We were too far away from help.

  There was too small of a chance that someone Celia Taray had at the Desolation of Gar would be high enough level to take on a Lunatic. We were also over six hours away, which didn’t make that a viable option even if there had been.

  Instead, I pointed Aelin at the coast and went back to wake up Ether. I wasn’t surprised that Ether hadn’t woken up; usually I just let her sleep in because of how soundly she slept, but for this plan to work, I needed her probably more than anyone else in the RV.

  I opened the screen and couldn’t help but grin as I looked at the sleeping woman. Despite the bumpy road, she was still sleeping facedown on the pillow where I’d left her.

  I slid my arms under her and lifted her out of the bunk.

  “Mhm…” She snuggled closer to my arm as I turned towards the couch behind Aelin.

  I had to balance as we hit a bump.

  “Let me help.” Fray turned around and steadied me as Aelin ramped another small mound.

  “Pretty sure we’re all still going to get hurt if you crash this thing.” I grumbled as the two of us made it to the couch.

  “You want to try running away from a homicidal Minotaur with a cat on the windshield?” Aelin looked over her shoulder at us.

  I remembered the last time I’d tried to drive and shook my head. “You’re doing great!”

  “That’s what I thought!” The brown woman flicked her blonde ponytail, then gripped the wheel and sped up.

  “Aelin…” I sighed.

  “Seriously, what am I going to crash into? It’s not like there are any trees or rocks out here.”

  Justia put her hand on Aelin’s arm. “Just be careful. We know you’ve got this.”

  “Damn right!” Aelin straightened in her seat. “Now hold on!”

  The RV sped up and she continued to twist and swerve. Every time she held the RV steady and straight, the plains cat would slash at the windshield and the one on top of us would dig at the hatch in the roof. I understood why she was whipping us around, but that didn’t make what I was trying to do inside the RV any easier.

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  Fray and I sat Ether up on the couch. I cupped her cheek to hold her head steady as I massaged her arm and shoulder with my other hand. “Ether, come on, love, I need you to wake up.”

  “Mhm…” The ivory woman leaned against me.

  “Can’t you just do the water thing?” Fray looked at me.

  Aelin chuckled as she twisted the wheel, pushing us against the back of the couch. “Yeah, Atlas, do the water thing again! How long do you think she’ll be mad at you this time?”

  I glared at the laughing woman. “The only water spell I know would fill this vehicle with water. You sure you want me to do that?”

  “Gah!” Aelin turned the wheel the other way and the three of us almost spilled off of the couch. “Stupid CAT!” She steadied the RV, then looked back at me. “Just get her woke up; I can see water up ahead.”

  “That’s what I’m trying to do.” I looked from Aelin to Justia. “See if you can’t find a group of monsters.”

  The green Healer settled into her seat and looked out the windows. It was still dark outside, but the coast was mostly sand, which allowed us to see much farther than in the hip-deep grass.

  “Ether, come on…” I patted her cheek. “I need you to wake up!”

  “Want me to slap her?” Fray glanced at me.

  “No, she’ll wake up…” I looked at the screen. The Minotaur was still chasing us, but he was falling farther behind. For this plan to work, he needed to be near the RV with all of his summons. “Aelin, slow down.”

  “If I slow down, then he’s going to catch us.” The brown woman pointed at the center console. “Pretty sure that axe is going to be able to break the windshield and the door handles.”

  “Just let him catch up some.” I gently shook Ether. “Come on, love. I need you to wake up!”

  “THERE!” Justia pointed at a dead tree down the coast a little ways.

  Aelin turned the RV to head down the beach towards the tree. The headlights illuminated the tree just enough that I could tell that there were several large birds perched on its branches.

  Flying monsters were a scourge since they could get over the walls and were the primary thing that guards kept an eye out for. They were also the thing that was the most hunted since nests needed to be kept away from the city. The bridge between the Cathedral Ward and the Synagogue Ward was almost a hundred miles long, which meant we were still a good ways away from Jyscor, but that didn’t make me feel much better about what we were about to attempt.

  “Ether, we REALLY need you to wake up faster!” I groaned as this time there was no response.

  The RV lurched, sending all three of us into the back of the driver's seat, and then we stopped moving.

  “Aelin! What happened?” I crawled off of Ether, who was still asleep after all that.

  “Um…” Aelin half turned in her chair. “I think we’re stuck.”

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