Suki stood from where she sat on top the table and tugged her skirt down. “Sorry,” I hate waiting.”
Lena gave a nervous chuckle. “Yeah, me too.”
They looked at the clock. It was nearly evening. They’d been in Ebon over fourteen hours. Lena did the math. It had been forty-seven hours since the Genosee’s had granted them sanctuary. Did the Priestess think they were still at the consulate? Would she search it? Lena wondered.
Gideon walked up next to them. “It’s time.”
Lena looked at Suki, “We’ll meet you back here, if we aren’t’ seen,” Lena said. “If we are—”
Suki cut off her words as she wrapped her arms around Lena. “Be safe, my friend,” Suki said.
Lena gave her a huge hug back then followed Tern out into the streets once more.The walk to the center of the city took less time than Lena wanted. The sun fell behind the Priestess’ tower, causing it to look even darker than it already was.
Lena swallowed, noticing her throat still hurt from Jonah’s powerful grip on her throat. How long had it been? Seven days? Eight, maybe. Lena couldn’t remember. She thought of Jonah. Jonah and Birdee, her only friends. One friendship was a lie. And yet, still, she was willing to risk her safety for Birdee.
A hand on her arm pulled her out of her thoughts. She looked down at it, then up to Gideon. “Are you okay?” he asked.
She pushed her thoughts of Jonah away as she nodded to him. They’d reached the edge of the courtyard. Tern led them into the same entryway they’d previously stood in. Only now did Lena realize why he’d chosen this doorway. Darkness filled the windows. Whoever lived here was gone. Lena pressed her back into the carved doorway behind them. Tern whistled, then stood straighter, his catlike movements on high alert. He whistled again. Still to no reply.
Tension filled every fiber of his body. He grabbed Lena’s arm. “She’s not here,” he said, panicked.
Lena snapped her head to the prison on the square. A body lay on top. Still, and unmoving. “That’s not her,” Tern replied. “She’s not here.”
“Selene knows we’re here,” Gideon said. “The whistling must have alerted them. They’re waiting for us to rescue her so they can capture us.”
Gideon grabbed Lena’s arm as he looked at the patrols surrounding the courtyard. The soldiers looked fidgety. Their eyes twitched between Birdee’s spot on top of the tower to the ground below her. Their bodies rocked with nearly imperceptible movements. “They’ve been alerted,” Gideon said. “It’s a trap.”
Lena pulled herself away from the door. She wanted to run. Her heart raced as her mind panicked. Tern pushed her back into the shadows. “Stay here, I’ll be able ta check it out better on my own.” He walked into the courtyard as if he’d been there his whole life. Lena was amazed how he matched his movement to the uneasiness mingled with familiarity of having a prisoner in the middle of the courtyard. She didn’t know how he did it. He made it look so easy. She watched him until she could no longer see him and then turned her sights to the people passing.
Their heels clicked across the stone surface of the courtyard. No one looked at Lena and Gideon standing in the shadow of the doorway. No one looked at anything at all. They kept their faces stiff and pointed away from the tower. They walked fast and tense. In fact, no even one talked, a stark difference from the morning gossip.
“Lena, everything about this is wrong. We’re leaving,” he said. At the same time, the door behind her slid open. An arm grabbed her from behind and pulled her inside.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Lena heels caught on the threshold of the door causing her to fall into her captor. He released her, letting her fall to the floor. Gideon jumped through the door. Grabbing the man and shoving him against the wall, Gideon pointed a gun at his face.
“I just saved you,” Lucius hissed.
Gideon pressed the gun harder into Lucius’ temple.
“Did you think you wouldn’t be spotted? They know you’re here,” Lucius snapped, hitting the gun away.
Gideon released the trigger and dropped his arm. The door slid shut beside them. Lucius shook his shoulder and straightened his shirt. He stepped away from Gideon and Lena. Turning his back on the two, he walked across the plush carpet of a sitting room and into the open kitchen.
“A ‘thank you’ would suffice,” he snapped, glaring
Lena couldn’t hide her confusion. She looked to Lucius, then to Gideon, then back to Lucius who now held a bag of ice to his neck and a bottle of some kind of drink in the other hand.
“What are you playing at, Lucius?” Gideon snapped. Marching to Lucius, Gideon grabbed the drink from his hand and sat it on the cupboard with a loud thump.
Lucius put the ice down and grabbed for the drink. Cracking it open, he walked into the sitting room and threw himself lazily into a large upholstered chair. Taking a large swig of liquid, he looked to Gideon. “What makes you think I’m playing at anything? Can’t I help my dear old Captain and his favorite servant girl get out of a sticky situation?”
“Talk,” Gideon said, towering over him with arms crossed.
Lucius looked completely un-phased as he met Gideon’s stare with an annoyed one of his own.
Gideon only waited a moment before saying, “Fine! If you’re not going to talk, I’ll talk for you.”
“Go ahead, dear Captain.” He gave them a half-smile before taking another swig of his drink. The sharp smell stung Lena’s nose.
“The Priestess’ guards are within yelling distance outside your door. Yet you haven’t called them,” Gideon said.
Lucius’ smirked. “So it seems.”
Lena looked around the living area they were in. A large painting hung over the mantle. Nagar and Lucius were easily recognized and a tall skinny woman with protruding elbows and cheekbones that could only be Lucius’s mother joined them. A thin layer of dust covered almost every surface. The lights were off and the room’s temperature made Lena glad she wore a jacket.
“Your family no longer lives here,” Lena said. “Which means they no longer hold favor with the Priestess.” Lena removed her hat and looked at the untouched dust.
“No thanks to you,” Lucius scowled. “She kicked my family out of our home and is waiting to give it to whoever captures you. Lucky for you, she has yet to change the locks.” Lucius now turned in the chair, hanging his legs over the armrest. He swung his feet to the ticking of the clock sitting on the mantel.
Gideon reached down and grabbed Lucius’ shirt collar, yanking him up to his feet. Lucius’ drink fell to the ground as he scrambled under the captain’s grip.
“You’ll tell us what you’re playing at now. Or I’ll tie you up and call the Priestess to come get you myself,” Gideon threatened.
Lucius pawed at Gideon’s fists. “You ruined my life, servant,” he growled to Lena.
“You ruined your own life, Lucius,” Gideon responded. “And unless you want to ruin it more, you’ll tell us who you’re waiting for.”
The opening of the door had them all spinning towards the sound. Gideon released Lucius, who fell to the floor. Lena positioned herself for a fight. It was only Tern.
They all relaxed as he looked at Lucius on the floor with raised eyebrows. “You’ve been following us,” Tern said.
“Yeah, I have. And it’s a good thing too. As I was just explaining to your friends, the Priestess knows you’re here,” Lucius said.
“If you’re not going to turn us into the Priestess, why are you here?” Lena asked, spinning towards him. “Who are you working for?”
“I’m working for the people who are saving you from the Priestess,” Lucius said. “Instead of questioning me you should be thanking me.”
“He’s working for the Cimmerians,” Gideon guessed. Lena spun towards Lucius.
“So what if I am,” he sneered.
Gideon took that as the only confirmation he needed. He shook his head. “Tie him up,” Gideon ordered.
“Wait,” Luciu
s scowled. “I just saved your life.”
“Only so you can give it to another,” Lena retorted, unable to hide the disgust in her voice. She started walking towards the exit. She heard Gideon following. Tern still stood by the door.
“I can get you into the Crags,” Lucius said. His voice panicked, as if scrambling for words. “That’s where they took Birdee. I can get you in there. But you have to take me with you when you leave Ebon.”
“What’re the Crags?” Tern asked.
“What are you playing at Lucius? We can find the Crags without you,” Gideon said.
“You don’t’ even know what the Crags are. Let alone how to find Birdee inside of them,” Lucius snapped. “How long does Birdee have until the Priestess dismisses her usefulness?” When none of them answered, Lucius continued. “I need you alive to get what I want,” Lucius sneered, now more confident with himself. “And you need to rescue Birdee, quickly from what I saw of her today. My father thought it was fun to take his boy into the Crags to see all those who went against the Priestess. I know them. The Crags are inside the gorge. What you see from the sky doesn’t begin to do justice to the caves that are below. The tunnels and cells sink so deep into the ground, you'll never find your way to Birdee. But I know them.” Lucius let his words sink in before adding, “We both need something from each other. I suggest you take my offer.”
“We can do it without you,” Lena snapped.
At the same time, Gideon said, “Fine.”
“What?” Lena said, turning her anger to Gideon. “Gideon, you can’t be serious.”
“You heard what he said, Lena, He needs us alive,” Gideon said. “He’s out of favor with the Priestess. It benefits him nothing to get caught in Ebon with or without us.”
“He’s going to turn us over to the Cimmerians,” Lena said. “Do I need to remind you of the last time they caught us?”
Gideon shrugged his shoulders. “The Cimmerians won’t be coming to Ebon. And Lucius knows we aren’t leaving without Birdee. If he wants us, he has every reason to help us. The Cimmerians also need us alive,” he said. “It’s the fastest way, Lena. We’ll deal with the Cimmerians as the problem arises. It’s what we’re doing.”
Lena crossed her arms and glared. “Oh is it, Captain?” she snarled.
“Evangeline, stop it,” Gideon said. “Lucius, give me your hand. We have to take your tracking device out of the Priestess’ insignia.”
Lucius stepped forward with a smile of triumph, “Gladly,” he said. Holding Lena’s stare, he lifted his hand towards Gideon.
“This is going to hurt,” Gideon said.
“Don’t patronize me,” Lucius replied.
Gideon pulled a knife from his pocket. Pushing Lucius to a seat, he sliced into his hand.
Lucius clenched his teeth and snarled,“You’re purposely doing it slow. Hurry up and get on with it.”
Gideon’s nostrils flared. “You asked for it.” He yanked the wires from Lucius’ nerves. Lucius didn’t have time to scream before his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he passed out.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Lucius grabbed Lena’s cuffed hands. He wore a uniform he’d found in his father’s closet. The medals hanging from his chest only added to the intimidation. Lucius pushed Lena towards the entrance of the Crags. Tern followed behind pushing a cuffed Gideon in front of him. Tern didn’t fit into any of the clothes that Lucius had, so he remained in his black outfit hoping the guards wouldn’t question it.
“Open up soldiers,” Lucius yelled to the soldiers standing in the entrance. The guard looked at Gideon, then at an access screen.
“I don’t have any communication about receiving prisoners,” the guard replied.
“Look who I have, soldier,” Lucius commanded, while motioning to a hologram flashing Lena’s photo.
The guard looked at the screen, then at Lena. His eyes went wide as his fingers stumbled across the keyboard. “Sorry, there must have been a lapse in communication somewhere,” the guard said, typing in the command codes.
“There was no lapse in communication, soldier,” Lucius explained. “The Priestess wants this kept as quiet as possible. She also demands your silence.”
The soldier’s eyes went wide once more. Pressing his lips together he nodded as he opened the security gate and motioned them through.
Lucius turned back to the guard. “If you tell anyone we’re here, you will suffer. Do you understand?” Lucius said.
The soldier nodded again and resumed his post as if he never saw them.
The entrance into the crags wasn’t as hard to find as Lucius made it sound. It was at the end of the city where the flatness of the City of Ebon, met with the end of the gorge that bordered it. The path to the crag gates was worn and well traveled slanting down into the depths of the gorge until the canyon walls towered above them. The entrance was at the bottom where the ground became flat.
“It worked,” Lena exclaimed, as Lucius unlocked her cuffed hands.
“Didn’t you trust me?” Lucius replied as he uncuffed Gideon as well.
Lena ignored him as Tern moved forward. His face was full of concentration as he looked into the giant black chasm ahead of them. The cells were irregularly spaced in the caverns leading away from the main gorge. Caves split in several directions from the open crevice Tern came to a group of six recruits sitting on the floor. They looked dirty and tired and undernourished.They were still dressed in the black uniforms of the Defense facility.
“Hey, I’m lookin’ fer Birdee,” Tern said to the group.
They all shook their heads.
Tern backed away and moved further into the prison. The open light above barely showed the way. Tern whistled a tune and listened. Lena heard no reply. He repeated it, again and again, moving further down the open ravine, his ears alert for a response.
“Stop your whistling,” Lucius demanded. “She’s, this way.” He lead them into a cave off the open ravine. “They take traitor’s into the caves below.”
They followed each other in a single row through the damp tunnels. Though lights flickered intermittently from various places on the caves walls, the darkness of the tunnels made it hard to see. Lucius wasn’t lying when he said he knew his way around. The path was smooth but filled with rises and falls from the natural stone paths.
No one spoke as they walked. There were barred spaces in the walls of the cave filled with prisoners. Their haunted eyes watched the group as they passed. No one spoke. Lucius made a hard left and they started descending deeper into the crag, Where the pathway grew steep, there were makeshift steps cut in places to help with footing. Lena’s toes curled inside her boots as if clenching at the surface of the cave floor.
Lucius stopped at a place that flattened out at the bottom. They were no longer in the open light of the crag above, but somewhere under its surface. Lena heard the pounding of water and as she stepped next to Lucius, mist hit her face. The rock was slick. They stood next to an underground ravine. A river roared only feet below them. Lena leaned over the edge to look down. The slick rock caused her foot to slip. She felt herself falling when a hand clamped down on her arm.
Lucius yanked her backward. “Think before doing anything else stupid,” he said, as he started forward again. He lead them against the flat wall on a small footpath that had been cut into the cliffside
Lena kept one hand on the wall to her right. If she slipped again, there'd be nothing to grasp onto. She’d fall into the river. They walked along the path for about fifty feet before Lucius turned and they were back in the tunnels.
Tern kept whistling, Lena lost count of how many times his calls went unanswered. Lena strained to hear anything, but only heard the river they’d just left. Tern pushed past Lucius and started running. Lena took off after him. She heard Lucius then Gideon right behind her. Tern whistled a different tune now. Another whistle answered. It’s sound echoing off the walls.
Lena skidded to a stop beside Tern and looked
up. Birdee stood on a ledge just above the top of Tern’s head. Her arms and legs were cuffed to the cave wall. She hung limp between the cuffs. It looked as if she was using all the energy she had to whistle. Tern lifted his hands to the cuffs on her legs. He pulled against them, but they held.
Birdee opened her mouth to say something, but the words didn’t come out. Her eyes landed on Tern and her body relaxed.
Tern grabbed the glider he’d carried and unfolded it. Flying to Birdee’s place on the wall, he stepped off and started pulling on her cuffs.
“Lena, ya need ta help,” Tern said, handing the glider down to her. She rose to Birdee’s ledge. Scanning her insignia to Birdee’s cuffs, they immediately released.
Birdee fell into Tern’s arms, too weak to hold herself up. Her eyes locked on Tern’s and one side of her mouth raised into a smile. Tern leaned into her and gave her such a passionate kiss Lena had to look away.
Lena jumped to the path below, leaving the glider with Tern.
Tern lifted Birdee and stepped onto the glider. His large feet barely fit on the surface.
“Ya found me.” Birdee’s voice cracked. The force of the words made her start coughing. A deep cough that ripped through her, making her shake everywhere.
Tern cradled Birdee into him. “Figured it was my turn ta rescue ya,” He moved the glider down to the ground.
Birdee saw Lucius for the first time. Her eyes filled with anger. He met her stare with a stony look of his own.
“Save your breath, Birdee,” Tern whispered. “He’s not worth it.”
Gideon grabbed Birdee’s hand. “I’m sorry, Birdee,” he said slicing into her skin.
Birdee flinched as Gideon pulled the wires that were attached to the nerves in her hand. She leaned her head into Tern, her eyes closing and opening again as if she were fighting consciousness. Gideon threw the wires aside.
“Let’s get out of this stink hole,” Lucius said, and started leading them back the way they’d come.
The sound of footsteps echoing through the crag stopped them.
The Mir Chronicles- The Complete Series Page 39
