“But—”
“Stop stalling and start moving,” Moran said. “I’m tired, we all are, and even a prison cell sounds good right about now.”
“If you’re sure…” Rogue said with a shrug.
“We’re sure, now go,” Moran said, waving her on.
Together, they crossed the clearing and headed for the gate. It wasn’t long before their presence became known, and a couple of guards rushed forward. “Stop right there. Who are you, and what do you want?”
Rogue raised her hands to shoulder height. “It’s me, Rogue. Err, Lillian. I’m Olivia’s daughter.”
The guard stared at her. “Olivia’s daughter?”
“That’s right. Can you take us to her and Ric, please?” Rogue asked in her most polite manner.
“Who are these other people?” the guard asked.
“They’re friends of mine, and you know Seth already,” Rogue said, waving a hand at Seth.
The guard hesitated. “We’re not supposed to let strangers in.”
“I’m not a stranger, and I know these people well. Besides, this is urgent,” Rogue said. “It’s a matter of life and death.”
“I don’t know. We’ll have to disarm you first,” the guard said after a few seconds of thinking it over.
“That’s okay. I understand,” Rogue said, handing over her machete.
“Alright. I’ll let you in,” the guard said with a curt nod. “But no funny business.”
“Agreed,” Rogue said.
The guards took their weapons and escorted them inside the settlement. They were taken to a small thatch-roofed hut to wait for Ric and Olivia. Bruce wearily sat down on the nearest bench while Moran fussed over him.
“Is he okay?” Rogue asked.
Before Moran could answer, Bruce said, “He’s just fine, thank you for asking.”
“Sorry,” Rogue said, flashing him a rueful grin.
“Well, we might as well eat and drink while we wait,” Moran said, handing out bottled water and bags of mixed dried fruit and nuts. “Here you go, guys.”
“Thanks,” Rogue said, chewing on a handful of the mixture.
She paced around the hut, pausing to look out through the open door. Onlookers were being kept at a distance by the guards, but Rogue spotted a familiar face.
“Hey, Brittany!” she called out, waving.
“Hi, Rogue,” Brittany replied. “Hold on. I’m fetching my mom.”
“Thanks,” Rogue replied, relieved to know that some of the Exiles were still on her side. And to think we started off as enemies.
It took almost half an hour before Olivia showed up at the hut. Ric and Jamie were right behind her, but they might as well have been invisible. Rogue only had eyes for her mother, and she rushed forward to greet her. “Mom, I’m so glad to see you!”
“Me too, Lillian,” Olivia said, pulling Rogue into a bear hug. “I’ve been worried sick about you. I haven’t been able to sleep a wink ever since you disappeared.”
“I’m okay. I promise,” Rogue said.
“You’re not hurt?” Olivia asked, pulling back to study Rogue’s face.
“No, I’m as healthy as a horse,” Rogue said.
“Good,” Olivia said, pulling her in for another bone-crushing hug.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” Rogue said, inhaling her mother’s warm scent. Tears pricked her eyelids, and she tried to blink them away. “I shouldn’t have fought with you that night.”
“I’m the one who’s sorry. I should’ve told you about Ric and me. The council too,” Olivia said with genuine regret. “I shouldn’t have hidden anything from you.”
“It doesn’t matter now. All is forgiven,” Rogue said, feeling warm and comforted. It was a good feeling, one she’d missed, and she vowed never to screw it up again.
Chapter 14
Ric stepped into the hut, followed by Jamie. Rogue stiffened when she saw him. A part of her was still angry at him for his treatment of her and Seth. “Ric.”
Ric looked around the room before his gaze settled on her. When he spoke, his voice was gruff with emotion. “Rogue, I’m glad to see you’re okay. We were worried about you.”
Rogue eyed him with surprise. “You were?”
He nodded. “I’ll admit I blamed you at first when we found the dead guard. I thought for sure you and Seth had run off back to Prime.”
“I could never do that,” Rogue said, shaking her head.
“I didn’t know what to think. All I knew was that you were Primes. The very thing I’ve hated all my life,” Ric said.
“And now?”
“Now, I know you’re innocent. You didn’t sabotage the hunt, and you didn’t run away. You were taken.”
“That’s right, I was kidnapped by a maniac,” Rogue said. “It was hell.”
Ric paled. “There’s no excuse I can offer. I mistreated you, and I’m sorry about that.”
“Thanks for saying that,” Rogue said.
“Can we put all of that behind us, please?” Ric asked. “Start afresh?”
“Sure,” Rogue said. “I’d like that very much.”
“Welcome to the family,” Ric said, giving her an awkward pat on the shoulder. Next, he turned to Seth and shook his hand. “You found her, I see. You’re a better man than I gave you credit for.”
“Actually, she came to me,” Seth said. “When I found them, they were halfway to the Zoo already.”
“Oh? How did that come about?” Ric said.
“Yes, tell us. What happened to you? Who took you and killed the guard? Who are all these people?” Olivia burst out, clearly unable to contain herself any longer.
“It’s a long story, but first, I’d like to introduce you to someone special,” Rogue said.
“Who might that be?” Olivia asked.
“This is Moran, the woman who raised me. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be here today,” Rogue explained, gesturing at Moran.
“And this is Olivia, my birth mother. It seems that all these years we were just a few miles apart, and we never knew it,” Rogue said, pointing at her mother. She took a step back, butterflies in her stomach. Please, get along.
Olivia stared at Moran for a few seconds before sticking out her hand. “Thank you for looking after my daughter when I couldn’t. I owe you a debt I can never repay.”
Moran shook her hand, though her eyes remained guarded. “I’m the one who should be thankful. Rogue has brought me nothing but joy, and she’s closer to me than my own flesh and blood.”
“I understand, and I’d never want to change that. Not ever,” Olivia said.
Moran inclined her head, her tense shoulder relaxing somewhat. “I’m glad to hear it. She has a big heart with room enough for all of us.”
“That she does,” Olivia agreed, flashing Rogue a proud smile.
Rogue heaved an inner sigh of relief. So far, so good.
“Um, guys. I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news here, but the council is busy convening right this minute. They want to speak to Rogue, Seth, and their friends, and they want to do it in front of the entire town,” Jamie said.
“What?” Olivia cried. “They’re not on trial.”
Rogue blanched. “Trial?”
Jamie raised both hands. “I know, I know, it sounds bad, but think of it this way. You’ll only have to tell your story once.”
“Why does the whole town have to be there?” Rogue asked.
“A lot of folks have questions, and there’s a lot of anger and false information floating around out there,” Jamie said. “They want answers.”
“I don’t like this,” Seth said, stepping forward.
“Neither do I,” Moran said. “Lynch mobs get started this way.”
“Nothing like that will happen, I swear it,” Ric said. “I’m still the head of the council, and I have the final say.”
“Unless the town overrules you,” Moran said, her lips set in a stubborn line. “They called this meeting without you, didn’t they?�
��
“Yes, they did,” Ric said, “and I’ll take that up with them later, but right now, we have to deal with this.”
“Listen, I know you’re worried about your safety, but it won’t come to that,” Jamie said. “Rogue has a lot of enemies, but she also has a lot of friends. We won’t let anything happen to her or anyone she calls a friend.”
“Over my dead body,” Olivia exclaimed, her cheeks flushed.
“Well, I don’t suppose we have a choice,” Rogue said. “It’s either that or leave, and that means giving up.”
“Besides, where would we go?” Bruce asked.
“At the very least, we have to warn them about General Sikes,” Seth said.
“Fine, but at the first sign of trouble, we run,” Moran said. “I’m no coward, but I’ve seen what an angry mob can do.”
“Agreed,” Rogue said.
“Come on,” Ric said, stepping outside. “Let’s get this over with. I’m sure you’re all exhausted and in need of rest.”
“Hear, hear,” Bruce cried, wearily getting to his feet.
Rogue shouldered her bag and turned to Jamie. “I’m glad to see you’ve recovered from your injury.”
Jamie smiled, placing one hand on her side. “Thanks. I’m not completely healed yet, but it gets better every day. And don’t worry, I don’t blame you. I know it was Brittany’s doing.”
“Okay, but don’t be too hard on her. It was just a stupid prank gone wrong.”
“I know,” Jamie said. “She’ll be fine, don’t worry. I won’t ground her for life.”
“You’re a cool mom.”
“I know,” Jamie said with a wink.
Rogue fell in behind Ric and tried to ignore the open stares directed their way. A few were friendly such as Brittany and David. They stood off to the side with Paul, Aret, and Sandi. Those three watched Rogue with blank expressions, and she wondered if they were still against her. A couple of the Exiles shouted at them, their hostility clear for all to see. They’re probably the friends and family of the dead guard.
“It seems not everyone is happy to see you,” Moran murmured, walking next to Rogue. “Or us, for that matter.”
“I know. I disappeared in the middle of the night, leaving behind a dead guard,” Rogue explained. “I’m sure a bunch of them blame me for that.”
“But Bones killed the guard and kidnapped you,” Moran protested.
“I know that, but do they?” Rogue pointed out. “Besides, when have people ever been rational about anything?”
Moran pulled a face. “That’s true enough. I wonder who they’ll blame for Sikes and his army?”
Rogue shuddered. “Let’s hope we can make them see reason.”
Moran snorted. “Sure, when Triceratops grow wings and fly.”
“Just leave it to me,” Rogue said. “They might not like me, but they know me already. You lot are strangers. Even worse, you’re Primes.”
Moran grumbled beneath her breath. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“So do I,” Rogue replied, sucking in a sharp breath. “So do I.”
Chapter 15
Ten minutes later, the group gathered inside the town hall. It was a large brick building with a zinc roof and tiled floors. At the head of the hall stood a raised platform furnished with a long table and six chairs obviously meant for the council. Curtains hung on either side, resembling an old-fashioned stage, while extra rows of seats filled the area below.
Ric pointed at the front row. “Grab a chair, everyone. I won’t have you standing around like criminals.”
“Thanks,” Rogue said, sitting down between Seth and Moran. Olivia took the chair right behind her, offering her support. Brittany and David joined her, and to Rogue’s great surprise, so did Paul, Sandi, and Aret.
Have they come around at last? Rogue wondered. Or are they just sticking with their friends, Brittany and David?
Seconds later, the members of the council arrived and took their places on the stage. Three men and one woman. That left two open spaces. Rogue knew that one belonged to Ric, but the other seat was a mystery.
“Aren’t there five people on the council?” Rogue asked her mother in a low whisper.
Olivia leaned forward. “Normally, yes.”
“But there are six chairs.”
“Just wait and see, dear,” Olivia said with a secretive smile.
“Who are all those people?” Seth asked.
“That’s Robert Watkins, Paul’s father,” Olivia said. “Next to him is Christopher Green, Sandi’s father, and Nathan Wendele.”
“That’s my dad,” David interjected.
“And my mom, Natalie Amberg,” Aret added in a low voice.
“Thanks,” Rogue said, studying each of the members in turn.
One by one, the townspeople filtered in, and a low hum of conversation took the place of awkward silence. Rogue chewed on her bottom lip, her stomach a bundle of nerves. She did not look forward to the proceedings, and judging by the look on Seth’s face, neither did he.
She reached over and took his hand. He squeezed her fingers in return and said, “Don’t worry. It’ll be okay.”
Moran huffed. “It better be. I did not come all this way for nothing.”
“Just give them a chance,” Rogue said.
“We’ll see.”
Ric was the last to take his seat, and she noticed he wore a gun on his belt. A precaution, perhaps? Either way, it did nothing to calm her nerves.
He stared at the assembled mass before him and cleared his throat. “Is everyone here?”
A rumble of assent ran through the crowd.
“Good, then we can begin. Jamie, please join us,” Ric said, pointing to the empty chair next to him.
Immediately, one of the council members protested. “What’s this? She’s not on the council.”
It was Paul’s father, Robert Watkins. They looked alike with their blond hair and square jaws. A handsome family, but also a temperamental one, it seemed.
“As head of the council, I’m allowed to vote in a sixth member, and I asked Jamie,” Ric said. “She graciously agreed, and I welcome her to the fold.”
“You did not discuss this with us,” Robert said.
“I did not need to. The rules on this are clear,” Ric said. “You did not, however, have my permission to hold this meeting.”
“We thought it best to—”
“Next time, discuss it with me first,” Ric said, his tone brooking no argument.
Robert sank back into his chair with a grumble. “Fine.”
Rogue watched with raised eyebrows as a smiling Jamie joined the council on the stage. Thunderous applause accompanied her assent, and it was clear the townspeople loved her. It was a clever move on Ric’s part. It gave him a much-needed ally, both among the crowd and the council.
It also made her realize something important. While she was gone, they hadn’t forgotten about her. No, in fact, Ric, Olivia, and Jamie had been planning for this all along. That was what her mother meant when she told her to wait and see. Warmth took the place of the knot in her stomach, and she flashed Olivia a grateful smile.
“Does anyone else object to the addition of Jamie to the council?” Ric asked. Robert wisely held his tongue, as did the rest of the council and hall. “Alright, let’s begin.”
Natalie Amberg was the first to speak. “We convened this meeting because we have concerns regarding the actions and motives of Lillian Reid, or Rogue as she likes to be called.”
“Concerns or questions, Natalie?” Jamie asked.
“Neither. I accuse Lillian Reid of murder,” Robert interrupted.
“On what basis?” Ric asked, his expression calm.
“It’s well-known that she’s both a Prime and a saboteur. Despite that fact, she was forgiven for her crimes and allowed to remain among us. That was our mistake for that same night, she disappeared, leaving behind a dead guard, Dan Bergman. He was one of our own and a respected member of this co
mmunity.”
An angry buzz rose from the gathered people, and Robert pressed his point home. “Now that she’s returned, Lillian Reid must pay for her crimes.”
A cheer rose from several throats, and Rogue cringed. None of what Robert said was true, and it hurt that so many were ready to believe him.
“Order, please,” Ric commanded, slamming his fist on the table. Once the noise died down, he turned to the rest of the council. “Do you all share Robert’s beliefs?”
Jamie shook her head. “No, I do not.”
“Natalie?” Ric asked.
“I would like to get answers,” Natalie answered with care.
“So would I?” Nathan Wendele said, his expression grave. “I think we all would, but I also think we should give the girl the benefit of the doubt.”
“Doubt? What doubt? The facts are as clear as daylight,” Robert said.
“Robert, please. You’ve had your say,” Ric warned. “Christopher? How do you feel?”
“I’m with Robert,” Sandi’s father replied, shifting in his seat. “I believe she killed Dan and ran back to Prime with her newfound wealth of information. I think she’s a murderer and a spy.”
“What I’d like to know is what role her lover Seth played in all of this, and who those strangers are that she brought here today,” Robert added.
“Thank you for your input, Robert,” Ric said before looking down at the hall. “Does anyone here have something concrete to offer?”
“I do,” Brittany said, standing up.
“So do I,” David added, rising next to her.
“Proceed,” Ric said.
“Rogue and Seth never sabotaged the egg hunt. We did,” Brittany said. “It was my idea, and my friends went along with it.”
“Why?” Ric asked.
“Because we wanted to show them up. They’re Primes, and we’ve been taught all our lives to hate them,” Brittany said.
“Is this true, David?” Ric asked.
“It is.”
“That’s nonsense,” Robert protested. “My son would never be involved in something like that.”
“Neither would my daughter,” Christopher said.
“Aret?” Natalie asked in a quiet voice. “Is any of this true?”
The Extinction Series | Book 3 | Primordial Earth 3 Page 9