The soldiers turned. They slumped, and their hands rose slowly into the air. Roni hurried forward from behind them, a staser trained in their direction. Jaer stepped up, relieving them of their weapons. He tucked one under his waistband and tossed the other to Roni. She caught the weapon with one hand and slipped it under her jacket.
Jaer grasped the first man’s neck, spinning him to face the opposite direction. He pulled the man against him in a strong, fluid motion. With his other hand, Jaer clasped the chin piece of the full helmet and twisted. Roni performed a similar procedure on the second man. The two soldiers went down without a sound. Their bodies lay hidden from view by the thick trees and bushes surrounding the yard.
“Thanks,” Jaer said and smiled.
“I’ve got your back,” Roni said. “I saw them crossing behind the houses and figured I should check on them.”
Jaer went back to the door, activated the access panel, and entered the foyer of the large home, Roni right behind him. “Check all the rooms,” Jaer whispered and they split up.
They met moments later with little to show for their efforts—two coats, one thick cap, and a pair of gloves.
“There are stairs leading down, possibly to a storeroom. I want to check the space.” Jaer continued to whisper.
They threw the clothes on the entry floor, and Jaer led Roni back to the staircase. He moved down, silently. A door at the bottom of the stairs opened with a slight grinding noise.
A family sat huddled inside a ring of opaque boxes, with shelves stuffed to overflowing lining the outer walls. They appeared frightened, and the sight caused Jaer to stiffen. He fisted his hands. The idea of these people fearful and hiding in their own home was too much. He turned away and Roni moved forward.
“We won’t hurt you, but we do need your help.”
An elderly man with thin gray hair and a creased face spoke. “You’re the ones they’re looking for.”
Jaer turned his attention back to the old man.
A blonde woman stepped forward. “What can we do? We can’t help you. You’ll get us in trouble if they find you here.” She gathered her three teenage children to her.
“Come on, Roni—we should go,” Jaer said, his voice low and gravelly. “I am sorry we bothered you.” He turned to move up the stairs.
“No!” The old man shouted, glaring at the woman. “We’ll help any way we can. I’ll not die with the knowledge I did nothing to stop the violence taking place on the orders of Admiral Newell. He’s a deceitful schemer, and he’s up to no good.” He turned and stared at Roni, a smile lifting his thin lips. “What do you need us to do?”
“We need warm clothing,” Roni said. “We can pay you.”
The old man grinned. “Do you have transportation?”
Roni smiled back. “Yes, we do.”
He shuffled to the back wall and tugged a box from the shelf, inspecting the contents. He let out a dissatisfied grunt and shoved the box back.
“How can I help?” Roni asked. She squeezed between the woman and a tall stack of boxes.
The woman turned to Roni and the old man. “You’re looking on the wrong shelf. Let me get the right ones.” She brushed by Roni and gazed into her eyes. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things,” she whispered. “I’m scared.”
“Roni, meet me upstairs after you’re done here. There is something I need to take care of.” Jaer ran up the stairs and out to the front yard. He pulled the bodies of the dead soldiers to the transport. He stuffed them in, depositing them roughly in the storage compartment. He would dump them later, away from this neighborhood. He wouldn’t endanger this family by having the dead soldiers discovered on their property.
Jaer met Roni at the door. She carried three clear boxes filled with enough warm clothing for all of them, and handed off the containers to Jaer. Roni went to the old man, her hand filled with krigunds.
“No, I don’t want your payment. You keep it. You may need it.” He turned and trundled back into the house, closing the door behind him.
Jaer and Roni got into the transport. “Now all we need to do is make it back,” Jaer said. He kept changing directions to avoid one blockade after another set up along routes that would lead them away from Tamaagra.
“The area is covered with troops. They know or suspect we’re here, and they’re determined,” Roni said.
Jaer turned down a long single-lane drive, pulling into a turnout under a copse of trees. He could see a house in the distance, up the drive. He got out and started removing the supplies, hiding them in the heavy brush growing around the thick trunks. Overhead, small, low-flying aircraft patrolled the periphery of the residential areas.
“We will never get through the blockades,” Jaer said as he unloaded the transport. “And with the air patrols, we will not make it half a field cross country.” He talked as he worked, his attention on the task before him.
“What’s your plan?” Roni asked, helping him conceal the boxes.
Jaer stopped what he was doing and stared out over the rolling hills. “There,” he said, pulling Roni close and pointing, “is the direction you need to go. The farm is just beyond these fields.” Jaer let go of her and went back to the transport.
Roni nodded at where he’d indicated. “We can go after dark.”
“No. The patrols are increasing. We are running out of time here and at the farm.” Jaer glanced at Roni. “If we try to run a blockade, we will be pursued. This vehicle will be missed soon, if not already. The trace will give them our location. I have to dispose of the transport.” He gazed down the drive the way they had come.
“A stolen vehicle won’t be a priority,” Roni said, shaking her head.
“We cannot be sure of that,” Jaer stated. “A missing transport may be just what they will track.”
Roni stepped over and stood in front of him. “Jaer, we shouldn’t separate.”
Jaer ignored her. “I will go to the other side of the city and dump the transport. If I am not back before morning, leave while you still have the cover of dark. Go to the house down this drive. Put together a sled or cart. Get the supplies to Tiar.”
Jaer slid into the transport. “Do not wait for me, Roni. Get back to the farm and leave for the mountains.” Jaer stared at her, his face set. “Make Erynn go.”
The door glided shut and he took off, knowing Roni would follow his orders. He wasn’t as confident when it came to Erynn. She was willful and opinionated. But he had to admit, her strength and independence was part of what he admired about her. She had courage.
Jaer retraced his route, staying to the periphery of the city. If his idea worked, the plan might buy Tiar valuable time—allow them to escape. He stopped in the parking area of an air-transport station to wait. He needed the dark.
It will not be long.
Shadows lengthened.
Checkpoints established for departing and arriving commuters passed long lines of passengers in and out of the platform. The troopers appeared uninterested in the parking area, or in the transports entering or leaving. Jaer recognized the flaws, the gaps in their reconnaissance. He thought back on his brief contacts with Newell’s troops. They were undisciplined, weak, and careless. Jaer smiled. He hoped he would get a chance to face Newell one day and share his opinion of these alien soldiers.
Jaer settled in and activated the transport’s CMD. He had to find just the right set of conditions to carry out his plan. His fingers brushed the screen, scrolling through the onboard mapping system. Jaer slowed the procession of images and studied the small monitor.
Perfect. But dangerous.
The area wasn’t far and would work. He switched off the CMD, the plan firm in his mind. His thoughts turned to Erynn. They had an overwhelming task before them. He must get through this and back to her. She would need him.
He closed his eyes and pictured Erynn’s face, her startling blue eyes, and her fall of curly red hair. She was so petite, but not fragile. Her manner was fearless. He chuckled.
Erynn reminded him of a tiny winged Leannan from children’s stories in appearance and in her pure innocence. Jaer stiffened, opening his eyes. The image disappeared. “Another reason I should keep my distance from her—I have no business contaminating her spirit with my soiled character.”
The harsh, artificial glow of the security globes spaced around the parking area replaced the sun’s last light. Jaer started the transport and headed to the outermost blockade he’d located earlier. Traffic lumbered along. He had to stop several times before reaching the barricades. Bright lights shone in the dark from portable stands aimed to glare on the roadblock. Jaer slid his window down just enough to reveal his face and glided up in front of an armor-clad trooper.
Breath escaped from under the guard’s helmet in misty plumes. He started to wave Jaer through and froze. “Wait, you’re…” The guard lunged for the door.
Jaer smiled, thrust the accelerator forward, and rammed against and over the barrier. He glanced behind.
Troopers piled into transports and started a pursuit.
Racing off along the wide thoroughfare, Jaer wove between slower-moving vehicles. Coming up fast behind commuter transports, they pulled to the side, getting out of his way. Following Jaer were several vehicles, sirens blaring and lights flashing. He would evade his pursuers long enough to arrive at the desired destination.
Just a little farther.
His goal was up this hill and around the next bend.
A ravine paralleled him to the right. A steep slope preceded a deep vertical drop forty meters from the road’s edge. He neared the spot and again jammed down on the accelerator, jerking the wheel hard. Jaer crashed through the safety railing. The transport tipped precariously to one side before slamming upright, continuing to slide down the embankment, damaged and out of control. The undercarriage bounced over a large rock and scraped against the rough ground, metal ripping. The front window imploded. Fragments of glass flew back into his face. Jaer reached for the release and pushed. The door slid open, grinding and moaning.
Jaer jumped, landed hard on the rocky soil, and rolled. His momentum increased on the steep slope. The transport soared over the edge. He clawed at the ground, grabbing for any handhold before he too went unchecked over the rim. The vehicle hit the bottom and exploded. A fiery glow illuminated the dark below him. Jaer continued to slide down the bank toward the abrupt edge. He reached out. The fingers of his left hand caught an old, protruding root.
His headlong rush stopped. The outer layer of the dry, spongy wood powdered in his grip, but the inner core remained solid. Jaer’s body twisted backward. His shoulder popped, and he stifled a scream. He clamped his eyes shut, teeth grinding together. His legs dangled over the edge.
The pain from his shoulder shot like drathgan fire through him. He grabbed on to the exposed root with his right hand. Sweat from his palm mingled with dirt, resulting in a slick layer of mud. Above him, transports screeched to a stop. He swung his legs up. His boot heels dug for a solid purchase. The edge crumbled away under him, small rocks cascading down into the void. The scent of loosened soil was acrid and dry. He pushed against the ledge and pulled at the root with his good arm. Thin beams of light arced through the dark at the top of the bank. He had to get out of sight.
Rolling against the uphill rise, Jaer scrambled to a sitting position. A small landslide of rocks and dirt flowed to his left.
The soldiers were coming.
He pushed off the ground, biting back a groan, and sprinted to the right. He reached an outcropping of boulders and threw himself behind one just as intense light bathed the area. Jaer peered above the rock. A white glow flooded the path of the transport six meters to his left. Farther to his right about twenty meters, the incline was not so extreme. Heavy brush and small trees clung to the rise.
Jaer stood up, pulling his left arm against his body, grimacing. He ran, limping. When he looked back from the concealment of the dense patch of brush, he smiled.
When troopers accessed the wreckage, they would find the remains of two bodies. Jaer nodded, turned, and began climbing across the rugged slope to begin his descent to the bottom of the chasm.
Chapter 28
ERYNN STOOD AT THE LARGE sliding door to the barn. She flipped the hood of her coat over her head and pulled the fold of soft cloth tight, wrapping her arms around her waist. Her breath fogged out, swirling around her before disappearing. With her back against the heavy open frame, she stared out into the still night. Bright stars twinkled above her in the moonless sky. The lights of Tamaagra sparkled below. Dew frosted on the full heads of ripe grain, and they shimmered icily, silver and white.
Something was wrong. Jaer and Roni should have been back. Trying again, Erynn relaxed, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. She thought about Roni and Jaer, pictured their faces, and searched for the glow of their compassion. Her awareness stretched over the vast fields, soared like an aleun in the night, seeking, and stopped. A solid wall impenetrable to her consciousness loomed up before her.
Her eyes flew open and her hands fisted at this obstruction.
Tiar moved up beside Erynn. “You can’t force it.” He chuckled softly, studying the night. “Besides, Jaer knows what he’s doing.”
Erynn glared at him, shaking her head.
Have I ever heard Tiar laugh? No.
“You saw the troop transports pouring into Tamaagra this morning. Jaer and Roni shouldn’t have gone.” She turned her face away from Tiar and said in a low voice, “I should’ve been more focused to the danger.”
Silence stretched between them. They both searched the dark.
“You should try and get some sleep. When Jaer does return, we’ll need to leave for the mountains. The troops from Tamaagra will broaden their search to the outlying areas. We’re vulnerable here,” Tiar said, glancing at Erynn before turning and walking back into the deep shadows of the barn’s interior.
Erynn pulled the heavy door shut and walked to the ramp of the ship. Dim lights cast a pallid glow in the cabin. Sean sat in one of the pilots’ seats, his feet propped up on the instrument panel. His face was an ashen orb outlined by short dark hair and surrounded by pale shadows. He glanced at Erynn as she entered and gave her a weak smile.
Tiar was at the rear of the ship curled on the hard floor, a blanket around him.
She moved to the far side of the cabin, her back against a clear space of an inner wall. Drawing up her knees, she wrapped her arms around them.
Erynn’s thoughts went to Roni but lingered on Jaer. She should have insisted she go with him.
With them.
Her stomach rolled and her skin warmed when she thought about Jaer. “Stop,” she whispered, concealing her face in her hands.
I can’t have these thoughts. Be content with friendship.
Companionship would be all she could hope for with a man like Jaer, considering who and what she was. This oddity about her troubled Jaer. She could tell by his inconsistent manner toward her. With her arms back around her legs, Erynn laid her cheek on her knees. These sensations concerning Jaer were new and encompassing, and they grew stronger the longer she was around him.
Once Jaer has delivered me to Cale, he’ll will have no reason to stay close to me. He’ll move on. He’s probably already in a committed relationship. Just look at him.
The impressions that flashed in her mind tugged at her heart. Jaer smiling, his expression light, the pain eased from his dark eyes. His long black hair cascaded over the powerful expanse of his chest. He was an insurmountable mountain, tall and broad, all strength and authority. But he could be gentle and warm.
She smiled, remembering his fierce countenance outside the barn as they stood face to face. Him demanding she stay. She insistent he allow her to go.
I bet seasoned men wither under his intense stare.
Her smile thinned and slipped into a frown, and she closed her eyes against Jaer’s image. Banished, hope flew to a far recess of her core.
***
> Pale dawn light turned the small windows of the barn a soft gray. The heavy outside door slid back with a scrape of wood on wood. Erynn jumped up. She was down the ramp and at the door, but not before Tiar. Sean followed.
Roni stood just outside the barn.
“Roni, you’re okay.” Erynn breathed with relief. She could see the darker outline of a makeshift cart beyond Roni, but not Jaer. “Where’s Jaer?” Erynn snapped, her voice tight.
“The increased troop patrols and blockades hemmed us into the city. Jaer took me to a spot not far from here and told me to wait until dark before returning. He took our transport to the other side of the city.” Roni’s tone was low, her features unreadable in the murky light of predawn.
Aggravation colored Roni’s voice. Stronger, disappointment rolled from her, colliding against Erynn in waves.
Roni glanced at Tiar, Sean, and then Erynn. “Jaer said not to wait for him. He said he would find us.”
Erynn started around Roni. “I’ll go find him.”
Tiar grabbed her arm. “No.”
Erynn spun back, her jaw tightened. “But he’s out there, alone.”
Taking hold of Erynn’s other arm, Tiar pulled her closer. His eyes flared with a green fire as cold as ice. He glared down at her. “We’ll do as Jaer said.”
They stared at each other, neither backing down.
“Think about this, Erynn. Don’t let your personal feelings cloud your judgment,” Tiar said quietly. His eyes warmed and he gave her one of his infrequent smiles.
Erynn gasped and her mouth went slack. Her gaze darted from Tiar, to Roni, and to Sean.
Tiar let go of Erynn, stepped back, and appraised the brightening horizon. “We should repack the supplies so they can be carried.” He took control in Jaer’s absence.
Erynn glanced back at Tamaagra, the city’s lights bright against the gray morning. She wanted to reach out, to find Jaer. The fear of not finding him, the sense of him, stopped her. Erynn was still glancing back as she entered the barn.
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