Jeanne G'Fellers - Sisters Flight (16 page)

Rankil!
I'm so glad to see you. It's me, Kaelan! How's my Jewel? How're Myrla and
little Hestra?

Chapter
Ten

Finality

Master:
Hope maintains.

Rankil

"What
do you mean she wasn't with you?" Kaelan's skin prickled despite the
fire's warmth. "I sent her into the caves when the attack began. They
never found her, even smacked me around a good bit when I wouldn't say how many
of us there were." Kaelan rubbed her wrists, something that was habitual
among the freed sister slaves. "I just assumed she fled to safety with
you. I
knew
she had."

"I'm
sorry, Kaelan." I sat next to her. The evening weather had turned bitter,
and the brush was providing little shelter from the whipping wind. I pulled
Kaelan's blanket higher on her shoulders. "We searched for both of you for
over two moon cycles but never saw a sign. Not one."

Kaelan
stared at me blankly for a moment before venturing to speak again. "Then
she became lost in the caves." She sniffed and laid her head to her knees.
"At least they never got her." Such a hard sob wracked Kaelan's frame
that I had to choke back my own. "Thank the Mother they never got
her."

Kaelan
wasn't the only one weeping. The freed sisters were all suffering from the
shock and exposure. "Tell me," Kaelan's voice quivered. "What
became of the rest of the family? Archell?"

"He's
a bard in one of the Tekkroon colonies."

"Myrla?"

"The
Tekks trained her to be a teacher, but recently she's been involved with my
military unit." I showed Kaelan my com. "If we can ever get these
things working again, you'll be able to talk to her. Mother knows she would
love to hear your voice."

"As
I would hers." Kaelan accepted the mug the duty cook offered and blew
across the steaming contents. "I suppose you two are paired now?"

"We
wear each other's mark, yes."

"Hestra?"

"With
what used to be the Serpent clan." I steadied Kaelan's shaking hands.
"I've met her raisers. They're faithful sisters."

"She
wouldn't know me anyway." Kaelan took a couple of quick sips from her mug
and then set it aside. "I suppose the Serps are part of the Tekks
now?"

"Yes,
Kaelan, they are."

"And
you're a Tekk soldier?" Kaelan's eyes began to cloud with something more
than tears. She looked lost, confused, and there was nothing I could do but
answer her questions to the best of my ability.

"I'm
a Powder Barrier trooper."

"Too
much has changed." Kaelan wrapped in her blanket and rolled onto her side,
away from me. "How old are you and Myrla now? Eighteen? Nineteen?"

"We're
twenty-one and twenty-three."

"Oh."
Kaelan's entire body shuddered with her sigh. "Then you won't be needing
my raising any longer. No place for a lost old broadback in this new world,"
she mumbled. "No place at all." When I touched Kaelan's shoulder, she
drew her knees to her chest and scooted away. "Leave me alone."

"But—"

"I'm
tired, Rankil. Let me be."

"I'll
leave you to your thoughts, but I won't leave your side. I'm here if you need
anything." And I remained beside Kaelan, shedding my own tears as she
cried herself to sleep.

No
one slept that night. No one could. The slave sisters were too restless, their
unshackled minds inadvertently sending out waves of pain and confusion. Like
Kaelan, they didn't know where to go or what to do next. Their previous lives
were gone, their futures so unclear that their lamentations became ours. We
talked with them, cried with them, cursed with them, held them. Finally, Kaelan
allowed me to wrap myself around her as she had once done me and I absorbed and
understood her pain until she became quiet against me. When I looked around the
campsite, I noticed that Laszlo held Helaine in her arms much the same way.
Master Evangeline watched from a distance but told me she wanted Laszlo to
reestablish the cherished friendship. She looked over to me and our eyes
locked, exchanging pain of different sorts.

Kaelan
will be fine.
Her phase was as
soothing as ever.
She feels lost, but that will pass as she heals.

And
the others?
I asked as I peered above
the fire at her.

I
tried sampling them, but I had to stop.
Evangeline
could not hide the weakness of her phase or the distress on her face.
Most
of their minds are so befuddled that it was not safe for me to continue.

Not
safe?

Too
much negative energy,
she said.
They
can only think of vengeance.

Is
that what's making you tired?

You
are
too perceptive sometimes, Trooper Rankil. Yes, I am fatigued. I have exposed
myself to too much.

Too
much negativity?

Yes,
it can stress the body and the mind alike.
Evangeline wrapped tighter in her cloak and pulled her blanket to her
shoulders.

Then
your time inside my head must have been exhausting,
I said half-jokingly.

More
exhilarating than exhausting,
she
said with a sensuous wink and a fluttering mental caress.
Myrla is very
lucky.
She shifted beneath her blanket and closed her eyes.
Very lucky
indeed.

I
pondered her words long after she had fallen asleep and woke early that morning
to find Evangeline and Stiles poring over the map, searching for back ways into
the mine. Kaelan still slept on the ground beside me.

"I
gave Frest a reward for his part in our initial success," said Evangeline
as I approached. Her appearance had improved, but her expression told of her
continued anguish.

"He
told me good-bye on his way out," said Stiles with a businesslike nod in
my direction. "He's mighty happy to get his boy back."

"I
am sure he is." Evangeline squinted against the rising sun then turned to
me with a wink as tempting as the night before. "Good morning, Trooper
Rankil," she said in a pleasant though still tired voice. "Commander
Stiles and I were just discussing the newly freed sisters' battle readiness. I
don't believe they're capable."

"I
don't believe they're up to it either," I said. "They've been
overworked and mistreated for Mother knows how long. They'll only be a
hindrance if we don't give them some time to recuperate."

"We
don't have any other choice." Stiles rolled the map between her palms.
"If we don't strike now there may not be another opportunity until after
the spring thaw. Frest's boy said they're housing the Yauld sisters there only
until it warms. Then they're shipping them downstream to Railings for auction.
We'll lose track of them all if we wait."

"It
will be risky to send the newly freed sisters back into their prison,"
countered Evangeline. "They may become impossible to control."

"It's
a chance we'll have to take." Stiles tucked the map into her cloak pocket
and slid her reading spectacles back in her tunic pocket before looking out
over the camp. All the freed sisters still slept. "If we only free one
more it'll be worth the risk."

"I
know." Evangeline looked over to Laszlo who cradled Helaine under her
blanket. "I am sending Laszlo back."

Stiles
agreed. "A wise choice. She's a fine young woman but not the type for
serious battle."

"Yes,"
said Evangeline. "Her mind and body are stressed as it is. I once thought
her capable of such things but not anymore."

"No
need to explain." Stiles patted Evangeline's shoulder. "Might I
suggest we send back her gentlewoman friend as well?"

"My
thoughts exactly," said Evangeline. "Come dusk, they depart."

The
freed sisters were allowed the day to rest, and that evening they were awakened
to the cold of a fireless winter world, but a free one. They huddled with us,
sharing cold rations as Stiles and Evangeline explained the battle plan.
According to their strategy, we were to raid the mine before dawn, taking down
the guards and freeing as many slave sisters as we could. From that point there
should be enough support if fighting broke out, which, Evangeline added, was
probable. Stiles finished the briefing while Evangeline tried to discreetly
inform Laszlo of her last assignment.

Unfortunately,
the entire camp witnessed Laszlo's reaction.

"No!
Master, you need me!" she cried. "Who's going to sharpen your
blades?" She looked up at Evangeline's somber face.

"Your
place is by Helaine's side. See she gets safely into Tekkroon land."

"No,
Master! Please. I'll try harder."

"Hush,
child." Evangeline's gaze became piercing. "Your friend is not safe
here. See to her."

"But
my apprenticeship requires I stay with you."

"I
am your master. I say what is best for you. Do as you are bid, Laszlo Antonia
Targus. Do as you know you should." Evangeline spanned the distance
between them, drawing the smaller woman into her arms. "Save yourself in
the process. This is no place for you, my dear. I know you have seen battle
before and possibly will again, but
this
battle is not for you."
Evangeline raised her apprentice's chin until their eyes met, and she kissed
her on the lips.

Laszlo
blushed beneath her paints and tried to push away. "Master?"

"Shhh."
Evangeline pulled her closer. "You are too precious and fragile a woman to
lose in this senseless battle. Mother knows that." Evangeline's second
kiss was slow and wanton, savoring that which she would never have. "And
so do I."

The
confusion on Laszlo's face deepened. "My apprentice's oath says—"

"As
to that . . ." Evangeline dropped her arms and stepped back, looking over
Laszlo's head toward Helaine. "I release you from your oath, Laszlo
Targus. Our teaching bond is no more."

Tears
began to pool in Laszlo's eyes. "No!" She rushed to Evangeline's feet
and clutched her legs in defiance. "I'll try harder! Do whatever you
require of me. Just please don't do this! Being a Kimshee is all I ever
wanted."

Evangeline
untangled herself from Laszlo's desperate grip and turned away. "No
more."

"Please."

"The
captured nassies have been readied for your journey. The duty cook has a pack
containing rations. Eat properly on your way. Helaine is depending on
you." Evangeline jerked her cloak tail from Laszlo's clinging hands and
walked away. Laszlo cried after her for a moment then drew into silence and,
her head hanging, returned to Helaine's side. They huddled together for a brief
time, sobbing over their lot until Stiles beckoned Laszlo. She spoke to the
young Yaulds then handed Laszlo the ration pack.

"Don't
stop until you reach the covered entrance. The posted watch will help you from
there." Stiles helped them onto their mounts, then gave them quick
instructions on how best to hold on. "Remember my message, Laszlo."
Then she smacked their nassies on their rumps, and the young Yaulds were off,
dissolving into the forest outline. I saw Laszlo look over her shoulder just
before she disappeared, but Evangeline's back was to her. Nothing Laszlo felt
that evening could have equaled the agony I saw on Evangeline's face, no
greater bond has ever been broken in the name of hope.

We
darkened the freed sisters with Yauld paints and gave them weapons. Kaelan
accepted the sword I offered her and sharpened the blade while Stiles divided
us into three groups. "I'll lead team one. Master Evangeline leads two.
Trooper Rankil, you're to lead three." Stiles held out a leader's staff.

I
stiffened and leaned away from the responsibility. "Me, Commander
Stiles?"

"Are
you doubting my choice?" Stiles pushed the staff toward me.

"No.
I'm just surprised."

"Accept
the honor, Rankil." Kaelan sheathed her sword and smoothed the hair back
from her face, tacking it back with a bit of hide. "I'm on team three and
would want no one else but you leading me."

I
didn't quite know what to say. "You flatter me," I finally stammered.
"But I'll accept the post if it's what I am called to do." I took the
staff and returned Stiles's snap salute. "What's the plan?"

Stiles
took the pilta from her mouth and smiled. "We take a note from Evangeline
and her Kimshees. We strike, take and run."

"Thank
the Mother for the absent moon." I flattened against the rock outcrop
where my team crowded. Our first two targets had been easy. One pair of guards
had been passed out drunk, and the second had been too preoccupied with one of
their Yauld prisoners to notice Norlynn's approach. She had descended on them
with such ferocity that they both fell to her blade before either could raise
an alarm. Once she'd been freed of her bindings and lens, the Yauld gentlewoman
had helped her drag the soldiers from sight and Norlynn had instructed her to
take the clothing from one of the dead. She did so swiftly, then disappeared
into the shadows to wait for our return.