Chapter 17
As the day grew later, another meal was shared. This one was more somber than the first. Mournful wails spilled out of the jungle like a strange and sad accompaniment.
"What is that sound?" Midori asked Zana, who refused to leave her side.
The child's face grew solemn with thought. "It's the cries of loved ones who lost their men to the vyrmm. Tonight we will mourn together as a family and send their spirits to the stars."
Cael's stomach clenched, the food in his belly turning to stone. Although no one had accused them of luring the vyrmm from the mountaintop, he still felt responsible. If he'd done a better job of convincing Zephryn or saving Pugly, or not being caught in the first place, perhaps they could have avoided casualties all together.
But then if the vyrmm had come when it was just the three of them, he wasn't sure they would have survived. He pushed the thoughts from his head. Revolving thoughts of “what if” would not help them move forward. It certainly wouldn't help tomorrow morning when they attempted to free the Zebran females from the slave quarters.
Night fell, and the tribe gathered near the river. Cael, Midori, and Pugly watched respectfully from the rear while the Zebran elders gathered around the riverbank surrounded by the rest of the tribe. Chanting in their native tongue, their striped faces were illuminated by flickering torchlight. Cael bowed his head respectfully, the words echoing memories of his own father's funeral.
Midori shivered beside him, her eyes reflecting the dancing flames from the torches. Cael pulled her close, draping an arm over her shoulders and another around her waist. She leaned into his embrace. Even Pugly was uncharacteristically solemn, his ears drooping.
Family members of the fallen came forward and placed wooden rafts in the water. Elders of the tribe rested the burned bones of the dead on top, and the rafts were set aflame, then pushed into the current. The gentle river water carried the small pyres downstream, sending sparks swirling up into the star-deckled sky. The tribe passed around a long decorated pipe, and the sweet, spicy smoke drifted toward Cael and Midori on the night breeze. She wrinkled her nose at the scent.
"It's zherdi root," Cael murmured in her ear. "They believe the smoke carries their prayers to the dead."
Midori nodded slowly as she absorbed the foreign ritual. Her hand found Cael's, and their fingers intertwined. Despite the sadness surrounding them, he felt a swell of affection. Her resilience and open-minded spirit amazed him.
When the last raft flickered from view, the tribe dispersed in silence. Only the gentle rush of the river remained. Cael held Midori for a long moment. He knew they could not linger much longer on the Equus moon. Not only for Midori's safety, but to prevent his uncle from expanding the slave trade further. A renewed determination burned within Cael. He needed to stop his uncle. He needed to return home.
"Midori," he said, gathering his courage. "We need to talk."
The solemnity of the Zebran funeral lingered, but resolve burned in his chest. He needed to confess his feelings before their dangerous mission tomorrow.
Midori tilted her head up, and silver moonlight dappled her bronze skin. Her dark eyes searched his questioningly.
"Midori, I . . .” He took a deep breath. “I care for you deeply. More than I thought possible in such a short time."
Her lips parted in surprise, but a smile tugged at the corners. "I care for you too, Cael."
Relief and joy surged through him. But this wasn't enough. He needed to tell her completely.
"It's more than that. There have been so many times when I thought I'd lost you, and I couldn't bear the possibility. I know you might still want to go to Rivia and follow the plans you left Earth for, but I can't let you go without telling you how I feel."
"Cael, what do you?—?"
"I love you, Midori. Fully. Completely. Absolutely. I love you and you alone." He cupped her face with one hand, his thumb stroking her cheekbone. "After tomorrow, no matter what happens, I want you to be with me. Wherever our path leads, I want it to be together."
Midori's eyes glistened in the starlight, and a lone tear streaked down her cheek. She took a deep breath.
"I love you, too. Cael. I don't know when it happened exactly, but somewhere along the way I fell completely in love with you."
Cael surged forward, capturing Midori's lips in a searing kiss. He wrapped all four arms around her, holding her close. He cherished the beating of her heart against his chest, her skin against his. Every part of his body tingled from head to toe as if an electric current ran through it. He'd never known such delirious happiness before. She intoxicated him with her very essence, and he was happy to drown in it.
When they finally parted, breathless and flushed, Midori smiled up at him. "Wherever our path leads," she repeated his words, hugging her arms around him.
"But there's one more thing I must do," Cael continued with his confession.
Midori raised her eyebrows in question.
"I'll happily go wherever you want, but first I must return to my home planet."
Midori's brow furrowed. "To Zyranth?"
Cael nodded, his face grave. "I have to confront my uncle."
Understanding dawned in Midori's eyes. "You're going to challenge him."
Cael nodded grimly. "I must. He's corrupt and power-hungry. I can't let him continue to abuse our people and expand the slave trade. I don't deserve to rule our land after all I've done in my past, but certainly neither does my uncle. I need to meet with the Council of Elders so a new leader can be chosen. After that, we can go wherever your heart delights."
"My heart delights in you," she said breathlessly.
Cael gathered her in his arms again, his heart swelling with love and hope.
Someone coughed behind them, and they turned to see Pugly giving them a smug look. "It's going to be a hard day tomorrow, oh shining star who guides my path. Perhaps it would be prudent to get some sleep."
Cael nodded. The pig dog was right. They needed to rest.
"The Zebrans have provided a small hut for the three of us to share. That is, if I won't be in the way." He snuffed and shook his fur.
Midori scratched his head. "Of course not, Pugly. Show us where."
The beast gave her a radiant smile, turned, and trotted back toward the village with Cael and Midori following hand in hand.
An hour later, Midori's soft breathing and Pugly's snores filled the hut. Cael had never felt so content. The woman he loved rested in his arms. He hoped it would be this way for the rest of their lives. A niggling worry tried to push forward that tomorrow might be their last moments together, but he forced the thought from his head. He refused to believe tomorrow was all they had. But even as his own eyes shut and sleep finally overcame him, he knew it was all bravado.
There was no telling what the morning would bring.
Cael tugged at the collar of the standard-issue guard's uniform the Zebran's had stolen for him to wear. Their reconnaissance team had noticed the only Zyranthians in the city were guards working at the slave quarters. It would look out of place if he showed up in the Zebran clothes he'd been given by the tribe. They'd used the disguise before to help get them into and around the city.
He watched with curiosity as a group of ten Zebran warriors gathered at the edge of the jungle in the pre-dawn hours, their striped bodies moving with graceful purpose. He'd never seen creatures like the ones they were preparing to ride—huge, lumbering beasts with wide eyes and long split trunks. Midori said they reminded her of an Earthan animal called an "elephant." As each warrior approached, the creatures unfurled from a tight ball, allowing saddles to be harnessed on their backs.
"What are those creatures called?" Midori whispered, clutching Cael's arm. Her eyes were wide with a mixture of fascination and fear.
"Gronklins," Cael replied, equally in awe. "I've only read about them in texts."
A beast uncurled at Zephryn's approach. Although it was massive, it moved with surprising agility as it righted itself on four thick, pillar-like legs. Zephryn put out a foot, and the gronklin assisted with its split trunk. Zephryn pulled himself up onto the creature's broad back with practiced ease.
Midori's grip on Cael's arm tightened. "We're going to ride those things?"
"It would seem so." Cael grinned at her shocked expression.
As if he could sense her unease, Pugly sidled up and nuzzled against Midori's leg. "Do not fear, shining one. The gronklins are as gentle as a spring breeze despite their formidable size."
Zephryn raised a hand, calling the warriors to attention. "We'll reach Mlima City before the sun rises and rescue our sisters taken by the vile slavers!"
A unified cry rose from the tribe. Cael noticed Jessa's hard gaze fixated on him. Cael hoped he would think better of him once the rescue operation was over.
The Zebran warrior turned away, and his gronklin lurched forward. The high-pitched hum of anti-grav tech erupted from plates affixed to the creature's feet, lifting it into the air with surprising swiftness. One by one, the rest followed until the entire troop hovered above the ground.
Zephryn guided his mount over to where Cael, Midori, and Pugly stood. "You two will ride with me."
With a subtle hand gesture, Zephryn ordered his gronklin to lower itself to allow them to climb aboard more easily.
"Pugly, stay with Zana until we return. She'll take care of you."
"Yes, radiant star who sparkles in the endless night. I await your triumphant return." His words were confident, but the worry in his eyes revealed his concern.
Cael bent down and whispered in Pugly's ear. "I promise to take care of her."
The pig dog nodded, his lower lip quivering as if he might burst into tears at any moment.
"Here we go," Midori whispered.
Even in the dim starlight, her cheeks were flushed. From excitement or fear, he couldn't tell from her expression. He supposed it was probably both, since those emotions were also swirling in him like a hurricane.
"Ready?"
Midori took a deep breath and nodded. He wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her onto the gronklin's back. She slid her leg over the three-person saddle and gripped the pommel, sliding into place right behind Zephryn. Cael climbed up behind her and wrapped two of his arms around her waist, holding her tight against him.
She glanced back at him over her shoulder. Though he could see the apprehension in her eyes, her expression softened at his reassuring smile. Cael pressed a gentle kiss to her temple, breathing in her sweet, comforting scent.
"I will not let any harm come to you. I swear it."
"It's not just me I'm worried about."
"All will be well. I believe it."
Midori relaxed against his chest with a nod. Her trust in him bolstered Cael's determination.
At Zephryn's signal, their gronklin lifted off, leading the floating convoy heading toward the distant spires of Mlima City. It didn't take long to cover the distance from the jungle's edge to the city at the base of the mountain. To Cael's eyes, the municipality was hardly large enough to be considered a city, but here on Equus it was the largest community on this side of the mountain range.
The group dismounted from the gronklins on the outskirts of town just as the sun was peeking over the hills. Two of the men stayed behind to guard the beasts curled up into shaggy-haired balls while the rest of the group traveled into town. Just before they reached the compound, half of the remaining Zebran men split from the group to hide themselves. If all went well at the gate, they'd be joining them soon.
Cael marched forward, his two left hands holding onto Midori's arm while Zephryn and Jessa followed behind. The city streets were deserted in the pre-dawn hours; the only sound was their soft footfalls on the dusty road. Up ahead, the slave detention center loomed—a squat, ugly building surrounded by a high metal fence.
A pang of guilt twisted in Cael's gut. Although the facility didn't seem overly large at the moment, stacks of building materials laid nearby, no doubt intended for expansion. Lord Krissayr was growing bolder with his uncle's help, planning to house even more slaves stolen from across the galaxy on the Equus moon. Cael gritted his teeth. He was determined to put a stop to it once and for all.
Cael strode forward confidently, his disguise helping to mask his nerves. Two sentries stood at the entrance to the slave detention center, blasters holstered at their hips. As they approached, a guard held up a hand.
"Halt! State your business."
Cael lifted his chin, putting on an air of authority. "I'm here to speak with the commander. There's been a?—"
"That's one of the human females everyone's been searching for," the other guard said, wide-eyed, his finger pointing at Midori. "How did you?—?"
"Like I said, I'm here to see the commander. He will obviously be interested in what has been retrieved from the mountains."
The guards eyed him skeptically. The one who had spoken narrowed his gaze and lifted his chin toward the Zebran tribesmen standing behind Cael.
"What do they have to do with this?"
Cael pulled Midori close, a little rough for show. "They're the ones who retrieved her and have come for their reward. Now, do you want to keep the commander waiting?" He leveled the guard with a hard stare.
The guard seemed to falter under Cael's scrutinizing gaze, shifting uncomfortably. "Fine. But they'll have to relinquish their weapons before entering."
Cael nodded, and the tribesmen handed over their spears.
"Very good," the guard said, satisfied. He turned to open the gate, granting them entrance.
As soon as his back was turned, Cael struck. His four arms moved in a blur, two grabbing the guard and spinning him around into a choke hold while another hand snatched the guard's blaster from its holster and leveled it at the second sentry who was frozen in shock.
"Don't move," Cael growled, his tone low and dangerous. He didn't want to hurt these men. He knew they were only following orders from his uncle, but if they put Midori in danger, there was no telling what he might do.
The first guard struggled against Cael's iron grip, his face turning purple. "Wh—what is this?" he sputtered.
"It's a rescue mission," Cael hissed in his ear. "These men would very much like to have their women back."
The second sentry's eyes went wide with fear. He raised his hands slowly in surrender as Zephryn and Jessa rushed forward to restrain him.
"Please . . . don't kill us," the first guard wheezed.
"Do what I say, and I won't have to."
He tightened his grip until the guard's eyes rolled back, his body going limp. Releasing his hold, the guard crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Jessa had the second guard pinned, snarling in his face, "Where are the holding cells? Where is my mate?"
The man trembled, panic written across his features. He raised a shaking hand and pointed deeper inside the compound. "Th-through those d-doors and down the hall."
Cael looked to Zephryn, who gave a curt nod and motioned a signal to the hidden warriors to come join them. Tucking the second guard's blaster into his belt, Cael turned to Midori. His heart clenched at her worried expression, but he tried to convey reassurance.
"One of the Zebrans will take you back to wait with the gronklins for our return. Your part here is finished."
"Cael, I'm not leaving you. If there are more guards, you'll need to use me again to get past."
"It's not safe."
"Every moment we argue is a second wasted. I'm staying. Let's move."
Gah! This woman is as headstrong and stubborn as she is brave and beautiful. How did I get so lucky to have her come into my life?
Cael wanted to force her to safety, but she was right. If they were lucky, they'd be in and out in mere minutes. And if they weren't lucky, they might have to use the same ruse again.
Cael nodded, and together they pushed into the compound.