I had the same problem on the Sol River when the pirates attacked. I couldn’t move someone as big as Royo. But at least I could cut the lifeboat, get it beneath him, and let him fall into it as I froze and unfroze time. I can’t do that in the armory. There’s no lifeboat here.
I look around and spot a dessert cart. That’ll work. I run over to it.
Once I’m within a foot of the cart, I reach into my dress and grab the amulet. With the Sands of Time in my palm, everything instantly stops. The sands of the golden bell glass freeze mid-fall. Sora looks ready to faint, but she stops breathing. People are mid-stride, mid-scream, but everyone is suddenly still. There’s not a movement or a sound. The quiet is the oddest part. Well, the whole thing is weird, since it’s god magic. But the quiet of etherum always throws me off.
I push the desserts off the cart and then shove Sora onto it. It’s not dignified, but I have to move fast. With every second I hold time, I lose about a day, then a sunsae, then a month. The longer I hold, the quicker I lose my life. And the toll has only gotten worse. The cost seems to be increasing, the fatigue and aging hitting harder and faster with every use.
Once I have Sora on the cart, I wheel her out of the armory to the waiting carriages. As soon as I can, I unfreeze time.
Fatigue hits me like a tidal wave. I only held time for about twenty seconds, but it feels like I haven’t slept well in six months. I wince and bear it, forcing myself to remain upright as time tries to drag me down.
Sora blinks, looking around. She, of course, has no idea what just happened. Royo didn’t, either, when he fell into the boat, but he also hit his head. With Sora, it’s different. One second she was in the armory, and now she is outside in the rain that started falling heavily once I let go of the amulet. She stands up and shakes her head.
“What just happened?” she asks.
“No time to explain. Get in,” I say. Even my voice sounds weary.
The confused valet races to open the carriage door for us. I don’t know whose carriage this is, and it doesn’t matter.
“Bring the lady to the Gray Shore Inn. She is in distress.” I hold my head high as I settle onto the seat and issue the command like I’m nobility. Like of course this coachman will take me anywhere I demand.
But it works. Looking and acting upper class takes you far. Even in this land of supposed equals.
The carriage begins to roll away. I breathe a sigh of relief and lean against the plush blue velvet. The fatigue in my bones makes it difficult to breathe.
“I don’t understand—how did we go from inside the armory to outside?” Sora asks.
It’s night, but with the huge monsoon moon, I can see her clearly. She looks thoroughly confused when her head tilts and her eyebrows knit.
“You don’t remember?” I ask. I always have to act as surprised as anyone. “Hmm, I guess you don’t. You fainted, and I rolled you out on the dessert cart. Sorry it wasn’t more dignified, but I couldn’t carry you.”
It’s as good an excuse as any.
“Oh,” she says, smoothing her dress.
She allows herself to accept my answer because no one ever thinks it’s etherum. Magic is never anyone’s go-to explanation.
“Thank you, Aeri. I really…” Her voice wobbles. “I really appreciate it.”
Sora stares blankly out the window and twists her hands in her lap. I know that distressed, shocked look. I’ve seen it in the mirror.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I venture.
“Not just yet,” she says.
Then she starts to cry.
Chapter Sixteen
Royo
The Northern Pass, Khitan
It’s real fucking awkward riding on a three-man sled with two lovers who aren’t talking to each other. I thought they were okay when I fell asleep, but I guess they had another fight. I dunno, I passed out.
I didn’t think I’d sleep when I laid down, but the next thing I knew, they were waking me. It’s still dark out, but it’s Euyn’s turn to rest. He got me up and went in the back. They haven’t said a word since.
Mikail sits next to me as I drive the sled. It’s not hard to steer, since the animals are tied together with a leather harness. But it is hard to see the road with all this snow.
