Storm of Arranon

by R. E. Sheahan

  Faylen believed the woman to be his mother. The setting could be his home world, but he wasn’t sure. He wasn’t even sure Faylen was his true name or merely the name given him after he was taken.

  Was I one of the taken?

  Faylen knew he hadn’t been born on a birthing ship. He wasn’t supposed to know this. The ship was his earliest clear memory, though. With the pain of a loss he didn’t understand, his heart ached of loneliness. Time and reprogramming eased his hurt. Along with the other children, he endured endless physical training and lessons of conquest. He was never able to completely forget.

  Their practice was to take young children showing potential, training them as soldiers or other necessary professions. He’d been a party to such raids himself, for the good of their continued existence. Faylen believed in what he did, in what he was doing here on Arranon. He understood they needed this system and the abundant resources available to regain what his society had lost from previous unwise choices and battles. Admiral Newell’s plan was practical.

  He threw off the covers and went to the window. Shades opened to the city. Muscles in his chest and upper arms quivered. He shivered. In part because of the dream, but also due to his bare skin in contact with the cool air of the room. He frowned and glared into the night, the lights of Tamaagra blurring before him.

  Faylen considered Erynn’s flight into the hills above the city and wondered about her. He wiped sweat from his smooth scalp and returned to the warmth of the woman who slept peacefully in his bed. Tomorrow, he would go after Erynn Yager.

  Chapter 34

  THICK GRAY CLOUDS CHURNED AND made the approaching morning sky dreary, closing in overhead. The air was scented with rain. Jaer began their climb before sunrise, as promised. He led them in a more direct but demanding route to the tree line.

  Erynn stared up at the distant forest and felt the first drops of rain touch her face. She hiked up the steep bank of the draw, remembering her first night on Arranon. She was a little better prepared this time. Erynn smiled.

  A little better prepared?

  With Jaer, Tiar, Sean, and Roni along, she should amend that to a great deal better prepared.

  Tiar had gone ahead, out of sight, scouting the area. Erynn could sense him far ahead. She wondered if her encounter with the Anim Blath and Zander last night had re-energized her.

  A low, menacing growl came from a thick stand of brush to the right. Erynn slid to a stop, peering into the heavy leaves and tangled branches. A wide mound of dirt was visible under the brush. An animal with a long snout and small yellow eyes peered above the opening.

  Jaer turned and hurried from the front. Roni came up from the rear. Sean stayed back, glancing around and surveying the undergrowth.

  Roni stepped in close to Erynn. “What is it?”

  “An animal, there in the brush,” Erynn said, pointing below the leaves at the mounded dirt. “Growling. We must have startled him.”

  Jaer reached out and took Erynn’s arm, propelling her forward. “Keep moving, quickly.”

  From around them, in several clusters of brush, low growls issued an alarm. Beneath the low leaves, large animals with long snouts and small eyes emerged, their sharp teeth bared. They moved swiftly, cutting off escape.

  Jaer pulled his weapon simultaneously with Roni and Sean. The three spun around, surrounded. There were too many of these creatures, and they were too close. They couldn’t shoot all of them before they attacked. And their intention was to attack. Erynn felt their hatred. She doubted a nod in their direction or a kind word would work on these animals as they had on the maejen.

  But the thought that did come to Erynn seemed nearly as incredible. If she were going to try this crazy idea, she would have to act before the animals launched, ripping and tearing with their needle-sharp teeth and razor claws. Erynn stepped forward.

  Jaer tugged at her arm.

  She ignored him. “Camorra nah,” she called. The animals hesitated, their eyes darting about while they shifted nervously on elongated, razor-clawed feet. The words seemed to be working. “Muclah Frana, camorra nah ah galin cah!” Erynn exclaimed, with added force. She glanced at Jaer and then back to the animals.

  Jaer’s gaze darted to her before returning to the circling pack.

  The animals stilled, their sharp teeth no longer displayed. Snorting noisily, blowing dust and dirt around their dropped heads, they backed away, staring at Erynn. Their anger was still apparent, but a deep fear took over, dictating retreat. She sensed all of this from the animals, brought on by a few nonsense words from her childhood. Once back under the cover of the thick brush, they disappeared into the mounds of dirt. The area was quiet, the animals gone.

  The immediate threat over, Erynn breathed deeply and wrinkled her nose. The animals carried a putrid scent, heavy and pungent. She sensed Jaer’s gaze on her and understood that she was the object of everyone’s attention.

  How will I explain what just happened?

  The odd language she spoke as a child was in her mind from her first memories. She had learned to speak two dialects, concurrently. The language concerned her dad. She remembered going for endless tests of her hearing and speech. When she got older, she understood that the “other language” upset her dad. She stopped using the words around him, around anyone. But they were still there, in her mind, real and with meaning.

  Erynn glanced around, head down. They all watched her. The scene reminded her of when she’d said the wrong thing, or made something strange happen as a child. Other children would stare and taunt her. She glanced at Jaer, her cheeks burning. He would believe her foolish, crazy.

  Jaer replaced his staser and pulled Erynn up to him. His face shone with a fine layer of sweat.

  Erynn averted her face even as her jaw set.

  Jaer spoke quietly, a slight tremble in his voice. “An bhail aghat folcloir ah fhast?”

  Erynn’s attention snapped to Jaer’s face as he spoke.

  Jaer leaned in, his warm breath washing over her. “Bhail aghat folcloir chen aghat linnth?” he asked. His eyes searched hers.

  She whispered, wanting only Jaer to hear, “In response to your first question… it’s hard to give you a simple answer.” Erynn sighed, her breath catching. “I’ve… I’ve always known these words. They’ve been in my mind as long as I can remember.” Her breathing steadied. Erynn continued, her voice still barely above a whisper, but stronger. “The answer to your second question is yes, I understand what I said.”

  Jaer glanced at the others, his voice strong. “Get moving.” He hadn’t released Erynn’s arm, guiding her up the hill. “The words are from an ancient language of Arranon. Few know how to speak it anymore.” Jaer gazed down at her and gave her a small, awkward smile. “I was just surprised to hear you speaking the language so perfectly. They are obviously powerful words when you use them. I am sorry if I embarrassed you.”

  Erynn watched Jaer. Something powerful passed between them. Her mind was reluctant to admit what happened. He accepted her for what and who she was. Erynn nodded. “You didn’t embarrass me.” She shook her head. “I just figured… I assumed… never mind. I was surprised to hear you talking to me in a language I believed I’d made up.” The flush rose in her face, but she resisted the urge to look away, instead staring into his intense, dark eyes.

  “Oh, you did not make up these words,” Jaer said, beaming at her. He let go of her arm and brushed the backs of his fingers across her hot cheek. Jaer lengthened his stride, once more leading the climb.

  Erynn watched him ahead of her. He seemed pleased she could speak this ancient dialect. Her ability to use the language in a powerful manner didn’t trouble him. In his awareness of who she was, what she could do, she sensed Jaer’s acceptance of her. But there was something more underlying his satisfaction.

  Affection?

  The rain increased, the drops larger and colder. They hit the powdery soil with a soft thump, sending up small puffs of dust.

  The clouds op
ened and the downpour hit. Before long, they slid in thick mud that stuck to their boots, making the climb more difficult. Heavy rain pounded the dense brush. The harsh rattle drowned out any other noise.

  Erynn watched the low branches from under the cover of the hood pulled around her face, wary of another attack.

  Chapter 35

  THERE WAS NO PINK BLUSH of dawn this morning, only thick gray clouds obscuring the sun’s approach.

  Faylen rose early after a restless night, dressed, and left his comfortable quarters. He’d studied maps and all the intelligence he could find on the region he was about to enter the night before. Faylen felt ready, as prepared as a few hours of groundwork could get him, anyway. Ten well-equipped men would accompany him—no more. They were waiting, along with all their gear, in a small conference room in the lower level of this building.

  His Lieutenant walked up, the smirk on his face showing his relief that he hadn’t been chosen for this assignment. “Sir, the flight will be leaving as soon as it’s light. The crew will report to you on any sensors detecting the possible position of Erynn Yager.”

  Faylen remembered Birk’s error. Troops and reconnaissance flights sent into the forest excited the animal life. The confusion allowed Erynn to slip through the figurative net and get away. His plan was different, comprising an element of control. He glared at the Lieutenant, his voice hard. “I want positive identification of all sensor readings before moving on. The life forms in this area aren’t as abundant or as large as in the forests. There will be no mistakes.”

  The Lieutenant frowned. “Yes, sir. I’ll pass your orders along to the flight crew.” He turned and marched away.

  Faylen demanded a meticulous and tedious search that would prove far more successful than Birk’s blundering about. Faylen and his men would traverse through the hills in a vehicle designed for rough terrain, shearing the dense vegetation in their way.

  I’ll recover the lead Erynn has and overtake her.

  The vehicle would also protect them during the night, its heavy frame and thick gray armor solid against attack. Faylen motioned and the men moved forward. “Outside.”

  An icy breeze touched his exposed face. He glanced up at the clouds racing across the sky, the air smelling clean and new.

  Even on a dismal day, this world is beautiful.

  Faylen turned his attention from the churning gray clouds and assessed his clothing. He wore a heavy green-gray jumpsuit, gloves, tall boots, and a helmet. The ten men with him, attired similarly, carried bulky packs and weapons. The nights were going to get cold, and the farther up the mountain they went, the colder the temperature would become. He wasn’t looking forward to this.

  Erynn went into the mountains, but why?

  There was nothing there. A small village located at the base of the peaks at the highest level of the tree line was all.

  Could there be something there Erynn sought? Not likely.

  Faylen considered how inadequate Newell’s intel on her was—how muddled the attempts to find her had been. No wonder she was able to evade them. Even with advanced technology at his command, there was something to be said for pure, natural instinct, and Erynn’s abnormally enhanced abilities.

  Chapter 36

  MORNING SLIPPED INTO AFTERNOON, AND rain turned to snow. Large flakes dropped straight down. A thin layer of ice crusted the brush and mud. Erynn stared straight ahead, her quick breaths expelled in a thick vapor. Jaer lead the way, his dark form disappearing under a blanket of white. Trees dotted the now sparse undergrowth.

  “Keep moving. Almost there,” she whispered and would have laughed if she’d had the breath.

  Almost where?

  The clouds darkened. Snow fell relentlessly, obscuring her vision past a few meters. Shadows darted, blurred in the dizzying dance of snowflakes. She labored up the steep incline. A carpet of snow-covered needles dropped from the trees replaced the mud. Her boot slid, and she went down, flat on her back. Her hood fell away, and she stared into the clouds. Silver-white flakes drifted down. The effect was mesmerizing. From the diminished light, she realized evening was near.

  Jaer’s face appeared over her. “You all right?”

  She nodded and rolled. Putting the toe of her boot against the ground, she pushed and went down again, face-first in the snow, the air huffing out of her. Hidden under the hood, she shook with quiet laughter.

  Jaer grabbed her, pulling her into his arms. “Erynn!” He knelt in the snow, cradling her.

  Concern rushed over her. His expression matched his emotion. She stopped laughing, but a smile remained. “I’m sorry. I keep falling.” Icy flakes stuck in his beard. She reached up and brushed the crystals away. “I was never very coordinated in the snow.”

  His eyes slowly closed, then opened. Jaer smiled, releasing his breath. “I thought you were hurt.” His voice was a whisper. His breath skimmed over her with a light caress.

  Blue currents swirled. She pushed out of his hold, glancing around. Sean and Roni had moved on. “I’m fine, just clumsy,” she said and cleared her throat.

  Jaer helped her up. “Set your heel first. Like this.” He showed her how to walk without sliding.

  Erynn tried his technique. She still slipped, but not as much. “Thanks.”

  “So why does it happen?” Jaer asked, walking next to her.

  “The ground is slick. Like I said, I’m not very coordinated when it comes to snow—”

  “No,” he broke in. “The tingling sensation. You said it does not always happen. So what causes it?” He stared at her, his eyes that fathomless deep she could fall into and disappear.

  Erynn frowned and turned her face away, pulling her hood tight. “Oh, that. It just does. I don’t always have control over it.”

  He sighed. “You do not know why, just now?”

  Well, it’s because of you. You cause this crazy rush of emotions, of happiness in me, and the energy just comes bubbling out.

  “Sometimes when I laugh, when I’m happy.” She could feel the heat rising in her face. Sometimes when I’m angry, but it feels different.” She shrugged, wrinkling her forehead. “Not a tickling or tingling. It can be painful for the person on the receiving end.”

  “I will be careful not to make you angry.” He brushed snow from her shoulder. “It was good to hear you laugh, see you smile.”

  “Jaer,” Roni called in a tense voice.

  He pulled Erynn with him to where Roni and Sean stood surveying fresh animal tracks. Jaer straightened and reached for his staser, scanning the forest.

  “What is it?” Erynn asked, glancing around the flowing curtain of snow.

  “Maejen,” Jaer hissed.

  Erynn gasped. “You aren’t going to shoot them!” She pointed to the drawn weapons. “Wait. You don’t need those.”

  “The meervorines were one thing, Erynn. Maejen are another. They’re cunning, resourceful, and deadly.”

  “Stop.” She stepped in front of Jaer. “You don’t understand. It’s because of the maejen that we’re here.” She hadn’t shared her experiences of her time alone in the forest. There had been a lack of opportunity, but mostly it was due to her old habits of silence. “Please, trust me.”

  Jaer faced her, his eyes narrowed.

  “Maejen came into my camp when I was in the woods—”

  “Maejen?” Roni and Sean interrupted her account, their voices high.

  “It’s not what you think. They were there to help me.” Erynn frowned, thinking about their behavior. “Or protect me.”

  “Maejen?” Jaer tipped his head.

  Erynn, still frowning, glared at him. “Yes, maejen. I know how this must sound, but it’s true.” She gazed up the incline and watched a form take shape out of the swirling snow. “They stayed with me at night—slept round the fire, and me.”

  Jaer’s attention whipped from Erynn to the trees above them. Sean and Roni spun, stasers aimed.

  Erynn mumbled, “It’s just Tiar.”

  Tiar eme
rged from the trees, through the fluttering white flakes, closing the distance with long strides. “I met up with a group of men and women from the village late this morning. A heavily armored transport left Tamaagra after dawn, coming this way. There are small aircraft patrolling between us and the village, flying toward us.” Tiar glared up at the gray sky. “They must think that is our destination.”

  “We need to stay away from the village. Can we get away before the ships scan us?” Erynn followed Tiar’s gaze, seeing only the darkening clouds and heavily falling snow.

  “We can try,” Jaer said and pushed forward.

  “There’s a cabin built into the side of the mountain not far from here.” Tiar stared into the growing dark. “A large tree fell on the exposed portion, hiding the opening, but we can still get in. The space underground should give us protection from their scanners.” He raised his face to the sky again. “We need to hurry.”

  They ran. Snow continued to fall, getting deeper as they went higher up the mountain. Night pressed in. Erynn heard the approaching ship. Tiny, flashing red and white lights appeared above and to their right, moving toward them. It was the trip through the forest to Glaskra all over again. There would be no camouflage this time. Just like before, scanners traced a grid, nearly on top of them. The ship was under the cloud cover, not above as before. A green beam swept the area. The light cast an eerie appearance on the heavily falling snow, reminding her of a child’s tale of trobbles and gowlins. Their presence would be revealed in moments. Jaer hooked his arm around her waist, half pushing, half carrying her.

  Tiar led them straight to the shelter. The beam followed, twenty meters behind and gaining. Stripping their packs, they pushed under the downed tree one at a time on their bellies. Tiar went first, pulling Erynn through as she scrambled inside. They did the same with Roni and Sean. Jaer slid the packs in before pressing into the small opening.