Page 115 of Grim and Oro
The Sunlings are closing in. By the sounds of their voices, they’ve recruited more of our training class to help them.
I sigh, my head falling back onto the bark. “I don’t think either of us is going to have an easy time making friends after this.”
Enya just raises a brow. “Why would I need more friends? I already have you.”
It makes me smile, and I wince, a cut on my cheek pulling. The jagged mark down my arm has only just now stopped streaming blood. I bury the pain. We still have miles to go until we reach the other side of Sun Isle, where Instructor Helas is waiting. He’s an ancient Sunling, with golden skin, hair shaved close to his scalp, and a near-constant frown. He won’t give a damn what slowed us down—or that our peers attacked us. All he cares about is who crosses the finish line before the sand in the enormous hourglass he carries around runs out.
These few seconds resting against this tree will cost us. The path ends here, at this cliff. We’ve already looked over the side. The fall is fifty feet, into a stream.
It could be shallow. There could be rocks. There could be creatures waiting to tear us to shreds.
But this is where the path ends. It’s either take the leap or fail the assignment.
The Sunlings from before are approaching. From their angry yells, I know they’ll be after more than a little blood.
“And I suppose I’ll always have you,” I say, my breathing labored. The voices are getting louder. Closer.
At my words, Enya’s smile withers. She shakes her head. “You won’t always have me.” She looks to the side, eyes narrowing, as if she can see the pack of Sunlings entering the forest.
I’m suddenly not concerned about the group hell-bent on revenge. The truth of her statement hits me, but her words don’t make sense. “What do you mean? Of course I will.”
Her head turns back again. She opens her mouth. Closes it.
“What is it?”
She huffs a laugh. “This isn’t exactly the right moment for an important conversation.”
I stand straight, forgetting my pain. “Is there ever a right moment?”
She lifts a shoulder. “I guess not. And I guess ... I guess there’s something I need to tell you.”
We’ve been best friends for years. The fact that something remains unsaid ... that she hasn’t already told meeverything, is confusing.
A yell sounds closer.
And this voice ... this one I recognize.Ash. I should feel relief that Enya didn’t kill him with that hit, but I can’t summon a shred of care for his life.
The forest begins to heat as flames are formed somewhere close by. The idiot and his unpracticed fire are going to burn the whole forest to the ground. “Okay, let’s—”
“I know when I’m going to die.”
Enya says it so matter-of-factly, I think she’s joking.
“Please tell me it’s glorious,” I say, refusing to believe the sweetness I feel in my mouth. She would believe her own imaginings enough to make them true. I look down at the cliff. Maybe we can run the length of it instead of jumping. Maybe there’s another way to the other side.
“It is.”
I laugh. “Of course it must be.” I stride forward, toward the edge, trying to judge the waters from this high.
Enya’s voice deepens with frustration. I hear her steps behind me. “No, I mean I know for certain. I know when I’m going to die, and how.”
Truth.
Absolute, whole truth.
I stop. Turn toward her.
She’s serious. She can’t be serious. I shake my head, brow creasing. “What do you mean? How could you know that?”
