Page 62 of A Promise of Peridot
Andsmellthe putrid remains of whatever they had killed.
“What is that?”
“I have no idea,” Mari murmured, which was always disconcerting.
“They’re reapers. Hence the name of the cave,” Niclas said.
Fedrik grunted. “And what is a reaper, exactly?”
“Why does it matter?” Niclas snipped. “They won’t stop us.”
He made to push toward the undulating, screeching sounds.
“I wouldn’t do that,” Kane said. Kane, a man I had never heardcaution anyone—except me—against anything dangerous in his life. The least risk-averse person I had ever met.
Niclas scoffed. “We make it this far, and your balls shrink to grapes at the sound of some lizards?”
My eyes widened at his vitriol.
Not one to pick fights with those he deemed beneath him, Kane said nothing. Niclas appraised the rest of us, but no one dared to move.
“Fine. I’ll go alone.”
He inched forward, and the group parted to accommodate him, granting me a better view of the torchlit scene.
A vast pit extended before us. The expanse was bisected by a single plank of stone, like a thin bridge, that could only fit one foot placed in line after another. A deadly balancing beam to the other side. I couldn’t see into the depths, but I could smell the rotting flesh of those who had not succeeded in crossing it. And hear the creatures that had no doubt torn them apart.
But beyond the thrashing, seemingly bottomless pit was the only reason for Niclas’s bravery. In the distance, on the other side, was a rocky archway, lit from inside with scintillating, luminous light. Light that clearly reflected off pure gold, diamonds, and jewels. Sparkling, glittering, radiant.
The treasure. Just out of reach.
“You can’t,” I breathed.
“Watch me.”
“Nobody wants what’s through that passage more than us,” Fedrik said. “But it’s not worth your life.”
Niclas considered Fedrik’s words, eyeing the creatures that slithered through the pit.
Griffin cut a sidelong glance at Kane. “So what now?”
Kane’s jaw stiffened. “Take them and find a way out the way we came. I’ll go on my own.”
“No.” My knees buckled beneath me.
Kane gave me a pointed look as he lifted a shoulder, and I remembered that he would not need to cross the narrow bridge on foot.
“No way I’m letting you bunch take what’s mine.” Niclas shrugged Fedrik’s hand away and, despite our shouts urging him to wait—to please listen to reason—stepped onto the narrow bridge. He inched along, one foot after the other. When he teetered, Mari nearly shrieked and twisted Griffin’s arm into a vise grip.
“Holy Stones,” she whispered. “I’m going to vomit.”
Niclas narrowly righted himself and somehow continued walking. All the while, the snaps, slithers, and screeches of the scaled beasts below echoed off the cavern walls.
“Fifty coin says he drops before he makes it halfway.” Kane smirked.
“I’ll take those odds.” Griffin’s eyes were glued to the wobbling sailor.
“You’re both sick,” I hissed.
