Page 49 of Blood of the Fallen
Immediately, I shifted and kneeled by her, looking all around, trying to find a way to help her, even if it looked like an impossible task.
No!her voice pierced through my thoughts with authority.You go and win!
I blinked in confusion.
She did this. Desna knew this bramble was here.
Zenib was right. Desna had to have known. She had taken the same sharp turn Zenib had, and yet… she’d conveniently missed getting trapped.
Go! Beat her. I’ll be all right.
I nodded, and without hesitation, started running forward. I shifted and hit the ground running. After getting a good hold of the cedar scent, I pushed myself to the limit. I hadn’t lost much time, and I knew I could catch up.
Pushing all thoughts aside, I just ran. I flew over a stream, its spray cooling my heated skin. After a few minutes, I caught sight of Desna’s dark pelt. The sight of her lit a spark of pure strength in me that urged me on.
When Desna glanced back and noticed me, her anger and surprise were obvious on her face. Seeing her shock gave me satisfaction.
As we pushed forward, the path became steeper, and we climbed up and up. Our pace slowed, but we kept at it, eating ground as trees flashed by. As the hill evened out, I noticed two more shapes ahead. More supervision? They were standing near a bluff, nothing but the blue sky as their backdrop. I recognized one of the elders and little Nirliq, who was jumping up and down, cheering for me. Seeing her wave as she called my name gave me the stamina to run even faster.
I quickly gained on Desna until the sour scent of her anger threatened to override the trace of cedar. Taunting her, I opened and snapped my mouth shut, sharp teeth clicking together. She let out a growl as she briefly glanced over her shoulder to find me only a couple of hands behind her.
She lowered her head and, impossibly, increased her speed. I dug deep and found the energy to match her.
Now, we were only a few yards away from Nirliq and the elder. The old woman held up a hand and pointed left, directing us where to turn, which was only a few paces in front of them. Nirliq punched a fist in the air, and jumped up and down, getting precariously close to the edge of the bluff.
A jet of adrenaline shot through my system as the girl slipped on the loose scree underfoot and lost her balance. Desna’s eyes widened as she saw the same thing I did. The girl was going to fall! I had to save her.
At the same instant that I made the decision to help Nirliq, Desna took a sharp turn left and kept running. It seemed she knew something I didn’t, and she’d chosen to win. Maybe a fluffy field of grass and spring flowers waited just on the other side of the outcrop where Nirliq stood, but… what if it didn’t? I couldn’t risk it.
I lunged forward, flew through the air, and landed right in front of Nirliq as she tumbled backward, her arms windmilling. Beyond her, I saw a sheer drop and sure death. Heart thundering, I bit down on a mouthful of her tunic, then jerked my head back, and threw her at the old woman’s feet.
Are you all right?!
The girl blinked, her mouth an “O” of surprise. She nodded slowly, looking as if she had yet to process what had happened. I glanced up and met the old woman’s rheumy eyes. She looked at me strangely but said nothing.
Backing away slowly, I got back on the trail, turned tail, and did my best to catch up with Desna once more, but it was no use. She got there first, and even though I finished the race. It had all been for naught.
I had lost.
CHAPTER 19
Icrossedthefinishline, holding my head up high. Yes, I had lost, and Desna would be the triad’s alpha, but I had done right by my conscience. There was no way the accomplishment would have done anything but leave a bad taste in my mouth if anything had happened to Nirliq.
Desna had already shifted back to her human form and was standing next to the Chieftess, a satisfied smirk stretching her mouth. I shifted mid-stride and stepped to Chieftess Yura’s other side.
I glanced at Ila and the triad and was struck by the disappointment etched in their faces. I had let them down. But had they really expected anything else?
Next to me, the Chieftess was frowning, but she didn’t look angry. Instead, she wore a questioning expression, as if she were waiting for something to happen.
Zenib!Of course, she was wondering about the third contender. I opened my mouth to say something when I noticed Nirliq standing with her father.Wait, what?!How had she gotten here so quickly? I was still pondering the question when Bethel and the two elder women stepped out of the Chieftess’s wigwam.
What was going on here? How could they all be back?
Maybe they had taken some sort of shortcut to make it here and witness the conclusion of the trials. The woman who had been with Nirliq stepped forward, gesturing for the Chieftess to approach. Everyone murmured, clearly as confused as I was. To my right, Desna stiffened, her eyes darting from side to side as she also considered the possibilities.
A few tense moments ticked by. I waited, a lump stuck in my throat. I didn’t know when I’d come to care so much about winning, but I did. I wanted to lead the triad. I wanted it more than I had wanted to be an apprentice. I blinked at the ground, the realization shocking me.
“The elders have conferred and have decided the winner,” Chieftess Yura spoke, pulling me back into the moment.
