Page 89 of Commanding Scythe and Sky

Fully comprehending the magnitude of our task, I lifted one hand and motioned her forward.

“So… that’s what he saw in you,” she murmured.

She smirked, the words seemingly meant more for herself than for me, and we resumed our journey.

The searing daggers that had raked through my throat had long since given way to shallow puffs of air so thin that my head spun. Sweat gradually saturated Portia’s Paladin armor.

Insanity would become a tempting destination if you lingered here too long.

The third time my knees buckled and Portia had to catch me, she shook her head and ripped us out of the shadows.

“Don’t—”

But I had already collapsed to my knees. I rolled onto my ass before stretching out across the now-cool sand.

“—lie down,” she finished with an exasperated sigh.

I knew better.

Knew I should remain upright. But the world was spinning. The air felt thinner than it did at a mountain summit, and my stomach churned.

“Just gotta… rest… for a… minute,” I wheezed.

With an irritated huff, the Paladin sat beside me and swung her pack around, digging through one of its pockets.

Her head remained on a swivel as she surveyed our surroundings.

“Terrible place to rest. No cover, and we’re not alone.”

“Just… thirty seconds…”

“Mmm-hmm.”

Honey sticks appeared in her hand.

“Sugar.”

It was an order. Considering I barely had the strength to reach for the amber tubes she offered—my arms reduced to jelly—I didn’t bother arguing.

I bit off one end, spat the plastic into the sand, and sucked down the syrupy contents.

My head and limbs sank into the dirt as I dragged in breath after breath, gradually regaining my senses.

Death.

Death lingered everywhere.

The black horizon had faded to light gray, heralding the approaching sunrise.

We’d done it.

We’d traveled through the entire night, within the shadows and without. If I could force my ass back onto my feet, we had time for one final sprint through the realm between before daylight stole it from us.

“Sleep,” I slurred.

Apparently, I’d said it aloud, because Portia shook her head.

“Not yet. We need to make up ground, heiress.”