Twenty
Lunch consisted of dried meat and tea. Yummy. We marched for two or three hours until we took another break.
It was uncanny how sure Finn seemed. He didn’t waver. He recognized every rock. There was no figuring out the way. As opposed to my trip into the valley, which passed in a blur that still felt like it took forever, this trip was going fast.
At first we didn’t notice the climb, but soon enough our calves were aching when we scrambled over rocks and through narrow dirt paths until we reached the end of the quarry.
My heart raced from the ascent. I panted while I took in the view. Blue-green grass spread in a wave down the hill to a river valley and up to staggeringly tall mountains covered with snow at the peaks. Bushes and wildflowers scattered among a new type of tree. The leaves were starred and red, the bark orange, the colors bright. The second moon cast a shadow on our group. I hoped that wasn’t an omen.
We rested a few minutes more then began the descent toward the river. Downhill was quicker, but much more treacherous. One slip and down we go.
Then we started the climb all over again on the next rugged peak, hour after hour. By the time supper rolled around every part of my body ached, especially my ass. I’d anticipated the calf pain, thigh pain, hip, knee, ankle pain. Who knew that your butt could throb? I couldn’t sit it was so bad. Instead, I lounged sideways like a diva when we stopped, my shoulders aching from the pack.
Dinner was solemn. So far we hadn’t seen much of anything but landscape, no animals, and no other signs of life. Finn built a big fire. Everyone had to stand guard. We were separated into three groups of three, doing four hour watches. That way, all of us should get approximately eight hours of sleep since we hadn’t rested the night before. Finn had me on guard duty with him and Baren, which made sense, given he was the most experienced fighter and I was the least.
Our shift was in the middle of the night, so I settled down for four quick hours of sleep. I was so tired that I slipped right off.
Marin’s voice woke me. “Elizabeth.”
“Marin?” Silence. Instinct urged me to stay still. I couldn’t hear anything, only the whisper of our company’s breath, the sound of Hana sighing in her sleep, Near’s snores, and the sudden pounding of my heart in my ears. A disturbing hush had fallen as if the land was taking a breath. I didn’t feel that bone-deep chill I associated with the E’mani, not that it wasn’t still cold as shit outside. But still…there was this tingling awareness.
Finn had bedded down next to me. I stretched out my hand an inch at a time to graze his fingers and get his attention.
He blinked and smiled when he felt my hand on his, until I squeezed really, really hard. His eyebrows creased when he frowned.
“Listen,” I mouthed. Something was not right.
Finn rolled to a stand, his weapon already out. He crawled to where Edd stood watch. The sentries were arranged in a triangle around the group. The whisper of a quiet conversation reached my ears. Finn tiptoed back towards me. “Time to get up.”
I sat up. “What was that?”
“I do not know, but Edd did not notice anything. Just us, but I know what you mean. I felt like I was being watched but it is gone now. Stay awake. If you have any problems let me know and I will throw something at you.”
“Nice. Thanks,” I grumbled.
“Anytime.” Finn nudged Baren awake then went to his post while I walked to mine. I thought I heard Marin too. I missed him. Hell, I missed George, cat breath and all.
“Marin.”
No answer.
I huddled against the cold. The main risk for us at night would be animal packs. Quick rallying would keep them from picking someone off from the edge of our group. Mid-mountain there were fewer packs as they tended to range near the bottom, but better to be safe than sorry. I’d only ever seen the one adult coreck and it scared the bejesus me. Generally they were pack hunters with keen vision, similar to mountain lions on Earth. There were also wolf-like creatures called toren, but they roamed on the plains.
I shivered from the freaky thoughts about being torn limb from limb or the weather, either or, and I bitterly regretted not bringing my bedding with me to my post. I’d feared falling asleep on watch, but given the cold rock underneath my ass, that wouldn’t be a problem.
Then I heard it, something. Whispering? It was near the bushes in front of me. I turned and looked for Finn, but he stared ahead toward the mountainside.
“Finn,” I thought to him, trying not to wake everyone in case it was my imagination.
He jolted and glanced my way.
When I turned back around, something flickered out of the corner of my eye. I gripped my dagger and moved toward it.
“Beta,” Finn growled from behind me, scrambling to get to my side.
I continued stalking toward the noise. When I got to the rock near where I’d seen the movement, I heard a high-pitched hum. My knees went weak. I knew that sound. I sank to the ground and George rocketed into my arms. His whiskers brushed my face while he shook from the cold.
I bundled him close and buried my face in his fur. “Look at you. You’re getting so big.” I’d left him at home on purpose, but was so glad he’d followed. Some unconditional love was just what I needed.
Finn smiled when I glanced up. He crouched halfway between my post and his. I waved him back and tucked George into my shirt. The rest of our watch was uneventful. Finn stayed true to his word and threw rocks at me for fun. The ones that fell in my line of sight, I picked up and lobbed back at him. My aim sucked though and I nearly beamed Zanth. Whoops. I dropped my next missile and shook my head at Finn, who smirked in my general direction.
After Zanth relieved me, I conked out a few hours more to wake to sunshine and happy cat breath. The pep of the day before had worn off. Finn said we had at least two weeks of travel ahead of us. Joy.
Breakfast was a cold porridge. If you let it steep a bit it had the consistency of glue so I wolfed it down fast.. We resumed our course from the day before. Hana stuck close to me today. Edd was nearby talking to Zanth. Jace walked next to Giggy while Baren, Near, and Finn stood at the head of the pack. George was our unofficial mascot, getting in everyone’s way, stalking the rocks, dust, and wind, and making me smile.
It was weird. I never got to socialize much. There was a pub-like area in the middle of section two, but I never felt comfortable going there, and it wasn’t Marin’s kind of place. Plus it’s where I saw Finn canoodling with Lara all those months ago. Here though, we had all the time in the world. And while my love life might be in the crapper, perhaps I could help someone else. Time to get cracking.
“So what is up with you and Edd and Jace?” I sidled up to Hana.
She shushed me and looked around furtively. “Too loud.”
“What?” I said even louder.
She covered my mouth with her hand while laughing. “Stop.”
Ha. “Okay,” I replied in an exaggerated whisper “What is going on with you and Jace and Edd?”
“I am with Edd, he likes me, but I do not know.” She shrugged. “He does not make my heart race like Jace does. Do not get me wrong. He is very good. But watching you and Marin, well, I want something of what you have. I cannot have that with Edd, but I could with Jace.”
“There might not be any more me and Marin.” My chest ached. “You should follow your heart, do not base it on what other people have.” I hip bumped her. “You know you could make the first move.”
“How do I do that? I have made it more than clear I want to be lovers. He does not return my feelings.” Hana’s shoulders fell.
“Maybe he has small man parts.”
We both swiveled around and studied Jace. Jace appeared startled then narrowed his eyes as I finger-waved at him.
“Stop that,” Hana grabbed my arms, facing me forward.
“I know that is not his problem,” Hana whispered.
“Oh, really?”
“Stop that.” She giggled.
“Ohhhh, reallllyy?” This time I drew it out.
“Stop, please.” Hana’s lips twitched.
My elbow nudged hers. “Okay fine. How come it is we only talk about boys when we hang out lately?”
“Boys are fun.” She sighed.
“Sometimes, when we don’t feel like killing them.”
The next couple hours passed quickly. I wheedled a bit more information out of Hana, but no gory details. Jace ambled over a little bit later and she wandered off at his approach.
“What is going on?” He attempted to be casual and monitored Hana walking with Edd and Zanth.
I shrugged. “Marin’s pissed at me.”
Jace’s gaze returned to me. “Marin is angry at all of us. He will not stop sending commands.”
“He hasn’t talked to me at all except for when he first noted our absence.”
“Oh…well.” He cleared his throat and his gaze drifted back to Hana.
God, these two were so dense. “What is up with you and Hana?”
“What do you mean?”
“What do you think I mean?” I chided.
“I love her.”
I stumbled over a rock and turned to face him. “What? Does she know that? Because I’m pretty sure she doesn’t. In fact, I know she doesn’t.”
He hunched a bit. “She is Zak’s daughter, he raised me alongside her. He is like a father to me, and she is just so…”
“So what?”
“Perfect.”
I snorted and resumed my amble. “She is sarcastic, somewhat mean, a wee bit violent, and a whole lot of fun. That doesn’t make her perfect. You need to go over there and tell her you care.” Jace raised his brow at me when I tried to push him toward her. “You need to go jump her right now, I swear, or I will so go over and tell her all kinds of stuff.” His mouth twisted. “I will make it all up, and none of it will be flattering.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because someone needs to be happy.” I thumped his shoulder with my fist. “And I want to see two people together, who belong together. That is what I thought Marin and I had, but I guess I was wrong. I don’t want to be wrong about you two. You go need to go talk to her right now.”
Jace squared his shoulders and sauntered toward her. Hana remained oblivious, chatting to Zanth.
Edd snuck in beside me. “What are you doing? Ruining all my fun?”
“Yes, yes, I am.”
Edd swung his head and we walked in companionable silence until dinnertime. After eating supper, Hana and Jace went to “relieve” themselves. It was pretty obvious from the noises a few minute later, what it was exactly they were relieving. They probably didn’t realize how much we heard in this canyon. It made my heart clench to hear it, I missed Marin so much. And wow, Hana was a screamer.
Everyone sat looking at the bushes where they went. Finn snorted at a particularly loud shout. The teasing when they got back to camp was going to be brutal with me in the lead, of course. And I must say, if they didn’t want to be teased they could have a) moved farther from camp or b) controlled their enthusiasm a wee bit better.
I cleared my throat. “So is everyone enjoying the journey so far?”
“Yes, but not as much as Hana and Jace,” Baren replied with a grin and exchanged glances with the group. We all laughed. What else was there to say? I started, “Good... so, um—”
Hana and Jace both screamed out, “Yes.”
I coughed, my cheeks burning.
“That sounded like a finish to me.” Edd grinned.
“Aren’t you upset?” I asked him.
Edd shrugged. “It is not our way to be jealous.”
That was so awesome and the same time so wasn’t me. Hana and Jace stumbled back into camp, smoothing their clothing. Hana had grass-stains on her back, the hussy. A grin split my mouth.
“Aww,” Finn drawled. “They looked satisfied.”
Hana blushed crimson and sat next to me while Jace plopped down next to her, unfazed. “How did people know?”
“Echoes.”
Hana turned even redder if that was possible.
Wind stirred in the clearing. I sucked in a breath and almost got whiplash, I turned so quick into the breeze, listening. That was him. It had to be.
“Marin.”
I hoped he couldn’t tell how eager I was to talk to him. The silence stretched and the air stilled. My shoulders slumped. I was getting so freaking paranoid. Every breeze was him trying to speak to me, but it wasn’t. Why did I expect any different?
I sacked out early with George curled around my neck. This kitten needed a bath. There was a distinct aroma of manure surrounding him. What had he been getting into?
I nuzzled my face into his fur anyway. A pulse beat under my ear, the land. I put my hand out and its power curled around me, a warm blanket on a cold day, sunlight through the clouds. My fingers curled in the dirt and my heart eased.
Finn settled down across from me. I rolled to face him. He adjusted himself on his bedding. His hand reached out and tapped my nose. “You all right?”
“I wish people would stop asking me that.” I closed my eyes.
“Is that an ‘I’m okay.’”
“Yes.”
“Want to cuddle?”
My lips twitched. “No.”
“How are things with Marin? He finally shut up for me around midday today. I am uncertain how it is for you, or anyone else.”
“He hasn’t talked to me since right after we left.”
Finn whistled. “He must be really angry.”
I rolled away, gut tense, trying to sleep.
Finn’s words still reached me. “He will get over it, Beta. If he does not …”
I groaned, “Finn, I love Marin. Now let me go to sleep.”
A hand settled on my shoulder, jolting me awake. Zanth’s ugly mug greeted my eyes. Ugh. I reached up and swatted his hand away. George snuffled on my side.
“Watch,” Zanth said.
Damn it. I sat up with a yawn. Finn moved to shake Baren. This time, I took my blankie with me. George cuddled against my chest. The silence here was disconcerting.
The wind blew lightly and I mourned a little inside. This was ridiculous.
“Marin. Please talk to me. I love you. I don’t want this to be over. That was never my intent, and to be honest, I never thought you would let me go.”
A tear slipped out when he maintained radio silence. Maybe we were too far away, but I didn’t think that was the case, not with his power. Damn him for making me care.
My hair stood on end. There was a different type of hush now. Something watched. I didn’t twitch, my head fell forward. To Finn, “You feel that?”
Finn glanced over at me. “George?” he mouthed. I pointed to my chest.
I saw his answering nod as he oh-so-casually got up and stretched. He walked around the camp, past me, and then Baren. When he sat down, he shook his head at me. The feeling faded.