Tempest Rise (revised edition 10/2013) (Treborel) (31 page)

‘No, don’t say that. Just leave me alone.” She turned away from him
, fighting the image that crept into her mind of her grandmother saying goodbye. Why hadn’t she realized that before? That she had comforted her and then said goodbye, before the image in her dreams had vanished. Before she could react to her realization and apologize to Andru, the nursery door opened and Connor entered with a dark gray, fur lined cape in his hands.

“I see you two are still arguing.” He
commented quietly, as he held the cape out to Lysette. “If you still wish for a breath of fresh air, I would be happy to escort you.”

Resisting the urge to glance back at Andru, Lysette shoved their previous conversation to the back of her mind
, and accepted the cape without comment.  She felt the pressure of the syringe she had placed in her shoe, as she donned the garment, she was grateful she hadn’t removed it. Stepping aside, Connor allowed Lysette to precede him through the doorway, stopping only to lock the nursery door behind them, before they proceeded down the hall to the living area.

One guard stood watch over Andru and the twins
, as they moved toward freedom. Once across the living area, there was only a small entrance way and they were out in the brisk night air. Scanning the exterior of the lodge as discretely as possible, Lysette made a note of anything that could assist in their escape. Only one soldier stood at the door outside the entranceway, snapping to attention as Commander Connor appeared. The cold, harsh wind hit Lysette as they cleared the shelter of the lodge. Pulling the cloak closer around her, she noted the distance between the lodge and the stables.

“The mountains are very cold at night.” Connor whispered into her ear
, pulling her close beside him. “The higher altitudes are kept warm by the sun.  The upper atmospheric storms are more prevalent this time of the year, especially here in the mountains.” He watched her closely as she looked up toward the dark cloudy sky. “It's a pity there are no stars tonight. If the sky was clear you would see the fullness of the moon through the trees.”

Guiding her across the clearing toward the stables, Lysette could just make out the silhouette of a soldier hidden in the doorway. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness
, she discovered another soldier perched in the trees two hundred meters from the lodge. He guarded the faint trail they had followed into the camp.  Noting her interest Connor explained, “There were too many men lost to the sraebs during evening guard duty. The beasts attack so silently and quickly, that we wouldn’t realize a soldier died until the next change of shift. The platform slows their attack, as a result I haven’t last a man in nearly two weeks.”

Pulling her back toward the side of the stables
, Connor let his hand slip down her back until it rested on the side of her hip. Gritting her teeth, she indulged him as he began to relax. Lysette was counting on his confidence that she would not attempt an escape in his presence.

He continued, “I’ve spent a great deal of time hunting the sraeb. They die gloriously, if given the opportunity. The Treborelans knew the proper procedures to enjoy the hunt.
The laser rifle proves too powerful, the animals die too quickly. Yet the standard crossbow is also less of a challenge. It is possible to kill a sraeb instantly with the large bolts at close range. I prefer my smaller crossbow. It lengthens the chase, and infuriates the beast into battle.”

His crossbow, Lysette wanted that bow. Saying a silent prayer that he kept it in his quarters
, she glanced around once more, before they disappeared around the corner of the building. Commander Connor said, “We mustn’t wander too far from the central area. The sraebs are still abundant and hungry.” Connor flashed an evil smile. 

His
comment was so casual, so sickly sweet, Lysette felt her insides turn as cold as the freezing winds that assaulted her. Assuring herself that there was no way, he could know of her plans, Lysette changed the course of the conversation saying, “You were telling me about the use of your crossbow. How many of the small bolts does it take to kill a sraeb?”

“As many as I like.” His soft voice accented the sadistic smile that appeared
, as he stopped and pulled her against him in the darkness.

“It’s very cold, I’d like to sample that wine now. “She whispered
, smiling seductively as her stomach turned into knots.

Without a word
, he led her back across the compound and into the lodge. As they reached his suite, she turned to him, pressing her body against his asking, “You enjoy watching them die, don’t you?”

“Does that shock you?” He answered looking down at her.

“It should, but it doesn’t.” She smiled and walked through the door into the living area.

Panic suddenly flared
, as she approached the long sofa and forced herself to remove the warm cape. Connor took it from her arms and draped it over the far end, removing his dark, gray coat and sitting beside her, he poured two glasses of wine and offered her one.

She said, “It's been so long since I’ve had anything stronger than water to drink.”  Lysette smiled taking the glass, “I’m afraid this will go straight to my head.”

“Perhaps if the night goes well, I could arrange to have a bottle sent with your evening meals.” Connor raised his glass to his lips, taking a long drink of the sparkling white wine.

Lysette took a deep breath to stay calm a
t his remark. She watched and waited for her one chance for freedom. Shifting her foot slightly to reassure herself once more that the syringe was still in its place inside her slipper, she took a sip. It warmed her instantly.

Sitting his now empty glass on the small table
, Connor pulled Lysette against him. Feeling the bile rise in her throat as he kissed her, Lysette thought only of escape. His hand grasped her breast roughly, and she gritted her teeth against the pain pretending to enjoy it. Pulling him closer, she lay back on the sofa as he followed. Concentrating on the syringe in her slipper instead of his exploring hands, Lysette slipped it off silently, sliding it along the floor with her foot until it was within reach.

“You are a beautiful sensual woman, Lysette.” Connor whispered in her ear.  “If you please me I may let you live.”

His words hardened her. His mouth tasted her neck, and trailed down her throat as she reached for her weapon. He found the softness of her breasts and revealed them with one tearing jerk, as she shoved the needle deep into the side of his throat. He collapsed before the pain even registered, and fell with his full weight on top of Lysette. Shoving him onto the floor, Lysette held back a sob of anger, fear and revulsion. She forced herself to her feet, and pulled her torn clothes back together. Gasping in an effort to maintain control, she looked down at Connors still form, and recalled what Andru had said about the demon below her. How he had destroyed the minds of William and Elsebeth.

She almost wished she had brought enough medicine in the syringe to kill him.  Forcing her eyes from
him, she searched the suite, finding several long bows on a shelf in the main closet. Taking the bow and two full quivers of arrows, she headed back to where Connor lay. She searched his jacket, he must have a weapon. He wouldn’t have gone outside with a pistol or rifle. She found a small laser pistol in his pocket. Moving quickly to search his clothes for the key to the nursery, she stuffed the pistol back inside, and took the jacket. Gathering the weapons and her cape, she headed for the door.

The main corridor was silent
, as she moved cautiously toward the living area.  She silently crossed the room and peered around the corner of the small hall that led to the nursery. The guard stood at the end of the hall facing her, as he leaned against the wall beside the door half asleep. “Don’t think about it.”  She told herself as she notched the arrow on the bowstring, and pulled it back into place.  Time seemed to stop as she raised the weapon, aimed, and fired sending the arrow into the soldier's heart. She wasn’t certain if the scream she had heard was only her head, or had actually come out of him as she ran down the hall to free Andru.

No one came as she unlocked the door in the silence of the corridor. Not looking at the dead soldiers face, she stepped over him and opened the door.  Andru stood at the door
, his face pale as he held Arbus wrapped in a series of blankets. He looked down into the dead soldiers' blank eyes in shock.

“What did you think I was going to do? Seduce him too?” Lysette snapped at him, pushing the horror out of her mind. “Don’t look at him
, it helps.” Her voice softened, and she offered him the jacket and a pistol. Lysette took Arbus from Andru, and he pulled the jacket on as they headed down the hall. Finding the kitchen Andru took Arbus back, and Lysette stuffed the pillowcase he had brought with him with bread, cheese, and a small piece of cooked meat she found in the cooler.

“Are you alright?” Andru whispered as they moved across the living area and headed for the
entranceway.

“There’s a guard outside the entrance. I’ll get his attention and you silence him.” Lysette ordered, not able to look at him. It was too hard, she was afraid that if she let go of her anger and hatred now
, she wouldn’t be able to do what she knew she must.

The soldier stood in the small sheltered area in front of the glass doors outside the entrance
, seeking shelter from the cold wind. Hearing a muffled cry from behind him, he turned to see Lysette huddled against the wall inside. Opening the door, he moved slowly toward her, not seeing the hand that reached out and touched the back of his head. He felt a slight pressure then darkness took him.

Lysette looked up curiously at Andru as she rose from the floor, he said, “He’ll sleep for about two days.” Andru shrugged, “I got a little carried away.”

“Stay here until I signal for you.” Lysette ordered, stepping over the sleeping soldier and moving through the doors.

Crouching next to the entrance, she brought the bow sights up on the guard at the stable entrance. ‘Don’t think about it’ the voice came again and she pulled the trigger release as the wind ceased for only a moment. Once
again, the arrow sunk deep into the guard’s heart, and Lysette sank back deeper into the shadows waiting for a shout of alarm as he sank to the ground. None came.

Turning her attention to the guard on his perch across the compound
, she realized the distance was nearly two hundred meters instead of the one hundred and eighty meters she had thought before. Taking a deep breath, she aimed high knowing the arrow would fall fast at that distance. She saw the guard turn and look directly at her as she released the arrow. It struck him in the throat and he fell from the platform in silence.

Andru appeared at her side, saying, “Someone’s coming.” His whisper was urgent and he grabbed her arm to pull her toward the stables
, as the sounds of alarm rang from the guards inside as the soldiers' bodies were found. Throwing open the stable doors, Lysette threw saddles on the two nearest horses, and they mounted and sped out into the darkness. The moon was still hidden behind the dark layer of clouds above them. As the pure darkness of the night enveloped them, they dove into the woods in the direction that Andru could only hope was north. The sounds of the compound grew silent behind them, as they urged the horses on through the thick trees and brush.

Minutes seemed like hours as they fought the wind and stumbled down into ravines and back out again. Suddenly Andru disappeared from directly in front of
Lysette in the darkness. She heard the horse scream as it fell into a deep ravine. Andru dove off the horse, falling into a ball in a desperate attempt to protect Arbus, who was strapped to his chest inside his jacket. Jumping from her horse, Lysette searched the night or Andru. There was only silence from below as she descended slowly, feeling her way to the bottom.

“Andru!”
Her frightened voice called softly as she searched, “Please answer me!”

“Here, Lysette.” He called from the blackness surrounding her. Moving forward she found him lea
ning over the dead horse. Andru’s head was bleeding from a large gash in his temple, Arbus whimpered from the sling inside his jacket. “Arbus is fine, the horse broke his neck.” Andru whispered.

“We’ve got to keep moving.” Lysette answered
, as she helped them back up the steep slope. “Are you alright?”

“I’m ok, but we’ve got to slow the pace.” He answered
, struggling to pull himself over the edge of the ridge.

Reaching the top
, Lysette searched for the horse and found it huddled in the shelter of some trees not too far off. Climbing on the horse, they headed slowly around the ravine as a thrashing sound came from below.

“Sraeb!”
Andru’s whisper was full of fear. “It must have heard the horses scream.” He urged their nervous horse to move quickly, as they fought to open the gap between them and the hungry beast.

Searching the immediate area
, the soldiers found no sign of Lysette or Andru, other than the path of the brush, which they had trampled on their way into the trees. After discovering Commander Connor, it took nearly an hour to revive him. He growled orders for the pursuit to his reluctant soldiers, whose fear of the sraeb was nearly as great as for their commander. Suddenly a shout came of intruders emerging from the trees on the west side.