Chapter 11: The Ridgewalker’s Price

“Alright,” Elinalise said. “Let’s go.”

Garron grunted. He pushed himself up onto his good leg, using the rock behind him for leverage. She moved to slide under his arm again, taking his weight before he could topple over. The chain around her waist swung and clinked against a stone.

“East,” he said, his voice tight. He pointed along the ridge line with his free hand.

The ridge was a narrow spine of rock and stubborn, wind-flattened grass. On their left, the land fell away into the dark ravine they had just climbed out of. On their right, a gentler slope descended into a wider valley swallowed by night. The path wasn’t a path at all, just a slightly less treacherous line along the crest where the footing was more dirt than loose scree.

They moved in a slow, lurching rhythm. Step. Drag. Pause. Step. Drag. Pause.

Her shoulder ached where his weight settled. The manacles were a warm, heavy presence on her wrists now, the curse’s heat bleeding through the silver and into her skin. It was a constant low hum, a background distraction that made it hard to focus on anything else for too long. She kept waiting for it to spike, to flare into the crippling pain she remembered from the road days ago. It didn’t. It just simmered, patient and unsettling.

After what felt like an hour of silent progress, Garron spoke.

“You handle weight better than you look.”

“I’ve carried heavier,” she said, the words coming out before she could filter them.

“Yeah? What, laundry baskets?”

She didn’t answer. The silence stretched, filled only by their labored breathing and the crunch of gravel underfoot.

“Your hands,” he said after another minute. “They’re not a laundress’s hands. Or a kitchen girl’s. No calluses in the right places. The skin’s too soft, even with all the dirt.”

Elinalise kept her eyes on the ground ahead, picking their route around a patch of thorny brush. “Maybe I was a bad laundress.”

He chuckled, a dry sound that ended in a wince. “Maybe. Or maybe you’re something else entirely. Doesn’t matter to me. A story’s just a story. The cuffs are real.”

“You seem to know a lot about them.”

“Seen similar,” he said. His tone was casual, but she felt him shift his weight, adjusting his grip on her shoulder. “Grenville likes their silver for mage-killers. Not just for locking up wrists. Arrowheads sometimes. Blade coatings. Expensive, but it sticks to magic like tar. Stifles it. Those ones you’re wearing look fancy, though. Reinforced. Someone went to extra trouble for you.”

She didn’t confirm or deny it. “This blacksmith. Kael. He can remove them?”

“If anyone can. He’s got tools for delicate work. And he doesn’t ask many questions if the coin’s good. Or if the trade is interesting enough.”

“What would be interesting enough?”

Garron was quiet for a few steps. “Hard to say. Kael likes puzzles. Locks are puzzles. Magical locks are better puzzles. He also likes things that piss off certain people. Grenville qualifies.”

The ridge began a slow, gradual descent. The going became trickier as the angle increased. She had to dig her heels in with each step to keep them both from sliding forward.

“Why are you helping me?” she asked again. The question felt necessary, even if the answer would likely be another version of what he’d already said.

“Told you. Practicality.”

“It’s not just practicality. You could have told me about the settlement and taken your chances I’d help you anyway out of gratitude. Or you could have lied about the blacksmith entirely, sent me off in the wrong direction once we were safe from the patrols. You’re guiding me there personally. That’s a risk for you. A man with a shattered leg shouldn’t take extra risks without a better reason.”

He didn’t speak for so long she thought he might be ignoring the question. The wind picked up, whistling over the ridge and cutting through her thin tunic.

“Crow’s Perch isn’t a friendly place,” he said finally. His voice had lost its earlier casualness. “It’s a den. Full of thieves, cutthroats, and people who’ve run out of every other option. Walking in alone, looking like you do… you wouldn’t make it to Kael’s forge. You’d be robbed, or worse, within minutes. Someone would try to claim you as salvage from the ambush, cuffs and all. Then they’d sell you back to Grenville for a reward.”

“And you can prevent that?”

“I can get you past the lookouts. I can get you to Kael without getting your throat slit on the way. That’s worth something.”

“It is,” she conceded. “But it still doesn’t answer why you’re doing it.”

“Maybe I want those cuffs off you too.”

She stopped walking, forcing him to halt with her. “Why?”

In the starlight, his face was all angles and shadows. He looked tired, and his pain was a palpable thing between them, but his eyes were clear and direct. “Because things that are traceable are dangerous to be around. Grenville mages can likely sense those things from a fair distance if they’re looking. Having you near me with those on is like carrying a lit torch in a dry forest when you know there are hunters about. I get you to Kael, he gets them off, the torch goes out. My forest gets safer.”

It made a cold kind of sense. A selfish sense, but an honest one. She could believe that more than any sudden attack of altruism.

She started moving again.

The night wore on. They passed a gnarled, dead tree clinging to the ridge like a skeletal hand. The terrain became rockier again, forcing them to pick their way through a field of shattered stone that looked like it had been dropped from a great height.

Her muscles burned with fatigue. The curse-warmth pulsed in time with her heartbeat, a dull counter-rhythm to their shuffling steps. She found herself cataloging her body’s complaints as a way to stay awake and focused. The raw skin under her tunic from the chain. The blister forming on her left heel where her boot rubbed. The deep ache in her lower back from supporting Garron’s weight.

He was struggling too. His breathing grew more ragged. Each jolt to his leg drew sharper hisses of air through his teeth. Twice he stumbled, nearly taking them both down, only catching himself at the last moment with a desperate hop on his good leg.

“Need to stop,” he gasped after the second near-fall.

They lowered themselves awkwardly onto a broad, flat slab of stone that jutted out from the ridge side. He leaned back, eyes closed, sweat gleaming on his forehead despite the chill.

Elinalise sat beside him, putting a careful foot of space between them. She unwound the chain from her waist again, letting it pool on the rock beside her to relieve the pressure.

“How much farther?” she asked.

“Not far now.” He didn’t open his eyes. “Dawn’s maybe an hour off. We need to be in position by then.”

“Position for what?”

“For watching.” He fumbled for his waterskin, took a small sip, then offered it to her.

She drank. The water was warm from his body heat and tasted faintly of leather.

“Crow’s Perch doesn’t have gates,” he explained as she handed the skin back. “It has eyes. Sentries posted in the rocks above the approach trails. They see everything coming up those valleys long before it arrives. If they don’t recognize you, or if you don’t give the right signal, you never make it to the settlement itself. You end up with an arrow in your neck at the bottom of the slope.”

“And you know the signal.”

“I know this month’s signal.” He finally opened his eyes and looked at her. “Signals change. Usually at the new moon.”

“What is it?”

A faint smile touched his lips, there and gone quickly. “If I tell you that now, what use am I?”

She held his gaze for a moment, then looked away toward the eastern horizon where the black was beginning to soften into deep indigo.

“You said Kael works for the right price or the right favor,” she said, changing tack.

“He does.”

“I have no money.”

“I figured.”

“So it would have to be a favor.”

“Likely.”

“What kind of favor does a blacksmith who removes magical bindings want?”

Garron shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position for his splinted leg. “Depends on what he needs done that he can’t do himself at his forge. Could be simple—deliver a message to someone in another settlement who won’t take it from his usual runners because they owe him money already maybe even probably knowing how Kael operates honestly he tends to lend coin out like he’s watering plants except half the plants die before they can pay him back but anyway yes could be simple but also could be complicated maybe dangerous possibly illegal even more than usual I mean technically everything out here is illegal by Grenville law so that part is expected but specifically illegal in ways that might get someone killed obviously which isn’t ideal but then again neither is wearing Grenville silver so choices have to be made sometimes difficult ones yes indeed anyway we should probably get moving again soon before my leg stiffens up completely which would be just fantastic really perfect end to a perfect night let me tell you absolutely wonderful experience overall ten out of ten would recommend to anyone looking for a relaxing stroll through nature with a complete stranger who might or might not betray them later okay good talk let’s go now please thank you very much.”

He pushed himself upright with a groan before she could respond to his rambling monologue.

She stood too, muscles protesting, and helped him up again.

The last stretch of ridge was the hardest yet because dawn was coming quickly now and Garron seemed driven by its approach almost frantic about reaching some specific spot before full light broke over the valley below so they moved faster than was wise over such rough ground twice more he almost fell and once she slipped on loose gravel sending them both staggering sideways toward the drop-off until she dug her heels in hard enough to skid them both to an ungainly stop her heart hammering against her ribs like it wanted out entirely

Finally he pointed ahead where the ridge terminated in a jagged prow of rock that overlooked everything

"There"

They limped their way to the very edge where the world fell away into shadowy depths The vantage point was high and isolated A single stunted pine grew from a crack in the stone its branches twisted by constant wind

Garron sank down behind a natural parapet of stone pulling her down with him

"Now we wait" he whispered "And we watch"

The indigo in the east bled into violet then streaks of fiery orange and pale gold Dawn unfolded slowly revealing the land below

They were looking into a deep bowl-shaped valley surrounded by steep wooded slopes At its center nestled against the base of a sheer cliff face was Crow's Perch

It wasn't a town It was a scar

A chaotic jumble of structures clung to the cliffside and spilled out onto the valley floor There were log cabins with sod roofs lean-tos made of salvaged planks and canvas tents patched with hide A few larger buildings stood out one long hall with smoke rising from a stone chimney another that looked like a stable A forge was visible too its chimney distinct even from this distance Everything was haphazard as if each building had been added wherever space allowed with no thought for streets or order

A wooden palisade enclosed part of the settlement near the valley floor but it was low and looked more symbolic than defensive The real defense was the terrain itself The only clear approaches were two narrow trails that switchbacked up from the valley floor both easily watched from hidden positions in the rocks above

As the light grew stronger she could see movement Tiny figures emerged from huts stirred cookfires began their day

"Home sweet home" Garron murmured His voice held no warmth

They watched in silence for several minutes The settlement woke up slowly like some grimy animal uncurling from sleep

"See that building with the red cloth hanging over the door?" Garron pointed "That's Kael's forge He lives above it"

Elinalise noted its location near the palisade wall

"The sentry posts" Garron continued shifting his pointing finger "There in those rocks left of the big pine And there see that shadow under that overhang? That's another They'll change shifts soon after full light"

She followed his directions spotting now what she had missed before subtle irregularities in the stone that suggested places where a man could hide and watch

"Now" Garron said His tone changed becoming flat businesslike "We talk about price"

She turned her head to look at him He wasn't watching the settlement anymore He was watching her His face was grim all trace of earlier casualness gone

"The signal will get us past the sentries" he said "But getting to Kael getting him to agree to work that's something else"

"I understand there will be a favor"

"There will" he agreed "But first there's my price"

She went very still The early morning sun caught the side of his face highlighting the grime and old scars "You said we help each other we both live"

"We do And we will But help isn't free not in Crow's Perch I need something from you to make this work"

"What?"

He took a slow breath as if steeling himself "When we go down there you're going to walk in front of me You're going to have your knife out pointed at my back You're going to tell anyone who asks that you captured me after the ambush that I'm your prisoner"

Elinalise stared at him The words didn't make sense at first They were just sounds arranged wrong

"What?"

"There's a bounty" he said speaking quickly now as if wanting to get it all out "On my head Posted by Marcus he runs Crow's Perch Fifty silver crowns for me brought in alive"

"Why?"

"Doesn't matter It's there I can't walk back in there on my own not with this leg not with Marcus's men watching They'd grab me before I took ten steps drag me straight to him collect their own bounty But if I come in as someone else's prisoner if you bring me in then you claim the bounty"

The pieces clicked into place with a cold finality

"The price of entry" she said slowly "Isn't your guidance or your signal It's fifty silver crowns"

"Yes"

"And you expect me to believe you'll let me claim this bounty on you That you'll just walk in and let Marcus take you after I hand you over"

"No" he said "I expect you to claim it get paid then use that money to pay Kael Silver crowns are better than favors Cleaner Faster No debt owed afterwards"

"And what happens to you after Marcus pays me?"

"He'll lock me up Probably in one of the storage sheds while he decides what to do with me He won't kill me not immediately I'm worth more alive as an example But he won't guard me too heavily either not for a day or two Not until he's sure no one is going to try anything stupid to break me out"

"You have someone who will break you out"

"I have arrangements" he confirmed "A day maybe two after we arrive I'll be gone But by then you'll have your cuffs off and enough coin left over maybe even enough for supplies enough to get far away from here before Grenville picks up your trail again if they even can without those manacles broadcasting your location which honestly they probably can't once Kael is done with them so really it works out well for everyone involved practically perfect actually when you think about it which I have been thinking about it quite a lot while we were walking because what else is there to do really besides think about how much your leg hurts and how much you want this whole mess to be over already so yes I've thought it through and this is how it has to work"

He stopped talking His eyes searched hers looking for understanding or maybe just acceptance

Elinalise looked from him down to the filthy settlement then back at him The rising sun warmed her back but inside she felt cold This wasn't just another risk This was handing over control She would be walking into an outlaw den playing a role in someone else's scheme relying on his mysterious arrangements after she took his money

"It's a gamble" she said echoing his words from hours ago in the ravine

"It is" he said simply "Same guarantee as before None But it's also our best chance probably our only chance really when you consider alternatives which are mostly dying alone somewhere or getting caught again so really not great options overall honestly"

She was silent for a long time watching smoke rise from cookfires listening to distant shouts float up from Crow's Perch The manacles felt heavier than ever Their warmth felt like an infection

Vengeance required survival Survival required getting these manacles off Getting them off required taking this risk Walking into that den playing captor to a man who might be leading her into any number of traps all for fifty pieces of silver

She met Garron's eyes "If this is a trick if your 'arrangements' involve me getting killed for that bounty—"

"They don't" he cut in His voice was firm "I need you alive and walking away satisfied If Marcus thinks you were part of some scheme with me he'll come after both of us That complicates my escape I want clean clean is safe This is clean You get what you need I get what I need We part ways No loose ends"

Clean She doubted anything about this place was clean

But she believed him about one thing This was likely their only chance

"Fine" she said The word tasted bitter "We do it your way"

He nodded once A look that might have been relief passed over his face "Good Okay When we get closer I'll tell you the signal And what to say when we reach Marcus"

"How will I know him?"

"You'll know He holds court in the long hall He'll be sitting at table wearing furs even though it's not cold enough for furs honestly he just likes how they look thinks it makes him look important which is ridiculous but anyway yes furs Big man Scar across his nose Tell him you caught Garron Red-Hand Tell him you want your bounty And then tell him nothing else especially don't mention where exactly you found me or who else might have been around just keep it simple stupid always best with Marcus honestly too much detail makes him suspicious which is funny because he's not smart enough usually to follow complex lies anyway but still simple is better okay good we're agreed then let's rest here few more minutes then we start down goat trail is over there behind those boulders tricky descent especially with my leg but we'll manage probably hopefully anyway yes let's rest now good plan great job team we did it almost there almost free almost done almost—"

He kept talking rambling softly almost to himself as dawn broke fully over Crow's Perch revealing every dirty detail of the place that held her next gamble Elinalise stopped listening She watched smoke curl into pale sky and wondered how much fifty silver crowns would really buy and what kind of favor might still be waiting for her after all