Warrior Rogue (The Drift Lords Series) (12 page)

Her hands bloody, Jen stared at him. She had just killed a man.

Not a man. A Trollek.

Two Trolleks, to be exact.

Left alive, they would have beaten or tortured her and Paz to death or given them over to others who would do the same.

Paz.
She had to find him. Their only hope of escape was to stay together.

She rushed to the sink, washed her hands thoroughly and shook them dry. Then she flew out the door and down the stairs.

****

Paz rolled on the hard dirt floor, curled in on himself, and groaned. He’d just regained consciousness back in the dungeon and wished he hadn’t. Every cell in his body flared with pain. He reeked of sweat and vomit, his body’s defense against the invasion. He shivered with horror at what they’d done to him.

He hadn’t talked, revealing nothing after the korporal inserted the squiggly creatures into his nostrils while he lay strapped down and helpless to resist. So he’d resisted the way he’d been trained, with his mind.

As pinching, shooting pains traveled along his nerves, he had envisioned Jen, her wavy black hair unfurled, her dewy brown eyes wide, a sexy smile on her lips. He’d heard his own screams in the background as though they belonged to someone else. He’d also heard the korporal’s persistent voice in his ear, urging him to spill information from his tongue. The noises washed over him, unable to touch him in his private place.

Blessedly, he’d passed out amid promises of worst torments to come.

He must have been granted a reprieve to wake up here.

“Some water?” Smitty’s gravelly voice said.

He lifted his head, noticing a lantern in the corner. The guards must have left it there by mistake.

Smitty knelt beside him, holding out a dented pewter mug. Paz accepted his offer and drank greedily. The dwarf had to have saved his own ration for Paz. He vowed inwardly to make it up to the fellow later.

“Thanks.” His thirst quenched, he pushed away the mug.

“What did they want?” Smitty’s eyes gleamed in the dim light.

“Information. I didn’t talk.”

“Used the worms on you, did they?” Smitty shook his head while Paz struggled to a sitting position. “I’m sorry to say I took one look at those nasty things and fainted. That’s all it took to get me to cooperate. You won’t tell anyone, will you? As far as you know, I withstood days of torture before I cracked.”

“Don’t worry, my lips are sealed.”

The dwarf thrust his chin forward. “It takes courage to face each day in this place, and I’ve been here for months.”

“Yes, you’re very brave, Smitty.” Paz gave him a curious glance. “What do they want with you, anyway?”

Smitty glanced away. “We used to create magic objects for the gods in the old days. Now the Trolleks force me to turn bricks into gold. They need it for commerce in your world.”

“Really? I thought alchemy was just a myth. You happen to have any tools on you?”

Smitty gave him a sly grin. “As a matter of fact, I stole a chisel. I’ve been digging a tunnel. It’s slow going, and my back is killing me. Now that you’re here, you can help.”

“I’ll do better than that. We can use your tool to bust the lock on the door. It’s pretty rusty.”

“And pretty secure. I already tried.” Smitty stroked his bearded jaw. “There’s a wooden bar on the other side. We wouldn’t be able to lift it, even if we were able to dislodge the lock. And the only way they provide food is through that hinged door on the bottom.”

“Hmm.” Paz considered their options. He could pretend to be sick or dead and have Smitty summon assistance. But the guards might be wary of that old trick.

He could attack next time they came to drag him out for interrogation, but he wouldn’t have much chance against their shock sticks without a weapon of his own. Besides, he couldn't wait that long. Who knew what they were doing to Jen in the interim? He couldn’t even go there. Thinking of her being interrogated would derail him.

“I have an idea. Isn’t pure gold very malleable? What if you turn the door into gold, and we kick it in?”

Smitty shook his head. “Too thick. Wouldn’t work.”

“Can you change the lock into a thin layer of gold so I could punch it out with your chisel?” He rose and hobbled to the door to peer at the circular mechanism. “I think I could reach my hand through there. I might be able to move the bar on the other side.”

Smitty raised an eyebrow. “If you fail, you’ll bring the guards down on us. Two of them are stationed in the ward room beyond the outer door.”

“So you’ll say I forced you to do it, and I’ll take the blame.”

“If we succeed, we’ll still have to deal with the guards.”

Paz tapped his chin. “Let’s wait for mealtime. That’s when they’ll open the outer door and be vulnerable.”

“How do you plan to get off the island?”

“I’ll swim if I have to.” His brow wrinkled. “We can worry about that later. Do your thing on the door lock, my friend.”

Smitty held up a hand. “I still think tunneling is the best option. There’s less chance of getting caught.”

“Fine, you can stay here and dig after I leave.”

“Nuh uh.” Smitty glared at him. “If you go, I go. You’re taking me with you. And I’ll only use my gift for something in return.”

“Are you crazy? I’m not bargaining. Either you’re with me or you’re not.”

“That’s the way it works, bozo.” Smitty stooped over to rub his toe. He wore short boots with pointy ends. “Ow, my arthritis is acting up. This dampness just aggravates it.”

Like you aggravate me.
“If I bring you along, there are two conditions.” Paz folded his arms across his chest. Two could play the same game.

“What’s that?” Smitty eyed him suspiciously.

“I still have to locate the rift. Do you know anything about it?”

The bearded dwarf nodded. “There’s some sort of transfer station near the main keep. I pass it on my way to the forge. Trolleks are always coming and going there, new faces each time.”

“I have to find Jen and then check that out before I leave.”

Smitty’s mouth tightened. “We’ve gotta be out of here before they sound the alarm.”

“Let’s just do it.” Paz’s patience was strung taut.

Smitty gave him a sly glance. “I’ll take your belt buckle. It’ll make a nice addition to my collection back home.”

“What?”

“You heard me. I want your buckle in exchange for my turning the lock into gold. Give it to me! Give it to me!” Smitty hopped from foot to foot.

“Be quiet, you’ll alert the guards.” Paz slid the buckle off his belt and handed it over. “There, are you happy?”

Smitty stuck the shiny item into his baggy pants pocket. Then he lumbered toward the door.

“This requires concentration. Don’t interrupt.”

Waving his hands in front of the door lock, Smitty squeezed his eyes shut and recited a string of unintelligible words. Dust glittered in the air and settled on the lock. Before Paz’s astonished gaze, the mechanism changed to gold.

“Good work. Now where’s that chisel?” Paz asked.

A solid
thwunk
was all it took to push out the soft metal. It left a hole big enough for him to wriggle his hand through. Twisting his body, he reached upward. His fingers felt the solid wood bolt on the other side.

“Ugh, it’s heavy.” His muscles strained as he strove to dislodge it. Pain flared along his nerves as a thousand pinpricks stabbed his flesh. He broke off, sweat beading his brow.

“Don’t quit now,” Smitty urged. “You’re probably feeling the toxin left over from the worms. They’ve dissolved in your body, but their poison takes longer to wear off. Keep going.”

Gritting his teeth, Paz tried again. This time, he managed to lift the bolt. It fell with a heavy thud to the dirt-packed ground. The hinges creaked when he pushed the door open.

“Come on. We’ll wait for the guards to bring our meal. Then we’ll make our move.”

Smitty waddled after him out of their prison to the dingy lane between cells. “Good thing these old places don’t have surveillance cameras.”

“So we hope. Keep your voice down.”

They crept toward the door at the far end, staying in the shadows. Hours passed while they waited, crouched against the walls. Paz caught himself dozing off a couple of times, twinges of pain waking him.

Finally, a rattle sounded followed by a couple of clunks. The dungeon door banged open, and two guards trudged through. The first one carried a tray with nourishment. The second Trollek held a laser carbine.

Smitty jumped on the first one’s back and hammered at him with his chisel. Paz attacked the armed guard and kicked the weapon out of his hand.

With a snarl, the Trollek lashed out with his fists. Paz blocked his blows. He leapt and spun, kicking out and landing a foot in the beast’s solar plexus. The Trollek grunted.

As the beast doubled over, Paz jabbed his elbow at the guy’s nose. The Trollek dodged and lunged at him. Paz’s muscles ached, and his lungs burned, but he fought back until the right opening came and he snapped the beast’s neck.

He glanced at Smitty. The dwarf had floored the other fellow. Not bad for a little guy.

“Come on.” He gestured toward the open door. “Let’s go find Jen.”

Chapter Nine

Paz ran into Jen by an outdoor courtyard where confounded humans carried supplies from building to building. His gaze took in the torn strap on her dress, the bruises on her face, and the needlestick on her arm. Rage swept through him followed swiftly by concern.

“Jen! Thank the stars. I was coming after you. Are you all right? What did they do to do?”

“Nothing worse than what they did to you. Algie wanted a blood sample. I took the bandage off. It was itching me.” Her mouth tightened when she noted his hunched posture. “Can you walk okay? You were being beaten when I saw you last.”

He imagined he wasn’t a pretty sight. His body ached all over. “I’ll be all right. Who hurt you?”

“No worries. I took care of him.” She glanced away.

He tilted her chin toward him. “What is it?”

“I-I killed him. I couldn’t help it. Bosk would have hurt me.” Her eyes flooded with tears.

“It’s okay, Jen. You can tell me later. We’d better get out of here.”

Sunlight glinted off her diamond earrings, and he realized morning had arrived a number of hours ago. Paz wondered why the Trolleks hadn’t taken her jewelry. Maybe they preferred gold, or like him, regarded the gems as worthless kewa stones.

A throat cleared behind them. “Ahem. Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

“Oh. Sorry. Jen, this is Smitty.” He waved the dwarf forward. “He was in the dungeon with me. I promised to take him with us when we escape the island.”

Jen gave his friend a wan smile. “Nice to meet you.”

Smitty grinned, exposing a row of tiny white teeth. “Don’t let my size fool you. I’m second cousin to King Tiberius of the Dwarf Realm, and I hold the rank of Chief Courier.”

“O-kay.” Jen’s eyebrows lifted as she regarded him.

“You can only see me because I got caught.” He clenched his jaw. “Normally, we’re not visible to humans.”

Paz poked him. “You’re free to go on your own if you want. You might be better off without us, especially if you can turn invisible.”

Smitty kicked a pebble on the ground. “I can’t. They cut my hair. It blunted my powers, all except for the one thing they needed from me.” His eyes brightened as he examined Jen. “Nice, shiny stones you’re wearing. I like them. Give them to me!”

“Stop it, Smitty, they belong to her.” Paz glowered at him. “I have to find the source of the cors particles, remember? Take us to that transfer station you mentioned.”

“What, we’re not leaving?” Jen gazed at him askance. “At any moment, the soldiers will sound an alarm that we’ve escaped. We’ll never get through all those gates in time, if we can even find our way to the exit. We have to go now.”

He compressed his lips. “I will not forsake my mission. You and Smitty can head for the main gate. I’ll catch up to you later.”

“I don’t think so.” She lifted her chin in that stubborn manner he recognized. “It’s all for one and one for all, boys.” At their puzzled looks, she explained. “We’re in this together. You stay, we stay.”

He gritted his teeth. “So be it. Smitty, lead on.”

They evaded detection as they wound through a series of twisting paths and outbuildings. At the sight of one set of heavy iron doors, Jen gasped and clutched his arm.

“That’s Tent Ten. It’s where they took me.”

“Keep moving.” He didn’t ask questions. They’d exchange stories later—if they made it out of here.

He needed to find the rift and determine how the Trolleks kept it open. He’d already decided he would not destroy any of the portals until he’d identified the main gate from their world to this one. If it linked to a worldwide network, then taking down the primary might topple the rest.

“There’s the transfer station.” Smitty drew them into the shadow of a wall where they watched a number of Trolleks coming and going through an arched door into a nearby building.

A siren wailed. The soldiers took off at a run for the keep.

Paz spoke in a low tone. “They must have discovered our escape. This is our chance to get inside.”

He waited until the Trolleks stopped pouring from the open door before they scuttled inside. Past several arches and empty rooms, they came to a place with a loud ratcheting noise and a vibration underfoot. The odor of cors particles was so strong it roiled his stomach. He stifled the bile rising in his throat.

Two rounded, raised platforms consumed most of the chamber. Each one had an arched canopy supported by four columns. Cables snaked every which way across the floor. One column at each site held a control panel.

Using his PIP, Paz recorded the readings on each console for the last set of coordinates.

“Look,” Jen said, pointing, “there’s an opening in the floor.”

He strode over to where she’d indicated. Through a gap, a spiral stone staircase led to a lower level.

“Wait here, I’m going to see where this leads. You and Smitty stand guard. Yell down to me if you hear anyone coming.”