Discovery at Nerwolix (32 page)

“What happened at Zinnollo?”

“Dofinikes arrive,” the Zingfinold’s voice
is low. Deadly. “Set fire with explosion weapon.”

“Traxpires?” I hold up mine.

He scowls at it, but nods. “Several arrive…
we kill all but… more arrive. And more. Explosions everywhere,” he
shakes his head. “They strike female and young. They strike
everything
.”

“Is Hozfin still there?” Jace asks.

Warze nods. “He still fights. Zingfinolds
still fight.”

“How many did he send out here?” I ask.
“Including yourself?”

A moment passes. “Twenty.”

“Only twenty?” I gasp, looking between the
two Rogues. “Against
thousands
.”

“Well they fall easily enough,” Jace laughs.
“You saw how many Warze took down just getting here. If all of them
can move like that…”

“Warze…” I crawl closer to him, “what does
Hozfin plan to do? How does he plan on… ending this?”

Warze shakes his head. “He fights until
death. All Zingfinolds fight until death.”

I look back at the Rogues, hoping they have
something to add, some hope or ideas to share but like me, they’re
silent, bewildered and wondering what comes next. I turn to the
Zingfinold again. “Did you see Sampson—the Fychu? Any of the other
humans?”

He nods. “Humans safe. With Fychu.”

I let out a breath. Thank God. Even if
Vermix are attacking Zinnollo, Pratt and Mae and the others are
with Sampson. There’s no safer place. All the humans are together…
except Reid. Which reminds me…

I glance over the branch, searching for
movement. Anything that could help me locate him. I wish I had the
same ability to use with him like I do with Sampson. I could just
tell him where we are and he’d come to us. But I can’t. He’s out
there somewhere, looking for us. How is going to find us? And would
he think to check this high?

“I wonder what’s happening at the city,”
Booker mutters. “Fallon, can you ask Sampson?”

“You communicate with Fychu?” Warze turns to
me, surprised.

I nod and, closing my eyes, concentrate on
Sampson.

We’re up in a tree with Warze. Are you okay?
Are the others safe?

A long moment passes.
Fallon… I won’t lie
to you. It is not good. We are getting quickly overrun. The humans
are safe—they’re all with me but things…things are worsening by the
minute.

Have you heard from Jothkore?

Yes. King Thias knows of Reuzkimpart’s
invasion but he’s staying put for now. I think once the Vermix
start for the Hylas, he may send some troops that way.

Could you bring the fight there? Lead them
away from the city? You’ll have the Nerwos’ assistance.

I could try, but Hozfin doesn’t want to
leave. Reuzkimpart is specifically keeping the fight here, hoping
for the distraction while he searches.

Should we go the Mountains?

Has Reid reached you yet?

No. We’re high up. I don’t know if he’ll
find us.

Stay put until he does. But yes, if you can,
make your way over there. I need to be up to date on what
Reuzkimpart is doing.

Okay. Sampson, stay safe.

You as well.

“So?” Jace asks as I open my eyes. “What did
he say? Is everyone safe?”

“For now. But he said they’re quickly
getting overrun. He wants to lead the Vermix away from the city but
Hozfin wants to stay.”

“Why?”

“Defend home,” Warze says. “Defend
kingdom.”

“He says once Reid finds us, to start making
our way for the Hylas—
that’s
where Reuzkimpart’s really
concerned with sending the Vermix.”

“Reid?” Warze frowns.

“Another human…” I peer over the edge again,
hoping to find him swinging through the leaves. But it’s silent.
“How’s he going to find us?”

“And the Vermix are still down there?” Jace
asks. “Still moving toward the city?”

I shake my head at the motionlessness.
Through the hanging lime green shield, I don’t see much, but
everything I do see is quiet. I sit back. “No… I think
Reuzkimpart’s holding off on sending anymore toward Zinnollo right
now.” I glance toward the far right side of the beach where the
hike to the mountains begin. “I think he’s going to start sending
the Vermix toward the Hylas.”

“When?”

“They’re probably on their way now. That’s
why it’s so quiet,” I look up to the Rogues with a gulp. “How do we
find Reid?”

“If Zingfinold see, I will know.”

“How?” I frown.

Warze lets off a faint three-note whistle.
It’s so soft and light that it could almost belong to a bird. Not a
second goes by before it’s answered again, from the far right and
behind us. He looks back to us. “No sign yet.”

“What now?” Jace asks.

“We wait,” I bring my knees up to my chest
again, tucking my arms around them. “Just wait.”

Booker and Jace both lean back, exhaling as
Warze continues to peer out through the green shield. Resting my
brow on my knees, I close my eyes and try to review all that’s
happened: spotting the Vermix, trying to flee back to the city with
Walker, getting separated and falling until Booker caught me. Then
killing those four Vermix and taking their weapons, creating a
diversion so Booker could free Jace and then finding Warze—or him
finding us. And with all the updates from Sampson… how long has
this day been going? And what time is it?

“You falling asleep over there, Boss Lady?”
Jace asks.

I lift my head, resting my chin on my
kneecaps. “Just thinking. How’re you feeling?”

“Like I’ve been captured.”

“I know the feeling,” I grin but it fades
quickly. “What happened?”

The Rogue Commander shrugs. “I was trying to
get back to the city and one knocked into me. I fell into a pile of
them and…” he shrugs again.

“I’m surprised they didn’t kill you.”

“Yeah,” he huffs. “Thought they were going
to, but they just tied me up like they did on Larupip. Figured I
was done for until they all started racing back into the forest and
then,” he laughs,” one by one, they start falling around me. Then I
see this guy,” he motions to Booker, “crawling toward me.”

“You save human?” Warze looks at Booker.

“It was
awesome
,” Jace grins.
“Couldn’t believe it. Really, I thought…” he shakes his head. “I
didn’t think I’d live to see the end of the day. But we’re up here.
Safe. For the moment at least.”

“You still need to get some Vilbrees on your
face and those talon marks,” I crawl over to him, running my
fingers softly along the red scrapes. They’re deep, definitely
carved into the skin. “That must’ve been a bitch.”

“Didn’t tickle.”

Warze’s head snaps up. The same three-toned
note sails toward us and he swiftly peers over. “Stay here,” he
drops. He doesn’t grab a Yulu or clutch the tree; he just goes
right over the edge, free falling.

“Zingfinolds are crazy,” Jace laughs
again.

“What do you think it is?” I ask, reaching
for my Traxpire. “More Vermix?”

“Maybe,” Booker does the same.

We position ourselves in front of Jace,
Booker on one side and me on the other. Holding our stance, we both
look over the edge but find nothing except for the same still
leaves. Even Warze has disappeared. I sit back and Booker does the
same. After a few minutes, something shuffles and I sit forward, my
body tense. It’s definitely coming up our tree and I point my
Traxpire, ready to fire.

Except its Warze’s head that pops up.

I let out a breath and lower my gun, Booker
doing the same. Once Warze climbs all the way back on the branch,
Reid’s head pops up. I almost don’t believe it. He looks around,
spotting the three of us, his eyes going wide when he sees me.

“Fallon,” he scrambles up, and racing over,
he takes my face in his hands, kissing me hard. It knocks me back,
but his arms are around my body the next second, molding me to him.
“I’m so glad you’re safe. Pratt… they were on her. I had to get to
her. Able told me Walker had you and that you were heading back to
the city. But he showed up and you weren’t there…” he pulls back,
looking between my eyes. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“I’m fine,” I glance to the blonde Rogue.
“But they captured Jace.”

“I heard,” he moves over to him. He scans
the talon marks but keeps his face impassive. “How you feeling,
Commander?”

“Like shit, Rox,” he smirks. “But
thanks.”

“And Booker?”

“Doing alright, Boss. Just trying to get
through.”

Reid nods, looking between all of us. “Okay,
Sampson wants us to get to the Hylas Mountains.”

“We going right now?”

“In a minute,” Reid does a quick survey.
“Besides Jace, everyone okay? No serious injuries… no broken
bones?”

We all shake our heads.

“Good. Now,” he rubs his hands together.
“What have we got to work with?”

We each display our Traxpires; Booker
retrieves his Brulilies and the small blade Walker gave me while I
pull out the Vermix whip.

“Okay,” he nods. “A decent lot.”

“How bad was it at the city?” Jace asks.

Reid lowers his head, shaking it as he runs
a hand up his neck. “Bad. As soon as we got there—
when
we
got there, actually—Vermix were raining in. I think Hozfin only
deployed a handful to come out here. He wanted to keep everyone
close to the city but still… there were two Vermix to each
Zingfinold. Then they just kept coming and coming.”

“But Sampson said everyone was safe…” I
whisper.

“Yeah, when I left. We were pushed all the
way back. Hozfin was doing his best to hold his ground but the
numbers weren’t on our side. Sampson might’ve taken the group
somewhere… I-I don’t know. It wasn’t good when I left. I had to
fight through a thick barricade; otherwise, I would’ve been here a
lot sooner.”

“Do you think they followed you?”

“A few did. I took care of them. Got my own
Traxpire plus two more, in case anyone needed one,” he glances over
to Warze, raising a brow.

“I no need Dofinike explosion weapon.”

“Warze,” Reid moves back for him, scanning
the nearby trees. “How many you got out here?”

“Nineteen.”

“Plus us makes twenty four. Okay,” he nods,
“Hozfin said he’d be sending a solid wave out to the Hylas. I’m
betting those Vermix down at the beach won’t be advancing to the
city, but to the Mountains.”

“That what female say.”

Reid looks at me. “He’s got enough at
Zinnollo to keep Hozfin preoccupied. Now he’s going to move in for
the search.”

“But Thias doesn’t want to intervene,” I
say. “Not yet. Besides the wave Hozfin is sending, we’ll be on our
own.”

“We’re on our own already,” Jace says.

“We have to get to those mountains,” Reid
strokes his chin. “If… by some chance they find it, we need to let
Sampson know immediately.”

“Vermix will no find,” Warze shakes his
head. “No possible.”

“We need to make sure,” Reid looks around,
hands on his hips. “Everyone ready for some more traveling?”

I sink the whip back in my pocket and grab
my Traxpire. Booker and Jace do the same, securing their
weapons.

“Here,” Reid hands me a blade, “got it off
one of the Vermix. I need you as armed as possible,” he plants a
light kiss on my cheek and stands. He points to the lime green
camouflage. “We’re going to travel by tree top until we get over
there. We need a good idea of what we’re looking at so Fallon can
notify Sampson.”

“Yeah, that’s been pretty helpful,” Jace
smirks, rising to a stand. “I’m digging that you’re part alien
now.”

“Thanks,” I’m on my feet with the
others.

“Once we’re there,” Reid goes on, “we’ll
stay put in the trees until Hozfin’s fleet arrives.”

“What if they’re already there?” Booker
joins Warze’s side.

“We’ll assess and act as necessary. Warze,”
he turns to him, “can you let them know the plan?”

“Already finish,” he whistles, leaping from
the Eckle and landing on the next a few yards away. From there, he
jumps again. Without use of the Yulus, he glides swiftly and
silently through the lush lime canopy.

“Show off,” Jace mutters.

Reid wraps his arm around my waist,
cementing my body against his. Gripping a Yulu, he dives off the
branch and we’re swinging after Warze. Booker and Jace are right
behind us, sailing through the lime shield, landing either on the
same branch or one just below or above. We keep our timing pretty
consistent, flying together like two equal pairs, consistently
trying to keep up with our overambitious leader.

After a little while, when I’m pretty sure
the beach is a good ways behind us, I look at Reid. “How’s your
arm? Do you think it’s much further?”

“It’s fine, and I’m sure we’re getting
close,” he lands us on a branch. Securing a new Yulu, we take off
again, following the flashes of Warze as he weaves throughout the
Eckles. “I’m sorry I wasn’t with you.”

“When?”

“Earlier. I tried getting to you but they
nearly had Pratt,” he lands on another tree and grasping a new
Yulu, we jet off again. “I meant to come back for you, but she
wouldn’t have made it to the city.”

“It’s fine—I’m glad you got her out of
there.”

“And fucking Walker…” he shakes his head,
his lips growing tight, “said you fell.”

I nod.

“Why didn’t he get to you?”

“I… I don’t know.”

“How’d you survive?” he risks a frown at me.
“You land on something soft?”

“Booker caught me. Grabbed my wrist before I
hit the ground,” I say and Reid inhales. “You taught your Rogues
well, Rox.”

“That I did.”

We’re swinging between the trees when we
spot Warze up ahead. Reid does his best to swing us over but we
land just below, on a branch a few feet down. Warze reaches for me
and taking my hand, he pulls me up. Reid climbs up unassisted. When
Booker and Jace reach us, they also land one branch below and the
Zingfinolds hoists both of them up one-handed.