But right now, I don’t have the same faith in myself that he did in me.
We set off again under the cover of night, this time taking a path north of the Wastelands, heading toward Dubh Carrig. With us all so worn out from travel, the major setback with Siad Nahar, and Tiernan being captured, we agree that it would be far too risky to cross over into Mainland right now. That with the Zenith and the Purists at large, we wouldn’t stand a chance.
It still feels unnatural being atop Ghendor by myself, but mercifully, the horse seems to sense my grief and takes on an uncharacteristic gentleness. By sunrise, we stop in an area secluded by trees to rest and eat something. Chiyo converses with Isobel and Sloan, but very obviously avoids even looking at Ava or Osheen.
Ava stands as I bite into a too-acidic bilberry. I track her steps across the small space. She walks not with her usual graceor ease but clearly favoring one leg, and her face is pinched as if she’s the one who ate the berry.
Alys is snoozing against the trunk of a tree, and the others aren’t paying attention. In fact, Chiyo isintentionallynot looking Ava’s way. I pop another terrible bilberry into my mouth and set the rest aside on a cloth before standing slowly. My body feels battered; my head takes longer than usual to adjust, dizziness lingering. But as soon as I can move without a huge risk of collapsing, I hurry to Ava.
“You’re hurt,” I say just before she can disappear behind the thick shrubs.
Surprise sparks in her eyes, but she denies it. “I’m fine. Just going to piss, if you don’t mind.”
With a sigh, I turn away from her, but I don’t leave. There aren’t many trodden paths near us; I suppose many don’t frequent this area. At this point, I wish we’d never left the Verge. None of us would be hurt, and Tiernan would still be here.
My throat is just starting to close when Ava steps out from the bushes again, tightening her sword belt around her waist over her leather vest. Her lips are pinched tight with what I’m certain is pain, but she faces me with her usual bravado.
“Has Alys healed you?” I sign to her.
“I’m fine,” she signs back. She takes one step and winces, glancing sidelong at me.
“Oh, clearly.” I fix her with a look of cynicism.
She waves me off and walks back toward the group again, trying her hardest not to hobble. And I thoughtIhated accepting help from others. She might be stubborn, but I also know that she never turns down a challenge. “Ava!” I call, pulling a dagger from my waist in front of everyone. She turns and I point the dagger toward her.
She rolls her eyes, laughing dryly. “You cannot be serious.”
All eyes fall on us. My own gaze falters, meeting Chiyo’s as she rises with a brow quirked.
“I challenge you,” I say, hoping I sound sure of myself as I tuck my dagger back into the holster and stride toward Ava.
She gets into a fighting stance.Of courseshe does.
My weary muscles quiver as I do the same. Without giving her any time or announcing the start, I throw a punch. Ava moves to dodge and sets her left foot down. I barely weave from her strike and throw another punch her way. But as she ducks, I summon my shadows, a ribbon of darkness wrapping around her right foot and forcing her to set it down to regain her balance. She cries out in pain and goes down, catching herself on her hands. Chiyo rushes toward her, followed by Alys who’s wide awake by now.
I take a knee in front of Ava as she sits on her bum. Both hands cling to her right shin. I move aside to give Alys room as she kneels beside Ava. “Let me see,” she says.
Anger flares in Ava’s eyes. “No,” she says as she releases her shin and scoots back away from her mother. “I’mfine.”
The hurt is clear on Alys’s face, but she doesn’t back off. She doesn’t move forward either, but she says, “Remove your boot.”
“I don’t have to do anything you say.”
I look back and forth between them.
Alys mumbles something—I’m certain it’s not the Common Tongue—and it’s clear that Ava understands it. But she doesn’t relent; she only frowns harder.
“Ava,” Alys says, her face set.
“I don’t want you to touch me, and you have no right to command me. I’m not a child. You already missedthose years.”
Chiyo’s eyes soften for the briefest moment, but then she says, “Lugda’s hells, Ava. We need you in fighting condition, and you can’t do a thing on that foot. Now take the damn boot off!”
Ava meets Chiyo’s gaze, many unspoken words between them. At last, Ava huffs and turns to look at her mother again, nodding her head subtly. Chiyo’s shoulders slump with relief.
Carefully, Ava unlaces her boot, gritting her teeth as she very slowly removes it from her foot.
“Socks too,” Alys says.
