by Jacinta Jade
Baindan smiled. ‘It’s true.’ His head tilted as he looked at her, considering. ‘How about I actually show you?’ He stood and stretched out a hand to her, but then his face flickered as he seemed to remember. ‘Although, maybe you should rest some more.’
Siray smiled at Baindan and, placing her hand in his, let him pull her up onto her good foot. ‘And miss seeing a disappearing mountain? I think not.’
Baindan’s answering smile was warm, and, keeping one hand on hers, he moved past her just enough to grab her staff and pass it back to her.
As Siray stabilised her balance, she felt Baindan’s fingers slip out of hers as he left her side and walked to the hut door. She smiled again as he opened the door and held it for her as she made her way out of the hut.
As she passed through, Baindan said, ‘But if your foot starts hurting or you start feeling tired or anything, let me know; otherwise, Mandolin will be after me.’
Siray hobbled through the door and into the sunshine that still filled the clearing. ‘I doubt Mandolin could ever be angry.’
Baindan stepped up beside Siray and shook his head, chuckling. ‘Trust me, when it comes to Mandolin and his patients, he’s like a mother krynton protecting her younglings.’
Baindan puffed up his chest and proclaimed in a deep and affected voice, ‘You’re under my protection today.’
Snorting in amusement, Siray leaned more of her weight on her staff so she could bend forwards and poke him in the stomach, causing Baindan’s breath to leave in him in a whoosh.
She laughed as Baindan bent over, gasping air back into his lungs, then she continued hopping along, knowing he would easily catch up.
‘Today should be a cloud walk compared to our recent adventures,’ she assured him confidently.
She oriented herself to face up the slope of the clearing towards the hill that stood behind the commander’s hut.
‘Now show me this disappearing mountain.’
CHAPTER NINETEEN
‘JUST A FEW mores steps, Siray.’
Baindan was back at Siray’s side, supporting her as she attempted the last part of the steep climb up the hill. Normally a climb like this wouldn’t have bothered her in the slightest, but on this steep part, the temptation to place her injured foot down to gain more traction was too great, and she had needed to use Baindan’s arm as a support more than once.
Keeping her eyes on the ground so she could be sure of her footing, she hoped that Baindan didn’t think she was weak.
‘Look up,’ Baindan said.
Siray looked up, and frowned. ‘I don’t see anything.’
She felt Baindan’s hand come to rest gently against the middle of her back and took the slightest breath in at his touch. His hand remained there, supporting her as he kept urging her forwards.
‘Just keep looking up into that sky,’ he murmured, his eyes looking straight ahead.
Siray nodded, but with his hand warm against her back, she had almost forgotten what it was she was supposed to be looking for. Yet she kept her eyes forwards as they reached the top of the hill and kept moving lest Baindan remove his hand.
Another step, then another. The sky took on a hazy appearance in front of her.
Another step, then—
‘Whoa!’
The mountain appeared suddenly before her, and Siray was immediately grateful for Baindan’s hand on her back, which kept her from toppling backwards in surprise. She froze where she was now, breathless at the sight before her. Then she laughed.
‘It really is there!’
She turned to look at Baindan and found him grinning as he also looked out at the mountaintop looming above them.
‘Great trick, huh?’
Siray’s gaze scanned the imposing mountaintop. ‘I’ll say.’
The mountaintop was far above them, its top grey and white, while closer to them its lower slopes transitioned from slippery rocks to green sprouts and tufts.
As Siray continued to look at the mountain’s nearer side, she could just make out some black dots occasionally moving about. She pointed with the arm not holding the staff.
‘What are those?’
Baindan shifted to look in the direction she was pointing. ‘Those are pondifs. Six-footed grazing beasts that love high places.’
Siray tracked some of the pondifs as they moved up and down the side of the mountain, marvelling that they could find anything to grip on to in amongst the slippery rocks, and wished she could get closer to watch them.
Intrigued, she asked, ‘But how do they find anything to eat up there? There can’t be much to graze on.’
Baindan shook his head. ‘There isn’t. They move down at dawn to come graze on the grass at the lower levels and then move back up in the afternoon.’
Siray twisted towards Baindan, raising an eyebrow. ‘You make a study of pondifs, then?’
Baindan didn’t turn but continued to watch the animals as they moved across the mountain. ‘Not really. But when I want a break from everything, I come up here and watch them. They’re quite gentle creatures, although odd, at times.’
Siray tilted her head. ‘What’s odd about—’
‘Baindan!’
A shout came from behind Siray. She twisted her head, but unable to see the owner of the voice, she was forced to shuffle around, leaning heavily on her staff.
Baindan’s hand moved quickly from her back as he also pivoted.
When Siray had shifted enough, she saw a very young male with dark hair coming up the hill towards them. Siray was still slightly nervous at all the new people she was seeing, but Baindan was obviously familiar with the male as he took a step in his direction.
‘What is it, Allin?’
The young male reached them and then bent over for a moment, breathing heavily.
Siray fought to keep an amused grin from her face as Baindan waited patiently for Allin to catch his breath. Maybe making it up that steep hill with her injury was a greater achievement than she had first thought.
Allin straightened fast enough, though, his face pink. ‘Lieutenant Roalger wants you down at the commander’s hut. You’re to come immediately.’
Baindan frowned. ‘Did they say anything about bringing Siray?’ he asked, gesturing to her.
Allin gave Siray a look of curiosity, seeming to see her for the first time before he shook his head in the vigorous way that only youths manage. ‘No. Just you.’
Baindan sighed gently. ‘Okay, tell them I’ll be there as soon as possible. I’ve just got to help Siray back to camp.’
Allin nodded and then began running back down the hill.
Siray grasped her staff more tightly as she faced the steep downhill slope. ‘What do you think they want?’
Baindan shrugged his shoulders. ‘Not sure. Could be the commander just wants more details on what happened while we were separated from the main group.’
Siray looked sideways at Baindan as they began heading slowly back down the hill. This time she didn’t hesitate to hold on to him with her free hand for the journey down. The last thing she needed would be to fall.
‘I’m hearing an “or” coming …’
Baindan nodded. ‘Or … the commander might want to know more about you specifically.’
Siray felt her brows rise as she continued to watch Baindan. ‘Why me specifically?’
Baindan stayed silent for a moment, looking slightly uncomfortable. ‘Well, I guess the commander has to consider the possibility that you’re a spy.’
Siray froze where she was and was almost pulled over as Baindan continued on for just a step.
‘What?’
She felt numb and chilled at the same time.
Baindan had stopped now and was turning to face her, stretching out a hand to placate her. ‘It’s okay. It’s not something I believe, and most likely it’s not something that Roalger believes either, but the commander interviews every newcomer who arrives under … special circumstances.’
Siray sh
ook her head in anger. ‘After all I’ve been through,’ she said, pressing her lips together tightly and looking away from him.
‘Hey.’
The gravity of that one word made Siray look up, and she saw that Baindan had stepped close enough so that there was only a couple of handspans between them.
‘I don’t think you’re a spy. I’ve been right there with you the whole way, through all of it.’ Baindan’s voice dropped lower and became softer. ‘You’re here to stay, Siray. You’re one of us now.’
Baindan’s face was unyielding, and his grey eyes were locked on Siray’s.
Siray felt a strange tingling spread through her at that gaze, until an unexpectedly strong gust of wind pushed at them, causing her to shift to keep her balance, and the tension between them dissolved as their eyes separated.
Baindan moved back to her side and offered his arm to help her down past the steepest section of the hill, and, gratefully accepting, Siray made the slow journey with him back down towards the camp.
At one point Siray turned her head in order to catch another glimpse of the mountain, but it had once again disappeared.
CHAPTER TWENTY
‘ALRIGHT.’
Baindan closed the hut door behind him and came over to the table where Siray sat.
She had been waiting for him to return from his talk with Roalger and the commander for some time now. Twilight had fallen, and Siray shivered as a chill managed to slip into the hut behind Baindan. She had preferred to wait in Baindan’s hut rather than return to her own, as she felt a greater affinity with his.
Baindan clapped his hands together and made a sweeping gesture at the door. ‘Time for you to meet the commander.’
Siray straightened up in her chair, tense. ‘How did it go? What did they ask you?’
Baindan shook his head. ‘I’m not allowed to speak of what was discussed. I’ve just been ordered to bring you straight there.’
Siray looked at Baindan nervously, but he gave her a reassuring smile that helped a little to settle her clenched stomach.
She also told herself that there was no point in worrying until there was something to worry about, and she stood up from the table, squaring her shoulders. And grimaced a little. She was feeling the bruises on her back more now.
As she prepared to leave the hut, Baindan walked into the other room. Reaching for her staff, which she had kept close by all this time, and positioning it comfortably in her hand, Siray stood and began hopping towards the door.
Although she knew she looked ridiculous, she also thought she was moving faster as she grew accustomed to this method of getting around. When she reached the door, she paused and waited for Baindan to return, listening to the sounds of him moving about in the other room as she tried to distract herself from the roiling mass that was her stomach. She jumped a little as something slammed shut in the other room and then watched as Baindan emerged carrying a pile of material.
Upon reaching Siray, he shook it out and held it up before her. A cloak.
Siray frowned. ‘What’s that for?’
Baindan raised an eyebrow. ‘You. It’s getting chilly out. And although you may be attached to that very attractive patient smock, I thought you could use this.’
Siray raised her own brows at his humour but nodded in agreement. She stood still as Baindan moved behind her and arranged the cloak around her shoulders, shivering slightly as his fingertips brushed the back of her neck as he gently shifted her long copper hair to one side.
As Baindan finished his adjustments, Siray drew the edges of the cloak together at the front with her free hand. The cloak enveloped her completely, and its length almost hid her feet with the hem hanging just above the ground. A dark blue, Siray admired the depth of the cloak’s colour and its masterful weave as she ran her fingers over it. She looked up at Baindan and gave him a warm smile.
‘Thank you. It’s lovely.’
Baindan nodded. ‘And will keep you warm.’
He offered his elbow to her, and, accepting it, Siray allowed him to lead her from the hut.
As Baindan held open the door for them both, he said, ‘While the days here are nice, the nights can be quite cold, particularly if the sky is clear.’
Siray nodded, feeling grateful for the heavy material covering her as they walked out under the dark sky, her breath coming out in white wisps of fog. Wearing something a bit more substantial than the smock she had been in all day also made her feel a bit more confident about the approaching meeting, although she didn’t have much choice, as the clothes she had worn up until last night had been beyond saving.
Across the clearing, Siray could see the commander’s hut clearly, with the flickering firelight from inside silhouetting the small windows of the hut. A thin curl of smoke rose from the smokestack on the roof, and as she still felt a slight chill, Siray hoped her meeting was to take place in the room it originated from.
From the outside, it appeared that the commander’s hut was split into two long sections off a main room, and as they approached the front of the hut, Siray saw that the entrance actually consisted of two doors. By the light coming from the nearby windows, she could see the smooth section of dirt before the doors and guessed that this entrance was a well-travelled one.
When she and Baindan finally reached the doors of the commander’s hut, one of them swung open, revealing a large figure silhouetted against the light coming from the room beyond.
Siray drew in a deep breath as her stomach clenched tightly. Was this the commander?
‘Hello, Siray. Glad to see you’re managing to get about well enough.’
Siray’s stomach relaxed a little. She would recognise that growling voice anywhere. She nodded at Roalger’s dark shape. ‘I’ve got Mandolin to thank for that. He’s taking good care of me. As is Baindan.’
Siray nodded towards Baindan, who attempted to shrug her praise away. When she turned back to Roalger, he pointedly stepped backwards, holding open the door to make room for her to enter the hut. About to step forwards, Siray paused when she felt a light pressure against her upper arm. She looked at Baindan curiously.
‘I can’t come in with you. The commander only wants to speak with you and Roalger.’
Siray breathed in, her stomach clenching again. She had thought Baindan was going to be present for this discussion. After all they had been through the last few days, the thought of him being away from her side during a moment like this made her feel uneasy.
That, and the fact that, apart from Roalger, she still didn’t know anyone else here. Or much about the Resistance at all.
Siray watched as Baindan’s eyes flicked beyond her and back again, and she realised that Roalger was still waiting behind her.
Baindan began to turn away. ‘Come find me at my hut when you’re done.’
Siray nodded, and, forcing herself to turn away just as casually, she hobbled past Roalger and into the hut.
***
After Siray moved through the door, Roalger firmly closed it behind her.
She sternly told herself that was a good thing, as it meant the chill would be kept out, and she started to look around the main room of the commander’s hut in order to distract herself from the paranoia rising inside her mind.
Simply furnished, she noted that the room contained only a rug and some cleverly twined branches decorating the main beam that ran above her head. Roalger manoeuvred his large form past her, saying, ‘This way.’
He led her to the right of the main room and through a doorway, his large steps carrying him into the new room well before Siray had crossed the main room of the hut. She struggled to move faster, not wanting them to think her delay was due to any nervousness about this meeting. Even if she was nervous.
When she entered the new space, she saw it was long, its only feature a large rectangular table. Several maps lay on the table showing various areas of the main continent of Kaslon, and, although questions pulled at her, Siray quickly averted her eyes. She f
igured there was no sense in risking making the wrong impression just to satisfy her curiosity.
Surprisingly, Roalger continued to lead her past the table and through yet another doorway into a third room. When she eventually joined him, the first thing that Siray noticed was that this room did indeed have a fireplace, its delightful warmth spreading across her shoulders, chest, and face as she passed it. This room was smaller than the last and had slightly more furniture, including a desk with chairs in front of it.
Behind the desk was the second thing Siray noticed.
A female.
Siray stopped where she was, taken by surprise.
The female looked well into her later cycles, her black hair laced with grey. Her face was thin, lined, and stern, and when Siray’s eyes found hers, her face broke into a tolerant smile. The female stood up from behind her desk, and Roalger gestured for Siray to come farther forwards.
‘Commander, this is Siray Lalinta-Fyre. Siray, this is the leader of our forces, Commander Dacelin.’
Siray gave a nervous nod to the commander, unsure of the protocol required of her in this instance.
The commander’s smile curved, and she gestured gracefully at the chairs before her desk. ‘Siray, please sit and take some rest. I’m sure you’ve already had more exercise today then Mandolin would approve of.’ Low and gentle, Commander Dacelin’s voice nevertheless carried clearly across the room.
Siray hobbled across to the closest chair and sat down carefully, grateful to rest her uninjured leg, which ached from carrying most of her weight. She continued to hold her wooden staff as she sat, and she was relieved when no one tried to take it from her.
Commander Dacelin sat down smoothly in her own chair and faced Siray across the desk while Roalger took the remaining chair.
As the commander looked at Siray, her face maintained a pleasant demeanour.
Yet Siray could feel the many hidden layers of that gaze levelled at her, and she had the suspicion that the gentleness before her hid a shrewd and intelligent mind.
‘So, Siray, I’ve been briefed today on how Baindan rescued you from captivity with the Faction and how you both met up with Lieutenant Roalger and then made your way to the pass.’