“You have my word.”
He squeezed my hand and pointed to the next firework. I turned away but not before I saw him wipe tears from his eyes.
We sat there in silence, content to watch the fireworks race across the sky. Blues, greens, and reds streamed in perfect succession, each chasing the next across the horizon. When the last firework faded into darkness, Arrow slipped a package into my hand.
I looked at the glittering lights rolling around my palm and the soft shadows lighting Arrow’s face. I licked my lips, waiting for courage to surface, to grab the moment.
“It’s time to go,” he said, breaking my thoughts.
Chapter Nineteen
Darkness hid our steps as we drifted through the wetlands and then back into the forest. Arrow and his men blended in, seamlessly mimicking the rustling of reeds as we traveled. Naturally, my stumbles overrode their stealth.
What I couldn’t do covertly in the daytime became even more obvious at night. I trampled bushes, got stuck in branches, and tripped over every large rock or dip in the trail. The luminance powder didn’t seem to help either; it just broadcast my clumsiness to the group. The darkness concealed my embarrassment and their glares. That was all right. In the night, their silence didn’t seem as insulting.
My legs hurt, again. Even walking more slowly through the night, the distance wore on me. It didn’t surprise me that when the sun rose over the horizon I could barely keep my eyes open or my legs moving straight. If I’d had any doubts before, this journey solidified the fact that heroism did not actually suit me.
The sun rose over the horizon, and the isolation of night diminished. I shook the few grains of luminance that had stuck to my sweaty palms into the dirt below and caught up with the group, which had stopped in a small clearing in the woods quite a bit ahead of me. They sat together, tracing designs in the ground. Now was my chance to ease back into the band.
They stared at me with unhidden contempt as I entered their circle. Any inclusion the darkness of night offered disappeared with their first look at me. Dark circles sunk their faces, amplifying their bloodshot eyes. Their matted and tangled beards overflowed with forgotten branches and displaced leaves. Each face hid a different expression, ranging from weariness to annoyance. As I looked from man to man, I recognized a common theme—they didn’t trust me. Betrayal had a way of pulling the heart down, and I saw its sting.
I looked for Arrow, but he wasn’t with the men. I thought about asking for him, but dismissed the idea. He couldn’t be my solution. I made this mess on my own, and I would fix it. If only I knew how.
“Phew,” I said, trying to catch my breath. “You guys are quick.” Hunched over, I got a good look at the designs they had traced in the dirt.
They turned their gaze from me back to the ground where someone had drawn a hasty map. Lines intersected systematically on the ground in front of them, but I ignored them. What caught my attention were the two large crosses marked in the forefront of a castle.
I combed through my hair, pulling out a few thorns before I spoke. “So… when do we stop for breakfast?”
Arrow ran back to the circle and laughed at my question. “Is it always time to eat for you?”
“I have to keep my energy up!” I felt relieved to see his warm smile.
He tossed me a roll and jerky and pulled some out for the men. “I guess this is a good enough time to make our arrangements.”
I dropped my bag to the ground and took my first bite. Its soft warmth had disappeared, but it still quieted my growling stomach. I waited until the other men had gotten their food and looked more closely at the map. It resembled the one I had scratched on the river’s edge, but had more details.
“So this is all of Lockhorn?” I asked Arrow, taking a quick bite.
“Most of it,” he said, leaning over and nodding. “Some of the smaller villages aren’t there.”
I saw Flourin marked with a star, the river that had taken me away from Lindle, and several estates similar in size to Baron Marix’s. The more I looked, the more familiar it seemed. I knew this place from deep in my core. Lockhorn finally made sense.
“So where are we going?” I asked, grabbing for another roll from the pile near the map.
“We’re going here.” Arrow pointed with a stick to a tree symbol below the mountains. “This is the Grove, where we’ll meet up with the rest of the rebellion.” Arrow dragged the stick from the first ‘X’ to the tree. “This is our route. We should be there by this evening as long as we don’t run into any other problems.”
I nodded and looked around at the other men. They seemed distracted, either looking at the map or the forest. Their gazes seemed to always skip over me. I sighed and took another bite.
“I haven’t noticed any signs of the army. They must be on a different trail,” Boris said, pointing to one of the marked paths on the makeshift map.
“That’s good, right?” I piped in, my mouth full of bread
“As far we can tell. We should be able to get to camp without any more issues,” he said, refusing to meet my eyes.
“The only issue we have is already with us,” Cale muttered.
I jerked my head towards the surly man as he puffed a ring of smoke at my face. I waved the smoke away and glanced at Arrow.
Arrow took a quick bite of his jerky and smacked Cale on his shoulder. “There’s no need for that this morning.”
Cale grumbled something under his breath and blew another ring.
“Stop that!” I coughed, swatting at the rings of smoke.
“Is it too much for you, little girl?” he snarled back. “Do you want to run away again?”
“Cale,” Arrow said, moving between the two of us. “This isn’t helping anything.”
“No, Arrow, it’s fine,” I said, stepping around him. “He obviously has something he wants to say. We might as well get it out now. I’m tired of seeing the glares. From everyone,” I added, moving forward. “So what is it Cale? What’s your issue with me?”
“Alex,” Arrow said, grabbing my arm. “I don’t know if—”
“I have to know what his problem is with me. I came back. I’m here. Either he accepts that, or I don’t know what.” I brushed Arrow’s fingers off my wrist. I didn’t want my hand held; I wanted to fight.
Cale choked on his smoke, but still managed to exhale a perfect circle. “Fine, girly, you want to know why I don’t like you? It’s simple. You’re like spoiled cheese—only parts of you seem good.”
“Spoiled cheese?” I put my hands on my hips. “That’s the best you can come up with?”
“I don’t need to come up with anything. It’s the truth. I’m just not afraid to tell you.”
I looked around at the other men, noticing how they looked away. “Is this how you all feel?” Heaviness sank my heart. I hadn’t imagined they’d all agree. One or two or five, maybe, but not all of them.
Arrow stepped in and pulled me away from the group. “This isn’t helping anything. It’s been a long night, and we have a full day ahead. Just give them some time to come around. You’re back. That’s what matters.”
“Too little, too late,” Cale said under his breath. The familiar words stung. “Let me spell it out for you, Goldy. You only came back for Arrow. You know it, and we know it. You don’t care about the rebellion or our lives. Do you?” He blew another ring at me, waiting for my response.
Had I really been that obvious? I looked away and tore into the strip of jerky before I said something I might regret.
“You must be getting senile in your old age,” Arrow said with a tense laugh. “Like it or not, Alex’s one of us. She came back to warn us about the army. We should be grateful. We owe her our lives.”
“I still wonder. If it had been just us in trouble, would she have come?” Cale asked, blowing a final ring before turning his back on me.
“I could still leave you behind, don’t forget that. I don’t have to take this,” I snarled, throwing my bag ove
r one shoulder.
Arrow grabbed my arm. “Where are you going?”
“Anywhere but here. I need some air. I’ll meet you at your camp,” I said, starting to walk away.
Arrow tightened his hold on my wrist and pulled me back gently. He raised an eyebrow high. I met his gaze and clenched my jaw. He must have seen my determination, because he nodded.
“Don’t get too far ahead. These woods are teeming with bandits and other creatures. It’s not safe to travel alone.”
“It doesn’t seem all that safe here right now either.”
“I’ll give you that. If you’re going to go ahead, follow this path, but promise me you’ll stay within sight.” He didn’t release my arm until I nodded.
“I’ll see you in a little while,” I said, turning away.
“Alex,” he whispered.
I turned and gave him a questioning look.
“I’m glad you’re back.” He brushed his floppy hair away from his eyes.
“Me too,” I said with a small smile. I didn’t want him to worry about me again. “I’ll meet up with you soon. A little space will be good for all of us.” I looked behind him to the other men. The months of fighting with my mom reassured me that after a little break, the awkwardness would be gone. I wasn’t going anywhere, and once they recognized that, the rift would heal. I hoped.
His hand lingered on mine as I twisted away. The chill that hit me when he removed his hand surprised me. I covered my wrist as I walked away, and then I burst into a run. I knew I wouldn’t get too far ahead. With my short legs and questionable coordination, the rest of the team would catch up when I hit my first obstacle.
The cold air stretched my face, tightening my skin. I ran, jumping over bushes, flushing out droves of puff birds and horned-bits. They squawked in protest. I smiled and sped up. My cheeks began to relax as warmth pulsed through my body.
The path narrowed the further I went, branches crowding in, scratching at my arms and back when I ducked low. The slower pace allowed my mind to wander. Distracting thoughts surfaced.
When was I going to realize that my stubbornness only led to exhaustion? I had lived in a state of defensiveness for so long, and what had it gotten me? My stubbornness hadn’t changed anything that I didn’t control. It just destroyed my ability to enjoy the moment. Even here in Lockhorn, so much of the joy I remembered from the game fell victim to my attempts to leave.
That had to stop.
I paused and rested my head against a tree. My fingers shook as I gripped onto the small grooves in the bark. Small patches of moss cooled my skin, and sweat rolled down my temples. I wiped the hair off my forehead with the back of my hand and took a deep breath, enjoying the silence.
Oh crap. Silence meant danger here.
It wasn’t completely quiet. The faint rustling of the branches sounded above me, as did the infrequent caw of a bird. Not the cheerful trilling that had followed us through the morning. The more I looked around, the more dreadful things I found. Dragon weeds popped up around me, burning through the underbrush with their bright petals, and dark, quiet birds circled above, like silent stalkers.
They dove and perched above me on spindly branches. Their beady red eyes bored into me.
Pushing myself off the tree, I ran again. The need to evade their eyes pushed me forward. I ran until my sides ached and my knees pounded with each step. They followed me. When I looked back up, they mocked me with the rough fluttering of their wings. I dropped to my knees and narrowed my eyes.
“Caw,” I squawked under my breath. “Crap!” The birds snapped their beaks and launched off their branch.
I’d made the wrong move. They screeched through the air, tripling in size as they dove towards me, their fully extended talons reaching for my head. I stumbled forward and took off running, barely jumping out of the way as they snapped at my hair and then disappeared in the tight branches above.
I didn’t stop. If I did, I knew I wouldn’t start again. I ran until the small trail opened onto a larger road.
The highway didn’t impress me. Deep puddles and patches of rock covered most of the muddy road. Only one good thing stood out to me—no overhanging trees for birds to lurk in. I hunched over to catch my breath, pulling my ponytail tighter. Loose strands stuck to my neck, matted from running.
I riffled through my bag, looking for one of the rolls Arrow had packed. Most of them were gone, but a few elusive morsels rolled around at the bottom. I reached for one and hastily ducked when a blackbird dove at my shoulder, screeching as it disappeared down the trail.
Shaking my head, I shuffled my bag and brought it up for a closer look. The last roll hid behind the sleeve of my cloak. I bit into it and relaxed as I heard stomping from behind me. I was sure Arrow had more food.
“Arrow, do you have any more rolls? I can’t find any. And, about the animals here, don’t you guys have any that are nice? A bird just attacked me. No wonder you wanted a horned-bit for a pet.”
“Not all animals are bad. We value our pets,” a husky voice said behind me.
I stopped chewing, and the roll slipped out of my grasp. My hair stood on edge. I could feel his breath on my neck.
“Let me show you,” the stranger’s voice rasped. His rough hands encircled my throat and pressed me to the ground.
An involuntary gasp escaped me as he tightened his grip to choke me. I twisted around and caught a glimpse of his crazed eyes, half-hidden behind his greasy hair. My chest hammered as I saw the sides of his mouth rise. He enjoyed this.
“Don’t fight it, li’l one. Papa’ll take care of you and give you a new home.”
I fought against him, but my nails slid off his skin.
“I take care of all my pets. Hush…just sleep.” He shook me until my breath choked out in short gasps and my eyes closed. Blinding light flashed in my head as he slammed me against the ground. The ringing in my ears deafened me. Everything seemed out of focus.
When the ringing subsided, I heard laughter. I strained to see what made the noise and saw the blurry outline of two large men. My pulse raced. Even at my best, I didn’t know if I could subdue them. Sure, I had handled the thugs Auntie Quinn had summoned, but I’d had a store full of impromptu weapons. Even when I fought the giants with Arrow, rage bolstered my abilities. Here, I had none of those advantages.
The longer I stared, the clearer my vision became. Bound in a cage next to one of the thugs, three young girls, barely ten years old by the looks of them, reached towards me with looks of desperation. Dirt stained the rags that hung over their bodies, and small patches of red stained the bandages from old wounds. Their faces hid under welts and bruises, masked by a layer of dust. A stream of dried tears cleared a path down each cheek. The girl in front screamed as a rod smashed into her knuckles.
I reached down to my side and tightened my grip on the dagger hilt, hidden beneath my body. No one deserved to be treated this way. Least of all, children.
“Now, now, pretties. Make room for a new friend,” the bandit said, poking his spear into the cart, forcing the girls to the opposite end. Then he turned back and faced me, digging the blunt tip of his spear into the ground.
He yanked on my hair and dragged me across the highway, dropping me on the ground at the base of the cage. Keys jingled above me as he struggled to open the door.
“Don’t forget to mark her. We don’t want to lose another,” the other man said.
“Good idea. Hand me your knife.”
I swallowed hard and forced my body limp as he grabbed my hand. I needed more time to come up with a plan. Under the cart, through the rickety spokes of the wheels, clumps of dragon weed caught my attention. If only I could reach one of them or a large rock.
White hot fire shot through me as the blade sliced my palm. I screamed into my fist as the man went back to unlocking the cage door. Blood collected in a warm pool around my arm.
The keys stopped jingling above me, and I knew my time ran short.
“Time to j
oin your new friends,” he said, flipping me onto my back. A glimpse of red on my other side caught my attention as he turned me over, and I dropped my left arm nonchalantly in that direction. I closed my eyes and tightened my grip around the flower.
Fire shot through my arm as the prickles along the stem punctured my wound. I tightened my fist and pulled it free from the ground as he lifted me up. The acid blistered my palm, but I didn’t flinch. I couldn’t. This was my one chance at freedom. I hadn’t died up to this point, and I wasn’t going to let some brute capture me.
His putrid breath assaulted me as his lips scraped mine. “I’m looking forward to this.”
“Not as much as me,” I growled, opening my eyes and smacking him across the cheek with the dragon weed. His eyes widened, and he dropped me to cover his face.
Our screams rose together in a fit of agony. I cradled my hand, feeling the blisters swell and burst. My palm slickened with acid. I kicked him in the stomach and turned around in time to see the other man approaching.
I didn’t have time to think. Every inch of my body screamed as the toxins invaded my bloodstream through the cut on my hand. It was unlike the small blisters I’d gotten before; the acid raced up my left arm, throbbing in rhythm with my heart. My body weakened. The dagger hilt slipped in my right hand, and my eyelids drooped.
The other man lunged at me in slow motion, his face contorted as he screamed obscenities. I clenched my fists together and leaned forward, feeling the impact as he hit me. His eyes widened, and he paled as he clutched his abdomen. Blood seeped out between his fingers. I stared at him blankly, watching him fall backwards to the ground.
The pressure against my hands relaxed, and I dropped them to my side. My head pulsed with the beat of my heart, clouding my perception of everything.
Dreamscape: Saving Alex Page 19