Oriana's Eyes (20 page)

Just at this moment, as the footsteps are at their loudest, they attack. Before I can cry out or dash to avoid them, I meet violently with a body. The collision knocks the wind from me, and I am unable to shout a warning to the others. I start to fall backward, but am halted by a firm grasp upon my arms. Once I can breathe again, I inhale, filling my lungs to capacity, and then begin screaming.

 CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

“Run!! Get out of here—they’ve found us!!” I shout to the others, hoping they can escape before we are all taken. The guard has a strong hold on me. I struggle, but he keeps my arms locked at my sides. I kick blindly at his legs. Someone is beside me, trying to help me get free – it’s Azura. She is foolish for not fleeing. It’s too late for me, I’ve already been caught!

“Oriana? Is that you?” The guard … no, the young man speaks.

“Liam!?” Suddenly my arms are free, and I steady myself against him.

“Yes, it’s me.”

“Liam, what are you doing here?” Azura’s voice follows in relief.

“Azura, you were in here for so long … I got worried and came in to look for you,” he explains.

“Then you know the way out?” I hear the slide of Malise’s tired feet and Aaron shuffling beside her.

“Yes, follow me. We must hurry.”

Azura takes my hand, and I assume that Liam has already taken hers. He leads us down the corridor. I’m grateful for not having to concentrate on footsteps, I’m already drained both physically and mentally. It’s nice to be the one being rescued.

We reach a corridor with lamps, and I blink in the sudden brightness. Dropping hands now that we can see each other, Liam reaches for a blunt branch that has been tied around his waist with a sash and lights it off one of the livelier lamps. Before we continue forward, I turn to inspect Aaron, knowing of his injury. I kneel in front of him, trying not to look as concerned as I feel so as not to frighten him further.

“Aaron, are you doing okay?” I ask.

Malise still holds his hand protectively, “Of course he’s not.” I look up to see her eyes welling with tears. I’ve forgotten how young she is herself.

“Then I’ll carry him,” Liam says, blocking Aaron’s gaze on me for a moment as he moves between us. I focus back on Aaron, an odd look in his eyes as he observes me. I am taken aback when I realize he is not the same Aaron I met at the Great Oak; he has changed. They have already changed him. I bite my tongue to suppress a cry.

Azura accepts the lighted torch from Liam. “Here, Aaron, climb on my back; you need to rest.” Aaron’s small arms clasp around Liam’s neck, and he lifts himself to his feet.

We press on through the lit corridor. The tunnels ahead are familiar to me, and I remember the counted steps that follow. With Liam as our guide we make good time and are soon traveling down the final passage that leads to the outside.

The day is brighter than I remember, and I shield my eyes for a moment. After extinguishing the torch in the sand, Azura hands it to Liam, who slings it back through his waistband and starts toward the hill. We must reach the cover of the trees. I allow Malise to walk in front of me so she can keep a close eye on Aaron, who still has his arms clasped around Liam’s neck. Azura hangs back as well to walk beside me, stealing wary glances toward the cave’s mouth as we leave it behind.

Liam is cresting the hill as Azura and I start our climb. With each step toward the trees I breathe easier. The hard part is over; now we must get Aaron back to the Great Oak so his wounds can be tended.

Seeing him and his sister safe leads me to believe I made the right decision. I’ve shown that I can accomplish something great. Yet the thought of losing consciousness within the cave irks me. I wanted to be the one in control, someone dependable and self-reliant. Instead I turned into a dead weight. It troubles me that something so uncontrollable can leave me so helpless.

I watch and openly release a sigh as the others crest the hill. Malise and Aaron are both safe and soon will be far away from the Odonian’s clutches. Aaron ventures a glance backward from his perch upon Liam, his eyes focusing on Azura and me. He seems so different. Perhaps he’s just tired.

My stomach drops as his gaze moves upward, toward the sky directly above us. It is the sight of his face, black eyes widened, mouth gaping, that tells me everything. Malise is shouting at the top of her lungs as I turn to look behind me, only to have my fears confirmed.

A male Winglarion is seconds away. His broad shoulders and the magnificence of his long golden hair and wings in the sunlight might have once been cause for admiration. However, in this moment I know too well his intentions. His wings pummel the air, sending shocks of wind that push Azura and me to our knees. Sand and debris become airborne, and it’s impossible to see clearly.

Between gusts I see his strong arms clamp around Azura in one swift movement and begin lifting her from the ground. Quickly I throw myself at her, clutching her by the waist and trying to be heavier than I actually am. The Winglarion’s wing beats falter but not for long. The astonishing span of them might manage to haul us both away. Azura is struggling, trying to keep him off balance and force him to release her arms.

My eyes and skin are burning from the constant whipping of sand all around me. I feel as though my arms might fall off, but I dare not release Azura. Without my weight, the Winglarion could easily fly away with her. I open my eyes for a moment, desperate to take in the scene around me.

My view is of the sky and a line of Winglarions diving directly toward us. One is a worthy opponent for both Azura and me; if the others reach us, we’ll be gone in a heartbeat. I shut my eyes tightly, hoping it will end, that it is all a dream and I am still in the cave, passed out in the darkness of a corridor. Azura has given a final twist, hoping to wrench herself free, but the energy is wasted. I will not let her be taken alone, I got her into this mess, I will take whatever punishment she must.

In the whistling of wind past my ears I hear a voice. Is it a cry of triumph? Or one of despair? Am I imagining the sound of Dorian’s voice when he discovers I will not be returning to him? No, the shout is real, from someone beside me. I strain my eyes open, squinting in the tornado of dust. Liam leaps through the air at an impossible height. His outstretched hand bears the weight of a wooden club, the torch. His arms are tensely corded as he strikes the back of the Winglarion’s head, rendering him limp and dropping us to the ground.

I scramble free, letting Azura go and getting to my feet. We are not safe yet. Liam tears the winged man’s grip off of Azura and hauls her to her feet in what seems like one movement. Her arms are already bruising from his damaging grip. She is still in shock as we bolt for the woods, forcing Liam to scoop her into his arms. From beside him I watch in awe. His speed never slows, his arms remaining strong and true, carrying this most precious burden. Finley is halfway up the hill, where he takes me by the hand and launches me forward, providing me with the help I need to scale the incline.

Once under cover of the forest, we continue with steady speed through the trees. Finley guides us, whipping past branches that seem to reach for us and score any exposed skin. He narrowly skirts growing obstacles, leaps over tumbling roots at the last second. Our breaths come in heavy bursts, louder than we would like but as quiet as our lungs will allow.

Finley leaps over a downed tree, its roots fanned upward in a network of lifeless shoots. I vault over its side, grateful for the extra lift that Finley’s hand provides. Beyond the trunk I discover a drop much further than I had expected. I hold my breath as I make a crumpled landing, absorbing the shock through my knees. No time to recover; Finley pulls me back, into the shallow crevice beneath the tree’s side.

Jagger and Dugan crouch beside me, pushing Aaron and Malise behind them, forming a protective shield for the two children. Finley pushes me behind him, further into the dampness of soft earth and decaying bark. Azura and Liam slip in beside me, side by side, their hands maintaining a tight grip.

We stay there for a long time, trying to breathe silently, tensing our muscles to avoid the slightest movement. It feels like hours later when Finley emerges from the crevice, easing himself into the sunlight, his face toward the sky. Jaggar and Dugan are next, flanking him. The rest of us follow soon after.

Azura separates from Liam to stand beside me. I feel as though our bond has flourished in a very short time. We have been through so much too quickly. The memory of everything sweeps over me in blurry images.

When I make my own assessment of the sky, I’m relieved to see no more than a distant cloud, innocently gliding toward the horizon. I notice the sun descending toward the west. A steady hike home will get us there in time for dinner.

I search the others for Aaron, remembering his injury and sensing his need for care. Malise supports his arm as he lowers himself to the ground. As I approach, Azura notices my movement and follows. I kneel beside him, trying to get a better look at the damage that had the dark brown hair upon his forehead soaked in blood.

“May I take a look, Aaron?” I ask reaching up to pull back the sweep of bangs and expose the injury.

Aaron nods, but with little energy; he is still losing blood.

Lifting away the plastered hair, I see the result of Aaron’s time spent with the Odonian. A gash, starting from the side of his forehead and slicing through his eyebrow to the corner of his eye, is steadily oozing. Although his eye is presently swollen, I do not see any impairment to his vision as the gash stops abruptly above his lid.

Azura rips at the bottom of her skirt, tearing off a long stretch of fabric. “Are the packs nearby?” she asks anyone.

“Dugan and I grabbed as many as we could.” Jagger walks up to us and raises two bags in one hand.

“Good, get out one of the canteens,” Azura orders as she presses a folded piece of cloth against Aaron’s injury.

Jagger hands her one of the filled canteens from within a pack, after undoing its cap.

Azura pours the contents onto the fabric and applies it to the wound, gently cleaning it. She then pours some slowly into his hair, washing out the layers of blood and grime. Aaron is still and silent, although every few moments his lips tighten in pain. Malise is beside him, holding his hand and remaining quiet even when he squeezes hers too tightly.

Watching them makes me think of my own sister. But Lenora is so far away, perhaps even further internally than physically. I try to picture her face, but I can only imagine parts of it. Her nose, slightly turned up, the gold of her hair … traits that are easy to see because they are so similar to my own. I can only hope that someday it will be possible to put aside our differences, forget our past, and realize how valuable a sister can be.

As Azura is completing her work, I search through the remaining packs, four altogether, and find two relatively full canteens. I hand one to Malise and then the other to Aaron, who both accept them gratefully.

Despite our bodies’ need for further rest, our desire to reach the Great Oak before nightfall soon has us hiking eastward at a quick pace. We take no more breaks, except a short stop to allow Aaron to climb onto Finley’s back. It is sunset when we reach the base of the Great Oak. My lips are parched and my legs ache, but the sight of the magnificent tree is enough to forget all of it. The ladder has already been dropped, and I see two figures descending the many rungs with an urgent speed.

I squint my eyes, attempting to discern the person furthest down the ladder, “Dorian …?”I hurry to close the last distance between us. As Dorian reaches the ground, I see that the following figure is Tor, his height allowing him to look over Dorian to see I am all right. His evaluation is a short one, because I am soon enclosed in Dorian’s strong frame, his arms holding me firmly, taking the weight of my own body away from my weary legs.

I pull away sooner than Dorian must have wished, as my thoughts return to Aaron and his sister. Both are in worse shape than I and need food and rest. Aaron, who had been sleeping upon Finley’s back, his head lolling on one shoulder, is now awake and insistent to be on his own feet. Tor strides quickly to Malise and embraces her with a hug. His large shoulders, which once seemed immovable, collapse in relief at their safety.

“Food and drink have already been laid out for you both in your rooms,” Tor says with a fatherly air.

Malise’s eyes light, the child within shining through, and she heads for the ladder. Aaron follows behind, insisting that he is capable of walking on his own now. Yet I notice his skin has grown paler. Finley starts up the ladder behind them, his gaze steady on Aaron. Jagger and Dugan are right behind him.

The rest of us stay behind, forming a circular group. My stomach drops, for I’m certain that Tor will ask for a full report. He is probably already suspecting something since we arrived later than planned. Azura glances nervously my way but lifts her chin with dignity when Tor addresses her. Liam is at her side, his shoulders drooping with exhaustion. Does she notice his gaze upon her never falters?

“So you’ve made it back in one piece.” Tor ruffles the mess of curls on his head and gives a quick nod, a grin spreading across his face.

Dorian is beside me, slipping his hand in mine and pulling me close so that we touch slightly at the hip.

Azura’s head is still lifted as she replies. “Yes, we made it,” she says simply.

Tor eyes her, trying to read the unwavering expression on her face. Yet Azura is too stubborn to let any evidence of our mishaps show. Tor develops a new strategy. He turns to me.

I feel my eyes widen. I know Dorian is directly beside me. He will be furious when he learns what we faced. He might never let me leave the Great Oak again. Despite my years at the University, I know I’ve never mastered the art of remaining expressionless. Now my eyes betray me once again.