Chapter Eighteen
The ride back to the inn was silent, as Amy concentrated on driving. The roads were nearly impassible, and no one was on the streets.
Faro’s mind raced.
She’d left him with a sliver of hope, and he clutched it like a lifeline. Faro couldn’t face this existence without her. He already knew it, deep in his bones. He had to persuade her to come with him.
When they arrived back at the inn, the barn doors hung wide open, blowing in the wind. Snow clung to the building, covering the windows.
“Oh no. Comet and Cupid must be freezing.” Amy shut the van off, and ran into the building.
Faro was right behind her, and found Amy standing in the center of the room, arms wrapped around herself. He didn’t need his empathic ability to sense her agony.
“They’re gone.” Tears glistened in her eyes, and the sight ripped him apart. Amy held their leashes, clutching them to her chest.
Faro saw no other sign of the deer.
“I should’ve put it all together sooner.” Amy sniffled. “It hit me as soon as I walked in.”
“What did?”
“The owl we found, and the freaky slim guy loitering around the barn, being creepy.”
That got his attention. “The man was thin? Almost skeletal?”
“Yeah, so I’m guessing he’s a Trovian?”
Faro nodded. “He must’ve been the one who attacked you, too.”
“Why didn’t they take Comet and Cupid then?” Amy rubbed the base of her skull absently.
“I don’t know. Comet charged the Trovian, so he could’ve been injured. And maybe the Trovian held off, because he was afraid of discovery, since we all have to work in secret.”
“Dammit.” She kicked the side of the stall.
“I doubt you could’ve protected them.”
“Why’d they take my reindeer? There are thousands in the world.”
“Because yours are young and tame, so it’ll be easier to acclimate them to the zoo. And they were probably a convenient target, too.”
The Trovians, like the Venalians, were opportunistic, always looking to make some quick coin. They preferred baby animals raised in captivity, which were easier to control.
“Great, so I paved the way for the deernappers.” She laughed without humor.
“I’m so sorry.” Faro didn’t know what else to say. They were Amy’s remaining connection to her father.
“I guess it doesn't matter, right? We’re all gonna die anyway. At least this way, Comet and Cupid will live. I mean, it’s selfish to want them here with me, right?”
“No, it isn’t selfish. They love you, Amy, I could feel it.”
“You can sense an animal’s emotions?”
“Of course.”
“Oh.” Her face fell.
Perhaps he shouldn’t have told her. He might’ve made the situation worse.
“Well, this way they can live among the stars, if you call being caged in a zoo living." As she spoke, Amy trudged back-and-forth. She was trying to talk herself into accepting the situation.
“I suppose.”
Amy kept pacing, muttering to herself.
“No, I can’t do this. It isn’t fair.” And then she crumpled to the floor. “I need them. They’re all I’ve got left.”
“I’ll help you get them back.”
The words left his mouth before he could call them back. It was a fool’s errand. If taking her onboard the spaceship had made Mydon furious, this caper would cause his head to explode. And it might destroy everything the Drakeborne Knights had worked for, but Faro couldn’t stand seeing her suffer.
“You will?” Amy stood, watching him with wide, hopeful eyes. And Faro knew he’d do anything to make her happy.
“Of course.”
“And Mydon?” She wrung her hands. “What will he do to you? Or me?”
“Let me worry about Mydon. For once, I’m going to follow my heart.”
“Your heart?”
“Yes, sweeting. In case you didn’t know, you hold my heart in the palm of your hands.” His tone gentled. “I’d do anything for you. And no matter what sort of punishment he devises, you’re worth it.”
Her faith in him had been shaken, and Faro was determined to restore it. They still had so much to sort out, to decide, but they could discuss it later. For now, he wanted to see to her needs, bring her comfort.
“Thank you.” She blew out a breath. “So where would the Trovians take them?”
Faro shrugged. “I haven’t the faintest idea, but Link could figure it out.”
“Think he’ll help us?”
“All we can do is ask.”
***
“Absolutely not.”
Faro groaned. “Link, we need your assistance.” They were on the shuttle craft once more, and Link stood in front of the controls, with his arms crossed.
Link pointed an accusatory finger at Amy. “She should not even be here, and I must inform Mydon about the security breech.”
“Please don’t.” Faro held up his hands. “All I’m asking you to do is scan for Trovian life signs. They’re in the area, but I need you to narrow it down, and I’ll do the rest.”
“Mydon will be furious.”
“Perhaps, but you won’t be doing anything wrong.”
“A factually inaccurate statement, and, once again, you are placing me in an awkward position.”
Faro rubbed his temple, where a vein throbbed. Arguing with Link’s logic was useless.
“Fine, stand aside, and let me do it.” Although, Faro didn’t have the first clue how to input the search parameters. Link handled all the technical details on the mission, and Faro was merely the muscle.
“You have limited skills with a scanner, and I doubt you would find the Trovians.” He turned to Amy. “I’m sorry they took your property.”
“They weren’t my property. I mean, the deer were, I suppose, but they mean more to me. Comet and Cupid are my pets and I love them.”
“And do they love you in return?” Link asked, tilting his head to the side.
“I know they do.” Amy smiled at Faro.
And that’s when Faro noticed a small force-field cage on the console. Inside, was the owlet they’d rescued earlier. Link had pulled it out of stasis, and the owl stood on a small perch. It was all fluffed up, eyes shut, sleeping peacefully.
Hmmm, it’s time to take a different tack. Link didn’t have any emotions Faro could read, but he’d been taking care of the bird, and it clearly mattered to him.
“The owl’s doing well.” Faro nodded in the direction of the cage.
“Yes, Forthwind has acclimated to his new environment.”
He’d named the bird? Hmm.
“Why didn’t you set him free?” Amy asked.
“His wing was broken from the fall, and he was starving. If I released him, he would have become prey for a larger animal.”
“So you’d consider him your pet?” Faro asked.
He blinked. “I suppose so.”
“And how would you react, if someone took Forthwind away from you, without your permission?” Amy caught Faro’s eye, and winked.
“I would want to reclaim him, since Forthwind belongs to me.” After a long pause, he nodded. “I concede your point about the reindeer.”
“Will you help us?” Faro asked.
“It is still against protocol.”
“I know, and I’m sorry for putting you in this position again, Link. I’ll tell you what, you can alert Mydon, as long as you give me a head start.”
“Very well.” Link sat at the controls, and scanned the area.
“Thank you.” Faro laid a hand on his shoulder.
“I haven’t done you any favors, Faro. Mydon will lay your back open for this, or worse.”
If Faro was right about his bond with Amy, Mydon wouldn’t lay a finger on him.
***
They’d caught a break with Link, and Amy guessed it was too much to ask for the ship to be left unguarded. However, the Trovian cargo hold was wide open, like a yawning mouth, and a lone guard stood at attention. It was a massive spaceship, long and wide, like a portable warehouse, and made of a slick-looking metal.
After they’d left the shuttle, Faro had flown them over Mount Regent, and into the valley on the opposite side, where the Trovians were hidden, cloaked by the mountain range. Under cover of night, Faro had touched down in a copse of trees, so they didn’t announce their presence.
“What’s that?” Amy pointed to the big, clunky futuristic gun the guard held.
“A blaster.”
“Which is…?” Amy had so much to learn.
“A concentrated laser beam. One hit and you’d be finished, although, I might stand a chance of surviving.”
Check, don’t get hit by the laser.
“What’s the plan?” She’d never been in a fight or committed a heist. This was shaping up to be a red-letter day.
“You will remain here. Let me handle it and I’ll motion to you when it’s safe.”
For a second, Amy thought about arguing, but Faro had been battle-tested and knew what he was doing, while she didn’t.
“Works for me. So, what are you gonna do?” Amy pantomimed a gun with her fingers, and aimed at the guard through the bushes they crouched behind. “Pew-pew.”
“Pew?” he asked.
Wasn’t that how all futuristic guns sounded?
“Yeah, you’ve got a ray gun right?” Wasn’t it standard alien gear? At least, it worked that way in the movies.
“No, I have a sword, remember?”
Amy looked him up and down, and didn’t see a weapon anywhere.
“Okay, we’ve talked about this before. Where’s it hiding?”
Faro pulled up his sleeve and flexed his forearm, the one with the tattoo.
“If all you’ve got is some nifty ink, we’re screwed.”
“Watch carefully.” The tattoo on his arm dissolved, scattering into smoke, billowing around them. It floated in the air and then drifted toward his hand, solidifying into a real sword.
Whoa. “Holy crap!”
He smirked. “Did I impress you?”
“Hell yes, I’m impressed. Do I get a cool, smoky sword, too?” Amy glanced at her arm, picturing the tattoo.
“I’m afraid not, sweeting, this one’s courtesy of a high-court alchemist.”
“Still, you’re bringing a sword to a gunfight.” She glanced at the skinny Trovian with a big-ass gun.
He winked. “Oh, ye of little faith. I am a Knight, one of the king’s guard, and the Trovian’s no match for my prowess with a sword.”
Is that penis innuendo?
“You could Hulk out and go all Drake on his ass.” While Faro had been gentle with her, his appearance was frightening. She’d certainly back down if a dragon came at her, all teeth and claws.
“I’m not certain what a Hulk is, but shapeshifting’s also an option. However, sometimes the best course of action is inaction.” He snapped his fingers and the sword dissipated into smoke, settling beneath his skin once more.
“Am I supposed to know what that means?”
“Watch and learn.” He hopped out of the brush and approached the guard, who raised his weapon, but Faro called a greeting in a language she couldn’t understand.
The alien stick figure answered him in the same tongue. It was all gibberish to her, a series of pops and clicks. He pulled off his helmet to reveal a long, gaunt face, which reminded Amy of a rotten, withered Jack O’ Lantern when he smiled.
Yeesh, I won’t be able to get that out of my head. No wonder they kept their faces covered.
The exchange seemed civil, and the two men laughed now and then. Faro looked as though he’d just made a friend.
Okay, so inaction meant being sneaky. Got it.
On the one hand, Amy was grateful there wouldn’t be any trouble. On the other, she itched to give those aliens a punch in the face, Independence Day-“welcome to earth”-style. How dare they come to her planet and swipe stuff?
After a lengthy discussion, Faro shook the Trovian’s hand, and the guard walked off, leaving his post.
“What happened?” she asked, after Faro motioned her over.
“I simply embraced my strengths.” He raised his chin a notch.
“Oh, you read his emotions, and used them to your advantage.” Clever.
“Exactly. We’ve almost accomplished our objective, without a single drop of blood spilled. I should’ve embraced my gift long ago, perhaps it would’ve saved lives.”
“What made him leave his post?”
“I’ll tell you, but we must hurry, the Trovian will be back soon.”
“Right, let’s do this.”
They crept into the cargo bay, passing through some sort of invisible buffer. As she walked inside, a crackle of energy sliced through the air. Once they passed the barrier, warmth permeated the room, even though it was well below zero outside.
She glanced at Faro for an explanation.
“It’s an environmental shield, to keep out the elements. Don’t dawdle. Let’s retrieve the reindeer and leave before they discover us.”
“I’m on it. Tell me what he said.” She surveyed the room, looking for Comet and Cupid.
“He isn't being paid much and believes his superiors are taking advantage of him. I told the guard, I’m on a similar mission and we had an opening in our garrison. He’s going to speak with his supervisor and offer them an ultimatum—either they increase his pay, or he’ll join our operation, instead.”
“Do you have an opening?”
“Of course not, although, if Mydon has his way, my position might be available.” Faro sighed.
“I’m sorry about—”
“Don’t be, I’m not. Now, let’s have a look.”
The room was full of metal pens and a few tanks. On the far wall, stood an enormous container full of water. Suspended inside was a young tiger shark, but it wasn’t moving. Instead, the animal gave off a green, hazy sort of glow, like Forthwind had earlier.
“It’s in stasis, too?”
“Yes, they must put the animals into stasis for transport.” Sure enough, along the other wall, stood an enormous crate with two small polar bears, and both were in suspended animation.
“Do you think they put Comet and Cupid under already?”
“I hope not. It’ll make this rescue operation more difficult.”
They spread out and searched. Amy found the reindeer in an adjoining room, in a pen. When they saw Amy, the deer galloped toward her. Even Cupid, who liked to play it cool.
“Hey, boys. Did you miss me?”
They snuffled in response, and she took it as a “yes.”
Hope swelled in her chest, and a smile spread across Amy’s face.
Thank goodness they hadn’t been put into stasis yet, but the deer couldn’t jump the fenced edges because a glowy shield thing hovered over them. When Amy reached for Comet, the energy crackled and wouldn’t let her push through the barrier.
“Okay, how do we get them out? Do you have a sonic screwdriver or something? It’s what the Doctor would do, under these circumstances.”
“You’ve brought up the Doctor again. I’m beginning to get jealous. Tell me, is he handsome? And what’s a sonic screwdriver?”
Amy opened her mouth to explain, but shook her head, instead.
“Never mind. We’ll talk about it later.” They had quite a few things to discuss, as a matter of fact.
Amy pulled the leashes from her coat pocket. The reindeer still wore the bridles, so it would be easy to lead them out of the ship.
And that’s when something jostled in the pen next to her, capturing Amy’s attention. Inside were two tiny panda bears, the ones she’d heard about on the news. She didn’t see the wolves anywhere, but they had to be here, too.
The baby panda bears were roly-poly balls of fuzz. Unable to help herself in the face of such cuteness, Amy bent over, and they waddled to the edge of the enclosure and looked up at her with trusting eyes.
Instantly, her heart melted.
“We have to take them with us.”
“We came here to save your reindeer.” Faro fussed with a control panel on the side of the pen and pressed some buttons.
“Come on, Faro, look at them. How can we leave them here with the skinny jerks?”
“Are you sure?” He didn’t glance at the creatures. “If we rescue them, they’ll perish.”
Right, because a great big comet is coming. For the space of an hour or so, Amy had forgotten about it. Well, there’d be time to freak out later.
Focus on the pandas.
“It depends on your point of view.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Would you want to be taken from your home, put on display?”
This time, he glanced at the pandas, and his expression softened.
“No, I wouldn’t.”
“So can we free them?”
Faro frowned. “Amy…”
“Please?”
With a sigh, he nodded. “Very well, we’ll take the bears. However, I draw the line at the shark.”
“I feel bad for him, too, but I don’t want to get eaten.” Amy had always been a fan of Shark Week on the Discovery Channel.
Faro finally opened the top hatch, and the deer sprang free. Comet ran for her, and placed his head, against her abdomen. She stroked the familiar starburst on his muzzle, outlining the edges with the tip of a finger. He sniffled, rubbing his muzzle against her.
“It’s gonna be okay, buddy, I got you.” She hooked the leash on his bridle and did the same to Cupid, who accepted a pat on the head. When they got home, she’d give them some extra hay tonight.
Faro opened the panda bear enclosure, and she took one, while Faro handled the other.
The panda’s fur was fuzzy and she petted its head and back, comforting the animal, which quivered in her grasp. The bear gave a little cry, and it sounded like a cross between a baby and a cat. When she scratched the animal under the chin, it sighed, relaxing against her.
Amy’s heart melted.
“Hey there, little guy, it’ll be okay.”
And once they were safe, she’d persuade Faro to hold off on returning the pandas straight away, so Amy could have some quality time with the bears. She’d always wanted to pet one.
She had no idea what the weather was like in China, but she doubted they were used to these frigid temperatures. She tucked the bear into her jacket, so he’d be warm when they went outside and the bear snuggled against her.
And then she sensed a surge of energy, the distinct sound of something being powered up.
Uh-oh. Like a blaster?
Faro raised his hands above his head, and Amy followed suit. They turned to face a pair of armed guards.
One squeeze of a trigger finger, and she’d be dead.