by Dan Decker
As Adar approached, the roof of the home behind Barc sprung into flame when a burning tinder settled on the dry wood.
The bleeding man will die if I leave him here, Adar thought. I need him, but I can’t use him as he is.
The house Adar had pointed out to Kura was untouched as yet by the flame. The door had been pushed shut, which he assumed meant that Kura had followed his advice.
He thought he saw a face in the window, but with all the smoke in the air, he was having trouble telling for certain.
The whole side of the street had less than ten minutes. If Kura was watching, she was going to assume that he was trying to slip away. He paused where he stood and turned toward the house, waving his arms as if trying to get her attention. He made a beckoning motion. Hopefully, that would forestall any claim on her part that he been planning to abandon them.
As Adar ran towards Barc, he made a quick detour to a cluster of Hunwei remains. He was disappointed to find nothing but destroyed blasters among the charred armor. Two of the weapons had been too close to the bodies and had melted, the other one had broken in three places.
The weaknesses of the Hunwei weapons irked Adar. A blaster might kill more efficiently, but if the Hunwei had been carrying swords, he would have had a lot to choose from. How many of the blasters had been destroyed by the tower? How many had he tossed aside because they had stopped working?
Such a confounded waste.
Shaking his head, he sprinted towards Barc. Just before he got to the porch, the door of Kura’s house flung open, and she marched out with Lars hanging off her side. She held the blaster in her free hand, which she shook at Adar as she marched in his direction.
I'm not running from you. Adar sighed. He would have yelled, but the commotion of the flames made it impossible for her to hear him. The way she held the blaster wasn’t going to do her any good should she need to fire it, but he supposed if Isak or one of his goons were watching, it would give them pause.
Barc didn't look up as Adar skid to a stop, gravel from the road sliding underneath his feet as he did. Barc's face and hands had a light dusting of soot, it was nothing compared to Adar. There were streaks through the soot on Barc’s face, he cleared his throat repeatedly as if trying to hock up a wad of spit. His mouth was open, and it wasn’t until Adar was in front of him that it became apparent he was moaning.
Adar shook his head, wondering what more he could to do to convince the man that Soret was just fine. He'd told Barc the truth, but if Adar had been in Barc's position, he would have had a hard time believing it as well.
If Barc were to stick with him long enough, he would take him to another entrance for the Arches. He would have no choice but to believe once he saw how it worked.
A distant part of Adar was surprised that he wasn’t more bothered by Barc’s attempts on Jorad’s life. Perhaps it was because Barc was in such a bad place or maybe it was the fact that Adar knew Barc didn’t pose much of a threat to Jorad anyway.
Or maybe I’m in such a shock from the events of the day that his confession hasn’t settled in yet. Compared to Tere’s, it is quite minor.
Right now Adar needed help more than he needed to punish the man for his actions. Barc and Kura were what he had. He shook his head. He would take allies wherever he could get them, but what good was a broken man and a woman saddled with a babe?
Barc mumbled underneath his breath. As Adar knelt before him, he was just able to understand the words.
“Gone, gone, gone. I can't believe I lost her too. What kind of bleeding Melyah cursed fool am I?”
“I need your help,” Adar said, shaking his shoulder. “We need to capture a Hunwei ship. Come, we don't have much time. After that, I’ll take you to Soret.”
Barc snorted as he looked up. “Always wanting something from me, aren’t you? Barc do this, Barc do that. Your daughter’s alive! When she clearly is not.” His eyes were bloodshot, and his lips formed a sneer. “Can’t you just give it a rest? They’re gone I tell you, gone! Saw it with my own eyes. That’s something a man shouldn’t have to see, the death of his only child.”
“Soret lives and I'll take you to her if you help me.”
“You can drop the charade,” Barc said, baring his teeth. “Why are you trying to motivate me with a lie? I know what kind of man you are. Heard it from Neare and Erro. They told me the truth about you. You're wanted for murder. I might not have believed it so readily if I hadn't witnessed Jorad killing my friends so easily. But I saw what I saw. Murderers can't love. You don’t care. About her or anyone else.”
Adar stared into the man’s eyes, wondering if he was wasting time. Melyah! Enough Hunwei had come from the crash that all of the ships could be preparing to leave. Not to mention any other turncoats left in the city or any Hunwei from the second ship he’d seen go down. He scanned the sky, but it was clear. That didn’t mean much, though, there were a lot of smoke and clouds in the sky.
“There is a difference between murder and killing that needs to be done,” Adar said. These allegations were old news to him. In a twisted way, he had become accustomed to being called a murderer. After being accused of murdering Nelion, none of the other accusations ever bothered him much.
It was Neare that had been making thinly veiled accusations right before everything had gone bad back at Neberan.
“Jorad killed without hesitation,” Barc said. “He's done it before. Gorew came out of nowhere and the next thing I knew he was on the ground with a hole in his chest. I remember when he was a lad. He wasn’t much older than my Soret.” His voice choked up as he finished the sentence.
Came out of nowhere, huh? Jorad wouldn't have shot Gorew without provocation. I’d bet all I have that Gorew was charging with a sword. That’s an important detail Erro left out, and you're conveniently forgetting about too. Perhaps that’s why Neare wasn’t so intent to kill me as well.
“Would you rather Jorad have waited for Gorew to lop off his head? Come off it man. I saw the sword in Gorew's hand. It was Jorad or Gorew. It’s only fair Gorew went down since he was the one that forced the issue. Can you honestly tell me you would have done differently in Jorad’s position?”
“You defend him?” Barc’s voice sharpened. “After all he’s done? My daughter’s dead—”
“Listen to yourself! You’re so wrapped up in your anger you’re not thinking. Jorad did nothing to provoke—”
“Nothing?” Barc stumbled to his feet and almost toppled over. He reached out and used the back of the bench he’d been seated on to steady himself. “Nothing? He almost slit Gorew’s throat the night Neberan was invaded.”
Adar snorted. “Jorad could have killed him, but he chose instead to spare his life.”
“Well, he’s dead now. Why not spare him twice?”
“He would still be alive if he hadn’t attacked. The choice was his.”
Barc straightened, and his arm moved as if to go for the hilt of his sword.
Adar didn’t do the same. Instead, he’d glowered at Barc whose hand froze, hovering in the air above his belt. Adar had had enough and couldn’t afford to waste much more time on the man. This conversation wasn’t getting them anywhere, and the Hunwei were escaping.
“You need to decide. Do you want to see your daughter again? I can take you to her. If not, that’s fine too. I do recommend you get out of the city. The fire’s spreading. Give it a few more minutes, and you won’t recognize this street.”
Flame had covered the roof of the house while they’d been talking. Adar could feel the heat from where he stood, but it was nothing like what he’d just escaped back in the alleyway. A pleasant warmth compared to the terror of the alley.
A glance over his shoulder showed that Kura was almost to them. Adar’s eyes fell on her blaster, and he wondered if she’d willingly give it back to him. Probably not. She was too prickly a woman for him to want to get into that anyway, considering it would likely be good for only a few shots. It was better not to start the discussion. How ironic would
it have been if he had forced an argument, only to have it die after one shot?
Lars stared at the burning buildings on the other side of the street, his eyes big and his mouth open. We have to get him somewhere safe. The only question is where? The arches had been Adar’s plan, but now he was at a loss about what to do for the babe. Should he abandon the idea of getting a ship and make for the other entrance to the Arches?
No! Who knows when I’ll get another opportunity. Kura will just have to take Lars out of town until we can meet up with her.
“Why would I team up with you?” Barc asked, his voice raw. “I saw Neare’s poster. It was you. No wonder why Jorad was so quick to kill. He gets it from you.”
Adar growled at Barc’s stubbornness. “Some men need killing. Maybe sometime we can have a conversation about the concept, but can you agree that every last Hunwei we bring down is a good thing?”
Barc was red in the face, his lips working but nothing coming out.
Why did Adar even bother? There was too little time left to spend it suffering a fool. This man had tried to kill Jorad, and while that seemed a small thing compared to Nelion’s murderer, it was becoming harder for Adar to ignore, particularly as more details about what had happened came out. He inhaled and let it out slowly while he uncurled hands that had formed into fists.
Barc didn't move.
“And even if I'm spinning a story about Soret still being alive, do you want to pass up on the chance I might just be telling the truth?”
Barc was glowering now.
“Bleeding Melyah, man! I’m the one chance you have at getting her back. It’s either that or you can just mourn her death. Either way, I’m done here.”
“Leave her out of this! I know what I saw.”
“You don’t.” Adar snorted in disgust as he walked away. What a waste of time. “Forget about it. You want her dead so bad? Fine, she’s dead.”
Adar walked in silence towards Kura, wishing he had left the man alone. When he glanced back, Barc had come down off the porch of the home and was staring up at the roof. He quivered at the sight of flames, his shoulders slumped.
Barc stomped towards Adar while shaking his fist, a look of determination on his face that was a little surprising.
Perhaps there was more mettle in the man than Adar had thought.
“If you're lying,” Barc sputtered. “I'll kill you! You hear me?”
“Forget it then.” Adar continued walking, heading towards Kura. “Go back to your tears. Find some beer and drink your sorrows away. You’re right! Soret's dead. Gone. Gone. Gone! Forget about her.”
“Do you realize how mad you sound? Claiming she lived through a blazing inferno hotter than the nine fires? Prattling on about how you need to capture a ship? How you gonna do that? The only one I see is in the middle of that blaze over there. You're losing it if you think I'm going to follow you into that!”
“Come with me and find out,” Adar said as he met up with Kura. She looked him up and down, a low whistle escaping her mouth. At least, that’s what he thought she was doing. It was soft enough that it was hard to hear.
“I knew I had to keep watch for you,” she said. “I saw you trying to sneak by.” Lars had an open-mouthed smile for Adar that tugged on his heart. I should just get him out of here. Doubt about his plan crept into the back of his mind.
Adar snorted. “If I meant to leave, why did I beckon to you? Don’t make the mistake of thinking I came back for you. Somebody has to look after Lars. Any person with a straw of common sense would have been gone by now. Naturally, I knew you’d still be here.”
“I help you get a ship and you’ll take me to my daughter?” Barc limped up from behind Adar, his hand now at his side, but clenched in a fist. “You willing to swear it?”
“Not a doubt in my mind. I promise she’s alive, that’s all the oath you get. Come if you want, or not. I don’t care.”
I was hoping to awaken something in the man, but I’ll need to be careful not to push him too far, or he might try to make good on his threat. But angry and ready to fight is better than depressed and despondent.
This I can use.
“Now hold on a minute,” Kura said. “The only person that’s lacking sense is you. Most people run away from fires not into them. Look at your hand! You got blisters all over it.”
Adar looked at Kura and frowned. “My way out of the city was blocked by the wreckage, we’ll have to use a gate instead. I need you to go out the southern gate. A hundred feet down the road you’ll find a boulder, waist high, hide in the woods there. I’ll come find you and Lars. “
Kura bared her teeth. “Your way out of the city is blocked? And now you think you can just go giving orders. What makes you think I’ll obey you?”
You have any better options, lady? You’re the one that keeps telling me how dangerous Isak is.
“Did you see the pack of Hunwei that came out of the alley?” Adar asked instead. “They’re heading towards the center of town. That’s where we’re going. It isn’t safe for Lars to come along. If it were just you, I wouldn’t think twice.”
“You never said anything about going—” Barc begun.
“You’re going to hunt the Hunwei?” Kura asked, cutting Barc off. “Back towards where Isak is looking for you? Did you inhale too much smoke or was your head cooked? You’re like a little boy running around with a burning branch—”
Adar cut Kura off with a glare and spoke over her. “This town won’t last much longer. The fire’s too hot and spreading fast. In case both of you have missed it, we are at war. Do you see any of our people flying with ships in the sky?
“No! There’s a bunch of abandoned ships back there, and I’m going to keep the Hunwei from taking them all. You can either argue and waste time, or you can help me out. Lars is too young to be in the middle of this.” He made a sweeping motion that took in his blackened clothing. “Aren’t you glad he didn’t come along last time? I want to do right by you Kura, but I can’t let an opportunity to capture enemy technology slip away. Do you have a better suggestion?”
“You’re confounded right I do!” Kura spat. “I’m going to find Lars’ mother. After that, I’ll meet you at the rock. If I’m not there, hide in the woods.” She turned her back to Adar while he worked his jaw.
The foolish woman was going to get the little boy killed. He almost chased after her but he said a prayer instead.
Aren’t I turning into a religious man of late? It wasn’t a bad idea to find Lars’ mother, Adar couldn’t fault her for that. He was certain she’d also bring as many of the others she could find. Kura knew the danger Isak posed better than he did. If she could calm down, she should be able to take care of herself.
Lars looked back and made a flapping motion with his hand. Adar smiled when he realized that the boy was waving goodbye.
Adar suppressed a growl and forced a grin as he brought his hand up and made a similar motion. Lars let out a giggle, and Adar wanted nothing more than to follow them and take them out of the city.
The boy will be okay, he told himself. Kura is a determined woman, and she’s better armed than I am. If she comes across Isak, she should be able to handle herself.
He put his hands to his mouth and called out to her. “Don’t forget to push the button in the front!”
Kura made a waving motion with the back of her hand. Well, she had heard him. There was nothing more he could do than that. A small voice in the back of his head said that if she had been Nelion with the baby Jorad, Adar wouldn’t have let them go off alone. Or tried to take a ship while risking them.
A man could only do what a man could do.
“The whole world has gone mad,” Adar mumbled under his breath as he turned away. “I’m half crazed too, but I still look sane in comparison.”
When Barc snorted, Adar realized he’d spoken aloud. He turned to Barc. “I’m done with any more discussion. I could use a hand, but I’d rather not have help from a man who isn’t determine
d to fight the Hunwei until his dying breath. You come with me? I expect that and nothing less.”
“You’ll get it. I noticed you didn’t make an oath, so let me make one of my own. If it turns out you’re lying, I’ll kill you.”
Adar stared into Barc’s eyes, trying to keep a hoot of derision bottled up. Everything he’d been doing had been about getting Barc to man up. This was a start.
“Let’s go get the bleeding monsters that killed your wife.”
Barc’s eyes flared as Adar broke into a run.
Melyah help me, Adar thought. How easy it all comes back. Knowing which buttons to press and the will to make use of it. It had been many years since Adar had motivated somebody to follow him to battle. He had forgotten the struggle that came with it. It was a torturous road, motivating men to fight and kill. Making tough decisions like letting Kura go off on her own.
For a brief moment, he felt like he had, back before he’d fled Rarbon. Guilt for everything he’d done, anger for all that had happened. He pushed it away and ran faster.
Chapter 18
It was difficult for Kura to avoid growling as she stormed away from Adar and the other man. She’d teamed up with Adar because he seemed to have common sense in addition to an ability to fight the Hunwei. It had been a good idea at the time, but now she wasn’t so sure she wouldn’t be better off on her own.
Let him wait around outside the gate wondering if I’m okay, she thought. Maybe then he would appreciate the anxiety she’d experienced about whether or not he was coming back.
The very idea that Adar was going to try to take on the Hunwei to capture one of their ships was laughable, not to mention suicidal. I was wrong about him having a good head on his shoulders if he’s going to try to pull a fool stunt like that. Very wrong.
Adar hadn’t abandoned her, but he might as well have done exactly that because the consequences would be the same when the Hunwei ended up killing him.
Lars bounced on her side and reached back towards Adar, babbling away in his baby talk. The rain didn’t seem to bother him at the moment. His happy mode wasn’t going to last forever, at some point, he was going to get cold and then she’d have to deal with that as well.