The Seeker - Finna's Quest

by E L Russell

  Leeth boiled. He drew his hands into tight fists, whether to clobber the man or gain control, he wasn't certain. In spite of Brother Braylus' request, he wasn't sure he could hold it together. His question barely escaped through his clenched teeth. "Meaning what, exactly?" That Vald was enjoying himself was easily grounds for murder. He wanted to strangle the sorry excuse of a man in the slowest most painful manner.

  "When the Liberi surrendered, we offered them a place in the new order. Of course, they would remain, second-class citizens, until they could prove themselves worthy, but still, we made them a generous offer, don't you think?"

  Hardly.

  “If they do not take advantage of our generosity, the only logical next thing is to sacrifice them to the gods.”

  The Maelstrom.

  “And?” There was more. Leeth heard it in the bastard’s voice and knew something had happened.

  “When the Liberi leader spat on the Silva commander’s shoes, a fight ensued. We had no choice but to defend ourselves.

  “You slaughtered them.”

  "Not all. A few Liberi escaped and fled to the forest. It won't take us long to round them up. They can surrender or be killed where they hide; it makes no difference."

  Vald’s expression had changed in a microsecond to the ice-cold killer Leeth knew him to be. All pretense of civility was gone. “I make you the same offer, live among us or suffer the consequences.”

  “And my team?”

  “You mean the boy, Jamal, and the woman, Finna?” He knocked the back of his hand on Leeth’s chest. “You should have studied the rules, Brother. All living recruits belong to the winning people.”

  Leeth had had enough. He dove for his scrawny throat.

  Vald, however, was quicker than expected for an old man. He lifted his hands, and Leeth collided with what could have been a stone wall. His arms took most of the impact, saving his face for future battles. He stood rubbing his wrists and smiled. Vald always wanted to be the wizard, impressing the natives with his powers. In this case, Leeth knew how hardened glass felt to the touch and had to admire Vald's guile at being able to retrieve his shield by repositioning it as fast as he did to stop Leeth in midair. Getting rid of it just as fast after it saved him was another showman's skill he appreciated. I won’t let that happen again.

  “Guards.”

  Security grabbed both Leeth’s arms and wrenched them behind his back.

  “Another resident for below.” The thin curl of Vald’s lips spoke of longed for revenge. “Double this one’s guards.”

  Two men stood in front of him, and two more stood behind. When the four guards led him to his cell, Vald called after him. "I will enjoy examining our new recruits. Finna has some good qualities, don't you think?"

  * * *

  Leeth woke alone in a watching hole. He was in a battle zone beneath the canopy of vegetation. Where were Finna and Jamal? He had no weapons save his unfettered hands. It was more than he’d hoped for. He rolled to his stomach and peered out through the small space for viewing.

  What first appeared to be one more scrub tree among many, morphed into a person. An old woman dressed in a black dress gazed his way.

  Hallucinating.

  Must be. His water was gone, and he couldn't remember when he'd last eaten. The black-gowned mirage came toward him and stopped several paces away.

  57

  A Possible Solution

  An Unexpected Friend

  The woman in the bleak black dress stood with her fingers laced in front of her like a prim and proper great aunt lost in time. Her passive expression conflicted with piercing blue eyes that stared deep into his soul from behind wrinkles wrapped in wrinkles. Under those creases and crinkles, however, he recognized those eyes, but from where? Or maybe from when? Her presence resonated with something deep within him, yet identification eluded him. She seemed real, yet not quite so.

 

  A disquieting illusion.

 

 

 

 
 

  My redemption? She glided through the low ferns toward a rock that poked from the cluster of plants like a dark tombstone, but didn’t sit.

  His initial joy was soon replaced with a stomach clenching dread. Aleppo. To redeem Yasmin would require a do-over as far back as Aleppo. He couldn’t do it. Not again. Not after so many times. He took a deep breath and started to cough. His mouth was too dry to swallow. Wherever he was, it was a hellhole and he needed to get out. After a long exhale, he said, Of course, he would. Who was he kidding? It was inevitable. He could so nothing else. He would do anything to help Finna.

  He presented the dreaded question.

  < I am neither a prisoner, nor am I affected by the so called sapping stones.> The woman in black didn’t blink.

  He asked again,

  She flashed a thin smile.

  Thank god. He couldn’t begin to express his relief. And now he had help to fulfill his promise to Jamal. He’d promised him he would come up with something to save his mother, but had not come up with ideas.

  The old woman half sat, half leaned against the dark stone.

 

 

  He made a slight bow of acknowledgement and respect for her leadership. She must be a gifted Seeker. She hadn’t admitted to such, but there was no other explanation. The term was one of respect not of biological relationship.

 

 

 
 

  She stood and slipped close to him. ime I’m needed. However, I will be monitoring your progress and we will be discussing the unfolding of this new timeline together. Make no mention of this conversation to the others.>

  The timeline thing was never quite clear to Leeth. Every time he thought he knew what was going on, the Time Overlords did things that surprised and confused him. He took their word as the best solution, and then, they changed it. Then he would accept the next change as the best possible solution. Maybe he was hallucinating after all, but if there was a chance this woman in a black Victorian dress could get him out of prison, prevent Finna’s broken leg, and save Yasmin, that about took care of his wish list. He was all in.

  But, Lord, she looked familiar. Maybe it was more that she felt familiar. Whatever it was, it escaped his brain. It would come to him. He hoped. Nonetheless, it was beginning to irritate him.

 

  Leeth took it and they were instantly transported from the Combat Planet’s green forest to what he thought was a sitting room in a Victorian mansion.

  The woman’s voice sounded as though he should. Slowly, he turned, taking in the décor of Turkish rugs and artistic tapestry hangings from the Victorian age, a compliment to her dress, perhaps.

 

 

 

 

  The hardwood floor yielded to their passing with soft protest. Opening the front door, he admired the intricate design of the stained glass window and the preservation of color on the painted walls. She was right, when he saw the sky, he knew exactly where they were. The mysterious woman’s mansion was within a huge transparent sphere in space.

 

  She held his hand in a firm, yet gentle grip. She took his hand once more and patted it.

  58

  Another Redo

  Back to Crete

  Leeth was back in time on Crete’s north shore sitting high atop the cliff over the cave where Finna, Yasmin, and Jamal first took safety.

  He knew the scene all too well and proof was soon born out by events below. The woman in his mind, true to her word, watched through his remote vizing as Finna and Yasmin thwarted the initial attack of the prince’s men and were searching for a cave. Leeth hesitated before asking the question foremost on his mind.

 

  Being unable to accomplish the redemption himself, he’d felt inadequate and was pleased beyond measure to have the assistance of this mysterious woman who called herself, Mother, to help him accomplish the task. While his primary goal was to help Finna’s close friend, he was also gratified to fulfill his promise to Jamal to retrieve his mother.>

 

  He knew that. It was at the crux of his problem. Mother continued.

 
  He nodded and knew Mother watched him in her viz.

  Leeth sighed heavily. He wanted to go through this situation again as much as he wanted to bath in boiling oil. At least this time would truly be the last. He glanced skyward. Please god, make it so. He waited until the reinforcements Sabas had sent landed from their moored ship. They made their way up the escarpment, through the scrub, and beyond to the high cave where Finna, Yasmin, and Jamal hid. He then repositioned to the landing craft with the mysterious woman, who still vized through his mind and talked in his head.

 

  He looked into the small compartment under the bow.

  the old woman’s voice said in his head.

  Leeth guessed the rest of the plan and approved. It was a good one.

  * * *

  The two women and boy stood in silence against the curvature of the cave’s inner wall listening for sounds of approaching men.

  “Listen,” Yasmin whispered. “They’re coming closer.”

  “They have to hear our voice so they know we’re in here. We must taunt them a little,” Finna said.

  “Surrender. We know you are in there.” Loud shouts and curses accompanied the command.

  The sounds were terrifying and Finna tried to calm her team. “We’re out-numbered. Five or six men, I think.” Focusing on the next step. She schooled the tremor in her voice and shouted her reply. “If you wish to die, come in.”

  A rough voice raspy with disbelief replied. “Two women and a child? You think you can stop us?” Clearly, he thought it was ridiculous.

  “Come and find out for yourselves, you bastards,” Jamal shouted, every bit the brazen cocky warrior.

  “Jamal.” Yasmin grabbed her son’s arm. “No more from you. We will yell the insults.”

  “Everyone needs to call out something,” Finna said. “That way, when they make their report to Sabas and he passes it on to the Prince, everyone will be able to say they heard three voices.”

  “You pigs. Come get us.”

  “Mom.”

  “Yes, yes,” she said. “I can also contribute. Come and get us, you sons of whores.”

  “Mom.”

  “You said I needed to shout something and we want them to come for us, right?

  “Yes,” Finna laughed. “Well done.”

  They crouched in the shadows knowing the men would be stealthy to get as close as possible. The soft whistle of a thrown pot announced their attack and Finna and Yasmin ran for the rear exit with Jamal in tow. When the rancid oil bust into flame behind them, it ignited the cache of Greek fire Finna had planted by the entrance and the power of the explosion threw their enemy from of the cave.

  * * *

  The Ancient Victorian woman laughed with pleasure.

  They had jumped ahead in time in order to witness the loud blast from the cave. The ensuing fireball exceeded their expectations.

  Leeth’s face split in a grin.

 

  Finna, with the bag with their treasure and the chalices clutched in her hand, led Yasmin and Jamal through a narrow, hidden back exit from the cave then furtively for cover in the low scrub.

  Leeth’s heart beat as if he had made the run himself.

  The woman smiled.
 

  She waved her hand in dismissal.

  That was the important thing. Since the man was like one possessed, Leeth’s big concern was that the proof be absolute.

  ke the story of what happened as well as the incinerated remains to Sabas, who will deal with the prince. He may pass the bodies on to the prince or not. In this time period, they have no scientific way to determine whose bones they are and as long as they have two adult skulls and child’s, that should do the trick.>

  Leeth felt a relief so great, he thought he could fly. Finally, the deed was done.

 

  The woman was thorough and he liked that.

 

  He didn’t use the term Mother. The word seemed wrong with the niggling feeling he knew her.

 

  He stretched out his arms.

 

  He had flustered her and wondered why.

  she said, and her voice seemed more relaxed.

 

 

  59

  The Complete Team

  Friends

  Outside the safety of the compound and beyond its protection, Finna woke feeling weighted down. Choosing to spend the night hidden under low scrubs with weapons at their sides, she and her crew had not built a fire. She lay on her back gazing upward at the densely intertwined branches in the thick canopy of green above. The squat trees held hands to remain upright in the sarding oppressive gravity.