Lavender & Ice

40. A New Dwelling

She forced a slight smile on her face when Joreth turned to face her. "No one will think to look for you here."

She looked around in confusion when she saw nothing but greenery and yet another large boulder, no different than the view she'd had for the past hour.

Joreth reached into the open trunk of a nearby tree and suddenly the sound of stone scraping against stone sounded through her ears. Her mouth opened in surprise but she didn't jump. Of course, it's just like the camouflaged pathway they'd come out of earlier. Only visible to those who know where to look. Joreth led her inside the entrance and they were yet again going through a stone tunnel. However, this one was smaller, more narrow, and completely enclosed. And dark.

Ashima had to remind herself that Joreth would have the same abilities Kietnan did. He could see fine in this tunnel and if any dangers lurked, he'd be able to protect them. And if he'd wanted to harm her himself, he could have done that plenty of times over during the last hours. She took in a deep breath and exhaled it slowly, expelling her nerves.

As they went further and she could barely see him in front of her, her nerves returned. "Joreth. I can't see in the dark as you can."

"Oh." Was all he said as he took her hand and placed it in the crook of his elbow before continuing down the dark path.

A wave of emotion filled her as she thought of how Kietnan would have held her hand as he pulled her through the tunnel.

"Wait here." His voice rang out in the silence before he removed his arm from her hand.

Once she lost contact and was enveloped in the darkness she let out a slow breath, focusing on calm. Even as sounds of metal scraping stone echoed through the room. This was a moment where she was glad for her training. Yet that thought sent another wave of emotion through her, along with a million different thoughts.

I'm so tired of being so emotional and unsure of things. She thought to herself. Her entire life she had always known what she wanted, and always worked to get it. These past weeks had been quite different. And they had been exhausting.

Her mind jolted back to the present as the sound came from a different direction and light illuminated the area. She looked around to find Joreth adjusting a large mirror.

She let out a small chuckle and smiled. Of course they'd have such a simple and primitive, yet effective method for lighting the space. As he worked his way back down the rock wall, she took in the space. The room was enormous. The walls were covered with little cutouts that she imagined would provide sleeping areas, if one were to have bedding. An area in the corner looked like it could be a food prep area, or medical area, perhaps both depending on which you needed more. As she scanned the room, realization dawned on her.

"This place..." she caught Joreth's attention as he dusted off his clothing and approached her. "The secret path out of the Grand Hall is an escape route and this place, with its secret entrance, and this setup is a place of refuge. A place to hide. In case of an attack on the Grand Hall?"

"You're very observant." Joreth noted with an impassive face.

"This is why no one will think to look for me here. Because I shouldn't know about it. I'd even guess there are many Qarthans who don't know of this place."

 He simply stared at her a moment before turning away and opening a dusty chest on one side of the room. He pulled out a couple of small items she couldn't make out and then kneeled in front of a fireplace in the middle of the large room.

Once he situated the wood and kindling that sat beside the fireplace, he struck whatever was in his hand and small flames began to take shape. In a short moment, the wood was fully engulfed.