“Please,” Lena said, her teeth chattering. “We’re unarmed.” She turned in a circle searching for the voice. It came from above them, from the tree’s lining the bank. The trees were thick here, and although the leaves were brown and dying, they still clung to the branches enough to provide a hiding place. Lena took a step toward the trees.
“I said, stay where ya are,” the voice called back. Lena’s heart jumped listening to the way this man spoke. His incomplete pronunciation of words and the rhythm of his voice rang with familiarity. Her friend Birdee spoke with the same accent. She last saw Birdee being dragged away by the Priestess and suddenly Lena’s heart ached for her friend. She forced herself to focus.
“We’re not your enemy,” Lena called into the trees above her. Her teeth kept chattering as she searched for the voice’s location. “Please. We need help.”
“Why shoul’ we help any soldier?”
Lena looked down at her Cimmerian uniform.
“Do you know a girl named Birdee? She’s from the woods.” Lena said. Scanning the trees above her she searched for the man. She still didn’t see anyone. “She’s our friend.”
A man jumped from a tree and landed in front of her. His large shoulders and build towered over Lena. She’d never seen somebody so tall or imposing. His weathered, brown hair hung to his shoulders. He looked like he spent his life in the outdoors. The veins in his strong arms bulged. He took a step towards her.
“Who are ya, and how do ya know Birdee?”
“My name is Lena,” she said. “We’re running from the Defenses.”
“Your name is Lena?” He looked her over with wide eyes. Lena nodded her head in confirmation.
The man whistled into the trees surrounding them. The trees shook and three more people jumped from them. Two males and one female. They all looked strong. They all looked like Birdee.
“Then ya must be Gideon,” he said, turning towards Gideon.
Gideon looked as confused as Lena felt, but he nodded his head in confirmation.
“I’m Tern.” He gestured at the others. “My sister Lark and my friends Eilly and Jay.” Though it was cold, the only one who wore sleeves was Lark. The three men wore rough leather vests with fur on the inside. The top part of their arms had a leather band with beads hanging from fringe on the ends. Lark’s hair had the same type of band and beads woven into a braid that fell to the side of her face.
“How do you know who we are?” Gideon asked. He looked at Lena concern filled his face when he saw her shaking uncontrollably.
“Birdee told us about both of you,” Tern said without explaining further. “We’ve been searchin’ fer Birdee. Come on. We’ve gotta get ya away from the river and into warm clothes. Then ya can tell us what’s happened to her.”
Chapter Eleven
“You worthless fool, what have you done?” Selene shrieked. Her footsteps clicked across the gallery floor as she walked toward General Merak. Her face was stone. The servants in the hallway shuffled into nearby rooms and passageways, taking care to stay unnoticed.
Zeke stood straighter and marched for her. “You had me pointing a gun at the girl and my son,” he yelled back at her. “You were going to have me kill Gideon.” General Merak stood firm. He didn’t show any sign of fear, nor did he feel it.
Selene stepped in front of him. “You know I wouldn’t have Gideon killed. I need him. Shot, maybe. But not killed.” She grabbed Zeke’s head and pulled him down to examine the back of his neck. “There must be some default in the technology.”
Zeke pushed Selene away. He saw a mix of shock and anger fill her face as she caught her footing. “You better be thanking the stars that there was a default in the technology and I shot the other boy instead,” Zeke yelled.
Selene didn’t seem surprised by his outburst. She curled her lips into a tight smile.
“The only reason I haven’t killed you yet is because of that sick triangle you have going with the Viceret to keep you in power. You have it set up so that if you kill me, you can’t rule because only a citizen of Mir can rule. A citizenship that can only be granted through our marriage. And then, if I kill you, they kill Gideon.”
“Yes.” Selene gave him a brazen smile. “This is how we all stay safe.”
“It’s sick, Selene. I wish I’d never met you.”
“But then you wouldn’t have your precious little Gideon.”
Zeke’s anger escalated. “You’re an awful, selfish woman who should be protecting her child instead of using him as a tool.”
“You’re all tools. And if you want Gideon to survive, you’ll continue to do exactly as I ask of you.” Her words crescendoed into high-pitched shrieks that echoed through the gallery.
Zeke stepped down. There was no way to win.
“Get me Dorrijan,” she barked at Zeke. “This is his doing. He made the device, we’ll make him fix it.”
Zeke clenched his jaw and glared. “Dorrijan escaped.”
“Escaped?”
“He was not at the Defense Facility when we went for Evangeline, nor did they find him when doing a search for remains.”
The Priestess tightened her jaw and flexed her fingers. “Then get me my traitor of a sister Toralei,” she screamed.
“Thora left the facilities of her own accord before the attack. And she’s only your half sister. Not something she’s proud of, I’m sure.”
“She left?” Selene looked startled. “By whose authority?”
“Thora never took orders from anyone—least of all you. You know that.”
Selene looked annoyed. “Thora,” she said. “Who does she think she’s kidding by changing her name?” Selene crossed her arms. “Toralei was never good for anything but running away.” Selene seemed lost in her own thoughts. “Are you going to run too, Zeke?” she focused back on him, her voice sounded like a snake.
“I just explained why I won’t. Why I can’t.”
“But you don’t stay for me.” Her voice was smooth again. “You stay for Gideon.” Selene lifted her lips in a venomous smile.
“Was it ever a question? The only reason I ever helped you of my own accord was to keep Gideon safe. That, and to keep you from using the device to control me in the first place. I would have brought Gideon in, but when you forced me to point that gun at him, I realized it didn’t matter how well I followed your orders, you would always betray me. Gideon would never be safe.”
Selene didn’t respond. Instead, she signaled for the guards to open a door leading from the gallery.
A man filled the doorway, his imposing frame blocking out any light that came from the room behind him. He moved towards Selene and Zeke. Selene smirked.
Zeke took a step back and whispered, “Selene, what’s he doing here?” He hoped the man couldn’t hear him. It was the same man that inserted him with the control device. Zeke’s heart pounded against his chest and sweat formed on his brow as he watched the man move closer.
“I called Ras Taban as a consequence of your actions,” she said, watching Ras approach. The implants in the man’s forehead gave him a permanently angry look, but the look wasn’t nearly as intimidating as the evil radiating from his blood red eyes.
“The Viceret don’t help just to be helpful, Selene. What have you promised them this time?”
“I don’t have to promise them anything. I rule this world and influence many others. They know of my power and are offering their help.”
“You’re a fool, Selene.”
Ras stopped in front of them as Zeke spoke his last sentence. Selene gave Ras her most charming smile. “You know who you need to find and what you need to do?” she asked.
Ras opened a case and pulled out a medical gun with a vial loaded in the barrel. “I do,” Ras said. His grave voice echoing through the gallery. Zeke instinctively rubbed the back of his neck. The action made Ras give a low, dark laugh. “I see you remember me.” Ras held the gun in front of his face and sneered, revealing his pointed teeth.
; “Of course I remember you,” Zeke replied, squaring his shoulders towards Ras. “You’re the reason I’m a slave.”
“You’re not my slave anymore,” Selene said to Zeke. “You’re now my prisoner. Guards!” Selene shrieked.
The guards who opened the door for Ras responded immediately. Standing in front of Selene they awaited their orders. Their eyes nervously jotted between Ras and Selene.
“Take him to the Crags,” she ordered. “And make sure there is nothing he can harm himself with. I need him alive.”
The guards grabbed Zeke’s arms on each side. Zeke stood taller. “You can imprison me, and torture me all you want. But you won’t win, Selene. You will not succeed. Gideon and Evangeline will destroy you.”
Selene clenched her jaw and motioned her guards to take him away. Zeke moved first, walking away from Selene as if he weren’t a prisoner. The guards followed, pulling on his arms as they hurried to match his steps.
She turned to Ras. “Find them,” she ordered. “Both of them.”
***
Lena sat close to the fire, a warm cup of liquid in her hands. Lark had given her some dry clothes to change into as soon as they got back to camp. They swamped her. The neck kept falling off her shoulders, and she had to gather it in her hand to keep herself modest. The pants and shirt sleeves she rolled several times to keep them from dragging and hiding her hands. Yet she appreciated the warmth the rough cloth provided.
Lark and Tern sat with Lena along the edge of a campfire. Eilley and Jay sat on either side of the fire turning meat on a spit as they talked. Gideon stood directly across from from Lena. His feet were shoulder width apart and his arms were crossed as he stared into the flames.
“I’ve pieced some facts together, but help me fill in the blanks,” Tern said. Lena listened as she watched the fire blacken the wood. “The Priestess’ Defense Facility was attacked three days ago and you, Gideon, and another fella’ got away and then were captured by another organization?”
“The Cimmerians,” Gideon clarified.
Tern shook his head. “Well, I don’ know ‘bout them, but it seems ya got away again only ta get intercepted by the Priestess’ Defenses who shot an killed your fella’.”
“Jonah,” Lena said.
“Jonah?” Lark cut in. “Wasn’t Jonah Birdee’s friend?”
Lena didn’t want to explain. She stared deeper into the fire without adding anything.
Tern continued, “Then you escaped by throwin’ yourself off a cliff into the river.” Tern raised his eyebrows in amusement after he said the last part.
“That is remarkably accurate,” said Gideon in awe. “How did you gather your intel?”
“We monitor all of our borders,” Tern said. “Our town, if you want to call it that, is deeper in the forest. Usually, the Defenses stay clear of the woods.”
“Unless they need more soldiers,” Lark said under her breath.
Tern glanced her way but didn’t respond. “We were further up when I saw everything that happened at the waterfall. We followed ya. As soon as I heard your name, I pieced it all together.”
“How did you know about the facility?” Gideon asked.
Lark laughed. “You can say that Tern has interests there.”
Tern gave Lark a look only a brother could pull off. Lark pulled a face back.
“We all have interests there,” Tern replied sharply. “Birdee saved all our lives by volunteering ta join the Priestess’ army.” Tern looked back to Lena. “Birdee is why I chose ta help ya. Do ya know what happened to her?”
Lena looked to Gideon. He nodded for her to answer. There was an uncomfortable silence before Lena cleared her throat. “The last I saw of her, the Defenses were holding her. I tried to draw the troops away from the facility, and we did—well, Jonah did—but I don’t know what happened to her after that.” She hated saying it. Her heart felt heavy and hopeless. Birdee had been captured because she had tried to protect Lena. She wished she had better news to tell them.
Tern’s face fell. Lark put a hand on her brother’s shoulder but didn’t say anything. “I assumed as much. We haven’t heard from her since the attack.”
“I didn’t know Birdee communicated with anyone,” Lena said.
“We don’t use electronics ta talk ta each other. They’re too easy ta trace. Birdee would leave us signals. Our own form of communication. Things only we’d be able ta notice.”
“Like what?” Lena asked.
“A turned rock, maybe a broken tree limb. Things that didn’t seem out of place ta an average person. When we’d see that, we’d know ta meet up at our usual place ta talk.”
“How was Birdee able to do that? We were confined to the facility.”
“Birdee is the best sneak any of us has ever seen,” Lark said. The group around them laughed, all nodding their heads in agreement. “She’d meet with us some nights and fill us in on what the facility was like.”
“Which is how you knew about us,” Lena said.
“Which is why we also know you’re the girl of the prophecy,” Tern said.
Lena saw Gideon stiffen, but Lena only stared deeper into the fire. Birdee had figured out who she was at the facility. It made sense Birdee would tell those closest to her. Though Lena didn’t feel like the girl that could destroy the Priestess. She felt like the girl who had brought destruction, death and imprisonment to all those associated with her.
“How did you heard of the prophecy?” Gideon asked.
“After Everleigh was bombed, troops were sent into the woods ta find the girl Evangeline,” Tern said. “They figured ya must be hidin’ where there wasn’t a way ta find ya with electronics and such. They didn’ come out and tell us why they was lookin’ fer ya. But we’re good at keepin’ our ears open and we learned.”
“So Birdee pieced it together and told you?”
“She did,” Tern said, then looked to Gideon. “Birdee may have joined the Defenses, but I can assure ya, we aren’t on the Priestess’ side. Years ago the Priestess killed many of our elders for standing against her rule. Birdee’s parents were among ‘em. When the Defenses came to gather more troops, we refused. There was a lot of violence and then Birdee stepped up. Birdee was the next in line ta rule our tribe. She offered ta join if they’d leave the rest of us alone. ‘Cause of her position, they accepted her offer. If helping you will keep ya away from the Priestess, we’ll help ya in any way we can.”
Gideon nodded. “A safe place to sleep tonight will be much appreciated.”
Lena stared at the fire again. So much hatred and violence. Lena had a feeling it would only get worse.
Chapter Twelve
Thora paced through the cavernous room. Remiah and Dessa watched her from their seats. Spots of light danced around them, the result of the light reflecting through the room’s crystals. She was glad Aaron’s children were here with her. She felt useful keeping someone’s children safe, even if it wasn’t Lena and Gideon. Thora nodded to them and kept pacing. She was worried about Lena and Gideon. Aaron walked over to stand by his children. He leaned against the wall and watched her.
“Was Xenia able to reach Lena?” Aaron asked. He rubbed the scars on the side of his face, something Thora noticed he did when he was worried about something.
Thora took a deep breath and looked at the crystals hanging from the ceiling. “Yes,” she answered.
“Then why are you pacing?” Aaron said dropping his hand to the side. Thora knew Aaron was worried about her. She’d had a hard time eating. Any rest she got, her mind filled with all the horrible things that Selene would do if any of the people she loved were caught.
“Lena’s taking too long. We need to know how far the technology has spread. And who else has it? The longer it takes Lena to get here, the more at risk the planet is.” Aaron placed a calming hand on Thora’s arm as she passed. Thora stopped and looked at him. She rolled her shoulders and stretched her neck to one side. “I’m afraid Selene is going to use the technology—t
hat allegedly controls people—again. The only proof I have that it was used in the first place is Dorry’s word. I’ll never be able to take the information to the Interplanetary Alliance.”
“Are you sure you can’t take the information to them anyway?” Aaron asked.
“I need actual evidence—hard proof. The Alliance was created to ensure that all of our worlds would be allies, and that the affluence of Mir’s port would benefit all of our worlds, not just Mir. That’s why The Port is controlled by the Alliance Council to begin with. Without evidence of this technology, the Council has their hands tied. They can’t accuse Selene without nullifying the treaty. Without the treaty, The Port’s control returns to Mir.”
“Which is what Selene wants,” Aaron said.
“It’s no secret that Selene wants control,” Thora said. “The treaty regarding The Port is about to expire and be rewritten by the Alliance. Selene needs to sway the Alliance Council to her side in order for her to increase her power beyond Mir. She’s trying to be the sole person controlling The Port. If she can control the rewriting of the treaty so that Mir controls The Port, she will have unlimited access to worlds beyond this one.”
“Are you implying that Selene is going to use the device on the Interplanetary Council?”
“I’m guessing that she’ll use it on the council members she can’t manipulate on her own, but we don’t know for sure. We won’t know anything until Evangeline gets here. Using her insignia to bypass Selene’s security is the only way we can know who the technology is being used on and who’s producing it. The key to stopping Selene lies with Evangeline.”
“Do we know where she’s at?” Aaron questioned.
“No,” Thora answered. “I thought she and Gideon would be here by now. Something must have happened to them.”
***
The trees flew by her in a blur as she ran around the outskirts of the camp. Lena knew she couldn’t go far, but she couldn’t bare to sit and rehash the last days over and over again. Her soul hurt. That’s the only way she could describe what she felt. The sadness and anger seemed to have swirled together into an unrelenting pull on her heart. She didn’t know how to rid herself of it, so she ran. They’d stayed up late into the night talking about Jonah’s betrayal, but mostly talking about Birdee and her capture. Tern wanted to know every single detail. Like somehow, if he knew which way the wind blew, he’d have a better idea of where they took her. When they finally went to bed, Lena hardly slept at all. Her mind re-lived the scenes over and over again. She wanted to remember the answers to everything that Tern had asked. When she did finally sleep, she dreamt of Birdee being taken into the ship by the Priestess. She dreamed of Jonah dying as she knelt next to him. Now, even as she ran, images of her parents’ deaths flashed through her memory. She ran faster. Her lungs stretching as far as they could. She needed the memories to go away. She pushed herself beyond her capabilities and stumbled to her knees.
The Children of The Resistance (The Mir Chronicles Book 2) Page 6