Broken (22 page)

As Uriel replies, I link with Isaac, Solomon and Jez:
Dogs approaching from the east on upper level. Jez, check the west end of camp and report back. Isaac, stay where you are, protect the tents and supplies. Sol, get up here on the overhang. Bring stakes.

By now we’re all hearing the thundering rumble of paws slamming into the ice, cracking and even shattering it. It’s a large pack making its way around the defunct volcano, and there’s no doubt the dogs are coming for us. With three heads each, their deadly multiple jaws could cause extensive damage very quickly.

Sol arrives with the stakes. He holds them up as Michael lights the tips with an arrow. We take several each and pos-ition ourselves on the path.

The dogs come to a screeching halt as they round the curve and hit our firewall. The flames won’t hold them back for long, but it need do so only until our plan starts working.
Tash, any luck yet?

Her deep frown and the struggle revealed in her eyes give me her answer – it’s just not the one I want.

What should I do, my prince?

Keep trying, Tash.

But they’re shutting me out and I don’t know which one is the Alpha.

Three at the rear jump up on the backs of others like sheep. Two manage to hold on for a few seconds and a fight erupts. A sharp bark from the centre head of a red dog in the front row ends the squabble.

I glance at Tash and she nods.
I’ll try again. But their walls are strong and their minds virtually blank.

In a way they are blank
, Michael says from my left side, as he continues jabbing his fiery stakes into the aggressive front row.
They’re a pack. They don’t think for themselves. They need to be led.

Tash
, I mind-link with her quickly,
I don’t know how you do this with the animals on Avena or Earth, but with these beasts I suggest you forget about befriending them. Make the Alpha listen and submit to your will.

I’m trying, Nathaneal, but the Alpha is the strongest and I can’t even break through the runt’s wall.

Tash, forget the runt. The Alpha is the one you need to control. She will pick up even the slightest hint of weakness.

I just think it might be better if I help fend them off.

You’re a Sensitive, Tash, not a warrior. By nature, you can reach into the minds of animals and control them. That’s why I wanted you on my team. Don’t waste a moment doing anything else. Do you understand?

Affirmative, my lord prince!

Tash . . .

I’m sorry, Thane, I’m frustrated. I’ll try again.

But she doesn’t get enough time before the Alpha dog suddenly howls. The unnerving sound silences the pack.

Uh-oh
, Tash murmurs into our minds.

Like soldiers snapping to attention, all twenty-two dogs turn their heads to us.
Michael, suggestion?

We don’t have a choice, Thane. You know what we have to do.

No!
Tash cries out.
It can’t come to that.

Just keep trying, Tash. I don’t like this any more than you do.

The Alpha barks twice in rapid succession and the dogs spring into action. They lunge for the stakes, wrenching them from our hands, their movements so rapid they blur the air. Their heads swing from side to side, salivating and grunting as they shred the stakes into twigs and trample the fiery remnants into the snow.

Finished destroying the stakes, they come at us.

Everyone, lift!

For our own safety, we eject our wings and hover out of their range, though it doesn’t stop the dogs from trying to reach us, gaining height with each leap.

We need to move camp
, Uriel proposes.

They carry our scent now
, Michael says.
As long as we’re on this mountain they will chase us indefinitely
.

And prevent us from doing what we came here for
, hangs in the air unspoken.

As much as what I’m about to do distresses me, I can’t come this far and abort the mission. I’ve been away from Ebony for too long already. At least she has my message and I take comfort from that.
Tash? Anything?

I’m trying, Thane.

Do you have a sign? An inkling of something giving way?

She takes a moment before she answers,
Nothing
.

What about a weak spot?

I’m sorry I failed you, my prince.

You haven’t failed me.
I
failed the dogs.
And with that I reluctantly give the command to destroy them.

Michael sets three arrows in his bow then glances at me. Just as I’m about to give him the nod, the dogs figure out how to leap to our level, forcing us higher. Except Solomon isn’t quick enough, and on his downbeat, his left wing drops within reach of a large brown dog. Sol shrieks as two of its heads latch on to his wing and drag him into the pack where several of them converge on him.

Tash screams. Michael shoots his arrows. Uriel and I jump into the pack’s centre, reaching for our knives.

Michael’s arrows strike vital arteries one after another. Defenceless as their blood empties out on the ground, other dogs begin to feed on the injured and dying. It’s a horrible sight.

But a more horrible sight is Solomon, the biggest of us all, struggling to get out from under a frenzy of wild dogs. We hear his wings cracking, ligaments snapping, feathers tearing out from their roots.

With a knife in each hand we start stabbing, yanking heads back and slicing throats. Uriel severs three heads in one slash, spurting blood everywhere.

Isaac arrives with stakes. As Michael lights them, Isaac jumps into the narrow space we manage to clear around Sol. He tosses Uriel half and, while they work at widening the space around Sol, I reach down, wrap my arms around his broken body, and lift him out.

I lay him on a fresh snow bank a safe distance away from where I can still survey the situation, choosing the soft snow to cushion Sol’s injuries while I heal him. Inspecting his wings, I gently tug out canine teeth caught in his feathers, counting breakages as I go. To my surprise, I come across a whole dog’s head, its jaws still locked around Sol’s lower arm. I find I have to cut the head completely in half before it releases its deathly grip.

Sol’s left arm and both wings are a mess, jutting out at odd angles. In this freezing air, soaked in his own and several dogs’ blood, his broken wings are in danger of wing-burn. Except for his damaged lower arm, his other injuries are minor enough to repair themselves unassisted, so I focus on repairing his vital wings first.

Solomon’s pain is excruciating, but when he opens his eyes he doesn’t do more than grimace.

Jez, take Isaac’s position protecting our equipment. Let me know the instant you notice movement heading your way.

What’s going on up there?
Jez asks
. It sounds as if you need me. Who cares about two lousy tents? We can sleep under the stars.

Stay where you are, Jez. That’s an order.

She goes quiet, but I sense her seething at the thought that she’s missing the action.

By now there are only twelve dogs left.
Prepare to destroy the Alpha
, I command.

Michael draws an arrow and locks it into place.

Tash, listen to the Alpha’s voice while she has a few moments left. Imitate her tone, her nuances, even her body language. Learn her commands. Learn the eleven remaining names. They will be looking for a new leader. It’s either you, or we must destroy the entire pack.

She closes her eyes. Tears trickle out that quickly turn to ice.

Michael watches Tash for a sign before shooting his arrow directly into the dog’s heart. It’s a quick, clean death.

Isaac sets up a fire barrier while I continue healing Sol’s wings. With his strength returning, Sol sits up. ‘How bad are they?’

‘Relax, I could do this in my sleep,’ I say, downplaying the extensive damage.

Whimpering sounds creep into my thoughts. I push them aside and concentrate on keeping Sol’s wings warm while I finish healing them. It seems to take too long, but finally I’m done and help him stand. He flexes his shoulders, spreading his magnificent wings to their full width. He catches my eye and a big smile forms. ‘Thanks, sunshine. I owe you one.’

‘You owe me nothing. But should you call me “sunshine” once more, that’s another matter entirely and we will deal with that in a boxing ring as soon as we’re back on Avenean soil.’

It’s then we notice the silence and turn round.

Solomon jerks at the sight. ‘Is she for real?’ Though impressed, he’s also understandably cautious seeing Tash caressing the heads of one dog after another, crooning soothing words to them. ‘What is she doing?’

We stroll over and join Michael and Isaac, who are listening with awe to Uriel as he introduces the dogs. He grins at us and continues, ‘This black one with a red star on her flank is Neftah.’ He moves his hand along to a big grey male he calls Kirsh. ‘And these two –’ he pats the backs of two brown dogs – ‘are sisters Adette and Elura.’

The last is also the largest, a male with a sleek wine-coloured coat. He holds his three heads up higher than the other dogs, giving us a good look at his enormous white chest.

‘What’s his name?’ I ask.

‘Oryth,’ Uriel says. ‘Elegant, isn’t he?’

Solomon scoffs. ‘Elegant?’ He lifts both hands into the air. ‘That dog looks hungry to me.’

I have to agree. ‘The delicious evening meal they had planned has just slipped off their menu.’

The others laugh, except for Tash, who gives Uriel a furtive look. He grimaces and mumbles, ‘OK, I’ll go find them something to eat.’

Under Tash’s control the eleven remaining dogs guide us through the maze, saving us from the high-altitude climb over the volcano rim. It’s a lucky break that will cut many hours from our journey, and make our return trip much easier.

The dogs will remain loyal to Tash for as long as she maintains her Alpha status. However, as a Sensitive this can’t be easy for her. Sharing their minds, their emotions, understanding them, and knowing she will soon have to release them back to an uncertain existence, must be exhausting.

Releasing them will be even harder.

On our third night with the dogs we set up a camp on a narrow stretch of maze, blocked at one end by a recent landslide. Uriel is on guard duty at the opposite end, taking over from Tash, who returns to her ‘family’. She settles them around her, away from the fire. They nuzzle in as close to her as they can. A fight breaks out which she quickly brings under control. She then closes her eyes and sighs.

It’s not forever, Tash
. She catches my thought and waits while I approach from across the campsite and hunker down beside her. ‘The air is already warming. Any day now we will reach the main funnel. Before we head off in the morning, take the dogs to a quiet place to select a new Alpha and train it to take over.’

‘You’re giving me time to do that?’ She sounds surprised.

‘It will give the dogs a chance to make it on their own. Over time, they will build their numbers and be strong again.’

Her eyes glisten and she smiles. ‘Thank you, Thane.’

Tash’s attachment to these animals is already strong. The break will be timely – for her sake.

‘The one you select will need to be the strongest both physically and mentally. Take comfort in knowing you have done your best for them, but, remember, you can’t change what they are and nor should you alter their nature if you want them to survive.’

She nods and looks up at me. ‘May I be candid, my prince?’

‘Ah, I’m not sure,’ I reply with a dubious smile, ‘but go on.’

‘As a Sensitive I find myself, for better or worse, aware of the nature of angels, humans, animals and other beings.’

I nod slowly, wondering where she’s going with this.

‘In the two thousand years I’ve been alive I’ve seen many who want to be king come and go, including your father. But you’re not like any other who covets a throne.’

At my frown she adds, ‘What makes you different are traits that make me proud to be an angel.’

‘Thank you, Tash.’

‘Unfortunately, not everyone feels the same way.’

‘It’s the benefit of Free Will.’

She runs her hand through her shoulder-length hair. ‘In some instances, my prince,’ she says, locking her emerald gaze with mine, ‘it should be outlawed.’

‘Is there something you want to tell me, Tash?’

She looks troubled and as she holds my gaze her eyes roll back and she slips into a trance. ‘
Someone you trust will betray you
,’ she utters in a strange breathy voice.

‘Who?’ I ask instinctively, but she’s starting to seize and instead of pressing her for more information, I call out a mind-link:
Uri!

Michael, always watching and hovering nearby, hunkers down beside me as I catch Tash and lay her gently on the ground. ‘What’s happening?’ he asks, helping me shift the dogs to give her room.