by Teri Barnett
Bethany repeated the motion on her own chest, then looked up at Connor, smiling. “I like that.”
“Well, feel free to use it anytime you need to,” he offered with a grin. “Now, shall we go?”
Bethany nodded. “After you.” She made a sweeping motion with her arm toward the entry.
Connor rubbed the heavy stubble covering his chin. “Wait a minute. First you want to be the adventurous one, now you want me to lead the way. I just don’t know. Is there some danger out there I need to be warned about?”
“No, not particularly. I just figured you would appreciate taking the lead,” she teased. “You don’t have to, though, if you don’t want to.”
Connor chuckled. “I wouldn’t be a man if I didn’t prefer leading to following. Just nudge me in the right direction and I’ll get us there.”
Bethany pointed Connor to the south as they made their way through the thick tree line outside of the kiyolo. The sharp conifer needles dragged at their skin, the sap stinging the scratches. Connor took hold of a heavy branch, keeping it out of Bethany’s way as she followed behind. Then, just as she was in its path, the smaller branch he was using for a handle snapped off, sending the larger one into Bethany’s face. She screamed as it knocked her to the ground.
Connor rushed to her side, helping her up. “Are you all right?” She looked up at him, her left cheek covered with deep scratches. “Damn!” He pulled out his handkerchief and started wiping at the blood.
“My face feels like it’s on fire. I’ve got to get the sap washed out of the cuts before they start to swell.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a flask. Popping the cork, he poured the contents onto the handkerchief. “Your drink won’t help, Connor,” Bethany protested.
“It’s water, from the kiyolo. I filled the flasks before we left,” he said, holding the container up.
Bethany grimaced as he cleaned the sap out of the cuts. “That should just about do it,” Connor examined the angry red welts on her delicate skin. “The swelling seems to be subsiding.”
“Thank you,” Bethany said softly.
He cleared his throat. “You’re welcome.”
Beyond the tops of the trees, a soft shaft of sunlight made its way to the forest floor. “It’s almost midday,” Bethany said. “We’ve lost a lot of time.”
“We’ll make it up.” He scanned the horizon to the south. “It looks like we’re almost to the edge of this forest. We should be fine after we get out of here.”
“Don’t count on it,” Bethany stated flatly, starting to walk before Connor had a chance to ask what exactly she meant.
It didn’t take long for Connor to realize what Bethany was talking about. Just past the tree line, the ground was made up of large boulders of black obsidian. Its glassy surface—enhanced by the melting ice—reflected the sun, blinding them after the darkness of the forest.
Connor ran his hand through his hair. “Could be a bit difficult. Hey, look over there.”
Bethany followed where he pointed and spied a break in the rocks. “Looks like a path.”
“Uh-huh. That’s what I was thinking. I was also thinking maybe it’s just a little too easy. My guess is whoever is guarding the kiyolo created this path as a trap or a way to observe newcomers. Either way, I say it’s too dangerous to take.”
She nodded. “If the Kiyolo of the Night held the secrets of vanquishing the High Priestess, it would be to her advantage to have it heavily guarded.”
“We’ll need to find another way inside,” Connor said, scanning the area. “Over there. It looks like a natural break in the stones. It’ll be more difficult to cross but should be safer.” He glanced down at the petite woman. “Are you feeling up to it?” He already knew what her answer would be, but he asked just the same.
Bethany arched a delicate blonde eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest.
Her fierce expression made him grin. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss her with all the passion in his entire being.
“There is nothing that will keep me from going into that cave,” she said.
Connor nodded, his grin fading as he caught sight of a movement along the ridge.
“What’s wrong?” Bethany asked. “Do you see something.”
“I thought I did,” he replied, his eyes fixed on ridge. “Let’s keep moving. The sooner we reach the kiyolo, the sooner we can get out of here.”
Chapter 20
A guard dressed in a short black robe and leggings entered Liazar’s private chambers. Immediately, the sentry fell to her knees at the feet of her mistress.
“There are two people, Ma’am. A man and a woman. They were last seen moving south through the obsidian fields. They’re coming toward the Kiyolo of the Night, toward us.”
Liazar stopped combing her long red hair. She placed the bone implement carefully on the table next to her as she considered the importance of what she had just heard. “Do you know who they are? Are they familiar to you in any way?”
The guard shook her head. “No, Ma’am. The man is tall, his hair dark, unlike anyone I’ve ever seen around Paran. His clothes are different, foreign.”
“Foreign, you say? How so?”
“His shirt and pants are constructed of a heavy looking blue fabric. We weren’t close enough to see much detail. It was the hair, though, that stood out the most. I’ve never seen anyone with such black hair.”
“What about the woman? Did she appear different also?” Liazar asked, her curiosity aroused.
“No, the woman looks native to Paran. She had a slight build and long blonde hair. But she was wearing a strange coat. It appeared to be some sort of animal skin with fringe around here.” She moved her hands across her chest.
“Black hair and heavy blue clothes, you say?” Liazar leaned back in her chair, stroking her chin. No, it couldn’t be, she told herself. He wouldn’t know how to cross.
“Go after them, Lettie. And whatever you do, make certain they don’t reach the kiyolo.”
Lettie nodded. “Yes, Ma’am. I’ll send a group out right away. It shouldn’t be difficult. After all, they only number two.” She rose and started to leave.
“And don’t kill them,” Liazar called after her. “I want them brought to me unharmed, especially the man.”
“Hold up, Bethany,” Connor whispered roughly. “I heard something.”
Bethany froze where she stood. Surrounded by the sharp glass-like stones, she watched as reflections of her image bounced back at her. She scanned the area, but it was no use. The sides of the passage came up over her head, so she had to rely on Connor to direct her. “What is it?”
“I’m not sure. It’s probably someone moving in for a closer look.”
“What are you talking about? Are we being followed?” Bethany asked, her nerves on edge.
Connor nodded. “Ever since we entered this God-forsaken place.”
“And you didn’t tell me.” It was more a statement than a question. “Why not, Connor Jessup? I have a right to know what’s going on. After all, it’s my daughter we’re after.”
“Look, there was no sense in getting you all upset and worried. It may have been for nothing. I’m used to tracking and being tracked. Besides, I’ve been keeping an eye out—” Connor stopped speaking and gestured to Bethany to look up.
“And a fine eye it was,” Bethany commented. A woman dressed in a long, flowing robe stood just above, pointing a sword at them. She was flanked by several other figures dressed in a similar fashion and all armed in the same manner. “Who are you? What do you want with us?”
“Names do not matter where you are going.” The woman turned to speak to the other women.
Bethany frowned. There was something familiar about her, but what?
One of the women spoke to the one holding the sword. “I don’t know,
Esther. The Priestess said we shouldn’t harm them.”
Bethany reeled. It was Esther, the one who had stolen her daughter. She looked closer at the woman and recalled the vision where Sarah left with the Eitellan. “You took my child,” Bethany murmured.
“Quiet,” Connor whispered roughly.
“What did she say?” Esther demanded of Connor.
“Nothing, Ma’am. She’s a bit touched, if you know what I mean.” Connor pointed at his head.
Esther nodded. “You two climb out of there, I have someone who wants to talk to you.” She eyed Bethany then looked back at Connor. “It’ll be your hide if she causes any trouble.”
Connor climbed up the side of the black obsidian, sliding back down several times until, at last, he found a foothold. Once on top, he pulled Bethany to the surface where the other two Eitellans met them. “Well, this is quite a welcome,” Connor observed with a smile.
Bethany elbowed him in the ribs. “What are you doing?” she whispered frantically in his ear.
Connor continued to smile at the women. “Just making friends.”
“Enough talking. Walk ahead of us.” Esther motioned with the tip of the broad sword.
It was obvious to Bethany this woman enjoyed being in charge. Well, if she got the chance, she’d take that sword from Esther and gut her with it.
As they picked their way slowly through the lava fields that were interspersed with the obsidian, Connor fell to his knees.
“Get up!” one of the guards demanded.
“I can’t. Bethany, help me.”
Bethany rushed to his side and kneeled down. Esther tried to push her away, but Bethany held firm. “I’m a healer. He needs me.” As she spoke, her eyes shifted from topaz to azure. The guards took a step backward.
“Tell me, Connor. What’s wrong?”
“Pull the gun out of my belt,” he spoke quietly so only she could hear. “You know, the metal thing.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You heard me. I’m fine. Just do what I said. Pretend it’s a healing tool.”
Bethany nodded, remembering Connor had called it his protection. Well, perhaps it would help them now. She pulled the gun out and waved it around his head in a circle, then passed it over his chest. When she got to his stomach, she pretended to accidentally drop it. Connor scooped it up in a blink and jumped to his feet. Before anyone could react, he fired a shot at Esther. He caught her in the arm. She fell to the ground, dropping the sword.
Another of the Eitellans picked up the sword. Running forward, she screamed some unintelligible words as she lunged for him. One shot to the leg and she, too, crumpled. The remaining sentry stood still, eyeing Connor and Bethany. Slowly, she raised her weapon over her head. Before he could fire again, the woman turned and ran.
“Well, that was easy enough,” Connor said, inserting more bullets into the barrel of his gun. He squatted and felt the two women’s necks for a pulse. “They’re alive.”
“What is that weapon? We have nothing like it on Keilah. Can it kill?”
“It’s called a Colt Forty-Five—one of the weapons of choice for law enforcement in the west.” He looked at Bethany curiously. “Of course it can kill.” Glancing down at the two women where they lay, he continued. “Any special reason you want to know?”
Bethany punched him in the arm. “Why didn’t you finish her off, then?” She pointed at Esther. “That woman deserves to die!”
“Easy, Bethany. Maybe you should sit or something. You need to calm down.”
Bethany took a deep breath, her healing nature warring with her need for revenge. “She stole Sarah from me,” she gritted between her teeth.
“I’m sorry. But I can’t kill her in cold blood. In any case, she isn’t in any condition to bother anyone for a while.” He peered at Bethany. “Are you all right, now?” Connor asked.
Bethany nodded.
“Good. You had me worried for a minute there.” He scanned the direction where the remaining Eitellan guard had fled. “How many more do you think are out there?”
“I have no idea,” Bethany replied, her hands on her hips. “The only thing I do know is that we’re going to need help to get past their defenses. You were right about what you said earlier. It looks like this place is heavily guarded.” She blinked hard and wiped her eyes, fighting the tears of frustration that threatened. “This isn’t going to be easy.”
“No it won’t be, but we’ll fight all the harder for your daughter. Where can we find help?”
“At my father’s. He’s there and so is Ian.”
“Ian?”
“He’s a long-time family friend.”
“Friend, eh?” Connor eyed her. “How far is it to your father’s?”
She studied the position of the sun and scanned the landscape in the distance. “Not far. I recognize the rock formations over there.” Bethany pointed toward a rust-colored rock tower with small piles of boulders piled up on either side. “If the weather holds, we can make it there sometime tomorrow. I remember an abandoned Digger camp not too far from here. We can hide out there for the night.”
“Sounds good by me. Now, let’s get the hell out of here before they come back with reinforcements. He jumped down into the crevice and caught Bethany as she did likewise. Then he climbed up onto the other side and pulled Bethany up as well.
After Bethany and Connor had walked for several rods, the obsidian gave way to small brown and black stones. Beyond that was another tree line, but there were no conifers this time, only broadleafs. The leaves were few as the winter frosts had damaged and killed most of them.
“These’ll be much easier to pass through,” Bethany remarked. “They don’t have that evil stinging sap the conifers possess. The camp is somewhere near here. On the other side of these trees, I think.”
Passing through the woods, they spied the small, makeshift village. “You were right, Bethany. Looks like an old mining ghost town, with those small clapboard houses,” Connor commented.
“We are miners, of sorts, except we don’t dig for treasures, we dig for the past.”
Approaching the cabins, Bethany and Connor walked from building to building, looking for the least damaged one in which to spend the night. There had been no digging in this area for years and the cabins were badly neglected. Bethany shook her head. Who would have guessed the Kiyolo of the Night lay just on the other side of the woods?
Finally, they found a cabin with the roof and sides still intact. Bethany pulled the door open.
“Home sweet home,” Connor said upon entering the old dwelling. The inside walls were weathered silvery-gray wood. He took a step forward and the floorboards creaked under his weight. He held out his arm, stopping Bethany.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
“Wait a minute while I test this floor. They feel rotten.”
Bethany pushed past him. “Don’t be ridiculous, Connor. This place was constructed of truewood. It never rots. How do you think these cabins have survived for so long?” She opened the only window in the one room shanty. It was musty, but at least it would provide protection from any ice storms they may get later that evening.
“Wood that doesn’t rot? I’ve never heard of such a thing. What do you do when you want to get rid of it?”
“Burn it.” Bethany smiled. “Now why don’t you see if you can find some wood for a fire? If you want, you could probably use some from the cabin next door. It looks like it’s beyond repair anyway.” Bethany began to shake out the blankets that had been left piled in the corner, stirring up a great cloud of dust.
Connor started coughing, waving his arm in front of him. “I’d be happy too, if only to get out of this infernal twister you’re creating.”
She stopped shaking the coverlet. “All right. I’m done. Now, off with you. I’m worried about being able to k
eep warm tonight. We might have a roof and four walls, but their ability to insulate against the cold is questionable at best.”
“You know, we might just have to rely on body heat to keep us cozy. I’ve had to do that before, when I was stranded out in the desert at night.”
“And who did you keep cozy with?” Bethany asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Uh, no one you’d know.”
“That’s a safe bet I’d say.” Bethany walked over to the fireplace, shaking her head. Picking up a small broom fashioned from twigs, she began to brush out the remains of the last fire that had been lit here.
Connor approached her, putting his hand on her shoulder. “Angel,” he began.
Bethany’s breath caught in her throat. She wanted to lean into Connor. Wanted his arms around her but not now, not like this. Not when she was so worried about Sarah and he was just waking up from his drunken grief about Elizabeth. “Whatever conversation we need to have will have to wait until after we get Sarah back home,” she said softly. “Please.”
His deep sigh tickled the fine hairs on the back of her neck. “All right,” he said. “I’ll be back later.”
She glanced over her shoulder and watched Connor as he strode out the door. She smiled in spite of herself. Remembering his embrace of the night before, she hugged her arms tightly about her. There was something familiar and comforting about his touch. If they had to share bodily warmth, how would they keep from becoming intimate?
Chapter 21
The night ushered in another ice storm and the shards beat incessantly at the roof of the small wood dwelling. Bethany stood with one hand resting on the primitive shelf the previous owner had placed over the fireplace. Glancing up, she worried the flat shingles wouldn’t hold together. It wasn’t unusual for the sharp hail to break through a thin piece of wood or tear into a person’s skin if it hit at the right angle. At least if it did break through, the impact would be softened and the ice could do no further damage to either of them.
Connor squatted and added another log to the fire. “It sounds like a rock slide out there,” he said in a loud voice so he could be heard over the din.