Chapter 12
Alamor Valley, Realm of Eldridge
S tanding on a ridge, Celina looked out over Eldridge’s infamous Alamor Valley. Trademark dark red stone made up the valley walls, and low foliage covered the floor leading to the water. Great battles had been fought in this basin over the centuries before Eldridge permanently claimed the land around two hundred years prior. Legends said that the blood of centuries of fallen warriors had soaked so deeply into the earthen floor that it had colored the stones and plants of the valley its signature crimson color. Even the rocks lining the bottom of the river were red, coloring the water an eerie hue under the dreary gray sky.
It had been raining for so many days that Celina was beginning to lose count. Certainly since they’d crossed the Eldridge border four days ago, slowing their journey significantly before finally giving them a tiny bit of sunshine. They’d made the most of it, pushing the horses hard the dryer the land became throughout the day. However, their respite was coming to a close, as it had started sprinkling again.
Rodric pointed from behind her. “See that high plateau way off to the left? That’s where we need to get to before the storm hits.”
“Pretty far. You think we can make it?”
“No choice.” The sky darkened overhead, casting a shadow over them and accentuating his words. “This valley is a flood zone.”
He tapped the map, showing a rushing river lined by tall grasses on either side, an active image of what lay below them. The hills beyond represented the next phase of their journey. With storms lined up behind them and only a few hours of light left, they needed to get across the valley now or wait it out, which could take days they didn’t have to lose.
“And this is the only way across?”
“The next best crossing point is a few days out of our way. If we don’t cross now, we may as well do that, because this storm will raise the river and keep us stranded on this side for days anyway.”
“Connor and Brenna can’t wait that long. I think it’s worth the risk, but you’re the hunter, so you tell me.”
Rodric sighed, running his hands up and down her arms as he thought. “It's dangerous, but I don’t think we have a choice. Time is not on our side. I’d do it if I were alone, but I don’t like risking you.”
She looked at him over her shoulder, taking in his intensely worried expression. It wasn’t the first time he’d stressed over a decision that involved her safety. “I knew this entire trip would be risky when I chose to come. Don’t take on burdens that aren’t yours, Rodric.”
She kissed him lightly, reminding him that she wanted to be here. Which, on his end, probably only enhanced his fear of losing her. He met her willingly, deepening the kiss for a quick moment before ending it. He squeezed her arms once more before releasing her.
The map indicated that the river was only about two feet deep. It should be fine, but still she bit her lip as she re-rolled the map, eyes fixed on the churning water. Speed had to be their priority if they were going to succeed.
Rodric gathered their horses and brought them over. “We’ll go slow getting down and when crossing the river itself but push hard before and after the river. We should make it. Ready?”
After stretching one last time, she let Rodric boost her up into the saddle. She was used to riding frequently, or so she’d thought before this trip. Riding for days on end was different from riding daily, and it was exhausting. In poor weather, even more so.
There was nothing like spending many rain-drenched days traveling through the wild to get to know someone. It may not provide a lot of time for talking, but they were growing more comfortable in each other’s presence, setting and breaking camp by rote, and developing nonverbal communication.
She enjoyed the evenings the most. Rodric regaled her at night with tales about his life as a Preddari and his experiences in the wilderness. Lying across the fire from him each night, hearing only his voice each day, was building intimacy quickly. They were learning about each other’s lives and pasts, growing closer, with one glaring exception.
Magic.
Rodric had apologized for his reaction at Rosewood but had asked her to only talk very generally about magic. Nothing specific to the influence of trauma on magic. And nothing about healing. That had stung sharply. But at least he was trying, even if it meant tiptoeing through topics as if walking through shattered glass.
With the heavy storms approaching, they’d be huddled in their tent more often than they rode for a few days. Maybe it would provide an opportunity to talk more in-depth.
Still, if he refused to move beyond the safe, shallow areas of discussion, he wasn’t going to conquer his issues and the emotional storm would just keep building. Everyone had a breaking point. Because she cared about him, she both wanted and was afraid to find his, knowing the pain it would cause.
But first, they needed to conquer the river.
“I’ll lead with the pack horse. Remember to let Dahlia choose her footing,” Rodric called, already steering Zora to the path leading down the face of the ridge they were on, the midnight pack horse they’d borrowed from Rosewood trailing them.
Following behind, Celina focused on the steep decline, letting Dahlia take her time as they made their way slowly down into the valley. Strangely, she was disappointed to leave the forest. The heavy trees provided a good deal of protection from the elements she would greatly miss when night fell, and they were camping out in the open.
Making their way all the way to the valley floor enabled them to move faster over the flat terrain. The huge expanse was beautiful in an eerie kind of way. Dark clouds roiled above, casting deep shadows over the rocky area. Grass lined the river, which would have been picturesque if not for the rapid current cutting an extensive path, nearly twice as wide as it would have been in the dry season. The storm behind them would likely lead it to tripling in size.
Urgency ate at her stomach and she nudged Dahlia faster, catching up with Rodric where he waited on the riverbank. She could tell by the tension straining his shoulders that he was upset. “What’s wrong?”
“Water’s picking up speed. We should turn back. I don’t want to risk an accident.”
Risk her , he meant. Defiance rose. “No. Connor and Brenna are waiting on us.” If it turned out they missed rescuing his soul-daughter by the few days it would take to go the long way, she could never live with herself. “The storm will keep us at least an extra three days. Another hour and we’ll be up on that next plateau.” She glanced at it way off in the distance. “Maybe two hours.”
“Celina—”
“Unless you’re worried about my horsemanship skills getting us in trouble?” That would be valid, as he was one with Zora in a way that amazed her.
“No,” he sighed. “You’re a very good rider. It’s just risky.”
“The longer we argue, the more the risk increases. Come on.”
Forging ahead into the water, Celina breathed through her nerves. He needed to get ahold of his overriding fear for her safety. The mission was going to be dangerous. They couldn’t always base their decisions on that. In truth, she didn’t like the movement of the water any more than Rodric did. Her lack of experience worked in her favor, minimizing her fear.
Rushing water slashed at her legs as they made their way across the river, soaking her lower extremities. So much for her hope of getting to the plateau dry. Dahlia was vocal about her dislike of the water but continued across until they made it up the other side of the riverbank.
Celina grinned at Rodric, relief coursing through her. “See? We made it.” As she turned around in the saddle to look at the vast expanse of water they had just crossed, movement on the opposite bank caught her eye.
“Hey, do you see that?” She pointed toward the bank. “There was movement right over there, where we came from. An animal maybe.”
Rodric’s gaze followed her arm, but he shook his head. “Just a small creature. Not large enough to be a threat. Let’s go.”
The rain started to fall as they moved, increasing to a steady drizzle. Celina’s relief grew with every length they put between themselves and the river. About halfway to the ridge, they needed to climb. Dahlia slowed to a stop. Zora gave a high-pitched screech and slammed at the ground with her front hooves.
The ground started shaking then, water leaking out into the plain to swirl about their feet, even as far as they were from the bank.
“Rodric, is that—”
“Celina, run! Flood!” Rodric freed the pack horse’s lead and kicked Zora into a flat-out gallop. Dahlia jumped into motion, following the lead mare as fast as she could.
Oh no. A second later, she heard the deafening crash of fast-moving water echoing in the distance. We were wrong. Her heart raced as panic seized her. She couldn’t see it, but the ground rumbled as if it was alive, a ball of thunder at its core, awakening it from centuries of slumber. Water continued to rise, whipping around the horses’ legs to slow them down.
“What do we do?” The river would toss them around like toys as it crashed through the valley. She looked around desperately, but there was no escape in sight. “There’s nowhere to climb!”
“There’s a small alcove hidden around that bend,” he yelled over the sound of the water and hoofbeats. “We can try to wedge ourselves in.”
Pushing the horses deeper down the river, they fought their way to the edge of the narrowed valley. Reaching the bend, Rodric herded the pack horse forward into the small crevice.
“Hurry, we should all fit.”
Dahlia balked at the dark space, rearing up and throwing her head.
No! Come on! Cursing under her breath, Celina backed her up to try again, fighting the terrified mare for control. “Rodric, you should—”
Her scream mixed with Dahlia’s as a huge gush of water swept under and around them, catapulting them up into the moving flow.
“Celina!” The ravaged shout echoed through the water as she went under.
Breaking the surface, she had a glimpse of Rodric launching off Zora into the churning water before she was pulled under and tumbled farther down the river.
Water blinded her and cut off her airway. Fighting panic, she kicked away from Dahlia so she wouldn’t be injured by flailing hooves as the river swept her horse away. Rocks pummeled her—the bottom of the river or carnage brought with the water, she wasn’t sure. She tried to make herself into a smaller target, protecting her head from the fast-moving debris.
Bouncing over a huge rock bruised her ribs but tossed her above the waterline for a split second. Finally having a glimpse of which direction was up, she tried to maneuver that way again, managing a brief pull of air before getting sucked under.
The flicker of a weakening lifeforce caught her attention, and she launched herself toward it. A warm body crashed into hers the same instant she connected magically with the damaged life. Clutching the small creature to her chest, she brought it with her back to the surface, this time staying up for a full breath. It became easier each time as the flow around them started to lose momentum.
Air. Need air first. She focused on keeping herself bobbing up out of the water for air occasionally. The furry creature's lungs moved just a little, and she sent another wave of magic to it. Hold on, little guy, we’re going to make it.
Staying up for a longer breath, she tried to twist around to go with the flow of water instead of against it. Although she couldn’t see anything with her head tilted back, keeping her head above water allowed her other senses to return. An enraged whinny from Zora was the first non-water sound she heard, making her want to laugh. You tell them, girl.
The solid thud of a tree branch around her middle made her shriek, choking as she was pulled out of her path through the water. Her head broke the surface again. She coughed, grabbing at the branch with the arm not holding her furry survivor. She latched on to strength and warmth. Rampaging emotions nearly crushed her as she tightened her hand on Rodric with a death grip.
“It’s okay, we made it.” He spoke the words into her temple. “I’ve got you, Celina.”
Her name spoken in deep resonant tones, only slightly waterlogged, was the most wonderful thing she’d ever heard. She shook as shock took hold of her body. His words coursed through her in a physical caress, warming the cold, weak places in her soul.
“Tell me you’re okay.” His arm tightened around her.
“Shock,” she coughed. “Otherwise, minor injuries.”
She pushed magic into her own lifeforce until the shaking lessened to a light tremble. Dozens of scrapes and gashes stung as the water moved against her, and she could feel spots of severe cold biting painfully at all the places her clothing was torn. Nothing seemed to tug at her magic with life-threatening intensity though, so she tried to block out the sensations.
Dropping her head back, she let him take her weight. He’d found two huge boulders and was wedged between them, holding her to him as the water rushed past.
“Zora made it,” she murmured. The obstinate mare was as much family to him as a real person. She was afraid to ask about her own horse, fearing the worst.
“I heard her.” There was a smile in his voice. “She’ll be delightfully cranky when we get out.”
Celina coughed, expunging water in little choked spurts, but the movement of it felt good, lightening her spirit. She kept her eyes closed, letting Rodric take care of them both for a while as they waited on the river’s demise.
“What are you holding?”
“Hmm?” She frowned in confusion. Holding something?
“The furry thing clutched to your chest.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Tired wild eyes looked up at her from the body of a soaking-wet creature. Brownish-red fur covered its body, and tiny pointed ears rose from a round face highlighted with white. A long, nimble tail was curled securely around her arm. “It’s an osa with forest coloring. I think I saw him on the bank right after we crossed. Do you think he followed us?”
“You rescued an osa while being thrown around in a river flood? You really are a healer, aren’t you?”
“Well… yes.” She laughed, unable to deny it. Slipping the creature half inside her jacket so it wouldn’t fall, she used her newly free arm to brace against the boulder in an attempt to help Rodric keep them from drifting.
Splashing sounds of something large defying the pathway of the water drew her attention downstream. Zora was stubbornly walking toward them, one slow step at a time, a murderous look in her eyes, if you could call a horse’s expression violent. Giving a vocal greeting, she shoved her face at Rodric, nearly pushing Celina down into the water as she nuzzled his neck.
“Hey, girl,” he greeted. “You’re not going to leave me for Sev after this, are you?”
Zora snorted and head-butted him, making Rodric grunt.
“In that case, help us out, would you?”
Lifting Celina up so that her feet were balanced on his leg, he gave her a heaving boost toward his horse. She hauled herself over Zora’s back and looked around.
The valley now looked like a small lake, water moving fast but not churning dangerously anymore. The water was still too high for them to get very far, reaching Zora’s shoulder. As she turned the other way, relief soared through her.
“Dahlia made it. She’s alive.” The mare was quite a ways in what looked like lower water, but she was standing.
Grabbing ahold of Zora, Rodric pulled himself up onto one of the boulders he’d been wedged between and collapsed into a sitting position with one knee up to support him.
He raised exhausted eyes to Celina, skimming over her for injuries before meeting her gaze. “Next time, we take the long way around.”
“I’m sorry, Rodric. I should have listened when you wanted to turn back.” This is my fault. We all could have died. Distress had her shaking again, and she hugged the osa tighter to her chest as she tried to reconcile what had happened.
He gripped her leg until she looked at him. “That’s not what I meant. We made the decision jointly, and we were both wrong. We need to find a middle ground between rushing and putting ourselves in danger.” He squeezed her calf affectionately. “We’re no use if we’re broken when we finally catch up to them.”
“You’re right.” He had a valid point. She’d been focused on speed and timing, but that wasn’t their only challenge. There would be others. Still, the next time she crossed a river would be too soon.