The six of them delved into the inky black of the cave, their torches illuminating its walls in a warm orange glow. Amaro could hear the howling of wind all around him. Something which clearly bothered Raktus more than anyone else.
“Are you alright, Raktus? You can stay outside if you want.”
“And what xio would I be if I allowed the one I love to delve into danger without me to watch their back?”
“Oh god, this again…” Arik muttered.
Amaro smiled, “I know how you feel.”
“If I realized I was fifth wheeling a double date I would’ve stayed back.” Anitus said, rolling his eyes.
“Why are you guys so concerned with finding lovers anyway?” Kaara asked.
“Continuing bloodlines is important, at the end of the day. That’s all there is to it,” Anitus said, “though I personally believe one needs to prove themselves worthy of bearing a child with nobility before anything else.”
“What Anitus means to say…” Amaro said, “Is that our father has made it clear that we are not entitled to land or inheritance if we do not prove we can create a strong generation in the future. I see it a little differently, though. I hadn’t really intended to fall in love, but these days it’s almost all I can think about. Perhaps it’s just fate?”
“I agree with you, Amaro. Anitus is far too boring and heartless.” Raktus nodded.
“Hey!”
“Well y’know love and stuff always goes both ways. It sounds like you’re all pretty concerned about what you can take and gain, and not really looking at all at what you can give.” Kaara said with a cold indifference that made Amaro shudder.
“I…see.” Amaro said. Was that true? Of course it wasn’t for him. Maybe for Raktus? Or maybe Tulos? Definitely for Anitus.
Amaro knew he had thought of giving Kaara the world, but maybe he hadn’t come off that way? He knew he always fantasized about protecting her and bringing her into his legacy.
“What greater gift could a Xirxus give than their name? Along with all the blood and power that comes with it,” Anitus said candidly.
“Would you ever love someone who only wanted to take that gift from you?”
“If they were strong enough they’d have my kids.”
“But would you love them?”
Anitus laughed dryly, “That is love.”
“Geeze, now I just feel sorry for the Xirxus.” Arik said, “No wonder you’re all so annoyingly horny.”
“I would protect those that I love.” Amaro boasted.
“Yeah? Good for you. Is that because you want to protect them, or because you wanna look good?” Arik said.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Amaro felt like he had been stripped naked and shot, “What do you mean?”
“I mean, do you protect someone because you can’t help yourself, or because you think it’ll make them like you more? When you’re protecting someone, do you think about how good you look, or do you think about their safety.”
Arik’s heterochromatic eyes stared straight through him. Amaro didn’t know how to respond. Did he ever protect anyone without thinking of himself first?
“What does it matter the motivation? The action is the same in the end,” Anitus said to the silence of both Raktus and Amaro.
"Do you think that-" Amaro stopped as he saw the light of their torches wash over a figure in front of them. Everyone tensed, unsheathing their weapons only to realize what they were looking at.
Pinned to the wall by strange black spikes was a corpse without eyes. Decayed flaps of skin flared out from its exposed ribcage like wings which now splayed in grotesque horror to the wall above.
Its cheeks had decayed away into a strange faux smile that seemed to grow ever wider as they approached.
Amaro swallowed. Even if it had no eyes in its sockets, it felt like it was watching him. Like it was constantly looking at him no matter where he was in the cave.
“Look.” Rorik said, pointing to the walls of the cave.
Amaro had to look closely to see it. All around them, the walls of the cave were covered in strange symbols. They almost looked like writing, but not in any language Amaro had ever seen before. Even in the libraries under his home.
“What the hell?” He said under his breath.
Kaara got to her hands and knees, “I think I found a way forward.”
“You think there’s more than this? Was the profane and creepy ritual deep inside an antimagic cave not enough?” Anitus said.
Kaara unhooked her cloak and dropped it off to the side, falling prone and crawling through a hole so cramped she needed to pedal her feet and tail just to slide through.
“Kaara, you’ll get stuck!” Amaro said, feeling claustrophobic just watching her.
“I’m fine!”
Amaro swallowed. Would he have to follow? Someone as big as Raktus would never be able to squeeze through such a meager opening.
“Are you still without magic, Raktus?”
“Can’t even lift a rock in here.”
Amaro looked to Rorik and Arik who sat in silence, “Aren’t you worried?”
“Of course, but panicking for her won’t exactly help. Kaara’s always been like this. Doesn’t matter where she goes, she’s a fearless explorer,” Rorik said.
“You know she jumped from a branch of the world tree and tried to catch herself with a geyser?” Arik laughed, “My theory is she wants to make friends with death themself by visiting them every now and then.”
“What put this thing here anyways?” Amaro asked, looking at the flayed effigy above them.
“Whatever put it here, I think Kaara’s under the impression it’s somewhere deeper in the cave.”
“Hey guys! There’s more to this cave, but I need a torch so send someone through!”
Rorik moved, but Amaro stopped him, “I’ll go through. If I get stuck I’ll need someone I can trust to pull me out.”
“You sure about this?”
“Admittedly, I am a tad thinner than you so I have a better chance of pulling the torch through.”
“Arik’s thinner than you, though,” Rorik said.
“Fuck that shit, I’m not crawling down there.”
Amaro held out his hand, “You can trust me. I’ll keep her safe.”
Rorik handed him the torch, “Fine. Yell if you get stuck and I’ll come through. We packed some rope, so we should be able to pull you out if something happens.”
“Who would have thought that neglecting your training would be useful?” Anitus jabbed.
Amaro ignored him, snuffing the torch and curling his tail around it. He unhooked his cloak and left it with Kaara’s. His heart pounded out of his chest to see the narrow abyss he was about to crawl into. The light of their remaining torch vanished as he squeezed his shoulders through.
Complete and utter darkness.