BRYTE'S ASCENT (Arucadi Series Book 8)

by E. Rose Sabin

  Voices called from the tier above, ordering whoever was below to hold them prisoner, but Bryte did not think their words were distinguishable to anyone else, thanks to all the noise they were making. She added to that noise, screaming at the dog and pleading loudly for the man to help them.

  The man said sharply, “The dog won’t hurt you. What’s that racket up above? Sounds like someone’s trying to find you. Are those people from the temple?” He backed up several steps to look up.

  Bryte shouted, “Watch out!” It was the only thing she could think of to do.

  At that moment Kanra climbed down the vines, the skirt of her green priestess’s robe tied in a knot above her knees. Bryte’s cry and the sound of her jump onto the shed roof diverted the man’s attention.

  “Help me down!” Kanra’s plea was directed to the man. He positioned himself below the roof, the dog’s leash wound tightly around his arm, and extended his other arm to Kanra. She grasped it, and swung herself to the ground, using his arm to steady herself, preventing a fall.

  The mastiff growled, but the man’s sharp tug on its leash quieted it. Kanra untied the knot in her skirt and let her robe fall loose. Facing the man, she said, “In the name of Mibor, whom I serve, good sir, I ask your help.”

  The man’s demeanor changed; he spoke in a soft, respectful tone. “How may I serve you, priestess?”

  “Good sir, these two children were assigned to my care, and I let them get out of my sight. Praise to Mibor, they were not hurt, but I must get them back to the temple. And this man …?”

  Kanra might betray them, but Bryte had to trust her. Quickly she said, “He tried to help us, priestess Kanra, and he fell, and now he’s hurt.” She injected a guilty sob into her voice and rubbed her eyes as if to wipe tears away. “We gotta help him.”

  “I’m Elston Donner, a horticulturist,” the man said. “I have a truck body attached to my auto so I can truck plants all over the tier to my clients. We can lay him in it, though I’m afraid it’ll be a rough ride.”

  “That’s all right,” Kanra said. “But let’s hurry.”

  Donner went to the shed, took the dog inside, and reappeared without it.

  “Can you help carry him?” he asked, indicating Oryon.

  Kanra answered by taking hold of Oryon’s feet, while Donner took hold of his shoulders. “Straight down that path,” he directed, “to the first greenhouse.”

  The path took them to a row of greenhouses. He stopped at the first one, unlocked the door, and he and Kanra carried Oryon inside, Bryte and Corey following.

  “Got a plant-hauler here we can put this fellow on,” he said. “Make it easier to get him to the truck.”

  He and Kanra moved forward with Oryon, passing through the central aisle of the plant-filled greenhouse.

  Bryte walked after them, breathing in the cool air smelling of forest and flowers; damp leaves brushed against her face like a caress. It was a refreshing interlude that ended too soon. At the end of the greenhouse was a long, flat wagon on which they placed Oryon. After opening the door at this end of the greenhouse, Donner grasped the wagon’s handle and pulled it along, and they all followed.

  A path took them past several other greenhouses to Donner’s residence, a neat white frame house, beside which was parked an auto with a long, narrow truck body attached.

  “Sorry this is so dirty,” Donner said. “Can’t keep it clean when I carry plants in it all the time. Priestess, you can ride up front with me, and the children can ride back here and keep the young man from rolling off. I’ll drive careful.”

  Kanra nodded, gave Bryte a sharp, warning look, and helped Donner lift Oryon off the wagon and lay him on the truck bed. Bryte and Corey jumped into the truck. Donner got into the car, settling behind the wheel, while Kanra climbed onto the seat beside him.

  Bryte had no chance to exchange words with her. She could only hope that Kanra wasn’t really going to let Donner take them back to the temple. No time to worry about it; she had to think what to do if Oryon woke. If only they hadn’t had to leave the chains behind. Without them she had no protection at all.

  In Corey’s face Bryte saw fear and exhaustion. She had to protect him as she had failed to protect Stethan. And somehow she had to get Oryon free of Lord Inver.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  A DISASTROUS DESCENT

  Can’t let ’em know I’m conscious. Don’t have much power left. Have to save what I have to use at the right time. At least I’m out of those chains. Gods, I hated those. Could get out of ’em easily enough, but when Bryte hit me with one, I let her see I was scared. Couldn’t help it. They remind me … No! I won’t think about that.

  Bryte found another talent. Lina thought she would.

  Wonder if Lina’s still alive. I suppose she put Bryte up to all this. Too bad I had to kill the kid after Bryte tried so hard to save him. I admire her efforts. Kid’s got courage. Doesn’t give up easily. Like Lina.

  Gods, why do I keep thinking about her? I can’t feel anything else, but she’s so much a part of me after all the times we’ve shared power …

  Wonder where we’re going. Don’t like being jolted on this filthy truck bed. I can jump out of it safely enough, and I may have to soon, but the longer I hold off, the more chance my power’ll have to build back.

  Bryte tried to recognize where they were going as the truck proceeded through the curving streets of the fourth tier, but in the darkness it was impossible. Then the headlights illuminated the ramp leading down to the third tier and the truck swung onto that ramp. Somehow Kanra must have persuaded Donner to go down, away from the temple, rather than up, toward it.

  The truck rumbled down the ramp, turned onto the first street, and pulled to a stop. Kanra got out of the auto and came around to the truck. “Is he still unconscious?” She gave a nod toward Oryon.

  “Seems like,” Bryte said. “Where’re we going?”

  Kanra’s voice dropped to a whisper Bryte was sure only she could hear. “That’s what I came out to ask you. I told Mr. Donner I needed to check on his condition.” She gave another contemptuous nod toward Oryon. “I said that before I returned to the temple, we had to take him to a clinic and get you safely home. Where should we go?”

  “Not to a clinic,” Bryte whispered. “I think … I know someone in the flats who’d help us.” Master Onigon would know what to do.

  But Kanra objected, “That’s too far. Donner’s already suspicious. Can you think of anywhere nearer?”

  “There’s a boarding house on the second tier. The landlady’s real smart, and I think she’ll help me.”

  “Nothing on this tier?”

  “No, the Widow Kipley’s the best I can do.”

  “The Widow Kipley?” Kanra seemed to recognize the name. “We’ll go there. You get into the auto and direct Mr. Donner.”

  “Can I go, too?” Corey asked. “I don’t like staying here with him.”

  “There’s not much room, but I guess you’ll both fit. I’ll stay back here.” She sounded reluctant. Bryte didn’t blame her.

  “Why are you helping us?” she dared ask the priestess.

  Kanra gave a quick look toward the auto as if to assure herself that Donner could not hear their conversation. “I guess I should tell you now. I went to the temple to look after him.” She indicated Corey. “I became a priestess, but my first loyalty is to him, to keep him safe. I’ll explain more later. We need to hurry.”

  Curious as she was, Bryte agreed with the need for haste. She and Corey crammed themselves into the auto’s single passenger seat, while Kanra jumped up onto the truck bed and sat down beside Oryon.

  Bryte hoped she could find the boarding house. She’d been there only once, and though her sense of direction was excellent, she’d never been on this tier so late at night.

  She gave Donner the best directions she could and settled back to gaze out the window. Streetlights showed her familiar buildings, and the auto’s headlights shone on street signs. When they r
eached the second tier, she could tell Donner with some confidence which direction to take from the ramp. But as they passed from the business district into the residential area, the streetlights were less frequent, and bushes often obscured street signs.

  It had to be very late; they encountered almost no other traffic. She wondered how Kanra was faring in the truck. If Oryon should wake up …

  “Turn here.” She pointed to a corner as they reached it.

  Donner twisted the wheel; the truck spun round, bouncing over the curb before straightening. “Shoulda given me more notice, girly,” Donner said, face red with anger. He slowed the truck, brought it to a halt. “Better make sure they’re all right back there,” he said, hopping out of the auto.

  “Stay here,” Bryte ordered Corey before she, too, got out and ran back to the truck.

  Oryon was sitting up, leaning against the side of the truck. Kanra had scooted to the opposite corner and was clinging to that side, her eyes wide with fear.

  “You all right?” Donner was asking, but Kanra didn’t answer, and Oryon only groaned.

  “It’s just a short way more,” Bryte said. “They’re okay. Let’s go.”

  Donner hesitated. “Why’s she acting so scared? You said he helped you.”

  “Anybody’d be scared if they near fell off the truck,” Bryte countered. “Come on.” She had to get them moving again before Oryon gathered his senses.

  But Donner didn’t move. “Tell me, priestess. Are you all right?”

  Kanra managed a weak nod.

  “You aren’t hurt? Or ill?” he persisted.

  “Mister, she said she was okay,” Bryte intervened. “Please, we gotta go.”

  “Well, now, young lady,” Donner said, scowling. “You near got us killed, and now that this fella is awake and doesn’t seem so bad hurt after all, I don’t see what the rush is, and I’m inclined to take the priestess back to the temple, where I should’ve gone to begin with.”

  Kanra shook her head. “Not yet,” she said, her voice strained and weak. “If we’re so close, we should go on. I’m not hurt, really.”

  “You don’t sound all that good,” Donner said, remaining planted there by the truck bed.

  Bryte longed to give him a hard shove toward the driver’s seat, but that would only make matters worse, so she only added her plea to Kanra’s. “It’s so late. We need to get home, my brother and me.”

  It was with a pang of grief that she added that last. If only it were her brother instead of Corey she had rescued. But the lie helped. Donner took a couple of steps toward the auto door.

  He stopped in midstride at Kanra’s loud intake of breath and the creak of the truck bed as Oryon leaped to his feet.

  “Go!” Bryte shouted to Donner.

  It was too late. Oryon vaulted over the side of the truck, ran to the auto, and, with Bryte racing after him, jerked open the passenger door, scooped a screaming Corey into his arms, and ran.

  Kanra and Bryte dashed after him. When he vanished down a dark street well ahead of them, Bryte realized that he must be using his power. They should have been able to catch him, burdened as he was by Corey, but he was out of sight, and Bryte hear nothing to help her track him.

  He’s going back to Lord Inver. I really messed things up.

  Kanra’s sobs cut through Bryte’s self-pity. “Look, it wasn’t your fault,” she said in a half-hearted attempt to console her.

  “I failed him,” the priestess choked out between sobs. “We’ve got to find him before he’s killed.”

  Donner’s truck clattered to a gas-belching halt beside them and Donner leaned out the window. “You two better tell me what this is really about,” he demanded.

  Bryte shook her head. “Can’t,” she said.

  “Get in, then,” he ordered, withdrawing into the auto to reach across and throw open the passenger door. “I’m taking the two of you to the temple.”

  “No,” Kanra protested. “We have to find them. Please!”

  “Got any idea where they went to?” Donner’s question had an angry edge.

  Bryte intended to retort in kind. Instead, to her embarrassment, she burst into tears.

  Kanra slipped her arms around her and held her tight, the first time Bryte could remember being held like that since her mother died. It made her tears flow faster, try as she might to stanch the flow.

  Bryte wanted—needed—the comfort Kanra offered, but she refused to yield to that need. She pulled away from Kanra’s embrace and rubbed her knuckles across her eyes.

  Donner shifted from foot to foot and cleared his throat. “Well, now, ladies,” he said, “I hate to see you so upset. You don’t really think the young man will hurt the little tyke, do you?”

  “He’ll kill him,” Kanra declared, gulping back sobs.

  “Or take him to Lord Inver,” Bryte added recklessly.

  “Lord Inver!” Kanra screamed.

  “Lord Inver!” Donner repeated, and added, “Don’t involve me in anything that has to do with Lord Inver.” He backed toward his truck.

  “But we need help!” Kanra wailed.

  “We can’t let them get to Lord Inver,” Bryte said. “If Oryon doesn’t kill Corey, Lord Inver will.”

  “But he isn’t—” Kanra raised her hand to cover her mouth, stifling her words. She looked away from Bryte.

  Donner had reached his auto and had his door open, but he’d stopped short of getting in, his face registering doubt and indecision.

  Bryte ran to him and tugged on his arm. “We have to have help. Please!”

  He shrank from her touch but still didn’t climb into the auto. “I c’d take you where we were headed before the fellow ran off with the little boy. You said it was close. Maybe somebody there’ll help you.”

  Bryte knew the concession was all she could get from him. “All right,” she said and beckoned Kanra. “Let’s get there fast as we can.”

  She and Kanra crowded onto the seat beside Donner, and he started the engine. Bryte relied on her memory, honed by her work as a guide, to direct him, but the darkness made the task difficult. She had Donner turn one street too soon. They hadn’t proceeded far down that street before she realized her mistake and had Donner retrace his steps, but she chafed at the delay. Finally she pointed Donner to the turn that took them to the boarding house.

  “Please wait to be sure we can get in,” Bryte asked, fearing that at this late hour the house would be locked and she wouldn’t be able to rouse its owner.

  Donner grudgingly agreed.

  Bryte ran to the front door and pounded on it. Time seemed to stretch interminably, though it could have been only a short time before the door opened, and the Widow Kipley, in a long white flannel sleeping gown, peered out.

  “We need help,” Bryte said. “Lord Inver’s captured Lina, and he sent her friend Oryon to kill Stethan, who was my brother, and he did kill him but we caught him, but now he’s taken Corey and run away.”

  How that story made any sense at all to the Widow Kipley Bryte didn’t know, but the widow, without her former loquacity, said, “You wait and don’t let that driver get away. I’ll be back directly.”

  The door shut. Kanra, who had followed Bryte to the door, said, “I’ll talk to Mr. Donner.” She ran to the car.

  Bryte sagged against the door. She had caught a whiff of food odors still lingering from a long-past dinner when the door was open, and it reminded her that she’d had nothing to eat since early morning. She was tired and hungry and terribly afraid for Corey, for Lina, and even for Oryon. She’d failed them all.

  Bryte heard Kanra talking to Donner, keeping him from driving off with pleas and meager, mostly fabricated explanations. Bryte listened long enough to know the priestess’s ploy was succeeding; Donner was waiting.

  Then she listened for the Widow Kipley’s footsteps, waiting impatiently until she heard them approaching the door.

  She straightened and stepped back before the door swung open and the widow emerged, wearing
a chenille robe over her nightgown. “Now then,” the Widow Kipley said, stepping outside, “let’s go to the car, and I’ll instruct the driver. Since the young man’s on foot, ye ought to reach Lord Inver’s place before he gets there.”

  “But what if he gets a ride?” Bryte asked as they hurried toward the auto.

  “‘Tisn’t likely this time o’ night. It’s a chance ye’ll have to take.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHASE

  Kanra had succeeded in delaying Donner, but not in convincing him to drive them anywhere further. The Widow Kipley took charge, directing Kanra and Bryte to crowd into the single seat. When they did so over Donner’s protests, the widow walked to the driver’s side, leaned into his open window, and barked orders: “Head up-tier. To the fifth. They’ll tell you where from there.”

  Donner uttered not a word of protest, only nodded.

  The widow further instructed, “Go as fast as you can.” Again he nodded.

  She reached past him to hand a small round object to Bryte. “If you find the man who took Corey, hold on to the loose thread and toss this ball at him. Make sure there’s distance between him and Corey when you do it.” With that brief and puzzling instruction, the widow backed from the car.

  Donner pressed his foot hard on the accelerator, sending the car careening around corners at a dangerous speed. Bryte grabbed hold of the edge of the window and hung on, while Kanra braced herself against the dashboard. Conversation was impossible.

  Only when they roared onto the fifth tier did Donner slow down. Without turning his head to look at either Bryte or Kanra, he asked, “Now where?”

  Bryte gave him directions. Donner sped up again and moments later pulled to a halt before the park next to the gated complex from which she’d fled only hours before, though it felt like weeks.

  Bryte and Kanra spilled from the car and dashed into the park before they could be spotted by the guards at the gate. Donner took off, stranding them. Bryte set off through the park and Kanra followed, demonstrating a trust Bryte feared unjustified. The trees that had offered such welcome relief from the sun and heat in the afternoon now appeared as menacing shapes, intensifying the gloom of night. In the dark how could she find the damaged section of wall? What if it had already been discovered and repaired?