understood that.”
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
His irritation was evident. “You should have waited for me, like I asked.”
“I couldn’t. I saw those highwaymen who tried to rob us before, and I left the tavern before they noticed me.”
Wills suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders and peered at her throat. “You’re bleeding!”
A forced laugh. “Am I? I must’ve brushed up against a bramble bush in my haste to find you. It’s nothing, really.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’re not telling me everything.”
“Of course I am.”
“I warn you, if I learn otherwise, we’re abandoning this quest.”
“There’s nothing to tell.” A dark cloud passed overhead, blotting out the sun. “If you’re ready, let’s get started. Perhaps we can reach the first lookout before it rains.”
At the base of the cliff, Samantha and Wills gaped at the seemingly endless flight of roughly hewn stone stairs carved into the rock face. A low-hanging bank of fog obscured the stairs after a hundred yards or so, but the compass indicated they were on the right path.
Wills swept his arm out in flourished invitation. “After you.”
Immersed in her own thoughts and propelled by adrenaline, Samantha climbed for almost half an hour before she noticed Wills lagging behind.
“Are you all right?”
He waved her on. “My pack is rather heavy, so I’m taking it slow.”
Unable to stand still for more than a few moments, Samantha kept moving. It was as if she were trying to put distance between her and what had happened in Elturon. Guilt and fear swirled around her, thicker than the surrounding fog. I cursed those men somehow. It may have been inadvertent and unwitting, but she’d done it all the same. And by not telling Wills, she’d already broken her promise not to lie to him. Am I truly wicked? Perhaps something about the Uncharted Region has brought out the worst in me. What if I can’t control myself and I hurt Wills?
Another forty-five minutes passed before Samantha realized she couldn’t see Wills anymore. The fog had grown so dense, she wasn’t even sure how far she’d climbed. Beads of perspiration were rolling down her back at regular intervals, and the muscles in her legs strained with fatigue. A light rain was falling, and her pack grew ever more burdensome with every step. If my pack is this heavy, how must Wills be managing with his?
The first lookout was farther away than Samantha could have ever anticipated, but its appearance was blessedly welcome. With pillars fashioned of stone, the simple square structure was no larger than six feet across. A thatched roof protected travelers from the elements, a small fire pit was carved out in the center, and a low wall enclosed the space. While waiting for Wills to join her, Samantha gathered together loose twigs, leaves, and pinecones from the surrounding terrain to burn for warmth. Although she searched her pack thoroughly for the flint and steel fire starting kit, the set was missing. Blast it! Wills must have the fire starter with him.
A thunderclap sounded overhead, heralding the arrival of frigid rain and sleet. Worried about Wills, Samantha paced back and forth. What could be taking him so long? I shouldn’t have left his side. When the prince arrived, he was shivering and his lips were tinged blue. His pack thudded to the ground before he collapsed in a heap and passed out.
Chapter Five
Like a Kiss
H IS H ANDS W ERE F RIGHTENINGLY C OLD to the touch, and his teeth were chattering. Samantha covered him with the thick blanket from her pack, and reached into his pack to locate a second one. To her shock, she discovered the pack was nearly immobile. Wills carried all the heaviest things up the mountain by himself! After she spread the second blanket over him, she rummaged through his pack until she found the fire starting kit. Striking steel to flint, she managed to create sparks. But the twigs failed to ignite because they were too moist.
The spring squall
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
His irritation was evident. “You should have waited for me, like I asked.”
“I couldn’t. I saw those highwaymen who tried to rob us before, and I left the tavern before they noticed me.”
Wills suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders and peered at her throat. “You’re bleeding!”
A forced laugh. “Am I? I must’ve brushed up against a bramble bush in my haste to find you. It’s nothing, really.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’re not telling me everything.”
“Of course I am.”
“I warn you, if I learn otherwise, we’re abandoning this quest.”
“There’s nothing to tell.” A dark cloud passed overhead, blotting out the sun. “If you’re ready, let’s get started. Perhaps we can reach the first lookout before it rains.”
At the base of the cliff, Samantha and Wills gaped at the seemingly endless flight of roughly hewn stone stairs carved into the rock face. A low-hanging bank of fog obscured the stairs after a hundred yards or so, but the compass indicated they were on the right path.
Wills swept his arm out in flourished invitation. “After you.”
Immersed in her own thoughts and propelled by adrenaline, Samantha climbed for almost half an hour before she noticed Wills lagging behind.
“Are you all right?”
He waved her on. “My pack is rather heavy, so I’m taking it slow.”
Unable to stand still for more than a few moments, Samantha kept moving. It was as if she were trying to put distance between her and what had happened in Elturon. Guilt and fear swirled around her, thicker than the surrounding fog. I cursed those men somehow. It may have been inadvertent and unwitting, but she’d done it all the same. And by not telling Wills, she’d already broken her promise not to lie to him. Am I truly wicked? Perhaps something about the Uncharted Region has brought out the worst in me. What if I can’t control myself and I hurt Wills?
Another forty-five minutes passed before Samantha realized she couldn’t see Wills anymore. The fog had grown so dense, she wasn’t even sure how far she’d climbed. Beads of perspiration were rolling down her back at regular intervals, and the muscles in her legs strained with fatigue. A light rain was falling, and her pack grew ever more burdensome with every step. If my pack is this heavy, how must Wills be managing with his?
The first lookout was farther away than Samantha could have ever anticipated, but its appearance was blessedly welcome. With pillars fashioned of stone, the simple square structure was no larger than six feet across. A thatched roof protected travelers from the elements, a small fire pit was carved out in the center, and a low wall enclosed the space. While waiting for Wills to join her, Samantha gathered together loose twigs, leaves, and pinecones from the surrounding terrain to burn for warmth. Although she searched her pack thoroughly for the flint and steel fire starting kit, the set was missing. Blast it! Wills must have the fire starter with him.
A thunderclap sounded overhead, heralding the arrival of frigid rain and sleet. Worried about Wills, Samantha paced back and forth. What could be taking him so long? I shouldn’t have left his side. When the prince arrived, he was shivering and his lips were tinged blue. His pack thudded to the ground before he collapsed in a heap and passed out.
Chapter Five
Like a Kiss
H IS H ANDS W ERE F RIGHTENINGLY C OLD to the touch, and his teeth were chattering. Samantha covered him with the thick blanket from her pack, and reached into his pack to locate a second one. To her shock, she discovered the pack was nearly immobile. Wills carried all the heaviest things up the mountain by himself! After she spread the second blanket over him, she rummaged through his pack until she found the fire starting kit. Striking steel to flint, she managed to create sparks. But the twigs failed to ignite because they were too moist.
The spring squall
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