cascade | kotlc

tw: injury

This plan is insane, Biana replied to Sophie. You're all going to die, and June will be our only saving grace.

But you'll do it, right?

Unfortunately.

She sighed. This wasn't going to end well. She remembered the last time Sophie had tried to probe an ogre's mind that ended with Fitz, Keefe, and her collapsed in pain.

This was actually such a bad idea. One so bad it probably would work. Painfully well.

The Triad had no railing, just a sheer, deadly edge lined with cold metal pillars taht supported the metal awning overhead. The space was a triangle, and at the farthest point, a twisted tangle of metal formed a barbed throne, overlooking the entire kingdom. Perched proudly in the center, still wearing nothing more than his metal diaper, was King Dimitar.

A dozen ogre guards were lined up on either side of him, each one big enough to wrestle a bear one-handed. Resting at his feet was a small metal chest locked by a single round padlock, surely the cure, set out like biat.

This is a horrible idea. Why am I doing this?
Because it's our only hope left. You understand that, of course. We have to save the gnomes, for everything they've done for us.

Let's hope nobody dies.

We're all getting out of here alive. My friends are strong, and they will get us out of here. We'll do it together.

Good luck, myself. Try not to die.

I won't. Nobody will.

I wouldn't be so sure.

Tam called more shadows and Dex scooped up Calla and everyone except Keefe locked hands. June summoned a gust of air and they flew to the top of the metal awning, hoping the roar of the waterfalls covered the soft thunk as they touched down.

Keefe waited until they were all safely out of sight.

Then he threw back his hood and stepped out of his shaded hiding spot, shouting, "I demand an audience with the king!"

"It's time," Tam's voice whispered into her ear. "Go get the cure."

Biana nodded as she vanished, activating her magnets and sticking herself onto the metal awning. Slowly, carefully, she flipped down the platform and pressed a wrist under the awning, hugging the cold metal as she moved gradually across the surface like Spiderman.

To Biana, it was quiet, extremely quiet. Keefe and King Dimitar were yelling something as she progressed slowly, gently peeling a hand off and moving it ahead. There were no cuffs around her ankles, which meant Biana had to channel all of her core energy to keep her body clinging against the wall. It felt horrible.

There was no sound except for the rushing waterfall. King Dimitar had stopped talking, as if he was considering something. The softest clinks from Biana's magnetic cuffs sounded like gongs. Shadows passed over her, fading and swerving in each direction.

Her chest burned as she added in levitation, keeping her legs up. The metal was cool and almost soft as she crawled upside down, across the awning. The king was shouting something else chaotically.

Come on, Bi. You can do this. Just a little bit more...

Suddenly something flickered as Biana winced. The cuff on her left wrist was sparking, and she cursed as the display faded and reappeared, glinting as she held her vanish. She held her breath as the cuff temporarily lost its magnetisms, and Biana was hanging onto the awning with one hand.