Hours passed. The sun slipped behind the peak, and a soothing breeze stirred the air. Seeker paused, panting for breath.
Beautiful sighed. “We must be near the top.”
Seeker gave a wry laugh. “Not even halfway. But the Arbor shouldn’t be far. We’ll rest there tonight.”
Bright sprawled in the middle of the path, eyes squeezed shut.
“Get up, Bright,” Beautiful scolded. “Don’t lie in the dirt like that.”
He only moaned in reply.
“Honey,” she said, “Put your burden down. Rest a few minutes.”
Seeker nodded and started to slip his arms from the straps—when a boulder thundered past.
Seeker’s eyes darted upward. Had it fallen from the outcropping ahead? He scanned the rocks, tracing higher—then froze. Too far. Too large. No ordinary man could stand at that distance. A giant loomed, grotesque in form, clad only in a ragged loincloth, a boulder raised high above his head.
Beautiful gasped and yanked Bright to his feet.
The giant hurled the boulder. It slammed into the path, missing Seeker by a breath, then careened down the slope.
“Run!” he shouted.
Beautiful froze, clutching Bright’s hand. She spun toward the path behind them.
“Up! Up!” Seeker gasped.
Bright burst forward, scrambling up the path, with Beautiful close behind. Seeker’s chest heaved, vision blurring as he fought for breath—but he didn’t slow, driving himself after them.
“The giant can’t see us here,” Beautiful gasped as they paused in the shadow of the overhang.
From above came low, angry growls.
Just ahead lay the Arbor, resting place for pilgrims. Beautiful pointed, but Seeker shook his head—just as a boulder smashed into the Arbor.
Comfort came running and stopped beside them, panting and trembling. A rock crashed at her feet.
Seeker dropped his burden and seized Bright’s shoulders. “Run—and don’t stop. Not until you reach the top.” He motioned to Beautiful. “Go! I’m right behind you. If I have to slow him down…” He raised his staff. “Don’t look back.”
Beautiful shook her head. “No!” she cried.
Another rock slammed into the path. They didn’t hesitate—they ran, scrambling up the steep incline.
The path leveled as they neared the Arbor, but they didn’t slow. Seeker’s vision flared red as pain exploded in his temple. He sprawled forward, crashing into Beautiful and Bright knocking them tumbling to the ground with him.
He curled on the ground, crying from the pain, unable to stand, unable even to sit up. Beautiful and Bright sobbed beside him.
A voice boomed across the mountain. “I am Wrath—bane of your father, and your father’s father. You cannot defeat me, and you cannot hide. Wherever you go, I will find you!”
Silence. The boulders ceased. Seeker’s vision cleared. Beautiful lay on the ground, clutching Bright in her arms, both of them shivering in terror. Beside them rested the boulder that had struck him.
They couldn’t stay here. They couldn’t go back. Their only hope lay ahead—at the summit, in the safety of Palace Beautiful.
He pushed himself to his feet and reached out—one hand for Beautiful, one for Bright—then touched her belly.
“Is she… is she okay?” he asked.
Beautiful nodded, tears streaking her cheeks. She touched his forehead. Pain shot through his skull, nearly doubling him over.
“We can’t stay here,” he said. “He’ll be back.” He took their hands, and together they climbed upward—slow but steady.
The ground shook. Behind them, footsteps echoed—Giant Wrath. Fear gripped him. His staff—he’d left it where it fell at the Arbor. They couldn’t go back now.
Bright dropped to the ground.
“Get up!” Seeker barked. Bright refused. Seeker scooped him into his arms, and together he and Beautiful ran as fast as they could.
Then they saw it—a narrow cave mouth just off the path. Seeker, Bright in his arms, dove inside with Beautiful and Comfort close behind—just as Giant Wrath loomed into view, a massive club sweeping through the air.
Giant Wrath thrust his club into the cave, but the entrance was too narrow for him to follow. They groped forward, stumbling through the dark.
A faint glimmer shone ahead. They could just make out a doorway—too clean, too well-formed to be natural.
When they stepped through, they entered a chamber carved from limestone, narrow shafts in the ceiling letting in a soft, steady light.
By the door stood a great round stone with handholds carved into it. Seeker strained against it until it rolled into place, sealing the entrance.
Then they collapsed onto the floor, breathless with relief.
