Read The Crystal Keepers, An Overseers Novel Page 29
Elwyn noticed a slight shift in the expression on Bortundo’s face when Draevil gave his consent for her to join the men. She knew that Bortundo didn’t particularly care for her but she decided it was his problem, not hers. Now that she had Draevil’s blessing, there was nothing he could say about it.
“May I go make my preparations, Lord Draevil?”
Draevil nodded his consent. As she turned to leave, she heard Bortundo’s chair push back from the table.
“Stay, Bortundo. We have more business.”
As Elwyn walked out of the room, she couldn’t help but wonder what additional business Draevil had with Bortundo. Though, she quickly dismissed her curiosity since she had business of her own to tend to and there wasn’t much time before they departed. Elwyn rushed to her room and threw a few things together for the trip. With her satchel slung over her shoulder, she quickly navigated through the underground compound toward one of the upper caves.
She recalled that Draevil posted a guard in the cave, which led directly outside to the desert, so she slowed to a casual pace as she approached and hoped that Josh was the guard on duty today. She never understood the need for a guard in this particular location. It wasn’t the main entrance to their compound and it was so hot outside this time of year that any travelers passing by would surely be toying with death by the time they reached this remote area.
She heard his voice before she spotted him.
“Goin’ fer one of them thinkin’ walks there, Miss Elwyn? It’s mighty hot out there this time o’ day.”
She turned toward the voice and saw him standing in the shadow inside the cave opening, just beyond the sun’s reach.
“How are you doing, Josh?”
“Oh, same as usual, I s’pose. Just doin’ my job, supportin’ the cause.”
Elwyn couldn’t help but wonder what had been told to Josh about the cause. Supporting the evil in the world? Using commoners as pawns to increase the Brethren’s power? She pitied Josh for his ignorance but she also liked him for the same reason.
“And a fine job you’re doing, Josh. Have you seen any passersby today?”
“No, ma’am. It’s been quiet as a fawn in the forest.”
Elwyn wrapped her arms around her shoulders.
“I’ve had quite the chill today and can’t seem to shake it. I’m sure it won’t take long to get warmed up out there. I’ll just be a few minutes, Josh.”
“Sure thin’, Miss Elwyn.”
She casually walked out into the heat of the open desert. After letting her eyes adjust to the harsh light, she turned to her right and walked the short distance along the base of the cliff until it curved out of view of the cave entrance. Then she counted off an additional forty seven steps, picking up the pace as she went. She searched for the footholds in the rock structure, some that she carved out and some that were naturally in place when she first arrived. She continued scanning the area for anyone watching while she slipped on leather gloves for protection against the hot rocks. She climbed about ten feet up the wall, until she reached a natural ledge and pulled herself up onto it. Behind the ledge, the red cliff continued upward for another thirty to forty feet.
The ledge had held enough soil over the years that allowed some desert plants and scrub brush to grow, providing the perfect hiding place for her personal apothecary. She walked five paces to her left and felt behind a half-dead prickly scrub for the loose rock in the wall. She slid it out, careful not to get scratched from the scrub, and then reached into the small hole for her cloth bag.
She opened the drawstring and pulled out a few smaller pouches, similar to the one that hung from her belt. After finding the pouch with a particular substance she needed, she put the others back inside the bag, secured the top and pushed it back into the hole in the upper cliff wall. She pushed the rock back into place and made sure to remove any markings that were left in the dirt. To be extra careful, she broke off a branch from a small plant and erased her footsteps as she retreated five paces back.
Still seeing no one below, she scrambled down the cliff wall and back to the cave. This pouch would come in handy for what she had planned, assuming that her hunch played out.