Chapter 32

The bird cocked its cerulean head and stretched its wings, about to take flight. Its wingspan, like drips of the blue ocean beneath us, stretched as I continued to climb for its nest. Long, slender talons gripped the cliff's edge.

"Easy…. It's alright, I'm not here to hurt you. I just need your help," I said, my voice strained from the climb.

The falcon snapped its black beak, staring at me with luminous yellow eyes.

"Elpis, are you crazy?" Aryx called from the flat below.

Wind whipped across my forehead, throwing strands of hair into my face. My fingers begged for relief as I reached the bird's nest.

"It's okay…" I said, sliding my hand slowly toward its talon.

It flapped its wings again, snapping at my nose nearly inches from its large, ruffled feathers.

"Elpis. Come down, we'll find another way!" Aryx cried, pacing below me with panicked eyes.

"Hush, that's it, it's okay," I said, wrapping my fingers around its foot.

The bird screeched as I reached for the other leg. He snapped, pecking against my arm, pricking the skin until it bled. I smoothed the feathers across its back, tucking its wings back in. The falcon cried once more, pleading for me to let go.

"Please, we need your help. I know you're probably terrified, I am too. It's okay," I whispered, pulling the falcon into my chest.

Mortal girl. No, not quite mortal. Your scent is powerful. Intriguing.

It looked at me, its wings straining against my hold.

"Please falcon, we need you," I whispered, frozen at the sight of the ground below.

I am Rah. What is it you seek by taking me from my home?

"Rah? That's your name?" I asked, slowly descending the smooth rock.

Why have you come?

"We need safe passage across the Raging Seas," I said, my foot slipping from the loose hold below.

My boot slid down the cliff side, and my stomach leapt into my throat. Feeling for anything to latch on to, I stretched one arm above me. The other still wrapped around the falcon's body. Hooking my fingers into a crack in the rock, I gripped for dear life, my legs dangling frantically above the dark, solid ground.

If you don't release me, you'll fall to your death.

The bird squawked, pushing his wings against my sternum.

"I can't do that. We need you." The skin on my fingertips ripped away as Aryx's cries from below trailed the salty wind around me.

You would dare risk meeting your end for my guidance? What lies beyond the seas that's worth your life?

"My freedom," I sobbed. Blood from my flayed fingertips streaked down my arm. Muscles in each joint of my hand quivered on the brink of failure.

The bird peered into my eyes. Its blue feathers rippled in the night air.

Hmm, so you will steal my freedom to gain your own?

He cocked his head.

"Please. Consider it a temporary theft," I begged, my lungs frantic for air.

Aryx howled below, pleading for me to let go of the bird.

Release me.

"I promise you'll be free again," I groaned. "You'll be in a better world, one full of life rather than death. Altair guided us here. He needs you too."

That old fool? Has he sent you to trick me back into that cage he holds me in?

"Help us and you'll never see the inside of a cage again," I begged, feeling the final two fingers of my grip sliding.

I couldn't hold on much longer. This was it. Gritting my teeth, I dug my nails into the fractured rock. I'd come this far. I wouldn't give up now.

"Help us, and I promise I'll return the favor," I cried.

Rah cocked his head toward the stars. Clicking his beak, his yellow eyes returned to my face.

You are of the night, half-god. Something burns within you I've never felt before. Intriguing.

"Rah, I'd love to discuss this more with you, but in any second I'm going to fall to my death and this journey will be for nothing."

Fine. I will grant you the safe passage you seek. But our deal is sealed. I help you gain your freedom, you will return mine.

"Yes, I promise I will. I promise," I said, the sting of sweat blurring my vision.

Now release me before you fall to your untimely death.

"How can I be sure you won't just fly away?"

You have my oath.

A golden tear rolled down the falcon's beak and dripped onto my cheek. The warmth of the splattered drop rejuvenated my now-numb hand and the pain of my broken fingers faded away. I took a breath, trusting Rah's booming voice inside my head.

My grip around the bird's wings relaxed, and I scratched my free hand into the crack. Rah stretched his wings and ascended into the air with a rush of gold and azure feathers.

"Elpis, come down. Please!" Aryx roared from below.

With shallow breaths, I slowly descended the wall, wincing with each touch of my mangled hand.

Rah soared around the peak, a beacon of shining blue across the vast darkness of the sky. When finally my feet hit the rough mountain floor, I kneeled on the ground. Heaving with rasping lungs, my bloodied arms went limp with the onset of soreness.

"Are you insane?" Aryx shouted, throwing himself before me.

He ripped the hem of his tunic and loosely wrapped the material around my raw fingers.

"Yes," I panted, eyes still wild with adrenaline pounding through my veins.

"You could've killed yourself! Do nothing like that again, please. I can't finish this without you." He cupped my head in his hands, the golden flecks of his eyes smoldering.

Rah landed, his talons digging into the solid sediment, and fluttered his wings.

Bravery easily becomes foolishness, child. Do not forget that.

"Thank you," I whispered, my eyes heavy as the thrill of the climb faded from my body.

Aryx glanced between us, confusion wrinkled across his pursed lips.

"So, you'll help us?" he asked.

Yes, Spring Prince, I made a promise to your companion while she so stupidly clung to me above her death.

Specks of black blurred my vision as I relaxed into the warmth of Aryx's arms. He combed the hair back from my sweaty brow as exhaustion took over and I faded into quiet darkness .