The Children of The Resistance (The Mir Chronicles Book 2)

by Leisa Wallace

Gideon fiddled with the sleeves of his shirt. “Druinn and Myri can wait for us at the spot Tern showed them, inside the trees.”

  Druinn and Myri nodded. “We shouldn’t be found there,” Druinn said.

  “I’ll be monitoring the situation. We’ll be ready to leave at a moments notice,” Myri said.

  Tern yanked at the collar of his ribbed shirt. “Ya sure we need to wear these clothes,” he said, now itching his chest below his shirt.

  Suki laughed “There is more to staying hidden than not being seen, my large friend,” Suki stated. “If you want people here to stare at you, show up in the wrong outfit.”

  Tern grunted and turned away from Suki.

  Tarek, who had been standing next to Tern, chuckled under his breath. He looked more composed and comfortable in his rich clothes than the others. It made sense. As far as Lena could tell, Tarek grew up surrounded by riches. She thought Tarek would return to the Allayan consulate with Azara, but he didn’t. When the time came to leave the consulate, Tarek was right by Gideon’s side.

  The small group silently walked to the edge of the forest. Suki opened up a glider as they walked. She still limped slightly from her wound, but it was barely noticeable. Lena gave her an odd look and Suki shrugged. “I don’t want to overdo it,” she whispered as the glider clamped around her feet. Lena didn’t feel comfortable enough to use a glider, so refused when the Zoons offered her one. Tern said it was easier to hide without it. Gideon and Tarek refused a glider without explanation. Lena liked that Gideon walked next to her.

  Tern led the way, walking low to the barren ground. Lena kept staring at their destination. As the city grew nearer, anxiety grew inside her. Often Tern would have them stop and stoop or lay low to the ground. Even in the flat terrain, Tern found spots more shadowed than others to hide in. She didn’t know how he made the decisions on when to stop, or where, but the guards along the outer walls never looked their direction, so she kept trusting Terns judgment. Soon they pressed themselves against the outer walls of Ebon.

  Ebon curved in circles, just like the Defense training facility and the insignia on her hand. Circles within circles, starting at the towering fortress in the center and rippling out. Tern directed each person through the gates, one at a time, each time waiting for a guard to be distracted. The guards looked tired and inattentive. Still, it took longer than Lena imagined to get through the gates unseen.

  They stayed close to the stone walls using the shadows to hide in. Suki pointed them in the direction they should travel, and then let Tern scout ahead of them. They only stopped walking once, while two soldiers walked past them. Lena guessed they were on their way to the gate to relieve the tired guards on duty.

  Arriving at the safe house, Suki walked to a panel on the outside. She typed in a code and the door slid open. After they all had shuffled inside, Suki shut the door and the room lit up. Bates stood at the other end of the kitchen, gun pointed at them.

  Ollie pushed Bates aside and hollered, “You’re here.” Running, he jumped into Gideon’s arms like a little brother. Gideon gave him a hug and smiled. Putting him down, he patted his back.

  “A little on edge, aren’t we Bates?” Suki said strolling to the center of the kitchen.

  “You’re late,” he replied. “You’re also not the one living in the center of the Priestess’ city.” Bates set the gun on the table.

  “You’ve barely been here a few hours,” she replied. “I’d hardly call that living here.” Suki sat on top of a large square table and crossed her legs. Lena saw Tarek avert his eyes and look at nothing on the wall. “What can you tell us?” Suki asked beckoning the others to the table. Bates opened a hologram of Ebon that filled the whole table. Suki slid to the ground to get a better view of the hologram.

  “Your friend is in the courtyard in front of the Priestess’ fortress. They keep her fed, maybe once a day. But very little. Guards are rotated in overlapping four-hour shifts, meaning one guard is always on duty and can update the new guard to what’s been going on throughout the day.” Bates fast forwarded the hologram as he talked showing them the most recent security footage.

  “But there are only two guards?” Lena asked.

  “Yes, but the tower she’s on is surrounded by a forcefield. And she’s suspended on a platform thirty feet in the air.”

  “Can your device get us through the forcefield?” Lena questioned.

  “Yes, but you also need to take into account the roaming patrols,” Bates said. “They’re not standing at the forcefield, but they’re not far away. Patrols surround the fortress at all hours of the day and night. If you do get into the forcefield unseen, it’s going to be trickier getting out unseen. Patrols have increased substantially since Evangeline's stunt at the Port.

  “The Priestess is scared,” Suki said. “Lena publicly stood up to the Priestess and lived. She’s scared someone else will as well.”

  “It’s about time,” Gideon replied.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Tern moved into the streets first. Lena and Gideon followed close behind, copying his moves of slipping in and out of the shadow’s while appearing as normal as possible. This was only a scouting mission. Tern wanted to see for himself what kind of security they were up against before rescuing Birdee.

  The morning sun was only beginning to rise behind them, silhouetting the buildings around them. The city made Lena nervous. All the streets and homes rippled out from the center of Selene’s onyx fortress. Her insignia adorned the city everywhere, carved into walls and doorways. Glancing at the citizens slowly flowing into the streets around them, Lena was glad for the attire Suki chose for them. They fit right in with the abundance surrounding them. Everyone wore rich jewels and high fashion. Very few people wore anything other than black and red, though most wore some kind of gold jewels. Lena put her hands into her jacket pockets, thankful that it covered her glittering gold shirt. Nobody gave them a second look as they crossed the arching streets, walking towards the innermost ring.

  The town of Ebon seemed to suck the light from everything. Lena heard ladies gossiping with each other and heads nodding in hello. Yet none of the people they passed smiled at each other or greeted each other with kindness. The more Lena observed, the more she felt the stark unhappiness of those that lived in the town. The closer they got to the center, the richer and more populated the buildings became, some designed with accents of gold and jeweled doors.

  Lena felt like they’d walked miles by the time Tern slowed. Rounding the corner, they slid into the recess of a doorway facing the middle of an open half-circular courtyard. The Priestess round fortress stood in the middle. Behind it, she saw a dark gorge that Gideon had said was a prison.

  In the middle of the courtyard, on a tower thirty feet in the air, lay Birdee. A forcefield surrounded her. She looked like an exact picture of what they’d seen on the computer at The Port. Her hands were cuffed behind her while she lay in the fetal position. Her wildly curly hair was matted around her face. No one looked at the prisoner as they split to walk around her prison, but the unease of the people passing was palpable.

  Pressing his lips together, Tern pointed his face towards Birdee and whistled. The tune sounded clear and crisp. A single note ringing over the voices of the walking crowds below.

  Birdee’s muscles tightened as the whistle echoed over her. Lena looked to Tern. His face was tight. He whistled again. Struggling with the cuffs behind her, Birdee slowly raised herself to a sitting position. The people walking around the prison glanced up, only to avert their eyes and walk faster when they saw the guards searching the crowds for the sound.

  Lena gasped seeing the bruising on her face. She felt Gideon put a hand on the small of her back. Only then did she realize she had readied herself to run towards her friend. She pulled back, forcing herself to control her actions.

  Birdee scooted to the edge of the platform and hung one leg over its edge. She moved slow and careful. Lena wondered how much of the rest of her was
covered with the same type of bruises as her face. Gideon now wrapped his arm around Lena’s waist pulling her next to him. His muscles flexed against her. His breathing sounded tight and angry.

  Birdee moved her eyes across the square until they landed on their hidden place in the shadows of the doorway. She blinked several times. Tern whistled again. This time, it came out lower, and then skipped higher as it oscillated between notes. Lena saw Birdee’s breathing increase as she turned her head to the guards below her. They stood silently outside the forcefield, not paying any attention to their prisoner. Birdee whistled back, her song slow and sad. Lena’s heart sunk deep into her chest. The music rang above the crowds below causing the citizen to hurry uneasily by.

  Tern nodded up at Birdee, his gaze lingering on her before turning towards Lena. “We’ll need ta do it at nigh’, Tern said. Lena’s stomach felt like knots. “Now tha’ Birdee know’s I’m here. She’ll be as ready as she can be ta help.”

  “Tern, this is dangerous,” Gideon said. “I think your whistling was noticed. You might get caught or worse killed. Are you sure you want to do this?”

  Tern didn’t look at Gideon. Instead, he looked back across the square to where Birdee lay on her tower. “I stood by while she saved an entire village. There was nothing I could do but watch. Now, I can do somethin’. Or, I’ll die tryin’. She’s worth it. You understand that.” Tern turned to Gideon. “I know you understand.”

  A faint whistle rang from Birdee’s spot on the tower. Lena felt Gideon take a breath. “We’ll wait until dark,” Gideon said.

  ***

  Lucius looked up at where Birdee’s body lay and grimaced. This was going to be harder than he thought. Still, he thought of the promises the Cimmerians had made him. He wanted power. He wanted to be on top, no matter who was ruling. And he’d do anything to get there.

  ***

  Lena, Suki, Tarek and Tern sat around the table of their safe-house. Gideon paced the floors of the kitchen. They had eaten and even tried to sleep a bit as they waited the day away. Lena’s nerves were so bad she hadn’t enjoyed either. Evren had reported that the Genosee ship had been boarded by Defense soldiers just outside the Genosee atmosphere. And, as Evren suspected, the Defenses had destroyed it as soon as they found no one on board. Which meant the Priestess knew Lena hadn’t left Mir.

  “Do you know what you need to do, Lena?” Suki asked. Her voice sounded crisp and strong but her eyes swam with worry.

  Lena nodded and bit her lower lip. It was almost time to rescue Birdee. She bit her lower lip and took a deep breath, trying to ease her anxiety.

  “Remember, you have to get in and out fast,” she explained. “Take out the guards and scan your insignia to release her cuffs. The glider will take Tern up to her. You and Gideon, get out as fast as you can.”

  “I know,” Lena replied

  “Stay covered. Don’t let them see who you are.”

  “I know,” she said. “We’ve been over this, Suki.” Still, she pulled the hat Suki gave her further down her head.

  “Act like you belong in Ebon. Walk with confidence and for heaven's sake unbutton your jacket. You look like you’re hiding something underneath it. Plus you’re ruining the look.”

  “I am hiding something. Me!”

  Suki ignored her. “If you get caught, there will be no mercy from her. She will capture you, torture you, and then kill you.”

  “Suki, you’re making me nervous,” Lena said.

  Suki stood from where she sat on top the table and tugged her skirt down. “Sorry,” I hate waiting.”

  Lena gave a nervous chuckle. “Yeah, me too.”

  They looked at the clock. It was nearly evening. They’d been in Ebon over fourteen hours. Lena did the math. It had been forty-seven hours since the Genosee’s had granted them sanctuary. Did the Priestess think they were still at the consulate? Would she search it? Lena wondered.

  Gideon walked up next to them. “It’s time.”

  Lena looked at Suki, “We’ll meet you back here, if we aren’t’ seen,” Lena said. “If we are—”

  Suki cut off her words as she wrapped her arms around Lena. “Be safe, my friend,” Suki said.

  Lena gave her a huge hug back then followed Tern out into the streets once more.The walk to the center of the city took less time than Lena wanted. The sun fell behind the Priestess’ tower, causing it to look even darker than it already was.

  Lena swallowed, noticing her throat still hurt from Jonah’s powerful grip on her throat. How long had it been? Seven days? Eight, maybe. Lena couldn’t remember. She thought of Jonah. Jonah and Birdee, her only friends. One friendship was a lie. And yet, still, she was willing to risk her safety for Birdee.

  A hand on her arm pulled her out of her thoughts. She looked down at it, then up to Gideon. “Are you okay?” he asked.

  She pushed her thoughts of Jonah away as she nodded to him. They’d reached the edge of the courtyard. Tern led them into the same entryway they’d previously stood in. Only now did Lena realize why he’d chosen this doorway. Darkness filled the windows. Whoever lived here was gone. Lena pressed her back into the carved doorway behind them. Tern whistled, then stood straighter, his catlike movements on high alert. He whistled again. Still to no reply.

  Tension filled every fiber of his body. He grabbed Lena’s arm. “She’s not here,” he said, panicked.

  Lena snapped her head to the prison on the square. A body lay on top. Still, and unmoving. “That’s not her,” Tern replied. “She’s not here.”

  “Selene knows we’re here,” Gideon said. “The whistling must have alerted them. They’re waiting for us to rescue her so they can capture us.”

  Gideon grabbed Lena’s arm as he looked at the patrols surrounding the courtyard. The soldiers looked fidgety. Their eyes twitched between Birdee’s spot on top of the tower to the ground below her. Their bodies rocked with nearly imperceptible movements. “They’ve been alerted,” Gideon said. “It’s a trap.”

  Lena pulled herself away from the door. She wanted to run. Her heart raced as her mind panicked. Tern pushed her back into the shadows. “Stay here, I’ll be able ta check it out better on my own.” He walked into the courtyard as if he’d been there his whole life. Lena was amazed how he matched his movement to the uneasiness mingled with familiarity of having a prisoner in the middle of the courtyard. She didn’t know how he did it. He made it look so easy. She watched him until she could no longer see him and then turned her sights to the people passing.

  Their heels clicked across the stone surface of the courtyard. No one looked at Lena and Gideon standing in the shadow of the doorway. No one looked at anything at all. They kept their faces stiff and pointed away from the tower. They walked fast and tense. In fact, no even one talked, a stark difference from the morning gossip.

  “Lena, everything about this is wrong. We’re leaving,” he said. At the same time, the door behind her slid open. An arm grabbed her from behind and pulled her inside.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Lena heels caught on the threshold of the door causing her to fall into her captor. He released her, letting her fall to the floor. Gideon jumped through the door. Grabbing the man and shoving him against the wall, Gideon pointed a gun at his face.

  “I just saved you,” Lucius hissed.

  Gideon pressed the gun harder into Lucius’ temple.

  “Did you think you wouldn’t be spotted? They know you’re here,” Lucius snapped, hitting the gun away.

  Gideon released the trigger and dropped his arm. The door slid shut beside them. Lucius shook his shoulder and straightened his shirt. He stepped away from Gideon and Lena. Turning his back on the two, he walked across the plush carpet of a sitting room and into the open kitchen.

  “A ‘thank you’ would suffice,” he snapped, glaring

  Lena couldn’t hide her confusion. She looked to Lucius, then to Gideon, then back to Lucius who now held a bag of ice to his neck and a bottle of some kind of drink in the
other hand.

  “What are you playing at, Lucius?” Gideon snapped. Marching to Lucius, Gideon grabbed the drink from his hand and sat it on the cupboard with a loud thump.

  Lucius put the ice down and grabbed for the drink. Cracking it open, he walked into the sitting room and threw himself lazily into a large upholstered chair. Taking a large swig of liquid, he looked to Gideon. “What makes you think I’m playing at anything? Can’t I help my dear old Captain and his favorite servant girl get out of a sticky situation?”

  “Talk,” Gideon said, towering over him with arms crossed.

  Lucius looked completely un-phased as he met Gideon’s stare with an annoyed one of his own.

  Gideon only waited a moment before saying, “Fine! If you’re not going to talk, I’ll talk for you.”

  “Go ahead, dear Captain.” He gave them a half-smile before taking another swig of his drink. The sharp smell stung Lena’s nose.

  “The Priestess’ guards are within yelling distance outside your door. Yet you haven’t called them,” Gideon said.

  Lucius’ smirked. “So it seems.”

  Lena looked around the living area they were in. A large painting hung over the mantle. Nagar and Lucius were easily recognized and a tall skinny woman with protruding elbows and cheekbones that could only be Lucius’s mother joined them. A thin layer of dust covered almost every surface. The lights were off and the room’s temperature made Lena glad she wore a jacket.

  “Your family no longer lives here,” Lena said. “Which means they no longer hold favor with the Priestess.” Lena removed her hat and looked at the untouched dust.

  “No thanks to you,” Lucius scowled. “She kicked my family out of our home and is waiting to give it to whoever captures you. Lucky for you, she has yet to change the locks.” Lucius now turned in the chair, hanging his legs over the armrest. He swung his feet to the ticking of the clock sitting on the mantel.

  Gideon reached down and grabbed Lucius’ shirt collar, yanking him up to his feet. Lucius’ drink fell to the ground as he scrambled under the captain’s grip.