“Kinky, princess. I’m sure I can find some ways to incorporate fruits and chocolates.”
A breathy sound leaves me, and I run my hand over the back of my neck. “No, I want a delicious meal. One that I can actually savor without worrying about my next meeting or training.”
He gives a curt nod. “Don’t look up or down, and keep your eyes on the next step you need to make.”
“Oh, is it that easy?”
“You can do it, Raelle,” he says, stepping away.
With one more tug of the rope, I place the sole of my boot on the wood.Don’t look up, don’t look down, I remind myself and hoist my other foot on the wall.
My climb is slow with my gaze focusing on the next plank of wood above my boots. The air around me changes the higher I get. It becomes thinner and quieter. It’s like I’m walking into the clouds and all I have for company is the pounding of my heart. I don’t like it.
“I’m surprised she made it that high,” whispers a disembodied voice.
My gaze rips away from my feet and darts to the ground. I loom above everyone, and the hard dirt awaits my fall. My arms tremble, and my grip slips. The rope burns through my hands, and my body tenses, but my reflexes kick in. I clench the rough fibers, grunting against the pain, and direct my attention to the wall again.
A nagging voice inside of me says to give up, but I push past it, placing one hand over the other and taking small steps up. Hand over hand, foot over foot, I scale the wall. When the top ledge comes into view, I grasp it with trembling hands and pull up. With the grace of a wobbling duck, I lay on my stomach with one leg and arm hanging from either side. Every muscle in my body coils. My thighs squeeze the wood between them, and my fingers clench on for dear life. The sky sits right before me, a vast canvas of blue with big, puffy clouds. I take a moment to watch them float by and calm my nerves.
“You’ve gone down just as many times as up,” I say to myself and ease over the back side of the wall.
The decline is much of the same, small steps and the rope rubbing my palms raw as I make my way to the ground. I’m so overjoyed when I plant my feet on solid dirt that I think about falling to my knees and kissing it but stop at the sight of the rest of the obstacle course.
I never gave much thought to what happens after the first terrifying hurdle. The wall captured my attention, blocked me for seeing everything that went into completing the task. Now that I’ve overcome it, I’m excited to concur the entire course.
I run to the muddy pond and hop my way across the scattered blocks peeking above the surface. Five elevated logs stand in a row, and I jump over them to the bars that hang above another small body of water. Swinging my arms, I grip one metal rod and then the next and clear the obstacle. I reach a small round tunnel no higher than my knees and lower to my stomach. Using my arms and legs, I scoot through the dark tube. I can’t help but laugh as I crawl out into the sun and stand.
One roadblock hindered me from completing what is a simple challenge. I don’t falter as I balance across a log, don’t slow as I run up the side of a mountain of dirt, don’t lose my grip on the cable strung between two trees to cross another mud pit. It’s not until I reach a rope ladder that I find pause. It’s another height to climb. It’s the last hurdle, the one thathouses the bell that I must ring to prove I’ve finished.
And at the top sits Kyron.
“You’re almost done,” he says, resting his elbow on his crossed leg and smiling down at me.
I’m amazed at how the upturn of his perfect lips makes me feel more breathless than running through all these obstacles? Maybe all I ever needed was to know he would be waiting for me at the end. I could have overcome that wall a long time ago to get to him.
I spin around looking for everyone else, but the field is empty.
“They just wanted to see you get over the wall. They felt it wasn’t as entertaining watching master the rest of the course like you were made to conquer it. It’s only you and me.”
“And a wobbly ladder,” I say, shaking the ropes.
He stretches his hand out to me. “Come sit with me, Raelle.”
With my focus on his outstretched hand, I clinch the ladder and slowly make my way up to him. The shake of the contraption is horrific, but it’s a bit easier leaving the ground this time. Perhaps it’s the incentive waiting for me at the top that keeps me moving.
Kyron grabs my hand as soon as he can reach it and pulls me up the rest of the way. My legs tremble as I stand on the narrow ledge, and I hurry to grip the railing, moving toward my final task.
I glance back at him, and he nods.
With vigor, I shake the string hanging from the bell. As the tinny sound echoes through Basecamp, I yell, “Let it be known, a very tall and pretty scary wall did not defeat this future queen, assholes.”
Kyron’s warm laughter joins the bell along with mine. He takes my hand and carefully lowers me next to him. “Very classy, Your Grace.”
I clench his fingers, reveling in my victory while working to keep my phobia at bay. It’s much easier to look down at the world when I have someone by my side that I trust. And that thought is almost as astonishing as me scaling the wall. I trust Kyron. It’s not only that we fight for a common cause, or a bond created by the Statera. I know the man sitting beside me. I’ve seen his compassion and sacrifice. He is a loyal friend and a fighter. He wants our kingdoms to be one and our people to be equal. It’s a massive task, but one he doesn’t shy away from. He is brave on an epic level. All of those traits make it simple for me to completely, fully, absolutely trust him.
“Are you worried about the rescue mission?” Kyron asks, pulling meout of my head and focusing on him.
“No. I just wish we could have found a way into Allaji sooner. The thought of what is happening to our friends and soldiers keeps me up at night.”
