12: The Subterranean Network

The rock glowed from the moss that clung to the surface in patches. It led the paths they could follow.

"These tunnels are well constructed." Vo noted the beams and struts keeping the rock structures.

"It should. Used to be parts of a mine before some of the canyons collapsed," Lyra answered.

"Do you have any idea where your daughter would run?" Vo gently asked Sam.

Sam sighed and shook his head. "She never played out of the walls. She was a good girl."

Vo placed a hand on his shoulder. "I understand. Let's keep going and try to pick up her trail."

"Thanks. I asked the other guards but they were told to leave this to you and stay at their posts."

"What? I'd thought it would be the guards' priority to search for their missing?" Zen voiced his bafflement on the matter.

"Commander's new orders."

"But he called a Hunt?" Zen's question was steeped with confusion, for their commander gave mixed messages. "Then what about you two?"

Lyra and Sam shared a glance.

"Let's pick up the pace." Lyra brushed off the question as she stormed ahead.

"Something is bothering me, Vo. Maybe this is why the Lodshen sent us."

"What do you mean, Shane? They led me to Zen who told me where to find Akari."

"Only after showing proof of connection. And why in Rogue? People being abducted and the Red Sun Guard is reluctant to send out search parties? And you just happen to show up and be the one who can solve their problems?"

"What are you saying?"

"Maybe there's more going on for us to know than gaining the Lakshima."

"I don't see it. Anyway, we're got other things to worry about." Vo ended the conversation.

They walked on in silence. So far the way was uneventful, but as they took a dip toward a new set of tunnels, the way opened into a vast and open cavern system.

"Anul's fire, this is a lot more space than expected." Zen gasped.

"Give me a moment." Vo unsheathed Shane and closed his eyes.

Lyra peered at his sword's blade, which glowed with silver light.

Vo slipped into a focus, which allowed him to detect the moss patches on the stone walls. Using them as anchor points, he was able to map a layout of the subterrain area. He opened his eyes and returned Shane to his scabbard.

"I've got the layout mapped in my mind." He saw a stick nearby, picked up and led everyone to one side near dirt grounds. He began sketching out the cavern layout for the others to see.

"We're at the start of a chasm, which has four paths leading across to the start of a tunnel system..."

No one questioned how Vo was able to gain such incredible detail of the cavern network, they just hoped he was right.

Sam didn't hide his worry for Kiara. "If what you're showing us is true, Kiara could've fallen down the chasm. It's so dark here."

"She wouldn't." Zen coolly stated.

"What makes you so sure?"

"Because she's enthralled, so being safely led to a destination."

"Enthralled?!"

"Enchanted." Vo elaborated and added to reassure the father, "That means she's alive. No sorcerer will enchant a being they want to see dead. It uses a lot of spirit energy to maintain the links."

"Besides, they're probably just gathering people for a party." Zen flamboyantly added to try and lighten the mood, "One big surprise for a good time."

"Did anyone say you're really weird?" Lyra said to Zen.

"Only tacky people who've yet to discover proper hygiene. And wear armor that does nothing to flatter their waistlines." He huffed as he restarted his walk.

"Tacky?!" Lyra snapped back and was calmed by Sam.

"We have to find Kiara."

She sighed and nodded.

They continued, taking the path toward the central tunnel system. Zen said it smelt of flowers, a sign that led toward a habitable cave system and toward the upper ground.

But the tunnel was long and doubt creeped into heads, whether Zen got it wrong.

"So much for the pretty boy's theory." Kyra huffed.

"I don't understand, it felt sure this was the way." Zen scratched his head.

Before others could voice complaints, howling raced for them from the other end of the tunnel.

Vo frowned when he detected dark magic. "Get down!" He grabbed Zen's arm and pinned him down to the ground.

The others dropped to the ground as a blast of air magic rushed over their heads.

Zen muttered a spell, using his syn abilities to neutralize the air magic. The atmosphere momentarily froze over with icicles before it returned to a dry and musty warmth.

"That was a detection system." Vo grumbled.

"Thanks for letting whoever know we're here." Lyra hissed at him.

"Like they don't already." Zen awkwardly brushed off.

Vo helped Zen up.

"Do you really want Sam to find Kiara? Because you're very good at ensuring we stuff up!" Lyra snapped at Zen to his face.

"Listen, flame haired bush girl, if you've got a way to deal with magic, knock yourself out."

"Why don't I knock both of you out?" Sam snapped at them.

Vo sighed as he focused on the next steps with the three arguing, when he had a way forward he broke up their bickering with common sense.

"Let's just continue and deal with things as we face them. I've scoped a way forward." Vo started down the tunnel.

The others quelled their remarks and continued, following Vo's lead.