by Gun Brooke
“I’m Ayahliss.” There was a tone of despair in Ayahliss’s voice and something else, something Beqq couldn’t interpret.
“You’re Gantharian, aren’t you?” Beqq asked as they entered the elevator.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And you came back with Ms. O’Dal and the admiral after their latest visit to your home planet?”
“Yes, ma’am.” The monotonous answer didn’t give anything away, but Beqq thought she could see tears glitter in Ayahliss’s eyelashes.
“And you, young man, are out on an adventure without your security detail. What is going on?”
“It’s my fault,” Armeo said passionately. “Ayahliss tried to talk me out of it, but I was so bored and thought perhaps I had enough money to buy—”
“Surely you know better,” Beqq said. “I have just been briefed about what’s happened to your grandmother. I expected more from you, since we work very hard to keep you safe.”
“Don’t talk to him like that,” Ayahliss said, eyes flashing with anger and her fists tightened by her sides. “He’s just a boy, younger than he looks to you, and it’s hardly a crime that he wanted to go look at some toys.”
Ayahliss’s defense of Armeo was interesting, but Beqq had to prove a point. “He’s not simply a boy. He’s the heir to the throne of a country that’s at war with a very dangerous adversary prepared to go to any extreme to get the upper hand. Armeo, you have to learn to take all precautions and not to test your friend’s loyalty like this. Do you understand?”
Armeo nodded, slumping a little, but he didn’t avert his eyes. “Yes, Judge.”
“Good. Now we’re going to talk to your grandfather. I also have a few words to exchange with your security detail.”
“It’s not their fault either, ma’am,” Armeo said. “We sneaked out.”
Beqq tapped his chin with a gentle finger and couldn’t hold back a strong wave of affection for the boy. This child obviously stole everyone’s heart. “Oh, son, that’s where you’re wrong. This situation is very much their fault. Your guards were left in charge of you.” Beqq was furious and looked forward to having them stand at attention while she gave them her opinion before sending them back to their commanding officer.
*
The forest was almost quiet just before dark. The scents seemed stronger, and every plant glowed as it bathed in the setting sun’s rays that filtered through the trees. Dwyn rested against a rock and watched Emeron’s unit work with the marines to make camp. She had offered to help, but the marines had politely declined, one insisting on calling her ma’am and treating her as if she were frailty personified. If she hadn’t been so exhausted, her lungs burning with every breath, she would have shoved the big marine away and still done her bit. As it turned out, she was happy to sit and simply focus on breathing.
“Hi, I’m Leanne D’Artansis. I know we were introduced before, but we haven’t had a chance to say hello properly.” Uninvited, Leanne sat down next to her and pulled out a bottle. “You look like you need a drink.”
“Thanks. Mine’s empty.” Grateful, and charmed by Leanne’s friendly manner, she sipped some water. “Mmm. Just what I needed.”
“Then why didn’t you ask for a new bottle? You’ve been sitting here looking more and more parched.”
“I didn’t want to bother everyone while they’re setting up camp. I was going to get one later.”
“All right. But you know, when we’re in the bush, this far from civilian territory, you shouldn’t risk getting dehydrated.” Leanne’s gentle criticism hit home.
“I know. And it wasn’t that bad. You’re right, though.”
“Trying to prove to Emeron that you can keep up the pace?”
She flinched. Was she that transparent? “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Well, it’s sort of obvious how she looks at you. Concerned. Worried about you. A bit more than just carrying out her duty to protect you.”
“It is?”
“Only because Owena and I went through a period like that. Doubt. Self-doubt. Intrigue. Stuff that can’t be denied.” Leanne shrugged. “It took us a while to eliminate the barriers. Especially Owena. She’s more like Emeron than I am, even if Emeron is my relative.”
“She doesn’t talk about her family much.”
“That’s not a bad thing. Our family is snobbish and a bit of a nuisance when you want to stay independent. They like to keep everyone neatly inside the fold.” Lines appeared around Leanne’s soft, full lips. “They can make it hard for you if they want to. Emeron and I try to stay under the radar as much as possible, each in our own way.”
“I know more about that than you think. I had to go through a pretty bad break with my parents before I managed to gain my independence. They wanted me to follow in their footsteps and live a nomadic life in space.”
“And you?”
“I wanted to work for a worthy cause, make a difference, but on my own terms. I’m based on Earth but travel a lot. Guess I became something of a nomad after all.”
“At least you have a home, a constant, to return to.” Leanne patted her hand. “Owena and I are discussing where we’ll live once we decide to cut back on work.” She wrinkled her nose. “Not on Corma. I showed Owena my favorite spots on this planet, but I don’t want to live here.”
“Your family has long arms?”
“Very long.” Leanne looked broody for a moment, but then she lit up, her good-natured temperament taking over again. “But not long enough to reach inside the Disi-Disi forest.”
“That’s good.” Dwyn grinned and felt some of the fatigue leave her. Leanne was a nice new acquaintance, and it was impossible not to respond to her. She began to laugh, but the laughter turned into a coughing fit. She sipped some more water to mitigate the attack, but her lungs crackled and burned. When she tried to inhale, the pain in her chest created nauseating images in her mind of how her lungs must be burned to a crisp.
“Oh, Dwyn. Are you all right?” Leanne’s voice reached her, but she couldn’t answer. She could only cough and wheeze.
“What’s wrong?” Another voice, was that the protector?
Dwyn looked up, but the asphyxia was blurring her vision. She tried not to cough, but her body had other ideas. Her field of vision shrank as she tried to control the convulsions. “Em-er-on. Em…” Dwyn knew she was slipping into unconsciousness and found herself floating above her own body. She watched as Kellen O’Dal and Leanne pulled her flat onto the ground and began to resuscitate her. Resuscitate? Am I dying? Or already dead? She was relieved that the pain was gone and she didn’t have to cough anymore. She was fully intending to let go when she saw Emeron running toward the small group of people around her.
“Dwyn, Dwyn.”
*
Emeron shoved the others aside, not caring that the famous protector was one of them. “Mogghy, the med kit.”
“On my way, ma’am.”
Emeron breathed oxygen into Dwyn while she waited for Mogghy. Her cold fingertips slipped on Dwyn’s sweat-slicked skin, but she felt a tiny, fluttering pulse.
“Here, ma’am. The imbulizer.”
She injected the medication directly into Dwyn’s jugular, not daring to detour around deep muscle tissue. A few seconds ticked by, endless moments while she held her breath.
“Look. She’s breathing,” Leanne said, relief in her voice. “What was in that thing?”
“Her lungs were damaged twice.” Emeron followed every breath, intent on how Dwyn’s chest moved slowly up and down. “We haven’t been able to treat them properly. This alveoli stabilizer is temporary. I’m afraid she may need a transplant.”
“I’m sure the SC will get her the best-quality synthetic lungs,” Leanne said. “She’s coming to. Hi, Dwyn. Take it easy. You fainted.”
“Ridiculous,” Dwyn muttered, her voice thick. “I never faint. Water.”
“Here.” Emeron pulled Dwyn up onto her shoulder and helped her take small sips. “I gave you som
e more medication, to hold you until we get back. We should have you extracted—”
“No.” Still sounding dazed, Dwyn was as stubborn as ever. “Not leaving.”
“All right, all right. Just relax.” Emeron held Dwyn tight to physically prevent her from making her condition worse. “Evacuation’s probably impossible anyway, at this point.”
Someone knelt next to them, and Admiral Jacelon cupped Dwyn’s chin in her hand. “You look better. A good night’s rest, four hours’ worth, will put color back in your cheeks.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“She’s tough, Admiral,” Emeron said. She had misjudged Dwyn’s strength and didn’t want the admiral and the protector to do the same. Besides, she needed the reassurance too.
“She looks it,” Kellen said, surprising her. “I believe your tent is erected over by that group of trees. Yhja will share with Ensign Noor, and Trom with Commander Mogghy and Ensign Oches. I understand it’s important for the Disians that things are conducted properly, even under these circumstances.”
“Yes, they insist on enforcing their traditions,” she said, without her usual sarcasm. “The youngsters can’t sleep in the same tent.”
“Well, it’s all taken care of,” Leanne said from above. “Dwyn, Emeron, can we help, or—?”
“We’re fine,” Dwyn murmured, and tried to get up.
“Stop that.” Emeron rose and pulled Dwyn with her, lifting her with one arm around her back and the other under her knees. “Thank you, everybody. I’ll let you know if we need anything.” She walked over to the tent and guided Dwyn inside. Seeing how exhausted she was, Emeron began to undress her and assisted Dwyn as she reached for the thermo-coveralls. “Good choice,” she said. “It’ll probably be cold tonight. There aren’t any clouds to keep the heat accumulated in the forest today from irradiating.”
“You’ll be here, right?” Dwyn sighed. “We can share.”
“What?” Her heart fluttered.
“First rule of survival in cold and hostile terrain. Shared bodily warmth.”
“Oh, that.” She kissed Dwyn’s forehead as she tucked her into the bedroll. She was so grateful to Leanne and Kellen for keeping Dwyn breathing until she reached them. Losing this amazing woman was unthinkable. The future waiting for them when this assignment was over was fuzzy, but she didn’t want to dwell on it. Dwyn was as dedicated to her career as she was to her unit, and their opposing points of views regarding so many things were too depressing to consider right now.
Closing her mind to these speculations, she didn’t bother to change. She briefly ran the sanitizer rod over herself and then over Dwyn’s clothes. She poked her head out and watched the camp calm down. One of the marines and one of her junior officers were taking the first watch together. Everything was quiet as darkness fell among the tall trees. The marine had a pot steaming over a plasma heater, and Emeron knew they should have eaten something, but she was too tired and still too upset. They’d make up for it by having energy bars and a vitamin shot before they headed out at dawn.
She crawled back, slid into Dwyn’s bedroll, and pulled her own on top of them, creating a warm cocoon to keep Dwyn from freezing. Dwyn shifted restlessly in her sleep and suddenly rolled over on her other side, facing Emeron. She curled up under Emeron’s chin and drew a deep breath that—Emeron thanked every single mythical Disian forest creature she could think of—was clear and free of wheezing.
“Imer-Ohon-Da…” Dwyn nuzzled Emeron’s neck where her collar left some skin available. “You really are, you know, a hesiyeh sohl. Sleep tight, maitele.”
She couldn’t listen to the tender words any longer or her heart would implode. She pressed her lips to Dwyn’s, which prevented Dwyn from talking but didn’t reduce the uncontrolled feelings that made her taste so sweet.
*
“I assume Judge Beqq has already told both of you why this was dangerous and shortsighted?” Ewan Jacelon squinted as he stood in front of Armeo and Ayahliss. “We can’t afford another risk like that.”
Armeo cleared his throat. He had never thought he’d disappoint the man he admired more than any other male figure. Remembering how he’d felt when Rae’s father gave him permission to call him Granddad, Armeo wanted to cry, but was determined not to. He glanced briefly at Ayahliss, who stood rigid by his side, looking like she was prepared to be punished. No, it was more than that, he realized. Ayahliss’s expression was that of someone who’d lost everything. If his granddad hadn’t been looking at them so closely, Armeo would have squeezed her hand to offer comfort.
“You can’t stay here,” Granddad continued. “The situation is too dangerous.”
“I see, sir. I understand,” Ayahliss whispered, her voice hollow.
“I’m glad one of you does. You’ll be moved before word spreads that the Prince of Gantharat is on Corma. Judge Beqq has offered a very good option that will keep you safe and prevent anything like this from happening again.”
“If I am permitted to ask,” Ayahliss said, and Armeo flinched at her pained voice, “how long do I have, and where am I going?”
“I’m not sure I follow,” Granddad said. “We should get you out of here ASAP. Within an hour, at the latest.”
“May I say good-bye to the prince, sir?” She was trembling now, and blue tears rolled down her cheeks. “I know I failed him. I failed you and all the trust Kellen and Rae put in me. I repaid you badly for the kindness your wife has shown me, but please, if I could just have a chance to say good-bye to Armeo—”
“What’s she talking about, Granddad? Where’s she going? Are you sending her away?” Dread filled Armeo and he threw himself at Ayahliss, who steadied him as she hugged him fiercely.
“No, no, no. We’re not splitting you up. Whatever gave you that idea?” Granddad’s voice seemed to come from far away, but finally reached Armeo. He gazed up at Ayahliss’s tear-stained face. “Did you hear that? It wasn’t what you thought. Did you hear it?”
“Yes.” She nodded quickly. “I heard. Gods of Gantharat, I heard.”
Granddad walked over and wrapped his arms awkwardly around both of them. Armeo giggled at the look of astonishment on Ayahliss’s face, which set her off, since she could never remain serious when he laughed. Granddad blinked and looked utterly confused before he smiled back at them. “Crazy kids. What did I do to deserve you?”
“Probably all those sinful days in your youth, Admiral,” Judge Beqq said from the door. “Glad I missed all the drama. I don’t do tears very well. Are they ready yet? The Dalathea’s captain assures me that the guest quarters are fully stocked with games and literature age-appropriate for Armeo’s age, and Ayahliss’s too.”
“We’re going with you to a ship in orbit?” Armeo asked. “But what about Granddad?”
“I’m coming too. I’ll be working with the Dalathea’s sensor-array technicians to look for your grandmother that way.”
Armeo held on to the people most precious to him after his mothers. He couldn’t remember when he’d started to think of Kellen and Rae like that. He only knew it felt right. “Thank you.”
“Don’t scare your old granddad like that again.”
“I won’t.”
“And take better care of Ayahliss.”
“I will.” Armeo realized now that Ayahliss had paid the highest price for their adventure. “I will.”
“Good.” Ayahliss blinked the last tears away and hugged Armeo before she dug her fingertips into his ribs and tickled him until he screamed for mercy.
Chapter Nineteen
The searing sound was strangely familiar. Kellen let go of Rae enough to get on her knees inside their tent. “Rae. Wake up.” She pulled on her coveralls and grabbed her sidearm. “We’re under attack.”
Rae was already sitting up, reaching for her weapon. She had slept in her coveralls and now shoved her feet into her boots. Kellen did the same and then carefully opened the tent flap. The air was heavy with morning mist, and multicolored beams crisscrossed the c
learing.
Kellen could hear loud voices inside the other tents, but what drew her attention was Ensign Noor’s still body in the center of the circle of tents. “One down,” she reported to Rae.
“Who the hell is firing on us? And from where?”
“They’ve surrounded us, whoever they are.” Kellen tucked her weapon into one of her back holsters and glanced at her scanner. “I don’t detect anything on sensors. This doesn’t make sense. I’ll check on Ensign Noor.”
“Damn it. I’ll try and reach Oches’s tent where the communication device is.”
Kellen crawled outside, her body flat to the ground as she hurried over to Noor. At first she feared the worst, but when she pressed two fingers to Noor’s neck, she found a strong and steady pulse. She signaled to Rae, who’d made it halfway to Oches’s tent by now.
“Commander O’Dal,” someone called from Kellen’s left. Emeron D’Artansis was advancing toward her. “This isn’t the mercenaries. We’ve been attacked once before by spy bots, and I’m certain whoever’s sent them has launched more to try and finish the job.”
“You’ve been attacked before in this forest and never bothered to let us know?” Kellen glared at Emeron.
“I made the mistake of thinking they wouldn’t venture this far. Someone trying to destroy Dwyn’s investigation has probably programmed them. Also, last time we were able to pick them up on sensors. This stealth mode is new.”
“They’re after Ms. Izontro and taking us out one by one in the process.” Kellen motioned toward Noor. “We need to drag her out of the line of fire.”
“Is she—?”
“She’s alive. So far.” She helped Emeron pull Noor over to one of the tents, where the two marines hauled her inside. The two men then joined her and Emeron as they crawled just within the perimeter of the circle of tents.
“The tent’s protective mesh-alloy should deflect this type of fire,” she murmured, “but we can’t be certain.”