Klyde dropped his head against a branch for a moment. “Climb over, mate,” he said. “Leave the horses.”
“You know we can’t. It’s too dangerous for the injured, and we have obligations in Skelling Rise. The men were only meant to escort you this far.”
“Can we remove the barricade?” Dyna asked her.
Lucenna checked her Essence. She had drained perhaps half of her power, but her hands still crackled with electricity. She might…
“Not in time before the trolls regather,” Rawn said somberly. “The mercenaries could be cornered if they stay.”
Zev growled and looked up at the ridge again. His ears twitched with sounds they couldn’t hear. More beasts were coming.
Lucenna led Onyx to the wall. “Klyde,” she called softly. “We can’t stay here.”
Klyde gripped the branches tightly, releasing a harsh sound of frustration. His gaze stayed on his friend. “This Horde, Eagon … it’s as big as the one that tore through Azurite all those years ago.”
“Aye, I think we grew overconfident. We should have known they were too quiet for a reason,” Eagon said. “Thanks to the girls, their numbers have reduced drastically. We can still fight our way out of the marshes. Go, and don’t return until you have finished what you left to do. I will take it from here.”
Klyde’s expression tightened. “Don’t get yourself killed, Lieutenant. I expect you to make it home to my sister.”
There was a pause before he replied, “Aye, you have my word.”
But as firm as his voice was, Lucenna heard the false confidence in it, because he couldn’t promise his life wouldn’t end out there.
Klyde nodded once in acknowledgement, understanding that, too.
“Go with your God.” Eagon’s boots thumped on the sleek logs as he climbed back down.
Klyde watched him go a moment longer. “May he receive me,” he murmured, his voice faint enough that she thought he also said, “And you…”
The sounds of clashing metal and screeches filled the gorge. The rumble above was getting closer.
“They will be upon us soon, Captain,” Rawn called. “We must keep moving.”
He reluctantly climbed down and mounted Onyx in a smooth leap. Taking the reins, he kicked his heels, and they rode at a fast pace across the creek bed. The water grew deeper until it reached their knees.
“We need to swim from here,” Klyde said, sliding off.
Lucenna gathered her courage and climbed down as Dyna did. She shivered as they waded through the frigid water for several yards. This wasn’t so bad. They had already ridden half the mile through the gorge. They were almost there.
The ground unexpectedly dipped, and Lucenna yelped as she sank half two feet down. The water reached their knees now.
“We’re crossing the deep end,” Klyde said behind her. “We’re close.”
She nodded and kept moving, trying to stay calm as the water kept rising to her neck. Dyna hung onto Zev, and Rawn swam beside Fair. Lucenna tried to keep up, but she was walking on toes now and losing hold of the creek bed. She searched for Onyx, but the horse had moved too far to her left. Water sloshed up her nose, spiking her panic.
Magic.Use magic, she told herself.
But her heart was racing, and she couldn’t think of a spell to use. Her satchel. Where was her satchel? She forgot she had a boat in there.
Lucenna tried to call out to Rawn but choked on a mouthful of water and coughed violently.
“Oi.” Klyde grabbed her waist, hoisting her up. She sucked in gulps of air, and her shaking hands gripped his coat. He turned her around, staring at her. “Are you all right?”
Lucenna was shivering so hard, she wasn’t warm enough to blush or even have the energy to be angry that he caught her. “I-I can’t swim,” she admitted between her chattering teeth.
“Why didn’t you say so?” he growled.
Before she could answer, he swung her around, bringing her legs around his waist. She quickly latched onto his neck.
