Page 152 of The Endless War

She ignored them as her face drew even with her bound wrists. Her arms shuddered as she linked her fingers together over the crag, then caught hold of the knot with her teeth. The copper taste of blood filled her mouth as she ripped at the rope, ears deaf to the shouts telling her to stop.

I will not let him fall,she told herself.I refuse to let him fall.

Then the knot pulled loose. Her weight came down hard on her linked hands as the rope fell past her legs, and Zarrah sucked in a deep breath.You can do this.

“Zarrah, no!”

She lowered one foot, finding another toehold. Then she began climbing down the cliff.

Every part of her was shaking, fear like poison in her guts, but adrenaline gave her strength as Zarrah edged her way down, the deadly drop a blur of river and rock below. “Hold on,” she shouted. “Please, Keris. Don’t let go!”

Her progress was agonizingly slow, with each handhold, her heart skipping with fear that she’d hear him slip. Hear his scream as he fell. Hear the thud of his body hitting the rocks.

“Zarrah, stop!” he pleaded. “Climb up, please!”

She didn’t answer, focusing on finding handholds, her weight suspended on fingertips and toes. Her battered ribs protested every move, sending bolts of agony through her that made her see stars.

And then she was above him.

There was no way to go lower with the way the cliff curved inward, and Zarrah scanned the surface of the rock, trying to find a way closer. Tears were pouring down her face, because she could see his strength was failing, only sheer will keeping him dangling from his fingertips. “Hold on,” she pleaded. “They’re coming with a rope. Just hold on a little longer.”

“I can’t,” he gasped. “You have to let me go, Zarrah. It’s over for me, but you need to live. Promise me that you’ll live.”

“Do you think I haven’t tried to let you go?” she shouted at him.“Over and over, I’ve tried, but I might as well let go of my heart. I cannot live without you, Keris. I will not!”

But he was slipping.

“I love you,” he said, eyes locked on hers. “Close your eyes. Don’t watch.”

“No,” she screamed, seeing his strength fail.

Right as the rope dropped past her.

Zarrah let go of the cliff, catching hold of the rope even as she reached with her free hand, the world a spiraling twist of darkening sky and rock and water as his fingernails scraped over the rock, grip lost.

Falling.

Then her hand closed on his wrist.

They swung sideways on the rope, legs tangling in the length, her palm tearing as the rope dragged across it, only to jerk to a stop as her ankles got a grip. “Hold on,” she shouted at him, their bodies pressed together as their friends heaved, pulling them back up to safety.

Sobs tore from Zarrah’s lips as her father dragged her onto the path, Saam and Jor doing the same to Keris. Ignoring the agony that was her body, she clambered on hands and knees, pulling him into her arms.

He was bruised and bloodied, hair tangled around his face, but the sight of him made her heart beat with renewed strength. “You came for me.” A tear rolled down her cheek, stinging the scratches. “I knew you would. Even when they said you were dead, my heart wouldn’t let go.”

Keris lifted a hand, cupping it around the side of her face that wasn’t shredded, his eyes locked on hers. “Every life I have, I will gladly spend on you.”

He lowered his lips to hers, and she sobbed between kisses, wrapping her arms around his neck. Refusing to let him go as the others knelt next to him.

“Are you all right?” her father demanded.

Jor leveled a finger at Keris, shouting, “You’re just like your sister, you mad fool!”

“We’re fine,” Keris answered, holding her tight against his chest. “Petra is …” He jerked his chin toward the edge.

“Very dead,” Saam announced. “Although perhaps I should check again.” He started down the path.

All she should have felt was relief, but Zarrah felt sick, her heart in as much pain as her body. Keris pressed his lips to her forehead. “Breathe.”

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