Argent Glass

Chapter 21 - Forge - Andrew

Andrew untied the rope from his waist and let it drop to the ground where Evan lay panting. The climb had exhausted them both. Even though sweat had drenched his shirt, Andrew felt chilled from the light breeze. Tendrils of pain had moved up his waist into his armpits and down his hips into his thighs. He was in good shape but trying to shield himself from the pain in his waist and his ankle had taken its toll.

He reached into his pack for the water bottle. Like Evan's, it was nearly empty and when the last of the water dripped into his open mouth, he knew they would soon need to find more. Or the place where the soldiers had come from.

The recent storms would have left water in shallow basins but much of that would have evaporated in the bright sun and it would take time to find. It was more important to make it over the apex, and he didn't think it was far when he looked ahead.

With the water bottle shoved back into the pack, he pulled out his phone. No bars still. And the battery was almost dead. They needed to keep moving.

The map fell to the ground when he shoved the phone into a netted pocket on his bag, and he leaned over to pick it up. Based on his most recent pencil marks and how far he had come since last making them, he thought it might be a couple more hours. He looked at Evan. "It's not going to get any closer if we just sit here."

Evan sat up and shifted his pack around on his shoulders. "Rest a minute. I'll go scout that ridge."

"I don't think that's a–"

"C'mon, Andrew. You need the rest," he pleaded. "I can go check the top, make sure there's no ambush, and see what I can see. Unless you're afraid I'm going to see the aliens first."

Evan's eye's took on a darker hue when he was calm and sure. Usually blue like the sky after a summer storm, they now looked like twin orbs of twilight.

"Be careful."

Evan began walking.

"Hey, Evan?" Andrew asked softly.

"Yeah?"

"No matter what happens, I love you."

Evan snorted. "Way to make me feel better about doing the right thing."

Andrew pulled some leaves from a bush and crushed them between his fingers. The pungent scent of fresh sage filled the air. It was almost reinvigorating. Except that it wasn't. His boot felt tighter and the pain had dulled to a throb. He was tempted to take the boot off to rub away the pain, but he'd be done if he couldn't put it back on.

With the last of the sage blown from his fingertips, he reached back and extracted the carabiner from the loop on his bag. He clicked it as he watched Evan maneuver around the brush and boulders in his path to the top of the mountain. Opening and closing the latch with a click helped him keep his mind off the aches of his body.

"You remind me of him, did you know that?"

Andrew shook his head.

"You do! You are brave and smart and–"

"And a good climber."

"And a good climber. Just like your daddy."

"But I won't fall off of a mountain."

"Nope. I don't fall off of mountains. I just get myself shot in them."

"Andrew!"

He looked up in alarm. Evan was racing back down the mountain. Andrew grabbed his pack and hauled himself to his feet.

"What is it?"

"You aren't going to believe this!" Evan's face was lit up. His eyes were the color of stone washed denim and his smile crinkled at their corners.