Rayna's Sacrifice (The Katori Chronicles Book 3) by A. Lombardo (intellectual books to read .TXT) 📗

ocean below. There is no way one of their little wind gusts will reach the other side.”

Kai couldn’t help but agree. Before he could protest, Yulia motioned. “There goes Lucca and Basil. If they can do this, so can you.”

Out over the vast hole, two bodies flew on a pocket of air. Halfway across their arch they began to drop, and a second gust pushed them back up. Kai watched them sail out of sight. “How? Not possible.” Rayna’s mouth fell open.

Four men walked in their direction. The round beefy man asked, “You people ready?” His jovial grin lit up his face. “We are calling it a day after you lot. Too dangerous to fly at night. Can’t say we’ve ever dropped anyone, but I am not about to press my luck.”

The skinny man lit a torch set inside a metal box on a stone pillar. Kai watched the man spin the metal box. As it went around, the torchlight flashed again and again. The one open side created a signal. With a few minutes, three checkpoints along the arch of the canyon flashed in return.

“Look,” Liam leaned into the group huddle. “I know this bit looks intense, but if we don’t go now, we must wait until dawn. We are practically on top of them. I have not paid the men, it is still your call.”

“We’re going,” Yulia blurted out before Kai had the chance. “I’ve never done anything like this, but if that old man can do it, so can we.”

She had echoed Kai’s sentiment, but he did not want to push. It looked dangerous, no doubt. “Rayna, are you sure you want to go? I won’t think any less if you want to stay behind, or if we must find another way.”

The gulp of air she swallowed showed her nervousness, but her actions showed dedication. “I’ll go first,” Rayna stepped up. “I’m guessing those other signals were from other Weathervanes meant to keep me afloat.”

“You are correct. Like I said, we’ve never dropped anyone, and I’ve been doing this for over a decade.”

Everyone else stepped in line. Liam dropped them his entire pack as payment. This was a costly jump but as far as Kai was concerned, he could spend a lifetime walking back if he needed to. Saving his mother was all that mattered.

Watching the others run and dive over the edge was terrifying. Now he knew why Rayna wanted to get it over with. Waiting was agony. He watched her run and dive. As the wind carried her, he held his breath. Each bounce along the way kept her afloat until she dropped out of sight onto the other side.

Ryker went next.

Liam nudged Kai. “You’re up after Yulia.”

When it came to his turn, Kai bounced on his heels to pump up his adrenaline, then as fast as he could, Kai sprinted down the dirt path toward the edge. Arms outstretched, he dove into the emptiness. A rush of air propelled him skyward. He could feel the different gusts lifting and pushing him along. From his viewpoint, he could almost see over the mountains. The sky was turning orange and blood red as the sun sank from view, blocked by the islands.

Thud. Kai landed feet first on the other side and Rayna rushed him with open arms.

“Where’s Ryker,” Kai asked, scanning the area, “and Yulia?”

Liam folded his arms. “Ryker said he was certain we were hot on their trail. He shifted into a Shuk, Yulia climbed on top and they darted into the woods.”

This had to be a mistake. How could they leave him behind? “We were so close. Stupid—stupid—stupid.” Kai pounded his fist on a palm tree. Everyone had their own agenda on this trip. He knew Ryker’s connection: his love for Mariana. Kai had to imagine Yulia chased Lucca for her own reasons too.

“Since we have been unable to glean Lucca or Basil, maybe we can glean Ryker and Yulia. Follow their path?” Rayna suggested.

The idea gave Kai little solace. He took a breath and gleaned the jungle. Agitation was not the best mindset for gleaning. Eyes closed, he reached out with his mind. The jungle floor unfolded in his mind. Palm trees, river rapids, and rocks. The area teamed with life. No sign of Ryker and Yulia. Concerned, he pushed harder, farther. Other people roamed the distant village, but no sign of his friends.

“Ryker and Yulia are gone. Wiped from the island, or hidden.” Kai looked to Liam for answers.

“We know Lucca needs the same information we do.” Liam picked up Ryker’s abandoned pack. “To know where the manta rays migrate. Muley Island is still our destination. Lucca is traveling the same route. Let’s keep moving. I can get us there.”

Chapter 27

A Line in the Sand

Lost in his reverie, Kai let his troubles fade from his mind. The new day held promise within the pale-yellow sunshine cast over the landscape. Both delicate and powerful, the light danced on Kai’s open palm. The fresh air filled his lungs with peaceful understanding. Birdsong delighted his ears. Life could be simple and easy if we let it.

The journey to their last jump was quiet without Ryker and Yulia. Kai kept his thoughts to himself. He could hardly believe his friends had abandoned him last night. They should have stayed together. His only comfort was Liam kept a quick pace and he knew where they needed to go.

Kai glanced at the red flame crystal pressed into a stone pillar on the path to Muley Island which warned all to turn back. Rayna waited near the edge, her beautiful frame bathed in sunlight. The thought of a life with her overwhelmed his heart. She was everything to him. Then the joy of her twisted and something nagged at him to turn back. Take Rayna by the hand and live. The feeling thrummed again and again.

The sound of Liam’s voice shattered the moment. He spoke to a young woman living within the