Free The Destroyer by Michael-Scott Earle

seemed to be giving him more energy.
    "It's going to be tough. They are running patrols back and forth from the main road. They will figure out we are hiding in this part of the jungle sooner rather than later. We'll have to camp a mile from here and keep the fire very low. I'm beginning to wonder if Skinny has the right idea. Climbing that cliff face would be less dangerous than dealing with a company of Vanlourn's army. Let's camp out tonight, drink the rest of our whisky, and think through our options." Greykin stroked his beard as he collected his thoughts.
    "Okay. Paug, tell Kaiyer that we are going to camp the night. We'll make a decision in the morning,” Nadea commanded.
    I ran over to him to explain the situation, aware that he might want to argue with Nadea again since she wasn't going to do anything until tomorrow. He seemed pleased after I told him, which confused me until he spoke.
    "I'll climb the cliff and see if there are any guards. Then I can attach a rope so it will be easier to get up tomorrow." He began to take off his swords and walk toward his horse. When he got there, he fished out a rough looking rope from the pack.
    "What is he doing?" Nadea asked me.
    "He is still going to climb the cliff face. He said he'll look around up there and then attach a rope so we can get up easier later," I explained.
    "No." She walked up to him and put her hand on the rope. "Tell him to wait until tomorrow. I don't want to risk him being caught.”
    "He said he won't get caught. He'll be okay."
    "What if he falls?"
    "He said he won't fall."
    "Tell him no again. Tell him to wait." She was insistent now. Her dark brown eyes were fierce as she looked at his. I started to translate but I didn't need to. He spoke quickly and I struggled to understand what he was saying.
    "He says that we can get a clear picture of what awaits us up there, so we can plan for it tonight. Also, he wants to ask if you are ordering him not to go. He wants to know if he is your prisoner or your friend." The question took her aback.
    "No, he isn't my prisoner." She looked at him with concern. Then she sighed in defeat. "Tell him I will go with him. I have the proper equipment, and we are less likely to fall if we are tied to each other." She glanced over at the face of the cliff as I relayed the message.
    "Good. We climb," he said, smiling. She nodded and went over to her horse, unpacking various smaller bags, rope, and well-used spikes that ended in loops of metal.
    "Tell him I will lead and place the pitons," she said, as she inspected each of the spikes and her rope. "We will set up at the base of the cliff. It will probably take us a few hours to reach the top. We'll do a brief reconnaissance, attach a top rope, and then come back. Tell him."
    I relayed this to Kaiyer and he nodded.
    "It still might be better if I go alone. What if we are seen by patrols?" he asked her.
    "If we approach that face to the right, we should be less visible. See how it angles away from the main road and forms a hollow chimney?"
    Kaiyer nodded. I looked far in the distance where the vertical ridge in the cliff face she spoke of was only a finger-sized dent. It looked like the gorge would be impossible to view from the road.
    "Iarin, can you lead the horses back to the clearing we passed an hour ago?" Nadea asked. Iarin nodded. "We'll meet you there after nightfall. Keep the fires low. Ready?” she turned to ask Kaiyer.
    She had a few small packs and thin silk rope slung over her shoulders. Kaiyer nodded. He had the long rope from his pack wound around his upper body. I couldn't tell how many feet it was, but it wrapped around him so many times that it looked like he was carrying enough to sail a boat. He had tossed his extra long sword and just wore one over his shoulder. He still had the strap that carried a multitude of daggers. "Okay. Let's go. See you all tonight." And they moved deeper into the jungle.
    We waited in the spot for another three quarters of an hour