But I dropped into an almost-squat and pushed up and forward.
He let out a cry as he fell.
Splash.
Regret instantly froze my every muscle.
No. I’d survived. He would too.
You survived because one of those brutes fished you out of the river.
No. The guard was bigger than me. More body weight meant it would take him longer to freeze.
I didn’t have time to make myself feel better about his odds of survival. The noise he’d made had cut through the night, over the rushing water below, and anyone within hearing distance would likely come to investigate.
Turning, I thundered down the bridge toward the forest on the other side. When I didn’t hear an immediate shout, I sucked in a deep breath but continued running anyway, at least until the canopy above my head blocked out the stars.
It was dark, I was so exhausted I was stumbling, and I needed to find somewhere to hide. But the guard’s disappearance would be noted. If he survived, that little green stone could lead to my death.
So I kept walking. I knew when I strayed from the path, because the undergrowth would scratch and tear at my ankles. Time lost all meaning, until I fell to my knees.
“Just a little more,” I mumbled. Pushing myself up, I scanned my surroundings. It was so dark, all I could do was step off the trail and crawl through the undergrowth until I found a spot to lean against a tree trunk. Wrapping my cloak around me, I waited for dawn.
CHAPTER FIVE
As soon as the sky lightened the next morning, I was on my feet once more.
If you’re ever lost, look for higher ground. From there, you can more easily navigate. And you’ll have a better chance of finding water. Tibris’s voice sounded in my head, calm and sure.
Where was he right now? Had he spent a terrifying night out in the cold? Was he hiding in someone’s barn or loft?
I refused to think about the other option. That he was already dead. Instead, I scanned my surroundings. No mountains to be found, but to the right was a small hill. I trudged up it, attempting to stay as quiet as possible. My efforts were useless, though, as I stumbled over branches, slammed into a tree, and grunted when my bleeding foot hit a rock. I paused with each misstep, flinching at every noise, my gaze darting around me as I strained my ears for the smallest sound.
I surveyed the area below me. To the north was the river I’d crossed last night. My heart rate quickened at the memory of just how close I’d come to death.
Turning to face the opposite direction, I looked south. Another river—much narrower than the Dytur River. I would need to cross it.
My palms began to sweat at the thought of more freezing water. I took a deep breath and forced myself to focus. If I’d stayed on the road that led from the bridge, I would have followed it southwest, eventually finding my way to the kingdom’s capital—Lesdryn. There were larger towns dotted along that road. Towns where I would have a greater chance of blending in until I could steal a horse and get to the city. But I was a mess. My feet were bleeding, I was limping, and my condition would only draw attention.
So, I’d keep to the forest until I was closer to Lesdryn. It was the only real choice I had. Hopefully by the time I was forced to use the road, I would have come up with a plan to keep myself safe.
I could do this.
After all, against all odds, I was still alive. I just had to keep reminding myself of that.
The river was only about knee-deep, but it was flowing fast.
My chest tightened, and I gulped in several shallow breaths as I stared down at my planned path.
One misstep and I would be in that freezing water. It may only be knee-high, but I could slip, hit my head, drown just the same.
Move.
I choked out a sob, loathing that I was even hesitating. I could do this. I had to do this, or I may as well turn back right now.
I strode into the frigid water, moving as quickly as I could without slipping. By the time I made it to the other side, my feet stung with fresh cuts from the sharp rocks.
Planting my hands on my knees, I leaned over until I stopped shaking. When I lifted my head, my surroundings seemed to rotate around me.
I walked all day. By the time the sun was setting, my stomach howled, but I was almost out of my scant food and would need to save what little I had left for tomorrow.
Red flickered in the distance. Flames?
I went still. I couldn’t feel the warmth, of course. But for a moment, I imagined I could. Imagined I was lying in front of that fire, drowsy after a filling meal.
The king’s guards probably wouldn’t light a fire. Herica had once told me they usually traveled with an umber stone—a large black stone that could be charged with magic and would release heat.