Page 29 of An Archer's Redemption

I reached toward the Eye, but my vision clouded as darkness consumed me.

Chapter 11

Ayden

Declan held me all night as we slept, his fingers twining in my hair and massaging my scalp. I could have lain like that forever, damn the world and its troubles.

The next morning, we returned through the gate to the cavern in the Melucian mountains.

I was still disoriented from Traveling, bracing myself against the Melucian gate, when Declan’s whole body stiffened and his eyes grew wide.

“What is it?” I wobbled to where he stood.

“It’s Atikus,” he said, sudden urgency filling his eyes and voice. “He’s in trouble.”

I watched in silence as Declan stared into the nothingness of the rough-hewn walls, feeling about as useful as a broken bolt.

“I have to get to Saltstone.”

“What happened?”

Declan paced before the gate. “I couldn’t tell. He reached out, and I could sense he was in pain or fighting someone, somethinglike that, but he couldn’t really speak. He said something about ‘her spirit’ and ‘inside my head.’ I think that’s what he said.”

“That is not ominous at all.” Sarcasm dripped from my lips.

Declan nodded, still staring as he sorted through whatever Atikus had told him. Before I could sit and pour some of the ever-present wine, Declan gripped my shoulder and squeezed his eyes shut.

Nothing happened.

His eyes opened, and he flinched.

“Dammit. I still can’t Travel.”

“Try it without me.”

Declan’s head cocked to the side, then he stepped back and concentrated.

Still nothing.

“It’s not working,” he groused. “We’ll have to hike down and find horses. There are messenger waystations between here and the capital where we can get fresh horses. If we push—”

“It will still take nearly a month.”

Declan fell into a chair and pressed his palms to his temples.

“What am I supposed to do? I have all this power, and I’m stuck here in a cave unable to help.”

“Whatever is happening, Atikus will have to face it on his own. He is strong, much stronger than most think.” I sat beside him.

“What if my mother could help?”

“Your mother?” My brows furrowed. “The same mother who left you when you were little?”

Declan’s eyes widened. A heartbeat later, he shook his head and squeezed them shut again.

“Sorry, I just meant . . . what if the people I met on the island could help?”

“You still haven’t told me much about them—or your time there—but sure, if you think they have magic that could get you to Atikus, why not try?”

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