Maybe she can’t do this.
But Mercy can.
“Hold on!” she calls to Charity.
Sucking in a deep breath, Mercy climbs onto the lowest branch and pulls herself up. Again and again, she moves skyward, not looking down, not allowing herself a moment for her fear to creep up. She’s done this before, and she survived. She can do it again.
“Don’t come near me!” Charity shouts when Mercy is only a branch below her.
Mercy concentrates on her breathing, keeping her focus on the scared girl above her. Crouched on a thick branch, Charity is staring at Mercy with wide, scared eyes.
“What happened?” Mercy asks.
Charity shakes her head, not willing to talk.
“Did it all just get too much?” Mercy tries to keep her voice level. “Because I know exactly how that feels. I thought I was going to pass out on the boat over to the Newlands. Change is difficult. The unknown is tough. You’ve been through so much in the last two days.”
“It was so quiet after you left for that meeting,” says Charity, her voice little more than a whisper. “I’ve never been by myself before. Not ever.”
“Oh, Charity.” Mercy’s own eyes fill with tears. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize. We should have had Seb come to sit with you. We didn’t think…”
“I miss my mom.” Charity’s shoulders shake as the emotion sweeps through her frail body. “Take me back to her. Please?”
Mercy draws in a breath, tempted to tell Charity what she wants to hear. Anything to get her out of this tree. But that wouldn’t be doing her a favor. Instead of earning her trust, it would only drive her further away when she gets to safe ground and discovers the truth.
“I promised your mom I wouldn’t do that,” says Mercy. “If I take you back, your father will send you to the Outlands. You’re safer here with us. It just takes some time to get used to.”
“I’m scared,” says Charity.
Mercy holds out one of her shaking hands. “Look at this, Charity. See how I’m shaking?”
Charity bites her lip as she nods.
“I’m petrified of heights. But…you know what?”
Charity tilts her head, reminding Mercy of a curious sparrow.
“I’m up in this tree with you anyway,” says Mercy. “I’m scared but I’m okay. And the more I climb trees, the less afraid I’m going to be. Sometimes our brains just take longer than our bodies to get used to something different.”
Charity nods, breathes in deeply and clambers down a branch to stand beside Mercy.
“Let’s climb down together,” says Mercy. “And we’ll never leave you by yourself again. That, I can promise. You’re going to have a happy life.”
“I didn’t think you were scared of anything,” says Charity.
“Everyone’s scared of something.” Mercy smiles at her. “Even my mom.”
“I heard that!” her mom calls up to her.
Mercy giggles. Charity joins in, and just for that moment in the tree, it feels like it’s the two of them conspiring against the world. Charity’s a nice kid. If things were different, they might even become friends. But Mercy doesn’t plan to be here for that to happen.
“Come on,” says Mercy. “Let’s get out of here.”
Charity nods. “Okay.”
Together, they climb down the tree. Mercy squints as she looks down, noticing her heartbeat isn’t as rapid as it was the last time she did this. She tests every branch, determined not to make the same mistake again and go crashing down. Especially without Luca and that face of his waiting there to surprise her. At least she’s fully clothed this time… Feeling heat rush to her face, she continues on. Now isn’t the time for those kinds of memories.
Her feet touch solid ground and her mom looks at her, letting out a deep breath. “I’m so glad you’re both okay.”
“Thanks, Mercy.” Charity throws her arms around Mercy’s waist and grips her tightly.
As Mercy hugs her back, she notices her mom’s eyes filling with tears. But strangely, they’re not happy tears. There’s something more going on here.
“What, Mom?” she asks.
But her mom shakes her head as she urges them to follow her out of the forest.
The sound of the ancient horn echoes across Askala.
“The re-vote,” says Mercy, her stomach turning over. “That was fast.”
“Don’t leave me again!” says Charity, gripping Mercy’s hand.
“Come with us,” she says. “Anyone is allowed to watch a meeting of the leaders, even if they’re not allowed to vote. We don’t have any secrets.”
“Could I be a leader of Askala one day?” asks Charity as they weave their way through the trees.
“I don’t see why not,” says Mercy. “When you turn sixteen you can do your Proving. Although, you might need to stay out of trees in the meantime.”
“I’m sorry for making you do that.” Charity looks so despondent. There’s so much more to this girl than Mercy had first thought.
“Come on, you two.” Mercy’s mom is waiting at the edge of the trees. She still has that look about her, the one Mercy’s having trouble reading. And she doesn’t have long to figure it out.
They take the path to the ballroom, knowing Mercy’s dad will meet them there. If they’re late, there’s a chance the vote will be cast without them.
And sure enough, there he is, pacing the entrance to the Oasis. He breaks into a smile to see them.
“You found her!”
They approach and Charity smiles shyly at Mercy’s dad. “Sorry to worry you.”
“You don’t need to apologize,” says Mercy. “No harm done.”
“With thanks to you,” her mom says.
“You were the one who found her,” Mercy replies, not wanting to take all the credit.
They walk through the gardens of the Oasis and Mercy runs her hands over green leaves as they pass. Would it be possible to establish something like this in the Newlands one day? Surely, it must. The soil is clearly fertile given the way the trees have flourished there.
The leaders are gathered around the table. There’s tension floating in the air, mingling with the scent of the herbs and flowers that surround them.
Mercy leads Charity over to Sam and gives her cousin a hug. “Think anyone’s going to change their vote?” she asks.
Sam shakes her head. “There’s a low probability of that. I think that’s why Dad called us back so soon. The longer we wait, the more chance someone might have a re-think.”
“But what if it’s a draw again?” asks Charity.
Sam’s brow fills with lines. “Then the Seekers won’t be allowed to go. If the leaders can’t agree, then the vote always goes in favor of no change being made.”
Mercy groans. She’d forgotten about that rule, not having paid too much attention to Askala’s politics in the past. But, of course, Sam remembers.
“Thank you for returning to the table,” says Kian, his voice filtering over the gathered crowd of leaders and people who’ve come to watch. “As you’re aware, a re-vote has been called.”