Daisy woke up in a burrow. She did not remember falling asleep, nor did she remember traveling. Everything past their initial flight from Luxan was clear in her mind. She remembered being jostled over Fen’s shoulder as he waded through the pond she and Torv had so often rowed on together. Sweat beaded up and rolled down the Wran’s domed head as he struggled from the exertion of carrying her.

-I can run for myself, she said. I know this area very well. Better than you I should imagine.

-Can you hold your breath?

-Pardon?

-Daisy Heartfand, time is not on our side. Can you hold your breath?

-Yes.

-Do so now.

Without further warning, Fen plunged into the depths of the pond, Daisy holding tight around his neck. Down down down they went, until the water was the color of pitch, and the feel of reeds skimming against her face was the only thing letting Daisy know she was alive and of the world and not floating in a void. Torv had always supposed the pond was very deep, but Daisy saw no reason to think so.

-It’s only an old reservoir for the field, she said to him. Why should it be very deep? I’d think it’s no deeper than any other.

-It’s certainly old and a reservoir, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be deep. My dad said he and Millweed would see who could swim the deepest and they never got close to touching the bottom.

It was always difficult for Daisy when Torv mentioned his parents. They had died when they were so young and had lived on his own from such a young age that he seemed invincible, tough, and self-reliant. But he was still a boy, only her own age and while she only had one parent, she was far from being able to imagine being entirely alone.

-Well Millweed is a dreadful old liar. I suppose he’s told you about his prize-winning pumpkin.

-Of course. My dad helped him paint that boulder.

-He’s never allowed to enter anymore. Old Millie will never let him.

-That may be so, but I know the pond is deep. Just watch!

Torv leaped from their rowboat, skillfully not overturning it in the process, and disappeared into the depths. For a moment, Daisy could follow his form as it went deeper and deeper into the blue water, but eventually he disappeared entirely, not even the white bottoms of his feet visible. The ripples from his dive expanded outwards and lapped against the sides of the pond and still he wasn’t back. Every moment was an eternity and Daisy thought for sure he must have drowned. A thought spiral took hold of her as she imagined having to tell all of Luxan she had simply sat in the boat and let him drown. At the peak of her anxiety, he burst from the water, soaking her dress through to her undergarments. She immediately forgot her anxiety and went straight to anger.

-You’ve soaked my dress, Torv!

-Couldn’t get to the bottom! I was right. It’s deep.

-What a tremendous success. Just wonderful.

-I agree, Torv said, not a hint of irony in his voice as he climbed, dripping into the boat. Are you hungry?

Down and down they went and Daisy’s lungs were starting to burn. She didn’t know how much longer she could hold on. Drowning at the bottom of the pond was not how she wanted to go, but clasped tight to Fen’s neck, there was little choice but to trust him. When she thought her lungs could take no more, and she was going to burst into flame from within, a tiny pinprick of light came from the depths. It became larger as Fen swam, his powerful limbs moving both of them through the unrelenting pressure of deep water. Only when it first began to come into focus did Daisy start to pass out. It was the type of window one found at the top of doors to stand on tiptoes and see who had knocked.

It was at this window that Daisy stared as she woke up and took in her surroundings. She was underground, and the dark window she had taken to mean it was nighttime was holding back the entire weight of the pond Torv had been unable to conquer with his dive. She was lying on a comfortable chaise with a rough-spun blanket hung over her. A gas lamp sat at low ebb on a side table near her head. Nearly every inch of wall was covered with bookshelves which were spilling over with books, scrolls, loose quills, extra ink pots, and various other bookish ephemera. There was another door opposite the pond door and it was open. In the doorway was Fen, smiling at her. His singular black eye twinkled in the low light of the gas lamp.

-So you’re awake at last.

-Where am I?

-Daisy Heartfand, Fen said. Welcome to your first Wran Burrow, my young friend.