“No, I’m not entirely sure. You’re right, it’s unfair and selfish of me to risk your life. Just take the godsdamned things out of my pockets and swim. Swim and find Aegir. He’s in the Sand Castle, tell him—tell him that—”
“Fuck it.”
Marshen grabbed hold of my hands and dove in headfirst.
CHAPTER 52
The moment Marshen’s head hit the bed of sand, it pulverised into nothingness. We fell freely.
The riddle was right. Our brave fall was not to the grave. And thanks to Marshen’s Fae agility, we did not injure ourselves either. He twisted himself like some acrobatic cat, landing on his two feet before catching me in his arms, the immortal flame still clutched in my right palm. The thud that followed told me that my bag had joined us as well. A short laugh of disbelief escaped my mouth.
“Milady,” Marshen said, lowering me to my feet.
“Where are we?” I whispered, spinning around.
I looked up, brow knitted. I lifted the flame towards the ceiling, only to find mahogany rock, the same texture as the floor beneath us, and three of the four walls enclosing us.
The other wall was made of iron. Two giant snakes were embossed centrally, mirroring each other. Their scales felt cool against my fingertips. It was truly a sophisticated wrought embellishment.
“It’s beautiful,” I murmured. I stared at it for a while. “I think it might be a door. Should we try to push it?”
Marshen rested his palms on one of the snakes. I tilted myself sideways, resting my left shoulder against the other snake, feet planted to the ground.
“Push!” Marshen grunted, his arm muscles tense against the wall-door.
“I’m pushing!” I was sure my eyes would pop out of their sockets if I kept at it. “Stop,” I breathed, “It’s not working. Let’s just look around.”
“My lantern and bag are gods know where,” Marshen grumbled.
“At least we have the flame and my bag.”
“Jolly you’re optimistic, considering that most of our food and water was in mine.” He huffed. “Let’s start with the floor.”
We scanned wherever the flame illuminated. After what felt like an eternity, Marshen grabbed hold of my arm and pulled me closer.
“Wait, stop. I think I saw something up there.”
“It looks like some inscription,” I mumbled, moving the flame above my head.
“Can you read it?”
“Not from down here. Lift me up please.”
Marshen held me by my knees while I sat on his shoulder. I balanced as best as I could while moving the flame in snakelike movements. “It looks like another riddle.”
“That’s just wonderful! What does it say?”
Speak of love, speak of despise,
Speak of truth and do not dare lie,
Open your heart to open the door,
Fail to do so and pray for the floor,
Truths about pain and wounds that keep lingering,
Truths about hate for the wounds to keep festering,
