nodded.
“They are deadly poison. The vines entangle its prey,the poison spines immobilize it. The valdt gains nourishment by slowly absorbing its still-living victim.”
Gian’s narrowed eyes scanned the valdt, his clever mind working. A scream sounded in the distance and he caught the faintest blur of a vine snapping through the air, snagging a low-flying winged creature. Whatever this thing was, it was extraordinarily fast.
Jenise shuddered.
“What about the spaces in between?” Gian pointed to the small patches between the intersecting vines. “Is it possible to travel through these spaces during the day as it sleeps?”
“It has been done on rare occasions by young men on a foolish dare from here”—she indicated a short span of space—“to say, here. But to cross its entire expanse in one day, before nightfall, is impossible.”
Gian looked out over the vine-covered vale, his mind occupied with dangerous possibilities. “Exactly how far is the distance to the other side?”
“Almost a two-day journey—if it could be walked with no impediment.”
“I see…and if it could be done, how much time would we save on the five-day journey to the Tunnel?”
She frowned. “Approximately three days, but—”
Gian calculated in his head. “It may be possible.”
“You cannot walk that distance in a day!”
“No…but I may be able to run it.”
“What? Are you mad? The spines are still poisonous during the day and the poison is long-lasting. If you even scratch your leg or foot, you will be immobilized until nightfall. There are places where the branches grow thick and high. It cannot be done!”
Gian observed her steadily. “That is not certain. What is certain is that Karpon waits for us if we follow thispath.” He gestured to the path that led to the royal village. “Here we have a chance.”
“We?” She scoffed. “I cannot run that distance.”
“Of course not. I would not allow it.”
Her nostrils flared at that remark.
Before Jenise could begin berating the arrogant man, he continued, “I will carry you upon my back.”
There was silence for a moment. Then the arguing ensued.
“That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard!” Jenise’s aqua eyes flashed fire, while the Familiar’s eyes sparkled with something akin to amusement.
It was a fact that Familiars loved to rile up females. Although Gian had not intentionally set out to do that, he saw no reason not to enjoy her reaction just the same. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned on one hip; it was a stance he knew was sure to add to her irritation.
He was not disappointed.
“I will not entertain this insanity!” She threw her hands up in the air. “If you wish to commit suicide, then you must go on by yourself. I will make my way around the hills.”
He tossed his bronze gold hair back over his shoulders. “We have a pact to stay together—”
“Just until we enter the Tunnels.” He looked at her in that unnerving, silent way he had. Jenise swallowed.
“As I was saying, you will not be able to outdistance Karpon’s men if you go the other way. You will be taken, Jenise. Or you can come with me. It is your choice.”
He waited for her to make a decision.
She bit her lip as she thought it over. Karpon might very well kill her for defying him and fleeing. “You think you can do it?”
“It will be a challenge.”
A challenge? That was an understatement if she everheard one. A worried look crossed her expressive features.
“Every moment of time will be needed if I am to succeed. We will leave as the first rays of light touch the far horizon and the valdt begins its slumber.”
“But that is only in a short time!” Jenise protested for his sake. The Familiar had not slept yet this night.
“We must go today or we will lose our advantage.”
“You have not had any rest and—”
“Jenise”—he cupped her chin, staring straight into her eyes—“we cannot rest now. Not if we wish to
“They are deadly poison. The vines entangle its prey,the poison spines immobilize it. The valdt gains nourishment by slowly absorbing its still-living victim.”
Gian’s narrowed eyes scanned the valdt, his clever mind working. A scream sounded in the distance and he caught the faintest blur of a vine snapping through the air, snagging a low-flying winged creature. Whatever this thing was, it was extraordinarily fast.
Jenise shuddered.
“What about the spaces in between?” Gian pointed to the small patches between the intersecting vines. “Is it possible to travel through these spaces during the day as it sleeps?”
“It has been done on rare occasions by young men on a foolish dare from here”—she indicated a short span of space—“to say, here. But to cross its entire expanse in one day, before nightfall, is impossible.”
Gian looked out over the vine-covered vale, his mind occupied with dangerous possibilities. “Exactly how far is the distance to the other side?”
“Almost a two-day journey—if it could be walked with no impediment.”
“I see…and if it could be done, how much time would we save on the five-day journey to the Tunnel?”
She frowned. “Approximately three days, but—”
Gian calculated in his head. “It may be possible.”
“You cannot walk that distance in a day!”
“No…but I may be able to run it.”
“What? Are you mad? The spines are still poisonous during the day and the poison is long-lasting. If you even scratch your leg or foot, you will be immobilized until nightfall. There are places where the branches grow thick and high. It cannot be done!”
Gian observed her steadily. “That is not certain. What is certain is that Karpon waits for us if we follow thispath.” He gestured to the path that led to the royal village. “Here we have a chance.”
“We?” She scoffed. “I cannot run that distance.”
“Of course not. I would not allow it.”
Her nostrils flared at that remark.
Before Jenise could begin berating the arrogant man, he continued, “I will carry you upon my back.”
There was silence for a moment. Then the arguing ensued.
“That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard!” Jenise’s aqua eyes flashed fire, while the Familiar’s eyes sparkled with something akin to amusement.
It was a fact that Familiars loved to rile up females. Although Gian had not intentionally set out to do that, he saw no reason not to enjoy her reaction just the same. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned on one hip; it was a stance he knew was sure to add to her irritation.
He was not disappointed.
“I will not entertain this insanity!” She threw her hands up in the air. “If you wish to commit suicide, then you must go on by yourself. I will make my way around the hills.”
He tossed his bronze gold hair back over his shoulders. “We have a pact to stay together—”
“Just until we enter the Tunnels.” He looked at her in that unnerving, silent way he had. Jenise swallowed.
“As I was saying, you will not be able to outdistance Karpon’s men if you go the other way. You will be taken, Jenise. Or you can come with me. It is your choice.”
He waited for her to make a decision.
She bit her lip as she thought it over. Karpon might very well kill her for defying him and fleeing. “You think you can do it?”
“It will be a challenge.”
A challenge? That was an understatement if she everheard one. A worried look crossed her expressive features.
“Every moment of time will be needed if I am to succeed. We will leave as the first rays of light touch the far horizon and the valdt begins its slumber.”
“But that is only in a short time!” Jenise protested for his sake. The Familiar had not slept yet this night.
“We must go today or we will lose our advantage.”
“You have not had any rest and—”
“Jenise”—he cupped her chin, staring straight into her eyes—“we cannot rest now. Not if we wish to
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