Page 86 of The Traitor Queen (The Bridge Kingdom 2)

The crews from both boats were in the water, and several of them took the sacks of fish and started splashing noisily in opposite directions, baiting the snakes away from the path. The rest lifted their bows, Aren included.

You can do this.

There was movement on the beach, sinuous figures disturbing the fog as they moved onto the sand.

“The path is relatively smooth,” Aren said. “Trust your feet, and watch for the snakes.”

As if she didn’t know that.

“They can jump. You need to get at least a dozen feet up the pier before you’re out of reach. At best, you’ll only have a handful of seconds to make the climb.”

Lara clenched her teeth, fighting the urge to nod. Any movement would draw the snakes’ attention.

“On my mark!”

She couldn’t do this.

“Go!”

Lara broke into a sprint, water splashing as she hit the beach, her legs pumping. She didn’t look to see if they’d thrown the fish. Didn’t look to see if the snakes had noticed her.

She just ran.

The deep sand shifted and sank beneath her feet, but she’d been raised in the Red Desert, and the sensation was as natural to her as breathing.

But the desert didn’t have snakes like this.

Dimly, she heard the Ithicanians shouting, trying to hold the creatures’ attention.

She knew it wasn’t working. Could feel the creatures converging on her, an invader and a better prize than any fish.

The fog swirled as she hit the path, her gaze fixed just ahead of her feet, searching for movement.

There.A dark head flashed toward her, all teeth and scales. Lara dived, flying over the lunging serpent, rolling and then on her feet again in a flash.

But they were behind her. Gaining ground.

She ran faster.

Bits of rock cut into her bare feet, but Lara barely felt the pain as the bridge pier emerged out of the mist.

An arrow sliced past her, spearing the head of a snake that had appeared out of nowhere, its body slamming against her ankle as she passed, making her stumble.

Keep going.

She raced onward, sensing others converging in her periphery.

Faster!

“Run, Lara!” Aren’s voice filled her ears, the desperate edge of it driving her to greater speed. She leapt over a rock, a gasp tearing from her lips as something knocked against her heel.

“Run!”

The pier was only a dozen paces away, but she could hear the heavy bodies of the snakes hitting the ground behind her as they lunged.

She was almost there. Gathering her strength, Lara flung herself at the rough stone.

Her body slammed against the pier, fingers scrabbling for a handhold, sliding, her fingernails tearing, the weight of the rope pulling her down.

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