The elf’s spirits rose. He could almost believe the tytans had been nothing but a bad dream. It was all he could do to contain himself and not leap up out of the tunnel and dash into the blessed sunlight. Paithan pulled himself cautiously up over the lip of the tunnel and, moving quietly, crept through the cavern until he reached the opening.
He peered outside. All seemed perfectly normal. Recalling the terrible silence in the jungle just before the tytans appeared, he was relieved to hear birds squawking and cawing, animals rustling through- the trees on their own private business. Several greevils popped up out of the undergrowth, staring at him with their four eyes, their legendary curiosity banishing fear. Paithan grinned at them and, reaching into a pocket, tossed them some crumbs of bread.
Emerging from the cavern, the elf stretched to his full height, bending backward to relieve muscles cramped from traveling stooped and hunched over. He looked carefully in all directions, though he didn’t expect to see the jungle moving. The testimony of the animals was clear to him. The tytans were nowhere around.
Perhaps they’ve been here and moved on. Perhaps when you walk into Griffith, you’ll find a dead city.
No, Paithan couldn’t believe it. The world was too bright, too sunny and sweet smelling. Maybe it had all been just a bad dream.
He decided he would go back and tell the others. There was no reason all of them couldn’t travel to Griffith together. He turned around, dreading going back into the tunnels again, when he heard a voice, echoing in the cavern.
“Paithan? Is everything all right?”
“All right?” cried Paithan. “Rega, it’s beautiful! Come out and stand in the sunshine! Come on. It’s safe. Hear the birds?”
Rega ran through the cavern. Bursting into the sun, she lifted her upturned face to the heavens and breathed deeply.
“It’s glorious!” she sighed. Her gaze went to Paithan. Before either quite knew how it happened, they were in each other’s arms, holding each other tightly, lips searching, meeting, finding.
“Your husband,” said Paithan, when he could catch his breath. “He might come up, might catch us-”
“No!” Rega murmured, clinging to him fiercely. “No, he’s down there with the dwarf. He’s going to wait … to keep an eye on Drugar. Besides”-she drew a deep breath, moved back slightly so that she could look into Paithan’s face-“it wouldn’t matter if he did catch us. I’ve made a decision. There’s something I have to tell you.”
Paithan ran his hand through her dark hair, entangling his fingers in the thick, shining mass. “You’ve decided to run away with me. I know. It will be for the best. He’ll never find us in my country-”
“Please listen to me and don’t interrupt!” Rega shook her head, nuzzling it beneath Paithan’s hand like a cat wanting to be stroked. “Roland isn’t my husband.” The words came out in a gasp, forced up from the pit of her stomach.
Paithan stared at her, puzzled. “What?”
“He’s . . . my brother. My half-brother.” Rega had to swallow, to keep her throat moist enough to talk.
Paithan continued to hold her, but his hands were suddenly cold. He recalled the conversation in the glade; it took on a new and more sinister meaning.
“Why did you lie to me?”
Rega felt his hands tremble, felt the chill in his fingers, saw his face pale and grow cold as his hands. She couldn’t meet his intense, searching gaze. Her eyes lowered, sought her feet.
“We didn’t lie to you,” she said, trying to make her voice light. “We lied to everyone. Safety, you see. Men don’t . . . bother me if they think … I’m married …” She felt him stiffen, and looked at him. Her words dried up, cracked. “What’s wrong? I thought you’d be pleased! Don’t . . . don’t you believe me?”
Paithan shoved her away. Tripping over a vine, Rega stumbled and fell. She started to get up, but the elf stood over her, his frightening gaze pinned her to the moss.
“Believe you? No! Why should I? You’ve lied to me before! And you’re lying now. Safety! I overheard you and your brother”-he spit the word-“talking. I heard about your little scheme to seduce me and then blackmail me! You bitch!”