Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
“Hurry. Go, go.” The basajaun pushed me harder as the first bird reached me. It squawked loudly before trying to peck at my head.
I flung magic all around, blasting it into the sky. Another spell was loosed from behind, Sebastian helping with our defense. Both spells ballooned out, mine creating a shield that would elicit pain should the invisible plane be breached and his a nearly solid force to keep the birds at bay.
The squawking intensified. Feathers floated down around us as the birds met our magic.
“What is happening?” the lead basandere asked, her arms held up mid-wave.
“Miss Jessie has created a magical barrier for us,” our basajaun replied. I could feel his pride through the bond.
“Sebastian helped.” I pointed behind me lamely.
The basajaunak looked back at me, moving so they could all see. One by one, they nodded in thanks. The bird’s nemesis raised his pinky finger to them. I had a feeling it was their version of an offensive gesture.
“Her gifts come in handy,” the lead basandere said. “We can take her with us when we use this trail. She can keep the birds at bay.”
“Sebastian really did all the work,” I rushed to say. “He probably likes hiking much more than I do.”
“No,” Sebastian responded. Nessa started laughing.
Finally, farther on, the trail began winding downward for real, no more random climbs popping up in the middle of the descent. The air started to cool as we kept descending until redwoods once again made an appearance. A stream wove through the area, trickling between steep banks and around large rocks. A little wooden bridge spanned the chasm, and on the other side, the path finally widened to the point where we were nearly sauntering along.
Not far from the stream, close enough that we could still hear the running water, a lovely meadow stretched out before us. Violet wildflowers dotted the green and brown grasses, waving in the wind.
“Thank God. I have to pee so badly,” Nessa said, hurrying forward. “Where do we go? Just pop a squat or what? Anyone think to bring toilet paper?”
Thankfully, Mr. Tom had thought of the essentials. So had Edgar, of all people. Or maybe Mr. Tom had just forced the extra supplies onto him, since he only had blood to carry.
We all did our business, the ladies heading one way and the guys just getting out of the way. Mr. Tom laid out a lunch consisting of meats, cheeses, and breads while the basajaunak went down to the water or into the trees to forage. They apparently hadn’t brought a lunch because they’d expected to be back by now.
Content if not full, we lounged for a while longer. The basajaunak hadn’t said as much, but it was clear they wanted us to relax and rest and take in the beautiful scenery. Yes, please.
A pulse vibrated through me. Urgency sped up my heartbeat. That horrible hum intensified, indicating the enemy must’ve made a move. Hopefully, that move was just to get organized, like booking the jet or calling the mercenary office.
I let out a slow breath, putting my hand to my chest.
“What’s up?” Austin asked.
I shook my head at him, dropping my hand. I couldn’t explain here, where the basajaunak might overhear.
Looking for a distraction so I didn’t advertise my anxiety, I craned my head to turn toward the stream. I let the tranquility of the gently flowing water soothe my coursing adrenaline. There was nothing more we could do right now. There was no sense in becoming a ball of stress when it wouldn’t, or couldn’t, change anything.
“Okay, shall we go?” The basandere leader didn’t stand up, watching me placidly for an answer instead.
“Sure, yeah.” I hopped up. “This is halfway, right?”
Everyone paused mid-action to hear the answer.
“A little over halfway, yes,” she replied. “Do you need to be carried?”
“No, I don’t need that level of embarrassment, thanks,” I replied, and Ulric, Cyra, and Hollace froze with their arms halfway in the air. Given that I’d healed them of their fatigue, they were just being babies.
The shifters who’d donned their human forms for lunch shifted back into their animals, and away we went. When I saw what we’d be climbing next, I suddenly wished I’d raised my hand.
This time, there wasn’t a trail slowly winding around a mountain. No, this trail cut right to the chase. It climbed in one direction steeply, turned like it was a set of stairs in a skyscraper, and aggressively climbed again, cutting back and forth until it reached the top.
“Are you ready for me, mountain?” I asked it, shaking my fist. “You will not defeat me.”
The lead basandere tilted her head at me again. “The mountain cannot be challenged. It will sit there placidly while creatures tread on it. That’s its lot in life.”
Oh, great. Out of all of us, I was the weirdo.