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The Prisoner of Nimm
By
Tessa E. Colby
ulci made her way back to her quarters, her mind busy with all of the possibilities of their coming future. Deep in thought, she moved directly to the bed and sat to pull off her boots. She slid the blades out of their hiding places, wiped them briefly and laid them gently down. She then removed her back blade. She continued to undress until she stood naked. She reached for the slip that Torrein had commandeered from what he had called ‘the wardrobe room’ aboard the Incubus. It was the softest material she had ever known. It felt wonderful against her skin, almost as good as the hands of her mate. She smiled as her hands smoothed it over her body. She had not seen him standing in the shadows, not until he spoke.
“Dulci.” She jumped and turned quickly towards the voice.
“Fillip. What are you doing here? How did you get out of the holding cell? What do you want?” She was suddenly aware that he had been there all the time that she had undressed. He had seen her naked. He began to walk slowly towards her. She moved quickly for her blade but he was quicker, placing himself between her and her goal. His soft brown hair framed his face, his eyes full of hope.
“Do not fear me Dulci. We have known each other for many years past. I would never hurt you.” His voice was gentle and calm. She could feel that there was both hope and pain behind them. Straightening her posture, she asked again.
“You should not be out of your cage Fillip. Not until the implants are removed. What do you want?” His eyes roamed her body. The slip clung to every curve and accentuated her full lush breasts. His breath had deepened as he said, “It was spoken to me that father has agreed to give you to…Torrein. It was spoken that you be agreeable to this. Why Dulci? Why would you do this? We were promised to each other…for many years now. You ask father for time to grow into the woman you are now…three years…and I waited, watched and anticipated our day of joining. I respected you and your wishes. I have done nothing wrong. I do not deserve to be set aside in this way. You made your promise to me and now you wish to break it before even coming to me and speaking with me. You hurt me Dulci. You would break my heart if you were to do this thing.” His voice sounded pained.
“Dulci we played together as children. We hunted together as we grew. We spoke of many things…of hopes and possibilities. You care for me. I know that you do. Please speak it…that you still care and that you will not take bond with Torrein. Please Dulci. Give me the chance to make right, my wrong. I have waited for you for so long.” Suddenly she felt awful. Even despite his behavior, he had always been a good man. He had always been there to lend a hand. Always ready to listen to those that came to him with problems. He had always been quick to laugh and had been playful and kind. She saw him standing there completely exposed in his emotions. He loved her, had always loved her. But she had never quite felt the same. She had liked him immensely and enjoyed his company and his humor. But she did not love him. Not the way she loved Torrein. Her heart felt as if it were being crushed when she said softly.
“Our time for hope and possibilities has past Fillip. With your decadent actions, you have caused irreparable harm to that which we once had. We are no more Fillip. The promise we shared is broken.” Anger swept through him as he stepped closer to her.
“Torrein will not have you Dulci. You are mine. You will make your bond to me…as promised. Not even your next-father will stop this.” One hand moved quickly behind her neck and pulled her into a kiss. The other pulled her body tight to his as he pressed his mouth hard to hers. She pushed at his chest in an effort to break their contact. She felt something sting her neck. He broke from the kiss and stepped back to watch her. She felt dizzy. The room had begun to undulate around her. She spoke in a whisper.
“What, what have you done?” He stood without speaking, just watching her. He tossed the thorn aside. Dulci’s hand went to her neck. When she pulled it away, she saw it, the thick acrid paste that covered it. It waste darting drug. Then he said.
“Lord Fallon welcomes warriors to his army. We will go there. I will offer my hand to wield his blade and you will be at my side as my woman. We will live in the city of the Venoche’ far from your families reach. If you try to defy me or run away from me, I will speak to him of this place. I will tell him of the riches of the waters that be here. And of the abundance of people to harvest to do the work that he requires. I will tell him that the lava flow is a tasty creature that he would welcome to his plate…one that has been used to deceive him. He will not take kindly to that. But I am certain that I will be rewarded for the information, as I am certain he will execute your father and maybe even your brothers for their challenge to his authority over this Venoche’ domain. And your boy Torrein…I am sure that Lord Fallon will place him back into the breeding program…to do what you condemn me for…that is if he does not flee when he see the creature Fallon coming for him.” Dulci swayed, her eyes becoming heavy, her vision blurred.
“No Fillip. You cannot…you” Her eyes shut. He caught her before she hit the ground. He picked her up and made his way to the back cavern, a secret tunnel leading to the docking bay. She would be his. No one else would have her. Torrein be damned.
eanwhile...elsewhere
- They had made their way out of the building and were now in the courtyard between the Temple of Sheda and the Ministry of Science. Torrein stood with the others examining the schematics of the city. The Azsusina said.
“I think that I see it. Try your eye on it Hiro.” Hiro spoke.
“I see the layout of the maze. It comes in the form of the placement of the statuary.” Torrein said.
“It is extensive. There must be a game to it, a sequencing that makes another message most likely.”
“Agreed.” As they all stood examining their panels trying to figure out how the maze was to be navigated. Torrein reached for Dulci’s mind. He found her in a deep sleep. He smiled. How she had managed to stay awake and coherent for as long as she had after their night of bonding, had surprised him. He tried to look at her dreams but they were dark and fuzzy. She dreamt her father was struck with a blade. He conjectured that she was superimposing the circumstance that had come to Zan, onto her next-father. To lose another father was probably her worst fear. Her mind moved to the desert. The panorama moved quickly in front of her, across the tar bog and past the Ironwood maze. He briefly saw Fillip standing and talking to her, his demeanor changed from sadness to anger. Torrein watched as she struggled to wake up. He spoke to her mind,‘It is a dream Dulci. Only a dream. You are safe.’ He watched as she became more agitated, fear and anxiety consuming her. He spoke again,‘Wake Dulci. Wake and see that it is only a dream.’ She did not wake. Her mind began to call out to him. Quickly he came to attention. Something was wrong. He said to the Azsusina.
“I must see to Dulci. Her dreams call her down and she cannot wake.” Angel stood straight. For a moment he said nothing, then,“I will come with you.” Torrein realized in that moment something more than a deep disturbed sleep was in play.
“What do you know Angel?”
“I feel it as well. Something is wrong. She is sister to me. I will come.” They moved quickly back to the pods left waiting at the dock. No words were spoken as they navigated at a fast pace across the water. When they came to the caverns, Torrein navigated them at a breakneck speed that surprised Angel. This type of navigating took practice and enormous skill. Finally, they came to the main hanger where the Navarri desert gliders were normally kept. One was missing. Torrein continued to call to Dulci’s mind. The drug had begun to wear off. Her mind spoke back.
‘Torrein. Fillip has taken me…to…I do not know where, but he said he is going to ask Lord Fallon to allow him to act as one of his marshals. I do not know where we are.’
‘We come for you Dulci. Angel is with me. We follow. Look out the window and keep watching the terrain.’ Without hesitation, they flew directly out of the hanger bay and began to make their way towards the first landmark that Torrein had seen from her mind…the tar bog. It went on for miles, spread out in front of them like a disease, and was miles wide. The rust colored stench shimmered and a deep green ran through it like the veins on an old woman’s legs. Torrein hoped that he would never be on foot in such a place. He watched the monitor as it scanned the terrain in front of them. The Ironwood forest came into view. Torrein spoke to Angel.
“Slow down. See the ridge at the horizon? Two ships lay just beyond there. One has the energy signature of our glider, the other….it be the Insurrection. It is Lord Fallon’s ship. Put down behind the ridge. We cannot let him know that we are here.” Torrein worked the panel and then said.
“We are cloaked. They will not be able to see us. I must get Dulci. He cannot take her.” Angel’s voice was stern when he said.
“I have watched the ways of this man in the desert for years now. He will not take Dulci. He will choose to play games with her. He will allow her to run, and then he will hunt her. It is who he is and what he does. As for Fillip, I am sorry to say, he is done. Cut the engine now. If he discovers that we are here, I can only promise that we will not win in a battle against him. You must believe this. We will not win.” Torrein cut the engine and navigated quietly with the thrusters of the pod. Angel said,“He will interrogate Fillip before he kills him and then…he will send Dulci to run.” Torrein’s gut had only felt this tight one other time…when Taial had fallen into the maze below Lord Fallon’s city of Brigodda. They made their way from the craft up to the crest of the ridge. Angel took his place laying flat against the ground as he peeked out over the rock. Torrein followed suit. They lay quietly watching.
Lord Fallon stood with more than a half dozen of his soldiers. Four Goblei stood in their midst. Fillip was saying something to Lord Fallon. Torrein activated a control on his visor to amplify the voices that spoke in the distance. Quickly, Angel did likewise. They heard Fillip saying.
“I would make a good soldier for you Lord Fallon. I survived the combat of the pits. I evaded your search parties. I know many hiding places that the desert has to offer and I can show you these places. I am strong, and offer my hand to your sword. I ask only that you find a place for me and my woman inside your city.” Dulci stood stiff. She had stopped calling to Torrein’s mind. Angel warned Torrein in a whisper barely heard.
“Do not speak to her mind. We do not know what kind of creature Lord Fallon be.” At that moment Lord Fallon turned. He looked directly towards where they lay just beyond the dunes among the rock formations, a deep menacing growl curling up from his throat. Angel spoke to Torrein’s mind.
‘Not a single move.’ Torrein had begun to pace his breath, soft and slow, shallow and unheard. After a moment, Fallon’s attention returned to his prisoners. He moved towards Dulci. He moved into a crouch, swaying back and forth in front of her. Suddenly and without warning she kicked at him, knocking him off balance. She turned to run. Fallon was the only one to move. He moved so quickly that it took several seconds for his shadow to catch up to him. The eerie blur that had been Fallon, taking another moment to finds its place to where he had moved…directly in front of Dulci. A startled scream escaped her. Her thoughts turned to Torrein and his ability to do this same thing, then quickly she put him out of her mind and began to play the chant that father had taught her. Inside her own mind, she heard her voice shaking. Fallon did not touch her but stood so close she could feel the heat radiating off his armor. His arms moved out to form a barrier she could not pass. She glared at him. Her hands curled into fists. He said.
“I take it, that it is not your desire to be inside my city? You wish the desert to be your master?” His finger reached to run across the material of the slip she wore. She could feel the strength of his clawed hand even with his gentle stroke. He asked.
“Tell me how it is the desert provides you with such generosities as Beddian silk.” His hand moved quickly to grab her forearm as he pulled her tightly to him. His mask revealing the ridges of razor sharp teeth, his voice a deep growl as the modulator imbedded at his throat skewed and twisted his voice.
“Where did you get this?” She struggled to get free. Torrein began to move, stopped by Angel. His mind spoke sharply to him.
‘You must not escalate this situation. He will choose to hunt her. Be still. She knows we are here, she will not call to you and you must not call to her. You must let this scene play out. Now be still or we will die with Fillip.’ Torrein could not see his face through the visor but knew he had been conditioned by the desert to be a very patient man. Reluctantly he did as Angel instructed, turning his head to once again watch Dulci struggle against Lord Fallon’s grip. He turned her and pulled her back into him, pressing her against his chest. His hand moved to the back of her neck to push her upper body forward and reached to pull down the back of her slip. He examined the markings that appeared like a tattoo across her shoulder blade and ran down her back, disappearing under her slip. He said.
“You are a child of the house of Lar-san-cou. How could he abandon a prize such as you? I would have paid great price for you and I pay for no woman.” Dulci struggled as he held her effortlessly with one arm, the finger of his other hand tracing the pattern that marked her bloodline. Fillip moved forward and spoke loudly.
“She is mine. She be mate to me.” Fallon’s free hand moved quickly to land a blow to Fillips chest, sending him backwards, slamming him to the ground. He growled,“Look around you. Everything that you see and more, belongs to me. This woman is Venoche’ and Venoche’ belong to me, as you are Venoche’ and belong to me. I am the one that says who mates to who. And I can tell you now this woman does not carry your scent. She has mated to the Beddian boy, the Varda boy. But which one?” Fillip drug himself up from the ground, his voice sounding near disbelief.
“It is true, you mated to Torrein? I did not believe Galan when he spoke it. I believed you to be honorable. But you bedded him? You bedded him while promised to me?” He stood glaring at her, his eyes held rage. His lips pressed to a thin angry line. Lord Fallon began to laugh.
“So our young prince made his way to your tribe and lay with your woman. Interesting. While in my custody, I gave him good stock for breeding…but he would have none of it. But when I gave him beauty…he folded. Again and again…he folded. And now it seems he chooses the greatest beauty of all, and another man’s bounty.” Fallon quickly released her, causing her to fall forward to land on her hands and knees. Fallon turned his attention back to Fillip.
“Tell me where to find this man of Varda.” Without warning and before Fillip could blink, Fallon had moved to stand directly in front of him. Fillip still watched Dulci. He did not move to look at Fallon. Fallon moved closer to his ear.
“I want this man and you will give him to me.” Dulci shouted.
“Speak and be hated. Betray and be pariah. Do not do this thing Fillip. Think of your children…for once. Think what you will make of their lives. Leave them to the desert. She is not a cruel mother. She cares for us and provides. Do not Fillip. Please do not do this thing.” She looked to Fallon and said,“Take him as a solider, he wishes it. But leave me to the desert. It is my home.” Fallon did not move from Fillip. Again, he said,
“I want the Varda man. Speak what you know.” Fillip spoke softly, his eyes still holding anger.
“He hides beyond the Fire Rim. Many hide there.” Again, the quickest of movements took him. Dulci watched in horror as she saw only the after math of Lord Fallon’s speed. Fillip dropped to his knees as blood began to trickle from his head down over his face. The daggers hilt shown itself at the top of his head. The blade protruded out his throat. Dulci screamed as his body fell forward into a heap. Tears ripped from her eyes. She stood frozen for a moment as terror rocked her, then slowly she began to move towards him. With shock consuming her body, her knees could barely hold her upright. Fillips body lay on the ground as the sand sucked up his blood. Dulci whispered his name, but before she could reach him, Fallon had retrieved his blade and had stepped between her and her destination. Torrein had watched the atrocity. The scene before him wavered … shimmered in a peculiar way, blurred and then became solid once again. He pressed his eyes closed tight and then opened them to refocus. It must have been some trick of the desert, maybe the heat shimmering off Lord Fallon’s armor.
Just then, a small desert scavenger glided into view. It came to set down only a few meters from the Insurrection. The hatch opened and Lar-san-cou walked down the short ramp way, his eyes going first to the dead and then moving on to Dulci. His step faltered. Then slowly he continued, walking directly for her. She recognized him. Quickly, she stopped her tears. She refused to allow him to see her cry. Her posture stiffened. A brief moment of joy took her as she remembered the man that had shown kindness and love to her. Then the anger came as she remembered that she, Galan, and her mother had been cast away. Had he ordered it? Or had he searched for them? Would he recognize her? What would he do? What would he say? He arrived at where she stood. Lord Fallon stood between them. Slowly he stepped from in front of her. Lar-san-cou stood staring at her. She watched his throat work as he tried to swallow. He whispered her name,“Dulcinaia?” He held his body rigid in an effort to allow no emotion to show. He slipped, “Dulcinaia. How is this possible? I searched for you…for months…years. I” He caught himself and stopped. He stiffened. He felt Lord Fallon watching. He had taken several steps back and stood, just watching. To show weakness in the presence of Lord Fallon was a death sentence. Fallon asked abruptly.
“What are you doing here?” Lar-san-cou said,“Treachery has taken my sons from my House. I search for them. I have already posted bounty so my hunt is legal.” He turned to look at Fallon and spoke.
“Thank you for retrieving my daughter Lord Fallon. I am in your debt. You may call on my House to collect your bounty.” Fallon was having none of it. He said.
“I did not retrieve her for you. What we find…we keep. She is mine. I will have her to my House. Also you said you searched for your son, she does not look like a boy to me.” Lar-san-cou stood for a moment contemplating his next move. There was no one more deadly than Lord Fallon. His skills and speed in battle were known to all. Would he fight for her? His hand slowly moved to his blade. Dulci saw and spoke quickly.
“I do not belong to either of you.” She bent to pick up several rocks and threw one with all her might at Fallon. It hit him square in the chest. He looked to where it had landed and began to laugh. The voice modulator twisted it, making it sound macabre. It inspired her dread. Lar-san-cou spoke.
“Our Overlord Rue-don has spoken the law. And he has spoken that you may gather the castaways. They belong to you. But Dulci was never cast away. A conspiracy took her from my house and those responsible paid the price that treachery requires. Bounty was placed for her return…as well the return of her mother and brother. Do you dispute the law of your Overlord? Do you ignore the laws of our lands you have sworn to uphold?” He was hiding behind the man in power, the Overlord Rue-don. He hoped it would be enough to keep him alive and his daughter safe from this monster. Fallon said.
“Your bounty has long ago expired on this one.”
“My bounty for all three of them is still at post. It remains in the coffers for claim. If it had expired, it would have come back to me. You may check the records. Bounty exists for all of them.” His eyes moved to her. He had a question he was desperate to ask. She knew what it would be. Was her mother still alive and was Galan safe? She saw it briefly from his mind. She saw he wished more than anything to embrace her. It shook her. She saw as Lord Fallon had begun the smallest of movements. She shouted at them to distract him.
“Shut up…both of you. I will not be bargained for.” She heaved another rock. Lord Fallon caught it in his hand…and crushed it. She felt as her throat constricted as she watched the dust drift to the ground…just before anger washed through her. She straightened and walked to Lord Fallon stopping only inches from his mask. A remarkable feat of bravery…or idiocy? Who could tell at this point? She said, reiterating her father’s words.
“The law of the Overlord Rue-don protects me from you. I will not be named to your House…” She turned to glare at her father.
“Or to yours. I am of the desert. I am subservient to no other. If you think that you have a claim…then you will have to fight me to make proof of it.” Lar-san-cou smiled. He was proud of her. She had been even braver than he had been. He turned to Fallon to say.
“The bounty for her is great Lord Fallon. You will not be disappointed.” She stepped to her father to land her hands flat against his chest as hard as she could. It caused him to take a step backwards. She shouted at him.
“Why do you want me? So you can sell me to the game…to acquire your precious points? Humor yourself all you want by labeling your children Venoche’…the unclean, but know in your heart that it is your blood that runs in our veins. Your blood that gives us our defiance and the strength of will to fight the injustice you put to us. How does it make you feel to sacrifice your sons to die at the hands of your enemy so that they can gain rank to try and best your House. Make no mistake that it is your very blood that you see running on the ground. How does it feel to watch your daughters raped by your adversaries once again to improve their station at your own expense?” Once again, her hands smashed into his chest. She glared at him as she continued.
“At one time the Renajian people were honorable and proud, sought for their skills and knowledge. But they allowed Sulkar to sink their fangs into their very lifeblood and pollute their honor with perversions. You allowed them to twist and ruin your sacred texts and all that you held dear. Even now after all they have taken from you, you still give their ways sanction in your House, in your very bed, and in every aspect of your lives…forsaking your own proud traditions and allowing, to this day, Sulkar corruptions to continue to diminish our society. See what this has brought.” She stepped away to gesture to the desolation of the desert that surrounded them.
“The Sulkar and your arrogance have brought plague and desolation to a world that once held great beauty. This world is now known as one of pain and suffering, sorrow and hunger. Because of your submission to the Sulkar, there is no more art, no culture, no science or education. No family, other than the ones Sulkar wished you to have and only in the way that fit to the Sulkar’s own need to consume pain and suffering…and make no mistake…the very flesh of your children. And here you are…offering it up. You, the Renajians who claim to be so superior and intelligent have continued these ways and with that, have ruined their world and any chances for future generations by offering nothing but torment and death.” She had gotten their attention with the fury in her soul. She was so angry and frightened that she had not even noticed that with each statement, the palms of her hands had slammed into her father’s chest and her rage made her so strong that he had to brace himself to keep from being moved by her. He was so proud of her. But he could not allow Lord Fallon to know. She had reached the end of her tirade. She rolled up her fist and leveled one to his jaw. It nearly knocked him over. Lord Fallon stood watching Lar-san-cou. Torrein and Angel lay watching just over the ridge. He had heard what she had spoken, saw what she had done, and he too was proud of her…and scared out of his mind for her. Torrein looked into the mind of her father and saw that he loved her and was desperate to embrace her and tell her. He was desperate to protect her from Fallon. But he could not, because to show weakness to Lord Fallon would mean certain death. A moment past before Fallon spoke,“Let us make a game of it. We will give you one hour’s head start…then we will come for you. Whoever catches you, you will agree to take as your master.” She tossed her wild hair before saying,
“I will make only one promise. If either of you are capable of catching up to me, know that only one of us will live to make their way home.” She turned to run. Lar-san-cou grabbed her arm and turned her. Quickly he drew his blade. He flipped it over to offer her its hilt. He said,“If you are indeed going to kill me, at least do me the honor of cutting my throat with a blade from the house of Lar-san-cou.” She did not hesitate to take it.
“Come for me…and I will cleanse it in your blood.” He could see the small tremors that rocked her. She glanced to see Fillips lifeless body lying on the ground and her knees went weak once again. They were shaking when she began to run. She was not sure if they are going to support her or for how long. She could feel her stomach turning over. She was close to tears as she tried to put on a brave front. She could not help herself as she remembered the man that Fillip had been…not the man the drugs made of him. Fallon had watched Lar-san-cou, and how he had responded to Dulci. After several moments of silence, Fallon said.
“You love a woman of Venoche’.”
“Do you believe that love shown to a woman, to anyone, is a sign of weakness?” Fallon’s posture changed. A challenge. He spoke firmly, “What I believe is irrelevant. I ask you what it is that you believe.” Lar-san-cou braced for what he would bring to himself with his coming words. He said to Fallon,“To love is not weakness, but in love we find strength. In love, we find the courage to do things that otherwise would make us hesitate. It is a weak mind that does not know this.” In that moment, Lar-san-cou prepared himself to face Fallon down.
Fallon asked.“Does love make your blade swifter?” Lar-san-cou stared into the eyes of death as he watched the creature that was Lord Fallon take a menacing stance. Resigned to the inevitable clash that he believed was coming, he said,“We will see” He took his stance and prepared for Fallon to come for him. He had shown his weakness, to love a woman of Venoche’. Fallon said“Yes. We will see…because your child just ran in the direction of the free roaming Goblei.” Lar-san-cou pulled back. He looked to where Dulci had begun to run. In the heat of the desert, a cold chill played down his spine. He began to move quickly towards his craft. Once again, with a speed that surely belonged to the weirding, Lord Fallon moved to block his path. Suddenly with the creature in front of him, he froze in place, stunned by the swiftness that startled him every time he had been witness to it. Fallon said to him.
“If you believe that love makes you strong…then believe me when I say to you…” Lar-san-cou prepared himself to hear his challenge. Fallon finished his words“She is safer with me, than those that surround you. And she is safer in my city…than in yours. You have my word on this.” Lar-san-cou was stunned absolutely still. A moment passed before he realized that a promise had just been made to him. Fallon, in his strange way had just given his word that he would keep her safe inside his city and that he would cause her no harm. He stood watching this strange being as he recalled the rumor that Lord Fallon kept a woman…one woman. It was said that she was guarded day and night and no one ever saw her. But this creature made from the strange, kept…one… woman. Did this creature…love? He respectfully reclined his head to Fallon. An Acquiesce. Lar-san-cou decided to take one more chance. He said “I do not throw away my children. I do not trade them for points or property. I do not give my girls to the game or my boys to my Overlord. I earn my points in the way of trade of skill, and mind. My children are not punished for their mix of blood. My blood running in their veins makes them mine. I be father to all of them. I will kill or die for any one of them. I believe as my child has spoken, that Sulkar took much from us when they walked upon our world. And I will kill or die to change this.” He turned and resumed his path to his craft, again Lord Fallon moved to block him.
“I promised her one hour…and she will have it. Stand down until she has had the time promised.” Again, another surprise for him. Fallon was a…man…of his word. Lar-san-cou said, his tone worried.
“But the Goblei, they…” Fallon stopped him.
“She has your blade and is more than capable…as she has shown this to both of us. She will not reach this place for some time. Best she sees her possibilities. It will make her more grateful when she is saved.” His eyes dropped closed. He knew that if he pushed it, there would definitely be a physical confrontation between them. He also knew that he would not win, not against this creature that possessed this supernatural speed. He nodded“Agreed. We will both wait.” Fallon turned and walked back to his craft. He called back over his shoulder to his soldiers.
“Bring the body…to feed the beasts.” Torrein and Angel lay still in the sand. Angel spoke to Torrein’s mind.
‘Fallon will make a sweep of the area before he moves towards Dulci. It is his habit. We must try to lift off before they do. We cannot be found here.’ Torrein was examining the panel at his arm. Angel heard Torrein speak inside his mind.
‘They will not see us. The pod has a cloak and also a stealth mode. It will cruise silently a few inches from the ground. It will disguise itself by reflecting whatever is around it to blend into the landscape. You will be safe. Take it and go. Once you have cleared the dunes, move fast. I can shift from here. There is no shield and night is several hours away. I will get Dulci and meet you back at the outland rim. Go now.’ Torrein waited for Angel to get to the pod. He slipped inside and signaled. Torrein began to call the strands. They began to shimmer around him. He caught the one he needed and then he was gone. Angel lifted off and did likewise.
Torrein appeared in a golden glow and a small gust of warm air. He stood examining the terrain that was laid out in front of him. The urgency he felt was only exceeded by his concern for Dulci. She had watched as the creature Fallon, had slain Fillip and was then placed in direct proximity to her father. She had also heard Fillip betray all of his tribe…put at risk all of the people that had raised him, knew and loved him, and even trusted him. He knew that if the creature Fallon came and captured the Fire Rim tribe, the first thing that he would do, would be to execute those that the people looked to for leadership, putting KoMahn, Angel, Samuel’ and Gray in mortal jeopardy. Torrein knew her heart was broken, for both his betrayal and his death. Torrein knew that Lord Fallon would now come beyond the Fire Rim to hunt him. They had to hurry and warn KoMahn and prepare for the coming invasion. He wondered how anyone could betray so many for such a selfish purpose. Put so many at risk to gain only a self-serving desire. To sell so many to slavery and torment, ripping mothers from their children and loved ones apart to acquire a desired thing that was fleeting at best. How could Fillip have believed, even for one moment, that Dulci would have ever been able to look at him after such a betrayal? He shook himself back into the moment. He calculated Dulci’s speed and came to where he hoped she would be. His mind called to hers.
‘Dulci. I am here. I search for you. Where do you run? Give me a landmark.’ She spoke back
‘I run towards the pinnacle mounds. I am almost there.’ He heard her sob.
‘He killed Fillip.’ Torrein was turning in a circle surveying the landscape around him. From far away he saw the pinnacles shooting up to touch the sky. He had gone too far. They looked tiny. He shifted quickly and appeared on the other side of them. He saw her as she ran. He stood watching her for a moment and he knew that she was consumed with sadness at what she had seen. Slowly, he began his pace towards her, then it quickened. He just wanted to get her home. Home. He realized he had already made this place of dire circumstance, his home. She was still in a dead run when she slammed into his body. He whispered.
“Stand still and let me take you.” She held him tight, her face buried into his chest. She was crying for the traitor. He began once again to call the strand. His eyes caught sight of a small desert craft just breaking over the horizon. It was Lar-san-cou’s craft. He was coming for her. In a few seconds, they were inside a golden glow, and then they were gone.
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