Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 127722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
A good sign.
I searched the snow for tracks, but the wind had swept them clean a long time ago. Snow must have fallen sometime since then, especially since it’d been three days since she was lowered down there.
I was tempted to call for her, but I had no idea who—or what—was down there. My father had shared stories with me, stories that I never told Ivory, because as brave as she seemed to be, they would have terrified her.
I moved forward through the trees, my boots crunching as they dug into the piles of snow with each step. I’d grabbed extra clothes before I’d left, and it was a good thing I had, but the air was so cold and dry. My eyes already strained to produce moisture to keep them lubricated.
It was quiet down there, really quiet.
Almost peaceful.
I walked that way for a while, my eyes scanning the horizon, searching between the trees for a sign of a campfire. They wouldn’t survive out there in the elements, so they must have found shelter. At least, I hoped they did.
Something caught my eye.
Fire.
Just a glimmer of it through a crack in the cliff face.
Hidden behind a pine, I watched, hoping to spot a face.
There was no movement.
I stayed there for a while and realized I wouldn’t see anything at this angle. I’d have to approach. It was probably Effie and her family, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up, because if someone else was there and they weren’t…they were probably dead.
I approached the crevasse in the cliff face, which would have escaped my attention if it weren’t for the fire. Too preoccupied with finding Effie, I probably wouldn’t have noticed it. Good thing I did.
I approached the entrance as quietly as possible and peered inside.
On a bedroll were a woman and her young daughter.
An older man leaned against the wall, eating a sack of dried nuts.
But there was no sign of Effie.
I stepped inside and lifted my hands from my weapons. “I mean you no harm.”
The father’s reaction was so slow that he wouldn’t have been able to stop me. He wouldn’t have even known I was there before I’d killed him. He dropped his handful of nuts onto the stone and looked as pale as the snow. “Who are you?”
The mother and sister jerked up, and the mother immediately put her protective arms around her child.
“A friend of Effie’s.” He obviously didn’t recognize me, and that might be a good thing. “Where is she?”
He looked me over, examining my weapons and armor. “She went to look for others…”
“By herself?” I asked in disbelief.
He held my gaze and didn’t speak.
“How long has she been gone?”
“About an hour,” the mother said. “How did you get down here? Were you lowered too?”
“I know another way.”
Her dad immediately gave a jolt. “You do? Where?”
“Head back in the opposite direction. There’s a cave hidden behind some boulders. You wouldn’t see it if you didn’t know it was there. It’s a long climb back up, so it’ll take a couple days to make it back.”
Her father locked eyes with her mother.
“But don’t return to Delacroix,” I said. “If the duke sees you, he’ll send you back down here.” Or, more than likely, just kill them where they stood so they wouldn’t be able to talk. “I’ll go after Effie if you want to meet at the cave.”
They immediately started to deliberate among themselves.
I didn’t stop to eat or drink. Effie was out there—alone—and I didn’t have a minute to spare.
She’d only been gone an hour, but there was no sign of her.
There was nothing ahead but a snowy landscape, so her dark clothing should mark her like a flag. I eventually came across her tracks, seeing her trail through the tall pines. It took all my strength not to call out her name, but that would put both of us in danger.
Now that I knew I was right behind her, I picked up my pace, running through the snow and kicking up powder everywhere.
Then I heard it.
A woman’s scream.
“No.” I pulled out my short sword and shield and hustled faster, tripping here and there, completely unfamiliar with snow.
Her voice was unmistakable. “Touch me and see what happens!”
Fuck. I didn’t make it this far just to be too late.
I finally saw them through the opening in the trees, Effie holding out her sword with a shaky hand, her inexperience obvious in her footwork and posture.
A group of five men faced her, wearing armor the color of darkness, making the snow look even whiter in comparison. They all had broadswords and bows and arrows. They looked human, no different from the two of us, but there was a paleness to their skin that set them apart.
Their eyes shifted to me once I appeared in the clearing.