My heart thuds in my chest. I had never considered I could make a home amongst the rebels. For some reason I figured I would find my mother and we would live in seclusion somewhere. “And what happens if they recognize me?”
Melissa leans over. “It is doubtful that these people have ever been to the capital. It is true they have handed out flyers, but it is unlikely the humans received one.”
Lexa nods thoughtfully. “These people are probably on their way to or from a mandatory delivery of food and goods to a guard station, where the food will be assessed before it is escorted the rest of the way to Voltren.”
Lexa catches a glimpse of my confused face and elaborates further, “Voltren is the capital of Shadowsoul.”
I swallow. “What about the Quelton?”
Tash fidgets beside us. “They definitely know the meaning of gold coin. Speaking of which, she is on her way.”
Lexa shifts and meets my eyes. “Do not make eye contact and try to remain unnoticed.”
I nod and casually work my way to the back of the group. A small creature approaches us, and except for the face palms and feet, it is covered all over in silky black fur.
The Quelton is about hip high with shrewd black eyes that glitter in the dim light of the cavern. She takes her time and stops in front of us with confidence.
She is so little. Should she not be afraid of what six large humans could do to overwhelm her? Instead, everyone around me seems to be nervously shifting about. Even Nathanial looks uncomfortable.
The only person projecting any sort of calm is Lexa, who steps forward to greet the creature with a bow and presents her open palms to the small Quelton.
The Quelton peers into Lexa's palms before offering her the same curtesy. Her small hairless snout sniffs the air before she announces, “I do not do real names. You may refer to me as Miss Q.”
Lexa doesn’t miss a beat. “You may refer to us as Reb. We are looking to acquire food and supplies.”
The small creature bows her head. “What do you have to trade?”
Lexa pulls the gold coins and presents them. The Quelton sniffs in disgust. “You stopped my travels for ten gold coins?”
Lexa smiles and procures a silver coin of Solaris. “We also have this.”
Miss Q perks up, profoundly interested in the coin Lexa is holding. “May I look?”
Lexa hesitates for a moment but hands the coin to Miss Q. “I believe in your honor.”
The creature wriggles her snout in delight. “I see someone has taught you excellent manners.”
Miss Q takes the coin, twirls it in her fingers and then gives it a bite, revealing a mouth of razor-sharp teeth. “This may be worth something.” She mutters and hands the coin back to Lexa. “Let us see what we have to trade.”
Miss Q leads us alongside the wagons, and I eye a huge creature, taller than me, standing placidly beside us, comfortably as wide as the wagon it pulls. Its broad square feet are flat, and each foot possesses six long toes, three at the front and three in the back. Its long flat head has two tiny round ears, twisting and swivelling, listening to the sounds around it.
I pause to study it as Miss Q leads Lexa and the others to the wagon up at the front.
The giant beast looks at me with big brown eyes, which are nestled at each end of its long flat head. A row of long eyelashes surrounds each of them, making the creature appear incredibly friendly if not slightly dopey. Its wide mouth is currently chewing on some kind of seed coming from the large open bag resting in front of it. It lets out a soft snort and swishes its tiny tail happily.
Smiling, I reach out to pet its large shoulder and find it covered in tiny grey bristles of hair. The massive creature slowly turns its head, so one of its big brown eyes focus on me. It gazes at me for a moment before blinking and returning to its meal.
A small voice from my left says, “His name is Bruce.”
Startled, I look left and spot a little blonde girl with deep brown eyes, who appears to be about eight years old.
“And what is Bruce?” I ask, smiling down at the child and glancing over at the beast.
“Bruce is a Tangera, and also my best friend,” announces the small girl proudly as she pets Bruce on the nose.
The Tangera snorts happily at the girl’s attention, and he gently nudges his huge face into the girl's chest so she can hug him. His face is probably the only part of him the small girl could get her arms around.
“Jamie, it’s time for supper,” calls a middle-aged woman with matching blonde hair, who is sitting across the road with another woman.
“Okay, mum,” the little girl calls and skips over to her mother.
Sweat runs across my brow, and I wipe it away and follow Lexa's lead by loosening my shirt for some air. I hurry to catch up. Luckily it seems like no one has noticed my absence. Lexa looks over the goods Miss Q has spread out across the back of her wagon.
Lexa gestures to the items. “Four knapsacks, three water canteens, six blankets and a recent map of the underground for the coin.”
Miss Q places her hand over her chest. “My dear, you are robbing me with that deal.”
Lexa gives her a knowing smile. “We both know how rare that coin is.”
Miss Q drops all pretence and looks over the items Lexa has separated. “Three knapsacks, two water canteens, the blankets, and I have a map out front.”
Lexa considers the deal. “I would like to see the map first.”
The Quelton nods at one of the humans, who jumps to her feet and runs to the front of the wagon, speedily returning with a rolled-up map. Miss Q snatches it from her hands and presents it to Lexa for inspection.
The young woman looks to be around my age, with long flowing brown hair and startling blue eyes. Her eyes scan each of us and I don’t miss the way her eyes rake up and down Lexa's figure.
“This will do.” Lexa looks up from the map and eyes the large creature one of the women is skinning and cutting into slices. “What is that?”
The Quelton turns to look. “That was a large cave goat that I hunted.”
I glance at the hip high creature and back at the massive mountain goat. What? She killed that? Surely not in close range, the beast would have trampled her to death. I glance around looking for a bow, but I cannot see any.
Lexa nods. “Three gold pieces for six large slices.”
Miss Q wiggles her snout, offers a stiff nod and waves her hand at the young women standing behind her. “Deal.”
The young woman with startling blue eyes darts across the road just as the kettle by the fire releases a shrill whistle. I jolt back at the unexpected noise and reach for my sword before I realize what it is.
The Quelton eyes me. “She is a twitchy one, isn’t she?”
Lexa glances at me and nods. “They usually are the first time out.”
The Quelton lets out a sharp-toothed grin. “I am sure a capable woman like yourself will whip her into shape in no time.”
Melissa, Nathanial and Lucas stuff the purchased items into the backpacks and sling them onto their backs.
The beautiful young woman returns with a steaming mug of tea, and her eyes linger a little too long on Lexa. I grit my teeth. Miss Q takes the cup and points towards the skinned goat. “See that six large steaks are cut off that beast and prepared for our visitors.”
The young woman bows her head, and she skitters over to relay the information. Lexa hands over the gold coins and the large silver piece.
The Quelton is quick to slip the coins into a pouch hidden amongst her fur. “We are the last shipment, and the guards are not due for another two days. Would you care to have my girls cook your meal for you, so you can remain for lunch?”
I study the way Lexa's shoulders tighten at the suggestion. “You are most kind. Thank you for your offer—.”
“Excellent,” Miss Q cuts in, putting an abrupt end to Lexa's reply.
Lexa's jaw tenses. “Who are we to decline such welcome hospitality?”
I narrow my eyes. Lexa's body language and words don’t line up, not to mention the way the rest of the group fidgets uncomfortably at our lunch invite.
Miss Q turns to the young women. “Arnita, come see that our guests are welcomed.” The woman with bright blue eyes rises and makes her way over to the wagons and I eye her with distrust. The Quelton turns to us. “I have some things to attend to, but I will join you shortly.”
Lexa offers a small bow and presents her open hands once more, the Quelton repeating the gesture.
The young woman, Arnita, approaches us and gives Lexa a large smile. “If you will come this way, we will prepare your food.”
We head off across the road. Melissa mutters to Lucas behind me. “This Quelton must be very rich to afford three personal slaves.”
“They all look well fed too,” Lucas adds.
We arrive at the campfire, which only makes the unbearable heat around us worse. The mother and young daughter look wearily at Nathanial and move to the other side of the flames to resume butchering the cave goat.
I glance back at the wagon to find the Quelton has vanished from sight. Arnita hurriedly hands everyone a cup of tea before basically sitting on top of Lexa and engaging her in conversation.
Nathanial sits next to me, the tiny metal cup ridiculously small in his hand. “I don’t like this.”
Lexa lets out a small bout of laughter, and Arnita places her hand on Lexa's forearm and I narrow my eyes. “Me either.”
Tash leans in and smiles at me. “Smile Claire, we don’t want them thinking we aren’t happy with this arrangement.”
Lucas lets out a nervous laugh beside me, and his forced smile looks a little maniacal. “Aren’t happy? That Quelton could be halfway to the nearest town already.”
I pull my eyes away from Arnita and Lexa. “What do you mean? How close is the nearest town?”
Lucas holds his hands up. “Who knows? All I know is Queltons are just about the fastest things in existence, and they have a temper to boot.”
Melissa nods. “You should never cross a Quelton.” She points at the cave goat. “Just look at what she did to this poor creature.”
I look up at the hanging carcass, and my eyes are drawn to deep lacerations around its throat and haunches. “Miss Q did that?”
Melissa takes a sip of her tea. “Miss Q probably did that in a good mood.”
I glance back at the carcass the woman and child are cutting into sections. “I don’t think I would like to see her mad.”
Nathanial shifts his massive bulk. “Queltons make even me nervous.”
My eyes are drawn back to Lexa, and I turn just in time to see Arnita loosen the laces that hold her top together, revealing an eye full of cleavage. “It certainly is hot near these lava fields. Have you seen them?”
Lexa sips from her tea and smiles at the woman. “I haven’t had the pleasure.”
I take a sip of my tea and glare at the woman as she speaks. “Oh, there are plenty of pleasurable things to do around here.”
I choke on the liquid, and Melissa gives me a resounding whack on the back that helps to dislodge the tea from my airway.
Lexa looks over with concern. “Claire, are you okay?”
Melissa grins at Lexa. “She is just choking on her drink, but she is fine now.”
I take in a gasp of air and nod my head, grateful for Melissa's words. There is absolutely no way I could have spoken just yet. My body is 100% focused on regaining air.
Lexa gets up but is stopped by the young woman who takes hold of her hand. “I could show you the lava fields.”
“Arnita, leave our guests be.” Miss Q snaps as she marches into our sitting area.
Arnita drops her hand from Lexa's and looks pleadingly at the Quelton. “Can I have an afternoon pass?”
Miss Q assesses the woman before looking over Lexa. “You may have an hour if the woman is agreeable. At least this one cannot get you pregnant.”
My heart hammers in my chest as I watch Lexa consider the young woman. Lexa holds out her hand to the young woman, who eagerly grasps it and climbs to her feet.
Lexa addresses her, “You are beautiful, but I do not wish to lay with you.”
Arnita snatches her hand away from Lexa, her eyes darting around the group and locking with mine. The look is of pure hatred. Arnita lifts her lip in a snarl and stomps off into the stunted trees that surround us, disappearing into the dimness of the cavern.
Lexa rubs the back of her neck, and Miss Q chuckles, “You are the first to turn her down in a long time.”
Lexa turns to face Miss Q. “I did not mean to offend.”
Miss Q sends Lexa a sharp-toothed grin. “You most certainly did not offend. In fact, it was the highlight of my afternoon. Arnita is wilful and does not appreciate what is given to her.”
“She is treated better than most slaves,” I say without thinking. I stop myself from going any further, but I have already drawn attention to myself.
The Quelton raises an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
I stare at the ground. Melissa nudges me with her elbow, and I swallow. “They are all extremely well cared for, clothed appropriately and allowed leave with permission.” My throat goes dry, and I force out the words. “You treat your investments well.”
The Quelton rushes towards me with surprising speed and she has rounded the fire and stands in front of me before I have even managed to shift my feet. I look into her glittering black eyes and realize they are, in fact, a deep brown. Her pupils are much larger than a humans, and I can only assume Miss Q can see better in the dark than me.
She takes my face in her small clawed hands and inspects me, running her little paws over the bones of my face. “You have not been treated well. I can feel numerous badly healed fractures and breaks.” She grasps my hand and inspects it, muttering findings as she goes, “Calloused hands, healed knuckle breaks. A Fighter. Could it be you?”
I gape at the Quelton. How could she possibly know these things?
Her eyes lock onto mine, and I feel as if she has gained access to my mind. I can feel her rummaging around inside my memories, and I try to pull away, but my body refuses to obey my commands to move.
Moments flash before my eyes: fights in the arena, beatings, illness, the pain of my branding, my mother, my necklace and Lexa.
Suddenly, the memories change into memories that aren’t my own. I see a small fluffy creature, I can only assume is a young Quelton, playing amongst siblings. The image flashes to a guard forcing the littlest Quelton into a bag. I see a tall shadowy creature force a collar around the small Quelton’s throat and lash it to a pole before pushing a red hot branding iron into its shoulder. The Quelton fights back, and a guard prods it with a metal rod. The little Quelton twitches violently and the memory ends.
Miss Q blinks and the connection is lost.
Chapter Eleven
Golden Cages
Gently, she strokes my face as I come to my senses. Tears run down my cheeks as I try to make sense of what just happened.
Miss Q speaks softly, “Not all the creatures in Darkmor's dominion are evil. Some of us are just as trapped in this world as you are.”
I reluctantly inch my eyes back up to the Quelton’s, and is I look flecks of yellow fade from them and return them to the deep brown they were before. Miss Q removes one hand from my face and lifts a section of fur on her shoulder, revealing a deep, poorly healed brand with the numbers ‘1217.’
I swallow. “You too?”
The Quelton nods and spreads her paws wide, indicating the wagons and people surrounding her. “My cage may be made of gold, but it is still a cage.”
Lexa stands beside us with her sword drawn, watching the interaction with concern. I offer her a weak smile and wipe my face.
Miss Q lifts my necklace up and inspects the blue gem and looks at me with shining eyes. With a deep breath she drops the gem and steps back to wipe her paws across her eyes. She glances at Lexa and me. “We have waited a long ti
me for you.”
My eyebrows furrow at her words. Everyone around me tenses and my companions shift so they can quickly reach their weapons. The move is not missed by the Quelton.
“Who is we?” Lexa asks in a low voice and her knuckles whiten around the hilt of her sword.
The Quelton settles herself down on a flat rock and motions at the women who are cutting up the goat to begin cooking the meat and they hurry to place slabs of it on large hot stones with a satisfying sizzle.
Miss Q flexes her sharp-clawed paws and runs them across the sleek black fur of her arms. “We are a group of creatures, created and natural alike, who do not agree with Darkmor's plans. He has held us captive for centuries, while your people have only had to endure a few decades of torment.”
Lexa eyes the Quelton and sheaths her sword but doesn’t remove her hand from the hilt.
I shake my head slowly and look up at the Quelton. “Created?”
Miss Q takes in a deep sigh. “Not all of the species in Shadowsoul occurred naturally. A few centuries ago, a dark sorcerer fled the lands above after being defeated by the Phoenix. He came here and used his dark, twisted magic to create beasts from some kind of clay. Some creatures of the cavern he took and he changed them.” She shudders as she finishes her sentence.
Nathanial leans in and scoffs. “You are saying some guy, hundreds of years ago, created the monsters that follow Darkmor today with magic?
The Quelton looks at him with a deadly serious expression. “Yes.”
Lexa slowly sits next to me and rests her hand on my knee. “How can you be sure? As you said, this occurred hundreds of years ago.”
Miss Q accepts a cup of tea from one of her personal slaves and turns to Lexa. “This is little known, and I would appreciate you keeping it between yourselves.”
The group nods, and Miss Q takes a sip from her drink as the women hand out slabs of cooked meat nestled on balooga bark. I accept the food and return my attention to the Quelton.
Miss Q sets her meat aside and leans forward. “Queltons inherit the memories of their ancestors, and so, if my ancestors witnessed, experienced or encountered something, I have that knowledge too.”
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