Page 39 of Capricorn Blessed

“So we just need to find a clearing in the woods in the Forest City?” Dennis asks. “Well, that shouldn’t be hard...”

“We should get going, then. I hope you wore comfortable shoes.” I lift my sandwich and take a bite, heading to the nearest trail marker. I hear grumbles behind me as the guys pick up the pace to keep up with me.

We spend the rest of the day walking through the paths around the town. I know we are close to the temple, but we haven’t found it yet.

As the sun sets, we leave the trails, and I follow my gut instinct farther into the trees. A few times, we have to backtrack, as I feel like I am getting farther away.

When there is barely any light left in the sky, I step out of the thick trees and into an open space. I pause, looking around.

“Did we find it?” Dennis asks wearily.

I shake my head. “No, but I think we’re close. Listen.”

“Is that the river?” asks Beorn.

“One way to find out,” I say, picking up my pace and hurrying toward the sound of rushing water.

I break through the trees onto the bank of the river and feel my waning energy renew.

“This is it!” I yell as the guys trudge out behind me. “We just need to find the temple. It’ll be marked by a statue of Capricorn. Let’s spread out and look.”

I turn right and hurry up the bank, not looking back to see where the guys went. I look back and forth between the river bank and the woods, seeing nothing. After about fifteen minutes in one direction, I turn and head back. The sun has fully set, and the only light is coming from the stars that are starting to peek out from behind the clouds.

I alternate between running and stumbling down the bank. My gut tells me if I don’t find the temple soon, we won’t have time to solve the puzzle of the ritual.

“Sia,” Beorn calls out. “Can you come here?”

I pick up the pace, skidding to a stop next to Beorn. “Yes?”

“What’s that?” He points across the river. The clouds move, and a beam of moonlight lands on a statue. I gasp and grab Beorn, giving him a quick kiss.

“You’re brilliant!” I praise. “I hope you’re ready to go swimming!”

I slip my shoes off and sit on the bank, letting my legs dangle over. The guys look at each other before copying me. I remove the locket from around my neck and pass it to Dennis, who slips it over his head. Beorn is handed the comb, and Kenric lifts the goblet out of his pocket before putting it back and zipping it shut. I pull the sword from the sheath, holding it in one hand and pushing off the ledge with the other.

The water is icy cold and freezes all my muscles when I drop under its surface. It takes all my willpower not to suck in a breath. A few seconds pass, then my muscles unlock, and the water feels like I’m swimming on a warm summer day.

I kick my legs, breaking the surface and sucking in lungfuls of air. The current pulls at me, but I cross easily. Looking back, I see all three guys struggling as the current sweeps them downstream.

Instinct takes over. I dive under the surface and use the current to my advantage. I pass Kenric and reach Dennis first. I pop up beside him. He lets out a strangled yelp before inhaling water and starting to cough. I wrap an arm around his chest, and together, we kick toward the shore.

Once he’s safe, I pass over the sword and kick my way to my remaining two mates. Kenric is next. He doesn’t jump when I pop up next to him and shakes me off once we are through the strongest current. By the time Beorn and I reach the far side of the river, I am tired, and we are at least a mile from where we entered.

We trudge back up this side of the bank, my feet feeling heavier with every step. I yawn, and Beorn wraps an arm around me, helping me to keep moving forward. We reach Kenric and Dennis and approach the statue together.

“Anyone know how long until the solstice?” I ask.

Dennis looks at his watch. “Ten minutes,” he answers.

“Then we need to get busy.”

We search for the statue of a woman in a long flowy dress. There has to be something to mark where to place the relics.

“I think I found mine,” Dennis says.

He takes my hand and places it where the collarbone would be. There’s a divot that feels the size of the locket. Dennis pulls it over his head and places it on the neck of the statue. It lands in the space and seems to stick in its spot.

“I guess I should check the hair, then,” says Beorn.

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