I swallowed thickly and blinked against the fatigue. The incantation had heated up my body so much, I’d unbuttoned my coat, face red and slick with sweat. My tunic clung to my skin, restricting my already sluggish movements.
I clutched my bow tight, arrow ready. Death itself couldn’t pry it out of my hands.
But I knew my haggard breaths weren’t doing me any favors with looking the part of the resilient leader all these young warriors expected.
Ryker wouldn’t have been wheezing, hair clinging to his forehead.
He would have stood tall. Controlled. Sure of his decisions.
Ryker isn’t here.
I clenched my jaw.
No.
Ihad brought these warriors to the rim of the crater, through a wild midnight dash through the woods. All on my own.
Dax kept watching me from the corner of his eyes, worried.
Vylkor did the same, but with a smugness I would have loved to have the energy to wipe off his face.
At least he didn’t barge ahead, breaking rank, just to show me how wrong I’d been.
“No ropes dangling from the rim,” Vylkor whispered with quiet triumph, even as his hewn gaze traveled around us.
Whether to point out more flaws in my decision or to actually assess the area, I didn’t care at this point, as long as the job got done.
I’d take the hit to my pride in stride if it meant the crater was safe and I’d dreamt the whole thing up.
“Be wary of the caves. Trolls live in this area,” Vylkor muttered, moving his fingers in an intricate pattern to warn the warriors on the edges.
I gripped my bow tighter.
The last thing we needed was being seen by the trolls, armed and ready for battle, right near their home.
I let out a stuttered breath.
“You can talk freely,” I said. “I cast a spell to silence us from prying ears.”
Vylkor’s pompousness melted into quiet panic, as he looked down at his body as if I’d thrown leeches onto him.
“When?” he asked.
It was a good thing I was too tired to expend energy rolling my eyes. “A few miles before we stopped.”
I hadn’t know who we’d face or when. I’d taken every precaution I could, even though they’d sapped me.
He gulped and looked at the sky, a quick prayer on his lips.
Was he–was he afraid of my spell?
He breathed through whatever ancient fright made him look at me like I was some evil forest sprite.
“It’s the same power I used in the passage to save us,” I muttered, already moving ahead of him. “And the same one which brought us here quicker. You thought the wolves just magically moved faster?”
I expected more snide remarks. Another muttered prayer or two.
“I–” Something broke in Vylkor’s voice. Something which dripped of disillusionment. “I thought the crater came to our aid.”
