The Andreilians all halted in their tracks. “Oh,Helno,” Caleb said, throwing up his hands and shaking his head. He turned on his heel and strode back toward the caravan. “No way I’m going in there!”
Tobias’s eyes followed him, torn between joining Caleb or braving the Ruins.
“Don’t be a coward,” Tyson spat, but fear flashed in his caramel eyes. His head was angled down, strands of his blond hair casting shadows across his face, as if trying to hide his trepidation. “We all survived the Plagued Sea, what’s a little sand to us?” he said, with his hand wrapped firmly around his sword’s hilt.
“You’ll be lucky if it’s the sand that does you in,” Ace snapped, running a soothing hand over his horse’s black mane. “Suffocating beneath it would probably be a mercy compared to what else lies in there.”
“You’re sure the relic is in there?” Sawyer asked, his brows pulled together. He shook sand from his light brown hair before glancing down at Zephyr’s small frame hugging his side.
“Yes,” Dominic growled.
“I’m with Caleb,” Evreux said decisively and turned back to the caravan. “Besides, someone’s got to babysit.”
“I don’t need your protection!” Niran said, stern blue eyes settled on Evreux. “I may look fourteen, but I’m older than you are.”
“Yeah, we can protect ourselves,” Silas replied, standing up straighter, mustering all the confidence he could. But his disheveled auburn hair and the dark circles beneath his green eyes betrayed him. None of them had been sleeping well in the past days of travel. It was cramped in the caravan, and the sand was cold in the frigid nights. They stuck to eating their small rations of cured meat, but it wasn’t enough of a meal to give them the strength to trek across the scorching dunes, even with the horses. Their long clothes protected them from the blistering sun, but the sweat sticking to them made for an uncomfortable journey. The scarves they’d wrapped around their heads and faces could only shield them from the sand blown from the wind so much. Their only salvation had been an oasis, where they refilled their canteens a few miles before they reached their destination.
“Not from this,” Tyson said.
“You’re still in the bodies of young teenagers,” Vesper reasoned. “There’s just some things you’re not strong enough for.”
“I never said any ofyouwere going in,” Dominic said harshly.
Everyone’s shoulders slumped with relief—except for Adara, of course.Shewas going with him.
Dominic handed the reins of his horse to Vesper. “Head back to the oasis,” he ordered. “We will meet you there.”
Asher approached Adara, taking the reins that she’d been clutching tightly from her hands. “And what if you don’t?” he asked, terror and despair making his lips tremble slightly.
Ace’s eyes shot to his brother. “Theywill,” he insisted sharply.
Adara was grateful for his certainty, but she didn’t feel any of its effects.
“Give us two days,” Dominic said. “If it’s any longer, leave us.” A grim shadow fell over everyone’s features, but they all nodded in understanding.
Comforting arms pulled Adara into a tight embrace. In the midst of the apprehension filling her head, she’d forgotten Asher was standing beside her. She hesitated to wrap her arms around him. The movements were jerky and awkward before she leaned into him. They both rank of sweat and dirt but Adara didn’t care. What if this was the last time she saw them?
This was not like the Whisperer, where they were enclosed in a small cave, knowing exactly what they needed and were about to face. This was the Ruins. A volatile land of ghosts and demons that tore your body and mind apart. Adara still didn’t know exactly what ashes they were searching for. Dominic said the ashes were a sacrifice to forge the Realm Fracturer because magic always came with a price. But what were they sacrificing in the Ruins? Their lives and sanity, she supposed.
“Good luck,” Asher said, stepping back to hold her at arm’s length. His blue eyes searched hers like he was trying to memorize every detail of her face, as if it was the last he’d get the chance to.
That only made her heart pound and stomach churn more.
“Don’t you dare die,” Caleb shouted from the caravan, his head peeking out of the flaps. He pointed a finger at Dominic and Adara. “That’s an order,” he said with a forced smile.
Dominic rolled his eyes, and Adara huffed a laugh under her breath.
“Brilliant words of encouragement,” Tobias said.
“Get out of here,” Dominic demanded with a dismissive wave of his hand. “That’san order.”
Caleb gave a salute and ducked back into the caravan. The rest piled into the covered wagon or mounted their horses. They waved solemnly as their horses spurred into a gallop, eager to leave this place.
Dominic turned his eyes to the archway before the Ruins. He’d seemed distant most of the journey here. Perhaps he was as terrified as she was. His gaze settled back onto Adara. “Remember,” he said. “Your eyes will deceive you here. Believe nothing.” That was all Dominic said as he took another step forward—not through the arch, but around.
Adara, too, stepped around the arch, not trusting whoever had crafted it.
The air instantly went cold. Goosebumps formed on her arms despite the long sleeves she wore. The sun disappeared behind the dark clouds above, casting the entire land in gray dimness. The wind blew, sending up clouds of sand that tinted the air, like looking through a dusty window.
