She turns away.
I cannot bear for her to leave, and throw myself in her arms. “Be careful.”
She hugs me and I hear the rapid beating of her heart. “Go.”
“Promise you will meet us.”
Her eyes become soft. “You must reach the cave before dawn.”
“Can we?” I ask Daniel.
He looks out to sea. “Not if that storm hits us first.”
Heavy black clouds hang on the horizon. I look toward the rugged rocks that line the ocean and lead under the Ice Mountains.
Kydaka gazes at the sea, concern in his eyes. “Our worry will be for you.”
Control. Do not let them see you cry. I walk away from my only family.
Daniel and I roll up our pants and put our boots into the canoe. We wade into the ocean. The frigid water seeps into my heart as well as my bones. The breakers splash us as we push the canoe over them. I swallow a mouthful of salty water and cough.
Daniel laughs. “Better keep your mouth closed.” He climbs into the canoe and reaches
a hand to help me.
I ignore it and climb in, careful not to tip us both into the sea.
He takes a paddle and hands me the other.
I search the shoreline for Bryntar and Kydaka. They are gone.
Chapter Twenty-Four: The Paddling
Daniel puts his paddle in the water and the canoe glides over the surface. The contracting muscles in his shoulders, back and arms mesmerize me. He fights the tide to keep us near the coastline without coming too close to the breakers, alternating paddle strokes on each side.
“We’d make better time if you’d help,” he says as he turns to me.
I snap out of my appreciation of his body, glad he cannot see my face. “Tell me what to do.”
“We each paddle on a different side,” he says. “I’ll take the left side first. We’ll rotate sides when our arms get tired. Skim the surface of the water with the paddle. Go ahead and try.”
I push the paddle through the water several times and succeed in going in a circle and drifting toward shore.
Daniel laughs. “You’ve got the idea. Match your stroke to mine. Together. Now.”
We paddle and I concentrate on his rhythm.
The canoe skims across the water, even though the tide fights our forward momentum.
The night becomes a lullaby of wind whipping the sea, paddles swishing through water,
waves caressing the sand.
“What happens when we reach our destination?” I ask.
“An underground river will take us to Bryntar’s meeting place.”
The water turns a sparkling bright blue as if millions of stars fell from the sky. I forget to paddle.
Daniel stops. “What’s the matter?”
I turn to him. “What is that shining in the water?”
“Bioluminescence. From tiny marine life.”
“It is beautiful.”
“Very.” But he is looking at me. Crashing waves fill the silence between us until he adds, “I didn’t like you knowing my feelings.”
“I understand. You block them now.”
“It takes a lot of effort. I don’t know how you cope with everything you are. I’d be crazy.”
I will be if I do not know how you really feel. “Why did you kiss me? Curious to be the only one to get close to an Enchantress?”
“It wasn’t like that and you know it.”
“I know what it meant to me. You cannot admit what you felt.”
“It’s not that I don’t care.”
I want to slap his face, but turn away. “Coward.”
“I risked my life for you.”
But you do not love me. Despair wraps around my heart. The brewing storm matches my mood.
His voice fills with regret. “You have to understand. I don’t know what’s going to happen to me. I can’t commit to anything or anyone.”
My heart throbs. I paddle harder.
“Listen, I don’t blame you for wanting to be normal. I still think you should change your mind. We’re all going to die unless you—”
“It is my choice to make.”
“Is it?” he asks.
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t face Aru, we all die, right? If you become normal, won’t the island still be in jeopardy? You’ll die, too.”
“I am going to find a way off this island.”
“Right. Who’s going to build the ship when they all fear you? You don’t have a choice. That’s what sacrifice is all about. One life for many.”
Anger pulses behind my eyes. “You want me to die?”
“You don’t know if you’ll die when you fight Aru.”
I yell at him. “Thank you for telling me your real thoughts and feelings.”
Daniel paddles hard. He squints through the darkness at the towering cliffs on our right. “I don’t know if we can make the cave. It’s on the other side of that promontory.”
“Paddle faster.” My voice is as cold as I feel.
We synchronize our movements. Sheer chunks of ice form the glacier. It juts into the sea, gouged and jagged. Frigid wind slams into us and tosses the sea. Larger swells surge under our canoe.
“This island isn’t normal,” Daniel says. “How can you have glaciers, swamps and deserts in such proximity?”
My muscles ache from paddling. “I know nothing about island history.”
“Change sides,” Daniel says.
It does not help. I want to scream from the constant ache and clench my teeth instead. As long as Daniel paddles, so will I.
As we round the glacier, the wind throws rain in our faces, making it even harder to see the coastline.
“We need light,” Daniel says, “or we’ll miss the entrance.”
I keep paddling and concentrate on creating light. My hair glows.
“We have to go ashore,” Daniel says. “I can’t see well enough in this storm.” He turns the canoe toward the breakers.
I feel the fear that shivers down his spine when he sees rocks jutting from under the sea.
“You can do it,” I say.
He lets the tide shoot us toward shore. “Whatever you do, don’t drop your paddle.”
“Watch out!” I push my paddle against a slab of floating ice.
A wave catches us sideways and dumps us in the sea. Freezing water slaps my face. I hang onto the paddle and grab the edge of the overturned canoe. “Daniel!”
His head pops up through the smashing waves. He swims fast and grasps the other end of the canoe. The tide hurtles us to shore. We stumble through biting water. The waves toss us onto the sand. We drag up and haul the canoe behind us. I am surprised that our supplies are still secure under the rope.
“Where is your paddle?” I ask.
His embarrassment flickers for a moment and is gone. “Lost it.”
I am too tired to comment.
“Help me carry this.” He slips my paddle under the rope and flips the canoe over his head.
I take my place at the front, straining to maintain the glow that provides our only light in the drenching rain. Sentinels of stark ice rise high above us and I barely keep from falling into the foaming sea. My hope that we find the entrance of the cave soon dwindles.
Much, much later, I stagger and wade into a yawning hole in the glacier. The numbing sea reaches my waist. Do I always have to be cold and wet?
“Let’s put it down,” Daniel says.
We flip the canoe over. I stretch cramped hands. “I need rest.”
Daniel climbs inside. “Can’t. Tide is on our side until it meets the river. Unless you want to paddle against the outgoing tide.”
I glare at him and climb inside, handing him our only paddle.
“Fair enough,” he says, grinning.
My light offers a small glow in the giant chasm. Chilled, I try not to think about the weight of ice over my head as the darkness swallows us.
Chapter Twenty-Five: The Spying
The constant drip of water is the only sound that echoes in the silence, except for the quiet swish of the paddle. I hate being swallowed by blackness. If I fail in becoming normal, I will know every inch of this island and avoid all the horrid dark places.
Guilt hovers over me at my relief from paddling the canoe. “Let me help,” I finally say.
Daniel sighs as he hands me the paddle. I moan as my muscles cramp with the first stroke. “I am not getting anywhere.”
“We’ve joined the river. It’s flowing against us. Our arms are pretty much useless. We’re going to have to get out and push.”
Wet clothes are rigid with cold against my body. “I am cold enough.”
“Keep your voice down. We don’t know how sound carries. Or what’s at the other end.”
I shut up and paddle in circles.
“I could tie the rope to the canoe, swim ahead and pull you through.”
“I will help.” Removing my boots, I crawl over the edge and grit my teeth against the
coming shock of icy water. I gasp in pleasure. “The water is warm. Part of it anyway.”
Daniel jumps in. “What a break. Hot springs must feed the river. I wasn’t sure how we were going to make it.”
“Thanks for keeping that to yourself.”
“Sarcastic, aren’t we?”
I do not have the energy to respond and do not want to fight with him.
Warmth rises to my waist and I can finally wiggle my toes. Soon we are sweating with the effort of pulling the canoe against the river current.
“Did Bryntar say how far we have to go?” I ask.
“I’m hoping we’re almost there.”
Soon, we are. I am stunned when we stand at the end of a tunnel covered by thick green trees with leafy branches that droop over the water. I peek through the branches. Sunlight shines from the sky far above. Pink, orange and gold reflect like jewels on the towering monoliths of ice. The light is so brilliant I shade my eyes and am amazed at the large grassy meadow growing in the middle of the glacier.
“How is this possible?”
Daniel pulls me back quickly. “Ssh.”
Yells and laughter echo through the air. Seven young men stand naked on top of a high glacial tower. Ice Lords. I cannot take my eyes away. A waterfall spews out of a large hole in the glacier beneath them. The torrent plunges into a small, steamy lake.
“You first, Oh Mighty Leader,” shouts a shorter young Ice Lord.
Voices join in a loud chant. “Jyrr, Jyrr, Jyrr.”
Jyrr strides out of the group, laughing. When the star symbol and fang hanging from his ear catch the light, my traitorous body responds and heat rushes to my face. Jyrr is the Ice Lord from the cave, in line to inherit the throne. Tall and confident, his icy purple skin ripples with muscle. He is even more striking in contrast to his friends and I understand why he is their leader. What I do not understand is his influence over my body.
“Who are those purple guys?” Daniel does not hide his discomfort.
“Ice Lords. They must not know we are here.”
“Get back or they’ll spot us.”
He tries to pull me back, but I resist. “I want to hear what they say.”
“Then hide under here.”
We crouch under a thick branch of leaves.
Jyrr dives off the ice slab and into the crushing waterfall. I unconsciously hold my breath. It is a long time before he surfaces to the wild cheers of the others. They screech like wild animals and leap after him. To my surprise, they all survive and climb out of the river, laughing and congratulating each other.
Daniel whispers under his breath. “Jerks.”
The shorter Ice Lord says, “Come on or be late for the feast.”
“You do not order me,” Jyrr says. “Remember your rank.”
The boy bristles.
The others laugh and race out of the water, pushing the short one back. They put on their fur clothes and reach for their knives, arrows and spears.
The shorter Ice Lord glares at their backs and leaps out of the water. He dresses and hurries after the rest who disappear between the spires of ice.
When they are gone, I step into the light and take a deep breath. Energy soars through me.
“It’s obvious you know Jyrr.”
“I do not.”
“You lit up like a firecracker.”
“What you are talking about? We never met. I was hiding in a tree when he showed up. Then I followed him to find the way home.”
“You’re pretty defensive about a guy you don’t know.”
“He is nothing to me but an enemy.”
“If you say so.”
Mortified, I yank the canoe into the grass and rummage for food. It is bad enough that my body responds to the Ice Lord without Daniel knowing it. “Is this where we are supposed to meet Bryntar and Kydaka?”
“Yeah. Let’s hope they don’t run into those pretend warriors.”
I whirl on him. “Ice Lords rule this island and train their young well. Jyrr killed a giant bearran with one arrow.”
“Now it’s Jyrr?”
“I learned his name when you did.” I tramp cross the meadow to be closer to the waterfall and the lake. My bare feet sink into glorious soft grass. Memories of my garden at home bring unexpected tears and I wipe them away.
Daniel removes our supplies from the canoe. He hides it under a bank covered in golden flowers and hefts the sacks of supplies over his shoulders. He tries not to limp as he strides toward me. “Bryntar warned me about the severe weather we’re going to face. We should dry our clothes.”
“You expect me to take mine off?”
“Only if you want to be dry.” He grins and throws me a blanket. “Rest as long as you can.”
I remove my coat, cover myself in the blanket and wiggle out of soaked fur pants. It takes longer to remove the shirt next to my skin. I dare not remove the metallic armor or my undergarments. I lay my clothes in the sunshine and curl up under the blanket.
Daniel strips off his clothes down to very short pants. His muscles send flutters through my stomach. What is the matter with me? I turn my back to him hating my uncontrolled responses to young men.
The peace and solitude of this hidden oasis seeps into me. I close my eyes, sore and weary, and never consider that other life forms may roam these glaciers.
Chapter Twenty-Six: The Gathering
A hand clamps over my mouth. I fight against the heavy body on top of me. Daniel whispers in my ear and my body relaxes. “We’ve got company.” His warm breath soothes my thumping heart. “Get into the lake.”
He moves off. I slither out of the blanket and we slide into the water.
A deafening roar pierces the night, louder than the crashing waterfall.
Even though the water is warm, I shudder when the moonlight shines on four beasts bounding across the meadow. Their black fur gleams. Bearrans. Two are young and race after each other, growling and tumbling through the grass while their mother watches. My attention fixes on the huge male who rises on hind legs and sniffs loudly. His fangs glow in the light. He catches our scent and lumbers toward us, trampling through our supplies. Mesmerized by his size and grace, I can only stare.
Daniel takes a deep breath and yanks me underwater as the bearran leaps toward us. The beast plunges in over our heads, displacing massive amounts of water. It crashes into Daniel and I feel his pain as the force of the animal hits him in the back and knocks him away.
I plunge through the water to reach Daniel and pull him deeper underwater.
The bearran swims after us, great arms and legs pounding through the water.
We swim farther away into the dark water.
Daniel rises to the surface, gasping for air.
“Are you all right?” I ask.
“I’ll live.”
The bearran surges toward us.
“I cannot shock him while you are in the water.”
“I’ll swim for that shore.�
�� He vanishes underwater.
I strike out on the surface toward the waterfall. “Hey!”
The bearran turns its massive head toward me. Water slides off his thick fur in waves. He swims fast for his size. I look toward the glacier walls, expecting to see Daniel. He is not there. I swim closer to the waterfall. Where are you Daniel?
Almost on top of me, the bearran growls, hot breath blowing through my wet hair. I dive underwater and his claws snag my vest. The beast pulls me closer as I struggle to free myself. Huge arms thrash, trying to rip me apart. An edge of whirling water catches us. I take a chance that Daniel is out of the water. Twisted in muscle, fur, and water, I stick my finger into the beast’s chest. He bellows. A huge paw swats me into the air. I splash in the lake away from the churning waterfall and pop to the surface. The bearran fights the power of the waterfall and his great strength pulls him to freedom. He swims to the shore and cuffs the cubs that jump on him.
Daniel rests on the far edge of the lake in safety. I sigh in relief.
The bearran growls and raises his head.
Screams and shouts come from the top of a glacier. Dark figures slide down the icy sides with torches of fire. Bryntar and Kydaka. They reach the bottom and run straight at the beasts, yelling and waving their torches.
The bearrans bolt out of the meadow.
Thrilled to see my family, I hurry out of the water. “You could have been killed sliding down the ice.”
Bryntar folds me in her arms.
Kydaka smiles and lays down his spear. “Very exciting.”
Bryntar shakes her head, but I see her tiny smile.
I wrinkle my nose at the smell of uncured leather. Then I notice the fur coat. “You encountered a bearran, Kydaka.”
“Please, call me Uncle. Bryntar displayed amazing bravery.” He grins at her.
I wonder how she blushes under her leathery skin and whisper, “Do you like him?”
Respect flickers and is gone. “He is a man. Where are clothes?”
My face flushes when I remember I only wear the metal shirt and flimsy underwear. I hurry to get dressed. While my clothes are intact, our supplies are scattered or eaten.
“Boy, am I glad to see you two,” Daniel says as he joins us.
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