Page 39

Adelina clasped Sara’s hand, urging her to listen.

She chose her next words carefully. “Please hear me. The first step to require such a weapon is to give a life to the god of thunder, justice, and war. Perun. We will find him at the highest peak in the Salken Mountains. If you are determined to die, then let it be meaningful. I beg for your help. It is not just my husband I wish to save, but thousands of lives threatened by Filip.”

“You wish to take me into the mountains…to die?” Sara peeked through her dusty lashes.

“Yes.” Adelina squeezed her hand. “You will see the birds, and wildlife, the sun through the clouds and mist, and the gods will be through the veil. Peace is what I offer you.”

“It is more than I am likely to get here.” Sara smiled again. “But first, you will need to convince Molly to let me go.”

“I’ll get her to agree.” Adelina headed over to Molly as she dressed a patient’s abdominal wounds with fresh bandages. “When you’re done, may I speak with you?”

“I’m just finishing up.” Molly tied a knot, then as she turned, she flattened the slight creases in her apron. “I thank you for sitting with Sara for a while. She does not get visitors.”

“Is there somewhere we could talk in private? ”

With a frown, Molly gestured to the narrow door at the back of the room.

When they were through it, away from the listening ears of the patients, Adelina lifted her chin a notch higher. “I wish to take Sara with me.”

“With you?” Molly’s eyebrows shot upwards, eyes widening. “Why in the realm would you do that?”

“As you said, she does not get visitors,” Adelina said, keeping her gaze fixed on Molly’s. “I’m to join my husband’s family on their farm beyond the mountains. We could offer her a peaceful life there.”

Molly shook her head. “A patient as sickly as Sara will not survive the arduous journey through the mountains.”

“My husband is sending a carriage for me.” Adelina’s lie tasted sour in her mouth. “It is due to arrive at the foot of the mountains in an hour. I can escort Sara by horse until then.”

Molly was silent for a moment, then said, “Why would you offer such a thing to a woman you do not know?”

“I know what it is like to be without family,” Adelina said, and meant it. The thought of her own family made her heart ache. “And it is within my bounds to give this woman what she wants: a peaceful ending.”

“I will have to speak with Sara and ensure she is happy with this,” Molly said. “In truth, we are desperate for vacant beds.”

Adelina ignored the twisting of her stomach as the healer headed into the main room.

“Wait by the door, and I’ll be over with you shortly,” Molly said before striding over to Sara .

With a nod, Adelina made her way to the front of the building and tapped her foot. Molly spoke to Sara in a hushed tone, and Adelina bit her bottom lip as she waited for the decision to be made.

She let out a sigh of relief when Molly eased Sara onto her feet, wrapping the blanket around her shoulders.

“I have spoken with Sara, and she has graciously accepted your proposal,” Molly said, guiding the patient over in slow, steady steps.

“It will be good to feel the sun on my face again.” Sara smiled, warmer than before. “Molly, you should open the windows…it’s awfully stuffy in here.”

Molly patted Sara on the back as she opened the door. Turning to Adelina, she said, “Where is your horse?”

“Just outside.” Adelina stepped through the door, unfastening the reins from the nearby post. “Here, let me help you, Sara.” She hooked her arm around her, then helped her into the saddle. “I’ll sit behind you to ensure you’re comfortable.”

Placing her foot in the stirrup, she flung her leg over and positioned herself as a support for Sara.

She slipped an arm on either side of the frail woman, then grasped the reins.

They bid their farewells to Molly, and together, they rode out of the dismal village, and along the path into the mountains.

∞∞∞

When deep shadows formed along the path, and starlight peeked through the gaps between the gathering clouds, Adelina drew the horse to a stop.

She dropped to her feet, then helped Sara down.

At the side of the path, she spotted a sharp overhang jutting out of the mountainside.

It would provide them with shelter from the icy winds the night would surely bring.

She guided Sara and the horse under the overhang, untied her bags, then dumped them on the ground.

“I’ll be right back,” she said to Sara as she eased her onto her feet. “I’m going to get us more food. We’ve shared what I’d brought on the way.”

As she turned on her heel, she rubbed the horse’s nose.

Staying close to the overhang, she climbed up the jutting side of the opposite mountain, and weaved her way between loose rocks, and clumps of grass.

From her position a few feet above the path, she maintained a clear vision of Sara, the horse, and her belongings.

Ahead of her was a cluster of aspen trees, clinging to the mountainside—their roots weaving in and out of the soil like thick claws.

When she reached the tree, she knelt, then ran her fingers over the cool grass.

Amongst the blades, she found round mushrooms—their cap a tan colour, contrasting with their white stems. Recognising them from the markets in Aramoor, she knew they were safe to eat.

She plucked a handful of them and stuffed them into her pockets.

In the opposite direction, continuing deeper into the mountain range, she spotted dense brambles, vibrant green leaves, and if her suspicions were right, she’d find berries amongst the thorns.

She tugged a load of berries from the branches, keeping a tight hold of them while she descended the steep bank to the path.

By the time she reached the overhang, her teeth were chattering from the growing cold of the night. She set her food aside, went about gathering sticks for a fire, then stacked them together. With a wave of her finger, the fire was lit.

“I won’t lie, I’m surprised you convinced Molly to let me leave. I was certain to die in that place.” Sara wrinkled her nose. “What did you say to convince her?”

Adelina couldn’t meet her gaze. “I offered you peace on my husband’s family farm beyond the mountains.”

“A beautiful lie.” Sara shrugged one shoulder.

“Why did you agree to come with me?”

“I am dying anyway. What difference does it make?” Sara turned on her side, resting against the luggage.

Adelina let the silence hang for a moment, before finally deciding her words. “We will leave at first light. Thank you again. Your sacrifice means more than you know.”

∞∞∞

When the first signs of dawn cast streams of golden light across the mountains, Adelina woke.

She rubbed her eyes, sat, then glanced at Sara who slept.

Something seemed off about waking a dying woman from her final sleep to be taken to a god to be sacrificed.

Instead of debating the morality of what she needed to do, she focused on her mission.

She’d be giving this woman a peaceful death—better than what she could’ve hoped for in her village—and in return, she’d be granted the enchanted obsidian from Perun.

While Adelina munched on her foraged foods, Sara stirred. Rubbing her eyes with the back of her hands, Sara struggled to sit up. Her eyelids drooped, and her hair hung limp around her face.

“Are you okay?” Adelina’s good-natured side couldn’t resist asking, despite it being a stupid question.

“As good as one can be on their deathbed.” Sara laughed breathlessly. “Pass over some berries…might as well eat before I meet the gods.”

Nodding, Adelina handed her half a dozen wild strawberries. “When you’re ready, we’ll make a move.”

After a while of watching Sara laboriously eat, she helped her onto the saddle. This time, she didn’t mount but guided the horse with the reins.

“We’ll only be able to go so far by horse,” Adelina said. “When we reach the tallest peak, we’ll have to climb the rest by foot.”

“How do you…expect me to do that?” Sara asked—her body slumped forwards.

“I’ll carry you.”

“A fair maiden such as yourself…carry me up a mountain?” Sara said. “Aren’t I lucky.”

Adelina didn’t respond, but instead, considered the inevitable array of emotions she’d likely experience in the coming hours. All she could pray for, and hope for, was that Sara kept her wits until the end .

Keep going. You can do this. I’m with you every step of the way. It wasn’t Damir’s voice inside her head, but the words she imagined him saying brought her comfort. A warmth burst from her chest. It would all be worth it.

“So, tell me about this husband of yours,” Sara said, jolting Adelina from her thoughts. “Might as well…share a good tale…before I die.”

“You should stop talking. Conserve your energy,” Adelina said at first, then obliged. “We were wed recently. We arranged it so I could escape Filip’s clutches.”

“Do you love him?” Sara asked, ignoring her instruction to remain quiet.

“Of course. Very much so.” The words left Adelina’s mouth with unwavering certainty. “We were childhood friends.”

“A perfect match.” Sara smiled, which Adelina caught as she glanced over her shoulder. “You must miss him.”

“Deeply.” Every fibre of Adelina’s body ached with the loss of her husband.

She didn’t know how long it would take to obtain the Sword of Light, and what she might face when she finally went to rescue him from the palace.

Blinking back tears, she focused—it wasn’t the right time to be overcome with emotion.

“I didn’t wish to upset you,” Sara managed, as she cleared her throat. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Adelina cleared her own throat, trying to rid herself of the firm lump lodged there. “You have done me and many others a great service by coming here. ”