Quest for Freedom Read online

“Janai?” the boy said. “I gotta go.”

  Penny raced up to her. “Me too.” Tish was right behind the other girl nodding her head.

  “We’ll be stopping for lunch soon,” Janai said.

  “But I gotta go now,” Krav’n insisted.

  “Okay.” She halted the group and took the two girls behind some trees. Ash took Krav’n on the other side of the trail behind a boulder.

  After a few moments, the group was back together and on the move again. Janai was grateful for Vala’s hunting skills. The waddler skins were quite a comfort on her feet, surprisingly thick and warm. They even had enough skins for each to have one pair of shoes.

  They walked silently for some time, and when the twin suns were overhead, Janai decided to stop them for lunch. They had some waddler jerky, sour-grass, roots and plenty of water. They sat on nearby rocks and tree stumps, eating and enjoying each other’s company.

  Gryden still wasn’t talking to Janai. After lunch, she checked his arm and ribs, all the while ignoring the cold stare he gave her. “A Kritine healer does what’s necessary for the good of the patient, no matter how much the patient protests,” she imagined her mother saying. Janai wasn’t going to be the exception. The Aknidean boy didn’t fight her—he simply didn’t speak to her.

  Suddenly, she heard a cry and turned to see Krav’n holding his stomach with a pained look on his face. She went immediately to the boy and pulled his hands away from his middle. “What’s wrong, Krav’n?” But as soon as she got his hands clear, she saw why he was crying. He had a large, dark, poison sack the size of her thumb protruding from his jumpsuit.

  “Something bit me.” He sobbed. “Ow. It hurts.” He pushed Janai’s probing hand away. “Don’t touch it.”

  “I have to touch it. To help you.”

  “No!” He twisted, trying to get out of her grip.

  “All right, all right.” She sat on a large rock and pulled Krav’n onto her lap. “Hush now.” She rocked him and crooned softly until he calmed down then placed a hand on his forehead until he was out. “I need some water.” She laid the boy on the ground with Ash’s help.

  She pinched the area below the poison sack with her thin nails and slowly pulled. The sack broke off, leaving the stinger embedded in Krav’n’s stomach, and she cursed under her breath. Luckily, the sack was almost full, so she was hopeful that only a small portion of the poison had gotten into Krav’n’s bloodstream. Next, she tugged the boy’s jumpsuit down to his waist and saw a large, dark green welt around a stinger.

  “Here.” Blal’k placed a bulb fruit bowl of water next to her. “What is it? What bit him?”

  “It’s not a bite.” Janai pulled her knife and one of the gold metallic heat distributors from her sinsabe. “He was stung.” She sterilized the knife blade with the bulky distributor and began to cut out the stinger. “You and Vala see if you can find what did this. But be careful.”

  Blal’k and Vala scouted the area. Lance distracted the two younger girls while Janai worked. Luckily, the stinger wasn’t very deep and she only needed to make a tiny incision. She placed an herb poultice on the area, and Ash assisted her in tying a wrap around Krav’n’s waist to bandage the welt. They got the little boy’s suit pulled up and fastened.

  “We found it,” Vala said, carrying a stick with a large insect dangling from the end. “Over by that rotted tree.” She pointed to a tree about twelve feet from the trail. “There are several of them, but this one’s dead and missing a stinger.”

  Janai studied at the insect. It was dark red in color and about as long as her hand, with a five-sectioned body and what looked like black protruding eyes. She caught a glimpse of Gryden studying the creature.

  “What is it?” Lance had returned with the two younger girls.

  “I don’t know. But I need to wake Krav’n.” She placed a hand on the boy’s forehead and he started. “It’s okay. You’re all fixed up now.”

  “My stomach still hurts.” He snuggled to her and sobbed.

  “I’ll make you some pain tea,” Blal’k told him.

  “I don’t feel so good.” Krav’n rolled his head away from Janai and vomited on the ground in front of her. She supported him while he got sick two more times, then he relaxed back on her lap, exhausted. His breathing labored but his pulse remained steady. Penny and Tish were making faces at the vomit.

  “You two go with Lance and gather some firewood,” Janai said. “And be careful. Don’t bother any insects and stay close to the trail.” Lance took the two girls, practically dragging them off to find wood. “Ash, can you put his bedding down?” She wiped the Krav’n’s mouth and chin clean with a rag. When the bedding was ready, she gently put the boy on his skins and rested a hand on his forehead.

  Ash helped her cover her little patient. “How is he?”

  “He’s got a fever.” Janai didn’t hide the worry from her face. “I don’t know how strong that poison is.” She looked into Ash’s lavender eyes. “I don’t know how to treat him.”

  Ash placed his hand on her shoulder. “Trust your instincts.”

  That’s exactly what she’d have to do because she didn’t have any other choice. She only hoped her instincts would be enough. They made camp right away and she stayed close to Krav’n. He tossed and turned in his sleep, mumbling at times. She periodically checked the sting area for allergic reaction and infection. But there hadn’t been any change. The boy’s breathing had steadied and his pulse was still strong, so all she could do was wait and hope.

  Gryden sat next to her. “I think my wrap needs to be changed.”

  She was surprised he was speaking to her but didn’t let on. “Of course.” Actually, she’d briefly forgotten about her other patients, and a pang of guilt knotted her stomach at neglecting them. “How’s the pain?” She unwrapped his ribs. “Do you have enough pain herbs?”

  “Yes.” He cooperated for the first time since his fall. “The pain’s not that bad, as long as I don’t lift anything. I can breathe without hurting now.”

  “Good.” She inspected the bruises on his ribcage and applied gentle pressure to feel how the bones were healing. They were mending nicely, but Gryden still winced at her touch. “You and Vala heal quickly.”

  “Yeah, I guess.” He didn’t sound too impressed by her comment. “How’s he doing?” He motioned toward the sleeping Krav’n.

  “Well, he’s not any worse. That’s a good sign.” She finished wrapping his ribs. “There, that ought to be good for a while.”

  “Thanks, Healer.” Gryden’s yellow eyes sparkled just a bit.

  Once again, someone had addressed her as Healer and she felt a flush of pride at the title. A hand on her shoulder got her attention, and she looked up to see Ash smiling down at her and rubbing his temple. She smiled back.

  “I have some news for you,” the Kritine boy said. “I’ve been trying to get information on the thing that stung Krav’n.” He sat next to her. “From what I can decipher, they only live in rotten trees.”

  Janai felt encouraged by that. If they kept away from rotten trees, maybe no one else would get stung. “What about the poison?”

  “I’m still working on that.” He sounded disappointed with himself.

  “Well, thanks, Messenger.” If she was to hold the title of Healer, then Ash should be encouraged as a messenger. After all, he was the only one they had. “At least we know where to stay away from.” She put a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve just saved someone else from getting stung by those creatures.” She didn’t mean to, but she made the boy blush. Her hand lingered on his shoulder longer than what was polite and her face heated.

  He averted his eyes and cleared his throat. “Thank you.”

  Janai stayed close to Krav’n but she didn’t sleep at all that night. By morning, his breathing had slowed and she grew worried. While the others were involved in their morning routines, Krav’n stopped breathing. His pulse was fading and Janai fought down panic. An overwhelming urge to hold him rose up and As
h appeared at her side as she lifted Krav’n onto her lap. He moaned. She reached inside his jumpsuit and placed her hands on the welt. A surge of energy pulsed through her body and into her hands. Before she could pull back, a sharp pain developed in her abdomen and she doubled over.

  Someone took Krav’n from her and lowered her to the ground. Her eyes snapped shut against the sharp light of day and her entire body felt hot. Her right hand made its way to her stomach and she discovered a welt. It felt large, even through her jumpsuit material. She tried to speak but grew sleepy and wasn’t sure if the words came out.

  ****

  She didn’t know how long she was out, but when she came to, Ash and Blal’k hovered over her. “Krav’n—” she said, her voice so hoarse it surprised her.

  “I don’t know what you did,” Blal’k said. “But he’s fine, now.”

  Ash placed a cool hand on her forehead. “His fever’s gone and he’s sleeping. How do you feel?”

  “Tired.” She sat up with the two boys’ help. Suddenly, everything was spinning and she put her head in her hands until the movement stopped. “When she felt she could stand, she tried to get up.

  Ash held her in place. “Uh-uh. You’re not going anywhere.”

  “I need to check on Krav’n.”

  “He’s fine.” The Kritine boy looked directly into Janai’s eyes with his own lavender ones. She saw the determination. He meant what he said. The others gathered around her.

  Vala sat next to her. “Ash is right. Krav’n’s better and he’s resting.”

  Janai wondered if the girl was strong enough to tackle her. She could probably persuade Ash to let her up, but Vala was tougher and much more stubborn, even at two years younger. She decided not take the chance. If they said Krav’n was okay then she trusted them.

  “All right, all right. You win. I’ll sit here for a while. But—”

  “But what?” Vala said in a challenging tone.

  “I’m hungry.”

  Ash placed his arm around her shoulders and she leaned on him for support. He would definitely notice this time. “I’m not surprised. It’s almost dinner.”

  Janai started at that news. She glanced at the sky to check the positions of the two suns, but the light hurt her eyes and she turned away.

  “Believe me now?” Ash kept his arm around her.

  “About what? Dinner?”

  “That you have the focus healing gift.” He took a bulb fruit bowl from Blal’k and handed it to her. “Vala killed us some supper.”

  Janai didn’t answer. She felt as though she’d been trampled. She looked over at the sleeping Krav’n. From where she sat, his breathing looked strong and steady. Her hands trembled and Ash had to help her hold her bowl and spoon steady while she ate. She felt a little self-conscious about her condition but was grateful for the assistance, especially from him. The stew tasted wonderful and she ate two bowls. Water was something she couldn’t seem to get enough of and she drank three cups before she was too full to put anything more into her stomach. Ash laughed.

  “What?” she said, defensively. “I was hungry.”

  “You and Krav’n both.” He ran a hand through his curly white hair. “He ate as much as you.”

  She studied the sleeping boy. “Good.” Then she remembered the welt on her stomach and asked the boys to give her some privacy. They busied themselves with the fire, while Vala helped her get her jumpsuit down around her waist. The welt was just a black spot on her stomach now, nothing more.

  “Krav’n’s is completely gone,” Vala said, looking at the mark.

  Janai had to sit helpless while Vala pulled up and fastened her suit. With unsteady hands and trembling body, she felt like she’d just run the entire distance from her village to the next. “I want to sit by the fire.”

  Vala gave her a sideways glance. “All right. But I’m going to help you.”

  Janai didn’t know if she had the strength to stand alone, so she allowed Vala to support her as they walked to the fire where the others were gathered. Ash helped her sit and Blal’k brought her a skin blanket.

  All the fuss embarrassed her. “I’m okay, really,” she said, more to convince herself than the others. When Ash and Vala gave her similar long stares, she decided to distract them. “Gryden, how’re you doing?” She motioned to the Aknidean boy’s ribs.

  Ash laughed and the others chuckled. Except for the two Aknideans, of course.

  “What’s going on?” Krav’n said.

  Janai turned as the sleepy boy made his way to her. “Come here.” She held her arms out to him. He sat in her lap and stroked her white curls as she checked his liquid eyes and his pulse. He seems healthy. Relief filled her and she finally relaxed.

  “Are you okay, Janai?” Krav’n pushed to his knees, held her face in his small, webbed hands and looked into her eyes.

  Amused and touched at the serious look on his face, she stroked his head ridges. “I’m fine.”

  “I’m glad.” He snuggled down into her lap, closed his eyes and dozed.

  “You want to talk?” Ash said to Janai.

  “About what?”

  He raised a thin white brow at her.

  “What was it like?” Lance said as he and the two little Earth girls scooted closer.

  Janai wasn’t going to hear the end of questions until she told them everything. “Well, I just had this great urge to hold him. And then I felt this—energy—surging through my hands.” She looked down at the sleeping boy in her lap. “Next thing I knew, my stomach hurt. There was a welt on it and I was exhausted.” The others seemed to be waiting for more. “That’s all.”

  Ash narrowed eyes on her. “Sounds like you took the poison from Krav’n.”

  “Were my hands sweating?”

  “Dripping. I didn’t see your eyes but I’d bet they were bright lavender. I think you’ve definitely got the focus healing gift.”

  “I’m just glad I didn’t hurt him.”

  “What I don’t understand is why you were so exhausted. The healer I saw when I was young acted like nothing happened. She just walked away.”

  Janai shrugged but she couldn’t help wondering the same thing. “Maybe because I’m new at it.” She kissed the sleeping Krav’n on his head ridges and pondered that disturbing question.

  21 ~ Glimpse of Freedom

  A couple of days passed before Janai was strong enough to travel. The others made sure she didn’t overexert herself. She put up with the attention but was thankful when more of her strength returned. Krav’n was excited to name the red, segmented creatures, like the one that had stung him, and he finally decided to call them firebugs.

  Nights brought the strange red-eyed animals near the campsite. Their scream-like songs sent chills up Janai’s spine and kept the group close to the fire. Ash had decided to name them night callers. They hadn’t been able to see anything but shadows with red glowing eyes, and Janai wasn’t sure if they would recognize the creatures in the daylight. Luckily, the night callers were still keeping their distance, and didn’t seem to be a threat as long as there was a fire.

  The fliers seemed more abundant in the mountains. She saw several nests high in the trees as they traveled and found their trilling and whistling somewhat of a comfort. As they got into higher elevations, her breath grew labored from the thinner air and she worried about mountain sickness. Her mother had treated a few hunters in her time. More insects began to show themselves, too. Most were annoying but harmless. The group stayed away from the rotting trees just in case the firebugs were making themselves at home. Janai did not want another incident with those creatures. She would recover but the sensations she’d experienced were extremely unpleasant.

  Dealing with focus healing talents frightened her. She had no one to turn to with the feelings and overwhelming healing urges she was experiencing. Part of her was excited at the prospect of this mysterious type of healing, but another part of her was afraid of what she might become. She thought on the power that had surged
through her body when she healed Krav’n and what she’d inadvertently done to Vala’s shoulders. She could no longer deny the fact that she had special talents.

  “I think we’re almost there,” Gryden said. He was stronger and in the lead now.

  Janai and the others came up to the front, huffing from the exertion. Trees were visible, as always, but the sky seemed to take over just a few hundred yards ahead. They had been traveling on a much steeper trail than before and Janai had hoped they would reach the top of the mountain soon. The sight seemed to motivate everyone to move slightly faster.

  Once at the top of the lowest peak, they stopped to take in the sights. There was a small plateau with just enough room for the nine of them to stand comfortably without being too close to the edge. Janai’s eyes welled up when she looked out onto the landscape. The land seemed to go on forever and was dotted with peaks and hills. Greenery grew everywhere, speckled with red and yellow, and the smell of dew on growing things filled the air. It was one of the most beautiful sights she’d seen in a very long time.

  An arm wrapped around her shoulders and she turned a smile to Ash. They were halfway to freedom. Once they got down the other side of the mountain, they could follow the original map again.

  “I think we’re going to make it, Healer,” Ash said. Janai swiped at a tear and he pulled her closer. “You’ve done a good job leading this group. We wouldn’t have made it without you.”

  She took in a long cleansing breath. “Thank you, Messenger, but we’re not free yet.”

  “We will be.”

  Krav’n wrapped his arms around Janai’s waist. She placed her hand on his head ridges, content to stand like this forever. Something caught her eye. Some shiny thing far across the landscape reflected the light of the twin suns.

  Lance was staring in the same direction. “What’s that?”

  “What’s what?” Blal’k said.

  “That.” Lance pointed to the shimmering object Janai had observed. Soon, all were silently watching the glimmering light. It was almost mesmerizing. Suddenly, it moved across the landscape and disappeared into the distance.