Admittedly, this hadn't been the best idea. Vanessa was right to question me before I made the trek across the bridge. As the rickety structure swayed in the wind, the horse became agitated, threatening to bolt. 

"Shh…" I comforted it while patting its neck, "It's fine…." 

Of course, I didn't know if I was telling the truth, but it was a horse. Regardless of the accuracy of my statement, it's not like the thing would understand me, anyway. The bridge boards were close enough for the horse to cross without getting its hooves caught, but the creaking sounds they produced as we crossed told me I had limited time before we fell to our death. After all the bizarre things that happened in the last few weeks, this wasn't how I wanted to die.

C'mon, you dumb horse. You better not be what kills me.

Placing one foot in front of the other, we made it across the bridge, and I hadn't peeked down even once — I found no reason to tempt fate. When we were safely on the other side, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, then looked back to where Vanessa stood.

If I cut the rope, would it be possible to leave her here? No. I've made a promise to her — a stupid, pain-in-the-ass promise. 

"Your turn!" I yelled to her, somehow knowing it would be more complicated than that. With her, things were always more complicated. 

The girl hesitated. "Come on, cross before I leave you here!"

That will work as encouragement, if nothing else.

"I… I can't!" she yelled back, and I rolled my eyes.

I knew it.

"Why?" I asked, exasperated as I wondered what the hell she needed now.

"I… I don't want to do this alone." 

She didn't see it, but my face deadpanned as I looked back at her. I couldn't believe it. She was pathetic.

"Are you serious?!"

"Y-yeah, I'm… serious…."

My resolve was being tested. I could either leave this noble and get on my way with no further distractions, or I could trek back over and risk my life— yet again— to save her ass. This was not the first time I wondered if her ass was worth it.

I can't believe I made that stupid promise to her. That's the last time I take pity on a crying girl.

Growling under my breath, I made up my mind. A promise was a promise, and it was my fault for giving her that much in the first place. As the adult between us, I had to take responsibility. 

"Fine. Stay there. I'll come across." I shouted back, the irritation evident in my voice. Before embarking to the other side, I turned and tied the reins to a sturdy post and patted the horse on the neck again. "Sorry, I've got to save that idiot over there." 

Then I turned to the rotting wood bridge. Because I was alone, crossing was a lot easier than last time. I hurried across and gave Vanessa an aggravated glare as soon as I arrived, but she wouldn't even look at me. 

She's ashamed — as she should be. Even I'm embarrassed for her.

"Let's go," I ordered, turning to face the bridge, eager to make it over.

"I-I'm sorry…" a soft stammer came from the girl, and I just about wanted to smack her upside the head.

Even at this age, she still acts like a child. It's disgusting. Are all nobles sheltered?

"Come on, we're wasting daylight," I told her, ushering her forward as I stepped onto the sketchy bridge. It was about 100 paces from one side of the canyon to the other, but who knew how far the fall was if someone was unfortunate enough to slip? With the raging river at the bottom, there was zero chance of survival.

With that in mind, now was not the time to think twice. I stepped with false confidence as I crossed with Vanessa ahead of me. When she made her first step, the aging rope made an alarming sound as it strained under our weight. The noble froze up completely, hands tightening on the ropes. 

"Hey, calm down. Things are fine," I told her, trying to sound certain as my nerves were getting to me, "If a horse made it across, you can, too."

There was a moment of fearful silence before she responded, "But… that's what I'm afraid of. What if the weight of the horse weakened the bridge?"

Well, shit, she has a point there. 

The more I thought about it, the more it worried me. I hadn't considered the possibility of the horse worsening the bridge's state.

"It'll be fine," I told her again, my voice not sounding as sure as before. The bridge hadn't been squeaking this much when I crossed the first couple of times.

Vanessa sensed the insecurity in my voice, but it was too late to go back now that we were halfway across.

"We'll make it. I promise you, we'll make it." I said under my breath. There was no way of knowing for sure, but I sure as hell wasn't about to let the bridge take my life.

I will not let this end here — not for her, not for me. 

The noises of the bridge told me otherwise as they continued to increase, but I had already decided. We'd make it through this. 

A particularly loud creak caused Vanessa to stop again, but I pushed her forward, my voice urgent. "We've got to keep moving. Go!!"

As we both sped up, the bridge seemed like it would collapse at any moment. Three-fourths of the way across, I was sure we'd reach the other side before it fell into the depths. Turns out I was wrong.

The blood drained from my face as I heard what I had dreaded this whole time — rope snapping. Vanessa screamed.

Shit —!!