by T R Kerby
Neva squealed with delight and tapped it from the square with an equally large emerald. "I win!"
"You always win," Thera said.
Neva frowned. "Do you let me?"
"No. You're good at this game. You beat me fair."
"When are Ma and Da coming back?" Neva scooped the gems into a shimmering pile in the middle of the board.
"I don't know. Soon I hope."
"I'm hungry." Neva darted into the cave.
Thera gathered the game pieces and lay them inside the velvet lined box. "Where did you come by this game?" she asked Murdoc.
"Stole it."
"So, you're a common thief?"
Murdoc stretched and yawned. "No. I'm an uncommon thief."
"Have you never wanted to be anything better?"
"Better? By whose standards? I'm good at what I do."
"But you take things that aren't yours." Thera sat up and crossed her legs.
"A bauble here and there hardly matters. I've had far more important things taken from me."
"Such as?"
"Dreams of being something better."
"Who did that?" Talking to Murdoc was like calming a skittish horse. One wrong move and she'd be gone.
"Why do you ask so many questions?"
"Curiosity is how we learn."
"Where I come from, curiosity can hurt you." Murdoc hugged her knees to her chest and rested her chin on top.
"Where's that?"
"Are you five?"
"I can't help it." Thera shrugged. "I've never met anyone like you. You're different. Interesting."
Murdoc examined her fingernails. "I come from a place I hope you never see, though the land is beautiful. Filled with mountains caressing the bluest skies and streams filled with fish. The trees are so tall you can see the border of the world from their tops."
As Murdoc talked, her face glowed and Thera realized she was beautiful. Her softness unveiled from behind a stony wall of emotional fortification.
"The sea pounds against the rocky shore until your chest rumbles," Murdoc continued. "Great seals cover the shores, their bodies glistening in the sun. Wind as fresh as flowers blows off the water." She stopped suddenly and gazed into the distance. The mask that concealed her inner world slid firmly into place and she got to her feet. "You ask too many questions."
Neva walked from the cave holding a half-eaten plum.
Murdoc scooped her up and swung her onto her hip. "And what are you eating, my little gem?"
Neva offered the plum and Murdoc took a bite. "Mmmm. Sweet, like you." She kissed her cheek and carried her inside.
A few moments later, Deru and Brannon barreled from the cavern, two wild animals set loose. Deru and Neva adored Murdoc and she lavished attention on them. Brannon rebuffed her advances and refused to talk to her, save for the same five words over and over. I want to go home. After several weeks, Thera noticed that Murdoc had abandoned her efforts and avoided him.
The boys flopped into the grass next to Thera. Their guard took up position a short distance away. He propped himself against a gnarled oak and studied the surrounding forest, picking his teeth with a sharpened twig.
"I want to see Neva," Brannon said. "Where's my sister?"
"She's inside," Thera said. "She's fine, Bran, truly."
"Why can't she play with us?" Deru asked as he weaved grass stalks into even strips.
"She just can't right now."
"But why?"
"Because Murdoc is scared of us," Brannon said.
"Pfft. Why?" Deru swatted Brannon with his grass braid. "You're not scary."
Brannon didn't respond but got to his feet. He tugged Deru with him. "Remember the game we talked about?"
"Yeah?"
"Let's play it now."
"What game?" Thera asked.
"Annoy the guard."
Before she could stop him, Brannon ran across the clearing and kicked the guard as hard as he could in the side of the knee.
"Brannon!" Sweet Alimarae, what was he doing? Thera jumped to her feet and chased after him.
The guard lunged for him, but Brannon darted and zigged among the trees, evading the larger man. He dived under bushes, emerged on the other side, and stuck his tongue out.
"Someone needs to teach you respect." The guard swiped at Brannon as he bolted for the cavern and caught him by the collar. He swung him around and raised his fist.
Thera latched onto his wrist. "Stop it!"
He shoved her away and pointed at Brannon's face. "Touch me again, boy, and you won't survive the night." He propelled Brannon against Thera's legs. "Keep a tighter leash on your pups." He rubbed his knee and returned to his tree.
Thera knelt in front of Brannon. "Are you okay?"
He nodded and took his lower lip between his teeth.
"What do you think you're doing? Goading him. He could hurt you."
Brannon rolled his eyes. "He won't hurt me. Murdoc won't let him. I can do anything I want."
She took him by the shoulders. "Don't do anything like that again. Understand? Murdoc might not be around. I might not either."
"She's not your friend. You're fooled by her, but I'm not. I'll never forget what she is."
Thera sank onto her heels. "What do you believe she is?"
"The one who stole us. The one who made my Da go away. I hate her."
"You have to underst—"
"No. I don't. I have to be smarter than the rest of you. For your own good." A grin crept onto his face and he winked at her. "Neva's not the only one who wins games."
Chapter 15
Aric sat on a rock next to Tegedir as his commander brushed the snow from his bare foot. Their extra clothes were lost when the Advantage ran aground. It wouldn't be long before Tegedir got frostbite. Losing the boot and sock wasn't trivial and they must find something to substitute. He should have killed the bear.
Randir grabbed Caeth by the shirt and slammed him against a tree. "How did you know what hunted us?"
Caeth cringed away but didn't go for his weapons. "Seen them before. Murdoc brought us here once, but we couldn't cross Ilok lands. Ice bears infested the coastline. Could smell them from the ship. Reeked of the seals they ate."
"You never mentioned you'd been here. Forgot that detail, did you?"
"I haven't been to this place exactly. We came ashore farther north. Never went inland. Too dangerous."
Randir released him with a final shove. The little weasel made Aric's skin crawl.
"I could have saved myself and let you get eaten, but I didn't." Caeth straightened his tunic. "When will you realize you can trust me?"
"When you tell us what you're hiding," Trinn said.
"Who are you that Murdoc chose you to come along?" Tegedir asked. "She wouldn't pick a mere cabin boy for something that means this much to her. So why you?"
Caeth shrugged and brushed the hair from his eyes. "She's partial to me."
The clouds to the northeast parted and blue sky shone through. A bald peak rose above the forested hills. Steam vented from numerous places on its slopes and rose in a plume from its crest. Aric pointed. "Look." It was three days hike if everything went perfectly. With snow to their knees and in hostile territory, it could be more than a week.
Tegedir balanced on one foot beside Aric, holding onto his shoulder for support. "Consolidate as much of the food as you can. I need the bags for a boot," he said. They gathered pine needles and the fine shreds from the underside of bark to stuff the bags, then Tegedir tied them around his foot. Better than nothing although not by much. Pine bark and needles protruded from the tops and poked in wild directions.
Aric failed to suppress his amusement.
"What?" Tegedir asked.
"Appears your foot got stuck in a porcupine."
"Laughing at a man down on his luck? That's wrong." His lip twitched into a smile.
"It's difficult to take someone seriously who wears a shrub on their foot."
"Better bush foot
than bear bait."
"This is how great tales get started." Trinn gestured dramatically. "The legend of bush foot, king of the wild."
"I'll be king of frostbite if I'm not careful." He lifted his pack and set off toward the volcano. "We need to find shelter before sunset."
As the sun touched the horizon, they discovered two fallen logs, one across the other, that formed a tight, workable shelter. They broke a few low branches from surrounding trees and plugged the holes to block the wind. The ground beneath was damp but not snow covered. They crawled inside and huddled together, sharing dried meat and thin bread. There was no dry fuel for a fire.
Aric leaned against the rotted log, drew his legs close to his chest, and lowered his forehead onto his knees. He slept, frequently jerking awake. His cramped muscles ached and cold penetrated his bones to the core. He rubbed his thighs to force some heat into them. His breath formed a misty cloud around his face.
At the first hint of light, Tegedir crawled from the shelter and the others followed.
"Should have made a coat from that bear." Aric scrubbed at his biceps and bounced on the balls of his feet.
"You'll be warm enough when we get moving," Trinn said.
"It's the stopped times that worry me. Won't be any egg stealing if we're frozen into icicles."
They came to the end of the woods. A vast plain stretched before them. Wind-forced snow skittered across the flat surface in swirling waves, sculpted cornices into the crust, and pushed it into drifts wherever a rock or bush slowed its pace.
Aric squinted against the harsh glare. A scar of river split the land mid-way between them and the dark line of opposing woods. Black water interspersed with stretches of white-blue ice. There would be no shelter on such a flat expanse. Their only hope of not freezing when the sun set was to make it all the way across.
He glanced at the sun's position and met Tegedir's gaze. His commander clearly read his mind. They'd be hard pressed to find shelter by nightfall if they continued. In Tegedir's eyes, Aric also saw the edgy flash of desperate fear. The man hid it well, but it colored his every decision now. He needed their support, and their protection. "We lose a whole day if we wait," Aric said.
Tegedir chose a route toward the thickest looking river ice. Hopefully it wasn't an illusion.
Blowing snow stung Aric's cheeks raw and the harsh light burned his eyes. Each stride challenged his endurance as the thin crust broke and he sank to his knees in the frothy powder beneath. They seldom spoke as the wind ripped the air from their lungs and sent the words, unheard, into the distance. His nose hairs froze and he tugged his cloak to his eyes.
The sun was past its zenith when they arrived at the river. The channel was wider than it seemed from their earlier vantage point. Ice sheeted most of its surface, but patches of smooth water showed through, deep and black.
"I'm heaviest so I'll cross first," Tegedir said. "Whoever is next, follow in my footsteps. If it holds me, it should hold each of you."
"I should go first," Randir said. "I'm not crucial to this mission."
Aric stifled the groan of disgust. Randir always inserted himself as the self-sacrificing hero. Brown-nosing son of a traitor. It was a matter of time before his bloodline took over and he betrayed them.
When did this hate, this anger, toward Randir begin? They'd always butted heads, but he'd respected the man, believed in his abilities and worked with him without trepidation or doubt. Not now.
"You're crucial to me." Tegedir clapped a hand on Randir's shoulder and stepped onto the river.
Their commander picked his way across the ice, testing each tread, changing course. Aric memorized the route he chose. He could swim, but he didn't fancy a dip in the dead of winter. He exhaled when Tegedir reached the far bank and waved.
"Trinn, you're next." Randir offered her an encouraging nod and she followed Tegedir across the ice.
Aric clenched his fists at his sides. A hasty glance at Randir showed the same tension in his stance, like a cat ready to pounce. Was that it? Was he jealous of Trinn and Randir? Trinn was his closest friend. Friend. That was it. She'd never looked at anyone besides Randir from the beginning. She gained the opposite shore and both men relaxed.
Caeth went next without incident. Skinny weasel could have crossed on a floating leaf.
"After you, traitorson." Aric gave Randir a shallow bow.
"I struggle every day with what my brother and father did. I don't need your reminders."
"Guilty conscience, huh?"
"I killed my own brother. The guilt comes from not recognizing what was happening to him."
Aric tapped his fist to his chest. "Touching."
"I don't know why I try to talk to you. Jealousy runs your mouth and your mind."
"Times wasting, Captain."
Randir left him with a last shake of his head.
Erien delighted in telling him what his problem was. He didn't need anyone else doing it. They had no idea what went on in his mind.
Tegedir helped Randir climb the far bank. Trinn embraced him, then they broke apart and faced his direction.
Aric gauged each step and tested the integrity of the ice before weighting it. He checked his route and adjusted to match the way the others had gone. At the middle of the channel, the ice was clear. Bubbles raced beneath it, driven by the strong current. It groaned, but no fractures appeared.
He tiptoed with meticulous precision, like a dancer completing complex movements. A sharp crack, audible above the screaming wind, issued from the ice. The sound paralyzed him. Another sharp crack. He reeled backward as the ice collapsed.
Chapter 16
Icy water sluiced over Aric's head. Heart-stopping cold locked his muscles and clenched his chest. A spike of pain shot through his ears. The current snatched at his legs and dragged him under. He grabbed the broken fringe of ice and hauled his head into the bitter air, gasping in a great breath before the ice shattered in his grip and the river yanked him free.
He clawed for purchase on the slick underbelly of the ice, but there was nothing to catch hold of. Blue sky teased him and he kicked his legs, fighting the river's relentless drag. His body screamed for air that was mere inches from his face, and completely beyond his reach. He couldn't die like this. Not drowned and frozen in the middle of nowhere. What about Erien? He was the only family she had.
He beat his fists against his ice-bound prison. Nothing happened. Sluggish limbs refused to continue.
Randir appeared above him, his figure distorted through the icy glass. He beat against the ice with his sword, then dropped it and jabbed white divots into the surface with his dagger. Didn't the fool know he would damage his blades? He wasn't a fool, though. Aric had to admit Randir wasn't all bad. He was a good leader to those who followed him. Aric wasn't one of them and never would be. Especially since he was about to drown. Was that a pang of regret? For dying, or not recognizing Randir's better qualities?
Randir slapped the ice above Aric's face in frustration and pointed down river. What was his problem now? Aric wanted to stop, sleep, drift off to somewhere cozy and comfortable and be left alone. Randir slapped the ice again and brought Aric's drifting mind back to attention. Again he gestured downstream. Aric stopped fighting and let the current carry him. Exhaustion made it easy.
They shouldn't bother with his body. Let the winter river keep it. He was too heavy to carry and there was no wood nearby for a pyre. He closed his eyes. So cold. Suddenly air stung his cheeks and his oxygen starved body gulped it in. Someone clenched his breastplate and heaved him toward the shore. He coughed and gagged as he crawled up the snowy bank.
Randir dragged him by the collar across the drifts and collapsed beside him, panting and dripping water.
"Now we'll both freeze to death," Aric said. "Well done, genius."
"You're welcome."
Tegedir, Trinn, and Caeth ran to them, struggling through the deep snow. Trinn knelt between them. She kissed Randir and put her palm on Aric's chest
. "Get up." When neither moved, she smacked their breastplates and stood. "Get out of those clothes now!"
“Th—th—thought you'd n—n—never ask." Aric's teeth chattered so violently the words could barely escape.
"Both of you," she said.
Aric glanced at Randir and he raised an eyebrow.
"What are you, twelve?" Trinn asked. "It's so cold there won't be anything to compare."
Aric's trembling fingers were beyond feeling. He fumbled at the strings on his leggings until Trinn shoved his hands away and untied them herself. Randir wisely remained silent.
She took their dripping clothes and wrung them as best she could while they waited, pale and naked, on the river bank. She passed them back and Tegedir helped them balance as they pulled on their wet leggings.
"My blade." Randir started up the ice, but Tegedir stopped him.
"I'll get it." Trinn ran upriver.
Tegedir took his cloak off and drew his dagger to cut it in half.
Caeth stopped him and removed his own cloak. He gave it to Aric.
Tegedir shoved his toward Randir. "Wrap those around your chests, then put your tunic and armor on."
"What about you?" Aric fumbled with the woolen cloak.
"Compared to you two, my bush boot is nothing. Let's go. No stopping until the trees."
Or everyone dies went unsaid, but it was true nevertheless.
Trinn intersected their route and caught them. She sheathed Randir's sword and forged ahead, gaining on Caeth as he broke a trail toward the forest.
Aric clenched his arms around his body as he trudged, focused on the dark tree line a lifetime away. His fingers twisted into stiff claws around the damp fabric of his own cloak. He was certain a second skin of thin ice encased him. He didn't bother to check.
Trinn and Caeth had a significant lead. They must be trying to get ahead enough to start a fire and build some semblance of shelter. Though what they might find to burn or to cower within, Aric couldn't imagine. "Why'd you come in after me?" Aric asked Randir, who walked a few steps behind.
"You're joking, right?"
"I've never been anything other than an ass to you."
