Ryson could see the opening above them fast growing smaller -- but not because it was shrinking. They were falling, and he held tight to Kono's arm even though he didn't think he could save her. The shock of the sudden fall kept him from panicking just long enough for Callum to save them.
"There!" Callum shouted. With a sickening jolt, they moved as much to the right as downward. "Sit down and grab hold of the stone!"
Ryson asked nothing before his right knee found the promised stone. He grabbed at the wall -- but it wasn't where he expected it to be. Ryson was still falling. He hit his elbow -- ledge!
Ryson's body moved faster than he could gather his thoughts. He held tighter to Kono and swung her around and upward. She hit with a yip of pain, but grabbed hold of something.
"Sorry," Ryson gasped and tried to make his hand hold tighter, although it felt as if his entire arm and hand had gone numb. "Careful. I don't think I could catch you again."
"Let go. I am safe. I think we are on some stairs."
"Stairs," Callum confirmed. He seemed to be somewhere close below them. "Sit down, Ryson. It will be easier to do magic to protect us if we are close together."
Ryson thought that made sense, but he still couldn't make himself let go of Kono. She finally grabbed hold of his arm and tried to pull him upward. He panicked, realizing that she had let go of any handhold. He threw himself against the wall and found the stairs. Kono finally let go when he sat with his back against her legs. For a moment, Ryson still couldn't breathe. Then a soft, calm blue light filled the small area where they sat crowded together on three stairs. He could only see the distant spots above and below them, but they were still.
"And now what?" Kono asked as if they had a clue.
"Climb up the stairs or walk down them." Callum waved his hand, and a little spread of blue light showed a dozen steps in each direction. "We know we left a battle behind us, but I suspect it will long be over before we can get back. I have no idea what is below us, except for considerable magic."
"Downward," Kono said, but made no attempt to move. "Let's not make the walk worse."
Callum didn't argue, and Ryson was ready to do whatever they said.
"Downward," Callum finally said aloud. Ryson echoed him. Kono stood, frightening Ryson into a surge to his feet. Callum and Kono both grabbed him, which did not help. Ryson feared he would pull them all down.
"Calm!" Callum ordered. Ryson froze, but Kono still pulled him upward and into her embrace. It had been a long time since she had held him. Callum came close behind and put a hand on Ryson's shoulder. It had been a long time since the three of them had stood so close. He thought that might have been his fault. Despite all his best intentions, he had let the berserkers change him after all.
"Down," Ryson said, his voice shaky. "Please, let's go down now."
Maybe his two companions finally realized the precariousness of their position. Callum carefully turned, a hand going to Ryson's arm to help steady him. Ryson took Kono's hand, and her fingers curled around his with surprising force.
"This was not the best time for me to have an existential crisis," he admitted, and felt better for having said those words. "My apologies."
"We were all part of it," Kono replied. "And it was better to face that trouble now rather than later."
Ryson knew she was right, but hated the inevitable show of weakness that had been hanging over him like a cloud since he walked away from Lord Bear. Ran away, to be honest with himself.
"Where are we?" he finally dared to ask.
"As far as I can tell, this is the well between worlds," Callum replied. He didn't slow. "It is an ancient passage that links two realms and was created by the fae so long ago that the magic has mostly faded."
"So you know where we are going," Kono replied and sounded more assured, though her fingers still held tight to Ryson.
"It is not that easy," Callum answered.
"It never is," Ryson mumbled.
"The well forms its own links between realms and goes where it wants to go. It is interesting, though, that it opened beneath our feet."
"Is it interested in what we are doing?" Kono asked.
"I suspect so. And given that they have some control over the well --"
"Fae," Ryson said, and without even a hint of surprise. "Of course, there will be fae."
Someone laughed not far away.
