Page 18 of Sword of Rage
“There must be a hidden path or entrance somewhere,” Gytha said, searching the area.
If they had a rope, Ackley could rappel down. He recalled Owen saying something about the only way in was by water.
“Do you think there are any sentries on duty?” Gytha asked. “Maybe you could wave until one of them sees you?”
“That’s an absurd suggestion.” The sentries would probably shoot first and ask questions later. Ackley would much rather enter the city without anyone knowing he was there. In order to do what needed to be done, stealth was key.
She shrugged. “It was just a thought. I don’t hear you coming up with any ideas.”
Doing as Gytha suggested put them at the mercy of their captors. It would be better to infiltrate the city, learn the state of things, and then proceed from there. “Can you climb?”
Gytha raised her eyebrows. “You want me to climb, using only my hands and feet, down the side of a cliff with the raging ocean below? Are you mad?”
Well, when she put it that way, the idea didn’t sound as good. “We passed a river about a mile back.”
“So?”
“Owen told me we could reach the city by water.” Maybe the river led to the city.
“He probably meant we had to charter a boat or something. This is why you should’ve brought someone from Melenia along.” Gytha walked to the edge, peering over it. “I’m sure they have some sort of patrol. We’ve probably already been spotted.”
Ackley had no intention of sitting there and waiting for someone to stumble upon them. “All the more reason to get moving.” Without waiting for a response, he headed north, back toward the river.
Gytha mumbled several curse words before trekking after Ackley. Thankfully, she didn’t argue with him.
At the river, he followed it to the edge of the land where it plummeted fifty feet into the ocean below. Peering over the side, Ackley examined the waterfall. Next to it, a rope had been nailed into the cliff about a foot below from where he stood. Squatting, he reached down, tugging on it. The rope held firm.
He removed his bag, hiding it near a boulder about ten feet from the edge. It would be easier to climb without it. “I’ll go first.” Turning his back to the ocean, Ackley winked at Gytha, then climbed over the edge. With his hands firmly wrapped around the rope and his feet against the rocky cliff, he slowly lowered his body. The mist from the waterfall coated his hair and clothes. Thankfully, the rope felt rough instead of slick. About half way down the cliff, he came to a slight ledge, a cave next to it. The rope only had another yard or so to it, so Ackley planted both feet on the ledge before releasing the rope. He took a step into the cave and waited for Gytha to join him.
Leaning against the side, he folded his arms and stared out at the ocean, watching as the sun slipped behind the water. The sky turned a brilliant shade of reddish orange, reminding him of a painting his mother kept in her bedchamber.
Gytha landed on the ledge. Ackley clutched onto her arm, yanking her into the cave. Panting, she cursed.
“You’ve been spending too much time with soldiers.” He released her, then headed deeper into the cave.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Your language. Most women don’t swear.”
She shoved his back. “I’m not most women.”
“No, you most certainly are not.” The cave narrowed. “I think this is a tunnel.” It probably led straight to Kreng.
“A boat would have been easier.”
“Did you see a boat? Because I don’t recall seeing one.” Keeping his right hand on the rocky interior, he made his way along the tunnel and into complete darkness. The air remained fresh, indicating this led to an opening.
After about ten minutes, a pale light could be seen up ahead. Slowing his pace, Ackley listened for signs that sentries guarded the exit. Not hearing anything, he came to the end of the tunnel and stopped. Straight ahead, the ocean extended for miles. The sky had turned gray. Peering out of the tunnel, he noticed the rocky cliff to his left curved inward. That had to be where the city was located.
“It’s only ten feet from here to the water,” Gytha mused.
“The ocean is too rough to try and swim from here to the city. We’d be smashed against the rocks.” Reaching down, his fingers came across another rope. Lying on his stomach, he studied it. The rope went straight down into the water. “It’s high tide.”
“What do you want to do?” Gytha started pacing.
“Owen said the only way in is through the water.”
“And?” She paused to look at him, her eyebrows raised in question.
