19. Tahlia

Chapter 19

Tahlia

" Y ou know who this is, you fantastic idiot," the voice said. "I can't believe this is working!"

Tahlia's tears returned and brought loads of company. "Fara!"

She slapped her hands over her mouth, worried her shout would bring out something she didn't have the balance to fight right now.

"What's working? Am I hallucinating?" Tahlia whispered.

"No, it's Fara! Lija and I are with Healer Albus and an herbwitch from the south."

Tahlia's heart lurched and her eyes burned with tears. Lija. Fara. She grasped at her tunic, her pulse pounding like her heart might beat right through the fabric.

"Fara," she said, voice cracking. "I want to know everything, but currently, I'm stuck in a very deep, probably cursed hole under a madman's fortress. I might die." An unhinged laugh bubbled from her. "Like soon. Lija, I miss you. I hate being so far from you. Fara, can you make it so I can talk to Marius?"

"Hello, rider," Lija said.

Her voice was low and soft, comforting but edged with desperation. This wasn't like the experience of speaking mentally; this was like Lija was nearby and Tahlia could simply hear her. So fascinating!

But despite the joy of this magic, Tahlia could easily tell that Lija wanted to hide how poorly she felt. Not being able to fly truly was bringing her down.

"I'm going to finish this thing and get you healed, Lija."

"I believe it."

A tear tracked down Tahlia's flushed cheeks. "Fara, can I contact Marius?"

"He isn't with you?"

"No. Only I fell. And for some reason, I can't even see the hole I fell through nor can I shout up to Marius. If up is even truly up here…"

"Gods, that sounds terrifying. All right. Hold on."

"Can this herbwitch heal Lija?"

"No, she tried. She says she isn't very powerful and her talent sits mainly in communication so she was thrilled to find this rare herb that facilitated this due to your soul bond with Lija and?—"

"Fara. Please. I don't know how much time I have. Marius is assuredly desperate and searching for me, which will make him vulnerable to attack. For all I know, he is dealing with a siren right now."

Fara swore creatively. "I thought sirens had gone extinct."

"I thought they were never real."

"Hold on, sorry. Just a minute," Fara said.

The sensation of the magic they were working rushed over Tahlia's scalp again.

"Try now," Fara said, her voice going in and out.

Saying a silent prayer, Tahlia took a breath. "Marius?"

There was a grunt of surprise, then silence.

"Marius, it's Tahlia. Fara and her gang are doing some sort of communication magic. It's really me. Ask me anything." If it was even working… What if it wasn't him she was talking to?

"Tahlia." His voice flooded her with warmth from the top of her head to the very tip of her toes. "Where are you? Are you hurt? Are you able to communicate with them and with me due to your Weaver magic?"

"No. It has to do with Fara and Lija. I'll explain later. I fell into a dark cavern of sorts. There is a small hole in the far wall down here, and I smell the sea. Sadly, I can't see the hole I fell through. I think this is a cursed or spelled area."

"Agreed. I can't find the broken path you fell through on this side either. There are Unseelie runes everywhere in this damned fortress. Idiot humans messing with powers they can't possibly understand."

"Yes, yes," she said. "Berate them at your leisure once you get me out of the very scary hole, agreed?"

"I would begin working on that if I weren't currently on top of the labyrinth wall, trying my best to find a minotaur that apparently is capable of portalling from one place to another as he sees fit."

"I'm sorry. What?"

"You heard me correctly. Half-human. Half-bull. Disappearing and potentially reappearing. Even grouchier than I am, if one can believe that."

Tahlia laughed darkly. "I'm glad you've adopted my whole humor-in-the-face-of-death practice. Do you have a guess on where the minotaur is right now? I can't believe we have to deal with not one, but two mythical dangers on the same mission. This is too much. I want a raise."

Marius growled. "I heard a noise in that direction," he said pointing farther into the labyrinth. "Could be the minotaur. But something is very off here, Lady Tahlia."

"So many somethings are off."

"I'm going to attempt to kill the minotaur, and then I'll drive through the damn floor and get to you."

"Sounds lovely. Happy hunting, dear," she said, hoping her teasing tone covered the fear inching up her back like a horribly large spider. She took a shuddering breath.

Marius's grumble faded into the recesses of her ears as Fara's voice came through once more.

"Did it work?" Fara asked. "Did you cut him off yourself?"

"I think so? I have no clue how this is working."

"The herbwitch said something about intention and need."

"Fine. Whatever. Can she tell me how to get my Weaver magic back out here past the Veil?"

"Let me ask," Fara said.

Tahlia frowned into the dark. "Are you eating?"

"Just a crystal cake. Look, I need energy to help you, all right?"

Tahlia snorted and shook her head, but she wasn't irritated. She was just so glad not to be alone in the dark. She took another deep inhale of the sea breeze and tried not to panic about being stuck and about Marius battling a bull-man.

"Have you tried meditating to try to get your weird little lines back?" Fara asked.

"No, my head is just now clearing from the hard hit when I fell, and there hasn't been time for it in the chaos of this city. You should see the humans, Fara. They're so relaxed and always laughing."

"Well, you're seeing them during a festival."

"I think they're like this though. Full of jokes and not nearly as uptight as us Fae."

"Us Fae?"

"You know I always felt more Fae than human," Tahlia said.

"Do you still feel that way?" Fara asked.

Tahlia chewed the inside of her cheek. Maybe not. Maybe she did feel more of a natural connection to these humans. "I'm not sure. Let's move on to this meditation idea."

"All right. So in Healer training, they taught me that slow, steady breathing actually lowers your heart rate and helps you think more clearly. Perhaps that would help your magic?"

"I'll give it a go. Will you stay with me?" Tahlia hated that she sounded so needy, but losing a chunk of her pride was nothing to being alone in the dark.

"We aren't going anywhere," Lija said, speaking over Fara shouting, "Of course!"

A smile pulled at Tahlia's lips, and she sat up. "Any tips on how to do this?"

"Sit with a straight spine if you're able," Fara said. "How are your injuries at the moment?"

"I'll live. All right, I'm sitting. What else?"

"Breathe in for four counts, hold it for four, release it in four counts, then pause for four, and begin again. Close your eyes."

"It's so dark. It won't make much of a difference."

"It cues your body to relax because everyone closes their eyes to sleep."

"I can sleep with my eyes open," Lija said, her voice sounding a little farther away than Fara's now.

"To watch for predators," Tahlia added, feeling a glimmer of Lija's pride through their bond. "I felt your pride, Lija! Maybe this aural connection makes it possible for us to examine one another. Can you tell if I have any serious internal injuries?"

Lija made a low growling sound and Tahlia knew what she was thinking. "I sense pain," the dragon said, "but nothing that will stop you from getting out of there and back home to me."

Tahlia chuckled. "Spot on." She closed her eyes. "I'm going to begin now. I hope I'm facing the place where I fell so maybe something will come to me and show me how to escape. It's tough to tell direction down here."

And it was tough not giving up. Tahlia swallowed and breathed in slowly.

Hold on, Marius. Just stay alive.