Water. I need water. I pause to rest against a nearby tree. Where are the others? Maines will never believe the stories I’ll have for her once I return… if I return. A memory flashes in my mind of our childhood, daring each other to explore the forest and see who could venture the furthest. She always beat me, no surprise there. I wish she were here.
I stand on shaky legs, taking in my surroundings. With the darkness on my side, I narrow my eyes and focus, looking through the trees rather than at them.
As I hone in, I swear I can make out a faint shape about a half mile away. Its movement suggests it’s a competitor, but then again, I’ve been wrong before. It’s limping. No sounds break the silence, so I take a moment to holster both weapons on my back. Sticking to the shadows, I move with grace, stalking toward what I hope is a competitor. Considering my options, it must be Rohhit, Silas, or Oak. None of them would kill me—I hope.
The trees open into a clearing, and as I move toward the figure, I’m exposed. With nothing to keep me hidden, Isprint across the open space—too nervous to walk—my magic completely drained by the lingering effects of the drugs. I peer around a tree, seeing that the figure isn’t limping anymore—it’s on the ground. Unmoving.
I pick up my speed, moving through the tall grass. As it comes into view, I see Rohhit lying unconscious on the forest floor, bleeding. I kneel beside him, scanning his body. A pool of blood spreads out from a deep cut near his ankle—his Achilles tendon was severed.
“Rohhit! Can you hear me?” I shake his body, but he doesn’t respond.
I’ve got to get him somewhere hidden. We’ll both die if we stay here with no protection.
Refusing to drop my weapons, I realize I’ll either need to carry or drag him. I lean down to pick him up, but his body is heavier than I anticipate. He’s a large man—heads taller than I am, his shoulders twice as broad. This isn’t going to work.
“Sorry, Rohhit,” I say, grabbing both his arms. “Hold on.” I take a deep breath, pushing off with all my strength, and begin dragging him toward the mouth of the Cita Mountains.
Only tales of courageous travelers who dared to journey this far into the forest had ever been shared. My arms tingle with anxiety as I bear his weight, hoping to avoid dragging us to our doom. Exhaustion hits me hard, and Rohhit stirs in my grasp.
“Can you hear me?” I lean down, grasping his face in my hands. His eyes flutter open, only to close seconds later. “Rohhit, if you can hear me, I need your help. I can’t carry you alone. Do you have any strength to move?”
A slow nod moves his head.
“Okay! On the count of three, I need you to push with your other leg toward the opening right there.” I point. “Can you do that?” Another slight movement gives me hope. “Alright then. One…two…three!” I grit my teeth, pushing with all my strengthto the mouth of a cave, only a few steps ahead. A sob leaves his throat as blood leaks from his leg with every movement. “Stop! I can do the rest.”
His body goes limp again, his head falling to the side.
With a mountainous roof over our heads, I gently lay him against the side of the cave. The large stone walls offer some shelter and the tiny drips of water echo from the cave’s depths.
“That’s a good sign,” I murmur to his unconscious form.
Animal bones line the far cave walls—a bad sign—but I don’t tell Rohhit. The dark mountain hums with our presence, its constant echo vibrating from the hollow cave behind us. “I’m going to look around just outside the cave, okay? I need to find a few things to heal you.”
He doesn’t respond, but I feel better leaving him with some shelter. Plus, I’m not going far.
I step out of the cave’s mouth, surveying our surroundings. I know the castle lies northwest, but traveling miles with Rohhit isn’t an option right now. The moon peeks from behind the clouds, granting a small shine of light. The black trees sway in the breeze, making the hair on the back of my neck stand.
It’s just trees.
I move forward, quickly and carefully, trying to avoid any noise. A few natural supplies will help me attempt a healing ritual on his leg: water for cleaning, a crystal, and mud to pack the wound. Infection can wait. Blood is the strongest tool for performing rituals, but it’s dangerous. Too much power flows through those who use blood, yet desperate times call for desperate measures. My mother showed me many times over the years how to do basic rituals, and right now, I wish I had listened more.
I glance over my shoulder. The cave is still in view, but I feel safe enough to travel a little further into the forest. Rushing water reaches my ears as I approach a small creek. Making amakeshift bucket out of a few branches and leaves, I fill it with water to clean the wound. Satisfied, I spin to head back to the cave when a cold gust of wind hits me.
I crouch, my eyes straining to see through the trees. Someone is creeping toward the mouth of the cave, toward the unconscious prince. Abandoning the water, I sprint through the trees, closing the distance.
I reach behind my head, drawing an axe and placing my other hand on the throat of the second one, ready to throw if needed. Peering around the rocky wall, I see a figure kneeling next to Rohhit. The figure’s back becomes familiar as I approach. I’ve seen this head many times, and I slowly enter the cave, both axes drawn now.
“Back the fuck away from him, Oak,” I snap.
He jerks his body as my eyes catch the massive sword on his back, a dark, charged crystal embedded in the hilt.
“Briar! Holy Gods. You scared me to death.” He flinches.
Inching closer, I don’t release my grip on the axes. “I said move back. Now.” Anger swirls around me. The breeze whips my hair to the side as my darkness becomes overly protective of the fallen prince.
“Okay, okay!” Oak raises his hands in surrender. “I was just checking to see if he was alive. This doesn't look good! Shit, you look bad too, Briar!”
Remembering the cuts and blood on me, I bet I’m a horrific sight, emerging from the darkness of the forest with two gold axes clutched in my bleeding hands. Oak, however, is untouched. Suspicion runs through me.
