by Heidi Skarie
She sighed. “Not good.”
“We need to keep going,” Benray said. “I’m sure they’re after us by now.”
Toemeka reluctantly took her feet out of the water and dried them on the edge of her robe before putting the slippers back on. Michio was already standing and extended his hand. She clasped it and stood, then they continued their journey through mountainous terrain.
Toemeka was stumbling with fatigue when Jake and Erling appeared in front of them. “One of the scouts spotted you and contacted Jake, so we came to meet you,” Erling said.
“It’s good to see you both,” Toemeka said. “How’s your family, Erling?”
“It was a long hike for my parents, but they made it. They’re sleeping now.”
“I’ll carry your pack, Toemeka,” Jake said. “You look beat.”
“I am beat.” He helped her unfasten the backpack and swung it onto his shoulders.
They hiked in companionable silence until they finally came to a clearing with a series of small tents. “Set your tent up here,” Jake said, taking off Toemeka’s backpack and handing it to her.
“Thank you for carrying it,” she said, dropping it on the ground.
“No problem.”
“How many men do you have in camp?” Michio asked.
“Twenty-two soldiers. Try to get some sleep. We leave in a few hours.”
“A few hours?” Toemeka groaned.
Erling headed for one of the tents while Michio took a tent off the frame of his backpack. He pulled a cord and it popped open. Toemeka untied their sleeping bags and foam pads from the frames, shoved them into the tent, then crawled in after them. She hung the flashlight from the ceiling and removed her robe, leaving her in the ceremonial gown. In a few moments, she had the sleeping bags spread out on foam pads and was in one of them. Her feet ached and her whole body throbbed with fatigue. Let me sleep, she thought as Michio crawled in after her. She heard him rustling around, then he turned off the flashlight.
“I’m frightened,” Toemeka whispered. “I can feel Cadmus reaching out with his mind, searching for me.”
Michio put his arm around her. “Put up an inner shield to block him.”
“I’ll try. I miss Baymond. I wonder if he misses me. He’s so little and this is the second time I’ve been gone. Maybe he doesn’t know me yet.”
“He knows you.. Don’t worry about him; he’s at the palace and Koriann’s taking good care of him. I’m sure he isn’t lacking attention.”
“But Koriann has duties as Queen. She doesn’t have much time for a baby.”
“He has a nursemaid, too. He’ll probably be quite spoiled by the time we get home. Though we should be the ones taking care of him. He’s our responsibility.”
Hurt by his remark, she said, “I take that responsibility seriously.”
“Is leaving him, when you know you may never return, fulfilling your duty? And how do you think I felt when I discovered you were gone?”
“I know exactly how it felt. You left me to go to Devil’s Eye.”
“That was different.” Michio removed his arm from around her.
“How?”
“I left to protect you; my concern was for your welfare. I’m your husband and it’s my duty to see that you’re safe from harm.”
She tried to stay calm, but tension was spreading through her body. “You left for a dangerous situation without telling me. You would’ve been killed if I hadn’t stopped you.”
“I did what I felt I had to do.”
“Just like I always do.”
“I thought, after seeing the Master, we agreed to discuss things — to be more open with one another,” Michio said with an edge to his voice.
“I wanted to discuss it with you, but I knew you’d object to me going on the mission,”
“I would’ve. But despite my misgivings, I would’ve joined you in the mission or come instead of you.”
“You don’t even know Erling’s family,” she said. “How could I ask you to come, knowing the risk involved?”
“You and Erling are important people in my life.”
“Why is it better for you to come than me?” she asked.
“I’m trained to fight black magic. You’re not.”
“Samrat Condor has a price on your head. It was too dangerous for you to come.”
“Commander Rochambeau is obsessed with you and Samrat Condor wants to sacrifice you. You’re in more danger than I am.” She heard the frustration in his voice.
“It’s dangerous for both of us.”
“Go to sleep, Toemeka. Don’t keep arguing every point I make. I’m tired and need to sleep.”
She felt him inwardly pulling away from her and felt alone, even though he was physically near. She lay awake a long time before finally falling asleep.
18
Wilderness
Toemeka awoke when Jake zipped open the tent and stuck his head in. “We have to leave. Raptor soldiers are just a few miles away.”
The world spun when Toemeka sat up and she felt groggy with fatigue.
“How did you sleep?” Michio asked, already rolling up his sleeping bag.
“Not enough.” She shivered, cold in the early morning air, and pulled the robe over her thin ceremonial gown. She glanced at her watch. “We got less than four hours sleep.”
“At least we caught up with the group. There’s safety in numbers.”
Toemeka shook off her fatigue and quickly got her gear assembled before following Michio out of the tent. Almost all of the tents in camp were down and most of the Resistance had disappeared into the woods. Nearby Onolyn and Zac were taking down their small tent and Toemeka wondered if they were more than tent mates.
Once they had their gear packed and backpacks on, Michio said, “Let’s go.”
“Aren’t we going to eat something first?”
Jake was within earshot and turned toward her. “You’re getting soft, Tiger. Move out. We’ll eat when we’ve put some distance between us and Rochambeau’s men.”
“Cadmus is out there?” Toemeka exclaimed. The seriousness of their situation finally penetrated her fatigue.
“And bearing down fast. I want you and Michio to catch up to the Fenian family. They’re in the middle of the group, where my men can provide better protection.”
Toemeka and Michio headed into the forest and Onolyn drew alongside them. “Thank God you’re safe, Toemeka. Here’s an energy bar. It’ll keep you going until we stop to eat.”
“Hurry, Onolyn,” Zac said. “We need to guard Prince Erling.”
“We’ll talk later,” Onolyn said and ran after Zac.
Toemeka and Michio hiked at a brisk pace through the tall deciduous trees. The thick canopy allowed for little undergrowth, making walking easier, but it also made Toemeka feel vulnerable. Perhaps even at this moment Cadmus’ scouts were watching them. She and Michio passed some Resistance members as they hurried to catch up with the Fenians.
Once they reached them, Michio said, “Stay with Erling’s family, Toemeka. I’m going to talk to Jake and find out where we’re going.” He headed back the way they’d come.
Breezy paused to let Toemeka catch up to her. The rest of the family was a short distance ahead. “That must be your husband. Good-looking man,” Breezy said. “Jake said the two of you arrived late last night. He let you sleep a little longer than the rest of us. I don’t think Jake slept at all.” They began walking side by side.
“Probably not. He waited for us last night and carried my backpack the last mile or so.”
“He was worried about you. We all were. How did you escape?”
Toemeka told her briefly what happened, then said, “How is Sharma doing? I heard her fiancé Connor was killed in the war.”
“She’s having a rough time of it, but then, who isn’t with Alandra taken over and our family scheduled for execution?”
“It’s hard to lose someone you love,” Toemeka said, stepping over a fallen branch.
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“Sharma will be better when she gets to Planet Borko and can start a new life.”
“None of us are eager to leave our home planet. I might stay and join the Resistance.”
Toemeka glanced at Breezy. “That’s a dangerous life, especially with Commander Rochambeau trying to destroy the Resistance.” She got a lump in her throat as she thought of Cadmus and his relentless pursuit of them.
“I know, but I’ll be with Jake.”
Toemeka nodded in understanding. Breezy had liked him since she was a child and he’d lived next door.
Breezy stopped walking. “Do you mind that we’re together?”
“No, I’m happy for you, but you know he’s not good at commitment.”
“We’re in the middle of a war. His commitment is to the Resistance, as it should be.”
Several hours later, Jake yelled, “Take cover! Incoming spacecraft!”
Toemeka and Breezy ran under some tall trees as the roar of engines blasted overhead. Toemeka’s heart sped up as she glanced around. Where was Michio?
“It’s a Talon aircraft,” Breezy said. “They’re hunting for us.”
Once the aircraft passed by, Breezy walked over to the animal trail they were following.
“Stay hidden; they might make another pass!” Jake shouted. Breezy scrambled back to where Toemeka crouched, right as another aircraft passed overhead.
Then all was quiet. They waited in strained silence until Jake finally said it was safe to continue the journey.
Michio hurried over to Toemeka and she moved into his arms, feeling shaken. “I’m sorry for leaving you for so long,” he said. “I was scouting. Are you all right?”
“Just a little jumpy.”
He kissed her lightly on the mouth. “We’re going to make it home.” They began walking and Breezy left to find Jake.
The sun was directly overhead when they stopped to eat. Everyone took packets out of the backpacks and ate military rations. Najetta sat on a large flat boulder next to Richwood. “I’m not used to all this hiking,” she said. “Will we have to walk all day?”
“We’re being followed by Talon soldiers,” Richwood said. “We’ve got no choice but to keep moving.”
Toemeka frowned, concerned for the Fenians. They were thin from being in a concentration camp. Now they were forced on a long journey through the wilderness. They weren’t warriors, used to hardship as Resistance members were.
At dusk, Jake led them to a cave hidden in the side of a mountain. Toemeka stumbled inside and sat on the floor, ready to keel over. She ate another unappetizing ration packet, too tired to even talk, then spread out her sleeping bag and crawled inside. She was asleep in moments.
They traveled swiftly over the next few days, eating and sleeping little and hiking long hours. Talon airships continued to search overhead while Commander Rochambeau and his men continued to follow them on foot.
One day a scout named White Owl shot a small boar and they set up camp early. A couple of the men sliced the meat into chunks and Toemeka, Onolyn and Breezy cooked them on sticks over a campfire. After she’d cooked several thick pieces, Onolyn rose. “I’m going to bring some meat to Zac and Erling. They’re on guard duty.”
“They’ll appreciate it,” Toemeka said. Her stomach rumbled as she inhaled the aroma of roasted meat. Michio came over to the campfire with a load of sticks and branches he gathered. Toemeka handed him a piece of meat on a stick. “Have a taste. It’s much better than military rations.”
“It smells delicious.” He sat beside her on a log, facing the fire, and took a bite.
Jake sat on the other side of her. Toemeka handed him another stick with roasted meat on it. “Here, join the feast.”
“Thanks, real food for a change.”
Breezy walked up behind them and put her hands on Jake’s shoulders. “How come you’re allowing us to stop early and have a fire?”
He turned his head to look up at her. “We’ve lost Rochambeau and his men for the moment.”
“Breezy, do you know where Najetta and Sharma are?” Toemeka asked.
“Mother’s not feeling well; she’s lying down. Sharma is keeping her company. The travel has been hard on her. Her health was already broken down from the concentration camp.”
“I should check on her,” Toemeka said, starting to get up.
Michio put a restraining hand on her arm. “Eat first. Jake, have Commander Rochambeau and his men ever followed you this far into the wilderness before?”
“No, this is unusual. I don’t know why Rochambeau’s been so persistent.”
“Samrat Condor ordered him to put down the Resistance,” Toemeka said. She put a new piece of meat on a stick and held it over the fire to cook. Others drew up logs and sat around the fire, roasting and eating the boar. Toemeka bit into a piece of warm meat and its succulent taste filled her mouth.
“Samrat Condor sent Rochambeau here to put down the Resistance months ago, but we’ve always been able to lose him before,” Jake said. “I don’t know how he’s tracking us. Normally, he sends his men after us. He’s never come into the wilderness before. He prefers the comfort and safety of his military compound.”
Toemeka finished chewing, then said, “Samrat Condor came in person this time.”
Jake sneered. “Yeah, Rochambeau is Samrat Condor’s puppet.”
Michio put another piece of meat to roast over the fire. “How many men does he have with him?”
“Our scout estimate about forty-five men and we have about half as many.”
“How are we going to get off this planet?” Toemeka asked.
“We’re heading to the home of some people who support the Resistance. They live on a farm near the edge of the country of Kossel.” Jake used the GPS on his communicator to show them where they were headed.
“Their farm is easy to spot because there’s a natural rock formation in the shape of a large arch just to the west of it. They’ll get us a spacecraft.” He pointed to the mountains. “The fastest, most direct route is straight into the Bvundo Mountains, but it’s too difficult for Najetta to climb, so we’re taking a longer route around it. I just hope we lost Commander Rochambeau for good.”
“I doubt it,” Toemeka said. “I think he’s tracking us through me.”
Jake cocked an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
She realized all the soldiers sitting around the fire were awaiting her reply. “I feel Rochambeau trying to enter my mind plus I’ve had nightmares and constant headaches. Psychic attacks can cause those reactions. I’ve tried to block him, but I don’t know if I’ve been completely successful.”
Michio frowned with concern. “Why didn’t you tell me he was attacking you?”
Before she could answer, Jake interjected, “You’ve always had nightmares. That doesn’t mean anything. And it’s a big jump from having a headache to imagining Rochambeau’s psychically attacking you. Besides, you know I don’t believe in any of that supernatural stuff.”
“Do you also deny that Samrat Condor’s a sorcerer?” she demanded. “You’ve heard of his abilities — and how he can control dark powers.”
“His priests spread rumors to scare people.”
“I’ve seen his powers. It’s not made up.”
“It is uncanny the way Commander Rochambeau has been tracking us,” Benray said from where he sat across the fire.
“I’ve heard he trained to be a sorcerer under Samrat Condor,” White Owl said as he sat on a log. “Maybe he does have some way of psychically tracing Toemeka.”
“Just what I need! A bunch of superstitious nonsense upsetting everyone,” Jake said. “Tiger, keep your thoughts to yourself. I don’t want you spreading fear among my men.”
“Michio, you explain black magic to this meathead!” Toemeka exclaimed.
Michio shrugged. “Jake has a right to his own beliefs.”
“Not when his beliefs are wrong and could endanger the rest of us.”
“In what way am I endang
ering you by not believing in sorcerers?” Jake asked.
“You’re not taking seriously enough the danger of Cadmus following us because of me.”
“You’ve always had crazy ideas. Sensed things other can’t feel; seen things that haven’t happened yet; claimed to travel in the invisible worlds. The weird part is you expect the rest of us to believe you.”
Toemeka fumed, knowing he was deliberately taunting her, as he’d done way too often in the past when conversations turned to her intuition and inner experiences.
He liked watching her reactions and always seemed to find a way to get to her. She wondered why Michio didn’t say anything. He was gifted with words and understood esoteric things far better than she did, but he remained silent. Breezy didn’t say anything to support her either, even though she was an Initiate of the Secret Teachings and shared Toemeka’s beliefs. Breezy never argued with Jake.
When Toemeka didn’t respond immediately, Jake continued. “Initiates of the Secret Teachings are Samrat Condor’s favorite sacrifices. When it was discovered that Erling was a Coalition member, the Fenians might have been able to stay in their home. But that’s only if they’d been willing to embrace Samrat Condor and worship him, which, of course, they refused to do. It’s stupid, if you ask me. They almost lost their lives and still might before this is over.”
“You’re just upset, Jake,” Breezy said. “You also refuse to worship Samrat Condor.”
“I don’t worship him because he’s evil and needs to be stopped.” Jake’s eyes narrowed. “I believe in freedom and people having the right to live their lives as they choose. You don’t have to believe in the supernatural to be revolted by the thought of Condor wanting to sacrifice Toemeka for his bloody religion!”
Toemeka stared at Jake, feeling the intensity of his emotions. So that was what was bothering him. He was upset that she’d almost been sacrificed. Jake usually argued with her about religion with detachment. He liked to debate ideas and match his wits against hers, but this was different. He was emotionally involved. Moreover, Commander Rochambeau’s relentless pursuit wasn’t easy to explain away for someone who didn’t believe in psychic powers.