Thomas reached down and grimaced as his fingers grazed the line of gauze wrapped tight to his side.
“You were lucky. The chain mail did its job. The demon damaged the metal mail, and the broken pieces gouged into your side. You might have five stitches, but that’s an insignificant price to pay.” I told him.
Thomas stared at us, and his eyes narrowed.
“That’s good. Stop worrying about me. We need to find Marcus Tannon. He’s not dead, I’m telling you, and we’re wasting time.” He tried to swing his legs off the bed. “Think about it. If he were, they wouldn’t have bothered to take him with them. If they had planned to kill him they would have done it on the field.”
Sirris chimed in, standing by the head of the bed. “Thomas, what reason could there be to drag him off like that? Thanks for saving my butt.” She finished, blushing.
Thomas scowled and nodded, thinking. “Not sure why? Morale, maybe? He’s the leader of the guard, right? Without him... Well, you saw how the guard was right after. I was half out of it, but I still remember the confusion. Like a bunch of cattle milling about.”
I shrugged. He was right. I had finally suggested we gather up what we could and return to Drae without him.
“Without a leader, the guard isn’t much. Most of them are not much older than us. They looked to Marcus Tannon for direction. Still, I don’t get it. It wasn’t like we were winning, right? We were holding our own, but no more.”
“Even if he’s alive? Where would they take him? We have no idea where he might be. Besides, with Marcus Tannon gone, we have nobody to lead them; us.” I finished, feeling the hopelessness of it all.
Movement at the door caught our attention, and we all turned.
“Someone with battle experience. Someone who commands their respect?” Nick Seul sauntered into the room, answering the last question.” He’d been listening in.
I couldn’t help laughing. “Please and tell me you don’t mean you?” Nick’s eyes narrowed, promising a heavy payback for my smart mouth. Get in line.
“No, I don’t mean me. But my father could do it, or Jobe Chang maybe. They aren’t Marcus Tannon, but they could step in and lead if they had to.” I watched Nick’s eyes clash with Thomas’, each eying the other.
“Maybe. We have to have someone and none of us are old enough or experienced enough to lead a bunch of teenagers into battle.” I considered Nick’s suggestion.
“I like your father doing it. Professor Chang could, but people like your father.” My tone implied they weren’t as fond of the son. My eyes raked over his tall form. His expression darkened.
But I wasn’t finished. “The problem though, is that we just lost our leader, although I agree with Thomas—I don’t think he’s dead. But we can’t afford to lose the Mayor.
Nick grimaced and leaned against the side of the wall, pushing his hands deep in his pockets. “Yeah, that’s what I told him too.” Nick admitted. “He’s mad at the council too, thinks they’re making a mistake in writing Marcus Tannon off. Council doesn’t want to lose the rest of the guard trying for some rescue mission that might not even recover the body.”
“And you know this how?” I asked, skeptical.
“Dad came home pissed last night, ranting and raving. What? You think you’re the only ones with hot heads for parents. Mine is the worst.”
“He wants to step in and take up where Marcus left off, head a team to find him. I think it’s a foolish move for him to risk himself that way.” A tinge of bitterness in his voice made me wonder about their relationship.
“Maybe,” Thomas started pulling everyone’s attention to where he now sat on the edge of the bed. “We just need to get back the one we had.”
Nick gave a terse laugh. “Weren’t you listening? We don’t even know where to begin. If he’s even alive, we don’t know where he is. Besides, no leader, remember? What are you suggesting? That the guard go in unprepared to where we don’t know and breaks him out?” Thomas stared at Nick with hard eyes, his own sparking. “I was there, so I know what we’re all up against and what’s been going on better than you.”
Nick interrupted. “The Guard, along with the rest of you, lose ground every time. You’d all be dead if those things didn’t keep giving up and running off every time.”
Nobody smiled. He was right. But none of us wanted to hear that we sucked that bad, either.
My fingers tingled with the need to wipe that condescending smirk off his face. “I’m sorry we’ve failed to live up to that lofty pinnacle you’ve put us on. Next time we’ll try harder.” I hissed.
He started and reached up to run a hand through overlong dark hair in frustration. “Look, I’m sorry, that’s not what I mean. The guard is doing what it’s trained to. Nobody faults anyone’s courage or determination. But you can’t argue with what’s happening either. You’re losing. Every-single-time. We all know what would happen if they stayed and finished the fight.”
“It’s just, the guard isn’t equipped to handle Paranormals like the Demon wolves. There’s too many of them and without a leader? Sending them in like that would lead to a massacre.”
I knew he was right. I hated him for it.
“So, okay Sherlock, where does that leave us then?”
“Nowhere dammit. It leaves us nowhere.” He ground out in disgust, turning away.
My mouth opened, and I spoke before I even knew what I was going to say. Because if I had, I’d have bit my lip til it bled.
“I do think you’re right about sending in the guard. I don’t think they can do this. Maybe what we do need is a smaller group.”
Nick turned back around with a jerk. “Oh, now you’re just talking stupid. What? You think the three of you can just waltz into their camp, wherever it is, and rescue our fearless leader without joining him. Oh, smart Cross, that’s just super!” he exploded.
Thomas and Sirris’ eyes met mine. Together we all turned to stare at Nick Seul.
“Yes!” we all said at the same time. He blinked and rolled his eyes, throwing up his hands.
“You’re all freaking nuts, that’s what.” Nobody said a word.
“Stupid, stupid, dumb. Oh hell, if you guys plan to go and get yourselves killed, I’m in.”
I jumped in shock. “No way!” I growled, glaring daggers at him.
“Okay!” said both Thomas and Sirris at the same time.
Peaches. I was outvoted again.
“OKAY, THE LAST THING we want to do this time round is engage them in a battle we can’t win.” I nodded in Thomas’ direction, handing round the jar of greasy salve to hide our scent and applying it to all exposed surfaces.
“Keep your weapons ready, but don’t shoot at anything unless they’re about to eat you. He stared hard at me. What? Did everyone think I was the one with the trigger-finger?
I slung my pack high and cinched the cross bow tighter. We needed to move fast.
The four of us gathered at the guard portal inside Drae Hallow. Thomas was right. This wasn’t about the fight. We needed information, and if he was alive, we hoped to get Marcus Tannon out. I was tired of fighting the same battle over and over; it was time for us to find out why we were fighting it in the first place. I wanted to know how they were getting onto Shephard’s Mountain. Where was the portal Mayor Seul said had to exist?
I glanced at Nick’s tall figure as he reached up and traced the whirling pattern of the portal door and it faded away. We moved inside the mountain, following Thomas in the lead.
I ignored Nick, who was behind me the best I could. I was still smarting from the decision to allow him to come. It hadn’t been my choice. He was just going to get in the way.
I felt a tap on my shoulders and ground my teeth together in irritation. But I slowed as Nick leaned in close and whispered over my shoulder, his breath tickling my cheek.
“I still think this is nuts, but I’ll do my part. You can count on me, you know.”
I shrugged, whispering back. “I plan to. If
you don’t keep up? We’ll leave you behind.”
Wow, Sadie Cross, did that sound witchy? I grinned when he growled.
On the other side of the mountain Thomas led us deeper into the woods, skirting the trails I recognized now but would have missed a month ago. He paused often, checking the trail, listening for any movement that wasn’t us.
Nick tapped me on the shoulder again. “I think he’s leading us in circles.” He complained.
“You’re welcome to go back if you don’t trust him. We’ll manage without you. Now be quiet.” I hissed back.
I didn’t need to see his face to know I wasn’t making friends. I didn’t care. He wasn’t supposed to be here. He wasn’t part of the group.
Thomas looked our way with disapproving eyes. We needed to be quiet.
We made the river that tumbled down the side of Shephard’s mountain to the valley below after the first hour. It ran further down and towards the east side of the mountain we hadn’t crossed into before. We heard the roar of water over rock before we saw it. It tumbled in a frothing frenzy through the canyon setting it had created through the millennia. Sirris perked up when she saw it. I took the time to pull out my water bottle as we waited for Thomas to decide which way we should go. His nose was leading us more than his eyesight. I couldn’t match that.
I was stowing my water bottle when Thomas moved his arm to show we should follow the trail along the river and go right. An odd feeling came over me as I took the first step. I stopped and reached out to grab the back of Sirris chain mail and halt her. Thomas paused too, glancing back to see what the holdup was. His eyes clashed with mine.
“I think we should go the other way,” I mouthed the words and tipped my head left.
His frown told me more than words could. He didn’t agree. Only, somehow, I knew I was right. My Spidey senses were jangling big time.
It wasn’t the first time I’d had such premonitions. I’d guided the guard that way on a couple of occasions. I hadn’t been wrong yet.
Thomas moved along the trail and came closer. “Are you sure? They went right. Their rank odor is stronger that way.”
I nodded. “That’s right, only; my instincts tell me we should go left, anyway.”
He stared at me for several seconds longer, trying to come to some internal decision.
He shrugged. “Better hope you’re right. Since were following your directions, you lead.”
I nodded. I hoped so, too. I took over the front position, Thomas at my shoulder.
For a bit we wound into the forest, away from the pounding water, but we heard it again as we neared it again. The crash of a huge waterfall grew louder as we approached another space that emptied over a cliff and dropped into nowhere. Even in the darkness, the moon reflected off the white tumble of that water. We froze on the edge of an enormous cliff face. The river ended in a massive waterfall, dropping away below us too far to see in the darkness. What now? I’d led us to a dead end. Thomas had been right.
“Sorry.” I hissed; the words faint on the misty breath that rose from below.
Thomas was silent. He stared at the trail as it meandered back and down, a trail leading to the valley below where the water ended in a small mountain lake and marsh, continuing into the town of Breathless further down.
“Follow me.” He murmured and much like a dog on a scent, he followed the slight trail as it disappeared back into the light woods that rimmed the river. The sunlight brought on a heavy mass of brush and vines, and the going was slow. I could hear Nick behind me as he slapped them aside in irritation. His height didn’t make things easy on him.
“Wild Goose Chase. Do any of you have the faintest clue what you are doing?”
I didn’t answer, but the elbow I slammed back into his stomach made him grunt as the air rushed out of his lungs. Thomas turned and glared in our direction, a silver glitter of irritation reflecting from his eyes. At least Nick was quiet after that.
The fine hairs on the nape of my neck had just risen when Thomas stopped dead in his tracks and moved off the main trail with a jerk, waving at us to do the same.
Nick ran into me from behind, causing me to stumble. I shot him an evil look as I moved off the trail, grabbing his arm and dragging him with me. To his credit, he didn’t ask questions. We cut low and huddled beneath the large twisting vines of an old briar patch where we tucked in and froze.
Guttural voices in a language I didn’t understand came up the trail with the Demon wolves that appeared out of nowhere and passed by us within a matter of feet, the rank smell making my eyes tear up. I was grateful for the salve Sirris had provided us to conceal our scent.
I stood up to follow, but Thomas’ hand on my sleeve stayed my rise. I paused and followed Thomas’ eyes through the small window between trees and vines obstructing the trail that came out on the main ridge above the falls. I couldn’t see much, but I saw enough to follow their progress. They walked towards the falls where the reflection of the moonlight over the tumbling water lit up the cliff edge. The Demon wolves followed along the path that ran down the mountain for another fifty feet, arguing and pushing and shoving at each other in irritation. They would be out of sight in a matter of yards and I wondered what Thomas was waiting for. I expected them to keep going.
Instead, I watched in horror as they made a sharp turn towards the cliffs suddenly. In shocked wonder, I watched as all together they stepped off the edge into thin air and disappeared.
WE STOOD FOR THE SPACE of several seconds in shocked silence. What had we just seen?
With a heavy hiss of breath, Thomas moved out of the brush, the rest of us scrambling behind him, slapping tangled foliage and vines out of our way as we moved down the path.
We followed the edge of the large rock where we’d last seen them before they stepped off into space.
“Watch it!” Thomas hissed and everybody froze as Thomas held on for dear life to the vine that had saved his life, preventing his forward momentum from carrying him over the ledge that overlooked the falls. We stood on the short bluff looking out. The falls cascaded down another fifty feet below us and fifty feet above. We were halfway down. Thomas stood back a few feet, looking in confusion with the rest of us over the edge. Sirris, unafraid of the water, moved closer and looked down. Her night vision wasn’t as sharp as ours. But the reflection of the moonlight off the racing water was decent. Her eyes followed the edge of the drop-off and frowned.
“What do you see Sirris? What is it?” I asked, edging her way.
She grinned and looked up at us, proud of herself. “I see where they went. They didn’t fly either. I knew they weren’t that clever.” She pointed to the tangled mass of vines and foliage that clung to the side of the large rocky outcropping, dangling over the open space. I followed to where she pointed and frowned. I moved closer along the edge, my heart in my throat as I watched Sirris step under the heavy overhang of vines and up on the ledge that ran the full length of the overhang along the edge of the cliff. There was only a couple feet between her and a straight trip down, but there was just enough to squeeze through.
We all followed, but much slower. “You have got to be kidding!” Nick whispered. For once, we were in complete agreement.
“Watch your step! I don’t want you to take me with you when you fall.” I whispered back.
“Your concern touches me.” He hissed in my ear, plastered as close to the boulder face as he could get. I had the strangest urge to giggle. It was likely the terror.
Around the edge of the boulder, the path widened. It was still treacherous, and it was still deadly terrifying. But the trail itself widened to a more respectable three feet, and I breathed easier.
The trail itself along the cliff was short, only twenty to thirty feet before it turned inward at a sharp angle at the end. Around the last bend it widened to a mini cliff recessed into the wall of granite the falls tumbled over it would have been impossible to see from any other vantage except straight on. We hadn’t wandered fa
r enough down river for that. Another massive boulder took up most of the space in that opening.
A murmur of sound ahead made us freeze. As far as we knew, the cliff trail was the only way in—or out.
The murmur of voices faded away, and I breathed easier. I’d wondered how fast we could run back the way we’d come.
Thomas moved his head around the edge of the rock just enough to see what was on the other side. He froze for several seconds. I wanted to stomp my foot. What do you see?
He waved us on and we moved forward behind him. Around the rock we froze at the yawning hole that made up an opening the width of a city bus and half as tall. Large enough for any of us to walk through, except Nick, who might have to duck. I could see from where we crouched at the side of the boulder it opened up inside. We heard the indistinct murmur of rough voices within. My eyes met Thomas’.
So now what? If Marcus Tannon was inside, and if he was alive, where else would he be? How were we going to get him out?
A sudden scream from somewhere in the cave had the hackles on my shoulder blades standing straight up. I shuddered. It cut short as if by some unseen hand of doom. All of us recognized Marcus. But we were here to rescue him not become the next victims.
The cave looked substantial and there was no way of telling how many were in there either. We had found the Demon wolves’ lair.
And if we’re lucky? We might find out who’s behind it all. Someone smarter than the Demon wolves was calling the shots.
My eyes met Thomas’ and we shared a grim smile. Our position was precarious. We couldn’t get in, and if someone else used that path behind us soon, we’d be trapped.
Pulling back and waiting to return with enough reinforcements to do the job would have been the smartest move. We all turned when the voices inside the cave rose in excitement and there was a sudden flurry of movement. Shadows shifted and despite our fear I couldn’t resist creeping forward to see what had them riled up. Nick tried to catch my arm as I inched forward.
Fire Born Dragon (Rule 9 Academy Book 1) Page 22
