Quest for Freedom Page 16

  Suddenly, a bright flash of light lit the sky, followed by a deafening crack. The old tree shook slightly and Penny screamed. Janai gripped the branches tighter and hoped the lightening kept away from them.

  After what seemed an eternity, the rains abruptly stopped and the low, fading moon peered through the branches. A glow in the eastern sky told Janai morning was approaching, and the dawn was quiet except for the rushing water at the foot of the huge, old tree. Janai counted heads to find everyone present.

  “I lost my pack,” Lance said, breaking the silence.

  Janai craned her head to the Earth boy. A large droplet of water dangling from the end of his nose and she couldn’t help laughing, partly at him and partly out of relief that they’d survived. Some of the others chuckled. Janai’s ears caught a grunt from Gryden and she studied the Aknidean boy. He had his eyes closed and was holding his middle.

  Vala was perched next to him. “It’s his ribs. He hurt himself climbing.”

  “Gryden?” Janai said. There was no way she could get to him. They would have to remain where they were until they could safely get to the ground again.

  The Aknidean boy peered at her with one yellow eye. “I’ll live.”

  Janai fought back her focus healing urges. They would only frustrate her since she couldn’t get to the boy. She carefully dug through her sinsabe for herbs, keeping one arm wrapped around a branch. When she found what she was searching for, she slowly passed a few of the tiny, yellow leaves to Ash, who passed them to Vala, who gave them to Gryden.

  “I’m cold,” Penny whined. Her thin lips quivered.

  Janai was cold, too. If they didn’t get their bodies warmed up soon, she’d have more than Gryden’s ribs to worry about. Water still flowed by the foot of the tree, but she couldn’t tell how fast or how deep. Someone would have to shimmy down to find out. They couldn’t stay in the tree all day. And the boulder was only large enough for two or three of them at one time.

  “Janai?” Ash said. “We have to find someplace warm.” His white curls matted to his head.

  “I know.” She started down the large trunk.

  He grabbed her arm. “Where are you going?”

  “I’m going to see how deep that water is.”

  “Uh, Janai?” Blal’k said. “Water’s my thing, remember?” He slipped his pack off, while keeping one hand on a branch, and handed it to Ash. Then he carefully climbed around Lance and began his descent.

  Janai realized he wasn’t going to wait for a vote. Besides, he moved through water like he was born to it. “Be careful.”

  He looked up at her and blinked his vertical eyelids one long time, indicating that he would heed her warning. He managed to make his way down the large tree trunk without incident, but the small boulder proved to be somewhat of a hazard for him. He slipped when his feet hit the boulder. Somehow, he ended up sprawled across it on his stomach. He muttered something but she was too far away to make out the words. Probably a Ronarian curse.

  “You all right?” she called down to him.

  “Yeah. The boulder’s wet and these stupid waddler skins made me slip.” He pulled one leg toward his stomach and reached a hand down to untie the skin from his foot. Then he did the same with the other leg. When both shoes were off, he sat up and tossed them up onto a low branch. He flexed his webbed toes before easing himself down into the running water. It came well above his knees, and by the way he teetered, Janai wasn’t sure Blal’k could swim safely in water that was moving so fast. He gave a sudden cry and fell backwards into the rushing water.

  “Blal’k!” Janai couldn’t see him. She stared at the place where he’d fallen. Nothing. Where is he? Her heart hammered against her ribs as she searched the area.

  Seconds later, Vala said, “Look.” She pointed to a skinny tree about twenty feet away.

  Blal’k emerged from the water, wrapped arms around the small trunk, and pulled himself upright. Janai breathed a sigh of relief. She laughed when the Ronarian waved.

  “The current’s still too strong!” he called above the noise of the rushing water. They had no choice but to wait.

  Penny sneezed. Janai studied the girl. Her trembling lips had a slightly blue tinge to them and her cheeks looked flushed. Keeping one hand on a nearby branch, Janai carefully slid off her pack and braced it in a niche. Her sleeping skin was soaked and she grunted with disapproval.

  “This one’s not bad.” Ash braced Blal’k’s pack in the crook of some branches. He carefully loosened the ties around the skins and unrolled the bundle, taking out the stored items and handing them one by one to the others for safekeeping.

  Janai reached down when he offered the sleeping skin up to her. She slowly handed it over to Lance, who was huddled next to his sister and the silent Tish. “Wrap this around the three of you,” she said. “Keep your bodies as close as possible.” The Earth boy took the sleeping skin. Janai shivered as cold air blew against her wet clothing. The Earth children seemed more quickly affected by cold, but all of them would be ill before long.

  She’d been dozing when she felt warmth against her back. The first sun was low in the eastern sky and she silently hoped the area would dry up quickly. The waters slowed enough within the next hour or so for them to get safely on solid, although extremely wet, ground. They had to travel about a half-mile before they came across a cavern. Several minutes passed before they realized they followed the original trail. Vala recognized a smooth boulder that had been used as a marker on the runner’s map. The boulder was wedged between two trees and difficult to see from the angle they’d been traveling.

  After disguising the cave entrance, Blal’k and Vala got heat rocks lit, while Janai, Ash and Lance stripped the little ones out of their wet clothes. Soon, all had shed the gray jumpsuits, wrapped themselves in the driest skins, and huddled near a campfire of heat rocks. They laid out the wet items to dry.

  Lance and Tish seemed to withstand the cold but Penny wasn’t so lucky, and Janai made the little girl lie down with a cool moist cloth on her feverish forehead. The little one was asleep almost immediately. Gryden had bruised a couple of his previously broken ribs. Janai was finally back to full strength and couldn’t afford to be unnecessarily weak for several days, so she gave him some pain herb leaves and allowed Penny to sleep.

  They ate a cold meal as they sat near the heat, exhausted. The cave was dry and warming rapidly. They would be safe, for a while.

  ****

  Janai had last watch and guessed the smallest of the three moons would be adorning the sky within the next half-hour. Quietly, she made her way to Penny and felt the little girl’s forehead. Her fever had broken earlier but she still had a heavy cough, and Janai hovered nervously. She fought the urges to hold the sick child and take the illness from her, apprehensive about her focus healing abilities. The incident with Krav’n had not been a pleasant experience, and she wasn’t in any hurry to go through pain and disorientation again. Besides, she wasn’t sure she’d know how to heal the girl. The incident with Krav’n had been purely instinctive, and she had no idea if taking poison and taking illness was done the same way. She was glad that she hadn’t tried focus healing on Gryden.

  Penny only had a cold and wasn’t in any danger. At least for the moment. Letting the little girl heal naturally was better for both.

  Janai let her eyes drift to Ash as she took up her now dry jumpsuit. She could make out his features in the dim light of the heat rocks and smiled at the peaceful look on his face. He stirred in his sleep and a stray, white curl fell onto his cheek. Janai’s eyes followed the lines of his strong jaw, down his neck, and rested on the dark pattern spots. She found herself fingering her own neck spots.

  I’m practically a woman. If only Mother could be with me now. She turned back to the entrance and slipped into her dry clothes. Afterward, she pulled out the braided bracelet from the pocket of her jumpsuit and traced the blue gemstone. Tears for lost family and friends traveled down her cheeks as she waited for dark
ness.

  26 ~ Weary Travelers

  The smallest moon was full and lit up the night sky. Janai kept a close eye on Penny’s cough. The older children alternated carrying the girl. Her fever hadn’t returned and she claimed that she felt better, but Janai didn’t want to take any chances, so she had wrapped Penny up in skins and made sure that she didn’t overexert herself. The little, freckle-faced Earth girl seemed to enjoy the coddling, so Janai got no arguments from her. Gryden, on the other hand, was another story.

  “I should carry Penny, too,” the Aknidean boy said. He pulled his body up straight and flicked his long, brown braid to his back.

  Janai placed a hand on his shoulder. “Sorry, Gryden, but your ribs are still healing.” He started to argue but she cut him off. “We need you to mend quickly so you can help with hunting and the protection of the younger ones.” She smiled. Gryden’s yellow eyes widened slightly, and Janai saw pride in them. Evidently, she’d said the right thing this time, because he simply stepped next to Vala, who was leading the group tonight. Janai made her way to the rear, where Ash was carrying Penny on his back. She thought she heard him utter something. “What?”

  “I didn’t say anything.” He shifted the little girl on his back and smiled at her.

  She gave him a long stare. Penny sniffed and wiped her runny nose on her sleeve. Janai tried to hide a smile as she retrieved a rag and made the little girl blow her nose. Penny coughed and Janai placed a hand on her forehead. No fever. The little girl gave a weary smile and laid her head against Ash’s back. The skins slid down and Janai pulled them back up around Penny’s neck. A small hand slipped into hers and she looked down to see the silent Tish give her a worried look.

  “She’ll be all right,” Janai said to the silent one. “She just has a little cold, that’s all.” Tish studied her a moment, gave her a smile, and trotted up to take Vala’s hand. Then Krav’n slipped his hand into Janai’s.

  Lance and Blal’k walked in the center of the group, conversing with one another. Janai caught wisps of their conversation. Lance was talking about swords, dragons and armor. Blal’k seemed truly interested and Janai smiled. The night was cool, still, and smelled of moist dirt. She was relieved they’d survived the last storm without serious injuries, and she felt more than glad to be back on the original runner’s trail.

  After a few hours of uneventful travel, Vala halted them for lunch. They were out of jerky, so the meal consisted of roots, sour grass, and leaper nuts they’d stored from earlier mountainous travels. No one seemed to care that the food was cold and the water warm. There were jumpers in the area and Vala said that she would kill one for dinner. Janai waited for Gryden to offer to help with the hunt, but the boy kept his mouth shut and seemed content to let Vala do the honors. Janai was relieved. She was tired and not in the mood for another spat.

  When they finished lunch, Vala said, “We should get moving. We still have a long way to go.”

  After trips into some nearby bushes to relieve themselves, they got underway again. Penny rode Blal’k’s back now and she slept. The girl’s fever hadn’t returned but Janai still worried about the cough. If infection got into the Penny’s lungs, Janai would need to try focus healing. She had saved Krav’n, but the memory of Vala’s now healed bruises made her shiver. She didn’t know what she was doing. She needed training.

  A hand landed on her shoulder and she turned to look at Ash. He smiled. The messenger looked handsome in the moonlight, his hair taking on a silvery hue. Janai smiled back as her body heated up.

  “Trust your instincts,” Ash told her. “You’ve done all right so far.”

  She shook a stray curl from her face. “I just hope my luck holds out.”

  He didn’t comment. He simply brushed his hand against her cheek and offered to take Penny from Blal’k.

  Vala kept her word and the group had jumper stew for dinner that morning. They made camp under a rock overhang that shielded them from exposure to the open areas during the daylight hours. The area was green in spots and bare in others. Trees dotted the nearby hillside and shrubbery covered a large portion of the landscape. Janai took third watch this day and checked her inventory while the others slept. Penny coughed and rolled onto her side. Janai waited for another bout but the girl slept peacefully.

  “Rest is sometimes the best healer,” she remembered her mother saying. Mother. I miss you. She closed her eyes and allowed the tears to roll down her cheeks for a moment before wiping them away.

  Warm arms encircled her and, for an instant, she thought her mother was with her. Then she pulled herself back into reality. Ash had embraced her. Embarrassed, she started to pull away, but he held her close and caressed her hair. The tears she’d fought came pouring out and she buried her face against her Kritine companion’s chest. He didn’t say a word. He simply held her until she exhausted herself. When she finally stopped crying, a gentle kiss warmed her forehead.

  Lifemate stirrings were strong and she slowly pulled away from the arms that held her. The look in Ash’s warm, lavender eyes told her that he understood. They had agreed to wait until they reached the free-zone before dealing with these urges, and Janai didn’t want to make a life-altering mistake. She placed a hand on Ash’s shoulder to thank him. His muscles moved under her touch and her face grew hot. Quickly, she pulled back and flashed a shy smile. The two laughed almost silently, and Janai nudged her companion back to his sleeping area.

  ****

  The group came upon a stream marked on the runner’s map. The full moon gave them light enough to bath by and they hadn’t seen any of the red-eyed night callers since they’d left the mountains. After a quick, cool bath, they filled bladders and containers with the life-sustaining liquid and continued on. Penny was upset with Janai for not letting her go into the water and refused to speak to anyone, including her brother.

  Lance stepped up to the front where Janai was in the lead. “She’ll get over it.”

  She turned to look at the little Earth girl, who was dozing on Vala’s back. “Yeah, I know.” She gave a weary smile to the Earth boy. “How’re you doing?” She remembered how he’d clung to her and cried back at the mountain room.

  “Oh, that.” He looked embarrassed and dark circles had formed around his eyes. “I’m okay.”

  She placed a reassuring hand on his thin shoulder. “Glad to hear it, little brother.” Lance beamed at the last part, and Janai warmed inside.

  Janai had no idea how long they’d walked, but her weariness suddenly spiked in the other direction and her heart hammered against her chest, when she realized what she was looking at. The marker on the map, the one that marked the free-zone entrance. She stared at it. It was closer. Closer than she had ever imagined. Freedom. The others gathered around her.

  “We’re almost there,” she said. “By tomorrow, we will have reached the free-zone.”

  27 ~ Race for Freedom

  Surprisingly, Janai hadn’t gotten any arguments when she’d urged her group to stay put last night. They had headed out this morning at first light, not wanting to risk missing the markers to freedom. The suns were just past zenith now and the day warm. Janai checked the runner’s map for the umpteenth time and estimated that they were only a couple hours from the marker. Emotions were high among the group. Even Penny had given up her angry silence. But Janai couldn’t relax yet. Not until they were safe.

  “Well, Healer.” Ash grinned and placed a slender gray hand on Janai’s shoulder. “Looks like we’re going to make it, and it’s all because of you.”

  “Don’t thank me just yet.” She smiled. “Besides, I couldn’t have done it without the rest of you.”

  “You two better save the praise-fest for later,” Vala said, her earflaps fully extended. “We’ve got company. The Morgee are close. That way.”

  “What?” Panic rose in Janai’s throat. “That’s right in the direction of the free-zone.” They were out in the open now with no place to hide. Everything they’d worked for could be lo
st. Her heart banged against her ribs and her head swam. “How far away are they?”

  Vala shifted her earflaps. “Right now? Far enough.” Gryden nodded in agreement.

  Janai’s thoughts brightened just a bit and she pulled the runner’s map out.

  “What’re you thinking?” Vala said.

  “There might be a place to hide between us and them.”

  “We could go back,” Lance said.

  Janai let out a sigh. “Not if we don’t have to.”

  Ash got a detached look on his face. He was receiving a message. After a moment, he winced with pain. “You were right about the distance. We’re close, probably within a couple of hours.”

  She didn’t question his visions, not any longer. He’d been accurate until now, especially where the Morgee were concerned. She opened her sinsabe and searched out some pain herbs for his headache. “All right,” she said. “We have to find cover.” Small webbed hands wrapped around her arm and she gave a reassuring smile to Krav’n.

  The map didn’t help this close to the free-zone. Janai guessed the runner didn’t anticipate trouble this far out. They were completely on their own now. Ash tried to get information on a hiding place but his headache just got worse each time, until he couldn’t tolerate the pain. Janai made him stop. She didn’t get much argument and knew the attempts weakened him.

  Vala and Gryden stayed close to the front with earflaps extended and weapons in hand. Janai didn’t say a word when Gryden had taken out his bow and arrow. Blal’k had his slingshot within easy reach, and Lance donned his carving knife. Janai and Ash carried heat distributors, hoping the instruments would at least deter any close contact with the soldiers. The little ones carried sticks and rocks. They’d be useless against the Morgee but the children seemed to feel better carrying them.