Chapter Seven

 

Azra knew that he hadn’t slept long, but his mind wouldn’t allow him to lay in bed any longer. He could hear the people already moving throughout the compound, preparing for the day that lay ahead of them. By the time that he and Elise had returned to the main part of the compound and she brought him to the bed that she had been sleeping in since the ship left Penthos, the sun was nearly fully in place, and now it had started its gradual glide across the sky. Even though he knew it was morning, the planet still looked dark and forbidding, and he found himself tempted to light a lantern to bring with him, if only to burn away the oppressive energy from around him.

Elise was still sleeping peacefully when he slipped out of the bed and walked into the main room of the building. Zyyr was there and he greeted the other warrior happily, glad to see one of the men who had been trapped here on Penthos when he was on Earth.

“There is water to bathe and fresh clothes in the next room,” Zyyr told him. “The women have food waiting outside, too.”

It all sounded wonderful, but Azra couldn’t concentrate on those simple pleasures yet.

“How are the wounded?” he asked. “Ero? George?”

Zyyr nodded.

“They’re doing fine,” he said. “George didn’t even need healing. Jacob dressed his wounds and he’s out with the rest now. Ero is still sleeping. He had to undergo another healing and Ciyrs says that he needs to stay in the clinic building for at least the rest of the day.”

“Does he think that he’s going to be alright?” Azra asked.

Zyyr nodded again, as if the gesture was going to give him more than any words that he would be able to say.

“He’s optimistic. Ero just needs more rest.”

“Has there been more contact with those on Uoria?”

“Lynx reached out to Rain this morning. It shouldn’t be much longer before they arrive.”

It was Azra’s turn to nod. It was reassuring to know that the rest of them would be there soon, reinforcing their numbers and boosting their morale to carry them through.

“What do we do now?” he asked.

“Take a bath,” Zyyr said. “Change your clothes. Get something to eat. After that, we wait. That’s all we can do.”

Azra waited until Zyyr walked out of the building to go into the other room. He found a large basin and several pitchers of water, along with a stack of fresh clothing. He was thankful for the supplies that had already been packed in the ship for the human crew as well as those brought along by those in the ship from Earth as he bathed and stepped into a clean set of clothes. When he finished, he walked out of the building and into the busyness of the courtyard. All around him people were scurrying between the buildings, getting food from the same fire pit as the night before, and gathering in small groups for a few moments before splintering off and going their separate ways. It wasn’t until then that Azra had really noticed how many people were in the compound. It seemed like far more than he would have guessed, and he knew that there were more still waiting in the ship.

Across the courtyard he saw Jem and Azra smiled. Though he had known since they were on Earth that he had returned, seeing him in battle had been different. Azra strode toward him, but before he could reach him, he heard Lynx’s voice.

“Jem!” he shouted.

Azra saw the warrior run toward Jem and gather him into his arms in a tight embrace. Lynx grabbed onto Jem’s upper arms and pushed him back, laughing as he looked into his face and then pulled him back in for another hug.

“I can’t believe this!” he said. “They told me that you were back, but I couldn’t believe it. How can this be true?”

Azra stepped up beside them.

“It’s a miracle,” he said, patting Jem on the back.

Jem grinned, looking between the men.

“I’m not the miracle,” he said. “You are. This is. I thought that you would have put me behind you by now.”

“Never,” Lynx said. “What happened to you? How did you get back with them?”

Before he could answer, Angela came up beside Jem and wrapped her arm around his waist. Jem leaned down to kiss her, and then turned back to Lynx.

“Lynx, this is Angela, my mate.”

Lynx smiled broadly, but Azra could see the flicker of sadness in his eyes. He knew that the other warrior was thinking about Rain and hoping that she would get back to Penthos soon. Seeing them made Azra’s heart clench. He thought to the night before, holding Elise in his arms and listening to the slow rhythm of her breathing as she fell asleep. That had been an incredible, blissful indulgence despite being such a simple pleasure. He knew that it had been completely true when they said that they couldn’t stand being apart again. It wasn’t enough for him just to know that they were together now. He needed to know that they were going to be together permanently, and though completing their bond had fulfilled that for him, he wanted to give it to her as well.

“Jem,” he said, interrupting Jem explaining to Lynx how he and Angela had met. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need your help. Yours, too, Angela. If you’re willing.”

The couple exchanged glances and then nodded at him.

“Of course,” Angela said. “What can we do for you?”

Azra gave a sigh to steel himself, and started talking, explaining the idea that was forming in his mind. He didn’t know if it was going to be good enough. He didn’t know if it was going to work out the way that he wanted it to and tell her what he wanted it to tell, but it was all he had. He had to try.

When he was finished explaining it to this group, they split off, rushing to other parts of the compound to find other members of the group whose help he needed to carry through with his plan. He knew that they didn’t have much time. It wouldn’t be long before Elise woke up and he would need to avoid her until everything was in place. That would be too hard if he needed to wait long, so he needed to get everything ready as quickly as possible.

The first person he sought out was Loralia. He knew that of everyone who he would ask to help him, it was her who might struggle the most, but what she had to offer was important and he hoped that he could convince her to be a part of it. He found her in the clinic with Azrael, checking on a wound in her father’s arm. Reassured that he was well and would soon be able to leave the clinic, Azra asked Loralia if she would step outside to talk to him. She agreed, but they were stepping out of the door when Azra turned back around to look at the battle-worn winged man.

“Azrael,” he said. “If you are willing, I would greatly appreciate your help as well.”

Azrael nodded.

“What can I do for you?”