Page 21 of The Edge of Never

“Ye’ll need yer axe for this bit and watch yer footing.”

“Is this the part you were concerned about?”

He grimaced.

“One of them.”

“That fills me with so much confidence.”

“The rope will take yer weight if ye fall.”

And now I wanted to scream.

“You better be joking.”

If I didn’t think we were fucked before, his expression made me pretty sure we were now.

“Am no joking.”

“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.”

“The rope is a precaution, Kit. Am trying tae keep ye safe.”

“Yeah, yeah, let’s just get going before I freak out.”

Thane squeezed my arm before releasing me and turning to our right. It was then I saw where he intended to take us. I swallowed, forcing my feet to move towards the ledge that wrapped around the mountain with the sheer drop to our left.

“You have got to be kidding me,” I muttered.

Thane didn’t hear me as he stepped onto it. I kept close, not wanting to find myself dangling down the side of this mountain with only Thane to hold me up. I mimicked him as he dug his axe into the side of the mountain to hold steady against the snow coming down.

“Is there not a safer way?” I called out to him.

“If we’re gonnae get doon the mountain intae the glen before it gets dark, then ye have tae trust me when I tell ye this is the fastest route.”

But not the safest.

The whole way along the ledge, I tried not to look off the edge. Keeping my eyes on Thane helped me get through it. He was sure and steady in his steps. Being tethered to him by the rope gave me more reassurance than I thought it would. He would save me if anything bad happened. I worried about myself given my lack of coordination and balance, but somehow, we made it across without incident.

Thane took out his map and studied it again while I caught my breath and celebrated the small win. Score one for us.

The snow hadn’t let up at all. The sky darkened further during our trek across the ledge. Without asking Thane, I got out my head torch and attached it to my helmet. I’d put it on over the top of the beanie he gave me before we started our ascent for safety.

Thane put the map away and rubbed his face with his hand. His expression remained guarded, but his unease was evident in his demeanour.

“Am gonnae be honest with ye. I dinnae know if it’s best tae keep going or stay put until the weather clears up.”

“It doesn’t look like it will anytime soon.”

He nodded and sighed.

“Aye. That’s why I wannae get further doon the slope.”

“Then we keep going.”

“Are ye sure ye’re okay tae?”

I shrugged. The prospect of being stuck on the side of the mountain was far worse than the exhaustion I felt.

---