ConDra's Fire, page 21
Voer, the Pentharian, carried One Man high above the Theran forest—the goal—to spot the creature that followed Sparrow and Merrilea before it spotted them. Driven by an urgency that matched his rider’s, Voer pressed his wings against the air with a constant and powerful rhythm. A sudden blast of heat warned him of a change below. Banking to get a better view, he swooped downward. Like a dissipating cloud of smoke, a filmy shape skimmed the forest canopy. Voer circled. With the intent to remain undetected, he maintained a course above and slightly ahead of the almost invisible entity he pursued.
Attention focused on the hazy presence, One Man sent out a gentle telepathic probe. The thing’s insubstantial consciousness diffused at his touch. A second probe following on the heels of the first discovered sadness and anger, a third—the urgent need to fulfill its directive. As quickly as these thoughts surfaced, they wavered and melted away.
Pressing his knees into the vulture’s sides, he squeezed a prearranged signal. The enormous bird dropped through a break in the canopy, landed, and folded its wings. One Man slid off.
Voer appeared, his tattooed face worried. “Is that what I think it is?”
One Man frowned. “If you think it’s a Tabagie od Ro-ec, you’re correct. How close are we to Stee and the women?”
“As the panther runs, only a short sprint.” He shifted.
One Man jumped on his back, and they bounded through the forest. As the panther rounded a clump of short-needled pines, their companions came into view. One Man slid off and hurried to the spot where Stee waited between the two women. Voer, in Pentharian form, followed.
Sparrow watched One Man advance toward them. Clearly, he was not happy. Voer’s expression confirmed her fear. “Did you find it?”
Merrilea and Stee pressed closer.
“The creature that follows us is from DerTah.” One Man sounded even less happy than he looked.
Merrilea tensed beside her. “What is it, Somay?”
“It is from the netherworld of DerTah, where it lives at the planet’s core. I’ve never seen one, but I know them by reputation. What I don’t understand is how it got here?”
Voer shrugged his thick braids behind his shoulder. “My understanding is that the Tabagie requires heat generated by the planet’s core to maintain itself, so it never ventures far from home. Stee fingered the jewel on his earlobe. “Unless someone captured it and pressed it into service, I can’t imagine it risking a trip to the planet’s surface, let alone a journey through a portal to Thera.”
“What do we do now?” The strain in Merrilea’s voice had intensified.
One Man put an arm around his sister-by-Joining. “The Tabagie will not attempt to cross the valley in the daylight unless it sees movement it believes to be its prey. I will try to lead it away from you. Voer and Stee, what are your thoughts?”
Voer walked to the edge of the trees and peered at the sun, where it floated like a ball of pale butter above the horizon. His face, when he turned to retrace his steps, was serious. “The Tabagie dislike sunlight, and they dislike open spaces. They’re most comfortable in the dark.”
Sparrow couldn’t contain her curiosity. “Why did it fly above the trees, then?”
Stee tipped his head back and scanned the forest canopy. “It would have started a forest fire had it flown through the woods. The treetops were no doubt preferable to the open sky.”
One Man released Merrilea. “And…provided it with a means of maintaining its insubstantial body. In the turning’s light, it struggles to hold itself together. The trees beneath it helped it to define itself. Besides, it was tracking you. We need to move. Voer, can you make it across before the sun sets?”
“It will be close, my friend. But I see no choice. Staying here is as dangerous as being out in the open. My biggest fear is night’s darkness.”
“I’ll do my best to lead it far enough away that you’ll have time to hide. I can’t imagine you can make it to Gerolyn’s before tonight.”
“We don’t want to lead it to the farm. What are we going to do?” Sparrow didn’t even try to hide her concern.
One Man prepared to shift. “One step at a time. Who knows what will happen next? Take care of each other.” He kissed Merrilea on the cheek and changed form.
The blue heron lifted into the air, its extended legs trailing and its long neck an arrow pointing toward the Tabagie od Ro-ec.
On Myrrh, Almiralyn flew deeper into the Terces Wood, landed, and shifted in a small clearing. “How on Myrrh am I going to rescue Sibee without creating a furor?”
Two tiny voices whispered close by. “Almiralyn, we can help.”
The voices and the murmur of miniature wings made her turn. She held out her hands and waited for two tiny figures to land. “I thought you were told to stay hidden.” She scolded them in a gentle tone.
The Nyti alighted, their sandals tap dancing on her palms. One with a thatch of unruly, reddish hair spoke up. “We want to help Sibee.”
The second tipped his thimble-sized top hat. “Mumshu at your service. Please, my lady. He’s our friend.”
“How do you propose to help? The soldiers have him well guarded, and you are tiny.”
The copper-haired Nyti’s grin broadened. “Beg pardon, Almiralyn. I’m Ashor.” He bowed from the waist and straightened. “We can warn Sibee not to do anything silly. Later tonight, when it is dark, we can create a diversion so he can sneak away.”
Almiralyn studied the boys. Nyti, the smallest folk of the Terces Wood, had gossamer wings and hands and feet that seemed too big for their miniature bodies. They were fun-loving and enjoyed a good frolic, but they were also quick and smart. If their leader agreed, they might keep Sibee from getting himself killed or worse…tortured.
She held the tiny boys at eye level. “Does Kieel know you’re here?”
Ashor’s infectious grin shrunk to a self-conscious smile. “Of course…well we…”
Mumshu coughed. “Ah, no, my lady.”
“How quick can you be?”
“Super quick, my lady.”
“Then bring Kieel here. I can’t allow you to become involved without his permission.”
The Nyti darted away. If their leader was willing, they might help. One thing was certain, she couldn’t risk her capture or theirs’. Too much was at stake.
The covert tread of footsteps among the trees alerted her to Human company. Soldiers? Who else could it be? Pressing against an ancient maple tree, she matched her molecular structure to its trunk and melted into bark. Only her eyes remained unchanged. She lowered her lids.
“I’m telling you, I heard a woman’s voice.” A soldier ducked behind a tree and crouched at the edge of the clearing.
His companion shot him a doubtful scowl and began a cautious search of the area. “There’s no one here. Only animals have passed this way. We’d better keep moving. The Tinpaca can get pretty cranky.”
“Yeah. Especially since the Guardian and her cottage and barn have disappeared. Tesilend swears he sat in her kitchen and later she questioned him in a stall in the barn.”
“The man’s confused, that’s all.” The second soldier traversed the clearing, his weapon drawn.
From beneath half-closed lids, Almiralyn observed the first man pause at the tree line. His body tensed; his head slightly turned to listen. He swung around. Narrowed eyes darted around the clearing, locked onto hers, and widened in disbelief. By the time he reached the maple, her eyes had snapped into invisibility. The man swore and ran a hand over the bark.
“What in SeDah are you doing?” His comrade peered from the shelter of the trees.
“I thought I saw…” He let his fingers trail over the rough bark. “Never mind—it was nothing.” Still, he remained by the tree, his hand pressed against the trunk. “I could have sworn…” Muttering under his breath, he gave the tree a hard look and strode across the clearing. When he reached his comrade, he glanced back. “This is one strange forest. I can’t wait to return to RewFaar.”
Almiralyn didn’t move until she could no longer hear the tread of their steps. When her senses assured her no more soldiers roamed close by, she returned to Human form. Three Nyti flitted from the shadows and landed on a branch at her eye level.
The tallest Nyti pointed his walking stick at her. “Much too close, Almiralyn. Much too close. I was about to fly out and bite his ear. You must be more careful.” Kieel tapped the stick against the branch to stress each word.
“I know, Kieel. Thank you for coming.” She smiled. His tidy appearance, from his tie tucked neatly beneath his sienna vest to his spotless, olive green pants, spoke to his love of neatness and detail. The only thing about the Nyti leader that suggested disarray was his thatch of thick, auburn-gold hair.
“It appears we have trouble in the Terces Wood.” He placed a finger on the high curve of his distinctive nose. His stern expression morphed into speculation. “The boys tell me their Wood Tiff friend, Sibee, has got himself captured. How can we help?”
“They tied him to a tree behind what used to be the barn.”
Kieel pursed his lips. “Ashor informed me your cottage and barn have disappeared. Is this so?”
Almiralyn sighed. “It’s a long story, Kieel, one I am happy to share at another time. We must rescue Sibee before the soldiers have time to question him.”
The Nyti leader nodded. “It sounds like we need a distraction. I suggest we scout the situation and then make a plan.”
“Any closer than this to the soldier’s camp, I am safest in bird form. You can talk to me and I will understand, but I won’t be able to answer. If I agree, I will bob my head once…if I disagree, twice. If we need more discussion, I’ll fly further into the forest, and you can follow. Right now, ride with me.” She shifted, and the Nyti settled on her white-feathered back. Taking care to remain in the shadows, she flew to a Tirips tree near the RewFaaran camp and landed on a broad branch covered with silver leaves. The Nyti would scout and report back. She could only wait, hidden and worried about the lives of her people.
Kieel understood the responsibility for rescuing Sibee rested on his shoulders. The young Wood Tiff knew too much. The youngster was brave and determined. That wouldn’t be enough if the RewFaarans tortured him. He also realized Almiralyn dared not show herself, even in bird form. The foreign soldiers would know about her ability to shape shift. They’d be on the alert for a white bird with gold-tipped wings.
Leading the boys away from Myrrh’s Guardian, he flew to a tall evergreen and motioned them to land. He kept his voice low and his face serious. “This is not a game.”
Ashor and Mumshu moved closer to each other. “We understand.”
Kieel heard the quaver in their voices and nodded. “Our first goal is to find Sibee. Stay high above the heads of the soldiers and well within the cover of the trees. Do not fly in the open. Meet me back here as soon as you can.” Pointing them in opposite directions, he watched them zip away with the speed of hummingbirds from one tree to the next. Satisfied they would do nothing unwise, he secured his walking stick between the long needles of the pine and darted closer to the camp. Perhaps a little eavesdropping would net him some much-needed information.
From a vantage point above the tents lining the perimeter of the vine-covered ruins, he studied the camp layout and selected his goal—a tent that appeared to be the camp headquarters. Landing in the trampled undergrowth, he crept from stone to stone and from clump of dirt to clump of dirt until he crouched near the back of it. Large feet striding by sent him shimmying under the canvas edge. Inside, he ducked behind a duffle bag and peered under a campstool at the enormous lower legs of a uniformed Human.
Kieel ducked out of range and forced himself to listen to the heated discussion thundering around him.
“The coordinates show the cottage and the barn right here.” The first man frowned. “Grantese Tesilend is positive they didn’t move him.”
“Tesilend was unconscious when we found him, so his opinion is invalid.” The second man removed his spectacles, wiped a lens with a pristine handkerchief, and replaced them. “The Wood Tiff creature confirms his story. Do you think the guardian woman made them disappear?”
“Doubtful, Cantruto.” Broad shoulders shrugged. “But when you consider we’re looking for twins, of which there is no sign, two women, a magic fountain, and giant crystal…” The words trailed into silence.
Cantruto narrowed his eyes. “Maybe Nissasa is right. Maybe the Largeen Joram is senile.”
“I’d be careful if I were you. Tents have ears, and Lorsedi has a long reach.” Although the response was calm, the man closest to Kieel straightened, and his chin came up.
Cantruto achieved his full height in an instant, leaned across the table, and glared a challenge. “You threatening me, Mondago?”
The Tinpaca rested the tip of a stylus on the table. “No, I’m warning you.” He held it upright with an index finger. “I suggest you remember whom you are addressing. It would be unseemly for my adjutant to end up in the brig on such an important mission.” The stylus clattered on the tabletop.
“Yes, sir.” Eyeing the stylus, Cantruto sat down.
“After our meal, you will interrogate the Wood Tiff.”
Cantruto unsheathed an evil-looking knife. It should be easy to break the little bugger. I’m betting that all I have to do is cut off one finger—”
“The Wood Tiff is a child, not a spy, Cantruto.” Tinpaca Mondago’s face was neutral; his voice was not. “We will question him together.”
Kieel had heard enough. Rescuing Sibee was a priority. He and the boys needed a plan in place. Then he’d report to Almiralyn.
End - Chapter 27 of 58
ConDra’s Fire - S.K. Randolph
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28
DerTah
Brie rotated slowly, taking in every detail of her tent at Eissua Oasis. Woven hangings in muted blues and golds circled the dark walls and created an alcove for sleeping. Blue and burgundy striped rugs thrown over black canvas covered the ground. A raised bed draped in blue, a soft-looking chair, a washstand, and a small table with an oil lamp glowing on its top created an atmosphere of comfort. Large cushions scattered around the space added cheerful splashes of color. Brie sighed. So much has happened. She stifled a yawn. By the Fathers, am I tired!
Nichi poked her head in the tent flap. “ConDria like be clean?”
“Would I!” Brie grinned.
Nichi held up a robe and towel. “This way.”
Tucked in a group of trees behind the tent was a goatskin-draped cubicle. Three buckets of water steamed beside it.
“Hot water!” Brie shook her head. “Where on DerTah did you get hot water?”
Nichi grinned. “Hot springs close by. Narrtep and Dansboys bring.” She showed her how to hang a bucket on a big hook attached to a thick rope. A pulley system positioned the bucket above her head. The Dansgirl handed her a stick with a hook on the end. “Tip with stick and water rains. When need more, change bucket. Goat soap there. You good?”
“I’m good. Thank you, Nichi.” She stepped into the cubicle, stripped off her sand-laden clothing, and tossed them outside. With the stick, she tested the tip of the bucket. It tilted and dumped. Water drenched her from head to toe. Delight gurgling up from her belly turned to spontaneous laughter. With the goat soap, she worked her hair into a cap of lather and scrubbed the dried sweat from her body. Enjoying the luxury of a two-bucket rinse, she pictured her fatigue draining away with the dirty water.
After toweling off, she slipped on her robe and stepped from the cubicle. Not finding her clothes, she scurried around the tent and ducked into its cozy warmth. Fresh clothing and a kcalo the color of midnight lay on the bed.
Taken aback by the generosity of the Atrilaasu, she held up a creamy blouse. Red, blue, and orange embroidery decorated the neckline and created a wide band of color at the bottom of the long, full sleeves. She slipped it over her head, stepped into loose-fitting pants of the same color, and fastened them with embroidered ties at the waist and ankles. After sliding on her goatskin sandals, she rummaged around in her pack for a comb. Much tugging and pulling ended with her red curls tamed into a semblance of order and a beaded headband in place. The small mirror on the washstand reflected the results of her labor. Not bad. Donning her kcalo and tying it in place, she stepped from the tent into the chilly desert night.
Ira sprawled on a cot in the boys’ tent. Torgin, Esán, and Seval had gone to shower. Time alone was worth being dirty for a little longer. He’d go when they came back.
“What a crazy turning!” He counted off on his fingers… “Fire ConDra, Brie becoming the ConDria, Yaro appearing, Esán showing up like a phantom. If Nichi hadn’t come along, we’d all be stumbling around in the desert, freezing to death.”
What’s next? He sat up, rested his elbows on his knees, propped his chin on his hands, and tracked the intricate pattern on the woven rug. I’m angry all the time. Why? Torgin makes me want to punch him. Seval is more afraid than Torgin. Esán is always taking up Brie’s time. Why does that matter? He straightened and ran a hand through his unruly hair. Something is lurking on the outskirts of my memory…something important. What is it?
Laughter heralded the return of the others. He gathered his things together, including the new clothing provided by the Dansmen, and pulled the tent flap aside. Cold night air whooshed through the opening, ushering Torgin in first, then Seval, followed by Esán.
“Just wait until you see the shower.” Torgin shivered in his towel and hurried to his cot and his new clothes.
Ira ducked out the door. Laughter followed him as he strolled around the tent. Why am I staying to myself? Maybe I’ll feel more sociable after I’m clean.
Three buckets of steaming water waited by the shower cubicle. He stepped in, stripped, and tossed his dirty clothes over the side. Sand and sweat, followed by his bad mood, washed away with warm water and goat soap. He dried off, dressed in the new loose-fitting shirt and pants, and slid a pair of sandals on his feet. Satisfied with his attire and delighted to be clean, he skirted the tent and walked to the lakeshore.
