The Rifts of Psyche by Kyle West (i love reading .txt) 📕

have to make sure our wards are set well. The Sorceress-Queen is probably out there hunting us.”

“I’ll strengthen my ward today, committing most of my ether,” Fergus said. “Just stay close and it will keep anyone from sensing us. That, I guarantee.”

“Will you be okay doing that?” Serah asked.

“I’ll be fine,” Fergus said. “It isn’t like we have a choice, anyway.”

Lucian didn’t like the sound of that, but he realized Fergus was right. This was as good as it was going to get.

Lucian could only hope it was good enough.

26

Even if the surface was more dangerous, being in the light again was worth it. The only sounds were their footsteps and the wind. Snake Rift was rougher than the Deeprift, with less vegetation and more rocky outcrops and rockslides. Lucian got the feeling there were few, if any, people who lived here. There was no sign of another human being, or even an animal.

It just needed to stay that way.

After half an hour, it was clear they were in some tributary of the rift rather than the main rift itself. The fissure was so narrow that it would be difficult for the Zephyr to maneuver. However, the entrance to the Darkrift could only be accessed from the main part of Snake Rift, which would be much wider. Lucian could only hope that the earthen tones of their clothing would blend with the gray rocks and brown dirt. They stayed as close as possible to the rock face, which would make them harder to pick out.

By noon, they had reached the main rift. As Lucian had suspected, it was tall and wide enough for the Zephyr to maneuver easily, though the many twists and turns might prove a barrier.

Serah looked each way, her eyes following the line of the trail leading westward. “This way.”

She went left, which led down toward the water. Everyone followed.

After an hour of walking, Cleon broke the silence. “It’s too quiet.”

Serah rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re going to complain that things are too boring now.”

Cleon cracked a smile. “Beat me to the punch.”

“Let’s pray it stays boring,” Fergus said. “I would very much like to return to Kiro alive.”

“Same,” Cleon said. “Though at this point, I would settle for mere survival.”

They walked for hours, the narrow sliver of sky above only growing marginally brighter. True to its name, Snake Rift swerved back and forth, delving deeper into Psyche’s surface. The light from above became a thin crack, and their surroundings were so dim that it was almost as if they were underground again. The water had become a fast-moving stream, tumbling over rocks, and frothing white. Lucian imagined that stream didn’t end until the Moon Sea tens of kilometers below them.

“I think we’ve made it,” Serah said, stopping near a boulder with a Septagon carved into it. “This marks the boundary of Snake Rift and the beginning of the Darkrift.”

Lucian looked above, only to see a small sliver of light. Rock arches covered the space above just as often as open air, creating faded sunbeams that illumined dancing motes of dust. Little by little, the surface had transformed into an underground cavern, though Lucian couldn’t have said exactly when the transition had occurred.

“Well, at least we can’t be followed here by the Zephyr,” Fergus said. “But it seems the option to go on to Blue Rift has been taken away.”

“There’s still a branch that will lead us there,” Serah said. “If I can find it.”

“Lead on,” Fergus said. “And stay alert. They probably suspect we are heading this way, especially if they check the Blue Pass and find it empty.”

Lucian clasped his shockspear tighter, looking back over his shoulder and half-expecting to see pursuers, Mage-Knights in their colored robes and bronze-clad hoplites. And the purple-caped, purple-plumed man Cleon had called Mage-Lord Kiani. Going underground again didn’t feel right, but there was no choice but to keep moving. Anyone could be behind them, and Lucian didn’t want to meet potential enemies.

It was only a few hours more before the skylights disappeared altogether and the Darkrift began living up to its name. Fergus had a light sphere always following the group, along with his strengthened concealment ward. He showed no signs of fatigue, but Lucian knew if there was ever a fight, it would be up to the rest of them to pick up the slack.

They were still following the stream, which ran by the trail. It had narrowed significantly in the last few hours, but now it ran even faster. The stream and the echo of its flowing water were the only sounds. If the rest of the trip were this peaceful, Lucian would be a happy man.

Serah led at the fore, and turned her head while walking. “Once we go away from this stream, we will have to be quieter. Things down here are not keen on sight, but you will not believe how they can hear or smell.”

“What’s down here besides gloombats?” Lucian asked.

“Nothing you really want to meet,” Cleon said.

“Burners, mostly,” Fergus said. “Frays with minds so rotten they are more animal than man. They’ll attack anything that’s not them. It’s the last stage of a frayed mage’s life.”

“So, they just stay like that until something kills them?”

Fergus nodded. “Or until they kill themselves. They lie inert in dark places, mostly. Places like the Darkrift are perfect for them, and one of the reasons this place is so feared.”

“Can we get moving?” Cleon asked. “I’d like to make Slave’s Run as soon as possible, and not think about what might be lying in the dark.”

“I second that,” Serah said.

They continued. Lucian tried not to think about the threats that could be lurking around every bend. This was made worse once he had to take over the light. Even Fergus couldn’t maintain two wards for hours on end, so he let Lucian take over the light sphere at least. Radiance was not Lucian’s strength, but Fergus needed the break. By