"You have an arrow in your chest!" she growls at me.
"Tommy, work on Mena first." I tell the scrawny boy as we approach the little tent surrounded by mosquito netting.
The scrawny youth hurries inside. "Okay. Mena, please sit here." He points to a white cot on his right. Tommy and his mother provide most of the village's medical care. Tommy also acts as Cap's assistant. He's a good kid with a big heart.
I carefully lead Mena to the cot and then slowly back away, letting Tommy get a closer look at her obvious wounds. "Let's get that shirt off so I can clean these scrapes up and get a better look," he says.
Mena's stomach is raw. Small scrapes litter her flesh, while one deep gash runs across the middle of her abdomen. It looks awful.
"Ryker, I'm okay," she says. She's watching me while Tommy cleans her wounds and begins to suture the deeper wound. She fights a grimace and smiles instead.
"I know you’re okay," I respond, bringing my hand up to my head as I try not to grimace as well.
"But you're rubbing your head,” Mena says. “You always do that when you're worried."
I drop the one hand that I can manage to lift to my side . . .
"Ryker!" Cap calls. We all turn as we hear him approaching.
"I'll be right back," I tell them and force myself to move before Mena can stop me. Once outside, I stop before Cap who is waiting for me to explain why I have an arrow coming out of my chest. "Looked like those marauders from the silo encampment. They shot our scout, David. He's dead. Then they shot me, but I took them out before they breached the perimeter. It wasn't related to the Republic. I think they were just chasing after Mena and Jenna. They had a four-wheeler. It’s still out there if you want to retrieve it when you go to see about David’s remains."
Cap looks relieved and sad. He nods. "Okay. I'll have someone retrieve the body. I’ll let his parents know. So sad." His shoulders drop and he shakes his head as he walks away.
Back in the tent, Mena is already bandaged up. "Your turn," Tommy says as he walks toward me. He uses scissors to cut off my shirt and then inspects the wound. "You got lucky. Really lucky," he says as he forces the arrow deeper into my shoulder and out of my back.
Chapter 31 / Mena
“What do you mean, they didn’t escape with you? He still has them?” I ask Ethan, while on the verge of tears.
“I’m so sorry, Mena. There was nothing we could do. Every one of them had a gun,” Ethan answers. I notice his hands are trembling. Val reaches over and grabs one in an attempt to calm him. He must have been dreading telling me this horrible information. I know it’s not their fault, but I can’t help wondering if they tried hard enough.
“It’s okay, Ethan. We’ll figure something out," I tell my friend though I'm not totally convinced myself. "I’m so glad you and Val are safe. It was the worst feeling in the world knowing you had all been taken hostage.” I waver on my feet. My body is sagging along with my heart—plus the pain from my wounded stomach has finally caught up with me. Finally, I decide that I need to be alone—if just for a few minutes. “I’ll meet you all out on the training field in a little while.” Ryker and I share a knowing glance as I move away from the group. He lets me have this time to myself and doesn’t follow me.
As I walk over dusty, dirt paths, I reflect on my life. It’s been turned upside down, shaken, and stomped on over the past few months. It’s a wonder I haven’t gone insane, or maybe that’s what’s wrong with me now…
I shake off that nonsense train of thought and take a deep breath. I need to make a plan. I want to be the woman I know I can be, and I want to be strong both physically and mentally. I’m here for a reason, and that’s to help these people, look after Lily, and find my parents. My old Republic is already free. I helped make that happen. I should be proud, not feeling sorry for myself.
A gentle breeze sweeps by and with it brings an unfamiliar smell. Could that be the lake? I continue to drift forward, letting my nose lead the way. After passing a couple of tiny wooden houses, I see it. There are large cypress trees with moss draping down only to be reflected back up by the glassy water. Dragonflies skim the surface of the lake causing tiny ripples in the otherwise still water. It’s beautiful. I never could’ve imagined how beautiful a lake could be.
I want to go in so bad, to wash away the bad feelings that are plaguing me. But I don’t have time for that. I’ll enjoy the water when this is all over. It’s time, now, to figure out that plan.
Of all the reasons that I am here, which is most important or who is most in need of me? My parents are to the west being held by Dr. Fredericks. Lily is to the east with Tom and Francis. The people of Toledo Lake are here. Lily is safe for now, the people here seem to have plenty of other Exalted here to help and train, and we've already tried to find my parents on the path to the other Republic without success. But that was with three other Exalted and Jenna. What if I went alone? Surely Ryker knows of some way to sneak into that Republic. Once I’m in, I’ll blend right in. I could even go in as a citizen. Either way, it should work if I’m alone. I’ll leave first thing in the morning.
After bidding farewell to the lovely water that I long to embrace, I make my way over to the training field. It’s a large flat space filled with many different types of people. I spot Ryker right away. To me, he stands out like a watchtower light on a dark night. I watch as he trains a slim middle-aged woman. She’s using a compound bow. We don’t see many of those around. They must have stolen it from one of the Republics. Since it probably has a light draw weight, it’s the perfect weapon for her. The woman seems to be getting the hang of the weapon fairly well. As she strings up an arrow, ready to fire, Ryker catches my eye. I can tell how much he cares for me. His love is reflected in his face. I can tell that he wants to come over and talk to me, but stays with his student. Abandoning reality would be easy, but now is not the time to satisfy selfish wants—Ryker’s certainly not. Like the honorable man that he is, he came straight to training as soon as the arrow was removed and his wound patched up. We all know the livelihood of people here is the most important thing . . . So, am I satisfying selfish wants by wanting to rescue my parents?
Ryker finally returns his attention to the woman he's training. He helps her adjust her arm before she fires off her arrow. It sails across the field and hits the target that’s tied to a haystack. She didn’t hit the bull's-eye, but she did hit the target. I’m impressed.
On the other side of the field, Az is helping a man with a prosthetic hand. Jenna is nearby, watching the session. It’s so great to see Az smile. He seems like a completely different person than the person he was when he was on the Pump.
Though Trudi and Kwan are helping with the training, they don’t look like they're in the best of health. They must be starting to experience the side effects of coming off the Pump. It’s an ordeal that I’ve been through twice and don’t want to ever go through again. It’s truly awful and I feel for them.
Finally, I spot Ethan and Val in their new blue clothing—the same blue as Ethan’s eyes. They are working with some of the stronger male villagers. Although Ethan is helping, I can tell that he's not really here. While the men practice, Ethan steals glances at the forest beyond the field. Val, on the other hand, is chatting away with everyone that will listen. She looks like she fits right in with them, aside from the obvious physical differences.
I might as well help with training while I’m here today. My stomach has been bandaged and a natural healing ointment is covering the scrapes. It's sore, but I can manage.
After looking over the mixed group of trainees, I decide to help work with some of the half-breeds. Ryker told me they don’t like to be called that, but I’m not sure what else to call them—in my head at least. Besides, it’s fitting with their odd deformities. It seems each has a different gift from their Exalted heritage.
One of the half-breeds has an enlarged left arm, but he’s using his right to throw his knives. Though he may be right-handed, that�
�s a mistake. “Hey, why aren't you training with the bow?" I ask him.
"I wanted to use knives. They said if I proved good enough, then I could use them; if not, I'll have to sit out when the others use their bows," he answers.
"Okay, well, I'll try to help you out with that," I say with a smile. "Even though you seem to be right-handed, have you tried using your left hand? You’d have so much more power behind that knife if you did,” I say to him.
The boy pauses and turns toward me. “Think I haven’t tried that? Can’t get anywhere near the target,” he replies, frustration lacing his words.
“Show me,” I say.
The boy rolls his eyes, but turns back toward the target. He readies himself to throw left-handed. That’s where I stop him.
“Your feet are still positioned like you’re throwing right-handed. Switch your feet up,” I say as I approach him. I give his right foot a gentle tap with mine to encourage him to move it forward. “Now try.”
The half-breed boy launches his dagger over his head. It sails through the air, past the target, and buries itself into a bush. “I told you,” he complains.
“When I was younger, in training, we first learned to aim by using our free arm. Hold your right arm out in front of you. Point it toward the target. Your knife arm should be in line with your right. Now, try again.”
Again, he launches a dagger. This time, it strikes the target. It doesn’t hit the bull's-eye, but it hits with so much force that the wood and hay structure flies backward and hits a tree. The boy looks shocked, as do his friends.
"Whoa," he says in awe.
“Now, keep practicing on that aim. Once you get that down you’ll be unstoppable,” I tell him.
“Thank you,” he says and heads off to set the target back up.
I stay and work with the group until the other instructors call it quits for the day. It’s time for the evening meal, and I have to admit that I’m starving.
Chapter 32 / Mena
The food here is amazing. It reminds me of the dinner Francis cooked when Lily and I stayed the night during my Third Trial. I can’t wait to see them again when this is all over. I hope that Lily has settled in there and can picture the sweet couple as her adoptive parents. They would give her such a good life, so much better than I could ever give her. It's what I wanted for her to begin with, but Lily followed after me—and I can't say that I was upset.
A sense of calm falls over me as I continue to eat my flavorful meal amongst my friends. Ryker is at my side. Everything feels right in this moment. It’s like I can actually see this all turning out the way I want, with my parents being set free, Lily being safe in a loving home, and the Republics’ walls taken down. I’m imagining that it’s all okay—that we’re all okay.
Across the table, Jenna is giggling at something Az is saying in her ear. Next to them, Ethan is intently listening to Val explain the differences between some of the trees here and which woods are the best for making her own arrows. It seems like everyone has paired off. Even Trudi and Kwan are sitting together off to the side, though they're not eating. They are obviously feeling ill from the withdrawal of the Pump.
Ryker offers me a gentle smile and then leans in close to my ear. He whispers, “You want to take a walk with me when we finish eating?”
I nod. Nothing sounds better.
When we’re done with our meal, Ryker stacks both sets of our dishes on top of each other and carries them over to the washing area with his good arm and hand. He returns quickly and takes my hand. “See you all later,” he says to our friends as he drags me away from the tables.
My heart rate increases as we walk further away from where most of the village is gathered for dinner. It’s not quite dark yet, so I’m not stumbling over the unfamiliar territory, but it’s getting close. “Hurry,” Ryker says as he pulls me along behind him.
We both pick up our pace, trying to beat the sunset. He weaves us through the forest, around standing trees and over ones that have fallen to the ground. Finally, we reach the water’s edge, farther north of the village. “Up there,” he says as he points into the canopy of a massive tree. There are old wooden boards nailed flat against the trunk of the tree, making a sort of ladder. Toward the top of the tree is a small platform, big enough for only two people to sit. "Are you feeling okay enough to climb?"
“Yeah, but what about you? You can't use your hurt arm to climb, and will that thing even hold both of us?” I ask while looking suspiciously at the rickety wooden structure.
“Of course it will, and don't worry about me. I'm sore, but like Tommy said, I got lucky. Now, let's go,” Ryker answers, already climbing up the boards on the tree trunk. “Hurry or we’ll miss it.”
I follow him and make my way onto the little platform. It seems secure enough, and if it happens to fail us, we have plenty of things to break our fall.
Once I get settled, I look over to Ryker who’s smiling. Gold light is sparking in his earthy brown eyes. When I’m finally able to pry my eyes away from him, I see what he sees—the sun setting over the lake and the forest. Golds, pinks, and even purples fill the sky and reflect off the glassy water. It’s breathtaking. No wonder he was in such a hurry to get here.
Ryker takes my hand in his, and we both stare at the beauty of the free world, until something causes us to lose our focus on the peaceful scene. It’s hard to see at first. Above the trees, toward the west, is a wisp of black smoke. The night sky is approaching quickly so it’s hard to make out, but I’m almost positive it is smoke. “Do you see that?” I say as I point to the east. Of course he does. He’s squinting and looking in the right direction. It just had to be said aloud.
The smoke grows larger, pluming and swelling into the sky. A few minutes later, two other clouds of smoke rise from the forest off in the far distance. Without warning, Ryker stands and then leaps off the side of the platform—just like he’s done it a thousand times. He knows exactly which limbs to catch on the way down. I cringe, each time, expecting him to reach out with his injured arm, but he never does.
Normally I would follow suit, leaping off the platform like Ryker, but my wounds are too fresh. I don't want to bust any of the new stitches. I carefully but quickly climb down the same way we went up.
Before my feet hit the ground, Ryker is off like a flash of lightening, running back toward the village. After catching up and keeping pace with him, I ask, “What do you think it means? What’s happening out there?”
“Someone’s burning people’s homes. The Second Republic may be coming sooner than we thought,” he answers.
My stomach drops at his words. The people here aren’t ready. We need more Exalted here. I thought for sure they’d attack the free Republic and leave this place alone. What’s there to gain by destroying innocent people’s homes? Are they hurting those people or just burning their belongings?
Ryker and I must be coming to the same realizations because he picks up his pace at the same time that I do. Forget my stitches.
Chapter 33 / AZ
My stomach hurts from laughing so much. I can’t believe that I’m enjoying spending time with a citizen. Her story about when she first met Mena was hysterical. “I wish I could’ve been there to see the look on Mena’s face when she thought she’d been caught off the Pump by a medical citizen,” I say to my small companion. We haven’t left the dinner table yet, though we’ve long since finished eating.
“It was so funny. I could see the wheels turning in her head, but she couldn’t let herself move her face.” Jenna laughs, a sweet sound. When she notices me staring at her mouth, she fidgets in her seat. “Um. So where have you been sleeping at night? Oh, I mean, where am I supposed to sleep tonight? I mean . . . This is coming out all wrong . . . Am I just supposed to pick a spot under a tree or do you know if there’s a place where women can sleep?” I can see her blush even in the fading light of the evening sky.
I chuckle as she squirms from her awkward questions. “I’ve been in a cabin that
houses boys and men without families. There’s another one next door for women. Someone probably should’ve told you that already. Want me to walk you over there?”
“Sure,” she says as her blush holds strong.
Together, we walk down the main dirt path of the village. The noises of nature fill the air around us, and while it’s pleasant, I’d rather hear Jenna’s voice. “Strange being out this late unwatched, isn’t it?” I ask her, hoping to draw her back into conversation.
“Yeah, it is. I was never scheduled for night duty at the infirmary, so I was always in bed at curfew. It’s nice not having to be on such a rigid schedule that’s the same day after day. Well, I suppose it didn’t matter to me at all when I was on their drug . . .” Her words trail off.
“I’ve had a few nights here since I’ve been free of the Pump. It’s been hard to fall asleep. All I’ve wanted to do is stare at the sky,” I admit.
We come to a mutual pause in our walk, and Jenna tilts her face up to look at the darkness overhead. White stars dot the night sky—I know this, but I keep my eyes on her face to watch as she smiles at the unfamiliar sight.
When she finally looks away from the sky, her eyes land on mine. She laughs. “You’re really surprising me,” Jenna says.
“How so?”
“Well, like I said before, I've encountered you a few times, back in the Republic, and you were nothing like you are now. Nothing.”
“Is that a bad thing?” I can’t help but ask; her answer matters.
“No, it’s definitely not a bad thing,” she replies as she tucks a loose strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.
“Good, and again, I’m sorry that I don’t remember you.”
“I told you, it's okay. You weren’t meant to remember me or any of us.”
United (Exalted Trilogy: Book 3) Page 9