“See?”
“Promise,” Mae frowns. “Promise you’ll come back.”
“I’m coming back,” I drop my hands, keeping focus on her while heading for the group, “before you know it, we’ll all be back.”
Forcing a nod, she bites her lip, watching as I rejoin the Rogues. Walker also watches, his own uncomfortable frown curving over his lips. Offering a final wave, I clasp Reid and Able’s hands while Tucker and Clarence close off the rest of our circle. Sampson, Jace, Werzo, Booker and Vix complete the second unit, standing only feet away.
“Alright,” Clarence grins, “you all know the drill.”
I glance once more at Pratt and Mae, trying to memorize their faces. Pratt’s forcing a smile but Mae doesn’t even try. She doesn’t want us to go and it stings me somewhere deep inside. But suddenly, the familiar boost of energy lights under my feet and the girls disappear altogether, replaced by the familiar lavender fogginess.
Chapter Twenty-Six: Return
This is fun, isn’t it? Clarence’s voice rings in my mind, his closed mouth set in a wide grin. The purple smoke billows around his face as everyone glances at each other, all floating heads in the blurring lavender background.
It definitely beats waiting around an airport.
Clarence’s eyes find mine. Don’t think I’ve had the pleasure.
That’s because it’s not, Reid’s voice echoes. Consider yourself lucky.
Clarence frowns. Hmm… I’ll remember that.
So we’re going to Mybyncia? Able looks between myself, Reid and Clarence.
Yes, Clarence’s voice answers. The rest of you will have to get him situated. We won’t be there for very long, but he’ll need help with the Stancimis and geography of the FH.
What’s a Stancimis?
Reid’s laugh echoes in my head. You’ll find out.
The lavender fog dissipates just as a crisp, cloudless sky and an endless sapphire ocean appear in its place. My feet land on Mybyncia’s uneven shore and it takes me a second to get my balance. Able does the same, nearly falling to the sand but he catches himself before he does. Sampson and his group arrive a moment later, landing a few yards up the shore. Spotting us, they make their way over as Able gapes wide-eyed at the new surroundings. “It’s a beach.”
“We’re only on the shore,” I smirk. “Just wait.”
“So they’re…” his sights flicker to the ocean.
“Yup. Completely submerged.”
Able grips his neck. “I’m not a very good swimmer.”
“You don’t need to be,” Clarence motions toward Sampson who is venturing for the pile of black suits and headgear. They’re layered in a tall heap near one of the closest limestone walls where we left them.
“Just enough,” Sampson distributes the black gear. “Suit up.”
“What’re these?” Able frowns, glancing over the material. He looks up. “They don’t come with pants, do they?”
“Not that I’m aware,” Clarence grins. “But you’ll need it to survive underwater, which is where we’re headed so,” he indicates Able to do so, “let’s get a move on.”
After a few minutes, when we’re all suited up with our headgear fastened, Sampson stands at the water’s edge, his arms raised. He has his back to us so I’m not exactly sure what’s happening. A couple seconds pass before the water starts rolling in heavier and then, suddenly, a gray Stancimis emerges.
“What the…?” Able backpedals to Reid and me.
“Gala,” Sampson coos with adoration before turning to the rest of us. With his arm outstretched, he indicates our approach. “Shall we?”
Clarence ushers us forward, guiding Able by his shoulder. “Here we go. Everyone up.”
Hesitant, Able frowns at her size, concentrating heavily on the red eyes which seem to pin him with interest.
“She’s not going to bite,” Jace mocks. “Not if you don’t give her a reason to.”
“Listen Rogue Commander,” Able nervously chuckles, “you’ve had a while to acclimate. I’m sure you weren’t so calm the first time you saw one of these.”
Jace grins. “Cool as a cucumber.”
“Yeah, I bet.”
“It’s fine, Able,” I offer my hand. “Come on.”
Still reluctant, and with a final look over of Gala’s intimidating form, he accepts my assistance and carefully climbs up. I show him how to grasp the hardened craters and secure his feet in the pockets on her back. Once he’s hooked into place, he looks to me with a worrisome frown. “This thing’s safe right?”
“She’s safe.”
“Does it go fast?”
“Her name is Gala and she’s actually pretty slow…” I glance at Reid with a secret smile, “…compared to the Millix.”
“The what?”
But Gala submerges the next second, stealing Able’s attention. He desperately clings to her back, pressing his face between her scaled craters with his eyes shut tight.
“What—are you afraid of water or something?” Jace laughs.
Able flattens himself to Gala even more. “It’s the drowning part I’m most terrified of.”
“You’re not going to drown,” Clarence says, “not if you keep your suit on any time you leave the FH. Do that and you’ll be fine.”
“What’s the FH?”
“Foreign Headquarters,” I explain. “Where we’re staying.”
“At least for the night,” Sampson adds. “Hopefully Qippert will be properly healed so he can take us to Blovid in the morning. From there, we’ll regroup and return to Nerwolix for Mae and Pratt.”
“Do you really think it’ll take a week?” I ask.
“I don’t see why it should take any more than a couple of days.”
“I feel bad leaving them.”
“Don’t,” Sampson reassures. “They’re guarded and will be kept well-fed. The Zingfinolds, though highly dangerous to outsiders, are very protective of one another.”
“But they’re not tribesmen.”
“Tucker is, and in his absence they will be treated as such.”
I allow Sampson’s words to console me as the image of their anxious faces decreases. It’s not like we’re leaving them there forever. Just for a few days until we can drop off the Nazuals, pick up Blovid and head back. We need to leave Mybyncia with a renewed sense of power and regroup with the Dofinike leader of the Arizals. It’s only a few days. I tell myself this over and over but it never seems to ease the guilt of leaving them.
Gala pulls right into the Docking Station, Able’s eyes growing wide as he takes in the architecture and size of the grand, bulbous space. “Holy…”
“Yup,” I nod, following his stare. “That’s pretty much what we said.”
“It’s huge!”
“And that’s what she said,” Jace grins, flexing his brows before jumping down from the Stancimis and into the less crowded station. The rest of the Rogues follow, even Able, who’s nearly drooling at the gargantuan space. “Pull it together, Commander.”
“I’ve been up in trees this whole time. You’ve been here…” Able cranes his neck back, “…in Triton’s palace.”
“With these underwater mayans,” Jace grins again as a group of giggling attendants pass.
“It’s good to be home,” Werzo agrees, looking after the same cluster.
“Alright boys,” Clarence shakes his head with an amused grin. “We need to locate the queen or chancellor and get this antidote distributed as quickly as possible,” he turns to Sampson. “Think they moved Qippert?”
“Wouldn’t make sense with such a wound. He’ll be in the same space.” Sampson leads the way to the attendant’s room where we spent our last few days after the toxin broke out.
We all follow along with swift, eager steps, except for Able, who keeps stopping to stare at things. “How big is this place?”
“Pretty big,” Reid slings his arm over Able’s shoulder, “and currently filled with sick Mybyncians. The water’s contaminate
d right now so they won’t be able to leave until it’s cleaned itself out.”
“So they’re just waiting?”
“And to get healed,” I add. “Hence the Nazual.”
He nods along. “Got it.”
We arrive at the enormous coral door and after Sampson pushes it back, our entire group enters to find Queen Ravan, Chancellor Keller, Princess Sansa and Princess Varille all gathered around the central bed. The queen glances up, probably expecting to see Mallup or another attendant but she stops at our sight, her face paling.
“You have returned.”
Chancellor Keller’s head snaps up. “Fychu?”
“Yes,” Sampson steps closer, “we’ve returned and…” he shifts the bag from his hip to his stomach and gives it a pat, “with a lasting supply of Nazual, I hope.”
The queen’s eyes grow wide with disbelief as she glances between Sampson, Clarence and the Chancellor. She rises with a forlorn expression, leaving Qippert’s bedside to cross the room. Both princesses watch, neither affected by our return or news. I shift to locate Ariana on the other side of the bed but she’s not there.
“Fychu,” Queen Ravan approaches, her voice strained as if it’d been overused or possibly cried out. “You have shown us great kindness once again. We are forever indebted to you.”
“Your debt can be filled by aligning yourselves with the Arizals,” he removes the bag, handing it over to Chancellor Keller.
“We have already done that,” he takes the satchel and glances in. His face visibly relaxes before he wipes the expression clean, looking to Sampson with grave intent. “What else can be done?”
“Nothing more,” the Fychu shakes his head, “we didn’t assist to exploit reward. Only support when it’s needed.”
“Anything,” he nods, handing the bag to the queen and stepping closer, “please—what happened? When you did not return last night…”
“We were captured as expected and brought before Hozfin.”
“They showed mercy because you are a Fychu?”
“Ironically,” Clarence laughs, “that had nothing to do with it.”
“I could have been a Nerwo for all they cared,” Sampson explains. “We were trespassers and treated as such. I think the thing that saved us was Vix here,” he gestures to her, “and the other humans she’d inadvertently transported during the Vermix invasion.”
“How so?”
“The Zingfinolds kill nearly all trespassers. When Vix arrived, Hozfin kept them alive because the group contained females and because of their genetic similarities. He offered for one of their group to obtain a Zingfinold status by completing their three-task initiation procedure. One of the humans volunteered and the rest were allowed to stay on as ‘guests.’”
“And you were allowed to stay on as guests as well?”
“No. One of our own had to make the same sacrifice.”
“Who?” the queen glances around the Rogues. “Where are the other two? Your females?”
“They stayed behind so Tucker could return with us.”
“What are you talking about?” she frowns.
“Tucker,” Sampson indicates, “is the one who has pledged himself a Zingfinold tribesman, but once you have been initiated, you’re unable to leave. We worked it out so Pratt and Mae will hold his spot while Tucker returns with us to help distribute the Nazual.”
The queen still looks affronted. “So the younger females have stayed behind with the barbarians?”
“They are not barbarians,” Vix says. “And they are perfectly safe.”
“How can you be sure?”
“I would trust my life to the Zingfinolds. And that is not something I offer lightly.”
“I see…” Queen Ravan drops to the bed, shifting focus back to Sampson. “But you will be returning for them?”
“Yes,” Sampson nods. “Once Qippert is well enough, we will reconvene with Blovid on Nerwolix… figure out what the next phase is.”
“How’s he doing?” Clarence approaches the bed. “A little better?”
“He will not be ready to travel for another day or two,” Chancellor Keller shakes his head, “but he is healing nicely.”
“Good.”
“And Hozfin?” the chancellor looks to Sampson. “Have you explained…?”
“Yes,” he sighs with hesitance, “…but at this time, he doesn’t feel it’s necessary to intervene on behalf of the Arizals.”
“No one is asking him to intervene,” the queen scoffs, “but surely he must be concerned about the protection of his people?”
“Hozfin feels they’re not in danger. The Zingfinolds are a powerful and lethal race. They have confidence in their abilities to ward off any intruders.”
“Ignorance,” the queen scoffs again, shaking her head with disgust.
“Pride,” Clarence corrects. “The Three Worlds have never been at war with each other. He can’t predict the troubles that lie ahead.”
“Like I said—ignorance. If he was a smart king, he would take the council of the Fychu.”
“He’s doing what he feels is best right now and that’s believing in the potential and strength of his people. King Hozfin has never met a foe he couldn’t defeat,” Sampson shrugs. “He assumes this will be no different.”
“Not if the foe’s got an army one hundred thousand strong…” Clarence shifts.
“When the time comes—and it will—Hozfin will be pulled into this. Thankfully, we’ve already got two Arizal tribesmen on board.”
The chancellor nods while Queen Ravan continues to shake her head.
“Well,” Clarence rubs his hands together. “It’s probably time to start passing out the Nazaul. Let’s get everyone healed, shall we?”
“How do we administer it?” Princess Sansa eyes the bag.
“A simple matter of ingestion,” Sampson explains. “It was let loose in the water and you breathed it into your system. We’ll just have to do something similar.”
“In the water?” Chancellor Keller raises a brow.
“No. We don’t want anyone getting exposed all over again if the water is not fully cleared yet. I would suggest incorporating the antidote within the food. That way, there won’t be a maddening rush and the Mybyncians will ingest it naturally.”
“Good idea,” the chancellor nods, turning toward the edge of the bed. “Princess Varille, please call Mallup and the others. Have them arrive immediately.”
She bows, silently leaving the room.
“How much do you think they would need?” Chancellor Keller returns his focus to Sampson. “We are still unsure of the amount of toxin that was used.”
“We’ve got enough, but I’d like to test smaller doses first. I’d assume only a tiny sprinkling of the Nazaul’s dust will be sufficient. We can always add more for their mid-morning meal and late-afternoon break if need be.”
“Yes, Fychu,” Chancellor Keller bows again.
“Let’s get you and the princesses treated first, and then we can move on to addressing the others.”
The chancellor looks to the queen, hesitant and forlorn. But she’s drifted into her own despair, her saddened eyes fixated on the ground. Something has shifted in the room, like a cold wind has blasted through. It’s obvious to everyone, but Sampson asks the question.
“What is it?”
The queen makes no move to answer and Chancellor Keller inhales deeply. After a long, painful minute, he finally looks up, a grave expression marring his sage face. “Princess Ariana is gone.”
“What?” Sampson’s eyes widen. “When did this happen?”
“Only a little while after you left. She was fetching the attendants and never returned. No one saw where she went.”
“It was Perio,” Tucker growls in a low, lethal tone behind me. He’s next to Reid and oozing aggression like I’ve never seen, like he’s about to lose it, about to go off the deep end and take everyone with him.
“Yes…” the chancellor agrees, “…we have our s
uspicions it was him.”
“Any idea where he would’ve taken her?” Sampson asks.
“We have no doubt she is unharmed…” the chancellor sighs. “But no, no idea.”
“Obviously you checked the Musko lair?” I ask.
“We have combed through it, most thoroughly. No sign of anyone.”
“But they haven’t left,” I look to the queen. “You said you’d be aware if any Mybyncians left?”
“Oh they are here…” the chancellor exhales, “we just do not know where. We have no fear that Perio means to do the princess any harm. On the contrary—she is probably being treated extremely well. The danger lies in the fact that she is infected. If she does not get the antidote…”
“Perio has it. He’ll make sure she’s taken care of.”
“But where has he gone?” the queen finally speaks, a deep anger underlying her tone. “Where has he taken my child?”
Princess Varille returns, Mallup and three other attendants following her into the room, all immediately recognizing the tense air. Mallup moves closer, and, keeping her head lowered, speaks to Keller.
“You wished to see us, Chancellor?”
“Yes…” he sighs, reaching for the bag. “The Fychu and his friends have returned with the antidote. When you distribute food later and in the upcoming meals, you need only break the Nazual open and sprinkle a little of its dust on each portion of food served.”
“Yes, your Grace,” she looks up.
“Do not be stingy, but do not pour on the entire contents either. We want to distribute tiny doses,” he reaches for a handful of the buds but before dispensing them in her open palms, pulls back. “And do not let them know what you are doing. If they ask about the antidote, tell them to remain calm and that we are still working on it. A good thing can be just as dangerous as a bad thing if people overreact.”
“Yes, Chancellor.”
“Very good,” he drops the handful of buds in her open hand, motioning them away. Once the attendants have disappeared, a long moment of silence passes.
“And there’s nothing that can be done to reclaim her?” Clarence frowns.
“Not at this point,” the chancellor shakes his head. “We will only be notified when or if they leave. And if they do…”
Plague of Mybyncia Page 37
