His left foot landed in the crust and plummeted through. Searing pain encompassed it. He yanked it free and dove toward the water. Cold, suffocating wetness closed over him and he thrashed toward the surface.
Suddenly, something grabbed his hair and hauled him upward.
Thunder gasped for air.
Dalf clicked with delight. "Sea smell good."
The kid was insane. "We need to get someplace safe."
"We in sea. We fine."
"Maybe you are, Kid, but I haven't swum in over twenty years." And the last time he had, he'd nearly drowned.
"I no kid." The boy let go of him and with a sleek move, disappeared beneath the gentle waves. Thunder desperately tried to tread water. Suddenly, Dalf popped up in front of him. "Dell name."
"Thunder."
"Dunder no Cal-mar name."
"I was kidnapped by a woman with a dragon." A small wave broke in his face, filling his eyes, nose and mouth with water. He choked. When he caught his breath, he added. "We must get out of here so I can get home."
Dalf gaped at him. "Mudder kidnap you?"
His mother? "Beats me."
"She know you heal." His eyes widened. He waved a webbed hand toward the enclosed crust. "She lose all to heal." He thumped his own chest.
Thunder doubted Dalf's theory, but it was all he could do to stay afloat.
"Where Mudder?"
Mother? His captor had been a fish-woman? "I don't know." His memories were confused with the images GEA-4 had given him, but he was nearly sure the boy was the only fish-being he had met.
"Dis wrong. Bad wrong." The boy emitted a high-pitched clicking noise and made several agitated moves, which sent water splashing in all directions. "Homes no go Doom Sea." Dalf clicked himself into a frenzy. "If mudder alive, she at work." With a deft move, he turned his back to Thunder, grasped his hands and placed them on his shoulders, then he dove into the oncoming wavelet and began swimming toward the horizon.
Thunder gasped and spit as wave after wave spattered against his face. Perhaps he should let go and allow fate to claim him.
ooo
Eyes burning and tearing, making it impossible to see; lungs screaming for air, making it feel like she was suffocating; every cell in Raine's body screamed in agony. Had her body minerals been recycled? No, that wouldn't explain the horrid stench. She gasped, but only got a mouth full of dust. If this was what the afterlife was like, there was something worse than being a slave.
Spirit, please help me understand what terrible thing I did that I would be sent to such a miserable existence.
Hours, or perhaps moments later, something cool touched her forehead. Raine frowned. This did not make sense. First, how could she feel either pain or a gentle touch without a body?
"I've never known them to beat a woman so badly," a gentle, bass voice murmured.
"Things must be very bad. Worse than I thought," a gruff voice said.
Every sinew howling in protest, Raine forced her right eye open. Though her eyes still hurt, it wasn't as bad as it had been.
"Ah, you're awake," said the gravely voiced blur. "Don't try to move. I reset you leg, but the mortar is still setting. Can you talk? No, of course you can't. Your jaw was dislocated, and it's far too swollen. That's fine." The gentle hand patted her shoulder. "I like to talk and it's nice to have someone listen to me."
A snort came from the vicinity of her feet. She rolled her eye downward and saw a gaunt man. The dirty top of his bald head was toward her; a long fringe of filthy gray hair marred her view of his face.
"Tsk-tsk-tsk," the voice near her shoulder said. Raine rolled her head to the left. The crone, who was peering at her looked nearly identical to the old man. The only difference was that she was not bald and the tips of her grimy tresses nearly reached the dusty stone floor.
Raine blinked.
The hem of the old woman's ragged garment brushed her broken toenails, yet, as she looked upward, the woman's smile was warm and welcoming.
"Fractured lumbar rib, costal cartilage of two more torn," the old man mumbled. "Mild concussion, assorted abrasions. Winslow really should control those brutes of his. If it hadn't been for your attire, I think they would have killed you." He didn't sound like the illiterate, unwashed masses. "Are you thirsty?"
Raine managed a semblance of a nod. The woman clumsily rose. She stared at the man and had the uneasy feeling that she knew him. But that was impossible. She closed her eye and tried to ignore the misery that was her body.
The dank, frigid silence of the ancient cellar seemed to creep up from the filthy floor and into her bones. If I'm in prison, I'm not dead. But why were there people, who were more ancient than anyone she had ever seen, here? Raine struggled into a half-prone sitting position.
"Lie down," the man commanded.
Something squeaked then scuttled away on what sounded like small, clawed feet and a shudder passed over her, as she imagined it might be a merrat, which were said to sneak into baby's bubbles and eat them alive. Not that she'd ever actually seen a merrat, but mothers told their children the story to make them behave.
"Lie down," he repeated. Raine shook her head and tried not to wince as sharp pains raced up and down her spine. "Even though you're feeling better," he frowned, "you really shouldn't move."
"Drink this." The wraith-like woman shoved a chipped cup at her. "Then you must lie down and conserve your strength.” Raine shook her head. The woman glared at her. “You'll need it."
Raine sipped the liquid just to placate her. The fresh taste tingled through her. She drank again and again until the only water left was a drop on her parched lips. She licked it. "Who are you?" she whispered.
One corner of her thin mouth curved up. "Coral D'nor."
She jerked with surprise and nearly dropped the cup as she turned toward the man, who had to be Reed D'nor. "The Zar's toxin developer." He gave a rueful nod. Reed D'nor was the man Preston revered above all, save The Zar. And he was dead.
Did this mean that she was dead?
He smiled at her. Did he know Preston was continuing his research? That The Zar had taken credit for work he'd done? “I'm dead." Dear Spirit, the pain in her jaw was unbearable!
"No, you're alive and in The caverns beneath The Pinnacle," Coral said, as she refilled the cup. "When Reed realized that he'd spent ten years assuring the doom of Kalamar, just so Winslow could add more platinum to his coffers, he realized he'd sold out our people."
"I couldn't stay, not after that epiphany, but when I tried to leave, The Zar tried to have me assassinated. I have been in hiding ever since."
Raine's hands shook as she brought the cup to her lips. After a short swallow, Reed said, "Wait. Make sure your stomach can handle that, then you may have more."
Raine looked at their dirty, disheveled state and her mind went numb at the realization of how long the couple had lived in this odious place.
"Tsk-tsk-tsk," Coral said. "So quiet. I would think you'd have questions."
"She had a dislocated masseter."
"I forgot. It must be difficult to talk or drink." Raine carefully nodded. "Tsk-tsk-tsk silly me to think I'd finally have someone who liked conversation. Let us hope Reed fixed your throat correctly. It's been far too long since he worked with an actual patient. Hmmm. Let me see if I can anticipate your questions." Despite their circumstances, Coral's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Raine tried to nod, but pain shot through her head and she saw stars.
The corners of Reed's mouth fell and he reached over to steady her. "Time to lie down and relax." He gently lowered her to the dusty floor. "When you've rested, you can move to a warmer, safer location."
Raine caught his forearm and held on with her left hand, while she pantomimed for them to talk to her. The effort exhausted her.
"How long you can expect to be down here?" Coral guessed. "And how much time do you have before they execute you?" She tilted her head as she looked at her. "Those are your two main question
s, aren't they?"
Raine held up a bruised thumb.
Coral smiled as if she'd been offered gold. "Tsk-tsk-tsk. I've never seen them brutalize a woman so crudely."
She tried to sit up, but a blinding pain consumed her. "Ribs." Raine groaned. She could barely recognize her own voice.
"Yes, several are dislocated. I've bound them, but you should lie quietly. And don't talk," Reed said. "Not with your masseter, er, jaw-bone fractured, dear child."
A flood of gratitude welled inside her heart as he uttered the same endearment that her father had favored. Though she knew it was foolish, Raine felt her attachment to the man deepen.
Raine watched a sad expression flit across Reed's face and thought that time hadn't been as gentle to him as it had to Winslow Vole d'Laire, who looked half the age. Vole d'Laire is Zar and superior to mortal man, but somehow, she couldn't convince herself that she believed The Zar was a superior being. Reed rocked backward on his heels, then rose and began a shuffling pace.
Coral caressed her face. "I don't know how long we've been hiding down here, and I can't imagine how much longer we'll be here." She blinked away tears and gave Raine a shaky smile. "Perhaps the guards will eventually get past their fear of merrats and venture down here but more likely, gravity will capture Vilecom and everything will cease to exist."
Raine inhaled sharply.
Coral pointed to her wave-band neckpiece. "I thought you might have known." Raine held up her thumb. Coral studied her, then understanding dawned. "You thought it was your imagination because your superiors ignored your fears." Raine tried to nod. "Don't, dear girl." Coral placed her palm on her forehead. "Mmmm, you're hot. I'll ask Frazier for-"
"She's my patient."
Coral's mouth flattened for a moment, then she smiled. "At least you don't need to worry that the guards will execute you." Raine widened her eyes. Coral took the hint. "Your sister cares a great deal for you; she and Brock managed to bring you to us during the confusion. Shay said that you won't be missed for days, perhaps weeks." Raine widened her eyes, again. "All the columns collapsed. Brock hopes that everyone will assume that you and Marsha were both crushed when the dragons attacked." She patted her shoulder and got to her feet.
The dragons had attacked The Pinnacle? Such a thing was unheard of. Was the declining orbit driving them insane? Had the poor beast survived the atmosphere? But she couldn't ask her questions.
As Coral walked away, Reed sadly shook his head. "Thirteen years ago, Winslow began to change from patrician to oppressor," he muttered. Reed rubbed his temples. His long, elegant fingers had broken nails. "I never saw it coming. Never!" He turned toward her and knelt. Taking her hand between his own, he swore, "I would never have begun my experiments if I'd realized how much he'd changed."
"Believe," Raine managed to say.
D'nor's face crumpled. Her heart skipped a beat as tears began to stream down his furrowed cheeks. Slowly, she inched her hand toward him and touched his finger. He grasped her hand. "Thank you. I'd thought only those who knew me understood, but you, a total stranger, perceive the position I was put in." Reed D'nor gave her fingers a tiny squeeze and gave her a watery, loving look. "I've killed us all, but you forgive me."
The warm feeling evaporated. What did he mean by that?
ooo
Salt stung Thunder's eyes and each breath scorched his lungs. His muscles felt as if they'd been shredded from his bones and his legs burned from the strange kicking movement of moving through water. At least The River had a bank to swim to; the only solid thing he'd seen on this wretched world was the strange grape-cluster style house.
Enough was enough.
He let go of the odd boy's narrow shoulders, rolled onto his back and simply floated. Water arced in an iridescent liquid rainbow as Dalf flipped around and swam back to him. Odd as the kid's physiology was, he was probably some sort of water creature, which would explain why the chamber he'd been in had been half flooded. But it didn't explain why the sweet-smelling woman had kept the kid or why he insisted on referring to her as his mother. Perhaps GEA-4 had not given him a proper grasp of the language. The idea of the angelic blond woman being the creature's mother was as ludicrous as a Yeti calling him father. The kid flipped a drop of water at him. "Why you dop here?" he asked in his odd click and whistle language.
"Need rest."
"You dired?" His strange purple eyes glowed with concern. “We have long vay do go.”
If this was only the beginning, he might as well give up. Misery welled inside Thunder and he imagined never seeing Nimri, again nor her soon-to-be-born babe; never knowing that they were safe from the roving dragons; never touching land again. He shivered.
"You cold? Dad why you no swim good?"
"On my world, we only get in the water to bathe." A fountain of water erupted from the back of Dalf's head. Thunder flinched in surprise. Suddenly, he was sinking. He gasped. Water filled his eyes, nose and mouth as he plummeted downward. He frantically kicked skyward, but tendrils wrapped around his trashing legs.
Dalf whistled with alarm and dove toward him. Something coiled around his chest.
Something slimy grasped his face.
Something cold slithered down his neck.
Cold and blackness claimed him.
Chapter 16
Agony washed over her and Raine groaned. "Careful," Reed D'nor admonished. "I warned you that it was too soon for you to move."
The arm holding her in a sitting position tightened. "You'll feel better when you swallow the tincture," Coral crooned.
"Boneset and cohosh's healing properties are weeds," Reed admonished.
"Frazier and her people believe in them." So had Gornt. Raine obediently swallowed more of the bitter tea.
Reed snorted. "Their physiology is more like fish than human, perhaps it does work for them."
Raine swallowed another sip and another. By the time she finished, she actually did feel better. She should have tried to find one of the bakufus' healers for Dalf.
"Feeling better, aren't you, dear?" Coral patted her forearm. Raine gave her a thumbs up. Coral gave her husband a triumphant look. "Want to walk? It would be good for the circulation."
"I already told you that she should not attempt to walk on a fractured tibia," Reed snapped. Coral gave him a superior look and helped Raine to her feet. "Her foot everted, so the malleolus -"
Pain washed over her blocking out everything else. Raine gritted her teeth and made a small hop forward. Pain radiated from her injured leg, her stomach churned, sweat broke out as the nausea threatened to overtake her and she had to fight not to cry out.
"You must sit," Reed said.
"But-" Coral began.
"Don't argue," he ordered. Raine lurched. Coral gasped and fled. Reed grabbed Raine before she fell and gently helped her sit.
"Not a very auspicious beginning for the one who is destined to be our savior," a melodious voice said. "I told you you'd need your strength."
"Annya?" D'nor asked.
A musical laugh seemed to melt the shadows and herald the woman's arrival.
Annya was a name Shay had raved about when she’d initially moved to The Pinnacle. Judging by the nobility status of her neckband and her amethyst-tinged hair, the woman had to be Annya Vole d'Laire, Brock's unpredictable twin sister.
"What took you so long to get here?" D'nor demanded.
"Half the palace was destroyed, so work crews are everywhere. It took time, but I'm here, now." Her clothing glinted with golden threads, but it looked much more substantial than anything else Raine had seen at court.
"Did you bring any medicine?"
"Would I be here otherwise?"
D'nor shifted uncomfortably. "No. Of course not."
"Maybe I was wrong," Annya whispered. Raine's perspiration turned to ice. Slim fingers prodded and pinched at her. "Ah, but she bruises easily," Annya muttered. "Yet she is the one." She dug into her pocket and pulled out a handful of flat stones.
&nb
sp; D'nor's hand tightened. "She was buried under debris, manhandled and thrown into this torture chamber. She didn't get these bruises from watching lotus grow."
Annya frowned at him, then balanced the stones on her palm and held them toward her. Her regal brow creased with concentration and she centered her attention on the stones, as if they held the secrets to life. "Focus on them," she commanded. Raine squinted at the matte gray stones and noticed that each had a unique symbol etched in it. Slowly, three of them turned a bright, luminous white. Raine inhaled in surprise. Annya plucked the three out of the pile and put the remainder back in her pocked. Annya gave her a smug look. "You are supposed to serve me because I was born a deity, yet you are the world's savior and so I must be your servant." With that, she prostrated herself.
Reed gasped and threw himself face-first into the dirt, too. Raine touched her neckband and frowned. She was never a slave in her dreams. What if this was not a horrible, strange dream?
She took shallow breaths as she stared at the pebbles, which had fallen from Annya's hand. They stopped short of actually lying on the gritty floor, then as their light dimmed, slowly settled into the dirt. Did they really contain magical powers?
Not if they had foretold that she would rise over a noble. How could she, a dragon shepherd, save anyone when she could barely sit straight by herself? Raine flipped dirt at the stones, but it slid off their smooth surface like oil.
Annya snatched them, but remained prostrate as she clutched them to her bosom, and treated the mysterious rocks as it they were priceless. "Oh, my darlings, she didn't mean it. She doesn't know. Doesn't know."
Reed raised his head and stared at her as if she were insane. Raine shivered and looked away. "It's going to be fine. She'll learn."
Learn what? Open-mouthed, she stared at the man who she'd always assumed was an eminent scientist.
Thunder Moon: Book 2 of the Chatterre Trilogy (Chatterre Triology) Page 18