“Sortec?” Zion questioned.
“I’ll explain later,” she whispered back.
A scowl formed on Rosanheer’s lips as he paced around Ratisha. “Very interesting.” He turned away from Sedom, the look on his face like his mind was buzzing in thought. “You were a physician?” he asked. She nodded. “You couldn’t tell the child was Narkoy? That in itself was illegal. To aid a Narkoy?” he spoke soft yet forceful.
“I knew,” she whimpered. “I agree that I knew. It's been a long time, sir. She's either dead or long gone. I know nothing of her whereabouts now. Just kill me… I deserve to die. I betrayed my people and for that I am deeply sorry,” she wept.
Rosanheer knelt in front of her, looking into her broken eyes. “If that same child came to your door again, would you still help her?”
Weakly Ratisha nodded. “Yes.” She shrunk away, her eyes closed as she readied herself for a blow to the head. When she didn’t feel Rosanheer’s hand, she opened her eyes again onto his intense orange eyes.
His lips parted slightly, showing her shock. “She was an innocent child. We had no purpose killing her people.” She lowered her head, muttering. “No purpose,” she wept.
“She is a child who has killed hundreds of our people, no thanks to you,” he informed. “I hope you’re satisfied,” he growled.
Ratisha nodded as she chuckled. “Yes, I am. Good for her.”
Sedom heard enough. She entered the room from behind Ratisha so she couldn't see her and waved for Rosanheer to stop. Qilo and Zion followed close behind her.
“We've heard enough. She’s no use to the Marisheio,” Zion announced.
Ratisha’s eyes filled with tears as she shook her head in a panic. “Please, please, make my death quick. I… beg you to be merciful. I have suffered enough.”
Qilo stepped over to Ratisha, removing the binds from around her hands and replacing them with his own. “No such luck. You’re being transported to a different facility.” He placed a waxy material in Ratisha's ears and then proceeded to wrap a blindfold over her eyes. He then placed a gag in her mouth as Zion cut the binds away from her legs. Ratisha fell from her seat, her cries of pain muffled by the gag.
“We have a small window of opportunity. Let's get her out of here before they notice the guards are all dead,” Qilo mentioned as Zion lifted Ratisha over his shoulder.
Beyond the compound, they hurried into the forest without as much as a guard noticing their departure.
Within the forest, Rosanheer kept looking over his shoulder. “Something doesn't make sense. There's no way their security is that incompetent and I know we didn’t kill them all.”
“They let us go. I don't understand why. They don’t usually allow prisoners to escape,” Qilo muttered.
Sedom hurried next to Rosanheer. “Too busy destroying other people's lives?”
Rosanheer chuckled and seethe at the same time. “Not likely. I'm sure we'll learn their plans soon enough.” He looked back at Ratisha who hung over Zion’s shoulder. “You said Patto had a tracking pod in his heart?”
“You’re afraid she may have one too?” she asked.
Rosanheer turned his scanner to Ratisha. “Yes. Clever.”
“Great. Now what?” Sedom huffed. “I don't want to lose her like I lost Patto.”
“Patto killed himself,” Qilo pointed out. “We'll figure something out.”
Sedom watched Zion with concern. His eyes had the same look as when they first met. He was carrying Asa, a woman who had a head injury which eventually killed her. Sedom caressed his upper arm, causing him to flinch.
“What troubles you?” she asked low.
He motioned to Ratisha over his shoulder. “This is too much for her. The pain is overwhelming. She's begging to die,” he gulped, trying with difficulty to hold back his own emotions.
“You have pity for a Marisheio?” Sedom mused.
He shook his head wearily. “She's not a Marisheio. I can feel that now,” he mentioned. He paused, seething over Ratisha’s pain. “Please, let her rest for a while,” he asked near begging.
“This is why I wanted Qilo to carry her. I knew this would be too much for you,” she said. Sedom watched Ratisha, hearing her sobs. She couldn’t deny her friend relief, regardless of the situation. “We're taking a break. Zion, set her down over there,” she said, pointing to a shade tree.
“Are you sure?” Qilo asked. His attention was on his equipment more than on the conversation. “Our window--”
“Will shatter if she doesn't survive. I need her alive!” Sedom barked back. “Set her down. I'm willing to take the risk.”
Carefully, Zion lowered Ratisha down next to the tree. As he did, she cried out beneath her gag. “Plaezz kill me,” she mumbled over and over with the gag still in her mouth.
Zion rested his hand on her cheek, wiping away her tears. “She's been whimpering our entire journey. She is frightened and in horrible pain,” he said to the others.
“No doubt. Should we untie her?” Sedom asked. She pulled at her binds to make sure they were not cutting into her skin.
“I wouldn't recommend it, not yet. She's still complacent. Although cruel, it's our best chance of getting out of here,” Rosanheer mentioned.
“Complacent? She’s not my prisoner. She’s my friend!” Sedom scolded.
“We don't want another incident like with Patto,” Qilo pointed out. “Not that she could run, but there are other ways she could injure herself or cause us issues.”
Sedom knelt to Ratisha, but her eyes were on Zion. He turned away to hide his frustration. He was more frustrated than she had ever seen him. He held affection for the woman, but why?
Tenderly, Sedom wiped away the tears streaming down Ratisha's cheeks. She wrapped her hand around the back of Ratisha's neck, causing her to flinch with the contact. Slowly she allowed Sedom to enter her mind. Sedom continued soothing her fingers behind Ratisha's ears and jaw, tracing over all of the muscles in her face.
“Sortec?” Rosanheer questioned.
“I'm relaxing her mind. By placing her in a trance, she won't feel any pain. I don’t like doing it because it will make her feel locked in her own mind, but I don’t like seeing her in so much pain. It should last for a while,” Sedom explained, but as she spoke her hands began to violently shake.
“You can do that?” Qilo asked amazed.
“Sortec?” Zion questioned, noticing her hands shaking.
Sedom continued wrapping her fingers around to the front of Ratisha's ear, massaging it beneath the blindfold. She continued tracing her fingers over Ratisha’s forehead. Softly, she placed her hand over Ratisha's blindfold. Ratisha crumbled forward against Sedom, her breathing slowed and her body softened from the tension. Behind her, Sedom could hear Zion's sighs of relief.
“That’s amazing. I've only heard rumors of those with talents like yours,” Rosanheer muttered.
“You're improving,” Zion mentioned. He took hold of her hands, feeling them tremble within his. “You okay?” he questioned low, looking into her eyes with concern.
Sedom stood, holding onto Zion’s thick forearm. “I've been studying my people’s techniques and using Garric to practice,” she admitted. “It’s easier to practice at home.” She felt to her brow, her vision blurring. She rested her forehead against his arm, closing her eyes for a moment. “Lack of sleep,” she admitted to Zion.
“Take it slow,” Zion encouraged low.
“Garric?” Rosanheer questioned to Zion.
“Her pet. The same son-of-a-sool who murdered Asa,” Zion growled. “Glad he's good for something.” He hoisted Ratisha over his shoulder. “Time to go,” he insisted.
Qilo was about to drink from his canteen, but hearing the word to go, he set it aside. Zion took the lead, followed by a thirsty Qilo. Rosanheer remained behind, noticing Sedom lagging.
“You okay?” Rosanheer asked.
Sedom didn’t respond. Rosanheer touched Sedom shoulder, causing her to jump. Her first
response was to throw a punch, but stopped herself before making contact. Rosanheer jumped back, his hands raised. “I’m just checking on you. You look a little pale.”
“Yes, fine. I’m fine,” Sedom repeated several times.
Rosanheer continued to watch her. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Hum? Oh, yes. It takes effort to do… that.” She waved to Ratisha. “It clouds my mind for a while and makes it hard to focus,” she squeaked, squeezing her temples from a fast-forming headache. “I'll be okay.”
“You can heal wounds and control minds. What else can you do?” Rosanheer asked, enamored.
“Heal brain injuries,” Zion mentioned over his shoulder.
“Not exactly or Asa would still be alive.” Sedom held onto Rosanheer's arm for support. He wrapped his arm around her to keep her upright. Oddly, she didn’t mind. “Some Narkoy learn to heal minor abrasions. Others, like me, were taught to take over higher body functions. I can let my heart beat for another, my lungs breathe. By convincing the mind that your body is undamaged, it helps to speed the healing process. Mixed with our energy, tissue regenerates at a heightened rate. And it seems to work on just about every species I’ve encountered so far. I don't know exactly how it works, it just does. Medicine has never been my strong suit.”
“So you’re like the Windrit? You have the ability to manipulate the mind?” Qilo mentioned.
Qilo grabbed a long, thick branch, which happened to be the perfect size walking stick for Sedom. He tossed it back to Rosanheer who handed it to Sedom.
Sedom shook her head, unnerved by the man's statement. She tapped the stick on the ground to test its density. “We can't tell you how to think. That's a part of the soul and is completely off limits to us. We only work on the mechanics of your brain.”
“Can't or won't?” Qilo questioned.
An evil grin appeared on Sedom's lips. “Nom'kel forbids us from being intrusive into other’s minds, unlike the Windrits. But… I’ve healed people in the past whose minds were open to me. Sometimes… I see more than I’d like to.”
“Like?” Zion asked concerned.
Sedom grinned, understanding his concern. She stepped up beside Zion. “That she blamed no one but herself,” she spoke low.
“Asa Daveric?” Qilo asked. Zion nodded, turning away to hide his embarrassment.
“Nom'kel?” Rosanheer asked.
Zion grunted, motioning to the sky. “The Narkoy’s God. I don’t do religion,” he scoffed. “Enough of the philosophical. We're going to need shelter from this storm.”
Sedom turned her eyes to the sky just as a raindrop landed on her forehead. The area of the forest they traveled within was familiar to her. She turned to the distant mountain ridges, noticing a rather large tree growing from out of a deep crevasse. She was near home. Not home as in Gathow, but home as in the cave she lived in for nearly a year.
“I know a place to hold up. Follow me,” she waved, tittering off towards the right.
***
Cidele’s pacing footsteps echoed in the halls of the ancient library. Her long blue dress tickled the bright white tiles of the floor as she walked from one end of the stacks to another. Garric glanced up from his book, his legs and hips sore from hours of sitting.
“I thought you liked books?” he called to Cidele.
She paused, spun around and pointed her finger. “I do like books, but there is no bathroom in here and I can’t leave until you’re done,” she spoke bitterly.
Garric grinned, his eyes turned back to his book. “There’s a restroom over there,” he said, pointing down a long row of books.
Cidele didn’t hesitate to run down the row. Moments later she returned, her face noticeably more relaxed.
“Why didn’t you tell me that earlier?” she asked.
Garric shrugged. “You didn’t ask. Words can be both hurtful and helpful,” he mentioned. He flipped to another page in the book he was reading. “Why not find yourself something interesting to read? I’m going to be here a while.”
Cidele plopped down in the seat across the table from Garric, crossing her arms over her chest. “I don’t know why Sedom didn’t just let you have clearance. It’s not like you’re going to go anywhere.”
“It’s a matter of trust,” Garric admitted. “She doesn’t trust me, nor should she. I am her enemy.”
“I’m with her on that,” Cidele grumbled back. “You did try to kill her.”
Garric shook his head as he sat back. “I saved her life and let her escape in the fields outside the forest. My commander had just killed her guardians and Sedom, miraculously, managed to slip away from us. We tracked her into the fields… I found her, but I turned my back so she could get away. I believe that’s partly why she lets me live. The Narkoy have a deep rooted sense of honor and they repay those who have helped them.”
Cidele leaned back in her seat, suddenly amused by the Marisheio. “Why did you let her go? You had been chasing her for months. It would have been easier to capture her and be done with it all.”
Garric shrugged. “Job security,” he said with a wink. Cidele crossed her arms over her chest, proving she wasn’t buying his response. “Well…” he started with a long, drawn out sigh. “There are times you are forced to do things you don’t want to. It was my way of rebelling, I suppose. I didn’t approve of what my people were doing, but if I didn’t do my job they would have killed my family. It’s amazing what you’ll do to save the ones you love.”
Cidele’s arms uncrossed from her chest as if she suddenly realized Garric was a person too. “Two sides to every story?” she questioned. Garric grunted. “I overheard Sedom mention you have children,” she hinted, hoping to learn more about Garric.
“Had,” he corrected. “I failed. My wife and five children were executed. Their images were leaked out as a warning. Sortec attempted to hide them from me, but I saw. I live with that image burned into my mind every moment of my life. There’s nothing I can do about it.”
“Oh,” Cidele said, unsure what else she could say. “Um… well, since I’m stuck here, is there anything I can do to help?”
Garric nodded, relieved at the change of subject. “Do you know how to read a map?” he asked. She nodded. “I’m looking for this symbol.” He showed her a symbol from another piece of paper. “Think you can find it?”
Cidele grinned. “I found Sedom before you. I think I can manage,” she joked.
“Did you now?” Garric questioned. “I did mention I let her go, right?” he pointed out.
“Just give me the map,” Cidele quip back.
***
The rain poured down, drenching the group. To Sedom's delight, she spotted the dark opening to her old cave. She waved them onward hoping in the back of her mind the animals hadn't reclaimed the cave.
Inside was dark, too dark even for her eyes. She stumbled over to the shelves, finding a flashlight. She turned it on, scanning the cave. Other than being a bit dirty it seemed safe enough.
Inside the cave, Rosanheer swung Ratisha off his shoulder and allowed her to lie against the cave wall. “Glad you spotted this place,” he called to Sedom who was fast at work looking over supplies she had left behind.
“No accident. I lived here for a while hiding from the Marisheio,” she explained as she pointed to the wood bin. “Dry firewood and...” She opened one of the storage bins, taking down a couple of blankets, “There’s supplies and food as well over in those crates against the wall.”
She hurried over to Ratisha, resting a blanket over her shivering shoulders. The clothes the woman wore were mere rags across her body. Sedom noticed Qilo searching within one of the crates, fishing out a large jar of pickled vegetables. “Could you grab me a jacket from the crate next to you?” she called to Qilo.
He opened the crate, finding it full of clothing. “You just left all of this here?” he asked, tossing her a yellow jacket.
Sedom nodded. “I didn’t need it. The locals would bring me care packages i
n exchange I helped them safely travel through the forest,” she explained. “I ended up with so many supplies I decided it wasn’t worth bringing it all with me.”
Zion removed a Marisheio disruptor from the shelves near the opening, showing it to her. “From one of your care packages?” he questioned.
“Not exactly,” she returned. Beside her, Ratisha began to squirm. “My charms are fading from her mind. Do you think it's alright if I talk to her?” she asked Rosanheer as she caressed Ratisha's shoulder. She flinched with Sedom's touch.
Rosanheer nodded, watching Ratisha with a tense jaw.
Before Sedom could remove the blindfold, Zion stopped her from touching Ratisha. “She's in shock. Fear coupled with the pain in her legs is too much. Be patient. She may try to lash out at you,” he spoke low.
Sedom agreed. She slowly removed the wax from Ratisha's ears. “Ratisha, I need you to remain calm. You’re safe now. Nothing is going to harm you,” Sedom soothed as she removed the moist blindfold from Ratisha's eyes. She blinked several times, finally focusing on Sedom.
Her eyes grew wild with panic. “No, no, no,” she wept. “Not here,” she gurgled under her gag.
Sedom frowned with concern, turning to Rosanheer. A disturbed look came to his eyes. He pointed to his head as if to demonstrate they got to her mind. He took Ratisha's limp hand, wrapping it around Sedom's wrist. “Ratisha, she is real. This is not a trick,” he soothed.
“It's okay. You're safe,” Sedom assured. She pressed her hand to Ratisha's cheek. “We rescued you from the Marisheio. I'm going to take you someplace safe where no one can hurt you again.” Sedom proceeded to remove her gag.
“Sedom!” Ratisha cried out.
Rosanheer removed the binds from her hands. She looked over at him with fear clouding her eyes. “YOU? Oh God, Sedom. Run!” she screeched.
Sedom cupped her shoulder, forcing Ratisha to look at her. “It’s okay, Ratisha. There’s no need to panic. He’s with me.”
“Sister, come now. Calm yourself,” Rosanheer whispered as he massaged her wrists. “I work for Sortec. No malice. I'm a traitor like you,” he assured with a grin.
The Last Narkoy: Gathow: Book 2 Page 7