Page 65 of Over the Emerald Valley
Temaj glanced over his shoulder. “We can’t leave him!”
“We’re not.” Neku tucked the blade into his belt and grabbed the notch in the stone. The muscles in his forearm flexed as he tugged. The door didn’t budge. “Temaj, add your strength.”
He didn’t want to give up on Solon, but with no exit, none of them could leave. “I’ll try.”
Temaj crammed his fingers next to Neku’s, and they pulled together.
Nothing.
“Give me your best. On three. Ready?” Neku’s nut-brown eyes landed on Temaj’s, looking for all the world like he believed Temaj could help him do this.
Temaj gulped a lungful of air, shook out his arms, and clutched the stone again. “Ready.”
“One, two, three!”
They pulled fiercely, fingers turning white, straining muscles and tendons. Temaj grunted with effort.
But the door didn’t yield an inch.
“Curses,” Neku swore under his breath. “We could try the other set, but I don’t know where they go.”
“It’s useless. They look just like this set. Only Abasi can move them.”
“Abasi…and perhaps soon…Solon.”
Temaj’s gut seized. Solon. Who’d offered his protection. Who’d asked him to leave with him. Who’d treated him not like a concubine but like a real person.
Who was right now being turned into some kind of demon.
“We have to at least try to help him,” Temaj pleaded. “Maybe if we attacked together?”
Neku shook his head. “You saw how strong the viceroy is. How fast. We can’t defeat him as we are. Listen while he is distracted.” Neku took hold of Temaj’s shoulders and brought them face-to-face. “Solon cares for you. To see you hurt would cause him suffering.”
As I am suffering now.
“You must stay alive for him. You’re clever, aren’t you? Use your brain. Do nothing to provoke Abasi. Be cautious. We must bide our time. Whatever is happening to Solon, he’ll need us on the other side.”
Temaj nodded. Neku was right. He had to pull himself together and rely on his wits. “Let’s go back.”
“You’ll be calm?”
“Yes.” Temaj meant it too. “For Solon, I shall be very cautious.”
On quiet feet, they crept down the curved hall. Temaj feared what he would see next. His insides rebelled, threatening to become outsides if he weren’t careful.
Abasi and Solon had dropped to the cold stone floor, Solon still locked in Abasi’s deadly embrace. Dirt smeared Solon’s naked calf. Blood pooled beneath the halo of his black silken hair. Breath rattled weakly from his throat.
Temaj’s heart sank upon seeing him thus. “He’s dying.”
“Do not interfere.” Abasi glared, mouth still covered in visceral red. “Or he will die.”
“We’ll stay back,” said Neku.
Solon’s eyes were closed, but at his sides, his fists remained clenched, giving Temaj hope he was still in there somewhere.
Temaj took Neku’s hand as they watched. Hopelessness settled heavily on his shoulders.
Abasi brought his wrist to his unnaturally sharpened teeth and bit down.
