door could have been managed by cave dwellers when none would know how to create it today.
The passageway began to widen until Eirik could move in front of Ciara.
“What are you doing?”
“Leading the way, as is my responsibility.”
She grumbled something that sounded very much like, “Arrogant dragon.”
He smiled. Life with her would never be predictable. He was accustomed to those who knew of his status as prince being impressed by it and even more respect garnered by his dragon.
Ciara treated him like…well, like her mate. And he found he enjoyed the novelty of her lack of awe.
He had not liked the sadness that had overcome her when they first arrived back on the mainland and he still did not know what caused it. Perhaps she continued to be bothered by the fact her father and mother had been unable to attend their wedding.
Eirik would make sure that all who were important to either of them were in attendance at their Chrechte mating ceremony with Anya-Gra.
His torch flickered and he knew they were near a significant change in the cave; the still air would not have caused the flame to dance otherwise. A few feet later, the passage opened into a huge cavern, bigger than anything he had ever seen underground. Large enough for an entire clan to gather, much less a single pack of the Faol.
This was a meeting place from the days when the Chrechte were as united as any nomadic people who traveled in small family groupings could be.
“The walls do not glow,” Ciara said with concern. “And it is too big.”
“Your kelle said she took the stone to a hidden cavern far beneath the earth. This one is in the hillside.”
Ciara nodded, looking around and no doubt seeing what he did. The space was huge, but not altogether empty.
There was a dais in the center with standing torches at its four corners. It was covered in a hide tanned and bleached to near white, the center decorated with a pattern that matched the healing symbol they had found outside. There were stone benches around the cavern, some grouped together, others alone and even a few tables that held pots and jars similar to the ones he had seen in Lais’s room.
“This is where they performed their healing,” Eirik said with conviction.
“I think you are right, but it was also a place of meeting, I think.”
The idea the cave had been a refuge for the Chrechte seemed more likely now. “It is likely you are right.”
“I want to look at everything, but there is no time.”
“There isn’t. Our enemies could discover our presence at any moment.” But he regretted not being able to allow Lais to come inside and examine things.
Then he reconsidered. If Eirik and Ciara were going to go farther into the earth, it would be a good idea to have a guard in the cavern.
He recalled Vegar from his post in the sky to flying closer to the cave entrance so he could help if MacLeod Chrechte showed up. And then, Eirik instructed Lais to come inside to the healing cavern.
The passage is long and narrow, he told his friend in Lais’s mind.
I do not like small spaces.
You and half the Éan, but the cavern is huge and you will find it very interesting. Just do not get so interested you forget to pay attention for encroaching soldiers.
Lais agreed and Eirik made his way to the dais in the center of the room. The cavern was too vast for them to see the difference between another passage opening and shadow with the light of only one torch.
The standing torches lit, drawing on some kind of oil…he had heard of the Roman’s having lamps like this, but the Chrechte’s cave-dwelling ancestors? ’Twas amazing.
Ciara was walking along the walls, clearly looking for another opening out of the cavern. They found three.
The first led to a smaller chamber that had obviously been used to store food and other supplies. The second opening led to a series of smaller caves, some of which ended in additional caverns no bigger than most bedchambers that may well have been used by the kelle for sleeping and privacy. Other passages simply ended and the lack of any carving on the walls of these led Eirik to believe they were used rarely if ever by the ancient kelle.
The third passage was more of the same and by the time they’d finished exploring it, Vegar informed Eirik that dusk had arrived. Ciara and Eirik