Page 57 of Soul Forge

Reiner turned to face her and crouched to make herself eye-level. “You wanted to be free. This is me giving you the chance.”

The thought of giving up what little security she had was terrifying, but the thought of failing and being returned to her father as a disgraced wielder was worse. Elda took several deep, steadying breaths, waiting for the pulse pounding in her ears to slow. The world around her was peaceful, serene, entirely at odds with the adrenaline storming through her veins.

“Take my hand.” It sounded so simple. Just reach out, take it, and stand up. Two simple steps made so much harder by the deadly drop below. “I didn’t take you for a coward, Princess.”

The ex-captain was right. Of all the things Elda had been in her life, a coward was not one of them. Her fingers closed around the valkyrie’s gauntlet, and she rose from the saddle, bringing her legs up to plant her boots on the leather. Her knees shook so much she was surprised her legs supported her weight, but she extended them until she was standing upright on the saddle, only Reiner’s hand in hers anchoring her in place.

The second she let go, Elda fell.

The wind howled, and without a storm to cover the horizon, every second of the fall was played out in vivid detail. Her scream was whipped away, the wind so forceful that taking in a full breath felt impossible. The cold air burned her eyes.

You’re going to die,that poisonous voice whispered, and the edges of her vision began to dim.

“Spread your arms,” a familiar voice said, the wind lessening abruptly. Her vision was blurred, but she recognised the resonance of Sypher’s deep tones. She did as he asked, and with her arms thrown out, the tumbling over and over stopped. “Good. I’ve got you.”

An arm around her waist slowed her. It was gentle this time, worlds apart from the violent shunt that had rattled her bones in Kilmarthen. Sypher followed her momentum, arresting it gradually until he was able to swoop back up towards Atlas without hurting her. He deposited her back in the saddle without another word, and Reiner folded her arms across her chest, now sitting backwards in her seat.

“Again,” she demanded. Elda swallowed the bile clawing its way up her throat and took valkyrie’s hand again, climbing slowly to her feet once more. When they were both standing, Reiner let go, and the wind whipped Elda out of the saddle instantly. She threw her arms out as she fell, avoiding the nauseating tumble, and Sypher caught her again.

Once more to her feet in the saddle, once again tossed away by the gale. On and on it went, testing her body even after the drops made her sick. Each and every time, the Soul Forge was there to catch her.

They continued until Saeryn was on the horizon. Sypher snatched Elda out of the air a second after she caught sight of the huge castle with the kingdom’s crest painted on its side, a prominent symbol of human achievement in a world of magic not meant for them. She was too dizzy to stay seated on Atlas, so Sypher carried her the rest of the way himself, cradling her securely in his arms.

“You seem tense,” she remarked when she could see straight again. He didn’t answer, so she turned her head to watch the landscape pass by below. “I can’t believe you get to do this whenever you feel like it,” she said, letting out a content sigh.

“It’s hard work,” he said at last. “Flying takes stamina.”

“But look at the result!” She tipped her head back, enjoying the wind on her face. “You’re incredible, you know. Grumpy, sullen, but incredible.” She opened her eyes to find him frowning down at her.

“I thought you didn’t like me.”

“No, I don’t like yourattitude. But I’ll change that, eventually.” She flashed him a smile, earning a raised eyebrow in response. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“I’m not looking at you like anything.”

“You are. You’re looking at me like you don’t believe me.”

He shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t.”

“How many wielders have cleaned your wings?”

“…None.”

“How many saw your demon and didn’t freak out?”

“Also none.”

Elda nodded triumphantly. “And how many of them still smiled at you afterdaysof you being a complete ass?”

He sighed. “None.”

“I’m not the same as them, am I?”

“So far, no,” he admitted slowly. “But don’t hold your breath, Princess. I don’t trust you. I won’t until you’ve spoken to Irileth. I know how that conversation will go, and when it’s over and I’m right, you’ll have to accept that we aren’t friends.”

“Alright,” she conceded. “But if you’re wrong, I expect an apology. And flowers.”

“Sure,” he snorted, looking back out at the horizon. “If I’m wrong, I’ll bring you flowers.” There was a sarcastic edge to his voice, but it didn’t dampen her spirits. “Wielders are all the same. The sooner we get this over with, the quicker I can get rid of you.”

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