“At least the water’s drinkable,” Naari tried when she realized she’d only added to Kiva’s distress. “You won’t get thirsty if you have to swim for hours.”

“You think you’re helping, but you’re not,” Kiva said flatly.

Naari remained blessedly quiet as Kiva collected the rest of her samples, after which they retraced their steps along the narrow passageway. Both were lost in their own thoughts, with Kiva’s lingering back at the aquifer and worrying about what she’d have to do the next day. Obsessing over it failed to provide her with any answers as they passed the pumping station and headed back to the entrance shaft.

Their intent had been to venture down the larger passageway into the tunnel labyrinth next so that Kiva could collect the last of her samples, but that plan changed when they found Olisha waiting for them at the base of the ladders.

“I didn’t know which way you’d gone, so I thought it best if I stayed here until you returned,” the woman explained, wringing her hands.

Kiva couldn’t think past the panic that sprang to life within her, all thoughts of tomorrow’s Trial fleeing her mind. “Is it Tipp? Is he sick again?”

“Oh! No, dear, it’s not Tipp.”

“Is it his stomach?” Kiva asked, not listening, just reaching for the bottom rungs of the ladder and preparing to bolt up them and back to the infirmary. “Did his fever come back?”

“Kiva, sweets,” Olisha said, stopping her with a hand on her arm. “It’s not Tipp. It’s Tilda.”

A wave of relief flooded Kiva, before it was swept away by one of dread. “Did she have another convulsion? Is she— Has she—”

“She’s fine, she’s fine,” Olisha interrupted in a calming voice.

Confused, Kiva released the ladder and looked to Naari, who appeared equally perplexed. Turning back to Olisha, Kiva asked, “Then why are you here?”

“Because she’s awake. Tilda’s awake.”

Even more confused, Kiva said, “She wakes up a few times every day.” She paused, then added, “See if you can feed her some broth before she goes back to sleep. We need to keep up her fluids.”

“No, dear, you don’t understand,” Olisha said impatiently. She held Kiva’s eyes as she explained, “Tilda’s awake—and she’s lucid.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Kiva struggled to control her breathing as she, Naari, and Olisha climbed up the ladder shaft, having determined to come back later for the remaining tunnel samples.