Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75650 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75650 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“The floors are warm there.” Harrec gives me a smug nod. “It feels good on the feet.”
“Oh, wow.” I’ve heard of such things back home, but having a thermal floor here seems like a ridiculous luxury. “I can see why everyone was fighting over it.”
“Do not worry,” Harrec says. “Shorshie has made sure you will have a good howse.” He says the word strangely, like it fits funny in his mouth. I guess it does, considering everyone has lived in caves up until now. Harrec looks over at Pashov and elbows him. “You can bunk with us hunters, eh?”
I wait for Pashov to protest. To say that he’s going to stay with me.
Pashov only nods. “Good.”
And just like that, I’m hurt. Beyond hurt. In front of his friends, he’s basically pushing me aside? What the heck happened? I thought we were reconnecting. And all he can say about not staying with me is good?
I’m silent for the rest of the journey. The talk turns to metlaks and Pashov tells the others how the starving one invaded our cave. Bek and Harrec make concerned noises, as this is clearly unheard of. Harrec tells us that despite this being metlak territory, they have not been seen since we arrived. Bek speculates that they have left this area for another, but it is too early yet to tell. The hunting is good in this area, with many dvisti herds and lots of scythe-beaks. The next valley over is full of not-potato trees, and the chief is quite pleased with the new home.
And I only listen with a half an ear, because in my head, all I hear is Pashov’s voice.
Good.
You are staying with the hunters. Good.
Why is that good? I don’t understand.
“Here we are,” Harrec declares as Bek stops the sled. Harrec holds a hand out to me to help me down.
Pashov pushes him aside, growling. “Leave Stay-see alone.”
The hunter merely laughs and shrugs, ignoring the dark looks that both Bek and Pashov give him. I’m mystified by this reaction—Harrec has always been a close friend of Pashov’s. Why the sudden dislike for him now?
Is something else going on that I’m unaware of? Has he forgotten his friendship with Harrec? Cold sinks into my belly at the thought. Is this why Pashov is distant? He’s forgetting more and more?
It is a good thing you are back, then, I tell myself, trying not to panic. The healer is here. She will know what to do.
I hope.
Pashov takes Pacy from me and helps me down off the sled. It feels good to stretch my legs, but I can’t help but stare at the gorge, the edge of which we are standing far too close to.
Did they say this thing was a valley? It looks more like the ice-age version of the Grand Canyon. I shiver at the sight of it and move closer to my mate. “And this appeared out of nowhere? After the earthquake?”
Bek grunts. “Someone says it may have been covered with thick ice and that the ice broke during the earthquake.”
That must have been some damn ice. “How…how deep is this?”
“Oh, many, many hands deep,” Harrec says cheerfully. “The metlak and snow-cats do not dare come down here because they will not be able to get back up!”
That…doesn’t make me feel much better. “How do we get down?”
“Rope,” Harrec declares, gesturing at a spot on the edge. There’s a rock jutting up near the lip of the canyon, and I can see a loop of rope around it, leading down. I take a step closer to the edge—
—And immediately get dizzy. It’s deep. Oh god. Really deep. I whimper and jerk backward, flinging myself into Pashov’s embrace.
“Shhh,” he murmurs, stroking my hair.
“What is it?” Harrec asks.
I can’t speak. I’m panting, terrified. My heart is hammering in my chest, and my entire body tingles with fear. I can’t do it. I can’t. It’s too far to fall.
“It is nothing,” Pashov says. “Can you unload the sled while I speak to my mate?”
They get to work, and Pashov steers me gently away from them—and the edge. “Be calm, my mate.”
I press my hand to my mouth, only to feel my fingers trembling wildly. “Did I mention I’m scared of heights?” I say with a nervous laugh. “Because I am. Really, really afraid. Can’t we walk down?”
“If there was a way to walk down, I do not think they would use the rope,” Pashov says, his voice hinting at amusement. “It will be all right, I promise. And you will only have to do this once.” He strokes my cheek. “After that, you will be safe, and you will be home.”
Oh sure, easy for him to say. I shiver, trying to erase the mental image of the yawning gorge out of my brain. I can’t stay up here. I have to go down. Have to. At the bottom is the village, and people, and safety. I just have to get there. “I don’t think I can climb and carry Pacy at the same time,” I tell him.