The Last Narkoy: Gathow: Book 2 Page 5

  Qilo grunted amused. “Local gossip claims Asa Daveric is dead,” he mentioned.

  Zion nodded. “Asa didn't make it.”

  “Sorry to hear. She was a good woman.” Qilo grabbed his bag’s strap, testing it to see how much it could hold.

  “Sortec was the only one brave enough to hire you?” Rosanheer joked.

  Zion hoisted his bag over his thick shoulders. “It didn't help I lost my client. And she never hired me, I just sort of stuck around and she started using me,” Zion mentioned.

  “Pay?” Rosanheer asked.

  Zion shrugged. “I should probably ask. Since I arrived, everything has been provided for me.” He glanced at the ceiling of Gathow. “Swap positions. Would you leave this place?”

  Rosanheer chuckled. He rubbed the side of his nose with his thumb to loosen a thick piece of dried skin. “Considering my background? I'd love to call my father just to flaunt it,” he joked.

  Zion glanced up at Rosanheer, scowling. “About that… I wouldn't mention him to Sortec. Considering the history involved,” Zion mentioned. Rosanheer nodded wildly showing that he had already figured that out.

  A short time later, Sedom returned, taking a moment to pause and examine the men she was about to travel with. She watched Rosanheer feeling as if she knew the man. But from where did she recognize him from exactly? She had killed so many Marisheio all of their faces became a blur. Why was this one man's face sticking out in her mind?

  “Ready?” Sedom asked. She grabbed a pack of weapons and supplies, tossing it over her shoulder.

  “Your direction, Chadon,” Qilo said as he motioned for Sedom to take the lead.

  Sedom led the group through Gathow and into the tunnels. When it was obvious they weren’t following her into the tunnels, she paused to wait for them. “What’s with you?” she called back.

  “We’re walking?” Rosanheer asked, confused.

  Sedom nodded, wondering if the Clove man was insane. “Why wouldn’t we?”

  Rosanheer glanced back to Gathow. “We thought we were going to take a ship in,” he admitted.

  “Any of you know how to fly a Narkoy ship?” Sedom asked plainly, more out of curiosity than anything else.

  Qilo raised his hand. “I think I could manage. I flew a ship based on Narkoy technology while I was with the Rycal,” he stated.

  “Rycal?” Sedom grumbled, recognizing the name of the Mandicien military. She hummed to herself, amused at his statement. “Well, maybe another time. This is a short walk and I’d rather not draw attention to ourselves.”

  She continued walking, this time, she could tell the men were following her. Zion hurried up next to her. “Where did you say you know these men from?” she asked as if to accuse him of something.

  “You meet interesting people in my position,” he hinted. Sedom glared over at him. Even though it was dark, she knew he could feel her eyes on him. “Asa hired Qilo before when I was with her. Rosanheer was part of the Undergrounds team, sent here to help the Dormin clean up…” he paused, wondering if he should continue. Sedom moved on ahead, causing him to believe it was good he stopped.

  Vines covered the entrance of the tunnels leading to the forest. She had cleared away the vines only days before, but because of the unusually heavy fog, the vines were growing at a rapid rate. She removed a knife with a thin, six-inch blade and began cutting away the vines.

  “Step aside,” Qilo called.

  Sedom turned in time to see him coming towards her with a much larger blade. She readied herself for fending off an attack, only to have Zion hold her back. Qilo used his blade to cut through the vines far faster than it would have taken Sedom.

  Zion squeezed her shoulder. “Learn to trust a little.”

  Sedom shrugged off his embrace. “That’s hard to do with a knife like that coming at you,” she returned in his native tongue.

  Qilo held up his blade. “What?”

  Sedom circled Qilo as he slid his blade back into its holder on his belt. It wasn’t until he did that she realized he was carrying a blade at all. She shook her head, frustrated that she failed to realize he had a weapon of any size on him, let alone a machete. She was becoming rusty hiding out in Gathow.

  Without explaining her actions, she continued outside.

  The three men held back a moment. Qilo turned to Zion and Rosanheer. “Okay, mind squeezers, mind telling me what the hell just happened?”

  “The blade. It freaked her out,” Rosanheer mentioned. He hurried out of the tunnel after Sedom.

  Qilo turned to Zion. “You deal with this on a daily basis?”

  Zion shrugged. “Considering all things, this is one of her good days,” he joked.

  Rosanheer hurried to catch up with Sedom. “Sortec, a question for you,” he started. Sedom nodded, waiting for him to continue. “We’re going after a woman called Ratisha, right?” he questioned and Sedom nodded in response. “She’s Marisheio?”

  “Clove,” Sedom corrected.

  Zion ran over to the two, his eyes heated. “We’re risking our lives for a Clove?” he questioned harshly. Sedom nodded without giving him any emotional response. “I thought—“

  “You’re not paid to think. You’re paid to shoot and keep your mouth shut,” she barked as she turned to all the men. “That goes for all of you. If you can’t manage that, leave.”

  She continued on, secretly curious if they would leave or if they would follow. She barely knew Zion and as for the other two, she hadn’t a clue who or what they were. They looked like mercenaries, but a few of the things they said caused her to believe they were something else entirely.

  Rosanheer ran over to Sedom, attempting to keep up with her then remained quietly walking beside her. “Walk this forest much?” she asked, mainly as an attempt at idle conversation.

  He watched the trees as if searching for someone or something. “Can’t say that I do. You do know this forest is haunted by the Harp, right?” he mentioned.

  Zion chuckled behind them. “Doubt we’ll have any problems with her today,” he said.

  Sedom held her arm out in front of Rosanheer, holding him back. Moments later, several arrows buzzed passed them, landing across from them into a nearby tree.

  “How sure are you?” Rosanheer asked, with concern.

  “He’s sure. Come on, I want to reach the flatlands by sundown,” she called, waving them to follow.

  Only footsteps into his journey, the branches beneath Rosanheer’s feet collapsed, sending him tumbling into a cavern below. Below him stood a large pit with long, wooden spikes stuck in the bottom. Zion grabbed hold of him, hoisting Rosanheer back before he fell further into the pit.

  “Watch your step,” Sedom called out over her shoulder.

  Rosanheer grabbed hold of Zion and then turned back to the pit. “Now she tells me,” he exhaled. “Hard terrain you have here,” Rosanheer mentioned.

  Sedom shrugged. “You get used to it.” She dismissed the incident, turning to Qilo. “You mentioned you could fly. What did you do before?” Sedom asked. The man said little, making Sedom more uneasy about Qilo than Rosanheer.

  A long sigh exited Qilo's lips, helping him think of the right words to speak. “A pilot. I worked for Rycal for ten years until Mandate Tipton gave the orders to turn on my people in the battle of Nogoana. I intentionally took damage, ran my ship aground here and I’ve been on Matrador ever since.”

  Sedom turned away frustrated. “Battle of Nogoana? Is that what they're calling the annihilation of my people?” she asked. Suddenly her throat filled with bile. She gulped hard, forcing the nasty taste into the pit of her stomach.

  Qilo grunted, watching Sedom with slight concern. “The closest moon and technically where the first battle was initiated. They didn't want to name the battle after the planet, I guess. Bad for tourism,” he joked.

  “Nogoana,” Sedom griped. She continued ahead, wanting to be alone.

  Both men turned to Zion for answers. Zion raised his hand out in fr
ont of him to guard himself. “Hey, I warned you she gets moody,” he returned. He glanced skyward, thinking. “That's right… damn. I remember her saying her mother's name was Nogoana. Sounds like adding insult to injury.”

  “When she gets in these moods, does it affect her ability to fight?” Qilo asked, seriously.

  Zion watched Sedom as she hurried ahead, her hands ripping apart any low-hanging branch she happened to walk by. He shook his head. “If anything, it makes her a better fighter. She becomes extremely focused when she's pissed off.”

  “I'm surprised she hasn't reopened Gathow if she's so pissed,” Rosanheer mentioned.

  “Not from the lack of wanting. She just can't find the manpower,” Zion explained.

  Rosanheer raised his hand. “I'd gladly volunteer.”

  Sedom paused, hearing Rosanheer's words. She turned back to him, staring directly at him. “Why would you, Marisheio?” she asked, her hand motioning to his tattoos. “You look pretty dedicated to the Empire.”

  Rosanheer stared back at her. “Well, I was lulled into joining the wrong side for a time and I realized my mistake. I made some corrections to my life map and now I'm back on track. Like you and your grandmother. Your grandmother made a mistake by not reopening Gathow, which cost your people a lot. You’re fixing her mistakes and now you’re back on track. We're both a little late, but better late than never.”

  Her mouth opened to protest, but the words wouldn't form. Frustrated, she turned away and continued ahead.

  “This is a first. I’ve never seen Sortec at a loss for words,” Zion called to Sedom, hoping to get a rise out of her.

  “Shut up,” she grumbled back.

  All three men chuckled. Secretly, Sedom chuckled also. Rosanheer did get her good, though she'd never admit to it.

  Zion's lips contorted as if his thoughts were suddenly disrupted by disillusionment.

  “What's with the look?” Sedom asked, not bothering to look at him. Somehow she knew something was on his mind.

  Zion pointed to the city in the distance. “I don't recall the city being this close. It took forever to reach Gathow,” he mentioned, recalling the events when Sedom rescued his group from the Marisheio.

  Rosanheer pointed to an orb lingering only a few hundred yards away. “Watch out or they'll watch us.”

  Sedom nodded, acknowledging his statement. “It did take forever. You were injured, carrying a dying woman. Beyond having to move at an extremely slow pace, I'm sure the journey felt like an eternity.” Sedom thought back to their first meeting. How strange it felt working alongside a man who nearly choked her to death. But even as she waited by the roadside to rescue Zion and his group, she could recall telling herself how she needed extra help in situations like that. Now that she had the extra help, she couldn't help, but feel a little nervous for their safety.

  “I don't recall the city having a wall around it,” Sedom mentioned.

  Rosanheer grunted. “The Marisheio constructed it after they took over the city. Most of the citizens were killed in a military action.” He paused, running his black tongue over his pearly-white teeth. “The citizens took up arms and tried to fight back. The Marisheio,” he paused, uncertain if he wanted to say more. “The Marisheio didn't care much for their disobedience.”

  The group continued to pass by the half-decayed remains of a man and a child. Sedom paused, staring down at the remains. Images flashed in her thoughts of her city, of the bodies that lined the walkways and the street gutters. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on something else, anything else.

  Zion grabbed her, forcing her away from the site. “Stay focused. This is why you do what you do. Focus on revenge and know you can personally stop this,” he whispered.

  She moved away from Zion, unable to clear her thoughts. She continued to a tree and let her head fall against the rough bark.

  Qilo motioned over to Sedom, concerned. “Is she okay?”

  “Centering herself, give her a moment. Sometimes these things bother her. The Chadon’s been through hell and back and still she continues to fight,” Zion said.

  Qilo's almond eyes turned to slits. “We can't afford...”

  “She's twelve, give her a moment. Trust me, she's good for it,” Zion demanded.

  Outside the Marisheio’s compound, the group watched as a military transport rolled up to the main gates. The gates opened, allowing the transport to enter.

  “That's the only way in or out. I've been watching this compound for months now,” he mentioned.

  Sedom stood behind the men. “Why… why have you been watching the compound?” she asked, curiously. It was rather peculiar how their paths were so closely connected.

  Qilo pointed to a warehouse adjacent to the compound. “They moved in enough explosives to level the capital city.”

  “The capital is on the other side of the planet,” Zion mentioned.

  Qilo agreed. “You don't want to alert your enemy that you're going to attack when you're planning to take over.”

  “Little late for that,” Zion smirked.

  Sedom thought about what Qilo said, then turned to Zion. “Why? Have the Crehail's Constantan or Mineria given up rule over Matrador? If so, this is news to me,” Sedom asked. “They're not going to give up until they’re dead, trust me on this.”

  “Narkoy intuition?” Zion asked.

  “It’s common knowledge. Battle of Colesnan, look it up. The Narkoy attempted to take over the planet on several occasions. The royal family has managed to fight them back every time,” Rosanheer mentioned. He peered through his binoculars and then motioned for the group to follow. “Hey, we've got movement.”

  “Spread out. Let's keep an eye on the city and see what happens. Something doesn’t feel right about this,” Qilo announced.

  For the better part of the day, the group remained watching the city. Sedom sat in a tall tree, her eyes transfixed on the city gates. It seemed such a waste of manpower to guard one woman. Maybe Garric was incorrect. Maybe there were far more prisoners there than he let on. Maybe he was setting her up. Maybe…

  The main gates opened, revealing three armored transports filled with Marisheio soldiers. Sedom sat up waving to Zion, but he was daydreaming in the bushes far below. Searching the tree, Sedom found a large purple pod and dropped it down on top of Zion's head. Zion jumped as he looked up. She pointed to the gates.

  His wrist com crackled. “Zion, do you read?” called Rosanheer over the com’s speaker.

  “I read you. We've got activity at the gate. What do you make of it?” Zion returned.

  “Hey, what the hell is going on? I've never seen anything like this before,” Qilo called over the com.

  “Hey,” Sedom called down to Zion in a whisper. “Why don’t I have one of those?” she asked, pointing to his com.

  Zion reached into his pocket, handing the wrist com up to Sedom. “You dropped it. I had packed it for you,” he whispered so he couldn’t be heard over the com.

  Sedom grabbed it, examining it. “Where did you find this?”

  “Later,” Zion mouthed back.

  “New one to me. They know we're here. They've increased the guards in the towers. This is some tactic to draw us out. But why they're sending their backup packing, I haven't a clue. The only reason is if there was an attack elsewhere. I checked the com relays and there’s nothing,” Rosanheer returned.

  “Suggestions?” Zion asked, looking up into the tree. Sedom was now perched on a branch directly above him, listening.

  Both Qilo and Rosanheer returned, “Wait.”

  “Wait? Wait for what? A better opportunity? The place is practically empty,” Sedom grumbled.

  “We’re assuming. I’m with them. Wait and see what happens,” Zion offered.

  She leaned against the tree trunk again. “I hate waiting.”

  “How long did you wait to rescue my group?” Zion asked.

  Sedom shrugged. “Awhile. I saw your group in the city when you were taken. The only way
I could attack was at night, so I spent the greater part of the day tracking your caravan.”

  Zion returned to his spot, relaxing his head against the same tree. “Then you have patience. Use it,” he scolded.

  The group continued to watch as several transport vehicles drove away from the city. Moments later, a loud metallic sound echoed from the city, followed by a volley of pistol fire.

  A man with long, shaggy salt and pepper hair ran from the main gates. He was completely naked with his hands tied in front of him. Pistol shots vibrated behind him, followed by the sound of muffled laughter. The guards were toying with him. The terrified man ran towards the forest, constantly looking over his shoulder to the main gate.

  “I don't believe what I'm seeing,” Rosanheer said, standing from his crouched position. “They don't release prisoners and he’s in no position to have escaped.”

  “It's a trap,” Qilo stated over the com. “They know she's here. Sortec, do you know that man?” he asked Sedom.

  Sedom nodded, mainly for Zion. “Patto, he’s Ratisha's husband. He also helped save my life… sort of,” she spoke low.

  “Affirmative. They're trying to draw Sortec out of hiding,” Zion called back on the com.

  “What do we do?” Sedom asked.

  Rosanheer climbed up into the tree alongside Sedom, startling her at first. “We do nothing. Our objective is Ratisha Augers.” He sat on the branch below her, looking up at her. “If we help him, we give away our position. If that's the case, we might as well hand ourselves over now.”

  Sedom gritted her teeth as she watched Patto stumble to the ground. He yelped, grabbing hold to the burning pistol wound to his calf. Blood streamed down his leg as he continued to run into the forest, stumbling over every-other step.

  “Unacceptable.” She climbed further into the tree, then leaped into the next tree then to the next. From the third tree, she jumped down behind a large bank of bushes.