Rise (The Order of the Krigers #1)(57)

“If we want to make it there before nightfall,” he said, “I suggest we pick up the pace.” He started running.

***

When we neared the clearing where Morlet’s men had captured me, we skirted around it in case anyone lingered there. After traveling several miles, not once stopping to rest, eat, or drink, we reached the base of the rocky mountain range where the cavern was located. Vidar said the entrance wasn’t too high up, but we had to climb in order to reach it. Anders led the way, and Vidar brought up the rear. The climb wasn’t completely vertical, yet I still avoided looking down. We were higher than I cared to be.

As we ascended, my mind wandered. What would happen when I entered the cavern to retrieve my weapon? How would I be challenged? Would the trials be mental? Physical? Would I be deemed worthy and pass? Had others in my family faced the challenges? Had they passed?

Clutching the rock above me, I hoisted myself up. The rock came loose, and my hand slipped. I lost my footing and slid down, pebbles and stones tumbling with me. My stomach dropped as my hands frantically tried to grab hold, to no avail.

Vidar caught me, pulling me against his body. “Are you okay?” he asked, breathing hard.

“Yes.” My hands were scratched and bleeding, but considering all I’d endured lately, it was nothing. Vidar held onto me until I took hold and started to climb once again, ignoring my sore hands and knees. Anders was perched twenty feet above, watching me. When our eyes met, he quickly turned away and continued his ascent.

The sun set, and the sky began to darken. Anders glanced over his shoulder. “We’re here.” He reached down and pulled me up onto the ten-foot by ten-foot ledge. Turning so my back was to the cave, the view before me was astonishing. The mountain range extended to either side as far as the eye could see. In front of me, the vast forest was below, the ledge I stood on only feet above the treetops. “Come on,” Anders said as he entered the cave.

I followed him inside where the temperature dropped. He fumbled with some kindling, and then lit a torch on fire. “We keep supplies here, just in case.” He walked around the cave lighting several other torches that hung on the walls. The area was quite spacious—the ceiling a good twenty feet above me. The walls formed a circular space, and there was an archway revealing a dark tunnel toward the back.

“You should sleep for a few hours,” he said. “Once you’re well rested, you’ll enter the tunnel and begin the trials.”

Vidar joined us. “Do you want to do a perimeter check to make sure there aren’t any soldats nearby?”

Anders agreed and ducked out of the cave. I watched him go, feeling an odd tension between us. Ever since I’d lied about healing myself, he’d distanced himself from me.

“He’s not much of a talker,” Vidar said as he took a couple of logs from the woodpile. He tossed them in a fire ring that had been constructed in the center of the cave.

“Yes, but he certainly notices a great deal.” More than I wished he did. Shame washed over me for having lied to him.

After lighting the wood on fire, Vidar grabbed two bedrolls from the supplies stacked against the side of the cave and handed one to me.

I unfolded mine, laid it on the ground, and crawled on top of it, glad to rest after running all day.

“I need to talk to you about something.” Vidar placed his bedroll next to mine and sat on it. He fidgeted with his hands, not looking at me.

“What is it?”

“First, let me say that I’m glad you’re alive and healed. And not because you’re a Kriger, but because I’ve come to consider you a friend.”

“Thank you,” I said, pulling a blanket over my body and yawning.

Vidar cleared his throat. “I want to ask you a question.”

“Sure,” I mumbled, my eyelids growing heavy.

“Have you ever been in love?”

“No.” He knew I’d never been courted or kissed, so why was he asking me about love?

“I have,” he said in a soft voice. “I’ve been in love a few times. I know the difference between love and friendship.”

“Not to be rude, but it’s late and I’m tired. What are you getting at?”

“The spell that was cast which created the Krigers is the same one that cursed Anders and me.” He dropped his head onto his hands, rubbing his eyes. “I’m not sure how to say this … but Grei Heks told me something.” He hesitated. “She said your blood and my blood are destined to be together.”

“What are you saying?” I asked, suddenly wide awake.

“Grei Heks told me that when Morlet is killed, if our blood hasn’t mixed to produce an offspring, all will be lost.”

“What does that mean?” I sat up and faced Vidar.

“We’re meant to marry one another and bear a child together.”

“Are you certain?” Why would Grei Heks cast such a spell? “Is this why it’s always a female from my family?”

“I believe so.” He scooted closer to me. “I know we’re only friends, and there is nothing romantic between us. However, we must marry and have a child, as Grei Heks foretold, so we can ensure the curse will end along with Morlet and his tyranny.”

I sat there stunned. Marry? Have a child?

Anders ducked inside the cave. “All clear.” His eyes darted between Vidar and me. “Did I interrupt something?”