Desert Runner (Puatera Online Book 1)

by Dawn Chapman

  After I thought we had waited long enough, I moved with Alex to the front of the Hog. There was nothing different in his makeup. I’d not changed anything in the last few years at all, and there had been Tromoal attacks on me many a time. Then I saw it—the ring glinting on the dashboard.

  I put the new water supplies in the back and pulled out one of my silver flasks, taking a nice hit of my pain potions. My problem was I needed more. Was it a weak solution? No, just tolerance, no doubt.

  I pushed my thoughts aside, moving to our rest area. We packed up the hog. It wouldn’t be far so it shouldn’t take long. Getting in the driver’s seat, I noticed my ring on the dash again. I picked it up and put it back on my finger. It would be safer on me, I was sure.

  Finally, when we were set up once more, I sat cross-legged and placed my head against the cool metal of the Hog, closing my eyes. It was tough, but I really was trying to stop things from hurting, my hip, my head.

  “Can I take a better look?”

  I stared at him. “What do you mean?”

  “Your hip. I know a little about anatomy. Maybe I can help.”

  I laughed at him. “The best healers in the village and cities couldn’t tell me anything. What makes you think you will know anything about my body?”

  “You asked me to trust you earlier. To do everything and anything you asked of me. Trust me. I think I have something to help.”

  “You’re not just trying to get my pants off then?”

  Alex blushed. He was so easy to wind up that I laughed at him. “I’ll trust you, but it’s not pretty.”

  Alex moved back to the Hog, opening the box he brought with him. He rummaged inside, and then pulled out something I’d not seen, an envelope. He brought it over to me and motioned towards my hip. “Please.”

  It was easier for me to stand, unzipping my pants once more. This time, it felt weird because Alex moved in much closer to me. He tugged them down. I knew the scarring was ugly. Three puncture wounds to my thigh, hip and belly. I was told the Tromoal that got me was young because of the spacing of the teeth, but it didn’t feel young when it was tossing me about.

  I couldn’t watch what he was looking at or going to do. When he touched my skin and ran a finger down from my belly to my thigh, I shivered. I’d not expected my body to respond quite so quickly. The truth was I was totally turned on by this.

  Alex did something else. He took my hand in his, squeezing hard so that I would look. “I can see the bones shattered, here and here.” He touched the areas where I experienced pain. Then he placed his other finger to my hip bone. “Most of the damage is deep inside, though, where all the muscles and sinews connect from the upper body to the lower. You were mostly ripped in half on this side. I’m surprised there’s still connecting tissue. That’s why there’s so much pain.”

  “So what do you think you can do that no one else could?” Finally, I looked at him, seeing the concern on his face, his hand still gently squeezing mine.

  “I was going to let Jenni have this in case the potions didn’t work. The last resort. But she’d have to find another player to use it on her.”

  I observed him. “I don’t...”

  Alex opened the envelope and pulled out what was inside. I could only barely make out the edge of the star-shaped paper.

  He placed his lips on the paper, whispered words I had never heard. A language maybe? “Treonn, mo sipplex, Maddie.” He folded the star, and then folded it again, popping it into his mouth. The green in his eyes started to change, the red flecks growing.

  “You’re more than human?” I asked. “What are you, a mage?”

  He shook his head and then leaned in as he gripped hold of my trousers to pull me closer. He then placed his lips on my hip.

  I was about to pull back, to try to move, but found my body wouldn’t obey. There was a red glow about the whole of his head now. I could feel his breath against me. Then there was a spark. Something ignited inside me. Pain. I stifled a scream by clamping a hand over my mouth, slapping him on the top of his head, but he didn’t let go. The pain started to subside, but shocking me more than that was his grip had changed, and he moved to my ass. “Hey,” I managed to get out, but then a sting of heat spread from his fingers through to my hip, then out the other side. As if he was drawing the pain from me into him. Whatever this was, it was the weirdest thing I’d ever seen or experienced.

  Then, he let go and moved back from me to spit out the folded paper star. It wasn’t white anymore but red—red with black spots.

  Alex sank back, his eyes as blood red as the paper and my scarred flesh. I tugged my trousers up, feeling self-conscious as his eyes never left my partly naked flesh.

  I kneeled in front of him. There was still an intense pain in my side, but it did feel different. “What did you do?”

  “It was a hope and a prayer that maybe in a couple of days you’ll start to feel different. I nudged your destroyed muscles and cells into re-growth.”

  “Your eyes, though?”

  “They’ll stay like that for a while, depends on the injury I tried to heal. I had two stars, that was all. A rare find from completing a dungeon quest last month.”

  “I don’t know what it will do, but thank you for trying. Can you see at all?”

  He shook his head as I moved my hand in front of his face. He didn’t even blink. Oh crap. “I hope it wears off fast. We might need your eyes in a few hours.”

  I helped him to sit better, tugging the blanket around him. “But this is a good time for rest, so close your eyes.” I pulled my own blanket over me, moving to curl up. I then felt him shift and move beside me. “Not being pervy now?”

  He laughed. “No, I just need some comfort, something to hold.” The feel of his strong arm around me didn’t scare me. I allowed him to move closer because I wanted him too.

  “Okay, but remember.” I held up the ring finger for him to see.

  “He’s one lucky guy.”

  I wanted to agree, but there was something that didn’t, that really didn’t. Guilt flooded my veins as I moved to entwine our fingers.

  I felt how close he was to me, but said nothing.

  “Maddie,” he whispered, his breath tickling my ear.

  “What?” I didn’t mean to sound so rude, I just couldn’t help it. I had all this confliction inside me.

  “Do you love him?”

  I searched inside for that answer, but there really wasn’t one. “It’s complicated.”

  “More complicated because I’m here?”

  My mouth opened, saying the word, “Yes,” before I knew it.

  “I didn’t mean to upset things. You know that, right?”

  I squeezed his hand a little. “I know. I’m not sure I have the time to tell you everything.”

  I felt him move in closer. “I don’t know if I have time, either. But I’m here now.”

  I didn’t know what he meant. I really didn’t want to go through everything I was thinking or feeling. “Sleep,” I said. “We both need it.”

  I couldn’t see any of his disappointment in the fact I wouldn’t talk, but I sensed it. How I knew or felt it was vague to me.

  Within a moment, I felt his breathing change, and he was asleep. I was able to rest my eyes and drift off for a while.

  Chapter 8

  It was the smell of hot coffee that brought me around. I wondered where he had gotten the beans. Maybe that box of his had a lot more in it than healing magic.

  I stood, easing the blanket around me, trying to tame my long, knotted hair. There were no big mirrors out here in the desert, just the Hog’s rear view and side mirrors. I most likely looked awful. But I spun the still knotted mess around and tried to tie it in my usual ponytail.

  Alex glanced my way, holding out the coffee, so I took it.

  It smelled divine. I took a sip before I asked, “Where did you get this?” It had been so long since I’d tasted such heaven in a cup.

  “I have my sources. Did you sle
ep okay?”

  I stretched my hip and back, checking my stats.

  TROMOAL POISON – MINUS FIVE POINTS TO HEALTH EVERY THIRTY-SIX HOURS.

  It was better than the minus fifteen yesterday.

  There was still some degree of pain, so I guess whatever he did wasn’t working. I sighed inwardly and tried not to over think it. Long shot at best. I mean how many broken people had he actually tried to put back together, even if it had been the most beautiful thing I’d ever experienced.

  “We need to get going after this.” I blew on the hot black liquid, enjoying the flavour as it exploded on my taste buds. I savoured it and stared into his amazing green eyes.

  He held up his hand. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you those questions. I would hate to hurt anything you’ve got going here. This is your world. I’m just a visitor.”

  Bellowing sounds of Tromoal drifted through the caving system, I glanced to the Hog. “We need to move now. I don’t think it will be long before they’re moving in here as well.”

  He packed the few items we’d used to sleep in. I drained my coffee cup then got into the Hog.

  Alex looked focused. “We’re almost there, right? A few hours driving at most?”

  I nodded and started the engine. “We’ll be there soon enough. Don’t panic.” Backing out of the cave into the dimming light of the day, I wished the journey was longer.

  This next part of the day seemed the easy part. To drive the last forty miles or so of the plain. To be so close to Port Troli had my head spinning. But why was I anxious?

  Alex had a quest to do when I dropped him off. Getting him there safe and sound was my job. I would be paid the rest of my money, and I could return home to figure out what the hell Dail and I would do about the hungry Tromoal.

  I waited till the moon started to rise, and I could see the glint in Alex’s eyes. Sheer determination filled us both. We weren’t that far out from the city. No matter how much I wanted the quest over, I didn’t want it to end. Not really.

  “What will you do after you get the healing potions to Jenni and her sister?” I probed, wondering on his answers, his real thoughts.

  “I’m delivering the treaty to the council and the members of the guild. The mayor of Trox City wants to negotiate some aspects.”

  “You think it’s really about the treaty?”

  “I can only hope. There’s no other way we can do it, without war. Everyone wants something different.”

  I thought back to the Runner who stopped me at the Inn. I couldn’t believe this was a way out.

  “Alex, is there a backup plan?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t think so.”

  “So this is it? For both of us. What happens if it goes wrong? I mean majorly.”

  He tensed and squirmed in his seat. “You’re thinking about war between the two cities.”

  “Yes,” How could he not understand? That frustrated the hell out of me. “I have people I care about in both. I need to be sure they’ll be okay.”

  “I don’t think there is any okay with war.”

  I totally understood him there. I didn’t think there was a way out.

  “You’ll go where you are needed next.” I sighed. “Is there anything else I can do to help?”

  When I saw him shrug, I felt pain. Something deep inside me hurt. Why? Why did I want him to still need me?

  “Alex…” My words trailed off. He took my hand in his, cradled it to his chest, and I choked. I didn’t speak again, though. What I wanted to say, what I needed to say, there were no words for it, for us.

  Oh… no. I thought it. I actually wanted him as more than a friend—a charge, a lover. I knew I never loved Dail the same way and that made this all the harder.

  Not realising it, I twisted and turned Dail’s ring around and around. Alex stopped me. I linked his fingers with mine once more and moved to place his hand on my leg. An intimate move from me.

  “There’s so much I need to tell you,” he said, lowering his head. “I just don’t know where to start.”

  “It’s the same for me... But Dail... I just... I need to tell him, I can’t.”

  “Maddie, I’m...” We both saw the large black dot ahead. The clouds darkened, sheets of rain pounded the sands. I noticed lightning strike the ground and felt the rumble as it did so.

  “Alex,” I ordered, there was no time for talking. “Take the wheel you’ll need to drive.”

  It wasn’t easy to swap while moving, but I managed to slip out from the driver’s seat with him in my place. I made it to the back seat, pushing myself up and out of the roof slit and climbed into the back.

  The guns were locked, loaded, and ready in moments. I pulled the goggles over my eyes, watching the clouds for any signs. I almost sensed there would be Tromoal up there. Where there be storms, there be hunting grounds for monsters as they searched for food.

  I didn’t know what kind of food they might be trying, but I hoped it wasn’t people food.

  “What’s got you so worried?” Alex shouted.

  My eyes never left the horizon. I scanned slowly as I answered him, “If the Tromoal didn’t find their food from the estate, there’s only a couple of other places they know where large amounts of stock are kept. The port is one of them.”

  “Fish?”

  “Food of any kind. There’s lots of trade going on just outside the port. Those with goods they want on the boats, and those who are bringing in fresh hauls from the ocean and islands.”

  “What speed do you want?”

  “Just keep your foot down.” I glanced down at him, the zoom picking up every worry line on his face. “If the Tromoal are up there, we’ll need to outmanoeuvre them.”

  Alex pulled a scarf over his face. With the back of the Hog exposed and me standing over it, there was too much sand flying in. It wasn’t pleasant to keep at bay, so I did exactly the same, making sure I was zoomed in on the sky and ready for anything.

  The shriek came first, then the beating of wings. I looked up, spun the full three-sixty degrees that I could, and spotted them. I shouted to Alex, “Whatever happens, don’t take your foot off that accelerator. Got it?”

  “Got it,” he called back.

  I double checked that the gun was ready. I didn’t want to shoot any creature, but I had to defend us. The bows were robust and could penetrate Tromoal hide and is why they weren’t cheap. I also had them enhanced. The tip, if I wanted it to, could ignite inside the beast, a small explosion which, if in the right place, would rip the animal apart. I didn’t want to kill anything. I just wanted to escape, alive, and with no injuries for Alex or for me.

  Then I spotted her. The matriarch with several others of her kind, they swooped in low. Then they spotted us. Fuck.

  “Alex, trust me. Keep your foot to the floor.”

  The Tromoal descended. The matriarch had us in her sights. Would she kill us? No doubt whatsoever as we were in her territory? If I’d ever had any luck at all, I needed it now.

  The shrieks and the dust clouds they left in their wake were massive. I tried not to panic, but sweat dripped down my back, and I zoomed out slightly just so I could work out how long we had.

  “One minute,” I shouted. “Hold on!”

  The sky exploded around us. Several of the huge beasts dropped in ahead, the ground shaking beneath us with their massive weight.

  Alex didn’t baulk. He kept his foot flat on the accelerator.

  That’s when the matriarch landed right in front of us, her teeth bared, and her lungs full.

  Alex wasn’t doing anything but driving. He couldn’t. And I couldn’t fire the gun. My fingers froze over the trigger. I didn’t want to hurt her, and that was stupid.

  The matriarch’s spark lit up the darkness. When the flames she had inside her spurted forth, Alex reacted badly. Trying to avoid them, he turned the wheel too quick. I knew what was coming before he did. The Hog flipped.

  I countered as best I could, allowing myself to go soft. No
matter what was going to happen now, it was over. There was several angry Tromoal and us.

  As my body connected with the ground, I felt several pain-staking moments, and then nothing.

  Blackness.

  Light nowhere to be seen. The darkness consumed me.

  A voice.

  I couldn’t make it out. I didn’t know if it was male or female.

  There was also an echo.

  I tried to focus. Were my eyes closed or was it just so dark I couldn’t see anything?

  “Wake, two legs.”

  I was trying. Who was that?

  Tiny specks of light filtered through my eyes. I opened them. More light.

  I froze.

  Above me was the giant head of the matriarch. Beady eyes watching me. I tried to fling my hands up to protect myself, but my left arm wouldn’t move. Pain ripped through me.

  “You’re injured.”

  HEALTH – 30%

  No kidding. I wanted to laugh, but what was the point? I was going to be eaten. I couldn’t feel my fingers either. But I found the ring, turning it. The energy activated the ring making me feel better, the glowing pink iridescent light twinkling underneath the large head about to eat me.

  HEALTH – 45%

  “I knew it,” the voice said. “I sensed her ring earlier.”

  “What?” I tried to move some more, but the head moved closer, and the blue-red eyes fixed on me.

  “Do not move, yet.”

  I stopped myself.

  “Where’s Alex?” I shouted.

  “Your friend is unconscious inside your vehicle. It flipped over and then back to its rightful side. He’s still very sick, but he’s sleeping for now.

  “Sick? You mean injured? What? I have to help him.”

  When I tried to move again and couldn’t, I stopped struggling.

  “You cannot help him with his sickness. It is not of this world.”

  “Who are you?” I managed to stutter. I tried to stem my shaking, but the breath from the amazing creature was hot. Too hot.

  “I am Riezella, Matriarch of the Tromoal. Who are you?”