Moon Shimmers(54)
“I understand. Menolly explained matters to me last night. Well, I have a strong suspicion a great deal was left out, but what I don’t know, I can’t tell. Go and be safe, Camille.” The werebadger clapped me on the shoulder. “I think whatever you’re doing, it’s important to more than just you. So be safe.”
“Thanks, Derrick. Watch after Menolly, would you?”
He laughed at that. “Right, like Roman won’t be doing that.” He lowered his voice. “Digger told me that Roman’s sent out some security forces to watch over your place. Menolly doesn’t know because he didn’t want her to, but go with a light heart. He’s taking care of his Princess’s family.” With that, he snorted.
I flashed him a conspiratorial smile. “I know. Every time I think of Menolly as a princess, it triggers the word oxymoron. Okay, we’re heading out. Be safe.”
The portal was a spiraling vortex of energy inside of a compartment that had been built around it. The waves of energy were pulsing blue, and I steeled myself for the disorientation they caused. But it was the only way to reach Otherworld, and we had been through them time and again. With a deep breath, I turned to make sure everybody was ready, and then—before I could change my mind—plunged through the portal.
WALKING INTO A portal is kind of like walking into a bug zapper. Imagine being jolted with the most electrifying shock you’ve ever felt, as every atom in your body suddenly whirls apart, spreading out into the universe. Then, just as your mind seems to be hanging by a thread, the rubber band snaps and all your atoms go flinging back together with a thud and you suddenly find yourself in another place, relatively in one piece.
I stumbled through the two giant cedars that housed the portal outside of Thistlewyd Deep. To my back was the Windwillow Valley, a vast stretch of grassland and plains, where trees were scarce and the constant wind whistled through the long blades of grass, sending them in a rippling wave that traveled across the expanse.
Beyond the valley to the east, the Nebulveori Mountains rose, a swath of peaks that dwarfed anything over Earthside. The dwarves held rule there, along with giants and ogres and trolls. Goblins also, though the goblin city of Guilyoton was found between the Ranakwa Fens and the southernmost tip of Darkynwyrd.
I had been to this portal once before, coming from Dahnsburg. Now, that seemed like such a long time ago even though it had only been two years. As I reached out to steady myself, someone took my arm. With a gasp, I started to leap backward, but was startled to see Raven Mother holding tight to my wrist, her eyes gleaming.
“Camille, oh we meet again very soon, do we not? Meet again, we do. Welcome to Thistlewyd Deep. Surely you remember your last trip here, my dear?”
I glanced around, wondering if the Black Unicorn was near. “Is…he…here, too?”
“No, he’s off running wild in Darkynwyrd, he is, my husband. But make haste and move out of the way, for another is coming through.”
She pulled me out of the way as Smoky appeared. He stared at Raven Mother for a moment, frowning, but then quickly stepped to my side, putting a little distance between her and me. After that, Delilah came through, then Shade and Chase. Bran was next—and he quickly crossed to his mother’s side and gave her a peck on the cheek. After Bran, Venus appeared, then Rozurial, and we were all together.
“I have your horses, I do. They are waiting for you in the glade nearby.” Raven Mother motioned for us to follow her. “Derisa bade me find the fastest I could, and the ones best suited for mountain terrain. I brought in Nebulveori mountain horses, from the dwarves. These are swift steeds who can navigate rocky climes.”
She motioned to the side where a team of horses stood. Tan in color, with blond manes, they looked sturdy and used to hard work. Given the dwarves love for metals, it was easy enough to figure they were used to carry ore out of the mines up in the Nebulveori range. The dwarven mountains were as rough as the Tygerian Mountains, if not worse.
“The horses should do well for us. If they can handle working for the dwarves, they can handle carrying us into the hills.” I wandered over to where the animals were standing and gently patted one on the head. He whinnied, tossing his mane as he nudged me with his muzzle. His nostrils flared and he snorted warm air in my face. “Easy boy, you’re a nice horse, aren’t you?”
Delilah stroked the side of the horse. “I wish we didn’t have to rely on Raven Mother.”
I felt the same way, but glanced over to where she was talking with Smoky. “I know, but the truth is, she can help us. And as much as I don’t want Bran along, there’s nothing we can do about him either. We have to bring him. Aeval said so. Given that he gave me more help than I expected when we went after Myrddin, I’m not going to cause trouble.”