Free Wrath Games by B. T. Narro Page A

is, and I’m stuck on this balcony!
    All right, calm yourself. First figure out how to get down. The courtyard still looked empty. I just had to get onto py, then up and over the railing, all while staying on the energy…oh my gods, how was I going to do that? I couldn’t imagine lifting myself over something without falling off the energy or it coming apart.
    My breaths became quick as my worries intensified. Was I stuck here until Swenn left his room? It could be hours.
    I wasn’t a skilled horseback rider, I remembered. I needed to leave now if I was going to make it to Kayren before the others.
    Shaking with fear, I pulled in all the pyforial energy I would need. It took twice as long as earlier to spread it out to a blanket and lie onto it. But soon I was on top, ready for the difficult maneuver.
    You just have to get over the railing, I told myself. Going down will be easy after that.
    I raised the energy, lifting myself with it. Cranking my head to the side, I could see I was above the railing in no time. The energy shook beneath me as I strained to keep my focus. I edged sideways, unable to help clutching the clear energy in my hands.
    I wobbled more with each passing breath as it became increasingly more difficult to keep the energy steady.
    Almost there, just don’t let it go.
    My body burned from the strain. My overstressed mind couldn’t hold the py much longer. I had to hurry.
    I cleared the balcony. Just need to let myself down now . I fell quickly, then abruptly stopped, my face and body bouncing against the cushiony energy as I almost lost control with my mind. The grass was still too far away.
    I willed the energy down again or, more accurately, let my weight push it without allowing the py to break apart. Again I fell fast, and again I stopped quickly, painfully so as my face and chest mashed against the bed. I never would’ve guessed it was harder to go down than up, but it was ten times worse.
    I barely could hold onto myself with the energy by then. One more sudden stop and the py might slip from the grasp of my mind. I needed to get all the way to the ground this time.
    I let myself sink, my whole body shaking and searing from the effort required to hold the py together. Seeing that the ground was still too far away I let myself speed up, offering some relief. But then I started to fall so fast I couldn’t catch myself! Stop! Oh gods!
    Somehow I did stop, and it felt like I’d run face first into a brick wall. I knew I’d lost the energy after that, opening my eyes to find the ground coming at me quickly. I barely had time to get my feet beneath me. I fell hard onto my rear, rolling onto my back and slamming my elbows against the ground before my head struck last with a deep thud.
    Pain came slowly at first, then all at once, radiating from the back of my skull down to my feet. I groaned and pushed myself up. Nothing was broken, fortunately, probably the best outcome I could’ve hoped for considering my lack of skill at this point.
    I was drenched with sweat and my chest burned with each gasping breath. I didn’t even have the strength to jog out of the courtyard.
    I appeared even more haggard when I eventually stumbled through Shara’s doorway.
    “My gods, are you all right?”
    “Yes…but I…have to tell you…something.” I struggled to control my breathing.
    Shara ran to me. “What is it?”
    “Where is Norret?”
    “Why?”
    “Tell me!”
    Her wide eyes showed me she realized how important this was. “It’s the small town we passed before we reached Glaine, remember? It’s just southwest of here, maybe five miles. Why, Neeko? What’s there?”
    Although I was no less calm, I finally could speak clearly.
    “Kayren is there—the woman Eizle was in love with. Four men are going to kill her. I need to stop them. Do you know where the Bedwarm Inn is?”
    “I don’t.”
    Henry came into her room just then. Gods, how I was beginning to despise him. “Argh!” I shook both