Page 97 of Stealing Embers

My trek becomes somewhat of an uphill climb, and I bat around the idea of turning back. After all, I’m not doing much more than aimlessly wandering the mountainside, hoping I’ll stumble across the missing children.

My plan was ill-conceived, at best, but my pride—and real fear for the twins—won’t allow me to give up.

The freezing temperature paired with my exhaustion must be playing tricks on me, because the next time I scan the area, I catch a glimpse of a trail of . . . glitter?

Is that . . . fairy dust?

I blink, certain the moonlight is bouncing off the snow at a weird angle, but then the streak of sparkles appears again before curving around a bend and vanishing.

I don’t have the thoughtnotto follow the strange light, but I should.

Is there something mesmerizing about the shimmer I’m helpless to resist? Has the numbing cold frozen a few brain cells too many? Or is it just a bout of poorly timed curiosity?

Whatever the reason, I don’t stop to ponder my motivations as I stumble after the bizarre light.

My feet sink into the deep snow all the way up to my knees, and my eyes water from the sting of crystals that strike my face. A gust of wind pushes against me, as if warning me from going further.

When this is over, I’m going to have to seriously consider moving somewhere tropical. The freezing mountain temperatures, mounds of snow, and unrelenting gales are really getting old.

I reach the bend in the mountain face where the fairy dust disappeared. Taking a deep breath of mountain air, I peek around the corner.

A vertical rock wall and about twenty-four inches of a crumbly footpath are the only things there—that is, besides the straight drop down.

Don’t do it, Emberly. Don’t even think of it.

I chew on my lip while my survival instincts fight with my protective instincts. The latter are ones I didn’t know I had until recently, but turns out they are strong. Only a crazy person would step out on that ledge to follow something theymighthave seen. But there may be two children waiting for rescue on the other end of that trail.

I already know which appeal will win, but it takes a few moments to gather the courage to step out on the narrow ledge.

Edging forward, I hug the rock wall—literally—and move one inch at a time.

The bottom drops out of my belly when a blast of wind pummels the rock face, sending my hair blowing in all directions.

My heart pumps the blood through my veins so quickly, the tips of my ears warm.

Bits of stone and dirt dribble down on me from above. The rough rock bites into the pads of my fingers and cheek as I smoosh them against the lifeless mountainside and wait for the gust to pass.

I may be made of tougher stuff than the average person, but I’m not immortal. At least, not completely.

This is a stupid idea. This is the king of stupid ideas. You’re an idiot of the highest order, I silently berate myself as I shuffle along the path.

There’s a good chance that by now the twins have been found. They’re probably warming up in the academy, regaling the students with the tale of their adventure while the teachers try to decide on a solid punishment for them.

Yet here I am, practically scaling the side of a mountain, pursuing Tinker Bell with only a trail of fairy dust to guide me.

My foot slips on a patch of frozen ice and I fall to a knee. Loose stones barrel down into the dark abyss below me and my stomach heaves into my throat.

I need to turn back. This is too treacherous. One powerful gust and I’ll be engulfed by the harrowing pit of darkness below.

I carefully adjust my body in the other direction, planning to trek back the way I came, when a glimmer of light dances in front of my face.

Jerking back, I slam my uncovered head on the wall of rock and ice hard enough to scramble my brains. An instant headache blooms from the point of impact. Its fingers grip my skull and squeeze.

Reaching back, I prod the injury, wincing when I come in direct contact with the tender area. My fingers come back wet with crimson blood.

Great, just what I need. A head wound while free-climbing a mountain in the middle of a growing blizzard on an ill-conceived rescue attempt.

I am a genius.