My chest clenched as the great big mouth of the crater revealed itself once more. It swallowed every sound around it,leaving behind only deathly silence, as it rippled awe and dread through the warriors.
I wanted to run away and draw closer at the same time.
My body swayed forward, screaming to follow as Ryker disappeared into the darkness, a yell caught in the back of my throat.
He’s safe.
He’s safe.
He’s safe.
I didn’t know how long I chanted, but I only stopped when Ryker walked back out again, tall, stoic, and unharmed.
At his curt nod, the warriors roared, lifted their weapons and rushed inside the passage.
“Nowthatis courage,” Dax muttered. Only then did I notice the color had drained from his face, as he kept staring at the entrance as if it would eat him whole.
“Nothing’s going to happen,” I forced myself to say as calmly as I could while I also quaked inside.
Up ahead, Geryll took three long breaths before he passed through it. My chest constricted as his blond hair and shield vanished.
He’s safe.
He’s safe.
And he’d faced his fears with the barest hint of hesitation after being wounded in that darkness.
Come on, Vegheara. You faced the passage before–and you won.
Sylvester flew above in circles as the passage swallowed more and more warriors. As soon as they stepped into the darkness, their roars died.
I swallowed thickly as the line grew smaller under Ryker’s unflinching gaze.
I looked behind. All I could see was snow and ice.
No purple glimmer, no hum, no good omen from Solkar’s Reach.
My mind flashed to Nadya. Mrs. Thornbrew. All the children who’d watched their parents and siblings leave for war, not knowing if they’ll ever meet again.
When only a few feet separated Dax and I from the passage, I turned, closing my eyes, and calling upon the merciless wind. My body burned as tendrils snaked down my arms, reaching all around me.
My power trembled, remembering the last time it had faced the crater’s wilderness and had almost lost.
“As you blow and hiss, protect the city and let us know if something’s amiss,” I chanted.
The tendrils spread out farther, slowly seeping into the air–but the wind latched onto them.
My knees buckled as it tried to pull me away, back toward its center. I gritted my teeth and dug my heels into the snow, calling my powers back.
My eyes popped open, only to find Ryker and Dax staring at me with worry.
“What was that?” Dax asked.
“Same thing as that night on the lake,” I muttered, placing a hand on my chest.
Ryker caught my gaze, a million different fears jumping between us.
“This crater’s greedy, too.” Dax scowled at the wilderness, unaware of the silent tension next to him. “Nothing personal, but I hope I’ll never step foot in you ever again.”
