Chapter 6
For a fleeting moment Ilian felt weightless, as if flying through the air. Then, the wind receded and he plunged towards the water below.
“What the—” His body crashed into the river and water filled his mouth. The icy water sucked the warmth from Ilian's body as he was drawn into its depths.
It was as if the river were alive, angry at their intrusion, trying to draw the life from him.
Ilian's lungs burned as he fought against the torrent. He swam with all his might, but the surface yet eluded him. At last, he burst free of the water's cold embrace and gasped for air. The frigid breeze hit him like a hammer.
“Ilian!”
He swung his gaze towards the voice. Karena clung to a rock jutting from beneath the surface on the other side of the river.
“Ilian, ahead of you. Grab the—” The roar of the river drowned out her voice.
Ilian's breathing was labored as he fought against the fast moving waters. The river tried to pull him under again. It was as if a hundred hands reached up from below trying to grab his ankles and drag him into the deep, dark depths.
His muscles strained as he struggled to remain afloat. He roared back at the river as he swam, desperate, for the safety of the boulder ahead of him.
I won't die here!
The river tried to draw him towards the center, but he kept his course. Ilian held out his hands and braced himself for the impact. He crashed into the boulder with a grunt and threw his arms around it. His fingers were numb, thwarting his attempts at finding purchase. He dug his fingernails into the rock and pushed himself up against it as the water continued to batter his body.
He turned to see Karena had made it onto the shore opposite of him.
“Ilian, hold on!” Karena called from the shore. “I'm going to throw a rope. Don't let go!”
“Hurry up,” he shouted. “It's d—damn cold out here.” Shivers wracked his body.
I don't know how much longer I can hold on.
Karena pulled a rope from her pack and tied the end into a loop.
He groaned as she swung it above her head. It was the same rope she'd used to tie him to a tree.
This is going to be a long night.
“Grab hold,” Karena shouted and flung the end of the rope towards him.
Ilian reached out and tried to grasp it, but it slipped through his fingers and dropped into the river. He hugged the rock again before the water could push him off.
“Damn it. Don't miss this time!” Karena pulled the rope in and prepared to throw it a second time.
“Learn how to throw, woman.” The water on his face had begun to freeze and his teeth chattered.
Ilian could feel his stamina ebbing. There would be no third attempt if he missed the rope again. Karena threw the rope towards him. It soared through the air, arcing downwards as it flew closer. He gathered his strength and launched himself from the boulder. He outstretched his arms and grabbed onto the rope with both hands. Ilian bounced and sank back into the water as Karena reeled him in.
“Don't just hang there like a dead fish,” Karena said through grit teeth. “Kick your legs.”
Ilian was more than half way now, but Karena still seemed so far away. He kicked with what little energy he had left. His body was sluggish, his mind hazy.
Then, clammy hands grabbed his arm and dragged him onto the shore. His muscles were flimsy, devoid of strength. Even the act of breathing was a draining task.
Karena's clothes were soaked and her hair was plastered to the side of her head. “You're hopeless,” she panted. Get your clothes off. You'll die if you don't get dry.” She poked him with her foot.
His laugh was interrupted by a coughing fit. “Wh—What kind of rescuer are you?” Ilian tried to rise, but was interrupted as another round of coughing wracked his body.
Karena looped her arms under his and dragged him to a nearby outcropping of rocks. “Take your clothes off while I get a fire going.”
He was sure he was blushing, though his face was still numb. “Wha—”
“Just do it. We need to generate some heat if we're going to survive and these wet clothes aren't helping us any.” She tossed her pack onto the ground and rummaged through it.
Ilian lifted his tunic over his head and dropped it on the ground. His muscles screamed with each movement, but he clenched his teeth and pressed on. Water spilled from each of his boots as he pulled them off. He slipped out of his britches and hugged himself as the cold air nipped at his naked body.
The first spark of life sprung to the pile of tinder in front of Karena and illuminated her face. Ilian could clearly see the scars that adorned each cheek, her hair that matched the color of the flame beneath her and her deep, blue eyes.
Despite the hate he felt for her, he couldn't help but admire her beauty.
“H—How d—did y—y—you do t—that so fast?” He managed between the chattering of his teeth.
“There's a powder we manufacture in my clan that's highly combustible, even when wet.” She held up a torn piece of parchment. ”Comes in handy.” She pulled a blanket out of her pack and threw it at him. “Use this.”
It bounced off his chest and landed in his lap. “But it's w—wet.”
“The material doesn't hold moisture. It'll keep you warm.” Karena tossed some more wood on the fire. She walked over, grabbed his clothes and laid them out near their make-shift fire pit.
He felt the blanket. It was wet, however it was far from saturated. He unrolled it and wrapped it around his body. Relief swept over him as it buffered the wind.
I feel warmer already. What is this thing made out of?
“What about y—” His jaw dropped.
Karena's red hair caught the light, seeming to blaze with a fire of its own. She removed her leggings and laid them with the rest of their clothes.
Ilian felt a different kind of heat rising in him. “What're you doing?” His eyes widened as the firelight revealed scars across her body.
I wonder how she got all of those scars.
She smirked. “There's only one blanket, you know.”
He tried, unsuccessfully, to remove his eyes from her breasts.
They look like they're just about the right size for—no—I have to clear my mind.
She crawled underneath the blanket and pressed her body against his. She pulled him close and entwined her legs around his own.
Her breath tickled his chest.
“Don't get the wrong idea, boy.” She chuckled. “Try anything, and I'll ensure you never have the chance to please a woman.”
He swallowed.
A long night, indeed.
—
It wasn't until the rush had faded and Karena's heart slowed that all the aches and pains acquired through the night came crashing down. Her head throbbed and the muscles in her shoulders and back were still taut. The voice that had been inside her head echoed within her thoughts. Whatever that voice had been, she wasn't looking to repeat the experience.
Besides, she had bigger problems at hand.
“This? This is your path through the mountains?” Ilian gestured towards the frozen ground beneath them. “You realize what time of the year it is, right?”
Karena sighed. “I know what damn time of year it is. We don't have a choice. They'll hunt us down if we're careless.” He had been complaining all morning and she was about at her wits end. It didn't help that she no longer had control of his spark.
Another thing about last night that she was still confused about.
Ilian shook his head. “We'll freeze! I imagine we won't get far as blocks of ice.”
She rubbed her temple. This kid's giving me a headache. I should've ripped out his tongue back in Lochden.
“You call yourself a man yet, here you are, whining like a little girl. It's obvious that brand on your arm is just for show.” She jabbed the map with her finger for emphasis. “This
is where we're going, like it or not.”
Ilian had grown more bold since the Hamma was broken. She didn't have the strength nor the desire to use it on him again.
Not after what happened on the bridge. It was as if someone else was inside of me trying to claw their way out.
“Whining?” Ilian clenched his fingers into a fist. “You killed my father and dragged me from my home, cast some sort of magic on me, and plunged me into a freezing river. And you're distraught because I'm whining”
He kicked the stump of a tree. “What the hell is it all for, Karena? Why me?”
It was only a matter of time. But, it's too early for him to know. Sorry, Valnoth.
She glared at him. “I was sent by the leader of my clan to retrieve you. We're assassins, not kidnappers. Ordinarily, there's no one left alive when I finish the task set before me. Consider yourself lucky.”
Raise your voice against me one more time and see what happens.
Ilian's eyes were narrowed, and his lips pressed into a thin line. Finally, he sighed and shrugged his shoulders. “Fine. Gambler's Pass it is.” He shook his tunic. “At least get me something warmer then this.”
Karena nodded. “At least we can agree on one thing. There's a small town here,” she pointed to another location on the map, “which should have what we need.”
I'm going to need to keep an eye on him.
If the previous night hadn't taken such a heavy toll on them both she'd have knocked him senseless long ago.
She rolled the map up and slid it back into its protective canister. They'd washed further downstream than she'd thought, putting them several days behind schedule. There was no doubt in her mind that the guardsmen from Waterford would be out for blood.
We need to be away from here quickly, before they catch up to us.
The thinner woods here made for easier travel, though she didn't feel it. The sun had barely risen, and already her muscles protested every movement. Karena glanced behind her.
Ilian was breathing heavily, his dark hair plastered to his head with sweat. They needed their strength if they were going to get through the mountains. She knew the way through Gambler's Pass, but there was a certain element of luck involved as well.
One couldn't trust the elements in such a place.
“Let's rest here.” She dropped her pack and slumped against a tree. Ilian, looking grateful for the respite, collapsed to the ground behind her and rolled onto his back.
She studied him as he took slow, deep breaths. His upper body was well toned, with broad shoulders and a slim waist. However, one thing he lacked was endurance and lower body strength. He tired quickly in the woods, and she doubted he could run very far.
This is going to be a difficult journey if I have to carry his share of the load, as well. She held back a smile. It'd be just like last time, I suppose.
“Hey Karena,” Ilian panted. “How much further to the town?”
She grunted. “It's roughly twenty leagues, but how soon we reach it depends upon whether you can stand on your own two feet long enough for us to get there.”
He took a deep breath and exhaled. “Can we reach it today?”
Karena sighed. “Theoretically, yes. Though, we may have to walk a bit by moonlight.”
Ilian grabbed a sapling and pulled himself to his feet. “Well then, let's get going. I'd sooner rest on a warm bed then spend another night on the frozen ground.”
“Ha, coming from the half dead guy.” She grinned. “All right, let's see if you can keep up.”
After traveling a while more, she stopped and turned to check on him. Ilian's movements were stiff and labored as he struggled to keep up with her. She was beyond tired herself, however years of facing near death situations had taught her how to block the pain. Her opponents had never given up, never stopped trying, despite the pain and fatigue they felt.
And so, she couldn't afford to give up either.
The moon rose in front of them as, behind them, the last rays of the sun were swallowed up by the land.
A thump from behind her.
Ilian was on the ground again. “Ugh. I can't go on, Karena. My legs are so sore I can barely lift them.”
“You sure? Because I was just about to get some hot stew. But, we can stay here if you like.” She began sliding her pack off her shoulders.
He propped himself onto his elbow. “Wait, what? Stew? Where?”
“Can't you smell it? Pineview is right in front of us.”
He closed his eyes and craned his neck as he sniffed the air. “My nose is all stuffy. I can't smell a thing.”
She rolled her eyes. Men...
“You're about as useful as a block of iron in the wilderness. Get up, we're almost there.” She grabbed him by arm and yanked him to his feet. They stumbled through the woods for another half-league before the town came into sight.
Pineview was a small town, but it held great importance; it was the last bit of civilization before the Crystal Mountains.
Well, Karena thought. I wouldn't call Pineview 'civilized'.
The mountains behind Pineview towered above the town, a constant reminder of the danger they held. The Crystal Mountains got their name from the thick ice that made them shine like diamonds throughout the year. Prone to avalanches and strange disappearances, the mountains were to be taken seriously by any that dared venture into them.
Especially now.
Several ragged-looking stores were lined up together, their signs swinging in the cold breeze. The lights were extinguished in all but one; a warm glow bled from the doorway and a bout of laughter broke out as she approached. Karena pushed the door open and motioned for Ilian to follow.
Hushed whispers and cold stares greeted Karena as they shuffled inside the building. Ale and smoke clogged Karena's nostrils as she made her way towards the barkeep. Heat washed over her body sank into her weary bones.
Ilian coughed and hacked behind her.
The barkeep looked her up and down from over his long, pointy nose. “Ey lass, we dun see many new visitors up 'ere this time o' year.” He frowned at her as he finished wiping out a glass and set it down.
She reached into her boot and pulled out a pouch. It jingled merrily as she emptied a few coins into her palm and dropped them onto the counter in front of the barkeep. “We need a room and supplies enough to make it through the mountains.”
His eyes widened as he eyed the gold glinting in front of him. “Ey lass, you're crazy to risk the mountains on the verge o' winter.”
She glared at him. “Just do as I say. Or, is my money no good here?” She reached for the coins.
The barkeep swept the coins from the counter and into his pocket before she could pick them up. “No, no it shall be done, me lady.” He fished a key from under the counter and handed it to her. “Upstairs and second t' the right. I'll bring some food up to yee in a bit.” He smiled and nodded his head before sauntering off to attend to the cries of his patrons.
Ilian sat on a nearby chair half asleep.
Karena sighed. It'll be days before either of us are rested enough to attempt the journey through the mountains.
She reached for his shoulder and shook him. “Lets go, Ilian.”
“Ugh, I was just dozing off too.” He stumbled up the stairs behind her.
I hate stairs, Karena thought. She leaned against the wall with each step. Her legs were exhausted, her hands were rope-burned and her head throbbed.
I can't remember the last time I was this tired.
Karena stopped in front of the door to their room and inserted the key into the lock. She turned the key and it clicked open. She grabbed a candle from the hallway and lit a candle just inside the room.
There was a single bed, a wash basin and a wooden dressing table with a small mirror. A window gave them a view of the stables below. The breath from a lone horse could be seen misting from within the stable.
She snorted in discontent at the meager furnishings. I guess this is all that can be expected in a town like this.
Karena tossed her pack into a corner of the room and sat down on the bed. Her body was stiff and her eyes heavy. Nothing had gone right since the moment she arrived in Lochden and it had taken its toll on her body. She slipped her boots off and unfastened her cloak.
“We'll rest tonight and begin preparations tomorrow.”
Ilian was still standing in the doorway.
“What's wrong?” She was too tired for this.
He shifted his feet and looked around the room.
“It's either share the bed with me or sleep on the cold floor. Which would you prefer?”
Karena watched with annoyance as Ilian eyed the floor, clearly contemplating the idea. After a moment he sighed, threw off his boots and outers and slid under the bedding.
She stretched her back before extinguishing the candle. Then, she crawled into the bed and closed her eyes.
—
Fin stroked the stubble on his chin, noting the flash of coin between the woman and the barkeep. A few more words were exchanged and then the barkeep wandered off, while the woman took the boy with her upstairs.
He fingered the dagger at his belt and turned towards his partner. “Hey, Tim.”
Tim emptied his pint and sighed in content. “Yeah, Fin?” He leaned back in his seat.
“You see what I see?” Fin nodded his head towards the barkeep.
“Aye.”
“Tonight?”
“Aye.”
Their chairs scraped across the floor in unison.