"I don't have time to explain it all. I have to get back there.” Dale jumped up and headed out of the bedroom. She could only pray that Thea had made it safely to Shadow's world and that when she got there, someone like Shadow had been there to look out for her. She shuddered to think of Thea in the hands of men like those who attacked the Shakar.
"Where's there?” Scott followed behind her down the stairs and out into the yard toward a massive willow tree near the river's edge. “What are you doing?"
Ignoring the scrape of rough bark on her hands, Dale climbed ten feet up the gnarled trunk and reached into a hidden hollow between two branches. “This is our ‘secret place.’” Even before Cathy's disappearance, Thea and Dale had used the hollow to store special items and leave messages for one another. Under a covering of moist wood fibers and dry leaves, a small metal box met her questing fingers. With a cry of relief, she pulled it out and scrambled back down the tree.
Her back against the trunk, she sank down beneath the tree and cradled the box against her chest. What was inside? A route to Thea's side? Or another heartbreak?
Scott crouched down beside her. “Are you going to open it?” he asked softly.
Her fingers trembled as she lifted the lid.
Chapter Eleven
The back of Raf's neck tingled with the hostile gaze of unseen eyes as he searched the rocky cliff for the hidden entry to the Shakar valley. The sound of an arrow being notched kept him moving past the well-concealed opening. Several lengths away he slipped behind a large boulder. If the Shakar were intent on his death, it wouldn't protect him for long, but it might allow him enough time to declare his peaceful intentions before they slaughtered him.
"I come in peace with a message from your brethren, T'Mal,” Raf shouted into the silence.
After a lengthy pause, a rough voice commanded, “Throw down your weapons and step out, human."
Reluctantly, Raf tossed his sheathed sword and dagger from behind the boulder. If the Shakar turned ugly, the small knife tucked inside his boot would be scant help, but he refused to go meekly to his death. He squared his shoulders, stepped forward and found himself facing a dozen suspicious and hostile Shakar warriors. Cold sweat trickled down his spine, but he let none of his fear show.
He placed his clenched fist against his chest and gave a shallow bow. “Greetings. I am Shadow. I bring you word of T'Mal.” Fixing his gaze on the grizzled Shakar, the obvious leader, who stood at the head of the group, he related what had happened to T'Mal's village and his warning.
Throughout his narrative the Shakar kept their arrows and spears aimed at his heart. Though he enjoyed life, never before had the thought of death filled him with such dread. To die now, meant to never again hold Dale. But if he survived, how was he to find her?
When he finished, the Shakar leader lowered his spear and motioned to his warriors to do likewise. “I am R'Ken, leader of our village. For your kindness to our brethren you are welcome. Come.” He spoke in his own language to his warriors, then turned and headed toward the opening.
One young warrior picked up Raf's sword and dagger. Another motioned with his spear for Raf to follow R'Ken into the opening.
Within moments Raf was lost. Apparently, T'Mal's trust was limited. He hadn't mentioned the maze of pitch-black tunnels just beyond the entrance. Without the Shakar to lead him Raf would have blundered around in the dark until he went mad and died.
For what seemed like hours they moved downward. The air grew cold and damp, smelling of things best left unknown. Eyes burning with the effort to see, he struggled to follow the Shakar. They moved like silent wraiths, with only the occasional scrape of a spear against rock to give him any indication he was not alone.
Time lost meaning as he moved through the darkness. Light and reality became an almost forgotten dream. He struggled to control the scream building inside him, knowing if he gave voice to it he would plunge into moonless insanity. The memory of lying beaten and bloody, moaning alone in the darkness, haunted him.
As his hold on reason started to slip, the tunnel slanted upward. The temperature warmed, and the blackness lightened to gray.
He walked into the back of a Shakar. The creature growled a warning. With heart pounding and lungs straining to breathe the dark, heavy air, Raf stood still and waited. Other than the faintest sounds of breathing, silence reigned. The harsh grate of rock against rock shattered the peace.
Sunshine flooded the tunnel. Blinded by the light, he squinted.
A spear prodded the small of his back. “Move, human."
Unable to see more than a blur of light, he stumbled forward. Sounds and smells filled the air. Laughter. Shouts. The chirp of insects. Wood smoke. Roasting meat. Raf shaded his eyes and struggled to sort out the images.
"Your vision will clear soon,” R'Ken said. “Come. Word of your arrival and news has spread. A feast is being prepared."
"But how?"
"Some secrets the Shakar will keep.” R'Ken's chuckle contained little humor. “My people will wish to speak with you."
"Though I appreciate your offer, I would continue on my journey. There is little more I can tell them."
"I insist."
The sharp point of R'Ken's spear convinced him to accept the thinly veiled offer of hospitality.
With each moment Raf's vision grew clearer. Surrounded by towering blue crystal peaks on four sides, a lush valley spread out in front of him. On the far side, a shimmering waterfall cascaded down the sheer cliff into a wide blue lake. Like a lazy silver snake a river started from the edge of the lake and wound through the valley to disappear into the mountains on the other side. Small stands of trees filled the curves of the river, their branches blushed with spring greenery. Broad fields of newly sprouted crops covered about a quarter of the flat ground.
To the right, openings riddled the mountainside. It took a moment for Raf to recognize them as dwellings. Terraced and connected by rope ladders, the caves served as home to the Shakar living in this idyllic valley. Shakar, young and old, scampered agilely up and down the steep ladders connecting the caves.
That evening Raf sat next to R'Ken on a broad plateau carved from the mountainside. Perched midway up the cliff, without a ladder, there could be no escape. Moonlight bleached the world of color, casting long gray shadows across the valley below. Glowing torches and a blazing bonfire lit the center of the Shakar village, giving all a blood red hue. The smell of roasting shoat and fermented gana teased his nose and made his stomach rumble in anticipation. When had he last eaten? Mid-meal with Dale the previous day was long past.
Underscored by the rhythmic pounding of drums, stringed instruments vied with woodwinds, filling the fragrant air with music. Shakar, pretending to ignore his presence, ate and danced and laughed in the flickering light.
"Eat. Drink, my human friend.” With each glass of fermented gana, R'Ken's antagonism toward Raf faded.
Raf nodded and accepted a plate piled high with seared bloody meat from a female Shakar. He merely sipped the strong brew.
The female leaned close and stroked his bare arm. He shivered as the musky scent of her arousal wafted over him.
"You are the first human male I have seen. Your furless skin is very strange. I would see more of it,” she purred in his ear. Her sheathed claws left tiny silver trails on his flesh.
He recoiled from her touch. Under normal circumstances he might have found her blatant sexuality intriguing, even a challenge. But after Dale's warm, uninhibited giving, this creature's bold search for sexual satisfaction left him cold. He removed her hand from his arm.
"Thank you, but no."
Her yellow eyes narrowed in fury and her thin lips curled back to reveal gleaming fangs. “You hairless water worm.” She hissed her displeasure and swiped her claws toward his face.
R'Ken caught her arm and threw her back. “Be gone, G'Lema. Are you so lost in your breeding fever that you'd risk conceiving a half-breed kit? Besides, the human does not want or ne
ed you. He carries the scent of his woman."
She landed on her backside inches from the bonfire. Laughter followed as she slunk out of the light.
R'Ken turned toward Raf. “Forgive her. Our females are not usually so aggressive, but she lost her mate less than a tenday ago and is in a breeding cycle. In a few days time, she will be most embarrassed to recall her behavior toward you this night.” He paused and regarded Raf with ill-concealed hostility. “Unless you wish to mate with her? If you do, be warned, she will conceive. Half-breed kits are not easily accepted."
"No. I have no wish to father a child, half-breed or otherwise.” As he spoke the words, he knew them to be a lie. The thought of having a child brought Dale's image to his mind.
Had his seed found fertile ground in her body? If so, would he ever see the child of their union? Her strength, courage and loyalty would make her an ideal mother. He remembered how she'd fought unrelentingly to find a way back to her child.
Unlike the women at court, Dale didn't primp and preen or play coy seductive games. Nor did she boldly seek his attentions, as the farmers’ daughters and peasant women were wont to do. Undaunted by his superior size and strength, she faced him without flinching, defiantly demanding he regard her as his equal. He knew of only two other women with such courage—one was dead and the other was Ash's mate, Katrina.
For four annum Raf had denied what he'd seen happen on the battlements at Castle Mar. No longer could he ignore the truth. The strange woman Ash had brought to the castle was, as she had claimed, from another world. She too had worn a milky crystal medallion. But she was gone, killed by Kersin's sword through her heart, and as had Dale, her body had vanished in a bolt of lightning.
At the time, though Raf grieved for his friend's pain, he had thanked the Eternal One. Ash's love for the woman Cathy had been ill advised. Heir to the thrones of two kingdoms, Prince Ash de Gar was joined with the Princess Katrina. His destiny allowed no room for a commoner.
Raf now understood Ash's despair. Dale was lost to him. With his own eyes, he'd watched her disappear in a flash of lightning. But he refused to believe that the lightning had seared her into oblivion. She was out there somewhere. The Eternal One willing, she had found her way back to her daughter.
He touched the small ragged crystal buried deep in his cloak's pocket. Warmth raced through his fingers. What strange power did this unimpressive chunk of crystal have? Did it hold a way for him to find Dale?
"What reason do you have for wandering the Azul Mountains?” R'Ken question drew Raf from his thoughts. “Other than outlaws and slavers, few humans pass through these mountains."
Raf weighed his options. Despite his guarantee of safe passage from T'Mal, Raf doubted R'Ken intended to let him go free. Even if he could escape the Shakar's vigilance, without their help, he'd never find his way through the tunnels. If they knew his true goal would they assist or kill him?
"I seek the slaver, Devros."
R'Ken's slanted eyes narrowed, and the gray streaked ruff of fur around his head rose. “Why?"
Raf's fate hung upon his answer.
"To put an end to his reign of terror. To kill him."
Months of pretending to be a slaver had left an oily residue upon his ka. Putting his mission into words cleansed him. He wished he had told Dale the truth.
After spending time with her and seeing her concern for Dolan's family and the Shakar, he could no longer suspect her of being in league with Devros. He knew her heart and ka were pure and didn't contain the evil such an association would entail. As she told him when she saw through his lies, actions spoke louder than words—or the lack of them.
"You are a bold one, human. Devros is not so easily stopped. Better men than you have hunted him. Their bodies litter the mountainsides. Supposing you do find him, how will you, one man alone, stop him?"
R'Ken's mocking question grated across Raf's nerves, echoing his own doubts. “Does it matter how I intend to find or kill the man? The question is will you attempt to keep me from trying?"
R'Ken's roar of laughter released Raf's tension.
"Far be it from me to keep a human from seeking death. Better you die at Devros’ hand than mine. I am bound by T'Mal's promise. At first light I'll escort you out of my valley. To keep you here is to court disaster. Even without fur you draw a female's eye. Sleep lightly this night, human."
* * * *
"Dale, you can't seriously intend to do this!"
Scott hadn't stopped nagging since she'd first opened the small tin box beneath the old willow tree. Dale tried again to tune out his all too real warnings as she re-read Thea's complicated instructions. The bag of crystal pieces lay on the kitchen table. Was there enough left? What if she made a mistake? What choice did she have?
Scott leaned over her shoulder. “This is madness. You'll end up electrocuting yourself and burning down the house. Let me call someone to help."
His words echoed her fears.
She turned on him. “Who are you going to call? Who's going to believe this? I don't believe it myself and I lived through it. Thea is alone and ill in a strange, violent world. I've got to go after her. So if you're not going to help me, go away."
"What do you need me to do?” Scott placed his hand on her shoulder.
"I don't have a large enough piece of crystal to conduct the electricity I need. Each time it's used it loses its structural integrity. Pieces break off. The first time I saw this crystal it was perfectly round and clear, like a huge diamond. That's it!” The idea hit her like a bolt of lightning.
"What's it?"
"Diamonds. Earth crystal is soft. Tareth crystal is metal strong and diamond hard. Or at least it used to be. Now it's become soft and crumbling. The transfer must weaken it somehow. That's why Thea could grind it up. I can use diamonds to replace the crystal. Take me into town. Where's my purse? I'll need my credit cards."
"Whoa. You can't go into town."
"Why not?"
"The sheriff's been searching high and low for you and Thea. If you turn up in town, he'll have you in for questioning, and it'll be a month of Christmases before you get out. Besides, all your accounts have been put on hold pending the investigation."
Dale sank into a chair. “What am I going to do? I've got to get some diamonds or I'll never make it back."
Scott knelt next to her and took her hand. “Are you sure you want to try this crazy scheme?"
She looked down into his earnest face and nodded.
"Then don't worry, I'll take care of it.” He stood. “Get everything ready. I'll be back in about an hour."
"Thank you, Scott. You're a good friend."
"Yeah, right. Just be prepared for me to be joining you when Gail gets the bill for the diamonds I'm going to buy that she won't be wearing.” He gave her a jaunty grin and strode out of the kitchen.
A few moments later Dale heard the roar of his motorcycle.
Her hands shook as she followed Thea's directions. A quick search of her closet turned up the all cotton stretch pants, shirt and the leather sandals she needed. She ground all but one shard of the crystal to a fine powder and imbedded it into the clothing fibers. If Scott didn't get the diamonds, her attempt to return to Shadow's world would end in failure. And she'd probably find herself locked away in a mental institution—or in jail.
What if Thea hadn't made it to Shadow's world? Were there other worlds out there? She had to believe Thea was in Shadow's world. Without faith, she was lost. Thea was lost.
What of Shadow? Was he searching for her? Or had he put her out of his mind and gone on? Wouldn't he be surprised when she turned back up on his doorstep.
As much as Dale wanted to search for Cathy, she knew her sister would understand why she couldn't. Once she made the transfer to Shadow's world and found Thea, they had to return before her kidneys failed and it was too late.
Pink and purple streaked the sky before Scott returned. The roar of his motorcycle sounded like music to Dale's ears. She rushe
d out the door.
"Have you got them?” She grabbed the bag from the back of the bike.
"It wasn't easy.” He pulled off his helmet and followed Dale into the house. “Old man Carlton at the jewelry store couldn't understand why I'd want so many unset diamonds. But greed finally got the better of him. After you're gone, I don't know how I'm going to explain any of this."
"Thank you, Scott. I'll pay you back when Thea and I return. And,” she paused, “if we don't make it back, I've written a will that names you as sole beneficiary of my estate. It's hidden under my mattress and dated two years ago."
Scott groaned. “Great. The sheriff already thinks I had something to do with your disappearance. When your will shows up I'll end up in jail."
Dale laughed. “Your uncle is hardly likely to arrest you, even if he thought you'd killed me, which I'm sure he doesn't. It's time for me to leave now."
Scott nodded and swallowed heavily.
Dale threw her arms around his neck and buried her face against his shoulder. “Good-bye. You've been the best friend a girl could ever ask for."
His arms closed tightly around her. “Take care. And come back. I'll wait until you're gone."
She stepped back. “No, leave now. If this doesn't work, I don't want you to be the one to find my body."
After he moved reluctantly out of the door and the sound of his motorcycle faded, she picked up the diamonds and remaining crystal. When the crystal touched the diamonds in her hand a tingling sensation coursed up her arm. The tiny hairs on her body stood on end. The closer she came to the electrical outlet the stronger the vibration became.
She clutched the last long shard of crystal, making sure it touched the diamonds in her palm and thrust it into the outlet.
For a split second she thought nothing would happen, that her plan—Thea's plan—had failed. Then a current of power slammed into her body. Her breath whooshed out. Around her the kitchen dissolved in a rain of sparkling light. Each nerve ending in her body came alive and screamed its protest at being jolted into another realm.
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