Page 44 of Four Ruined Realms (The Broken Blades #2)

Aeri

The Northern Pass, Khitan

I’ve had time to mull it over, and I really don’t think last night could’ve gone worse. I flinched when Royo touched the amulet, just out of shock, and everything fell apart. But it wasn’t like I could explain it to him. I couldn’t say “um hey, I’m not sure if my magical, time-controlling gem will know it’s you touching it and not me, and I’m not sure what will happen if it does.”

So I recoiled, and he got weird, and now it’s a grand mess.

What makes things even better is that it’s time to camp again.

I purse my lips.

We haven’t talked much today. Royo has tried hard to pretend things are normal, but they aren’t, which makes everything even more awkward.

We were supposed to have stopped a while ago, but we can’t find a clearing like we did yesterday. The snow is deep, and he doesn’t want to go into the woods because of predators. After seeing the body of the zaybear, I don’t disagree.

I shudder thinking about those fangs. The memory of my fear that I’d lost Royo and maybe the others for good sends ice down my spine. Royo said there’d been four zaybears. Four. I don’t know how they survived. Except that with the gods on your side, anything is possible.

The one good thing is I don’t think there are zaybears this far north. I haven’t seen the yaks or califers that could sustain them, and I cling to the comfort of that.

But it’s nearly sunset and we haven’t found a spot, which means we’re going to have to make camp at the edge of the forest—exactly what Royo said not to do.

So, we ride a little longer.

“What is that?” Royo points a thick finger to the northeast.

I’m so surprised he’s speaking that it takes me a second to look. The sun is setting in pinks and oranges, making it difficult to see. Not to mention the constant falling snow. But smoke or steam rises from somewhere in the distance.

At first, I think it’s a campfire, but the longer I look the more I’m convinced it’s steam. And steam can only mean one thing.

“Hot springs!” I exclaim.

I spur my horse and take off in the direction of the steam.

“Aeri, wait,” Royo calls from behind me. “What are hot springs?”

“They’re warm, natural pools, and a hot bath sounds like reaching the Heavens right now.” I curl my toes, so ready for the dip.

“Aeri!”

He canters until he’s next to me. I raise an eyebrow and flash a smile at him, daring him to keep up. I spur my horse harder, clicking my tongue. Royo looks annoyed at first, and then I make out the gleam of his teeth. A smile! Gods, what a sight.

We gallop through the fresh snow, racing until we come to boulders lining a hot spring. It’s not terribly large—about the size of two rooms in an inn, which is perfect.

I dismount, tie my horse to a tree, and start taking off my jacket, eager for a bath. I’ve washed, but I haven’t had a full bath since before we left for the ball in Quu.

In seconds, I amble down to the water level.

“Aeri, wait,” Royo says. “How do you know that water isn’t scalding?”

Honestly, I hadn’t even thought of that. I scan the surface at the edges, and it seems okay.

“Because it’s not bubbling. But here, pass me a piece of dried sausage,” I say. “If it’s too hot, it’ll scald the meat.”

He frowns at the water, then finally nods and climbs down. He hands me a dried sausage link. I dip it in. When I lift it out, the casing is fine, just warm. I put my hand in the clean water. It’s hot, a bit warmer than bathwater. But I can’t tell if it feels hot because it actually is or because the air is so cold. Easier to tell once I’m submerged.

I slip off my boots. Royo, killjoy that he is, continues to stand there.

I take off my shirt and pants, leaving on my undergarments so I don’t scandalize Royo. I’d like to note that he doesn’t stop me from stripping down.

“Come on, Royo,” I say. “Don’t just watch. That’s weird.”

He stares at me, unamused. I smile.

I get in carefully, because it’s hard to say how deep the spring is, but there’s a boulder right beneath my feet. As soon as I step in, the water feels incredible. Just hot enough to sting, but not in an unpleasant way.

I walk in a little deeper, so I’m just up to my chest. I look back at Royo. He sighs and starts taking off his boots and jacket.

“That’s better,” I say.

“Debatable,” he mutters.

He takes his shirt off, and I’m free to ogle him—the broadness of his shoulders. His arm and chest muscles. He’s not pretty like Mikail or lean like Euyn. He’s something that’s perfect for him.

I wait for the pants to come off, cradling my face in my hand. The second smile of his breaks through that tough exterior. It wasn’t until Royo that I realized a hard-fought smile is so much better than an easy one.

With a deep, aggrieved sigh, he takes his pants down. I think about whistling, but he’d get dressed again. His thighs are thick and muscled like the rest of him. He carefully folds his clothes and rests them on a stone. I’m devastated to discover that he has on underwear.

“Feel free to continue the show,” I tease.

“I’m going back to Yusan.” He turns around, walking back toward his horse.

I laugh and take another step in so I can clean my hair. The boulder I was standing on is slick. My foot slips, and I wait to land.

There isn’t another beneath it.

I fall before I can make a sound.

Water covers my head. I’m so shocked that it’s a moment before I even try to stand, but the drop was steep. Very steep. I sink fast, but my feet can’t touch the bottom.

Panic sets in, my arms and legs flailing. I claw the water, trying to reach the surface, but I’ve never been able to swim. Mama didn’t think it was proper for a girl to learn, so I didn’t.

I can’t believe I’m underwater. I was fine just a second ago. One step and now I’m in mortal danger.

I look up through the clear, hot water. I go to clutch my amulet, as it’s saved my life so many times, but my stomach turns. It won’t help. Not when I’m drowning. Even if I stop time, I can’t make myself know how to swim in the future any more than I can now.

Royo. I need Royo.

I stare up, hoping.

Please help, Royo. Please.

I scan the surface, but there’s no sign of him. He’s not coming. My lungs burn as I run out of air. Terror sits heavy in my stomach, and my heartbeat thuds in my ears. I’m going to die alone. Like I’ve always been. I thought… I thought things would be different once I met him. But I was wrong.

Desperate, I look up one more time. The last thing I see is the Night Rays of the Sun King. And then it all fades to nothing.