Amund nodded. “That is not so far. I sense it. I can portal us there.”
Garrin looked up, exasperated. “We jumped and climbed from that narrow section to make it across. It was a risk, and our strength was not depleted as it is now.”
“There is no other way, my prince,” Zirel said.
Garrin cradled Lex’s head and didn’t speak for a long moment. “I take all the risk,” he finally said. “She is the priority. If something should happen to me, get her to the king.”
Zirel bowed his head.
“Very well,” Amund said.
Amund raised his hands. It took longer than normal for the air to waver and the portal to form, but when it did, Amund turned to them, his skin gray from the energy loss. “Hurry. I cannot hold it.”
Garrin stood with Lex in his arms, entered the portal, and collapsed to his knees on the other side, his strength more depleted than he’d thought.
Zirel and Amund tumbled through the portal after him, collapsing just as Garrin had.
Garrin took a moment to catch his breath, his arms shaking. Lex had lost so much weight that she was light in his arms. But with his strength drained, he was weaker than he cared to admit.
Fighting exhaustion, Garrin climbed to his feet.
Zirel rose next, but Amund didn’t move.
The healer leaned over Amund, then looked up. “He lives. Barely.” Zirel had lost the ability to heal weeks ago and could not help their companion.
He pointed to the edge of the ravine farther down. “This section. The vee shape shortens the distance. But if we jump…”
They could die. Lex could die. But if they did nothing, they were sure to perish. “You go first,” Garrin said. “I will bring Lex. Should I falter, you grab her.”
Garrin was asking his men to put Lex ahead of their prince. But Lex was no mere Fae. He didn’t know her magic, didn’t know how she might help his kingdom, but he felt in his soul that she was special. And if he survived, he would prove it.
“Amund will follow after me and Lex.” Garrin doubted Amund could do much after creating the portal, but he had to believe Amund could make the leap.
He had to believe they all could.
9
Garrin created an ice ledge with what little power he had left and shortened the distance across the ravine. He hadn’t enough energy to make a bridge. Not that he’d attempt it. Too many bridges had failed under eerie circumstances at the Great Ravine.
Which meant that so could his ledge.
He ran a heavy hand down his face and looked at Lex at his feet, huddled in his coat he’d covered her with.
“Go,” he said to Zirel. “Make the leap.”
There was no time to second-guess their actions. This was their only option, and even if it worked, Garrin wasn’t sure how he’d get Lex to his kingdom before she…
He wouldn’t think of it. He’d come to care for her, and he refused to imagine anything worse happening.
Zirel took several steps back, then, with a running start, he jumped, using the ice ledge as his leaping-off point.
Garrin held his breath as his friend flew across the ravine no human or Fae eye could see to the bottom of.
The healer hit the ledge of the opposite side and clung to the cliff, half of his body dangling off the edge. After a moment, Zirel slowly pulled himself up and over.
He stood and raised his hand, signaling for Garrin to proceed.
Garrin looked at Amund, who lay on his back.
