Another cool spring day invited them farther north on their journey across the prairie. As they traveled, Lavitz regaled them with tales of Bale in his youth, delivering on his promise from earlier, and Dart and Shana listened with rapt attention. To them, it seemed that Lavitz had grown up in a foreign paradise, so grand were his stories. He told of mischievous deeds within the castle, one time when he managed to convince the young king to sneak into the city at night, and another when he went on a date with a girl only to be rejected three minutes in.

"And I never went on another date," he finished, grinning with laughter.

"Not one?" asked Shana, incredulous. "You said you were how old when this happened?"

"Sixteen," nodded Lavitz. "And what can I say? She ruined me. Though in truth, it was more the death of my father that changed it. He died a year later."

"I'm so sorry," said Shana hurriedly, glancing worriedly at Dart.

"Don't worry too much about it. I joined the army when I was eighteen, and I've been fighting for Basil ever since."

"Really?" interjected Dart. "Not a single date in, what… Ten? Fifteen years?"

"That's right. My heart is set on the peace of Serdio, and nothing else will ever compare to that beauty."

"That's kind of beautiful," muttered Shana.

"What about you lot? Any fun dates?" Lavitz now watched them with a focused eye, glancing back and forth with an eagerness that pushed Dart off balance.

"I've had a few," admitted Shana, and Dart frowned. "None so exciting, though."

"Interesting!" exclaimed Lavitz. "Any strapping young men worth mentioning?"

She scoffed. "Hardly."

"Everyone liked Shana growing up," grumbled Dart. "I'd be surprised if she didn't already have five offers of marriage."

"Oh, come on. I'm not that special."

"Damon and Marcus would say different."

"Damon and Marcus are idiots."

"They were in love with you for years, though."

"I still didn't date either of them."

"But now I must know," chuckled Lavitz. "Have you had any marriage proposals?"

Shana's cheeks blushed bright red, and she looked down. "One," she said.

"Who was it?" demanded Dart.

"… Marcus."

"I knew it!"

"He was very sweet, though," defended Shana. "He wasn't pushy or anything."

"Did you let him down easy?" asked Lavitz.

"I was as nice as I could be," shrugged Shana.

"Poor kid is probably still whimpering about it," mumbled Dart.

"I didn't see him," said Shana in sudden grief. "He wasn't there."

"In Seles?" asked Lavitz.

Shana nodded.

"I'm sure he's alright. Maybe he was being tended to by the doctor."

Shana shook her head. "I checked all the wounded that night. He… he must not have survived the attack."

A somber feeling washed over them, and Dart realized that the world was not as it had been when he'd left five years ago. He wondered how many of his childhood friends now lay in unmarked graves north of Seles.

For several minutes, they continued in silence until Shana suddenly sighed and said, "What about you, Dart? Any dates these past five years?"

"There was one girl," he replied quietly. "We went on a couple dates, but nothing came of it."

"What happened?"

"I just couldn't sit still long enough." He smiled weakly, and Shana returned it before turning her eyes back to the horizon.

"How much farther?" she asked.

"We should reach the cave by nightfall," replied Lavitz.

Shana nodded, and they continued their trek without words.

The sun had set by the time they stopped again. The mountains had drawn ever nearer for several hours across the afternoon, and now as they followed Lavitz along, the foot of the mountains reached out to them like giant fingers waiting to draw them into their deadly grasp. Dark bushes decorated the mountainside, and Dart strained against the black to see any evidence of a cave against the rock face.

"There it is," said Lavitz suddenly, pointing northwest. Dart followed his gaze, but he could only barely make out a patch of black within the darkness. But once he'd seen it, he almost felt that he could not tear his gaze away. The entrance seemed much smaller than Dart would have supposed, and he guessed that they would have to enter single file.

"Let's camp here tonight, and then we can go in first thing in the morning," muttered Lavitz as he dismounted.

"Are we sure about this?" asked Shana, voicing Dart's concern.

"It's not as bad as it seems," assured Lavitz. "I've gone through this cave several times."

They did as Lavitz suggested, but despite the tranquil prairie, Dart could not convince himself to be calm in the face of such a future. He'd never been farther than a few feet underground before, and the idea of having an entire mountain hanging over his head sent shivers down his spine. He'd been putting off his trepidation for two days, but the time was finally coming to confront it.

The next morning, the three gathered near the cave entrance. The morning sun shone directly on the eastern face of the mountains, casting a warm glow far within it and giving Dart some level of confidence.

"Look, there are torches for us," said Lavitz with a casual tone, gesturing toward a couple crates to the side. "You take a few with you and then leave them on the other side. There are even crates of pitch to make them reusable."

"Can we take our horses?" asked Shana.

"Of course! Hera's troop had theirs, didn't they? We will have to walk a lot of the way, though."

Shana nodded, and Dart could feel her fear. Without much forethought, he reached out a hand and took hers. She turned her eyes to him with a smile and squeezed his hand in gratitude.

"I'll be with you," he assured.

"Let's hop to it," announced Lavitz after snatching two torches, handing one to Dart, and retrieving the three horses by their reins.

"Shouldn't we light the torches first?" asked Shana.

"Here, let me do it," said Dart, taking Lavitz's torch and setting the pair on the ground. Then he reached into his saddlebag and pulled out his flint and hunting knife. Within a few moments, the torches were blazing, and Dart pocketed the items.

"Excellent," said Lavitz. "Let's go." And he led his horse beneath the mountain.

"You go next," Dart urged Shana. "I'll be right behind you."

She nodded and followed Lavitz, and at last, Dart entered the cave.

The entrance was just large enough for a horse to fit, and despite the morning sun, Dart held his torch aloft to see as far as possible. The tunnel was remarkably straight for some time, and it was several long minutes before the last of the precious rays were blocked by stone. The horses' hooves echoed about them as they continued down the rocky path, and darkness soon threatened to engulf them.

"Watch your step," whispered Lavitz as he eased carefully down two natural steps, his horse following closely behind.

As Shana and Dart moved past, all at once, the ceiling and walls left them, and Shana skidded to a frightened stop.

"What is it?" asked Dart quietly, and he recoiled to hear a lack of echo. He understood Shana's fear; the emptiness was terrifying.

"It's just a cavern," responded Lavitz more loudly, allowing Dart to feel the edges of the space. It had to have been at least a hundred feet across. "Just keep following me. I know the way. But watch your footing because the ground isn't level anymore."

They pushed into the room, and the darkness pushed back at them. Something in Dart's mind couldn't comprehend it; it had been daylight a few minutes ago, and now the only light in the room was the light of their two torches. They'd formed two circles of light, each six feet wide, and beyond was nothing but empty black. Occasionally, Dart noticed the twinkle of a crystal in the distance, but he couldn't tell whether it was the cave wall or just towering stalagmites beyond his view. The air pressed in on him, and he began to remember the towering heights of stone weighing above his head. Didn't caves collapse sometimes? He took a deep breath to steady himself.

For an hour, they kept their eyes focused on the stone floor, which had grown uneven and uncertain. Several places were even slippery in the dampness of the cave, and they found themselves relying more and more on the four-footed beasts to help keep them upright. At one point, Lavitz even suggested that they mount their horses to better traverse the space, and Dart had to hold his torch before him to make sure that the horse could see the path.

Within two hours, Dart had lost all sense of direction, and he held firmly to the hope that Lavitz knew the cave as well as he'd claimed. They had turned this way and that, all still within the large cavern, and now Lavitz led them left again, heading down a passage that sloped down deeper into the mountain. The path turned to irregular stairs, and they were forced to a near standstill as they continued. Then the path sloped upward, and they were forced to climb. Then they took a right, and the passage leveled, and then delved even deeper.

Five hours into their journey, the faint sound of rushing water came to greet them, and Dart's heart began to beat faster. The path widened into a cavern, but the echoes seemed to indicate that this chamber was smaller than the first. Thanks to the enclosed space, the sound of the water quickly became deafening, and they had to shout to be heard over it.

"Watch your step!" called Lavitz. "The ground is wet here!"

Not only was the ground wet, but it had also been carved smooth by the years of water sweeping over it. Their progress slowed once again, and Dart watched as Shana's footsteps staggered slightly here and there.

Then she yelped as she fell and began to slide down the slope.

"Shana!" screamed Dart, and he took a step forward only to collapse to his knees. The reins slipped from Shana's hand, and she scratched at the floor in vain. Steadying himself with his horse, Lavitz reached out and managed to clasp Shana's hand, though her momentum also dragged him to the floor, but Lavitz had a firm hold of his reins, and the weight of the horse managed to bring Shana to a stop. It snorted at the pressure and took an unsteady step back as Lavitz and Shana slowly pushed to their feet.

"Are you okay?" yelled Dart.

"I'm fine!" she assured, though Dart could see the darkness of blood oozing from one of her knees.

Dart inched forward and urged Shana's horse to her. Taking the reins, Shana nodded her thanks, and they continued down the slope even more carefully than before.

As it turned out, Shana had come mere yards from falling into the underground river, as they came to the water's edge only a few minutes later. The water seemed to swallow up the torch light, leaving nothing but a mass of black liquid rushing along toward the north. Lavitz turned and shouted directions.

"This is the most dangerous part!" he called. "The water is probably only a couple feet deep, but it's also moving very fast, and there's a small waterfall only a few yards that way. The weight of the horses will help, but make sure you move very slowly. One lost step and you could be swept away within a second. I'll go first, but wait until I get across before you make any attempts."

Dart and Shana nodded as Lavitz mounted his horse and shuffled up to the edge of the river. Here and there, water splashed up onto the banks, which were nothing more than a smooth incline soaked with slickening water. The pair held their breath as Lavitz inched his way into the liquid, and Dart found that his hand was clasping Shana's once again. With each step, he waited to see if his new friend would get swept away, and all at once, he realized how much he'd grown to care for Lavitz. The thought of such an end brought a new and sudden terror to his heart, and he found himself praying to whatever god might deign to hear him.

Despite their worry, Lavitz and his horse had cleared the river only a minute or so later, and the task now fell to Shana. Dart turned to her and squeezed her hand.

"Be careful," he whispered, though he supposed she could not hear him over the roaring rapids. Still, she nodded, and he helped her onto her horse. Then for an agonizing two and a half minutes, he watched her traverse the precarious distance.

Once she was safely on the other side, Dart couldn't help but clap for her, and she grinned at him while Lavitz gestured that he should join them.

Encouraged by their success, Dart swept up onto his horse and began moving across. He trusted the horse's instincts as the water rushed by, splashing up on the horse's chest and occasionally dousing his pants. He gasped at the cold water but refused to slow his progress, and he was impressed with the beast's resilience. He wondered whether horses born in Seles would have possessed the fortitude for such a venture.

Lavitz and Shana cheered for him when he reached the other side, and he beamed as he made a show of pushing past them toward the far passage. But then he nearly struck his head on a low-hanging stalactite, and he jerked his horse back slightly.

"We'll have to dismount!" he shouted back at them, peering up at the now-lit ceiling that dropped to within six feet of the ground. Even on foot, it seemed they would have to duck around some spots.

He swung his leg over his horse and dropped to the ground, only to find that it was just as slippery as it had been on the other side of the river. With a yelp, he steadied himself by grasping his saddle, but when he turned to the others, he saw that Lavitz had not been so dexterous. When the knight's boots hit the marble floor, his feet slid out from under him, and he gasped, reaching in vain for the horse as he fell. A second later, he was sliding toward the cold depths of the river.

"Lavitz!" shouted Dart, and he leapt forward, falling flat on his belly as Lavitz was pulled in. He felt Shana grab at his ankles as he flailed about for Lavitz's hand that rushed quickly toward the water. One second, he had him, but the water pushed Lavitz so forcefully that he slipped from his grasp. "No!" Heart thudding, Dart scooted forward for another attempt while Lavitz continued to slide, and water sloshed over Dart's face just as his hand wrapped around Lavitz's wrist. He slapped his other hand over it, too, and then for one terrifying moment, he wasn't sure if he could pull Lavitz to safety. Lavitz's entire body was completely submerged, and Dart's was being buffeted by wave after wave of speeding water. He tried to pull back, but he could not find any grip on the wet ground, and then just as he'd begun to wonder if he could manage it, he felt himself being pulled backward.

As soon as he was able, Dart swung his legs beneath him and dug his heels in to anchor himself. Shana wrapped her arms under Dart's, and together they inched backward until Lavitz splashed onto the shore, sputtering and thrashing for footing. In the dim light of the torches now lying on the cave floor, Dart spotted a pillar and indicated it to Shana, and together, they latched onto it until Lavitz could do the same.

For a minute, Shana sat while Dart and Lavitz sprawled on the cave floor, and the three panted while trying to process what had just happened.

"That was close," breathed Lavitz.

"You're telling me," returned Dart. "I almost thought you were diving to the ground, you fell so fast. Maybe you need better shoes."

With a laugh, Lavitz shook his head. "You might be onto something. I have had these a while."

Clinging firmly to the pillar, the three stood slowly and looked at one another. Shana was relatively dry, but Lavitz was now drenched and dripping. His haggard tunic appeared even more so, and Dart imagined that his boots must be filled to the brim. Still, he had to laugh at himself; his top half was soaked while his pants were dry except for a few splashes from his crossing.

"Thank you both for saving my life," said Lavitz.

"You'd have done the same for us," smiled Dart.

"That's true," admitted Lavitz. "I have taken a liking to the both of you, and I don't have many friends left. I hope we can stay together through all this." He placed a hand on each of their shoulders.

"So do I," whispered Shana.

"Then let's be on our way," urged Dart as he patted Lavitz's arm. "Let's get you home."

"A warm bed does sound awfully nice," admitted Lavitz.

With a nod, they worked their way back to their respective horses, and Lavitz once again led them forward.

"How much farther?" asked Shana as they continued down a narrow passage.

"I'd say we've made it about halfway," judged Lavitz.

"Halfway?" exclaimed Dart.

"That's right. Still a long way to go until we reach sunlight again."

With that, they fell silent. The path grew tight, and the horses began to grow somewhat restless. But they pressed forward until they came to another cavern, this one feeling much larger than before. They edged down a steep path, taking extra care thanks to Lavitz's shedding water, until they came to a ravine and then were forced to climb back up the other side. As time passed, Dart grew weary, and he was torn between asking for a rest and feeling a staunch need to continue until they managed to exit. Just when he thought that they might be heading up and out, the path dipped again, plunging them ever deeper into the mountains.

About two hours after crossing the river, they stopped as Lavitz came up to a small gap in the rock, only wide enough for one human to squeeze through at a time. As Dart beheld it, he considered that a horse would never have fit. Surely, this was not their path; the knights would never have been able to fit through.

"That's not right," muttered their guide as he gazed down the passage.

Dart's heart nearly stopped to hear those words, and for a moment, he spiraled into a den of the panic of the lost. In an instant, he imagined what it would be like to never see the light of day again, to spend his life underground until death found him, to feel the utter hopelessness that came with the lack of sun. He began to wonder if any sources of food existed this far underground, and if so, what forms would they take?

And mere seconds later, as Lavitz moved his torch a little to the left, his fears mostly subsided.

"There we go," added Lavitz as he moved forward with renewed vigor down a much larger passageway.

Still, Dart could not fight away the idea that death waited for them in this cave.

Twenty minutes later, a sound reached Dart's ears like the soft and distant hissing of a snake, and he jumped as he swore and turned to see the source. Holding his torch out before him, he waited.

"What is it?" asked Shana, voice timid.

"Did you hear that?" he asked, his voice bouncing off the cave walls.

"No."

"I didn't hear anything," added Lavitz, though his voice lacked the fortitude that Dart had hoped for.

For several seconds, they waited. But the only sounds that reached them were that of their own breaths and the breaths of the horses. The silence only served to worsen their worries, and they pressed on with Dart casting numerous glances behind them.

A half hour later, they came to another immense cavern. The light of their torches did not reach the ceiling, and drips of water echoed at least a hundred feet to their right. To their advantage, however, the stone floor was smoother here, allowing them to move a little faster. But just as Dart's heart was beginning to ease, a stone clattered behind him, its ring echoing across the vast expanse.

"That one I heard," muttered Lavitz.

"Is something moving out there?" asked Shana.

"What could live in a place like this?" breathed Dart, fearing to know the answer.

A peculiar sound came from the left, like leather sliding on stone, and Shana snatched Dart's hand just as the horses began to shift uneasily. Something moved in the darkness.

"Let's get out of here," urged Lavitz, and the three turned and began running as quickly as the terrain would allow. Their hurried footsteps were joined by the constant clopping of the three horses, and Dart regretted not having mounted them several minutes ago. Now, as it was, he could not bring himself to stop long enough to do so. Not only was his heart beating erratically, but he could have sworn that the leathery sound was approaching them from the side and growing louder even as they ran. He cast glances sparingly, afraid that his foot would catch a stone and bring about his demise, but he could not keep from searching for the source of that eerie sound.

Then it stopped altogether, and Dart grew tentatively hopeful. But then came a hissing, spitting sound, and the splashing of liquid only a few feet behind him. A tiny drop reached Dart's arm as a horrible, guttural cry issued from Dart's horse, and Dart screamed as the beast collapsed to the floor. The drop on his arm began to burn and itch as the others turned to see what had happened.

"Run!" yelled Dart, and they did. Even the horses took up a quicker gait, and before long, Lavitz and Shana were forced to release their steeds to flee into the darkness, leaving them alone against their foe.

Another hiss came from the right, and Dart drew his sword. The creature spat again, and the liquid splattered and splashed on each of them. Dart swore as the corrosive liquid reached his exposed hand and neck, but Shana screamed as her left leg was coated, and she fell to the ground.

"Shana!" exclaimed Dart, and he pulled her away from the puddle of acid before standing between her and the mysterious spitting creature.

Shana's breaths came fast and shallow in her painful shock, and Lavitz grunted with each step as he took a place next to Dart. Their hearts thudded in the darkness as they waited.

Something moved on Dart's right, and he swung his sword wildly at his invisible foe but made no contact. A few seconds later, the creature neared the light, offering the slightest glimpse of what appeared to be a tail. Dart recognized scales like those of a snake, and he balked at the thought of the sheer size of this massive creature.

For the first time, Dart considered that they might not leave this encounter alive. Despair sought to overpower him, and his lip trembled in paltry defiance.

The hissing returned.

"Watch out!" screamed Dart, but the acid was already splashing over Lavitz's right hand. His sword dropped to the floor, sizzling and spitting as the acid ate away the blade, and Lavitz wailed while cradling his forearm.

The shadow of hopelessness came to rest in Dart's heart, and he dropped to his knees in defeat, allowing the torch and his sword to meet the earth. There would be no escape. Only a painful death.

But then Shana stood, and Dart gaped at her as she stepped out in front of them. Her eyes flashed in determination, and a moment later, they began to glow with a soft blue light. She placed herself between them and their foe, exposing her raw and burned leg to Dart's eye, but she seemed to pay it no mind. Then her forehead began to shine, illuminating the beast before them.

It was indeed a massive snake with jaws large enough to snap them up in one swift motion, and it held its head aloft as it bared its fangs at Shana. But it appeared to be trapped in her gaze and unable to move. The light strengthened, casting its glow across the entirety of the cavern, and then the creature itself began to shine.

In stunned amazement, Dart and Lavitz watched as the beast screamed in terror, flailing about as the glow intensified. Then all at once, it shattered, casting shards of apparent glass in all directions. Dart threw up his hands to protect from the shards, but they dissipated before striking anything.

And then it was over. The cave was silent and dark once again. The only evidence of their battle were their burns and meager puddles of acid.

Shana exhaled and fell to the floor, and Dart slowly rose to his feet to move toward her. He looked to Lavitz, who seemed just as bewildered, before he knelt by Shana and shook her gently.

"Shana, are you okay?" he asked.

Her eyes flitted open and then winced in pain, but she sat up and looked around in confusion.

"What happened?"

"You…" began Dart. But what could he say? He couldn't explain what had happened.

"The beast is dead," finished Lavitz with a knowing look at Dart. "We can discuss it once we're out of here."

Dart nodded and helped Shana to her feet.

"We need our waterskins," panted Lavitz. "We need to dilute this acid as much as we can. Maybe we should go back to the river." He offered a weak grin, but Dart couldn't bring himself to return the jest. Lavitz's right arm was bright red and had the appearance of a severe burn.

"How bad is it?" he asked them.

"It hurts," replied Shana as she grimaced.

"Yeah, it's not great," agreed Lavitz. "Did you not get hit with any of it?"

"A little." Dart indicated the spot on his neck that felt like it was on fire. "Not as bad as you."

"We have to get out of here, though," said Shana.

"Agreed," said Lavitz. "Let's see if we can find the horses. That would shave some time off the rest of the journey."

"How much longer do we have?"

"Just a couple hours."

Despite her pain, Shana nodded, and Dart sheathed his weapon and wrapped his left arm around her waist. With his right, he held the torch, and the three limped toward the far side of the cavern.

Before long, a horse whinnied in the distance, and their spirits lifted slightly. They adjusted course, and a few minutes later, they found it, still stamping and irritated.

"Let's get you up there," said Dart, and they helped Shana into the saddle, which seemed to calm the horse slightly. Then they took the one waterskin in the bag, each drank some, and then poured some over the worst of Shana's and Lavitz's wounds.

For another twenty minutes, they traveled along with Lavitz guiding them. None felt much like talking. Before long, they'd given up on finding the last horse, and they could only hope that it would find its own way out.

Upon reaching a wall, Lavitz held up his torch and searched for something, then seemingly satisfied, led them left and followed the wall until they reached another passage. This they followed, though Shana often had to duck to avoid hitting her head.

Before long, the path sloped downward and dipped beneath the surface of a body of water. They eased Shana to the floor and washed their acidic wounds more completely, soothing the skin slightly and halting any more damage. Then Shana mounted up again, and they passed through the still water.

At its deepest, the water reached Dart's waist, and they spent at least an hour trudging through it. Thankfully, a rough crust of minerals had formed at the bottom of the passage, and they were able to keep their footing as they traversed it. At long last, the passage expanded again, and Lavitz turned right.

The ground angled upward now, and before long, they were out of the water and on dry ground.

"We're almost there," said Lavitz. "There's one more passage. It gets a little tight, and Shana, you might have to walk, but then we'll be back outside."

Dart hadn't thought his heart could yearn for something so much as he now ached for the open air. Their pace quickened, Lavitz found the passage, and they charged ahead with renewed vigor. Lavitz surmised correctly, and at one point Shana had to limp along on her own, but they made it.

Ten long hours after entering the cave, they exited on the west side of the Serdian Mountains. The fresh air greeted them even fifty yards from the surface, and all three travelers broke into a sprint for the joy inside them. They spilled out into a small dale with the roots of the mountains stretching along on either side, and they laughed to see the stars twinkling at them from above. The Moon That Never Sets glowed brightly, ushering a peace that swelled in their souls.

Utterly exhausted, they made camp with what little supplies were left to them. They drank sparingly from their one remaining waterskin, and they lit a fire with their one remaining piece of flint. Shana mourned the loss of her healing supplies, and they decided that their wounds would have to wait for Bale. Even so, their contentment at having left the cave spilled over into their faces, and for a whole hour, they smiled and dried out before the fire.

But they could not erase the events that now weighed on their minds. Every so often, Dart found himself staring at Shana, watching her forehead to see any indication of what had happened in the mountains. Such power she had displayed, something Dart had never seen before. He wondered if she harbored any explanation. But most importantly, he realized that this power was the only reasonable explanation for why she had been captured in the first place. Should Sandora get their hands on such a terrible weapon and learn how to control it, Basil would be completely destroyed.

And yet, nobody spoke of it. Though Dart was certain that each of them was considering the same thing, no words were exchanged for the rest of the evening. At long last, when they readied for bed, Dart looked to Lavitz, pleading for him to say something. But Lavitz merely shook his head and lay down.

Sleep did not come easily to the trio of adventurers. Despite their contentment to be under the open sky, each of them harbored dark thoughts and memories of their journey. Tossings and turnings were the essence of their sleep, and with uneasy hearts, they waited for dawn.