Kilkenny moves his outstretched palm closer to me. When I still don’t move, he takes it upon himself to confiscate my dagger and replace it with his. The tiniest shiver thrums through me as his fingers brush against my thigh.
It’s just a chill from the wind.
Even if the trees aren’t moving…
My head throbs and I wince, rubbing at a painful spot on my forehead. Concern replaces the undecipherable expression on Kilkenny’s face. “Don’t worry,” I tell him. “It’s just?—”
“A lot?” He gestures to our surroundings and I nod. “Come,” he says, nodding his head toward the grassy path as he tucks Chiyoko’s dagger away somewhere in his leather vest.
I have half a mind to refuse, to ask him where he’s been all day. But instead, I follow along wordlessly. The overwhelming thudding of the drums gradually diminishes, and the small seed of anxiety in my chest dissolves the farther we get from the bonfire.
We take a path through a small copse of trees to a winding grassy trail. We’re moving uphill… steeply… My shoulders tense, matching the tightness in my stomach, but I continue walking. Narrow trees line the ascending route, the leaves not as full as they should be by now. Through the sparse leaves, the edge of the mountain is visible, uncomfortably close. We could fall to our deaths if dizziness ambushes me.
My heart seizes and I stop abruptly.
Kilkenny regards me, signing now that we’re alone. “What is it?”
“I’m afraid of heights, remember?”
He presses his lips together for a moment and holds his hand out to me. “I won’t let you fall, Garrick. I promise.” I don’t take his hand, so he closes his fist gently and opens it again, urging me.
I sigh and reluctantly slip my hand into his, ignoring the little flip of my stomach. We continue our trek up the mountain, and as the trees make way, we’re left with wide open land overlooking the valley below. My head reels and I shut my eyes. Kilkenny gives my hand a squeeze and nudges me with his shoulder. I open my eyes and take a deep breath.
“The likelihood of falling is low,” says Kilkenny. “I spent a lot of my childhood here. It has the best view in the village. Look.” He nods up toward the sky where bright stars twinkle between ribbons of midnight blue and deep purple. Below are beautiful mountain ranges surrounding a large river. At least if we fall, we’ll fall in water, right? Too bad I can’t swim.
Kilkenny releases my hand. “See, you’re braver than you think. Don’t let your fears break you.”
Don’t break. I step back. “You knew…”
“Knew what?”
“Back in Paramount. The horseback-riding lessons, self-defense, meditation… At the Feast, you told me not to break. And then the rebel attack happened, and my imprisonment… you knew.”
There’s the slightest indication of guilt on his face. “I knew that Alys had been arrested; I wasn’t sure what would happen next.” I try to stop frowning at him, but it must fail because he quickly adds, “I wouldn’t lie to you.”
I sigh. “Tell me about my powers then. The whole truth.”
He pulls in a breath to speak, but his head flicks to the left and then back to me, alarm on his face. “Something’s happening down there. People are screaming.”
My stomach lurches.
“Stay close.” He takes my hand again and we bolt.
Rushing down the mountain proves to be way harder than the climb. I nearly twist my ankle too many times, but soon we’re back on even ground. An acrid scent tickles my nose as people run by. Panic is all around us, and in the distance, red-orange flames flare and billow, throwing thick, black smoke into the air. Those aren’t just torches; houses are burning.
Fear climbs up my throat.
“Forayers,” Kilkenny says. “Get back to the house. The horses are already saddled. You just need to grab our packs from the sitting room.”
I nod frantically, and just as I’m about to run off, Kilkenny catches my arm. “If none of us show up and the Forayers are getting closer, use your intuition andrun. Don’t stop until you put as much distance as possible between yourself and here.”
I shake my head. “I’m not leaving without everyone.”
He pauses, then sighs heavily. “Alright, go.”
I run as fast as I can, my lungs screaming at me. I nearly get lost on the way to the house, but when I get there, Chiyoko and Osheen are exiting, our packs in their arms.
“The horses are waiting in the back,” Osheen says.
