Page 2 of Fire Forged

Nerx drew in a deep breath.The air tasted sweeter and cooler.The falls were forbidden to them, no doubt because Mother died here.Kyerx had brought Nerx the day Father had made his hatred known.This place had become their secret, and they only traveled this far from home when their father inspected the farthest mines.He was certain to be gone all day.

Maloidian steel strips had been embedded in the rock wall, forming stairs into the crevice.Having almost slipped last time, Nerx ventured down with one hand on the side.Already the minus sun had joined the magnus sun to warm them.

The spray from the waterfall cooled his skin.Without omeika, the water was clear and not red.Also, no carnivorous fish meant it was safe to swim.One palm-sized fish could devour a male in seconds.He’d never tasted an omeika.They were purported to mimic the consumer’s favorite meal, and for this, were Etteria’s greatest export.

Breaking onto the pool’s sandy bank, Nerx took a moment to gaze at the bright sliver of pink sky through which the water tumbled.He lowered the pack onto a patch of soft moss.

“Nerx!”

Nerx whipped around, searching for Kyerx.Used to pranks, he half-expected a surprise attack.But Kyerx wasn’t behind him nor was he on the bank beside him.He swept his gaze up and froze.

Without thought, he bolted to where Kyerx dangled off the edge midway along the cliff.His legs swayed wild as he bore his weight by his fingertips.Nerx sprawled across the steel strips and caught Kyerx’s forearm.

“Give me your other hand,” he roared.

“I cannot reach,” Kyerx gritted, pain hardening his features even as his eyes widened.

Nerx leaned over the edge to where Kyerx’s arm hung limp, blood dripping to the ground below.“What the Maker did you do?”

“Now is not the time—” Kyerx yelped when his grip slipped.

If it wasn’t for Nerx’s hold, Kyerx would have fallen.“I have you, my blood-bond.”

“You cannot pull me up,damu.The steel will shred me.”

Nerx clenched his jaw, studied the sharp edges, then the long path down.Already, Kyerx’s weight burned Nerx’s arm and shoulder.“I am going to shift you one step at a time.”

Kyerx nodded.

The way down was longer than up but less risky.Should Nerx’s grip fail, at least the distance Kyerx might fall would be shorter.

Nerx stood with care, hoping to counter Kyerx’s weight threatening to drag him off the ledge.He straddled two steps, using his thighs for maximum stability.His knees trembled when he made the first move.He teetered and threw out a hand to find his balance.

“You are a heavy bastard,” he muttered through his gritted teeth.

Another shift down a rung had Kyerx swinging too close to the sharp metal, missing it by a hair.The descent was slow going, with Nerx’s arm, shoulder, and back on fire.Throwing caution to the wind, he clasped Kyerx’s forearm with both hands.It brought him a small measure of relief.

“Thirty to go,” Kyerx said.

“That is not helpful.”The pain returned, growing excruciating and absorbing all of Nerx’s attention.He wanted it to end, for him to die if it meant the agony dissipated.He dared not think about it.

After three more shuffles, his breathing became ragged.His heart pounded in his ears, drowning out the falls and Kyerx’s faint and labored breaths.His skin had taken on an ashen hue.

“Speak to me,” Nerx said.“I need the distraction.”He inched to the next sheet of metal.Every muscle in his body had tightened to snapping point.

“I glanced down to find where you had gone and misjudged the next step.My ankle caught in the gap and toppled me.”Kyerx offered a tight smile.“Foolish me.”

Nerx glared at him.“I see no humor in this.How do I hide this from Father?He will know the moment we use the med-E.D.”

“Let me deal with Father.”

“When he will blame me regardless?”Nerx snapped and swung Kyerx along a strip, then another.

He could release him now and perhaps the fall would break only a leg.He peered at the gray rocks below.No, he couldn’t risk it.

A pop in his right shoulder snatched his breath.He bit his lip to silence a moan.A wave of blinding pain blurred his vision.His fingers slipped, the strength in his muscles gone.He fumbled but caught Kyerx’s wrist.With his dislocated arm useless, all of Kyerx’s weight pulled on Nerx’s good shoulder.It was a matter of time before he dislocated that one too.

“Release me,” Kyerx commanded in a thready voice.

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