From Out Of The Shadows

by Linda Mooney

  He had to stop to catch his breath. The flesh in his stomach roiled sickeningly, and he knew that if he kept thinking about what he’d been forced to do so they could survive and escape, he would vomit up the contents. No matter how disgusted he was with himself, Croat knew he had to persevere. He clenched his jaws shut and prayed his animal body would handle his feeding as it always did. After all, meat was meat. And he had gorged before on raw kills when he had hunted other game animals.

  Still, he knew his discomfort was all in his head. The knowledge did nothing, though, to stop him from dwelling on what he’d had no choice but to do.

  Fingers trailed down his back as Tora combed through his fur. Her touch, both physically and emotionally, was comforting. Reassuring. She knew he was fighting the nausea, just as he knew she was fighting her fears.

  “This is the way to the entrance leading outside beyond the castle’s walls.â�� Croat took deep breaths to try and keep himself steady. His body ached, and only because of Tora’s help could he move at all.

  “How can you tell?â�� Tora continued to whisper. He felt her shifting, as she if was glancing over her shoulder. In the pure darkness he couldn’t even see his muzzle in front of his face, yet he knew when her fear spiked. â��Can you see anything? I’m afraid we’re lost.”

  “I’m just as blind as you are, but I can smell and hear with greater acuity. And my nose detects the scent of the forest and trees just up ahead while my hearing tells me there are several men behind us and coming closer. We must keep moving.”

  They hurried as best they could in the near-perfect blackness. A couple of times Tora ran into the roughly hewn side of the tunnel, badly scraping her arm and shoulder. Once, so hard it jarred her spine. Croat felt the shock of it go through him at the same time.

  She managed to muffle her outcry. â��Surely there has to be a way we can see where we’re going down here,â�� she finally gasped. â��Some kind of light?”

  “We can’t risk it.”

  Fortunately the floor was worn smooth from countless years and innumerable feet. They were able to proceed without fear of tripping over something. The sound of the men advancing behind them steadily grew louder.

  Croat knew he was placing more and more of his weight on Tora, but he couldn’t help himself. He hadn’t had enough time to heal. But if he had waited until he had felt more able to escape, he would have devoured Toraâ��a thought that sent cold chills through him.

  “What’s wrong?â�� She had sensed his trepidation.

  “Later. There’s a light up ahead.”

  “Thank gods. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me,â�� she confessed.

  As the outside sunlight penetrated through the cracks around the outer door, they managed to see their way more easily toward it. Croat could make out a wad of chains and cuffs, and a group of unlit lanterns hanging on the walls of the tunnel.

  “It’s still early afternoon,â�� Tora whispered. â��Our eyes will need time to adjust.”

  “We have no choice. We have to hurry,â�� he growled. His body was almost out of reserves, which meant he was on the verge of going completely animalistic. And if that happened, he would have no way of controlling those instincts. Tora’s nearness, and the scent and feel of her fresh, young, virgin body was nearly irresistible.

  They had been damn lucky to escape when they did. Another couple of days and the guards would have been extremely leery about entering the cell, knowing he was on the mend. Especially with him being unchained. Their attempt to escape this soon after his beating had been the right choice; the baron’s men hadn’t been expecting him to try any kind of ruse, much less suspect that he and Tora would be working together.

  Yes, it would have been better if their escape was taking place after dark. The darkness would have covered their tracks, not to mention keep them hidden in the shadows. But the only time the jailor came by was at the noon feeding. They’d been forced to take their chance when they could.

  A hundred feet behind them, a man rounded the curve in the tunnel just as they reached the door. He was carrying a rifle and a lantern. He skidded to a stop as Tora managed to open the door with one hand, and the two of them were framed in silhouette in the sudden bright sunlight.

  “Stop!”

  Croat heard the man drop the lantern in order to raise his rifle and fire. He hoped Tora could feel his silent plea to run for it.

  She did. With renewed strength, she half-carried, half-dragged him out into the blinding sunlight, and what appeared to be a small meadow. The outside door leading down into the dungeon was on the side of a low hill, flanked by trees and bushes. Grimly, Croat realized there had been no attempt made to disguise the opening. There was no need to. Any fool stupid enough to enter the tunnels would soon discover where they led.

  A shot burst down the tunnel and ricocheted off the wall near them. Both he and Tora grunted as they hurried through the knee-high grass toward the nearest line of trees.

  Another shot sliced through the air. This time the bullet found Tora’s right arm, burying itself nearly to the bone. She screamed, her knees buckling. Croat also felt the bullet as if he too, had been struck. A howl of agony ripped from his throat as they stumbled and fell.

  From around the edges of the tree line, answering howls rent the sky. Somehow through the fiery fog enveloping him, Croat heard the cries of his fellow Lupan. For the first time since their escape, he allowed himself to hope.

  Tora landed face first on the dry grass. At the last second she released him, and Croat managed to turn his body enough to where he fell on top of her. More howling filled the air. The men pouring from the tunnel entrance hesitated until the one in the lead spotted where the couple had fallen.

  Croat remained on top of her, unable to move or dislodge himself. But he had deliberately placed himself there in order to protect her from more bullets. Why he felt the need to place his life in greater jeopardy, he couldn’t explain. Nor could he understand his overwhelming desire to keep Tora safe. After all, she was a Sensitive.

  Yet by some miracle she had touched his soul.

  There was another gunshot. A clod of dirt and grass exploded less than an inch from Tora’s injured arm. Sheer terror raced through Tora’s body, filling Croat’s throat with its metallic residue. She was crying as she lay paralyzed, exhausted, hurt, and defeated.

  The baron’s men advanced toward them, rifles ready as they proceeded to ring the couple. Someone ordered for a net to be brought, and one pair of boots disappeared from Croat’s line of vision. At the sound of a gun being cocked, he flattened his ears against his head and bared his bloody fangs. A growl of hatred reverberated in his throat as he raised his head to stare at them. To dare them, threaten them. He could feel Tora quaking beneath him as they both waited for the inevitable to happen.

  Behind him a man screamed as a roar of anger echoed Croat’s. There was another scream, and more shots split the air. Instinctively Croat ducked, expecting the bullets to drill into him like bloodthirsty bees. More shrieks of horror and pain filled the meadow, and amid the men’s cries Croat could hear the growls of the half-dozen Lupan who had come to his rescue. The heavy tang of blood was everywhere.

  It was over in seconds. Carefully, Croat was lifted off of Tora’s still form. One of the Lupan sniffed him. â��We had almost lost hope,â�� the creature admitted.

  “So had I, Mengar. Please help Tora. She was shot.”

  Two other Lupan helped the woman to her feet. Tora woozily swayed but remained upright. She glanced around at the half-dozen man-beasts as she reached out toward Croat.

  “Are these…”

  “Yes,â�� he answered her unfinished question. She was frightened beyond all measure as she stared at the creatures with blood dripping from their fangs and claws, and gore matting their faces as well as their fur. As her eyes searched the ground for the remains of the baron’s men, one beast deliberately stepped in front of her to block t
he sight of them. Croat could sense her fighting her terror even as she understood why the beast had moved.

  Tora finally managed to tear her eyes away from the beasts and turn to him. Quickly she scanned him from bottom to top. â��Did they hurt you?”

  Croat blinked in amazement. â��No, but you were. Come. We have people who will look after your arm when we get back to the village.”

  Mengar called for the beasts to gather materials for two makeshift litters. He then lifted Croat into his arms as another beast started to do the same to Tora. She stepped back, raising her good arm to fend him off, thought better of it, and nodded.

  Because they had to move slowly, it would take several hours for them to reach the Lupan village. Before he fell into exhausted sleep, Croat managed to catch a final glimpse of Tora as she was led to the other litter. She gave him a tremulous smile, but the feeling he sensed from her was not as much relief or gratitude as it was…

  …affection.

  Croat had no chance to question that feeling as unconsciousness silently stole over him.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter 10

  Discovery

  There were moments when Tora knew she was not asleep. She was aware she was being carried through the forest. She could hear the steady movements of the man-beasts who accompanied her and Croat. A few times she overhead their soft conversation, much of which she couldn’t understand.

  It didn’t matter. As long as she remained still, the pain remained at a tolerable level. Mostly around a hard, dull ache.

  Once they stopped and lowered her litter to the ground. They were near a stream. One of the creatures approached her with a leaf cupped to hold water. He didn’t ask her if she needed to drink. She knew she had to, and he expected her to.

  At some point someone had removed her inner skirt and used it to make bandages. One was wrapped around her arm, but the majority of fabric covered Croat’s wounds.

  The men remained close together, often walking parallel to each other when the path permitted. Whenever she opened her eyes, the first thing she often saw was Croat’s pale features. Strange how human he appeared to her now, even with his blood-encrusted snout.

  The sun was beginning to disappear from the sky when the man-beasts picked up their pace. One of the creatures not carrying a litter stopped to howl. He was answered almost immediately with the same call not too far away. Soon after, they stepped into a clearing, and several people…

  …people…

  Tora blinked as human-looking people rushed over to them. Croat’s litter was borne away in one direction, while she was carried off in a different direction. She reached out in protest, but no one seemed to be paying attention.

  She was quickly taken to a small cabin made of wooden logs and a thatch-covered roof. A blazing fireplace chattered cheerfully as her litter was lowered onto the wooden floor, and the man-beasts helped her to her feet long enough to transfer her to the narrow bed.

  “Thank you, Amrin. Tell Mengar I’ll be there shortly to check on Croat,â�� a voice said.

  Tory watched the man-beast nod and start to leave. Quickly, she called out a thank you to the creature who paused and turned back with a surprised look on his bestial face.

  “Thank you for not leaving me behind,â�� Tory added.

  “We wouldn’t leave you to whims of the baron’s men,â�� Amrin answered. â��You were instrumental in helping Croat escape. That makes you our ally.â�� He nodded at the person standing behind Tora, then left.

  Tora glanced over her shoulder to see an old woman standing patiently nearby. She had a face that was unusually smooth, but the hair was white and bound in two braids which lay over her thin shoulders. Her warm smile matched the twinkle in her dark eyes.

  Tora started to say something when the elderly woman shushed her, placing a bone-thin hand on Tora’s good shoulder and pushing her down onto the bed with surprising strength. A flash of something passed over the woman’s eyes. Automatically, Tora tensed, waiting for the woman to react, or for what she would say next.

  “You need food and rest. But first I need to get that bullet out of you.”

  Tora forced herself to relax. The woman didn’t know. If she had, Tora was certain she would have said something. So, for now, she was safe. And not just from the baron’s men, but from detection. Or at least until the time when Croat revealed her secret. But would he?

  She glanced over at the woman who stood near a small table. Sometimes Tora would come across a person not quite a Sensitive, but with enough natural ability to tell there was something different about her.

  It was probably just a matter of time.

  “How is Croat?”

  “He’ll mend. Don’t you worry.”

  “Is someone taking care of him right now?”

  The old woman smiled again as she turned and approached the bed with a tray. Setting it on the mattress beside Tora, the woman lifted a mug and held it out to her. â��You’re in worse shape than he is with that bullet in you. Drink this. It’ll numb your senses so I can get it out.”

  Tora snorted softly at the remark but didn’t comment. She drank the brew, which was surprisingly pleasant-tasting, not to mention quick-acting. She started to lie back down when her whole body suddenly lost all feeling. But the concoction didn’t quite knock her out. Tora drowsily watched as the old woman prepared a thin knife by holding the blade in the flame of a candle. She smelled her scorched flesh as the bullet was dug out of her arm, and the wound was cauterized. Afterwards the woman placed a poultice on the site before wrapping the arm with fresh bandages. Amazingly, there was no pain.

  Twice Tora tried to speak, but she couldn’t get her lips or tongue to move. She finally managed to grunt an audible, â��Who?â�� The old woman smiled at her attempts.

  “My name’s Deelaht. I’m not a physician, but around here I’m the closest thing to it. The brew I gave you will put you to sleep pretty soon. When you wake up, you’ll feel a whole lot better, and you’ll be able to eat something.â�� She smiled and added, â��You’ll also be able to ask all the questions you want. Now, rest. You’ve had a terrible experience, but it’s over now, and you’re safe here.”

  Although Tora had already come to that conclusion, Deelaht’s words still managed to soothe her, along with the potent sleep aide she’d drunk. Smiling her gratefulness, Tora closed her eyes and drifted off.

  The fire was a comforting sound. It spoke of rest and warmth. It felt like home. Tora opened her eyes to see its orange and yellow flames dancing about the wood. After a long moment of staring, she closed her eyes and tried to roll over to find a new position to lay in, when she sensed him in the shadows.

  At first she couldn’t see him, although she knew he was there. She was about to call his name when the shadows stirred. Slowly, he emerged from the darkness, and the firelight bathed him in a nearly ethereal glow.

  He was human, not Lupan, although his hair remained long and dark. He had a strong faceâ��high brow, straight nose, thin lips. But those eyes…those dark orange eyes were locked on her as he approached her.

  Silently she watched him sit on the edge of the bed. He had on some kind of loose white shirt. His left side was bound tightly by some sort of sling. With his right hand, his human hand, he brushed the hair from her face.

  “You’re asleep, Tora,â�� he whispered in a deep voice that was more rumble than sound.

  “Am I?â�� Her eyes dropped to his lap, and the black breeches he wore. When she looked back up at his face, he was smiling.

  “What is happening to me, Tora? Am I dreaming, too? Am I also asleep?”

  “I don’t know.â�� His hand felt so good as it tenderly caressed her cheek. Now she could understand how the same gesture had made him relax when she had petted him. If she allowed herself, she could imagine it to be a loving touch. Sighing, she closed her eyes to savor the contact.

  Suddenly she felt his weight lift fr
om the bed. At the same time, his hand left her face. She opened her eyes to find him standing a short distance away.

  “Are you leaving?”

  He nodded once. â��I must. You and I both need to rest. But know this, Tora. The next time I come here, I will not leave…unless you ask me to.”

  He backed away from her until the shadows swallowed him. A heartbeat later, she knew he was gone.

  She had no idea how long she slept, but when she awoke, she found herself alone in the cabin. The fire continued to crackle behind the screen, and through the window set in the far wall, she could see that night had fallen.

  Moving her limbs one at a time, Tora was able to sit up. A sling had been looped around her neck to help keep the damaged arm immobile. The limb still felt disconnected. She guessed it was because of the poultice.

  Gods, she felt tired, but it was more due to the strain of fear she’d lived through these past few days, rather than exhaustion. She needed something to eat. It had been at least a day, maybe two, since she’d put anything significant in her stomach. Longer than that since she’d had a real meal. And years since she could remember not going hungry. After their mother’s death, she often gave the greater portion of whatever there was to eat to Basil. He looked so pitifully thin people often mistook him to be her younger brother, rather than an older sibling.

  Remembering her brother brought more pangs of guilt. It was her fault she had been taken prisoner by the baron’s men. It was her fault for not listening to the Meesoms, and not staying the night with them. As soon as she was well enough, Tora knew she had to go back to Neabush to find out what happened to him.

  Slowly, she got to her feet, holding on to the side of the bed for balance. She was surprised to see she had been dressed in a clean nightgown. Running a hand through her hair, Tora discovered it had been washed, too. In fact, she had been bathed all over.

  She managed to shuffle to the other side of the room without falling. Opening the door, Tora braced herself, not knowing what she would see.