Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 83205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
The thought of smelling like one of the metlaks for a while is rather stomach-turning. "How do we get their scent without alerting them to what we're doing? Do we rub up against them?"
Corvak frowns and pulls me a little closer to him. "You're right. That doesn't seem safe."
"What if we got some herbs?" Valmir asks. He snaps his fingers and then points at us. "There's a tea made from this springy-looking plant that grows on the sides of the cliffs, and it stinks if you crush the leaves. We could use that if it grows in this area."
"I will go looking for it tomorrow." Corvak perks up a bit, pleased with ironing out one part of our plan.
"While you're out, look for somewhere for us to meet up," I say. "Someplace we won't miss—like a landmark—so we can wait for you to return." He nods, and I feel like we're getting somewhere. "Okay then, all that remains is figuring out how you're going to lead them away and fool them into thinking you're dead."
"That's all," Valmir adds sarcastically. "Normally I'd pretend to kill you and it would bring me great pleasure, but your loyal followers would kill me before I could take a single step. So it will be you and you alone."
"I can handle that," Corvak says. His expression is thoughtful. "They'll need to see my death as well as smell it."
"So a dead animal…?" This is getting rather morbid and I'm not a fan. "What if you just disguise your scent with a different herb that day than the one we're using and so when they go to check on your body, they associate that herb with you?"
Corvak nods. "I think that is the best option rather than hauling about something dead and hoping they don't guess just how dead. So now we just need to figure out how I die."
"Jump off a cliff into the water? Do they swim?"
I suddenly panic because Corvak doesn't swim. He's gotten a little better over the last few weeks thanks to our warm pool, but he's not what I'd call a strong swimmer.
But Corvak is stroking his chin. "It's not a bad idea."
"Isn't it?" I ask. "I'm not sure swimming is the right call."
"I can't jump off a cliff and hope to survive the fall." Corvak gives me a wry smile. "And snow would be too hard. I can tell them that I am planning on returning to the skies and so when I disappear, perhaps they will take it as such."
I don't like it, but I don't know what else to do. "Where, though? Where would you jump?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Corvak says, smiling at me and gesturing at the back of the cave. "Into our pool. I will step off the cliff above and into the waters below."
"But then they're going to expect you to come back out."
He nods. "I might have to wait a few days until they get the idea. They're bound to leave eventually."
"Or not. Corvak, I don't like this."
"We welcome your alternate plans, Aidy," Valmir drawls.
I glare at him, but he's not wrong. What alternative is there? "Surely we can come up with something."
I won't let Corvak sacrifice himself.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SEVEN
CORVAK
We set the pieces of our plan into motion slowly over the next week. Nothing can happen right away, because food must be collected so Aidy will not starve as they journey. Valmir tests his ankle a little more each day, but I don't trust him to be able to hunt for her, to provide for her. He will not care if she is hungry or not…but I care, and so I will ensure that they have enough to eat. It means ranging farther and farther afield each day, but it suits my purposes.
I scout the area for food, for roots, for small animals to toss into our stew pot. I find the pungent herbs that Valmir mentioned and pull the entire thing, roots and all, from the sides of the cliffs, so the leaves do not get crushed and emit their awful scent. I find another herb to use for myself, and begin wearing its perfume and rubbing myself with the leaves every day as I emerge from the cave to make the snow-people associate me with the scent of it.
They still follow me wherever I go, and as we walk, I talk to them with my hands, repeating the gestures that Aidy taught me. I tell them that my purpose here is nearly done, and I will return to smoke soon and disappear with the Northern Lights. It's a lie, of course, and I hope the Northern Lights go away so my story has the hint of truth to it. They were absent two nights ago, and last night it was cloudy.
I gather and hunt, and I plant the seeds of my disappearance for my followers.