“I didn’t quite get that. Can you tell us who you are? Can you show yourself?”

For a moment he was certain he saw the darkness behind Alec thicken, but nothing came of it except another ragged sigh.

“Seregil? I think maybe we should go.”

Together they splashed back across the cave, and Seregil had a very distinct feeling of being watched.

It was no easy task to get up the steep tunnel again, but they made it and found Micum waiting for them.

“Your voices echoed,” he told them. “I only heard bits and pieces, but it sounded like you found something interesting.”

“Someone,” Seregil replied, wet, shivering, and unsettled.

“A ghost?”

“Yes.”

“I think it was a man’s voice, don’t you?” asked Alec.

“I think so.”

“It wasn’t just that, though,” Alec told Micum. “The inner cave is incredible! There are ancient drawings and dripstone formations, and a skull on a post.”

“I wish I had your build. I’d like to see that,” the big man replied. “Whatever workmen were looting down there must have been built like you two.”

“It could be that larger adults aren’t supposed to go there,” said Seregil. “Given the size of this stool, maybe Klia was right. Maybe the oracles here really were children.”

“How is Klia?” asked Alec.

“I was waiting for you,” said Micum. “Let’s go see.”

They found Klia sitting under a tree at the edge of the clearing with a very concerned Thero hovering over her. The sun was sinking behind the hills, and the shadows lay long across the little courtyard around the altar. Klia’s escort stood at a distance, looking uncomfortable. Zella stood near the entrance to the cave, hands clasped under her chin and her expression a study in concern and guilt.

Alec brushed by her and went to Klia. “How are you feeling?”

“Something must have disagreed with my digestion,” Klia replied, looking pale and chagrined. “I can’t recall the last time I threw up.”

“Perhaps it was the chamber,” said Zella. “It’s known to affect some people strangely.”

“Because of the vapors?” asked Seregil.

“That, and some claim to hear voices. Some faint for no reason.”

“And you allowed the princess to go in there without warning?” Thero cried. “What were you thinking, woman?”

Zella fell to her knees, hands still clasped. “I am so sorry, Highness! Such occurrences are rare—”

“It’s all right.” Rising, Klia went to Zella and offered her hand. “I’m fine.” She cast a glance at a cluster of bushes a few yards away that were spattered with vomit. “Someone should clean this up. This grove is sacred.”

“I’ll see to it as soon as we reach the encampment,” Zella assured her.

“What did you two find, Seregil?” asked Klia.

Seregil described the cave, and the noises they’d heard there.

“I wonder if it was the voice of whoever belonged to that skull?” said Thero.