Chapter Thirty-Two
One moment, I am standing on the frail wooden stage of the old playhouse, and the next, solid rock replaces the worn floorboards under my feet.
A bone-chilling cold wraps around me, and a wave of dizziness makes me stumble. For a few heartbeats, I am blind, lost in a void so dark it feels like my eyes were painted black.
Blinking, I fight to regain my bearings. Shapes slowly emerge from the gloom, and soon, I realize I am standing in a vast cavern that appears to swallow the light alongside the other eight who stepped through. Water trickles from hidden cracks, the sole sound breaking the heavy silence.
My gaze drifts to the ground’s abrupt end a few steps away. The chasm below is a dark abyss that seems to plunge deep into the very heart of the world. The sight is disorienting, and I shiver at the thought of falling into that endless void.
Nine paths, made of separate stone pillars, stretch across the abyss.
“There.” Faelas strides to a scrap of parchment near the cliff’s edge and picks it up before reading it for the rest of us. “Leap from one pillar to the next, claim your prize until you have gathered enough. Choose your path wisely, for once taken by one, it cannot be used by others.”
I look toward the first row of pillars as I try to estimate the length we’ll need to jump. The distance is neither a crow’s flight nor a simple step. Although I don’t see any coins, the message suggests they will be there ifwe jump.
I am certain—as certain as I can be in this cursed place—that I can clear the distance to the first row of pillars with a running start. Zanyar stands to my right, his gaze fixed on the pillar ahead of him, with a cool and collected expression reflecting a man who has already tasted victory. With seven coins between us, we need only two more. A simple jump from each of us, and victory will be ours.
The real challenge, the true test, lies ahead for those needing multiple coins. The rows of pillars seem to vanish into the abyss, but it’s clear that the distance between them increases with each row. Every leap will be longer and more precarious than the last.
“If this is some kind of sorcery or an illusion, can we truly die if we fall into that abyss?” Roshana asks, her voice trembling slightly.
“A powerful illusion can shatter even the strongest minds. If your mind succumbs to the fear of death, your body will follow,” Zanyar replies.
“A comforting thought,” Samira mutters sarcastically. “So, we might die, or we might not. How delightful.”
The Gajaris have already claimed the last two paths on the left. Without coordinating with anyone else, they jump over the first row and land effortlessly before regaining their balance. As soon as their feet touch the pillars, golden coins appear where they land, and they quickly collect them.
Zanyar gives me a nod, signaling that it’s time to move. We take the last two paths on the right. Darian stands in front of the path to my left while Faelas and Bahador are positioned beside him. Samira and Roshana occupy the next two paths between them and the Gajaris.
I eye the first row with trepidation. The distance doesn’t require a giant’s leap, but the pillar looks slick with moisture, which promises doom if I slip.
“I can jump two rows,” Zanyar says, apparently noticing my hesitation.
“No, it’s not that far,” I respond firmly.
“It’s too deep,” Roshana squeaks, her face turning a rather unflattering shade of green.
“Not a fan of heights?” Samira asks.
Roshana doesn’t even manage a reply. She only shakes her head, closes her eyes, and clutches her stomach.
Putting her out of my mind for now, I refocus on the path ahead, take a long step back, and with a running start and a silent prayer to anyone who cares to listen, I jump across the chasm, landing with an ungraceful slip.
Thankfully, my reflexes are sharp, and I manage to steady myself, even if it means landing on all fours. Zanyar, meanwhile, lands on the pillar to my right with the grace of a lion, the sigil of Aramis. He effortlessly bends down to pluck his coin from the pillar. I pick up mine, too, and place it in my pouch alongside the other two.
To my left, I notice Darian watching me. He, Faelas, and Bahador are still standing on the precipice. Their hesitation seems to melt away when I glance at them as if they were waiting to see whether I land safely first.
With a synchronized nod, all three jump into the cavern’s gloom, landing lightly on the slick stone. Once they secure their golden coins, they share another wordless exchange before launching themselves toward the second row.
My heart lodges in my throat as I watch them jump. The distance between the first and second rows is frighteningly far, but they clear it as easily as a Gajari scales a palm tree.
Darian and Faelas have six golden coins between them. For them to claim victory, only one of them needed to jump to the second row. They must be helping Bahador, who needs four coins for him and Lila to pass the trial.
Confirming my suspicion, Faelas tosses his freshly plucked coin across the chasm to Bahador, who catches it with ease. Now, Bahador has collected three coins and is just one away from victory.
“All right, you two, hold your horses. I’ve got this,” Bahador declares, eyeing the distance to the third row.
“Hold on,” Faelas says. “I’m lighter and faster. This one’s mine.”
