Whatever they were planning, we were not going to be there to witness it. Azmx still wanted us to go out through the tunnel and make our way to safety while she and her people were regaining their strength.
“I do not know how long full revitalization will take, and your absence and the uncertainty of your fate is taking a heavy toll on those who care for you. The infant prince grows fretful also, and it is in the interests of all that he and the other royal seedling be reunited with their parents as soon as possible.”
While Challa was making her way down to us, I took a closer look at Kadi. He had been cranky, and now seemed a bit listless. He liked me, and the others too, but must have been starting to view us as a poor substitute for his mother. Or Lyetta. Or maybe even Mux.
“That was a very dangerous thing to do, Challa,” Simon admonished when Challa came back to us, pleased with her accomplishment. “You mustn’t be so reckless.”
I could scarcely believe what I was hearing. “Says the boy who was going to run across a boggy field without looking and took off like a snurbok in full stride to find out what was going to happen with Drazok when he got here!”
“That was different.”
“No, it wasn’t.”
“Maybe now you know how we feel when you behave foolhardily,” said Arlyne.
Simon glared at both of us and was making ready to give reply when Azmx called our attention back to her.
“The Supreme Ruler’s people are looking for your enemies as well as you. Though Drazok believes you to be trapped in here, he will still be watching for approaching patrols. If you were to try to descend to the valley along one of this mountain’s paths you could come to his attention. You must therefore cross over to the next mountain by way of a naturally-formed bridge. The path you will come out onto leads to this bridge and once over it you can follow another path down into the valley, where vegetation will provide you with cover until you can return to the river. By following it downstream, as you were doing before you came under attack, you will eventually reach the restricted zone’s boundary posts and your rescuers’ base camp, which is nearby.”
“Just like it was for Taz,” I said.
“The one for him was further along, adjacent to the point at which he entered the wilderness. The one for you is near the crash site of your spacecraft. You will know you are getting close when you see a lone mountain with barren wasteland all around. For centuries it has marked the beginning of hostile terrain and was once the point at which those guilty of some transgression were cast into exile.”
“They have a planet for that now,” I told her. “Drazok escaped from it.”
“He will wish he had not.”
Again, that shivery sensation.
“I believe I saw such a mountain in the distance when we were in Chorathase on Beom’s Day,” said Jip. “It seemed oddly isolated.”
“An attraction for those who desire solitude. For others, the whole of Chorathase’s restricted zone holds attraction.” Her leaves rustled in what might have been the plant version of an exasperated sigh. “Prince Mardis seems particularly drawn to it and frequently requires our protection.”
And there was Verim thinking he just led a charmed life, I thought.
“I’m sure he’d love to meet you,” I said. “But I guess you don’t want us to tell anyone about you. You’d rather have the Shield of Beom remain a mystery.”
Azmx’s reply was not immediate. After giving it some thought, she said, “No. No more mystery. If such as Drazok knows about the First Nation of Cholar, it is time for all descendants of the Second Nation to be made aware of us again. Though we would appreciate limitations being put on actual contact.”
She then returned to the subject of our upcoming trek through hostile surroundings. “Until our strength returns, we cannot offer you as much protection as before, but there is something you can take with you to warn you of approaching danger, such as a bog, and make you unappealing to Chorathase’s predatory species.”
“Even taiskels?” I inquired.
“Even taiskels.” She waved a leaf upwards. “Break off the ends of some of the stalactites. Choose from among the smallest of those which glow. Keep them with you in a secure place and you will be assured a safe journey, as well as the strength to make it.”
We did as she said, each of us tucking a little piece of stalactite into the chambers of our belts. Challa and Kadi didn’t have belts in which to put any kind of talisman, but according to Azmx, they just had to be near someone who did. And since one of us would be carrying Kadi, and another holding very tightly to the hand of the impetuous Challa, any benefits the things had to offer would be extended to them.
A vitzi led us to the tunnel. It was quite narrow and the opening in the side of the mountain as small as advertised, but except for Kirsty — who is by no means fat but is built more substantially than the rest of us — we got through it quite easily.
The last to go through, she found it a bit snug.
“Och! Crivvens! I think I’m stuck.”
“Speak quietly,” Jip warned as I went to help her free our friend. “Drazok is on the other side of the mountain, but he might have sound sensors in place.”
Kirsty was almost out when she suddenly gave another, even louder, “Och!”, accompanied by Kadi’s name.
Irritated, I started to reproach her. “Jip just said to be qui—”
“Kadi,” she whispered, frantically pointing down the path.
But Arlyne and Simon were already running.
I’d put Kadi down to help Kirsty, and something along the path must have caught his attention, because he was making his way along it as fast as his hands and knees would take him. Delighted with his newly-acquired skill, he looked happier than he had for days.
“Great,” I muttered, grabbing Challa before she could follow. “Now you start to crawl.”
“Azmx won’t let him fall off the mountain,” Challa said confidently.
“Shh,” Jip implored.
Arlyne and Simon both got to him at the same time. When Arlyne snatched him up, he soon let it be known he did not appreciate having his first venture into independent mobility curtailed.
And I’d thought Challa had a temper!
Even she looked shaken by her small sibling’s outpouring of rage and reached for my hand as Jip moved in to quell it with her Vorlan calming technique. It worked, though, and as soon as Kirsty had been extricated we made our way to the natural bridge as quietly as we could. I didn’t, upon reflection, really think any kind of sensors were likely to function in Chorathase but agreed it was better not to take chances.
From the next mountain we could see the wasteland we’d been told to make for, but first had to get down to the river so it could guide us there. After filling our water bottles, we went inland a bit but again kept the river in sight and followed it as instructed. The little pieces of stalactite proved as effective as Azmx said they would and, with increased stamina, no air cars in pursuit of us, nothing trying to devour us, and early warning of anything else that was out to get us, we made good time. By late afternoon we reached the wasteland and, much to our surprise — and, okay, joy and relief — saw the last escape pod from the space zoomer sitting in the dirt. Nate and Leo had got out after all.
They weren’t there, of course, having been close enough to the recreational zone to have been spotted and picked up by a rescue patrol.
We went on in high spirits but, for me, they didn’t last. Even though the boundary posts were just beyond the lone mountain, and there was a good chance we might get to them before nightfall, I started to feel nervous.
“It can’t be this easy,” I declared when we stopped at the base of the mountain to take a short break.
“And why not?” Kirsty wanted to know.
“It just can’t.”
“Och, you’re just a cynic, Meda.”
“Maybe not,” said Simon, pointing back the way we’d come.
An air car was making for us. The same air car that had chased us before.
Jip was already holding Kadi, so Kirsty snatched up Challa and we ran for the mountain. It didn’t have a lot of vegetation but the path up it was both narrow and winding, and tall outcroppings made it difficult for the men in the air car to get a clear shot at us. They kept trying though, forcing us further and further up the mountain until, a little more than halfway up, the path suddenly widened, and we found ourselves on a stretch with no cover. Seeing their chance, Drazok’s men closed in, but the pilot came at us too fast and lost control. The air car slammed into the side of the mountain and then hurtled to the ground.
Simon, Arlyne, and I knelt and peered over the edge. No one climbed out of the smouldering wreckage. If the men inside had survived, they were in no shape to come after us.
The others had stayed back, with Jip holding on to Challa, and Kirsty to Kadi, who now crawled off at speed every time he was set down. Hurrying over to them, we were just about to give them a report on the crash when a second, smaller, air car swooped down from a hidden spot behind the mountain.
Much to our dismay, this part of the path was roomy enough for it to land on, and land it did. Moments later, Drazok stepped out of it with a liquidator pointed straight at us. “Try to run and I will fire above you and bring a good part of this mountain down on your heads.” Then, without turning around, he spoke to the pilot, who was still inside. “Return to the Zguri’s mountain and pick up your comrade. You can come for me later, when I have finished my business here.”
“You do not require assistance, Your Highness?”
“To deal with these meddlesome children and our illustrious monarch’s small, and so satisfyingly helpless, progeny? Most assuredly not. The pleasure of bringing about their long-overdue demise shall be all mine.”
“As you wish, Your Highness.”
“Surprised to see me?” Drazok inquired as the air car departed. “Sound reverberates in the mountains. I was listening for the approach of rescue patrols, but instead heard the shrieks of an irate infant. Though disappointed you had escaped, I assumed you would make for the nearest point at which you could enter the safe confines of the recreational zone. I gave you time to get tantalizingly close and then followed, leaving but one man guarding the Zguri’s cave. I didn’t think any more would be required. Plants would not be able to get out the same way you did. However that was.”
“Trade secret,” I said.
“They should be close to their end by now. As you are to yours. I quite enjoyed watching you being chivvied up here from my hiding place above. The crash was unfortunate. I regret it. Just as I regret the loss of the men who fell prey to the local plant life, but they were all loyal fellows, and prepared to die in my service. By the way, did you find it strange to hear me addressed as, ‘Your Highness?’”
“No,” I replied. “We know you’re of the House of Jexl and have designs on the Supreme Rulership. Designs you’ve always had. Even back when you were supposedly trying to put Prince Mardis on the throne.”
“A mere formality. I knew he had no desire for it. Had I succeeded in making him Supreme Ruler, I would have relieved him of the burden by revealing my royal heritage and persuading him to abdicate, naming me his chosen successor. A simple enough task.”
Knowing the prince could be commanding when he wanted to, I seriously doubted that, but let Drazok keep his delusions.
“Shortly afterwards, an accident would have been arranged. Just as insurance. And another for the High Prince and his family, lest people try to rise in their favour.” He gave a thin smile. “It goes without saying my claim to the throne would have met with opposition, but I’m sure the common herd could have been appeased by my marrying into the revered House of Beom and giving them other little royal heirs to adore. The Princess Dalara would have been a good choice. She has proved herself fruitful, and her husband could easily have been removed from my path.”
“She’d have died first,” I said. I’d only met her twice but was pretty sure of the statement.
“Oh, I think not. She would have wanted to remain alive to protect her offspring. The child’s seven, I believe. Still of an age to be prone to mishap.” He laughed. “Or perhaps I would have waited a few years and taken her as my bride.”
Kirsty stared at him. “You’re insane. Outright, certifiably, insane. I dinna think you were before. No. Before you were just an everyday, run-of-the-mill, black-hearted villain, but now? Well, now I’m for telling you, you’re insane.”
“I assure you I am not. But if I were, is it any wonder? Spending my days tilling the soil like the peasants of old and at night crawling into a miserable den even an animal would eschew?”
“Even that was too good for you,” Simon said contemptuously.
Drazok’s free hand shot out, delivering a blow that knocked my brother to the ground.
Incensed, Challa flew at Drazok, pummelling him with her tiny fists. This unexpected attack caught him off guard. He stepped back, tripped over something, and overbalanced, dropping the liquidator as he fell. I leapt forward and kicked it over the edge, barely noticing when it exploded somewhere below.
The blood of the Brents now being up, Arlyne joined the offensive. Grabbing a large rock, she drew it back to her shoulder and stood over Drazok with a far fiercer expression than I would once have thought her capable.
“You move, and I’ll bounce this off your head. No one hits my little brother.”
“You tell him, Sis,” Simon said, getting shakily to his feet. “Way to go. Both of you.”
“And me,” said Challa.
“And you,” Simon agreed.
But Drazok did move. Challa was still close to him and, lunging forward, he seized her and pulled her up against his chest, pinning her in such a way she couldn’t kick, hit, or bite him. (She tried all three.)
Drazok gave Arlyne a cold look. “Going to risk striking this little savage, are you, girl?”
Arlyne shook her head and let go of the rock.
“Good.”
As Drazok struggled to get up, one of his hands slipped enough for Challa to sink her teeth into it. He swore, but didn’t loosen his hold on her until, taking advantage of this distraction, Simon tackled him and knocked him down again. He did drop Challa then, and I yanked her clear of him. Swearing with even greater vigour, Drazok heaved himself up and snatched at Simon, who quickly rolled out of reach. We all then stepped well back from Drazok, Arlyne having retrieved her rock and Kirsty and me in possession of two more.
He glared at us, his face as hard as the mountain at his back.
“Go on, then,” he jeered. “Do you really think I am afraid of a group of rock throwing children? Really think that such a crude form of assault will keep me from exterminating every last one of you?”
“Aye, we do,” said Kirsty. “There are quite a few of us, and you’ve not so much as one of your henchmen with you.”
Drazok smiled. A chilling smile.
“That may be so, my dear, but I learned to be quite self-reliant on Prexath. And prepared for any eventuality.”
In a flash, he pulled another liquidator out from under his tunic and levelled it at us.
“No more talking, my fiendish little foes. No more games. I shall forego the pleasantly anticipated hours of fear and pain I intended to subject you and the royal bratlings to and dispose of you swiftly, here and now.”
But before we could even brace ourselves, a wind suddenly came up from out of nowhere. A strong, swirling wind. A whirlwind; visible, like a mini-tornado. By-passing us, it went straight for Drazok, making an indescribable sound that obliterated any he might have made when slowly, inexorably, it engulfed him, carried him over the edge, and tossed him up, down, and all around, until, suddenly, he was gone.
And not plummeting down to the ground gone.
Just…gone.
The Zguri had got their strength back.
If proof was required, it came moments later.
“Thus ends the House of Jexl,” Azmx’s voice proclaimed.
Then the whirlwind vanished, and everything became quiet.
Very quiet.
Jip bit her lip. “I…I would like to say I am sorry. But I am afraid I am not.”
“Nor me,” said Kirsty. “Me, I’m just thankful Drazok’s been got rid of once and for all.”
“And Sub-Ruler Halid’s sure to be pleased it happened here,” said Simon.
We all looked at him quizzically.
“I’ve seen pictures. This is Zerrix’s Ledge.”