Milek’s eyes dropped to the map that glowed on the screen of his digitablet. “A hit on what, Specialist? I’ve had no sign that the emergency transponders have been activated.”
“The name ‘Elom.’”
Galena’s gaze snapped back to the soldier as her stomach seized, an automatic, annoying fear response she wished would go away already.
The man continued. “A couple of Safaran units discussing his arrival.”
Milek went even paler, his face as set as chiseled stone. “His arrival where?”
The young man’s lips turned down. “Lieutenant Haan’s crash site.”
“Thank you, Specialist. You’re dismissed.” Milek waited approximately two seconds after the man left. Then he took off down the hall.
Galena rushed to keep up. “Milek, where are you going? What does this mean?”
He didn’t answer. A few doors down, he skidded to a stop and slapped his hand against the pad on the wall.
Commander Nyx held up a hand as the door slid open. A sharp-chinned man with a pronounced Adam’s apple was speaking on the vid screen. “It’s getting out of hand, Commander. I’ve had three female flyers leave their posts this month because of harassment. I am disciplining the soldiers we know contributed, but so much of the abuse is going unreported. It’s difficult to catch all the offenders.”
Commander Nyx nodded. “I understand, Major. I’ll be there by tomorrow’s morning formation. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
The man nodded. “Who’d have thought my best flyers were women all this time? And now they’re leaving. I don’t know what to do.”
Galena half expected him to wring his hands.
Commander Nyx mumbled something under her breath, looking disgusted. Louder she said, “Send me the names of the flyers who’ve left, the harassers you’ve disciplined, and their punishments. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Without waiting for a response, she ended the call. With a sigh, she turned to Milek, who was nearly hopping with impatience. Galena wanted to put a hand on his arm to calm him, but she knew it wouldn’t do any good.
“What is it, Major?” Commander Nyx was rigid even while seated, her shoulders back and her posture wholly uncompromising.
“We’ve received intel that Elom is heading toward Aris’s crash site.” The words spilled from him in a hurried rush.
“And?”
Galena found Commander Nyx’s unruffled response infuriating. Given Milek’s reaction and her own common sense, she could guess this meant Aris and the rest of Milek’s team were in greater danger.
Milek glared at the woman, his body stiff with tension. “If Elom himself is going, that means he’s found cause to question our deception. We have to move now.”
Nyx asked, “Have your team’s transmitters been activated?”
He shook his head, looking as if he wished he could yell in her face. “We need to get in there. We have a general location. If we take enough firepower—”
“No.” Nyx stared him down. She ignored Galena. “You will not endanger your team by moving in on questionable information. It could well be another trap and even if it’s not, your search area is too large to ensure you’ll find them before Elom’s men do.”
“I cannot just sit by and wait anymore!” He pounded a fist on her desk.
Commander Nyx didn’t react except to narrow her eyes. “Major Vadim, any missions that originate at my stationpoint originate with me. You have concerns. We all do. But you will not go against a direct order. And I order you to wait. If further intel is collected or your team hits their transmitters, we’ll reevaluate.”
Galena wanted to say something. She wanted to overturn Commander Nyx’s order. She wanted to give Milek what he wanted. But she couldn’t. She couldn’t do anything but watch him rage in silence, praying that soon his team would find Aris, soon he could come to her rescue.
“Elom is going after Aris,” he growled, but Galena could see it was no use.
Commander Nyx stood her ground. “Trust your team, Milek. You picked them for a reason.”
“I do trust them. But—”
Her eyes softened a hair. “But it’s hard to have faith when you can’t be on the ground with them. Believe me. I know.” At last, she glanced at Galena. “Go have dinner with your mother. And for Gods’ sakes get some sleep. You’ll be no use to Lieutenant Haan like that.”
Galena understood the unspoken message in Nyx’s gaze. It was her turn to take over. Milek was her responsibility now.
“Come on,” she said, pulling gently on his arm. “Let’s go.”
They returned to his office. Galena wanted to reassure him somehow, tell him everything would be okay, but she knew the words would mean nothing. She couldn’t promise anything beyond blind hope.
Chapter 28
Samira came to retrieve Aris a few hours later. She scrambled to her feet, relieved to have reason to leave the tiny, dim cave. She’d napped fitfully, plagued by dreams of Elom looming over her with a knife.
Samira led her to the main cave, where one of the older female villagers gave her a small scorched flatbread, while they waited for Alistar to return with Lieutenant Nore. Aris nibbled at the bread, stomach churning, aware that she was yet again trusting Alistar with her life.
“Is it true we’re leaving soon?” Zeb asked. He and a couple of the other children were scrubbing the tables, making it more a game of splashing than cleaning.
Aris wasn’t sure what to say. How much did the children know?
Before she could answer, a clatter of footsteps echoed in the main tunnel. Aris turned just as Alistar and Gaven led two men clad in Safaran black into the room. She tensed as she stood to face them, her Atalantan uniform suddenly feeling like a target.
Everyone stared in wary silence for a moment before Alistar made introductions. Lieutenant Nore was the taller and thinner of the two, with a reserve that gave each of his movements extra weight. A little boy ran over yelling “Daddy!” and Nore’s entire body radiated joy as he bent to give his son a hug.
The other man, Specialist Baryn, kept his eyes on Aris. His face bore several scars and a jagged, abstract tattoo that covered one cheek and part of his neck. She forced herself not to look away.
“So you need a wingjet?” Baryn asked.
Aris nodded.
Samira gestured to one of the tables—the one the children hadn’t attempted to wash yet. The elderly woman led the little ones—aside from Lieutenant Nore’s son—outside to play as Aris, Samira, Alistar, and the two soldiers sat down. Aris wished she could join the children for a fresh breath of air; the smoking fire dragged at her lungs.
“It has to be a transjet or maybe a large transport to fit all the children,” Samira said.
Lieutenant Nore let his son sit beside him on the bench. The little boy played with the pockets of his uniform. “We’ll need a reason to come with such a large wingjet,” Nore said. “It can’t be a regular raid.”
“Tell your superior the villagers found part of the Atalantan wingjet that crashed,” Aris said. She’d been thinking about it all day. The Safaran troops had certainly seemed interested in the crash site, and the retrieval team had burned the jet, so it would have been difficult to tell how much of it remained. It was a reasonable cover.
Nore thought about it for a moment, running his hand over his son’s dark hair. “It’ll be difficult not to throw suspicion since we were here this morning and no jet wreckage had been found.”
“We went hunting this afternoon and found it a couple miles away,” Alistar offered. “We dragged it back here, but it was very heavy, needed several men. Wouldn’t fit in a recon.”
Aris caught Specialist Baryn’s eyes on her again. He didn’t offer his opinion.
At last, Nore said, “Alright, I can make that work. Our commander will likely want to investigate immediately. I would guess early tomorrow morning. Can you mobilize that fast?”
Samira nodded, her expression full of determinatio
n. “We’ll be ready.”
“There will be six of us at least. Three who are loyal to the village,” Lieutenant Nore said, as he and Baryn stood to go. “Let’s try to avoid violence. Be prepared with restraints for the other soliders. Keep the children out of sight until the scene is secure.”
Aris rose as well. She needed to get out of the caves for a while. The heavy, curved walls were starting to press in on her.
“Lieutenant Haan.” Specialist Baryn paused at her side. “I would recommend that you stay out of sight until the village has taken control.” Before she could ask why, he continued. “The world may believe you’re dead, but your picture’s been given out to all the soldiers of this dominion as a top target. If you’re recognized, your ‘resurrection’ might not last long.”
Aris froze. The world thought she was dead? Safaran soldiers had been given her picture?
Black dots danced before her eyes. She needed fresh air. Now.
She followed the others down the narrow tunnel and tried not to hyperventilate. When she emerged into the open, the late-day sun blasted her with heat. Gradually, her clammy skin dried and her breathing calmed. The teetering rope bridge didn’t even terrify her this time; she was that relieved to be outside.
“Caves not to your liking?” Samira asked, as they wove between the clinic and another ramshackle building on their way to the landing pad.
Aris glanced at her. “Is it that obvious?”
The woman shrugged. “You’re not the only one who feels claustrophobic. We try to let the children play outside every day, even if it’s raining.”
Aris paused and touched Samira’s arm lightly. Samira drew away from the contact, but she stopped walking. “You’re doing a good thing here,” Aris said earnestly. “I know you don’t need to hear it from me, but I need to say it. I am sorry about your husband, and I am sorry that these children need protection. But I’m happy they have it. Really happy. I . . . well, that’s all.”
Samira looked a little shell-shocked, so Aris jogged away, toward the wingjet. Lieutenant Nore shook her hand before climbing into the jet. Specialist Baryn climbed into the flyer’s seat. Aris wondered why they hadn’t asked him to fly them to Atalanta, and then she saw him take off.
Not his strong suit, then.
“Had you heard that I was dead?” Aris asked Alistar, as they watched the wingjet roar away.
“No, but I suppose it’s no surprise. You did crash.” He patted her shoulder. “Come. We have a lot to prepare for tomorrow.”
Tomorrow. In mere hours, she’d see Milek again. Her chest filled with such a desperate ache she almost cried, right there in front of Alistar and Samira.
“What do we need—”
“Stay right where you are.” The shout came from behind them.
Aris whirled.
Dysis stood a few feet away, the clinic at her back, her solagun trained on Alistar. Her dark hair was matted to her head, and dark circles nestled beneath her eyes.
“Oh holy, Dysis.” Aris suddenly wasn’t sure her legs would hold. Shock rocketed through her, killing every thought except for Dysis. Dysis is here.
She took a jerky step toward her best friend.
Alistar raised his hands to show he was unarmed. “You know this woman?”
“Don’t talk,” Dysis ordered, her face hard. “Aris, walk slowly toward me. Stay—”
“Put your weapon down.” Gaven snuck up the alley behind Dysis, his weapon trained on her head.
Dysis didn’t flinch, and she didn’t lower her solagun.
Aris’s brain slowly moved past shock, to relief, to excitement, stuttering to a halt on blighting hell, my new Safaran allies are about to shoot my best friend.
“Don’t hurt her, Gaven,” Aris called. Dust kicked up under her feet as she ran to Dysis’s side. She wanted to give her a proper hug, wanted to scream with joy at being found, at having Dysis here. Instead, she grabbed Dysis’s shoulders, ignoring the solagun still half-raised between them.
Aris noted a lurking, frantic worry in her friend’s eyes. “It’s okay. I’m not in danger.”
“But—” Dysis started.
“No one is a threat here, I promise,” Aris said. “I’ll explain everything.”
It took Dysis a long time to holster her weapon, but when she did, Aris could feel the rigid tension leave her frame as she sagged with relief. “I can’t believe I found you.”
With the solagun out of play, Aris pulled Dysis into a hug. Tears coursed unchecked down her cheeks. Dysis tightened her arms until Aris could hardly breathe.
“Are you okay?” Dysis asked, her voice hoarse with emotion. “Major Vadim faked your death so the Safarans wouldn’t look for you before we had the chance, but I thought you might be dead anyway. I’m so glad to see you’re not.” A laugh, edged with hysteria, spilled from her mouth.
They faked my death?
Aris’s heart pounded. “Is Milek with you?”
Dysis put some space between them but kept a hold on Aris’s arm. “He’s waiting for you at Spiro. I think it nearly killed him not to come on the search mission.” She glanced warily at the others. A small crowd had gathered. She added, “I’ll tell you all about it, but first you need to explain this.”
Aris could tell Alistar was waiting for an explanation as well. “Dysis, this is Alistar,” she said, gesturing to him. “And his sister Samira. They’re in charge of the village, and they’re . . . well, dissenters, I guess you could say. Alistar, this is Specialist Dysis Latza, my friend and fellow soldier.”
Alistar bowed. Without a word, Samira headed for the alleyway by the clinic, which led to the field where the children still played. She gave Aris a searching look as she passed.
Dysis drew Aris a few feet away. In a low voice, she said, “You’re awfully buddy-buddy with these people.”
Aris glanced back at Alistar and shrugged. “They saved my life.” She held up her splinted wrist. “I wandered into the village, injured and delirious, and instead of turning me in, they healed me.”
Dysis took a deep breath but didn’t reply. Her worry didn’t seem to be fading. She kept glancing around, not at the small cluster of villagers talking to Alistar, but toward the ramshackle buildings, as if she feared a hidden enemy.
“What’s going on?” Aris shifted from one foot to another, finding Dysis’s unease contagious. “Why are you alone?”
“I came here to steal med supplies.” Her eyes flicked toward the villagers again. “Then I saw you, walking between those two Safaran soldiers like a prisoner. I was out of my head. I started for you, ready to take them all down, when they climbed into the jet without you.” She shook her head, her disbelief still evident. “Are you sure this isn’t all a trap? How come they just let you go?”
Ignoring her questions, Aris inspected Dysis more closely. “Why did you need to steal med supplies? What happened?”
“Daakon’s hurt.” Dysis’s voice hitched, almost broke. “Dying, maybe.”
A weight settled in Aris’s stomach. “Where is he? What do you need?”
“He was bitten by a snake, so antivenom. Pain meds. I . . . I memorized a list.” Dysis squinted up at the twilight sky. If Aris didn’t know her better, she’d guess Dysis was blinking back tears.
Aris hurried to Alistar’s side. “My friend’s partner is injured. He needs antivenom and a mender. Can you help?”
“Of course. I’ll get my things.” Alistar headed for the clinic without a moment’s hesitation. He called back, “Gaven, get the litter.”
Dysis’s eyes widened. At the sight of a flurry of Safarans rushing to save an Atalantan soldier, Aris understood her shock. She ran her good hand over her splint. She had awakened that morning thinking she was at Elom’s mercy. Now . . . “It’s nothing like I expected.”
Dysis shook her head. “You can say that again.”
In minutes, a rescue team had assembled and Dysis was leading them into the woods.
As she and Aris heaved themselves o
ver a tumble of boulders, Dysis said, “There’s something you should know.”
“What?” Aris scrambled to keep up.
“Daakon and I aren’t the only ones on this mission.” Dysis shot her an unreadable look. “Calix is here, too.”
Chapter 29
Of all the people Aris might have imagined on a rescue mission for her, Calix wasn’t even on the list. It was nearly dark by the time they reached the campsite, but Calix’s eyes locked onto hers immediately, widening in shock. There was still enough light to reveal his brown hair, tawny skin, and the leaf-green eyes she’d once lost herself in.
“Aris.” Calix stood up and took a step toward her. He opened his mouth to say something, and then seemed to change his mind.
Memories flooded her without warning, and inappropriate tears pricked her eyes. They hadn’t spoken in months, he’d broken her heart, but they were still connected. She still cared.
Dysis ran to the still form on the ground. “How is he? Is he . . . ?”
Calix stared at Aris for a half second longer before dropping down next to Dysis. “He’s still alive, but he hasn’t regained consciousness, and he should have by now. The leg is starting to swell again.”
Alistar moved to kneel on Lieutenant Daakon’s other side. Daakon’s unmoving body looked oddly small with so many people huddling over it.
“How long ago was he bitten?” Alistar asked, studying the wound. Gaven stood behind him with a folded length of fabric and two long poles.
Calix seemed to have just noticed that Dysis and Aris did not arrive alone. He looked like he might pull his weapon. “Who are you?”
“It’s okay, Calix,” Aris said. “Alistar and Gaven are here to help.”
He glanced at her over his shoulder and couldn’t seem to look away. “He doesn’t need help. He needs to get out of here. Now that we’ve found you, we can let Major Vadim know where to retrieve us.”
“Milek isn’t on his way already?” Aris’s pulse quickened. If Milek hadn’t left Spiro, they could tell him to bring several transports. They could evacuate the village now instead of waiting for morning.
Storm Fall Page 15
