Her voice became a beacon, guiding the soldiers their way.
"We have to hide," Eref said to Caer. "They'll find us."
Caer blinked, and her grip loosened more. "Not without Vul."
"Vul," Eref implored. "They're coming. We have to get out of here."
"Let go of her!"
Caer slipped her hand out of Eref's, and the joy vanished from his chest. The light remained, glowing independently from both his and Caer's hands. But within seconds, it began to grow dim.
"You see, Vul?" Caer held up both arms. A muted light shone from her right palm. "He's not holding me. I'm safe."
Vul's eyes opened wider in shock. She pointed another shaky finger at Caer. "Light...."
"Come here, Vul," Caer said. "We've got to hide."
Eref's heart began to race again. Darkness crept into the corners of his eyes. "We have to go. Now - "
Caer ran forward and grabbed Vul by her waist. Vul screamed.
"They're right over there!" The men's voices sounded much closer.
Almost completely in silhouette now, Caer gestured upward to Eref. She was pulling Vul up the tree.
He dashed toward them and jumped to the nearest branch. From there, he helped Caer hoist Vul upward, the little Dark Person kicking and biting as they went. Once the three of them were seated on the first branch that was large enough for everyone, Caer put her hand over Vul's mouth.
"What are we going to do? She won't calm down." Eref said.
"We can't let her be caught," Caer said. "Tomorrow's her birthday."
Vul squirmed on the thick branch and struggled to get free. The light coming from their palms dimmed even more.
"I was supposed to spend time with her the last few nights. That's why she was so angry when I was busy taking care of you."
"What will they do if they find her?"
"She'll go to the Eighteener Entrance." Caer stared at Vul, her expression very stern. "It's too soon, Eref. She's not ready for that yet. They can't take her."
Vul kicked her tiny legs out and hit Eref on the thigh. He held onto the branch for support.
"It's getting dark again. I can't see much anymore."
"I know," she said. "But we don't want them to notice the light anyway. Just stay still. Stay still, Vul!"
Vul groaned under Caer's hand and wriggled like a mad person. Her bright, black eyes glared at Eref as though he were a monster. Darkness continued to creep into his vision.
Eref looked at the writhing, shadowy mass that was Vul. "If she keeps that up, they'll know where we are."
"Vul. Stay. Still," Caer said between her teeth.
"Can you move your hand?" Eref spoke softly. "I want to talk to her."
A moment of silence hung in the blackness that had returned, and then Vul's voice rang out. "What have you done? What was that light?"
"We don't know, Vul. Calm down. I didn't hurt Caer."
"Liar! We heard what they said at the Pyre! You made that hole on purpose! You came here to hurt us!"
"No, I didn't!" Eref tried to keep his voice a whisper. "I don't know who made that hole. I was being executed and I fell. That's all I know."
"You've got to be quiet, Vul," Caer said. "Please. Remember about your birthday - "
"What are my choices? The Eighteener Entrance, or let this Light Person kill me? At least I'll live if they catch me! I'd be safer running on my own than hiding with him!"
"Where were you going to run?"
"We talked about it years ago! We were going to run away!"
"But, Vul," Caer said. "We didn't have anywhere to go."
There was a pause, and Vul made a sound like choking back tears. "Now that the Light Person is here, you don't want to!"
"Vul, please," Caer moaned.
"They've got to be around here somewhere," a young man said. "I heard someone shouting."
"Search the area. We'll find them. Torch anyone who gets in your way."
The three of them grew silent and stiff. Even Vul stopped yelling.
Footsteps crunched in the grass just feet below. Eref stretched his eyes, willing them to see, but everything had turned black again.
"Nothing, Lieutenant Matboc," the young man said. "What do you think?"
"They're here."
"But where?"
Eref held his breath in the chilling silence.
"The trees. Search them all."
Caer let out a tiny sob.
Eref remained still. What could he do? They were trapped.
Something moved on the branch.
"No!" Caer whispered. "Vul, what are you doing?"
"I'm going down, of course."
Vul struggled next to Eref. She prepared to climb down the tree.
"But, Vul!" Caer cried softly.
"Be quiet. Do you want them to hear you?"
"I don't want them