Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

There was no time to hesitate their pursuers were close behind.

Everett and Rafael exchanged a glance. Even if it was stupid and risky, there was only one method they could use flying while carrying their burdens.

Dylan and Jacob could fly on their own, but the other eleven men needed to be carried. That meant Everett and Rafael needed to do at least five or six trips back and forth. Under extreme fatigue and with their internal force severely depleted, it was a life-threatening task.

"Sir, I'm truly sorry for the trouble," Rafael said, his eyes full of remorse.

Everett sighed. "You're my only apprentice, and you've married the most troublesome girl in all of Meadow Ridge. If I don't feel for you, who will?"

Rafael wanted to say he was happy, but under his master's compassionate gaze, he swallowed his words. They would just have to carry their burdens. He knew that his master had a stubborn streak-if Everett disagreed with Rafael, the former would have made it clear. There was no more time for words. Rafael first carried Felix, while Everett took Thomas. The remaining people attended to Lawrence, and would wait for their return.

Rafael instructed Felix, "Hold on tight. Don't move except for breathing."

Felix nodded and clung tightly to Rafael's neck. Immediately, he felt herself lift off the ground, soaring toward the cliff face.

Rafael managed to grasp one of the small trees, but he couldn't rely entirely on it for support. After all, he still needed to repeat a few trips. He used his knees to brace against the cliff, searching for footholds but finding none. He shifted sideways, finding just a tiny protrusion to hold onto.

He used that leverage to climb further, but this time he had to angle to the left to grab another small tree. As he reached out, those below held their breath in fear, their hearts in their throats.

From below, the angle made it look like Rafael was dangerously close to missing his mark-but he managed to hold on.

to

a different set of small trees. No one knew how deeply their roots were planted, or if they could not withstand repeated strain.

from his brow. "Oh my god, this

When Scott spoke, their tension only increased,

Everett managed to

Rafael slid down the cliff. Descending was relatively easy. When

they grasped the small

turned around. With a final leap, they made

were waiting on the ground. They would only go up after everyone else

Everett were already breathless. They took a brief moment to rest before

Rafael had to make six. The last trip was for Lawrence. He needed to be secured to

make another trip, he descended with Rafael

issues," Everett said. Sweat

had

up, making it more difficult. Dylan and Jacob would accompany him. Effectively, there were three people providing protection

his own, and tying him up would limit Rafael's agility, making this the

After catching his breath,

process continued with the third and fourth trees, which