The sudden threat cuts through the tension like a knife, and for a moment, there's nothing but the sound of our own breathing and the low, rhythmic hum of the wisp lights.
"Right then." Valentine says, clearing his throat. "No bridge. But the compass... Lucas, does it still point straight ahead?"
Lucas doesn't answer right away. He's holding the compass up, the small, steady light from it illuminating the intense concentration on his face. "Yes." He finally says, his voice a low, certain whisper. "It's pointing directly into the...gap."
I purse my lips and stare out in the direction of the cliff side.
...The compass is supposed to be leading us through the only safe path of this forest.
Yet we're looking at certain death.
Well - not certain death. We could take ropes and climb down, cross the valley, and then climb back up.
But...
