“I think they react to the sound of our footsteps. I thought if someone could make a distraction on the far side of the rocks, I would scout in the other direction, walking as slowly and softly as possible. Maybe if we walk softly enough, they won’t hear us.”
Sebastian had not thought about that, but it made sense. They had not been able to find and grab Wes until he started to run again. Perhaps it really was that simple.
“Even better. I can walk softly, move toward that rock in the distance,” Sebastian said, pointing over Svetka’s shoulder. “Perhaps I’ll see a way to get out of this mess.”
After going over the plan a few times, they decided not to waste any more daylight—being stalked by ground-burrowing killers seemed even less appealing in the dark. So, while a dozen of their group moved to the edge of the rock formation they were on, Sebastian went to the opposite side. Those who had volunteered to help cause the distraction took whatever long branches or rocks they could find and prepared themselves.
“Ready?” called Jarod.
“Ready,” Sebastian shouted back, nervously keeping an eye on the ground.
“Start clobbering, everyone,” he heard Jarod yell, after which the thumping sounds of branches hitting the sand and stones hitting the rock under their feet began on the far side of their little refuge island.
Sebastian counted to ten, then twenty, scanning the ground for any reaction. When he reached thirty, two small tracks started to move, making their way around the rock formation. He counted to thirty again, but did not see anything else move. He swallowed, inched toward the edge and extended his foot. With a soft exhale, he put his foot on the sand as softly as possible. The tiny grains of sand crunched under his weight. He stopped and held his breath until he could not hold it any longer. Another five breaths he waited, then he took another step, each time nervously looking around to see if anything rushed his way.
Behind him, Svetka watched him closely. Sebastian froze as someone screamed. One of the creatures had ventured close to the rock’s edge, forcing a few of the volunteers to stop. Immediately, Jarod spread them along the edge and told the others to double their efforts and make up for the ones forced to pause when one of the sand devils came close.
Sebastian’s heart pounded, but nothing happened. He inhaled deeply through his nose, trying not to make too much noise, and forced himself to relax. Then he took another step. And another, softly and carefully. After what felt like half the morning, he finally reached the first safe point—a half-buried boulder twice his length.
He waved back to Svetka to let her know he was safe. Straight away, he looked for his next safe haven and pushed on, knowing full well he should not waste too much time looking for a way out. The rock formation disappeared from sight behind the trunks of several giant trees. Sebastian still heard the distant beating of sticks and rocks, but wondered if any of the creatures this far out would be drawn toward it still.
He spotted his next destination as he moved around the next big tree. One of the forest giants lay flat on the ground, toppled over by means never to be known. Along its trunk, saplings of different ages had sprung to life, reaching for the sky as they bathed in the sunlight shining through the canopy where the toppled tree had left a giant hole.
With one stop in between, Sebastian reached the uprooted tree and climbed on top of it. Most of it was still solid wood, but here and there the giant trunk was riddled with holes like a giant honeycomb. Ignoring his curious surroundings, Sebastian quickly walked the length of the trunk. When he reached the end, his face brightened at the gift the world laid before him. A long cliff ran beneath, solid stone that ran for as far as he could see, slowly descending as it snaked between the trees. It looked like it could go on for miles, and with solid rock beneath their feet there was no way these burrowing creatures could follow them. This was it—this was their way out!
He made his way back as quickly as possible, using signals to time his walks as people took turns hitting the sand. When he reached the rock formation with sweat on his back and told of his findings, the group quickly went from stifled enthusiasm to laughter and cheers.
“Alright, alright,” said Jarod loudly. “We’re not out of the woods yet. We can’t afford to make mistakes here. We didn’t break out of those mines to get eaten or starve in this forest. Let’s get everyone ready and do this.”
This time, Sebastian was part of the diversion. After explaining his successfully discovered route to several of the men, they started their risky trip toward the fallen tree. There, they would regroup before leaving this blasted forest. Led in small groups, men, women and the occasional youngster stepped off the rock. They walked softly, hand in hand, in groups of five. None of them spoke as those on the other side put all their effort into banging on the ground.
By the time of Sebastian’s second break, nearly the entire group had left the rocky isolation that had been their refuge. He was watching the single line of people carefully sneak across the forest floor when one of the elderly men tripped and landed heavily, pulling two of his group with him to the ground. Instantly, one of the trails in the sand moved around the rocks Sebastian stood on.
“Look out! One is coming around!” he yelled, only adding to the group’s panic.
Those who had fallen scrambled back to their feet and started running, which only sped up the sand devil’s reaction. Sebastian saw the other groups look around, frightened. Another trail broke from the main diversion and moved around the rocks. If he did not do something, all of them would panic and start running. They could not abandon the plan.
“No, stop running! Stop!”
Sebastian’s voice echoed through the forest. If any of the Stone King’s men were still following them, he might have just given away their position. But he had to do something; he refused to let his fear get the better of him any longer.
Before he knew it, his legs made the jump and he landed on the forest floor.
“Stop running! I’ll draw it away!”
The complete madness of his offer shocked the panicking group so much they finally stopped. Sebastian’s feet shot forward as the first of the sand devils made its way to their side of the rocky island. He only had to run a few steps parallel to the creature’s movement before he noticed it turning toward him. Right away he adjusted his heading, now with the creature quickly gaining on him.
“Is the second one following as well?” he called back, hoping someone had bothered to track it after he jumped.
“It’s closing in from behind,” Jarod thundered. “Run! You have to get off the ground.”
They did not need to tell him twice. Sebastian headed straight for the nearest tree; an immense wooden giant, with roots that looked like walls rising from the ground. His metal ring jolted uncomfortably around his neck as he heard the sand sift behind him—too close for comfort. He sped along one of the massive roots until he reached his intended destination: a somewhat smaller malformed tree root he intended to climb. He jumped, pushed off the wooden stepping stone he had spotted and grabbed the top of the root firmly with both hands. He put his foot against the lower part of the vertical root and felt it slip. With all the power in his arms he held on, dangling against the tree root, trying to keep his feet off the ground and get his footing back. Below him the sand devil cracked the surface, but instantly dove back under without an attempt to grab him. A tiny screech followed by a submerged hiss rose from the dirt. Finally, his foot found a knot in the wood and had something to push off from. His arm muscles bulged so much they hurt as he pulled himself up and sat on a flat part of the tree’s base.
Sebastian looked down and saw the two sand devils circle underground between two of the tree’s giant roots. He looked around as he tried to calm his breathing; the group of five still stood frozen on the spot where they had stopped.
“Keep hammering,” screamed Jarod back on the rocky island.
The team redoubled their efforts, but it took a while before the sand devils aband
oned their pursuit and slowly—as if they were reluctant to give up the chase—made their way back to the other side of the rock. When they turned the corner, Sebastian slid down from the tree root and landed as softly as possible on the sand. He waited and counted twenty breaths before making his way back to the rocks ever so softly.
Once he made it back and gave the all-clear, the other groups started moving again. Not long after, they disappeared from sight, leaving only their small group doing the clobbering to make the crossing.
“You go first. Take the others,” said Sebastian. “I’ll keep them occupied until everyone is safe.”
“There will be nobody left to distract them,” said Jarod.
“I know, so you’d better make certain the path is clear, because I do not plan to go slowly this time.”
Jarod looked as if he was going to object, but something in Sebastian’s eyes made him swallow his words.
“You’d better make it.”
“Don’t worry. You’re not getting rid of me that easily,” said Sebastian.
Jarod gave a nod and turned to make his way to the edge.
“Listen, Jarod,” said Sebastian, making the man turn back around. “About what I said back in the mine. About you not being my father. I just—I wanted—”
“It’s okay,” said Jarod. “You don’t have to say anything. Just keep your eye on the prize and run like hell.”
Now it was Sebastian’s turn to nod. He grabbed two of the longest sticks they had and moved to a small extended boulder at the base of their rocky refuge.
“Ready?” he called back.
“Ready!”
He started to drum the ground. Two—three—four trails started to sift through the sand. If one of them got too close, Sebastian ran to a different part and started to whack the ground there instead. His arms started to cramp, but he had no intention of slowing down. This was his turn to give back to those who had taken care of him. It was something he needed to do.
Next time I see Marek, I’ll have something to tell, he thought. Something he could be proud of.
A whistle rang among the trees. It was the signal that all of them were safe.
Now it’s my turn.
He stretched his legs, still tapping one stick on the ground while he waited for the numbness to slowly pull away from his muscles. He walked along the edge, trying to determine his best exit route—the longest path across the rocks, with the flattest surface possible. Making up his mind, he took a few deep breaths, drew back the heavy stick in his hand and hurled it as far as he could. Immediately, he pulled back his other arm—this one holding a branch a little more top heavy than the one soaring through the sky—and threw it even further away from the rocks. Recognizing the change in sound, the sand devils sped toward the thrown branches as Sebastian ran the other way.
He jumped from the rock formation, trying to cover as much distance through the air. He landed heavily but managed to keep on running without so much as a stumble. In no time, he had reached the first rock plateau that had seemed so very far that morning. Without stopping, he set a course for the second one. The sound of sand and dirt being torn aside reached his ears as he tried to focus on his breathing; the last thing he needed was a muscle cramp.
That’s two, he thought as he crossed the second boulder of his route. The noise behind him was becoming louder.
As he turned the corner of one of the root walls, the toppled tree came into view. Those waiting for him on the trunk let out a cheer, which quickly turned to shouts of warning about the dangers that were chasing after him.
He panted heavily through his dry throat. How he would love to have a drink now—but that would have to wait. The sun shone brightly through the hole in the canopy and as Sebastian ran toward the fallen giant the light blinded him, if only for a moment. It was enough for him to miss a step as a small pothole went unnoticed. Unable to correct his step, he slammed hard onto the ground and skidded to a halt. He turned around in fear and saw the sand devils quickly close the gap. He scrambled backward, trying to get away, but it was too late.
With an eruption of dirt, the four horrors burst out of the ground, ready to pounce on their prey. Sebastian saw their disgusting mouths spread wide and their pincers open and close as the creatures launched through the air. He threw up his arms to shield himself, but as the first sand devil entered the sunlight it let out an angry screech that cut to the bone. The creature slammed into him, wildly thrashing around. The others showed similar distress as they entered the light. All fell beside him, where they rapidly burrowed back underground.
Sebastian kicked the one that had landed on top of him, cutting his skin on the many tiny sharp legs of the creature. It let out a hiss, burrowing after the others of its kind as Sebastian ran the last stretch toward the fallen tree. Jarod and the others helped him climb on to the trunk, where he sunk to his knees. He stared at the sky through the hole in the canopy—a clear blue sky with its yellow heavenly fire, already starting to warm his exhausted muscles as he lay panting on his back. His face broke out in a smile and he started to laugh. Not even the sharp-edged reminder around his neck could make him stop. Such a beautiful sky. How he had missed it!
Chapter 10
Sanctuary
Sebastian dragged his feet. Their group had walked for almost three days straight, reluctant to stop and rest anywhere without elevated and solid ground away from the dirt.
Many of them were in bad shape, the constant lack of food the biggest problem. Small animals had not often been spotted, though they did manage to bring down a large buck from one of the ridges they had followed. It was a feast, but with many mouths to feed it was also gone before they knew it.
“We have to slow down,” said Svetka. “We’ve got stragglers spreading us out too thin. If we don’t allow them to rest, we’re going to start losing people again.”
Jarod looked behind at the trail of people following them on their exodus.
“Should we not keep moving until we reach the coast? Find a way to cross the ocean?” said Sebastian. “What if the soldiers find us here?”
“That’s highly unlikely,” said Svetka. “We’ve not seen any soldiers since we entered this forest. I don’t think they’re following us anymore.”
“I have to agree with Svetka on this,” said Jarod. “Let’s follow this valley for the day and look for a good place to camp higher up the mountain. We can stay for a few days—gather our strength again before we continue.”
Frustration flared up inside Sebastian. He wanted nothing more than to go home, so the last thing they needed was to stop moving. He stumbled over a half-buried rock as if the earth called him to order. He sighed. He had to admit he felt the toll their trip had taken on him, and he was one of the fittest amongst them. Perhaps a few days of rest would do them all some good.
So they continued, and as the sun started its descent, they slowly snaked their way up the hill of the valley. By nightfall they had located a secluded cove that offered shelter from the elements and would shield their fires from the rest of the world. It was not large enough to hold all of them, but at least the ground was solid bedrock, so they had nothing to fear from sand devils.
The men and women who were able started gathering branches and leaves to improvise some beds; the stones were often very cold and unforgiving to sleep on. A stream further down the valley provided them with fresh water and a few of the more experienced hunters successfully caught a dozen small fish. The few pots they had—stolen from the kitchen during their escape—were certainly some of the group's most precious possessions. They allowed them to create soups or stews, making it easier to feed everyone, even if there was not much to start with. After all, warm flavored water with small pieces of fish was better than nothing at all to fill your belly.
Sebastian was climbing up the hill after a water run when he ran into Niora—the woman from the kitchen—in a narrow passage between two boulders. She was on her way down and slipped just as they passed
each other. In reaction, Sebastian grabbed her arm, helping her to find her footing again. She gave a brief smile.
“Thank you.”
He had known she was in their group. In fact, he had spotted her on the third day of their escape, but given the last time they saw each other she had walked away with one of the guards, he had not really known what to say to her. Now, he stared at her and felt his cheeks flush. He did not know if it was because of his embarrassment back in the mine, or the fact he registered very late that he was still holding her hand. He quickly let go.
“No problem,” he managed to say. “How are you?”
She was a few years older than him, perhaps just past her twenties. Her brown hair was tangled in knots from their days of walking and—like all of them—she had smears of dirt across her face and arms. Her feet were nearly black from the weeks of walking, but even that did not make her any less attractive in Sebastian’s opinion.
“Hungry, mostly,” she replied with another smile. “They asked me to get some water, too.”
She pointed at the water bag she held in her other hand.
“Ah,” was all Sebastian said, until he realized how stupid that sounded. “Well, it’s not much further. Just go toward that tree over there and bend to the right. You should see it soon.”
“Thanks.”
She treated him to another smile as they awkwardly squeezed past each other in the narrow passage, his nose picking up the scent of her sweat. For a moment, he followed her with his gaze, wishing he had something else to say. Unfortunately, it seemed the moment was lost. But when he turned around, he heard her voice.
“Hey, Sebastian?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m really sorry you had to see me like that,” said Niora.
“What do you mean?”
“In the mines, that day in the tunnels.”
Sebastian felt his entire face flush.
“It—it’s none of my business,” he stammered.
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