The Soothing Scent Of Earth (Elemental Awakening, Book 2) (12 page)

"I thought you guys had spies in amongst the
Gi?
" I asked.

"They had been recalled when the battle began. As far as we knew, the
Gi
were helping you acclimatise to your new environment. We had no reason to believe you were being mistreated. Even after the
Anaisthetikos
command. It was decided by the council that the entire episode was particular to the
Gi
and, as such, expected behaviour."

"Then why were you and Theo talking about news from Manaus?"

"Because Theo and myself are, by no means, of the same opinion as the council. He needed to know you were safe, Miss Eden. He was using every contact he had to find out. But our efforts had been blocked at every turn."

"The
Gi
," I offered.

"We suspect so. They like to keep things in house. It has been notoriously difficult to garner intelligence from their village. And now we have no agents in the area at all, we must rely on human allies, which is never foolproof."

The sun had risen while we'd been talking, and the temperature in the small clearing had begun to climb. Not helped by my proximity to the fire. I was sweating slightly and needed a drink, but I didn't want to stop talking to Aktor, nor did I want to extinguish the flames and be vulnerable to the
Gi
Guards' detection again.

Pyrkagia
was new to me. I had no idea how I would wield the
Stoicheio
when not staring into the welcoming glow of flames. I knew Theo did it, he used other forms of heat. Such as passion and anger, and differing human emotions that still, after everything I had been through, made me blush.

"You should get going, Miss Eden," Aktor said, breaking into my musings. "I should think daylight has arrived by now."

"What time is it in Auckland?" I asked, starting to prepare myself for the trek ahead; stretching, breathing deeply to settle my nerves.

"Nearly midnight," Aktor answered, surprising me for a couple of reasons. It was about seven in
the morning here and I hadn't got my head around time zone differences.

"Why have you still got a fire going, Aktor?" I asked.

"Miss Eden," he chided gently. "I have kept a fire going since we first heard your voice. You are alone in the Amazon rainforest, connected to
Pyrkagia
somehow, so I will sit by this fire until the master reaches you, in case you need my guidance at any hour."

Tears welled in my eyes again, however this time the emotion was not laden with heartache, but overflowing with sweet love for this old man, who had simply accepted me in Theo's life from day one.

"Thank you," I whispered into the flames. They flared briefly. Either from Aktor or from me, I couldn’t tell.

"Don't thank me, Cassandra. Get to Manaus safely and find Theodoros. He plans to stay on the outskirts of the city, as close to the rainforest as he can get, in a hotel called
The Tropical Manaus
. If we don't get to talk again before you reach there, a room has been booked under your mother's maiden name from tomorrow onwards, with instructions to allow a bedraggled young woman, meeting your description, access should you arrive before Theodoros does."

They'd thought of everything. Except how the hell I was going to find the place and walk there barefoot from out of the forest wearing threadbare and filthy cut-of pants and a ripped sheet for a halter-top.

No one said this was going to be easy, and first I had to evade capture. But, suddenly the idea of having a hot shower and slipping between crisp laundered sheets on a
proper
bed had me eager to get this show on the road.

"OK, got it," I said, standing up and stretching for real this time. "I'll try to get back in touch with you this evening when I set up camp. Thanks for everything."

"You are most welcome, Miss Eden. I wish you the best of luck."

The fire flared, then settled with its change of pitch, and I sucked in a breath of air in preparation for what I had to do next.

Delaying for just a moment longer, I asked the Fire,
Are there any Gi nearby?

None,
it confirmed, thankfully.
They seek you elsewhere.

Well that was reassuring. And that also meant there was no reason to hang around here. I thanked the Fire and kicked dirt over the flames to make it go out, feeling the distance its absence created between me and my new
Stoicheio
. It was an unusual feeling. With the Earth, the only time I had felt any distance, which ended up being a complete severance of contact, was when I was in my concrete bunker prison. Otherwise, even when walking on footpaths, or inside a house, I could still feel it somewhere a short distance away. Pot plants helped when indoors, but even with a few feet separation, I could feel the Earth calling.

Now with the embers of my camp fire extinguished I felt no call to Fire. Strange didn't even cover it. I wondered if it was like this for all
Pyrkagia
. For Theo. Did he feel cut off at times like this too?

It was a question that would have to wait. I still had at least a day of trekking ahead of me. For now, with the Fire having helped strengthen my
Gi Stoicheio
, I could trust any answer the Earth gave regarding direction. As the day progressed though, its guidance would have to be taken with caution, in case
Gi
Guards or the
Basilissa
managed to get within commanding distance.

I thought it best to get a few things out in the open before we set off.

How quickly can we get to Manaus?
I asked, dusting myself off and sucking on a few left over fruits, following that up with a nibble of nuts. I could have done with something more substantial, but my appetite was not one hundred percent, so the trail-mix of sorts would have to do.

By tomorrow morning, after a rest tonight
, the Earth whispered in my mind.
We can show you the shortest route.

Is it safe?
I asked.

For now,
it ambiguously replied.

OK, time to get moving.

I found a nearby river and had a drink to soothe my throat. It was still so raw from sobbing yesterday, the reminder of why it ached only made it constrict again. I pushed through my topsy-turvy emotions, and washed my hands and face and as much of my body as I could manage, with the dire need to get going blaring inside my head.

I didn't stop for lunch. I drank when a stream presented itself. I rested for a minute or two when my legs shook so much my cut-offs threatened to fall down my hips. But otherwise I pushed on, and on, and on. Over fallen logs and bypassing ant hills. Under hanging vines which looked like tinsel decorating a Christmas tree. Through natural clearings where animals scurried as I approached. Across water ways, feeling soothed and refreshed and invigorated. Only to be sweaty and dirty again within metres of stepping out on to dry land.

I listened to the Macaws and tried to find meaning in their different noises. I watched vibrant blue butterflies flit lazily around my head and talked aloud to them, telling myself they understood every word. I stared back at the bulging eyes of a large Amazon Horn Frog, as it camouflaged itself in amongst dead leaves. I picked the odd berry or stone fruit as the Earth presented them to me, more conscious of my energy levels than I was, I think.

For the last two hours before sunset I was silent and every step was made with an ear out for approaching threats. At some point the Earth had ceased aiding me, other than to urge me in the same direction we seemed to be going all day. Then a tree appeared, which seemed familiar. The same spider's web, that I was sure I'd passed half an hour ago. And finally, a stream I had crossed where small tadpoles had been swimming, and I'd slipped on a moss covered rock, scraping my knee.

I slipped again in the exact same place, my heart thundering awake and my mind jolting with awareness. I don't how long the Earth had been sending me in circles, but I knew then I'd not been as careful as I had hoped.

I slowed down on the other side of the stream, coming to a complete halt next to a outcrop of Banyan Trees. My hand rested against one of the multi-layered trunks and I
listened
. Really listened. To the forest of animals, to the wind in the trees, to the leaves beneath approaching feet.

I knew I was in danger, but the animals still scurried so for a moment I couldn't trust my instincts. But then it dawned on me, as the Earth let out a saddened sigh, that
Gi
could control the animals too. And had been. Making me believe the forest around me was bare of threats, as animals are usually the first to scatter upon approaching danger.

I swore under my breath, reached down to the ground and lifted a twig with dried leaves up from its hiding place beneath some bushes, and called on
Pyrkagia
. Flames burst to life at the top of my makeshift torch, Fire flaring powerfully throughout my body. It still felt like an erotic flush, I was hoping I'd get used to it. Because I moaned before I could stop myself, giving my location away.

They are here,
the Fire said urgently.
Head to the right. Run.

I didn't wait to question my
Stoicheio.
I took off without a backwards glance and thrashed through the underbush. Adrenaline set its own flames of terror alight inside my veins. My heart pumped unmercifully, making an ache take up residence inside my chest.

Heavy footfalls sounded out over my harsh breathing, loud enough to let me know the
Gi
Guards were close. Close enough I could feel the reverberations through the soil beneath my bare feet. They'd been playing with me. Like a cat does a mouse. How long had they watched me go around in circles? How much amusement had they gained at my incompetent attempts to reach Manaus?

I'd known the Earth could become compromised, yet I had failed to register when my
Stoicheio
had stopped aiding, but instead started to hinder my escape.

I knew I was close to the outskirts of Manaus. I'd pushed myself harder than the Earth had anticipated. Its calculations on how long it would take me to reach the city had been inaccurate, even with half an hour or so of making me walk in circles. I was guessing that was the reason why. I'd walked too close to victory, and the Earth had been commanded to never let me reach Manaus.

A sob tore from my lips as the Fire, still burning at the tip of the branch I held, hissed in agreement. I got the feeling it was annoyed at being duped alongside me.

How powerful was the
Basilissa
to have achieved such a command?

I didn't want to hang around and find out.

I'm sorry
, I said with feeling in my mind, sending my thoughts out to the forest that surrounded me.
I really am
, I whispered to the Earth, already feeling its own defeated acknowledgement of what I had to do next.

Now!
I ordered the Fire, and watched as sparks leapt from the tip of my torch and sailed off through the air in several directions.

I ran on, knowing fires would be starting in my wake. Praying the rainforest would recover. Begging forgiveness, even as I pleaded with
Aetheros,
Theo's God, to make this work.

A crackle and a hiss flared behind me. Heat washed down my bare back. Pops and explosions rang out above me. And with one quick glance over my shoulder I saw the devastating beauty of Fire following my command. A wall of flames spread out between me and the startled, mortified faces of a dozen
Gi
Guards. I slowed down my pace until I was ten metres away from the inferno I had created. And just stared back at them.

"Don't follow me," I shouted above the cacophony of wood burning and seed pods popping. "I
will
burn your entire forest if you follow me!" I added, putting as much sincerity as I could muster into each forbidden word.

My stomach clenched. My heart ached. But I would
not
return to the
Basilissa
.

With tears streaming down my face I turned away and started running. The Fire encouraged me, fuelled me, urged me on. The sounds of the Amazon burning became indistinct, until finally I could no longer hear the frantic cries of the Guards as they attempted to extinguish the flames.

I ran on. The Fire kept pushing me. When I stumbled, it licked about my frame, righting my balance. When I slowed, it whispered words of encouragement. When I made a sound of distress, filled with my increasing belief that I would never make it, heat and warmth coursed through my body, making nerve endings fire back to life, giving me a moment of strength.

I was sure it wouldn't be enough.

But then the Fire said,
He's close
, when I started seeing houses in amongst the greenery of forest.
Not much further
, it added.
He awaits his Thisavros
, it whispered, knowing I'd dig deeper and deeper still on those words.