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12: The Traveler
Desslok picked his way carefully and quietly through the underbrush, careful not to attract any more attention than necessary. Thankfully, the dye that Masterson had smeared into his hair before their flight from Rapha'owr a few days ago had been more permanent than Talan had thought. It was still an annoyingly anonymous brown.
The trek through the night had gone much faster than he had anticipated. With Mintra'el to guide his way back to Rapha'owr and no rain to slow him down, he had made it almost half-way back to the capitol in the hours he had been traveling. Of course, it also helped that he didn't have to wait for Masterson this time either.
"You are a great help my friend, but sometimes you do take too much time looking under rocks for every nachash there could possibly be."Desslok thought as he looked around warily before dashing through an open area and into another batch of trees conveniently situated not too far away.
The sun was directly above him by now – midday. And it was hot. Most travelers would have rested, but the prince forged on, determined to get to the capitol as soon as he could.
Halfway through the stand of trees Desslok suddenly heard voices coming from somewhere off to his right. He immediately dropped to the ground, making no more noise than the local wildlife. From his place in the still-wet dirt he listened.
"Ya got any 'a them fishy-smellin' things, Lev?" one man asked another.
"Nah I think you ate all them last night." the second man said.
"What! I thought you said you had a whole bunch a' those things with ya!" the first one replied, obviously disgruntled that "them fishy-smellin' things" were gone.
"All I said was that I had plenty of 'em for me. I never said anythin' about you." the one called Lev retorted.
"But I gotta have those things ta go with these crackers."
"Get over it, Woskoboinik." Lev replied. Then there was the plop of a pack being thrown on the ground, "Just have some regular fish instead."
"But regular fish just aren't salty enough, Lev. Youtry eatin' this stuff without salt. It's down right gross, I tell ya."
"Jus' eat it an' stop complainin.'"
Desslok shook his head in disgust at the show of petty stupidity, "Couple of campers..."he thought and was about to sneak off to continue on his way when Woskoboinik – the one complaining about the fish – said something that caught the prince's attention.
"What's the name a that guy they're tryin' ta find? Kren-something, was it?"
"Krenshaw." corrected Lev. "Yeah, Leader Deun sends the rest a the group out ta look for'imwhile we're stuck here lookin' for a stray assassin an' his in-laws. What lovely luck we got, aye Wosko?"
"Yeah, jus' peachy..." Woskoboinik grumbled, "Why can't webe the ones out there? You'd think you'd need more a us to go fetch this Frakken guy an' 'is friend than you'd need to corral that scientist fella. Las' I checked assassins and soldiers can do much nastier things then xeniobologusts."
"Yeah, really." Lev snorted, "An' it's 'xenobiologists.' Get your words straight, Wosko. Ya don't wan' us ta soun' like some uneducated fools."
The prince would have laughed at this comment if it hadn't been for the seriousness of what was being said. Deun was hunting down not only Frakken and Lysis, but a third man – this Krenshaw.
The name rang a bell somewhere far back in Desslok's mind and he suddenly remembered why that name was so familiar.
"Krenshaw! Lieutenant Garen Krenshaw! Famous for his work in xenobiology and genetics over the past six years. What does Deun want with him? He's a soldier, yes, but he's not anywhere close to a one-man army..."chills ran down his spine as he contemplated what courses of action Deun might take with skills like Garen Krenshaw's under his control. "He could create something more horrid than anything we've ever seen – a creature that could kill us all – or worse..."the alternative struck even more fear into the prince's heart. "Perhaps creation is not what you have on your mind,dearbrother."
Several short bleeps interrupted the conversation and the prince's thoughts.
"Yes, sir?" Lev answered the incoming call.
A third male voice spoke now, it sounded an awful lot like that prisoner that Desslok and Masterson had spent some time with a mere nine days ago* – Yeshin, "Have you two incompetents managed to find anythingyet?"
The prince smirked.
"No, sir." Lev replied. "We haven't found a single thing yet – but we're not but a half a day or so from the capitol. We'll probably 'ave ta go farth –"
"Speak properly or shut up, you imbecile!" Yeshin exploded in irritation.
"Uh... Yessir." Lev replied.
"I'm sending reinforcements out to meet you, by the order of Leader Deun. You will join them when they reach your position. They will have their own transportation, so don't worry about sharing yours. Just find that dogthey call 'Wolf' and his companions and get rid of them! The next time I speak with you I expect to be hearing of their demise."
"Yessir." Lev said.
The call ended and Desslok could hear one of the men sigh in relief.
"Well, I'm glad that's over." Woskoboinik said, "He can be one ornery critter that guy. Of all the – makin' fun a the way we talk. If that isn't the dumbestthing ta take issue over, I don't know what is."
Lev sighed, "Whatever... Let's jus' get ready for those reinforcements he said are comin'. Should be here soon, I'm thinkin'."
"Mos' likely." Woskoboinik agreed. "Whadda ya say we try ta find somethin' else ta eat around here?"
"Sounds about as good as anything right now." Lev said.
Desslok listened, careful not make any sound. The two men wandered off in a another direction. He stayed on the ground for a few minutes to make sure that they were really gone for now before he slowly got up and looked around. Seeing no one else, he sneaked through the rest of the patch of forest.
"One more reason to get in and out of Rapha'owr as quickly as possible. Whatever Deun is planning, it can'tbe good for any of us."
Masterson, David, Wolf, Dommel and Elisa – carrying Deror – traveled along as quickly as they could, the men helping Elisa along when she needed it, though she proved more resilient than most of them had first thought.
By the time the first night of their journey rolled around, the new mother was more than ready for a break.
Masterson looked around the patch of trees they had picked for their resting place. He made a thorough search of the area, his goggles allowing him to see clearly in the gathering dusk.
"Not a single sight or sound of pursuit all day..."Masterson thought, "It can't go this well the whole way – Oh, Adonai, keep us ahead of them. I know we have no absolute proof of pursuit yet, but –"
Talan's communicator vibrated in his pocket – he had set the device to make no audible sound in case it were to go off at an inconvenient time.
Masterson fished the disk out of his pocket. Seeing who was calling him he immediately answered it. "Sir?"
"Masterson." Desslok said, "Don't stop unless you have to. Several hours ago I came across two men who had set out to find Frakken, Dommel and his family. They talked to Yeshin – he's become Deun's Regent – and Yeshin told them there would be reinforcements sent to help find you. I'm sure they they've all met up by now and are headed in your direction. If they find Frakken's trail, they'll find you as well."
"We cannot continue right now, Sir. Elisa hasto stop – for a few hours at least."
"Do you think she'll be able to continue after that? It's imperativethat you get to your destination as quickly as possible." the prince said, his voice quiet.
"I don't know, Sir, but I promise you that as soon as we can get going again, we will." Masterson replied.
"Good." Desslok said, "Because if you don't, you'll all be dead by the morning. They have speeders and ships."
Masterson's eyes widened behind his goggles. "You saw them then I take it."
"I wish I hadn't." the prince sighed, "But yes, I did."
"We'll leave as soon as we can, Sire."
"Very well." Desslok said, "But be sure 'as soon as you can' isn't too late."
Masterson nodded and the call ended, the face of his friend dissolving into this air once again. Talan slipped the device into this pocket and was nearly sent through the treetops when a hand suddenly gripped his shoulder from behind.
"So what's all this 'Sir' and 'Sire,' business, Turov?"
The darkness shrouding him, Desslok seemed to almost fly over the countryside, it was almost as if his feet had been given wings. Once he hit the grasslands that stretched the fifty miles from the edge of the forest to the walls of Rapha'owr, he found himself running without thought or conscious reason for doing so.
The expanse was windy tonight; the night air was cool, though not cold. In places the grass rose to a majestic height of twelve feet, and others where it sloped off to a mere three. Wading through the taller areas took more time than the short patches, and he had to slow to a walk in places, but nothing dissuaded the prince.
With every stride his mind was filled with an every-growing sense of impending doom. The closer he got to Rapha'owr, the darker the night seemed, even when it should have been waxing toward morning.
Finally the dawn came and with it torrential rains poured from the threatening grey skies.
"Of course it would rain."Desslok thought as he slogged through the muck and tall grass, careful to keep an eye out for yafehariim. The furry beasts sported four padded paws that each encased six razor-like claws, and it's whiskered face included a mouth lined with wicked fangs. The largest one on record was ten feet long and had been living in this very area – which had been why he and Masterson hadn't come through here on their way out of the capitol in the first place. "At least they don't like rain..."
He swiped futilely at the water drops pouring down his face and into his eyes. The one thing he was thankful for right now was that the bag he was carrying was waterproof – as was Mintra'el's shell.
He squinted ahead, trying to see through the downpour, but it was no use. The rain was just too thick right now so he pulled the A.I. out of an inside pocket.
"Mintra'el," he shouted over the pounding of the storm. "Which way?" he tried to shake some more water out of his eyes, "I have to get out of this."
"Of course, Sir." Mintra'el replied, "One hundred and sixty-two yards to your left you will find a thick patch of tall grass underneath a tree. It is not ideal, but it is the best thing you'll be able to find at the moment."
"Good enough." the prince pocketed Mintra'el once again, turned left and ran through the soggy grass as fast as he dared.
Several minutes later he came to the place Mintra'el had described. He darted into the grass without a second thought, just grateful to be out of the downpour.
Desslok waited for hours for the storm to pass, but it didn't and he finally sat down to wait. To his surprise, he discovered that the dirt here was relatively dry instead of the muck everywhere else.
It was dark inside his refuge and after a while he fell asleep, the hours he had been keeping finally catching up to him.
He didn't know how long he slept, but when he awoke the sun was coming in through a tiny break in the strands of grass. The light warmed his face. He sat up and started to stand when he heard a harsh rattling coming from down by his feet.
"Lovely."he thought,looking down at the carefully concealed pocket he knew housed his gun, then at the knife strapped to his belt. The gun would be faster once he got it out of his pocket, but freeing it without the reptile striking would be nearly impossible. The knife would be slower, but was perhaps safer.
As slowly as possible, he inched his hand towards the blade. The viper's rattling became more frantic. He would strike any second.
There was no more time for caution. The prince's hand streaked the rest of the distance to the blade and with the precision born of long hours of practice, he flicked the knife at the nachash, severing its head.
The rattling stopped.
Desslok let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He stood up and, picking up the bag he had set aside when he had entered the refuge earlier, started to leave the temporary shelter. Stepping past the carcass of the reptile, he looked down at it thoughtfully, then picked it up and cut the rattle off cleanly, shoving the token into one of the compartments of the travel bag.
He was about to walk out of the patch of grass when his foot caught on something. He looked down, trying to find the offending object, but he saw nothing in the dim light of the grassy forest.
He looked back at the patch of sun that had awakened him, and where his head had lain for he knew not how long, he saw a hole.
A thought came to him and he whipped out Mintra'el, "Light." he ordered the disc. Beams of soft brightness lit the ground.
Everywhere he looked there were holes, dozens of holes, some large, some small, all clearly made by vipers.
The prince's eyes widened and he breathed in sharply as he realized that he had been sleeping in a nest of death all throughout the storm.
"Masterson, I will never make fun of you again for watching out for nacashim."he whispered in his mind as he turned the A.I. back off and stowed her away once more. "Perhaps that blessing of yours paid off, my friend..."
"We've got to get out of here!" David yelled, the cannon fire that reddened the air all around them, making the hair on the backs of their necks stand up. "Zimring's cabin is close!"
"I don't think I can make it!" Elisa's desperate voice sounded from somewhere nearby, "I can't run that fa – " she was cut off when her husband came up behind her and scooped her and their son up and started sprinting after Frakken.
David and Masterson took up the rear.
"We'll keep them off your backs!" David shouted after the couple and Wolf.
"We'll see you when you get there." Dommel yelled back.
"You can count on that." David said just loud enough for Masterson to hear him, then he addressed the teenager, "What do you say we clean up the area a bit, your agentness?"
"Please don't call me that." Masterson shook his head and, with a grin pulled out his weapon, aimed, and blew away the fuel cell of one of the oncoming speeders, making it crash into a tree. The drone riding it exploded into tiny pieces of shrapnel upon impact.
"Alright, Mr. Mossad. Whatever you say." David took aim with his rifle and brought down another speeder.
"That's not a keeper either, I'm afraid." said Masterson, hitting two more drone-run speeders.
"How about 'Masterson the Mystery Man'?" another two speeders met their demise.
"How about no." Masterson whipped out something complicated-looking, attached it to his weapon, flipped out a scope, aimed at one of the ships that was coming in and fired a small laser cannon blast.
"What do I call you then?" David asked, watching the ship Masterson had fired at sinking into the distant forest, its engines alight.
"Just 'Masterson' will do nicely. And remember, you are the only one who can know about this." the teenager swiftly disassembled his weapon, as he had done a hundred times before, "Now, I suggest we run." he said, looking pointedly at the remaining two ships that were still a good ways off but approaching rapidly.
With that Masterson took off in the same direction the rest of their party had headed moments before. David followed.
"Where did they go exactly?" Masterson called back to David who was quickly catching up to the teenager.
"Zimring's cabin has a few... special features Dommel failed to mention." David replied, now running alongside Masterson. "Stop when I do, or you'll end up with a flat nose. On the count of five, stop. One. Two. Three."
Masterson thought he saw something shimmer in front of him.
"Four."
The shimmer disappeared.
"Five!"
David and Masterson stopped abruptly. David reached out and touched something in the middle of the air. A door swung open, nearly knocking Masterson over, but he jumped out of the way just in time to avoid it.
"One of the 'special features'?" Masterson said,
"Come on in!" the unfamiliar voice of a man met Talan's ears, "Before those tin-heads and their masters fry you both."
Masterson and David scooted through the door without protest and closed it behind them. "I think we've taken care of the 'tin-heads,' but there are two ships still heading this way."
"No problem," the man – presumably the infamous Zimring – said, "They can't even find us with their fancy scanners. This cloaking technology doesn't register on ships' sensors."
"Clever." Talan whispered to himself.
"When I saw you all and those troops chasing you, I knew you were headed here – especially when I recognized you Dommel," he clapped the former soldier on the shoulder, "and you, Wolf." he ruffed Frakken's hair and received an unhappy look which he ignored. "And Elisa," the man left the brothers-in-law and approached the woman, sitting on a chair looking bedraggled from the run. "You look just as lovely as the day you married Dommel."
"Thank you, Zimring, but I'm afraid I don't feel that way right now." she brushed some hair out of her face and looked up at the hermit.
"Well." said Zimring, changing the subject, "I see you have a new addition – a verynew addition if my eyes aren't mistaken..." the hermit knelt down to look at the baby. "What's his name?"
Despite the circumstances she had just endured and the danger that still awaited them outside, Elisa smiled and said, "He's my Deror..."
The hermit nodded solemnly, "And may freedom once again grace our world with its presence..."
* A reference to the previous book, The Guardiana