Half of us won’t even be able to attempt the crossing? Fuck. It’s a race against time.
Everyone is looking at one another, working it out. The knot in my stomach turns into pure dread.
We’re going to have to kill one another. That’s what’s going to happen. I can already see it in Zara’s and Odetta’s eyes. They are going to kill whoever they have to if it means they get a boat.
Kyor leans in towards me. ‘We’re fine,’ he says confidently. ‘No one is getting near us. There’s no one faster down this cliffside than you and me, and we both know it.’
He’s right, but my fate isn’t my only concern. I glance at Jonas. I have no fucking idea what he’s going to do.
‘You can’t waste time thinking about them,’ Kyor says. ‘Everyone knows what they signed up for. You worry about yourself, that’s it. Okay?’
I nod. ‘And you.’
‘I look forward to seeing you on the Eastern Isles,’ Mila concludes her little speech, and a moment later, a flash explodes in the sky.
The fourth trial has officially begun.
I don’t need Kyor to tell me what to do. I race to the edge of the cliff and start to scramble down.
‘I know I said I trust your judgement,’ Kyor calls, ‘but you see it’s pretty steep here, right?’
‘I know you’ve climbed worse,’ I call back. ‘And it’s going to stop the others from doing the same.’
‘Not disagreeing. Just a little bit in awe,’ he says, flashing me a grin. ‘My girl fucking owns it.’
‘Damn right I do.’ I’ve come so far, and in this trial especially, I’m not the weakest. I’m one of the strongest.
It’s amazing how at ease I feel in this part of the trial. Not just at ease, but genuinely excited. I almost forgot my love of climbing. The rush and the thrill of finding the best path and pushing my body to follow it through.
In just a matter of minutes, I’m going to be by the water. But that’s where my advantage ends. There might be boats, but something tells me this isn’t going to be as straightforward as gently rowing across to the Eastern Isles into a warm welcome. There’s something in the water. I’d stake my life on it. And unfortunately, I’m going to have to do exactly that.
‘How are you doing?’ Kyor calls again. He’s almost level with me now, giving me a chance to see the way his arm muscles flex and tighten as he stretches for each of the handholds. I can’t help but remember that first night I saw him and the way his eyes fixed in my mind even then.
‘You all right?’ he asks, concern etched in his features.
‘Sorry.’ I shake the moment away. ‘Got a little distracted.’
He offers me a knowing smirk. ‘Really?’
‘It’s not my fault you look so good in life and death situations,’ I tell him, only for him to chuckle.
‘Come on. Some of the others are closing in. We need to get to the boats first.’
He hits the ground while I’m still ten feet up.
‘Would you be insulted if I offered to catch you?’ he calls up.
‘You really think that me landing on you – me straddling you – is the best use of our time right now?’
‘I wouldn’t argue with it.’
‘For fuck’s sake,’ Benny yells down from above. ‘You do realise thingsecho off a cliff and get louder, right? I think I preferred it when you two were pretending to hate each other.’
‘I definitely preferred it,’ Jonas mutters.
I land a moment later, my feet firm on the ground. Benny is not far behind, but Jonas still has a long way to go.
‘Make sure you hold that boat for him, Benny!’ I call.
