"He was throwing molten crystal at us," said Gill, without much conviction. For a supposedly blood-thirsty rebel, she seemed greatly shocked by this sudden accident.
"Almost backflow," said Crow. He was the only one who seemed unconcerned. "Get ready. We have to get across the rest of the cavern this time."
But everyone was still watching the point where the Thrower had fallen into the crystal. It was cooling now, turning blue-green, and the liquid was ebbing back. No one spoke, but obviously everyone was hoping that the Thrower would have somehow survived, that he would stand up.
The molten crystal continued to flow back to the sides, and the paths started to appear. The Thrower's body became visible, a motionless lump, a tiny island.
"The Sunstones are still working in his suit," said Tal, noting the blue glow. "Maybe we should help him up. He might be all right."
"We haven't got time." Crow pointed to the path that was slowly appearing as the crystal retreated. "It's backflow now!"
He started off to the far side of the cavern. The other Freefolk hesitated, then took off after him. Milla grabbed Tal by the arm and pulled him to follow.
"There's no time," she said. "He was an enemy. The guards are still after us, remember. Come on!"
Tal followed her. He couldn't work out why he felt so upset. The Thrower was only an Underfolk, and Underfolk died all the time. But it was all so sudden. One second he was alive, and then he was drowning in molten crystal…
Perhaps he would still get up, after they'd gone. Perhaps his armor was good enough to keep him alive while he recovered his strength…
Tal's leg started hurting again then, and he had to focus his mind on running. It was a good two hundred stretches to the far side of the cavern, and the others were well ahead. Except for Adras, who kept pausing to look back.
Once again, Tal felt the protective rays of the ceiling Sunstones begin to fade. The others were already climbing a steep stair that led out of the cavern. Suddenly the molten crystal began flowing back. Tal was fifty stretches short, and he had a moment of panic as a sudden surge of crystal flowed across the path. But it was narrow, and he managed to jump it and land without his leg giving way. Even so, he felt the heat, a sudden flash that would have been dangerous if it lasted for more than a split second.
When he gained the steps, Crow looked down at him with a sneer.
"Too much eating and not enough exercising," he said. "Typical Chosen."
"Tal is wounded," explained Milla in a matter-of-fact tone. "A Waspwyrm sting to the leg."
"A what?" asked Clovil.
"Waspwyrm," said Tal. "In the spirit world, Aenir."
"Aenir?" Clovil looked confused. "But I thought the Chosen's bodies stayed behind when they go to Aenir."
"They do," said Tal. "But whatever happens there affects your body here."
"Does it work the other way, too?" asked Crow, with a sudden intensity. "If a Chosen's body is hurt here when they're in Aenir, do they hurt there?"
Tal looked at the glitter in Crow's eyes. It was clear that he really hated the Chosen.
"Their bodies are guarded by their Spiritshadows here," Tal said shortly, not really answering the question.
"But what if they weren't protected?" Crow continued. "Say I stabbed a Chosen's body, would he or she die in Aenir?"
"They are guarded by Spiritshadows, so who knows?" replied Tal.
"Maybe I'll find out one day," Crow taunted menacingly.
"Enough talk," commanded Milla. "We can talk later. We need to find Ebbitt."
Crow nodded and jerked his head at Clovil and Ferek, indicating that they should lead off again.
The stair continued up almost to the top of the cavern, where it ended in a set of very large metal doors. They were slightly ajar, just enough for people to slip between, though someone as fat as Sushin would have trouble.
Milla paused at the doors, brushing the dust from a small patch. As she'd thought, the doors were made of the same dull golden metal as the Icecarls' Ruin Ship, and Asteyr's Orskir, in the spirit world. Further evidence of the connection between the Icecarls and the Chosen, way back in distant times.
Tal paused, too, but it was to look down at the forge country's molten sea. Even this high up, he could feel the heat coming off the crystal, and the counterbalancing cool of the Sunstones set in the ceiling, which was still higher than the top of the stair.
He scanned the area near the central island, hoping to see some sign of the Thrower. But there was no one there. There were only Underfolk on the other islands, busy at their work.
It was possible that the Thrower had gotten up and made it back to one of those other islands as they climbed the stairs. But it was unlikely.
"Tal."
It was Milla calling. She waved her hand, telling him to hurry.
Tal kept looking. Adras was next to him, looking down as well.
"Pretty colors," said Adras. "Like rainbows."
Tal couldn't see anything pretty in the molten crystal. Just the memory of a human hand clawing for support, desperate for help, the last action of a dying man as he sank beneath the burning surface.
"Tal!"
"I've never seen anyone die," whispered Tal. "Not like that. So suddenly."
Milla came back, frowning. But it was not a frown of anger.
"Death is the end of a song," she explained quietly. "But it is not the end of all songs. Here, a man has died. Somewhere, in your castle or out upon the ice, a child has been born. One song ends, another begins."
Tal looked at Milla. She had surprised him again.
"Did you just make that up?"
"No," replied Milla. "I learned it, long ago. Hurry up!"
CHAPTER SIX
The Freefolk led them through another maze of narrow passages, all of them dark. Some were partially flooded, requiring wading. Others were packed with long-forgotten boxes and barrels, rotting away in the darkness. Occasionally bright patches of luminous mold shone like pale beacons, and once a Sunstone flickered high on a wall, a stone in its dying days.
They saw no other Underfolk and it was clear that the paths Crow chose were rarely used by anyone. More than once, Clovil and Ferek hesitated before a choice of ways, and there was a quick conference with Crow before they moved off again.
After several hours, t
hey climbed down a switch-backed series of rough-hewn steps, to enter a large cavern with a sandy floor. Crow led them to the center and declared they would take a rest.
"We don't need a rest," said Milla. "We need to meet with Ebbitt. Then I have to go on."
Tal didn't say anything. He needed a rest. His leg was aching and he wanted to take the pain away with some healing light. He gratefully sat down on one of the stones Crow had indicated in the center of -the cavern and stretched out his leg.
The others kept standing, a few stretches away. Adras slid over and copied Tal, stretching out his puffy leg.
"My leg hurts, too," he announced.
Odris came over to look at it, while Tal focused on his Sunstone to summon a Blue Glow of Healing. It wasn't as powerful as the full Blue Ray, but at least it would take the pain away.
Concentrating on the light magic, Tal didn't really pay attention to what the others were doing. Milla was arguing with Crow about the delay, and the other Freefolk had drifted over to stand behind him, except for Inkie, who had wandered over to the far side of the cavern and appeared to be looking at the rock wall.
Tal was unprepared when, in midsentence, Crow leapt forward and pushed Milla as hard as he could. She flew back, turning into a flip as she fell. She landed on her feet, knife suddenly in her hand.
Before she could do anything, Crow shouted, "Now!"
Even before he shouted, Inkie pulled a concealed lever in the wall.
The floor below Tal suddenly opened, sand cascading down. Tal yelled and tried to jump up and across, but it was too late.
The whole center of the cavern was a trapdoor. Tal went down with the cascading sand, Adras following him with an excited shout.
Milla was quicker. As the floor shifted, she threw herself forward and got a handhold on the lip of the huge trapdoor--but she had to drop her knife. Odris flew up behind her, and gripped her around the waist, easily lifting her onto solid ground.
Crow charged her immediately, with Clovil and Gill coming on each side. Ferek ran around the outside, yelling excitedly.
Milla met Crow's charge with a flurry of punches and kicks. Crow surprised her by blocking or dodging most of them, until she got a lock on his arm and used it to swing him around to collect a blow from Clovil.