Chapter 5 Zethan
ZETHAN
Zohav’s flying hug knocked him down. Good thing there was about a foot of fresh snow to soften the landing. She squeezed him tight, and he muttered, “It’s all right, we’re fine, it’s okay,” over and over until she stopped shaking.
When she pulled away, he expected her to yell at him for scaring her, but she wiped her eyes and dove for Heli who squeaked in surprise as she was tackled. By this time, the rest of the group had caught up.
Endre pulled Zethan from the snow. “Glad to see you in one piece.”
“That makes two of us.” He brushed flakes from his hair.
“What happened?” Annika asked.
He told them about the storm and taking shelter in the tent. “I was lying there shivering uncontrollably, but I just couldn’t generate enough heat for the both of us. I started drifting off to sleep, which I knew was bad, but I just couldn’t stay awake.”
Remembering the ice seeping into his skin, Zethan rubbed his arms. “I woke cocooned in warmth, surrounded by a soft white blanket. And I just knew I’d either died and went to the sky, or I was dreaming. Turns out I was in a nightmare.”
Zethan glanced at Heli. “Then Heli hissed at me to stop moving and I realized my blankets were juvenile snow cats. I froze for entirely another reason.”
“Imagine my surprise,” Heli said wryly. “I figured we were goners. Nothing like having death stare at you in the face to figure out a few things in your life.” She looked at Zohav, who stood right next to her.
“While I’m happy you both survived, do you know why they didn’t eat you?” Annika asked.
He considered the question. The storm had ended, and the cats were probably out hunting for food.
Due to his exhaustion, he hadn’t tied the tent’s flaps.
Not that it mattered, the fabric was no match for their sharp claws.
They had been an easy meal. He scanned the camp site.
Snow cat tracks ringed the tent and a thin layer of snow covered the storm orbs.
“Perhaps they sensed the power in the orbs and didn’t want to break them,” he speculated.
“But they came inside the tent,” Heli said. “They could have dragged us out without disturbing the orbs.”
“Only their juveniles were inside,” Zohav said. “Perhaps they wanted them to be warm.”
Zethan shook his head. “They all huddle together to keep warm.”
“In their dens.” Zo swept her hand out. “Maybe they were too far from home.”
“Then why weren’t they all piled inside the tent?” Was being crushed by a pack of snow cats better or worse than being eaten alive? Better.
“Are they intelligent enough to know that you and Heli calm the storms?” Endre asked. “Perhaps this was their way of thanking you.”
“Does it really matter why?” Elley asked. “Let’s just celebrate over a hot meal!”
That was something everyone could agree on. They returned to the house, much to Uncle Karter and Aunt Larrisa’s relief.
The rest of the storm season was free of drama.
In fact, it was too smooth for Zethan’s taste.
He grew bored and actually worked on some of his Keep assignments—don’t tell Zo!
Not that she was paying much attention to him.
Nothing like a near death experience to rearrange a person’s priorities.
It only took a blizzard to melt the ice around Zohav’s heart.
When they filled their quota of orbs, it was time to return to Sitia. The night before they left, they feasted on all their favorite Ixian dishes and Aunt Larrisa packed them food for the trip.
After they said goodbye and headed south, Zethan groaned and patted his stomach. “I think I gained ten pounds.”
“Is that why the wagon feels heavier?” Zo teased. She sat next to him on the bench seat, holding the reins.
“Actually, storm energy has a measurable weight,” Heil said from Thunder’s back. “A filled orb is one pound heavier than an empty one.”
Interesting. Thinking about it, he didn’t know a lot about the orbs. “How much energy is in an orb?”
“Enough to power one cotton mill for eight hours.”
They chatted and eased back into their travel routines. Annika and Endre were escorting them back to the border of Sitia, and no one minded. They’d become good friends over the season.
One day turned into six and then twelve. Day thirteen started out the same as the others. Except, when they neared the crossroads at the border of Military District 7, they encountered a large patrol of soldiers blocking the way south.
“Stop the wagon,” Annika ordered. “Stay here. That includes you, Zethan.”
He was riding on Smoke but pulled up alongside the other horses.
The agents rode over to the leader of the patrol—a captain, if he correctly remembered his Ixian military insignia. Zethan counted fifteen soldiers.
“Trouble?” Zo asked.
“Hard to tell. They’re wearing black and red, which are the Commander’s colors,” he said.
“That’s a good thing,” Heli said. “We have his permission to be here.”
“Unless he changed his mind,” Zo said.
Ah, there was the pessimist he knew and loved. Since Zohav had been flirting awkwardly with Heli, which was adorable, she had been happier. However, Zethan was glad she still maintained her Zo-ness.
The patrol was too far away for him to hear what they said to Annika. The captain pulled a parchment from his pocket and handed it to her. She unfolded it and scanned the text. Endre moved his horse closer so he could read over her shoulder.
“Endre is scowling. That can’t be good,” Zohav said.
Annika handed the parchment back to the captain. They returned to the wagon.
“What’s going on?” Zethan asked.
“The Commander has ordered us back to the castle. Captain Lorton will be escorting you to the border.”
Not the best news, nor the worst. Yet a pang echoed in his chest as he realized he would miss the couple.
Then Annika leaned forward and whispered. “The orders are fake. The soldiers are not legit. However, we are outnumbered. Endre and I will fetch help. Play along until we return. Understand?”
His heart squeezed as fear spiked through him. Zethan glanced at Heli and Zo. Both stared at Annika with wide eyes.
“Understand?” She repeated.
“Yes,” the trio said in unison.
“Goodbye,” Annika said louder. “It’s been a pleasure working with you. Thank you for keeping our citizens safe from the blizzards.”
Endre nodded, giving them all a don’t-do-anything-stupid glare. Before Zethan could blink, the two agents spurred their horses east as the patrol surrounded their wagon. One man pulled the corner of the tarp back.
“Stop,” Heli called to the man. “That’s dangerous you could—”
“Shut up,” Captain Lorton said. “Hurry, Beet.”
The man pulled out an orb. Two others stretched a long…rope? No. It was a leather strap attached to two wooden stakes. They positioned it across the road and hammered the stakes on each end into the ground.
Comprehension clicked when the man placed the orb in the center of the strap. It was a slingshot! And it was aimed at Annika and Endre! Zethan stood in his stirrups and yelled at the soldiers to stop.
But everything happened so fast. The orb was launched.
Zohav screamed. The sun glinted off the glass as it spun in the air.
A sudden gust of wind blew it off course.
A thud sounded, and the wind died as fast as it had arrived.
The orb slammed into the earth, releasing an explosion of energy.
Dirt flew, glass shards turned into lethal weapons, and a concussion of power boomed strong enough that it thudded against him.
Not a direct hit, but it didn’t matter. When the dust cleared, Annika, Endre, and their horses were lying dead on the ground. Astonished, Zethan reached for his knife. Lorton and his men would pay.
“Not so fast, Boyo,” Lorton said. “You might want to take a look before you do something stupid.”
Zethan focused on the scene. Heli lay unconscious in Zo’s lap. A bleeding gash on her temple explained the thud and wind. Lorton had the tip of his sword on Zohav’s neck. Ice cold fury settled in his heart. Unable to do anything but obey, he banked his emotions. For now.
“Dismount, Boyo,” Lorton ordered.
Zethan slid from the saddle. He was the same height as the captain. The man had a lean straggly build and was probably stronger than he looked.
“Beet, unarm them.”
He took Zethan’s knife, found the spare dagger strapped to his forearm, and located the switchblade strapped to his thigh. Then Beet removed Heli’s and Zo’s weapons.
“Alrighty then. Let’s get a few things straight,” Lorton said. “We are reclaiming our property. The energy in those orbs is Ixian energy and belongs to us. Not Sitia. You have your own storms to harvest.”
“By all means, take your energy. We’ll take our orbs,” Zethan said.
“You’re a real smart guy aren’t you, Boyo? Beet, show them what we do to smart guys.”
Beet backhanded Zethan. Pain exploded in his cheek as his head jerked to the side. Zethan stumbled as tears blurred his vision.
“Tell you what, I’ll send the pieces of the orbs along with your bodies to Sitia when we’re done. How does that sound?”
Zethan kept quiet.
“Thought so. Now, where was I? Ah, yes. You stole our property, which makes you thieves. According to the Code of Behavior, that will get you five years in prison. However, you did it using magic, which is a big no-no. In that case, the COB calls for your immediate execution.” Lorton tsked.
“It’s not looking good for you, your sister, and your friend. ”
The throbbing in Ethan’s cheek was forgotten as he straightened. His pulse raced as dread crawled up his spine. He met Lorton’s brown-eyed gaze.
“Got your attention now, don’t I?” Lorton waited.
“Yes.”
“Good. How about I make a deal?”
“I’m listening.”
“All we really want is the orbs, so the three of you are superfluous. However, your talents might come in handy. You make yourselves useful and you can live, if not, you die. How’s that?”
Cooperate or die. The same exact deal the pirate, Jibben had given them years ago. “How can we make ourselves useful?”