by Dawn Chapman
I was sure confusion graced my entire face. When she turned back to me, she raised her lovely eyes to look at me fully. She studied me for quite some time before she spoke again. There was a great sadness in her voice. “He found the cure, didn’t he?”
I followed Jenni into the building that was their home. The rundown outside didn’t give anything away in their neighbourhood, but inside, I was pleasantly surprised. When Melee was carried in by Marcus, I swallowed my frustration. Melee was the younger of the two and was obviously sick, her wasting body so small. You couldn’t guess her age by looking at her. I moved to them, my heart in my throat.
“Hi,” she said, trying to smile.
“Hey.” I watched as Marcus moved to sit with her wrapped around him. I tried not to let the pure emotion of the scene get to me. He looked like a doting father, not the thug I just mistook him for. The other two guys milled about the room. When I glanced further, I noticed they were starting dinner.
Jenni motioned for me to sit. Placing the bag on the table, I brought out the box and gave it to her. Jenni opened it with great care, tears in her eyes as she read the note from Alex, and then she slipped out the potions. She moved to where one of the guys watched a pot on the stove and instructed him on how to make it. I didn’t know much about this kind of advanced gift. The magic Alex used on me was different to how this one would work. I tried to understand the instructions but gave up halfway through. Instead, I watched as they were prepared.
Melee squirmed in Marcus’s arms, and I noticed his concern. “Is she in a lot of pain?”
Marcus nodded. “Constantly. There’s nothing we’ve ever been able to buy or give her to take it away.”
I felt sorry for her, so young. Yet she was loved by all the people here, and Alex. “I should go,” I said, trying to allow myself some room for thinking. It felt wrong for me to be here.
“Please stay, just a while. You can have dinner with us.”
I shook my head. “I have to get back across the desert again before the breeding season really does kick off.”
I realised she didn’t know about the estate or the Tromoal, but their stall had been attacked earlier, so she knew something.
“The world is changing,” she said. “I feel that.” I noticed her eyes changed colour as she spoke to me. “There’s also something about you that I really like. Alex wouldn’t have trusted you with these potions otherwise.”
“The Tromoal might come back to the port. If there’s anywhere else you could hide out, I’d suggest moving there.”
“Maybe, when she’s feeling better.” Jenni looked to her sister. “Do you know what happened? Why they came for us?”
“Yes, Hanson’s estate was poisoned. Their food and stocks were down so much that the workers abandoned it. Hanson committed suicide with his entire family.”
“Then, yes, we will move as soon as we can.” Jenni’s face fell as she watched the guys help Melee with the potions. “I believe the Tromoal will return because of the high food supply. The city defences aren’t good enough to protect us. Nor will they want to give up so much to keep the Tromoal at bay.”
“They’d best be doing so until we have a solid working plan available to supply them with their usual foods.”
Jenni pulled something from her pocket, passing it to me. It was a slip of paper with an address. “If you wish to see us again, do come. You’d be honoured at our table anytime.”
“Thank you.”
“No.” Jenni smiled. “I can’t thank you enough for this, for bringing this to us. I’m sorry Marcus took some of the day’s frustration out on you.”
“Don’t be. It was nice to think I might have stood a chance against these three brutes.”
I moved to leave, standing with her in the doorway as Melee was given the potions. “Let Alex know how she’s doing if you can?”
She smiled, but it was a sad one. I couldn’t understand why. “What’s wrong?”
“You don’t know he’s sick, do you?”
Sick? I felt the colour drain from my body. I leaned on the door, not opening it.
“You understand he’s a visitor, though?”
“Yes, we talked a little about things.”
“Well, in his world, he’s sick. He understood Melee’s illness because of his own.”
The matriarch had said something similar. I wobbled slightly. “How sick?”
Jenni opened the door for me as I suddenly needed the fresh air. I tried to stop myself, but panic for him flooded through me.
Jenni answered, but her voice was low. “He talked about this being his last adventure.”
I had to go, now. “I need to find him.” I rushed off, grabbing my backpack. I vaguely remembered where the Hog was and I ran for it. Ran until my breath came so ragged I had to stop or fall over.
Why hadn’t he said anything? Or maybe he had tried. I knew there was something he wanted to tell me, but then we’d seen the devastation of the city…
I wished we’d had more time. I had to find him. Now!
The Hog roared to life. I turned around in the street as best I could while tears stung my eyes.
I found my way back to the place I’d dropped Alex off by sheer luck. The guards weren’t stationed outside anymore, and I moved to knock. Maybe they’d still be here. It was hopeful at best.
Silence echoed throughout the street, the only sound my heart beating in my chest.
I tried the door handle to find it open.
With a deep breath, I pushed the door open. It looked like any typical room and any ordinary house.
No one was home, though. Two cups and a few empty plates sat on the table. I scanned for any clues.
Nothing.
There was nothing here that said where or when they had moved on. Or where they went…
I picked up a bottle of ale I found in the cupboard, pulled out a glass, and filled it to the brim. The day was getting on, I’d nowhere to stay, and I needed something to take this pain away.
There was a ping. A message from Dail popped into my view. I really didn’t want anything from him right now. But I clicked it open and read.
“Maddie, we’ve located enough food sources from the lands to last a good few days, been rallying the North, but there’s been no word from anyone in the south. Can you check the Port’s suppliers? See what’s going on?”
I slugged back some of the ale and nearly spat it out. Ugh, disgusting.
I typed back. “We arrived safely. Alex has gone. The Port’s already been attacked. I’ll see what I can do in the morning, and I’ll let you know when I start my return journey.”
I took another swig. The ale had a horrid taste, so I stood, leaving the building. Any hopes of ever finding out what happened to Alex drifted away. The only thoughts left were that of my future.
The Hog rumbled to life even if I felt there was nothing left worth living for. I made my way across the port, closer to the docks where I knew an inn was and food with my name written all over it.
A ping came through, and I saw the note on my credits.
QUEST COMPLETED.
PAYMENT MADE – 39,000 CREDITS.
I’d been paid in full, and there was a nice bonus to boot. That meant Alex had gotten the information across to the right people, his mission complete. Did that mean he’d left? Gone back just like Leon had all those years ago? Leon had been my first real love. It devastated me when he vanished. No rhyme or reason. When he left me, I bounced about from one relationship to the other, and then met Dresel. That had been interesting but also ended badly.
I wished I could stay away from men altogether, but programming…. If I ever met these game designers, I would kick their asses. Then get them to rewrite me.
I parked the Hog. The door to the bar creaked as I opened it, and I headed to a corner booth. The waitress was soon over. I ordered the finest bottle of whiskey they had and a glass along with two plates of their roasted meat, veggies and a dessert. I was going to stuff my f
ace and drown my sorrows. Tomorrow was another day. I’d worry about that then.
The familiar aura drifted over my psyche as Dalfol’s silvery voice entered my mind. What’s the problem, Maddie? Do I need to retrieve you from your location?
I choked back on the whiskey, shocked he’d even think of that.
Are you like my keeper? I asked internally. Hoping the question wouldn’t offend him.
No, but I am the one assigned to your well-being and thoughts. It seems you’re struggling with a lot. I can help.
How can you help me? Alex has gone back to his own world, by the sounds of it to die. And I can’t contact or help him. The food supply is short for you guys, so you’re at risk. If you continue to attack the cities, they’ll fight back. There will be many lives lost. I’m stuck between you and the people I love, with no way out.
There is always a way out, Maddie.
I laughed and attracted some unwanted attention from the far side of the bar. Yeah, I looked like a crazy person, laughing and talking to myself.
I waved at the staring patrons who tucked themselves back in and carried on a conversation. Probably about me.
How is there always a way out?
The answers are complicated, and I feel the grip of inebriation. You must rest, come back to us. There is hope for all. With you at our side, my matriarch is not worried for our young.
She might not be, but I am. I don’t like death at any level. She’s already had her clutch.
You’ve seen that, so you know several of our females have already decided to return without birthing.
I slammed my fist on the table, again getting strange looks. We need them here. I can’t let them leave. Without your numbers and the young, there won’t be enough Hismaw to sell, the world will be taken by…
The creatures that live here… why is that so bad?
I thought about it. Yes, why was it bad? The surrounding cities, their lands and situations would change. The creatures kept at bay by the Hismaw would have greater roaming distances. It would put a slight stop on the growth of us. I realised it wasn’t so bad. The arguments over land, the imminent threats of war. They’d stop. They would need to protect their own lands, and not worry about ours.
I see we do have a lot to discuss. I will eat and sleep this off. Join you in the desert at noon.
And Alex? His name ripped through me.
Maybe I’d marry Dail after all. The pain would subside. I just had to block it out once more. Forget. I could do that.
I picked up the whisky tumbler, filled it, and then downed it.
Yes, I would forget. I had a new goal now.
Family.
The End
Coming Soon
Maddie’s story continues in - Desert Born - Puatera Online - Book 2.
My Book
Synopsis –
With her charge, Alex, safely delivered, Maddie drowns her pain in a local bar. Leaving later that night only to discover Alex has been beaten and robbed, his own quest failed. Politics and cash aside, she aids him. Once more they cross the desert, this time where Tromoal and enemies are born.
From the Author
Dawn Chapman has been creating sci-fi and fantasy stories for thirty years. Until 2005 when her life and attention turned to scripts, and she started work on The Secret King, a 13-episode Sci-Fi TV series, with a great passion for this medium.
In 2015, Dawn returned to her first love of prose where she revelled in the world of The Secret King, Letháo and First Contact, as an epic prose space journey over 3 generations.
This year her experience of working with Producers/Directors from the US and AUS has expanded. From Drama, Sci-Fi, Action, to Litrpg. Dawn's built a portfolio of writing, consulting and publishing.
You can follow Dawn on any of her public pages.
Author Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kanundra
Twitter Link – https://twitter.com/kanundra
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Dawn-Chapman/e/B014A0RUBC
If you’ve enjoyed Maddie’s story, please let us know, consider leaving a review or sending a message.
Many Thanks!
Also by Dawn Chapman
Also by Dawn Chapman
The Secret King Series with interactive website, conlang and more at – www.thesecretking.com
The Secret King – Letháo – KU, e-book, audiobook.
The Secret King – First Contact – KU, e-book.
Audio Accompaniments
The Secret King – The Truth Hurts - myBook.to/TSK-TheTruthHurts
The Secret King – Brie’s Results - myBook.to/TSK-BriesResults
Coming Soon – Brie’s Choice
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