Myla followed Karawn around another turn and released her Sonarum. It appeared that they had come to a safe straightaway. So for the time being, her Sonarum wasn’t needed to guide them.

Huh? There was a change in the texture of the wall. She held her lumestick up to the tunnel wall. “This is different. Smooth, not like the prior stretch—so, how far do you think we’ve traveled anyway?”

Karawn glanced over his shoulder at her. “I don’t know, maybe a little less than a kilovect.”

“That’s all? Feels like a lot more than that.”

“Yeah. It’s not unusual in this type of terrain, but ya probably wouldn’t know that. It’s not like ya do too many missions like this.”

She grumbled, “More like none.”

In the dim light given off by their lumesticks, strange markings appeared on the wall. Myla held her lumestick closer. “Karawn, look at this.”

He paused and turned. “Look at what?”

She pointed to the wall. “These glyphs and painted pictures, they look a lot like the ones on the columns in the basement chamber.”

“And? Is that all ya wanted to show me?”

“Well, don’t you think it’s interesting?”

“Maybe a little. But it has nothing to do with our mission. Let’s keep moving.” Karawn turned, then glanced over his shoulder at her. Waited for her.

She huffed. “Fine. I’m following you.”

He nodded and strode forward.

It was clear that Karawn wasn’t interested in any sort of conversation. She followed him in silence and frowned. This was a side of his personality that he’d never shown her before. At least not in the past, when he seemed interested in her thoughts. And opinions.

Again, she huffed. Much louder than before. What was going on in that head of his anyway?

“Rrrr…for the love of—” Karawn growled under his breath and stopped. Then threw up his hands. “What?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

Karawn turned and stared at her. A perturbed expression was on his face. “Yeah. But I know you, Myla. And you’re bothered by something. What is it?”

She glared at him. “You really want to know?”

“I wouldn’t ask, if I didn’t.”

“Okay, why are you being such an arsfooh right now?”

He turned his back to her. “I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.”

“Oh no, you’re not getting out of this so easy,” she muttered under her breath, then stomped around Karawn and pivoted to face him. One hand rested upon her hip, and the other held the lumestick up between them. “This is the first time I’ve seen you in over a month. You’ve just returned from this top secret mission. And now your acting like a cantankerous old ‘quan. What happened to the old Karawn? Cause I don’t like this cranky Karawn very much.”

Karawn crossed his arms over his chest. The muscles in his jaw tensed.

“Oh Karawn…” Her hand slid off her hip. She reached over and touched his arm. “I’m worried. I want the aquan back that I fell in love with. Is he in there somewhere?”

Karawn still said nothing. His expression was one of stone. He’d put up some wall. And he wasn’t going to let her in. For whatever reason.

She shivered and wrapped her arms around her shoulders. A woeful sigh escaped her lips. Oh well. There was no breaking through that stone cold barrier. Might as well keep moving. She shrugged. Then turned and marched forward. Didn’t bother to look back or wait for him. Wasn’t like he was going to share his thoughts with her. So there wasn’t any point on waiting around.

“Myla, wait!” Karawn ran after her. His hand grasped her arm and pulled her back.

“No Karawn. We’ve got a mission to complete. Lives are at stake. Right?” She glared down at his hand on her arm and then up at him.

Still he held onto her arm. “Ah Myla. It’s really not a good idea to talk about it right now.”

“I guess there’s nothing really to talk about then.”

Myla yanked her arm out of his grasp and turned her back to him. Oh Coraalon! This mission with Karawn was a complete nightmare. The way he acted…so remote. Cold. Her lips trembled. She bit them and swiped away the tear that ran down her cheek. No! She wasn’t going to cry. Not now. Karawn shut her out. So that’s what he deserved to get back from her. Coldness.

Well then, better get going—she marched forward and choked back a sob—without him.

Behind her, there was scuffled movement. A blur shot past her. It was Karawn. He reappeared before her. And blocked her path. His long arms spanned across the corridor, from wall to wall. “Myla, stop.”

There was no getting around him now. She folded her arms across her chest and snorted. “Why? What’s the point?”

“Myla, there’s a time and place for everything. And this isn’t it. So why must you push me?”

She shook her head and looked away.

Karawn dropped his arms to his side. “Fine. Ya wanna know what’s up? Here it is. The last mission I went on was an undercover intel mission. To infiltrate a secret organization on Tayera that is a threat to its current political leaders. But I wonder—ah, never mind.”

“Wait Karawn.” She focused her attention back on him. “You wonder what?”

Karawn peered about, then lowered his voice to a near whisper. “Wonder if it was the right thing to do.”

“Why?” she whispered.

He sighed. “This group I infiltrated, which had been painted in a bad light. Well, I don’t think they really are that bad. Their underlying goal is to liberate the people of Tayera from their corrupt government.”

“Okay.” She shrugged. “So, what does that have to do with us, Karawn?”

Karawn clamped his mouth shut. With a flat expression, he gazed at her for what felt like forever. Then his lips twitched. “My cover was almost blown on that mission. I thought I’d never see you again. And then to come back here and have us both assigned to this dangerous rescue mission. Dammit! I’m worn out with these assignments. And…”

She uncrossed her arms. “And what?”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this out loud.” Karawn shook his head. Again his eyes darted about, then they stopped on her. “I’ve lost faith in the Daejic Szekta. What we’re asked to do. But I can’t question them. Ya know what happens to people who question the Circle of Advizars?”

She shuddered. “Uh huh.”

“Yeah, so ya know why I can’t—” Karawn’s voice broke off. He stepped up to her, hesitated, then pulled her into his arms.

Myla didn’t resist him. This brooding side of Karawn was new. Something he never revealed, even to her. Before, there was only the confident GW and the upbeat, charming aquan. She gazed up into his solid steel-gray eyes. But this outright display of emotional vulnerability was a first. And in a strange way, endearing. Karawn needed her support. Not her anger.

He ran his hand down one of her head-tails. “So, I’m stuck Myla. I can’t question my directives. But I can’t continue doing something I don’t believe in. And then there’s you. One of these days I may leave on a mission and never come back. And I can’t deal with the thought of never seeing you again.”

“I get it Karawn. You know, I worry about the same things. And this last time you left, I too was scared that you wouldn’t return. But at least I didn’t treat you like dirt when you got back.”

“I know, I know…I’ve got to work on that. But ya know, it’s not like I’ve been in this situation before. I mean caring about someone besides my assignments—no, caring more than.” He cleared his throat, his voice turned husky. “And I decided during my last mission that when I got back to Padaeya, we’d pack up quick and quiet, then leave the Daejic Szekta…in secret.”

She gasped. “No! We can’t!”

“Shh! Lower your voice.”

With a knowing nod, she went silent. All the while, her brain struggled to process what Karawn had just told her. It was all so sudden. Was he really saying leave the Daejic Szekta early…for good? How? And go where?

She gathered her thoughts and looked up into his eyes. “You know that no one has ever left early and gotten away with it. They’d just hunt us down. The Seekers will find us. Then we’d be sent off to Halaun prison or worse—executed. We’d never see each other again. And though I’ve too fantasized about running away with you, we just can’t.”

“But Myla, I’ve already taken care of everything. Saved up funds in an untraceable account under a secret identity on Tayera. Enough to last us a year or more. We can find sanctuary somewhere far from the Daejic Szekta. It will be a simple existence, but we’ll be free. To live life. Just you and me. No one telling us what to do, when to do it, or how to do it. Just imagine.”

“Oh Karawn, that all sounds wonderful, like a beautiful dream…” She looked askance at the faded paintings on the smooth wall. Her eyes landed upon a scene reminiscent of some royal coronation.

“Mmhm…and?” Karawn prodded her.

Oh, how bitter reality strikes again. She shook her head and groaned. Even if they could evade the Seekers, it was impossible for her—the Princess of Sentauros—to just leave. Of course Karawn didn’t know this dreadful reality. She groaned. Guess it was time to tell him.

Myla returned her gaze to his. “And…what about my dah, the King? I’m a princess with a mountain of royal obligations placed upon my shoulders.”

“I didn’t really think about that.” Karawn released her from his embrace and flattened his expression. “I won’t tell ya what to do, Myla. But didn’t know your princess title and royal responsibilities were all that important to you. Guess I was wrong.”

Myla glanced down. The sparkle of white quarziums that lined the edges of her coppery miros ring drew her attention. Upon its top face, all inlaid with jade, two blue tridents crossed over a white scallop shell. This was her royal family crest. She ran her thumb over it. Never before had the reality of being the Aquosian Princess of Sentauros hurt so much. Even being ostracized by her own Daejic peers for thirteen years and hated by most Ornithians was nothing compared to the reality of losing Karawn—her true love. She frowned. It just wasn’t fair. By royal decree, Karawn couldn’t be her lyfic only because he was an Aquosian commoner. But why did that really matter? It wasn’t like she was inheriting the throne. That was for her older half-brother Prince Dardek Ad’uar. So, regardless of her choice to conform with her princess duties, the royal family would go on. And her dah, the Aquosian King, would have to get over his royal expectations of her.

“Karawn…” She gave him an apologetic smile. “I’ve changed my mind. Let’s do it!”

He arched an eyebrow. “But what about all that business with your dah and that mountain of royal obligations?”

She locked her eyes onto his and placed the palm of her right hand flat upon his chest. “It can all go to Coraalon’s hell. Because I want to be with you. I believe in you. And Karawn, I lo—”

A horrific gurgling hiss in the near distance drowned out her declaration. Faint shouts and screams followed this terrible sound. She shuddered. The Daejic pupils were somewhere nearby. And in obvious danger.

“Myla, the pupils! Where are they located from here?”

She closed her eyes and called upon her Sonarum. But it wouldn’t sing to her.

“I can’t!” she cried.

“You can’t what?” Karawn asked.

She opened her eyes and tried to speak again. But her mouth wouldn’t form the words. A cold fear gripped her. She tried to move. But oh no! Her body was frozen. What was happening to her?

A darkness fell over her eyes. Eyes that were still wide open. Within the darkness, a terrible laugh rumbled. Followed by a deep, dark, grinding voice.

At last! I’ve got you, skinbeing.