She frowned. It was barely a map.
“You’re not from around here. That much is clear.” Kaelith tried to push himself up, one arm bracing against the tree, but his body didn’t cooperate. Muscles gave out beneath him, and he slid back down, panting.
Rynna’s gaze lifted. There was nothing but trees in every direction, except for the serpent’s path behind them, already half reclaimed by undergrowth.
“I told you.” The man wheezed.
“Shut up.” She turned to the nearest tree, sized it in a glance, and launched upward.
Her fingers found the smallest holds, while her feet wedged where bark cracked or branches split, strength unfurling through her muscles and bones as she climbed.
At a mid-level branch, she paused to look down.
Kaelith looked on, something between surprise and calculation sharpening his features. His hand pressed into his ribs again, but he didn’t look away.
Ha.Her mouth crooked at one corner. Then she pushed higher.
Through the canopy, jungle stretched in dense waves between high peaks dusted in snow. There was no smoke. No roads. No sign of habitation at all.
“Damn it,” Rynna muttered. She still needed him.
Scaling back down the tree, her boots hit the ground in a low thump.
“Back so soon?” His head wobbled on his neck, words slurred.
“Which direction?” Rynna looked down at him.
His eyes blinked, unfocused. Open. Closed. Open.
Shit. He’s going to pass out again.
“Tell me.” Torture wasn’t usually her method of extracting information, but for him…
“Swear you’ll get me to the village.” His throat bobbed. “Alive. In one piece.”
“What village?” She dropped into a crouch, closer now, watching as he struggled with every inhale.
“The Flames.” His eyes found hers. “On the map.” He exhaled. “They’ll have healers there. The snake bitch must’ve laced her bite with venom. I’m not recovering as I should.”
Rynna watched him for a beat, weighing the words. A village, hidden deep in thick mountainous jungle. Maybe his target all along?
She folded the crumpled scrap of vellum between her fingers, sliding it into her pocket without looking at it again. Useless.
“What makes you think I’ll take you, once you tell me how to get there?” Her brow scrunched. “You lose your leverage.”
“You’re a hero, remember?” His eyes barely peeked open, no more than a sliver. “You’ll do the right thing.”
“I’m not—” She pinched the bridge of hernose.
But his lids stretched wider with effort, just enough for her to catch the violet flicker beneath.
“Even if you’re not a hero,” he rasped, “and just another monster like me…you’ll honor your word. I can tell.” He swallowed. “Promise me you’ll get me there alive. And I’ll tell you which way to go.”
Her muscles locked. It felt like the whole damn world had funneled down to this—his words, her answer, and no way to step past it.
“Fine.” The word punched from her throat. “I promise.”
He didn’t answer.
