“Channie and I want kids some day. I guess we can wait a little longer.”
“I can’t believe y’all already went through your ration of rubbers.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know…condoms?”
“I know what a rubber is!” Josh ran his fingers through his hair. “They’ve got condoms in camp?”
“Well, yeah. The last thing a refugee camp needs is a bunch of newborn babies.”
Josh stood up. “Where are they?”
“Intimidation keeps them in his cabin, with the other limited supplies.”
Josh never accepted a full ration of any of the “limited supplies”—saving things like dried fruit, powdered milk and peanut butter for the kids—but he sure as hell wanted his fair share of condoms.
He felt like Christmas came early when Tim handed him four boxes of Trojans. Christmas…Josh couldn’t help but wonder if he’d be alive to celebrate it.
Dominance kicked the dead empty out of her way. The stupid man landed right at the base of the old fire tower, blocking the stairs. She gave his head an extra kick for inconveniencing her. She didn’t need to kill him, but he was trespassing. The old fire tower was no longer in use, and closed to the public, which made it perfect for her purposes.
She’d come to see for herself whether or not the rumors of elemental mages and bulletproof shields had any substance to them. At first, she’d assumed these wild tales of elemental mages were nothing but excuses, but when every single cowardly mage that crawled back to her on his belly told the same fantastical story…well, it had begun to shake her confidence. And that was simply unacceptable.
The distant sound of gunfire gave her a rush of pleasure. The added adrenaline gave her the boost she needed to climb the final set of stairs.
She cast a bright-eyes spell on herself and ran to the southwest corner of the structure to watch the battle. She’d specifically ordered her men to lure the enemy into the open so she could see this so-called elemental mage and his super-shield in action.
The guardrail dug into her palms as she clenched her fists around it. It was true.
Magic churned in her belly. She wanted to hurl every curse she knew at the impudent couple standing in the middle of a huge, bulletproof shield. But that wasn’t part of the plan.
She strengthened the spell on her eyes to get a better look at them. “No! It’s not possible!”
She took a deep breath to clear her mind. Even if Vengeance had survived, he’d be much older. This young man could have been his double twenty years ago. She dug her fingernails into the arm of the latest coward that had come crawling home to beg for his life and shook him. “Is that the man they call Valor?”
“Yes, my queen.”
Dominance didn’t want to believe that Vengeance had survived, but there was no denying the fact he’d lived long enough to father a son. The timing was about right, too. And the fact that he was calling himself ‘Prince Valor’ meant he knew his bloodline.
She regretted killing the man that had first brought him to her attention. He’d claimed that Valor was a double spy—loyal to her. If he was, he was absolutely brutal in maintaining his cover, he and his bulletproof shield were responsible for killing hundreds of her men. She needed to know more about him. She needed to meet him. Only then could she determine if he were truly one of her own…and if he’d bow to her authority.
She tapped the two-way device in her ear. “Surrender and swear fealty to Prince Valor.”
“Yes, my queen.”
As part of her plan, she’d had microphones, antennas and batteries implanted in the bodies of all the men on the field. Anything they heard would be transmitted to her spies—as long as they could stay close enough to pick up the weak signals. At the very least, she’d be able to find the rebels’ hidden camp.
It’d been three weeks since anyone had gotten so much as a whiff of the enemy. The previous two groups of cowardly raiders they’d come across had dropped their weapons and run without firing a single shot. So Josh was surprised when a band of stubborn marauders lured him and his men into an open meadow.
He suspected it was a trap. This bunch fought hard for ten minutes then surrendered. They were the first to do so. Josh had no idea what to do with them.
Tim suggested they just confiscate their weapons and turn all the prisoners loose. But they fell on their knees and begged to be taken prisoner, claiming Dominance would torture and execute them for surrendering.
Josh didn’t have the heart to refuse.
He marched them back to Freedom Ridge then pardoned Wisdom and kicked her out of the cage. His compassion only went so far. Now that Dominance’s men knew the way to Freedom Ridge, he couldn’t risk letting any of them escape.
Josh tried to live in the moment, treasuring every second he spent with Channie. But a vague sense of impending doom tainted everything. Time slipped through his fingers like sand. He tried not to dwell on his rapidly approaching date with destiny, but he couldn’t help it. Every night, as he lay awake in bed, his traitorous mind crossed another day off his internal calendar.
As Thanksgiving approached, Josh grew even more anxious. He could no longer fall asleep unless Channie cast a be-calm spell on him. And even then, he dreamed of fighting Dominance. He’d win occasionally, but more often than not, the dream ended with Channie sobbing over his lifeless body.
Josh begged the Book of the Dead to give him a new message, some hint of what he needed to do to prepare, but it remained dormant. He practiced dueling with the master mages in camp, and by the middle of November, he could defeat them all, five against one. It was a great morale boost for most of the camp. The only ones that seemed worried at all over the coming showdown were Josh, Channie and Vince. Everyone else acted as if Dominance were already dead.
Wisdom, Vince and Hunter celebrated Thanksgiving with Channie and Josh. There was barely enough room to turn around in their tiny cabin, but it was the first time in a long time that Josh felt somewhat normal. Hunter even provided a wild turkey. Wisdom plucked and roasted the bird while Channie made something she called ‘fried mush.’ It looked, and tasted, exactly like polenta.
Wisdom looked like she was sucking on lemons when Josh handed Hunter the camp’s satellite phone and told him to call Kassie. But she didn’t say anything.
After the feast, Vince asked if he could take the leftovers to the prisoners of war. “I remember some of those men from my youth. They aren’t bad people, they’re just fighting on the wrong side. I’m sure most of them were forced into service.”
“I’m not letting them out until the war’s over.” Josh felt sorry for the prisoners, but he didn’t trust them.
Vince nodded. “Better safe than sorry.”
“I think I’ll go with you.” Josh wanted to talk to Vince privately and this seemed like a good opportunity.
Josh bundled up in his mismatched secondhand coat, hat and mittens. A year ago, he wouldn’t be caught dead wearing mittens, but they were warm and he was glad to have them. Besides, Channie had knit them for him.
Vince wore the same coat, hat and gloves he’d worn ever since Josh met him. His only concession to the colder weather was the addition of a wool scarf.
They walked in silence until they were about halfway to the cage. Josh cleared his throat. “I have a trust fund that my dad set up for me when he adopted me. I’m not sure how much it’s worth, but if anything happens to me, I want Channie to have it.”
Vince's jaw twitched, stretching the scars on his face. “Nothing’s going to happen to you.”
“But if it does…promise me you’ll see to it that the trust fund gets transferred to Channie.”
“I’m sure Ezra will take care of it.”
“I’m more worried about Channie accepting it. She’s got a lot of pride.”
“Wisdom and I’ll take care of Channie.”
“Sounds like you two are getting serious.”
“I’ve asked her to mar
ry me.”
“Whoa! That was fast.”
“How long did you know Channie before you married her?”
“We didn’t have a choice.” The Book of the Dead prophesied that Channie would die if Josh didn’t marry her before the next full moon. “What’s the rush?”
“War.”
Josh wanted to do something spectacular for his and Channie’s first wedding anniversary. It might make up for forgetting her seventeenth birthday. There weren’t many options in camp. He didn’t feel right about commandeering the helicopter for a trip to the mall, so he decided to pay Carver a visit.
On December second, Josh took Channie for a long walk around the lake so Carver could deliver Josh’s gift and set it up in their cabin. Josh knew the boy had talent, but when he threw the door open and saw the work of art he’d created, it stole his breath. The pine log bed had their likenesses sculpted into the headboard. It was as if Carver had snapped a photo of them moments after their fairy tale kiss and captured it in wood.
Channie gasped then covered her mouth with both hands. Tears filled her eyes.
“Don’t you like it?” Josh knew she did. Her energy field sparkled with joy, but he couldn’t resist teasing her just a little.
She threw her arms around his neck and tackled him, throwing them both onto their new bed. She landed on top of him. “I love it!”
“What do you say we break it in?” Josh rolled them over, supporting his weight on his elbows.
“In the middle of the day?”
“It’s okay. Hunter and Tim are taking turns guarding the trail. No one’s going to bother us today.”
Channie’s eyes widened. “But…they’ll know what we’re doing!”
“We’re married. It’s our anniversary. We’re supposed to celebrate.”
“I’d rather celebrate after dark.”
Josh sighed then kissed the tip of her nose. “As you wish.”
Channie grabbed his biceps and hooked her heels behind his knees. “No. You’re right. We should enjoy each other while…”
Josh’s chest tightened. He swallowed around the lump in his throat. “While we still can?”
Channie closed her eyes and trembled.
Josh rolled onto his back, pulling her with him. He pressed her face into the hollow between his neck and shoulder with one hand and rubbed her back with the other.
She whispered, “There’re less than twenty days until...”
“I know.” By some unspoken agreement, neither of them had mentioned winter solstice in front of the other since the end of summer. It was obvious that Channie had been just as worried about it as Josh. Maybe talking about it would help. He’d do anything to comfort her—even lie.
“It’s going to be okay.”
Channie lifted herself up on her elbows. “How are you even supposed to meet her? She stays walled up in her fortress.”
“I don’t know.” Josh wound a strand of her hair around his finger. “I guess the Book of the Dead will set it up.”
“Do you remember the first time we opened the book?” She returned her head to his chest.
“Like it was yesterday.”
“Do you regret it?”
“No.” Josh rolled Channie onto her back and edged her legs apart with his knees. “Without the book’s help, we never would’ve been able to break that damn chastity curse.”
Josh woke up with a start and bolted out of bed. Someone was trying to pound their door down with their fist. No one was supposed to disturb them unless it was a dire emergency. That’s why he’d picked the most remote spot in camp to build their cabin. He jammed his feet into his jeans and yanked them up over his bare ass.
Channie sat up, clutching the quilt to her chest. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m not sure. Get dressed, but stay inside.”
“But…I’m supposed to stay by your side.”
“Get dressed first.” Josh cracked the door open and slipped outside. Hunter, Tim and one of the prisoners were huddled together in front of his door.
“What’s wrong?” Josh shifted his weight from foot to foot, trying to keep from freezing his toes off.
Tendrils of steam rose off the mens’ backs and necks. They were all panting and holding their sides. Hunter’s breath fogged the air when he spoke. “It’s the prisoners.”
“What about ‘em?” Josh hoped Vince wasn’t going to try to talk him into letting them out of the cage. The living conditions inside the cave were miserable, but it was the only secure place to keep them.
“They all escaped. Except for this fella.” Hunter pointed at the stranger. “He was unconscious and lying on the ground.”
“No.” Josh put a hand on the side of the cabin to steady himself.
Channie pushed the door open and waved everyone inside. “Hurry up. You’re gonna let all the warm air out.”
Josh threw another log on the fire then sat on the hastily made bed. He pulled Channie onto his lap and rested his chin on the top of her head. “How’d they escape?”
Tim leaned closer to the prisoner then raised his voice. “Both guards are dead. One of ‘em must’ve gotten too close to the cage. The key’s still in the lock.”
“Damn it!” Josh threw his head back and smacked it on the headboard. “This is a freakin’ disaster! I guess we better evacuate everyone.”
Tim handed Josh a piece of paper then mouthed, “Read this.”
The prisoners all have tiny microphones implanted under the skin behind their ears so watch what you say. Dominance is spying on us. This man managed to avoid Dominance’s death pledge so joining us didn’t kill him. He’s a childhood friend of Vince’s and on our side.
Josh scanned it again while Tim yelled at the prisoner. “We should go to Bowling Green. The stupid bitch will never think we’d go back to the sight of our worst defeat.”
The prisoner tilted his head to the side and lifted the hair off his neck, exposing a long, thin scar behind his ear.
Josh knew he needed to respond to the last thing Tim said out loud to maintain the subterfuge, but his mind was a blank. All he could think was, Dominance is listening.
Channie must have sensed his distress. She arched her eyebrows and pointed at her chest.
Josh nodded.
She took a quick breath but spoke in a normal tone of voice. “Did any of the prisoners know that the majority of the Arkansas National Guard are mages loyal to our side?” She mouthed, “Say, no.”
Tim must have realized how fake he’d sounded, because this time he kept his voice at a normal volume and only leaned towards the prisoner a little. “I doubt it. I didn’t even find out until I joined the guard last month.”
Hunter grinned and stepped closer to the prisoner. “I just hope no one talked about how Homeland Security is watching Black Mountain in front of the prisoners.”
Josh decided it was time to speak up before this got completely unbelievable. “You mean like you’re doing right now?”
“Sorry.” Hunter hung his head.
Josh held his index finger up and shook his head to let the prisoner know he was only speaking for Dominance’s benefit. “Now, I’m going to have to kill this guy because you couldn’t keep your mouth shut.”
Vince spoke up for the first time. “I know your views about torture, but if you’d just let me work on him for a few weeks, I might be able to get some valuable information.”
“Fine. Put him back in the cage. And this time find a guard smart enough to keep his shield up and stay away from the bars.”
“Why am I just now discovering that the rebels control the Arkansas National Guard?” Dominance sat on her throne and glared at her advisors as she considered all she’d learned from her spies at Freedom Ridge. She’d learned more from them than she had in years of covert operations. She’d learned that Vengeance was still alive…and still defying her. She’d also learned that Valor was indeed her grandson, as well as an elemental mage. This was information that could only be gleaned fro
m inside the rebel base, but there was no excuse for not knowing about the Arkansas National Guard.
Her most trusted advisor stood up to address her. “We don’t have enough manpower to investigate every government agency in every state.”
“Is the Kentucky Guard under my control?”
“No, my queen. We only have two mages in that organization and both of them are underlings.”
“And why is that?” Dominance gritted her teeth to keep from losing her temper. All of her advisors were terrified of her, as they should be, but it was hard to get reliable information out of a group of sniveling cowards.
“We’re spread too thin.”
They’d burned through half the treasury getting her nephew, Power Veyjivik, elected to the Kentucky state congress only to have the ungrateful upstart refuse to follow her orders as soon as he was in office. She regretted not killing his family when she’d had Power kidnapped. They’d disappeared off the face of the earth but she’d find them, eventually. No one could defy her and live. “Doesn’t the guard report to the governor?”
“Yes…but even he can’t order them to attack a neighboring state.”
This war was dragging on much too long. She was wasting all her resources fighting other mages when she should be focusing on wresting control from the empties. It all started to fall apart when her grandson came into power. She didn’t dare attack him in his stronghold or on Arkansas soil. No, he needed to come to her.
“Somebody go find Scribe. I need to send a message.”
Someone pounded on Josh and Channie’s door just before dawn on December fifteenth. He bolted out of bed and motioned for Channie to stay put. She ignored him, of course, and grabbed her clothes off the floor.
Josh yanked his jeans on and peeked through the cracks of the shuttered window. He heaved a sigh of relief when he recognized Hunter’s profile. After a quick glance over his shoulder to be sure Channie was dressed, he opened the door. “What’s up?”
“Dominance sent a messenger.”
Believe: The Complete Channie Series Page 101
