Out of Orbit- The Complete Series Boxset

by Chele Cooke

  “Master Guinnyr, is there some way in which I can help you?” Georgianna pressed.

  She didn’t like the direction this conversation was heading. The way Maarqyn was determined not to let her move more than a step away chilled her bones. He had brought Tsevstakre with him. He was prepared.

  “I believe you already know how you can help me,” he said. “I want to know where Alec and Nyah are.”

  Ehnisque had moved in, standing only a step behind Maarqyn. Her tsentyl was in her hand and she tapped the edge against her leg in a slow rhythm. Georgianna watched the tsentyl for a few moments, taking a deep breath before she glanced up at Maarqyn.

  “I have told you all that I know. I do not know where either of them are.”

  “Medic, we have already established that coercion works well in making you tell me what you know,” Maarqyn taunted. “Why not save yourself the trouble and tell me.”

  “I believe my owner has already established that you have no right to harm me, Volsonne.”

  Ehnisque scoffed, her sneer baring her teeth. She stepped forwards, for the first time moving in front of Maarqyn. Georgianna had to admit that she was surprised the commander would allow such a move, but he stepped back, giving the woman room.

  “Your owner cares only for himself, Ven,” she sneered. “You would do better to learn that now. I do not know what he sees in you, why he would risk his reputation in taking from Commander Guinnyr, but the moment he is done, he will discard you.”

  Georgianna gulped, trying not to shy away from the woman. Ehnisque’s sneer disappeared, to be replaced by a charming smile, one that reminded her so much of Edtroka.

  “Does he tell you he loves you?”

  “No, it’s not…”

  “Giving you time to settle in, no doubt,” she interrupted. “He will ask more of you soon enough, Ven. Edtroka never takes something he has no use for and I can’t imagine you have any other use than lying on your back. You will be used and discarded, mark my words. Commander Maarqyn can give you a good home, protection—if you tell him what you know.”

  “I don’t know anything!” Georgianna cried, looking past the woman’s shoulder at Maarqyn. “I swear it. I have told you all that I know. I was part of the escape, yes, but I was captured before I knew anything more.”

  Maarqyn brushed Ehnisque out of the way with as little regard as he would give a Veniche. She stumbled, but straightened up and stood behind him with her hands clasped behind her back, the smile still etched on her lips.

  “Medic, you know my position,” he said with a surprising softness to his voice. He reminded her of a vicious animal that looked innocent before pouncing. “You know that I do not let things stop me from getting what I want. My position is superior to that of your owner. Should I wish to, I could take you out from under him.”

  He laughed and glanced over his shoulder at Ehnisque.

  “While he is still trying to enjoy you if needs be,” he chuckled. “The longer you make me wait, Med, the more I will make sure I enjoy you. Are we clear?”

  Georgianna shuddered at the thought. Edtroka had made no move to take advantage of her the way she knew so many Adveni did of their female slaves. Nyah hadn’t said anything about Maarqyn’s actions but it wouldn’t have surprised Georgianna if this man had taken what he claimed to be his.

  “Yes,” she answered. “I understand.”

  “You would do well to convince Grystch that this would go much better if he were to hand you over himself.”

  She stared at the ground. She couldn’t look at him, couldn’t bear to see that cruel smirk.

  Maarqyn stepped forwards and brushed the hair back from her neck. He patted her on the shoulder the way one would belittle a child.

  “I’ll see you soon, little bird.”

  Georgianna remained rooted to the spot as she listened to their retreating footsteps. She didn’t dare move, or even look to see whether the two Adveni waiting down the side roads had disappeared as well. Edtroka had said that the endearment Ehnisque had used for him meant brother but, to Georgianna, she sounded more like a scorned lover, discarded for someone else. She’d never seen Edtroka with a woman, but from the way Ehnisque spoke, it sounded like he simply used people before throwing them away.

  If so, what was he using her for? He’d made no advances on her. He had made jokes but had never begun to suggest that they were anything more than that. Maybe the woman was right and Edtroka was just biding his time.

  Then, of course, there was Maarqyn, who seemed so determined to prove that he could have anything he wanted yet didn’t take it. Being a commander, someone stationed so highly over Edtroka, surely no one would question his decision to buy her from Edtroka. To the commander, probably, Edtroka should be thrilled that he could help his superior in such a way. So why did Maarqyn keep talking and not act? What card did Edtroka hold that was keeping Maarqyn at bay, making him so reluctant to act while he had the chance?

  It had taken three detours, including a long double-back, to get to Medic’s Way. She’d been so nervous that Maarqyn, or perhaps Edtroka, was following her, that she’d taken every evasion method she could think of. She’d ducked through shortcuts, she’d travelled down into the tunnels and come back up only to descend once again. She’d paused and tied her boot for a full five minutes. She hadn’t spotted any familiar faces watching her, but it didn’t lessen her nerves.

  She had passed the entrance to the Belsa tunnels twice before she finally slipped inside, following the narrow tunnel all the way to Medic’s Way. Its familiarity hit her immediately as she approached the first car. The smells and sounds were all the same as she remembered them. It didn’t sound like much was going on. She couldn’t hear any shouts of pain or demands for dressings and, as she pulled herself up into the car, the only person in view was a small red-headed girl who turned to look at her.

  “George!” she cried, dropping the book in her lap and flinging herself across the car.

  Georgianna enveloped Lacie in a tight hug, holding the back of her head and grinning into her hair.

  “Hey!”

  “Oh, George, I was so worried about you. Beck said that you were a drysta and…”

  “It’s alright, Lacie, I’m fine.”

  Lacie pulled back, her eyes wet with happy tears which she swiped away with a brush of her thumb. Georgianna spotted the beginnings of a frown as Lacie saw the marks on her cheeks, but she didn’t comment on them. Instead she fixed a beaming smile in place and led her further into the car.

  “You’re back?”

  “Not exactly,” Georgianna admitted. “I am still a drysta and so I will have to go back, but… my owner is nice. He’s allowed me free time. I will be able to see you sometimes.”

  The young girl didn’t look like she believed her. Swiping a lock of hair behind her ear, she changed her mind almost immediately and tugged it forwards again, twisting it in her fingers. Georgianna reached out and took her hand, giving her a gentle smile.

  “Why don’t you tell me what’s been going on here? I hear you’ve become quite the baby fan.”

  “Who told you that?”

  “Beck seemed quite enamoured by it. Possibly thinking about when he’ll be a grandda’ or something.”

  A blush crept up Lacie’s cheeks though, despite her embarrassment, she smiled tenderly.

  “He’s great,” she murmured.

  “Beck?” Georgianna asked. “Or the baby?”

  Lacie beamed at her and ran her fingers through her hair.

  “Well, I meant the baby, but Beck’s great too.”

  The smile faded and Lacie lowered herself onto one of the small beds.

  “He said you were mad at him.”

  Georgianna bit back another joke. Something in the girl’s expression alerted her. She sighed, taking a seat opposite.

  “It’s complicated,” she answered. “Beck… Well, he lied to me and it’s going to take some getting used to.”

  “Why did he lie?”r />
  “Well, apparently someone asked him to. He thought he was protecting us, I guess.”

  Lacie leaned forwards and rested her chin on her palm.

  “So it was either lie to you, or break a promise to someone else?”

  “When you put it like that…”

  Lacie’s smile was more than a little triumphant. Georgianna grinned and shook her head.

  “I wasn’t really mad anyway,” she exclaimed. “More disappointed and hurt.”

  Lacie gave a single nod and pushed herself forwards on the bed.

  “Are you sticking around now?”

  Georgianna glanced around, chewing on her lip.

  “I was actually looking for my bag.”

  “Bag?”

  “My leather one that I have my supplies in.”

  Lacie paused. She looked up and down the train car, her brow furrowed. Finally she shook her head.

  “I’ve not seen it.”

  Georgianna rubbed her hand across the back of her neck, wondering what the hell could have happened to it. Her tsentyl was in that bag and Edtroka had been quite clear that she should locate it. After receiving the silent treatment for the last day, she didn’t want to have to go back and tell him that she couldn’t find it and would need a new one if their arrangement was to continue.

  “That… Crap! I knew I left it here. Maybe someone took it.”

  “Oh!”

  Lacie jumped to her feet. Georgianna expected her to run off somewhere, but she simply stared at her.

  “Yes?”

  “The sergeant took it.”

  Georgianna stared at her, open mouthed.

  “You know, the attractive one that came around sometimes.”

  “You… You mean Keiran?” Georgianna asked. “Zanetti?”

  Lacie pointed at her and nodded.

  “That’s the one.”

  Georgianna laughed, covering her mouth. It wasn’t that Lacie hadn’t known his name, but more that she’d described him purely as “the attractive one”. Though, the moment the amusement faded, worry returned. How could she go to Keiran when she hadn’t even been able to ask Edtroka about his name on the map? Maybe it would be easier talking to Keiran? She doubted it. If Keiran was involved, then he’d already lied to her about it. Why would he tell the truth now—unless she threatened him? She wasn’t sure what she could expect of him, not after knowing that he’d made a deal to free her from the compound.

  “Oh. Right.”

  Lacie was confused. She took her seat on the bed, watching Georgianna.

  “Did you have a fight?”

  “No, nothing like that.”

  That wasn’t true, though Keiran didn’t know that they were fighting. Georgianna wasn’t entirely sure herself. All she knew was that something was going on. His name had been on that list and yet Edtroka hadn’t arrested him, despite clearly knowing who he was. There had been other names on the list. Taye and Wrench had both known the plan, but as far as Georgianna knew, Edtroka hadn’t come face to face with either of them.

  Lacie frowned and fidgeted on the edge of the bed but didn’t say anything. Georgianna picked at a thread in a nearby blanket, willing herself to leave. She wanted to stay. It was simple here. There were injuries and she fixed them. That was how it was supposed to be. She didn’t have to question whether the injury was supposed to be fixed, whether the patient was really hurt or not. It was clear; nobody needed to lie.

  “Is anyone else here?” Georgianna asked finally. If Lacie had been left on her own, it was a good excuse not to find Keiran for the moment and so put off dealing with what she knew.

  “Just me.”

  “And Jacob?” Georgianna pushed with a wry smile.

  Lacie stared back at her blankly.

  “No, Jacob’s not here.”

  “What? Did they find him somewhere else to live?”

  “Oh, no,” Lacie said. “He still stays in the end car, but he’s out at the moment. In the camps, I think.”

  “Camps? Why?”

  Lacie shrugged with a smile.

  “He’s training. Your friend Liliah is helping him.”

  Georgianna blinked. She’d been considering asking Liliah for her help with Jacob. The young man had been training to be a herber, yet she’d been unable to find someone to train him, knowing that he was a drysta runaway. She knew how much Liliah had on her plate, so had been reluctant to impose on her friend.

  “How did that…”

  “Keiran did it.”

  Staring at Lacie, who was looking at her like this was the most normal arrangement in the world, Georgianna opened and closed her mouth.

  She didn’t know what to think. On seeing his name on that list, Georgianna had assumed that something was going on, that he’d struck a deal, maybe sold them out in exchange for keeping himself safe. Maybe he’d been revealed as a Belsa and this was his way of staying out of a collar. A hundred thoughts had run through her head, each more horrid than the last. Yet he had struck a deal to help get her out of the compound, he had helped Jacob get training, a boy he only knew because of her. He’d said he wanted to be with her.

  She got to her feet.

  “I should go get my bag from Keiran,” she said.

  Lacie nodded, seemingly unworried about being left alone like she used to be.

  “I’ll try to come back and see you again before I have to leave.”

  “It would be nice to have you around again.”

  Stepping forwards, Georgianna cupped Lacie’s face in her hands, giving the girl a warm smile.

  “You’re doing wonderfully.”

  The smile in return was bashful and the blush was creeping back into the redhead’s cheeks.

  Georgianna retreated and, after one last lingering look around, jumped down from the car to go and find Keiran.

  Georgianna hurried along the tunnel to where Keiran’s shack stood against the wall. It was small and held together in such a way that it was lucky it didn’t have to survive the elements. She didn’t want to lose her confidence on the walk over, so she’d run most of the way, desperate to get there and get the whole mess figured out. Keiran would have an explanation. He would tell her why Edtroka had ignored his involvement in the escape and it would all make sense. No one who had been that good to her could be selling out the Belsa.

  The closer Georgianna got to Keiran’s shack, the more her resolve wavered. She knew that she had to go, if for no other reason than to collect her bag, but she worried that if they began talking, everything would come spilling out. Up ahead, the sheet metal the shack was built of reflected the torches spaced along the tunnel. She passed two other homes built against the walls and came to a stop next to the tarpaulin Keiran used to cover the opening.

  She stood and stared at the tarpaulin. It hung perfectly still in front of her and, beyond the thin sheeting, she couldn’t hear any movement within. He could be asleep, it wouldn’t have surprised her. The Belsa kept odd hours and she wouldn’t be shocked to find that Keiran had been on guards’ the night before. Guards were needed throughout the day and night and, while the majority were up and about during the day, someone was generally sleeping in the homes down in the tunnels.

  Taking a resigned breath, Georgianna pushed the tarpaulin aside. The inside of the shack was dark, the lamp on the upturned crate, unlit. Blinking a few times as her sight adjusted, she stepped towards the bed. It was empty, as was the rest of the small home. Whatever Keiran was up to, he wasn’t doing it here.

  She sat on the edge of the mattress, resting her head in her hands. It shouldn’t be so difficult. If Keiran was a traitor, she should be able to confront him. It wasn’t just her that he was betraying, it was the Belsa, the Veniche. She owed it to them to confront him. But what if she was wrong? His name on that map could have meant anything. The longer she thought about it, the more her certainty slipped away.

  There was no reason for staying if he wasn’t here. She got to her feet with the intention of finding her bag
and returning to Medic’s Way. She was here now. If she couldn’t do any good talking to Keiran, she could at least help out down there. Glancing around, Georgianna located her bag in the corner. It was closed, and upon inspecting the contents, she realised that no one had touched it since Keiran had placed it there. Had he been so sure that she would return that he’d not even offered the medical supplies inside to the medics he knew?

  Deep in the bag, under a supply of dressings, Georgianna’s fingers brushed against a smooth cube. She pulled it out and found that it was flashing blue. Someone had tried to contact her. She swiped it open and the screen lit up, alerting her to a number of messages. Most of them were general alerts sent out by the Adveni, but there were a few personal notes as well. All of them were out of date. Funnily enough, one was from Edtroka.

  Medic needed at Lyndbury.

  Come immed

  The message cut off mid-word. It was dated in the middle of her time in the compound, and Georgianna realised that Edtroka had begun to write out the message before remembering that she was already in the block as an inmate. Why he’d sent the message instead of deleting it, she could only imagine was a mistake, but it made her smile.

  She closed up the cube and stuffed it into the bag. She slung the strap over her shoulder and pushed the tarpaulin aside to leave.

  He was standing there, his arms crossed over his chest.

  “Hey, George.”

  Georgianna stepped forwards cautiously. He looked better than the last time she had seen him, but she knew he wouldn’t be. A tentative smile pulled at the corner of her lips and, despite never having felt awkward around him before, she stuffed her hands into her pockets.

  “Hello Alec.”

  “Yes, well, from what I could tell, he never did like having things taken away from him,” Alec said with a cold grin.

  It was hard not to stare. She’d seen him twice since they’d been told of his death. Though she knew he was alive and relatively well, there was something about seeing him here, back where she knew him best, that sent happy shivers through her bones. She felt guilty for it, knowing everything he had lost, but she couldn’t help herself.