Chapter 19

17th Century

Europe

The gigantic cliff wavered above the mountain forest like a horrible zit, throwing its broad-shouldered shadow over the hedges. Its flanks were divided by isolated footpaths, slithering all the way to the snow-shrouded ridges. Dark caverns bore deep into the cliff’s heart, passageways disguised by long-lost magic. Death and chaos prowled in the silhouettes of Route and Cave, waiting for those who didn’t know the acceptable phrases or for those who didn’t recite quickly enough.

Andrew landed by the edge; he stopped for a moment to let his passenger catch her breath. Diana was heaving in a great bellyful of air, a hand pressed to her chest as if to assure herself that her heart still beat. From a few feet away, a young boy clung grimly onto the mule’s back, widened his eyes, face pale, mouth wide open, not so fearless as he’d been at the base of the mountain as he saw them appear from nowhere.

“What the fuck happened, Andrew? Diana growled. She toi