A pleasant ride and an unpleasant climb

The rest of the ride had been pleasant, with both of them managing to not dwell on the encounter by the gate. It took them right around an hour to reach the road that ran between the old orchard and the hillside Vel had been shown. They decided to leave the horses in the orchard without tying them up. They’d not be easily spotted from the road, and Adeline didn’t doubt Vel when he said he could make sure they didn’t wander off. Leaving the weapons on the saddle wasn’t much of a concern either, not like Veldred would let anyone get close enough to touch them. Besides, bandits weren’t really a worry here, and this was not a very busy road. Taking precautions was prudent, but not necessary.

Having left the horses happily snacking on fallen fruit, the two of them now stood looking up at the hillside. It really wasn’t particularly steep or anything, for Adeline on her own, climbing it would have been child’s play. To Vel though, it was a daunting prospect. His cane would be useless here, the tip would just sink into the soil and be more hassle than it was worth. True to form, Adeline was first to state the obvious. “Staring at it won’t make it any easier, come on Vel, let’s go.”

After a lot of cursing, sweating, pain and multiple near falls, the twins found themselves looking at a small cave opening. There really was no way to see it unless one was right in front of it, as the vegetation made it impossible to see when looking from down below. The opening was only half as tall as Vel, he would have to crawl in. His leg was already a throbbing mess of pain after the climb, this would suck. And what about Adi? There were all sorts of reasons why he was **** to have her go in with him, the chance this might be some sort of ambush after all chief among them. But he could hardly ask her to wait out here, could he? If the positions were reversed, having to wait out here while she crawled into some cave for unknown reasons would be ****. As if hearing his thoughts, Adeline almost pleaded “Please don’t ask me to wait out here, Vel.” Damn. Fuck. “Fine, but I’m going first.” And in they went.

Luckily, the crawl was short. A few feet at most before they reached a spot where the cave roof was high enough for them to stand. It still proved too much for his already strained leg, though. As he tried to stand, it spasmed and gave out. Fortunately, Adeline was there to catch and steady him. He was in poor shape though and didn’t have his cane. He stood there, leaning on his twin in almost complete darkness, unable to make out anything at all. What must Adeline be thinking right now? That her brother was going insane? Perhaps he was. He’d certainly dragged the two of them into some dark cave because of a couple of dreams. And yet, he knew it had been real. And as if seeking to prove him right, a voice spoke from the darkness. A voice that sounded completely different than when he had last heard it, frailer and almost like a croak, and yet was still somehow familiar. “My liege, it is good to see you with my own eyes at last. Welcome.”