“You inspired me, then.” Eira laughed. “I feel through my magic.”
“You are just a bag of tricks, aren’t you?” Olivin sounded genuinely impressed.
“I try to be. It keeps my enemies on their toes.”
Alyss slowly widened the hole above them, just large enough for them to squeeze through. A few hand- and footholds made a basic ladder up one wall. They stared at the sky and hazy light of town through the opening. No one made a move to actually climb the ladder. Waiting to see if someone noticed the hole…or perhaps to gather the courage.
“You’re all sure about this?” Eira whispered.
“I did not just spend all that effort making that tunnel to back down now,” Alyss said, determined.
“You’re worrying for nothing when it comes to me,” Ducot reminded them. “I’m a mole on the surface, remember?”
Olivin said nothing. He just continued staring, jaw set with determination. Eira wondered what was going through his mind—probably thoughts of his brother. He didn’t object or back down.
“I’ll go first and illusion myself,” Eira said.
“I think if someone was there, they might have said something about the magic hole opening up. But go ahead,” Ducot said smartly.
“Can never be too careful,” Eira countered.
“I never thought I’d hear you say anything of the like,” Alyss said with half a gasp.
Eira stuck out her tongue at her friend and moved to squeeze past Olivin. He held out an arm, pressing it against the wall and barring her passage. Eira looked up at him, confused. He leaned over her, the space barely large enough for the two of them. Half of her body was pressed against his.
“Let me go first.”
“What?”
“You’re taking this risk because of me.” His voice was low, eyes intense. “Let me go ahead.”
“But—”
“Besides…” His tone turned coy. “My illusions are much better than yours.”
Eira huffed and glanced away. The warmth of his body was distracting her from objecting too vehemently. Likely his plan. “Well, what are you waiting for?”
He slipped away and Eira took a deep breath the moment he was gone. It suddenly felt like there was enough space for her to breathe again. Olivin climbed the ladder, fading from sight in a blink. Eira wrapped her cloak around her, passing the other one to Alyss, who did the same.
By the time they were done, Olivin whispered down, “There’s no one here.”
Alyss was up next. Then Eira. Ducot was the last to emerge and, after he did, Alyss knelt next to the hole. The earth closed up in a swirl-like pattern. “So we can find it again.”
“What if we need to flee quickly?” Olivin asked.
“How about this?” Alyss hummed and spun her fingers over the tunnel entrance. A circle etched itself into the rock. She punched her fingers through, lifting the circular stone disk with ease. “Like a sewer?”
“Good thinking.” Eira turned to the street ahead. It seemed quiet. She’d yet to see anyone walking by.
“All right, then. What’s the plan?” Olivin asked, though he was still focused on the street. That same, somber, intense look he’d been wearing all night was still on his features. “I want to follow some leads on Yonlin.”
“You have leads?” Eira asked.
“I don’t know yet; I’ll find out.”
“Don’t keep us in the dark.” It was part warning, part plea.
Olivin nodded. “Once I have something concrete, I’ll let you all know.”
