Jvldr was the only one still standing.
“Go back to the entrance and help Larya,” Artem told Jvldr with a shouted order. “Talk to her. It will help. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
The Larg nodded and ran off. Artem felt himself relax a little bit. Larya would not be alone in this, her time of anguish and distress.
He knew the moment when Jvldr reached her side. He could still feel what she was feeling but the intensity had diminished, at least enough so that he could concentrate on the tasks in hand. He glanced at Thalia. She appeared to be bearing up well, considering, at least she had managed to stop crying. She had her arms round both Josei and Rsya. The only other person who seemed to have his emotions at least partly under control was old Hael. He was comforting his Mariya and had a hand on Slei’s head, gently patting it.
His rheumy eyes caught Artem’s glance.
“Headquarters dom,” he said, his voice cracking with emotion. “They were hit.”
“How many dead?” asked Artem.
“Mariya cannot ‘hear’ any of them.”
Hael’s answer hit Artem like a hammer blow to his already pounding head. He staggered and went as white as a starched sheet.
“None at all?’ he managed to get the question out but Hael’s stricken face was the dreadful, unimaginable answer.
“Mariya is getting a faint call, very faint but I do not think it is from any of those at the dom. She cannot identify the sender.”
“What sort of call?”
Hael’s eyes went distant as he communed with Mariya again.
“She says it is one of loss but not of hurt.”
“A vadeln-pair wasn’t at the dom when the strange Quorkos hit,” surmised Artem. “When she feels up to it, please ask Mariya to try and make contact.”
Hael rested his head in his hands. “I will.”
The cavern was echoing with the lament of the Lind.
“No more shalt thee run, hunt and play,
Under the soft warm sun of day.
He who has died, he has gone away,
She who has fallen, she cannot stay.
Midst trees tall,
We mourn thee all.
Midst mountains high,
We for thee sigh,
Midst rivers fast,
We sing of seasons past.
Midst valleys deep,
We thy memory keep.
Midst meadows bare,
Thy deaths we will share.
He who has died has gone away,
She who has fallen cannot stay.
Be still, mine rtathen.”
* * * * *
It was as Artem and Larya came back from their completed watch at the entrance having been relieved by a partly recovered Thalia and Josei that leaving his Mariya sleeping, Hael approached and hunkered down beside them.
“Bad news,” he said with a sigh. “Mariya’s sleeping. Neither of us are as young and strong as we once were and extended telepathic sendings and receivings are exhausting.”
“Tell me,’ ordered Artem in a voice full of dread but of compassion too.
“They’re all dead except for Mikey, Tavin, Whufflya, Katie and Kenlei. These five weren’t at the dom when the attack occurred. They, they found the bodies, or what was left of them, most were charred beyond recognition but …”
“Belu?”
“Not his. We have to assume he’s either alive and taken cover somewhere, underground probably or, like the others, is dead, also somewhere. Most of the equipment is gone too. Some was destroyed, Katie managed to identify some of it, but as with most of the bodies, well, Kenlei told Mariya it was like looking at bundles of smoking ash.”
“Are they sure everyone is accounted for?”
“There is a possibility that someone is still alive, a person, not a Lind. They found some odd looking depressions on the ground as if a Quorko had landed and lifted off again. There were footprints close to the depression but due to the burning they can’t identify whose. Boots perhaps, heavy metal toe-capped and heel-guard boots.”
“Max wears those. All the artificers do. I remember young Tavin complaining that he hated giving them up when he got to Stronghold.”
“So there is a possibility that Max has been taken prisoner.”
“A faint possibility but if there’s a chance we have to take it. Which direction are these strange Quorko coming from? Has anyone noticed?”
“I don’t think so but I’ll tell everyone to keep a look out. Where’s Thalia?”
“On guard. I’ll tell her later. She’s got enough to contend with right now. She looked like …”
“I can imagine. Cera was a close friend of hers, Monika too. Katie and Kenlei are asking what they should do now,” Hael added. “They’ve offered to go and try to find Belu, they know the general area he was exploring but I said to wait until I had spoken to you. They also asked what they should do with the bodies or what is left of them. I told them to leave them and not to disturb anything more than they already have. The strangers may come back.”
“That was a wise decision Hael.” Artem approved. “As to searching for Belu, I don’t think so. If he’s alive he’ll be lying low and if dead …”
“It doesn’t matter. I understand. Can Larya bespeak Kenlei with your orders?”
“Shouldn’t be a problem but I’ll ask her to telepath Whufflya. Whufflya is the daughter of her daughter’s sire. It’s a bit more complicated than that but the blood and rtath ties will make contact easier. I’ll get her to do it now.” He sighed. “I’m going to order them to make their way here. Finding this cavern was a stroke of luck. I don’t believe it can be seen from the air and the entrance is easy to defend. Even though they will have to travel in some open areas to get here, they will be safer with us long term, and it’s getting dark. I didn’t hear any engine noise from the enemy’s Quorkos the whole time I was on guard. My gut is telling me that they’ve gone home for the night. Kenlei is a superb tracker. He’s well able to follow the Second's trail from the dom in pitch black. They left trail blazes too, Thalia told me. Clever of her to think about it.”
“That was my idea,” grinned Hael, trying to look modest and failing miserably.
As he left, he turned and caught Artem’s eye with a level stare.
“Enemy?” he enquired. “Not strangers any more?”
Artem stuck his chin out belligerently. “When they started killing us they became our enemy. Any objections?”
“None at all.”
* * * * *
Leaving Larya to keep a weather ear and eye open for anything he should know about, Artem walked slowly towards where Thalia and Josei were sitting on guard.
He sat down beside her on the other side to Josei who was, he was pleased to see, alert. His ears were twitching this way and that as he listened for anything remotely alien.
“Florin for them?” he queried in a gentle voice. He very much wanted to put his arms round her but was nervous that her self control would waver if he did. He contented himself by sitting as close to her as he could. Their arms were touching. He could feel the heat from her body.
“Not worth a florin,” she answered in a low, near to tears sort of voice and Artem knew he had been right not to take her into his arms.
“Do you know that you rub your feet together when you sleep?’ he asked, trying to divert her from the blind despair he saw on her face.
“No. Does it keep you awake?”
“Actually, I quite like it.”
“That’s okay then,” she said listlessly but not quite so listlessly as when he had asked the question.
“I hope they didn’t suffer too much,” she said suddenly. “Cera always said that her greatest fear was to be burned alive.”
Artem was always truthful.
“I don’t believe we can say that they didn’t suffer at all,” he told her, deciding it was time and wrapping his arms around her. He began to stroke her hair as she burrowed her head into his should
er. “But it would have been quick.”
“Oh Artem,” she sobbed. “What would I do without you?”
“I hope you never have to find out,” he said, gazing into the distance and continuing his gentle stroking.
He let her cry her grief away. Her sobbing grew less and less violent. Eventually, it stopped. She made no attempt to draw her body away from the comfort of Artem’s arms.
Together they looked out and up over the foliage.
“When I was a little girl.” Thalia began dreamily, “my brother Hal and I used to sneak out of our parent’s house at night. We’d climb down the allst tree that grew outside my window, that was probably the reason I was included in his night time perambulations, and descend into the garden. We’d lie flat on our backs and gaze up at the stars. We never imagined we’d ever get the chance to travel among them.”
“You see them differently now.”
“They were like little bright twinkles, that’s what I used to call them.”
“Now that you’ve seen them up close, been amongst them, are they still twinkles? I used to watch you gazing out of the view windows on the Limokko for bells on end.”
“You used to watch me? I never noticed. I’m sorry.”
“Why should you? You didn’t know me and I did not want to be seen.”
As he said the words Artem realised that he’d been in love with Thalia for years.
I’m the luckiest man alive! Thank the Lai Susa Malkum decided I should come on this mission. Even if we don’t survive I shall have had this at least and can die with the knowledge I have loved and have been loved by Thalia.
Josei turned and Artem returned his stare.
Josei winked.
: Larya! : an embarrassed Artem demanded : What have you just said to Josei? :
* * * * *
The five survivors from the disaster at headquarters appeared as the first blurs of dawn light were edging over the horizon. They were, as Katie informed Artem, super-tired and he immediately sent them to get some rest.
At what Artem estimated was around Fourth Bell (he had forgotten to wind his time-keeper) Artem roused everyone.
“Breakfast,” he called out. “It’s not very much I’m afraid as we’ll need to eke the rations out.”
Katie raised her hand. “We found some edible nuts and berries on the way here.” She pulled out a sheet of paper and pointed. “This is what we were given when we left Tak. I kept mine. Thought it would come in useful. It shows pictures and descriptions of the non-poisonous edibles the Diaglon found here during their first visit.”
Thalia struck her hand on her forehead.
“I’d forgotten! I kept mine too. Fool that I am.”
“We didn’t stop to pick any of them up,” Katie continued. “But there is a huge clump of them down the valley a bit. Kenlei and I can take you there.”
“Once it is dark again you can and will,” smiled Artem. “Is there anything on that piece of paper about meat for the Lind?”
“Certain brbstas are safe to eat,” Katie answered with a shudder. “They seemingly live in rock pools, of which there are many as I’m sure you will have noticed. Tavin and Whufflya fell into one on the way here, they still stink to high dudgeon. The paper says the yellow and black ones are the most tasty.”
“We’ll investigate that when it grows dark too,” agreed Artem. “Today we remain in the cavern and keep watch. By tomorrow I’m hoping we’ll have at least a general idea of where the enemy Quorko are coming from. Once we have recovered from the shock of the death of our friends and colleagues, obtained supplies and worked out the location of their base we are going to go there and investigate.”
He put his hand up to quieten the incipient mutterings.
“Katie and Kenlei think there might have been a survivor,” he added
Katie nodded. “I am completely certain. We think, and Whufflya agrees, that there is a body missing - a single human. It has to be Max. The others we found, although we could not identify them, were lying in pairs, all muddled into each other. Max was the only one there not vadeln-paired and we do not think we found his remains. What we did find was his backpack hidden under some leaves some way from the dom as if he’d hidden it when he heard someone coming. Tavin has it.”
“You sure it was his?”
“Only Max would have filled a pack with tools and wires and no food.”
“You think the enemy have him at this base of theirs?” asked Jack, one of the twins.
“It would be the logical solution,” replied Artem.
“And when we find the base?”
“We go in and get him,” answered Artem.
* * * * *
They spent the daylight hours performing a series of necessary jobs.
Tavin had salvaged three precious light-sticks from the burning wreckage at the dom and he used one to light the area he set up as his workstation. He started overhauling the firearms one by one. Artem had not been best pleased when he learnt about Tavin’s action but he saw the sense in it. Tavin needed light to work. Artem hoped that if the enemy decided to investigate the site of the dom they wouldn’t notice that someone had been there. He wanted the enemy to believe they were all dead.
The others spent a considerable amount of time burnishing and sharpening their swords and knives and also making sure that their armour was correct and undamaged. There was something soothing about going about daily tasks. It somehow made their predicament feel more manageable.
They also groomed the Lind and Jvldr, getting tangles and burrs out of their coats. Jvldr especially enjoyed the sensation of being tended to. Apart from the days since joining the mission to Tenha, he had not spent much time with humans, or two-legs as the Larg called them. He began to realise the advantages immediately Thalia began brushing his back. Josei didn’t feel at all jealous. He wagged his tail and went back to sleep.
Between sleeps, everyone was tired out after the emotive turmoil they had experienced the previous day, they talked and planned what they were going to do next.
When it got dark two foraging parties went out, one to pick the nuts and the other to try and catch some brbstas from the rock pools. The Lind needed to eat and although nuts would fill their bellies they needed new-kill to keep their metabolisms operating properly, especially if they were going to be expending a lot of energy.
Katie and Kenlei led the party collecting the nuts and arrived back with bags full of them, enough it was estimated, to last three days.
Thalia and Josei went with the brbsta catching expedition.
“Urgh!” Thalia exclaimed as Jack pulled out the first wriggling, snake-like creature from the rock pool. “Are you sure that’s edible?”
“The markings are exactly what was on the sheet of paper,” he answered with a grin.
“How do we kill it?”
Jack’s twin Jon grinned an identical grin to his brother. “Put it down beside me and hold it still.”
He then proceeded to bash the head with the hilt of his knife. After about half a dozen hits, the brbsta stopped wriggling.
“There, that’s how,” Jon laughed. “Sorry it took so long everyone, the main nerve system isn’t located where I thought it would be. I’ll be quicker next time”
“At the top of the head rather than at the base of the neck, I see,” observed Thalia. “Come Christel, let’s go and bag us another.”
The party returned with a brbsta for every Lind and Jvldr with two over.
Skinning them took some time, the paper had said that the skin was not good eating but at last they were ready and Artem invited Larya over to try one.
She looked at the carcass with disfavour.
“I hope it tastes better than it looks,” she observed before picking it up in her jaws and dragging it off to a corner.
“They certainly don’t smell very good,” observed Hael, who was helping his Mariya dissect hers into appropriate portion sizes. “I wonder if they would be better eaten cooked?” r />
“The Brai eat their meat raw,’ Artem answered. “And I don’t think we’d better light a fire. There’s no wind to blow away the smoke.”
Thalia put a little piece on to the tip of her tongue and had to rush to get a drink of water from the stream at the back of the cavern. It tasted disgusting.
: I’m enjoying this : ‘said’ Josei with relish as she ran away : It is perhaps not as good as a plump kura but … :
: I used to think that anything tastes good if you were hungry. I don’t any more : retorted Thalia, swilling her mouth out. She wondered if the taste would ever go away as she spat the liquid into the necessary alcove then repeated the process.
* * * * *
Chapter 7
Rescue
“We have the direction of the enemy base if not the distance,” Artem announced two days later.
“How approximate?” asked Jim. He was a incredibly fit, rugged man of around forty and as Thalia had often observed, ‘was built like a zarova’.
Jim was all strength and muscle, hence Thalia’s comment.
“Accurate,” Tavin interrupted. “I did the calculations myself.”
“So they’ll be right,” Mikey piped up and everyone jumped. When he had arrived at the cavern with Tavin, Katie and their Lind, Mikey had been so completely unlike himself that his condition had been giving cause for concern. Pale and drawn, he had refused to say a word and Katie had spent bell after bell persuading him to eat something.
This morning however, after a good couple of nights sleep, he was more like his normal, cheeky self. Even his eyes were bright and he had eaten a huge breakfast. Thalia was not the only one to wonder wryly if this was a good thing. A quiet and complaisant Mikey was certainly easier to live with.
“We’re going to split up into groups of two vadeln-pairs or a single and one vadeln-pair with two exceptions,” said Artem once everyone was gathered round. “Large numbers will only attract attention. There will be three groups, each will consist of two leaders and two backups who will travel some distance behind the two lead pairs.”