“Emerald!” I yelled for her as she looked up at me being tugged along and smiled, then focused back on climbing up.
I didn’t take my eyes off her as they pulled me up. I felt a hand grab at my arms and shirt, hauling me over the top. As soon as I landed, I took the looped rope and shimmied out, throwing it over the edge before the guys even had a chance too. All three of us peered over, calling out to her to grab it.
I was desperate to get her up here and safe. After all that she’d just done for me, I hope she knew that she just unlocked another door of obsession for her I didn’t know was even possible. I didn’t even want to think about the fact that she jumped, facing a very possible death, just to save me. Even I thought that was ludicrous.
We all readied ourselves for when she tugged on the rope. Ajax grabbed the rope on the edge, Rykon settled in after him and I took up the back, knowing that I wasn’t much help with how worn out my arms felt, but I had to do something. I had to try.
We pulled her up fast, Ajax pulling like his life depending on it. As soon as I saw the first sign of dark green, I crumbled to the floor. All the effort I was using to stay standing left me to sprawl out on the floor in relief. I looked up at the bright clear blue sky as I started to laugh hysterically.
We made it. We all fucking made it. And I owed an assassin a life debt.
Chapter 18
AllI’veeverheardgirls, in passing of course, talk about all my life, was how amazing it was to have a guy dote on you, to care so deeply for you to want to take care of you. That was not my experience.
Ajax and Rykon helped me up. Tearing off the looped rope and dropping my bag onto the ground, arms immediately wrapped around me. With how big they were, I knew it was Ajax who was hugging me in a death grip, whispering to the gods his thanks for me being alive. Then came the scolding and angry voices.
Just as soon as I got settled he pulled me away, started shaking me as he yelled, “What the fuck did you think you were doing?!” His rough treatment made me wince and after that it was all poking and prodding until I lifted the arm that still had the rope wrapped around it.
The rope had dug in, broken through my skin and was so tight around my arm that it took both Ajax and Rykon to peel it off slowly as I breathed through the pain of it tearing off my skin.
Ajax was getting more and more mad by the second. Cursing me, telling me how crazy stupid that was, how I shouldn’t have risked my life like that. I could tell with the fear in his eyes that this beratement stemmed from that, but after a couple minutes of it I had enough, growling back at him to prove a point. He just frowned and pointed to my arm like that was all the explanation he needed.
I looked around for my calm, cool headed thinking thief for backup, but as soon as our eyes met I knew the thinker Rykon was gone and in his place was the rage monster they all used to warn me about.
Rykon was vibrating with fury. Murder was in his eyes as he seethed out, “For once, I agree with this idiot! That,” he pointed to my arm, “was reckless and dangerous.” He took a second to close his eyes, trying to calm himself down, but as soon as he opened them and saw me, his anger came flooding back. He snatched his bag off the ground and dug through it. Once he found a first aid kit, he came back over to me and set to cleaning the rope wound, still shaking. He was so upset.
“Let me get this straight,” I puffed out. “You wanted me to let Zayden die? Let him fall to his death in front of us?” When they didn’t combat what I said, I felt my heart grow cold as my voice dropped an octave lower. “That was not an option.”
They both looked at each other again, guilt in their eyes, yet they still said nothing as Ajax held me still while Rykon cleaned my wounds.
I heard Zayden on the ground, laughing his head off. I’m sure the adrenaline of the entire event was running through his veins and his body was finally giving up on him. I didn’t have that same problem.
I felt the adrenaline, but it wasn’t like it ever left me. That was how it always was for me. That’s how I knew I could climb the mountain twice.
My father and I discovered early in my training that the harder I pushed, the more my body could take. It was like as soon as I pushed myself to my limits, something else took over and kept me going, almost like I had an endless amount of stamina and strength.
This part of me was deep down inside, only ever coming out in my time of need. It craved pushing boundaries of any kind. Whether or not it was bloody it didn't care, it just wanted to keep going. It was like a dark voice inside of me, telling me to keep going in whatever I did, good or bad.
“Zayden?” I called out over Rykon’s broody face. His head rolled to the side to look at me.
“Yes, my Gem, my flying savior?” I rolled my eyes at that. Great. Even Zayden was going to make too much trouble out of this.
“How are you doing?”
Ha laughed again. “Oh, you know, I’ll live.” He laughed again and I couldn’t help but smile. Rykon hit a sore spot, and I grimaced.
Zayden noticed and his gaze went from jovial to concerned as he rushed to get up, stumbling his way over to me on his knees. He looked at the rope wound on my arm and paled. “Oh, gem,” his voice laced in sorrow as his hand hovered. His face warring with itself of wanting to help but also not wanting to cause me pain.
“I agree with them.” He looked down at the ground, shoulders slumped like he did something wrong.
“Ropes fray when it’s along jagged rocks with all the weight we put on it. It was bound to happen.” I tried to make it seem like it was no big deal, not wanting him to feel like it was his fault, because it wasn’t. He opened his mouth to say more, but I was done with this conversation. Done with them acting like fucking idiots.
“No! You are all under my charge, which means I am responsible for you! I refuse to let any of you die on my watch when I can prevent it.” My lips set in a firm line. This subject was not up for debate. All three of them paused what they were doing to look at me, surprised by the conviction in my voice, but I wasn’t. I just hoped they didn’t catch on to the love declaration it was. Hoping they thought it was me being stubborn or moral or only seeing them as assets in the situation.
I felt the weight of their stares and it started to make me squirm, so I pushed Ajax and Rykon out of the way and stood up, tired of being babied and ready to make the next plan. Rykon complained about needing to dress the wound, while Ajax just made grunting noises of disapproval, but it all fell on deaf ears as I looked over to the other side of the mountain and down into the badlands.
It was breathtaking to be this high and so close to the clouds you could touch them. Seeing the vast amount of sandy desert land partnered with the dark and stormy sky was daunting. I could make out small groupings of huts, sandy hills and a large windy river that curved around in an unexpected pattern. It was a stark difference to Onisea and its lush green forests with lots of creeks and hidden caves. Nothing about this place seemed hidden.
