There was silence at that.
“Did they know the base was on Shadow?” someone called.
Zek shook his head. “How could they? But that didn't stop them. They found a way to us, and then together, we made a plan to escape. We've fought off the sky raiders three times, and thanks mainly to that guard from West Lathor, we won every time.”
“Who is in the other ship?” This was from one of the guards, who were as absorbed in the story as anyone else.
“Only half the prisoners were taken from the Illy. The other half are from Kardai. They're in the other ship. It was decided that the Cassinya villagers would be taken home first.”
“It's almost impossible to believe,” a large man who'd worked his way almost to the front called out.
“That's true. It is very hard to believe.” Gera spoke, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand, and Taya realized while Zek had told their story, many of the Cassinya villagers had started weeping, as if finally giving themselves permission to let go. “I thought I would die up on Shadow when the sky raiders no longer had a use for us and left us there to starve. But here we are. Some of us know people here in Luf. If my cousin Veri is in this crowd, then I know someone, too. This will be my fifth visit to Luf, although by far the most memorable.”
There was a wave of quiet laughter at her words.
“We are standing here, alive.” Gera took up her statement when the sound had died down. “We walked out of a sky raider ship, which you saw us do with your own eyes. And the liege of West Lathor's son and the guard Zek told you about are now talking to our liege, along with our town master. It may be impossible to believe, but sometimes, the impossible is true. I know I will always give the impossible a chance now. I've lived it.”
There was a hum as she finished, and as she wiped away her last tear, the voices rose, and then hands rose into the air. There was a sharp clap, then two, then one again, and then a shout. “Welcome!”
“What is that?” Noor asked and Taya shook her head.
“I don't know.”
“It's the Harven Welcome, used to welcome back those who've been away at war,” Quardi told them.
The Cassinya villagers were crying openly now, and Taya felt tears prick her own eyes.
“That was well done, then,” she said. Because they were like combatants who were coming back from the front line.
They deserved a hero's welcome.
Chapter 46
Garek heard the sound of a thousand hands clapping as one. Once, then twice, then once again.
“Welcome!” The shout echoed off the palace walls.
Habred looked up, and the look on the liege's face told Garek he wasn't pleased to hear it.
“They're giving us the Welcome.” Luci looked in the direction of the palace gardens, and from the smile on her face, Garek guessed she was as happy about it as Habred was angry.
“So they should,” Aidan said, and although he wasn't looking at the Harven liege, Garek knew he'd seen Habred's scowl and was happy to poke at him. “You are heroes. Victims who fought back against a more powerful enemy force.”
“How do I know any of this is true?” Habred said, and Garek looked up and met his gaze.
“Did you not see the sky raider ships we flew in on?” he asked quietly. “Are you saying Luci has lied about her entire village being taken. That we have lied about our village?”
“I know the village of Cassinya was taken, some of the elders of the village made a report, and I sent guards to check the story. We gave them assistance.” Habred said the words unwillingly, but he had to say them, Garek knew, because there were enough advisors standing around them in the hall of the palace that he needed to make it clear he had cared about his people, had followed up, at least.
But he also knew he looked weak in the face of a rescue of his people by West Lathor. A rescue beyond what he and his advisors and his guards had ever contemplated.
He knew it. Aidan knew it.
So did everyone else in the room.
“Don't feel bad at being unable to do more,” Aidan said. “We could not have contemplated the rescue if Garek hadn't brought down a sky raider craft.”
Habred inclined his head, the movement jerky and stiff. “I hadn't realized West Lathor had made so much progress in the fight against the sky raiders.”
“We put our people first, liege, as I'm sure you do, too.” Aidan's words were smooth. “We've had little time to send out missives, our focus has been on keeping West Lathor safe from attack.”
His words weren't in any way aggressive, and yet Habred blinked.
Oh, yes. He had definitely been party to the plan to take West Lathor. Garek was certain of it.
They were standing in a pit of vipers.
“We need to leave soon,” he said to Aidan, quietly, but loud enough for Habred and some of his advisors to hear. “The second transporter still has its engines running, and we need to get the Dartalians home before we can go home ourselves.”
“The Dartalians don't want to be let off here?” one of Habred's advisors asked. She had been quiet through the whole conversation, but Garek had noticed that her focus had been absolute.
“They were originally headed for Luf when they were taken,” Garek told her. “But they have been away for over two months now, and word may have gotten back to their families that they were taken. They want to be returned home to reassure their loved ones that they are all right.”
She nodded.
“If you ever need anything, Luci, just send word and West Lathor will help you,” Aidan said.
Habred recoiled. “We know our obligations to Cassinya. We don't need help from another province.”
“Forgive me.” Aidan's voice was suspiciously humble. “I meant no disrespect. It is just that Luci and the people of Cassinya have become like family to the people of Pan Nuk. They worked in the sky raider mines together, they slept in the same camp, and we all fought together to get free. It is a bond that won't be forgotten.”
Garek kept his face neutral, but he wanted to smile at the fury that ignited in Habred's eyes at that.
He had been outmaneuvered.
Some of the advisors, perhaps those not yet aware of the plans afoot to shuffle the Illian borders in Harven's favor, smiled at Aidan.
“You do your liege proud with such sentiments. And Harven won't forget your service in bringing back our own, and in such a way . . .” The advisor who spoke waved a hand in the air. “It will go down as legend.”
That, Garek thought as they walked out of the hall, was exactly what Aidan was hoping.
“What did the Dartalian liege have to say?” Garek spoke to Aidan as soon as they rose above the towers and walls of the Dartalian capital, Valian, into the growing twilight.
He'd kept his thoughts about how things had gone in Harven to himself as they'd flown Zek and his colleagues to their liege, aware the trader didn't miss much with his dark, intelligent eyes.
“Susa was never a serious threat to West Lathor,” Aidan admitted, “but not because she isn't strong. Dartalia is just too far east for an easy attack on us. But she might have been approached for support on the Council, either from Habred or others who are closer.”
“You think she was?” Kas leaned against the front window, looking down at the mountains below.
“I do.” Aidan's eyes gleamed. “She seemed a little guilty, a little too effusive when she thanked me for saving her people when we said goodbye.”
“As long as she withdraws support, that's what matters,” Taya said. She was sitting on the floor, her eyes closed.
“They owe us for helping their people.” Eli was also leaning against the window, his gaze outward, on the far horizon. “But the fact that we control these transporters? That makes them afraid of us, too. Because anything the sky raiders did in these things, we can do, too.”
“Except I haven't found how to shoot white lightning from this.” Garek hadn't tried very hard either. He didn't like the idea of the
white lightning, although if he worked out how to use it, and he had no choice, he would.
“It doesn't matter. They don't know that. And even if all we can use it for is to move people very quickly from one place to another, or bring in supplies, that is a massive advantage.” Aidan knocked his knuckles against the wall. “It's a pity these things fall apart in our atmosphere.”
“Not something we should make public knowledge.” Kas lifted his head. “The scientist who was studying the sky craft you stole, did he have a solution for the deterioration?”
Aidan shook his head. “It was Falk's main priority, but he wasn't able to work out how to slow it. I'm surprised Garek got that craft in the air it was so close to collapse.”
Taya opened her eyes, caught his gaze.
He could see the fear for him, the acknowledgment of the risks he'd taken, in her eyes.
“We're all safe,” he said to her, and after a moment she nodded, closed her eyes again.
“We aren't going to let Dom take his transporter home to Kardai, are we?” Eli asked into the silence that fell over them. There was almost no noise from the back, as most people had curled up to sleep or rest.
“No. They land in Juli, and we'll organize transport for those who want to go home. Those who want to stay can also do so.” Aidan tipped his head to look out the window at where Dom's transporter trailed them faithfully. “We're not giving them the second transporter. It's ours.”
“The women will choose to stay, I'm sure. Dom and some of his friends might stay with them.” Taya's voice was husky with exhaustion.
“You need to drop us in Pan Nuk first,” Eli said. “We don't all need to go to Juli.”
“No.” Kas's hands fisted, and Garek saw Taya lift her head, open her eyes. She reached out and grabbed her brother's hand.
“I can't wait to see Luca.” Taya looked up at Kas. “In fact, Garek should land at Haret rather than Pan Nuk. That's where the heart of Pan Nuk is right now. Only Garek and I need to take Aidan home to Juli. We can talk to the liege.”
Kas relaxed. Gave a sharp nod. “That works.”
Kas's hands were shaking, and Garek wondered how hard it had been for him to go to Luf and then Valian while all the time, he had Luca waiting for him in Haret.
He pushed the transporter a little faster, and after a moment's hesitation, Dom matched his speed.
It was time to go home.
Chapter 47
Lanora, Barit's moon, was low on the horizon when the transporters settled outside Haret's gates.
They didn't wait for the town master, or the guards, this time. Garek lowered the ramp and Kas led the way down.
“Garek?” Opik called from just within the wooden walls.
The gate he'd destroyed was only half repaired, Garek noticed.
“It's me.”
There was a cry from the shadows, and then people spilled out of the darkness as everyone in the transporter followed him and Kas down.
“Luca!” Kas shouted, his voice cutting through the noise, and then a thin, sleep-tousled boy wove his way through the crowd and threw himself into his father's arms.
Garek watched them. They stood silent, just holding each other, Luca lifted off the ground and hanging, complete enclosed in Kas's embrace.
Taya slid her arm around Garek's waist, rested her head on his shoulder. There were tears streaming down her cheeks. “Thank you.”
This had been about her, and only her, but reuniting everyone with their families, he conceded, was a very satisfying consequence of his plan.
“You did it.” Opik had worked his way through the crowd, hugging and shaking hands with friends, and now he stood in front of Garek, face creased in a wide smile.
“Opik.” Taya reached out, pulled the old man into a tight hug and kissed his cheek. “You helped Garek in Gara.”
“A little,” Opik said. “Dodged guards all the way back, too.”
“The ones that we passed on the way to Garamundo?” This was something Garek needed to know, not that they were going back to Gara, but it would be useful to know who'd been after him.
And he would have to help Aidan deal with the mess in Gara eventually.
Opik nodded. “We crossed paths again at an inn halfway between Pan Nuk and Garamundo. They were on their way back. I tried to eavesdrop on some of their conversation, and it seemed they didn't know Pan Nuk had been taken when they set out. They weren't happy to find it deserted.
“Then, when I left the inn the next morning, I heard travelers coming up on the road behind me, and went to ground, saw two new guards on the same path. I followed them all the way to Pan Nuk. They looked around, then went on to Haret.
“I slipped in after them, got everyone to pretend I'd been around all along.”
“They ask questions about me?”
Opik gave a curt nod. “If you'd come this way. Where you'd gone.” Opik shrugged. “What you'd expect.”
“And the answers you gave?”
“A version of the truth.”
Garek turned at the voice of Lait Pollar, Haret's town master. He waited, and Pollar shook his head.
“You did it, Garek. I thought you'd come back empty-handed, or we'd get word you were dead. But you did it.” He looked at the transporters, face awestruck.
Taya slid her hand into Garek's, and looked over at Pollar. “Thank you for looking after our people.”
The town master forced his gaze to her. Nodded. “It was our duty and our privilege. And I've just spoken to the liege's son. We thought you'd be in trouble, but instead, you got official sanction. You've proved me wrong, Garek. I thought you'd bring trouble on our heads.”
“I may still.” Garek looked back at Opik. “There are those in Gara who would defy the liege. Who would not like me to lend him my support.”
“You've become a bone to fight over.” Opik watched him with clear eyes. “It makes sense they'd want a man who can fly to Shadow and bring back two sky raider craft.”
“We support the liege.” The town master spoke a little louder than he needed to, so everyone would hear. “If some in Gara would play traitor, we will resist them.”
“And the liege is glad of your support.” Aidan came up behind the town master, clapped a hand on Pollar's shoulder.
“Opik was telling us what information was given to the two guards who came sniffing after me.” Garek exchanged a look with Aidan, and he gave a faint nod. He'd keep any questions he had until later.
“We told them you'd come back to Pan Nuk. Found it deserted. That you hadn't known everyone had been taken. That you left, angry and upset, and we had no idea of your plans.”
So, truly a version of the truth, but without giving anything away.
“That's good.” He heard the engines from the transporter Dom was piloting rev a little higher and sighed. “The Kardanx need to get out of their transporter, too. We need to go, but we'll be back tomorrow. We need to get the liege's son home.”
“So soon?” Opik looked at the transporters with a hunger to know more.
“We'll come back tomorrow afternoon or evening. But first . . .” Taya dropped Garek's hand and walked to Kas, put her arms around both him and Luca and then staggered back a little as Luca threw himself at her. She rocked with him from side to side, murmuring in his ear.
When she raised her head, she was looking for someone. “Min? Will you come with us, or stay?”
Min was standing with Noor, and she hesitated. “I have never seen Juli, but . . .” She looked from Kas to Luca then shook her head. “I'll stay.”
So it was only Aidan, Taya and himself who walked back up the ramp, closed it, and lifted off before most of Haret knew they were going.
Garek could see shock and disappointment on the faces below.
“They wanted to thank you. To catch up with us all.” Taya stood beside him, must have seen the expressions, too.
“We'll be back soon enough.”
And they would be. It was only an hour to g
et to Juli, and as they came in, the moon had risen in the sky, gilding the small city in silver light.
Juli had been built in the middle of the Finoval River, which flowed around it and then tumbled like two frothy white plaits on either side of the city, down the hill. Clever engineering over hundreds of years had built up walls below the city, so that instead of just perching at the top of the waterfall, the city was terraced, with towers and houses all the way to the foot of the hill, with the river in free fall on either side.
The moonlight reflected off the calm water in the small lake at the base of the city, and also off the armor of the guards on the walls.
Garek caught glimpses of movement as he came in, thought he might have heard the thud of arrows against the side of the transporter, although that may just have been because he expected to hear it.
“Over there.” Aidan pointed to the wide wall at the top of the city, the thick, curving stone holding back the Finoval River where it first encountered Juli, and was forced to make its way on either side.
There were guards standing along the wall looking up, but they ran when Garek swooped along the length of the wide space and set down at the far end to give Dom more room.
An arrow hit the window as he settled down, bouncing off harmlessly.
“You'll be shot in the eye if you stick your head out the door.” As he spoke to Aidan, another arrow made a tiny ping against the glass.
“I think you're right.” Aidan looked out, frowning. “Can you open the door part way, so I can shout to someone?”
Garek shook his head. “If it's possible, I don't know how to do it. Both of you, take cover. I'll open it, then you can start shouting.”
Taya moved to the back area, crouching to the side of the door and Aidan went on his haunches below the pilot's door.
Garek opened it and another arrow hit the window, but none came through the door.
Garek guessed no one was in the right position to manage a shot like that.
“It's Aidan,” Aidan shouted. “Get me the guard master.”
No more arrows struck the side.
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