by L. S. O'Dea
He was right. A sickness could sweep through the camp killing fast and indiscriminately. It’d happened before and even if Kim and her mother managed to cure this illness, at some point, the camp would go back to the way it was. Other Almightys had to be unhappy about losing all the meat. Eventually, Kim and her mother would be forced to follow the rules.
She touched his forearm, drawing his gaze to her. “We’ll get them out.”
“You’ll help?” His brown eyes sparked with hope.
“Yes, I’ll help.” Dad was going to be pissed and Gaar would complain about her having too many friends, but she couldn’t refuse him. It was his family and he was her friend.
“Thank you!” He grabbed her and lifted her in his arms, swinging her around.
She hugged him. It was too bad that there was only friendship between them. He’d be a good mate. Their eyes met and held for a moment and then he put her down, stepping away and blushing slightly.
“How far along is Stuart’s mate?” It’d been awkward between them each time after they’d kissed. Since he hadn’t tried to kiss her in a long time, she was pretty sure that he didn’t feel anything for her either, but maybe she was wrong.
“She’s due in six weeks.”
“Then we need to wait.” She held up her hand to stop his outburst. “She’s better off here than in the forest, at least until the baby is a few months old.”
“Okay. We can wait until she delivers but then we need to get them out. The baby will be more vulnerable to the sickness.”
She headed into the brush, Travis following loudly. She bit her tongue to keep from snapping at him. He was doing the best he could. She’d trained him about forest safety herself, but Producers couldn’t move quietly, no matter how hard they tried.
“I’ll make a list of the herbs she’ll need to keep her and her baby healthy and give it to Kim. She’ll make sure that Stuart gets everything his mate needs.”
“How will you manage that? Jackson won’t allow Kim to come to camp.”
“Kim won’t listen to Jackson.” Nothing would keep the Almighty away from the male she loved. “And you know that I’m right about waiting. The forest is no place for an infant.” If he wasn’t arguing then she was winning but she had to solidify her case. “Remember Arthur. He put us in danger many times.”
It’d been a horrible time when her mom was pregnant. Producers weren’t quick to begin with but when heavy with child they were ponderous. Mom had hid in the woods with Dad and Gaar for protection until her time. Then they’d had a newborn to protect. It hadn’t been fun or easy.
“Stuart still doesn’t want to leave.” His voice was defeated.
“He’ll change his mind.” She wasn’t sure about that, but it was what Travis wanted to hear. Most of the Producers had refused to leave the camps. Some didn’t believe her story of what the Almightys did to them. Others believed her, but didn’t think it applied to them because they were the finest specimens. Either way, both groups thought they were safer in camp than in the forest and they might be right about that. They’d lost a lot of Producers over the years and with the war, it was only going to get worse.
“What if he doesn’t ever want to leave?” asked Travis.
She stopped and met his eyes. “Then we’ll figure something out. They shouldn’t be locked up, nothing should.” Of course, being set free hadn’t helped many of the House Servants and Guards. She didn’t know what was right anymore, but she’d bought herself some time with Travis. “You should stay away for a while. At least until the baby’s born. Then we’ll come back and talk to Stuart.”
“Promise?”
She nodded and started walking again, picking the less dense parts of the forest. Being in the open made her nervous, but it’d be quieter with Travis along.
“Don’t lie to me, Trin.”
“I’m not.” She shot him a glare. Her friends were getting too smart, although, she hadn’t exactly lied. She’d come back with him, but she wouldn’t promise to free the Producers. Travis had to learn that forcing freedom on others was no better than imprisoning them.
CHAPTER 21: HUGH
IT WAS AFTERNOON WHEN Hugh arrived at camp with Jackson. They’d traveled most of the way by canoe and had been fortunate enough not to encounter any River-Men.
He paused on the outskirts of the camp. It wasn’t what he’d expected. There were a few tents scattered about a small clearing, but other than that it was empty. “Where is everyone?”
“Around. Follow me,” said Jackson.
As they walked across the camp, Guards crept out of the bushes and Servants appeared at the edge of the forest, some in trees and others slinking in the shadows.
“Why are they staring at us?” he whispered.
Jackson glanced at him, a slight smile playing about his mouth. “Like it or not you’re High Hugh Truent, the only Almighty to ever stand-up for them.”
“I didn’t do anything,” he said between clenched teeth. “This idolization has to stop.”
“It will. As soon as they learn you’re refusing to help us, they’ll hate you.”
“That isn’t what I meant. There has to be some middle ground.”
“Don’t worry about it. They hate the members of the other classes, so why not you?” Jackson slapped him on the back. “Welcome to our base camp.”
“Speaking of the other classes, where are the Producers?”
“They keep to themselves.” Jackson nodded to an open area of the forest to the right. “All the classes do. That’s part of our problem.”
“That and the hate.” He could make out a few large shadows in the trees where Jackson had indicated. A young, male Producer emerged into the clearing. He was followed by several others.
“Do they always stay in the forest instead of camp?”
“There’s a warning call when someone approaches. Everyone scatters until they know it’s safe,” said Jackson.
“That’s good but they didn’t scatter far. If it’d been an attack, the area would’ve been surrounded. Most wouldn’t have gotten away.”
“That hasn’t been our experience.” Jackson stopped at a large tent.
“Really? How many Almightys and Guards invaded?”
“I think one or two Almightys and around ten Guards. I didn’t stick around to count.”
“Sounds like a scouting party.”
“They did more than look. They raided the camp,” said Jackson.
“That was their mistake. They should’ve gone back for more soldiers and surrounded the area.”
“Keep talking like that and you won’t have to worry about their worship.” Jackson nodded at the surrounding Guards and Servants. “You’ll have to worry about being killed in your sleep.”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” He grinned. “But it would’ve been the smart thing to do. The war would be over and I’d be swinging from my neck.”
“The war wouldn’t be over. You don’t understand how deep this goes. We want freedom and equality and we want it enough to die fighting for it.”
“Hugh. Jackson.” Tim trotted over to them. “Any problems on the trip?”
“No. We traveled by river. Didn’t see anyone or anything,” said Jackson.
“Where did you get a canoe? The closest one was at...” Tim’s jaw tightened and he turned toward Hugh. “You couldn’t have waited for me? You didn’t think that I’d want to speak with my dad...Barney first?”
“I thought he’d be more comfortable talking if you weren’t there.”
“You had no right.” Tim’s green eyes sparkled with hurt and anger.
“I did what I thought was best for all of us. This affects me too.” He wouldn’t apologize for taking the most expedient and sensible course of action.
“Affects you? How? Oh, that’s right. Now, you can celebrate because you no longer have tainted blood in your family tree.”
“I’d forgotten what a spoiled, whiny ass you could be.” He stepped for
ward. He could use a good fight.
“Before you two put on a show for everyone.” Jackson shifted slightly so he was between them. “Hugh has something to tell you.”
“What?” Tim’s claws peeked from his fingertips.
“Let him talk to Barney. If he thinks that I’d celebrate any of this mess then he’ll never believe me anyway.”
“Stop acting like a child and tell him what you found out,” said Jackson. “Tim’s upset and you know how Servants can be.”
“Servants! Guards and Almightys are the worst...”
As Tim continued his verbal abuse of both classes, Hugh glanced at Jackson who was trying hard not to laugh. Servants were so easy to rile.
“Barney is your father and Sarah was your mother.” He was tired of the insults. He’d heard more over the last two days than in his entire life.
Tim’s sentence died in the air. “But you said—”
“What I said is still true. You and I are not related.”
“I don’t understand.” Tim glanced at Jackson.
It seemed that everyone in the camp had returned and was now listening to their conversation. His eyes landed on Trinity who hovered in the tree line by the Producers, a large, young male by her side. She was dressed in what must be her forest gear—tight, tan pants, a longish shirt, open at the throat, her knife strapped to her side, backpack and quiver full of spears over her shoulders. They made a striking couple. The Producer was big and strong and she was tall and slender. Her gold eyes searched his and his gut tightened.
“Perhaps we should move this discussion inside.” He motioned toward the tent.
Her eyes turned brittle with anger.
He couldn’t keep the half-smile from his lips. She was as easy to annoy as her father. “You should invite your mate and daughter. This is a family matter.” Her eyes widened with surprise and he winked at her before turning back toward the others. “I think you should come too, Jackson.” His eyes locked with Tim’s. “You can vouch for me.”
Tim flushed and entered the tent. Jackson grumbled but followed the Servant. He held the flap open and raised his brow at Trinity as she hurried over and slipped inside.
“I didn’t mean what I said,” said Tim as soon as Hugh followed Trinity inside.
“I know.” He shouldn’t have let Tim’s comment get to him, but his emotions were raw. The discoveries of the last few days had not been pleasant. “Millie?”
“She’s feeding Arthur. I’ll tell her later,” said Tim.
This tent was nice. There was a square table with four chairs, a cot with a thick blanket, a pitcher, and a basin for water. They all sat at the table.
He shifted in his seat. A Servant’s gaze could be unnerving and he had two of them staring at him. “Okay. Let me start at the beginning.” He explained as quickly as he could what Barney had told him and what he suspected. Halfway through his explanation he stared at his hands to avoid seeing the pity on Tim’s and Trinity’s faces.
“I’m sorry,” Tim said when he’d finished. “I understand what you’re going through. If you need to talk...”
Tim didn’t understand, not really. The Servant had only known Sarah was his mother for a few years. He’d been raised believing that lie. There was also the fact that Tim liked Barney whereas Hugh had hated his father. No. He had to stop thinking of that man like that. He ran his hand through his hair. The loss of his mother warred with the relief of not being genetically linked to General Hugh Truent. “Thanks, I appre...”
Jackson, Tim and Trinity jumped to their feet as footsteps thundered past the tent.
“Come on.” Tim yanked on his arm.
“What’s going on?” He stood.
“Someone’s coming.” Trinity shoved him out the door, grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the forest.
“Go. I’ll get your mother and Arthur and catch up with you.” Tim darted for a tent on the far side of camp.
“I’ll check it out.” Jackson ran in the other direction.
Suddenly, they all stopped and Trinity dropped his hand, the tension fleeing her face.
“What is it?” His head snapped back and forth. He had no idea what had happened or what was happening.
“Oh, you didn’t hear.” She turned toward Jackson. “We hadn’t thought of that. His hearing isn’t good.”
“You can insult me later. Right now, explain what just happened?”
Jackson strode over to them. “There were two calls. The first was in warning and the one a moment ago told us that whoever is approaching is friendly.”
“Are you sure? The others don’t appear to believe that.” The Producers were still hidden in the trees. Many of the Servants and Guards had also remained in the forest.
“There’ve been mistakes in the past.” Jackson’s eyes darted to Trinity.
“A traitor?” This group was small. If they’d already had a traitor in their midst it didn’t bode well for their future.
“No. A mistake.” Jackson and Trinity exchanged another glance.
“What happened?” He needed details. They were inexperienced, naïve and soft-hearted. The mistake was probably sabotage.
“What difference does it make to you?” she asked. “You aren’t going to help us, so why do you care if we had or have a traitor.”
“Right now, I’m living here.” He stepped toward her. “So, it matters to me if you have a traitor in your camp because I’m the biggest fish in this little pond.”
“Just like I told Dad, you only think about yourself.”
That was untrue. He’d been looking forward to telling her that he’d help them as much as he could before he left with Meesus, but now, he’d wait and tell Jackson when she wasn’t around. “Exactly. That means I need to know everything or your little setup is going to get me captured and killed before I make it to my lab.”
“What lab?” She looked at Jackson. “He found a lab already?”
“My questions first. What happened with this non-traitor?” Spies and moles were experts at concealing malicious deeds in the wrappings of mistakes.
“A young Guard, Skeekie, recognized an approaching Guard,” said Jackson. “They’d met at the shelter. They’d both been purchased a few months before. Skeekie’s master had been cruel and he’d run away. He’d thought that his friend had run away too, but the other Guard had been bought for the army.”
“His friend was alone?” That wasn’t much of an attack.
“No. Skeekie made the call before he saw the others,” said Jackson.
“He should’ve smelled the other Guards or heard them.” He tapped his finger on his thigh. “Has anything else suspicious happened while he’s been on watch? You can’t be too easy on him. You’ve said it yourself. This is war.”
“He was killed by his friend,” said Jackson. “You can rest easy. He won’t put you or any of us in danger again.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.” They could’ve told him that earlier.
“Wow, what an expert you are. Thank Araldo you’re on our side.” Trinity’s golden eyes gleamed with anger.
He struggled with the urge to clamp his hand over her mouth to shut her up. Kissing her would also work. He froze. He did not want to kiss her. She was Tim’s daughter and a brat. This was Jackson’s fault for pointing out that she wasn’t a child. An image of her as she bent to help Cack—her wet clothes clinging to her like a second skin—flashed through his head. That had meant nothing. He was a man and had been without a female for a very long time. Nope. This was Jackson’s fault. He turned to glare at the Guard.
Jackson’s face was pale and his hands trembled at his sides as Kim and two, burly Guards stepped out of the bushes.
CHAPTER 22: HUGH
“WHO’S THAT WITH KIM?” Hugh didn’t envy Jackson. Kim’s eyes were narrowed and her stride was stiff. Females only got that angry with their mates. It was going to be fun watching the Guard attempt to get out of whatever mess he’d made.
“I don’t know,” said T
rinity. “I’ve never seen them before, but she has some new Guards. Everyone except Casper and Carla joined the rebellion and live here or at the other camp.”
“Other camp? There’s another camp?” He looked at Jackson but the Guard was staring at the furious female heading his way.
“At least she’s traveling with Guards this time,” said Trinity.
“Big ones,” he said.
Those Guards were all muscle and if the scowls meant anything, mean. One had a bulky sack thrown over his shoulder.
“She’s being smart and you need to be too.” Trinity turned toward him. “It’s no longer safe for Almightys to travel in the forest, especially alone.”
“Yeah, I’ve been told.” He continued to watch Kim and Jackson. Something was wrong. Jackson should be nervous or ready to beg for forgiveness, but instead the Guard looked like he’d just found out his best friend was dead.
“I’m not kidding. It’s as bad in the forest as it is in the city and not because of the predators. There are packs of Guards and House Servants running wild out here. Most are with us but they don’t always listen to what we tell them.”
“Then you need to manage your army better. A soldier should always obey his superiors.”
Kim was getting closer. Jackson looked ready to bolt.
“We thought we had a solution to that problem.”
He cringed. Her tone left no question as to how she felt about his refusal to help. Suddenly, Jackson turned as if to flee.
“You...you...how could you?” whispered Kim.
The soft sound stopped Jackson in his tracks better than any shout. His back stiffened as if she’d struck him and he turned around. “I had to.”
Kim shoved him, knocking him back a step. “You did not have to. You wanted this.” Tears streamed down her cheeks and she pushed him again. “You chose this.”
Jackson grabbed her, pulling her close.