CHAPTER 5 #2
They held their own at first, but fatigue set in quickly. The boat pulled right – Gregor’s strokes too deep, Oryen out of rhythm. The effect was chaotic.
“We’re listing to the right,” Jax called, pulling sharply to adjust the rudder. “Left side – match rhythm!”
“I am,” growled Sebastian. His strokes found a smooth, even pace, but the rest couldn’t keep in step.
“Gregor, row through the water,” Jax snapped. “You’re not angry with it!”
Gregor grunted and attempted to soften his rowing but it had little effect.
One boat surged ahead – Alys and Henry’s.
Kara groaned inwardly. Of course they were in front.
The race was already spreading them out.
And they were stuck in the middle. The river widened – then split, presenting a choice they had to make in an instant.
To the left, it flowed slower, its banks covered in mist; to the right, a narrow path churning with white-water and jagged rocks.
“Which way?!” Kara shouted.
“Cut left!” Jax called, voice cutting through the wind. “We could moor on those rocks!”
But Gregor was still pulling too hard on his side. The current grabbed them and dragged them right – straight into the narrow path. Fast. Uncontrolled.
We’re going to sink the boat.
Jax’s hands glowed a deep-blue, trying to calm the waters.
Then–
CRACK.
The boat had hit hard against a jagged rock on the starboard side.
The impact jolted Kara sideways. Jax swore, yanking the rudder to the left.
Sienna slammed into Gregor’s shoulder with a sharp yelp.
Oryen lost his oar entirely – it fell into the water with a loud splash.
Sienna screamed, and Gregor pulled her back from the edge.
Morra was gone – dragged under in an instant, the river swallowing her whole.
Another wave slammed against the hull, throwing all but Jax backwards.
His hands glowed brighter. Sebastian struggled to his feet and launched himself off the side in one fluid motion, before another wave could throw him over.
Kara lunged to the side, gripping the wood, the spray soaking her face. “Sebastian!” she shouted into the white churn. No answer – only the current dragging them further away from where Sebastian had dived in.
“Jax, we can’t leave them!” Sienna cried. “Can you turn us?”
“I’m trying!” Jax hissed, fighting the rudder and sending sapphire blue tendrils of magic into the river. Finally, there was a shift beneath the boat – it didn’t stop, but it slowed. Jax swore loudly.
“There’s something wrong. The river’s fighting me!”
“What? Why?” Kara yelled, but he didn’t answer. He was too focused on keeping them from capsizing on the rest of the rocks. Kara searched the water frantically. Nothing.
Don’t drown. Please.
Then finally–
“There!” Sienna pointed.
Sebastian broke the surface at last, jaw set, his crimson glow blazing as he dragged Morra with one arm.
“She’s not moving,” Kara said.
Sebastian kicked hard, swimming with all his strength now, back towards the boat.
“Pull them in!” Jax shouted.
“I’ve got it!” Oryen called, hands scrambling behind his seat.
He hurled Gregor a coiled rope, the other end already knotted fast. Kara locked eyes with Sebastian as Gregor hurled the line towards him.
With a grunt, Sebastian caught it with one arm.
Violet snaked along the rope, Sienna calming and steadying him as he swam.
Gregor braced his feet and pulled. Kara scrambled at once to help him, the others by her side. Jax at the rudder, his sapphire magic still fighting the river.
“Almost there–” grunted Gregor.
With one last heave, they hauled both of them over the side. Sebastian collapsed, drenched and gasping. Gregor lay Morra gently on the deck. She was limp and her lips were tinged blue.
“Move!” Kara snapped, dropping to her knees.
Don’t be dead. I can’t help if you’re dead.
“Come on,” she breathed. “Come on.”
Emerald poured through her palms and into Morra’s mouth and nose.
The others watched in silence as Jax’s magic finally defeated the current; the river lapped gently at the boat’s sides now.
Kara’s magic tried to withdraw at the water in Morra’s system, but she pushed it forward, urging it to obey her.
A weak pulse thrummed back at her and Kara coaxed the water out, pushing it up through Morra’s throat, leaving her lungs free and full of air.
It was delicate work. The feeling of it pressed against her own chest. Morra gasped.
Coughed once, then again, rolling to her side as water streamed from her mouth.
Sienna ran to her immediately, violet blooming.
“She’ll be okay,” Kara murmured.
She became vaguely aware of pats on her back, but Kara turned her attention to Sebastian.
He was watching her closely, his crimson magic dimming now.
He hadn’t moved from where he lay, propped up on one elbow.
He hadn’t hesitated. He’d gone in after Morra with no plan, no thought for himself.
For a moment they just looked at each other.
“Well done, Kara,” he said, voice low.
Kara now, am I?
“You’re the one that got her out,” she said as she moved to him, scanning his body for wounds, emerald blooming willingly. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine,” he replied, sitting up, that damn smirk reappearing. “Worried about me, were you?”
Yes.
Her cheeks heated but she rolled her eyes anyway. She wasn’t going to tell him that.
“Just doing my job as healer, Thorne. Don’t get carried away.”
Jax shouted from the front. “You okay, Morra?”
She gave a weak nod, water still dripping from her hair.
“Great. Because we’re still racing you know,” he reminded them.
Gregor and Sienna helped Morra to her feet as the rest of the team returned to their places. Morra pulled away and took her oar.
“Morra – what are you doing?” Kara asked, astonished.
“Rowing,” she replied from her seat, her face pale, yet determined.
“No, you nearly died, you need to rest.”
Earth worshippers were known to be stubborn but this was ridiculous.
“And you healed me,” Morra said simply.
Kara sat reluctantly, oar in hand. Behind her, Sebastian’s breath was still coming too hard, too fast. She turned to him briefly. His hand shook against the oar. Only once.
“What?” he asked.
You could have died.
“Nothing.” She pulled her gaze forward.
“Ready?” Jax asked.
“Ready!” they called in unison.
The boat moved forward – not smoothly, but with purpose. And for a few moments, they were the only sound on the river. The splashing of oars, the hiss of spray.
Then Kara heard it. A low, distant roar. “Do you hear that?” she asked.
“I was hoping it was wind,” Gregor muttered.
“It’s not,” Jax said, his voice tight. “It sounds like a waterfall.”
“A waterfall? Since when was there a waterfall in this river?!” Oryen demanded.
“Since now,” Jax answered grimly.
The roar grew louder, the river narrowing again into a fast, accelerating chute. They couldn’t see the edge – only mist and frothing white ahead.
“Hold on,” Jax barked. “Whatever happens. Keep yourselves in this boat.”
The current tugged harder. Sienna’s hands lit with violet light, soothing pulses of calm spreading out across them. Morra stood, hands outstretched, vivid yellow light winding from them, towards the trees on the riverbank.