Every Glistening Night

Chapter Forty-One

A shout jolts my eyes open the next morning. Footsteps bustle across the floor; ceramics clank, and fabric rustles. My blurry vision focuses on Kletasuah as she hurriedly tosses jars and plants from her shelves into a bag.

"We have to go," Ixek hisses. He shoves the remaining blanket on the cot into a bag almost his height, though much plumper in width.

"What's going on?" I mumble.

"Shh," Kletasuah says. "It's the Anderwres."

I stiffen. "They've come?"

"We need to move you somewhere safer." His eyes stray to Kletasuah. "Both of you."

"Just let me grab a few more," Kletasuah says. "They could come in handy if there's a battle. Besides, the Anderwres may destroy anything they find here."

"Including us," Ixek mutters. He hurries to my side and helps unwrap me from the bundles of blankets constraining my body. The cold penetrates me instantly, and I shiver. "Can you stand?"

"Of course she can't stand," Kletasuah whispers hoarsely over her shoulder.

Ixek exhales, then encases me in two, less bulky blankets. A little more heat surrounds me, but the damage is already done. An uncomfortable chill lingers in my bones. These probably aren't sunlight blankets.

"This will have to do," Ixek says, swinging a rucksack onto his back. "Place your arms around me." I do so, clasping both hands on his shoulder. He picks me up with a grunt. In the distance, I can hear the clash of rocks and wood, the shout of warriors. It seems to be drawing closer. "Kletasuah, we're leaving now. It's better if we stay together."

"Just one more herb." Kletasuah moves from one shelving unit to the next, searching row upon row.

"Not one more herb. Now."

A scream pierces the air.

"Kletasuah!"

"But the Angelmint!"

"Leave it!"

A pot topples to the ground. Shards of pottery fly across Kletasuah's feet. At least thick furs cover her bare skin. Ixek marches across the room and swings me back and forth so my feet nudge her.

"Alright, alright," Kletasuah says. She bends down, grabs a fistful of tiny, rounded leaves, and shoves them in her bag as she follows us to the cave's mouth. Ixek pokes his head out, and by default, mine as well. The mountain path is vacant — for now.

"Blankets?" Ixek whispers. Kletasuah nods, pointing to the fluff bag she now has slung over her shoulder. Ixek dashes down the mountainside, Kletasuah by his side. Battle sounds trail at our heels, exclamations and grunts, whooshing arrows and clashing staffs. Strangest of all is a sizzling sound carried on the wind, along with a burnt stench that makes me gag.

"What is that?" I hear Kletasuah mutter.

Ixek inhales strong, steady breaths as he runs, fogging the air above me. Adrenaline pulses through my veins, even though I'm barely moving. The Anderwres are getting closer, the clash growing louder, the awful burning scent more pungent. Ixek jumps over a rock, and the landing rattles me. I clench my teeth so they don't clatter, giving us away.

We reach the clearing, bobbing around various rocks. It feels wrong to see it bathed in the pale, orangey light, yet be completely empty. My grip tightens around Ixek. We're almost to the edge of the mountainside. Ten steps, and we'll be on the path down. Five, four, three, two...

"Gotcha!"

I scream as a man leaps over the cliff, landing in our path. He wields a wooden staff with a stone at the top, whittled into a point. Ixek scrambles backward, tripping over his feet. I fall to the ground, but Kletasuah grabs me before I make impact.