by Pam Brondos
“Gennes will need to know, he’ll help us. He’s all but given up on Estos. Given him up for dead. He never even believed me that Andris was still alive. The rebels are fighting for an uncertain future without Estos.” His eyes brightened. “But when he sees that ring, he’ll come around. That ring might be just the thing to get Gennes to help us. He has a small illegal suix mine far north of Rustbrook, you know.”
Nat didn’t know but nodded slowly, hoping she appeared wise and knowledgeable. A log fell from the hearth stand.
“Three or four weeks. Get word to Sister Barba, I’ll have a plan worked out in three or four weeks. I’ll expect you back here by then.”
“Me?” she squeaked. Wise and knowledgeable went by the wayside.
“You, of course. Didn’t you hear me telling you they’ll be killed if they come out of hiding now? Destroying the tracking orbs is the only chance for Estos to safely join the rebellion. Now is the time for him to reappear, to prepare for next year. There’s much work to be done to expose Mudug and undercut his operations before it’s too late.” He frowned.
She glared at Benedict, hoping she looked offended. Silence and angry looks seemed a better path than apparent ignorance. Her head spun with concern for Estos and everything that didn’t make sense. Her glare must have worked, because Benedict’s expression softened.
She stood and draped her surprisingly dry cloak around her shoulders.
“My apologies, Sister. I didn’t mean to offend you. Three or four weeks, then?” Benedict’s voice held a conciliatory tone as he limped behind her toward the door.
She placed her hand on the iron latch. Would she come back and go through this insanity again?
“I can’t do this on my own, Sister. You know as well as I what Estos’ return means,” he said with a quiet intensity.
“Four weeks.” She pushed down on the worn latch. The memory of young Annin fleeing through the door flashed through her mind. She glanced quickly toward the cabinet, wondering if someone—something—was in there.
“Stay clear of the forest. The Nala have worked their way far out of their territory since your kind left. The rain may keep them down tonight, but I wouldn’t chance it. But why am I telling you this? No one speaks of the Rim Accord these days, but I can’t imagine a Nala would take on a Warrior Sister, especially one from your House. Travel free, Sister, travel free.” He wheezed as he pushed the door shut, leaving her in the darkness with the rain pouring over her.
Nat wasted little time. She ran across the meadow into the night. Replaying the conversation in her mind, she tried to make heads or tails of what he’d said. The forest loomed like a dark sentinel off to the right. She veered away from the trees and cut through the meadow toward the cliff. Her feet sloshed against the wet ground. The map was still in her head, but her body was tired and wasn’t moving as fast and as sure as before.
After what seemed like hours of running, the ground transformed from a soggy mess to a slick, rocky nightmare. Chunks of rock replaced the tall grass. Her thighs burned as she climbed the hill. The dark outline of the cliff loomed in front of her. The rain had not let up and was now pouring down as she tried to scramble up the slag. One foot caught on a rock, bringing her hand down hard on a jagged edge as she tried to break her fall. She bit her lip to keep from crying out. Just get to the top, she thought. The black gaping mouth of a small cave materialized above her. Standing, she slowly crisscrossed up the slag toward it. The rain and wind whipped her cloak back when she reached the top. She stumbled forward and crawled into an oval-shaped space not more than a few feet deep. The water came down off the rock in sheets, but the small cave was dry and offered a little protection from the wind. She wrapped her throbbing hand in a loose tie from her cloak and closed her eyes. I’ll just rest for a few minutes, she thought. Annin’s parting words echoed in her mind: “If you sleep, set up your barrier.”
Every inch of her skin was cold when she awoke. Her muscles protested each movement as she slowly uncurled her body and stretched. She peered out the entrance of the small cave. Water droplets glistened on treetops clustered to the left. She squinted at the sun and wondered how long she’d slept. She carefully crawled out of the entrance, protecting her still-aching hand as much as possible.
A beautiful field covered in yellow flowers spread out below the base of the cliff and to the right of the forest edge. Wrapping her hand again tightly, she took one last look at the blanket of flowers below her and scrambled up the next level of rocks. They would be wondering where she was. She methodically moved her hands and feet over the cliff’s uneven surface. Would Estos be worried about her? Benedict had warned her about something called the Nala. Why hadn’t Estos mentioned them? Were they Mudug’s soldiers? She jumped awkwardly down a boulder and jogged a few steps to warm up her stiff muscles.
A yellow-throated bird let out a warble that sounded like jumping octaves on a piano. A reply came from the distance. Nat paused a moment and watched the bird tilt its head and fly in the direction of the reply. She looked over the treetops. A faint memory of them shaking tickled the back of her mind. Tree branches brushed against the cliff. She picked up her pace and saw where she would start to descend the cliff face in the distance. She played Benedict’s warning over in her mind: “They’ll be killed if they come out of hiding now. Destroying the tracking orbs is the only chance . . .” Was she really Estos’ only option for a safe return? Estos, and now Benedict, were both clear about Mudug’s deadly intentions. She shuddered.
The bird sent another octave call. The memory of the shaking treetop nagged at her. Had it been in a dream? She pushed the thought aside and tried to focus on what to tell the others. If she told them everything, they would want her to come back. It was one thing to come to this crazy place for a few hours or a day, but what Benedict had described last night was more like days or even weeks. What was the point of doing this for Estos or even money to pay for school if something happened to her?
Nat jumped over a few more rocks. In three weeks it would be the middle of Christmas break. What if she did agree to come back? Other than a few scrapes and a swollen hand, nothing bad had happened to her here. She looked out from her vantage point on the cliff. The forest and distant fields of the foreign world spread out before her with vibrant colors warming in the morning sun. What amazing species and plants could she discover in this world? She carefully slid over the jutting rock and began working her way from toehold to handhold down the face of the cliff.
She tightened her grip, leaned back, and looked down until she could see the top of the boulder where Annin and Estos had waited for her. Not too far away, she thought. Her feet slid down the rock chute, and she jammed her fingers into the shallow crevices. Her breath made a little puff of steam in the cold air. She pulled her cloak to the side so she could see below herself as she descended. A loose rock skittered down the chute when the hilt of her dagger scraped against the side. She dropped the remaining few feet to the forest floor.
The forest was quiet. Nat looked toward the tops of the trees for the birds. Instead of them, she saw three treetops swaying like someone had pulled back their tips and let go. The rest of the trees stood motionless. The swaying trees reminded her of something, something she couldn’t remember. The movement made her skittish. She turned and looked around the forest. The sunlight reached the forest floor, but it illuminated only the lush ferns and rotted logs scattered around the massive trunks. Nat jogged toward the hidden entrance and glanced back at the trees.
“You are in the wrong place, Sister,” a voice hissed from above. Nat’s eyes widened as she took in a figure crouching over the top of the rock chute she’d just climbed down. Its skin was smooth and rippled with a swirling bluish color. It had two silvery-blue faceted discs for eyes. Annin has the same eye.
A memory hurtled back to Nat of a blue figure jumping from tree to tree on the other side of the dream barrier she’d
set up last night. She held her breath and stepped farther away from the strange creature. Her hand clutched the hilt of her dagger. The figure lifted an arm that ended in a sharp point.
“Why are you going from there to here?” It extended its pointed arm in the direction she’d come from.
The entrance wasn’t far—just around the boulder. The creature stood. Its pointed feet curled around the edge of the rock chute.
“The Nala control this forest, Sister. Your place is north, at least for now,” it hissed as it leaned forward, clinging to the rocks with its feet.
Was this thing the Nala that Benedict had warned her about? He’d said they’d leave her alone, but this one didn’t look like it intended to let her go peacefully. It looked like it was ready to toss her around with its pointed hands. Nat drew out her dagger and pushed away her cloak, exposing the pattern on her arm.
It leaned farther forward. Glimpsing the markings on Nat’s arm, the creature hissed and twisted its head to the side. “Can’t be! Your House was destroyed!” the Nala screamed, its body elongating, then compressing in fury. “He lied! He lied!” The creature sprang from the rock to the treetop, screeching and hissing. It threw itself into the next tree, then another, until Nat could no longer see it, but its hissing screams echoed through the forest. Nat raced around the boulder to the entrance, keeping her dagger out and ready. She quickly glanced up to make sure the beast was gone, then pushed at the membrane. If the creature followed her, what would happen to Estos and the others, let alone her?
The strange orb was waiting on the other side of the membrane and zoomed off down the tunnel as Nat fell, panting, on the dirt floor. Her dagger dropped with a thud. The Nala’s screams echoed in her head, but no sound came from the other side of the membrane. Nat retrieved her dagger, pulled herself up, and ran down the tunnel to warn Estos.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Ethet cut the strip of gauze and moved between Riler and Andris toward Nat. She wrapped the wet gauze around Nat’s wrist, and a tingling sensation spread through Nat’s injured hand up her arm. Annin forced an enormous mug into her good hand. Nat grimaced as she sipped—it tasted like dirt. She looked over the rim. Everyone was in busy little clusters, discussing her jumbled description of the encounter with Benedict. She heard Estos whispering to Barba about sending her back in to help the odd old man. He quickly glanced her way, then bent his head closer to Barba. No one said a word about her warning. She trembled with frustration.
“Didn’t you hear me? There’s a crazy-looking blue creature on the other side,” she said again. If that thing had seen her come through the membrane, it could be scrambling its way down the tunnel right now. Instead of grabbing one of the fifty swords she’d seen stacked in the warehouse, Oberfisk and Riler were busy crushing herbs for Ethet.
“The Nala can’t come through, Natalie,” Annin said. She was dressed in a deep-red shift with long bell-shaped sleeves. A thick black band held back her wild hair. She motioned to Nat to take another sip. “Nothing organic can come through if it doesn’t already exist on the other side. The Nala don’t exist here.” Annin’s sleeve flopped to the side. Nat stared at the blue-tinted skin that she’d always assumed was some type of tattoo. Annin quickly pushed her sleeve down and grabbed the mug. The look on Annin’s face made Nat shiver.
“What are the Nala? Are they some kind of predator?” She caught Oberfisk’s eye, but he coughed and turned toward Riler. She scanned the room, searching for someone who would answer her question. Andris stood near the tunnel entrance, legs askance. His arms were crossed tightly over his broad chest.
“What makes you think they are predators?” This was the first time his steely eyes weren’t filled with disdain when he looked at her. He had a genuine look of curiosity.
“The forest was full of birds before I saw it. Right before it appeared, the woods went silent,” she explained.
Sister Barba broke in before Andris could reply. “It is a type of predator, Natalie. A complicated predator. The Nala are highly intelligent. They live in areas near the coast. Once they were satisfied with preying on aquatic life, but that was long ago.” She glanced down the tunnel. Her orb hovered near her face, casting light on her pale skin. The orb was another thing that confounded Nat, but an explanation could wait. Barba was finally providing useful information, and Nat wasn’t about to let her stray from the topic at hand. “The Sisters and the Nala reached an agreement many generations back. But I fear the Nala are no longing abiding by all the terms.” Barba shook her head and gave Ethet a knowing look.
“You should’ve told me about them before I went in.” Nat glanced at Estos. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Oberfisk nodding slightly.
Andris laughed as he unsheathed his dagger and began picking at the blade. “Would you have gone in? Would you have believed us if we’d told you about them?” Nat said nothing. “See our point? Too much information doesn’t serve our end. Estos was right not to tell you,” he said.
Estos shot a warning look at Andris.
“What? It was your decision not to tell me?” Nat lifted herself carefully from the bench and walked gingerly to Estos, who stood a few steps from Andris. He wore a chocolate-colored vest with tiny silver leaves embroidered along the edges. “He gets a look for telling me you lied?” She pointed to Andris, whose mouth curved into a smirk. “But it’s okay for you to send me in there with no idea of what was waiting for me?”
“Has the notion that our world exists been easy for you to accept?” Estos’ voice held an edge. A flush covered his pale cheeks. She frowned and shook her head. “It was difficult for all of us to understand your world when we came here. You have to trust that I gave you the information I thought you needed for the trip.”
“You thought wrong, Estos.” A hush settled over the room. Nat continued, trying to keep her anger under control. Estos shifted, but kept his gray eyes locked on hers. “My world doesn’t have threatening blue creatures with spikes for hands.”
“No, it has nuclear weapons, satellites that track your every movement, and drones and missiles that can evaporate you during a walk in the park. It has so much more than our world—so much more, Natalie,” Andris said bitterly.
“Andris, enough,” Estos ordered.
“None of us wanted to discourage you from helping us by informing you about our country’s unique inhabitants.” Barba was at her side, her arm extended. Nat suddenly realized she was exhausted and shaking. She cautiously took Barba’s arm, and they returned to the bench. “You were never in any danger from the Nala. I promise,” Barba reassured her. “Those markings on your arm.” She pushed up Nat’s sleeve as she knelt beside her. “They’re special. No Nala would harm you.” Barba’s voice reminded Nat of her mother’s, soft and comforting.
“How does a drawing on my arm protect me from that thing back there?” She gestured to the tunnel.
“The Nala would never accost a Sister from the Warrior House. Your markings”—she traced the pattern on Nat’s arm—“and your dagger are from the oldest Warrior House. A Nala would never attack if it saw those markings.”
“Why? You said they’d broken their agreement.” She tried to stifle a yawn but failed.
Barba’s wide green eyes were filled with kindness. She patted Nat’s hand as she explained, “Because the Sisters of the Warrior House are trained to protect others from the Nala. The markings on your arm are from a very old, very special Warrior House. The Sisters from that House were trained from an early age to not only protect our population but also actively seek out the Nala and destroy them. When the Nala saw your markings back in the forest, it knew better than to remain anywhere near you.”
Nat closed her eyes a moment. “But I’m not a Sister, and I haven’t trained since childhood in the extermination of blue creatures.”
“It worked, didn’t it? You made it work, Natalie.” Barba curled her small fingers around N
at’s hands. “Your intelligence is a more effective weapon than brute force.” Andris shook his head and turned to face the tunnel entrance. Silence settled over the room.
Estos paced in front of her, looking worried. “Natalie, I think you understand what’s at stake for me, for us.” He folded his hands in front of him. “There’s no point in postponing the question: What will it take for you to go back and help Benedict?”
She looked around the room. Every set of eyes was on her. She could almost feel their anxiety and fear. Her anger seeped away. If she said no and walked out the door, what would happen to them? Could they find someone else or figure out another plan in three or four weeks? She doubted she was as special as Barba made out, but if it had taken Barba more than a year to assess her fitness to travel to Fourline, the likelihood of finding someone else who would willingly travel there so soon was slim. She’d heard Estos’ and Benedict’s grim thoughts on what would happen to the people of Fourline if Estos didn’t return. The daily news from her world was filled with examples of how dictatorial regimes manipulated and killed people. Would the same fate befall the people of Fourline?
She thought back to all the conversations she’d had with Estos and Barba and realized they hadn’t lied to her. They just hadn’t told her everything. As much as the Nala freaked her out, it had run away from her after it had seen her markings. She looked up at Estos. His lips were set in a thin line and dark circles hung under his eyes. What would happen to him if she didn’t go back? She swallowed. I must be insane, she thought. She opened her mouth to agree to help, but Estos broke in before she could say anything.
