by Anna Hackett
Galen pressed his hands to the table. “They’d seen it in the Illusion Mountains.”
A hush spread over the room.
Raiden frowned. “How could it be growing in the Illusion Mountains if it isn’t native?”
“My guess is that someone is planting and growing it up there,” Regan said.
“The Nerium,” Mia breathed. “Did Zhim find out anything more about them?”
Galen shook his head.
“Why would they attack Vek?” she asked.
“We don’t know,” Galen answered.
“Where are these mountains?” Mia demanded.
“That’s where I come in,” Corsair drawled. “I’ve been there before. I led my caravan across the Illusion Mountains, once. It’s a dangerous, poorly-charted trek that I’d never planned to do again. The path through the mountains can be treacherous—landslides, sinkholes, or suddenly no path at all. And the weather is mercurial. It can be dry one second, and then you can have a freak storm and flash floods the next. And things up there are…strange.”
“Strange?” Thorin said.
“You superstitious, Corsair?” Raiden asked with a raised brow.
Corsair lifted a shoulder. “I’m a man of the desert, Raiden. I’ve seen things that defy logic and definition. How do you think the mountains got their name? People and animals disappear up there. Landmarks and vegetation can change, in just hours. It’s easy to get turned around and lost. And it’s easy to have your entire caravan picked off, one by one, if you aren’t careful. I lost several people up there.”
Something flashed across his face, so briefly that Mia almost missed it. But it didn’t soften her resolve. “We need to go there. We need to find Dayna.”
“There’s more,” Galen said. “Zhim found something on Ryan.”
Mia didn’t like the set look on Galen’s face. Her chest went tight.
“He made contact with her again?” Harper asked. “Is she okay?”
Galen released a breath. “He found a record of her sale.”
“No,” Mia breathed. Her captors had sold her.
“To the Nerium.”
Mia could barely breathe. “So Dayna and Ryan are both in the mountains?” She shot to her feet. “We have to—”
“We’re going, Mia,” Galen said. “We’re planning it now.”
“I’m—”
Galen held up a hand. “I’m giving the orders today.”
At the imperator’s deep voice, Vek stood, standing close to Mia. She saw his hot gaze was on Galen. She pressed her hand to his arm, to calm and reassure. That was all she needed, for Vek to challenge Galen.
“We’ll need Vek’s skills to track the Nerium into the mountains,” the imperator said. “And Vek needs you, Mia.”
Relief shuddered through her. He was letting her go. “When do we leave?”
“Listen,” Corsair said. “I will guide you into the mountains, but you need to know it is not an easy trip. The mountains are tough enough, but getting to the mountains is just as hard. We will have to cross the Gargas Badlands.”
“Sounds like fun,” Raiden said dryly.
Corsair snorted. “It’s a pockmarked, hellish area of the desert. The ground is unstable, and I’ve heard if you fall into a crevasse, you’ll end up in a pool of lava. And that’s not the worst part.”
“Give it to us,” Thorin growled.
“Creatures live in the Badlands. Buried under the sand. They are known as the norkhoi, or death borers.”
Galen pinched the bridge of his nose. “Excellent.”
“They burrow through the sand, pop up through the surface, and then drag people down. They eat their victims alive.”
Mia’s fingers dug into Vek’s skin. Oh, God. Dayna, Ryan, and this mysterious other woman were all lost out in that horrible place.
“We can travel by tarnid to the Badlands,” Corsair said.
“Why not take a shuttle?” Mia asked.
Corsair shook his head. “Shuttles do not mix well with the deserts of Carthago. There are minerals in the sand that are attracted to metal and heated engines.”
“It clogs them up and eats away at the metal very quickly,” Galen said. “More than a few people have found their deaths crashing into the desert dunes.”
“That’s why the caravans are such a lucrative business,” Corsair said. “Once we reach the Badlands, I’ll have to guide you through on foot. And then we need to travel into the mountains on foot, as well.”
“Mia,” Vek said. “Perhaps it is safer if you stay—”
“No.” She lifted her chin. “I’m finding my friends.”
Galen gave a single, sharp nod. “Everybody prepare. We leave in the morning.”
Chapter Eight
Vek ran quickly across the hot sand, enjoying the stretch of his muscles. Carthago’s dual suns were scorching hot, and he felt sweat trickling down his back, but he didn’t care.
He had wide-open space ahead of him. He was free, and Mia was with him.
He turned his head and watched her riding the giant, six-legged beast beside him. She had a happy look on her face. He knew she was pleased for the opportunity to help find her friends.
Around them, the rest of the House of Galen group had fanned out on their tarnids. Vek wrinkled his nose. He disliked the large creatures and they disliked him right back.
But he was more than happy running, and could keep up this pace for days.
They’d spent the rest of the day before preparing for the trip. He’d watched Galen and Madeline organize supplies for the desert trek. Vek had wanted to spend more time with Mia, but it had been a whirl of preparation, and she’d been busy with Harper finding clothes for the trip. Right now, Mia wore sand-colored, loose-fitting clothes, and a length of beige cloth wrapped over her head to protect her from the sun. Vek had traded his fighting leathers for loose-fitting trousers and shirt, and desert boots. His fighting forks were tucked into specially designed sheaths at his hips. Vek had never liked using a sword, and much preferred his forks.
So he’d barely had any time alone with Mia the evening before. He’d eaten the last meal of the day with her and the gladiators, sitting quietly, watching them all interact with easy conversation and smiles. Every time someone had included him in the discussions, he’d had to fight off his surprise. Thankfully, the Earth women did most of the talking.
Long after the House of Galen had fallen still and silent, Vek had snuck out of his cell and gone to Mia’s room. She’d been curled into a tight ball in the middle of her big bed. He’d sat beside it and watched her sleeping. He’d fallen asleep against the wall, his sleep undisturbed by nightmares and filled with dreams of Mia.
He lifted his gaze to the distant horizon. Heat shimmered off the sand, but ahead, he spotted the long, dark silhouette of the Illusion Mountains. Corsair was in the lead with Galen. While the imperator rode one of the dark-scaled tarnids, the caravan master rode a different animal. It had a powerful body, a long neck, and ran on two legs. It was covered in beige scales, and was faster and more maneuverable than the tarnids.
Harper rode beside Mia, with Raiden and Thorin behind them. Two of Corsair’s caravan workers followed at the rear, their tarnids loaded with packs, tents, and water pouches. Galen had decided to keep the group smaller, much to the complaints of the other gladiators. He’d left Saff and Blaine in charge of the House of Galen, and told the unhappy Nero and Lore they were in charge of training the lower-level gladiators and recruits in his absence.
Vek fell back beside Mia. “Have you drunk some water?”
She rolled her eyes at him. “You asked me that like ten minutes ago. I’m fine.”
“You should snack as well, to keep your energy up.”
“I’m not the one running instead of riding.”
“I am not hopping on that…animal.”
Mia’s tarnid snuffled out a disgruntled breath, almost as though it agreed with him.
Another hour passed, and Vek persuade
d Mia to sip some water and eat some travel snacks. He watched her carefully. He did not want her dehydrated.
Ahead, Corsair pulled his beast to a halt, and pointed forward. “There.”
Vek scanned the desert and spotted it. The sand looked like it had been churned up and disturbed. A bad smell hit him. A burning stench, mixed with the scent of rotting meat.
The Gargas Badlands.
When they reached the edge of the Badlands, everyone dismounted. The men began to pull on large packs, while Corsair’s workers corralled the tarnids.
Vek pulled a pack onto his back, tightening the straps. The weight didn’t bother him, but he didn’t like the constrictive feel of it. Mia and Harper both carried smaller packs.
“Everyone follow my steps,” Corsair called out. “I know my way through the Badlands. Keep your voices low, so we don’t disturb the death borers below. One wrong move, and you’ll wake them all up.”
They went single file, following behind the caravan master. Vek stayed behind Mia, in the center of the group. They all walked carefully, gently setting their boots down wherever Corsair indicated.
The ground was rough. In parts, it was sandy, and in other parts, rocky. Narrow paths twisted up and over rocks, and passed deep gashes that opened up in the sand. The stench of something burning was strong from the crevasses.
“This matches my idea of hell,” Mia murmured.
“Hell?” Vek asked.
“A hot, terrible place where some humans believe bad people go after they die.”
Vek made a sound. “To me, the fight rings were hell.”
She glanced back at him. “No argument from me.”
They were about a quarter of the way through the rough terrain, when suddenly Vek felt the ground start vibrating.
“Stop!” Corsair held up a hand. “Stay still.”
Vek heard a trickle of rocks and sand falling, and he peered over the edge into a gully. Suddenly, a horrific creature burst up out of the sand.
Mia gasped and Vek wrapped an arm around her. Everyone in the group froze, and Vek heard Thorin mutter a low curse.
The creature reared out, the top half of it flopping on the sand nearby and wriggling. It had a powerful, worm-like body in a mottled brown. It had no eyes, and its large mouth was ringed by huge fangs and two large, sharp pincers that opened out wide.
“They can detect vibrations,” Corsair murmured. “Stay still.”
The creature wiggled around for a little while longer, and then it burrowed back into the sand.
Vek did not like this place.
After what felt like an eternity, Corsair waved them on. They reached a large scar in the ground that cut across their path. Vek arched his neck and looked down into the giant crevasse. Far below, he saw a faint, red glow.
Corsair backed up a step, then ran and leaped across the fissure. He landed agilely on the other side.
One by one, the gladiators followed.
Mia stood at the edge, her hands clenched together. “Damn, that’s a long way down.”
Vek scooped her into his arms. She made a small, startled sound and wrapped her arms around his neck. He backed up a few steps and then ran at the chasm.
“Vek!” Her arms tightened.
He jumped into the air, flying across the deep crevasse. Mia made a strangled sound, holding him in a death grip.
He landed on the other side with a bend of his knees.
“Thanks,” she said with a shaky smile.
He set her down. “I would carry you anywhere you want to go.”
Her face softened. “Sometimes I wonder what I did to deserve you.”
“All you have to do is be you.”
They kept moving. Vek glanced back to where they’d come, and guessed that they were over half way through the Badlands.
“Almost there,” Corsair said. “Keep moving.”
Without warning, a death borer shot up out of the dirt right beside them, spraying sand and gravel over them. Mia screamed and Vek slammed his hand over her mouth.
The gladiators all jerked back. This death borer was smaller and thinner than the other. A juvenile, Vek guessed. It flopped around, searching, and Thorin and Raiden dodged back out of its way. Harper dropped to one knee, watching cautiously.
The death borer continued to squirm, impossibly close to the gladiators.
“Stay still,” Corsair said quietly.
The death borer grazed Raiden, and one of its fangs snagged on Raiden’s scabbard.
It moved, pulling the gladiator closer to its giant mouth.
Raiden lost his balance, but his face wasn’t panicked. He threw his arms forward, ready to grab the rocky edge.
“Raiden!” Harper drew her own sword, and in a swift move, she swung her arm.
She sliced through Raiden’s leather belt, cutting his scabbard away, and freeing him from the beast.
Raiden jumped and spun. He reached out, grabbing the hilt of his sword. He yanked his sword free as the death borer dropped back into the sand, taking Raiden’s belt and scabbard with it.
“Drak.” The gladiator pressed his hands to his thighs and sucked in a deep breath. Harper pressed into him. Everyone let out a collective breath.
“Wait.” The group went silent again. Corsair held his hands out, studying the ground.
Everything was still and quiet.
The ground began to shake, far worse than before. All around them, pebbles bounced and danced on top of the sand.
“The borers are waking up!” Corsair yelled. “Run! Get out of here.”
Adrenaline charged through Vek. He had to get Mia to safety.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her forward. They all ran, leaping over rocks and gullies. No one was worried about staying quiet or keeping to the path any longer.
“Move it.” Galen waved an arm and leaped over a patch of pockmarked ground, his black cloak flaring out behind him.
Vek kept Mia close. Her face was pale and her attention was on the ground, to keep from tripping. He leaped over a large crack, pulling her with him.
The path narrowed between two large crevasses.
“Go.” He urged her ahead of him.
She ran nimbly. He glanced back and watched as a patch of the Badlands collapsed behind them.
Then Mia screamed.
He spun back, blood spiking, and saw a large death borer rear up in front of Mia. Sand sprayed over them both.
Vek yanked out his fighting forks. “Down.”
Mia dropped instantly, and Vek leaped over her. He thrust his forks forward, and jammed them into the creature’s fleshy body.
The beast wriggled like mad, making a squealing sound. It dropped back down into the ground.
“Keep going,” he ordered Mia.
She jumped to her feet and they rushed on. Ahead, Vek spotted the smooth stretch of sand that signaled the end of the Badlands. They were almost there.
Corsair reached the other side first, and swiveled. He pulled out a dangerous-looking crossbow and started shooting back at the death borers. High-pitched squeals echoed around them.
Suddenly, another creature reared up in front of Vek and Mia. It fell toward Mia. Vek wrapped an arm around her and lifted her off her feet. He dodged to the side, his feet touching the very edge of a deep crevasse. He jumped, landed on a pillar of rock, and set Mia down. He spun and stabbed the creature. It writhed wildly and dropped away.
His forks were slick with blood, and he heaved in a breath. He turned back to Mia. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, then she looked over his shoulder and her eyes widened. “Vek!”
Sharp teeth sank into his back with a spike of pain. He was yanked backward, off his feet.
The death borer pulled him into a shallow gully. He gritted his teeth and craned his neck. The creature was dragging him to a large crack at the bottom of the depression. He tried to hit the borer with his forks, but couldn’t reach it to make contact. He shoved the weapons in his sheaths and reached out, tr
ying to grab the passing rocks. He felt his skin tearing off his fingers, but he managed to grab on to a ledge. His muscles strained as he held on. The animal kept wriggling, tearing at his back. Blood slid down his skin in a wet smear.
“Vek!” Mia’s face appeared above him. She was on her belly, leaning over the edge. She reached out and managed to grab one of Vek’s wrists. But he knew she wasn’t strong enough to pull him up.
“Mia. Do not risk yourself.”
“You would for me!”
“Let me go.”
“No,” she said fiercely. She slid a hand down her side and a moment later, she aimed a pistol over Vek’s head. She fired. And again. The noise was deafening to Vek’s sensitive hearing.
She made a sobbing sound and fired again. The borer squealed, and he felt it release him.
Mia shoved the pistol away, and gripped both of Vek’s wrists. She tried to heave him up, her face set with grim determination. He pushed his feet against the rocks and thrust upward. Working together, they pulled his body over the edge. He sprawled on the hot sand, panting.
“Vek. Oh, God.” Mia crouched beside him, her hand running over his hair. “I thought I’d lost you. Oh, your back!”
Vek pulled in a shuddering breath, and blocked out the pain. He sat up and yanked Mia into his arms. He held on tight. “It will heal. Thank you, Mia.”
She hugged him back. “You’re mine to protect, too, babe.”
Mia felt like she’d been walking for hours. She was hot, tired, and dusty. So very, very dusty.
She looked over at Vek. He was two steps ahead of her and she had a perfect view of his back through his torn shirt.
Her stomach turned over. It was so torn up. She’d cleaned it, and his torn-up hands, and spread med gel over them. The ugly wound from the death borer’s fangs was healing, but it still made her heart clench. Vek had already suffered so much, and she hated him being hurt saving her.
