Vic sent, I’ll show you, but you’ll need the key to the vault. I know where Chon keeps it. I think I can get it for you.
Wonderful! Renni wanted to hug him, but she didn’t know how he’d take it, so she gave him a big smile instead. When can you get it?
I can get it right away if Chon stays in the park for a while. If he goes back to his house, I’ll have to wait until he goes out again before I can sneak in and take it.
Then tell me how to find the bank building and then go and get it if you can, she sent, adding, Send me a message when you have it.
He gave her directions to the building and described it for her, then headed off. Now it was time to find out whether or not Jac Thornbridge could be trusted.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
FIRE AND SMOKE
Camsen felt great relief when, after taking him to the home of Race and Dulcie Thornbridge, Jac restored his powers. Jac explained that he had taken them because the younger men, followers of Abner Rushland, had vowed to kill both Camsen and Vic if they resisted. Since they carried rifles and Jac knew they were eager for a chance to use them, he’d deemed it safest to ensure that Camsen could not resist.
Vic had not wanted to return to Chon Iston’s employ, but Camsen and Jac had assured him that they would not abandon him. Now that he could mindsend, they could keep in touch with him no matter where he was, and he could spy for them, revealing what he heard, since people spoke freely in his presence, believing him incapable of passing on anything he heard. Jac believed that the sculptor was deeply involved with the scheme to prevent them from leaving Pescatil. Unquestionably Iston encouraged the townspeople in their worship of Vito, and was probably responsible for propagating their belief that the supplies they’d been receiving came directly from their dog-god. On that basis Vic agreed to return to Iston. When Camsen got a message from Renni, he understood how vital to their plans Vic was.
Camsen, she sent, I know where Kyla is. They’ve locked her in the bank vault. The bank building’s deserted, and there’s no sign on it, but it’s the two-story brick building on the east side of Center Street at the corner of Dillon Drive. Vic swiped the key to the vault from Iston’s house, so we need to work fast before Iston misses it. Abner Rushland has some of his goons guarding the bank, just two or three so far as I can see. You have all your power back?
Did he? He really hadn’t had a chance to test his ability to throw fire. Jac had told him he’d lifted the suppression of power completely. Renni didn’t trust Jac, but he did. Maybe he was being foolish, but it seemed to him that since acknowledging his son, Jac had concentrated on being a father Ril could be proud of. So Camsen told Renni, I think it’s all back.
Good, she sent. Do we still have our supplies in the wagon, or did they take them again?
That question he could answer with confidence. They’re all still in the wagon. Kyla in her coffin is all we’re missing.
Then bring the wagon to the bank and be ready to head away from Pescatil as soon as we get Kyla back. In her coffin.
That sounded too easy. You said Rushland’s goons are guarding the bank. Won’t they be armed?
They have rifles, yes. But Vic and I are arranging a distraction. Renni quickly outlined her plan. Behind the bank is an abandoned wooden shop where barrels were made. We’ll set it on fire, and hope the fire draws the guards around to the back of the bank, so Vic can get in the front entrance, get to the vault and get it open. If everything goes as I hope, Vic will haul out the coffin while we keep the guards occupied. Just get the wagon there. And be prepared to repeat your illusion of Vito. Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of smoke to form it with.
The plan carried a lot of risk. Camsen sent one objection: The fire will do more than draw the guards. It’ll draw a crowd.
Of course it will. That’s where Vito comes in, Renni sent. Look, I know it’s a risky scheme, but we have to get away. Can you come up with a better plan?
He admitted that he couldn’t. Should we tell Jac what we’re planning? he asked.
No. But do this. Get Dulcie Thornbridge alone and tell her. Not the details, just that we’ve found out where they’ve hidden Kyla, and we’re going to get her back.
Was Renni crazy? You don’t think she’ll tell Race and Jac?
I think the men acted without consulting their wives, and I doubt that the wives agree with what they did. I think they’ll support us.
I hope you’re right. Despite his reservations, Camsen followed Renni’s instructions. He found Dulcie in the room she’d designated her sewing room, and luck was with him. She was alone there. He told her exactly what Renni had advised.
“Oh, my!” she said. “The men had no right to stop you, and certainly no right to hide that coffin and the pretty lady in it. She looked so fine, lying there on the new pink lining I sewed for it. It’s easy to believe she’s not dead. I’m going to go right now and give Race a good talking to. As council president, he’s got to be more responsible. If this town is to get back to what it was or better than it was, he’s got to lead in the right direction.” So saying, she put her sewing aside and marched from the room.
Camsen went outside and hitched up the horses to the wagon. Jac came outside. “I’m heading back to the Carrans’,” Camsen told him. “Renni’s there, and we’ve decided that’s where we should continue to stay. Your aunt and uncle have offered us hospitality, but they really need to focus on council business, and the Carrans have plenty of room.”
“All right then. I’m sorry for the way things have turned out. Let me know if you need my help.”
Camsen hoped Jac meant that. They might indeed need his help. But for now he was keeping to Renni’s agenda. He climbed up onto the driver’s seat and headed off in the direction that would have taken him to the Carrans’ home, but he turned off when he got out of sight of the Thornbridge home and headed for the former bank.
As he approached the bank building, he mindspoke to Renni, letting her know where he was.
Go slow and watch for smoke, she sent back.
He didn’t have long to wait. As he came in sight of the old brick building, dark smoke arose from behind it. Shouts of “Fire!” sounded in the area. The guards Renni had spoken of must have done as she thought and gone around the building to see what was burning. He stopped the wagon in front of the bank and jumped to the ground, wondering whether he should go inside to help Vic with the coffin. People went running toward the fire from all directions, and now he saw flames rising above the roof of the bank building. Though the brick building wasn’t likely to burn, other buildings in the area could well catch fire from the sparks flying from the conflagration. What had they done?
Vic emerged from the bank entrance turning sideways as he passed through the door with the coffin in his arms. The man’s strength was amazing! Camsen hurried to help him, and together they placed it in the wagon, where Vic remained to guard it.
They’d just gotten it back in its proper place, when someone shouted, “They have the living corpse. Stop them!”
Renni rode up to them on Dark Star. Camsen, this would be a good time for Vito to put in an appearance.
He feared the smoke was too abundant, too thick. But as it drifted higher, he shaped it into the form duplicating the sculpted dog. Awed cries of “Vito!” rang out from the gathering crowd.
“Let’s go!” Renni said.
Holding the illusion as best he could, Camsen climbed back onto the driver’s seat and set the horses into motion. Renni rode beside the wagon. A bullet whizzed by his head, just missing him. In all the noise and confusion, Camsen didn’t hear the rifle shot. The guards had discovered the theft. He used the whip to spur the horses into a faster gait, knowing that they could keep it up for only a short distance while pulling the heavy wagon. He could only breathe a prayer to the Power-Giver to let them get safely away.
As they moved farther from the scene of the fire, shouts arose from male voices, calling, “They’re getting away! Stop them!”
Men ran into the street, trying to bar their way. Male hands grabbed at the wagon. Expecting to be halted at any moment and turned back in defeat, Camsen kept a tight grip on the horses’ reins, sensing their fear. Somehow he kept them moving forward. He turned a corner and saw ahead what appeared to be a barricade. He approached it with a sinking heart. They were about to be stopped again.
But as he approached, he saw that the women of Pescatil, led by Dulcie Thornbridge, had formed a protective phalanx, lining each side of the road., warning the men back, away from the wagon. Women shouted, “Let them be. Let them go! We have no right to keep them here against their will.”
Amazingly, the women prevailed. Dulcie must have prodded all her female friends into action. When he’d told her what the men had done to force their return, she’d been furious. She’d promised then to put a stop to it if she possibly could, but he’d put little faith in her ability to protect them, despite her heartfelt avowal. “Don’t underestimate the power of angry women,” she’d said.
She’d been right, and he should not have doubted her. As he moved on, Renni on Dark Star leading the way, they encountered fewer townspeople. Soon they were back on the road leading from town.
§
The Vito illusion dissolved back into smoke. Renni kept Dark Star beside the wagon, staying with it as she looked back to see people forming a water brigade to put out the fire. She smiled to see a woman grab the arm of the young man who’d shot at Camsen. She couldn’t hear what the woman said, but she must have been scolding him and telling him to drop the rifle and join the firefighters, because that’s what Renni saw him do, just before she lost sight of him.
She pulled ahead of the wagon and was delighted to see that women lined their route, calming and rebuking the angry men and demanding that they let their visitors go. She smiled to hear a woman call out, “What kind of people are we, to hold these travelers prisoners, after they’ve done so much for us?”
The women must have been convincing. The men. didn’t stop them, but allowed them to reach the main road out of Pescatil and proceed on what would be at best a four-day journey to Hillcross.
This time there would be no turning back.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
ON THE ROAD TO HILLCROSS
Despite their late start, they made good time on the first day. With only the three of them to sleep in the wagon and as tired as they all were after the day’s turmoil, they got a good night’s rest. They started off early on the second day and also made good time until a heavy rain slowed and eventually brought them to a stop, the thunder and lightning making the horses too nervous to continue. With no shelter available, they could only wait for the storm to abate.
“Is this Vito’s revenge?” Camsen joked nervously.
Renni, who’d taken shelter in the wagon, leaving Dark Star tethered to the wagon frame, scowled. “Let’s hope not!”
They stayed dry, thanks to the heavy canvas covering, waterproofed with oil from the leaves and stem of the tormand plant, a thick oil that soaked into the canvas and hardened, making it impermeable to all but the fiercest rainstorm. Camsen expressed a fear that this might be such a storm, but the rain eased up and the storm passed after causing them to delay for much of the afternoon. The road had been turned into a mud bath, but the wide-rimmed wheels resisted sinking. The horses, including Dark Star, had to proceed with care, so their progress was slow, but at least they were again progressing.
Cooler weather followed the rainstorm, and as they continued on the third day, they needed the heavy jackets they had left packed until now. Both the weather and the rolling hills that their road now took them through made it evident that they were no longer in desert country. By midafternoon on the third day they reached the point they had hoped to reach by the end of the second day, the place at which they left the main road, which continued on to Highport, and took a rougher, less-traveled road that led to Hillcross. This journey would take longer than anticipated.
Camsen mindsent to Lore and Zauna, asking whether they were ready to transport to the wagon. Lore declared that he’d recovered fully from his power loss after taking Maya to Highport, and they agreed that he should bring Zauna and join them in the morning. Their current location represented the shortest distance over which Lore would have to transport himself and Zauna. Even if they failed to reach Hillcross by the end of the fourth day, Lore and Zauna would have to endure only one night on the road.
Camsen found himself looking forward to reuniting with Lore and Zauna. Having the four of them all together once more gave him confidence that their journey would end well.
Renni showed less enthusiasm about Lore’s arrival. She still regarded him with some suspicion. So it did not surprise Camsen when she volunteered to ride on ahead on Dark Star to reach Hillcross before they could and see about arranging housing for them and care for the horses. Hillcross being a small village, Camsen warned her not to expect much in the way of accommodations for travelers, but he made no attempt to dissuade her from her plan.
Accordingly, they arose early the morning of the fourth day, had breakfast, and mindspoke to Lore, telling him to join them. Renni had already saddled Dark Star and would leave as soon as Lore and Zauna arrived.
“Take time at least to welcome them,” Camsen urged.
§
Impatiently, grudgingly, Renni awaited their arrival. Why was it taking so long?
“Calm down, Renni,” Camsen advised. “Remember, they both have baggage with them, so Lore has a lot to transport. They haven’t left there yet. They have to figure out how to carry their packs and still allow Lore to keep a firm grip on Zauna.”
“They should have figured that out earlier,” she groused. Dark Star seemed to share her impatience; he whinnied and pawed the ground, ready to be off.
Or maybe the horse felt the disturbance in the air just before Lore and Zauna landed with a thump right beside the wagon. Camsen grabbed Zauna and steadied her. Lore swayed and reached out to Renni to keep from falling. She held him upright for a moment before shoving him at Vic, who supported him and practically carried him and his heavy backpack to the wagon.
Renni stood to one side while Camsen hugged Zauna and released her. “It’s good to have you back,” he told her. “We’ve missed you.”
“And I’ve missed you,” she declared. “There’ve been times when I haven’t been sure we’d see each other again.”
He nodded. “It’s been a more harrowing journey than we anticipated. But now we’re all here, including Kyla.”
“Does she still look the same?”
“As beautiful as ever, as though she’s just sleeping.”
Renni spoke up. “Zauna, it is good to see you, and I hope Lore’s okay, but I’m going to ride Dark Star on ahead. I can go much faster than the horses pulling the wagon, so I’ll be in Hillcross by nightfall, though you won’t be. I’ll meet you there tomorrow. I’ll have a chance to look for a place where we can stay while we’re readying Kyla’s resting place.”
“So we aren’t staying together after all?” Zauna asked, frowning.
“Not yet. We will be, once we all reach Hillcross.” Renni hugged Zauna. “I’m sorry to leave you right away, but I do want to reach Hillcross by evening. I’ll see you there some time tomorrow, I’m sure.”
Zauna’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry to say goodbye right after saying hello. But goodbye then, until tomorrow.”
Renni kissed her cheek. “Yes, just until tomorrow.” She mounted Dark Star and headed for Hillcross.
§
Vic came out of the wagon, and Camsen introduced him to Zauna, who greeted him with a hug. He looked startled, and Camsen guessed that he’d never had real friends before and had never received any affection.
“How’s Lore?” Camsen asked.
Already asleep, came Vic’s reply. He said he always has to rest after a transport like that.
“Yes, he does,” Zauna said, having been told that Vic’s hearing was norm
al. “The greater the distance, the more power it requires. He’ll be fine after he sleeps and then eats a good meal.”
“We’re back on trail rations, but we’ll feed him as much as we can,” Camsen said. “Zauna, you get in the wagon. Vic, why don’t you join me in the driver’s seat? That’ll give them a bit more room back there. I think we’d better get going. Renni’s right that we can’t reach Hillcross by evening, but I’d like to get as far as we can.”
Vic helped Zauna into the wagon, then joined Camsen, and they set off, veering onto the road that would take them up rising ground to Hillcross. The day was still young, but they’d have to stop several times to let the horses rest. He worried a bit about Renni setting off alone. She could take care of herself, he knew, but Zauna’s reaction to her going made him wonder whether the emotion was due only to disappointment that they would be separated again. Could Zauna have had a presentiment of danger? He had noted that she sometimes seemed to intuit future events without recourse to her crystal ball.
As she’d predicted, Lore slept most of the day and awoke ravenously hungry. For his sake they stopped early to prepare supper. They found a spot where a small creek wound down a hillside, and a stand of trees provided shade, while a bit of level ground along the creek bank offered a place for a bonfire. Dinner was rice and beans and, to everyone’s delight, Zauna produced from her pack carefully wrapped rolls she’d snagged from the breakfast buffet she and Lore had enjoyed that morning in their boarding house. While they ate, she and Lore filled Camsen and Vic in on their adventures in Highport, telling them of the young man Maya had healed and of her departure with him by coach headed for Plains Province, where young Rogar hoped to find farm work.
By the time they finished their meal and put out the fire, it was late afternoon. They all agreed to stay where they were for the night. The horses were grazing contentedly on the lush grass along the riverbank, and they all felt they would not find a better place to camp on this final night of their journey.
Deniably Dead (Arucadi Series Book 4) Page 29
