“Why did you tell him so much about our plans?” Seraiah asked once they’d ridden a short distance beyond the necromancer’s wards. “I didn’t think you were serious about this alliance. I only agreed to it because I thought we were going to use him and then be done with him.”

Kestrel shrugged. “That was before I knew what was going on with Sterling.”

Seraiah looked away. If only Kestrel knew the real reason, Seraiah had been conflicted about the shadows she’d thought she’d seen in Sterling’s eyes. She should tell her. Confess everything about the journal Kai had given her, and the madness in her future.

Seraiah couldn’t bring herself to do it. Not yet. First, she wanted to visit the Summer King and find out what he knew. Then she would tell Kestrel everything.

“I think he’s sincere in his wish for revenge,” Kestrel said. “We can at least trust him that far.”

“I should have asked him more questions, but I was so focused on getting rid of the mark. I feel like he received more answers than we did. He couldn’t even tell us about Gavaran’s plans. We’re the ones being used in this alliance.”

“Perhaps,” Kestrel said, appearing unbothered, “but I haven’t told him anything he couldn’t have figured out on his own. I say we not worry about it right now. If Ren turns up information that could help Sterling, great. If not, we can always cut ties. It would be silly to waste a potentially valuable alliance at this point simply because you’re holding a grudge against him.”

Seraiah frowned down at her hands. It wasn’t a grudge.

All right. Maybe it was a grudge, but it was deserved.

Kestrel wasn’t the one who had to live with something on her skin that could be used to track her and change her will. There was obviously no arguing with her now, though, when she’d already made up her mind, and she was right that the necromancer had the potential to help Sterling. It was only for this reason Seraiah hadn’t maimed him yet.

She nudged her horse faster, cutting off any more conversation. She would tolerate him for her sister, but once he’d served his purpose, all bets were off.

----------------------------------------

"This is it," Seraiah said, squatting down next to the hole. It had taken them three days to reach the mountain range Metrius called home.

While Kestrel had known the general location of the gnome city, she’d admitted she’d never been there herself and would rely on Seraiah to find it. After some confusion about which side of the mountain range she’d been on, Seraiah had eventually remembered where she’d fallen while on the hunt for a golden dragon.

"Are you sure?" Kestrel eyed the hole in question, staying several feet back from the edge. “This doesn’t seem safe.”

“It’s safer than where Lonan and I exited all the way up there.” Seraiah pointed to where the mountain disappeared into a layer of clouds. “We’d never be able to find the city if we tried that way. Besides, if they have another entrance, I don’t know about it. I was under the impression they preferred to remain isolated.”

“So the stories say,” Kestrel mumbled, and then sighed. "Do you want to go first, or shall I?”

Seraiah swallowed, recalling how lucky she’d gotten the first time. There was a very small distance between the lake and the rocks. "I’ll go first and remember, aim for the left."

Kestrel shifted the pack on her shoulder and motioned for her to go ahead.

They’d already removed their things from the horses and left them to wander the woods. Without knowing how long they’d be gone, Kestrel had been unwilling to tie them up. They’d piled their saddles at the base of a nearby tree and taken the supplies they were able to carry.

"Right then," Seraiah said, taking one last look at the sky, "here goes nothing."

She stepped into the empty air over the hole, much as she had the first time. Even though this time she’d done it on purpose, it didn’t make it any less scary as she careened through the pitch black.

She landed with a splash in the lake.

“Your turn,” she shouted up to Kestrel once she’d climbed out. A puddle was already forming around her feet.

A few moments later, Kestrel hit the water.

Seraiah offered her a hand. “See, that wasn’t so bad.”

“I thought at least one of us would come out of this with injuries,” Kestrel grumbled as she wrung out her tunic.

“But we didn’t, and if we want to keep it that way, we should get moving. Therill told me beetles can sometimes be found around here, and I can say from experience, we do not want to meet one.”

“Shall I dry our clothes before we go? I can’t do it as efficiently as Kai, and I may not be able to maintain a light source until we reach the city if I do.”

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“No,” Seraiah said. “I’d rather wear wet clothes than be stuck in the dark. We’ll be able to bathe and change in the city.”

Kestrel snapped her fingers, and a ball of light appeared in her palm. “All right, then. Ready when you are.”

Their wet steps echoed in the tunnel. Seraiah hated the unpleasant feeling of water in her boots. It was almost enough to make her change her mind about having Kestrel dry them.

"Someone's coming," Kestrel whispered, drawing Seraiah’s attention away from her soggy boots. Since Kestrel held the light, she’d taken the lead, following Seraiah’s directions. Now she stepped aside to reveal another light bouncing toward them in the dark.

“Therill, is that you?” Seraiah called.

If it was, she would get a stern talking to about making too much noise.

Silence answered, but the light kept bobbing as though in time to someone’s steps.

“Come on,” she told Kestrel. “I’m sure it’s one of the gnomes. They probably can’t hear me from here, so let’s go meet them.”

They carried on until they’d nearly reached the edge of the lantern light. Kestrel extinguished her ball of fire.

"Therill?” Seraiah tried again.

The light stopped moving just short of illuminating them. "Who wants to know?"

It didn't sound like Therill, but it was hard to tell with the way the echo distorted the sound.

"It's me. Seraiah. I've brought a friend as well."

Lantern light spilled over them, and Seraiah lifted a hand to cover her eyes against the sudden brightness. To her disappointment, the gnome holding the lantern wasn’t Therill. It wasn't anyone she recognized—not that she was acquainted with many of the gnomes.

This gnome was young. His black beard was short and patchy as though he’d just reached the age he could start growing one. He looked Seraiah up and down.

"Are you that human girl that came through here a while ago? The one who left with Lonan and never came back?"

"Yes, that's me, and my companion is Kestrel of Nyrene."

The gnome barely glanced at Kestrel before his gaze returned to her. "Where’s Lonan?”

“He’s—uh,” her throat tightened, “he’s not with me.”

“Why are you calling for Therill?"

"I need to speak with him."

"What about?"

This gnome sure was full of questions.

Kestrel sighed, and Seraiah was sure she’d rolled her eyes too. At least she hadn’t drawn a knife to play with yet. That likely wouldn’t have endeared them.

"It's between me and Therill,” Seraiah said, a bit of sharpness leaking into her voice. “Can you take me to him?"

He eyed her suspiciously for a moment before relenting. "I suppose I could." The gnome turned around abruptly and walked back the way he’d come.

It turned out they hadn't been far from Metrius. After maybe a five-minute walk, the city came into view.

"Oh, wow," Kestrel said when she saw it, and Seraiah smiled. She remembered having a similar reaction the first time she’d seen the city. It was hard to imagine an entire city underground until you saw it for yourself.

Their guide led them to the front of a house. "Here you are," he said and then walked off.

"Friendly fellow, isn't he?" Kestrel muttered, as they watched him go. “Is this where Therill lives?”

"I hope so. I’m afraid I don’t remember exactly because most of my time here was spent in their castle.” Seraiah stooped and knocked lightly on the front door. Her clothes were still damp, and she smelled faintly of the lake.

"Oh, my," Pibble, Therill’s wife, said when she opened the door and saw them waiting on her doorstep. "Something has happened, hasn't it?"

Seraiah nodded. "It’s good to see you again. Is Therill home by chance?

----------------------------------------

Therill came merrily strolling down the street, whistling to himself. He looked much the same as he had several months ago. Seraiah knew the moment he spotted them because he stopped in his tracks, the whistle fading off.

"Seraiah!" he exclaimed, rushing forward after he’d gotten over his initial shock. "What are you doing here?" She noticed him looking around, stopping briefly on Kestrel before moving on. She knew exactly who he was searching for.

The question she dreaded came a moment later.

"Where's Lonan?"

Seraiah pressed her lips together, unsure how to tell him. She’d planned out what she was going to say, but seeing his eager expression as he’d looked for his friend made the words fly from her head.

Kestrel said nothing.

"Oh," Therill said quietly. “I see. He’s gone, then?”

Seraiah's eyes filled with tears. "Yes, and it's all my fault."

“I’m sure you did what you could.” He passed a hand over his eyes, wiping away his own tears before they could fall.

Pibble reemerged from the house, bowls of mushroom stew in her hands. She’d invited them to stay and wait for Therill and promised to serve them food as soon as it finished cooking. Now she shoved one bowl at Kestrel and the other at Seraiah. Then planted her hands on her hips. “Well, what is it? Is someone going to tell me what’s happened?”

“It’s Lonan,” Kestrel said, coming to Seraiah’s rescue. Both she and Therill were still wiping away their tears. “He’s no longer with us.”

"Oh, dears. Don't cry.” Pibble patted Seraiah’s hand before moving to comfort her husband. “Lonan wouldn't want to see your tears. He would want you to enjoy a good mushroom stew in his honor. Did he tell you about the one time he discovered a new type of mushroom?" she asked.

This brought a laugh from Seraiah and Therill.

“I think I may have heard that story a few times,” Seraiah said, looking down at the bowl in her hands.

“And I have heard it many more,” Therill said.

“Good. Now eat,” Pibble urged gently. “You’ll feel better.”

Seraiah did as she was told and around mouthfuls told the two gnomes what had happened since leaving Metrius.

“Such a shame,” Therill said, stroking his beard, “but I am happy you were reunited with your sister. Why didn’t you bring her with you?”

Seraiah exchanged a look with Kestrel. “She’s in the human world,” she told him. “We weren’t sure it was safe here.”

"Have you any news of Nyrene?" Kestrel asked.

"Nothing. Seraiah was our most recent visitor. I do not think that even the clan leaders know of what’s happened in Nyrene. As you know, we don't involve ourselves in the affairs of others."

"I think it's time to change that," Kestrel told him.

"What would you know, elf?" Therill asked gruffly. "Isn't it the same policy the elves have taken in years past? Why are gnomes not allowed to do the same? We must look out for our own."

"Things have changed, Therill," Seraiah said calmly before Kestrel could respond. "Lonan saw the importance of working together. That's why he joined me in the search for my sister. He wanted to keep the world a peaceful place. For everyone."

Therill grumbled a bit at that. "Lonan was special."

"He was," Kestrel agreed. "I didn't know him for long or as well as Seraiah did, but it was easy to see he cared about preserving this world. He wasn't afraid to stand up for what he believed in."

"You may be able to change my mind about supporting your cause with that, but I am but one gnome. You will need to convince the clan leaders to back you, and that will be no easy task," he told them.

"Good thing we have you to help us," Seraiah said with a smile.

"Aye,” Therill tugged hard on his beard, looking worried. “Good thing."