The cratered, grainy road was steep, yet I never stopped for too long. Only to have a few quick bites and to moisten my chapped lips with small sips of water. With certainty, I knew that if I hadn’t trained for hours every morning for the past weeks, I wouldn’t have been able to make it all the way up to the peak.
The view from this vantage point was astonishing. The sun was setting right in front of me, the sky decorated with fiery hues of purple, orange, and pink. It complemented the stretch of dry, amber terrain, scattered with silhouettes of towering forks of cacti that stood like sentinels. To my left was the shadow of the Wellspring Bridge, seen from afar. To my right, I could make out a faint skyline, outlining the jagged desert houses—a small village on the outskirts of Kalnar. A quiet ache settled in me asmy once-planned destination seemed to watch me go. I headed downhill towards the oasis. Towards my entrance to Ilma.
I would reach it by tomorrow. But first, I needed to rest. A sheltered crevice in a mesa would do, for as long as I was concealed.
I covered myself with the smallest blanket and used my bag as a pillow. I squeezed my eyes shut, begging my thoughts to drift elsewhere, to think of anything but him. But how could I think of anything else when I could still feel the touch of his supple hand exploring my body and the taste of his thick tongue filling my mouth?
I didn’t sleep much. Many times I drifted off only to jerk up, dagger clenched in my hand.
CHAPTER 41
Icouldn’t decide whether to continue straight ahead, walk downhill on the open, rocky land, or take the concealed path, a deep descending fissure along the towering mesa. The crevice ran through the heart of it. Both carried risks.
I was grateful to have chosen the latter path, because as soon as I peeked my head at the very end of the crevice, the main water outlet—my entrance—came into view. What I was not grateful for was the Naari soldier, clothed in jet-black and lava red, guarding the entryway—or rather, reading a book close to it. I could only see one guard, but very close to him was an oversized bell, which I was sure would attract plenty of attention if it were rung. I couldn’t get caught.
I was also not grateful for the fact that the entrance was barred with a towering gate. The iron bars didn’t reach its full height, however; they all ended with a pointy spike. I swallowed, taking a careful step back.
I didn’t expect the desolate oasis to be guarded, and I couldn’t help but imagine what might have awaited me had I chosen to cross the bridge instead. I unfolded the map and traced the mouth of the crevice, realising that Ramel was no longer beneath my feet. I was officially standing on the Land of Ilma.
And so it began.
I crouched, then crawled closer, taking cover behind two rocks. Then I went prone, peering through a small butconvenient gap. I waited there—watched the soldier attentively as if I was a lurking tiger waiting for the opportune moment to hunt down its prey. Except I was no predator, and he was no prey. I was merely a mouse, waiting for the sneakiest moment, hoping that nature would call on my obstacle and bid me enough time. Enough time to spare me from having to shoot him. Because if it came down to it, I would do it.I will not let him sound that bell.
I was patient. More patient than the sun itself, as I watched it retire beyond the horizon. I didn’t mind the world dimming, though. Darkness would be my friend today.
Leave!my thoughts commanded. And as if I had possessed the soldier’s mind, he sat his book down, stood up, and grabbed what looked like a piece of cloth. Then he hurried away, disappeared behind the colossal prickly trees.Good soldier.
I leapt into a sprint, touching the grainy ground momentarily with the balls of my feet, my steps near silent. My hands clenched the bars.
Shit! They were so tightly spaced, only one arm made it through. I looked up at the bars and grimaced—they were twice my height.
My hands trailed the thick chain that looped around the gates’ central bars, slack in its loop but fastened with a heavy padlock. I turned—looked around, searching for a key I knew I wouldn’t find. I knew the soldier carried it, just like Mounir had always carried his. My hands clenched the gates once more. In desperation, I forcefully pushed the central bars and almost stumbled as the gates inched forward. I immediately stopped myself, all force dissipating from my arms. I pulled against it even, eager to silence the chain. Then I pushed, slowly, until finding resistance. That slight inward movement created an unaligned gap at the gates’ centre. It wasn’t much, but I hopedthat all those nights I went to bed on an aching stomach would serve me for this very moment.
The bow and my stubborn bag went in first. I hastily removed my items from the dress pockets and secured them in my bag. I quickly moved, pushing and squeezing myself between the bars. My face turned taut. I was midway through, half-stuck, when I heard footsteps approaching.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
I pushed harder, tucking in my stomach and shifting my hips. I restricted grunts to silent exhales with difficulty. My blood pulsed.
Push, gods damn it!
I finally made it through, almost stumbling, almost breathing. I frantically hoisted my bow and bag.
Fuck! He was so close now, shadows moved. But I couldn’t leave the gates like that. I carefully readjusted them. A mistake perhaps. My jaw tightened as despite my efforts, the damned chain squeaked.
“Who’s there?” the guard asked, voice deep. His footsteps hurried, bringing with him the sun. Fire Wielder.
Light from his flame fell through the bars and I glimpsed an entry to my left. I leapt into its shadows and crouched, one hand resting against the wall, the other clamped over my mouth. I held my breath.
Hold, I repeated, over and over in my head. My heart pounded so hard, I was afraid he could hear it.
The soldier neared the gate, allowing me to see what was beyond, the depths of the tunnels.
“Fucking rats,” he murmured, taking away my sight. That’s when I deflated, letting out a long, silent exhale.
Again, I found myself waiting. I didn’t move until I heard him snore.
I extended my arms and blindly took small steps until I felt the opposite wall against my palms. Then I walked towards its corner, the wall itself being my only guide. I kept moving, taking one blind step after another until my fingers found the corner. From memory alone, I walked into the endless tunnel.
