“Hungry?” I ask.
“Starving.”
I feel bad about that, but there’s absolutely nothing I can do except keep moving to get out of here. Before long, I’m a sweaty mess. My bad leg is killing me, and the muscles in my arms feel like they’re going to give out. That doesn’t count for the rash thatI’m sure is developing on my stomach from scraping it raw and all my other scratches and aches and pains, but I remind myself that each new scratch is one inch closer to freedom. And then finally, when I don’t think I can go any further, I hear Rauk’s voice. “We’re almost free, Harper.” Those words spur me on, and I keep pushing.
Chapter 47
What Rauk didn’t tell me was that we were simply free of the underbrush that we had to crawl through to get out, but we weren’t free yet. We still have to make it through more underbrush and up the hill, but at least we could stand now. Of course, that was easier said than done. I took one step on my leg, forgetting for a moment, and I cursed myself for forgetting. Rauk catches me before I can fall and holds on to my elbow. “How about you hop on my back?”
I give him a look of disbelief. “So, you can climb this hill with double the weight? Yeah, that’s not going to work.”
“You got a better idea?”
I try to put weight on my leg again, but it won’t hold. Even if I could endure the pain, it simply won’t hold me. “I don’t think—” My words are cut off by a screeching sound that turns my blood cold. One minute I’m standing there, the next, Rauk barrels into me, taking me to the ground. I feel the blast of fire, and I hear another screeching sound. I try to lift my head, but Ican’t because Rauk has me pinned down with the weight of his body. There’s another sound, but it’s cut off.
Harper?Redara asks in a panic.
I’m okay. I’m safe.I try to catch my breath; it all happened so fast.Where did that guivre come from?
I don’t know, but it’s dead now. Noxlyn took care of it.
I try to lift my head, but I still can’t. “Rauk, can you let me out now.”
“Give me...a sec.” His words are spoken through clenched teeth, and I realize just how stiff his body is. Horror races through me, and my entire body tightens.
“Rauk, hey. Look at me. Are you okay?”
Redara?
His back,she sends back.It’s really bad.
Panic courses through me. “Rauk.”
“I’m okay,” he grunts out. “Just give me a minute.”
“You’re not okay. Let me up, so I can see what we’re dealing with.” The fact that he doesn’t argue with me gives me an idea that this is really bad. He finally moves slightly, and I start to push out from under his body. His shoulder sort of falls forward, when I’m no longer under him, and I get the first look at his back. I suck in a breath. His shirt is gone, and his back is dark red and even almost blackened in some spots. “Rauk, tell me what to do,” I breathe.
“It will...be...fine.”
“It’s not fine!” I snap at him. Noxlyn huffs smoke into the air, making it smell like sulfur. “I know,” I snap at him too. I rack my brain, trying to figure out what to do. I suddenly rememberSryena, the woman helped Kinsley when she was burned by guivre fire. I glance down at Rauk. He’s face down, and I swear he’s barely breathing. “Rauk, I’m going to get help.”
“Not on a broken leg,” he counters in a rough voice.
“Watch me,” I retort. “I’ll be back as soon as I can with something that will help with the pain.”
“Harper...don’t.”
I push myself to a standing position, being careful to only stand on my good leg.Red, can you get me back? I have to find their healer.
Yes.
How close can you get?
I tried already to get down to you, but I can’t. There’s nowhere for me to land.
Okay. I’ll come to you.
I turn to look at Rauk, but his eyes are closed. “Rauk?” I ask tentatively. I’m not sure whether I should be relieved or worried that he’s passed out. I am glad that he doesn’t have to be awake for the pain right now. I face away from him. I don’t look up at the hill in front of me. I don’t want to know how far I have to go still. I take my dagger in my hand and start up the hill. I hop when I can and crawl when I have to, cutting down underbrush that’s in my way as I go. It’s slow and tedious, but I know I'm making progress. When I finally get to the top, sweat drips into my eyes. I settle on my one good knee for a moment and take a breath. Redara lands as close to me as she can. I grab the side of her leg to help stand up. I eye her back, knowing somehow I have to get up there. She drops down and bends as low as shecan go.Thanks,I send her. Then without another thought, I force myself to climb up her back. I ignore the pain screaming at me and remind myself that Rauk has it way worse. Somehow, I get on Redara’s back and manage to pull myself forwards with my arms until I’m settled behind on back. I lean my head against her powerful neck. Before we take off, I look over at Noxlyn. “Please keep him safe.” Those obsidian eyes blink, and he snorts out smoke. “Right. Okay.” I direct my attention to Redara.Ready?
