Chapter 17
Seventeen
Icross my arms, squint against the sun, and look up at the massive wooden wall adorned with thick twine ropes. “Explain this to me again,” I say.
Wel shifts his muscular form and glides a dark tan hand over the short black hairs on his head. “Stories have spread about how you didn’t finish your basic training because you’re scared of the wall. Every soldier here has run the obstacle course at least twice, including the Stigians.”
With a sneer, I turn to face my most trusted officers and sweep my hand in Kyron’s direction. “I may not have climbed the wall, but I kicked the mighty Stigian prince’s ass in the sparring ring. Doesn’t that count for something?”
“I wouldn’t say you kicked my ass. You strung me up in vines and made a few sexual innuendos,” he says, one side of his mouth curving up.
I scoff. “I won the match, and you made the sexual innuendos.”
Kyron lifts a brow and raises his voice a couple of octaves. “If you win, you can have me on the table, the floor, the—”
“Okay, I got it.” I cover my face with my hand and wait for my cheeks to cool before continuing. “Does nobody have any compassion for my injuries? I was sliced open by a huge hawk just a couple of days ago.”
“Three weeks ago,” Greer says with a pointed look. “And the medics tell me that the healer’s ointment worked wonders. You’re good as new.”
It hardly feels like it has been almost a month.
Every day has run together into one massive blur since I returned to Basecamp.
Strategy meetings to find Ulric, Zek, and the others taken, training for the impending war, and refereeing petty arguments between Lucent soldiers and Stigian warriors take up almost every waking moment.
Those times I do have to myself, I’m never alone.
I’ve filled every free second with stolen moments with my parah, rebuilding the friendship and trust we once had.
We are taking small steps that are occasionally interrupted with the desire to indulge in carnal needs.
And while all that was going on, it appears those stationed at Basecamp were gossiping about my shortcomings.
I tilt my head to the sun and sigh. “I don’t understand what the big deal is?”
Terro props his shoulder on the structure in question and gives it two quick taps. “The soldiers named it Queen Wrecker.”
I throw my hands in the air and turn to the wall. “Really? Queen Wrecker? For Statera’s sake. We leave for Allaji in two days to rescue our soldiers and everyone is concerned about my inability to climb a damn wall.”
“It’s a requirement to finish training, and you didn’t complete it,” Wel explains with a shrug.
“You’ve got to overcome the fear. It’s time to conquer the wall, Elle,” Greer says.
There’s little that frightens me when it comes to my safety. I will train until I bleed, ride into battle, and even defy a king. But heights… I hate heights.
Leif steps beside me and stares up at the one thing in this entire camp that makes me break out into a nervous sweat. “Don’t you believe a bird shifter took your guard?”
My jaw drops open like it’s unhinged, and I crinkle my nose. “Are you saying that you think an overgrown bird has Zek stored away in its nest high in a tree?”
He spares me a side glance and fights back a smile. “Maybe.”
The thought of Zek, Ulric, and the others tucked away in nests and dens is a pleasant way to look at their circumstance. After extensive searches around Basecamp came up empty, Kyron feels certain that the Allaji are holding them captive. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than death.
Kyron grabs a rope and holds it out to me. “It’s the principle of it, princess. You’re here because you won’t ask our people to fight for something you won’t fight for yourself. It’s time to lead by example and overcome the wall.”
“I hate to say it, but the man makes a good point, Elle,” Leif says.
“Shit,” I hiss and pull off my jacket.
Everyone may get a good laugh out of my phobia, but this is terrifying.
I don’t like the sensation of looking down, especially when there is nothing to stop me from falling.
The days I spent trying to conquer the wall were long, hard, and brought me to the verge of tears.
I wanted to climb over it—I still do—but losing control and the terror of falling stunted me.
But I can’t let my fear rule me anymore. If this is what my soldiers need to feel like I’m capable of leading them, then I’ll do it. And once I do, I never want to hear about the wall again.
I take the rope from Kyron, wiggling and pulling it to ensure it won’t come loose right before I reach the top.
He slides his hands into his pockets and pride takes up residence on his face. “You got this.”
“Let’s hope so. It would be a shame to plunge to my death from a wall called Queen Wrecker.”
Kyron steps closer and drops his voice so only I hear him. “Finish the course and I promise the reward will be worth it.”
“Will it involve food?”
“Kinky, princess. I’m sure I can find some ways to incorporate fruits and chocolates.”
A breathy sound leaves me, and I run my hand over the back of my neck. “No, I want a delicious meal. One that I can actually savor without worrying about my next meeting or training.”
He gives a curt nod. “Don’t look up or down, and keep your eyes on the next step you need to make.”
“Oh, is it that easy?”
“You can do it, Raelle,” he says, stepping away.
With one more tug of the rope, I place the sole of my boot on the wood. Don’t look up, don’t look down, I remind myself and hoist my other foot on the wall.
My climb is slow with my gaze focusing on the next plank of wood above my boots. The air around me changes the higher I get. It becomes thinner and quieter. It’s like I’m walking into the clouds and all I have for company is the pounding of my heart. I don’t like it.
“I’m surprised she made it that high,” whispers a disembodied voice.
My gaze rips away from my feet and darts to the ground.
I loom above everyone, and the hard dirt awaits my fall.
My arms tremble, and my grip slips. The rope burns through my hands, and my body tenses, but my reflexes kick in.
I clench the rough fibers, grunting against the pain, and direct my attention to the wall again.
A nagging voice inside of me says to give up, but I push past it, placing one hand over the other and taking small steps up.
Hand over hand, foot over foot, I scale the wall.
When the top ledge comes into view, I grasp it with trembling hands and pull up.
With the grace of a wobbling duck, I lay on my stomach with one leg and arm hanging from either side.
Every muscle in my body coils. My thighs squeeze the wood between them, and my fingers clench on for dear life.
The sky sits right before me, a vast canvas of blue with big, puffy clouds.
I take a moment to watch them float by and calm my nerves.
“You’ve gone down just as many times as up,” I say to myself and ease over the back side of the wall.
The decline is much of the same, small steps and the rope rubbing my palms raw as I make my way to the ground. I’m so overjoyed when I plant my feet on solid dirt that I think about falling to my knees and kissing it but stop at the sight of the rest of the obstacle course.
I never gave much thought to what happens after the first terrifying hurdle. The wall captured my attention, blocked me for seeing everything that went into completing the task. Now that I’ve overcome it, I’m excited to concur the entire course.
I run to the muddy pond and hop my way across the scattered blocks peeking above the surface.
Five elevated logs stand in a row, and I jump over them to the bars that hang above another small body of water.
Swinging my arms, I grip one metal rod and then the next and clear the obstacle.
I reach a small round tunnel no higher than my knees and lower to my stomach.
Using my arms and legs, I scoot through the dark tube.
I can’t help but laugh as I crawl out into the sun and stand.
One roadblock hindered me from completing what is a simple challenge.
I don’t falter as I balance across a log, don’t slow as I run up the side of a mountain of dirt, don’t lose my grip on the cable strung between two trees to cross another mud pit.
It’s not until I reach a rope ladder that I find pause.
It’s another height to climb. It’s the last hurdle, the one that houses the bell that I must ring to prove I’ve finished.
And at the top sits Kyron.
“You’re almost done,” he says, resting his elbow on his crossed leg and smiling down at me.
I’m amazed at how the upturn of his perfect lips makes me feel more breathless than running through all these obstacles? Maybe all I ever needed was to know he would be waiting for me at the end. I could have overcome that wall a long time ago to get to him.
I spin around looking for everyone else, but the field is empty.
“They just wanted to see you get over the wall. They felt it wasn’t as entertaining watching master the rest of the course like you were made to conquer it. It’s only you and me.”
“And a wobbly ladder,” I say, shaking the ropes.
He stretches his hand out to me. “Come sit with me, Raelle.”
With my focus on his outstretched hand, I clinch the ladder and slowly make my way up to him. The shake of the contraption is horrific, but it’s a bit easier leaving the ground this time. Perhaps it’s the incentive waiting for me at the top that keeps me moving.
Kyron grabs my hand as soon as he can reach it and pulls me up the rest of the way. My legs tremble as I stand on the narrow ledge, and I hurry to grip the railing, moving toward my final task.
I glance back at him, and he nods.
With vigor, I shake the string hanging from the bell. As the tinny sound echoes through Basecamp, I yell, “Let it be known, a very tall and pretty scary wall did not defeat this future queen, assholes.”