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His brow furrowed, and he glanced away. “We can’t go through the bridge. There’s a merchant party on their way to Southwatch camped above this pier for the night, and we can’t get in without them seeing. It will have to be by boat.”
Lara swallowed the unease that burned in her stomach, hearing the rising winds.Control your fear,she commanded.There is much to be gained here if you keep your wits about you.
“I’ll manage,” she muttered.
Aren turned on Taryn, who was rubbing her temples. “Not your finest hour, soldier. Jor will deal with your punishment once we’re home.”
“Sorry, Your Grace,” Taryn said, and guilt briefly rose in Lara before she swallowed it away.
Aren led Lara by the hand through the darkness, Jor in the lead and the groggy Taryn behind, the other woman carrying something bulky that bumped against her shoulder as she ran.
The winds were rising higher by the second, but over them, the surf slamming against the cliff walls filled Lara’s ears, and her heart thundered riotously knowing they intended to sail upon it. Sweat rolled in beads down her back as they reached the cliff tops overlooking the sea, nothing visible in the blackness, the moon and stars obscured by clouds.
It began to rain.
A cold drizzle that soaked her hair and trickled down the back of her tunic as she watched the soldiers stationed on the island strain to lift what appeared to be an enormous wooden ladder up into the air. The end of it was attached to ropes, and it took eight of them to lower it over the edge of the cliff into the darkness below.
“There’s a large rock outcropping below,” Aren shouted into her ear. “We’ll climb down, then wade over to the islet where we have the boats moored. It’s low tide, but the water will still be up to your knees.”
“Let’s go!” Jor was on the ladder and climbing down toward the crashing sea below, Lia following him.
“I’ll go first. Then you, then Taryn.”
Lara nodded wordlessly, unable to speak around the chatter of her teeth. Aren swung onto the ladder and clambered down, but when Lara gripped the rungs, her fingers felt numb. Her arms and legs trembled, and it took all her willpower to descend. Down and down toward the water.
If they can do it, so can you.She repeated the chant, her lips moving silently, her hands slick with sweat, spray drenching her clothes as wave after wave hammered the outcropping below. Finally, Aren’s hands closed around her waist, steadying her as she stepped onto the slimy rocks. Taryn was down a moment later, and when she gave the call, there was a creak as the soldiers lifted the ladder back onto the island.
Lara could see nothing.Nothing.But all around her, water roared. One step in the wrong direction and she was done for. The thought had her dropping to her knees, her fingers clutching at the rocks.
“We don’t have time for you to crawl,” Aren shouted over the noise. “We’ll be in a far worse spot if we’re stuck out here when the tide turns.”
Her knees trembled as she rose, her breath coming in great gasping whooshes as she took one step, then two, allowing Aren to guide her.
“Jor’s marked the path.” Aren lifted her hand, using it to point, because she couldn’t so much as see his outline in the blackness.
There.
Smears of glowing algae were faintly visible every few paces. Her heart steadied, and she pressed forward, her confidence growing with each step.
“There’s about a ten foot stretch here that’s submerged. You’ll be up to your knees, but the current is strong, so hold on to me.”
“Damn you for making me do this.”
Aren laughed, which pissed her off enough to take the first step.
Lara’s boot filled with water, the current shoving against her leg, then dragging her in the opposite direction as it surged. She clung to Aren’s belt, feeling Taryn’s steadying hand on her shoulder from behind.
Step.
Step.
Her toe caught on a rock, and Lara stumbled, a sob tearing from her throat as she caught her balance.
Step.
Step.
A large wave surged against her, and she slid sideways, her legs washing out from under her. She was up to her waist in water, only her grip on Aren’s belt keeping her upright. Her scream cut the night, frantic and desperate and primal, then his hands closed around her arms, dragging her from the water.
