Bridging the Ancient ✓

Chapter 33

I stand slowly, already searching for evidence of power inside my reserve. Renit remains kneeled where he is, a dagger to his throat and an attacker behind. I can't see their face; the bottom half is covered by a cloth that will do exactly what it's supposed to do. Hide the truth. In the dim light of the tomb, I can't see any features that separate this robber from the rest but their dark clothing, heavy hood, and sharp weapons tell me enough about their intentions.

We were followed. How did we not see them arrive or come in? Them as in more than one. I don't look to the second robber standing in the open doorway of the tomb, the sunlight blocked by the hill of sand we slid down to reach the door. They don't have a bow but instead hold a sword tight in their grip. Whoever it is, they're dressed identical to their partner.

Renit is as calm as ever. He holds his hands out at both sides to reveal he doesn't have a weapon and isn't about to reach for one. A single wrong move and the prince will spill blood over the ancient tile. Do the robbers know who is in their company or are they merely here for the treasures we might find?

"Give us the box," the robber muffles. I realize it is a man, evident so when his partner shifts to reveal more sunlight. Rugged features shadow from underneath the hood before they're gone again. He seemingly slinks farther into the dark shield he's created.

When I don't budge, still holding the box tightly in my grip, he presses the blade farther into Renit's throat. The prince winces as blood dribbles down from the wound and soaks into the collar of his tattered shirt. The three points of his tattoo stick out and now the ink is an unsettling shade of red.

"I said give us the box!" He grounds through his teeth. The robber stands, dragging Renit along with him. They stand at the same height and their mass is nearly the same. Both of them knew they wouldn't stand a chance if they used me as a hostage, Renit would have cut them down in seconds. But I have to do the same for him. I have to—because he would do that for me. Wouldn't think twice about it.

I have two options. I can rely on sand to get us out of here or I can take down this tomb and crush both the robbers. If this tomb is as old as the kingdom itself, will I be punished for ruining it? Fallen stone in the corner could be my one way out of this, that part of the tomb has already crumbled and if I can get Renit away from the robber...

Deciding right there what I need to do, I take one step back. It's evident as sand grinds against the sole of my boot. The robber's eyes grow wide. "I'll kill him!" He warns.

I give Renit a knowing look. Get away and I'll handle the rest. I have no doubt he has a plan forming as well as he shifts his boot at the same time I ready my power. The stone chunks that have collapsed are ancient, their smell travels through my nose and into my chest where it settles. I'll never get tired of that.

Renit moves quicker than his lightning. He stomps his foot on top of the robber's boot, who lets out a cry of pain that echoes through the tomb. Renit ducks low, diving to the floor at the same time his companion in the doorway charges directly for me. But it's too late.

With my hand thrown back, I pull for that stone and aim high—directly for the two robbers. One chain of stone goes one way and the other goes towards a different target. A cold wind whooshes by me with that stone, carrying dust and sand with it.

The prince braces his hands against his head and tucks his face to the stone floor. Bone cracks on contact from either sides and their bodies are thrown back. The sight and sound is enough to stop my power immediately, quicker than I've ever been able to turn it off. I've never wanted to kill anyone, I have before but this time...I planned it.

As soon as I saw the dagger pressed against Renit's throat, I knew they were going to die. There wasn't a second question about it, whether I should allow them to live. My power didn't give them that much mercy. I saw the prince in danger so...I reacted.

From the chunks of stone now covering their bodies, red blood pools onto the floor. I don't allow myself to think about what they look like now, crushed and crumbled at the hand of my power. As the tang of it mixes with the desert stench, I try to calm my breathing.

Don't panic here, we don't have time to panic. That's what Renit would say and that's what I have to tell myself. As soon as I try to calm myself, the prince is there bracing two hands against my shoulders. Although the lightness in my chest is a result of loosening some of my power, there's a new heaviness in my heart.

I swallow down the lump in my throat. "What if they were trying to support a sick family member by robbing us? What if they needed money?" I demand to know. My voice shakes.

"You can't think about that." Renit bends at the waist to meet my eye level. Tears blur my vision and I try to look at anything other than the prince in front of me. This time, he allows me to stare at the pool of blood leaking from the stone.

"They might have been good people," I whisper barely loud enough for him to hear.

Now he does force me to look at him. Renit presses a finger against my cheek and turns my gaze towards him. "On the battlefield, you must claim life. Or it's yours that will be claimed." So smooth, so even keeled. The same goes for the settling in his eyes that brings the breath back to my lungs.

I realize how close his face is to mine and I allow my eyes to dart to his lips just for a second. I want to know what it's like but...

Before I can finish that thought, Renit's focus whips towards the open door of the tomb. Beyond the stone chunks and the puddle of blood, voices are ringing out across the dunes. More robbers.

"We need to go. Now." My voice is surprisingly solid, not quaking like it was moments ago. I take Renit's hand, holding the box in the other, and climb up the slippery sand towards our horses. At least the robbers left them untouched.

Sure enough, spread out across the distance is a group no bigger than five walking towards us. The one in the middle spots us, points with his blade, and they begin running. Sand kicks up underneath their boots, clouding their movements, but I'm too busy mounting to focus on what they're doing. As long as there aren't any archers, we'll make it out.

Renit waits for me and seconds after he's ready, the horses are sprinting through the desert. We leave those advancing robbers behind. With no archers, they'll have no luck of catching us.

I pull the cloth back over the bottom half of my face as the elements of the desert sting my eyes and burn my cheeks with every gust of hot air. Renit allows a glance behind him and when he looks back at me, blood-stained neck and all, his eyes crinkle into a grin.