Cadan loosened his hold on her and turned so they could look around. Maybe the pool would recover, become the tranquil haven she’d glimpsed on their race against the flood, but it would take a long time and may never be quite the same, trees fallen, sloping banks gouged out, stones and debris everywhere. The close-grown bushes and trees at the far end of the clearing had been cleared as if a giant hand had punched through the middle of them.

The sadness hit unexpectedly; regret over not being able to share and enjoy the place Cadan loved, and sorrow for Cadan in losing his retreat.

She was pulled from her thoughts by Cadan standing, then reaching to help her up. “I think there’s a way we can get out. How good are you at climbing?”

The short answer for that was awful. She hadn’t done anything so uncouth since she was twelve and May Tanner had dared her to climb the apple tree on the river path. A sprained ankle and ruined dress later, she’d been scolded from here to Yallish and banned from spending time with May for a month.

She set her shoulders and replied. “I’ll manage.”

Cadan snatched a quick kiss, then came back for a second, slower one. He pulled her close, stroking down her back. It was nice, too nice, they had to get out of here. Eleanor pulled away. “I’ll kiss you again when we’re out of this place.”

Her husband sighed, then nodded, and said. “We need to go up the oak tree.”

An oak tree, on a ledge, a couple of man heights above a debris-strewn mess of mud and water. She took a deep breath and began tying up her skirts. Cadan blushed, then bent to offer her his cupped hands, like a groom helping her onto a horse. She stepped into them and he heaved her up towards the first broad branch. A grab, a scramble, and she was up. He followed her with a jump and pull up. From there, they wove their way up through the maze of branches, twigs and remaining leaves. It took several goes to find a route up but finally, they were above the top of the cliff and just had to make it across the gap. The branches were still thick, but now bent as they moved. When Cadan urged her out, away from the trunk, she couldn’t hold in the whimper. As they’d climbed, or maybe even before, a cold wind had brought in a blanket of dark grey clouds above them. The trees not in the shelter of the hollow rattled and shook and their tree was starting to join them.

Cadan squeezed her hand. “You can do this, Nora. We can’t go across together and I don’t want to leave you here.”

Eleanor bit her lip to stop the quiver. “If you’re over there, I’ll have the courage to come too. And you can hold the end of the branch steady.”

That sounded ridiculous but Cadan stare was intense. “Are you sure. I don’t think I’ll be able to get back once I’m over.”

Her heart was trying to jump out of her mouth, but she nodded. “Just make sure you’re ready to catch me.”

He took a deep breath, then moved away. “I’m collecting kisses as soon as you’re on the ground.”

She forced a smile and nodded, then watched, terrified, as he clambered across the branch. It was probably no distance at all on flat ground but from where she sat, it looked like miles.

The branch sank and swayed as he climbed, but he’d chosen well, and finally, he slid, clung, then dropped, just a little, to the solid ground of the clifftop. He was safe, her heart eased.

He jumped and grabbed the branch again, then held on. “You can do it, Nora.”

She couldn’t, she’d just stay here and die. Her arms wouldn’t move, her legs were too wobbly to trust. Cadan’s expression went from encouragement to misery. “Please, Nora. Please come over.”

She whimpered again but managed to move first one hand, then the other to the horrible, beastly swaying branch. She made her way forward, wrapping her legs around it as she lay flat, then inching along like an ungainly caterpillar. Why wasn’t Cadan getting any closer, she’d been crawling across this beastly thing for eons. A strong gust whipped through the tree and she clung and screamed. Cadan yelled her name again and she forced her body to move, just the tiniest bit at a time, she had to get closer to him.

Then a hand grabbed her upper arm, pulling her forward. She tumbled into him as he let go of the branch and they both fell back. Back onto hard, solid, stable ground. She sobbed in his arms.

He kissed any part of her hair and face he could reach and held her tight. Eventually, the tears eased, and she shivered. “We’d better get back to the village.”

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