Page 28 of Barbarian Brothers

It took us a while, but we managed to get some resources together over the span of two weeks. Water in thick bone bottles, dried meat and fruits in leather satchels, and several obsidian shards we carved ourselves from the steam caves’ walls. I dare believe we were careful enough not to let anybody see us, but I’m still worried. It could go sideways. Maybe it’s just the doubt in my head, a treacherous and dangerous doubt spurred by my feelings for Binzen and Izzo. As much as I want to think I’ll be okay once I make it back to Earth, a part of me is already crying out for them—constantly messing with my mind and my desire for freedom.

The girls and I made a solid plan. Jewel did plenty of scouting around town and both north and south along the river plateau, checking guard positions throughout the day. Alicia did most of the foraging for food while I handled the obsidian blades, and Cynthia covered for us with the others. She even looked after Valen when I was supposed to be watching him. Ultimately, we’ve got everything ready and are prepared to escape.

As night falls slowly over the town, Binzen, Izzo, and I make love for the last time. Of course, they don’t know it’s the last time, but once they fall asleep in my bed, I manage to pull myself away and sneak out through the back door. I’m watching my six constantly as I make my way around the house and down the plateau steps leading to the river. Above me, the three moons of Sunna are at their highest point in the night sky—ever so beautiful and pearlescent.

I find Jewel, Alicia, and Cynthia down by the jetty, hidden behind a large boulder. The guards are changing shifts just above us, so we only have a few minutes to dash along the riverbank without them seeing us.

“Took you forever,” Cynthia whispers as I reach them. “Come on, grab your bag and let’s go. They’ll start patrolling soon.”

I grab a bag from Jewel—each of us has one loaded with food, a blanket, and plenty of water, along with a few climbing tools and the obsidian daggers. Constantly looking over our shoulders, we rush downriver and closely to the plateau wall as we can, barefoot and steering clear of the moonlight. An hour later, we realize we made it far enough to get a decent headway by morning, assuming Binzen and Izzo don’t wake up anytime soon. I’m exhausted, but my desire for freedom burns brighter than ever.

Yet my heart aches with each step I take farther away from them.

Insects chirp in the darkness around us as the moons hide behind a strip of clouds. All I hear is the sound of rushing water to our left and the occasional crumbling of pebbles under our feet, along with the increasing thudding of my breaking heart.

“How do you feel?” Cynthia asks me.

I offer a slight shrug. “I’m fine. We have to keep going.”

“We are going,” she says. “But I’m worried about you.”

“Right,” Jewel chimes in with a half-smile. “Feeling any sudden strong urge to go back there yet, Amber?”

“Not funny,” I reply. “It’s not comfortable, but I can walk it off. It’s fine.” It’s not, but they don’t need to know that. They’re my best friends, and we’ve been through so much together. I owe it to us and to myself to attempt this mad trek toward a Sky Tribe starship. “It’s purely physical. I’m sure of it.” I’m not, but again, they don’t need to know that. I have to keep a clear head no matter what.

“How long before they notice we’re missing?” Alicia wonders, her blonde hair curling around her face from the sweat. It’s hotter than usual, and we’ve been walking pretty fast for more than an hour. “I mean, nobody checks up on us when we’re asleep at night.”

“Our only issue is if Binzen and Izzo wake up,” I tell her. “Which is why we have to speed things up a bit. We’re far enough from the town to start running.”

My legs feel heavy, though. My knees weaken as we approach the first bridge crossing the river. I take deep breaths and catch a bit of speed, nevertheless, until we reach the foot of the bridge itself. It’s a shoddy-looking thing made of black wood and tied at the joints with plenty of thick rope.

“Will it even hold?” Cynthia asks, clearly doubtful of our next step.

“Looks sturdy enough if we cross it one at a time,” Jewel says. “I’ll go first.”

She holds onto the slender rails with both hands as she goes across. We all hear the wood creaking under every step, and we all watch the bridge tremble as Jewel reaches the middle and glances back at us. I see fear in her big brown eyes, but no one is as determined as Jewel to make it to the other side. If she can do it, so can we.

“All right, Alicia, you go next,” Cynthia declares.

“Why me?”

“Because I said so.”

“Who died and made you queen?” Alicia scoffs.

“Girls, come on,” I groan, rolling my eyes. “It’s just an effing bridge. Go.”

Alicia curses under her breath and shakily approaches the situation with both hands, much like Jewel before her. The wooden structure creaks a little louder, prompting a few scared whimpers to escape her throat, but she does manage to cross and join Jewel on the other side.

Cynthia takes a deep breath, her eyes on the girls. “All right, my turn. If I fall in, do try and save me. I’m the only doctor in our crew.”

“I promise I’ll try my best,” I mutter with my arms crossed, then look back to where we came from. There’s not a single Sunnaite in sight, only darkness slashed by moonlight over a seemingly endless mass of red stone and flimsy, purple-leafed trees scattered along the water.

When it’s my turn, I take a moment to talk myself into it. I can’t believe how much resistance my own body is throwing at me. Is it really the bond to Binzen and Izzo, or is it something else?Perhaps something that runs deeper. Something I’m nowhere near ready to admit I’m actually feeling. Maybe I’m losing my mind. We’ve already made it so far, though.

Come on, Amber. Eyes forward. Feet steady. Hands on the rails. It’s not rocket science. That part comes later.

I don’t know why, but the bridge feels a lot weaker than I thought it would. The girls had an easier time crossing it while I was wobbling and shaking like a leaf in the wind, the wood creaking louder. “Oh, come on,” I grumble as I take another step, only to feel the short plank beneath dipping. “No, no…”

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