by Zara Quentin
But instead of Yrax teeth bearing down on her, Jade felt strong hands wrap around her shoulders. Pain racked her, and her body writhed, out of her control. Her mind drifted. Separate. Released.
In this strange, absent state, Jade felt the suffocating atmosphere lighten. There was salt in the air and the hint of breeze on her skin.
The darkness became bright. Too bright. It stabbed into her head and she groaned, turning away. That new movement brought another wave of pain.
This time it was too much, and as Jade felt rough sand beneath her fingers, she tumbled into another abyss.
13
“Any change?”
A voice pulled Jade from the depths of a chasm, drawing her toward the light. The air was hot and clammy; only the faintest hint of breeze tickled her skin. As she drew a breath, she noticed the salty tang of the air.
When she finally blinked, bright light stabbed at her eyes. She flinched, then squinted.
She wasn’t in the Betwixt.
Relief washed over her, quickly followed by a searing pain in her shoulder. Someone cried out and it was a moment before Jade realised it was her own voice. At once, Neve was at her side, forcing a bitter liquid to her lips.
“Jade? You’re all right. You’re on Premye.” Neve’s voice was soft and soothing. Jade felt the light touch of fingertips pressed to her forehead.
“What happened?” Jade’s voice cracked as images tumbled randomly through her mind. Fangs, claws, tentacles, three eyes, terrible vibrations. Jade was racked by a wave nausea.
“The Yrax slashed your shoulder. You have a deep gash, but I’ve got a salve to help it heal. You’ll recover.”
Jade closed her eyes as Neve dabbed something gooey on her shoulder. It stung, but the pain dulled to a persistent ache.
There was a movement on her other side and Jade’s eyes flew open.
Michael grinned down at her. His arms were folded across his chest and the sleeves of his black shirt were rolled up almost to his shoulder. “Aren’t you getting yourself a reputation?”
“What are you talking about?” Jade asked.
“Leaving me to set up the tent by myself? Anyone would think you were a spoilt, little, rich girl.” Michael’s grin took the sting out of his words.
“Seems like I woke up just in time then.” Jade returned his smile and a light twinkled in his eyes.
“I’m just glad you’re still with us. You had us worried.” Michael reached down to squeeze her hand, then didn’t let go.
Jade let her eyes wander while Neve strapped her wound. She lay on cushions scattered over a rough woven mat that was spread over the sand. They were sheltered from the sun by a shade cloth, held up by four posts. She heard the crashing of waves while a breeze gently blew open a flap of canvas, revealing a distinct line where the yellow sand met a wall of bright green foliage.
“There,” Neve said. “All done.”
Jade looked at the bandages strapping her shoulder. She tried to move, but Neve placed a hand firmly on her arm. “Rest. You mustn’t push yourself too quickly.”
“She’s right,” Michael said. “You’re lucky the Yrax only slashed you.”
The persistent ache irritated Jade, and she laid back on the cushions, suddenly exhausted. “I don’t feel lucky.”
“You’re alive.” Michael said.
“Airman Barnard is right,” Neve said. “And what’s more, your shoulder will heal. If the Yrax had bitten you, the poison would fester. There is no antidote. It wouldn’t kill you, but the wound would never heal and the pain would never go away.”
Jade swallowed, shivering despite the heat. She imagined bearing this searing pain every day for the rest of her life. “You’re talking like this is commonplace.”
Michael shook his head. “Usually when a Yrax gets that close, it devours its prey. There are only a couple of instances of survival.”
“Our Lord Protector being case in point.” Jade heard Vance’s voice. She turned her head to see him duck under the shade cloth and come to stand over her. Vance’s sleeves fell to his wrists, but there was sweat on his brow. She wasn’t the only one feeling the clammy heat. Michael and Neve got to their feet at the sound of his approach and Michael saluted Vance. Jade felt suddenly small and vulnerable as the three of them towered over her. “Air Marshall Scosse was unlucky enough to be bitten on a mission when he was a member of Special Protective Ops Division. Your uncle rescued him—Zorman was in Special Protective Ops Division at the same time, before he retired.”
Vance looked down at her. Jade gave a vague nod, though she hadn’t known that. She knew Zorman had served in the Traveller Force, of course. Her father and mother had too, in their youth. She’d loved to hear her father tell stories of the worlds he’d visited, but she’d never paid much attention to what it was they’d done throughout their service in the Force.
Vance continued, his hands clasped behind his back, as though lecturing at Force HQ.
“The Air Marshall and Zorman were on patrol together when he was attacked. He would have been done for, but Zorman got him to the nearest Portal—saved his life. It’s one of the reasons your uncle is so highly regarded within Special Protective Ops Division. Every new recruit learns his story as best practice for what to do in the case of a Yrax attack. He’s one of our heroes.”
Jade’s chest expanded with pride and she smiled, wondering why no one in the family had told her this story before. She took another sip of Neve’s bitter medication and made a face.
“Does the Air Marshall drink this every day?”
Neve glanced quickly at Vance. “I don’t think so. It’s highly addictive. The body becomes accustomed to it. The Lord Protector would have required more and more of it, and the medication itself would eventually kill him. Which is why,” Neve looked pointedly at Jade, “you have to see me every day for this. I can’t let you self-administer it. The dosage is very strict.”
“When can I expect Jade back on patrols?” Vance asked Neve.
Jade held her breath, looking from Vance to Neve and back again. After the attack in the Betwixt, she wasn’t sure she wanted to Patrol. She was in too much pain. And who knew what was waiting out in those rainforests?
“Patrols?” Neve looked shocked. “Jade has taken a serious injury. It may be a long—”
“I need every member of this Squadron on active mission,” he said, cutting her off. “She needs to either return to the skies or to Taraqa. We aren’t babysitters here.” Vance’s tone was firm. His demand was non-negotiable.
Release me.
At the memory of Papa’s words, Jade’s decision was made. She had to find Axel and the best way to do that was to get out on Patrol. She would not be sent back to Taraqa. Not without finding Axel. She couldn’t give Vance any excuse.
“I really think—” Neve started to protest, but Jade cut her off.
“I’ll be up to it in four or five days.”
Neve glared at her and Vance gave her an appraising look. “I’ll give you three.”
Three days? Jade gulped down her apprehension and nodded. When Vance heard no more objections, he left the tent without another word.
Once he was out of earshot, Neve leaned over her. “What are you doing? You can’t fly, not like this!”
“I can’t be sent home,” Jade said. Neve was about to reply, but Jade didn’t want a discussion. She turned to Michael, who’d shifted around to her other side to make room for Vance. She saw part of a tattoo on his shoulder. “What’s that?” she asked. Axel’s was the only tattoo she’d ever really noticed.
Michael pulled his sleeve up farther, revealing the whole design. It showed a clenched fist, with a Dragon-God curled around it. “It’s our insignia.” Jade saw immediately that it wasn’t like Axel’s. “Everyone who serves in Special Protective Ops Division has this tattooed on their shoulder.”
Jade nodded, losing interest as another wave of exhaustion engulfed her. She lay back on her cushions and her eyes started to flutte
r closed. It became harder and harder to keep them open. Neve ordered rest and asked Michael to bring Jade something to eat. Michael agreed, but didn’t leave her side. Jade raised an eyebrow, a silent question. She had no more energy for talk.
Michael kneeled by her side and leaned in close. “Since we’ve got a few days, do you want me to go over anything from training that you need clarified or…” Michael cleared his throat. “refreshed?”
Jade heard the worry in his voice. He thought she knew nothing and would put him in danger. Maybe he was right. Active duty was already proving much harder than she’d thought.
Jade nodded, with effort. “Later.”
Michael nodded. “Rest up now.” Then he reached out and took her hand again, squeezing it. He looked down at her, his grey-blue eyes lingering on hers, before he stood to leave. Jade’s eyes followed him as he ducked under the canvas to exit. His light touch lingered on her skin long after he’d left.
Neve checked on her shoulder bandages and Jade braced herself for an argument about her recovery, but it didn’t come. Instead, Neve’s fingers brushed her neck chain, still around her neck.
“This is beautiful,” Neve murmured, as she touched the pikorua.
“Axel gave it to me,” she replied, then blushed. Why was she still wearing it? Jade was grateful when Neve released it. Then she wrapped her own hand around the pikorua, closing her eyes. “I’m tired.”
The last thing Jade felt were Neve’s fingers, lightly brushing her forehead.
* * *
“You’re on the ground, defenceless. Injured. Flying isn’t an option. What do you do?”
Jade wiggled her toes, feeling the rough sand between them. Under the shade of one of the huge trees that overhung the edge of the beach, the sand was littered with dried leaves and twigs fallen from the boughs overhead. At least the shade provided some relief from the Premyan sun.
“I’m guessing I don’t have a camp full of weapons available to me?” Jade said, her eyes roving the tents crowded onto the stretch of beach between them and the turquoise sea. The Travellers had set up their tents along the beach on the southeastern side of the U-shaped cove. Beyond the shoreline, the Portal clouds floated above a patch of opaque grey sea formed into white caps, a contrast to the sparkling water all around. It was obvious this was where the Premyan Portal came out. Since they’d arrived, two Travellers stood in the shallows—a constant sentry—to prevent any unauthorised arrivals or departures.
“Improvisation.” Michael’s voice brought Jade’s attention back. His eyes were piercing, holding her gaze. Her breath hitched in her throat. She wasn’t sure whether Michael’s attention indicated affection for her, or was just his way, but it stirred something inside her.
Michael pointed to the rainforest that wove together to the east and south of the long stretch of beach. The foliage was so thick, they couldn’t see beyond the first line of the old, knotted trees, their huge trunks supporting creeping vines, moss, and all kinds of birdlife in their sprawling branches. Jade had never seen any place so green. “What’s the priority?”
Jade peered at a long seed-pod hanging from a tree branch that curved over until it touched the sand.
“Find something to eat and drink?” Jade guessed. “Wait, am I under attack?”
“It’s always wise to assume threat. You have to keep all your senses alert. We’re in unfamiliar territory. We don’t know about these people or their customs, and we have no open lines of communication with their leaders.”
Michael had been catching her up on the basic training she’d missed. This included general survival skills, orientation, making shelter and foraging for food. Jade had learnt how to determine whether a strange plant or fruit was poisonous, how to make temporary shelters and how to keep warm in the cold—though she couldn’t believe that would be a problem on Premye. All she seemed to do here was sweat.
“Let’s assume you are under attack. What do you do?” Michael’s gaze was intense. During these lessons, he didn’t let up for a moment, probing her knowledge, making sure she understood. He kept saying that knowledge could be the difference between life and death. Jade knew he was right but her shoulder ached constantly, and gave her a headache. The pain relief always wore off long before Neve would allow her to take another dose.
She had been in Premye for two days. She probably shouldn’t have been out of bed, but she was due back in the skies in one more day. This morning she’d taken a short flight with Michael before coming to sit under the welcome shade of the trees.
Jade chewed on her lip, wondering if that was a trick question. “Find a weapon to defend myself?”
Michael rolled his eyes. “Like what?”
“A pointy stick? Maybe some rocks to throw? Or…”
“What if they’re shooting arrows at you?”
“Well, I’d find shelter. Maybe behind a tree or some rocks. Or maybe I’d find something shield-like?”
Michael nodded. Then he pointed upwards and Jade’s eyes followed. All she could see was the gnarled branch above her, covered in leaves bigger than her hands. She shrugged, unsure what he was trying to get at. “I don’t know? Climb a tree?”
“Yes! Maybe.” Michael said. “The point is, don’t forget to look up. We know very little about the Premyan natives; they hide themselves cursed well in this forest.”
Jade shivered despite the heat. She’d heard talk of brief sightings of native Premyans: fierce savages who moved through the forest like ghosts, rumoured to have round, glowing eyes and strangely long arms. The forest obscured everything beyond. They could be anywhere.
“Be aware of your surroundings,” Michael continued. “They might use height to attack you. Or you might need to climb a tree to defend yourself. Or there might be an escape route above you, even if you can’t fly.”
Jade wondered how she was supposed to get up onto a tree branch, if she couldn’t fly. She’d never climbed a tree in her life.
“What if you’re lost?” Michael changed the subject.
“Orient to landmarks. Work out where to go. Keep checking orientation.” Jade rattled off the information he’d drilled into her over the last couple of days.
Michael nodded. “Also, some kind of trail is a good idea. In case you’re going around in circles without even knowing it.”
Jade remembered the story she’d heard as a child. “Like Hansyl and Gretyl? Leaving breadcrumbs in the forest to find their way out again?”
“Exactly. Except not breadcrumbs. Something a little less likely to attract native wildlife. Making notches in tree trunks is a good idea. Or a trail of something more permanent, like scraps of your shirt tied to a branch or something. It depends what you’ve got at hand.”
Jade grinned. “Doesn’t it always?” It had become something of a running joke since his questions always seemed to come around to the same idea: improvise, be aware of your surroundings and use them. Michael grinned back, holding her eyes without breaking contact until Jade felt the heat rise to her cheeks and she looked away. He’d been a good teacher and she was grateful to him for taking the time to fill in the considerable gaps in her training and knowledge. His manner was open, friendly and encouraging. So different to Leuven’s menacing demeanor and because of that, Jade had absorbed much more. Nor could Jade deny that she enjoyed the attention. She felt a warm glow inside when Michael was around.
But as Jade looked away, she thought of a different set of warm brown eyes and felt a sudden pang of longing.
Michael jumped to his feet. “Enough sitting. Let’s see some basic hand-to-hand combat.”
Jade winced. The pain in her shoulder was getting worse by the minute and the temperature was rising as the sun made its arc upwards into the sky. “Come on. I won’t hurt that shoulder. But we’ve got to get you back on your feet. Every time you patrol, you risk coming face-to-face with these people and we don’t know anything about them. We have to assume they’re a threat, until we know they’re not.”
Jade got to her feet and faced off against Michael. She bent her knees into a crouch, readying for his attack. They circled each other. Jade angled her upper body to protect her sore shoulder. She blinked.
In one quick movement, Jade was on her back, as Michael pinned her down. She gasped, panting, and felt his weight pressing on her. She looked up to see his grey-blue eyes gazing down. She held her breath, caught up in his eyes as they sparkled at her. Her heart leapt into a flurry, and heat sparked over her skin where they touched: her torso, hips, thighs. Jade felt the blush in her cheeks as Michael’s face hovered, less than a handspan from hers, his breath as ragged as her own. His eyes flicked to her lips and back to look into her eyes, asking a question Jade didn’t know how to answer.
Michael ran the edge of his thumb down the side of her cheek, her skin tingling in its wake. Jade almost forgot to breathe.
Then, as quickly as it had happened, Michael pulled back to kneeling. Jade felt cool air flow into the space where Michael had been a moment before. A lightness where she’d felt his weight. She was breathing heavily when he held out a hand to help her to her feet and the edges of his mouth turned up in a smile as he held her gaze.
“I think we know what we have to work on now, don’t we?” Michael said.
* * *
The sun slipped behind the opposite cliffs, bathing them a deep red. Jade collapsed on the sand with her plate of rations. She was famished after hours of combat training with Michael. And sore.
Another dose of Neve’s painkillers had dulled the pain in her shoulder to an ache but the stiffness in her muscles now would only increase her agony tomorrow.
The painkillers improved her mood, which had frayed, almost to breaking during the long afternoon. So much so that when Michael saw her, he’d hesitated, raising his eyebrow instead of sitting, as though asking her permission.