Retrieve

by Sarah Addison-Fox

  Kade snorted, his voice laced with bitterness as he replied. “I think he’s been more honest with us than our own have.”

  Hadley pondered that all the way to the river. Her mind so fraught with questions, she hardly registered the slight change in temperature as they reached the riverbank. The steep drop surprising her as their escort dismounted and approached.

  She peeled herself away from Kade’s body, her legs shaking as she near slid off the horse. Fatigue sending waves of nausea through her as the warriors followed a limping Kade to where he’d stashed the craft he’d fashioned.

  Kade’s voice was rough as he spoke to the warrior beside him. “How long you been watching us?”

  The warrior smirked. “We not say. But we see you cross. River is tainted. Too much in belly you not wake up again.”

  Hadley’s eyes widened at the knowledge, her veins quickening with the information. “The river is poisoned?”

  The warrior nodded, and the one closest to her pointed across to where Arrowford was just visible. He muttered something in his own language, leaving the other warrior to translate into stilted words they could understand. “Further upstream, it feeds the river death. No fish swim inside, only the death plant.”

  Hadley shook her head, wanting to understand more, but Kade was already edging towards the craft. His slight nod in her direction, enough to propel her towards him to where he stood, a knot in his forehead as he sent glances across the river.

  Somehow, they still had to cross and climb the bank. Hadley peered across and felt her chest constrict as she tried to take a breath, the bindings pressed into her chest.

  The river was flowing fiercely as she stood next to Kade, her heart jumping into her throat as the murky water lapped at the shore. How was he even going to make it across? He could barely stand, let alone balance. And how would he be able to get to the other side? With the current flowing the opposite, his previous idea wouldn’t work.

  Her nerves increased as the Numachi eased away, leaving them alone. The warrior’s tone was apologetic. “Even for prince, we go no closer.”

  One stepped forward, and Hadley noticed the rope he’d pulled from his saddle. Kade cocked an eyebrow as the warrior began fashioning it into a loop, just like Kade had done.

  The warrior’s forehead crinkled as he whirled it around his head and aimed for the branch opposite. When it snagged, a smile grew, and he spoke in his strange tongue and gestured around her middle. “I can’t, I don’t understand.”

  Kade sighed alongside her. “Yes, you do, but you’re going to have to get wet, and you can’t argue about it because there isn’t another way. You need to go first because I’m going to need you to help me get out of the water.”

  Panic crushed in as she stared at the rope in the smiling warrior’s hand. Kade’s voice calm against the storm brewing in her body. “Just feel the rope and pull yourself up, just like climbing a tree, you can do that, I know you can.”

  Hadley met his gaze and saw the pain in his dark eyes. He did need her help. There was no one else who could help him.

  She nodded, and reached for the rope, hands shaking so much she could barely keep the rope in them. The Numachi warrior looped it around her and tied it, pulling it up, so it was snug against her armpits. The rope chafing against her tender skin, she found Kade’s face creased with pain as he watched her.

  Hadley took a shuddering breath, and placed her hands on the rope, feeling the tension as she tugged. Her eyes on the apple tree directly across from them, Hadley took a last look at Kade before she stepped off, closed her eyes and tried to picture the tree she was connected to.

  For a moment the illusion worked, then the sounds of the rapidly flowing water and cold penetrated as her body was submerged in the foaming river. She sunk under, familiar panic flowing through her as the river tossed her about.

  The rope pulled taut, jerking her and she opened her mouth to scream, only to be rewarded with a mouthful of water. The warrior’s words slammed into her. If the river was somehow poisoned, she needed to get out of it. She couldn’t afford to get sick. Not now. Not when they were so close to finding where Thomas had really gone.

  She squeezed her jaw shut and focused all her strength on climbing out from under the thrashing water. Sucking in a mouthful of air the moment she broke the surface, her fingers found purchase on the slippery rope.

  Concentrating on hauling herself up hand over hand until the ground was solid beneath her, she managed to reach the bank. By the time she’d recovered, Kade was already at the edge, another rope being prepared for him. His eyes met hers, before his face tensed and his feet met the water.

  Searing pain ripped through Kade the moment he felt the river wash over his feet and sink through his boots. He sucked in a breath, which only served to amplify the intensity of the pain rippling through him. His eyes sought Hadley’s as he hung suspended, waist deep in the raging river.

  Hadley sat at a half crouch, her face washed clean, her eyes locked on him, forehead creased as she waited.

  The rope pulled his torso upwards, and he didn’t fight the scream that tore from his throat. His strength fading, he allowed the river to wash over him, the cool waters soothing his burning ribs.

  He laid his head back, and floated for a moment, relaxing his body and closing his eyes against the sun.

  “What are you doing?” Hadley shouted.

  With a groan, Kade’s eyes opened. Were it not for the strange looks from the Numachi and the frown Hadley was giving him, he’d have stayed longer, bobbing about, letting the river wash him clean.

  He sighed and began the arduous climb to pull himself free of the river he’d thought the Numachi crazy for avoiding. Thinking on what the warrior had said, and focussing on Hadley’s face, he tensed his arms and copied Hadley’s technique to draw himself slowly, and painfully from the supporting water.

  If the river really did carry some kind of sickness, why hadn’t he gotten ill? He and Carl had been in the river often enough. Most of the Stormers had. But then, why had he and Carl survived when so many had perished? Why were they spared when so many were not?

  He chewed on the thoughts as his toes bumped along the bottom, sending a painful ripple upwards. Hadley reached out both her hands and the moment he was within her grasp, snatched his wrists and yanked.

  Another half scream escaped as he pulled himself up on the riverbank. Breath stolen by pain, he lay heaving on his back, Hadley dripping wet, her hair plastered to her face, her own breaths ragged as she peered at him.

  Her hands grabbed at his chest, and he let her remove one of his blades and start hacking the rope still wedged under his armpits.

  She chewed on her lip as she worked, forehead knotted as drops of grey dripped off her hair onto him. He narrowed his eyes as black ran down her cheeks past the bruising that caused his stomach to tighten. “You’re going to look like a girl again.”

  Hadley paused in her hacking to run a hand through her hair. She scowled then carried on until the ropes broke free.

  Kade used his last ounce of energy to give a half-hearted wave to the Numachi warriors.

  Wincing as he managed to leverage himself to sitting, Hadley held her hands out ready to assist him. His lips twitched despite the pain, and with her help, he made it staggering up the bank.

  The moment they were in the shade of the tree, Kade took one last look at Hadley before allowing himself to slump to the grass. His eyes closing the moment his battered head met the ground.

  Chapter Eleven

  Too exhausted to think of more than her desire for sleep. Hadley lay down on the grass and stared up at the branches of the tree. Kade was already sending light snores her way, and she felt a smile tug at her lips. They were home, they were alive, and there was still hope.

  She laced her fingers behind her head and closed her eyes. There would come a time for talking about what to do next. Kade needed to heal, and she’d do everything in her power to make sure that happened as
quickly as possible.

  For a fleeting moment, Hadley wished she believed in something. Something that cared about an insignificant girl like her. Something that would help her. But the gods cared nothing about her or her plight. They were cruel, fickle and unreachable. Why even bother?

  Hadley heaved out a sigh and turned on her side, her eyes landing on Kade as she struggled to keep them closed.

  Whatever happened, Kade wasn’t able to do anything right now. Two weeks, he’d said. Two weeks to heal enough to travel. There was nothing to be done but wait.

  Hadley closed her eyes again, the slightest of tremors creeping over her body alerting her to their need for heat. She yawned, relaxing her body. She needed sleep just as much as Kade did. Just an hour or so, then she’d find somewhere in Arrowford they could stay. Maybe ask at the broken-down village if they had a healer.

  A plan firmly in place, Hadley drifted into a disquieted slumber, thoughts too tangled and body too chilled to do more than doze. When Kade’s snore roused her, the shadows had grown long, and her skin was covered in goose-bumps.

  Across from her, Kade still slept, his exhausted snores, broken only when a shiver interrupted him.

  Her legs weary, her body weighted down by exhaustion and her sodden clothing, Hadley crawled to Kade and leaned over him. “Wake up.”

  He groaned in his sleep, his eyelids fluttering as he murmured incoherently. Hadley sat back on her heels and stared down at him, wrapping her arms around herself to keep warm. “Kade, I don’t have anything to light a fire, and our saddlebags aren’t here,” she whispered.

  When he didn’t move or answer, Hadley exhaled loudly, staring towards the village of Arrowford.

  With a last glance at Kade, Hadley picked herself up and on shaky legs, started to walk towards the run-down village.

  The sun was beginning to sink as she entered, passing the same shed she’d changed in. No one stirred inside the tiny mining village. No sign of life, the atmosphere thick with despair, depressing with its intensity. Her footsteps faltered as she paused to decide which of the derelict doors to knock on.

  The haberdashery Kade had visited seemed the best choice. She picked up her pace, rubbing her bare arms to keep warm, swallowing her nervousness back as she approached.

  Hadley reached for the handle and twisted it expecting the door to swing open as it had done for Kade. She frowned at the lack of movement and peered inside the grimy window.

  No one in sight, and shelves nearly empty, Hadley turned back. Peering around the lifeless village, nerves increasing as nothing but the sound of her thumping heart and her own footsteps met her.

  After knocking on the third locked door, her body began shaking with cold, her stomach aching with hunger.

  Her heart heavy, Hadley turned to walk back to Kade, wondering if she should just break into one of the homes? She was almost considering it when the hairs on the back of her neck stood to attention.

  Hadley froze in the middle of the dusty street. Eyes widening as she heard faint movement behind her. Heart pounding even faster in her chest, heat flooding her veins, she turned on her heel.

  A skinny man, tall, dark and with a leering expression on his lined face was eyeing her. “What have we here then?”

  Hadley sucked in a breath, her cheeks heating as his beady eyes roamed over her. For a long moment, she feared she was face to face with the type of man she’d managed to avoid. Stories of predators had reached her ears long before she’d ever thought she’d need to protect herself and her womanhood.

  He motioned to her, impatience written on his lined face. “Come with me boy, nothing left here for you anyway. May as well get fed along the way.”

  Cursing her stupidity, feeling little relief he saw her simply as a boy, Hadley began to back away, eyes flicking to the shops alongside her. The man’s sneer grew. “Ain’t no one home. They finally packed up and left. You’re a bit skinny, but I work with what the gods provide.”

  He took a step towards her, and she flinched as his grimy hand wrapped around her forearm. Her throat closed over as he looked her up and down. His eyes narrowing as he examined the bruising around her neck and face. Hadley’s stomach churned as she considered what would happen to her if he found out she wasn’t a boy.

  She yanked her arm from his grip, tripping over her boots to get away from him. He grabbed at her, a sneering curse on his lips.

  A low growl, like that of a wounded animal, caused her to spin on her heel. Relief flooded through her at the sight of a bedraggled looking Kade.

  His lip curled as he sent the man a glowering look. She rushed towards him and didn’t fight when his fingers curled around her forearm, his jaw tense as his other hand hovered over his knife. “Do we have a problem here?”

  The man retreated a step before his eyes narrowed, his hands raised in surrender at the sight of Kade’s knives. “No problem. You in need of assistance? I can take him off yer hands if yer ain't got coin?”

  Kade’s hand tightened around her forearm. “You in the trading business then?”

  The man shrugged. “Everybody has to make a living somehow, what do you say? Looks like you could use a little assistance. Run in with the savages? They’re a menace to all civilised folk.”

  His voice was hoarse as he laughed. To her surprise, Kade laughed along with him. “Ain’t that the truth. Who you selling boys to? Must be someone important eh?”

  Hadley’s mouth opened to protest, but Kade only squeezed her tighter. The man gave Kade a broken-toothed smile and tapped the side of his nose. “I’ll never tell.”

  Kade nodded, a passive expression on his face, as he stepped a little closer. Hadley’s feet locked in place as they moved closer to the revolting man.

  The slightest quiver to his voice letting her know Kade wasn’t quite as well as he was making out. “Eh, I know how that goes, I’m a Stormer, on a royal appointment no less.”

  The man looked alarmed for a moment as Kade extended his arm, showing the uncovered tattoo on his inner forearm. “I need somewhere to stay for a bit. Need food water, transport, you know where I can get those things?”

  The man shrugged again, his mouth turned down. “It’ll cost you.”

  Kade chuckled. “Take the boy as payment, just show me where I can rest up, and he’s yours.”

  The man mulled it over as he rubbed at his bristly chin, his fingernails stained black. “Deal,” he finally said.

  Kade’s smile was tight. “You got a place here in the village?”

  “Everything you need. Horse too. But that’ll cost extra.”

  Kade’s laugh seemed brittle as he followed the man, tugging her along. The man began to whistle, and Kade cast her a hard look before she could speak the questions she wanted to.

  Cold dread working its way over her body, Hadley allowed him to lead her down an uneven clod road as he peppered the man with questions.

  “The gods must be smiling on you, to find a boy this far out,” Kade said.

  The man’s gaze fell on her again as he walked sidelong to Kade. “The gods smile on those who make their own fortune.”

  Kade agreed. His hand still wrapped firmly around her. His voice low and even as he spoke. “What’s the king need em’ for this time?”

  The man shot him a wide-eyed glance and came to a halt in the street. “I never said that.”

  Kade gave him a half shrug. “You didn’t have to. Besides you can trust me, we’re working for the same king after all.”

  The man’s gaze turned wary as he stared at Kade. “You didn’t hear it from me, but someone is looking for soldiers. Don’t matter a jot whether they can lift a sword though.”

  Kade nodded thoughtfully, sweat beading on his upper lip as he carried on walking. His breathing growing more strained, he listed heavily to one side so his weight was distributed unevenly. No wonder he was holding her so tightly, he could barely stand let alone walk.

  The man finally stopped outside a cottage, a fraction less derelict
than the rest of the houses. “I’ll take the boy now, and three silver for the horse and food you’ll use.”

  Kade eyed the cottage, his voice quietly controlled as he spoke. “No one inside?”

  The man shook his head. “The last left a few days ago, someone took ill, and they lost the nerve to stick it out.”

  Kade nodded absentmindedly. “One more thing.”

  The man’s eyebrows rose in expectation. “Wha—” Kade moved forward swiftly, and shock laced the man’s face.

  His mouth opened as he grasped his chest, blood spilling through his fingers as he sunk to the ground.

  Before she could release the scream in her throat, Kade slumped into her, bloodied dagger still in his hand, sending her staggering slightly as she bore the brunt of his weight.

  His voice came out ragged and raw. “Help me inside, then you’re going to have to drag his body as far away as you can.”

  Hadley stared down at the man, shudders ripping through her as he lay dying outside his own home. She tore her gaze from him and opened the door, forcing herself to focus on ignoring the brutality Kade had exhibited once again.

  Inside the cottage, kindling was laid in the hearth, a solitary bed and a simple shelving unit, with a large cupboard, and a chest in the corner, was all that covered the hard-packed dirt floor. Kade made it to the bed, before he collapsed into it, his hands flying to his ribs as he extended his legs.

  She checked the solitary cupboard and was relieved to find the dead man hadn’t been lying. There was enough food to last several weeks. Sacks of flour, grains, dried meats, and closed containers of water, she hoped hadn’t come from the river were all stacked neatly along the shelves.

  Hadley checked the rest of the room quickly before she located the flint and steel to light the kindling.

  His voice was weak as he motioned to his boots. “Give us a hand, would you? I leave any more water on this mattress, it’ll be useless.”

  She checked the fire was burning well enough before settling in carefully at his feet, her fingers already unlacing his damp boots. With a frown that was wasted, she gently pulled off his boots and sodden stockings, balling them in her hand thinking to wring them outside the door like she’d done so many times for her own family.