I said nothing, practically heaving, my clothes damp was sweat.
He continued to move and then examined a group of rocks off to the side. “This way,” he said breathlessly.
I followed close behind.
He eventually reached the crack in the wall that led to the secret path we’d taken before.
“How long has it been since we left?”
“It’s normally a day’s journey,” he said. “But I think we made it in a couple hours.” He took the torch, squeezed into the crack, and sidestepped deeper into the rock. “Come on.”
I was a lot smaller, so I had an easier time slipping through. We moved for minutes before we stepped into the open cavern and found the path we’d used before, the one I’d taken with Morco when we first met.
Caius jogged this time, holding the torch aloft as he did. “Tell me when you need a break.”
“I won’t need one.”
Caius led the way down the winding path, jogging around boulders and sometimes jumping over rocks, carrying the light that illuminated the sharp crags that surrounded us. We cut directly through the rock, came closer to the very place I wanted to go…but also feared most.
We reached the other side in what felt like an hour. The boulder was still there from where they’d left in place when we fled.
Caius wedged the torch between the rocks and let it continue to burn. “We don’t need this anymore.” He turned to look at me, face drenched in sweat. “You still want to do this?”
I couldn’t lie to myself, not when the tremors shook my hands, but nothing would deter me. “Yeah.”
“It’ll be easier to find whatever you’re looking for because of the light. A lot easier than searching for potatoes in the dark. But that means it’ll be easier for them to find us.”
I nodded in understanding.
“Stay under cover at all times. We don’t speak unless we have to.”
I nodded again. “Do they patrol the area?”
“They’re everywhere. And since we were here just two weeks ago, they’ll probably be on alert. That doesn’t work in our favor.”
“It changes nothing,” I said. “And you don’t have to come with me. You can wait here if you want.”
He was quiet as he considered the offer. “We’ll find this quicker with two pairs of eyes instead of one. Now tell me what to look for.”
I was relieved I didn’t have to go out there alone. That I had someone to watch my back while I was focused on finding a flower that might not even grow here. “A deep purple flower with yellow streaks on the insides of the petals. They can grow anywhere, as long as they’re in direct sunlight.”
“That doesn’t narrow it down.”
“No.”
“Alright.” He turned to the boulder and planted his palms on the surface. “Help me with this.”
I came to his side, and together, we rolled the boulder aside, revealing the burning light of theapricumon the other side. I looked through the crack in the wall to see the world aglow, a light so profound it made me squint.
It took a moment for my eyes to adjust, the bud of light powerful enough to light the cavern for miles around. I blinked once and then twice until the world came into focus, and I could see the color of the leaves on the trees that had been blanketed in darkness on the other side of the cavern. This was the world that I’d had to explore in complete darkness—and it looked so different in the light. The ground was a subtle shade of blue, the rocks midnight black, greens that should be vibrant were sage.
There wasn’t a single flower in sight.
Caius searched the area from where he stood, checking that the coast was clear before he nodded to me and led the way. He quickly ran for the tree line, got under cover, and waited for me to join him.
We hid in the trees, the same ones the wolves had searched when they’d smelled my scent.
“Focus on the flower, and I’ll focus on us.” He had a sword across his back, a heavy one like Morco wielded.
