‘I’m a possession to her – that’s all,’ I say.
The song penetrates through the cave again, the strange plaintive chanting Biba followed. It feels much closer as we stare into the murk. My heart constricts, and my muscles tense and weaken under my skin. It pulls me forward, like an invisible thread I can’t help but follow. Raina moves her head towards the sound too and burbles, as though she also wants it.
‘Where do we go now?’ Ris asks as I secure Raina back around my body.
‘Biba followed the song. Our best chance of finding her is to do the same. It’s closer now.’
‘What do you think is singing?’ Ris asks.
‘I think we’re getting closer to the source of energy.’
We stare hard into the space in front of us. This place is a labyrinth, and we only have the song to guide us. The cave is eerily still as we listen to the strange melody and trace it into the darkness.
I listen to the rise and fall of Ris’s chest, wondering how her ribs feel, if they’re healing well. My hands are shaking. We lean against the wall, trying to keep as still as possible. The glow from my mark emanates around the cave now, pulsing brighter in time with my frantic heartbeat.
‘Is that a ledge?’ Ris asks, so close to me I can feel the heat of her breath as she approaches.
‘I think so,’ I say, feeling the jutting rock.
‘Do you think you can get up, with your arm?’
‘No,’ I say, examining my injury.
‘All right. I think I can get some purchase; help me up?’
Ris pushes off my shoulder with her hands to grip the ledge. Her legs flail for footholds, and I shove her behind, giving her a final boost. She heaves herself up and over.
‘Hand me Raina,’ she says, leaning over the side of the ledge.
The princess wails in confusion as I hand the sling up to Ris. My body rebels as I try to pull myself onto the rock ledge, the method awkward as I try to protect my hurt arm. Holy Aistra, I’m transported for a moment back to that desperate time in the ocean after my expulsion.
‘Help me,’ I call to Ris, and she grips my arms. I cry out as she pulls on my sore wrist.
‘Find a foothold,’ she grunts, trying to haul me up. ‘Or I’ll dislocate your shoulder.’
I lean into the wall and balance on the ridges of the rock with my toes.
‘That’s it.’ She heaves, scraping me up the side of the wall until I can crawl.
My body feels like one open wound, every movement a hurt. It is a pain that comes fast and fresh, stinging and then subsiding. We pant as we feel around for the way to go next. Voices in the distance. It’s the song, but mixed with something else – human, familiar.
Ris stops and listens. ‘It’s them!’
She takes off urgently in the direction of the sound, disappearing into the darkness ahead.
‘Ris, wait! Be careful!’ My words are futile as I try to follow, my good hand tracing the whorls of the royal brand that glows like a torch. I have no choice but to be guided to whatever lies beyond.
chapter fifty-seven
finlyr
Biba wakes gently,slowly stretching from her bed in the middle of the nest. She turns sleepily to me, her skin covered in a pale sheen, like polish.
‘Fin,’ Biba says. ‘Adarna says we should stay here, together.’
I try to stay still, to keep my body language calm, while I eye the bird. It’s watching us, wings fluttering nervously. ‘Everything’s going to be all right, Biba.’
I look around, desperate to find a way to her. There are strange statues in the chamber. Like Seaguardians, all dressed in white. They are posed dynamically: some cowering, curled over in a ball, others with their arms up, ready to strike. I blink rapidly, trying to capture their faces. A sculptor of great talent, to render their horror and terror so accurately.
