The Realms of the Gods by Tamora Pierce Page A

those?” grumbled the badger. “Don’t they have anything else to do?”
    Both darkings shook their heads.
    Daine smiled. Giving her bow to Numair to hold, she lifted the newcomer in her free hand. “I don’t know where you two will sit, though.”
    The first darking trickled up her arm and curled around her neck, a bit of coolness on her skin. The otherflowed over her wrist until it could drip into her belt pouch.
    â€œI guess we’re set,” she told her companions. Numair returned her bow. They set off briskly, mage and badger in the lead, Daine bringing up the rear. It was something she and Numair did automatically: She could trust him to pay attention to what was ahead; he knew that she would guard their backs.
    The duckmole rejoined them as they stopped for their noon meal. “Not good, not good,” he said, pacing the clearing where they sat. “They have placed a ban on the lake, but they won’t be looking into the matter of those who have been tainted. I think—” He came to a halt and sighed. “I think it is all they can do to hold the barriers against her.”
    â€œThen if we can do nothing here, let’s be on our way,” suggested Numair. “Daine and I would like to go home, where we can do something.”

FIVE
    THE BRIDGE
    They made good time that afternoon. Black mountain pines gave way to maples, chestnuts, and paper birches, and larger clearings. Flashes of bright color darted through the tree canopy as the sunbirds began their afternoon’s homage to the sun.
    Suddenly the travelers emerged onto a long, wide, grass shelf. Ahead the land fell into a vast gorge. Approaching the edge, Daine looked down and whistled. Far, far below lay a thin, silver curl: a river.
    â€œLong Drop Gorge,” the badger told them. Nodding at two splintery logs planted upright in the ground at the cliff’s edge, he added, “And there’s the First Bridge.”
    Daine gulped. What had looked like a sturdy enough wood-and-rope construction in the vision over Weiryn’s map was in reality fraying, twisted hemp and ancient slats. Twin ropes, as old and unreliable looking as therope of the floor, were strung as rails at waist height and attached to the logs. The whole structure didn’t look as if it would support even one of them, let alone their whole group.
    â€œThe first rope-and- wood bridge,” corrected the duck-mole. “The first rope bridge is further up. We didn’t think you’d like that.”
    â€œFirst Bridge or First Wood-and-Rope Bridge, it won’t break,” snapped the badger. “It was set here after the first humans were done with it, and it’s been here ever since. No force in the Divine Realms may break it, until the realms themselves are broken.”
    â€œIs there an easier way to cross?” Numair asked. “Anywhere?”
    Both gods shook their heads. “Long Drop Gorge extends several days’ march in both directions,” explained Broad Foot. “You did say you are in a hurry.”
    â€œWould you be able to carry our belongings if you and Broad Foot transported yourselves across?” the man wanted to know.
    â€œNo,” said the duckmole. “Weiryn and Sarra both put some of their power into what you carry, to help you. Those things are bound to you. If we tried to take them, they would not come.”
    Numair eyed the crystal in his staff and said drily, “I didn’t know Weiryn cared.”
    Daine looked at the canyon floor again and winced. It was just too far down. First Bridge or no, the thought of seeing that distant ribbon far under her toes made her sweat. I could take eagle shape, she thought. Heights never bother me when I fly.
    That was no good. Numair carried his staff; she couldn’t burden him with her belongings, not when he’d need a free hand to grasp one of the ropes that served as rails.
    An arm slipped around her