continues upward with an unchanging speed. When she is lost from view behind a bough that must be twice as thick as my body, I return my attention to those still on firm ground. Toby is the next to head up.
The other part-blood helps Azura onto Tor’s back. She wraps her arms tightly around his neck and then encircles her legs around his waist, supporting her bad ankle with the other one as he pulls himself onto the first rung. The part-blood glances at Dorian and me before following close behind, wary of Azura and aiding the best he can. I turn away, and the thought of falling from that height leaves a painful pit in my stomach. When I look again, they have disappeared with the others into the arms of the oak.
“Are you ready?” Dorian stands by the ladder, one hand steadying it, the other reaching toward me.
I laugh nervously without meaning to. “Not really.”
He shrugs. “It’s safe enough.” He tugs on the ladder firmly.
“Oh good ,” I chuckle, holding back a small shriek.
I take a large breath that is more like a gulp and fasten my hands around the highest rung of the ladder that I can reach from the ground. I step up, unwilling to leave the solid ground; the ladder is unsteady with my weight. I think of the others. They weren’t afraid. Even young Malise had made it in no time. I keep taking steps, refusing to look below, concentrating on the rope in front of me. I feel Dorian latch on below me, and the ladder swings dangerously. I hold my breath and close my eyes, gripping the ladder till my hands turn white. The ladder regains a decent steadiness, and I start upward again, anxious now to reach the top, wherever that may be. I start off slow now that Dorian’s weight is shuddering the ropes with each pull. Somehow I manage to find a rhythm, and my speed increases.
I only realize I’ve made it to the top when hands grab my arms and hoist me onto a platform. I had not expected there to be a solid surface so far above actual land. The platform of wood is wedged between two thick branches and strapped down securely. I sit, attempting to recover from the treacherous climb. Once upon the firmness of the platform, I take in my surroundings. The platform is bordered with a rope fence made of woven fabric and vines for protection. I still prefer to remain near the trunk. Above I notice that the canopy is full of layers of platforms, rope ladders hanging from each one. It’s like a vertical city rising high into the oak’s branches.
Dorian reaches the top soon after and pulls himself over the ledge and onto the platform. The surrounding company approaches to greet him with playful shoves and smacks upon his back. I notice that they all seem to be of a similar age, not much older or younger than myself.
“I can’t believe you actually did it!” a dark-haired boy shouts, shaking Dorian’s hand roughly.
Dorian looks downward modestly, not saying much other than “Anyone could’ve done it” as others come to congratulate him.
Two young girls standing behind me whisper to each other, “He really is a half-blood.”
“He must be, only a half-blood could have done what he did and live to tell about it,” the other chimes in. I glance behind me, but the girls have disappeared into the crowd.
Two hands grasp me from behind and hoist me to my feet. I steady myself and turn to face Tor, displaying his dimpled grin. “So you’ve made it. You were becoming quite pale last time I saw you. I’m glad you decided to join us anyway.”
I smile. “I’ve been through worse.”
“I’m sure you have.”
“Is Azura all right?” I ask, not finding her among the others. Toby and Malise linger around Dorian as he tells the intrigued crowd of his courageous rescue.
“She has been brought to the healers; they’ll fix her up, and she’ll be as good as new fairly soon. Liam has gone to look after her as well.”
Liam must be the other part-blood.
My questions will not stop there. I have a multitude
The other part-blood helps Azura onto Tor’s back. She wraps her arms tightly around his neck and then encircles her legs around his waist, supporting her bad ankle with the other one as he pulls himself onto the first rung. The part-blood glances at Dorian and me before following close behind, wary of Azura and aiding the best he can. I turn away, and the thought of falling from that height leaves a painful pit in my stomach. When I look again, they have disappeared with the others into the arms of the oak.
“Are you ready?” Dorian stands by the ladder, one hand steadying it, the other reaching toward me.
I laugh nervously without meaning to. “Not really.”
He shrugs. “It’s safe enough.” He tugs on the ladder firmly.
“Oh good ,” I chuckle, holding back a small shriek.
I take a large breath that is more like a gulp and fasten my hands around the highest rung of the ladder that I can reach from the ground. I step up, unwilling to leave the solid ground; the ladder is unsteady with my weight. I think of the others. They weren’t afraid. Even young Malise had made it in no time. I keep taking steps, refusing to look below, concentrating on the rope in front of me. I feel Dorian latch on below me, and the ladder swings dangerously. I hold my breath and close my eyes, gripping the ladder till my hands turn white. The ladder regains a decent steadiness, and I start upward again, anxious now to reach the top, wherever that may be. I start off slow now that Dorian’s weight is shuddering the ropes with each pull. Somehow I manage to find a rhythm, and my speed increases.
I only realize I’ve made it to the top when hands grab my arms and hoist me onto a platform. I had not expected there to be a solid surface so far above actual land. The platform of wood is wedged between two thick branches and strapped down securely. I sit, attempting to recover from the treacherous climb. Once upon the firmness of the platform, I take in my surroundings. The platform is bordered with a rope fence made of woven fabric and vines for protection. I still prefer to remain near the trunk. Above I notice that the canopy is full of layers of platforms, rope ladders hanging from each one. It’s like a vertical city rising high into the oak’s branches.
Dorian reaches the top soon after and pulls himself over the ledge and onto the platform. The surrounding company approaches to greet him with playful shoves and smacks upon his back. I notice that they all seem to be of a similar age, not much older or younger than myself.
“I can’t believe you actually did it!” a dark-haired boy shouts, shaking Dorian’s hand roughly.
Dorian looks downward modestly, not saying much other than “Anyone could’ve done it” as others come to congratulate him.
Two young girls standing behind me whisper to each other, “He really is a half-blood.”
“He must be, only a half-blood could have done what he did and live to tell about it,” the other chimes in. I glance behind me, but the girls have disappeared into the crowd.
Two hands grasp me from behind and hoist me to my feet. I steady myself and turn to face Tor, displaying his dimpled grin. “So you’ve made it. You were becoming quite pale last time I saw you. I’m glad you decided to join us anyway.”
I smile. “I’ve been through worse.”
“I’m sure you have.”
“Is Azura all right?” I ask, not finding her among the others. Toby and Malise linger around Dorian as he tells the intrigued crowd of his courageous rescue.
“She has been brought to the healers; they’ll fix her up, and she’ll be as good as new fairly soon. Liam has gone to look after her as well.”
Liam must be the other part-blood.
My questions will not stop there. I have a multitude
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