C. J. Barry - Unearthed 01, page 9
She looked down at his bloody arm and her face paled. “Oh God, Cohl. You need a doctor.” She turned to Pitz. “Can we get out of here?”
Pitz answered, “Transportation is waiting outside.”
Tess nodded and slipped her arm around Cohl’s waist. He leaned into her, spent.
She said softly, “Come on. You can tell me what you and Logen were chatting about out there.”
“Lie down with me, Tess.”
So quiet was his request, she almost thought it was her imagination. Sitting next to him on his bed, she could sense the thin thread of consciousness he held on to. She wiped his forehead again with a wet cloth and he closed his eyes at the ministration. That was about all he could do. The drug the medic administered had turned him into a pussycat and there wasn’t an ounce of fight left in him. It was a miracle that he’d made it back to his room at all in his condition.
She sighed, setting the cloth aside. She should let him sleep but she couldn’t deny him after what he’d been through. She slid in along his side, carefully laying her arm gently across his chest. He wrapped his good arm around her and pulled her tight to him.
Then his fingers grazed her jaw, stroked her face, down her throat with the caress of a feather. Who would have thought that a warrior could be so tender?
She rested her head on his chest and whispered, “I would consider it a huge personal favor if you didn’t do Grid BaStun again.”
“Okay.” He slipped his fingers through her tresses. “Did I ever tell you that I love your hair?”
Tess raised her head and looked into his half-mast eyes. “Okay? That’s it? No argument?”
He smiled weakly at her. “No argument.”
“Humph,” she said in amazement. “I want a supply of that drug the medic gave you for future use.”
He let out a lazy chuckle. “See? I can be a reasonable man. Ask anyone.”
Tess lowered her head again and listened to the strong beating of his heart, the steady breath, a man alive. Thank God. She couldn’t bear it if he’d died trying to protect her. This was bad enough.
“Do you miss performing?”
Cohl’s question surprised her. “Yes. Why do you ask?”
“You looked so happy today with the street band.” His words came slowly now and with tremendous effort. “I’m sorry, Tess,” he said, beginning to slur. “I didn’t mean to ruin your dream.”
She swallowed hard at the unexpected apology. “I can understand why you did it. I think your people are lucky to have you.”
He rolled his head from side to side. “No excuse. No right to take you. Dangerous.”
His eyes closed as a drugged sleep claimed him.
Slowly, she slipped out from under his arm and sat on the edge of the bed. He looked so battered. Her chest squeezed tight with all the emotion she’d been holding back. Watching him battle Logen was worse than anything she’d ever been through. She felt every grunt, every shock, every meaty collision he endured as if it were her own.
Cohl was stronger than he looked though and faster, both of which shouldn’t have been a surprise. He certainly moved fast enough with her. But she hadn’t expected the warrior that emerged on the grid, the way he focused on the battle and the violence he could unleash. Cohl was a dangerous man. He could have killed Logen if he wanted. Yet even with all the times she’d pushed him, he had kept all that savagery in control. She would never have guessed it ran so close to the surface. It was an intoxicating revelation.
But when he had dropped out of sight under the grid, she’d held her breathafraid to scream, afraid not to. It had only been seconds but her world had frozen in time. Only when he reappeared did her heart begin pumping again.
She looked at him, asleep and helpless, and tried to hate him for screwing up her life. It was impossible. She’d heard the pride in his voice when he answered her hundred questions about his home planet. She’d seen now why he’d taken her, to save the planet he loved. She’d seen his guilt today when he spoke to his people and witnessed his courage when he battled Logen for Yre Gault.
The truth was crystal clear to her. He needed his people as much as they needed him. She knew how they felt. She was beginning to need him, too. How could she ever have thought him unfeeling?
A familiar whirring sound advanced on her as Pitz approached.
“Is he asleep?” Pitz inquired quietly.
Tess nodded and whispered back, “Just now. Is he going to be all right?”
The robot replied, “Affirmative. The medication will heal him quickly. This outcome is not atypical.”
Tess stroked his arm. “I can see that. So many scars. Where are they all from?”
Pitz clicked softly. “It is an inherent risk in adventuring.”
She frowned at the dimly lit robot. The decision made, she stood up and walked toward the door. “Come with me, Pitz. I have a feeling you are the perfect one to fill me in on the fine art of adventuring.”
Nish gave a deep groan, grateful for the support of his bed. His old bones quickly registered the cold and dankness of his room through the fog that always followed his journey out of a vision. Despite the tremendous effort it took to transport beyond this plane, the result was well worth the discomfort of returning to his ancient body.
This time Nish had seen the Finder, the man they called Travers. There had been a struggle within him and the battle with Logen, a man who had a larger part in the game. With Travers was the woman with great strength and couragethe key to the amulet. The bonds were already building that would sustain them for the journey ahead to the lost planet of Demisie.
He stared up at the ceiling of a small, shabby room he was lucky to call home. An old man who could not lift a weapon was of little use on Trakas since the reign of the brothers had begun, carving up the planet between themselves after their ruling father had died. If only he could see the future as well as the present. Perhaps then he could have foreseen the death and destruction the brothers were to unleash to feed their private greed. But he didn’t need to see the future to predict that Trakas would be destroyed much as Demisie had been. After all, the same Demisie blood ran through his veins and much of the Trakas population. If only they knew who their ancestors were and the tragedy that had cost them their planet a thousand years ago.
No, the final hope for Trakas lay in his gift, his knowledge, his wisdom of age. They were the tools he would use to manipulate Rommol, the brother of the north. But all deceptions had their peril and Nish had experienced his first.
Travers, a man of great integrity, had refused to help. Rommol’s anger had roared and now Traver’s father was a hostage. A most unfortunate development.
Nish caressed the bridge of his nose where a steady pain throbbed. More players, more complications, but he could only see so much.
He needed the lure of the amulet to save what was left of Trakas. One last chance to use a gift he could not pass on to another generation, the end of his Demisian blood.
His old hand formed into a hard fist with all the strength of his forebears. He had grown to love this world with its fertile land and peaceful people. They would not be forsaken for the mistakes of fools. He would control what he could and pray for the rest.
But he would not fail.
* * *
Chapter Eight
“Cohl? How do you feel?” Tess’s voice was close.
The fog cleared slowly, painfully, and without mercy, dumping him into his own private hell.
“Cohl. Please.” She was more insistent this time, worried.
He wouldn’t have opened his eyes at that moment for anyone else. She was leaning over him, her mass of dark curls hanging over his face. Green eyes watched his every move with deep concern. Her scent filled his senses, quelling the fire in his brain and starting another in his groin. He had the strongest urge to gather her up in his arms and nuzzle her close. Too bad his arms weren’t listening.
Tess gave him a sad smile. “You slept all night and most of the day. The wound looks much better. How do you feel?”
“I’ll tell you in a minute.” He rolled onto his side and gave a heartfelt groan. Damn. That was the last Grid BaStun match of his life. He vaguely remembered making that particular vow the last time, too. Proof that age didn’t necessarily bring wisdom.
He gritted his teeth and sat up with Tess’s help. The familiar swill of the drug, Aritrox, swam through his system, bringing a pleasant numbing effect with it. The accelerator speeded up the healing while the painkiller told you everything was fine. He knew better.
“Hell. I feel like hell.”
There was a lengthy silence and then, “That’s too bad.”
The flat response brought his head up quickly. Furious green eyes looked back at him. So much for sympathy.
She stood up and paced his room in a tight, angry circle. He could see the eruption building, the calm before the storm. He frowned. At least when she was throwing things at him, he could tell how she felt. Even the explosion wasn’t what he expected. It was more like an implosion and more dangerous than any hurled boot. The calm, crisp tone of her voice cut through the air.
“When were you going to tell me about the amulet, Cohl? About the maze it’s housed in? About how dangerous adventuring is?”
Every muscle in his body tensed. “What do you know about adventuring?”
She stopped pacing and stared him straight in the eye. “Pitz is a wealth of knowledge. He spent most of last night listing all the adventures you’ve donethe good and the bad.” She pointed to the fine scars on his chest. “Including how you got each of those.”
“Damn it. I’m going to deactivate him,” he muttered low.
“Why? For telling me the truth? When were you going to enlighten me? Once we got inside the maze? ‘Oh, Tess, by the way, there are four death traps to master before we reach the amulet.’ ” She started counting on her fingers. ” ‘There’s the Wind of Death, the Tunnel of Death, the Army of Death, the Beasts of Death.’” She waved her hand in the air. ” ‘But don’t worry, they’re nothing really. Piece of cake.’ “
He watched in fascination as she carried out her animated, mock conversation without him.
” ‘But the real fun begins when we actually get through all those and reach the amulet. Then I shove you into a small room where you need to sing a very specific song with very specific words in a very specific voice or you’ll be shredded into a million pieces by your own sound waves.’”
She finished with a flourish, standing before him shaking with anger.
He rested on his elbows and considered his options: beg forgiveness or throw out a diversion.
He squinted at her. “You didn’t get any sleep last night, did you?”
Her green eyes nearly burned a hole in him. He winced. Wrong choice. Beg forgiveness, it was.
“I’m sorry, Tess. I should have told you all the risks in the beginning. The right moment just never presented itself.” He glanced at her. She hadn’t moved a muscle, didn’t budge from her position. He gave a sigh. “Look. It’s bad enough that I dragged you into this mess. You shouldn’t have to worry about the details, too.”
“I want the details, Cohl,” she said firmly. “It’s not your place to make that choice for me.”
She was right and he knew it, even if he didn’t like it. How was he going to earn her trust if he kept leaving out little facts that could kill her?
“Would you have agreed to help us if you knew the risks?” he asked.
She didn’t reply right away and then said softly, “I’d be pretty selfish if I put myself and my career before your father and a few million people who needed my help.”
Her answer didn’t surprise him. Tess would always do what she had to. It was all he’d hoped for, but now he wasn’t so sure. Tess had become more than just his key to the amulet.
“No matter what happens, I’ll make sure you are safe, Tess. I swear.” He put his heart in every word and hoped for the best. It was all he had left.
She stared back at him with eyes full of hurt. “Do you have any more secrets for me, Cohl?”
He could almost hear the words “last chance” ringing in his head. “Not that I’m aware of.”
“Don’t lie to me again,” she whispered and turned to walk out the door.
Cohl fell back on the bed with a grunt. He’d been reluctant to tell her about the amulet dangers but he hadn’t counted on the alternative being even worse.
There was a faint noise at the door and he looked up to find his mother standing there, a single, quizzical eyebrow raised. He groaned. This day was going to hell in a hurry.
“My dear, you really need to work on your courtship skills.”
Cohl sat up in bed and swung his legs over the side. The sudden move brought a blast of yellow stars that lit up his vision. He shook it off.
His mother sat down on the bed beside him, folding her gown carefully in a familiar regal pose.
“She cares a great deal for you.”
Cohl glanced at her. “You wouldn’t say that if you had seen her a few minutes ago.”
Adehla chuckled. “I’m sure you’ll resolve it.” She took in his bandaged arm and the bruises across his body that shorts didn’t cover. “Well, maybe not today. I see you haven’t outgrown Grid BaStun yet. You lost?”
He frowned. “I won.”
Both of her eyebrows rose daintily. “I can only imagine what your opponent looks like.”
That prompted the first smile of the day.
“Do you plan on having any more matches while you are here?” The concern in her voice caught his attention.
“No. Once every ten years is plenty.”
She patted his hand and looked at him with the eyes of a mother. “Good. I don’t want to lose you.”
For a few long seconds their eyes locked and the past vanished. Guilt lashed out at him. As a rebellious younger man, he’d taken up Grid BaStun because his parents hated it. But hurting his mother was the last thing on his mind today. He fought back the urge to embrace her, his strict grooming overriding the action as always. He had been trained well.
Adehla dropped her gaze, a flash of disappointment quickly turning to cool composure. She resumed her proper position and cleared her throat. “I have a problem. Several months ago, your father and I planned a large celebration for the top officials of our governing board. For tonight.” She looked at him apologetically. “I was hoping your father would be back by now.”
Cohl clenched his teeth. She wasn’t blaming him but that didn’t make him feel any better.
“So what’s the problem?”
Adehla sighed deeply. “It seems you were spotted in the city. No doubt during your Grid BaStun match.”
Cohl grimaced. “No doubt.”
“As you know, word travels fast on Caldara.” She hesitaed. “They think you are back to stay.”
He looked at her elegant profile. “I’m here to save my father.”
She nodded. “I know that and I’ll deal with the repercussions after you leave. But unless you want speculation as to your true reason for being here, you will need to make an appearance at the festivities.”
She was right. If he didn’t show up, rumors would abound. Someone might even put it all together. Someone like Logen.
“I’ll be there.”
She didn’t rise. “With Tess.”
He looked at her sharply. “No.”
Adehla turned to him. “They don’t know her real reason for being here either.”
Cohl eyed her. “Who did you say she is?”
She smiled at him with mild amusement. “They think she is your mate. I did not deny it. The people were quite taken with her. They think she’ll make a fine queen someday.”
His jaw dropped. Oh, Tess was going to love this.
Adehla patted his hand once more before standing.
“She will have to attend, too. I’ll tell her. I assume you will see to the necessary security precautions?”
Cohl nodded. “Yes.” He couldn’t trust Mil-Ops until he’d had a chance to check out Logen’s allegation.
Adehla got to the door before turning to face him. “I suggest you work on your courtship skills before this evening.” She gave him a knowing look and disappeared into the corridor.
Cohl stared at his empty doorway, waiting for the next disaster to strike. It came in the form of Pitz. The robot glided into the room and stopped in front of him.
“We have a problem, sir.”
Cohl hung his aching head. His arm had begun throbbing also. A duo of pain. “So what’s new?”
“There’s been a death threat against your mother.”
The hair on the back of Cohl’s neck stood up. He swung his gaze up to Pitz.
“My mother? Any explanation? Anyone claiming responsibility?”
Pitz answered, “Your mother, yes. Explanation, no. Responsibility, no.”
Cohl shook his head. “I can’t see anyone on the planet wanting her dead except ” Logen. God, how Cohl hated that name. “Does she know?”
“No, sir. I received notification and proceeded directly here.”
“I want you to guard her tonight, Pitz. Keep a low profile.”
Pitz clicked acknowledgment. “And Tess?”
“I’ll take care of Tess. She won’t be out of my sight this evening.” He hoped. Who knew what kind of reception she’d give him now?
“One more thing, Pitz. Logen said his information on Tess came from Mil-Ops. I want you to check out every guard who has access to this residence. Look for some connection to the Traka-Nor. I have a distinct feeling that this leak about Tess has something to do with my father’s abduction.”
Cohl sighed. “And I suppose it would be too much to ask for Speculator to be ready any time soon.”
“Repairs will be completed by tomorrow morning,” Pitz responded.
“First good news I’ve had all day,” Cohl mumbled. “Be ready to leave early.”
“Yes, sir.” Pitz spun and whirred toward the door.
Cohl called after him with some trepidation, “Is anyone else waiting outside my door?”
Pitz checked the corridor. “No, sir.”
