As they walked around the mansion’s foundation she could see that none of the outbuildings were left either. The army had been thorough. They passed the spot where the shed had stood where Oanni had tortured her one night. Nothing was left, and she felt a strange sense of liberation. Oanni was finally dead and gone and could never hurt her again.
After some searching they found the old garden paths. Much of the vegetation had died without anyone to care for it. It had not been native to the area, and the growing conditions of the Blue Plains were harsh. Yet the bushes that had formed the walls of the manicured maze were lushly overgrown. Pushing aside branches, she could still see the broken paving stones that had wound their way through the hedges. In most areas it had grown so thick that they couldn’t force their way through it, so they finally gave up and slowly made their way back to the front.
“Well, we didn’t find anything that could possibly help us, but I’m still glad I came,” Andie mused. “Somehow I think it will help me finally let go of those horrible days.”
Casey looked at her, his eyes soft with concern. “I hope so.” Andie squeezed his hand. She knew he was thinking of the periodic nightmares she had had over the years. They were much less now, but still every once in awhile she had one about the night she had first tried to escape. After this though, she didn’t think she would ever have one again.
Just as they reached the gates, several uniformed men with guns stepped out and blocked them. Andie grabbed Casey’s arm and she could feel him stiffen beside her. She turned to pull him the other way when she noticed more soldiers moving into position behind them. Now she was truly frightened.
“Put your hands up!” ordered one of the soldiers in front. Peering through the dusk, she could see the insignia of the CPF and started to relax. It wasn’t the Brotherhood. Maybe the CPF kept an eye on the manor for possible subversive activity. She couldn’t understand why Casey was still tense. This must be a misunderstanding that could easily be cleared up.
“Ambassador Morten?” asked one of the soldiers in the front.
“Yes,” Casey answered, his voice firm. It was only because Andie knew him so well that she could hear the fear underneath. Maybe things had gotten worse on Corizen than she realized. The soldiers behind them quickly moved in and took Andie’s arms and locked them behind her back. She risked a glance at Casey and saw that his face was impassive as they bound his arms as well. There was no hint of surprise. Andie suddenly remembered his reluctance to talk about what had happened in Roma.
“May I ask what is going on here?” Casey demanded. He used the polite form of address in his formal, accented Denicorizen, but his voice had an edge to it.
“You are under arrest for treason,” the soldier informed. Andie’s mouth dropped open and she turned toward Casey, but the soldiers shoved him forward out of the gates. She could now see several military transports surrounding hers. She was prodded forward and she stumbled after the others. Their captors pushed Casey into one of the military transports and shut the door. Helplessly, she watched as the transport’s engine roared to life. Within seconds, they were gone.
Once again, Andie was alone.
22. Erron Unmasked
Tiran stood at the railing overlooking the town. They had arrived in Davuune early in the morning, parking the transport near the local shuttleport. It was one of the smallest stations she had ever seen. It was little more than a ticket office with a covered waiting area. According to the schedule posted on the office window, a single shuttle left once a week for Croask. Not exactly the world’s busiest town.
While Zaq was studying the map on the ticket office window, she watched the sun rise over the horizon, remarkably peaceful after several days of anxiety. The station was up on a plateau, and she could see nearly the whole town now that it was getting light. There was a small market center and some industrial looking buildings to the south, and small graying houses to the east. The town extended only for a few miles and then abruptly gave way to the vast scrubby plateaus of the Western Desert. Strangely enough, she found it comforting. It was remote and quiet, and she couldn’t imagine the Brotherhood bothering with a place like this.
Zaq appeared almost silently at her side, his zipped pack slung over his shoulder. “So what do you think of Davuune?” he asked, looking out over the town.
“It seems like a lonely little place,” she answered honestly. “Why do these people live out here surrounded by the desert?”
“I think it used to be a mining town not too long ago,” Zaq explained with a sweep of his arm toward the industrial buildings. “Now I bet it’s dying slowly. The younger generation moves out, and when the older generation passes, nobody replaces them.”
“Why is this Burke living here, do you know? Did Irun say anything? It seems a strange place to choose to settle down in.”
Zaq hesitated for a moment, reluctant to answer. She watched the spasm of pain flit across his face. “Irun said that Othar Eshude was born here. He spent his childhood here, and apparently he never comes back. He doesn’t even recruit from Davuune,” he added.
“Really?” Tiran was intrigued. “So these people know what he really is?”
Zaq chuckled. “Irun just said that even the Oman of the Brotherhood has no honor in his own hometown.” Then he doubled over for a moment. Tiran put her hand on his back, waiting for the pain to pass. Even thinking something flippant about the Oman must cause him agony. They stood for just a moment more, until Zaq’s brow smoothed, and he stood straight again.
“Are you okay?” Tiran asked sympathetically.
Zaq closed his eyes and held still for a moment. Tiran held her breath, watching him expectantly. Then he opened his eyes and smiled crookedly. “Just fighting against the enforced loyalty. I’m fine now. Shall we move on?”
Tiran nodded, though she was still worried about Zaq. What if he wasn’t able to keep fighting against his implant? Would he suddenly turn against her? Or would he just disappear, leaving her alone once again? She shuddered as she followed him down the platform steps. Being stranded and alone in Kruundin City had been horrifying, but being trapped here in the middle of the desert was simply unthinkable. Hopefully this Burke would be able to fix things so Zaq would truly be free of the Brotherhood.
Zaq led the way down the dusty road toward the houses in the east. They passed several closed and shuttered shops that had peeling, flaky paint advertising groceries and clothing. None of them were open this early, and she wondered how many of them were still in business and how many had folded long ago. It was impossible to tell; everything looked like it had been slowly rotting away in the sun for years.
Zaq strode confidently down the street. He must have memorized the directions Irun had given him because he didn’t even pause to check his notes. They walked along the street as the stores gave way to wood paneled homes that were sagging with the weight of their blue tiled roofs. Most were in desperate need of a fresh coat of paint, and more than a few were empty, their windows boarded over. Here or there, a garden plot was visible, small sprouts growing in sandy soil. Tiran’s hopes rose as she saw the plants. There was some life still in this town. It was a tiny bit encouraging.
The house was less than two miles from the shuttle station, just off the main road on a side street. It too needed a paint job, but the front garden area was neatly fenced and orderly rows of vegetables grew in long container boxes. Zaq held open the gate for her and she walked up the front path. She hesitated at the front door, looking back over her shoulder at Zaq. He came up to her side and rapped briefly on the front door. They waited for a minute before eyes peered out of the small window to the left. Then the door creaked open and a round cheery face peered out at them.
“Master Burke?” Zaq inquired.
“Come in, come in!” he welcomed in a squeaky voice. “You must be Zaq—I got Irun’s comm last night!” They quickly entered his house a
nd Burke shut the door behind them. “Take a seat,” he invited pleasantly, motioning at a sagging couch in the front room. Zaq settled in with a sigh of relief, and after a moment’s hesitation, Tiran perched next to him. If she relaxed into the couch she was afraid she would slide until she was practically in Zaq’s lap. Burke waddled in behind them pulling a kitchen chair. “Sorry, but I don’t have much furniture. I don’t often have guests out here, you know. How was your trip?”
Zaq politely chatted with Burke for a moment, and Tiran covertly studied their host in disbelief. Burke just didn’t seem to be the kind of person to be fighting Othar Eshude. She really couldn’t see him fighting anybody. By the way Zaq kept shooting furtive glances toward the hallway as if he was hoping to see someone else, she could tell he thought so too. Evidently this jolly old man wasn’t who he had been expecting either.
“So what do you need my help with, young Zaq?” Burke finally asked in good humor. “I was surprised to get Irun’s message. It’s not often that I am able to entertain visitors from Kruundin City.”
Clearly, Zaq wasn’t sure if he wanted to open up to Burke. Tiran watched them silently, afraid that they had wasted their time. Zaq must have gotten the wrong person and though Burke seemed friendly enough, he wasn’t likely to be able to help them much.
Burke suddenly leaned forward and studied Tiran’s face. Then he chuckled long and soundlessly. His rosy cheeks dimpled and his belly shook with silent laughter. Tiran was completely nonplussed—she looked to Zaq, who was frowning at Burke.
“I should have known, I should have known,” Burke slapped his leg. “It feels like coming full circle.” He smiled broadly. “You don’t look much like your mother, my girl. You must take after your father, I guess.”
Tiran was startled into speaking. “What do you mean?”
Zaq was eyeing Burke warily. Burke was still smiling jovially. “Well, I guess you couldn’t go anywhere else, now could you? If Othar knew about this, he’d have your brains served up for dinner, Zaq.” Zaq stared at Burke in stony silence, and Tiran’s heart thudded painfully. He knew who she was just by looking at her. So much for finding another anonymous hiding place. Burke went into another spasm of soundless laughter.
“The number one Red List target, sitting in my living room. Oh, it’s too much!” Tears of mirth were streaming down his face. Zaq finally spoke.
“I’m afraid I don’t see the humor in the situation,” he commented drily.
“Oh, don’t worry, don’t worry,” managed Burke. His laughter was finally drying up a bit. “You’re still welcome here, and I’ll get that implant deactivated. I don’t mind hiding all of you for awhile. It is just such a funny coincidence.”
“What is, exactly?” Zaq asked icily, his patience finally exhausted. Burke seemed to struggle to recover his poise.
“Oh, uh . . .” he trailed off. “I knew your mother, see,” he said, with a nod to Tiran. “Well, not formally. Years ago I was part of a smuggling outfit that used to make trips to Zenith. Just some black market trading, but it paid big money in those days. Our Zenith contact had a village in a forest miles from any people. It was a routine trip and we managed to meet our contact without any trouble. Just when we were about to pack up and leave, our foolhardy host went and shot down an Armada pilot! Normally we would have simply blasted out of there in a hurry and left the locals to deal with it. But the pilot turned out to be a girl.” His eyes were distant as he remembered it.
Tiran gasped. “You bought my mother from the smugglers! Back when she was a pilot!”
Zaq turned to Tiran, his eyebrows raised.
“It was nothing personal,” Burke explained pleasantly. “See, Jaory Kruunde had offered a raging high price for a Citizen woman. It was like we hit the jackpot! The whole way back to Corizen we all were on top of the world, planning how to spend our share. We ended up selling her to Jaory for much less than we should have gotten, but that’s the way the game goes sometimes.” Tiran stiffened, ready to shout at this man who could calmly reminisce about selling her mother into slavery, but Zaq put a restraining hand on her arm. She swallowed her retort.
“Look Master Burke, Irun told me that I had to come to you for help if I chose to defy the Oman. I do trust my friend implicitly . . .” Zaq’s voice faltered for a moment, and then he continued, “and we came to you because we had nowhere else to turn, but if I may ask, why are you willing to risk everything to protect a renegade Brother and a Red List target?”
The smile abruptly disappeared from Burke’s face. His eyes flickered with something Tiran couldn’t identify. “I joined the Brotherhood as a young man nearly forty years ago. I grew up here in Davuune but I got tired of the dirt and being so poor. I hated the idea of joining my father in the mines, and the Brotherhood was my ticket to freedom. Years later, an old friend from Davuune asked me to get his son into the Brotherhood as a favor.” He settled into his chair, staring at the ceiling. He was silent for a long moment. Tiran exchanged glances with Zaq. Was he talking about Othar Eshude?
“Well, in the end it’s all my fault, I suppose,” Burke continued finally. “I brought that snake Othar in and watched as he manipulated his way to the top. In the end he ruined us all.” But suddenly, as soon as it had come on, his gloomy mood dissipated.
“So, here I am,” he said brightly, “doing my own little part to harbor refugees from Othar. What fun it is to have company though! I haven’t had such a full house in ages.”
Zaq suddenly leaned forward. Tiran lost her precarious balance and nearly tumbled off the couch. “Sorry,” Zaq apologized ruefully, helping her back onto the cushion. Then he turned back to Burke. “We are the only people you are hiding right now, aren’t we?”
“Oh, no, didn’t I say? I’ve had another old friend living here for months now. He’s gotten himself on the wrong side of Othar somehow, I don’t know how. Came to me looking for a place to lie low for awhile. But no need to worry—the enemy of my enemy is my friend, and all that, right?” he chuckled. “Unless you’re one to hold grudges, my dear,” he said.
Tiran turned to Zaq, troubled. This couldn’t possibly be good. Someone she already knew? Zaq looked questioningly back at her, his eyebrows raised.
“You don’t know him personally, of course.” It was as if Burke was answering her thoughts. “But Erron is the son of Jaory Kruunde, and I know there’s bad history between your families.”
“Erron Kruunde?” Tiran exclaimed hysterically. She jumped to her feet, already poised to run to the door. “This is terrible! Zaq, we have to go now!”
“Tiran,” Zaq tried to soothe her. “Erron Kruunde has no reason to turn you in.”
“Are you kidding?” she exclaimed, her voice getting higher by the second. “My mother practically killed his father, Zaq! You don’t think that’s reason enough to turn me over to the Brotherhood? Or simply kill me himself?”
“Nonsense,” Burke laughed. “Erron isn’t a killer.”
“Unless you wake me up before daybreak,” said a sleepy voice from the hallway. “Burke, whatever is going on in here?” Tiran froze at the sound of that voice. She thought she recognized it, but there was no way . . . she had to be mistaken.
“Sorry about that, Erron. Just new guests that arrived this morning,” Burke explained lightly. “Meet Zaq, he’s a fellow native of Kruundin City, just like you. And this is Tiran.” Tiran turned slowly to face the man in the hallway. She just couldn’t believe it was true, but even in the dim light she knew him immediately. Markus was here in Davuune.
“Tiran!” he gasped. It was the first time she had ever seen him caught off guard. Usually he was so calm, so polished. There had to be some kind of mix up. Why would Markus be here, pretending to be Jaory Kruunde’s son? Part of her wanted to run and throw herself into his arms, but she was too scared to move. What in the world was going on? Could it be that Markus actually was Erron Kruunde? Zaq was looking
from her to Markus, worry etched in his face. Behind her, she could hear Burke clearing his throat nervously.
“I see you two already know each other,” he observed uneasily, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
Typically, Markus recovered first. “Yes, we do. How have you been, Tiran?” he asked smoothly. “It’s been several months, hasn’t it?” There was a touch of amusement in his voice. His velvet voice mocking her finally freed her frozen limbs and she darted for the front door, her only thought to escape the excruciating pain of her shattered life.
♦
Zaq found her of course. He caught up to her before she made it back to the transport. She had heard him calling after her, but she had ignored him until she felt his hand on her shoulder, forcing her to slow down and then to stop. Unwillingly, she turned to face him. He watched her silently for a moment, and she struggled to get herself under control. She hated for Zaq to see her this way. She respected him so much, and she was sure he would think less of her when he knew the whole story. She had been so naïve.
“I can see you don’t want to stay with Burke, Tiran,” Zaq began gently, “but I don’t think we have any choice.”
“I don’t care. I’ll sleep in the transport if I have to. I can’t go back there, Zaq.” She tried to sound firm, but her lower lip trembled. She fought against the tears, but she didn’t think she could hold it together much longer. She was so angry as well as hurt.
He betrayed me. He never loved me. Markus never existed in the first place.
The thoughts kept repeating in her head until she thought she would go crazy. She just had to get away. Maybe if she ran far enough away she would forget.
Zaq tentatively took her hand. She looked down, surprise overcoming the pain for a moment. His touch was soothing. She felt calmer, more able to hold herself together.
“Tiran, tell me what’s wrong,” Zaq entreated softly. “What did he do to you?”
She exhaled deeply, trying to clear her thoughts and look at her situation objectively. The tears were close to the surface again but she desperately fought them off. She was afraid that if she started crying she wouldn’t be able to stop.
Corizen Rising Page 20
