Chapter 11

Chapter

Eleven

" M addening little creatures," Svetlana commented, her eyes following them. "But at least they're consistent."

She gave a subtle nod to the man standing next to the doorway leading outside, and he melted out of view, in the direction the elves had taken. Svetlana turned to Marieke and Zev, folding her arms over her chest.

"You'll find that human notions of honor are meaningless to elves," she informed them. "They're often considered unscrupulous according to human perception, but they do have their own codes, and they follow them meticulously. Just never expect altruism from an elf. You won't find it."

"Thank you for that wisdom." Zev's voice was just dry enough to convey dignity without being inflammatory. "Does the fact that you're giving us life advice mean that you intend to give us the opportunity to use it?"

"I'm not in the habit of arbitrarily killing people, if that's what you're asking," Svetlana replied coolly, one eyebrow rising as her gaze flicked to Marieke. "Not even singers."

"You'll have to forgive our skepticism," Zev retorted. "Since that was precisely the habit of the only other member of your community we've dealt with."

"I already told you that Gorgon didn't act on our behalf." But Svetlana had the decency to look a little uncomfortable. "I should add, neither do the elves."

"That much is clear," Zev said. "What are they doing down in the canyon, anyway?"

"Back up a bit," Marieke interjected. "The first question isn't what are they doing. It's what are they."

Svetlana looked amused. "The first question of many, no doubt. And I have my own. But it can wait until after food and sleep. Your hands will be unbound," one of her silent companions moved to make it happen as she said the words, "but remember that you're not guests. You're captives. Every entrance is guarded, and you won't be allowed to leave. If you try, you will hurt your chances of favorable treatment. And even if you made it out of the cave system, the elves are waiting in the canyon. I don't advise you to entrust yourself to them. Now you've seen them and know of their existence, they won't be eager to let you return to the surface alive."

Marieke brought her hands around to the front of her the moment they were freed, rubbing her sore wrists with relief.

"There's an underground spring in the cavern through that door." Svetlana gestured behind them. "You can wash up before dinner."

She took a step toward the door through which the clattering had come earlier, then paused, looking back at Zev.

"You going to be all right?"

"How do you mean?" Zev asked stiffly. His eyes flicked to Marieke.

"I'm not asking if she's all right, because I can see that she is," Svetlana told him. "She seems level-headed to me."

Zev raised his eyebrows. "And I don't? "

"Well, you wouldn't be the first man whose pride was bruised by being overpowered by critters half his height. It can sting a touch, or so I'm told."

Zev stared at her for a moment before, to Marieke's surprise, she saw his face soften in amusement.

"I wouldn't say my pride is flourishing."

Svetlana chuckled. "Was it being brought to heel, or being outwitted regarding the bargaining that did it? Or both?"

Zev's only reply was a rueful expression, which was enough to bring another chuckle out of Svetlana.

"I'll leave you to tend to your bruises, then. Dinner is in a quarter of an hour through this door, late arrivals depart hungry." She strode through the door, closing it firmly behind her.

To Marieke's surprise, Zev let out a chuckle of his own. "You know, I almost like her." He took Marieke's hand with one of his freed ones, the sudden movement startling her and bringing a touch of heat up her neck.

"Have you forgotten that she's holding us captive?" Marieke asked, swallowing audibly and hoping it wasn't obvious how vividly aware she was of every point of contact between Zev's skin and hers.

"Of course I haven't." Zev's voice held the hint of a smile as he tugged her toward the door Svetlana had indicated. "I just expected her to be different."

"Expected?" Marieke repeated. "Why did you have any expectations at all, since you'd never even heard of her?"

Zev shrugged as, watched by the guards, they went through the doorway and found a well-lit room with a still, underground pool. "Not Svetlana specifically, maybe. But I live close to the canyon. People in my region know the rumors of the monarchists down here. They have their own reputation."

Marieke released Zev's hand to kneel at the water's edge, dipping in her hands and patting her weary face. "So what did you expect her to be like?"

"Well…like Gorgon, I suppose. Hotheaded and unreasonable, passionate for a cause he knew nothing about. But this Svetlana…" Zev shrugged again, not kneeling by the water himself, his demeanor that of a man keeping watch. "She means well, I think." He smiled ruefully. "Probably. Maybe."

"Whatever that means." Marieke didn't feel in the mood for his riddles, more focused on washing the grime off her arms. Climbing down the steep cliffside hadn't left her tidy or clean, to put it mildly. Her clothes were also the worse for wear, but she couldn't imagine feeling safe enough in the monarchists' enclave to change into fresh ones from her pack.

"Doesn't mean they're not wasting their lives down here, of course." Zev's musings seemed to be as much for his own benefit as hers.

"What should they be doing instead?" Marieke countered. She flashed Zev a grin. "Tilling the soil like good farm folk?"

He laughed. "Yes, actually. A much more productive use of their time."

Marieke stood, studying him. "It's true, isn't it?" she said thoughtfully. "You believe the same as the monarchists do about the singers' coup and the current council. But you don't sit around bemoaning it. You keep active, earning an honest living, helping your country in your own way."

"I like to think so," Zev said lightly. He didn't meet her eye, apparently not as interested in discussing his philosophy on life as she was. With Marieke standing up, he bent, swiftly scrubbing his hands before straightening again. "Come on, I'm famished."

Marieke couldn't argue with that, following him back into the main cavern. Others were streaming into it, a few going past them to the underground spring to wash their hands. They entered the room Svetlana had indicated to find about a dozen people already seated. They all wore the same gray clothes as Svetlana, clearly designed to camouflage well with the rock.

"You do have a point about them wasting their lives," Marieke murmured to Zev. "I mean, what do they all do down here? When they're not holding unwary travelers captive, that is."

The corner of Zev's mouth quirked up in the smile that she'd become far too fond of, but he didn't otherwise respond. She understood why. As outsiders, they were clearly an oddity. Every eye found them as they advanced through the room, and it didn't seem likely that speech between them would remain private.

In fact, all speech in the room stilled as they took their seats. Marieke just hoped her stomach wasn't going to growl into the silence. She was hungry enough that she wouldn't be surprised.

They were served up a hot stew, its heartiness surprising her. She glanced at Zev, who'd already begun to eat.

"Where do they get the meat? Surely there can't be enough animals down here to sustain a whole community. Do you think they have a farm somewhere in the canyon?"

Zev considered his bowl for a moment before answering, then ran his thumb along the handle of his spoon.

"Maybe." He didn't sound convinced.

The meal passed in a near silence that was surely unusual for the small community. Judging by the constant looks thrown their way, it was the presence of strangers that stilled everyone's tongues. One girl in particular seemed to be looking at them every time Marieke's eyes rose from her bowl. As the rest of the group started to clear out of the little cave, the girl sidled closer. When Marieke lowered her spoon for the last time, it was to find the stranger only one bench away.

"Hello," Marieke said, holding the other girl's gaze. She expected her to look away or hurry off, but instead she slid closer along the wooden bench.

"Hi."

"And who are you?" Zev's voice was mild, but somehow held too much authority for a captive. The stranger answered at once.

"My name is Trina. What's yours?"

"Marieke," Marieke interjected. "And this is Zev."

The girl, probably no more than about fifteen, nodded. "Is it true that you're a singer?"

"Yes." Marieke folded her hands in her lap, trying to project as much confidence as Zev did.

"Are you from Aeltas?"

Marieke shook her head. "From Oleand. But Zev's from Aeltas."

"Oleand?" Trina looked thoughtful. "Things are bad there, right?"

A defensive instinct urged Marieke to deny it, but she curbed the impulse. She'd come to find answers, and she was more likely to get accurate ones if she provided the truth herself.

"It's not terrible, but it's getting worse."

"Is that why you're here? To figure out how to make it better?"

"One of the reasons," Marieke said carefully.

"Did the Council of Singers send you?" Trina's eyes were wide. "Do they want to know if we can help?"

Marieke let out a dry laugh. "Hardly. They don't know I'm here. I'm not acting on their behalf."

"You're trying to bring them down?" Trina guessed.

"No," Marieke repeated, frowning. "I'm not trying to lead some rebellion, and I'm not trying to attack anyone. I just want answers. And to help my country."

The girl leaned back a little, considering Marieke. "Very admirable," she said politely.

"Trina." The sharp voice made them all look up to see Svetlana in the doorway.

Trina started as if caught in wrongdoing, and Marieke realized that the three of them were the last ones left in the room.

"I believe you're on clean up tonight." Svetlana's tone made it clear that it wasn't open for debate, and Trina got quickly to her feet.

"Yes, Svetlana." With a final glance at the pair, Trina grabbed a loaded tray from the next table over and made her way from the room.

Marieke grabbed her own and Zev's bowls, adding them to another tray while Zev spoke.

"She wasn't doing anything wrong, you know. She was just speaking with us. Do you have so much to hide that you don't want any of your people speaking to outsiders?"

Svetlana didn't seem troubled by the challenge as she strolled up to their table. "We're not the ones whose main goal in life is to hide the truth."

Zev narrowed his eyes slightly as he considered her. "And what does that mean?"

"It means that it's your Councils of Singers who suppress the truth," Svetlana said, sensing his displeasure and hardening her own features in response.

"Well, this is a nice surprise, really," Marieke commented. She moved to stand behind Zev, who rose to his feet as well. "I expected to be the one under fire, since I'm the singer, but instead the two of you are targeting all your disapproval at each other, just as if you didn't both dislike the councils equally."

"Is that so?" Svetlana didn't seem convinced. "A surprising claim about a man who's traveling around with an academy-trained singer."

"Just as it's surprising to hear the leader of a secret, subversive community claim that she isn't the one trying to hide," Marieke countered.

"I'm not sure you could call them subversive," Zev said, folding his arms. "I've seen no evidence that they do anything to bring down the authority they claim to hate. Or any evidence that they do anything at all, really."

"You must have forgotten Gorgon's attacks on every singer he could get his hands on, including me," Marieke said.

"I certainly haven't forgotten." Zev's voice was dark, his brow lowered as his eyes remained fixed on Svetlana. "Or forgiven."

Svetlana frowned. "I've already told you he acted without my knowledge or approval. And while we're on the topic of young members of my community easily led astray by outside influences, I surely need give no more reason for not wanting you filling Trina's heads with whatever agendas you came down here with."

Zev seemed like he wanted to retort, but Svetlana didn't give him the chance.

"Much as I'd love to stay and talk, I have other matters to see to. We will speak tomorrow, after you've slept." She nodded to a man who'd just appeared in the doorway. "Someone will show you to a room. I repeat my warning about trying to leave."

The next moment, Svetlana was gone, and the man had stepped forward.

"This way."

He turned on the word, and they had to move quickly to keep up with him. He led them back into the main cavern, gesturing toward the cave with the spring.

"If you go through there, you'll find a small doorway to another area on the right wall, for ablutions. You won't have another chance before morning."

Marieke shot a self-conscious look at Zev, then cleared her throat.

"I'll go first."

She hurried into the cavern with the spring and found the doorway indicated. She hadn't even noticed it last time. It led to a small cavern, lit with a single lantern. As soon as she entered, she caught the quiet sound of running water. A series of holes had been carved into the floor, and examination of them showed that they'd been cut right through to an underground stream that ran past below.

Handy.

Marieke relieved herself quickly, nervous of someone else coming in. After taking a moment to freshen herself at the spring, she moved back into the main cavern. Zev raised his eyebrows as if to ask, everything all right? She nodded and, after a swift and searching look at their companion, Zev strode into the room with the spring.

He was back so quickly, she suspected he was wary of leaving her alone with the stranger. But he needn't have worried. The gray-clad monarchist had stood silently the whole time, staring at the far wall and generally ignoring Marieke's existence.

"Ready?" he asked curtly, when Zev reappeared.

They both nodded, and their guide led them across the main cavern and through yet another doorway. He took them through such a labyrinth of tunnels that Marieke quickly lost track of the way back. She had the thought of trying to surreptitiously form a guiding song to track their path, but then remembered she couldn't sing in the canyon.

Their path got gradually darker as the lanterns mounted on the walls disappeared. Before long, the flickering glow of their guide's lantern was the only source of light. A shiver went over Marieke. It wasn't as cold as she would have expected a subterranean cave to be, it was just eerie.

When they finally came to a stop, Marieke felt her shoulders sag with relief. She was ready to get off her feet again. But that relief dissipated when their guide pulled back the curtain of dried reeds that formed the only door to the space in front of them, and revealed the cavern beyond. It was tiny, with nothing in it but two rolled up pallets, each with a blanket folded and sitting on top of it.

"Is this it?" Zev asked.

The guide's expression was stony in the low light. "Were you expecting luxury?"

"I was expecting something a little more remarkable, given how far we had to walk to get to it," Zev retorted. He glanced down the rough stone corridor. There were no other doorways visible nearby. "Isn't there a second space we can also use?"

"This isn't an inn," the stranger said irritably. "You can't reserve rooms. This is where you're to spend the night, and someone will come and get you in the morning."

He bent down, placing the lantern on the stone floor just inside the curtain, then strode back the way they'd come.

"At least he left the lantern," Marieke muttered. She squinted at the darkness into which he'd disappeared. "Did he just go back into that pitch black maze without any light?"

"Looks like it." Zev's voice was short.

"Well." Marieke shuddered again. "That's a little…creepy."

Zev's face softened slightly in a smile as he looked over at her. "I get the sense that everyone who lives here knows this place very, very well."

"Evidently," Marieke said. "I didn't see any signposts, and he seemed very confident in getting here, in spite of it being so far from the main cavern." She frowned. "Do you think they brought us to a cavern much further away than necessary, to make it harder for us to find our way out?"

"Undoubtedly," said Zev. "We passed plenty of spaces at least as suitable as this one."

"Well, they didn't need to bother," Marieke said frankly. "I'm far too tired to try running away tonight. And maybe Svetlana only said it for effect, but it worked—I don't want to take my chances with those elves."

"Yes, I think we'd be wise to be very careful with them."

Zev followed her as she stepped into the space, an air of reluctance about him.

"I just can't believe they exist!" Marieke said. "Elves. Like something out of a children's story. How did the knowledge of them become lost?"

"I imagine you don't want to hear it, but there's no way every record mentioning elves was lost by accident," Zev said, kneeling down and shifting one of the blankets to get to the pallet underneath.

Marieke watched him for a moment before responding. "You're wrong," she said.

Zev straightened, his brow furrowed as he looked at her. "Marieke, I know it's hard to unlearn everything you've been taught, but—"

"No," she clarified quickly, "I mean you're wrong that I don't want to hear it. I do want to hear the truth. That's why I'm here."

Zev held her gaze, something crackling in the air between them. "Yes," he said at last, his voice soft in the deadened space. "You're different from most singers."

"I'm really not," Marieke told him simply. "I just asked the right questions, and even that only happened because of what I saw down here the first time. Many singers would probably have the same reaction I've had if they were exposed to the same information."

Zev didn't answer. Even in the dim light, she could see the conflict in his eyes. It was hard for him, she realized, to accept that his family were wrong in their prejudice toward singers. Maybe even harder than it was for her to accept the lies she'd been told. Both of their foundations had been shaken since they'd met one another, and the realization made her feel more connected to him.

She stepped closer, the silence of the underground cavern suddenly deafening, and Zev's presence electric.

"We can find our way to what's true, Zev." Her voice was whisper-quiet, but it filled the space. "We can find it together."

Something jumped in Zev's jaw, and his eyes were impossible to read as they stared down into hers. Feeling bold in the semi-darkness, Marieke moved even closer. They weren't touching, but she could feel the heat radiating from his chest, inches from her.

"I'm not asking you to solve Oleand's problems," she told him. "All I want is for you to walk with me as I try to untangle the truth from the lies and the lies from the misconceptions."

Still he said nothing, although his eyes stayed locked on her, his demeanor more like hypnotized prey than his usual confident self.

"Is that really too much to ask?" she murmured.

Zev swallowed, swaying slightly toward her as he at last spoke. "It's…it's not that simple, Mari."

Warmed by the use of her nickname, Marieke reached toward him, the movement slow so as not to scare him off. She eased her hand into his, the back of her hand against his palm. His fingers were strong and warm as she slid hers between them.

"Isn't it?" she whispered .

"Mari…" Zev's voice trailed off into the silence with the hint of a groan. For a moment they stood, their gazes locked with an intensity that made it hard for Marieke to catch her breath.

Then Zev closed his eyes, raising their entangled hands in a swift motion and twisting them so that Marieke's palm was trapped against his cheek. She could feel the scruff of his beard against her fingers, and the strength in his hand as he held hers in place. He drew in a ragged breath, his thoughts impossible to read now his eyes were closed against her.

"Mari, I…"

Again he didn't finish the thought. She could feel his tension, but she didn't try to ease it with light words. She wanted him to confront his own heart, to decide what he was willing to fight for. To her disappointment, he seemed bent on avoiding that.

"I'll sleep in the corridor," he said gruffly. "To keep watch in case anyone intends mischief."

"You don't have to be afraid to share a cave with me, Zev." Marieke's tone wasn't quite as light as he was trying to make his. "I'm not going to force you to kiss me again, if that's what you're worried about."

His eyes flew open again at her daring words, his expression startled as his gaze rested on her. Startled and something else, something lurking deeper.

"No one forced me to do anything." His voice was low and husky.

Hope lifted Marieke's heart again, and she tilted her face toward him. One hand was still against his cheek, and she raised the other, tentatively laying it on his chest. She could feel the tightness of his muscles through the thick fabric of his tunic.

"I wouldn't want you to do anything you don't want to do," she murmured .

She saw Zev's free hand twitch, as if wanting to circle her waist, but he didn't do so. Still, he lowered his head, Marieke's heart pounding erratically as Zev's eyes flicked to her lips. She felt her own eyes start to flutter closed, but his lips were still inches from hers when his voice broke the silence, strained and low.

"I'm not free to just do what I want, Mari."

She studied him, her gaze unflinching and her mind clear in spite of the turmoil of her emotions. "I seem to remember you telling me that you're under no one's control but your own."

Zev let out an audible breath, the warmth of it washing over Marieke's skin. "That doesn't mean there are no constraints on me. I wish I could explain it all so it makes sense, but I can't." She could hear his frustration. It mirrored her own as he stepped suddenly back, releasing her hand and running his fingers through his tawny hair. "I can't."

Marieke's hands fell limply to her sides as Zev turned away, dropping to one knee to gather up a blanket and pallet.

"I'll keep watch," he said brusquely as he stood, his arms full.

Marieke put out a hand, laying it on his arm as he moved toward the doorway.

"You need sleep, Zev. Don't try to stay awake all night. You'll just be useless for tomorrow's dangers if you do."

His arm tensed under her touch, but after a moment he gave a curt nod. "You're right. I'll sleep." But it didn't stop him from stepping through the curtain and laying his makeshift bed in the corridor. Apparently he intended any danger to at least have to come through him first.

Marieke sighed, recognizing the pointlessness of further argument. She could use privacy to gather her thoughts, anyway. Zev's nearness had made its usual impact on both her heart rate and her peace of mind. Warmth crept over her when she turned and realized that he'd laid out her pallet and blanket. She didn't doubt for a moment that he cared. Just not enough to surmount whatever barriers were keeping them apart in his mind.

Most likely the fact that his family disliked singers so much, she reflected glumly as she settled on the pallet. But surely that could be overcome with time. Surely if they got to know her, they'd see she wasn't their enemy.

After all, Zev had been hesitant at first, but he certainly no longer saw her as an enemy. Her eyes strayed to the curtain that now separated them, her thoughts wandering back over the day. He might keep his distance in private, but where others were involved, he treated her both as an ally and as someone worth protecting.

It was ironic, because if she had her voice, she'd be much more able to protect him than the other way around. Shifting into a more comfortable position—which wasn't saying much—she tried again to summon her song. She could feel magic in the ground, plentiful and erratic, but it wouldn't pool to her at all this time. And try as she might, she couldn't get any song to come out.

She didn't even realize she'd been clearing her throat repeatedly in the attempt until Zev spoke.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes," she said quickly, embarrassed. "I was just checking if my song is still blocked."

"And?"

"It is," she sighed.

There was a moment of silence, then Zev spoke again. "That's a shame. Your voice is beautiful when you sing."

Marieke felt warmth rise up her cheeks, but she tried to make her tone sound nonchalant. "And here I thought you didn't like songcraft. "

"I didn't," Zev said, his voice less gruff. She heard him shifting on his pallet. "That was before I met you."

Marieke smiled into the darkness, her cheeks warm enough to drive away the chill of the stone beneath her.

Surely there was hope yet.