Wednesday Briefs: Winter Haven's Dyrpath Chapter 2

 

The clouds started to clear as soon as I came out, bringing more light to the lumpy terrain so I could easily avoid the pitfalls around the chopped off stumps and the baby trees. I went around the orchard and started my trek up the hill; it was the way toward the closest town. There, maybe the snowy owl with the black-flecked wings would go unnoticed.

She flew on silent wings across my path, stopping on the stump of a fence ahead of me and to my right about two arm’s lengths away.

“Go away, shoo!” I hissed. I waved my arms.

“Whoo? Me?” she asked. “Or are you running away again?”

That stopped me in my tracks. I’d only ever heard a few words from her, things I could dismiss as my imagination. “Y-you talked.”

“So did you,” she said. She turned her head one direction, then back almost all the way the other. “Nooo one else here to say anything, dyrpath.”

“Don’t call me that,” I snapped.

“Are we not talking?” She flipped her wings open and then shut again, tucking them against her back. “Is that not what youuu are?”

“No. No, no, no.” I shut my mouth tight, clamping any more words behind my lips and behind the walls of my teeth, despite the desire for them to chatter with the freezing chill. Ill-omen indeed. I’d likely die out here, in the cold, before I ever reached the town. That didn’t stop me from hurrying on in the same direction I’d been going, away from the owl, from it’s ill-luck and drop in my fortunes.

Master Vado had never taken me to town once I’d been dropped off on his doorstep, passed along by another distant family member, from yet another family member, from the time my own parents had sent me off three winters past. The only place I’d gone was the casting shed, on the edge of his property where the hedge wizard worked, the cold storeroom for my meals, and my tiny attic space. No one suffered my presence long, not once the ill-omens appeared.

The animals were bad enough, with my ghostly appearance and dark locks. Ill-luck, their glances would worry as they skittered away, before the predators began to grow in number. At the first bloody corpse, the looks would give rise to whispers, and with the first livestock that went missing or dead, I’d be taken away under cover of night before the family who’d been stuck with the misbegotten ill-luck demon-kin would be blamed as well.

Usually with more than a few bruises to nurse for their trouble.

I hadn’t asked to be born. Glancing up at the sky, at the sickle of the moon that limited my powers these few nights, I cursed the fates that had sent me to this moment. Why had this been my life? The magic in my veins wasn’t something I could access, it just was, but the wielders could use me as a source before they became too wary of the flavor of my power and believed it tainted by the ill-luck that haunted me for three long years.

Since the eve of my fifteenth birthing day, the coldest and longest night of the year, when the magic of the moon held sway and the beasts did her bidding, including me. A dyrpath. A demon who speaks with animals, who does their bidding and tricks them into doing his. Ill-omen at birth, my mother had strove to keep the village from learning the night of my birth. She’d bleached my hair, dying it with red elder berries to lighten the hue, but blood will always tell.

On my darkest nights, I worried that the smoke I thought I saw that night, the first time I’d been sent away and the last time I’d seen them, meant they’d been burned out of their home or worse. My two little sisters, with their red curls and peeping green eyes that never judged me, hadn’t deserved that fate, the one I ran away from then and now in my nightmares.

A sob burned the back of my throat, but I suppressed it ruthlessly. I was magic, but I was not this corruption that everyone feared; I did not bring down death and destruction with my very presence.

The little voice inside of me that whispered all day, every day, as the villagers refused to meet my gaze despite the looks and whispers behind my back, whispered again, just so I could hear over the rising whistle of the wind… “Liar.”

A blush briefly warmed my cheeks, then faded. The light began to fade as well, making it hard to see the path. I squinted, floundering in some of the deeper snow as I stepped to one side. I paused, gasping for air, and then tried to orient back to the path.

Spinning, I cried out. “No!” I’d lost the path. It was hidden from me, and all round me were tall trees ringed with strange pokey spines. I stumbled into a clearing, desperately looking up for a sign of the moon or a glimpse of the stars to orient myself.

The ill-luck swept across, just over my head, from one tree to the next. “Here,” she called. “This way.” The tree began to glow, lighting up and then it lifted from the ground, spinning slowly.

No. That was not a direction I was willing to go. But no matter which way I turned, the first steps I took led me toward that spinning tree. “Why?” I cried out. “Why won’t you leave me be? What do you want?” Just like every time I’d asked that question in despair before, there were no answers.

The closer I came, each grudging step dragged forward by invisible forces, the glow in the sky grew behind the tree. My heart stuttered, but my feet did not, and the ill-omen hooted as it finally captured me. "Youuu." 

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J Ray Lamb

Julie Lynn Hayes

Wednesday Brief: Winter Haven's Dyrpath Chapter 1

 The sound jolted me from sleep. I held my breath, my heart thudding against my chest as I stared up at the knotty pine of the roof above me. Silence and wind blowing in the trees, the odd creak of wood, then the whoosh of my trapped breath escaping me was all I heard. It couldn’t be out there. It must have been a sound my mind made up, a nightmare phantasm that sent sweat slicking my spine.

Still… I pushed aside my cover, climbing off my pallet and inching toward the window. The freezing air chilled my flesh beneath my damp nightshirt, and the rough boards under my toes didn’t hold a speck of warmth from the fireplace underneath. Peering through the thick glass of the tiny window, I stared out. The night was dark, the lights of the stars shrouded by misty clouds and the moon a slim sickle.

I sighed soundlessly in relief, then crept over to the pitcher and basin. I trickled a little water inside the basin, the cupped a hand in the deep bowl and poured the water over the wrist of one hand before repeating on the other. I wiped my wet fingers over my forehead and patted my cheeks. Dipping my fingers and swirling them in the fingertip of water, I dripped it on the back of my neck.

“Whoo. Youuuu.” Peck. Peck. Peck. The cold water turned to ice because the call came again, followed by taps of beaks on the glass. I shuddered and quaked, clutching the back of my neck and wrapping my other arm around my chest.

“No, no, no.” I clapped my hand over my mouth, cutting off the words, listening hard. No one moved, thank the souls.

But now I knew it wasn’t a dream, and if anyone else heard that call outside my window, they’d know what it was. They’d know it was here for me.

Or they’d blame me anyway, even if they didn’t. My breath came in short pants behind my hand, and I trembled, part cold and part fear, as I strained both my ears for the silent swish of wings I knew I’d never hear or the ability to move. Movement came first, of course.

Tears burned hot in my eyes, the only thing warm about me, and I swallowed the sob back. I’d hoped to stay a little longer, but the fates weren’t on my side. Pulling on the leggings that went under my outer pants, I hurriedly tied them then tucked in my nightshirt. I’d need layers, so my two shirts went over top, and I belted a woven scarf around my waist twice before tying it. Another, a gift from two farms back, covered my head and neck so I could keep my ears, neck, and face warm. I curled up on the pallet and pulled warm, woolen socks out of my boots to cover my feet but left those off.

My coat was not as thick as I’d like, or the wind would make me wish for, but it seemed calm; I might get lucky and find a new place before a whiteout overtook me again. Rustling broke the silence, and I darted on my stocking covered toes to the window again. Peering out, I stared into the dim night.

Could I risk it?

I mocked myself, pursing my lips. If I tried to stay until the light of day, it would only go worse for me. This was no ordinary owl, and she was not going to be scared off by the lights of the sun’s rays. Her call of whooo might sound simple, but the bad luck would be put on me.

I was the master’s last apprentice, and he would not keep an ill-omen. And an owl calling at night, tapping on my window, was an ill-omen he could not ignore, not at his age.

The beating I’d get before the booting would make it too difficult to travel in the snow, so it was best to leave now, I reasoned. Besides, maybe I could pilfer a little something in the pantry. I’d earned enough, having almost two weeks of slaving away in the work room with naught but a broth and slice of bread without any spread. Ridiculous for the amount of casting I’d facilitated.

Bundling my spare pants, socks, and a woolen hat the young mistress at a house a few stops back had given me, I wrapped it up in the cover and folded the ends in tight to make a roll that fit perfect when tied with the string I’d put under my pallet.

Nobody called me a fool, or underprepared. Ill-luck, sure. The dark hair, bright as a raven’s wing, with the pale skin of a snowflake, And the animals.

At first, the call of the owl. I learned after the first time I was driven off to be wary, and the beatings I’d taken and the second and third farm were enough to convince me that getting gone was more important than staying warm or getting three hot meals.

With my bundle slung over my shoulder and my boots in hand, I crept down to the ladder one-handed and across the floor toward the door. The other two apprentices were enjoying the warmth, huddled together by the fire.

They didn’t twitch until I opened the door and the freezing draft swirled in along with several snowflakes that twisted and danced in the air. I stepped out quickly and latched the door behind me. That was it, I was stuck outside.

Scraping distracted me, and I glared up, shivers already wracking me as I hurried to shove my feet into my boots. I tied the laces with stiffening fingers, and then took off away from the house, away from the ill-omen that never brought anyone any bad luck but me. 

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Julie Lynn Hayes  

Wednesday Briefs: Ancalagon Ch. 119

 

“Are you sure you don’t want to be part of the new council?” I asked Garjah. I’d been sitting there quietly, lost in thought, but I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

He shook his head. “No.” Garjah twisted in his chair; I was sitting on a wide cushioned seat in the corner, pillows piled around me. Bouncer was curled at my feet with his head in my lap. I stroked behind his ears, watching as Garjah went over videos on his comm. “It was never my intention to take over for the Kardoval. I love what I do, and it’s more than enough for me. Besides, if we’re stuck on the new council, how can you do your job of studying the planet or going back to Ardra? We’d never be able to leave the city.”

I let out a sigh of relief. I’d been holding this question in for cycles as the Kardoval hid from the people and the rioting continued. We’d had to hide out in that tiny greenhouse, which was awkward enough during sleeping cycles, but it’d finally burst out of me. The Aqnars should arrive soon, but the Kardoval had to be found first. Garjah wouldn’t allow anything else.

He wouldn’t let vulnerable Galactic ambassadors onto the planet otherwise. I hesitated to warn him about how many would probably be coming with them; he’d been spoiled with Ases coming alone with the mech, but this was a whole different situation, despite what he’d negotiated. They’d bring every single staff member, protector, chef, server, pilot, deckhand, mechanic… basically if the could determine the Aqnars might potentially need the service of a being on their ship or during their stay, they’d send a being to fill that role.

And another one we’d not know as well. Every Galactic Council employee had secret skills; that was what made them so good at staying in power. Not that they abused it; they were their own checks and balances system.

“Do you want that? To be part of the takeover?” Garjah hesitated. He didn’t like the word, but there really wasn’t another way to phrase it. They had to takeover and figure out a new way of doing things. It just sounded more hostile than what he’d ever intended.

“Of course not!” I’d be more than content to roam the jungles with Bouncer. There was so much I wanted to see without the stress of fleeing for our lives. Maybe a few things I’d want to avoid too; I shrugged. “I’m not into politics. Just as Ases. The few classes I had to take I nearly failed, and it almost kept me off any planets or stations with intelligent species.”

“How could they do that?”

“Well, apparently I was not as much of a natural as I’ve proven with you.” I stood up and strode over to Garjah, straddling his lap and curling my arms around him. He grunted, and I smacked his shoulder. “Stop that, I’m not that heavy.”

“You’re not heavy at all,” he said. He pulled me closer. I stroked the back of his head, tracing the ridges that curled over his ears and down to his neck. His eyes closed partially. While I was trying to rest and recover from all the craziness of trying to rescue him, he’d never stopped pushing himself.

“Come lay down with me?” I whispered.

He opened his eyes and his mouth, to protest I’m sure, but I cut him off with a kiss. “Please? I feel better with your arms around me.” Yes, it was sneaky and manipulative, and maybe even more for me than him. No, screw it. It was better for him to come lay down, even if it mean that I had to lie to him to get him to do it. He was so tired I could literally feel it through our bond.

“I have to keep searching,” Garjah protested.

“You have officers doing that. And those flying comm things. You can rest, and the system will alert you if anything is found or if you are needed.” I lifted one eyebrow. “Won’t it?”

He nodded reluctantly.

“Then all you’re really doing is staring at screens. Do you really want to do that when you could be holding me?” I leaned back, and his arms tightened around my lower back. One slid to my ass cheek and squeezed.

“No!” he answered in a rush.

“All right then. Bed.” And as much as my shaft had started to firm as soon as I got close enough to smell him and to feel the rock hard muscles under his skin tempting my touch, I was good. I lay on the bed, stretching out an arm, and he actually cuddled into me for once. Scrubbing my fingers gently over the back of his head, I scraped the edges of his ridges.

Shuddering, Garjah tensed, then let out a big sigh and relaxed all at once. It was like I’d found the lazy button or the disconnect the joints spot or something. I yanked my hand away. His body was heavy, his breath on my shoulder and neck puffing in rhythmic long pulses. He didn’t respond to anything, but he did snuggle close and hum until I started stroking his head again.

Then he repeated the muscle melt. It was truly bizarre.

Though I did like it. It felt comforting, and even though I’d asked Garjah to lay down with me so he could get some rest, I couldn’t keep my eyes open either. Maybe this was what it was like, to be held close by a partner who he loved and who loved him so much that nothing else mattered. The universe could go to the stars, and they’d figure out it together.

Essell yawned and curled around Garjah’s larger body, determined that nothing would ever hurt his bonded again. Not the Kardoval, not the Aqnars Garjah invited, and not the Galactic itself. They had a new life to plan. 

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Julie Lynn Hayes  

Wednesday Briefs: Ancalagon Chapter 118

 

I sat back in awe as I watched Garjah once again navigate through the intricacies of the Galactic Council by cutting through it with his usual efficiency. He was scary in his ability to cut to the heart of a matter and get what he wanted done. By the time most people would still be trying to arrange a meeting, in the future at their convenience, of course with some of the Councilors, Garjah had the Aqnars on the comm and agreeing to come oversee the set up of their new planetary government.

He must have made some impression on them.

As soon as he nodded at Ases, who instructed his mech to break the connection, I was in his arms. He’d certainly made an impression on me. “Who are you, and what did you do with my simple security officer?” I smiled at his confusion. “You don’t even know what you did, do you?”

Ases chuckled. “He doesn’t. It’s amazing; it was one of the reasons I agreed to come. I wanted to see if the entire planet was full of people who were so scarily capable of convincing those in power of doing what they want or if it was just him.”

“People in… doing what I want? I just had to beg for outsiders to come to my home to help deal with the Kardoval because I set a revolve in motion against our leaders who were trying to kill me and my bonded.”

“Yes, because you wouldn’t do what they wanted. Not the other way around.” Ases sounded thoughtful. “I suppose that’s good for the rest of the universe, though. If everyone on your planet was like you, now that you’re not going to be isolated, you’d probably take over in a heartbeat if that was your overall plan.”

“I don’t even want to take over this planet!” Garjah sounded and looked horrified.

“And that’s why I love you,” I said. “Everything you do is to take care of others, and yes, you can be overly serious and bossy when you do that, but that’s just in defense of those you love. And you love all of your people. Even the Kardoval, which is why you’re asking for help.”

“I don’t want anyone to get hurt.” Garjah stared at the wall of the greenhouse that faced the city, though the plants were far too thick to see past. “I know that can’t be avoided; I know the Kardoval have been hurting others, and they need to take responsibility for that before the people, but I don’t want them killed.”

“Even though they tried to kill you?” Ases asked bluntly. “And Essell?”

That was a low blow. For himself, Garjah would probably shrug it off. My safety was another thing. I turned my head and scowled. “Why don’t you stop needling him, Ases? Go shift and take Bouncer to explore the property or something.”

Ases smirked. “You know my senses are enhanced when I’m shifted, right? So don’t think you can get a little frisky in here and I won’t notice.”

“That’s not…. Ugh,” I grunted. “Just go.” Sometimes friends were too annoying to live.

“Fine.” Ases pushed away from where he was leaning on his mech and gestured for Bouncer. “Come on, big guy. Let’s go find some critters to chase.”

Bouncer had been keeping close to our sides, never roaming far while we were on the run from the Kardoval’s officers. He came over and rubbed against our legs, and I rubbed his ears. “We’re fine here. Go have some fun.”

I looked up at Garjah. “We are fine here, right?”

He nodded. “The greenhouse is shielded. They can’t scan for us, or for the signal we sent out from my system here. It’s also not property owned in my name; this was purchased by a friend using credit funneled through several different avenues.”

Garjah nodded toward Ases and the door. “Go on now.”

 

As soon as they left, I melted against Garjah. It felt like forever since we’d been alone. I knew they were close enough to hear us if we had a problem, but for once no one was expecting us to do anything, we didn’t have to go anywhere, and I could just whine.

“I’m tired.”

Garjah held me close and rubbed my upper back. “I know. Me too. Why don’t we sit down?”

The wooden seats weren’t as uncomfortable as they looked. They weren’t comfortable either, but being tucked against Garjah’s side and off my feet was enough to make it worth it. I sighed. “How long do we stay here?”

“As long as we need to. The Galactic will come, and I believe from what they said, and you told me, that they will help us set up a fair government that will give us a chance to move forward. We might just have to hide out here until people calm down.” He pointed toward low cabinet built into the back wall. “That pulls open and folds out into a bed. There’s also additional bedding, food and water, and clothing.”

“Bathroom?” I asked hopefully.

Garjah looked around. “Ahh.”

“Got it.” Sure, I’d lived on a lot of stations, but I’d also spent a lot of time on planets too. I was a biologist. “Sounds cozy. Ases can sleep shifted with Bouncer in the extra bedding you mentioned. I’m claiming the bed.” I yawned. “Soon.”

“I’ll get it set up.” Neither of us moved. “Everything is going to change again, isn’t it?” I said softly.

Garjah rumbled in his chest, his distinctive laugh vibrating under my ear. “My life has changed daily since I met you. You might have changed the most on the outside, but I think I’ve changed more on the inside.” He touched his head, then his chest. “You’ve made me better. The one thing that will always stay the same? I’m honored that you are my bonded, and nothing will ever change that.”

Pulling back so I could look directly into his eyes, I said, “You’ve made me better, too. And not just because now I have an extra set of hands to take notes, well, once I figure out how to do that with two hands at the same time.” I was determined to figure that out once I saw Timok doing it. “I know we both had a lot of drastic changes in our lives, but it’s our life. We’re in this together, and you give me a place.” I waved my hand all around us. “Here, and here.” I patted his chest. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

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Julie Lynn Hayes  

Wednesday Briefs: Ancalagon Ch. 117

  

“I’m just the one they’re listening to. Your people have been working behind the scenes to stop the Kardoval for years.” Garjah stared down at the city streets. “Apparently little whispers joined by one big truth can create a wave not even the Kardoval can escape.”

“What will the officers do to them?” I asked. My heart was still pounding, and I wasn’t sure if it was from all the running, the hill, or my fear that those people would get hurt because of something we’d done. “We can’t let them get hurt.” Ases agreed with me.

“What can they do? There’s too many.” Chaintrik waved a hand toward the streets where more and more appeared. “Look there.” Circling above the streets were transports or something. “Those are recording too.”

“So we’ll be able to see if something happens?”

“Once we get to a safe place.” Garjah put his hand on my shoulder. “Let’s go.” Bouncer stood up.

“We should go down there. You should be there. In person.” Chaintrik was still watching. “This is everything we want happening right now. How can you turn away from it?”

“I’m not. I’m getting my bonded to safety. I don’t care how many comm screens are watching, how many people are there. I will not risk Essell until I know the Kardoval have stepped down.”

“Hey,” I said. I didn’t stop him from herding me back toward the road, though at least we weren’t running anymore. The Kardoval and their officers had bigger problems now. “You can’t lock me up and try to keep me away from everything. This isn’t going to be something that goes away in a day.” My parents were scientists, and I’d been exposed to more than enough stations, planets, and governments to know just how volatile changes in power could be. “You will have to be visible. And remember, we’re stronger together than apart.”

“Later. That back there is not safe.”

“Fine.”

“I’m going back.” Chaintrik stopped in the road. “Someone has to be there.”

“Are you sure you want to go alone?”

“I know how to blend in. Without all of you, no one will even notice me.” He had a point. Two aliens, Bouncer, and Ases’ mech did sort of stand out. By himself, he would probably he much safer than if he stayed with us. Chaintrik didn’t say anything else, just took off back in the direction we’d been running from.

 

We kept walking but eventually Garjah stopped in front of a home tucked back in the side of a hill. The building was older, but well-kept. Like most of the places here, it was surrounded by plants. “Where are we?” I asked. Bouncer sniffed the plants, then started marking territory. “Stop that,” I hissed.

“He’s fine. This is my place. Not that anyone knows that.” Garjah pushed through the thick garden. “Send your mech down the path.”

“Shouldn’t we go to the front door?” Ases asked. The mech followed his instructions.

“No. We’re going to the back.”

Of course we were. “Why?”

“The front door has a few surprises.” Garjah didn’t even take us to the house. There was a small building in the back, and he went for that. I’d have said it was a greenhouse, but it looked unused and overgrown. It was entirely the wrong time, but I wanted to explore the plants. Two of them swayed as Bouncer sniffed them, and he growled and backed off quickly.

Inside the greenhouse was entirely different from outside of it once we got inside. Outside looked dusty, covered in plants. The walls inside were crawling with vines. A wooden platform holding flowers blocked the view inside from the open door. I spun slowly, trying not to lose my balance on aching calves and feet, because the rest of the place was a mirror of Garjah’s safe room with all the tech that went along with that. Comms that went life the second we stepped inside covered the property. And then there were the ones that roamed the city. “Are you scanning the city?” I asked.

“No, that’s broadcast footage.” Garjah indicated a few seats built out of smooth wood. “Sit down. I’m sure you’re exhausted, Essell.” He reached under a cabinet and pulled out several drinks. I wrinkled my nose. I recognized those, so I didn’t take it when Ases did. His mistake, and he choked on it.

“Nutrient fluid?”

“You need it.” He waggled it. “You’ll feel better.”

“Ugh.” He was right though. I sat and drank the noxious fluid, watching as he started up several comm systems. “What are you doing?”

“I think Chaintrik was right. This will change everything. We’re going to need outside help.” Garjah turned toward Ases. “We’re going to need your mech. I need to contact the Galactic directly.”

My jaw dropped and I stared at Garjah. “You… want to bring them here?”

“We need advice to solve this. I may or may not I invoke the clause to bring additional… envoys here.” He faced Ases. “Not that I don’t believe you won’t give excellent advice. But I think the people need to see the wider universe represented here. To see and know what we say is true, not just hear it.”

Ases leaned back. “I agree. The idea is politically sound, and there are many people you could contact. Who were you thinking?”

“Well….” Garjah looked at me.

“Do not say anyone related to me, or part of the Institute.”

Garjah smiled. “Your parents are not suitable, no, though I’m sure your mother would disagree. I was actually thinking about those Aqnars we met. Councilor Alae and Lipro? They seemed to be adept at meeting those who are new.”

Ases nodded. “Yes, that’s their job, sort of. That’s a good choice.”

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Julie Lynn Hayes 

Wednesday Briefs: Ancalagon Ch. 116

 

“And fear can do so much worse. As my bonded has said, and what you already saw, there is treason occurring at the highest reaches of the government. But I have not betrayed our people. What we have learned is that there is so much more we are all capable of. Our memories help us, yes, but if we start young we can train in other careers or find the memories hidden within for other paths. The Kardoval have hidden many secrets from the people to isolate our planet and remain in power because to learn and grow means they do not hold the monopoly on all knowledge.

“And the treaty with the Galactic gives power to the rebels who just want choices. Not to take yours away, but to make their own for themselves. Ones the Kardoval denied them by arresting them, faking charges, taking their mates, or children, and forcing compliance and hiding them in detention centers in our very capital city in buildings with no official purpose guarded by corrupt officers. I’ve been in the cell, and I’ve been tortured by their devices meant to attack my mind and kill my bond. All because they feared losing their power.

“If you saw the footage, pray that you never visit those cells yourself. For if the Kardoval stay in power, and they learn you saw this, or that you agree with us and believe that freedom of choice is your right, or the right of those you love, then that could be any of you too. The only way this stops is if we rise up now and make a change. Demand they surrender, publicly, and only then can we begin to find true freedom.”

There was a long pause, then Ases tapped the mech on the back. “We’re good.”

I couldn’t believe all that came out of Garjah; he’d never really been the type to bare his thoughts and feelings. Strong, quiet type was more his style. Okay, so maybe I’d always been attracted to the big, muscled men who never really shown interest in me beyond how they could toss the skinny brain around to get what they want, but that wasn’t who he was. He cared, deeply, and that made him focused on what he was doing at all times. Maybe we weren’t so different. I wanted time to think about that, and what he’d said, just like I hoped all this people were thinking about it.

But no. “We have to go. Now.” Garjah pulled away and then tucked me behind him and he strode toward the door. “I want you beside Bouncer and behind me at all times.” He looked over his shoulder. “Stay with me, since you refused to go to safety earlier. Understand?”

“Yes.” I frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“They’ll have tracked that signal.” Chaintrik jogged behind me. “So we can’t stay here.”  Ases nodded as he ran beside Chaintrik. The mech whirred along behind everyone.

Alarm shot through me. “Shouldn’t the mech go somewhere else then? If they are tracking it?” I stumbled over something on the ground, and Bouncer bumped against me, keeping me upright.

“Focus on looking where you’re running. We’ve got this,” Ases said. Of course he was talking quietly to Chaintrik while I was already panting. Twice as we ran Garjah changed directions abruptly, and I had to skid to a halt or stumble after him.

I was never running again after this. Doing a field survey meant a slow, steady study of a planet. Not this… adventure. Yeah. Think of it as an adventure. As my lungs and legs burned, that wasn’t happening.

At least the misery distracted me from my fear of being caught. Even if we had revealed them to everyone, that wouldn’t save us if the Kardoval or their officers caught us now. Especially now. They’d take revenge. A roar burst up behind us, and I was too exhausted to look back. “What. Was. That?” I asked, puffing.

“Stop, stop,” Chaintrik called. Garjah didn’t stop immediately but peered around us looking for something. He ducked into a deep shadow of a closed shop’s overhang, it hiding his body. I followed him, leaning against the wall. Bouncer sat perkily. This was one big game to him, I was sure. City chase. He’d want to play every day if he could.

“What is it?” Garjah asked. He was also annoyingly steady, his breathing barely labored.

“Look.” Back the way we’d come lights were flashing. Transports were circling high in the air, but it was the people. We’d climbed partway up the hill overlooking the city for some reason, and I could see down inside.

Those were not officers. There were citizens of the city flooding the streets, streaming toward the center and the Kardoval’s building. I turned toward Garjah, my eyes wide. “They… do you think they heard you? That’s because of what you said?” I pointed.

“It has to be,” Chaintrik said. He sounded awed, shocked and amazed. “This is going to change everything.” He turned to Garjah. “Thank you.” 

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Julie Lynn Hayes

Wednesday Briefs: Ancalagon Ch. 115

 

“The building that’s on fire,” Garjah broke in and said dryly. He wiped his face. “We didn’t see your mech, though.”

“Oh.” Ases cleared his throat, paling. “Well, you got out so others probably did too, right? The damage probably isn’t that bad. My mech caught it on camera, so I sent him in, just in case, to make sure no one needed help.”

I snorted. “And the Kardoval want to make you and me the bad guys.”

“What?” Ases put on an outraged face and staggered back a few steps. His hand landed on his chest as he straightened. “Me, a good guy? Why, Essell Deray, you are going to just ruin my bad boy reputation.”

“How about you set up your mech to do the broadcast, and he lets you do that all on your own?” Garjah broke between us and handed me a container of juice. “Drink. You’ll need your strength. This is just a short stop.”

“Oh great. More running.”

“Fast walking, if you’re lucky.”

I took a drink of the juice, happy it was sweet and not any of the nastier varieties I’ve learned Timok liked to give me when he thought my vitamin levels were too low. Medicine didn’t always have to taste bad, but I guess doctors of all species thought it was a good way to keep their patients from coming back or something. “Oh great, the universe is taking a break on us and decided I won’t have to run.”

“Actually, running would just draw attention to us,” one of Chaintrik’s males said. “We want to avoid that.”

My face flushed, and several of the group stared at me, not used to seeing someone with pale skin that changed color, I guess. It only made it worse until I felt like my face on was fire. I hid behind the juice, turning away, mumbling an apology.

Garjah stroked my back. “We’ll break apart into smaller groups again, making our way to different entry points below the city to get out of this maze and away from the Kardoval.”

“We? Don’t we have to stay aboveground for Ases’ mech to transmit?”

His nostrils flaring and thin lips tight, Garjah stared at me. “Hasn’t this has been enough? We showed ourselves, you almost got hurt. Won’t you please go somewhere you’re safe?”

I nearly squeezed the juice container until it collapsed. I took a deep breath, regretting it when I coughed out a lungful of the dust and ash still clinging to my face. I covered my mouth, smearing it in the sweat and who knew what else, but I refused to look away even as I tried to bring up a lung. Garjah patted my back gently.

“Are you?” I finally croaked.

“Am I what?”

I drained the last of the juice, clearing my throat as I dropped it. I was angry with Garjah but also scared. And determined. And I loved the big, honorable idiot, so I pushed closer into his arms and gazed up at him with one eyebrow raised as I asked the question I already knew the answer to. “Are you going somewhere safe now?”

“I have to stay and be ready for when Ases finishes sharing the recordings his mech took of the Kardoval attacking me and ransacking my house looking for you to use against me. I have to explain everything we’ve learned.”

Huffing, I rolled my eyes. “Then I will be right here beside you. Where I’ve been when most of the public saw me before. What would they think, if you told them everything the Kardoval did, claimed our innocence, but I’m off hiding? No. I’ll be right here standing up for the Galactic, for the treaty we made, and for the rights of all of your people to choose to make a better life for themselves without the Kardoval and their archaic ideas about only ever having the memories for one purpose in life.

“You won’t let the Kardoval’s plots to stay in power keep hurting your people, I know that, even if what could happen to us scares me. They deserve to know that everything we have done has been for them, no matter the risk to our lives or bond. You care about your people, Garjah.” I put a hand on his face. “And I love you. So, no, don’t ask me to leave you just so the Kardoval’s officers won’t hunt me down and try to kill me again tonight. If you stay, I stay. Until we make sure everyone knows the truth.”  

The room was oddly silent, except for the hum of Ases’ mech. Then I heard him clear his throat and whisper, “Um, I already did. And that went out live.”

I slowly turned my head toward the Ases and his mech. The room had emptied, apparently when I was choking, and there were only him and Chaintrik beside the mech.

Which was staring right at us, its screen lit up. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Blinking rapidly, I turned back to Garjah. He took a deep breath, rubbed one hand down my back, then turned so he kept two arms around me but could face the mech. I stayed turned into his side, still embarrassed that my emotional declaration had been caught and transmitted for the entire planet—oh stars, Ases had said he’d send it to out to the Galactic too—to see.

Bouncer came to sit with us, and I smiled as I rested a hand on his head. He lifted it but rubbed it against Garjah’s thigh, claiming him in front of everyone. Garjah dropped a hand to rest on mine on his head. “Fear sometimes means we miss the opportunity for something wonderful,” Garjah said, looking down at Bouncer and then up at me. It was quiet, but not quite a whisper. He lifted his gaze to stare directly at the mech. 

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Julie Lynn Hayes

Wednesday Briefs: Ancalagon Ch. 114

 

“Go, go.” One of the rebels stopped and then turned to face the crowd of people in the room. “I’ll hold them off.” The hiss of weapons fire shocked me into motion, and I took off.

Garjah stayed at my side, never straying more than a single step away.

Without any idea of where I was going, I started down the first corridor after Bouncer’s rapidly retreating form. It seemed like he knew which way he wanted to go, and that direction was better than nothing. There was a loud thump, the building shook, and dust rained down on our heads. I coughed, waving all four of my arms the best I could in the air to clear some of the powder from around me. “What was that?” I asked between coughing fits.

“I think that was our distraction.” Garjah nudged me. “Keep going. Make his sacrifice worth it.”

Nausea churned in my stomach, and the acrid taste of bile burned my throat and mouth. Had we just been responsible for someone’s death? All I could think about was Garjah saying piercing live rounds, and that horrific loud thump. What kind of weapon did that? What would it do to a person? Could they even fix that kind of damage? “Did he blow himself up?”

“If he didn’t, he certainly blew his cover. He’ll never be able to live on the surface again unless we manage to overthrow the Kardoval.”

“Right.” That’s what this was all about. Taking those sanctimonious, power-hungry bastards down. They’d messed with the wrong bonded pair. I couldn’t think about the tragedy that could have happened behind us. If we’d been a little slower, or Bouncer wasn’t so fast— “Wait, where did Bouncer go?”

“Right. Through that door.” Garjah pointed to one slightly ajar down the hall. How he saw it through the dim emergency lights and the dust that was still billowing through the air, I had no idea. Damn aliens and their better senses. I sniffed, instantly regretting it as my nose burned, and I coughed. Garjah caught one of my arms and towed me along with him. “We have to hurry.”

“I am.” Sort of. I definitely didn’t want to lose Bouncer, and he wasn’t slowing down. I barely caught a glimpse of his red tail before he was all the way through the door.

The room we ran into was surprisingly clear, and then a breeze swept through which explained why so much dust had cleared. Garjah hissed out a triumphant sound, closing the door behind us. “Clever cerops. Of course you found a way out.” The way out was a set of smaller windows that were difficult for me with my bandages to squeeze through, and Garjah even cracked two window panes as he balanced on the frame, but we weren’t hopeful our escape would go undocumented for long anyway with the number of recording devices whizzing around the city.

Besides, being seen was sort of the point. At least as long as we didn’t get caught. The last group got a little too close. Garjah snuck us around the building, across two streets, and back with a group of rebels before I even realized he’d found them.

“Do we have any word from Chaintrik and Ases?” he asked. I squatted beside them, panting and leaning against Bouncer. His sides were barely moving, the monster. He nuzzled me, and I wrapped one arm around his shoulders and put my head against his neck for comfort. His smooth scales were warm until they grew into ridges that bit into my forehead.

“Time to go,” Garjah said.

Of course it was. Go, go, go. They were trying to run my feet into bloody nubs. We couldn’t walk anywhere; no, that wasn’t an option. Then I heard the whine of the recording device on the drone that flew overhead and realized why Garjah sent us on the move. We’d been spotted again.

“We can’t all stay together,” I said. “We have to split up, scatter like prey animals. They’ll think we’re scared, running to hide. If we stay together, they’re going to get suspicious and think we have a plan or something sinister plotted.”

“Of course we do,” one of the rebels said.

“They don’t know that,” I said with some asperity. “And we don’t want them to know. So freaking scatter already. Stars!” I cursed in an explosion. Bouncer echoed my frustration with a snarl.

That was probably what got them moving more than anything I had to say. I wouldn’t want an angry Bouncer at my heels either. They all melted away, except for when they wanted to be spotted. I still couldn’t figure out how he did it.

Oh well. The sound of booted feet falling in union caught my attention. Could they be any more scarier of a sound? Where were they coming from? There were three different directions, and that didn’t count the one behind me. If I started trying to look back there, I’d start a tailspin.

Moving forward. “Next building,” Garjah hissed.

I looked upward, noting the sign. Were we there already? I couldn’t believe it. “Is Ases here?”

“He should be soon. Chaintrik managed to pass on word that they’d arrived at the edge of the city before he had to go silent on the comm to avoid detection. But they’ll be here. Chaintrik won’t let us down.”

 

Just when I thought maybe Garjah was wrong, well… I was wrong. The most beautiful sight came whirring down the corridor straight for me, blocking the view of Ases and Chaintrik behind him. I never thought I’d get that sentimental over a mech.

If only he’d caught the bomb.

“Did you see that building on fire? It was only a block over. The smoke rising up was huge, and the fire smells so bad they have to evacuate two whole blocs,” Ases swept through the room, larger than life, and yanked me into his arms. He pushed back, wrinkling his face. “You’re covered in dust or something. What is that?” 

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Julie Lynn Hayes

Wednesday Briefs: Ancalagon Ch. 113

 

“We’ve already given away the element of surprise,” Garjah said. “They will expect me to try to flee the city, so they’ll be on the lookout for anywhere I might go, like my house or the port.”

“Which is why you won’t do that,” Ases said. “We’re going to get my mech. You’re staying here to distract the Kardoval.”

Garjah raised his eyebrows, the skin on his forehead wrinkling around the ridges pushing back from his forehead and curling around his skull. He looked skeptical. “How exactly am I doing that?”

Ases had been somewhat vague on that part of the plan before. Chaintrik stepped forward. “We have several different members of the Kardoval’s security officers who are willing to provide diversions when you are seen, but you need to be obvious in your attempts to escape the city.”

“Attempts… to escape.”

“Of course. Medical supplies, maybe some food, attempts to take a transport. You’ll be seen with weapons.”

“Why would I need medical supplies?” Garjah shook his head. “The damage they created wasn’t physical, and they know that.”

“For Essell, of course. He’s going to have been injured in the attack to rescue you, just like a clumsy human.” Timok ignored the look I shot him. “I have a few tricks I can use that will make it look like he’s injured without hampering his movements. Much.”

“Ases, do you really think it’s a good idea to go off by yourself?” I still hadn’t let Garjah let me go, but I was turned in his arms to face sideways so I could see everyone in the meeting.

“I’m used to it. I’ve not been locked away at the Institute this whole time, Essell, despite what you think.”

I wasn’t so sure he was as experienced as he thought, but I wasn’t going to be able to change his mind. As well as he knew me, I knew him and he’d made up his mind. He was going. I gave in, as gracelessly as possible. “Fine. Whatever. Don’t think I won’t get you back for whatever you do to me,” I warned Timok.

“Oh, I’m very afraid.” He didn’t even have the grace to pretend I was threatening.

One of these days I was going to get Bouncer to do something very mean to him. My friend craned his head back against my belly, glancing up where he was curled over mine and Garjah’s feet. I scratched the underside of his jaw where the skin was softer. “Later,” I said.

I would swear a gleam entered his eyes. It must have been the flickering light of the caves. “If we’re going to do this, it should be now.”

“Now?” I twisted in Garjah’s arms. “As in right now? Shouldn’t we… wait for something? Like a meal, or rest, or—”

“There’s nothing more important than stopping the Kardoval, and we’ve eaten and rested already.” He was right, stars take him, but he didn’t have to be all the time.

“Fine. Let’s go.” I stood and pushed Bouncer forward. “Well, are you coming?” I looked back over my shoulder and raised an eyebrow, going for imperious and impatient at once.

“We’re going to need to go back that way.” Garjah pointed in the opposite direction I was facing, toward the outer clothing we’d stored as soon as we came into the central cave system. They must have mined in hotter air from beneath because it was warmer. “Chaintrik, can your people get us all set up?”

“It’s already in motion.” Apparently Timok was so arrogantly assured of our answer because he hadn’t waited for it.

 

I sat below the entrance to a city street because Garjah decided that despite what the Kardoval was supposed to think, he wasn’t going to risk me until he was sure we were being pursued. His first pop up hadn’t been spotted. The second he’d tripped an alarm—on purpose. Scared the life out of me.

Now I listened for my cue. I was supposed to come out with Bouncer, run to him, and then limp back toward the building to our left. There was a back exit that would get us close to another tunnel entrance a block over since three buildings connected on the block.

My heart was hammering so loud, I was worried I wouldn’t hear the signal, but when it came, it was loud and clear. I pushed open the concealed shaft top, waited for Bouncer, then shut it quietly, kicking some trash from the alley on top of it. Then I ran.

Bouncer lead the way straight to Garjah. A little too straight! We ran right into a firefight, one I hadn’t expected. “We have to go,” Garjah said.

I ducked as the whine of a blast hit over my head. Heat and ozone filled the air. Iddddddddd shrieked as a corner of one building crumpled. “What kind of ammunition are they using?” I asked in shock.

“Piercing live rounds. They have orders to shoot to kill. Both of us.” Garjah took both of my left arm. “Run. Fast.”

He didn’t have to say it twice. We all ran, and by some grace of whatever gods might or might not be real, no one got shot. Then again, they did say some on the Kardoval’s security team would be on his side, which could help Garjah. Did they just mean not die? Or where he was supposed to get hit?

Or worse, where I was supposed to be shot. I didn’t want to get shot. The damn makeshift bandages trapped wrapped around my neck and pinning my movements and breathing. “What else… do we have to… do?” I panted.

Garjah was carrying a large, makeshift bag. “Hide,” he said.

“I can do that.” We ducked into the building. Security officers poured in after us. 

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Julie Lynn Hayes

Wednesday Briefs: Ancalagon Ch. 112

 

“So I’m good at keeping them safe.”

“You are, but it’s more than that.” Rubbing Garjah’s shoulders, I tried to put all the conviction I had into my voice, because until he believed, it didn’t matter what I said. “But let’s talk about what we need to do in order to stop the Kardoval. I’m thinking about using your strengths. Your ability to plan, to think of all the different angles and contingencies, and know what the potential risks and benefits may be. All the skills you used when we crafted the agreement with the Galactic on behalf of your people, who love you by the way, needs to be used to show them their true natures. I think that this whole memories thing, and your culture, has been crafted deliberately into the existing structure with the Kardoval in the position of power on purpose.”

“But it’s true. We do have these memories we can activate that make learning our careers easy.”

“You do,” I agreed. “I’ve seen it in action. But that doesn’t mean you can’t choose to learn a different skill. That some don’t have the ability, and memories, for more than one career path too. But belief is a strong thing.” They believed they could only follow one path in life, and they believed in those they chose as their leaders. But there was a limit to that. All these rebels proved that.

They could choose to think for themselves and make better choices about what was right and wrong.

“So what am I supposed to do?”

He didn’t see it. “Your people believe in you, Garjah. That ‘you would never bring harm to them’,” I quoted. “Every single person I spoke to, outside of the Kardoval and their lackeys, feels that way. Do you think the whole world feels the same way about them?”

Timok popped his head into our doorway. “The answer to that question is no.”

What the stars? I jerked nearly off my feet, smacking into Garjah’s chest. “What are you doing here?” The lack of privacy was atrocious, and I glared at him. “Shouldn’t you be off torturing and studying something?”

“I am.” His eyes gleamed in the pale light in the underground room.

“Ugh. Go away.” I pulled an arm out of Garjah’s embrace and shooed him off. “Stop being annoying.”

“That’s not possible.” Garjah’s voice rumbled in his chest, vibrating against my stomach. “He’s genetically conditioned to drive those around him insane.” His voice sounded fond regardless.

“Offensive,” Timok said the word as if he was the furthest thing from offended that he could possibly be. “I was just walking by, overheard what you were talking about far too loud, by the way, and offered my opinion. Since I’m the second old—”

“Oh goodie, we get to hear how old somebody should be to lead the group.” If that was the case, I wouldn’t lead a paper bag.

“Tut, tut, jealousy does not become you,” Timok said regally.

“Oh, shut it,” Garjah growled. “What did you really want? I know you weren’t sent to get us; they’d just use the comm for that. There’s nothing near our room to just pass by for, so spill it.”

“We may have a plan that I think will work with Essell’s idea.” Timok smirked when I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Who’s we?”

“Ases and me.”

“Why would Ases work with you?”

“Because I’m awesome?”

He was annoying, and offensive, and at times I loathed him. But if Ases had an idea, I’d listen. Which he knew. I huffed. “Fine. What is the idea?”

“Why don’t you come listen?”

“Huh?”

Timok looked past me to Garjah. He still had me wrapped up in his arms, and I wasn’t about to let him let me go. I’d missed him, and the touch grounded us both. “You know, sometimes he’s brilliant, and other times… not so much.”

I growled, and Garjah rubbed a hand down my back. Bouncer shifted where he lay on the bed behind Garjah, but Timok didn’t even flinch. I huffed, then decided to ignore Timok. That would drive him more crazy than responding to him. “Not Ases said he knew what you’d tell Garjah, and he was right based on what I overheard. So come listen to our plan, which he’s going to tell the rebel leaders. We need their help.”

“We do?”

Timok sighed. “Is it catching? Yes, we do. Now, come on. All three of you.”

 

The leaders of the rebellion against the Kardoval were either there in person or listening by comm as Ases outlined a plan I didn’t know I’d help come up with. He credited me with a large portion of it though. The first part of the plan was to get Ases’ mech out of Garjah’s home. We needed it’s capabilities to transmit, which the techs believed they’d dismantled on Garjah’s orders.

Ases’ father had bought him a better mech assistant than they knew, despite their advanced technology. With it, we’d be able to bypass the hold the Kardoval had on communication to the people. After that, it was revealing the evidence the rebels had and showing them the truth that Garjah had discovered.

That the Galactic wasn’t an enemy to be afraid of. The rest of the universe could be an ally. Their people could grow and change; tradition didn’t have to dictate their existence. The people who wanted more, who wanted choices and a different life could have that too and still belong.

And just what the Kardoval had been willing to do to keep the truth from the people and themselves in power. 

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Julie Lynn Hayes

Wednesday Briefs: Ancalagon Ch. 111

 

“Are you all right?”

I stopped and stared at Garjah. He sat on the edge of the bed in our quarters, and I was pacing in front of him. “You’re asking me that?”

He still had that look in his eyes at times when he wasn’t talking to someone. It was like the world grew still around him, and he froze. I tried to always be close when that happened, and touch him gently, pulling Garjah back to reality in a way that would soothe him and keep those around us safe.

Deep dents marred one wall where he’d lashed out with two arms and barely missed getting Ases who tucked and rolled out of the way just before the edge of each palm would have impacted a vulnerable spot on his neck and groin. His shifter genetics were the only thing that let him move that fast, but it also made it harder for him not to move quietly and set Garjah off unexpectedly, so Ases was giving him space. The rest of his people looked up to him and simply saw him as the male who protected them and couldn’t fathom what he’d been through and how it’d hurt him.

But I could see it.

I’d seen it before, in animals. Creatures who were taken from their homes and family groups and put into cages to be studied, what amounted to torture in my opinion. It was why I only studied natural wildlife and on-planet studies. No lab work with living specimens; that was just cruel, especially with anything that could potentially be intelligent, much less a sentient being.

With the wildly diverse makeup of beings in the Galactic, that was harder to determine than the average layperson might think. Too many oblivious scientists got it wrong. Trauma crossed so many barriers.

And try as hard as he might to hide it, no matter what clarity our bond had brought back to him, Garjah had experienced trauma that had his nerves jangling and exposed to any perceived threat. We’d been too tired to talk about it when we had some privacy before, but I couldn’t let him hide from me anymore.

“Yes.”

“No. We’re not talking about me. I was scared, but I had Bouncer, and Ases, and Timok came for us. You were alone, you had no idea what was happening, and they were hurting you.”

“I’m fine.” He spread his arms. “Nothing to see.”

I moved into the open space he left between his arms, and he loosely wrapped them around me. “You’re not,” I said softly. I wrapped two arms around his shoulders and cupped his face with my hands. Stroking under his eyes with my thumbs, I looked deep into them. “In here, there’s plenty to see if you know what to look for. They can’t see it, but I can feel it.” I pulled one of his hands up to my chest so it covered my heart. “Here.”

Garjah’s breath hitched. He pressed his lips together, his nostrils flaring. The fear in his eyes, banked since we touched, flared to life. “I c-can’t.”

“Can’t what?”

“I don’t want to think about what they did. The things they made me see, what they said. It was so real.” His hand pressed harder against my chest. “I can feel your heart beating, but they… it wasn’t….”

“They cut you off from our bond. All you had left was pain and rage.”

“All I had left was despair,” he corrected. “If I wasn’t sure Timok had gotten away, I would have given up.”

“So hope was all that kept us both sane.”

Garjah closed his eyes, bowing his head. “I wasn’t hoping to find you alive.” His arms tightened convulsively. “I didn’t know those cells could block a bond. I was so sure you were dead.” His chest heaved. “All I knew was that Timok wouldn’t stop until he got me out, and that if they didn’t kill me outright first, I would hide deep inside. I could break, no matter what they did to shatter my mind, because deep inside where your bond owned my soul, they would never be able to touch that part of me. I knew it would let me rise up and destroy them as soon as they turned their backs on their broken creature.”

He opened his eyes and leaned his head back to look up at me. “I shouldn’t have given up on you.”

I knew I had to help him put this behind him, but how? I wasn’t trained for it. I just wanted to help ease the pain I could still feel inside him. “You didn’t. Not really. You always trusted the bond inside, even if you weren’t sure of why or what it was fueling. Now you have to let go of everything that happened, and we have to make a new plan. One that still takes down the Kardoval.”

Huffing, Garjah cocked his head. “I assume you have a plan?”

Hesitating, I said, “I have… a thought.”

“You have identified a weakness to exploit?”

“Their weakness is your strength.”

“I’m too tired for cryptic mantras.”

“I guess it did sound that way, kind of.” My cheeks heated. “It’s not their weakness I want to exploit, not really.” Glancing out into the corridor since the small room lacked a door, I asked. “Do you never notice how they all look at you? How they look for your guidance and want your approval?”

“No.”

Of course he didn’t. “They revere you, Garjah.”

“Just because the memories I inherited put me in a place to lead the security officers. I represent safety.”

“Trust takes more than someone being good at their job. Trust is earned.” 

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J Ray Lamb

Julie Lynn Hayes

Wednesday Briefs: Ancalagon Ch. 110

 

“Bringing in the Galactic is the last resort,” I said. I frowned at Ases. “You should be the one saying this, not me.” After all, he was the ambassador, and the one who was supposed to be well-versed in politics and creating positive relationships between new species and the Galactic in the first place.

“Maybe.” He shrugged one shoulder. “But I’ve never been forced to flee underground in tunnels carved out by giant bugs, either.” He made a face. I should have known that was at the heart of his true distress. He hadn’t been that upset when we’d been tramping through the trees, finding our way through barely there paths. Up there he’d had the sun, wind, smells and sounds. Here it was stagnant air, dirt, and gloom.

If I was bothered by it, he was probably itching to find a way out and seconds away from shifting the entire time we were down here.

“The Kardoval have to be stopped,” Garjah said. “That they would subvert my own officers in this way and attempt to retain total control and isolation at the cost of the rest of our people is wrong.”

“We’ve been telling you that for some time,” Chaintrik said.

“I know.” Garjah bowed his head to him. “But it takes seeing, and experiencing,” he grimaced, “to believe that those we’ve put our trust and faith in our whole lives are so corrupt.”

“What are we going to do?”

“I am going to take them down.” Garjah stared at me, his nostrils flaring. “You are staying safe.”

“How did that work last time?” I contested hotly. “You left me, and I was attacked. If it wasn’t for Bouncer, Ases, and Chaintrik, I’d have been in a cell next to yours. Or as far away from yours as possible and used against you.”

“Exactly. I’m afraid that would happen if you come with us. You’re safer here.”

I shuddered. “No. Humans are not meant to live underground.” There were two colonies I knew that lived underground, but the planets or stations I’d lived on with my parents that required total environmental isolation had always been pods with built in green spaces. Even those had been a struggle for me. I wasn’t capable of staying underground. “Ases and I both tolerated it to get to you, but we can’t stay here. I want out.”

Chaintrik and Garjah exchanged glances.

“What was that look?”

Chaintrik cocked his head. “There may be a place, but I don’t know if he will be welcome.” He indicated Bouncer. “A cerops is dangerous and could attack and feed on anything they can pierce with their claws, even if it’s bigger than themselves.”

“Have you seen him do that?” I asked. “Even once?”

“No.”

“Exactly. He’s not dangerous to anyone or anything that isn’t dangerous to us.”

“Fine. I’ll see if I can make arrangements.”

 

When we were finally shuffled up and out of the tunnels into the shelter that Chaintrik mentioned, I forgave him for his hesitancy. It was not unreasonable to worry about a strange creature with deadly venom in his claws when you were hiding him among your children.

But they loved him.

It was just after breakfast when we arrived, and I was exhausted. Garjah and I had fallen asleep in a tangle on the bed in the tiny room that we were showed to, and Bouncer had curled up right next to our bed. When I woke up to the sound of laughter—a much higher pitched rumble than the chest sound Garjah made—and looked down, Bouncer was gone.

I was up and out of the room in a flash, but Ases was there in his shifted form with Bouncer and kids barely able to stand on their own two feet to a height nearly as tall as my chest were surrounding them and climbing on them.

“They haven’t had new toys in forever,” someone said, startling me badly. I yelped and my heart started to pound in my chest. I panted, staring with wide eyes at the female next to me. “Sorry,” she grimaced. “I thought you heard me come over.”

“No, I was distracted,” I said waving my hand at the amazing sight in front of us.

“I was too, and scared to death the first time Mellatok grabbed your cerop’s ear to pull herself up. But he just sat there.”

“He is very smart and always knows when someone is out to harm him or us. He’d know if she was just needing help too.” I wasn’t sure how, but cerops raised their young and even kept the juveniles around for a short time during whelping the next generation. I knew he’d had younger siblings before his mother drove him off. He’d probably been climbed on before.

I was more surprised they hadn’t come screaming for us the second they saw her that close to his teeth. Or the youth who was laying with his head between Bouncer’s paws and staring up at his head, giggling each time Bouncer leaned down to sniff his face and blow air over his head. “You aren’t afraid?” I cocked my head and studied her.

“Your friend promised they would be safe before he shifted too.”

Biting my lip, I hesitated. “Bouncer isn’t a shifted person, you know that, right?”

“Yes,” she smiled. “I know what he is. But we were told to trust you by people we trust. And Garjah,” her voice sounded awed. “He would never put our people at risk. He protects everyone, all our people. He could never bring harm to us.”

It never failed to shock me when I talked to someone who viewed Garjah with so much awe. I forgot how most of his planet’s people saw him. How important he was. Maybe there was a way to use that. 

Want more flash?

Julie Lynn Hayes

Wednesday Briefs: Ancalagon Ch. 109

Loktah dragged of the officers over to the door panel and opened it with their palm. I rushed into the room. “Garjah!”

He rolled on the bed, and I gasped. There wasn’t a mark on him that wasn’t natural, but he looked horrible. I could identify the signs of shock. His skin was pale, his markings standing out in sharp relief. His eyes were dull, and his mouth was parted as he breathed in a short, harsh breaths.

“What did they do to you?” I hesitated to touch him, crouching in front of the metal slab they’d given him to lay on without any cushion and shivered in the freezing cold air. He blinked and focused on my face.

“Essell?” He took in the first deep breath I saw him take, his chest shuddering. “Did they really capture you? I thought… they lied.” He clamped his lips together and reached out with all four arms, his hands shaking. “I am sorry. I thought I could keep you safe from them.”

I grabbed him, pulling him close to me, gasping in shock at the icy chill of his skin. At that same moment, something inside me that had been broken mended. I’d felt alone, but with this need to find Garjah driving me because I knew he was in danger, that he needed me. “You did. You did keep me safe. And now I’m here to make sure you’re safe too. We have to go.” I couldn’t ignore Loktah’s hisses. “I need help. I don’t know if he can stand or walk, and he’s too heavy for me to lift on my own.”

Garjah stiffened and was shoving me behind him as soon as Loktah entered the cell. Turned out I was wrong about him standing or walking. He was shaking, though, even as he tried to hide it with locked knees as he kept me behind him. I stroked his back, his muscles rigid despite the fine tremors rocking through him. “Garjah, Loktah came with me. He’s an officer who is helping rescue you. We have other people helping us, like Timok and Ases, waiting outside your cell. Please let him help me.”

For a long moment, I thought whatever they’d done to Garjah had damaged his ability to think or understand what I was saying. Then he started to slump. Loktah jumped forward and caught him with a grunt. I hurried to get under the other side of him, pulling his upper arm around my shoulder. Garjah curled his arm around my waist.

“We have to go,” Loktah said.

“Okay. Can you walk?” I asked Garjah.

“I will.”

He didn’t walk very well, but he stumbled the best he could between us. The second we hit the corridor, my heart rate ramped up again, not that it had slowed much. There were too many ways for someone to spot us. Garjah’s weight dragged on me, and I couldn’t move any faster.

Timok was in action as soon as he saw us. I had no idea where he had the spray hidden, but it was in his hand and Garjah was bolting upright the next moment. He blinked several times, but he never let go of me.

“Better?” Timok asked.

“Yes.” Garjah took a deep breath and then another one. He looked down at Bouncer who, in a move completely unlike him, had sat at his feet and leaned gently against us both. Garjah rested one of his lower hands on his head. Bouncer’s ears perked up, and he turned his head. “We need to go. They should be coming soon.”

Chaintrik’s eyes widened. “They?”

“The Kardoval.”

“They’ve been coming themselves?” Chaintrik turned. “We can get back out the same way we came in.”

Loktah tried to grab Garjah again, but he shook his head. “I’m fine.” Loktah looked at me.

“He’s not leaning on me.” He just wasn’t letting me go, either.

“I gave him the antidote to the serum they were using to keep him weak. He’ll be fine.” Timok certainly wasn’t waiting. “I don’t want to get stuck in one of these rooms. Let’s go.”

Every second of our escape I worried that the next one would be the one that led to our capture, and I almost couldn’t believe it was true when we escaped the building and made it underground.

We made it past the sentries and back into the little rooms where we’d waited, where I’d nearly gone crazy waiting, but now I had Garjah with me. He must have been here before because he didn’t ask any questions until we got there, knowing he had to be quiet.

“How many?”

“What?” I asked.

“How many did we just expose to get me out?” Garjah asked. He had his gaze focused on Chaintrik.

“Just me,” Loktah said. “But I was already under suspicion anyway. It wouldn’t have been much longer before I was in an interrogation room beside yours.”

“We had two on teams that we neutralized on our way in so their identities wouldn’t be exposed. Don’t worry, even if this rescue was planned quickly, we didn’t do it without weighing the risks. You’re too important to let them interrogate and subvert. Your bonded would not have tolerated it, for one.” Chaintrik stared at me. “He is very fierce, for a human.”

“Know a lot of humans, do you?” I snapped.

He raised one brow. “Exactly what I mean.” He waved a hand in my direction. “He has been very adamant in rescuing you.”

Garjah squeezed my hand. “You should have stayed safe,” he said to me. “If they had both of us, they have all they need to destroy the treaty. Even now we’re cut off from most of your allies.”

“Technically not,” said Ases. “Besides, we could always just broadcast what my mech recorded and bring the Galactic here to investigate them.”

“We disabled that feature,” Garjah reminded him.

“Did you?” Ases released a feral grin. “Are you sure about that?”