Neverwylde

by Linda Mooney

  Another turn…

  He halted in surprise. It ended. The tiny trail of lights stopped directly in front of another rock wall. Stepping closer, he peered around the edges. There didn’t appear to be a door or crack to indicate a continuation of the passageway.

  Kyber glanced behind him. “Did I pass one and not realize it?” Should I go back and check?

  He looked again at the blank wall in front of him. Other than the small row of glyphs lining the floor, there was nothing to signal an opening. The familiar door symbol wasn’t present.

  “Maybe it needs to be moved manually. Or perhaps the mechanism that controls the panel is no longer working.”

  He reached out to feel for the edges of the door.

  And froze in shock.

  His hand vanished inside the rock.

  Jerking his hand back, Kyber stared at his fingers, moving them experimentally. Leaning closer to the wall, he tried again to touch it.

  His hand passed through as if it was made of air.

  “By the four gods…”

  Cautiously, he took a step forward.

  Blackness enveloped him, complete with the stuffy atmosphere he was familiar with. Behind him, a ventilation duct blew across his shoulder. Other than the one step he’d taken, he hadn’t moved.

  Straightening, Kyber took a step backwards.

  He was inside the lit tunnel.

  The revelation shook him. It also explained so much.

  He returned to the black tunnel. In his head, he envisioned a map of the routes. The nonagon had three corridors leading to them. He knew one of those corridors led to the gardens, and another led to the lake. The third tunnel remained a mystery.

  “But these lit passageways interconnect. They circle around the nonagon, and intersect with each tunnel.”

  He held out a hand to feel the rush of air. “These aren’t just ventilation ducts. They’re signposts to let the inhabitants know where these doorways are located. They conceal these doorways with a holographic image of a wall. Why? To make it difficult for those dangerous creatures to find them?”

  He paused, remembering the clicking noise. Something had tried to attack him. He’d felt it touch the top of his foot before he stumbled and fell. By fate or miracle, he’d fallen through one of those holographic doors and into the interconnecting tunnel.

  Lifting his face, he sniffed. Nothing smelled out of the ordinary. Nothing sounded foreboding. But for safety’s sake, he returned inside the lit area.

  When he’d been banished, he had taken the tunnel leading to the gardens. He’d felt it was the safest choice. Also, there was food and water in the gardens.

  “I fell onto my right side. The tunnel to the lake was to my left.”

  He took another sniff. “Then this is the corridor we’ve yet to explore. If I head to my right, it should lead me back to the nonagon. If I go left…”

  Left led into the unknown. And on this planet, the unknown meant almost certain death for a solitary man with no weapon.

  But left was the only direction he had open to him. If he returned to the nonagon, Plat would have him killed. If that happened, he would never be able to return to Kelen.

  “Left? Or right?”

  The answer was not difficult.

  Keeping a hand on the wall, Kyber went to the left. This time, however, he would pay closer attention to where the air ducts were located. And when his fingers no longer touched anything substantial, he wouldn’t automatically dismiss it.

  He counted his footsteps. Every ten meters, he paused to listen for those mysterious clicks. Thankfully, both directions remained silent. This tunnel felt and sounded exactly like the other two, but Kyber knew there was something they must have missed. Some sign or designation that identified where each corridor led. They had to stop expecting to find things marked the way they were accustomed to.

  He kept going. Four more steps and the wall disappeared. Kyber stopped. Over his shoulder, a faint breeze ruffled his short fur. Lifting both arms in front of him, he leaned forward.

  There was nothing.

  Smiling to himself, he moved his hands out to the side until he encountered the wall again. Or rather, the edges of the invisible portal. It was wide enough to enable two Seneecians to enter side-by-side. If he followed it, it should lead around to the tunnel leading to the lake.

  Click.

  A cold shiver ran up his spine. Without hesitation, he stepped inside.

  Less than a dozen steps away, illuminated by the pale, glowing symbols, a form lay huddled on the ground. Kyber froze as it stirred and slowly uncurled. A face peered at him, and the shock on Cooter’s face matched his own. Grabbing his rifle, the Terran jerked it up and aimed it at his midsection.

  “Don’t move a muscle, you fucking sneek, or I’ll blow a hole in you so big, you’ll be able to see yesterday through it!”

  Chapter 19

  Reveal

  Kyber locked his knees to keep from falling over. The only thing preventing him from collapsing was his left hand, which he’d pressed against the wall to help him remain upright.

  In front of him, the rogue Terran named Cooter eyed him with obvious distrust and fear. The big rifle in his hands never wavered.

  “Why are you here, sneek?” The man suddenly glanced behind him. “Where are the others? Who else is with you?”

  “I’m alone. I was banished.”

  Cooter thought over what he’d heard. After a few moments, he gave a bark of humorless laughter. “And you expect me to believe that shit?”

  “It’s the truth,” Kyber insisted. “My D’har and two other crewmembers managed to reach the temple. I and some of the others had gone up top to retrieve our weapons we’d thrown down after the eye worms attacked. That’s where they found us.”

  He noticed how the man moved stiffly. His uniform was ripped and stained with dirt and blood. The Terran’s face was pinched from hunger and the stress of trying to survive on his own these past few days. At the same time, Cooter was giving him a thorough examination. The man gave the rifle a jiggle.

  “Turn around.”

  Obediently, Kyber slowly did a circle, not caring to hide his injuries. As he completed the turn, his bad hip buckled, and he slumped to the floor. Cooter hastily scooted backwards, keeping a safe distance between them.

  Kyber knew the man wouldn’t shoot him, but that didn’t exclude a physical attack. Regardless, he had no energy left to defend himself. His body cried out for relief. Closing his eyes, he laid his head against the wall.

  “Hey, what do you think you’re doing?”

  “I am in need of rest. You can see I have been injured.” He tried to take a deep breath. Even that small effort hurt. The tunnel had a dampening effect on their voices, making it appear as if they were inside some kind of sound-proof interior.

  “Good. As soon as you’re unconscious, you’re a dead sneek. Thanks for making it easy on me.”

  Peeling his eyes open, Kyber looked at the rifle in the man’s hand. “I know you will not use that against me.”

  Cooter sneered. “Oh, yeah? How can you be so sure?”

  “You’re out of energy. You…and the weapon.”

  “What makes you believe that?” The man’s voice betrayed his nervousness. “This rifle doesn’t have a gauge on it the way your weapons do.”

  Kyber waved a vague hand at the rifle. “The gun is splattered with dark gore. That is not from one of my kind, or yours. The stock is scratched, which indicates you may have used it to beat at your attackers. Maybe you also need to use it as a crutch.” He glanced at Cooter. “Have you encountered more of the eye worms?”

  He saw a subtle shift in the man’s demeanor. It was difficult not to feel a thread of hope, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to temper decades of hate in a few moments. He would feel blessed if the man became a condescending ally.

  “I did,” the man finally admitted. “A couple of days ago. But those little fuckers are nothing compared to the clickers.�
�

  The name caught his attention. “I heard something in the dark that made that kind of sound.”

  “Nasty-looking little pricks.” Cooter shivered.

  “I did not see them. I heard them following me. I think they tried to attack when I slipped and fell into one of these lit tunnels.”

  The Terran nodded. “I caught a glimpse of them before my tube light gave out. They’re flat and gray in color. They blend into the rock. But then they get up on these million little legs, I think their bodies are like carapaces. And when they move, the clicking sound comes from their shells. The faster they come after you, the faster the clicking noise.” He snorted. “So you found the interconnecting tunnels. Guess I’m going to have to leave before the rest of you sneeks show up.”

  Kyber had been studying the man, watching his reactions. Cooter was at the end of his endurance, the same as Kyber. That made the man more dangerous and vulnerable, but it also left the man open to the hope of finding safety. Whatever the man had encountered when he left the group, it may have convinced him it would be saner to rejoin them, rather than attempt to continue going it alone. Kyber grasped that possibility.

  “No one else knows of these lit tunnels,” he informed the man. “I discovered them by accident.” He hesitated for a moment, then added, “You are safe in here.”

  Cooter lowered his rifle, which confirmed Kyber’s suspicions. “Why should I believe you?”

  “I challenged the D’har. He’s the one who shot me. He banished me without a weapon and expects me to die.”

  “Why didn’t he just kill you?”

  “Because I have done nothing to warrant my execution.”

  Cooter grinned. “Those protocols?”

  With a start, Kyber realized for the first time the rigid standards used by his military, protocols he’d often silently cursed due to their constraints, were the reason why he was still alive. It was an ironic turn of events.

  “Yes. The D’har claims a Seneecian rescue ship is on its way here. If he had killed me outright, he would have had to kill all the others who bore witness. That would leave him totally alone to try and fight the creatures. To try and survive until the ship’s arrival. The only way he could kill me without repercussion is if I challenged him physically.” Kyber shook his head. “I would have had to initiate it. Because I didn’t, banishment was his next best option.”

  “Is there a timeline on when that ship will arrive?”

  “To be honest, I don’t know if there will be a rescue ship or not. I can confirm a distress signal was sent out, but I don’t know if it was answered.”

  He reached for his water pouch, then remembered it was empty. Same for his food pouch.

  “Why did you go back for the weapons when you knew they were empty?”

  “Your crewman called Dox claims he can recharge them.”

  Cooter bobbed his head. “Yeah. If anyone can do that, he can. I remember all that crap he dragged from the ship and brought with him here.”

  Kyber could feel his body shutting down. He was on the verge of losing his ability to think. There remained the chance this Terran could kill him, or worse, drag him out into the tunnel where the clicking creatures would have at him. Figuring he had nothing left to lose, he made the decision to tell this man everything, and pray it was the correct decision.

  “May I call you Cooter?”

  “Why?”

  “Whether or not you believe me, I honor the treaty between our species.”

  Cooter made a sound that Kyber took as disbelief.

  “The D’har cannot remain in charge. Invariably, he will claim Kelen and your fellow crew members as jeevitt. The spoils of war, to deal with as he sees fit.”

  Cooter’s eyes narrowed. “I thought you said you honored the treaty? What kind of shit are you trying to sell me now?”

  “I and my men are honoring the treaty. The D’har and his men were not here when we made that decision. He does not feel he is bound by it, and by Seneecian military law, he has that right. I promise you, he won’t accept it.”

  “So what you’re telling me is that us Terrans could be killed.”

  “Or worse. And as Kelen is the only female, he will use her to his discretion.” Saying the words aloud was a hard punch to the gut. His fear for her intensified with the acknowledgement.

  Cooter’s face paled. “Torture?”

  “And worse.”

  Without warning, the man hefted his rifle, aiming it at Kyber. His face was red with anger, and he almost snarled. “You goddamn sneeks!”

  “I am in love with Kelen,” Kyber softly admitted.

  The effect was immediate. Cooter blinked in confusion, but the rifle remained aimed, even though they both knew the weapon was empty.

  “What?”

  “Kelen and I have Committed ourselves to each other. It was not something we expected or anticipated, but it is the truth. I need to go back and challenge the D’har to protect her. Now that he knows I have claimed her, he will not hesitate to force her to pleasure himself and his crew, seeing as she’s proven herself not to have an aversion to Seneecian sex. I have to stop the D’har before he enacts that rule.”

  “You’re in no shape to do that, unless the D’har is in worse shape than you are. Is he?”

  “No.” He was fighting sleep, fighting against the overwhelming need to rest. It would only be a matter of minutes before he collapsed, leaving him vulnerable to whatever the Terran decided to do. Struggling, Kyber revealed his one final bit of information.

  “The D’har does not know your Dox created little hand-held devices we call tube weapons. Before we arrived at the temple, the D’har found our discarded blasters and confiscated them. He believes we’re unarmed. Dox made four of the blasters. Mellori, Fullgrath, and Jules each have one and are keeping them hidden.”

  “Who has the fourth one?”

  The question seemed to come from far away as darkness slid over him.

  “Gaveer.” He had to force the word out of his mouth. He felt himself folding forward, ending on the stone floor in a hunched-over posture.

  He was out of it before his forehead touched the ground.

  Chapter 20

  Ally

  It was quiet when he awoke. Peeling open his eyes, Kyber glanced around first, then slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position.

  He was alone. More surprising, he was alive.

  A Terran water bag lay nearby. He stared at it, wondering if it had been left there purposefully or accidentally.

  A shuffling sound alerted him. Lifting his clawed hands in a defensive gesture, he watched as Cooter cautiously backed into the tunnel, appearing like a wraith through the magical doorway. When he was all the way inside, he finally turned around and noticed Kyber.

  “Welcome back from the land of the dead. How do you feel?”

  It took Kyber a moment to realize what he was witnessing. Cooter noticed his puzzled expression and pointed to the water bag.

  “I noticed yours was empty. Have some of mine.”

  Seeing Kyber’s suspicious glance at the skin, he snorted.

  “No, it’s not poisoned. While you were out, I’ve been thinking.”

  Kyber reached for the bag, careful not to gulp the liquid, despite the demands his body was forcing upon him. After a few swallows, he paused to give himself and his stomach a chance to digest.

  “Why didn’t you kill me? You had the perfect opportunity.”

  “Why didn’t you attack me when you discovered me in here?” Cooter countered. “And don’t give me that treaty crap. You saw I had an empty rifle. You knew I was defenseless. No one would have known for the better if you’d torn into me.” He snorted. “Everyone else probably figures I’m dead, anyway.”

  “My crewmember, Isup, who went rogue? He managed to find us and attacked us. I would have killed him, but he escaped. He’s out there somewhere, and his hatred for Terrans is as deep as yours is for Seneecians. He’s the one you need to look out
for. Not me, and not my men.”

  “Words, words, words.”

  “Which are the truth.” Kyber took another couple of swallows, then cocked his head at the man. “Again, why didn’t you kill me?”

  Instead of answering, Cooter crouched near the doorway, pressing his back to the wall. “This D’har of yours. If you challenged him and won, then what? Would you kill him?”

  “I have that right. It would depend on whether I believe he will continue to present a threat to us. Otherwise, I could banish him the same way he’s done me.”

  “What of his men? Would they follow you if you disposed of him? Or would you have to watch every step you took?”

  “Are you asking if they would try to turn on me?”

  “Yeah. I’m guessing your guys would have no problem being faithful to you, but what about his men?”

  Kyber stretched out his legs with a loud sigh. “I can tell they are frightened of the D’har. They fear his power. More so, they fear his reach. By military law, they cannot challenge him. Only the second in command can.”

  “That being you?”

  “Yes. If they disobey any order, and if by some chance we manage to return to Seneecia, the D’har can have them and their immediate families put to death.”

  Cooter gave a low whistle. “Wow. That’s harsh.”

  “It is…our way.”

  The man scrutinized him. “You’ve already challenged him, and you lost. Why didn’t he kill you?”

  “I didn’t officially challenge him. Not by the rules demanded by our protocols. But he thinks that by banishing me without food or weapons, he has sentenced me to my death. He did it to demoralize me and the others. If he’d killed me outright, there may have been an immediate attempt at retaliation by the others.” Kyber managed a humorless grin. “I’m also guessing he hopes I do return for another attempt. We’ve clashed numerous times in the past, but never on a physical level. And never as a direct challenge. I would hazard to guess he’s hoping I survive long enough to face him again, so he can prove final dominance over me.”