by Dana Davis
“So am I.” She eyed Natjulie a moment. “You want me to talk her into it. That’s what you really mean. I have no desire to be punished along with you and Sam. Can’t you two work apart for a few days? Give Jen time to settle down?” After all, she’d done that herself, been very good about the whole Quinpatrik matter. At least, on the outside.
“No.” Nat’s voice was loud enough to get Ian’s attention even over the crackling fire.
“You two go to sleep,” he grumbled.
They waited quietly until he began to snore.
“Please, Cait. The only thing that keeps us from doing something stupid is closeness.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Maybe not. But when we’re apart, I think about mating even more than when he’s next to me.”
Cait sighed. “I’ll see what I can do. But I’m not promising anything. Jen probably won’t listen to me.”
“She always listens to you. You’re her favorite striker.” Nat patted Cait’s arm in approval and moved away.
“I’m not her favorite,” she protested. “She thinks we all do a pretty good job.”
“Keep trying to rationalize it.” Nat chuckled quietly. “You are her favorite. All the better for me. She’ll listen to you. I know she will.” The girl turned away and pulled blankets around her shoulders.
She shook her head, frustrated at times like this with Nat’s childish attitude. The girl was two years younger and Cait felt protective of her. Then, realizing that Sam, who was definitely asleep from the snoring he made, would probably confront her in the morning about this same subject, she stifled a groan and closed her eyes. Why did mating urges have to be so strong?
At least now she had something to take her mind from Quin. She glanced at Jenellen again and decided to confront the finder first thing in the morning. Her leg itched and she reached down to scratch.
Chapter 16
An Unexpected Discovery
The next morning when she awoke, the cool air felt invigorating and she pulled from her blankets. Normally she preferred to sleep until Marjordan forced her up, but the excitement of the nearly completed tablets nudged her mind awake. As she stood, Natjulie stirred nearby. Cait sighed to herself as she remembered the previous night’s conversation with the girl. She rolled her blankets up and went in search of Jenellen. Everyone but Nat and Sam was up and busy with one task or other.
Marjordan rummaged through the stack of cooking tools. “Morn,” she said as Cait approached.
“Morn, P-Marj. You seen Jenellen?”
“At the lake.”
She started that way.
“You can help with mornmeal,” Marjordan said quickly.
“I will. But I need to talk to Jen first.” She gave an urgent look to her primary.
The woman nodded. “See you get back here before it’s time to eat.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Jenellen, crouched by the water’s edge, dried her face with a large ragcloth. Cait squatted next to her and splashed the cold water on her own face. Her blood raced at the iciness and she sucked in a startled breath. The temperature seemed to change rapidly in this section of the mountains.
“Here,” the finder said. One hand pushed the ragcloth at Cait. “I suppose you want to talk to me about Nat and Sam.”
That statement took Cait off guard. “How’d you know?” She dried her face.
“Ian wasn’t the only one awake last night. But it’s no use trying to convince me to put those two on shift together, at least for a couple of days. I know they’re fighting urges but I have to stick to the punishment. Tell Nat that if she and Sam can get along civilly for the next two days, I’ll reduce the penalty.” She filled a pan with water.
Cait couldn’t help the smile that crept onto her lips. “I’ll tell her. I think she’ll survive a couple of days. Uh, do I get first shift with the TAD?” She hoped the woman would agree.
“Sorry, Striker. We’re too close to finishing. Finders have that privilege. But we’ll let you know as soon as we complete the last of the tablets.” She stood.
Cait sighed. When would she get promoted? “Yes, Finder.” She sank back on her heels.
“Don’t look so glum, girl. You’ve got first shift in the cave.”
“Well, I guess that’s something.”
“My, aren’t we the eager one.”
“I just hoped we would’ve found something by now. The Elders think the other Mask is here and they’re usually right.”
“Don’t be so sure it isn’t. There’s still one section of the ancient room we haven’t excavated, remember?”
“Yes.” Cait’s mind drifted to the dark corner where a mound of hardened dirt from years of cave-ins had settled. They discovered that area just recently. There didn’t seem to be much there, though. She had doubts about finding anything valuable.
“You and Paul can start there today.” Jen took the drying rag and headed toward the camp.
Cait followed, glad the woman had heard Nat’s plea the previous night. She helped with mornmeal then gave her friend the news. The other girl seemed relieved and promised that she and Sam could be strong for two days.
When mornmeal was over, Nat and Sam washed dishes while Cait donned her tools. She tied the belt around her waist, pulled on the tortoise shell hat, and followed Paulucas through the tunnel.
****
Natjulie scrambled into the ancient room. “The tablets are done!” she squealed with excitement. “Come on, you two. Jen wants you outside.”
The three scurried out to find the others gathered around the fire. Jen had an unreadable look on her face as she handed the strongcloth with the translations to Paulucas. Cait watched the man closely as he sat on a nearby stool.
“There are several misspelled words, as you know, so bear with me,” he said.
She gazed at the translations over his shoulder while he read part of the tablets that she hadn’t heard before:
Dada says we have to leeve this place and everthin but essentuls. I don’t want to go but the crazies hav found us and mama says they’ll harm us if we stay here. I hope we can come back sum day. I think I’ll mis Brenemily the most. She’s the last of my doll famly. The first one I had to leev in the cave near the beech. My second favrite stayd in the plains. I want to take Brenemily and I even cried to dada and mama. But they sed we hav no room.
Her face looks so sad to me. Mama says we can make a nuther doll when we get to a new home but that won’t be the same. No one has dolls like mine anymore. Gramama gave them to me befor she died. They wer her mama’s and she’d kep them secret all those years. Even while she hid from the killin rains. She sed the faces are made of sumthin called plasteecs. Whatever that means. She sed her granpapa told her nobody makes plasteecs anymore, not sins before The Great War.
I like my doll’s soft body the best. I miss my gramama and I’ll miss Brenemily. I can’t take you ether, diary. Dada has given me an old box to put you in. You’ll be safe there. We hav to leev now. The sun’s nearly up. Bye. Love forever, Tamirella Nelton, age nine years aproxmatly.
Cait’s heart raced as she realized just what this meant.
Ian gave a stunned look to Jen. “Tamirella’s a child?” he said, taking the strongcloth from the Paul. Then his brow furrowed in thought. “We’ve been searching all these years, fighting over The Mask of Tamirella, and the damn thing is a doll’s face.”
“Looks that way,” Jenellen said. Her emotions were unreadable on her features.
“What’re we going to tell the Elders? We’ve been promised a great profit for the thing, if we find it. They’re not going to pay for a damn doll part.”
“Calm down, Ian. The Elders promised payment and they’re not ones to go back on their word. We’ll figure something out.” Jen took the strongcloth from the indignant man. “Besides, we’ve found enough here to put each of our sub-sanctions in food and clothing for some time. And since this ‘plasteecs’ Tamirella wrote about is rare.
The Mask must be worth something.”
Ian frowned. “Not unless somebody knows a way to use it.”
Cait’s heart fell as she listened to this conversation. She had made a promise to her father. All his life, he’d searched for the Mask. She’d risked her life, her primary’s life, put her entire sanction at jeopardy for what? A stupid doll? The Elders had promised her finder’s status if she found this Mask. They promised Marjordan supplies for M3. Would they keep their promises? Or would the dig be called off when they found out? “We have to keep looking,” she said in a near panic. “We must find the Mask.” The others stared at her. “The Elders have to keep their word. I’ll stay and find it myself if you don’t want to.”
“Hold it, Striker,” Jen said in a firm voice. “Nobody’s going anywhere just yet. We need to have a serious meeting. And we need to get word to the Elders. They funded this dig.”
Cait’s heart rammed against her ribs and she tried desperately to steady her shaky hands. “The Elders promised to pay us for the Mask, so we should make them keep that promise. We have to find it.” All her hopes turned to desperation.
“Calm down, Caitlanna,” Marjordan said softly.
“No! I came here to become a finder and I’m not leaving without that Mask!” She bolted toward the lake before anyone could say another word to her. As she reached the water, tears clouded her eyes and she tripped over a rock, landing hard on the dirt.
Hands picked her up and she pulled away. Marjordan shook her. “Stop this nonsense!” The woman’s fierce eyes evaluated her.
She began to sob. “P-Marj, I have to become a finder. I have to.”
The woman pulled her to a large rock and forced her to sit. “You’re going to calm down or I’ll put a sedative drink in you. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” she said through sobs.
“I mean it. Now breathe.”
Caitlanna obeyed and focused her thoughts on breathing to clear her mind. Soon her crying stopped but she was left with clouded eyes and a runny nose.
Marjordan pushed a ragcloth into her hands. “Blow.”
She blew but tears rolled down her cheeks again. She sniffed. “I can’t let Father’s entire life’s search be for nothing, P-Marj.”
The man had searched in vain for the Mask until his death. Frustration settled in her gut. Though she had already found one Mask, she wanted desperately to honor her father, and after putting her sub-sanction at risk, she owed them the promised supplies. She would even go after the third Mask if given the chance. Where was it? The plains?
Marjordan placed an arm around her shoulders and let out a long breath. “I should’ve known why you were so emotional about this.” The anger was gone from her voice. “Your father would be very proud of you. You don’t need to prove your love for him.”
She pulled away to look at her primary’s face and sniffed again. “Are you proud of me?” She felt like such a child seeking approval but she needed to hear the words.
Marjordan didn’t disappoint her. A smile warmed that strong yet motherly face. “I’m very proud of you, girl. You should know that without having to make a scene about it.” She chuckled.
She laid her head on her primary’s shoulder. “I know. I’m sorry. But glad you told me.” She lifted her head and blew her nose again. “I’m worried, P-Marj. This Mask was going to bring supplies to M3. Now that could be ruined and everything is my fault.”
“And just how is this plasteecs doll face your fault?” Marjordan held her at arm’s length and studied her eyes.
“I’m the one who brought us here, remember? Me and my stupid trip to the Shore Sanction. And all for a stupid-ass doll!” Oh, what was I thinking?
Marjordan studied her. “Yes, your indiscretions are the reason we came.” Her thumbs swiped at Cait’s tears. “But part of me looked forward to this adventure. This is the first time in a long while I’ve had an opportunity to travel.”
“Even with all that’s happened? What with the dagbeasts and mutants? The injuries?” She hardly believed the woman’s words.
Marjordan laughed. “Every part of life has difficulties, Cait. I’d be mending bodies no matter where we placed our blankets. I agreed to this, too. The Elders are fair. And like Jenellen said, we’ve found enough to keep our sub-sanctions in supplies for a while.”
Cait suddenly felt lighter. She reached out and took the woman into a great hug. “I love you, P-Marj.”
“And I love you, girl. But don’t embarrass us both with any more of these tantrums. Do you hear me?” She pushed Cait away and lightly swatted her leg.
“Yes, ma’am.” Cait chuckled.
“Now, I think you have some apologies to make.” Marjordan tilted her head toward the camp.
“Yes. I guess I should.”
Arm in arm, the two walked together back to the fire. The others sat quietly chatting and looking over the strongcloth. They all gazed up at Caitlanna.
She sucked in a breath of courage. “Sorry for my behavior.” She lowered her eyes in obedience and waited for acceptance.
Jenellen came to her. “You’re forgiven. And your shift hasn’t ended.”
That’s when she noticed that Paulucas stood near the cavern entrance with a foolish grin on his face.
She laughed in relief. “Yes, Finder.”
Chapter 17
Word from the Elders
Several days had passed since Paulucas took the tablets to the Elders, and everyone at camp was antsy because he hadn’t returned yet. Cait’s leg had finally stopped itching, much to her relief, but Marjordan still hadn’t removed the stitches. No one showed any signs of the Froth but spirits were dampened anyway. Marjordan sat near Cait, mending socks, while Jen and Quin inspected the cave and the warriors tended the horses.
“He should be back by now,” Natjulie whined. She sat by the fire. One hand gripped Samcoty’s while the other twirled the end of her braid. She’d said those words so many times.
Cait tried to ignore the girl and focused on cataloging artifacts from the previous day’s find.
“He’s fine,” Sam said with slight agitation. He blinked hard several times. “Look, your brother’s a talented warrior, Nat. He can take care of himself.”
“But not against a group attack. He can’t win if he were attacked like that.”
“Enough of this talk,” Marjordan said sharply. She took the girl by the arm and hauled her to her feet. “You and I are going to the lake and get some fishing done for nighmeal.”
Nat started to protest but Marjordan gave her a fierce look. “Don’t test me.”
The girl’s eyes widened. “Yes, ma’am.” She lowered her gaze.
“Come along.” Marjordan snatched up a basket and pulled the reluctant girl toward the lake.
Cait watched Sam’s face but he actually seemed relieved. “You all right?” She handed over another cataloged bead for him to store in the straw-lined box.
He smiled, gray eyes bright. “Of course. Nat was beginning to irritate me, too.”
She chuckled. Since they were alone, she took this opportunity to ask a burning question. “You know anything about that mutant who killed the painted-face woman?”
“No, but I think Ian does. I heard him talking to your primary about that day. They must’ve known her.”
“Yes, I’ve heard them talking. But no one is talking to me.”
“I know the feeling.” He pushed stray hairs from his face. A face that had grown pink from the sun. “I can’t wait to be a full-grown.” His gaze drifted toward the lake and he blinked habitually a couple of times.
“So I’ve heard.” She grinned.
“Oh.” He actually blushed. “I guess Nat’s told you about our little dilemma.”
“Understatement. How’s that going anyway?”
“Tough. But I’ll survive. I’ll be full-grown almost a year before she will. I think that’ll be harder on us both.”
Cait nodded in sympathy.
“What about you a
nd Quin?” he said, turning those gray eyes on her.
“What’s Nat told you?” She let irritation come out in her voice.
“Nothing, really. But I’ve seen the way you look at him. I may be quiet about most things but I’m not unobservant.”
Now was Cait’s turn to blush and heat filled her cheeks. “I’ve had the Finder’s Fever lately so it’s been a lot easier. Besides, I wouldn’t want to get him in trouble.”
“I don’t think you could even if you tried. From what I know about Quin, he’s loyal to your sub-sanction and wouldn’t touch you until you’re at full-grown status.”
She knew the boy’s candor was one attraction for Nat. He was observant and reminded her a lot of Whithelen. Which led her to her next question. “What’s up with Paul and Whit?”
He grinned, and she noticed that his nose was peeling slightly. None wore their hats much since the weather had cooled. “Nat thinks they’ll announce their knot-tying soon. Probably when this dig is through.”
Caitlanna hadn’t thought much of that time. She would miss her new friends. There weren’t many her age in M3 and she trailed full-growns most of the time, which she didn’t mind, but she enjoyed having Nat and Sam around.
“You and Nat will invite us to your knot-tying, won’t you?”
The boy laughed. “Of course.”
Another thought tightened her stomach. If Whit and Paul got tied, they would probably live in his sub-sanction. Especially since he was still in charge of Nat and Sam.
“What is it?” Concern colored Samcoty’s gray eyes.
Cait realized she’d groaned aloud. “I’m going to miss Whit.”
“Well, our sub-sanctions aren’t that far apart, just a few days’ travel.”
“You’re right.” The sight of Whit and Ian coming toward them silenced her. The two had been pulling extra watches since Paulucas left. The woman looked ill.
“Ho, you two. Where’s Marjordan?” Whit said.
Cait pointed toward the lake. “Fishing for nighmeal. You sick?”