Page 115 of Skyshade
He looked over at her as he approached the gates. “It can. But the elements can be stronger than our abilities. They can weaken us. Drain us.”
“So why have it at all?”
“Heat brings us strength, if you know how to use it. My ancestors used to come here to gorge on power. When I came of age, and mastered my Sunling abilities, I was locked here for a week, to prove that I was worthy of our line.”
“Has anyone...has anyone in your line not survived it?”
He nodded.
He and Grim had more in common than they ever would have admitted.
She swallowed, considering the gates. The place beyond seemed deadly—an endless expanse of twisted rocks and sand. Though, if that was where the tooth was leading her, she didn’t have a choice.
“Open it,” she said.
He ran his hand down the metal. There was a gold thorn there that she hadn’t noticed. It sliced down his hand, drawing blood. It dripped.
Then, with a magnificent groan, the gates creaked open.
For nearly an hour they walked in silence through a canyon of twisted rock, painted in hypnotic, orange, wave-like stripes. The path through was narrow and strangely formed, but at least it offered shade.
She had dreamed about this, about being able to talk to him again, but now...now she couldn’t find the words. She didn’t know if she should apologize or let him continue hating her.
Oro still loved her. She could feel the bond between them, as strong as ever. Killing him wouldn’t destroy Lightlark, not while she still lived.
He was walking slightly ahead, bending beneath the twisted stone. She could do it. She could take the dagger in her pocket and plunge it through his heart before he even sensed her movement.
It would fulfill the prophecy. Grim would be safe.
She knew it; and still, her hands remained firmly by her sides. As it stood, her life was almost over, unless she could find the portal andtake some of its power before closing it. Being bound to Lightlark would only put more innocents in danger.
They continued walking as the ground turned to orange dirt. The air became heavier. She considered discarding layers of clothing; but the sun was beating so heavily, she was afraid her skin would burn. She conjured a starshield above her for a few hours, before her focus began to wane. Oro was right. The heat was like a current, dragging her energy away.
“Conserve your strength as much as possible,” Oro said gruffly beside her. “It’s only going to get hotter.”
It did.
The heat intensified, thickening until it felt like she was treading through water. She lifted her shirt to wipe her brow. Sand stuck to her sweat-covered skin as they traveled through it. Her legs began to strain against the friction, her feet sliding. Even Oro began to look tired.
“Isn’t the heat supposed to energize you?” she asked pointedly, her voice dry and raspy.
His look was piercing. “It feeds my Sunling abilities, which I have no intention of using.” Good. She didn’t know if she could take even another degree of heat.
Hours later, it felt like she was steaming in her clothes. She started peeling layers off, starting with her shirt. Oro didn’t look at her as she took it off, tying it around her shoulders to protect them from the burn. Next was her tank top, which had stuck to her body like a second skin. Soon, she was only in her pants and the fabric she wore around her chest. Her daggers were heavy against her legs, weighing her down.
She treasured each of them. But one by one, she began discarding them, until only one dagger remained.
The tooth pulsed against her leg, leading her forward. Her pace became slower, until her feet were barely moving. It was then that sherealized she might not make it to the missing pages at all. She had never felt this shade of heat before, a warmth that seemed capable of drowning her.
She swallowed and found her throat raw and aching. Water. She needed water, but there was none around. Just endless sand.
Her steps began to slow to a glacial pace. Her head developed an aching pulse. Eventually she stopped, hands on her knees. Breathing unsteadily.
Oro stopped with her. “There’s an oasis. It isn’t close, but it exists.”
An oasis.
The promise of water was enough for her to start walking again. A faint breeze brushed against her cheeks. She closed her eyes tightly against the sand and spread her arms wide to get as much of the cool air as possible.
