Seventeen
Icross my arms, squint against the sun, and look up at the massive wooden wall adorned with thick twine ropes. “Explain this to me again,” I say.
Wel shifts his muscular form and glides a dark tan hand over the short black hairs on his head. “Stories have spread about how you didn’t finish your basic training because you’re scared of the wall. Every soldier here has run the obstacle course at least twice, including the Stigians.”
With a sneer, I turn to face my most trusted officers and sweep my hand in Kyron’s direction. “I may not have climbed the wall, but I kicked the mighty Stigian prince’s ass in the sparring ring. Doesn’t that count for something?”
“I wouldn’t say you kicked my ass. You strung me up in vines and made a few sexual innuendos,” he says, one side of his mouth curving up.
I scoff. “I won the match, and you made the sexual innuendos.”
Kyron lifts a brow and raises his voice a couple of octaves. “If you win, you can have me on the table, the floor, the?—”
“Okay, I got it.” I cover my face with my hand and wait for my cheeks to cool before continuing. “Does nobody have any compassion for my injuries? I was sliced open by a huge hawk just a couple of days ago.”
“Three weeks ago,” Greer says with a pointed look. “And the medics tell me that the healer’s ointment worked wonders. You’re good as new.”
It hardly feels like it has been almost a month. Every day has run together into one massive blur since I returned to Basecamp. Strategy meetings to find Ulric, Zek, and the others taken, training for the impending war, and refereeing petty arguments between Lucent soldiers and Stigian warriors take up almost every waking moment. Those times I do have to myself, I’m never alone. I’ve filled every free second with stolen moments with my parah, rebuilding the friendship and trust we once had. We are taking small steps that are occasionally interrupted with the desire to indulge in carnal needs. And while all that was going on, it appears those stationed at Basecamp were gossiping about my shortcomings.
I tilt my head to the sun and sigh. “I don’t understand what the big deal is?”
Terro props his shoulder on the structure in question and gives it two quick taps. “The soldiers named it Queen Wrecker.”
I throw my hands in the air and turn to the wall. “Really? Queen Wrecker? For Statera’s sake. We leave for Allaji in two days to rescue our soldiers and everyone is concerned about my inability to climb a damn wall.”
“It’s a requirement to finish training, and you didn’t complete it,” Wel explains with a shrug.
“You’ve got to overcome the fear. It’s time to conquer the wall, Elle,” Greer says.
There’s little that frightens me when it comes to my safety. I will train until I bleed, ride into battle, and even defy a king. But heights… I hate heights.
Leif steps beside me and stares up at the one thing in this entire camp that makes me break out into a nervous sweat. “Don’t you believe a bird shifter took your guard?”
My jaw drops open like it’s unhinged, and I crinkle my nose. “Are you saying that you think an overgrown bird has Zek stored away in its nest high in a tree?”
He spares me a side glance and fights back a smile. “Maybe.”
The thought of Zek, Ulric, and the others tucked away in nests and dens is a pleasant way to look at their circumstance. After extensive searches around Basecamp came up empty, Kyron feels certain that the Allaji are holding them captive. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than death.
Kyron grabs a rope and holds it out to me. “It’s the principle of it, princess. You’re here because you won’t ask our people to fight forsomething you won’t fight for yourself. It’s time to lead by example and overcome the wall.”
“I hate to say it, but the man makes a good point, Elle,” Leif says.
“Shit,” I hiss and pull off my jacket.
Everyone may get a good laugh out of my phobia, but this is terrifying. I don’t like the sensation of looking down, especially when there is nothing to stop me from falling. The days I spent trying to conquer the wall were long, hard, and brought me to the verge of tears. I wanted to climb over it—I still do—but losing control and the terror of falling stunted me.
But I can’t let my fear rule me anymore. If this is what my soldiers need to feel like I’m capable of leading them, then I’ll do it. And once I do, I never want to hear about the wall again.
I take the rope from Kyron, wiggling and pulling it to ensure it won’t come loose right before I reach the top.
He slides his hands into his pockets and pride takes up residence on his face. “You got this.”
“Let’s hope so. It would be a shame to plunge to my death from a wall called Queen Wrecker.”
Kyron steps closer and drops his voice so only I hear him. “Finish the course and I promise the reward will be worth it.”
“Will it involve food?”
