Page 63 of A Dark and Drowning Tide

“Look at him.” Lorelei gestured helplessly at Ludwig’s crumpled form. “He’s not going to make it either way.”

“You don’t know that! We owe it to him to try.”

They were suddenly very close together. Lorelei had not realized she’d moved, but it was practically instinct now to use her height to her advantage. And yet, Sylvia did not budge. She looked as though she was making her last stand before some horrid fairy-tale creature. Lorelei hated it. She stepped closer, until Sylvia’s head had to tip back to hold her gaze. Until she could feel the heat of Sylvia’s breath against her lips. Until her vision was filled with nothing but Sylvia’s defiant, blazing glory. She had half a mind to grab her chin and . . .

Sylvia made a strange noise, but her silver eyes were molten, almost expectant.

Lorelei had to remind herself that Sylvia could not, in fact, read her thoughts. She put some distance between them and drew a slow breath in an effort to compose herself. It felt impossible to get enough air.

“I understand your concern,” she said. “However, if we don’t find the Ursprung now, we won’t get another opportunity. They’ll try to stop us again.”

Sylvia did not look entirely convinced.

“And perhaps it’s our best chance at saving him. None of the tales agree on what it’s capable of, but if all magic flows from it, it’s possible that all of them are correct. Perhaps the Ursprung has healing properties.”

“I...Idon’t know if that syllogism holds,” Sylvia said, disoriented.

“We owe it to him to try,” Lorelei replied, unable to resist one final jab. “I’ll be fine alone.”

“But you have no idea what you’re up against!” Sylvia protested. “And if you don’treturn—”

“All the better for you, I suppose.”

Sylvia rubbed her temples. “You stubborn fool. I’m coming with you.”

Fifteen

AS THEY ASCENDED THElast stretch of the mountain, guided by the sound of rushing water, the full moon appeared like a seal stamped in shimmering wax. The snow sparkled beneath its glow, and all the world looked inlaid with diamond.

And there, just through the thinning copse of evergreens, they saw it: the first glimpse of the Ursprung. Water thundered down the mountainside and shattered into mist onto the rocks below. Even from here, she could feel it, bitter cold against her cheeks.

“We’re almost there!” Sylvia shouted over the noise.

They were. But they’d never make it.

They’d reached the edge of a canyon. On this side, there was nothing but sheer rock and sheets of ice. Without equipment, it would be nearly impossible to scale. On the other, the path to the summit sloped gradually upward. Unless they wanted to descend into the ravine and cross the river, the only way forward was a narrow ledge of rock beneath the curtain of the waterfall.

Sylvia must have noticed it at the same time. With considerably less cheer than before, she said, “This must be the blade.”

So the schellenrock’s information was good after all. “Great. Just great.”

Valiantly struggling to keep the dread out of her voice, Sylvia said, “What is it they say? The only way out is through?”

Lorelei crouched to examine the ledge. It was barely wider than the length of her hand. They’d have to press their backs to the wall and sidle their way to the otherside—allwhile the waterfall buffeted them. She wicked the moisture off her face with a flick of her hand.

Sylvia sat beside her, her feet dangling off the edge of the cliff. Lorelei’s stomach flipped just looking at her. “Would you like me to go first?”

Horrible images flickered behind Lorelei’s eyelids. Sylvia falling like an angel cast from heaven. Sylvia shattered at the bottom of that ravine. Sylvia’s blood pooling around her like a halo of crimson. She’d fret herself sick. Best to go first and plummet to her death unbothered.

“No. I’ll go first.”

Sylvia smiled at her knowingly. “You’re afraid, aren’t you?”

Lorelei scowled. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Youare.” She clapped her hands together with delight. “So you really are human.”

“Focus, von Wolff. I think you’re enjoying this too much.”