We both glance to Sampson but he’s gazing off into the distance, toward the Rinzal Tree. He’s lost in it, somewhere else—another time perhaps. The Gupple is clutched in his hand, which hangs idly at his side, no longer the reason for his break.
“Well,” Jothkore goes on, “I’d like to help more, but I’m afraid I’ve been too conspicuous already. Things have been…” he slows, searching for the word, “…hectic for a bit, so it was easier for me to slip in and out. But now, with more visits from the High Vermix, there’s a tighter hold on things. More accountability. And…” he sighs heavily, the worst news yet. “Tetlak suspects.”
“Why is that so terrible?”
“Son of a High Vermix,” Sampson answers, “if he makes it a serious issue, Jothkore could be arrested.”
“And you don’t think he’s known this whole time?” I ask.
“Oh he has…” Jothkore nods, “but now he’s losing Clansmen. Rapidly,” he shoots Sampson a nervous glance. “Once he finds out his business is hurting…”
“He knows Jothkore supplies the Rogues,” Sampson continues, “but he hasn’t come forward because until now it’s worked in his favor. Slaves at war with each other, keeps things simple. But things are shifting so it’s no longer profitable to him,” Sampson sighs. “It’s only a matter of time.”
“Nine days?” I throw out.
“Most likely.”
I turn to Jothkore. “Are you scared?”
“Of what?” he laughs at the absurdness of the question. “Accused of being an Arizal? Serving beneath Fychu Sampson?” he laughs again, the idiocy arising. “No, it would only unveil my greatest honor. Though…” and he shakes his head at the sad truth, “my country would see it as betrayal.”
“Being an Arizal is acknowledged throughout your galaxy?”
“Your galaxy,” Sampson motions to me, losing focus with the Rinzal Tree as he mumbles to himself, “now…”
“Yes,” Jothkore answers. “It’s known throughout the Three Worlds.”
“So how is it a bad thing? It means universal peace, right?”
“Exactly.”
“But as Dofinikes, we’re expected to remain Vermix,” Sampson mutters lowly and mostly to himself. “Anything else is treason.”
“Can’t you just move off the moon? Escape Dellapalania?” I look between the two of them.
“We could…” Jothkore starts.
“Only Mybyncia…” Sampson is still staring at that tree. “Which we may have to. Once Harrizel is liberated.”
“Parts of Nerwolix would accept us…”
Sampson shoots him a look and Jothkore drops it.
“Well…” I focus on Jothkore, hoping for the best. “Do you know where they keep the weapons? I know the memories are top secret…”
“No,” he shakes his head sadly, “unfortunately, I’m not privy to information of that rank. But I listen. I keep my ears open for anything useful but no one’s talking. Not with the High Vermix’s visit so soon.”
It all sounds so impossible all of a sudden. Before I realize I’m asking, the question slips from my lips. “Do we have a chance?”
“Oh yes, Fallon,” Jothkore nods with such certainty it’s hard not to believe him. “Without a doubt.”
“We’ll have defenses,” Sampson reassures me, gazing off at the pink and peach tree, it’s long, billowy tresses dancing on the breeze. “You don’t have to worry about that.”
We finish eating and gather for another few hours, until the sun moves further across the sky. Jothkore and Sampson retrieve me this time, both with six baskets tied together to create one massive bundle, strapped across their backs. Sampson takes my basket filled with plump Marowines and adds a second bamboo container to it, strapping it on my back in the same fashion as theirs. It only adds a little weight but nothing I can’t manage.
“That should do it. Is it too heavy?”
“Nope.”
“Good,” Sampson smiles, gesturing away from Ellae. “Best we get you back.”
We make for the Castle, Sampson navigating the sea of multilayered foliage, constricting and controlling as we push through. I’m at his side.
“Do you think he’ll let me come with you again?”
“I don’t see why not,” Sampson considers, “we need extra food and with Jothkore’s restricted hours, extra hands wouldn’t hurt.”
“Did it take a lot for him to let me go with you?”
He scoffs, “I don’t know how many times I had to reassure him it was safe.
“Too many!” Jothkore adds behind us. “But fourteen if you want a number.”
“Yes, something like that,” Sampson agrees. “I had to talk logistics and security. Only way it’d convince him.”
“Thank you,” I offer. “He said you’d protect me better than he could.”
“He underestimates himself.”
“You’ve seen him fight?”
The Bathing Bubble last night was too eye opening for me, something I still haven’t quite wrapped my mind around. He was a machine, soaring through the shadows like he belonged there. Like he was born to manipulate them, to control them.
“Oh yes,” Sampson smiles to himself, swimming through the greenery. “Before and after.”
“Before and after what?”
A moment and then,“…I trained him.”
“That’s why he has that mark on him. The Chuloo?” I keep quick to Sampson’s feet, desperate to keep him going on this subject. “Because he’s an Arizal solider now?”
“Yes, he is an Arizal but I’ve given him all the knowledge I can. He’s also been trained on Vermix intelligence, as I have. The others call him Rox,” Sampson glances at me, “which means unbreakable, I’m sure you’ve been told.”
“Yeah, Pratt told me.”
“Rox, in my language, is a title given to the warrior,” he catches my eye, which holds mine, registering my comprehension.
Reid is a warrior?
“But he knew how to fight before you got to him?”
“Oh yes. Reid was already well-trained in the art of combat—perhaps a lifestyle from his time on earth? I’m sure his memories will reveal a great deal,” Sampson nods, trudging through swinging vines and oversized foliage. We arrive at Reid’s room some time later and I hand over my pack of Marowines to Sampson and Jothkore who drop it off at Able’s bunk.
The next few days pass the same way. Out before First bell rings, gathering food for hours and back before Leisure Time, Sampson and Jothkore relocating all the collected food to Able. It’s only one day until freedom, when Beshib leaves and we take back the Castle.
I’ve been gathering all day and we’re heading back with the haul, as usual. We’re outside the Castle and underground, Sampson and Jothkore keeping to my sides. They start slowing and I figure it’s just a break until they swap words in their language, Jothkore motioning to me. Sampson shakes his head and repeats himself. I don’t know what he’s saying but I recognize the same pattern of sounds. He says it once more, resting a hand on Jothkore’s shoulder.
The two turn to me.
“We have to go deliver these,” Sampson motions to the packs on his back, “time sensitive.”
Jothkore’s already freeing my haul and flipping it back on his.
“Straight across the Courtyard and up,” Sampson indicates to the outline ahead on the wall.
Are they not walking me up? But they shouldn’t have to, not with all they’re carrying, plus mine. Everyone’s most likely in the Auditorium for Leisure Time, or will be making their way up to their rooms. It’ll be fine. But still, I know I should push it further. I know Reid would want me to make more of a fuss.
“I don’t have a sirolla.”
“He’ll be in his room,” Sampson starts moving away with Jothkore, severing the conversation. “Be careful,” he tosses over his shoulder and disappears with his babeeb down the hall.
He’s gone before I can form a response, before I realize what’s happeni
ng—I’m alone and without guard. And I’m only at the bottom wall. There are a solid twelve flights of stairs and a Courtyard of well-situated trees to cross before I’m at Reid’s room.
I slide the door open and peer into the empty Courtyard.
Nothing.
Scanning all four stairwells down to the Auditorium and up, high into the tower, I search for anything. Any movement, any source of life that could reveal the danger. But nothing moves. Everything’s still.
Silent.
I slip out, sliding the door closed behind me. Something in my core tells me not to move. Not to go further into the open square. Even the black tarantula trees seem to hold their branches out in warning—stay back. But I can’t retreat. Sampson and Jothkore are gone so the only way is forward. Out across the Courtyard and up twelve flights to Reid’s room. If I jet into a run, I could be there in just a few minutes. That’s all I need.
Breathing deeply, I push myself forward. My feet hit the purple and gray-checkered ground with slight smacks, echoing loudly off the open square. Halfway across the Courtyard, when my heart’s already thumping rapidly, I see him.
Stepping out from one of the black furred trees, he’s the size of a boulder. I don’t have a minute to think. He sets off for me at a dead run and suddenly I’m frozen.
Shit.
Chapter Twenty-Four: Rogue Rox
I should’ve pressed Sampson and Jothkore to escort me—demanded it—but it’s too late. Too worried about being rude, I’ve paid for good manners with my life. Because with the way that King is running at me, I’ll be dead in seconds. Saying a final goodbye, I try not to let my bladder go, aware that one blow from him could smash my head in.
Movement to the right.
Reid jets out, sweeping across the ground under the King’s legs, tripping him. His massive body plunges to the checkered marble, the impact sending him tumbling and cursing as he slides a ways to a stop. But before he’s able to get up, Reid springs on his back, twisting his arm and jabbing him with rapid, pointed fingers. He flies off the King, leaving him paralyzed.
Reid looks to me and my breath catches.
Then we see the rest—Kings emerging behind every tree in the Courtyard. My body is suddenly frozen again, a new fear taking over. We’re insanely outnumbered. Who am I kidding? Reid. Reid is insanely outnumbered. He’s a few feet across from me, pacing methodically slow, like a wild-cat sizing up a fight with its prey. His eyes dart around the circle of Kings, calculating as he nods to himself, hands on his hips.
They’re crowding in and I do my own quick count.
Eleven…
Twelve...
I’m almost full circle when another nauseating sight trickles through me. We’re really in trouble. Even more Kings arrive, sneaking out from the shadows of the stairwells and Courtyard edges, all slowly moving in, encircling us.
Fifteen…
Sixteen…
Seventeen…
Are they all here? And what about the Rogues?
The Kings increase their lingering steps to hurried strides. Reid snatches me behind him, poised, still and ready for the attack. He doesn’t seem afraid but me—I’m shaking. My heart’s racing and all I can think about is how impossible it’ll be to get out of this. There are too many and only two of us. How can—
Everything happens at once.
Bodies flood the Courtyard, colliding with the oncoming Kings to ignite an all-out riot. Rogues fly up from the Auditorium and down the stairwells, smashing into the outer layer of the Kings’ quickly descending circle, drawing their attention to close range duels. Several Kings resist the temptation, pushing past, bulldozing for Reid and I like prized treasures. Will they be the one to deliver us to Grisham? And what will Mantis reward them with?
Reid flies around me, moving gracefully through the air as he blocks each King that comes at us. He offers fierce jabs, interweaving kicks to the head, chest and legs, immobilizing their progress before they’ve made any, always keeping our tiny bubble safe. The Kings fall to the ground one by one, yelping and cursing in pain, roaring to themselves to get back up. Some even try and Reid crosses back over them, knocking them down with final blows.
The four remaining Kings fly at us at a dead run, death promised in their dark, fury-infested eyes. Chief swims between them, tossing the glass rod through the air. Reid catches it in his right hand, steadying his stance, concentrating. Closing his eyes, he listens, ready to pounce.
Just when the Kings surround us, Reid jolts into action. Sweeping the rod around him, he busts all of their knee caps, the four hitting the ground with a hard thump. But he doesn’t stop. He flies over them, bringing the rod down, stilling their yelping with additional strikes to their wounds.
Even with the riot ongoing, another King gets past the Rogues and flies at us. But Reid caps him, the King falling to the ground before he gets within feet of me. Blood sprays, the two Clans ripping into each other, some pulling out blades. Screams ripple through the air but then, as quickly as it started, it’s over. Silence replaces the sound of flesh hitting flesh and painful, agonizing yelps. The movement stops and the Courtyard is splattered with fallen bodies, half the Rogues standing over them.
Reid pants and surveys the lot. He nods at Tucker.
“Rogues,” Tucker commands and they tend to each King, laying them on their stomachs and roping their ankles and wrists behind them with the same twine like rope. “Quickly.”
The Rogues set off dragging their claimed prizes to one of the nearly invisible doors on the Northwest Wall. Remaining Clansmen follow after, wiping all left over blood from the area.
Finally, with Reid glancing around, satisfied by the quick clean up, he turns to me. “Are you okay?”
My mouth hangs open with a thousand different responses, the most urgent slipping out first. “Was that the rest of them?”
“Not all. We don’t have Mantis and Grisham. But don’t worry,” he promises, “we will. Right now as a matter of fact. Able,” he calls.
“Yeah, Boss?” he sprints across the Courtyard.
“Stay with her. Do not leave her side.”
“Where are you going?” I ask.
“To bring you Mantis and Grisham.”
“Where?”
“To bury them.” He nods at Able a final time before darting to catch up with Tucker, Chief, Harrison and Jace.
“Come on,” Able tugs me close to him, slipping his arm in mine as we follow the Rogues. “We’ve got to go.”
Sampson and Jothkore wait in the tunnels for us, Jothkore helping to guide the Rogues through the labyrinth, though, by now, they seem to have the hang of it. Sampson clings to my side, a babeeb in his hand as he looks down to me with an apologetic frown.
“So sorry Fallon. It would only work if you walked out there alone.”
“Couldn’t throw me a clue?”
“They lost too many Kings with false information…” Able starts in on my other side. “They needed to see you. Needed to have an honest reaction.”
“But wasn’t it obvious that it was a trap? Seeing me alone?” I follow Sampson who holds the babeeb out in front, lighting our way.
“Of course,” Able nods, keeping our arms linked tightly together, “that’s why they sent the new recruits in first—pawns to see the set up. They couldn’t afford to keep risking their men like that.”
“So…”
“So when they saw Reid come to your rescue, they thought that was it,” Able shrugs, “what’d they know? They thought they’d just grab you both and be done. Easy enough.”
“They knew he wouldn’t be far from you,” Sampson selects the left tunnel when we come to a fork. “Wouldn’t leave you so vulnerable. They just had to wait for him and that was it.”
“Also,” Able starts in again, “I’m sure the Kings thought with their remaining Clansmen—only seven I might add—and all the new recruits still on their side, they’d have it in the bag, no matter what we had set up.”
“Th
ey didn’t expect the other Rogues?” I ask.
“I’m sure they did,” Able grins. “But they underestimated us, didn’t they?”
“So wait,” I look between him and Sampson, “you said only seven of them were actual Kings?”
“Yep.”
“What happened to the rest of them?”
“Captured throughout the week,” Able laughs. “This was their final chance and now with Rox going to get Mantis and Grisham…” he shakes his head. “We’ll be set for tomorrow.”
Is that it then? Are the Kings done? It seems so surreal to think it actually worked. And that tomorrow is the day, the beginning of Beshib’s ten day departure before he comes back and everything changes. Tomorrow we’re taking back the Castle.
We follow the Rogues as they drag semi-limp Kings through the tunnels behind them. Some still struggle but with their arms and ankles bound behind their back and only a small length of twine between, it’s useless. There’s nothing they can do—or are doing—other than tiring themselves and after a while, most stop trying.
“Is he going to kill Mantis and Grisham?” I ask.
Sampson tosses his head back and forth, seeing both sides of the coin while Able remains silent, imagining the gruesome image.
“So…” I clear my throat after a lengthy silence. “That’s a ‘most likely’?”
“I would if I were him,” Able mumbles, “after all the shit they’ve pulled. Although I don’t have the stomach for what he’d do... if he does it.”
“Reid will be just in his actions,” Sampson adds his opinion but leaves it at that.
He did mention burying them. They’ve both wanted him dead for a long time so why shouldn’t he end it while he can? Especially when there are more important things to be concerned with.
Like tomorrow.
It takes some effort to drag the fallen Kings from the tunnels and up the rooted steps, especially the few still squirming and struggling. But we finally get everyone out and keep moving alongside Ellae and eventually, past it and into the field of massive Banyan trees. We move in a steady stream, exploring the tangled roots through a layer of powdered mist.
Escape from Harrizel Page 32
