Marina gasped.“By the Ethers.”
The bridge appeared solid, though it was cast in ethereal tones of shadow and moonlight and mist.
“Bring me my stuff,” I said without taking my eyes from the bridge.It might vanish as quickly as it had appeared.“But not the books.Only what I’ll need to get the job done.”
“You can’t be thinking to?—?”
“Please.”
In minutes, a single satchel was strapped to my back, the crossbow and bolts beside it.
“What will you do once you get there?”Marina asked.
“I don’t know.But I’m not wasting this chance in case it doesn’t come again.”
Tentatively, I tapped a toe against the bridge’s first board.When it held, I clutched a bar that supported the bridge and a silver-braided railing, and put some weight into my front foot.
From behind me, Marina whimpered.“I don’t like this.”
The shadows crawled up my throat, held on with eerie caresses, as if they meant to strangle me, and would after my very next breath, but would somehow do so lovingly.
I’m doing this for Teo.
This wasn’t about me.I had no need but to avenge him.To set things right.
I could not engage fear—would not.
Knowing I’d see Marina’s fear all over her face, I didn’t look back.“I’ll meet you in the alley across from Slake whenever I finish.Shouldn’t be long.”
“Ohhhh, do be careful.”I knew she’d be wringing her hands.
“I’ll be back with you before you know it.”
I leaned all my weight into my front foot.When it held, I didn’t allow myself to think.
I gripped the railings and sped across the bridge with the kind of speed that came from being a sänglure—and knowing this illusion, this spell, might vanish at any second, launching me into the yawning, hungry chasm below.
I didn’t glance downward—only forward.I didn’t slow when I heard Marina yell.I was too concentrated to absorb it.
I ran faster than I’d ever run before.
Until the edge of Ombrash Island was in sight.
The bridge flickered.
Fuuuuuuuuuck.
It was about to disappear as quickly as it had arrived.
It would return from whencever it came.
“Nooooooooo,” Marina cried, sounding very far away.
Nooooooooo, I thought—and leapt, stretching forward, willing myself to land on solid ground.
Chapter26
All It Takes Is Force
