Otis held up crossed fingers ‘And that he has the answers we need.’
I glanced at Hester. She didn’t argue, just bowed her head and said, ‘Amen.’
I pushed my feet into my shoes then eyed the dark tunnel that led into a far larger cavern. The first time I’d squeezedthrough that tunnel I’d suffered a debilitating panic attack but I vowed that wouldn’t happen this time.
I took three big gulps of air, steadied myself and checked on Hugo. He reached for my hand. ‘I’m ready,’ he said.
I squeezed his fingers. I’d have to let go to wriggle through the narrow space but I held his hand a second longer before I plunged ahead. The faster we did this, the better.
The first few metres were easy but the tunnel rapidly narrowed. When I was forced to crouch Otis and Hester took the lead, staying a short distance behind the bobbing fireballs to the rear, Hugo kept up a commentary even when we ended up wriggling on our bellies.
‘You know,’ he said, ‘Despite my earlier comment, I’m looking forward to this. I’d like a chance to speak at length with the Fachan. He must have seen some glorious things in his time. I wonder how old he is. And look at the walls of this tunnel! There are seams of metals – you can tell by the glinting cracks. It might be tin, or something more precious.’
His words were mostly nonsense but they reassured me. When I finally pushed myself onto the floor of the larger cavern, I was breathing normally and there was no fearful tightness in my chest.
I grinned at my three companions. I had this; I was doing fine. ‘Nothing to fear but fear itself!’ I declared loudly.
‘You go, girl,’ Hester said while Otis pumped the air and performed a somersault. Hugo mostly looked relieved.
‘Onwards?’ I asked. He nodded.
We turned left, away from the gaping chasm that Hugo had once traversed with the aid of the Primes and some cunning ropework, and walked into the passage that led to a much narrower chasm. I’d fallen into that one when the ground had collapsed beneath me on my previous visit and I’d expected to feel a tremor of forgotten trauma. When we reached the darkhole, however, I realised I felt nothing other than an eagerness to find the Fachan and learn about ways to destroy all fiends.
‘You’ve got the rope?’ I asked Hugo.
‘Yes – but you promised that climbing down there was only a last resort.’
‘Don’t worry, I’m not in any rush to throw myself in.’ Taking care not to get too close to the edge, I crouched down and cupped my hands to amplify my voice. ‘Hello? It’s Daisy! Are you there?’
Unsurprisingly, there was no answer. I called again and then, because good things often came in threes, gave a third yell. Hugo handed me a small stone around which I’d wrapped a written message; I’d assumed the Fachan was literate though I couldn’t be sure.
I carefully dropped the stone and tilted my head to listen for the thud as it hit rock bottom. There was nothing: I couldn’t hear a damned thing.
‘Now what?’ Otis asked nervously.
‘I guess we wait,’ I replied.
To avoid a nasty accident,we moved several metres away from the hole. Hugo rummaged in his bag and eventually found some food. When he handed Hester a small chocolate brownie carefully wrapped in tin foil, she shot me a look as if to ask if I’d put him up to it. I shook my head. Hugo hadn’t required any encouragement from me, he’d packed it of his own volition and for her enjoyment alone. Her answering smile was bright enough to compete with the hovering fireballs above our heads.
One hour passed, then two. When time stretched into the third hour, I started to twitch. I looked at Hugo’s bag, wondering how much rope he was carrying; probably not enough, but Icould try using air magic to soften my descent without worrying about its adverse impact on this environment. In the worst-case scenario, I could repeat what I’d done the first time and simply fall into the dark hole because the Fachan would catch me if he was down there. Hopefully.
I checked the time again. Once we hit the four-hour mark, I’d make a move.
Another five minutes ticked by. I shuffled closer to Hugo, dropped my head on his shoulders and yawned – then suddenly there was a thud.
Otis jolted upwards with such speed and shock that he hit the tunnel roof. He groaned and rubbed his head as Hester checked him over.
Hugo and I got to our feet and gazed towards the source of the sound. ‘That came from behind us, right?’ I asked. ‘The larger cavern?’
‘Yes. Do you think it’s him?’
I certainly hoped so; if another creature was living down here, we could be in real trouble. We exchanged glances then started walking back down the tunnel. Gladys stayed in my bag but I could feel her vibrating. Was she nervous about being back in the place where she’d been trapped for so many years? I gently touched her hilt, doing what I could to reassure her, and she buzzed in quiet acknowledgment before falling silent again.
We stepped out of the tunnel into the cavern. ‘The Fachan?’ I called tentatively. ‘Are you there?’
Bless him, he didn’t keep me waiting. From the impenetrable darkness of the far end of the cavern, his voice boomed, ‘Daisy Carter! I knew this day would come. Finally you are here to challenge me.’
I’d been expecting this. ‘No,’ I said quickly. ‘I’m still not ready to fight you.’ I wouldneverbe ready to fight him. ‘I’m here with my friends because we need your help.’
