Chapter 24
Water. I need water. I pause to rest against a nearby tree.
Where are the others? Maines will never believe the stories I’ll have for her once I return…
if I return. A memory flashes in my mind of our childhood, daring each other to explore the forest and see who could venture the furthest. She always beat me, no surprise there. I wish she were here.
I stand on shaky legs, taking in my surroundings. With the darkness on my side, I narrow my eyes and focus, looking through the trees rather than at them.
As I hone in, I swear I can make out a faint shape about a half mile away.
Its movement suggests it’s a competitor, but then again, I’ve been wrong before.
It’s limping. No sounds break the silence, so I take a moment to holster both weapons on my back.
Sticking to the shadows, I move with grace, stalking toward what I hope is a competitor.
Considering my options, it must be Rohhit, Silas, or Oak. None of them would kill me—I hope.
The trees open into a clearing, and as I move toward the figure, I’m exposed.
With nothing to keep me hidden, I sprint across the open space—too nervous to walk—my magic completely drained by the lingering effects of the drugs.
I peer around a tree, seeing that the figure isn’t limping anymore—it’s on the ground. Unmoving.
I pick up my speed, moving through the tall grass. As it comes into view, I see Rohhit lying unconscious on the forest floor, bleeding. I kneel beside him, scanning his body. A pool of blood spreads out from a deep cut near his ankle—his Achilles tendon was severed.
“Rohhit! Can you hear me?” I shake his body, but he doesn’t respond.
I’ve got to get him somewhere hidden. We’ll both die if we stay here with no protection.
Refusing to drop my weapons, I realize I’ll either need to carry or drag him. I lean down to pick him up, but his body is heavier than I anticipate. He’s a large man—heads taller than I am, his shoulders twice as broad. This isn’t going to work.
“Sorry, Rohhit,” I say, grabbing both his arms. “Hold on.” I take a deep breath, pushing off with all my strength, and begin dragging him toward the mouth of the Cita Mountains.
Only tales of courageous travelers who dared to journey this far into the forest had ever been shared. My arms tingle with anxiety as I bear his weight, hoping to avoid dragging us to our doom. Exhaustion hits me hard, and Rohhit stirs in my grasp.
“Can you hear me?” I lean down, grasping his face in my hands. His eyes flutter open, only to close seconds later. “Rohhit, if you can hear me, I need your help. I can’t carry you alone. Do you have any strength to move?”
A slow nod moves his head.
“Okay! On the count of three, I need you to push with your other leg toward the opening right there.” I point.
“Can you do that?” Another slight movement gives me hope.
“Alright then. One…two…three!” I grit my teeth, pushing with all my strength to the mouth of a cave, only a few steps ahead.
A sob leaves his throat as blood leaks from his leg with every movement. “Stop! I can do the rest.”
His body goes limp again, his head falling to the side.
With a mountainous roof over our heads, I gently lay him against the side of the cave. The large stone walls offer some shelter and the tiny drips of water echo from the cave’s depths.
“That’s a good sign,” I murmur to his unconscious form.
Animal bones line the far cave walls—a bad sign—but I don’t tell Rohhit. The dark mountain hums with our presence, its constant echo vibrating from the hollow cave behind us. “I’m going to look around just outside the cave, okay? I need to find a few things to heal you.”
He doesn’t respond, but I feel better leaving him with some shelter. Plus, I’m not going far.
I step out of the cave’s mouth, surveying our surroundings.
I know the castle lies northwest, but traveling miles with Rohhit isn’t an option right now.
The moon peeks from behind the clouds, granting a small shine of light.
The black trees sway in the breeze, making the hair on the back of my neck stand.
It’s just trees.
I move forward, quickly and carefully, trying to avoid any noise.
A few natural supplies will help me attempt a healing ritual on his leg: water for cleaning, a crystal, and mud to pack the wound.
Infection can wait. Blood is the strongest tool for performing rituals, but it’s dangerous.
Too much power flows through those who use blood, yet desperate times call for desperate measures.
My mother showed me many times over the years how to do basic rituals, and right now, I wish I had listened more.
I glance over my shoulder. The cave is still in view, but I feel safe enough to travel a little further into the forest. Rushing water reaches my ears as I approach a small creek.
Making a makeshift bucket out of a few branches and leaves, I fill it with water to clean the wound.
Satisfied, I spin to head back to the cave when a cold gust of wind hits me.
I crouch, my eyes straining to see through the trees. Someone is creeping toward the mouth of the cave, toward the unconscious prince. Abandoning the water, I sprint through the trees, closing the distance.
I reach behind my head, drawing an axe and placing my other hand on the throat of the second one, ready to throw if needed.
Peering around the rocky wall, I see a figure kneeling next to Rohhit.
The figure’s back becomes familiar as I approach.
I’ve seen this head many times, and I slowly enter the cave, both axes drawn now.
“Back the fuck away from him, Oak,” I snap.
He jerks his body as my eyes catch the massive sword on his back, a dark, charged crystal embedded in the hilt.
“Briar! Holy Gods. You scared me to death.” He flinches.
Inching closer, I don’t release my grip on the axes. “I said move back. Now.” Anger swirls around me. The breeze whips my hair to the side as my darkness becomes overly protective of the fallen prince.
“Okay, okay!” Oak raises his hands in surrender. “I was just checking to see if he was alive. This doesn't look good! Shit, you look bad too, Briar!”
Remembering the cuts and blood on me, I bet I’m a horrific sight, emerging from the darkness of the forest with two gold axes clutched in my bleeding hands. Oak, however, is untouched. Suspicion runs through me.
“Where have you been?” I ask.
He keeps a healthy distance between us but lowers his hands. “I’ve been running around this fucking forest, hoping to find you. Have you heard those screams?”
Unfortunately, I know exactly what caused those sounds. “Yes, I believe I’m the reason behind those bellows you’ve heard. I’m hoping to avoid any more until morning.”
Oak sinks against the rock wall opposite where Rohhit lies. “He’s going to die if we can’t stop the bleeding.”
“I know. I briefly left to find some water. I need a crystal, and I was going to try a healing ritual on his leg.” My eyes drift to the sword on his back. “Give me that weapon.”
Shock dances across his face. “I trust you and all, Princess, but that’s the only thing I have to protect myself. I’m not just handing it over.”
“I don’t want to keep it, you idiot. I want the crystal on it. It may work to start the ritual. But the more you complain, the closer we are to losing him.”
He hesitates but finally pulls the sword from his back. “I know a few things about healing. Let me help!”
Remembering that we still need water, I point deeper into the cave. “Fine, go get water. I won’t risk you going into the forest unprotected. Bring it back.”
Oak takes one look at the darkness and animal bones before standing with force. “Gods, no. I’m not going back there unprotected either!”
I rush toward him, grabbing his fresh shirt with my bloody hands. “He’s going to die, and it’s because you were too afraid to get water. Maines is going to laugh in your face when I tell her, you coward.”
He pushes my hands off his clothes, assessing the stain. “How dare you call me that! I’m anything but!”
He marches into the darkness, and a grin forms on my face, knowing that the mention of her worked.
Men and their fragile egos.
I rush back to Rohhit. “I’m going to make it better.
I’ll take the pain away as soon as I can.
” I brush a strand of his hair from his face.
His blonde hair is brown with dirt, but he still radiates a light.
“Please give me a sign that you can hear me.” I check his pulse, a faint heartbeat thumping back.
I guess that’s sign enough.
Carefully, I place his head on my lap and remove my outer blouse to keep him warm.
My bare skin is exposed underneath, and I snicker, imagining Oak’s expression when he sees me.
The cold mountain air brushes against my skin, raising goosebumps.
I wrap Rohhit snugly in my shirt, doing my best to cover him.
He stirs, making me jump. Any sudden movement keeps me on edge.
“I’m here, Rohhit! You’re going to be okay.”
Scooting the sword closer to me, I study the crystals on the hilt.
Stunning stones in rich greens and black twinkle, even in the darkness of the cave.
They’re small, but they might work. I grab a rock and carefully wiggle the crystal free, cautious not to break the precious stone.
I wedge the rock under the prong and apply some force. The stone finally falls into my hand.
A yell deep in the cave snaps me out of focus, nearly causing me to drop the crystal. Wincing, I clutch it and spring to my feet, preparing to fight whatever Oak has disturbed. He sprints toward us, adrenaline propelling him forward.
“What the hell are you yelling about?” I snap.
“There… there were bats! Thousands of them! And something ruffled them!” He pants, crouching to rest his hands on his knees. “And I swear to the Gods I saw something in the water.”
“And to think, I almost apologized for calling you a coward earlier.”
He continues to catch his breath. “I don’t know how you Shadow Wielders handle darkness so well. I hate this shit.” His gaze travels to my chest, his eyes widening.
Snatching the water, I return my focus to Rohhit, kneeling beside him.
I begin to draw a wide circle around his body with the dust from a rock. Oak watches me work with intensity.
I pause. “Can you draw Rigils? I can, but you may be better at them.”
He scrunches his nose. “I have some experience, yes. Lumor Wielders are often taught the basics at a young age, but how and if you continue to practice is up to the Wielder.”
He moves closer, dipping his finger in the dark liquid pooling around Rohhit’s leg. “Blood is a strong conduit. Are you sure this is a good idea?”
I nod. The wall beside him will make a fine canvas for the ritual. Drawing the Rigil with near perfection, he looks back at me, ready for me to begin. Four circles with a straight line down the middle decorate the wall, blood dripping from the markings.
Clasping the crystal, I dive deep into my magic, praying something comes forward, even with the drugs still in my system.
I close my eyes, relaxing my entire body, trying to replenish whatever I can from my overpowering exhaustion.
To my surprise, the crystal begins to glow.
I silently pray to Raddnoke for the strength to save Rohhit’s life.
Magic bubbles within me as the glowing crystal casts shadows across the stone wall, illuminating the cave's mouth. My hair moves as if there’s wind, though there’s none.
“Briar, are you sure about this?” Oak whispers, but I ignore him and continue praying to the Dark God.
The pain intensifies, coursing through my body, and sends shockwaves to my nervous system. My body urges me to stop, but my internal darkness cries out for me to continue as the crystal starts to mold to my hand. Just a few more seconds.
Once the crystal is fully illuminated, I can place it on his leg and let the magic flow inside.
The black glow continues to build, and the pain becomes unbearable. I grit my teeth, pushing forward, praying.
Oak’s voice reaches my ear. “You need to stop. This doesn’t feel right.”
It’s almost complete, just a few more seconds. A drawn-out groan leaves my mouth. I can’t do this any longer. It hurts. It’s burning me. I place the stone against Rohhit’s ankle, and it glows in the darkness.
Even as the pain intensifies, I hold on.
I can do this. I can help him.
My arms go numb, and my vision blurs as my head snaps back, nearly touching my shoulder blades. A silent scream erupts from my mouth, and my world turns black.