‘I’ll stick to the rocks,’ I cut Stide off, already knowing what she was going to say. ‘I’ll stick to the rocks, hold his head up, and when he’s not in immediate danger, I’ll grow the vines from here.’ I point to a tree covered in thick, dense ivy. ‘When the vines are long and thick enough, one of you will need to bring them to me in the river so I can tie them around him.’
I see the doubt lingering in the faces of the Sannings, but I’m done with the days of doubting myself. I’m the gifted. I’ve survived loss and pain and fought to get where I am today. I can do this.
‘I’ll make them strong enough to hold his weight,’ I assure them. ‘Strong enough that they won’t snap. We can pull him out. I know we can. I just need you to do what I say and give it everything you’ve got.’
‘Do it,’ Benny says. ‘You grow the vine, Rose, and I’ll bring it to you.’ His eyes flick to Kyor, who stands alone, all his energy focused on holding Elska still against her will. ‘It’s the least I can do.’
Benny dismounts and hands his horse’s reins to Loch. Then he joins me, looking into the river. He goes up a slope that’s a fair bit steeper than the rest, climbs on top of a large rock resting at the apex, and then looks down into the raging waters. ‘Okay, Rose, step just where I tell you to,’ Benny instructs. ‘I’ll spot the safest path through.’
Gratitude swamps me. Regardless of what reparations he needs to make with Kyor, I thank the Gods for the day I met Benny.
‘Just tell me where I need to go.’
‘Enter there,’ he says, pointing to a section where a tree bows low over the river. ‘Its roots are strong,’ he tells me. ‘Hold on to its branches as you enter; there are plenty of rocks to stand on if you go in there.’
I remove my dagger, only to momentarily contemplate whether it’s safe to leave it in the Sannings’ presence.
‘We will not take it,’ Stide says, reading my thoughts.
My eyes go to Caz, who offers me a nod of assurance.
Knowing it’s safe, I take off my fur too and leave them both on the riverside, and then I follow Benny’s instructions.
I grasp the tree’s nearest branch and gasp as I step into the freezing river. The water is cold enough that it rips my breath away, and for a beat or two I struggle to even breathe, let alone move.
‘Move, Rose!’ Benny yells. ‘You need to move before the cold saps your strength. It’s only going to get harder if you linger.’
It’s hardly a tender word of encouragement, but it’s what I need to get moving all the same. I know all about the bitter cold. I’ve survived it many times, and this will be no different.
I recall the snap of the freezing water around the temple on the night I made my offering to Etta, and my determination to reach the temple no matter what. I use that same stubbornness now as I inch further into the icy water.
Fen must have tried to cross the Taron during low tide and got stuck in the sucking mud. He’s been trapped ever since, cold and afraid.
This is who Elska has been scared for,I realise belatedly. She’s been feeling Fen. Maybe it’s a trait of dire wolves, to feel each other’s pain the way they can with their bonded?
It doesn’t explain whyIcould feel his fear too, but right now, all I can do is add it to the long list of questions to find answers to, along with what’s happening to William’s skin, why Kay isn’t showing powers, and how the heck to get mine under control.
Though whether I ever get to ask them depends on me actually surviving long enough to do so.
The first few steps come easier than I expected. Yes, it’s cold, but I know cold well. The stones under my feet sometimes rock and move, but Benny is there, ready to shout where I should move my feet next.
‘You need to go wide, around to the left of him!’ Benny yells from the riverbank. I do as he says and thankfully find some more stable footing, but it’s not just my feet I have to worry about now. The push of the tide is relentless, constantly threatening to sweep me away and downriver. My legs and stomach burn with the force of fighting against it as I wade through, muscles weakening with the constant shivering that grips my entire body.
Finally, I reach the exhausted wolf.
‘Hey,’ I say softly when I reach him. ‘I know you don’t know me, and I know you probably don’t understand what I’m saying, but I was friends with Zelle.’
His eyes widen at the mention of the old commander’s name, and he lets out a slight whine. It’s a tiny noise, barely audible, and yet it’s enough to send Elska into a howling frenzy.
In answer to her torment, Fen renews his struggles, only to sink deeper into the mire as a result of his thrashing.
‘Kyor!’ I shout back to the bank. ‘Keep her calm! She’s making things worse!’
‘You think I don’t know that!’ he yells, but he must manage to do something because her howls cease.
I turn back to Fen and look into his intelligent olive-green eyes. ‘I’m going to hold your head up for you because I think you’re real tired, big guy. So do me a favour and please don’t bite my hands off, okay? I’m not going to be able to help you if you do that.’
I’m only half joking.
