A delay. That’s all I need to stay here. Because if he wants us down this edge, then there must be a boat at the bottom. There’s no other way out or off. The watch towers were meant for exactly this scenario. To stop intruders. Yet they’ve walked right in.
I look around, up and down the rocky edge that seems to be its own defence—one that’s failed. It’s then that I see another small group of men heading in our direction, mybrother, seemingly unfazed.
“You know them,” I confirm, more for myself.
“I do.”
Two men in front carry large satchels brimming with bounty. A woman trails them, also with a weighted satchel. Where have they come from?
The three round to our position, and offer a half-bent bow, like the greeting of Kirrasia, I’ve started to get used to. The first man has sandy blond hair, is taller than mybrotherby an inch or so and older in years. He looks closer in age to Ten’s father than to us.
“Trouble?” Mybrotherchecks.
“None. Everything was arranged: access, time. They didn’t even know we were there.” He side-eyes me before pulling his attention back to my brother. “You?”
“Some. Nothing I hadn’t planned for. Get down to the boat. We’re behind schedule.”
“Yes, sir.”
Sir?So, what he said in the cell was true. It is his army.
I keep my eyes to the ground as the man and the two accomplices make it past me, and down the invisible path of rocks, to the boat, at the bottom.
“Time to go, Sister. I don’t have all day.”
“And if I refuse? It looks like you are fresh out of friends to threaten me with.”
“It’s fine. I don’t need anyone else. Either you go willingly, or not. It’s your choice. But remember, I did give you a choice.”
“Some choice.”
“Last chance.”
My feet press into the ground, my spine locks into place, and I fold my arms over my chest. I’m done with complying.
His lips smirk at me, as if pleased I’ve decided to stand my ground. But then he rushes forward, closing the distance between us, and shoves me with his hands, hard and fast. I fly backwards, my feet tripping over themselves as I stagger and fall.
And fall.
Air rushes around me as my stomach drops at the sudden lack of solid ground beneath my feet. My lungs seize up as my breath is whipped away with terror. My arms and legs spin wildly, slicing through nothing but space, desperate to halt my rapid descent, but there’s nothing to hold or grab onto. Nothing is stopping my freefall into the sea.
Oh, stars, I’m going to die. I’m going to…
My body jolts, as if snagged by a hook around my middle, and I freeze. Every inch of my body, frozen in place. My eyes stare up at the grey and brown collage of rock I just fell past, all the way up to the pale blue sky, dotted with clouds.
I’m not in the waves that are so close they are deafening.
My chest burns from holding my breath, and I gasp for air, spluttering as it fills my lungs. I cough and half-choke, struggling to catch my breath.
Even though I can’t move, my skin is not numb to the cold splashes of the sea that slice into my back like little stab wounds. They bring the pungent smell of salt on the air, different to the scent that drifted to me through the forest.
Nothing else happens. I’m left, suspended, with nothing but magic holding me in place. Only this time, it’s not strong enough to stop me from breathing.
Is it a choice this time? Can he choose how much power to pull and control?
Time drags on as I wait, suspended. He knew all along he’d be able to do this—the bastard.
Finally, voices sound over the waves, and I know they’ve made it down the conventional way. Then, just like the times before, the bind holding me disappears, and my stomach lurches as I drop. This time, only a few feet, before arms manhandle me, bracing my fall and righting me on my feet. Hands pull and grip my arms, and I resist. “Get off me.” The two men don’t obey and remain fighting to keep me standing on a flat rock, jutting out from the base of the cliff—a makeshift platform of sorts.
