Discovery at Nerwolix (33 page)

Once we’re all on the same level, Reid
positions himself next to Warze and the two carefully pull back the
Yulus. Booker, Jace and I head over and we peer down as silence
descends.

Hordes and hordes of Vermix comb the ground,
obstructing the green mountain terrain. It’s like it was at the
beach, when I couldn’t see the sand. There might even be more
Dofinikes here because the Vermix coat the entire landscape like a
moving murky soup, thickening as the army extends north toward the
Nerwolix boundary.

Shit.

This has to be more than five thousand. And
there are more at the city? How many did Reuzkimpart bring? I scan
the area, searching for the spot that we ventured yesterday, where
the eight Vermix descended on us.

“Hylas,” Warze explains.

“Are they looking for it?” Booker asks.

“Doesn’t seem so. They’re just… standing
around.”

“No,” the Zingfinold shakes his head.
“Dofinikes search.”

“How can you tell?”

“There,” Warze points to the southern edge
of the mountain. “Dofinikes use tools.”

We all lean in, trying to get a clearer
picture of their movement. About half the Vermix stand in the small
valley between the range and the Eckles, Traxpires up and facing
the forest. The other half search around the base of the Hylas,
climbing up and over, passing items to one another.

“Are they close to finding it?” I ask Warze.
“Do you know?”

“They will no find,” Warze glowers. “Thieves
only die.”

I look to Reid. “What now?”

“Let Sampson know we’re here and find out
how things are going back at the city.”

Closing my eyes, I focus on the Fychu’s face
and summon the same connection as earlier.

We’re here, Sampson, at the Hylas Mountains.
Reid is with us.

A beat and then,
Good, wonderful. What’s
happening?

The Vermix are looking for it.

Have the Zingfinolds arrived?

I’m not sure. Hold on…

“Warze?” I look at him. “Do you know—are the
other Zingfinolds here? The ones Hozfin sent?”

He lets out a light, airy whistle. A second
passes and it’s mirrored back. He turns to me with a nod.

I close my eyes, concentrating again.

Yes, they’re here.

Alright, do as Warze says. If he wants to
wait, wait. If he wants to attack…be careful
, a long pause
passes.
Jothkore informs me Thias is still refusing to
participate, even with the Vermix at the Hylas. He may change his
mind but for right now…I wouldn’t count on his assistance.

How’re things at the city? Have they
improved?

Not really, no. Hozfin wasn’t able to send
as many to the mountains as he would’ve liked. We’re holding our
own but that’s only because some Vermix have departed—headed to the
Hylas, I’m sure.

Is everyone safe?

Mae took a nasty hit, but she’ll survive. I
have Walker and a few Zingfinolds watching her and Pratt. They
should be fine for now.

And the others?

Fighting.

Has Clarence returned?

Not yet, but keep your ears open. He may
call to you first.

Okay… I’ll keep you posted.

Good.

I open my eyes and look to the boys.
“Sampson says Thias still isn’t budging on jumping in. He says for
right now, it’s just us.”

“What we expected,” Reid nods, hands on his
hips. “How’s Zinnollo?”

“Still pretty bad. Says Mae took a hit but
she and Pratt are protected and everyone else is out fighting. He
says they’re holding their own but only because Hozfin didn’t send
as many out here as he wanted and lots of the Vermix left—mostly,”
I gesture to the mountains.

“So we’re in the hornet’s nest now,” Jace
laughs.

“What hornet nest?” Warze frowns.

“Eh—it’s an expression.”

“Zingfinolds in control,” Warze paces,
glowering down at the Vermix. “Have advantage in Eckles…have
shield,” he grips one of the lime green Yulus. “We end
thievery.”

“How?” I ask.

“Zingfinold way—silent death.”

“With the Brulilies?” I ask.

Warze nods.

“From all the way up here?” Booker retrieves
his from his pocket. “And we only have two.”

Warze narrows his eyes on it before lifting
his hands up, indicating the trees around us. “Brulily all over
forest, if know where to look.”

“But we’re so far away…” I focus on the
ground. “Will it reach them?”

“With good shot,” he looks down, then back
to us. “You take power and break,” he gestures something crumbling
in his hands. “Piece by piece. Together, thieves strong but
broken…” he shakes his head. “Crumbles.”

“Like earlier,” Booker looks at me. “When
you shot at them and they all scrambled. I was able to get Jace
because they were broken up. We can do the same.”

“You did that?” Reid raises a brow, his lips
curving up.

“Human right,” Warze nods. “Broken is
crumbles… Brulily makes easy silent death. Zingfinolds,” he points
around, indicating the trees again, “as one, we strike thieves,
break apart piece by piece.”

Reid nods. “Okay, where do we get the
Brulilies?”

“You come,” Warze motions.

The Zingfinold leaps to another tree and
with a quick glance back at us, Reid snatches onto a Yulu and
swings himself after the tribesman. The two disappear into the lush
green and I sit down, wrapping my arms around my knees like before.
Booker and Jace sit as well, both keeping their backs to the trunk.
A long time passes before Jace breaks the silence.

“What a day,” he exhales. “And the bad thing
is, it’s far from over.”

“It about early afternoon?” I ask.

“It’s got to be later than that. I’d wager…”
he shrugs, looking to Booker, “what? Late afternoon? Early evening,
you think?”

“About four or five,” Booker nods,
“yeah.”

“Already?”

“Yep,” Jace rubs his belly. His head rolls
back to the trunk. “And I’m
starving.
What I wouldn’t give
for some barbecued Horrop.”

“I know what you mean,” Booker’s stomach
lets out a deep rumble. He slips a hand over it. “I can taste
it.”

“With a side of Hunnis,” Jace grins, his
eyes lost in an image as his tongue travels along his lower lip.
“Oh yeah.”

“Maybe a celebration feast?” Reid arrives,
tossing a Brulily to Jace. He catches it just as Warze lands on the
branch with ease. “But until them, how about some Zingfinold
produce?”

“I’ll take anything at this point. What’ve
you got?”

Warze tosses us each a small yellow melon.
“Zarlk. Gives energy… sweet juice.”

“Thanks,” I bring mine to my mouth and
immediately sink my teeth into its soft flesh. It’s sweet and
savory and filling that deep hunger just starting to surface.

Jace, Booker, Reid and Warze make quick work
of theirs, eating it right down to the penny-sized pit. I finish
right after them, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand and look
up at Reid who is watching me with a grin.

“Good?”

“Delicious.”

He winks and turns to Warze. The Zingfinold
is peering through the curtain of leaves and Reid follows, the two
taking a moment to watch.

“What do you think?” Reid crosses his arms.
“Ready to start?”

The Zingfinold cranes his neck, staring up
at the blue sky which is just starting to darken.

“Night comes soon. Silent death easier at
night… less chance to see end coming.”

“So we’ll wait for night then?” Jace looks
between Reid and Warze. Both nod and the Rogue goes back to leaning
his head against the trunk. “It’ll give us a minute to relax too.
Man…” he massages his bicep, “…my arms are killing me from all that
swinging.”

“I hear you,” Booker nods.

I look to Reid. He transported us the entire
way, using only one arm to swing the both of us while I held onto
him and our Traxpires. He must be utterly exhausted. Especially
after fleeing the city. The thought makes me unhappy, guilt quickly
rising.

Reid must read my expression because he
shakes his head. “I told you—I like carrying my girl.”

“But all that way?”

“You’re light.”

“But you didn’t need to.”

“Believe me,” he grins again, stepping
closer, “it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle.” Reid takes a seat
next to me and brushes a curl behind my ear. “You still hungry? I
can get you another Zarlk.”

“Yo, Boss…” Jace laughs, “uh… if you want to
point me in that direction, I can grab another few for me and
Booker?”

“Humans still hungry?” Warze frowns, then
tosses another melon to both Rogues.

“Hey, thanks, Warze!” Jace grins, digging
into the fruit. Booker mirrors the gratitude and brings the bright
yellow melon to his mouth.

“How you feeling?” Reid whispers to me,
brushing back another curl. “You doing alright?”

“This day…” I bite my lip.

“I know.”

I look between his eyes, needing to hear it.
“Are we going to be able to do this?”

He picks at a piece of thread on his shoes,
watching it with dedicated focus. “We didn’t think it was possible
to get off Harrizel,” he glances around at our surroundings, “and
here we are. You know… Tucker is a legit tribesman and you,” he
turns to me with the sweetest smile, the kind that absolutely melts
me. “You’re part Dofinike,” he shrugs. “Why can’t we?”

“Reid…” it comes out a soft whisper only he
can hear. “I’m worried.”

“I’m not leaving you again,” his hand trails
down my face.

“No,” I shake my head, holding his hand to
my cheek. “I’m worried about the others. Pratt and Mae. Able… I
need to know they’re okay.”

“They’ll be fine. They’re with Sampson.”

He’s right; they’re safest with him more
than anyone. After a minute of convincing myself, I finally nod.
“Okay.”

“So,” he smiles, narrowing his eyes. “Why
don’t you tell me about earlier?”

“Earlier?”

“Booker said you shot at the Vermix and they
all scrambled?”

“It was a diversion. So he could get
Jace.”

Reid’s smile fades. “And the Vermix chased
you
?”

“They would’ve gotten me except the
Zingfinolds showed up. Saved my butt.”

“Female rush through forest, all Dofinikes
behind her,” Warze says. “Perfect distraction for Zingfinold to
strike.”

“See?” I turn to Reid with a grin. “It
worked for everybody.”

Reid runs his fingers across his brows,
massaging them. “Jesus.”

“It was the only thing we could do.”

“You’ve got a pretty brave gal there, Boss,”
Jace chews. “Smart too.”

“She’s something alright,” Reid looks at me,
a smile working its way back into place. He runs his fingers down
my face and gently grips my chin, pulling my mouth up to his. He
places a soft kiss on my lips and looks between my eyes. “Please be
careful.”

“Right back at you.”

“I’m serious.”

“And I’m joking?”

Reid exhales with a bit of a laugh, shaking
his head. “Alright. I promise if you do.”

“I always promise.”

“Good,” he kisses me again before jumping to
a stand. Making his way over to Warze, they both look up at the sky
again. It’s only darkened slightly, to a soft hazy purple, but
night will be here soon. Too soon. Crossing his arms, Reid turns to
the Zingfinold. “Do you know how many you’ve got out here in the
trees?”

Warze glances beyond the lime green curtain,
half shrugging. “Hundred.”

“
A
hundred or
hundreds
?” Jace
asks.

“A hundred,” Warze says.

“Jeez…” the Rogue shakes his head. “Still
not good.”

“Walker estimated about five thousand down
at the beach,” I rise to a stand. “If most of them came over
here…”

“And that’s more than a few thousand,” Jace
gets to his feet, peering down to the Vermix-covered ground.

“The odds were against us before,” I say.
“We’re all still here.”

“That’s right. And now we have more help
with us,” Reid turns to Warze. “Are they all spread out and
awaiting your signal?”

He nods once.

“How do you want to do it? Attack from the
middle and send them scrambling? Or from both sides, picking them
off?”

“Both sides. Break into pieces on both
sides… work into center,” Warze glances up to the sky once more.
“Soon night come and we attack.”

We wait while the sky darkens to a deep,
cobalt blue. Jace and Booker rest against the trunk, arms folded
and eyes closed. Warze crouches by the Yulus, peering out to the
movement below and Reid and I are standing a few feet away, over by
the edge. Rubbing his hands down my arm, Reid kisses my forehead
before bringing his mouth low to my ear.

“I want you constantly near me.”

“I’ll try. You know I can’t make you that
promise.”

“I don’t care. I always want to be able to
see you—to know where you are,” he brushes a curl behind my ear.
“Let’s stick together, okay?”

I nod and he leans down, planting a gentle
kiss on my lips. It heats me more than it should, even now, when
it’s the last thing I should be thinking of. Still hovering on my
lips, his mouth turns up into a smile. “I’m looking forward to
celebrating our victory.”

“Me too.”

He winks, backing up. “Warze,” he spins,
motioning to the sky. “What do you think? We ready?”

With a quick glance up through the lime
green shield, the Zingfinold tribesman nods. “It time.”

“We’ll take this end. Leave half the
Zingfinolds here and have the others take the north side.”

Warze points a few trees over, behind
Booker. “Tizno start attack. Work forward, through Dofinikes and do
no
slow. Remember, silent—always moving. Do no stay in same
Eckle long.
Always moving.”

Letting out a new fluttery whistle, Warze
looks between us. With a slight nod, he leaps off the tree and
through the Yulus, disappearing in seconds. The leaves only rustle
momentarily, quickly stilling into their uniformed shield
again.