Atheline glanced toward the sky.
"The fairies expect us back before dinner."
Lilith understood immediately.
"We agreed only to look."
He smiled.
"And unlike certain explorers, I'd prefer not to break our promise on the first full day."
She laughed softly.
"How responsible of you."
He shrugged.
"I'm trying to set a good example."
Still... Neither moved. Something about the cave held their attention. A sort of morbid curiosity. Then it happened: a whisper, so faint that it might have been mistaken for the wind.
Atheline looked toward Lilith.
"...Did you hear that?"
She slowly nodded.
"I did."
"What did it say?"
He hesitated.
"It..." His expression became thoughtful. "...called my name."
Lilith's eyes narrowed.
"It called mine as well."
Silence followed. Neither asked what voice the other had heard. The fairies had warned them that everyone heard something different. The cave did not speak with one voice; it spoke personally.
