Hawk took a swab from the box and dipped it into the glowing tube, then lifted a shock-dart next to it. He must have used his hybrid power to generate a spark and light the swab on fire, because shock-darts did not have that feature. The swab glowed purple. Hawk dropped it to the ground and the ground cover caught fire, giving off an orange flame before Hawk stamped it out.
“Your Magistrate has openly confessed to being the child of a Questre. You have trusted her. She has confessed to inheriting spirit power,” Hawk continued. He motioned for the Magistrate’s hand, and she presented it palm face up. He pricked her finger, swabbed, and set the swab on fire. It burned purple, just as the previous swab had done.
“This is the blood of a human,” he said, repeating the test with Corin’s blood. This time, the swab glowed red. Once the tests were done, he packed away the materials and handed the box to the Magistrate.
“If you do not wish these two to return to your city, they are welcome to come with us. But I beg you to welcome them home,” Hawk finished. Collette repeated the words. Chief Torrance, the Secretary, and a few of the Princes were locked in a heated debate.
“Decision time,” Danny said. “Do you two feel safe to go home?”
“It is strange that you offer me protection after what I put you through. I’m surprised they let us get this far,” the Magistrate said mournfully.
“Well, we can’t all make weapons disappear like Layna, but we’re not completely without power,” Danny smirked.
Collette looked at Hawk. “Plan M?” she asked.
Hawk gave a slight nod. “Corin?”
Corin didn’t look like he liked the plan.
“Don’t step away unless his father approaches,” Collette said. “If they hurt me, then run.”
She squatted next to her son, kissed his face, and said good-bye. Then she ran to embrace her husband. Their kiss was brief, and she immediately started barking orders to the Princes, taking charge of the situation. Torrance seemed relieved and he backed her orders, since he was still technically in charge.
Hawk helped Corin to stand, and Corin shook in fear. Under the blanket wrapped around him, Danny could see the cuts on his arms, and wished he could give the man the luxury of a safe farewell.
“They don’t seem to be hurting her,” Danny said.
Corin’s father separated from the crowd, flanked by guards. The Magistrate looked pale and desperate. Corin let go of Hawk, and took a step toward his father, then he looked back soulfully at Hawk. The Magistrate and the guards surrounded Corin, cutting him off from Danny and Hawk. Hawk grabbed Danny’s elbow, and they ran for the ship. As soon as they were on board, Danny gave the order to take off. They’d have to fix the ‘sled and come back for Saskia later.
It was still morning when Oriana left Nola. The afternoon was filled with food, cat naps, medical treatment, and a frantic search for Saskia. Per Tray’s Plan M, they’d been expecting a call from the Madame Magistrate, and at sunset, they picked up a broadcast with a location. Corin had said goodbye and was ready to go.
Amanda hurried to the Lilac River, her heart racing, her ears filled with the sounds of crying spirits. It was the same kind of crying that first drew her to Layna, and she worried there were other half-breeds in the city that needed her help. Maybe it was the Magistrate’s plan to drive them all to the edge of the city—to exile the spirits and keep her son.
Amanda, Morrigan, and Haren were outside the dome, on the southeast side, near a path where the shepherds took their flocks in and out. Haren had warned them that wolf packs would be hunting, and so she’d brought a pulse rifle. Morrigan had a shock-dart, a stunner, and her medical kit.
“Set her down here,” Morrigan instructed Haren, touching one of the rocks along the riverbank. The river was narrow here and easy to cross. Lamplight leaked from the edge of the dome, and Amanda could hear the sounds of young lovers meeting for late night rendezvous on the other side.
Haren set Layna’s body down on the rock and backed away, hands on his hips. The moonless night offered nothing, and Amanda worried that if she turned on a Virp, she’d attract attention from the locals.
“She’s not glowing anymore. I don’t know what you hope to accomplish,” Haren said, touching the Feather they’d given him. He didn’t like talking through a translator in a language he was already bad at, but Hawk’s physical injuries made him a bad choice for this mission, and so they were stuck with Feather translators.
“It’s the same water as the other realm. Just because it doesn’t glow here, doesn’t mean it won’t heal her,” Amanda said, scooping the water with her hands and running it over Layna’s back. Her wings didn’t disappear anymore. They looked dried and papery.
“Feel her, child. She’s cold,” Haren said flatly.
“Maybe Galen can help her. We can take her to Terrana,” Amanda suggested.
“At which point, she’ll have been dead for days,” Morrigan said. “Even if that weren’t a problem for her body, what about her mind? When Galen brought you back, he had some memories to give you. He knew you when you were alive. He never knew her.”
“He raised her,” Amanda said, pointing to Haren. “He knew her.”
“I don’t want her back. I can teach a cursed child to hide. I can’t raise a half-breed,” he said. “I was already beyond my ability to care for her when you showed up.”
“I knew her,” Amanda tried, fighting for hope.
“For a day. And those memories that you have—of her being tied up by her uncle, of her accidentally killing her mother, of being shot—those are the only memories we’d be able to give back to her,” Morrigan said gently.
“Of swimming in the river. Of the lights and the food. She had a crush on Corin. I saw it in her eyes,” Amanda whimpered, crying on Morrigan’s shoulder. Layna had continued to glow for over an hour. There was no sign of a bullet wound. She should have been able to heal herself!
“Why make me carry her here? Why not gather the water and bring it back to the ship?” Haren griped.
“We’re here for Corin. The Magistrate said she would bring him,” Morrigan said.
“They’ll never be able to get away. The Prince of Law will be watching them too closely. I’m surprised they didn’t noose her the moment she stepped off your ship,” Haren said. “Corin is probably dead.”
“His mother will get him here,” Morrigan said firmly. “She promised to keep him safe, and since she can’t do it there, then she will find a way to bring him here.”
Haren hopped across the stones to the middle of the river and peered past the lamps. “The teenagers are out, so traveling has been deemed safe. The city isn’t on fire, and there are no gators passing this part of the river.”
“No riots and no murders,” Morrigan translated grimly. “Where are you going?”
“Home,” he said, hopping to the next stone. “I’ve hidden among my people for over a hundred years. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to reinvent myself.”
“Did you ever think about leaving? Going out in the world? Seeing the sights?” Morrigan asked.
The old doctor laughed. “I have many Questre to protect here. I failed Anna, but I won’t fail my others. I thank you for your help.”
“Don’t make any more half-breeds if you don’t intend to take care of them!” Amanda muttered. She wanted to shout, but she knew it wouldn’t be wise. The darkness soon swallowed up Haren Gossard. Amanda hated him for his neglect, but she’d seen Sky get just as blasé about the people she left behind. Spirit-carriers out-lived most of their human companions and had to look after themselves.
“How long do we wait?” she asked Morrigan.
“I promised Hawk we’d stay until they found Saskia,” Morrigan said, huddling beside her for warmth. “Hey, she’s starting to glow again.”
“That’s not her. That’s a Confluence. She stole it when she first came on board,” Amanda said, reaching into Layna’s pocket for the stone. She put it in Layna’s hand, but L
ayna’s fingers were too stiff to close around it, so she used her own hand to enclose it and complete the connection. Then Layna’s body disappeared and Amanda’s hand pressed into the mud.
“What happened? Where did she go?” Morrigan asked. “Did you sense who it connected to? Who was on the other side?”
“Not really,” Amanda sniffled, hugging her knees to her chest. “I hope it was someone who can help her.”
Saskia lay on the forest floor, panting for breath. Her body chilled with the outside air as darkness fell. Wind rustled the leaves and the ringing in her ears crescendoed again. She’d put the brace back on, but the broken leg was the least of her worries. She had no food, no water, and only a few weapons left. She’d used her Virp to set the timer on the car bomb, and she’d watched Oriana fly away hours ago, leaving her behind. The world’s longest day was coming to an end. Her stomach growled and she considered crawling back to the city and begging for mercy. She had no idea how the prisoner exchange had gone, but if it had gone well, the crew would have waited for her.
Her pelvis burned, her body yearning for relief. The drug-fueled lust faded, replaced by pain, and it felt like her old war injury was reopening. She’d had no home but Oriana since the war. Captain Winslow had been a civilian in the crowd. He saw her get shot, dragged her to safety, took her to the ship to patch her up, and told her she could stay as long as she wanted. She wondered how long it would take Tray to find the memories of him she had tucked away in her quarters. She worried for the grief and guilt he’d carry, leaving her behind when he went home to his son.
The ground trembled and wild dogs howled. Saskia drew her stunner, but on a moonless night, she was blind, and the explosions had left a ringing in her ears. A soft, red light came on and Saskia raised her stunner, taking aim.
“Don’t shoot,” Sky called, holstering her grav-gun and trotting faster. She tapped her Feather. “Oriana, I found her.”
“Tray?” Saskia murmured, her head dropping to the ground, banging against a tree root.
“He’s back on the ship, arguing with Danny about whether we need to take more hostages,” Sky said, kneeling beside her and tucking a warm coat over her shoulders. “I think he’s worried about losing the big room with the double bed, now that Hawk has his Prince on board. Are you hearing me?”
“Barely,” Saskia said, shoving her arms through the jacket, panting in relief. “How did you find me?”
“Fifteen hours of searching,” Sky replied, handing Saskia a canteen and scanning her with a medical Virp. “There was a pack of wolves closing in. I figured I’d find something bloody. I don’t suppose you can walk.”
“I can if I need to,” Saskia said. She gripped Sky’s arm and hefted herself into a sitting position. Her body felt stiff and weak. She drank more of the water.
They started to stand, but then Saskia lost her balance. Sky pulled Saskia over her shoulder, and took a moment to balance herself. Being upside down made the blood rush to Saskia’s head.
“Still with me?” Sky asked, adjusting her grip so it wouldn’t slip on Saskia’s coat.
Saskia laid her head on Sky’s arm, trying to keep her breathing steady. “Wake me if you need me to shoot someone?”
With a light-hearted chuckle, Sky took off walking. The only light was the glow of her Virp and the navigation program telling her which way to go.
“Yeah, Danny, I have her,” Sky said. She paused to listen. “No, she’s in bad shape.”
Saskia started zoning out, lulled by the steady rock of Sky’s footfalls, the immense pressure in her head, and the all-consuming ringing in her ears.
“About a half mile to the ‘sled,” Sky was saying. “Saskia, can you talk to Morrigan?”
Saskia thought about responding, but her head was too heavy to move and her arms were going numb.
“That’s a no,” Sky said, picking up her pace. “I’ll check in when we get to the ‘sled.”
The steady walk became a bouncy trot and Saskia clenched her fists, trying to grab onto Sky and failing.
“Tray,” she murmured, her thoughts trailing behind the conversation. She didn’t want to talk to Morrigan. She wanted to talk to Tray.
“Thirty minutes,” Sky promised. “He’ll be holding your hand again in thirty minutes.”
39
Danny murmured a prayer as he sat at the table, head down, hands clasped behind his neck. His crew was home, and rather than new trade opportunities or medicines, he’d collected a wealth of new injuries and a shiny new passenger. One who would require significant medical attention and resources before he’d become useful, but the teachings of Zive said to help the weak.
“Pray louder. I can’t close my eyes if you’re quiet,” Sky said, putting down the footrest of her chair and heading to the kitchen.
“Did you want to sleep?” Danny asked, lifting his head. He hadn’t heard her come in, and by the drool on his lips, he’d probably been asleep when she had.
“I think I’ll let the rest of you catch up first,” Sky said, filling a glass with water and drinking. They’d all been thirsty.
“That last vision about Rocan is still sitting with you?” Danny asked.
“Hawk’s hair was gone. And now… it could happen very soon,” Sky said.
“Or he could decide he likes it short and keep it that way for ten years,” Danny said. “What else do you remember?”
“I could change who died. That’s what makes it more like a dream than a premonition. They always have been nightmares to me,” Sky said. “Can you show me how you dose it? The… stuff.”
“Hyproxin,” Danny said, filling a cup of water for himself and leading the way down to the infirmary so he could show her where they kept the medicine. “The essence can be distilled into a saline solution and injected. That’s what I gave you. Find a vein. It goes into the blood stream. If you use the raw leaf, you can do a tea, or put it directly against your cheek. It’ll absorb through your skin. That way burns.”
“Haren used a leaf,” Sky said. “Do you think it’s the same?”
“I didn’t think it grew outside of Terrana,” Danny said.
“Maybe it’s the river. Near the light source,” Sky shrugged.
“Maybe we’ll find more pockets on Aquia, then,” Danny said.
When they got to the infirmary, he showed her the box. He only had a handful of leaves. If she slept every night, the stash would be gone in two weeks, but she’d been on this ship for months without closing her eyes, so it might last years. She seemed afraid to touch it, so Danny put the box away.
“Morrigan?” he called, noticing the suspiciously empty beds.
“Down here!” Morrigan hollered.
The passenger lounge was diagonally across the hall from the infirmary, and all of the beds in the room were turned out. Hawk had made a bed for himself next to Corin’s. Saskia lay on a bunk on the opposite side of the room with Tray sitting up, acting as her pillow. His legs were extended and his pants rolled up so Morrigan could treat a deep gash on his leg that looked like a cauterized bullet graze.
“I ran out of beds,” Morrigan said.
“I didn’t realize we were having a slumber party,” Danny said. Even Chase was lounging on one of the beds with a device wrapped around his hand, pulsing against his fingers. “Where’s Amanda?”
“She hates this room,” Morrigan said.
“She’s watching a flick,” Tray added. “I was going to join her, but I feel…” He trailed off, panting for breath. The after-effects of the antidote led to mood swings, and Tray hated showing emotion when he had an audience.
“You were poisoned,” Danny reminded him, leaning over and kissing the top of Tray’s head. Tray made a hissing sound and grabbed hold of Danny’s hand. He was wearing one of Danny’s sweaters, and Danny knew he needed to feel connected. “Thanks for rescuing us,” he said.
“I just wanted you back,” Tray said, his voice quivering. “You’re all I have.”
“Really? Loo
ks to me like you adopted a new little brother today,” Danny teased, nodding over to Corin. “I hear you fished him out of the river.”
“Danny…” Tray whimpered. It didn’t matter that Saskia was lying on his lap, that he had a son at home, or that he was surrounded by the family they’d created. Tray had always been worried about losing Danny, and the more Danny redirected him to other people, the more Tray felt he’d already lost him.
“Tray,” Danny said, lifting his brother’s eyes to meet his. “I’m not leaving you, no matter how big our family gets. I promise. I think we both could use some sleep.”
Tray nodded.
“Do you want to get some tea and talk?” Danny offered.
The invitation alone seemed to calm him. “In the morning,” he said. He lay down next to Saskia on the narrow bed. Her leg was braced and elevated, but she opened her arms, letting him nestle in. Her eyes opened slightly, and she smiled softly.
Danny rubbed his hands together. “They were fine an hour ago,” he whispered to Morrigan. “Weren’t they? I thought they’d be in their room.”
“Yeah. They made it as far as the shower,” she snickered, giving him a knowing eyebrow raise. Danny stifled a laugh.
“And the rest?” he asked.
“Chase didn’t want to sleep alone. I’m keeping an eye on Hawk’s lungs, but I think him being a hybrid and that river being spirit-food is somehow mitigating the drowning. Corin’s injuries… I think there’s a hybrid healer in Nola, and that’s why the Magistrate was so insistent to get him back for a few hours. He’s two or three weeks ahead in healing from where he was this morning,” she reported. “How are you?”
“My neck hurts a little,” he said. She reached up to check on his bruises, but he stayed her hand. “Not now.”
He went to Chase’s bed, feeling jealous that Sky was there massaging his arm. A wave of sadness washed over him.
Premonition: A Space Opera Adventure Series (The New Dawn Book 7) Page 27
