Cas was able to walk on his own for only five minutes. Sol and Jonah took turns holding him while still trying to maintain as much momentum as possible. His wound had stopped bleeding, but for once it seemed the remedy was for it to continue. Sol begged for antidotes, anything that might help them. The only thing Jonah offered was a total blood replacement, which would require care from healers at the Scholar Towers themselves, weeks away.
He didn't have weeks.
But Sol didn’t think about that. They would get to land, and everything would be okay somehow. There was no other option, she wasn’t entertaining the notion of there being another.
Fifteen minutes into their walk, Jonah was spent. They had reached the end of the makeshift path, and although it had been unruly and splotchy, it was better than having to swim while pulling Cas. They stood at the edge of the final stepping-stone. Ten minutes. That’s how far was left. Sol had spent all her summers and free time swimming in Yavenharrow—she would make it.
Swimming.
Water.
Phil seemed to have the same thought at that moment as he glanced down into the water. “This is Aquarene’s Trial,” he said. “Perhaps an offering for her will help?”
“Even if we have no Water Dancers?” Sol tightened her grip onCas’s waist.
Jonah shook his head. “Wielders can pray to any god—but praying to one that hasn’t blessed them won't provide magical benefit.”
“Maybe it will bring us luck.” Phil shrugged and looked at Sol. “I will do it.”
Sol had the instinct to intervene. But Jonah was spent, Cas’s blood was poisoned and hers was, as of now, useless.
Solemnly, she gave the boy a tight nod.
The more Sol observed the offerings, the more she admired them. Even through chattering teeth and a staccato heartbeat, she watched Phil work in wonder. The boy’s expression was fierce with each movement and chant, truly highlighting the warrior he had been trained to be, even at his young age.
With a final, lethal slash of his arms, the ocean parted. The ground beneath them shook, sending them all into a bow before the division. The uneven space that broke through the waves smoothed into compact sand.
Sol swallowed a lump in her throat as the path to their salvation glowed before them.
It was a slight climb down from their place on the stones to the sand, one Jonah immediately jumped into action to descend. He helped his brother down, then Cas. Sol jumped down, looking up at the walls of water on either of their sides. Fast. They had to be fast.
“You both go on ahead,” she ordered. “Call for healers.”
Cas stirred in their arms. “Sol??—”
“Now, boys.” She willed as much power into her voice as she could.
Jonah started the sprint toward the Gods’ Villa, and with a single look back, his brother followed. There were too many things against them all, but Sol couldn’t focus on any of them. She only pulled Cas forward. Without Jonah’s help, the task was more difficult.
“Sol, you have to go,” Cas breathed. “Phil won't be able to bleed an offering for long.”
“I am not leaving you.”
“You are the one meant to survive—not me.” He doubled over in pain, falling to his knees.
“No, get up.” She knelt beside him. “Get up. Sawyer would kill me if I left you.” She tried lacing her panic with humor to lighten the catastrophic situation. Although the effort was obvious, Cas huffed a laugh. “Come on.” She stumbled to her feet as Cas shifted to his own. His steps were labored, and slow, but they were moving again.
Phil and Jonah were a ways ahead, and Sol dared a bloom of hope to take hold.
And then the wall of water collapsed.
As if whatever held the passage open snapped, the ocean rushed into itself all at once, not giving Sol even a second of preparation before being thrown into the icy, violent current.
Cas struggled against her grasp, as if he wanted the waves to wash him away. But Sol didn’t budge. She held him tighter than she had ever held anything, hooking her arm through his belt quickly before they were sent into another merciless tumble.
Please, Sol begged silently to nothing in particular as she slammed against him and stray reefs. Please if anyone is out there, let us live.
As if it had been waiting for that very plea, the ocean stilled ever so slightly. Between the moment of solace, Sol kicked them up to the surface for a breath.
