Horrendous.
Because it isn’t just mere feet. The closer we got, the taller it grew. The temple practically kisses the stars. I would need to climb up to the heavens to get the Imperium. Not to mention the bones. Thousands of bones lay at our feet, protruding from the snow like some kind of shallow mass grave trapped in eternal winter. Smashed skulls and broken arms, all bones from people.
“This place is clearly not the enigma that we thought,” I say, my voice trembling with fear.
“You’ve come too far to let a clump of rocks steal a victory from you,” Greer says, slapping her palm against my back.
I glare at her from the corner of my eyes. Easy for her to say. She doesn’t have a crippling fear of plunging to her death and becoming just another splattered mess on the ground. This is the type of shit she would do for fun. I’m sure all these people felt just like her until they lost their grip and fell to their deaths.
Ashavee slides in at my other side in her human form. The extra cloak I brought for her is wrapped around her body, and her feet are bare. She pushes her wild black hair from her face and looks up. “That’s all that stands between you and ending a bloody war.”
“It holds the opportunity to create true equality for our people,” Greer adds.
“Reach the top and your kingdom will hold the power it once had.”
“It’s the finish line to a long, happy life with Kyron.”
After my attention darts between them, I look down at the bones. I’m sure that all these people had good reasons to find the Imperium. Was it worth it? Were the things they so desperately wanted worth risking their lives for? I let the questions stew in my brain for a moment and apply them to myself. Are the changes I can make with the Imperium worth dying for? Can they motivate me to swallow down my trepidation and face my greatest nightmare come to life?
Yes.
“If I don’t make it, please make my death sound more heroic than it really was. I don’t want my tombstone to read:Here lies Raelle. May her splattered remains rest in peace,” I say.
Greer shakes her head, and something akin to admiration creeps across her face. “This isn’t your end, Elle. And even if itwas, thisisheroic. Our people are lucky to have you as their queen.”
I breathe past the tight knot in my chest and give Greer’s arm a squeeze, hoping that the confidence she has transfers to me. Flashing Ashavee a pathetic excuse for a smile, I clench her fingers for good measure. These women possess the type of fierce determination I need. If just an ounce of their strength rubs off on me, I can conquer anything.
My hands shake as I remove my cloak and drape it over Nortus’ saddle. I run my palm along the soft hair on his neck and whisper, “Wish me luck.”
He bristles in a way that makes me feel like he believes in me.
I pull the rogue hairs away from my face and secure them in my leather tie. After tucking my tunic into my breeches, I double-check that my sword is in place at my hip. My boots and jacket get a once over, and I remove my gloves. With nothing left to use as a stall tactic, I lift my chin and face the pillars of rock.
The bones crunch under my feet, a subtle warning that doom awaits. I ignore the sinking feeling in my gut and grip the rock. My first few steps up the stone are easy. I find good hand and foot holds that give me the leverage I need. My focus doesn’t stray from the porous red rock with the occasional bush sprouting from the cracks. I contain my thoughts into a small box that doesn’t expand any further than my reach. Not even the jagged edges of the stone digging into my palms take my thoughts away from my next step. Each of my movements is purposeful and cautious.
A firm grip.
Climb.
A solid foothold.
Climb.
The wind picks up, ripping my hair free of its tie. The strands whip around my face, tickling my nose. I dig my nails into thespire and squeeze my eyes shut, fighting the urge to brush my hair back. Twitching my lips, I grasp a stone above my head and hoist myself onto a narrow ledge. My arms wrap around a boulder, and I hug it. Air fills my lungs and leaves just as quickly. I didn’t realize that I was short of breath until I had a second to catch it.
The burn in my muscles has me gritting my teeth. All the things my father taught me about surviving in the wilderness and never did he touch base on mountain climbing. I suppose he never imagined it’s what I’d have to do to save our kingdom. I rest my cheek on the cold stone and brush my itching nose against my shoulder. Not once do I look any further than where I stand. I don’t care about how much I’ve climbed or what remains of my journey to the temple. The only things that matter are that I’ve made it this far and I’ve not reached the end.
When my heart slows and I feel somewhat normal, I stand on my tiptoes and stretch my fingers for a knot of rock. My boots slip from under me. Stone clacks against stone. The sharp edges cut across my chest, slicing through my tunic as I slide down. My fear leaves me in a scream, and I scramble to find purchase again. Shouts sound below, begging me to hang on. I grip a sparse bush with one hand. Its thorns bite into my fingers, but I don’t dare let go. My body sways like a flag in the wind as I dangle from one arm. Tears blur my vision, but it does nothing to skew the sight far beneath me.
Greer and Ashavee are nothing but small blotches below, tiny insects whose cries are muffled by the wind.
I should turn around and concede to the rocky pillar. I wasn’t made for this kind of activity. Perhaps those who attempted this climb before me felt the same way. Maybe it was easier to let go. I don’t have that choice. This isn’t a selfish excursion. Even if I don’t find favor with the Statera again, I will have still helped my people.
I fight back a sob and struggle to get my feet under me. My free hand searches for a better grip as the other grows slick with blood. Despite the pain, I squeeze the branch and pivot, swinging my body. It takes several attempts before my fingertips cling to something substantial. With quaking arms and legs, I begin my climb again.
The thoughts of how high I am scurry into the dark recesses of my mind. I fill the newly empty space with all the reasons Greer and Ashavee gave me to climb to the heavens. I picture Mama and Papa sharing evening meals with me and my siblings at our family home. Rowan, Salone, Ansley, and I sit at Papa’s feet as he tells us stories of faraway kingdoms and adventures unlike anything found in this world. Mama smiles as she works on her needlepoint, shaking her head when we react to a particularly unbelievable moment in his wild tale. My mind flashes to Leif and I laying in the wheat fields at night. We stare up at the twinkling stars, exchanging the kind of secrets that best friends take to their graves. We become doe-eyed as we talk about the people we love and all the experiences we dream of having. I see my people free and striving toward a society where everyone is equally valued. Yet, it’s the last daydream that has my arms and legs moving a little faster.
Kyron.
