Chapter 29

Gypsy had joined Trajan on his scouting run because the mercenary was certain they were getting close. It felt good to know that her father was feeling better but the fate of her mother still weighed heavily on her. Had she cost her mother valuable time by forcing her father into hibernation? No, she felt certain she did the right thing. Gavin had been so bad it would have taken them weeks to find her.

Riding up a worn local trail, their hyperias were suddenly startled by a middle-aged woman rushing out to stop them. Gypsy’s mount reared up and she almost fell over backward. “Get out of the road!” she barked at the woman.

“You are General Theron’s daughter, Gypsy,” she said pointing at her.

Gypsy and Trajan exchanged glances. “Yes, that’s right.”

A cool wind swept by them and the woman pulled her worn gray shawl tighter around her bony shoulders. “I know where your mother has been taken,” she said.

Gypsy dismounted and was on the woman in seconds. She grabbed her by the front of her tattered dress. “Where?”

The woman trembled but kept her gaze calm. “First I want your word you won’t hurt my kin.”

Before Gypsy could answer, Trajan replied, “You have it.”

The woman signaled to the hut she lived in for someone to come out. Two young males appeared. They were skinny and wore swords but didn’t make a motion to draw them. “We’ve seen your mother. We’ve spoken to her. She promised us your father would spare our lives if we didn’t kill her, so we let her live and helped her escape. Unfortunately Sulla recaptured her.” The two looked at each other and then back at her.

Gypsy wanted to cut them into tiny little pieces but she held her rage in check. “Where is she? Who the fuck is Sulla?”

The two men looked at each other then pointed up the road. “Two hours’ ride from here up this very road, in Rathara. Sulla is the village enforcer. You’ll know him when you see him because he has three scars down the center of his face,” the man said, using his fingers to make a raking gesture over his face. “But you’d better hurry. The doctor was kidnapped to care for Sulla’s injured brother and he’s not going to live much longer despite her efforts. When he dies, she dies.”

* * * *

Gypsy intercepted Gavin as he led the mercenaries up the trail. He reined his hyperia up and squinted at her. “Well?” he asked. “What have you found out?”

“We have encountered two men who say they’ve seen her recently. They say she’s being held in Rathara which is two hours’ ride from here.”

Gavin turned to face the group pulling up behind him. “We have a lead that says my wife is two hours’ ride from here,” he said. “We will make it there in one.” Then Gavin spurred his mount and took off up the trail at a full gallop.

* * * *

Harlan hit the river water with a clumsy splash. The cool water was sweet mercy on her sore damaged leg. She passed out for a moment but quickly came to again. This was going to be much harder than she thought. Her injury was almost two days old and a constant drain on her strength. Navigating as best she could, she held her crutch for flotation and let the current take her like a crystal green chariot downriver. Every so often her leg would strike something and she would have to muffle her scream on her forearm. For all she knew Sulla was riding along the banks looking for her. The cold water swept her past cliffs and rocks, hanging her up here and there on boulders and broken trees sticking up out of the water. The occasional fish nibbled at her fingers thinking them something good to eat. It was the least of her worries, because Harlan was having a very hard time staying awake and afloat. She was so cold that it felt like her extremities weren’t even attached anymore. Her thoughts turned to her husband, Gavin, and daughter, Gypsy. A deep sorrow squeezed her heart. I love you both so much. I’m so tired and weak and I just don’t think I can hang on anymore. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it, but I want you both to know I did my best. Darkness surrounded her and she couldn’t even see the riverbank anymore. Then a quiet calm engulfed the rest of her senses and blackness overtook her.