...trust... human... trust you... Empress... you are...
Danielle closed her eyes to commune with the female creature, Thank you for saving my friend.
...protecting... Rising Star... Antares... fulfill scroll... ... too weak to take you... must find way... follow me... Trenches... cave... armor... retrieve...
If we could remove that arrow? Could you take us to your home then?
...arrow... pain... remove...
Danielle opened her eyes, “Darnash, you must remove that arrow. The creature cannot fly far unless you can.”
...too weak... cannot... carry... weak... very weak...
“Darnash, you must do this now! We must not let the creature die, she knows something.”
“I will try, my Lady.”
Darnash got up, removed his howler parka and covered Danielle with it, “No, you need this. I will be all right, Darnash. The magnesium stone is still warming me.”
“Have the creature press its body as close to the Keep entrance as she can. I need to work on the wound in some protection.”
Danielle closed her eyes and conveyed the instructions to the creature.
Darnash opened his knapsack and pulled out what he needed to remove the arrow and to dress the wound.
He examined the arrow and wound and then grabbed an electronic scanner. He passed it over the area and then turned to Danielle, “No major organs are damaged, my Lady. However, I do not think the creature can carry us out of here.”
“Can you remove it without hurting her?”
“I think so. I can cauterize any bleeders and give the beast a descent dressing. Tell her it must remain in place for three days...oh, and warn her that this will be most unpleasant.”
Danielle once again closed her eyes to converse with the beast. Darnash grabbed the arrow by wrapping his long hairy fingers around it. He waited a few moments to ensure she had prepared the creature and then pulled the arrow with one pull of his powerful arm. Blood oozed from the wound. Firing a laser over the wound stopped the bleeding and Darnash dressed the wound the best he could.
“This patch should hold long enough. The creature will live. It was only superficial.”
“It’s a good thing these creatures are thick skinned.”
“Yes, my Lady.”
“The creature thanks you for removing that arrow. She understands and has no ill feeling toward us.”
“Your new blood song, I am sure, is making the difference. The creature must follow you, my Lady.”
Danielle returned a smile, “The creature has been holding back information.”
“You are still convinced that this creature is intelligent?”
“Yes, Darnash, what’s so hard in believing that?”
“I have not an answer, my Lady.”
“When you were busy checking out our patient, I could communicate deeper with the beast.”
“What does the beast offer?”
“The wings of swords.”
“Isn’t that the armor that Tumaleka gave you, my Lady?”
“Yes. I must return to the Valley of Trenches. That’s where I left them; inside her lair.”
“This creature cannot carry us for such a great distance and live.”
“She said we can take Dumakas’ shuttle. She told me it’s down in the valley before the mountains of the Keep.”
“You cannot leave this cave, my Lady. You have no protection from the elements. That is an hour’s decent.”
“She can carry us to the ship, but no farther.”
“How long will that take?”
“Two minutes.”
“Then you will take my parka. I have enough fat to keep me for that long.”
“You are learning humor, good for you, Darnash.”
Darnash wrapped his oversized parka around Danielle and then carried her to the Keep’s entrance. She climbed onto the creatures back, followed by Darnash. The two held on as the creature flapped its wings, lifted into the blowing wind and glided down along the side of the mountain slope.
The Boreshog set them down at the base of the mountain where a few trees protected them from the worst of the wind.
...follow...you...follow...Trenches...hurry... the creature relayed and then took off for the skies once more.
“Hurry!” Danielle instructed, “We’ll never find her lair unless we can get this ship airborne.”
The two made their way to the snow and ice covered shuttle. Darnash looked below at the skids, “If we’re not frozen solid to the ground, we should be able to take off as soon as I fire off the engines.”
Danielle pointed at the back of the craft, “Can you aim the thrusters to melt the skids?”
“That might work, my Lady. First, we must gain access to the cabin!”
“It looks like the ship is sealed! Do you know the code to open the door?”
Darnash pressed a few codes he thought might work. Each time a red light flashed, “No. It seems I do not.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I shall use the tool that never fails an Antarian when all other tools have,” Darnash grinned.
“What’s that?”
“Brute force!”
Darnash squeezed his fist closed and punched the control pad. Sparks shot out as the panel crushed under his force. The Door slid open exposing the warm interior.
“After you, my Lady,” Darnash motioned.
Danielle entered the craft. Darnash followed close behind and then sealed the ship’s door.
Darnash sat in the pilot’s seat. “Strap in, my Lady. We have no time to waste.”
He manipulated the engine controls, bringing them out of idle to full power. He pressed the throttle forward and lifted the nose of the ship. The ice and snow tugged on the small ship, keeping them grounded.
“The thrusters,” Danielle reminded as the ship shook against the mighty engines.
Fire shot from the ship’s powerful thruster packs, melting the ice beneath the ship.
“It’s working, my Lady!”
Danielle smiled as she strapped into the oversized seat and held on to anything she could.
The ship lifted off, carrying a large section of ice still connected to the landing struts. He activated the skid retraction lever, and the ice broke from the ship’s struts and fell back to the ground, shattering into thousands of pieces.
“Which way, my Lady?”
Danielle looked out the front windows, “I don’t know. Which way did she go? Go South...she must get to warmer climate soon.”
Darnash turned the ship due south, taking them away from Storm Keep, “Try the scanner. You can read Antarian through your Nanites. That large of a creature will show up on the scanner if you can get it to work.”
“I’ll try, Darnash,” Danielle opened the computer console and searched for the scanning manual.
“Should not be very difficult to operate, my Lady, our engineers are fond of using simple controlling methods so pilots could operate and fly at the same time.”
“Got it! There! I think that’s it!”
Darnash glanced from the controls to Danielle’s console, “Yes, my Lady. That would be the beast.”
“Correct course to 1-9-3.”
“Yes, course set. The computer will adjust our speed to track.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
________________________
Serintin
Boreshog Lair
________________________
Darnash piloted the shuttle close behind the female Boreshog. The wind calmed the farther south they traveled. Danielle looked out the starboard window at the Valley of Trenches.
“It appears that the flood waters have receded, Darnash.”
“Yes, my Lady, the Trenches typically flash flood at the beginning of our rainy season. These trenches were put in place to protect the Palace and surrounding energy collector stations. Otherwise, those areas would flood every year.”
“Looks like the waters are still half
way to the top of the banks.”
“Yes, the water takes weeks to fully recede. However its banks are safe once the big rains pass.”
“In the meantime, these trenches and caves provide a home for the Boreshog?”
“The Boreshog live within the trenches all year. They only bear offspring every three to four cycles.”
“That must be why the female protect their young so well.”
“Yes, especially now that their numbers have been lowered to a more acceptable level.”
Danielle turned to Darnash, “What do you mean when you say acceptable level?”
“We found it necessary to thin the herd, my Lady. There was a time that the Boreshog overran the entire moon. They threatened our very existence on Serintin.”
“So killing them off is really what you mean.”
“My Lady, please understand that we found it necessary not only for our survival, but theirs as well.”
“I fail to understand.”
“Thousands of years ago, the Boreshog ruled Serintin. The Antarian population would have gone extinct. The Boreshog would have multiplied the land until there was nothing left to eat.”
“Population control, huh. I suppose that’s similar to what we do on Earth when there is an overpopulation of elk or deer. Except the Boreshog are intelligent.”
“My Lady, none of us understood that the Boreshog could communicate. None of the Emperor’s wrote about communicating, and they have partaken of the Adolescent blood spirit for as many cycles as can be remembered.”
“What about Dumakas? It seems he communicated with one in order to make his escape at our first encounter?”
“I do not think he communicated with his beast in the same manner that you have, my Lady. You are able to glean more information from this creature than anyone in past times.”
“I’m as mystified as you are, Darnash. I wish I understood why I can, and others cannot?”
“Perhaps something you have in your DNA is special?”
“I’m just an ordinary girl on Earth. Nothing special.”
“My Lady, I find that hard to believe.”
“Darnash,” Danielle studied the Antarian’s face, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re blushing.”
“I cannot help myself, my Lady.”
“For blushing? I fail to understand...”
“I have become… fond of you, my Lady.”
“You’ve got a crush on me?”
“Forgive me, my Lady. I know it is most inappropriate. Please accept my apologies for being so forward with my Empress. I accept any punishment you see fit.”
Danielle lifted her wrist to her lips and giggled, “You don’t need to apologize, Darnash.”
“I am afraid that I do, my Lady. It is against the Antarian Code.”
“What code is that?” Danielle asked, continuing to smile at Darnash.
“The first in command is required to squash emotional feelings of any kind; that would include the feelings I have grown to experience in your presence...my Lady.”
Danielle giggled once more.
“Now it is I who fail to understand what you think is humorous?”
Danielle leaned over and wrapped an arm around Darnash’s, “Because the feeling you describe is mutual.”
Darnash glanced from his controls toward Danielle. He wore an almost panicked expression as he faced front once more, “My Lady...”
“Do not worry, Darnash. Your secret is safe with me,” she giggled.
“My Lady, I feel that these feelings that I have are a direct result of my not renewing my blood lust since we first met.”
“How is that responsible? Do you not think these feelings are real, Darnash?”
“No, my Lady, it is not that; I truly have feelings for you.”
“Then what is it?”
“Our blood lust keeps us from feeling things we should not.”
“Like attraction for one another?”
“Yes, my Lady.”
“What is the harm in this? Are these feelings so bad that you wish to suppress them?”
“Only out of necessity, my Lady.”
“Do you not think that you will be the better Warrior if you have to deal with these feelings?”
“I am finding these feelings are...distracting. I am afraid that if I cannot suppress them, I will make mistakes. It could cost you your life, my Lady.”
“That would be so human of you.”
“My Lady?”
“To Err is human, Darnash. We make mistakes all the time, but we learn from them. It’s how we grow.”
“Still, I shall ask that you give me your blood spirit. I will seek my feelings for you at a more appropriate time.”
“Very well, Darnash. I shall share my blood with you as you request once we land.”
“Thank you, my Lady.”
“Look!” Danielle pointed, “She’s landing down there.”
“Yes, my Lady,” Darnash studied the terrain and settled on a landing spot. He circled around and set the ship down a short distance from the cave entrance.
The engines whined down and Danielle unbuckled her giant harness.
Darnash got up from the pilot seat and headed to the hatch. He smiled through his fangs at the sight of the holster and handgun left behind by the last occupants.
“This might come in handy.” Darnash took the weapon and fastened it to his side.
“I will stick with my sword,” Danielle smiled in return. “Do you wish to take of the blood song?”
“I wish to wait until we return to the Palace.”
“Very well, you just let me know.”
“I shall, my Lady. I wish to…study these feelings for a while longer.”
Danielle gave Darnash a hug, “Study them for too long, and you will never wish to take of the blood song again.”
“That is a risk I must take, my Lady.”
Darnash opened the shuttle door, and the two stepped out on the short wing. He studied the terrain, found the best path to the entrance and jumped down. He turned to help Danielle from the wing, but she jumped off with him.
“Come,” Darnash motioned, “The cave entrance is this way.”
The two crawled over boulders and climbed the clay banks until they reached the entrance of the cave.
“Are you certain this is the one, my Lady?”
“Yes. The female is inside. This is where she took me; this is where I shall find the wings of swords.”
“What was it trying to tell you, my Lady? What is it about this weapon?”
“I think there’s something hidden inside it.”
“Could it be the missing scroll?”
“It might be, Darnash.”
“Then let us retrieve your armor, my Lady.”
Danielle lowered herself into the cave hole and climbed to the floor, “It’s alright, Darnash. You should not fear this creature, she saved your life, and you removed that arrow. She will give you favor.”
“As long as your blood spirit sings to her we will be alright, my Lady.”
Darnash climbed inside the cave the same way as Danielle.
Danielle pointed to the far side of the cave, “That’s where I woke up.”
“Where is the armor?”
...removed... I did...placed....in corner... the creature pointed with her talon.
“She said it’s over there,” Danielle pointed in the same direction as the beast.
Darnash shined a light stick in the general direction she pointed.
The two saw metal reflecting light from the darkness of the cave, “There! That must be it!”
Danielle faced the Boreshog, “Do you know what is inside my armor?”
...Missing scroll...it is not...scroll...message...leads to Blood Scroll...
“How do you know so much about these missing scrolls?”
...no tell I...you must find...Blood Scroll...secrets...you will...know...find Blood Scroll...important...Blood Scroll...answers questio
ns...tells history...important...find Blood Scroll...
“What’s she saying?”
“She won’t tell me how she knows about the missing scroll. All she is saying is that there will be a message in the armor, and that it will lead us to finding this Blood Scroll. There must be something in your history that someone was desperate to conceal.”
“I shall fetch the armor, my Lady.”
“Please hurry, Darnash. It feels creepy in this cave.”
Darnash handed her one of his light sticks and ventured to the armor. Danielle smiled as she grabbed the stick and held it out in front of her.
She looked around at the ground with a feeling that something was watching her, “How much longer?”
“Do not worry, my Lady,” Darnash yelled from the other end of the cave, “I shall return shortly.”
“I’m getting this uneasy feeling that something’s watching me!”
“Move to high ground, my Lady. The rocks will protect you.”
“OUCH!” Danielle swatted at her leg, “Something bit me!”
“I’m on my way back, my Lady. Did you see what it was?”
Danielle moved the light stick closer to the ground and screamed. An eight-legged creature scurried into the dark recesses of the cave.
“What was it?”
“I don’t know, but it looks like a giant spider if you ask me!”
“What is a spider?”
“It’s what we have on Earth. It looks very similar to a spider, all eight legs of it, only bigger!”
“Eight legs?”
“Yes, eight legs!”
Darnash returned and examined Danielle’s leg, “You were bitten by an Erontos.”
“Erontos?”
“Yes, my Lady. We should get back to the Palace and have a physician look at this.”
“Is it poisonous?”
“It can be, my Lady.”
“What about the armor? Did you find anything inside it?”
“I have not looked as yet.”
Danielle faltered as she stepped toward the cave exit and caught herself in Darnash’s arms.
“Are you alright, my Lady?”
“Whew, wow. My head is reeling, feeling dizzy.”
“Sit here and rest a moment, my Lady,” Darnash helped her to the rock.
“I’ll be fine in a minute. Maybe I just need some food?”
Warlords Saga Page 45