Rise (The Order of the Krigers #1)(40)

“No.”

“Vidar? Kaia?” a voice called out.

“We’re here!” I hollered down to Anders.

“My leg is stuck,” he yelled. “But I’m okay.”

Relief flooded through me. “How far down are you?”

“About twenty feet.”

Searching the area, I found what I was looking for. “Give me your knife.” Vidar slid his dagger from its sheath and handed it to me. I ran over to the base of a cliff where long vines hung all over it and started hacking them off, throwing them to the ground. Once there was enough, I tied the vines together, making a rope.

“Excellent idea,” Vidar said, taking the vines from me. “I’ll lower myself, free Anders, and climb back up.”

I rolled my eyes. “And how do you propose I hold your weight?”

Vidar shrugged. “I’ll tie it around that tree.”

“It’s not long enough to make it around the trunk, be tied to you, and then reach down twenty feet.” I folded my arms. “Besides, I made it for me.”

“It’s not a good idea for you to go down there.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re … well … a girl.”

My eyes narrowed. “Then go right ahead. With any luck, you won’t fall and injure yourself.”

Vidar went to a nearby tree, tying the vines around it. There was only about six feet left. He scratched his head and then untied the rope. “I’ll hold it and lower you,” he mumbled.

I stood and brushed myself off. “What a great idea!” I sarcastically replied. He was lucky the other eleven Krigers weren’t girls. Otherwise, they would have killed him for his pigheadedness by now.

Vidar shook his head. “Be careful. We can’t afford for you to get hurt.” He wrapped one end around his hand several times and then threw the rest by my feet. “Tie the rope around your waist. Once you reach Anders and free his leg, I’ll pull you out. Then I’ll throw the rope down to him.”

Taking a deep breath, I tied the vines around my waist, went to the hole, and slid onto my stomach.

“Okay,” I said, lowering my legs.

Vidar sat on the ground, grabbed the rope so it was taut, and propped his feet against the nearby trunk. He released small portions of the rope, lowering me into darkness. I prayed the vines were strong enough to hold my weight. My body jerked downward until my feet finally touched solid ground.

“I’m at the bottom!” I hollered up, untying the vines from my waist.

Vidar’s head poked over the edge. “I’ll be right here,” he called out. “Let me know if you need my help.”

There was just enough light from the opening above to see a couple of feet in each direction. Anders lay on the ground, his foot wedged in a crevice. I knelt by his side. “Are you okay?”

“I am. Just wish you didn’t have to see me like this.”

“Oh please,” I said, moving to the other side of him so my body didn’t block the light. “Do you have feeling in your leg?” It was twisted at an awkward angle.

“Yes,” he replied. “I tried wiggling my foot loose, but it won’t budge.”

“Maybe if we untie your boot, your foot will slip out?” I suggested.

He sighed. “I’m hot, and my feet are slightly swollen from walking. Perhaps once it’s night, the cool air will allow me to yank it free.”

“How’s it going?” Vidar yelled down.

“He’s okay! But his foot is stuck. We’re going to wait until it cools and then try wiggling it free.”

There was a pause before Vidar asked, “Do you need anything? Food? Water?”

Anders’s face was hidden among the shadows. However, he was breathing heavily and had to be thirsty. “Water please!” A few seconds later, a water sack landed a foot away.

“I have an idea,” Vidar said. “I’ll be back in a bit. Hold tight, it shouldn’t take me more than an hour or two.”

I handed Anders the water sack and he took it, drinking several gulps. “Does anything else hurt?” I asked, sitting near his head.

“I’m sore from the fall, but other than that, I’m perfectly fine.” He handed the water sack back to me. “You didn’t have to come down here. I’m capable of taking care of myself.”

“I know. Regardless, I’m here if you need me.” My eyes gradually adjusted to the dark cavern. After several quiet and uncomfortable minutes, I spoke again. “You didn’t fall into the crevice, did you?”

His eyes sliced over to mine. “What are you saying?”

“You must have gotten yourself stuck after you fell.”

He sighed. “Maybe.”

“So you fell into the cavern and then what? Stumbled into this crevice?” I chuckled.

“It’s not funny,” Anders said, his jaw tight.

“I’m sorry,” I said, trying not to laugh.

“If you must know, when I went to stand, my foot went into the crevice and got wedged in.”

“You’re lucky you didn’t hit your head or break a leg.” I took a sip from the water sack. We sat in silence for several minutes, neither one of us speaking.

“Do you like him?” Anders asked, his voice softly echoing in the cavern.