Page 85 of The Dragon Queen

Ithappenssofast.Onemoment,we'rewalkingonsolid--ifuntrustworthy--ground,andthenext,we'reinfree-fall.

Bellowinghername,IzeroinonEmber.She'sflailingwildlyintheair.There'snowaytogettoher,nowaytowrapmyselfaroundhertocushionherfall.

Everythingisdisorienting,flashlightbeamsbouncingofftheblackwallslikediscoballs.I'vemanagedtoholdontomine,butatleastacoupleofthemgotumblingintotheabyssbelow,andhowfardowncanthisgo?

Whathappenswhenwehitbottom?

MymindconjuresuptheimageofEmber'sbodycrashingintorocks,andIcantastebloodandbile.It'salightningbolttomyheart,panictakinghold.

Andthen,outofnowhere,agustofwindrushesuptomeetus.Ourdescentslowsandthenreverses,andthere'sbright,icebluelight.Somehow,IcranemyneckasI'mspinning,andStormhastakenholdofEmber'shand,andshe'slaughing,dizzy,staringatStormasifhehungthemoon--andhehas,hasn'the?

Heandhispower--they'vesavedusall.

Ashallowcrackinmyheartwantstoopenupintoapitofjealousyasdeepandtreacherousasthechasmwewerehurtlingdown.ButthenIfocusonmymate'seyes.Sheglancesmyway,andanyfissureswithinmychesthealover.

Herloveisvastenoughforallfourofus.

Welandgentlyontheothersideofthepit.Twoflashlightssetthemselvesonthegroundbesideusmomentslater.StormpicksthembothupandhandsoneofthemtoJianyu,whonodsathimgratefully.

KneelingbesideEmber,Stormoffersherhishandagain.Sheacceptsit,andhehelpspullhertoherfeet.Ashedoes,hewrapsherupinhisarms.Leaningupontohertiptoes,shekisseshim,slowandlingering,andit'salmostimpossiblethatIoncefeltsuchviolencetowardherothermates.

Sharingher...Eachbeingpartofwhatmakesherwhole...Eachhavingourowntalentandtemperamentthatwebringtobear...

It'sright.

Andso,minuteslater,whenwecometoadeadendattherockyshoreofanundergroundlake,Idonothesitate.

Thewaterisdarkbutclear.Icansenseitsdepthswithmymagic.Itbeginswithashallowentrybeforeplungingdownwardadozenmeters.They'rehardtodetect,buttherearespiralingstepscarvedintotherock.

Iclosemyeyes.Atthebottomofthosestepsisabarrier.Thewaterswirlingagainstitvibrateswithmagic.

Openingmyeyesagain,IextendmyhandandseekoutEmber'sgaze.

Shelooksbackatmewithsomuchloveandfaiththatmychestcanscarcelycontainit.Sheslipsherpalmintomine,andmytattoosglowwithaquamarinelight,myfingertipsandspineabuzz.

"Dowereallyhavetodothis?"Rafegrouses.

Heactslikealion,butheisacat;hedoesn'tliketogethispawswet.

Serenely,payinghimnorealheed,Ireply, "Ifyoucanfindanotherwaydown,bemyguest."

AndthenIletthemagicflowthroughme.

Thewaterrisesinaswiftcolumn,swirlinguptowardtheceilinganddrawingawayfromtherockywallsofthepool.Thestonestepsgleam,treacherouslyslick,butwithanotherburstofmagic,EmberandIpulleventhatsheenoffandintotheair.

"Afteryou,"Jianyuoffersgenerously,onebrowquirked.He'simpressed,anditwarmsmypride.

Buthejustsavedusfromacaveintentondevouringus,withnowarning;Stormliftedusoutofcertaindoom.WhatIamdoingisnomorethanwhateitherofthemhasdone.

Noddingathim,IleadEmberdownthewindingsteps.Wekeepthelakeatbay,andifanold,fadedpartofmeistemptedtobringthewallofwaterdownonherothermates'heads...

Isnickerbeneathmybreath.

"What'ssofunny?"Emberwhispers,nudgingherelbowintomyside.

"Nothing,"Ipromise,anditis.It'snothingatall.

Iwouldholdtheentireworldatbayforher.Forthem.

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