His eyes met mine, and a shadow of a smile played out across his face.
Moments later the dirt-packed earth Alex and I were standing on began to quake. I jumped back, pulling my brother with me as the ground before us split open.
In the place we had just been standing was a deep fissure, too wide to jump and too deep to climb. It effectively cut us off from the trail we needed to follow. When I looked back to Darren he was gone.
“That pompous jerk just destroyed our chances!” Alex burst out.
I bit back a scream of frustration. The non-heir had gone out of his way to do this. I had the distinct impression that if it had just been Alex it would not have happened.
“We can still make it,” I said finally. “We just need a running start.”
“And break both legs in the process?” Alex grabbed my arm. “It’s not worth it, Ry.” He motioned for us to turn around.
I refused to budge.
“What is it?”
I stared at the gap, envisioning a thick fallen pine covering the hole. It would be bigger than anything I had ever attempted, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t work.
“I’m going to get us across,” I told him. “Just make sure no one interrupts me.”
Alex opened his mouth to protest and then thought better of it. He knew just as well as I how much time we would lose if we were forced to turn around again. He reached down to grab a jagged piece of loose granite and took a few steps down the path to keep watch for anyone who might pose a threat.
I set to work, concentrating on my breathing until it became a slow, even pace. I willed myself to lose focus of the distractions around me: the buzzing of summer insects, the humidity of the sun’s ever present rays, the dull and aching sensation of my limbs.
Slowly the distractions trickled away until all that was left was the image of a sturdy robust pine, a mixture of textured amber and darkened wood. I breathed in the intoxicating scent of its sharp, resinous odor. I tasted the tang of its bitter needles.
I heard the trunk land, thudding against the dense clay earth. I imagined it spreading across the length of our hole.
Gingerly, I opened my eyes and saw the log that now covered the gap in front of us. Alex emitted a low whistle, returning to stand next to me.
“You’ve been holding out, Ry,” he remarked.
I shook my head. “I didn’t even know I could.”
Alex took a step forward, but I quickly cut him off. “I don’t want you to break your neck if this doesn’t work.”
Hesitantly I put one foot forward, and then another, until both feet were firmly planted on the tree. I was still on the part that covered the ground. Now came the hard part.
I took another step, testing my weight. The trunk felt stable enough, and the coarse bark seemed to hold me well enough in place.
I quickly crossed the rest of the distance. An immense headache started to set in as I watched Alex follow suit.
He was about three-quarters across when the casting gave out. Without warning, the dull ache in my forehead became a mad pounding. The trunk vanished.
Alex fell forward, grasping at air. Crying out, I only just managed to catch my brother’s hand before he was plunged into the shadowy abyss.
I helped him off the ledge.
“C-close call,” my brother gasped.
As the two of us stood I apologized. “I don’t know what happened!” My head felt like it was on fire. My stomach was reeling.
“I’ve seen things like that before,” Alex gasped, “when someone tries to cast above their means!”
The two of us hurried down the path. I tried to continue, ignoring the pain until it finally became too much.
Ducking behind a bush, I spilled the contents of my stomach until there was nothing left. A sour odor filled my nose. I wiped my mouth against my sleeve, the headache instantly gone.
Alex was waiting for me when I returned. He didn’t ask, and I was grateful.
We didn’t encounter another first-year for a while, but eventually we did make out another group in the distance. Ella was with them, descending the steep switchbacks below. I hadn’t noticed her at first because she was so far ahead, but now I did, her black bangs and bronze skin glistening in the sun.
I didn’t see Darren’s group below, so I could only assume they had taken another approach. A second later I realized my mistake. There was a cluster of telltale green racing down the ravine much further on. I could see Darren leading his troop along a winding stream, gesturing to what was undoubtedly a large wooden chest at the edge of the river’s fork. It was almost directly beneath the rocky ledge we stood now.
Our best bet was to take the same path as everyone else, using the gradual round descent instead of a risky climb. With only two groups ahead Alex and I still had a chance.