Shieldwolf Dawning (28 page)

"Oh." Brin gulped.

Samarra groaned. "You've found us."

"Yes." Shieldwolf Longmane spoke in clipped tones. "I have indeed."

Quicksand

Samarra's stomach rumbled. Her mouth watered at the aroma of hot stew.

"You must be hungry." Shieldwolf Longmane pointed at an empty spot by the campfire. "Sit."

He went about ladling meals into two wooden bowls, then handed one to Samarra and the other to Brin. They chewed slowly, solemnly. "I do not have to ask why you are here. You want to find your brother." He raised his brow. "How did you plan to remove him from Eshgranna's hold?"

Samarra couldn't think of a good answer. Instead, she concentrated on her food.

"Well?" he asked.

"I… I don't know yet," she said, wishing he would stop staring at her.

"Did you think a solution would appear magically when you faced her?"

Samarra looked up at him and held his gaze in defiance. "I have to find my brother."

Shieldwolf Longmane's expression softened. "I know what it feels like to lose a loved one." He sat down next to her. "It is brave of you both to want to help Cassian, but I am not confident you fully realize how dangerous Eshgranna can be."

"I've heard the stories," Samarra said. "I've read some too."

Brin chimed in, "So have I."

"And they are probably true, but stories alone cannot teach you how to defeat her." Shieldwolf Longmane waited until they finished their meal before he spoke again. "Allow me to explain something to you."

Samarra moved closer to the crackling heat of the fire. The night was getting chillier.

"Eshgranna controls the power of the Flux," he explained. "She can phaseshift between two ways of being in the world at will. Flux energy feeds her, it gives her breath… existence beyond what you and I understand as life." He lowered his voice for effect. "Eshgranna has the power to kill with the slightest touch. That is Eshgranna. To reach her, you must first push past her army of Watchers."

Samarra's heart sank. Driven by an increasing sense of helplessness, she bowed her head in resignation.

A Shieldwolf approached them. "The shelters have been assembled," she reported.

"These two can sleep in the shelter next to mine," Shieldwolf Longmane said. "Gillian and Luca will stand guard for the first watch. Find Ember and Bodhrain. I must speak with them immediately."

The Shieldwolf nodded and left.

Shieldwolf Longmane turned his attention back to Samarra and Brin. "It is my duty to ensure that you are both kept out of harm's way. Ember and Bodhrain will escort you to Shieldwolf Proper in the morning."

"But—" Samarra said hastily and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I have to find my brother."

"Please understand that your safety is what motivates my actions. It is too dangerous for you to journey forward. Be ready to leave early morning." He made his way to the two Shieldwolves waiting by his shelter.

"What do we do now?" Samarra asked Brin.

"What
can
we do?" he replied. "The Shieldwolf scouts are skilled trackers. We won't be escaping again. We've been found out and we'll be returned to Shieldwolf Proper. There's nothing else we can do."

"What if we beg him to take us with him?"

"Do you really think he'd take us with him after what he just said?"

"I guess not." Samarra picked the dirt off her boots to take her mind off the obvious.

"Shh… someone's coming."

A Shieldwolf was headed in their direction.

"My name is Luca," the platophibian said when he reached them. "I have set up your shelter." He handed them each a toothbrush and pointed to an open area on the edge of the campsite. "Clean up over there. Return to me when you are finished. I will wait for you."

Samarra and Brin went to the edge of the camp. A small jet of water burst from the ground on their approach. Samarra wet her toothbrush in the spray. She brushed each tooth carefully while thinking about what was to come.

"I can't believe we got caught," she gurgled between mouthfuls of toothpaste and water.

Brin polished his top fangs. "It's probably a good thing."

Samarra pointed her toothbrush in his face. "What do you mean by that?"

Brin pushed her hand away. "Samarra, I really wanted to help you, but I couldn't stop thinking that we were going to get hurt. I'm glad we got caught. There, I said it. Be upset with me as much as you want."

"How can you say that? My brother's out there and I can't help him!"

Brin wiped his mouth on his sleeve. "I know about what Eshgranna's done and all the Shieldwolves she's killed. I was scared that something bad would happen to us if we found her for real."

"I was scared too. In fact, there have been times when I've been terrified, but I pushed it away. All I let myself think about was helping my little brother. Letting fear stop you from doing something is a choice."

Brin was silent.

Samarra sighed despondently. "I don't know if I'm making a big mistake by going back to Shieldwolf Proper. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do next. I wish… I wish the Reflection would appear in a bush or a cave or something and tell me what to do."

"The Reflection doesn't work like that."

Samarra chuckled glumly. "I was joking."

Brin squeezed her hand. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry that I'm glad we got caught. And I think it would be good idea to do what you're being ordered to do."

Samarra pointed her toothbrush in his face again. "See, that's another problem I have."

Brin pushed her hand away. "What is?"

"That I'm supposed to do everything the Shieldwolves tell me to do without question. Cass ended up doing exactly what they said. Do you think following orders made him better off? No. He's been captured and nobody knows what will happen to him."

"Following orders has nothing to do with Eshgranna taking him."

"Are you for real?" Samarra couldn't contain the frustration in her voice.

"Don't be like that." Brin frowned. "You're making me feel like a—"

"I'm sorry, but if Cass hadn't agreed to go to Seton Desert, he wouldn't have been in open area, and Eshgranna wouldn't have had access to him. Simple."

Brin adjusted his glasses. "What other choices did he have?"

"He had plenty of choices. He could have refused to go."

"And done what, Samarra? Spent the rest of his life in the hotbox for disobeying direct orders?"

"They wouldn't do that to him, would they? They need him."

"Everyone knows there's a dark side to the Shieldwolves, but nobody ever speaks about it," Brin said. "The Elders expect a lot from Cassian. I bet they would make his life horrible if he didn't follow his fate. Anything you do won't change that one bit."

"Hurry up," Luca called out.

"He doesn't waste time, does he?" Samarra complained on her way to the Shieldwolf.

Luca pointed to the shelter. "Enter." He waited for them to get into their sleeping bags. "You will be leaving this camp for Shieldwolf Proper at 0645 hours. Shieldwolves Bodhrain and Ember will be your escorts for your journey." He pulled down the flap and the tent fell dark.

Brin fought with his sleeping bag. "I'm too tall for this thing."

"Ask for a bigger one." Samarra's sleeping bag was just right.

"No thanks."

"Why not?"

"Because."

"That's not a good reason," Samarra said.

"Because… because I don't want to get up. Is that better?"

"That makes more sense." Samarra listened to Brin's breathing turn into snoring. "Are you awake?" she asked after a while.

"No," he replied.

Samarra reached over and shook him. "Come on, be serious."

"Why don't you go to sleep?"

"I'm not tired anymore."

"Well, can you let
me
sleep?" he pleaded.

"I guess."

Silence.

"Brin?"

There was no response.

"Talk to you in the morning," Samarra whispered. "And sweet dreams, Cass."

****

The murmur of Shieldwolves packing their gear woke Samarra. She checked her holowatch. It was barely dawn and Brin was asleep. Careful not to disturb him, she rolled out of the confining cling of her sleeping bag and unzipped the tent flap. Although the sun was rising and the birds had started to sing, the air hung frosted with cold and dampness. A Shieldwolf sat cross-legged by the entrance to the tent.

"Good morning." The young archeop stretched her blue-green wings when Samarra emerged from the tent. "My name is Ember Brightwing. I will be escorting you back to Shieldwolf Proper."

Samarra smiled in greeting.

Ember pointed out the gaian at the campfire. He was stirring a pot of beans. "That is Bodhrain Orlorean. He will accompany us on our journey. We will be leaving soon."

"I know." Samarra went to the fire and warmed her hands. The branches burned hot and crackled. Bodhrain nodded at her in quiet acknowledgment.

Samarra watched the Shieldwolves ready themselves for the rest of their trip on foot — they knew the gentle beasts would be slaughtered if they went into battle against the Watchers. By the time they'd sent their mounts back to the biodome, charged their staffs, and cast spells of protection, Samarra's breakfast was ready. She sat down next to Ember. Shieldwolf Longmane gave orders to move out. Within minutes the battlegroup was gone.

"Where are they headed next?" Samarra asked.

"They move north to the Pits of Sand," Ember replied. "Would you like something to drink? The air is biting and a hot tea will surely warm you up."

"Yes, please."

Ember poured Samarra a mug of steaming liquid. "There you go."

"Thank you." Samarra cradled the mug to warm her hands.

"You're welcome," Ember said with a gentle smile.

Her soothing manner put Samarra at ease immediately. "How long will it take them to get there?"

"Not too long." Ember pointed to an open space between two large cliffs. "The pits lie beyond the canyon over there."

Samarra was about to ask for more information when she heard rustling in the tent. Brin emerged. He stared at them vaguely and rubbed his eyes as if coming out of a trance. With one last yawn, he sat down next to Samarra and accepted the tea that Ember offered him.

"Good morning," he said, shivering in the cold.

Bodhrain came over with a pot of beans and flat bread. "Eat." He served everyone generous portions of food.

Samarra wolfed down every last bit of her breakfast. Brin went back for seconds. When they were done, Brin cleaned up while Ember, Bodhrain, and Samarra dismantled the remaining shelters. They pulled out tent pegs and folded the canvas. Next, they packed their belongings and took their bags to their mounts.

Samarra was securing a saddlebag when the farthest point of the canyon erupted in malevolent shrieks. Brin growled. Everyone froze. Samarra's heart raced faster than the speed of light.

"What's that?" she asked when the shrieks fell to ominous moans. They became more unbearable with each passing moment.

"Watchers," Bodhrain replied. Although his expression was unmoved, a sudden tic of his eye betrayed his fear.

"Watchers?" Brin gulped.

Ember leaped onto her mount with urgency. "You will remain here." She gestured at Bodhrain. "If I do not contact you within fifteen minutes, take them to the battlegroup."

Bodhrain nodded. Ember spurred her mount into the air and sped toward the noise.

"What do we do now?" Samarra was anxious.

Bodhrain frowned and watched his partner disappear into the sky. "We wait for further instructions."

The next few minutes were tense. Nobody made a sound. The evil shriek picked up again. Samarra stood motionless, chilled. The air in front of Bodhrain shimmered and shifted and he tilted his head toward the disturbance — it was as if he could hear something that Samarra could not. He nodded and the shimmer dispersed in all directions.

"The Watchers are close," he said. "They will be upon us soon. I will fly to Ember. We may be able to slow them down for long enough to give you time to reach the battlegroup." He took the packs off his mount and grabbed two canteens of water. He gave one set of supplies to Samarra and the other to Brin. "Take these and run. Leave your mounts. You will be harder to spot if you stay out of the air."

"But—" Samarra said.

Bodhrain jumped on his mount. "Tell Shieldwolf Longmane the Watchers are moving in from the west.
Go!
" He spurred his flying horse into the sky.

For a split second, Samarra and Brin hesitated. Then they ran. When her legs grew tired and her lungs began to burn, Samarra alternated between running and walking. They raced up and around rocky paths until finally they reached the canyon.

"Over there." Brin pointed to the far side of the pits, where a bolt of lightning ripped through the sky. A fireball exploded and smoke fanned out of the area.

"The battlegroup?" Samarra asked.

"Looks like it. They're fighting something, but I can't make out what it is from here."

"Let's keep going."

Samarra had only moved a few feet when she suddenly dropped waist-deep into the ground. "Help!" she called, flailing around in a quicksand trap.