Lydia sighed as he inquired about fire, but rather show than tell, she snapped her fingers and out of her palm arose a small unwavering flame.<br/><br/>“The fire of my life force, “ she explained. “I use it sparingly and not for convenience.” She stepped up even with him so that the tiny flame illuminated the way in front of them. Not like a bright light that lit up the cavern but just enough to place their feet well ahead of them.<br/><br/>“Walk in the light.” She intoned. “As for do I know this cave, I do not know this cave like a well loved friend, but there is yet another legend that speaks of a passage way that leads from one world to the next. Those who are brave can find that path. I doubt that this cave is the one of legend but often lore has truth hidden inside. So, we step out by faith and with courage, walking together in the light. We will be rewarded if we faint not.”<br/><br/>Shenyo could not know that she was casting a spell but that is what Lydia did best. The Grimoire held spells written by others for countless generations, but her gift was to speak that which was not into being. Words were life and she breathed her immortal magic into them. The air around them became charged with energy, causing the fur on his tail to turn blue.<br/><br/>They carefully picked their way over rocks. Lydia’s toe hit one and it rolled over the edge, crashing and bouncing into oblivion. She held her hand over to the right and found that there was no edge but a sheer drop off. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply.<br/><br/>“Have a care,” she warned Shenyo.<br/><br/>After they had struggled with the rough pathway, Lydia noted that the way began to lead upward. Her basket dug into her arm and her long skirts kept tripping her, but still she held her arm aloft. Her shoulder ached and there was no feeling left in her hand but she felt what she thought was a breath of fresh air.<br/><br/>“Did you feel that?” she asked Shenyo. She was so tired that if an ogre had been waiting for them outside, she would not have been alert enough to run. She hoped that her companion had fared better. Their survival might depend on him.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>