Chapter 416

The company gathered in front of the opening to the lava tube. The entrance was larger than Leesa had expected, half again as tall as a person and wide enough for two or three people to walk side by side. Enough light filtered in from outside for them to see a short distance into the tunnel’s depths. The dark gray, hardened lava walls appeared both smooth and rough at the same time. There were plenty of irregularities in the surface—ripples, knobs, indentations and such—but all of them looked relatively smooth, without sharp or jagged edges of any kind.

The tube sloped downward into the mountain at a slight angle. Walking along the uneven surface would require some care, but it didn’t seem as if it would be overly hazardous. Leesa didn’t think she could say the same about the things that might await them farther down inside the passage.

“Rave sees best in the dark,” Kai said, “so he and I will lead the way. I think we can