Chapter 25
Abe slid to a stop on the slope and looked around to see where the others were. When they’d said remote location, he hadn’t asked what that meant. Now the guard and Alterealm royals were sliding around on the side of a mountain with loose gravel, slick fallen leaves, and thick vegetation—mainly of the thistle variety. They’d hit the jackpot though, having found a very well-hidden location that those followers of Arwan and some other mage named Marcus had battened down and hoped to ride out the raids his family had been doing for months.
“Abe.”
He turned his head to see Rafael pointing, “Go help your dad.”
Abe took off running in the direction he’d pointed. He tried to steer around more of the drying thistles, and when his footing slipped, he changed his mind and barreled right through them. He was kissing Mitz later for the protection the leather gave him. When he cleared the other side, he spotted his father, Kinsley, and Liri chasing after four or five and wondered if any of his uncles knew anything about using a lasso. It would be a handy skill.
When he was almost caught up to them, he glanced to his left and realized their path was getting narrower. If anyone were to fall off, it was about forty feet, and he didn’t know what was at the bottom, only that it would be a fatal fall.
Kinsley was using her ability to toss branches and just about anything else she could lift from the ground at them. She caught the one in the back of the head, and they stumbled. Liri was right there, her dusack poking the man in the chest so he’d stay down.
Putting his hand up to his ear, he remembered he’d lost the earbud when he’d slid across the ground catching one that tried to outrun him. “Call for a port box.” He said breathlessly as he ran by Liri and his father, trying to close the distance on the other ones.
“Leone is on the way.” His father called to him.
A branch flew past his head, and he didn’t need to pause and see that his stepmother was on his heels. It didn’t hit anyone, but it startled two running side by side, slid close to the edge, and had to stop or fall over it.
“Go, I got these two,” Kinsley called out to him.
Abe ducked under another branch and made certain any extra steps he took were to his right and away from the drop-off. The last one they were running down had gotten his foot up in some growth, and he struggled to free himself. Abe slid to a stop, his sword held out in front of him. “End of the line.”
The man froze and looked up at him. “We didn’t do anything.”
“Uh huh, and innocent people run away instead of talking.” He moved to the right and motioned back the way they’d come. “Get untangled and get moving.”
“You startled us, that’s all.” He tugged his leg free.
“Well, you can tell that to my uncle and see if he buys your story.” He watched him carefully, checking for weapons. They had to be human because none of them had tried to smack anyone with magic.
Kinsley came jogging through the trees. “Oh good, you got him.” She huffed out a breath, “that counts as today’s workout.”
Abe smirked. “it wasn’t what I expected.”
“No,” she moved aside so the man could go by her, “but we never know what we’re walking into.”
They went through the trees and saw his dad, Liri and Leone. Just as they got close enough for his uncle to port him wherever this lot was landing, the man tried to make a run for it by shoving past Liri. She slid and teetered on the edge of the drop-off. Abe dropped his swords and grabbed some saplings close to the edge. They bent as he slid, reaching for her. Her footing gave out just as he extended his arm toward her. He grabbed her wrist and then heard the branches cracking when they were carrying both of their weight. Abe focused on her face, hoping she saw the determination in his own. He’d try intentionally porting before he’d let her fall.
“Hang on.” Kinsley was behind him. Abe felt Liri’s weight lessen and wondered if his father’s mate was using her skill and lifting her with her ability.
He felt someone grab the back of his pants to stop him from slipping further. He continued to focus on Liri’s face, and she on his as she was moved up high enough that someone else grabbed a hold of her. With the weight gone, Abe was able to shift and use the sapling support to get his other foot back on solid ground.
“Well, that was fun.” Leone leaned over his knees and then touched his ear, “we got them. No injuries.” He nodded and straightened up. “We have to go. We’re late. Get back to the practice room.”
Kinsley groaned. “Alona is going to be pacing.”
“No time to change.” His dad said and then hugged her to him and disappeared.
He turned to look at Liri. She scowled at him and smacked him in the chest. “Don’t ever do that again.” She lunged and hugged him. “I thought you were going to fall.”
Abe smirked. “Ditto.” He hugged her for a moment and then leaned back. “I’m using my porter to get back. We need to get to the practice room, like right now.”
“Oh,” she leaned back and looked up at him, “I’ll use the button that takes me to my room. I can get to the practice room from there, just don’t ask me to walk the halls.”
Abe grinned. “I know, miles and miles of halls.”
She nodded. “Thank you. I thought for sure I was going to fall.” She shoved up her sleeve, opened the porter, and pushed a button.
Abe blew out a breath and then leaned onto his knees. His heart had been in his throat the whole time. If she’d fallen, he shook his head. He couldn’t think about that. Standing up, he turned in a circle, found his swords, and picked them up. The saplings were still leaning toward the edge. He nodded at them. “I hope you grow to be a hundred feet tall.” Pushing his cuff back, he opened his porter and hit the button to take him to the landing room.