Trials by Hannah Parker

Author:Hannah Parker [Parker, Hannah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-03-06T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

My sleep was restless, if I could call it sleep at all. My mind was a mess of visions and knowledge that had been thrust upon me by the Skyborns and their companions. Kiyne’s preservation was solely in promise of me showing up at Bindi’s Bay in three days. The Unadine battle behind Arden. It was all so much to take in and even more to process what to do with it.

I rolled up my bedroll, tucking it back into my satchel. The fire was barely smoldering any longer and the gentle coo of birds greeted me just as they greeted the rising sun. A pink sky edged the horizon as light danced upon its surface once again. Small droplets of dew glittered against the rising morn, like twinkles of starlight on the blanket of night, just before sliding from their placement and onto the ground to feed the trees.

Mara yawned, rolling herself out of her odd little nest of blankets and leaves before finally perking up. It was odd for her to sleep in this late. She was always up well before dawn but, perhaps the Further had merely been too much for her, warranting the much-needed rest.

Yefilda was already awake, analyzing the trails to the tower and adjusting our route accordingly.

“Ah, you’re both awake,” she said warmly. “We’d best get a move on quickly; we’ve only got a little time left.”

A little time left? What did she mean?

Mara let out a scream, “what’s happening!?”

I ran to her side, looking down at her legs just as she was to see them growing oddly translucent.

“It’s like you’re fading away!” I shrieked.

Yefilda hurried to us, looking Mara over a few times with concern, “the Further is trying to claim you. You’ve been here too long.”

I remembered Mara explaining on the flight here that we only had so much time here before something happened but I never had imagined this. I thought the heart would simply grow attached to the peace. I never thought the Further would literally take her from the physical realm.

“Why is it only affecting her?” I asked, checking myself over repeatedly.

“You’re meant to be on this path,” Yefilda replied. “Mara is not.”

I could see the panic and fear all over Mara’s face, it was so unnatural and frightening. Someone I knew to be strong and confident was now riddled with pure terror. I had to help her, to get her out of here as soon as possible.

“I’ll call Graven. We’ll get out of here now!”

“No!” Mara said, clutching my hands in her own. “You have to keep going!”

“Mara I won’t let you fade!”

“I won’t let you abandon this quest! You have to do this. For me. For Kiyne. For everyone!”

Yefilda placed a hand on each of us, once more washing us over with her compassion and tranquility in order to clear our minds.

“I’ll take care of Mara, Alina. You need to get to the Unalter. Learn your power. Take hold of your destiny.”

I wanted to help Mara but, I didn’t know how.

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