by Jaleta Clegg
I draped my shipsuit over a bush, to drip dry as much as possible. The day was growing, the sky pale gray. I lay back in the river, floating in the gentle current, and watched the sky turn blue. It was a bit too cold. I climbed out when I started shivering.
My shipsuit was more than a little damp but I pulled it back on anyway. I sat on a rock to pull my boots on. I touched the side of my head. Now that the crusted blood was finally gone, I could feel where I'd bashed it when the ship crashed. I traced a jagged line of scabs across my scalp.
Vance made a lot of noise as he came back through the bushes. He was damp, his hair hanging wetly around his face.
"You look a lot better," he commented.
"So do you," I quipped. I meant it to be flippant, but I found it was true. I looked away, uncomfortable with my comment.
We walked back to the sandy hollow in silence. Kishtosnitass was there with three warriors, bent over a smoothed section of sand. He glanced up at me.
"One more night, Priestess," he said.
I nodded. My stomach twisted in knots. One more night and I would have to slip into the city, under the nose of the invaders, and smuggle the Eggstone into the temple. It would have been a lot easier if I didn't have a very good idea who the invaders were.
They brought us berries and dried meat and more of the bread. We drank all we wanted. Vance went back twice to the river to refill our water skin.
I didn't think I'd be able to sleep, but I was exhausted. The bath in the river had helped. I fell deeply asleep as the sun rose.
We ate fish that evening. It was raw. It still tasted good, sweet and firm and slightly salty all at once.
The Sessimoniss moved more carefully that night, keeping to cover when possible. We hid from flitters that flashed overhead during the night. The nebula washed the landscape with an eerie glow that did nothing to help my nerves.
The landscape changed, growing more rugged. Rocks jutted through the sand. The trees twisted and shrank. The river flowed faster. The wind began to blow, tossing sand at us. I bent my head against it and kept going.
We climbed a low hill, a rise of rock and sand and thorns. Kishtosnitass turned before he reached the ridgeline, skirting a narrow band of rock near the top. We followed him, Vance right on my heels as he had been for the last nine nights. We followed the ridge around, climbing higher. I tried to avoid the thorny bushes that were more numerous the farther we walked.
Kishtosnitass ducked under the stones, pressing up against them. We followed his example, Vance squeezing in against me. Flitters banked, their engines whining. They dropped low, circling lazily. They drifted over the ridge, dropping lower. Their engines echoed before they cut off. The night was silent again, except for the wind.
"Quietly," Kishtosnitass hissed. He rose slowly, barely lifting his head over the ridge.
I crawled up next to him. The dry scent of his scaled skin filled my nose, sharp and clean as the thorn bushes we'd passed. I peeked over the ridge of rocks.
The city lay below, a dark jumble of stone shapes spreading into the distance. Sand danced along deserted streets. At the center of the city, where the huge plaza divided Sekkitass from the Eggstone with the Council chamber in between, a glow of bright yellow light bathed the pavement, artificial light as familiar to me as my ship. It was too distant to make out people, but I counted seven bulking round shapes that could only be ships.
"Over there," Vance said, nudging me and pointing off to the far side of the city. A single ship rested on a flat surface, a small Patrol ship. Its lights blinked, pale blue and green.
"Our way out when we're through," Vance breathed into my ear.
"Go with the blessings of Sekkitass," Kishtosnitass answered. "When the Eggstone has been returned to its rightful power."
I touched the scaled shoulder, powerful and sinewy under the rough tunic. Kishtosnitass tolerated it. I had no other way to express my feelings. Words were inadequate.
He blinked his yellow eyes. "My friend," he said in heavily accented Basic.
"A true friend," I answered.
"Then tomorrow, Sekkitass drinks the blood of our enemies."
"All of it."
"A little bloodthirsty, aren't you?" Vance asked.
"Not nearly enough yet," I answered.
Chapter 13
Time crept by. I slept little, waking at every noise during that long day. Vance seemed oblivious. He snored quietly, tucked into a crevice of the ridge. I huddled under a bush not far from him. It was too hot to need the blanket. I used it as a pillow.
The sun moved slowly across the cloudless sky. Something small skittered over my hand. I ignored it. The wind tugged at my bush. Sand settled into my clothes. I pulled off my boots and wriggled my feet through a cooler spot. And then picked thorns out of my toes. I put my boots back on and tried to sleep. I finally managed more than a doze during the hottest part of the afternoon.
I woke instantly when Kishtosnitass touched my shoulder. The sky overhead was deep orange, painted with sunset light. "It is time," he said.
I nodded and sat. The Sessimoniss moved away, slipping silently along the ridge. My stomach fluttered as if I had tiny lizards trapped inside. I swallowed, mouth suddenly dry. I felt a wave of anticipation from the Eggstone, weak and faint but noticeable. I found our waterskin and drank. And then needed desperately to use the bathroom. I crawled farther downslope where the bushes were thicker and took care of it.
Vance waited for me at the top of the ridge with six Sessimoniss warriors. They looked mean, they were all old and scarred. They tucked their spears down and watched me. I couldn't tell what they were thinking.
"Run swiftly," I was told. "We swing around to the north and through the city to the hidden door you spoke of."
I nodded. There was nothing left to say. I looked up and saw Vance watching me. His face was unreadable in shadow. He gave me a thumbs up, sign of everything ready.
We ducked over the top of the ridge, keeping low as we scrambled down the far side. The Sessimoniss set a quick pace along a gully at the bottom of the slope, trotting rapidly. I did my best to keep up. Adrenaline helped.
The night grew darker. A skiff of clouds drifted across the sky, dimming the glowing nebula. We kept going, picking our way through gullies, working around to the north.
Bits of pavement began to appear underfoot. Broken walls rose to follow our path for short distances before disappearing once more under the sand. We curved around. The buildings grew more intact, the pavement less covered in drifting sand. The night grew darker as the clouds overhead built up.
We halted in the shadow of an ornately carved wall. We moved as silently as possible. We heard the beat of an engine running, echoing down the empty streets. A faint glow of yellow light outlined a building not far away.
"We grow close," the Sessimoniss warrior with the most scars whispered to me. "Find us your door. We have little time left."
I nodded and tried to show more confidence than I felt. I hadn't exactly taken notes the last time. I was running for my life. I led away from the wall, looking for something I recognized.
The bulk of the Eggstone's temple rose in front of me, a solid wall of stone for the first fifteen feet. I glimpsed dark windows above that, set back in terraces. I leaned against a wall across a narrow street and tried to remember which way I needed to go. I couldn't remember. I picked at random and headed to my left.
A sudden burst of talk made me freeze. My heart beat harder, thundering in my chest. I had to wipe sweaty hands down my legs and breathe deeply before I could keep going. I had to do this, I told myself. Get the Eggstone to its altar and then I could run for the Patrol ship. And I could go home.
Vance nudged me. He looked a question at me, one eyebrow raised.
I started moving again. The Eggstone was stirring. I felt it prodding its way into my mind. I tried to relax and let it in. It was weak, pitifully so. Memories stirred. My mind cleared. The Sessimoniss had no fuzzy thoughts, no half r
emembered memories. They knew clearly, saw without any shading of the truth. The Eggstone rearranged my mind to fit the pattern it knew best.
We turned a corner, a smooth curve of wall. A massive gate hung brokenly halfway down. One hinge was broken. I knew where I was. Tayvis and I had broken the gate when we were here before. I ran across the road and through the gate.
The courtyard held nothing but drifts of sand and dead weeds. High above me, farther than I could possibly jump, was a row of carved screens. I studied them in the shadowy night. The clouds thickened, hiding the light of the nebula.
"There," I whispered, pointing at the second one from the right. It hung open just the slightest amount.
"If I boost you, can you reach the ledge?" Vance asked.
"Do I have a choice?"
He crouched down, cupping his hands. I stepped off with my good foot. My other foot landed on his hands. He threw me upwards as I pushed off his hands. I reached, stretching my arms high up. I barely caught on the edge of the wide ledge in front of the screens. I hung for a moment, gathering my strength. I heaved and scrabbled my way onto the ledge. Vance backed away and ran at the wall. He jumped and grabbed hold next to me. He swung up and made it look easy.
He was still outdone by the Sessimoniss. Being almost eight feet tall probably helped. They seemed to levitate up to the ledge. They leaned on the carved screens, waiting for me.
I found the corner Tayvis had broken out of the screen. I blinked back tears. This was not the time to wonder where he was. I had to get free before I could worry about him again. I laced my hands through the screen and tugged. Nothing happened. I kicked it, the sound echoing loud in the night. I heard the latch inside click.
I stood, wedging my hands into the screen. I pulled, straining every muscle. It gave, barely, then stuck. Vance stood behind me, his arms reaching around me. His fingers laced into the screen above mine.
"On three," he breathed in my ear. "One. Two. Three."
We pulled together. The screen cracked and swung open. I almost fell off the ledge. One of the Sessimoniss caught my arm and pulled me around the screen. I stumbled into the room. Vance was right behind me, using the screen to swing himself around and in. The Sessimoniss crowded behind.
"Close it," I whispered.
Someone pulled the screen closed.
We were in the bedroom of the suite reserved for the Eggstone's high priestess. The Sessimoniss shuffled nervously. It was taboo for them to be here. The Eggstone was feeding me thoughts, sluggishly coming more alive bit by tiny bit.
I crossed the room, out through a wide archway into a narrow courtyard. Plants lined the walls. They weren't lush and green. They were dried and dead. I didn't stop. I kept going through another courtyard into the room beyond. The backless couches that had been there before were broken and smashed. I picked my way through the rubble to the door. It was torn from its hinges to lie on the floor of the hallway beyond.
The altar lay to my right, through yet another arch.
*No,* the Eggstone said in my mind, a thread of its past presence. *They have moved the altar. They think to take it with them.*
"Where is it?" I asked the Eggstone. I unfastened my shipsuit and pulled it out, cradling it in my hands.
Directions flowed into my mind, the layout of the entire temple complex. I moved quickly, stepping around the shattered furniture.
The others followed as I hurried through hallways. The invaders had dragged the skystone altar to the main balcony above the entrance. They hadn't found a way to get it down the stairs. It sat at an angle at the top of the stairs, straps and equipment scattered around it.
I stopped, deliberately slowing my breathing. I stepped forward, as ceremoniously as if I wore the heavy robes of the Priestess. I raised the Eggstone in both hands and gently placed it in the center of the altar.
*Release me,* the Eggstone commanded, its voice stronger and more forceful than before.
I let go and stepped back. The Sessimoniss gathered around the altar. It glowed blue, building brighter every second. The hair on my arms stood up. I backed another step and ran into Vance.
I turned to look at him. He watched the altar, his face lit by the bright blue light. He glanced down, his eyes moving to meet mine. What I saw in his face stopped me cold. I saw respect and something more in his eyes.
"We should go," I said, stepping away.
He didn't respond.
The Sessimoniss gave voice to a loud shout. It echoed, growing louder, rolling through the stone building. I turned back. The altar was blinding. The Eggstone was a single point of light resting on it, burning bright as a star. The warriors raised their spears, chanting an ancient war song.
There were shouts outside. And an answering Sessimoniss warcry. The warriors charged down the stairs as the door to the temple flew open. Invaders crowded in, shouting and angry. The Sessimoniss crashed into them, spears raised. They pushed the invaders out through the doors. A single crumpled figure lay on the floor.
*GO!* the Eggstone shouted in my mind. Power poured from it in waves. I felt the urge to rush out, to fight. I had the ancient blaster in my hand and was halfway down the stairs before I realized it.
Vance was right on my heels. He caught my arm at the bottom of the stairs. "To the west. The ship, Dace."
I stared at him, dazed and confused for a moment. I raised my hand, claws ready to rake his face, my crest standing up. I shook my head and let my hand drop. I wasn't Sessimoniss. The sounds of fighting echoed from the square outside. I shifted towards it, ready to rush to battle with the warriors. Vance took my shoulders, turning me to face him.
His touch pulled me out of the Eggstone's thoughts. It reminded me I was human, not Sessimoniss. I swayed, suddenly tired. He pulled me close. I leaned on him, feeling his warmth, his humanness.
Something exploded outside. I pushed away from him.
"This way," I said, heading for a narrow hallway across the wide room.
Vance caught up to me as I pushed a closed door, listening as I eased it open. The hall beyond was dark and silent. He reached for my hand.
I pulled my hand free and ran down the hall to a narrow door. I opened it without looking and ran into the alley beyond.
It twisted around, bringing us back to the main plaza. I stopped, crouching to peer out.
The sound of fighting had receded, pushed back into streets. It was part of the plan. Lure them away from their ships and their machines. Take them down one by one. I could see some standing near their ships, looking into the distance.
"We're clearing out," one of them shouted. The language was changed, accents different, but I still understood it. I shivered, remembering Vallius and running through the night, through jungle, thick and damp. I rested my face on the cool stone wall and took a deep breath. This was not Vallius. We had a way out. The Eggstone was blocking their weapons. We were going to escape.
"Look," Vance whispered urgently. He pushed my shoulder, turning me to face the plaza.
A string of men shuffled past. They wore mostly Patrol uniforms, exploration blue and regular silver. They wore bands on their necks. Something in me snapped at the sight. I shifted forward. Vance put his arm around me and hauled me backwards.
"We have to help them," I said, fighting him.
"We can't, Dace. We help them most by getting back to Lowell."
One of them might be Tayvis. I had to help them. We had no way to help. I'd dropped the blaster in the temple. As if it would have been any use. I sagged back, leaning on Vance. He was right. We had to get our information back to those with the resources to help.
"Let's go," he whispered.
I pushed myself away from him. I got to my feet. I pointed out, across the plaza to the mound of the Council Chamber.
"Just around that," I said. "There's a wide road that leads straight west."
He nodded. I felt his breath on my cheek. I turned away from him, looking for a glimpse of the prisoners. They were gone. The invade
rs milled around, collecting equipment. The sound of fighting was coming closer again.
"Go," Vance said. He nudged me.
"Escapees!" The shout rang out behind us.
I ran for the road beyond the council chamber, Vance right behind me.
A blast of energy washed over my side. Whatever the Eggstone was blocking, it wasn't this weapon. Pain burned down my side as my muscles quit listening to my brain. I stumbled and fell, rolling awkwardly over stone. My face scraped on rough grit. I ended up on my side, staring at the ships. I couldn't move my head. I could twitch one hand, but that was it.
"I'll be glad to get off this planet," a voice said, coming close to me.
"We're leaving tonight," another voice answered. "As soon as we round up a few skins to take back with us. Only thing here worth bothering over."
"You know what that weird light is?" the first voice asked. He was almost on top of me now.
"Who knows? This place has more traps and weird things." The voice trailed off. "These aren't ours."
A foot rolled me over, not very gently. I stared at the sky overhead. And at a face that could have starred in vids. He was handsome, his hair a dark honey color. He stared down at me, gray eyes frowning. "A female? There weren't any in the manifests."
"They aren't the natives," the other one answered.
"That ship that crashed weeks back?" the one standing over me ventured. "We never did find any trace."
"It blew up."
"After it landed."
"Doesn't matter. Let's get these in the ship."
I was picked up like a bundle of laundry, draped over a shoulder like a sack. I got a good view of pavement.
They walked up a ramp. We entered their ship. The floor was dark blue material that absorbed sound. It glowed. They didn't go far. I heard a door slide open. I was tossed into the room, as if they didn't care what damage they did.
I didn't hit the floor. I hit people. They caught me and rolled me out of the way as the door slid shut. I hurt. Whatever weapon they'd used was more powerful than the wands of the colonists of Vallius. Every nerve on the right side of my body burned. I closed my eyes, wishing I could just die and get it over with.
