Page 100 of Lore of the Tides

When the chick had eaten its fill, Lore gently stroked its ugly bald head. It leaned into her touch, a soft coo warbling from itsbeak. “There you go, little one,” Lore whispered. “You deserve to eat too.”

A shadow fell over them, and Lore looked up to see one of the adult griffins hovering above. Its keen eyes were fixed on Lore—its expression unreadable. Lore held her breath, unsure of what to expect.

But instead of attacking, the griffin dipped its head in a gesture of respect before flapping its powerful wings and launching into the sky.

Lore exhaled a shaky breath and raced toward the cave, her boots kicking up sand and feathers behind her. Her triumphant shout as she skidded into the cave was drowned out by the sound of the griffins’ cries behind her.

Chapter 33

It worked!” Finndryl shouted as he scooped Lore up into his arms. She kicked her feet up behind her as he spun her around, her laughter ringing through the cave.

“Save the celebration for later,” Hazen’s voice called from somewhere within the pitch-black cavern. “Can someone light a torch?”

Finndryl set Lore down, raising a hand. With a whoosh, his hand burst into flame—it was as though his hands were not flesh and blood and tendon but burning embers.

“Impressive.” Lore grinned, widening her eyes as she mirrored his gesture. With a whispered word, her palm began to glow with silvery moonlight, illuminating Hazen’s silhouette as they approached.

The cave wasn’t very tall or wide, and Lore was thrilled to see that it didn’t fork or branch off—a straight path. At least for now. However, the elation of making it safely past the griffins was beginning to wane as their footsteps echoed in the darkness.

Lore led the way, through tunnel after tunnel, always heading down. A few times, they had to squeeze through passageways one by one, turning sideways and sliding through.

Sometimes, they had to drop down through pitch-black holes, trusting Lore’s faith in the book to guide them safely.

One less thing to worry about.

The deeper they walked into the twisting labyrinth of caves, the moreDeeping Lunebegan to stir. It began to glow where it sat in Lore’s satchel on her belt, and she could swear she heard it singing as if calling to its sister,Auroradel.

Lore placed her hand on the edge of the book and could feel it vibrating. It wanted to be reunited with its sister. Lore was happy that one thing wanted to be in these caves, because Lore did not.

Eventually they began to hear water dripping, and soon it puddled at their feet and trickled from stalactites hanging from the low ceilings. They had to maneuver around stalagmites, some as tall as Lore herself.

At a sudden skittering touch, Lore screamed. Finndryl’s sword flashed, a low growl rumbling in his chest.

“What do you see?” Hazen demanded, a pair of curved daggers appearing in his hands.

“I’m sorry, it was just a bug,” Lore stammered. “Or something. It scurried across my boot.”

“A bug?” Finndryl asked, his voice deadpan.

“I hate them,” Lore admitted, her skin crawling.

“I see.” Finndryl sheathed his sword.

“It had about a million legs.”

But Lore hadn’t told him about her visions. Or the dreams that came to her every night now. Were they a cry for help from the grimoire? Or a warning?

Lore scratched at her arms. There were no bugs on her, but the feeling of just that one on her boot made her hair stand on end, and she could now feel phantom creatures.

They pressed onward.

“Do you hear that?” Hazen’s voice came from behind Lore. She knew he was right behind her, but the echo in the cave made it seem as though he were far away.

Oh, goddess. “Hear what?” Lore squeaked.

“Singing.”

Lore strained her ears. “Wait, yes. I hear it now.”