Page 108 of The Silent Mountain
I can almost see how the wound and infection are expanding. Our enemy has to be powerful.
“What can I do? I need to do something!” Elio yells.
“Elio,” I whisper. “We can’t do anything. We can’t stop it.”
“But we have to. You can’t die here! You need to return to Favian.”
“I… I will,” I say, taking a couple of shaky breaths. Ros has retreated to keep her strength. The curse influences her in a different way than it does me, taking her strength away.Ros,I say.I am going to do something, something crazy and dangerous. The curse only influences you mentally. Once I do it… I need you to help me instantly.
Ros raises her head; her eyes are even more black than before.
Don’t say anything, don’t use your strength. Just nod if you understand.
She nods.
Do you agree, Ros?
Again, she nods.
“Alana,” Elio blurts out. “What do you mean? How will you return to Favian if we don’t heal you?”
“Give me the ax,” I say.
Elio stares at me. “No way,” he whispers. “No! Alana, we can’t do that. That’s insane. There has to be another way.”
I grab his arm. “Shut up, Elio,” I say, harsher than intended. “I am barely able to stay conscious, that’s how fast the fucking spell is affecting me. If I don’t do it now, it will spread from my hand to the rest of my body.”
Tears fill Elio’s eyes. “But… this is not okay.“
“You are a dragon prince,” I tell him. “And you are my brother-in-law. I want to return to Favian and to the clan. I have to. Don’t you agree?”
“Yes,” he says quietly.
“I… I need you now,” I admit, fear gripping my heart. “I need your support.”
Wordlessly, Elio hands me the ax.
“It’s just my left hand,” I mutter. “Who needs their left hand, right?”
“No one,” Elio says with a trembling voice. “You can wield a sword with one hand also.”
“Yes, and even climb. It’s just a tiny part of me missing. Just my hand,” I blab, trying to talk myself into courage. “I am going to survive this. I won’t let that curse eat me up.”
Elio looks at me. “It’s insane, but worth it,” he says. “You will return to the clan and become our queen like you deserve. With or without a hand, it doesn’t matter. Nothing takes away from how brave and strong you are. It’s just a handicap you will work out and learn to handle.”
“Look how you suddenly sound like a dragon prince.”
Elio looks at me, putting his hand on my shoulders to steady me. “I believe in you, Alana.”
Maybe it’s his sudden display of faith in me that pushes me. Maybe it’s my own desperation at suddenly feeling dizzy and realizing that the blackness will swallow me soon. With all the force and strength I can muster, I bring the ax down, cutting off my hand.
A piercing noise penetrates my ears, making them ring, until I realize it’s my own scream. The pain is so real and raw that I convulse, throwing up from it. Then I can feel darkness finally swallowing me.
Alana! By the goddess, Alana, you have to wake up. Are you still here?
I know that voice. It’s one with me.
Alana, please.
