Stormrider (21 page)

“You are a man of complexity and no few secrets, I believe,” Stormrider said bluntly, surprising herself a little.

Raptor flicked her a startled glance of his own, as Song Dog approached before either could say more.

The young warrior’s expression, hard and dark, made him appear older than his years. “It is time. We must do what must be done, The People desire to move swiftly. They feel we are wasting time here and fear the
Jaiqi
may catch up if we remain longer.”

Stormrider nodded and glanced significantly at Raptor. There was no denying the question in her gaze.

Raptor grimaced, then drew a slim-bladed knife from his belt. “We’re going to need this,” he said simply.

* * *

Song Dog took the lead, calming the fears of The People about removing the counters. He explained it as Stormrider had, the risk removing them, the greater risk in not doing so.

Stormrider’s was removed first. She threw a small prayer in the direction of the Goddess that things go smoothly not only because she preferred not to have her throat pierced at this point, but because if she did, The People would surely panic. The pain in removing it was hardly more than a bee sting after the incredible tearing pain of the activated device and Stormrider felt a wave of relief and freedom follow the small flow of blood which stained Raptor’s fingers after he completed the swift and precise surgery.

After hers was safely removed, she and Raptor made short work of removing the rest of the counters, none of The People wishing to stall or drag out the process. Raptor had his thumb deeply slashed when he didn’t drop the counter swiftly enough after another removal, but he was the only casualty. And, instead of sympathy from Stormrider, he got only laughter

“That’s what curiosity will get you,” Stormrider said with suppressed humor, the thin, vertical line of blood on her neck already drying even as the pad of Raptor’s thumb welled crimson.
 

Everyone before the last, which had slashed Raptor’s thumb, had been snatched and dropped, left in the dust to fling its slender but deadly whip blade until it quieted.

Strongheart peered closely at them scattered untidily upon the sand in a quivering, coppery heap. Each had jumped and snapped after removal. They now lay inert.

They are no longer a danger?
Strongheart leaned close, golden muzzle near, sniffing, but cautiously kept his nose out of range.

“They can harm no one now,” Stormrider responded.

Then they must be scattered. The Jaiqi must not be allowed to learn easily the counters have been removed. They must depend on their technology to find their missing slaves. They will waste much time if they are not in possession of such vital knowledge.

“True,” Stormrider agreed. “But we cannot simply scatter them upon the ground. They will be too easily found. And, if we bury them they will be found soon enough.”

They will be passed to the creatures of Nashira.

“I don’t think I understand.”

“Neither do I.” Raptor sheathed his knife, its work done, sucked briefly at his bleeding thumb, then wrapped a bit of cloth tightly around it to stem the flow. “I hope he’s telling you where we’re headed now.” Raptor said with a nod at the great silver wolf.

You were correct in the beginning.
One Eye interjected his remark.
He is at odds. He does not follow. He questions all
.

He is a good man. Already he has helped free Stormrider and The People the slavers held. Without his help we might not have succeeded. At best, Stormrider may have been lost; at worst, many may have been lost
. Littlefoot stood, shaking the sand from her thick fur, lifting a corner of her lips in a half snarl to express her disapproval to One Eye.

No time. We must hurry.
This along with a sharp snort from Strongheart. He turned to Stormrider.
There are many creatures here. Birds. The ponies, lizards, some hares. The water attracts them. You must put the counters on them and release them. It will do them no harm and the Jaiqi will perceive the counters as moving. Scattering before their pursuit. Then they too will scatter. Following. It will take time to regroup when they discover the trick and by then you and The People will be safe.

“What’s she getting herself all stirred up about?” Raptor asked, eyeing Littlefoot with some trepidation. She was the smallest of the pack, although that was none too small, and the glittering white fangs revealed by curled lips were no comfort.

Stormrider nodded at Littlefoot. “She’s defending you.”

Then she gestured toward One Eye. “He thinks you’re holding us back.” She paused a moment. “I’m siding with Littlefoot.”

“Glad to hear it.” He glanced at Strongheart again. “What in Hela’s kingdom does he have on his mind?”

“He wants to scatter the counters.”

An eyebrow arched higher than usual. “He have any

suggestions as to how and where?”

Stormrider nodded. “Attach them to the animals we find here and turn them loose.”

“Smart wolf. He could have been a general.”

Song Dog, having slipped up silently during their exchange nodded solemnly, coffee brown eyes fixed almost worshipfully upon the wolves. “The wolves are all amazing beings. Perhaps one day Nashira will take me to her heart and I will be one of the chosen.” He fixed Raptor with a stare so direct it was unsettling. “You are not
Jaiqi
.” A difficult admission for the young man of The People.

“No.” The reply softly spoken. Not the usual character of the bounty hunter. The single word, the gentleness of its delivery, revealed something of Raptor he would have preferred to have kept hidden.

Cocking his head, slim, youthful body taut as strung wire, Song Dog’s dark eyes lost some of their intent, watchful look. He shifted his gaze to the dun-colored pony, considering, then back to Raptor.

“The pony does not leave you.”

Raptor shrugged. He hadn’t quite figured that out himself yet.

“He is not the same as the others.”

Again Raptor shrugged. That much was becoming obvious. Uncomfortably obvious. “I think he became frightened in the camp of the
Jaiqi
.”

A sharp snort from the dun pony dampened the back of Raptor’s neck. Irritably he raised a hand to wipe it dry, transferring spittle to hand then to pant leg.

Song Dog actually cracked a brief smile. Then his expression grew more contemplative. He eyed Raptor in a new light.

Raptor shifted uneasily beneath the young man’s regard. The boy/man of The People, Grey Wanderer’s protege, was metamorphosing into something altogether different than the boy who had denounced him to The People as
Jaiqi
back in Stormrider’s camp. He possessed a quality of calm, measured leadership which was going to bring old Grey Wanderer down long before the old warrior cared to contemplate retirement.

Song Dog stared hard at Raptor, eyes lingering particularly long upon his forehead, high and smooth, bearing none of the ribs or reddening of the men of The People.

“You are not of The People.”

“No.”

The young warrior’s gaze flicked back to the dun pony. “I will have to think on this. But now we have to do as the wolf has said, and we must do it quickly. The
Jaiqi
will follow and I fear there is illness among The People. We must reach sanctuary.” He glanced back at Stormrider. “I will tell The People,” he said simply, and turned to race back to those gathered by the pool nursing their minor wounds of counter-removal.

Raptor exhaled a long sigh of relief as Song Dog retreated. He had not come this far to have his past inadvertently revealed by a boy, no matter how much respect he was gaining for the youth. He turned to Stormrider to find her curiosity aroused.

“Strongheart just told me the Ancient Ones declared the dun pony is for you. You must feel him. If he’s anything like the wolves he’ll name himself to you soon. My pack recognized you from the beginning, but you’re not of The People. You lack the coloring and other distinctive features. Nonetheless, Nashira has embraced you. I can’t help but wonder why.”

Raptor lifted the corner of his mouth in a half smile. “No one can prevent you from wondering.” Abruptly he changed the subject. “We better help scatter the counters and get away from here. We will be slowed riding double. And if any fall serious ill . . . .” He lifted a shoulder. “I doubt the
Jaiqi
are wasting any time.”

Stormrider turned away, striding off to help Song Dog and the others. But as she worked, she continued to wonder about the bounty hunter.

By the Goddess, Raptor hadn’t intended his last remark to come out as it had! It had sounded as if he were accusing her of something! More specifically, of dawdling in the face of danger! He regretted his words and watched her go, but only for a moment before he turned to the scattered counters, collecting a handful before heading for the pool.

* * *

Using bits of leather fringe jerked from garments, they tied the
Jaiqi
counters to everything that walked, crawled or flew. They turned a couple of the ponies loose each with a counter tied in its mane. The animals would be sorely missed, but they would travel a great distance in a short time. The remaining ponies were doubly burdened as they departed the small oasis, the wind blowing the sifting dust and sand over their tracks.

Stormrider still rode with Raptor astride the dun pony. The fact remained, now truer than before, if she were to ride single someone else would be on foot.

Anxiously, Stormrider peered off into the horizon and frequently cast appraising glances over her shoulder, past the broad wall of Raptor’s chest and well-muscled arms. Tracks or no tracks, the
Jaiqi
would be able to spot them if they got some of their fliers airborne.

Choices, Stormrider.
Strongheart threw the thought her way when he sensed her apprehension
, and we have made all the best ones.

The big wolf led now, taking the point, Littlefoot and One Eye flanking him as they raced on, tongues lolling, wind rippling through their luxurious pelts. The dun-colored pony galloped easily, nostrils flaring, mane flying, bracketed by the wolves. The knot of escaped slaves were strung out close behind keeping close formation.

It was nearing sunset and Stormrider was beginning to have an inkling of where they were headed. She hadn’t believed the wolves’ judgment could be so bad, but even as the winds erased their tracks, Stormrider recognized the simple truth. They were heading back toward the deserted city of the Ancient Ones. Probably the first place the
Jaiqi
would look once they realized the counters had been removed.

Do not judge too quickly.
This from Strongheart sending a gentle caress through her mind.
You will understand soon.

They pressed on. Stormrider couldn’t keep her doubts to herself, but Strongheart did not comment on them further.

“You know the place where we’re going?” Raptor asked the question, leaning close to her ear to be heard above the breeze created by their passing. “The wolf has seen fit to tell you where it is?”

“I guessed. He didn’t have to tell me.”

“And . . . ?”

“It’s the city of the Ancient Ones. Where the
Jaiqi
captured Song Dog and myself.”

“No doubt he has a reason,” Raptor commented with a nod in Strongheart’s direction, a nod Stormrider felt more than saw since she was still perched on the pony in front of him.

“No doubt,” Stormrider agreed wryly

“You don’t have a clue . . . ?”

A shake of her head. A whiff of the spring essence of her flowing hair was his only answer.

It was nearly dark when they drew the ponies to a halt.

The ponies will go no further.
Strongheart stopped to make his point clear while Littlefoot and One Eye ranged further ahead into the dark, but welcoming, arms of the silent city.
They must be sent home
.

“It’s time to turn the ponies loose,” Stormrider announced loudly enough to be heard by all. “We continue on foot from here.”

Obediently all followed her instruction without protest. The loss of the ponies gave Raptor a twinge, but he had decided he would be almost relieved to see the last of the dun.

A few of The People staggered when they slid from the ponies. The sight caused Raptor’s eyebrows to dive together in consternation. Song Dog had spoken of illness. What if he was right?

Throwing their hands in the air, the stronger of The People spooked the ponies sending them running in all directions, dust motes dancing at their heels.

Raptor tried the same gesture on the dun. The pony took a couple of steps back and stared at him.

Raptor tried again, yelling this time. The dun tossed his head, rolled his eyes and pranced his excitement.

Strongheart yawned, watching the pair.
 

The people huddled together. Waiting. Watching.

Large, soft, liquidy brown eyes stared into Raptor’s golden-flecked fox eyes.

“Go!” Raptor yelled, losing his patience. “Go home with the others!”

Rigid, eyes locked, the dun shook his head, a definitive reply. Then came the soft words in Raptor’s head. The gentle reprimand.