning forward to lock my arms around Trielle’s neck.
“You’ll not let me fall,” I whisper. “I trust you.”
Trielle whinnies in such a way that feels like she’s taunting me and I laugh into her mane, hiding my eyes from the practically vertical drop that awaits now that we’ve crested the top of the shattered rock mountain.
Klyesque’s voice finds me on my left, “Best you open your eyes and lean back, Daphne. Our descent will be easier for Trielle if you are upright.”
A spark of fear ignites in me as my eyes fly open to find that we’re already heading down from the highest point along the opposite side of the trail and when I realize how incredibly steep our path is I am forced to redigest my supper before it makes it past my lips.
Nothing but jagged teeth await us on this side and the other. Two peaks that form fangs built from stacks of fractured rock, yet lie far enough from each other to create an orifice in the earth. Twins to those that line the trail heading into Castle Fury, yet that somehow appear sharper and more malicious. Nothing but darkness and dare I say…. death lay below us and we are headed straight for it.
“Worry not, Daphne. We will not be journeying into The Pit. If the map that I studied is to be relied upon, we should come across a path sooner than you think. A path that leads to The Alley from the open mouth of a cave.”
“The Pit? Would that be that fathomless darkness at the bottom of this… crevice?” I ask in a small frightened voice, even as Trielle and Delago continue to drive downward as slowly and steadily as they are able.
“That it would be, but do not fear. It only feels like we’re heading straight down while in fact we are moving steadily forward. It’s the ground beneath us that is leveling out as the mountain becomes one again.” She raises her arm, pointing straight ahead of us to where what appears to be a black speck mars the mountainside. “There, Daphne. That’s it. That will be the cave that leads to The Alley. It’s not that far, but why don’t we try and keep your mind off the slope for now. Talk to me instead, about what happened back at the gate with that former member of the Elite Council. How were you able to remove yourself from the wisp’s clutches? He dropped you as if he’d been burned.”
“What is a wisp? That evil toad that tried to swallow me as if I were a fly upon a lily pad?”
She chuckles, “A wisp is a shadow fae born of the Shadow realm. They are called wisps for their questionable corporeal form. And… due to the fact that they can speak inside of your mind once they’ve grabbed you.”
“Ahhh - so that’s what he did. Shadow fae, you say? As in-”
“As in we are still too close to the False King to voice the rest of that thought, Daphne. But otherwise… yes indeed. I believe so. The fae of your… kin.”
“My kin. That word will never be the same for me again. Yet at the very same time, it has not changed.”
“I understand perfectly. My own kin of my origins is no one to be proud of. In fact, if I could separate myself from her completely with the swipe of my sword - I would so in a half of a heartbeat, striking her from the realms and churning her toward the Valley of Great Rest.” She looks at me, her teal eyes firing in the dimmed moonlight. “Ash and Dionie are my true kin. And Petra. And now… you as well.”
My heart warms in my chest and I nod through the tightening of my throat as I blink back tears of joy. “As you are now mine. And-” I say, pausing and yelping lightly as a few loose rocks tumble toward the pitch black of The Pit from the shake of the shadow steeds hooves “-I have yet to properly thank you for doing this with me. For not leaving me to venture toward this… Missing Meadow alone.”
Her head jerks in my direction. “Promise me, Daphne. No matter what. Not even when you’ve regained the power we both know you ride for - promise me that you will never travel Faery alone.”
I stare at her for what feels like forever before I say softly, “I promise.”
“I accept your promise and I take it as truth.”She smiles wide and satisfied then nods ahead, saying, “Now… tighten your hold on your steed, Daphne. For we made it, the cave looms.”