“Let us wrap it first.” Maeryn stepped up, holding a piece of fabric she had cut from her tunic. “I’ll be quick.”
Ava gripped Casimir’s neck, clenching her jaw as Maeryn tightened the fabric around the wound to stop the blood flow. After ensuring it was properly wrapped, she took the boot from Jareth and slipped it back on.
“Are you alright?” Casimir asked.
“Fine,” she replied, but her voice was rough.
“You’re pale, love.”
“I’ll be okay. Just set me down.”
“You can’t walk like that.”
“Well, you can’t carry me. You won’t be prepared for danger if your hands are occupied.” Casimir opened his mouth to argue but Ava cut him off. “Cas. Put me down. Now.”
With a grumble, he did as she said. The moment she put weight on her right foot, she gasped, the pain too great.
“At least lean on me,” Casimir said.
“If we’re without magic in here, you need to be hands free. You’re one of the strongest fighters. Someone else can help me.”
“Listen to her,” Raine said. “She’s right.”
“Fine,” he mumbled.
“Don’t worry about me, general grump. Focus on getting us out of here.”
“I’ll help you, Your Highness.” A soldier stepped up, putting his arm around her waist.
“Thank you.”
With one last look of concern and a quick kiss to Ava’s temple, Casimir faced the path before them, assessing how to avoid any more spikes. Zara stepped to the next board and tentatively pressed with her foot. Nothing.
“Is this the best way? We just try each board carefully?” Zara asked.
“This is going to take forever,” Jareth muttered.
Raine whirled around. “Any better ideas, you pompous sky-prince? Maybeyoushould go first.”
Jareth took a step toward Raine, fists clenched at his side. He opened his mouth to say something, but Maeryn stepped between them. “Enough. We must work together to get through this.” She turned to Raine. “That means you too.”
His jaw ticked, but he nodded.
“I have tired of the arguing. I will lead now.”
“Maeryn—” Raine started.
“Silence, captain. I outrank you. Youwilllisten to me.”
He straightened as Maeryn made her way to the front, stepping on the plank beside Zara.
Unsheathing one of the twin swords on her back, she slammed it into the wood in front of her. Safe. She stepped onto it, then slammed her sword into the next. Spikes. Reaching across, she slammed her sword into the board afterthat. Safe.
Maeryn repeated the process. Testing out each plank before they moved forward. Ava limped along, leaning on the soldier helping her and doing her best to ignore the throbbing in her foot.
Though it took a tremendous amount of time, they made it through. Almost out of this tunnel. There were only about five boards left before the ground transitioned to rock again, when Zara said, “We can jump over the last part.” She leaped, landing on the stone. “See? It’s?—”
Her words were cut off when a horizontal blade emerged from the wall and sliced her in half. Ava screamed as her body—now in two pieces—hit the ground, painting the stone red. Several strangled yells echoed in the space. Someone vomited.
