Retrieve

by Sarah Addison-Fox

  He twisted in the saddle so he could see her more clearly. “You lost our only way of staying warm tonight. Didn’t you hear anything I said to you on the way here?”

  Her eyebrows rose, and if possible, she looked even more miserable. “Oh. I’m sorry.”

  Irritation surged through him at her inability to even remember simple things. “I won’t ask you again, drink.”

  For a moment he thought she would argue, but she took the water skin and took a decent swallow before handing it back to him.

  Kade scowled at her. “What is wrong with you? We went over this on the way here. How could you have forgotten everything I told you?”

  Hadley’s eyes flashed, but she stayed silent as though she had no defence. He swivelled angrily and stowed his water skin before spurring the horse on and tried not to let her mistakes pull them even further off course.

  The heat from the sun was less intense as the mountain ranges cast shadows on the valley floor. His shoulders grew tight with tension as they traversed the rock-strewn ground.

  Sweat began to bead on his forehead, even in the shadows of the towering mountains, wearing only the simple pants and vest commonly worn in Amaria, he was sweltering.

  The sun continuing its relentless attack, they carried on, Kade’s neck growing stiff from checking the ranges for trouble. It was a risk, taking the low ground, but he wasn’t equipped to traverse the ranges, and it would take far too much time to play it safe.

  If they arrived too late, the princess would be dead and not only would he’d be in for it, but Cester by extension would be too. Whatever he thought about ridiculous rules and his captain’s misplaced reluctance to take life, he had saved them and more importantly Meg from having to steal and scrounge to survive.

  His thoughts spun back to the skinny girl clinging to his waist. Is that what she was doing?

  A peculiar admiration stabbed at his chest at what she’d accomplished and how she’d done it. Sneaky. But smart.

  No one came to the Stormers camp, because no one knew where it was. And if she hadn’t been so adept at climbing, she’d still be hidden, probably on her way to the Retreat. His lips twitched. I’m not the only one with bad luck.

  His own body screaming for a quick rest, he was about to suggest they stop to feed the horse some of the aloe plants cropping up when Hadley’s grip around his waist loosened. The slightest of groans came from behind before he felt her body sliding.

  Instinct took over, and he managed to pivot and grab at her before she slid past his hip. His body at an awkward angle, he grunted as he twisted, using all his strength to pull her upwards, so she was directly in front of him.

  His stomach tightened at the state she’d gotten into without him noticing. Her eyes closed, her cheeks a rosy hue, her breathing too rapid. All indicators she’d had too little water and was in danger of getting even worse if he didn’t respond quickly enough.

  He swore before pulling her closer, muttering as he searched the area. Then with one hand on the reins, the other hand on her sweat drenched back, he steered the horse closer to the base of the mountains.

  A groan escaped as moisture spilled down Hadley’s swollen lips. Sharp rocks dug into her spine as she shifted her weight and tried to make sense of what had happened. Disorientated, she began trying to piece together what had happened.

  A moment ago, she’d been wearily lamenting her foolishness at getting rid of the coat when her head had gotten light, and she’d been unable to keep her eyes open any longer.

  No! No! No!

  Panic flooded her body, her head pounding, and her mouth as parched as the land around them, she slowly opened her eyes. Kade’s stubble, the slight bump on his nose and the hues of caramel in his eyes the first thing to come into focus.

  His eyebrows knotted together as he handed her his water skin. “Drink and don’t argue.”

  Her hand was trembling as she accepted it, too weary, too hot to do anything but guzzle. Kade snatched it away and shook his head. “I told you, small sips and often.”

  She laid her head back on the rocky ground, no longer caring about anything but finding relief from her discomfort. If she weren’t so tired, she’d cut away the bindings and lie here in the shade of the mountains.

  Kade peered at her as though she were an insect he wanted to pull to pieces. “Let me guess, the bindings are too tight again?”

  Hadley refused to answer him. What was the point? They both knew she had fainted because she was being stubborn. If she admitted to him, admitted it out loud, it somehow made it seem so much worse.

  He shook his head again and stalked away, muttering words she couldn’t make out but could guess. She pulled herself to sitting, every part of her body aching and raw with burning, weary overused muscles.

  Her head had grown even itchier, and she began fantasising wildly about shaving her hair off or finding a body of water and despite her fear of drowning, throwing herself in, if only to relieve the torment she was in.

  Kade’s footsteps were heavy as he approached and stared down at her. “This isn’t going to work. You need to be wearing something lighter, or we’ll never make it to Lazen.”

  Hadley tried for a weak shrug but could barely muster the energy. “What do you suggest?”

  Kade raised an eyebrow, and a deep frown appeared on his face as he considered her. He continued to stare at her as she sat, legs sprawled out on the ground. “The best I can come up with is cutting your clothing.”

  His eyes narrowed as he searched the length of her. A bolt of alarm jostled her into thinking. “How much are you cutting off?”

  Kade dipped his chin, his voice low as he spoke. “Enough, so you don’t keep fainting, enough, so you still pass for a boy.”

  He reached for a knife and wore the slightest of smiles as he unsheathed it. “Let’s hope you have hairy legs then eh?”

  Hadley’s lips split into a smile before she remembered she was annoyed with him for being so smug. Too exhausted to care, she relented as he grabbed the thick fabric of her trousers. His forehead knotted as he tore upwards exposing her leg. He carried on up to her knees, a serious look on his face as he worked.

  Hadley watched him carefully, but he was too focussed on what he was doing to meet her eye. He glanced at her once, only to grip her shoulder as he cut away the sleeves leaving her arms exposed. He sat back and raised an eyebrow. “Any better?”

  Hadley shrugged slightly, unwilling to concede anything even though it was cooler. With a frown, she reluctantly accepted he’d made the right decision. “I suppose.”

  His lips quirked, and his nostrils flared as though he were trying to hide either his anger or amusement. Which, she couldn’t tell, nor did she care.

  He remained silent and walked away leaving her lying amidst the cut off clothing. Her energy returned a little, Hadley stood on wobbling legs as Kade hacked off a handful of spikey, green stems, and offered them palm flat to the horse.

  Hadley scratched her head as Kade jammed a mouthful of the plant into his mouth and chewed. She was about to say something when he turned and went back to the spot he’d found the plant and started hacking more. He repeated the process several times, making sure the horse was fed, before offering her some. She turned up her nose at it before gingerly accepting it. “What is this?”

  His jaw worked as he chewed. “Aloe, but don’t eat too much.”

  Hadley popped the stalk in her mouth, chewing cautiously. The plant coated her mouth in a tacky substance, the taste wasn’t overly pleasant, but over the last few years, she’d tried everything she and Thomas could forage around the lower district.

  Kade’s voice was hard as he assessed her. “You alright to travel or you need to rest?”

  Hadley nodded quickly, and to prove herself she took shaking steps towards the massive horse. A lump in her throat, less from the plant, more from how weary and tired she was, more from the irritation on his painted face.

  The scowl a constant presence, Kade pul
led himself up, extending a hand to help her. She didn’t protest, just meekly allowed him to pull her up again, only this time he’d shifted slightly, so she was in front of him, and not behind. “I’m not having you fall off again. I wrenched my bloody back as it was.”

  Too tired and too despondent to protest when his arm locked around her waist, she leaned into him, and closed her eyes to the bright sun, feeling strangely secure in his strong embrace.

  Kade grimaced at the shoe polish burning his nostrils, and the tacky hair tickling his chin. He peered downwards so he could examine her as her eyelids drooped and her body relaxed into his. The scowl lessened as he shifted his weight. She might be resilient, but the first trip here was tough on anyone, let alone a tiny thing like Hadley.

  His grip tightened around her narrow waist, and he flinched as a wave of unwelcome protectiveness swum over him. She was complicating things, even dressed like a boy it was impossible for him to overlook who she was.

  He needed to concentrate on why they were here, not spend time worrying about her needs. The princess needed to get back home first. That was why they were here, that was his job. Everything else should be a secondary concern. Should be.

  His eyes strayed to her again as she murmured in her drowsy state, her hand coming to her head to scratch at her scalp as she’d been doing a lot the past day. A pang of guilt struck him at being responsible for being the reason she was so miserable.

  She brought this on herself. I warned her twice to drink. It’s not my fault.

  Then why did he feel like it was his fault? Some misguided sense of honour? He was in danger of making a mistake because of her. The sooner they did the job, the sooner he could get her back, and she’d not be his concern anymore.

  He muttered to himself as he pushed the horse on, the sun high in the clear sky as they passed under the shadow of the mountains. Kade kept his eyes open for the watering hole he knew was close by, hoping they would arrive before the sun grew even hotter. Sweat began to drip down his forehead, and he wiped it away, blinking as droplets gathered on his brow.

  Hadley might not be able to swim, but he wouldn’t miss the opportunity to jump into the water first chance he got. He stretched his shoulders back, feeling the tightness of his pinking skin. Even this close to winter the sun would burn him without a layer of cacao butter that had been pilfered from his shack.

  The aloe would soothe the worst of his burns, and the darker his skin, the better he blended in with the Numachi.

  Hadley’s skin tone, a subtle olive, might fare a little better than someone fairer, and it helped her to look like what he hoped anyone watching them would assume. His slave boy. Something he’d not bothered to explain to her.

  As long as she didn’t speak more than the words he’d told her to, they’d get away with it. He kept his eyes ahead, noting with relief when a few familiar clusters of trees and rock formations appeared. He nudged Hadley and whispered in her ear. “Wake up, we need to make a stop.”

  Hadley came to, her head snapping up, her voice thick with sleep. “Where are we?”

  He pointed to the pond, edged by bushes and water plants, to where a collection of wild birds, were resting on the surface. The horse seemed to recognise the need before he gave direction, ambling towards where the dry dirt met the green grass.

  Hadley took the cue to move before he prompted her. Her knees seemed to give out as she hit the ground, but she held herself upright and started towards the water’s edge.

  Kade slid down and led the horse towards the pond, his eyes open for anyone else who happened to cross their path. When he was sure that no one was nearby, he tucked the horse’s reins inside the saddle and left the horse to drink.

  He stepped closer to where Hadley stood watching the birds, a troubled expression on her filthy face. He squinted at her. “You want a swimming lesson?”

  She raised a slender eyebrow. “No, but I was wondering if it was deep.”

  Kade eyed the water. From memory, it wasn’t. But he’d not been here for a while, and Carl had been the one to make the most of it while he’d kept watch.

  He cast another look around, when he was satisfied, he shucked off his boots, tossing them aside as he stepped in the pond. He didn’t bother unstrapping his knives or shrugging out of his clothes. He’d dry easily enough, and he needed his weapons close should anyone arrive.

  He gave Hadley a last look before dunking his head under the water. When he emerged, water dripping down his face, Hadley was kneeling at the edge, leaning over to cup water to her mouth. He held back a laugh as she nearly toppled in. “Thought you didn’t want a swimming lesson?”

  Hadley scowled at him, before she braced herself, using her palms to steady her as she tried again, this time she managed to get a drink, but water dripped down her mouth and chin.

  He smirked at her, before climbing the slope and sitting so he could stretch out his legs. Releasing a sigh, he ran his hand through his sopping hair, his eyes flicking back and forth as he watched the paths.

  Her drink finished, Hadley leaned back on her heels and looked sidelong at him. Some of the dirt had washed away, the green paint was running, and the black polish was leaving streaks down her forehead. He probably didn’t look any better, but he was mostly clean, and he could reapply the paint. He stared at his bare toes as Hadley looked out at the water, her fingers scratching at her head again.

  He sighed and checked that the horse was still happily munching on foliage nearby. Satisfied, he shot Hadley a glance. “Why don’t you go in?”

  Hadley frowned at him. “I don’t think so.”

  “You won’t get another chance, and we still have another day and a half’s travel.”

  Hadley stared at the water, a thoughtful expression on her face. “Just to cool down.”

  Kade nodded, but she was already carefully unlacing her boots. She placed them to one side, and with a last wary look at him, stepped into the water.

  His eyes stayed on her slight figure as she waded further in, her face tight, the water causing her shirt tails to billow around her. The geese began honking angrily as she encroached their territory. She froze before she turned and edged away from them, wading so she was waist deep. Her eyes locked on his, a tremor to her voice. “Is this as deep as it gets?”

  Kade nodded without thinking. He didn’t really know, but she didn’t need to go any further in. Before he could warn her about the weeds that might snag her clothing, Hadley let out a yip, and she disappeared under the water.

  Without a thought, he shot to his feet and crashed into the pond to where she was splashing frantically, her face frozen, mouth open in a silent scream as she clawed at the water.

  His heart thudding, his body filled with dread, he felt his feet lose purchase with the bottom, and he caught himself before he toppled into her where she floundered in the water.

  He balanced, and grabbed at her, gripping her shirt, barely noticing as it tore away in his hands. Losing his grip on her, he grabbed her under the shoulders and hauled her spluttering to the surface.

  She sucked in a breath and coughed up water as he dragged her backwards, his muscles straining as he maneuvered her roughly up the grassy bank.

  She curled on her side and continued to heave up liquid before her body finally ceased shuddering. Panic still etched on her face, she stared up at him, her chest rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath. “Something caught my leg.”

  Heat spiked as he took in the damage to her shirt. She followed his gaze to where her belly was exposed. “By the gods! What were you thinking?”

  Kade eased back, a frown on his face at the accusation. “I was trying to stop you from drowning.”

  Hadley struggled to sitting, her eyes flashing angry sparks at him, were it not for her bottom lip quivering he’d have no problem telling her it was her mistake. Instead, he issued the first words on his lips. “Sorry.”

  Her eyes flooded with tears before she seemed to steel herself. “Don’t
worry about it, I’ll be fine.”

  With lips pressed tightly together, Hadley pulled herself up, and on legs that seemed sure to buckle, walked away from him.

  His scowl returned as he watched her. She’d get over it. Most of her was still covered, and with a little dirt and a lot of luck she should still pass for a scruffy slave boy.

  Kade refilled the water skins, then yanked on his boots before stalking to the horse and swinging up. Hadley’s jaw was set as she watched him shuffle back so she could sit in front of him. She shook her head. “You don’t need to make allowances for me. And you don’t need to worry about me either.”

  Kade shrugged and suppressed a weary sigh as he adjusted himself to accommodate her. He found the trail again as Hadley’s arms locked around his waist. His stomach tightened at her touch, and he found himself grinding his back teeth together at the continued contact.

  The next opportunity they got, he was finding Hadley a horse of her own, and a fresh shirt, because whether he wanted to be or not. He was worried about her.

  By the time Kade decided to make camp for the night, the sun had slunk away, leaving the moon to make a spectacular entrance. She’d never seen such a desolate place. There were hardly any landmarks, just enormous trees dotted over terrain that seemed to drift on relentlessly. How did Kade even know how to get his bearings?

  She moved slightly so she could ask him, but at the last moment decided to leave him to his thoughts. For hours now, they’d rode in silence. Their thirst quenched and no longer sweltering, they’d fallen into an unspoken truce.

  She didn’t blame him for the water, he had seemed genuinely distraught. And he had pulled her out when she’d panicked. Even if he had ruined what was left of her shirt, it could have been much worse.

  Hadley inhaled as deeply as her bound lungs allowed for. The night air becoming colder, her damp clothes no longer giving her relief she’d enjoyed just a few hours ago. Now she was fighting a chill as shivers spread down her back.