Tsarek jogged towards Corvan, the light from his headlamp glinting off the swiftly flowing underground river. Skidding to a halt, he held up a cloth bag that had been rolled up around the rim.

  “I found this around the corner, just past a crack in the tunnel wall. It has the scent of Kate so that must be the same way you came to the surface from Molakar.”

  Corvan turned it over in his hands. “It’s the food bag Saray sent along with us when we left. After we ate everything, I turned in into toque to keep Kate’s head warm.”

  Tsarek nodded eagerly. “I have a small one of those hats I took from a snow person you made in your back yard. I ate its nose, but the eyes were not tasty, so I left them behind. Mine has a soft fuzzy ball on top, but I think it’s a funny name for a hat.”

  “It’s a Canadian word and I prefer mine without the pom-pom on top. That’s why I stuck that one outside on the snowman. Billy mocked it out and kept hitting the pom-pom to knock it off my head. I’m glad you stole it but my mother wasn’t happy when it went missing. At least I got a different one without a pom-pom.”

  “Pom-pom, pom-pom. That’s a good word, pom-pom. When we come back, I’ll wear that hat.” He grinned. “I hid it away in my collections in case you looked in there. I like it a lot.”

  Corvan held up the bag by its rim. “I made this one just before we fell in the water and Kate was injured. It must have washed down where you found it.”

  “Yes, but you are wrong about the flow of the water in winter. I can see it is still rising and before long it will flow into that same crack and rush back down to the Cor.”

  Corvan tossed the bag to one side and moved passed Tsarek. “You should have said that in the first place,” he called over his shoulder. “We don’t have any time to waste. Show me where you found it.”

  Tsarek ran ahead and Corvan followed along the water. The underground river had found a different path after the route he and Kate had taken was intentionally collapsed by his father. At the time Corvan thought his father’s actions and his haste in going back the same night had been extreme, but now that he understood who his parents really were, it made total sense for his father to close off the way back to the Cor, either to keep the Rakash out, or maybe to keep Corvan from trying to go back that same way.

  They turned a corner where the water flowed swiftly under a rocky outcrop. Tsarek leapt across to the other side, the slipped sideways through a tight crack in the rock wall. Corvan followed and squeezed through to emerge into a wider tunnel. “Just down there is where I found the white bag,” Tsarek said. “It is good that I can smell things well and know the scent of your Kate or I would not have explored this way.” He pointed up the slope to the left. “Up there is where the water is rising and will soon come down this way. If you are intent on going downward, we must hurry, or we will be trapped and drown.”

  Corvan nodded and Tsarek took off. They jogged together down the slope by the bobbing light of their headlamps and soon came to the stair-like ridges where he had found water for Kate. Now there was a steady flow bubbling up from the floor, creating a pool that spread across the width of the tunnel.

  Splashing across, they ran on but before long, slender trickles of water dogged their heels. Soon wider rivulets raced along the edges of the tunnel and when a wider wave washed past them, Tsarek put on more speed. A rush of cold water slipped over the top of Corvan’s slipper shoes, and he sprinted to catch up. If they could not reach Saray’s garden soon and get through the Cor shield this tube would fill up and drown them.

  The thought of being trapped and drowning sent adrenaline racing through his veins and he shot past Tsarek and around the next corners.

  Finally, a glowing patch of rock appeared. A sliver of Cor Shield was illuminated from within and at the base a shadowed figure was encased in the Cor shield with one hand outstretched. They had arrived at the tomb of Rayu.

  Tsarek ran on to the next bend. “Over here, Kalian. The water from inside Molakar is still flowing out.” Corvan joined him at the edge of a deep pool glowing with light from below the surface. Before Corvan could say a word, Tsarek dove in. The light on his helmet went out as his bent helmet floated upside down on the surface.

  Corvan watched as Tsarek’s helmet bobbed to the end of the pool like an oddly shaped boat, then disappeared over a rocky lip. Shining his headlight over the edge he watched it bounce down a long tumble of water, then disappear into the darkness far below. That meant the water would likely join in with the Cor river at the abyss. As long as he or Tsarek did not touch the exposed edge of the shield and close the gap, Molakar was not in danger of being flooded out.

  A distant roar swept down from around the upper corner along with a brisk wind.

  Corvan turned back to the edge of the pool as Tsarek’s face bobbed to the surface a large grin on his face. “You should see the garden where I waved goodbye to you. Its. . .” Tsarek’s eyes grew wide, then he grabbed Corvan’s hand and yanked him headfirst under the water. A rush of foaming turbulence ripped the lantern and helmet from his head. The light spun away and was replace by a golden glow from up ahead. Tsarek’s paw slipped released his hand and Corvan was drifting free towards the golden edge of the Cor shield. He swam against a soft current, twisting his body to stay clear of the ragged edge.

  As soon as he was past the shield, he pushed off the bottom toward the golden-green light overhead. Surfacing he shook the water from his eyes and swam to the far side of the pond. Heaving himself out of the water, he fell back into a tangle of ferns to catch his breath.

  The ferns overhead parted and Tsarek appeared with a bonni fruit in each paw. “I am so very happy to know these still grow in the Cor —soooo delicious.” He licked the drips from his claws and smacked his lips.

  Gavyn’s face appeared next to Tsarek and Corvan could clearly see that the boy was afraid. He pushed to his knees. “What’s the matter Gavyn? Are Saray and Kate okay?”

  Gavyn grabbed Corvan’s hand, pulling him to his feet, then gesturing urgently for him to follow before dropping running along the path toward the karst and Saray’s dwelling.

  Corvan followed and Tsarek caught up, zig zagging beside him through the bushes. “You had better hide out here, Tsarek,” Corvan said. “If Saray sees you in her house, it will make things more difficult.”

  Tsarek nodded his agreement and veered off toward the lake and the large lumien.

  Following Gavyn into Saray’s dwelling, Corvan found Kate lying motionless on the rotating stone table. There was no color in her face, and he couldn’t tell if she was even breathing.

  Dropping to his knees at her side, he looked up to Gavyn. “She isn’t doing well.”

  Gavyn gravely shook his head.

  “Where’s Saray?”

  Gavyn point to the inside of the alcove.

  “Out in the tunnels? Is she looking for me?”

  Gavyn nodded, then shook his head. He pulled out his half of the interconnecting disc and held it up. Corvan dug his corresponding piece out of his pants pocket and grabbed Gavyn’s hand.

  This time the communication that flowed through from Gavyn wasn’t distinct words but rather a rush of sequential impressions. Kate was very sick - the grandmother thought she was dying - she went to look for a plant - it might help Kate - and to see if Corvan had made it back - Kate needed him here.

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  Corvan nodded, let go of the boy’s and turned back to Kate, but as he went to touch her face, Gavyn yanked his hand away and pointed to the medallion hanging from the stub of an unlit firestick. The sight of the medallion turned his stomach over. Gavyn was right, touching Kate would tell the old man he was back from the surface.

  The room spun dizzily and for a moment he and Kate were in a dark cave on the other side of the wall. Before he could move, it spun again, and they were back in the room with Saray standing over them.

  Corvan jumped up and Saray hugged him fiercely, then pushed back and looked him over. “I have been going out into the passages every day to look for you. How did you get in here without me seeing you?”

  Corvan pointed toward the gardens. “When I got back home, my mother thought someone was breaking into her house, so she took the scepter and fled through the labyrinth. The only way I could get back was through a crack near the pool where Rayu died.”

  Saray nodded as she sat next to Kate. “I have been out there searching for medicinal plants that grow in the dark. I didn’t want to meet the burak, so I moved slow and quiet. The last time, when I was coming close to passage leading toward Kadir, I heard two voices, a woman, and a man. I recognized Jorad’s voice and was afraid he was searching in the tunnels for Kate’s body. I wondered at the time who the woman might be but that must have been your mother.”

  “Yes. When I left here, I ran into Jorad in the tunnels and you are right, he was looking for Kate but mostly for the master medallion. We had a fight, and I made a deal with him to go with me to the surface since he had a medallion to open the labyrinth passages.”

  “The one you gave him when you and Kate left?”

  “I don’t know for sure, but he demanded it back when we got to the last room under Castle Rock. He wanted to wait for there with his medallion while I went to my home to get the scepter. When my mother came through instead of me, she must have met Jorad. It’s good to know he’s not trapped up there and starving to death, but I don’t trust him at all.” He looked at Kate and his voice caught. “I’m glad I made it back in time, but Kate looks like she is dying, my mother has the scepter, and she is also in great danger.”

  Saray put her finger to her lips, then took him by the hand and led him into the kitchen. Leaning over the counter she spoke in a hushed tone. “Kate is fading away but that is all the more reason not to speak negatively around her.”

  Gavyn joined them and Saray smiled down at the boy. “Gavyn, Corvan must be hungry after his long trip. Can you find him something good to eat out in the gardens. Also please bring me the plants I will need to make more medicine for Kate.”

  Gavyn ran out the door and Saray took Corvan’s hand. “Don’t worry about your mother. Neera is wise and strong and trained in all manners of combat. Jorad is the one who should worry, he has no idea who he is dealing with.”

  Corvan sat on one of the high stools across from her. “It’s just that I’ve only known her as my mom, it’s hard to believe that she is the granddaughter of . . .” his voice trailed off.

  “It’s okay to say his name. TaKalian raised your mother and taught her many things, too many things, I dare say. I have heard tell that he even had her trained in the ways of the . . .” She paused, “Never mind old rumors. Let’s focus on what is before us right now. Something is changing in the chamber. TaKalian is very weak, and the master medallion barely glows. I believe that using the medallion’s power is quite hard on him and that could mean he is finally reaching the end of his life. Unfortunately, it also means Kate grows weaker as the medallion’s power drains away.”

  “Then I need to go back to the chamber right away.”

  “It is not wise to do anything in great hurry, even when the situation is desperate. We need to take time to think this all through before you go rushing off. This is a critical moment, not only for Kate but also for your mother, your father and indeed, for all the Cor. Now that Neera is back with the scepter, we must consider all our options. Besides, you need to eat, and you need to dry off, you’re making a puddle on my kitchen floor.”

  Saray smiled at him, but Corvan felt much more than the weight of his wet clothes clinging to him. Everyone he cared about was in mortal danger.

  Saray reached across the counter and cupped his cheek. “I have been going as often as possible to see Kate. I can let her know that you are back, and that we will be coming for her as soon as we can. TaKalian does not want her to die so he will not use the remaining power in the medallion to cause her pain again. He needs her to stay alive, so you are motivated to bring him the scepter.”

  “Why does he want it so badly? If the scepter stands for justice, how can that even be something he could use?”

  “That is a good question and one I don’t know how to answer. He is up to something, that is certain.”

  Corvan looked over his shoulder at Kate. “Can I at least sit beside her and talk to her?”

  “That might not be a good idea. If TaKalian gets any inkling that you are back in the Cor, we will lose our element of surprise and the opportunity to gather more information. He has lived alone for so long that he still makes the effort to climb up to the chamber, just to have someone to talk to. He has been telling Kate his whole life story, some parts over and over as we old ones are prone to do. At times he has even called her Neera by mistake. It seems he still has fond memories of when your mother was a child and lived with him. It’s almost pitiful to hear hints of what a great affection was once, now being intermingled with his bitterness and anger.”

  “He shouldn’t be bothering Kate with his old stories.”

  “It’s good to get as much information as we can. No matter what he says about not needing others, it’s not true. Everyone desires someone who they can share their experiences with. It’s at the core of our being.”

  “How can his stories help us defeat him?”

  “Kate is wise and by asking him about his life she has discovered how he defeated the men of the council by discovering the physical location of the chamber. Now I know exactly where we need to go to rescue her. The men of the Cor, like the High Priest and Jorad, believe that they can defeat TaKalian by a show of force. They are wrong. In listening to that old man talk, I know there is a better way.”

  “How? What do we do?” Corvan gestured towards Kate. “We are running out of time.”

  “I believe that Kael, along with your mother, must return alone to Dubok Kholm. Your mother is the only one alive who really knows TaKalian, and she will not be fooled by his tricks. Her brother will support her and together they can take the master medallion away from their grandfather, freeing Kate from the chamber. The old man will be too weak to stop them, the effort will likely kill him on the spot.”

  “I will go with them.”

  She shook her head firmly. “No Corvan. That is not a good idea. Those two are the only ones that can defeat him. Your presence would compromise the mission to set Kate free and save the Cor.”

  Corvan was about to protest when Gavyn pushed in through the tapestry waving a curved pod in his hand, it looked like a short purple banana. Proudly he handed it to Saray and scrambled onto the other stool.

  Saray laid the pod on the table.

  “Your kokur plant is ripe already? Molakar is such an amazing place. If people out in the Cor found out about these, they would cut their way through solid rock to get in here.” Saray poured a bit of water into a shallow bowl. Cutting the tip off the end of the pod, she began to roll it up from the opposite end. Small translucent pearls of pale purple jelly began popping out of the cut end into the bowl.

  Gavyn reached for one, but Saray stopped him.

  “Not yet Gavyn, watch closely.”

  They all hunched over the bowl. The little balls were swelling and rolling about like the Mexican jumping beans Mrs. Baron sold in her store.

  Saray passed a jug to Gavyn, “Add a bit more water but don’t cover them over. They need to breath while they are drinking.” Gavyn carefully poured a trickle of water into the bowl.

  Saray looked up at Corvan. “You can also use the juice from other plants to achieve different flavors and effects.”

  The water in the bowl was quickly absorbed as the purple globes grew to the size of grapes and quivered in the bowl. Gavyn lifted the jug, but Saray stayed his hand. “Not too much at once Gavyn, we don’t want them to burst.”

  He put the jug down, reached for the bowl but Saray tapped his hand.

  “I’ll let you try one in a bit.” She looked to Corvan. “When they are fresh, we can let the children enjoy them but once the skin gets firm, we hang them in cloth bags and let the potency increase until they provide a wonderful drink that gives your heart joy and eases your worries. In moderation it is a great gift, and one that has not been seen in Kadir for a long time. These are so rare that I dare say TaKalian would consider trading his medallion for a handful of these.”

  Saray gingerly picked out a smaller oblong one with a yellow stripe on one side. “I didn’t see this one when they were swelling. This is the most potent of all. It can be diluted as a medicine, but it will still knock you out cold.” She looked to Gavyn. “This one is not for you. I will make an elixir from it later on.

  Picking up the empty pod, she held it out to the boy.

  “You need to take this outside to our compost pile, everything must be reused and not wasted if we want to keep our garden blooming.”

  Gavyn jumped down and Saray examined the various colors and markings on quivering globes.

  “During the great destruction, just like the lumien seeds, kokur wine was overused to escape from the difficult times of life. That path only made matters worse as using kokur and lumien seeds together gives a burst of intense pleasure but in only leaves you wanting more and more. Fueling that desire used up all the kokur fruit and most of our lumien seeds. Running from our problems or covering them up never works.”

  Corvan watched as Saray added a bit more water to the bowl. She was right. It was time to come clean. “I ate lumien seeds,” he said with a soft exhale and an incredible sense of relief.