Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Kelrean catches it right before it can slip out of his fingers. “Did you steal this from the castle?” he asks through labored breaths.
“Of course not,” Algar says.
Kelrean points to the emblem engraved on the chest with his lips pressed together.
“Okay, fine! I did. There were three more in the wardrobe! You all can spare at least one.”
I can’t stop myself from looking at the “thing” Algar’s talking about as Kelrean slips into the robe. The prince is… Well, let’s just say I understand why he’s so confident in who he is. There is absolutely nothing lacking in size there.
I turn away, giving him some privacy.
Zephra flaps above Algar as he moves toward me. “Zaira, are you okay?” he asks.
“I’m okay. Where are Thane and Rynthea?”
Algar looks at me, then at Kelrean, who is busy tying the robe at his waist. We bolt toward the cliff. As we approach, I spot a dark figure below. Thane clings to a ridge at the bottom of the gorge, barely hanging on. Water splashes over his head, trying to drag him down. Rynthea is only a few feet higher than him on the same ledge she fell on, still unconscious.
I look to my left at the vines clinging to the boulders before running to pry some off. Algar assists me until we have several in hand.
“Help me knot these,” I say hurriedly, tying the vines together with my blistered, bloody hands. It hurts so much, but it has to be done.
Thane is going to fall. I can see his grip slipping.
All the other assassins are gone, likely taken by the rapids or dead on the opposite side. And just as I suspected, Thane hollers before being pulled underwater.
“This way!” I run along the edge of the cliff as fast as I can, watching Thane get dragged through the rapids. I hoped this would be my only concern, but of course my life is never that easy. The rapids end at a waterfall.
A steep, steep waterfall.
His body slams into boulders and sharp edges of the gorge. I see his head hit one of the rocks before lolling a bit, but he remains conscious, using every bit of energy to stay above the surface. Miraculously, he catches onto a slim stone outcropping in the water. He sputters, wiping his eyes before looking up at me. I slide down one of the ridges, keeping myself steady on a ledge.
I hold up the vine in both my hands, hoping he’ll understand what I’m trying to say. As if he does, he nods, and I toss the vine in his direction. A gold hoop wraps around the end of the vine like a lasso and tugs me forward an inch. I pull backward against it, digging my heels into the ground.
“Algar! Help me pull!” I call.
Algar joins me on the ledge and tugs. The strain is enough to hurt my shoulders, and my palms are so raw and burning, but I keep pulling, finding relief the closer Thane comes to the gorge wall.
We’re so close to saving him, and then we can get to Rynthea…only— Gods damn it.
Rynthea has fallen in the water, too.
She startles awake from the cold rush, unleashing a deep roar only a minotaur can produce.
“Oh shit!” Algar yells as we keep pulling Thane up.
She floats past Thane, who has already made it to a safe ledge and holds on to it with an elbow anchored on top.
My chest tightens when I realize I have no solution for Rynthea. There’s no way we can toss her a vine, too. She’s too far away and getting closer to the falls.
Thane breathes rapidly as he throws an illuminated hand up in her direction. With the remaining strength he has left, he manages to stop Rynthea from going any farther. He peers over his shoulder, curls flat on his head, water spilling over his lips as his arm shakes. He’s doing his best to keep her steady. She’s able to shift toward the edge and wrap her arms around a boulder. When she does, Thane’s hand falls, his eyes close, and his head drops on the ledge.
And then something miraculous happens.
A bubble of water forms around Rynthea like a cocoon and carries her to our side of the rapids. Confused, I watch as she hovers in the safety of the bubble. Then I notice a group of people in brown and gray tribal clothing a short distance away.
One of them has his hands in the air as he manipulates the water, the muscles in his large, tan, inked arms flexing as he places Rynthea on the ground with a gentle splash.
The land quakes beneath my feet, and I back up as Thane’s ledge breaks away from the gorge. Rocks and dirt descend, falling like rain as he and the ledge are transported around us to reach safety.