I glance up from my bowl, surprised by Jax’s comment. “Every four months? They collect taxes that much?”
He nods. “Aye. It didn’t use to be that often. But with his new supply of machines able to travel quicker and farther, it’s become more common over the years. And they don’t care if the rains haven’t come or if the traps are all empty. You better have your quota, or they take it in flesh. Usually, the young’uns pay the price.”
Once again, I’m reminded how lucky Ben and I had been growing up in Rivercross. We never experienced that cruelty or fear. Grada and the old folk had protected us from that. The rest of the sand landers ain’t been as lucky. I go back to my food, but it don’t taste near as good now that Jax’s words are lying heavy in my stomach.
We eat in silence for a while before Belle speaks up. “You guys know we’re in serious trouble with this, right?”
“Nah, it uh ‘e o’ay,” I answer through my mouthful of food, trying to reassure her and ignoring Jax’s head shake of disgust and puzzlement.
“What? Swallow your damn food.”
I chew and do as he says. “I said it’ll be okay. By the look of the supplies in the back of the truck, the soldiers made a few stops before they hit that village. The Army won’t have a clue as to when or where they disappeared. You ain’t gotta worry about the Prezedant’s men, Belle.”
The girl stares back at me in surprise. “It ain’t the Prezedant’s men I’m worried about. We have you around for that. You seem to be able to hold your own with that lot. It’s Mack who scares me. He’s gonna be royally pissed when you come back with this truck. You do realize that, right?”
Shizen. She ain’t wrong. Last thing I promised Mack was to stay out of trouble. No doubt I can call what happened “trouble.” And I was in the thick of it.
“Well, maybe he’ll be so excited by the supplies and truck, he won’t bother to question where we got it?”
The laughter that follows don’t make me feel the least bit better.
Not wanting to drive the truck straight into the village and spook the lookouts into shooting at us, we stop some ways outside and send Beanie in to warn them about what we’re bringing in. I ain’t sure how Mack is gonna react, but he’s the first face I see as we climb outta the truck. Him, Ernst, Busher, and a small group of guards form a wall between us and the scared villagers, keeping the crowd a safe distance away from the metal monster. They look terrified, even with knowing it’s us inside the thing. I don’t blame ‘em. We just made the thing that probably haunts their dreams—like it does mine—a reality. If I had a choice, I wouldn’t go anywhere near it either.
Belle was right about Mack. He ain’t looking none too happy. The veins are bulging in his neck, and his one good eye is threatening to pop right outta his head, I swear.
“Explain.” The word is harsh and tells me all I need to know. He’s pissed something fierce.
He don’t interrupt as Jax recounts the incident at the village. He merely stares while cracking his knuckles and looking like he has a real foul taste in his mouth. He sends a glare my way at the mention of my using my Chi against the soldiers, but still don’t speak. Finally, Jax’s voice tapers off leaving nuthin’ but silence. Not a gasp or cough or shuffle from anybody. Not even a peep from any of my crew. Like they can tell Mack is a walking powder keg, and they don’t wanna be the spark.
“What the hell were you thinking?” Mack’s sudden roar shatters the silence, and I nearly jump outta my own skin. “I can’t believe… how stupid… you bunch of blubbering idiots…” His furious gaze moves over every one of us, making sure we know we’re all included in that general observation.
I sneak a look at Jax, raising a brow. Shizen. The man’s so mad he cain’t even finish a thought. I mean, that’s pretty mad. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone that angry. Not even Grada, and I sure as heck tested his patience more than once. Like the time I didn’t heed his warning and went on a boar hunt without my bow and—
“Well, are you going to answer me or not?”
Beanie nudges my arm and hisses at me through the corner of his mouth. “Mistress. Mistress. Mack is askin’ ya a question.”
Crap. My mind was wandering, and I didn’t hear him. What did he say? I look around at the faces of my accomplices, but they’re all either staring at the ground or up at the orange glow of the evening sky. Anywhere but at me. No help to be found there. Some friends.
“Ummm… maybe… aye?” I’m hoping what he asked is a yes or no question. I got a fifty-fifty chance of getting it right, if so.
“Aye? I ask you how this mess of insanity occurred, and you answer with maybe and aye? You’re not even paying attention?”
Okay, so, it wasn’t a yes or no question. My bad.
“You were supposed to be hunting. Out in the middle of nowhere. How the hell do you find trouble so easily? And the gods forbid you walk the other way. No, you have to jump in feet first up to your neck. Did you even stop to think of the consequences? What if there were more soldiers? What if you didn’t get them all and they followed you? What if you led them straight to us? Did you stop to think about that?”
“Aye, we did. We ain’t idiots.” I ignore Mack’s snort of derision. “We were careful. We covered our tracks, kept an eye out. No one saw us, trust me.”
“Oh, just like I was to trust that you would keep your nose clean out there? Forgive me if I don’t feel totally at ease with that.” He turns his baleful glare on to the two standing on my right. “As for you two, last thing I ordered you to do was to keep her out of trouble. Instead, you lead her into it like a horse to water. Some guards you are.”
I can see Beanie and Talbert flinch at Mack’s unjustified accusation, and my temper gets the better of me.
“Hey, yell at me all you want, but leave those two outta this. They only did what I forced ‘em to do and protected me when I needed it. They did their job.”
“Tara,” I hear Jax’s warning, but like always, my mouth has a mind of its own and it keeps ranting.
“And another thing, I cain’t understand why you’re so upset. I mean, not only did we bring back a truck fulla supplies, but we got one of his trucks. That’s gotta hurt him a bit, losin’ the truck and the men. It’s a win for us.”
Mack’s sarcastic “ha” makes me think he ain’t persuaded by my argument. “Really? You think taking one of his trucks will make a difference? He has dozens of those things. Along with tanks. Taking one is like taking a single piece of straw out of a bale of hay. A very miniscule win to say the least.”
“Well, what was I supposed to do, Mack?” My ire kicks up another notch at his irrationality. “Let those villagers die? They woulda died because of me. I cain’t let that happen. Not anymore. Enough people have died already because of me.”
“And hundreds more probably will.” Ernst steps our way, staring me down with disdain. “That’s the casualty of war. We do what we have to do to stop him, and you need to stay the hell away from him and his men until you are ready to fully—”
“No.”
He pauses, not believing I dared to speak to him that way, but I’m done with this argument.
“No more death. I’m tired of death, and I ain’t gonna stand by and let it happen anymore. You and Mack can lecture me all you want about trainin’ and controllin’ my Chi with time, but what good is it if I ain’t gonna help those who need my help now? Am I supposed to let people die until you lot decide when I’m ready to fight back?”
Mack’s lips flap a couple of times like a fish outta water before settling into a grimace. “So, you think defeating some of his men, stealing one of his supply trucks, and almost getting yourself killed in the process is going to help how?”
I throw my hands up in confusion. “I dunno, Mack. But it sure as hell might put a wrinkle in his plan, and that’s the most we’ve done lately. Plus, it gave me an idea. The army guy called the attack on the village quarterly raid. Jax says they do this every four months. That
means more of his veacals are out there right now, crawlin’ over the sand lands and takin’ from every village they can. Why cain’t we return the favor? If you say takin’ only one truck ain’t gonna bother him too much, then why don’t we take ‘em all? That’s surely gonna hurt, not to mention put a dent in his supplies for his army.”
Mack looks like he’s gonna yell some more, but as my words register, I can see a glint forming in his one eye. He stares over at Ernst, and the little smile playing about the old man’s lips is unmistakable.
“Maybe she’s not as dense as she appears,” Ernst mumbles to Mack, and I throw him an offended look.
“I heard that, you mule turd.”
“I think you’re right,” Mack answers back, and I switch my glare his way.
“I heard that too.”
“Unless he’s changed it, I know the supply route.” Mack keeps talking, ignoring my whining. I can see the cogs turning in his mind, and I know I started a fire. “It’ll be dangerous, though. They won’t give up those trucks without a fight.”
“As to be expected,” Jax chimes in, surprising me. “But Tara’s right. We do need a plan, and sitting here on our haunches waiting is not a plan. How can we call ourselves rebels if we don’t rebel?”
“The boy has a good point.” Busher nods his gigantic head Jax’s way. “The longer we sit here doing nothing, the stronger he grows. We need to act. Drive some sort of thorn in his side. My people are spread everywhere in the sand lands. All they need is my word to launch an attack on his metal machines. He depends on those taxes to feed his massive army. Without them, it will weaken his soldiers.”
Mack stares at the ground for a bit, scratching his chin. “The plan does seem to have some merit. It could work. We will have to discuss much, though.”
“Guys! Hey, guys! I didn’t know you were back.” Finn comes running at us from the other side of the village, busting through the group of guards easily enough with Cat since she makes them practically jump outta her way. He falters a bit when he sees the veacal up close, but his eyes open wide and dance with excitement. Whatever ill grudge he’s held against me this past week for not letting him tag along on the trip like he wanted has been forgotten at the sight of the truck.
“Holy smokes. Is that what I think it is? How did you get that? Did you steal it? Was there a fight? Did you use your Chi, Tara? Did you call up a sandstorm like before? What happened to the soldiers? Man, I wish I had been there. I miss all the good stuff.” He finally stops to take a breath, and I feel all my anger drain away at just seeing his pouting, freckled face. Finn always has that calming effect on me.
“Suck your bottom lip in ‘fore you trip over it,” I tease. “It really ain’t that excitin’ of a story. I’ll tell you about it later, if you like.”
He nods, his red tousled hair bobbing up and down. “Okay. Thomas and Jane will love it, too, I bet. They cain’t wait to see ya.”
What did he just say? Thomas and Jane? They’re here? Finn, on the receiving end of my disbelieving confusion, babbles on. “Didn’t Mack tell ya? Geez, Mack.” He sends a scowl of reproach towards the one-eyed man. “Jonas and Tater got back this mornin’ with ‘em. Both of ‘em, Tara.”
My knees go weak at Finn’s words as my eyes search out Mack’s. He nods in confirmation, even has the decency to look a bit ashamed at not telling me earlier that they had found my kin. I should be pissed at him, I reckon, but my heart only has room for the happiness blooming there right now as my eyes find Ben over the top of Finn’s head.
“Ben,” is all I manage before he grabs Finn’s shoulder and shakes him none too gently.
“Why you still standin’ here, Finn? Take us to ‘em.”
4
Reunion
I don’t know who’s the first to bawl, me or Ben, but the familiar sight of the two reed-thin waifs waiting inside Ernst’s shanty with Tater has us both blubbering like young’uns with skinned knees. Their eyes regard our appearance with dull suspicion at first, like they cain’t quite believe we’re here. But then Jane shrieks and moves. The tiny, flaxen-haired girl flies at me, nearly knocking me offa my feet as she wraps her skinny arms around my neck.
“Tara… Ben…” her voice tapers off as emotion overcomes her. Her arms tighten round my neck as Thomas latches onto me as well from the other side. Ben pulls all three of us into his arms, wrapping us in his embrace. The four of us huddle in our tight circle. No words are said. They don’t need to be. The last remaining Rivercross kin finally together. We found each other at last.
“I’m so glad to see ya. I didn’t think anybody else was left alive after they took Ben away,” Thomas finally speaks, but his words break off as a sob racks his frail body, and I pull him even closer.
“Hush now. We’re here, and we’re never lettin’ you outta our sight again.”
I don’t know how long we stand that way, just crying and hugging. Not wanting to let go. Cat, deciding she’s been left out long enough, tries to join in on the hug, and her big head barrels us over as she tries to get in between us.
“Cat,” I yell at her, but she responds by licking my face with her rough, blue tongue. “Ugh. Stop. How many times I gotta tell ya to not do that?”
Finn’s laughter echoes close to my ear as he decides he needs in on the action, and he falls into us, finally knocking us off of our feet, and we all hit the floor.
“Finn. What the… Cat, get offa me,” Ben yells at the big beast, but she takes no offense. Instead, she rolls over onto her back, four paws in the air, and begging for a belly rub. Finn cain’t resist and gives in to her demand.
“Awwww, you silly animal.”
Glad the cat is otherwise occupied, I get to my feet, pulling Jane and Thomas with me.
“Come. Sit.”
Herding them both to the bench in front of the burning fire in the hearth, I sit with one of the young’uns on either side of me. They are still clasping my hands tight, like they’re afraid if they let go, they’ll wake up to find it’s all a dream.
“When Tater said he was bringin’ us to you and Ben, we didn’t dare believe it.” The glow of the flickering flame only enhances the dark bruises under Thomas’s eyes and down the one side of his face, which is unspoken evidence of what he’s endured these past months, and my heart hurts something fierce thinking about it. “Jane thought it were just another cruel joke. The tavern owner liked to do cruel things to us all the time.” He glances over at his younger sister, and their eyes communicate the hurtful memories between them. I catch my lip between my teeth, trying hard not to break down again. I cain’t even imagine what horrors they’ve been through.
I glance over at Tater. The little man has stayed unusually quiet throughout the whole reunion, and I’m surprised to see his eyes are shiny and wet with his own tears.
“Thank you, Tater,” is all I say, but my words are filled with infinite gratitude. He makes a whole production of clearing his throat and blinking rapidly up at the ceiling like he got something caught in his eye. Finally, he stops blinking and looks my way.
“Yes, well, the tavern owner was a horrid beast of a man. A brutish, foul-smelling, ignoramus. He didn’t want to give them up willingly. Lucky for us, Ernst has deep pockets, and I am a masterful negotiator. I’m only sorry I didn’t manage to procure the third child from his greedy, vile grasp.”
“A third young’un?” I question the half man, but it’s Jane who answers me.
“Aye, our friend Conner. The master brought him to work with us a while back.”
Jane’s innocent words fill me with instant anger. “You have no master. Don’t ever call that disguistin’ man by that name ever again.”
She flinches away from my heated words, and I’m filled with guilt at scaring her so badly. Softening my tone, I squeeze her hand in encouragement. “I’m sorry, Jane. I don’t mean to alarm you. You’re free now. Safe. You don’t need to call anyone master ever again. Okay? Now finish your tale.”
She nods in unde
rstanding. “Well the… man who ran the tavern, he brought Conner to live with us too. At first we couldn’t tell because he had a shaved head, but after his hair grew in, he reminded us of you, Tara. He had the same white stripes in his hair. I reckon it angered the mas… the man. Soon as those white stripes started to show, Conner would disappear for a day and then come back covered in welts and a shaved head again.”
Her big eyes turn my way, filled with pleading. “He was so brave. He never cried. Not like me. And he always tried to protect us. Even when me or Thomas messed up, he always took the blame and the beatin’ for us. It ain’t fair that he’s still there. Can you save Conner too, Tara? He’s our friend.”
My mind immediately goes back to the boy I’d seen for sale in the market in Littlepass. The boy who seemed to talk right in my head. I know deep down in my gut he and this Conner are one and the same. And I was too yellow-bellied at the time to help him. If I had I woulda found Jane and Thomas sooner, no doubt. I woulda saved them and the boy from all that suffering and pain. I didn’t do anything.
But I need to now. I need to save this boy who had protected my kin when I didn’t, and I make an instant promise to myself to go back for Conner. Don’t matter that this young’un ain’t my kin; it’s my duty now. Besides that, nobody deserves to live every day in pain and fear.
“I promise,” I say to her, and it seems to ease her apprehension.
“Tara.” I look up at Ernst’s voice in surprise. I ain’t even realized he and Mack and Jax had followed us here. He looks irked with me, like usual. “I don’t think you’re in any position to be making promises—”
“You guys hungry?” I interrupt Ernst and smile down at the young’uns. They nod at the same time as a, “Yeah,” comes from the bottomless pit known as Finn. “Finn, why don’t you take Jane and Thomas to the kitchen and fetch ‘em something to eat? Then take ‘em to our shanty. There’s a couple of extra straw mats and blankets stacked by the hearth. Help ‘em bed down for the night. Can ya do that for me?”
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