The path was steep and filled with loose rocks, and a dizzying ravine lay below. One wrong step and it would be the end. The sun had crested in the sky and was now lowering.

  Time was running out.

  With the added weight, it was one step at a time, and already Lane was falling back. They didn’t have water or food now, and it was just sheer determination.

  A strange cry came from ahead, and Salamin stopped. He turned to see if Lane had heard it.

  She stopped as well, and they listened. They didn’t hear any other sounds, except for the occasional bird and a slight breeze riffling through the upper branches of the trees.

  It was hard to get going again, and Salamin groaned as he got his foot to work. Soon they began the trek again.

  “I don’t know how much longer I can do this,” Lane called out from behind. “It’s too far.”

  Salamin rounded a corner and saw someone lying to the side of the trail. It was Caden. He was curled up, holding his leg.

  “Caden?” Salamin called out.

  Caden looked up at him, his face red from tears. “I fell,” he cried out. ‘Argor’s blade it hurts.” He rocked back and forth with his eyes squeezed shut.

  “We’re coming,” Salamin said, though even the few steps felt like an eternity. He stumbled up the path to Caden and had a choice. Keep going or kneel. He wasn’t sure if he’d be able to get up again.

  Centering himself with a deep breath, Salamin knelt down. His landing was clumsy as he’d lost control of his feet, and he rolled perilously close to the cliff edge.

  “Be careful,” Caden hissed. “You’re going to get yourself killed.” He shook his head. “I’m never going to get that flag, never getting into the Order.”

  “What are you doing?” Lane said, catching up. “We don’t have time for this!”

  Caden groaned. “Elian said I was weak and didn’t deserve to be in the order. I agree,” He clutched his leg and winced. “I’m quitting the first chance I get.”

  A strange hiss came from a tree, and then a rattle. Salamin had heard that before. A ratan with paralyzing venom. He glanced up and saw the long green snake staring at them with ruby-red eyes. Its mouth opened with a hiss as its fangs snapped open and then closed.

  Caden followed his gaze and let out a sharp cry. He struggled to get up and then keeled over in pain. “We’re dead.”

  Salamin closed his eyes. If he used his moonpath powers, there was a chance Caden would see through the disguise Aleda had woven for him.

  Closing his eyes, and placing a hand over Caden’s leg, he called on the moonpath. “Luna, luna, passus,” he whispered.

  Caden let out a moan and then fell silent. He glanced up at the snake and then back to Salamin, his eyes widening. “What the? What did you do?” He got up and dusted himself off. He looked to Salamin and then to Lane still climbing below.

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  Salamin struggled with his feet, working his thigh and back muscles to compensate for the deadweight of his lower legs. Just an inch step in the wrong spot would send him flying to the ground. He had to stay away from the edge.

  The snake hissed and slithered down the tree, a red tongue flickering out of its mouth.

  “Take my hand,” Caden said, and reached down for Salamin. “I’ll help you up.”

  Salamin took his hand, and with a heave of Caden’s strength he got upright.

  The snake was getting closer. “We need a weapon!” Caden said.

  Salamin reached down and grabbed a fallen branch. He was not going out without a fight. Caden also grabbed a branch and stood together, keeping it at bay.

  Lane caught up with them. “Wait!” she called. The snake was now on the ground, moving cautiously towards them.

  “Trinnss aftass securaaa,” she chanted with her arms raised.

  Salamin glanced at her, not recognizing the tongue.

  The ratan stopped, and rose up to look directly at Lane, swaying.

  “Staminass cortress,” she said again.

  This time the snake flicked its tongue, and Salamin watched in amazement as it bowed its head towards the ground and changed course.

  A voice rose from above. “Caden?” It was Staya’s voice. “Caden, we’re stopped nearby, there’s still time. I was hoping it was just a sprain?”

  Caden looked at Lane and Salamin and then whispered. “Sorry,” and took off up the hill towards Staya’s voice.

  “How did you?” Salamin asked, gazing at Lane and then at the snake slithering along the path and disappearing beneath the brush.

  She raised a brow. “None of your business.”

  Salamin nodded, suppressing a smile. So Lane had the Devold gift, and now he knew what her familiar would be once she gained strength.

  Lane glanced up the path where Caden had disappeared and sighed. “There’s no way we can get up in time. That Elian is a monster.” She groaned as she forced her feet to take another step. “I’m getting so tired.”

  Salamin knew he was on his last reserves. Then he saw a container of water. Caden had left it when he ran up the hill. “Lane, look. Some water.”

  There wasn’t much left in the vat, but enough for them to share and get refreshed. “Lets keep going. We may not make it but we need to try.” There was a lot on the line, and Salamin couldn’t think about failure. The only hope was that the spell would wear off soon. It all depended upon the strength of the spell and Elian’s combined strength.

  The sun grew lower on the horizon. and they heard footfalls ahead. Elian and his group were returning. They heard Staya’s voice conversing happily about her family’s standing.

  “Quick, let’s hide,” Salamin said. There were some bushes off the trail near the ledge. Lane followed slowly, and they collapsed behind it into the dirt, just as the group rounded the corner.

  “Where did you leave those two losers, Caden?” Elian asked.

  “They probably went crying back to the Keep,” Staya replied. “There’s no way they made it up the mountain.”

  “Good riddance,” Parric said. “They were dead weight. In a few days time we’ll be in the Order. Though I’d like to see the look on Sedwick’s face when he fails.”

  There was laughter after that. And soon they passed by and were out of sight.

  “What if they took our flags?” Lane whispered. “There’s no way we can get them back. Or even get back in time.”

  Salamin closed his eyes, trying to stave off his rising doubts. Getting into the Order this way was a long shot, but what other way was there?

  Lane struggled onto her feet. “Look!” she called out.

  His legs shook as Salamin righted himself. He followed Lane’s finger.

  Two flags lay in the dirt.

  It had to be Caden. With new resolve, Salamin stood and stepped forward, not believing his eyes.

  Lane was already walking towards the flags. She reached over and picked them up. Grinning, she turned towards Salamin. “We can still make it down.”

  The sun was low, and they now had gravity on their side. He glanced down at the ravine below. It was a long way to fall.

  As he moved forward, a flash moved through his mind.

  [Your agility has increased. Your resolve has been blessed by the goddess]

  As quickly as it formed, it disappeared. And along with it, the heaviness in his legs lessened further.

  “Lane, do you feel it?”

  She turned to him and nodded, eyes widening. “I think the spell is wearing off.”

  They began the descent, each carrying their flag. It was going to be close, but with the spell wearing off, there was a good shot at it.

  “Come on,” Lane called, “we can do this!”

  He watched her descend gracefully down, thinking of her command of the snake. He had suspected it all along. Lane Reval was a force to be reckoned with.