WHOA! Another chapter?

I know, right! Enjoy all. :)

The night air chilled my skin, and I pulled Sage's lilac wrap tighter around me. She'd picked it up from the market earlier in order to have something appropriate to wear at the trial. It was Robin's idea for everyone to trade clothes. He'd explained the guards trained to attack and defend based on their opponent's talents. He thought it might give us an advantage if the men didn't know which talent they needed to counter.

Now, Kellan, Robin, Vega, Elena, and me, huddled shoulder to shoulder with our stomachs pressed to the ground staring at the cave's entrance. While the stench of manure had dissipated throughout the day, we still smelled terrible—even the bugs left us alone. If it wasn't bad enough that we stank, we looked like homeless people that had raided a thrift bin—nothing matched or fit. Our appearance made me wonder if the guards might think we were simply color blind, deranged, or starting a misfit-talent guild they'd never heard of before. But if Robin thought it would help, who was I to argue with everyone risking their lives to rescue my dad.

I glanced up from our spot in the tall grass, watching the two sentries paced in front of the cave entrance. Even though I couldn't see Sage and Rygar by the river below, I knew they were busy building a portal back to the Water Circle. When Kellan insisted Sage stay behind too, I thought she would zap him with her bone-crushing grip.

"I can take care of myself." She'd clenched her jaw, and her eyes had glowed a bright cornflower blue.

Kellan glanced at her hands, then held up his open palms. "Trust me, I know. That's why I think you're better suited to defend our escape. We need this portal." He lowered his arms. "There's no way Wren can transport all of us with Amaress back to the Water Circle."

"Besides..." I squeezed her arm. "With my history, I might need a patch-up job, and a coffee when we're done." I gave her my best, please say yes, smile.

"Fine. But if you get your ass busted up again, I'm holding out on helping you until I have a paperwhite cup filled with caffeine, whipped cream, and chocolate sprinkles."

"You wouldn't dare."

Sage folded her arms around me and whispered in my ear. "Then, stay safe." She pulled back and grinned.

"I love you too, Sage." Since meeting her, I'd seen her talk a big game, but when it came to me, I knew she'd always be there when I needed her.

The five of us lay there on the side of the hill in silence, waiting for what seems like forever for our opening in.

Elena pushed up onto an elbow. "We're just going to walk right in through the front door? Doesn't that seem, I don't know, insane?"

Vega rolled her eyes. "I told you, we're travelling using the astral plane." She faced forward. "They won't be able to see us."

"Don't the other guilds know—" Elena's hushed words cut off.

Vega held a finger to her lips.

One guard narrowed his sight in our direction, then pulled something resembling a fat, short stick from his jacket. He lit the end and took a puff.

"That we can turn invisible? No. Well, other than present company, that is." Vega nudged my ribs, signaling it was time to go. "Besides, only a few Travelers have the ability." She grabbed Elena's hand.

The bearded guard mumbled something about needing a piss break to the other, then turned to go back inside.

Kellan, Robin, and I dropped onto the astral plane hard with our faces in the dirt. "Sorry." My frosty breath curled from my mouth. "I wasn't sure how much force to use with a third person in tow."

"Are you calling me fat, or were you talking about the guy retaining water?" Robin reached across me and smacked his hand against Kellan's aqua pack.

"You're certain he has to come?" Kellan raised a brow and stood, dusting off his pants.

"Robin is the only one who's been inside before," I answered.

Two more figures emerged on the plane, and Elena hugged an arm to her chest, taking in our blue-hued surroundings.

Vega pursed her lips, giving her features a pinched look. "I'm with Wren. It's definitely faster and safer if Robin comes."

"It seems you're outvoted." Robin chuckled. "The ladies want me here."

Kellan groaned and pointed at the guard. "Come on, he's almost at the door."

Hand in hand, we jogged past the remaining sentry and through the entrance.

"I don't get it." If we're on the astral plane, why don't we just walk through the wall? Why bother waiting?" Elena said through chattering teeth.

"No idea." Vega stepped over the threshold. "I've never tried."

"I have." I filed in behind Kellan and moved to the left to let Robin in. "The problem is you don't see what you're walking into. Not to mention, we can't stay long on this plane without freezing to death."

The guard wandered down a side corridor, humming a tune I didn't recognize.

Robin gestured we should continue moving down the main hall. "It's a maze in here, but there are really only a few places they could keep him guarded." We rounded another corner, and he released my arm, dropping back onto the physical plane. "One is this way." He pointed right down an unlit tunnel. "A few others are up ahead, down a passage on the left."

Kellan let go of my hand and reappeared a few feet from Robin, dipping his head in agreement. "Take care of my sister."

"Will do." Robin handed me a handful of seeds. "You know what to do with these." He smiled, then darted off down a hall on our right.

I stared at the seed with an overwhelming sense of déjà vu. A picture of his sister's face flashed in my thoughts, and I knew what they were for.

"May the circle be with you." Elena dropped Vega's hand and sprinted after Robin.

Vega stepped back onto the physical plane and inhaled a deep breath. "There are quite a few people wandering the passageways. The closest four are just up ahead, talking about"—she paused and squinted her eyes shut—"women, food, and one's complaining about a prisoner. Something about him not being worthy of their time since he's not Acklemarian."

"Really?" My voice cracked. After all the things my Gran had told me about him, I could hardly believe I was this close. "That's gotta be him!"

I grabbed Kellan's hand and yanked us both back onto the astral plane. We padded down the tunneled-out corridor, and I dropped a few seeds along our way. We passed several lengthy hallways on the right, but nothing on our left.

"Wren, even if they were talking about him, your dad could be anywhere in this maze." Her voice trembled, and when I looked back, she was shivering. "How are you two able to stay here and not turn into popsicles?"

Footsteps ahead clunked hard against the ground. We jerked our heads up. Elongated shadows stretched across the torch-lit walls. Three guards strode into view, and we press our backs against the rock, allowing them room to pass.

"Right?" The center guard slapped the breastplate of the tall, lean guy. "The food is that bad."

Vega's teeth chattered and arms shook. "This is the-the long-est I've..."

Four more paces and the guards would be past us.

"Hang on, Vega."

Kellan peeled from the cavern rock first. "If we're on separate dimensions, why are we trying to avoid touching them? Wouldn't we just pass through them?"

"After walking through a wall and tasting the wood and plaster?" I shuddered and cringed. "No way, I'd walk through anyone."

"Y-yuck." Vega's image flickered, then there she was on the physical plane. Her shadow snapped into place, stretching out in front of the officers. Her mouth dropped open, and with her long hair flailing, she swiveled to see if any of the men spotted her.

My stomach twisted and heart raced. Without even thinking, I reached across the plane's border and grabbed her arm, dragging her back through our dimension.

The heavy-set officer halted, then looked over his shoulder. The other guards were already several paces in front of him. But he just stood there with his head tilted, brows furrowed. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" The lean man paused and glanced at his colleague behind them.

He ran his hand through his short hair. "A woman's shadow."

The middle guard smirked. "Dremydus, it's time you requested a transfer. I know it's been a while—for all of us—but a shadow woman?"

The tall officer laughed. "Do you think she has a friend? Because—"

"Do you two ever take anything seriously?"

The middle guy scoffed. "You're the one talking about women made of shadows."

Dremydus scanned the spot where Vega stood another time before catching up with his colleagues. "I don't know. Maybe it has been that long." He sauntered forward, rubbing his chin as if still pondering.

When they headed around the corner out of view, we dropped back to the physical plane. Vega let out a ragged breath. Her cheeks were rosy red, and she rubbed her arms.

"That was close." I squeezed Kellan's fingers in mine, glad he was here. "Take a minute to warm up."

"There's still one more guard." She closed her eyes. "He's been told to look for anything unusual and report it, but above all, not to let Wren Delacroix through."

"They have orders to stop me?"

Her head bobbed up and down once. "Otis even shared a picture of you."

Good God, Otis didn't play around. Would I ever be free to love who I wanted?

"Yes, you will." Kellan kissed my forehead. "We're going to beat him at his own game. You'll see."

I glanced down the passage, wondering if that were really true. Either way, whatever the outcome, one thing was for sure, my dad wasn't staying here a moment longer. "Let's go."

***

Okay, the next chapter is action-packed and full of twists. You won't want to miss it! See you all next Sunday, with the next update. :)

If you were one of the characters in the story, which one would you be?