Stepping toward the edge, our eyes met as she gently lowered herself inch by inch closer to the stone surface of the fallen bridge beneath her.
'Please be careful!' I called out while simultaneously trying to wrap my mind around what was happening. Remembering her as a small girl making flowers bloom in my hand seemed so long ago. She really was determined to push herself as far as needs be. I just hoped she knew what she was doing.
As I looked to the violent rapids below my worry only increased but as she touched down on the stone surface of the fallen bridge she didn't seem to be releasing her grip on the supporting vines — which made me feel at least somewhat comfortable that she wasn't doomed if the surface beneath her gave way.
'Okay, now what?' I yelled.
'Get out of the way!' Startled, I stumbled away from the edge as hundreds of vines snaked downward, into the gorge from both sides of the hundred foot split. Hanging onto a nearby palm tree, I observed the vines as they intertwine and braided with one another to wrap around all sides of the fallen bridge and then begin to expand. Each vine swelled and bulged miraculously growing larger and teeming with life. The trees on either side of the gorge bent downward toward the center of the narrow ravine; each tightened to capacity and ready to snap under the pressure of the hefty burden below. When I felt the earth rumble slightly beneath my feet I feared the worst.
As my hands gripped tightly to the thick trunk of the palm tree, my eyes gazed upon the incredible eccentricity. With an abrupt jerk the bridge loosened from the wedge in which it had been cradled since its collapse. The tremor crumbled smaller parts of the castles structure and loosened the ground within the gorge itself. To my relief, Jordan stood strong and unmoved.
The bridge rose a bit at a time as an expression of shear wit and determination formed on her delicate but sweaty face. Jordan's oversized boots stood confident as the vines that had been supporting her released. Her life was now solely resting in her faith of personal endurance and the will to do what is necessary. I held my breath in silence, hoping that the vines would hold the weight and that the bridge would not pull her to the depths of the ravine along with it.
As the bridge raised and finally locked into place, the ground shook beneath me once more. Roots on both sides from within the gorge grew and swelled rapidly; creating more and more support for the bridge. Moss and algae covered the entire bridge with a heavy coat until finally it moved no more, and hardly daring to breathe I was amazed to see that standing in the middle of it was my friend.
The clouds of dirt settled as she raised her brow and an obvious light of satisfaction appeared in her eyes. Her nose was bleeding and she was sweating profusely but she wore upon her face an expression of accomplishment. Although she appeared to be short of breath, she wiped the sweat from her brow and yelled out.
'There . . . good as . . . new.' Stamping on the bridge to show that it was sturdy, she gestured to me to follow her into the castle ruins and still in somewhat of a daze; I carefully and cautiously stepped across the bridge. Reaching the other side of the gorge I took in her exhausted state. As I placed my shoulder under her arm to help support her, she moved away – as though to fight me on it.
'I don't need . . . your help.'
'You did a fine job, Jordan. I've never been so proud of you. Now shut up or I'll beat the shite out of you.' Smiling widely she looked into my eyes and as we shared a quick glance the sincerity of the moment was suddenly upon us and we quickly looked away; for the first time shy around one another.
'Come on. Let's find you some water and a place to rest.' I broke our silence. Before us was a much larger courtyard and directly ahead, the remains of a majestically sculpted entranceway; the door it had once encased long since fallen. Like most of the structure, the surface was covered in green moss and algae with overgrown foliage. Located in the center of the courtyard was an expansive water fountain. Though the finely sculpted structure had clearly not been functional for quite some time, I was drawn to the statue of a small child holding an infant at its center.
YOU ARE READING
Order of the Golden Dawn (Neophyte Series 2)
FantastikMeric is a troubled youth living in England near the turn of the 19th century. Neglected and bitter, he was raised within a wealthy dynasty where family secrets are well kept and shrouded by a dark, mysterious past. He soon learns that his bloodline...
