Page 62 of The Great and Terrible

“The arrowhead is shrinking. And when I talk dirty to you, princess, you’ll know it.”

“Something to look forward to then.” I drew in a breath and held it, ready to act. When the arrowhead finished shrinking, I should be able to remove the object without difficulty.

“Why is this taking so long?” he snarled.

“It’s only a few seconds, Jasher. We’re good.”

He bared his teeth. “This is a waste of time. Head north. Soon the smoke will thin, and the poppies will wake. You must be clear of the glen by then. You’ll make it if you run.”

“Just let me know go time.” A click sounded a few seconds later. “Never mind. I can guess.” Yank.

A hoarse shout barreled from him as he bowed his back. I hurried to pour the disinfectant and press a bandage into the gushing wound.

He panted as he met my gaze, his irises glazed with anguish and perhaps a spark of fear. “Run,” he croaked. “Please.”

My stomach and heart traded places. “Stop being a baby. There’s just one more.” I performed the same task, fitting the metal loop around the arrow’s shaft. Another jolt of electricity lifted the fine hairs on my body.

“I’m finished, Moriah. We both know it.”

I shook my head, refusing his offer of grief. “I know nothing of the sort.”

As the contraption did its thing, he continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “One soldier will stay with me, the other chase you, going around the glen. There are quicksand groves he’ll have to navigate, buying you an eight-hour head start.”

Eight hours. Both forever and a too brief blip. “I’m not leaving you,” I snapped. “You will recover, or I’ll bury the compass.”

Glaring at me, he snapped, “You’ll die if you stay here. So will the others. Even if the rebels are dealt with, you can’t go back the way we came. Nugget has enjoyed his first kill. He’ll attack you.”

“Wrong. Nugget loves me. He’ll protect, not harm. And I’ll get that serpens-rosa. Somehow.” Nothing would stop me.

The compression finished. Yank.Jasher released another hoarse bellow. While he wheezed and panted, I cleaned and bandaged the second wound.

“Sounds like time is running out for you, enforcer,” Osvaldo called, smug.

“What if there are more explosions?” Leona demanded of Jasher, inserting herself into our conversation.

“Yeah,” Patch said, nodding. “Even if Nugget isn’t a factor, we can’t risk setting off any more landmines.”

“You’ll be…fine.” Pants worsening, Jasher gritted out, “I caused explosions. Have traps…all through…forest.”

“No more talk of leaving you behind,” I snapped, wishing I’d taken Iris up on her offer. I could’ve misted the rebel into cooperation. But no matter. I had a plan. It was risky. Beyond risky. I didn’t care.

I unsheathed the blade anchored to my side and passed it to Patch. “On my signal, throw this at the guy with the bow and arrow. Your goal is to stop his shots.”

The redhead nodded, understanding and accepting her mission. “You sure you want to go this route?”

No, but I was doing it anyway. I glanced at my finger and double-blinked. The ring. No longer a shadow but an actual ring.Thering. My mother’s, just as I’d suspected. It now circled my finger, the seven gemstones sparkling.

“What should I do?” Leona whisper-yelled.

“Put the pack back together.” The ring wasn’t my main concern at the moment. “I’m giving myself up. Be ready to exit the same route we entered. We’ll go around it and bravethose quicksand pits. You two will be Jasher’s crutches at first.”

“Moriah,” Jasher hissed.

Ignoring him, I stood, stretched up my arms and called, “I’ve had enough of the poppies.” Not exactly a lie. “I’m coming out. But only after you show me the serpens-rosa and promise to let the others go.”

Osvaldo withdrew a pouch from his pocket and waved it through the air. “Done.”

Liar. Still, I navigated out of the field, faking a wince with each step, as if I’d been bitten. Just in case this plan failed, I didn’t want the rebels plunging into the flowers to grab my companions.

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