Chapter 52 – What Never Varies

Her eyes sparkled in welcome as she followed him, stepping quietly into the light outside of the cave. She didn't dare speak a word for fear it would wake Ivan. A few steps from the opening, she turned to whisper to him, "I'm so glad you-" He swiftly touched her mouth with his fingertips, a sign to her not to talk, and shifted the robe to cover them both. There was more than one reason to keep silence, she gathered. She was pretty certain the reason lay with the appearance of the Greads on that side of the gorge.

Oliver didn't climb the sloping side of the cave, as Ivan had instructed her to do. He was walking the perimeter, keeping to the jutting wall of boulders and shielding her as they hurried around the crags. Casey let him lead her, hopeful that her questions about where they were going, and why the Greads were there, would be answered. She heard an influx of water in the distance and peered around the material at her face. They were heading toward a tunnel wherein a steady stream flowed. The water wasn't brown, and raced through quickly. Just as they reached it, Oliver steered her around the side of a boulder and into a narrow corridor. It reminded her of walking beside the brown water. Was this the second channel, the one that led to Kapyn's cave?

"They've already searched this area." His voice was quiet as he pulled the cloak away from her shoulder.

"You mean the Greads?" she whispered.

"Yes," he looked down at her as she pulled away to speak. "I didn't expect them to enter the cave where I sent you to hide. To them, the Death Cove is evil. They would not have come there if they hadn't seen or heard something to attract them."

"Yeah, I understand why they'd want to stay away. It's pretty awful." As she was speaking, he brought forth a dark container which she mistook for a small gourd.

"What's that?"

"Water. Drink." Casey spent very little time in deciding whether to consume what was in the strange flask. She was very thirsty. Yet, even as she gulped, her mind wandered to the Zource, wishing she had not given up her opportunity to swallow its clear, reviving liquid. When she had quenched her thirst, she added, "And 'Death Cove' is apropos. I would have been a goner if not for Ivan." She explained what had happened on her way from the first cave to the chamber with the brown water, speaking quietly all the while.

"You followed the longest passage. I wish there had been time to give you more direction." There was genuine concern in his voice. He studied her as he said, "Ivan, your friend; thoughts of him must trouble you." Casey was silent as she returned the flask.

"How did you know-?" she finally asked, wondering how much Oliver had overheard.

"I could hear his mind's rhythm through the dragonfly I sent to find you. The substance on the dart is meant to tranquilize those the clan pursues. They have an antidote to awaken the captives they wish to keep alive; otherwise, the heart slows until it stops. Would it comfort you to know his death was not painful?"

"Oh, he didn't die." Casey recounted how she had found the Zource and administered it.

"You mean, you revived him?" Oliver's eyebrows were raised. "Was he grateful for your interference?"

Casey's expression was blank. "Yes, I suppose he was. Why do you ask that?"

He stared forward through the dim hall, lit by a few thin rays from the entrance. "If Ivan's purpose was to live, he would not have stayed here for so long. He would have crossed the waters long ago to go with the others like him."

"He wants to go home, like me."

"Most want to go back, Casey. Yet, they soon learn the impossibility of escape." He began to walk again.

Casey donned a look of chagrin as she followed, and spoke almost to herself. "Ivan's pretty bull-headed."

"Sometimes it is best to accept what repeatedly never varies." He answered, turning his head to her.

Casey quickened her pace. "Ivan would rather confront Kapyn than admit he can't go home. And – I used to want to believe he could do it."

"Do you think he will succeed by force?"

"I want him to."

"But, that is your heart speaking." Oliver drew the glimmering robe around her again with a gesture toward a smaller passage. There was no light as they entered. Yet, without a giving a single command, the lumins came. The light-giving insects didn't congregate around their heads, but flew in concentric rings, orbiting both of them.

Casey was too busy considering what to tell Oliver to wonder aloud at their behavior. Finally, she blurted out, "He is planning something impossible."

"Don't let his plans trouble you, Casey." The words were a repetition of when he had first spoken to her of Ivan.

"He's planning to confront Kapyn… to kill him! And he told me he wasn't going to let me go with you, that he'd kill you for – for – because of me." She pulled at Oliver's sleeve, needing to see how he reacted to the news.

He gave her a small smile and asked, "Do you fear his threats? Let him do what he will do."

Then the thought she really feared slipped out. "Killing Kapyn; it's not going to work, is it."

"No."

Tears stung Casey's eyes, and she rubbed them away. "I don't care," she voiced, trying to collect herself. "I'm not going to see him anymore."

"He has hurt you in some way."

The sentence was so direct, it startled her. She didn't want him to know how low Ivan had brought her to think of herself. Still, she replied, "He told me – he told me you were lying. He said no one does things without expecting something. He meant-,"

"I do expect something, I've told you that. I expect you to return here." They entered a larger cavern. Beams of light traveled from the roof and reflected off the icicle-like formations of sparse stalactites above.

"Oliver." She stared into his eyes frankly. "I'm not going to come back." They paused, looking at each other. He didn't speak; his serene expression never altered. "So, will you still help me to go home when the Viliath comes?"

"Yes."

Her lips trembled to ask why, but she stilled them.

"We must cross the current soon to follow the mountain. The way is difficult, so hold to me." She stepped behind him, still wondering what motivated him to help her. Was there something about leaving Dreone that would make her want to come back again? But she'd be home! There could be nothing better than that.

The fast-traveling current dipped down and disappeared beneath a ledge. Oliver helped her descend, and they moved carefully across the sliver of walkway as he drew her arms around his torso. Casey closed her eyes. The drop was steep and the strip of land on which they were to walk was aslant. There wasn't anything to hold onto. If she should lose her balance… She shut her eyes and buried her face.

Casey breathed into his shirt, her forehead pressed against him. She became aware that there wasn't a smooth feeling of skin underneath the rough material. There was a substance beneath which was adamant and uneven. Yet, she was concentrating on her steps too intently to focus on anything more.

When they reached the other side, Oliver lifted her to the rocky bank. Standing up, she found herself facing two passages.

"Come," he said, and entered the left tunnel.

"Is this the way to Kapyn's mountain?"

"Yes."

"Why are we going there?"

"This travels through a mountain range, all adjoining along the northernmost regions of Dreone to the eastern boundary. We are not safe to travel in the open. We will go beyond the mountain of the dragon to keep from crossing the path of the ones who have not returned to their side."

"Why are they here?"

"They are not here to raid, as I had supposed. Kapyn has returned, and still they remain, seeking something. And now they know I'm here."

"They didn't know you were here before now?"

"Casey," Oliver brought his face closer to hers, continuing their snatches of conversation as they walked. "I had no intention of letting them know I was still alive. To keep my place here, I taught the pixies to fear me. I let them believe I was not human. Because I have spoken to you, the pixies now know what I am. I believe it is they who have betrayed me to those to whom I had wished to remain dead."

"But, how could they do that? They don't talk to the wild ones, do they?"

"There are other ways. Fire. And blood. The forests on this side, next to the divide, were set ablaze to be seen by the ones celebrating across the way; and beasts from the herds were killed and drained in the valley to incite Kapyn to leave his lair. These things brought the humans to investigate."

"But, who told them you were here?"

"I have left the marks of my survival. They would know it."

"Do they know about the dragonflies?" she asked, thinking of the one which had landed on her nose in the Death Cove.

"They know only that the dragonflies are the means by which many have come to this place. To them, the dragonflies are a mystery which they wish to understand. They have not learned the ways of the nymph. They will never learn it; I would destroy all dragonflies before such a thing could be understood by them."

They turned into another passage, and Casey saw shafts of light from an adjoining grotto. She pulled away sharply as he took her other hand in his. It was the hand she'd used to strike the wall. "I hurt my knuckles," she explained, lifting it for him to view.

"And, yet, the rest of you is unharmed. Is this the work of the water the pixies call 'Zource'?"

Casey smiled. "You know about it, don't you? Tell me about the Zource!"

Oliver seemed reluctant; but, as they drew into a new corridor, he spoke quietly. "It comes from the southern peak. The pixies who dwell there are different from the ones here, possibly because they are so far removed from their kind. Of the pixies, I respect those of the southern peak alone. They are protectors, as my own clan once was."

"They protect the Zource," asserted Casey, in a rush of breath. She was trying to keep up, as he skirted dips in the unlevel path.

"Yes."

"But what is the Zource exactly?"

"I do not know its origins, or why it repairs humans. Many shun its power. I have never tasted of it. It is believed that those who shed blood will perish from it." They continued for a few paces before he added, "Once, as a part of my challenge for manhood, I was brought to the base of the southern peak and told to dip my hands to wash my eyes that I might read the words of my destiny. The great foundation of the southern peak holds what are said to be the prophecies of my people."

"Like the one about you? 'The prince who conquers the dragon?'"

"Have you read more of my story since last we spoke?"

"I tried to, but-," As she walked, she pulled the wad of script out of her pocket. "I spilled Zource on it accidentally." She showed him how the last pages were illegible.

He took the almost-empty sheets from her, considering them momentarily. "The words of my destiny are nothing to me now. I have studied them. I know there is no prince who conquers the dragon." There was a vein of hardness which ran through his voice.

He took the sheets from her, and crumpled them in his hand. "It is for the best that you cannot know more of the things I recorded. I do not think you could understand about my journey."

Casey pursed her lips. It was an echo of Ivan's words: she couldn't understand.


A/N: Were there more answers in this chapter?

Estrangelo Edessa: I'm thrilled for the cranberry orange muffin! Surprises are always fun. "I'm still waiting for her to kiss Oliver. I know that makes no sense…" Yeah, it doesn't. You despise him, I've gathered. Do explain. Casey didn't destroy Glader, just mangled it a bit.

Iliana11: Thanks for the compliments about my scribblings. You are so sweet. "In a way, this reminds me of Lord of the Flies." Oh, yay! That's a book I hate to love. You can tell Golding experienced World War II firsthand. There are some very pointed questions LotF brings out about authority and the role of government. I wonder if he ever found the answers.

Quiet Mindreader: "Ivan's behavior is not always the best, but I still think his intentions are good." I'm reminded of the saying, 'The end doesn't justify the means.' "Not everything that is pleasing to the eyes and ears is what is best for us." Ah, wise words. Isn't it interesting that God made beauty and beautiful things to appeal to our senses, influencing us to like what we might otherwise never notice? That's why the immediate distrust for Oliver amuses me; most of us have been burned by the pretty things. Not everything that is pleasing to the eyes and ears is bad for us, either. Sometimes it takes digging deeper.

Lady Thorne: While Casey tolerates a lot to get along with Ivan, I think it's clear she can stand up for herself, even though she doesn't see it that way at the moment. Whoa... why is my profanity filter having to clean up your review? :( I care about keeping this clean. Please help me with that.

Hazelcloud: (Anakin Skywalker ) Oo, makes sense to me! Of course, thinking of the Star Wars ending… hm. "He's just feeding the fire that eventually leads to hatred." 'Feeding the fire' is a great idiom to use. When he calls her 'Ethel' this time, it is similar to when they first met. He knew her name wasn't 'Ethel' then; he was ridiculing her. Have you ever noticed how nicknames can go from forms of ridicule to terms of endearment? At the end of chapter 49, it was bordering on endearing there.