The Last Hunter: Collected Edition (Antarktos Saga #1-5)

As it turns out, they headed south. But there isn’t a single tank tread, wheel groove or boot scuff to show their passage. Kat thinks they took helicopters and ships. It would have been a massive troop relocation in just a few days, but doable. The question is, why move at all?

Knowing our answer lies roughly an hour to the south, we head out, rejoining with Grumpy and Zok on the far side of the mine field. With the sky dimming to a deep purple hue, we ride fast and in silence, keenly aware that just hours separate us from a desperate battle for which we are not yet prepared.

But there is one more obstacle in our way. A cliff, rising from the coast and stretching far inland creates a natural barrier that not even a behemoth could force his way through. We stop a half mile away, craning our necks up at the towering cliffs. I see no sign of human defenses at its base or at its top.

“I’m just going to put this out there,” Mira says, “just in case any of you tough-as-nails types are thinking it. I’m not climbing up this cliff.”

No one argues.

“Heading inland will take us too close to the Nephilim,” Em says. “Their scouts have no doubt discovered the ruse and have changed the army’s course.”

“I could try flying us over,” I say.

Grumpy lets out an uncomfortable roar and four women, five if you count Zok, turn to me with looks that say, “Don’t even think about it.”

“Word to the wise, kid,” Kat says. “When you’re talking about flying five people and two dinosaurs half a mile up into the air, don’t use the word ‘try’. Besides, none of that will be necessary. The military is running the show. They wouldn’t leave us a way to find them if reaching them was impossible.”

“I could open a tunnel through the cliff,” I say.

“Save your energy,” Kat says. “You’re going to need it. And we don’t know how thick the cliff is. Could be a mile across at the top.”

“Where to, then?” I ask.

She points to the left. “Where the cliff meets the ocean.”

Grumpy turns in the direction Kat is pointing, but doesn’t move until I give him a gentle nudge with my heels. Then we’re off and running, but not for long. The jungle growth here is new and thick. The cresties have a hard time walking through, so we have to dismount and clear a path. Again, I could use my powers, but Kat is right, any unnecessary use of my abilities will drain me some, and we have no idea how long it will be until I need them in a big way.

By the time we reach the base of the cliff, the last light of day is struggling to stay above the horizon. Where the stone wall rises from the sea is cloaked in deep shadow, black as night. Despite the darkness, I have no trouble making out the ledge jutting out over the sea, which is roaring a hundred feet below. It’s just eight feet wide, barely big enough for the cresties to pass single file. It’s wide enough for a band of humans or a line of Nephilim, but they would be easy targets. And since Nephilim are prone to dying when they drown, the wingless variety would likely avoid this route.

“I can’t see a thing,” Mira complains. She takes out her glowing blue crystal, but this isn’t the inside of a cave, where the light can reflect. It lights our party’s faces in dull blue, but that’s about it.

“Let me see,” I say, taking the orb from her. “The crystals glow because the molecules are active. When they collide, they glow. The color is determined by which elements are dominant in the crystal.” Suddenly, the sphere blossoms with light, illuminating the ground, the cliff and the ledge. It’s so bright that it hurts to look directly at it.

“What did you do?” Mira asks.

“Sped up the molecules so they collide harder and more frequently.”

“It’s not going to explode or something?” she asks.

“I don’t think so,” I say.

Kat laughs. “You really need to work on your declarative statements. Even if you’re not sure, sound sure.”

I start to sigh, but she cuts me off.

“I’m not kidding. You’re going to be sending men to their deaths. If you don’t sound confident about the benefit of their sacrifice, or the chance of their survival, they’re going to head for the hills. Armies are only as brave as their leader.”

“No one is braver,” Kainda says, stepping between Kat and me. “Do not insult him again.”

“I have no doubt about his abilities,” Kat says. “But whatever army we have waiting for us doesn’t know him beyond the rumors they’ve heard, or the show he put on at the FOB. Beyond that, he’s just one man. And he hasn’t earned their confidence yet. If he’s not exuding confidence in the way he talks, or even walks, they’re going to see it.”

I put a hand on Kainda’s shoulder. “It’s okay. She’s right.”

“So let me hear it,” Kat says. “Are we going to win this war?”