Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 256

Chapter 256: Moving ground
The horse shied, and Mia grabbed the halter to keep the creature from full panic.

“What was that?” She cried with some fear as the ground stilled once more.

It was the most unsettling feeling in the world when that which should be most stable suddenly moved beneath her feet.

It reminded her of the day she found out her firm, steady family had been keeping something important from her for many years.

“Another cave in?” Gary demanded. “You said you were good at this, Ford. Made your living at it! How could you be so clumsy as to let this happen?”

Ford glared at the man, and Mia tied off Harper’s reins to step between the two men.

“Things happen,” She said calmly. “It’s nobody’s fault.”

“The way is clear,” Ford said, “Or was, a moment ago.”

“Clear?” Gary stepped forward. “You mean–”

“The way into the rest of the cave was cleared. I came out to bring the news. Whatever that quake was just now, I’m not sure whether that affected things or not, but if it did, it was due to the poorly-reinforced tunneling you did before our arrival,” Ford pointed a finger.

Gary’s chest expanded with indignation. “Of course you could claim to have gotten through, conveniently right after a quake. Maybe you caused it yourself! Maybe you’re here to sabotage my efforts, a spy to make sure no one gets in, as the king tried to make sure of years ago! The blasted man, with his spoiled daughter and self righteous ways–I can’t believe I fell for the seductive words of your pretty friend–”

“Seductive??” Mia was appalled. “Gary, we didn’t lie, we’re not spies—wait–”

Gary’s outburst was strange, but it took Mia a moment to piece it all together. Ford was quicker with his questions.

“You know the king’s daughter?”

The older man calmed slightly and shook his head. “Well, no, I just hear the rumors, like anyone.”

“Princess Sapphira is very kind,” Mia corrected him. “I met her with my aunt once in the Capital.”

“I’m sure you did,” Gary ran a hand through his hair and darted his eyes between them. “Well, if you did get through to the main tunnel, shall we all go in together to see whether a collapse undid all of your very hard work?”

Mia blanched, but Ford nodded.

“Yes. Let’s. I wouldn’t want you to miss anything that happens down there.”

The words were strangely threatening and inviting at the same time, and Mia watched the odd standoff between the two men. Ford wasn’t using his crutch, and with his shoulders back and standing up straight, he seemed nearly as tall as Gary.

And far more well-muscled. She wasn’t sure who would win if it came to blows. Ford was younger, and obviously stronger, but still recovering from his injury.

She had to keep it from coming to that, though both men were looking warily at each other.

“The damage might not be too bad,” She stepped between them entirely, moving towards the mouth of the tunnel.

Ford took hold of her wrist as she passed him, and she paused, glancing up at his face.

“Will you be all right?” He whispered. She gulped, and looked down.

She didn’t have an honest answer she could give. Now that he said there was a way through, maybe she would be able to grit her teeth and make it through the unfamiliar part of the tunnel that was prone to collapse.

Would she be better or worse once she was back in a part of the cave she might remember?

“Let’s not waste time,” Gary passed by the two of them with a dark look and paused, as if contemplating whether he wanted to go in first or last.

Ford was still looking at Mia’s face intently, and she took a deep breath.

“No, no we don’t want to waste time,” She said to Gary, and then whispered to Ford. “They won’t take forever to find us, we should go now while we have the chance.”

“You’re sure? You don’t have to come,” He squeezed her arm slightly, and she made an effort to relax. It wasn’t very effective.

“I came all this way to go into this cave. What kind of person would I be if I chickened out at the last moment?” She tried to make her voice light, and stepped forward. Haltingly.

When Gary saw the two of them coming, he pursed his lips and picked up his lamp, apparently ready to lead the way.

The first part of the tunnel seemed fully intact, from what Mia could tell. The ground was fairly even and the ceiling seemed to be in place. Things got darker, and she began to tremble.

Ford loosened his hold to take her hand. His was warm, and familiar after several nights of holding it while she dreamed.

It was rough, calloused, and enveloped hers well. He put on an exterior of being tough and aloof, but small things like this told her that he wasn’t entirely detached from emotion. Wasn’t totally stoic and indifferent to her pain and feelings.

She breathed deeply as Gary went deeper and deeper. The way became narrow, and low. Mia had no sense of claustrophobia, but the darkness began to bother her as it became starker.

The pull of her magic had never ceased drawing her towards Ford, but she concentrated now. What did she want? What was she looking for?

Memories. She was looking for her memories. Was that something her magic could bring her to?

At least, the places she knew from her memories. Those were physical. She concentrated on the room that Martin had trapped her inside with her family. She would look for that.

A pull, more firm than the tenuous nudge towards Ford, propelled her forward, drew her deeper into the cave and through the narrow places where she nearly had to crawl over broken stone.

They emerged into a wider room, and Mia felt warm. She’d made it!