Chapter 32 CHAPTER 32
It was as though the universe had listened to my resolve last night, and she said, ‘bet.’
Today, we were going rock climbing.
Why?
Just because they can.
Or whatever it was Erin explained about upper body strength and all.
I just knew that I needed to find a way out of here.
“Whatever you do,” the Male instructor who was actually paying attention to me and trying to make sure I was following said next to my ear, “don't look down.”
Nice, I'm not scared. At all.
Akua'a giggle made me look in her direction to see Kovar helping her tie her harness and a tight feeling constricted my chest, like his hands clawing at my ankle.
I don't know how long I was staring at them lean into each other like a high school jock and mean girl combo but another body walked into my line of sight and I had to blink away the tears that stung at my ducts.
I knew we didn't get along much but she knows what he did to me, they warned me about him and yet she was comfortable with him like that.
What if he was trying to hurt me through her? She had unfettered access to me, it won't be difficult for me to get caught in the crossfire.
“What's keeping your mind in captivity like that?” Asher's voice brought me out of my mental torture.
“Nothing,” I grumbled, taking a step away from him.
“It better be. Nothing in this world is allowed to hurt you, or they'll have to deal with me.”
“What do you want, Asher?”
“You.”
“Excuse me?”
“Come on Alira,” he sighed, reaching out to my already tight rope and pulled me towards him, “what else do you want me to do to declare my interest in courting you? How do humans do it? Maybe I need to change my tactics.”
“Didn't Erin tell you I wasn't interested yesterday?” I threw back, pulling my rope from his hand.
“Ouch, you just pulled out my heart and stepped on it with those pretty boots.”
I shook my head and ignored him, I had bigger problems at the moment.
Master Corvus was done with his security rounds and we were about to begin the journey up.
“Remember the view up is the best you'll ever see besides your soul Tie’s eyes when the dragons join you together!” He announced and everyone clamoured excitedly, ready to begin climbing.
I just wanted to burrow myself into the rocky ground and fade from existence.
The climb to this place was enough work out for me and now, with very little training, I was expected to just climb with them.
“Don't look so scared, it's easy once you get the hang of it,” Asher encouraged me, “don't worry, I'll climb with you.”
“Fuck off Asher,” Kovar’s voice came from my left, “I told you she's mine.”
I expected him to fight back, to put Kovar in his place but he just gave me a weary smile and walked away.
“It's just me and you baby," he smirked, slinking his hand into my terrified ones.
“Leave me alone!” I snapped, pulling my hand back but he was persistent.
“We can't have that Ferguson, what if you, by chance… fall to your death?”
The vision played out in my head in crystal clear HD, worsening my nerves.
I hated heights, couldn't stand the thought of being out of control and now, I was getting the heat cranked up.
“What did I ever do to you?!”
“I like you,” he shrugged, “and for that, you have to prove you're worth it. Now, let's go. Except you want to draw Corvus’ attention? What will you tell him is your excuse for not letting the star climber of the class help you?”
He was evil.
Downright horrible and he was also right.
If I could tell Master Corvus about Kovar's attempts to kill me, then I might as well tell Principal Draco and have my punishment be worth whatever he's gonna get.
“Now be a good girl and begin climbing.”
I trembled as I grabbed the first stone boulder that I was meant to use to hoist myself up and my eyes blurred with tears.
“Are you guys good over here?” Master Corvus came by us, his voice filled with concern that made me want to scream for help.
“Yes Master Corvus,” Kovar replied for me, his voice strong and loud, “I'm teaching our newbie here how to do it like a pro.”
“That's very good. You all need to help her catch up. We need every hand on the war front. The Faes are getting stronger and we need more soldiers than servants and tailors.”
Murmurs of agreement followed his words, a subtle fear hidden in them.
Was the threat that bad?
I remembered the wars back on earth, how they seemed so far away, another person's problem while mine was convincing a wealthy man to pay the worth of a house.
But to these people, the threat was as real as Kovar smirking while watching me struggle to find the footing I needed to get moving.
The instructor told me not to look down but looking up wasn't doing me any favours either. It seemed they chose the tallest point of the damn mountain and while everyone else would scale easily due to their body type, I was expected to magically perform as well as they did.
“How long do you plan to stand there?” Kovar snapped at me and maybe it was the fear mixing with adrenaline, but I found the energy I needed.
I pulled myself up.
The first move was the hardest. My arms protested, still sore from yesterday's training with Florian, but I forced them to work. One hand found a hold, then the other. My feet scrambled against the rock face until my boot found a small ledge.
I was finally off the ground.
The temptation to look down was great but the Instructor’s words kept me in check, I didn't want to give up so soon.
I looked up instead to see Kovar ahead of me, maintaining his control of access to me so no one could help me if he decided he wanted to throw me to the ground.
He moved up effortlessly, like gravity didn't apply to him. His muscles rippled under his training shirt as he reached for holds that seemed impossibly far apart. I've never been more irritated by someone's capability. It showed me he could kill me without effort.
I tried to find my own rhythm. Right hand up. Test the hold. Pull. Left foot, find the ledge. Push. Don't think about how high you're getting. Don't think about falling. Don't think about Kovar's schemes.
Just climb.
The rock was rough under my palms, small sharp edges digging into my fingers even through the thin gloves Master Corvus had issued. My legs shook with each push upward.
Around me, other students were climbing too. Erin was already twenty feet up, moving steadily. Asher was off to my right, keeping pace with me even though he could clearly go faster.
And above me, always above me, was Kovar.
"Keep up, Ferguson," he called down. "Wouldn't want you to hold everyone back."
I gritted my teeth and reached for the next hold. My fingers wrapped around a protruding stone, solid and secure. I pulled myself higher.
The wind picked up, cooler at this height, whipping my hair across my face. I couldn't spare a hand to push it away.
"You're doing better than I expected," Kovar said. He'd stopped climbing, perched on a wider ledge about ten feet above me. "I really thought you'd quit by now."
I didn't answer. Didn't have the breath for it. Just kept climbing.
I was weak, tired, and terrified but I couldn't pay attention to anything, not even him because if I allowed that fear creep in, I would definitely fall to my death.
My right hand found a grip. My left foot pushed up and my left hand reached higher.
Almost to where Kovar was waiting.
"Shame, really," he continued, his voice casual. Too casual. "I was looking forward to watching you give up."
I glanced up at him, against my mind’s protest. He was crouched on his ledge, one hand resting on a large stone embedded in the cliff face beside him.
His fingers wrapped around it.
What the…
"Kovar, don't—"
He yanked it.
The stone came loose with a grinding crack.
The rock was massive, easily the size of my head, jagged edges catching the light as it tumbled free from its centuries-old seat in the mountain.
And it was falling.
Straight toward me.
All I could do was watch it come.