Security transports blocked the two-lane street. Red and blue lights flashed. Colors reflected off wet, shining surfaces and rain-streaked windows. A uniformed officer directed the flow of traffic onto a detour. Others bustled in the shadow of the impressive apartment’s intricate architecture, cordoning off the steps with wide orange-and-yellow tape.
Nev shook his head. “He won’t be here now.”
“Who?” Vars turned right into a side street, avoiding the detour. He went left at the next alley, easing the transport to a stop at the rear of the apartment building. “Maybe I can help, you know.” His voice sounded muffled in the cramped space.
A shaft of brilliant sunlight split through the leaden cloud cover in the near distance. Raindrops shimmered like falling jewels in the golden glow.
Erynn stared at the brilliant light in stark contrast to the dreary day.
Vars tipped his head, watching the dazzling display. “Wow. That’s impressive. And the fourth time I’ve seen the anomaly this morning.”
Wind rocked the stationary transport. Rain tapped insistently on the roof and front panel. The engine whirred softly.
Erynn stiffened, turning her face to Vars. “Wait. You have a personal COM with long-range capabilities? How far away? Where is it? Can we get it?”
“Well . . . yes. I have one . . . but . . . well it’s . . . it’s highly guarded, you know,” Vars replied defensively. His voice resumed its former boldness. “I couldn’t remove it from my company. Sorry.”
“But it’s this component your company is manufacturing that gives the COM the added range and power. Maybe I . . . we . . . you could adapt your feature to a standard COM.” She tipped her head and offered Vars a shaky smile. “You said you wanted to help. Communication would definitely be helpful.”
Vars continued to watch the sky.
Erynn followed his gaze. The shaft of golden light drifted, faded, and blinked out. She returned her attention to Vars.
He frowned. For the first time, she sensed apprehension trickling through his brash manner.
Nev opened the door and stepped into the pouring rain. “Erynn, come on.”
“Just think of the publicity your company will gain when I use your component to once again prevent an attack against the people of Arranon.” Erynn smiled despite her dislike of using this ploy of self-importance and arrogance. But the need to communicate with Tam and Aven was vital—especially once they’d caught up with Dhoran. She needed their help.
Vars stared out the front panel. Rain splashed the tiny alley. “Okay. I’ll do it.”
Erynn sighed with relief. “Great. Thanks.”
Nev leaned into the open door, wind whipping the icy drops inside. He kept his voice low. “Erynn. We need to hurry.”
“Hurry? Where? Maybe I can help.”
Erynn scooted across the seat. “I’m going inside. I need to talk with the woman they found.” The rain seemed icier, the wind frostier after the heat of Vars’s transport.
“Inside?” Vars hissed. “For someone who doesn’t want to be noticed, especially by the authorities, you’re taking a big risk, you know.” He shook his head. “What’s so important you need to talk with someone who will, by the way, be surrounded by security?”
“I just do, Vars.”
Vars adjusted the controls. “You won’t get anywhere near her.” The transport edged back, the door closing.
“Wait. Aren’t you staying?” Erynn stepped away as Vars swung the vehicle around.
Turned to exit the alley, Vars slid down the driver’s side window. “No,” he chuffed. He nodded and his eyebrows rose. “I’ll go work on a COM with the new component you’ll need.”
Erynn raised her arms, palms up. “But how will I get in touch with you? How will I find you?”
Vars chuckled. “That could be a problem. Here.” He pulled a small disk from his side pocket. “It’s my contact code, you know. Give me until this afternoon. Then call. We’ll arrange a place to meet.” He sped off, the window gliding shut, his words hanging in the chilled air.
Erynn watched his transport until it disappeared around the corner. Her gut churned. There was something off about Vars. But what it might be, she had no idea. Perhaps he had made an offer to help her and now realized that the kind of assistance she needed was beyond his abilities—beyond what he’d bargained for, regardless of the notoriety it may bring him. She doubted she would see him again.
Nev stepped next to Erynn, one pack slung over each shoulder. “We won’t see him again. Just as well.” He pulled his hood close.
“You’re doing it again. I was just thinking the same thing.” She stared at Nev from under her own low hood. “Your voice. It’s less Dhoran and more . . . you . . . more Nev.”
“I was afraid of that. As his characteristics fade from me, so does his memory and knowledge. The names of his followers in the city are . . . gone.” Nev guided Erynn to the back of the apartment building. He stared at the panel on the left that locked the heavy door. “We need to hurry.”
Erynn trotted up the five steps and placed her palm against the slick panel. Heat and purple static arced under her hand.
“No, Erynn. Wait!” Nev called.
Too late. An alarm blared inside the building.
One pack over his shoulder, the other held in one hand, Nev grabbed Erynn’s arm and ran. He rounded the corner from the alley and took another right onto the main street.
“Nev—”
“Shhh.”
People crowded the walk just beyond the taped boundary, talking about the activity from the apartment. “Did you see her?” “Yes. She was barely conscious.” “That poor girl, and so pretty, too.” “Wonder what happened and who did it?”
Nev pushed into the crowd, pulling Erynn with him.
A woman turned and shuffled past, her face pale. She leaned heavily against her friend. “This is a good section of the city. How could something like this happen here?”
A medical transport sped away from the curb, red, blue, and white strobes flashing, rushing the victim to a Medical Unit.
Rapid footsteps announced two uniformed officers running from the back of the building. They stopped and searched the streets, up and down, ignoring the crowd. One turned and ran back the way she’d come, and the other continued straight ahead.
Erynn watched until they were gone. The throng of onlookers broke up. Nev, still holding Erynn’s hand, followed. Her cheeks burned. “Sorry. I didn’t consider an alarm or that it would be wired separately from the lock.” She looked at Nev. “That was brilliant, though. Running into the crowd, I mean.”
Nev ducked away from the group heading down the street and stopped in the alcove of a building. Rainwater streamed from the deep-blue awning, sheltering the gold-trimmed glass double doors. He glanced at her and smiled. “A little trick I learned from a friend—camouflage. And Erynn, don’t ever try to become a criminal. You’d make a terrible thief.” He held the other pack and helped her slip it on.
From several blocks to the left, the heavy cloud cover split. Golden sunshine raced a straight line to the ground. The radiance pulsed and shimmered through the downpour. Clouds swirled, filling in the space where sunshine had for a brief time shone. The day darkened and the storm intensified. Wind whipped around them, seeking the nooks and crannies of the city, wiping the stale air away and replacing it with fresh.
Erynn wrapped tense arms across her chest, watching the light fade. She shivered and faced Nev. “What now?”
Nev poked his head from the sheltering alcove toward the apartment building and gestured with a nod. “I can probably pick up his trail from there.” He stepped back under the cover and sighed, staring down at the rain-slick sidewalk. “From the cordoned-off and, oh yeah, well-guarded steps.” He barked out a dismal laugh, his voice low. “Right. We’ll never get close enough.”
One remaining security transport, emergency lights off, sat midway down the street in front of the apartment’s entrance, still tape
d against unauthorized access. Two uniformed officers stood beyond the cordoned steps.
“How about across the street? Would that work?”
“There’s only one way to tell for sure.” He held out his hand to her. “Maybe time to disguise our appearance? Or better yet—become invisible?”
Erynn noted the total lack of pedestrians on the opposite sidewalk. “I don’t think that’ll work. I can’t guarantee invisibility, and if security does see us, we’ll be stopped and searched. I wouldn’t be able to hold on to you, and when we change from one form to another, well, how would we explain it?” Erynn gazed out at the traffic flowing past in the street. “Not good. If we can’t both disguise ourselves—separately—I don’t think we should chance it.”
She stepped from under the canopy onto the empty sidewalk and stared across the intersection. Rain blurred the scene, softened edges, and muted the colors. Wind whipped her hair over her eyes, and she raked the unruly wet strands aside. She gauged the expanse of space between where she stood, the two officers, and beyond. The distance was too far to chance. They couldn’t make it across the street past the guards before time caught up, alerting security to their presence.
Erynn swung back to Nev. “Let’s walk around outside the perimeter, on the streets behind the buildings. Maybe you’ll pick up Dhoran’s aura there.”
Nev rubbed a hand across his rain-wet face. “And if I don’t?” Water dripped from his fingers. He chuckled, but the low rumble held no humor. “I never thought I’d say this, but I’m afraid—afraid I’m losing my connection to that . . . beast.” The hand swiped at his face again. He stared at the moisture collecting in his cupped palm, drops from above joining and mingling.
The guarding officers had taken an interest in them. One shouted, “Hey! You two over there. Move on. This doesn’t concern you. Or does it?”
Nev ducked his head. “A hasty retreat seems like a sensible plan.”
They drew their hoods low over their eyes and hurried down the street, away from security.
At the first intersection, Nev led her left, trotting up the sidewalk to the next corner. He turned left again and again, until they had covered a circuit around the apartment. “Nothing,” Nev croaked, his voice high and shaking. “I can’t . . . I’ve lost . . . Erynn? What are we going to do?” He stopped and leaned heavily against an outside wall of stone and glass.
Erynn glanced around, up and down the street. Rain splashed in growing puddles, large drops that pounded surfaces and echoed against a canyon of buildings. In the distance, maybe five or six blocks, the clouds opened. A brilliant ray of golden light arced to the ground, sparkling behind a glistening cascade of water. Mist swirled, floated, and then parted to make way for the glorious sunlight.
Erynn squinted and tipped her head, watching the light weaken. She straightened and gasped. “How could I have been so stupid?” She grabbed Nev’s sleeve and took off at a run, pulling him toward the fading beam.
Chapter 20
AVEN STIFFENED, STARING INTO SHAN’S cold dark eyes. His tone was a low, menacing rumble. “I’m taking my brother home. I can’t stop you from coming along, but Jaer is going home.”
Shan’s face reddened. She screamed her incredulity, her pitch rising with each word. “You have no right!”
Aven leaned toward Shan. His eyes narrowed and his jaw tightened. “Yes. I do. Jaer’s documented wishes as an Anbas Warrior supersede your commitment rights.” He crossed his arms. “Check for yourself. It’s legal. I will carry out Jaer’s last wishes whether you like it or not. If it’s your intent to kill him, you’ll have to do it in his home, with his family watching.”
Shan turned and stormed from Aven’s quarters. Her shrill voice reverberated against the narrow stone walls of the corridor. “Have your way, then. If it’s Jaer’s wish, he can die at home. I don’t care. Makes no difference to me where.”
The closed door rattled under the force of Aven’s slamming fist.
Tam moved behind him, wrapping reassuring arms around his chest, her voice muffled against the back of his heavy jacket. “I’m so sorry, Aven. She’s a terrible person. I can’t believe Jaer—”
“He didn’t. There was never any love between them. The only reason Shan is hanging on to her commitment with Jaer is for the attention it will gain her. Being the sworn half to a Fayn, a decorated hero who dies in honor will give her the standing she craves.” He punched the door a second time, setting it rattling in its tracks again. “She only came here to seek a separation from Jaer so she could be with her next conquest, a man with power, wealth, and status. Conveniently, if Jaer dies, she can commit to another without disgracing her family.”
Aven’s strong hands found Tam’s as he took in a deep breath and relaxed against her. Flared nostrils exhaled his tension and anger caused by the emotional altercation. He turned and pulled Tam close, whispering, “Thanks.” Lips brushed the smooth brown skin of her cheek and he breathed in her sweet scent, melting into her warmth.
“For what?” Tam leaned back, gazing up at him. An alluring smile curved her full lips and danced in her wide gold-flecked brown eyes.
Aven sighed and hugged her tightly for a moment, losing himself in her. “It’s nearly time.”
“Are you sure this will work? I mean, getting everyone out without security discovering and stopping us?” Tam shook her head and frowned. “We don’t have much time, and there are so many. We’re taking a great risk.”
Aven smiled and kissed her furrowed brow. “It would have been a challenge. I don’t think we could have pulled it off. But there are only a few of us here now.”
Tam’s frown deepened. “What? When?” She shook her head. “How did you manage that?”
“I’m sorry, Tam. I—we decided not to tell anyone except those directly involved—just in case. Roni, Tiar and I have been slipping people out for the last couple of days . . . and nights.” Aven shrugged. “With Whill in charge of transports and Tiar scheduling flights, we managed to get most of the equipment out, too.”
“And no one noticed? What about General Gaden checking and authorizing all outgoing transports and aircraft?”
Aven barked out a short, derisive laugh. “Did you know Cale and Sean flew out in their Interceptors? Right under Gaden’s authorization.”
Tam gripped Aven’s coat and stared up at him. “I can’t believe Cale left. Well, maybe I understand, a little. But why Sean?”
“Sean wasn’t happy about leaving.” Aven grimaced and raised his hand. “You know what it’s like around Erynn? Well, multiply that times three—Cale, Tiar, and Sean. They apparently had the same vision, or prophecy, or whatever it is they do.” His lips pressed together. “Something was up. They didn’t go into detail. Cale was adamant he and Sean had to leave.”
Tam leaned into Aven. “But it was safe for Tiar to stay?” She sighed. “I’m worried about Erynn. Now that General Gaden has confiscated our COMs and restricted communications for his own fake security reason . . . She’s out there, alone, in the city with . . . Do you really think he’s Nev and not Dhoran?”
Aven whispered, “I do. Cale believes in Nev. I trust Cale—mostly because Jaer trusts him . . . with his life. Besides, we have the COMs Cale left for us. Erynn can make contact, and she will again, soon.”
He straightened, his tone stronger. “Cale’s plan to evacuate the base was brilliant. Crew chiefs submitted fake repair and outside patrol requests.” Aven snorted. “And Gaden authorized them. He’s too busy with his guests, and he believes the base is under his control.” Aven smoothed a silky black strand of hair behind Tam’s ear.
Aven smiled and continued. “Whill and Tiar shuffled personnel and equipment around to make it look like everyone and everything is still here, only it’s not. Any questions were redirected or answered by those with authority under General Gaden—those we could trust. The final step during the last evac was making sure Gaden’s people would be off duty. A simple strategy. And so far, it’s worked. We won’t
get all our equipment, transports, and aircraft out, but that’s okay. In less than an huair, Gaden will wake up to find essentially an empty base.”
“What about Aynn and Cace?”
“Left with a party of Anbas in the first evac. Cale wanted Cace out ASAP. There were some personnel in Communications and the Medical Unit until a few timnents ago. They’re gone, except for Maire and Byan Skye. Only a few Anbas remain. They’ll all go with us when we take Jaer home.” Aven’s smile faded.
“Do you think Gaden will send forces after us? I mean, he knows where we’re going.”
“I’m sure at some point we’ll have to defend Glaskra. But not right away. Gaden has too many other issues to deal with. We have to hope Erynn and Nev find Dhoran, and soon.”
A tone of three soft beeps sounded on his COM—the signal—time to go.
Aven took Tam’s hand and went to the door. He glanced around his quarters and then back at her. “You, Jaer, and I will be the last to leave with Byan Skye and Maire. Tiar’s our pilot.” He sighed and stared at the stone floor. “I’m sure Shan will show up at some point. She can’t risk Jaer being kept alive and possibly waking up. His fingers hovered over the control panel. Are you ready?”
“Ready.” Tam frowned, nerves shaking her soft voice. She squeezed Aven’s hand. “Let’s go.” There was a tremble in her fingers and a quaver in her voice.
After all that had happened, leaving last carried the greatest threat of discovery. It was crucial everything went as planned for the next few timnents.
They made their way to the Medical Unit where Jaer would be ready for the trip to Glaskra with Byan Skye and Maire. Jaer and Aven’s parents’ home was located in a vast meadow nestled high in the mountains ringing the city. The plan was to fly straight there.
A Herk waited in the hangar bay, its cargo hold equipped for any emergency, with a bed for Jaer and seats for the medical staff, Aven, Tam, and the last of the Anbas. All was in place. Their final task required moving Jaer from the Medical Unit to the hangar bay, into the Herk, and away without alerting security. The evacuation of the base was nearly complete.
Storm of Arranon Allies and Enemies Page 16