I looked at him over my shoulder, only to see a man who was losing some light in his gaze right in front of me.
“It did help me in the passage.” I shrugged out of instinct to reassure, but even that small movement winded me. “Not today.”
Maybe it never would again.
Vylkor remained still, like all the trees around us, blending into the forest which had formed him through all his long years.
I walked forward, leaving him to his revelation. Goosebumps erupted up my arm the closer we got to the bottom of the wall.
I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that it was too quiet. Too serene. Even through the flimsy sound tampering incantation I managed to muster, something felt off.
The further we advanced into the wall’s shadow, the unsettling feeling nipped harder at my senses.
Even Vylkor moved more slowly, his Solkar’s Reach senses finally overtaking his pride and fear.
I wasn’t insane.
Somethingwasoff.
But what?
I kept scanning the area, listening for any disturbance, any hint–
My parched throat seized as I looked up at the tree tops.
“What is it?” Vylkor’s voice whipped through the spell encasing and protecting our voices.
My gaze slashed to his. “Why aren’t the birds singing?”
His eye widened as it jumped around us. “Perhaps the crater’s shadow–”
He didn’t finish the thought.
Not even he believed it anymore.
It would have been useless anyway.
Because from the shadows of the trees ahead of us, hundreds of soldiers rose, armed and ready to slash our throats.
Chapter 43
Ryker
“Say that again.” Zandyr’s voice thundered through the valley, fighting with the river currents roaring right next to us.
I nodded at the bridge, unflinching. “Destroy the crossing.”
“The lack of sleep must be making me hallucinate." Zandyr’s nostrils flared. “Because it sounds like you’re suggesting we tear down the last passage over the Obsidian River.”
Every other crossing had been compromised, to avoid a Serpent surprise. Guarding one entry point was infinitely easier than warriors protecting every bridge on one of the largest, widest, and most dangerous rivers on the continent.
The gods had placed the Obsidian well, making it a natural barrier between us and the plains the Serpents were invading from.
The plains which should have become our battlefield.
But this war had already broken the normal rules.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I said. “We don’t have time to tear it down. It needs to be blown up.”
