The air seared her throat as she dragged another lungful in. Breathing was growing more difficult, like there was a pressure steadily squeezing her chest. Rain and sweat moistened her skin, and her wet chemise chafed at her legs, each rub like raking fire across her skin.
At least she wasn’t wearing her bulky dress. That would have been positively miserable.
She gasped, feeling like a gaping fish out of water. “Another—break?”
“We’re quite close, Carissa.”
She felt a surge of jealousy at Elon’s smooth, even voice. Other than a faintly glistening forehead—which might have only been rain—he appeared as though he could be taking a leisurely stroll through the garden.
“We need to make it before it’s too dark to see it. We’re almost at the summit.”
She glanced up. The slope grew even steeper. And they were going to hike all the way to the summit? “I don’t think I can make that.”
Elon paused to gaze at her. “You do seem a bit ragged.” At her glare, Elon smiled. “But lovely as well. In case you were wondering.” He set his pack down. “I have an idea.” He drew out a piece of rope and tied it around his wrist before gesturing her closer.
She raised her eyebrows. “Are you taking measures to ensure I don’t run away?”
He laughed. “Of course. We can’t have you running off.” She lifted her arm, and he tied the other end of the rope to her wrist. “I’ll go ahead and help pull you up.”
He started scrambling up the slope, and once the rope was taut, she followed after him. After a few minutes and shedding another bucketful of sweat, Elon finally helped her to the top. She collapsed onto the grassy floor, her lungs on fire, and stared up at the sky. “What is it I’m supposed to be looking at?”
Elon tilted his head towards the other side of the peak. There was a gap there between two mountains. Typically, such a view would have been gorgeous, providing a glimpse into the valley, forest, and towns beyond Oran. But there was only a sliver of forest. Beyond that, there was only darkness, drawn down like a black curtain over the landscape.
The Esmerian border. It’d finally caught up to them.