Page 39 of Dark Shaman: Eternal Hope (The Children Of The Gods #100)

TAMIRA

I t was already hot at seven-thirty in the morning, the sun mercilessly beating down on the chaos of evacuation.

Tamira stood near the pavilion entrance, watching servants hurry past with armloads of cushions, baskets of food, and folded blankets.

Children darted between the adults, their excited voices rising above the general din.

For them, this was an adventure—an unexpected holiday from the routine of chores and schooling.

"Mind the glassware!" a maid called as two young boys nearly collided with her. She was balancing a tray of cups, her face flushed more because of the heat than exertion. She was one among many, and they were all pitching in.

It always astonished Tamira how many servants worked to maintain the harem. She and the other ladies normally interacted only with the select few who served food in the dining room, cleaned their quarters, and took care of the laundry, but there were so many more.

The restoration tent stood ready on the lawn, its white canvas sides rolled up to allow what little breeze existed to flow through.

Tables had been arranged beneath it, already laden with fruit, bread, cheeses, and cold meats prepared the night before.

It looked festive, almost celebratory, and Tamira's stomach churned at the disconnect between appearances and reality.

Somewhere in the bowels of the harem, Eluheed and Tony were hidden in a utility closet on the fifth level.

They'd slipped away during the evacuation confusion, when servants were busy gathering things for the outdoor picnic and guards were focused on clearing the floors.

The plan was for them to wait until the building was empty, then make their way to Areana's quarters and the hidden tunnel entrance.

But what if the air ran out faster than they'd calculated? What if someone did a more thorough check and found them?

"Ladies, this way please!" A guard gestured toward the tent. "We need everyone accounted for before the power shutdown."

Tamira caught Tula's eye across the crowd. The other woman was helping a little girl carry a large pillow. She was dressed in a loose gown, but in the bright sunlight, Tula's condition seemed more obvious than ever.

"Where is Elias?" Beulah asked from behind her. "I haven't seen him or Tony this morning."

"They took the opportunity to explore deep in the gardens." The prepared lie flowed smoothly from Tamira's mouth. "Elias is searching for some rare medicinal plant that he's convinced must grow on this island. Tony went with him to help, and probably to escape the crowd."

Beulah frowned. "They should have waited for more pleasant weather to go exploring. They'll exhaust themselves in this heat."

"You know how Elias gets about his plants," Tamira said with what she hoped was an affectionate eye roll.

Two guards emerged from the pavilion, and Tamira's heart stuttered before she realized they weren't looking for anyone specific.

They took positions at either side of the structure, each next to an entrance, their presence a clear message that no one was going back inside until the power was restored.

Having the men stay hidden rather than trying to sneak back in had been the right call.

"The last sweep is complete," one of them said into his communicator. "The building is empty."

Empty except for two men hidden in a closet. Tamira forced herself not to think about the lack of oxygen or let worry show on her face.

"Let's get in the shade," Sarah said, linking her arm through Tamira's. "The heat is already unbearable."

They walked toward the tent, joining the stream of people seeking relief from the sun. The children had already claimed the floor pillows in one corner, where someone had thought to bring board games, cards, and even a few balls for the braver souls willing to play in the heat.

"Tamira dear, where is Elias?" Areana asked as Tamira and Sarah joined her at the ladies' table.

"He and Tony are in the gardens," Tamira said, meeting the goddess's impossibly blue eyes that seemed to see through every pretense. "They are hunting for some exotic plant that Elias swears must be growing wild out there. You know how he gets when he's on a mission."

Areana's expression didn't change, but something flickered in her eyes—suspicion, perhaps, or simple curiosity. "It might take them all morning, and they will miss the picnic."

"That's what I said," Tamira agreed, allowing frustration to color her voice.

"But Elias insisted that this was the perfect opportunity because he and Tony couldn't work in the inner courtyard today, and the herb garden didn't need any attention.

" She leaned closer to Areana and whispered conspiratorially, "I think that he just doesn't like crowds and looks for a good excuse to avoid mingling.

He hates that people are still giving him the hero treatment because of what he did during the flooding. "

"Hmm." Areana studied her for another moment, then smiled. "Well, I hope they find what they're looking for, and that they don't suffer heat stroke in the process."

She turned to talk with Beulah and Liliat, who were trying to convince her to try one of the board games.

Tamira released a breath.

"That was smooth," Tula murmured, sliding into a chair beside her. "You are scarily good at this, but she still knows something's off."

Tula knew Areana better than any of them, and Tamira had no doubt that she was right. "She always knows. The question is whether she will do anything about it."

"Probably not." Tula rose to her feet. "Let's go to the buffet. The servants won't start eating until we've filled our plates."

They made their way to the food tables, and Tamira was grateful for the excuse to load up plates. Four plates, two for them, and two for their supposedly plant-hunting partners.

"Hungry this morning?" Raviki asked with a raised eyebrow.

"We're taking the food to the gazebo," Tula said. "We are meeting Elias and Tony there when they're done with their treasure hunt."

"Why not have them come here?" Liliat asked.

"You know Elias," Tamira said. "He's not good with crowds. Besides, it's peaceful out there."

"Their loss," Liliat said. "They're missing out on all the fun."

The picnic was taking on a life of its own. Someone had brought out a guitar. One of the servants knew a few songs, and a small group had gathered to listen. In another corner, two kitchen maids were playing a card game with some of the older children.

These were her people. Even the servants felt like extended family.

"Are you okay?" Tula asked as she and Tamira walked away, each balancing two plates.

Tamira realized she'd been standing still, staring at a little girl who was braiding the hair of an even smaller girl. The child's concentration was absolute, her small fingers working with surprising dexterity.

"Yeah. I'm fine," Tamira said. "I'm just going to miss this."

"Don't say things like that," Tula murmured under her breath. "Not here."

"Sorry. I won't."

It was hard to shake the thoughts prompted by what they were doing. If they succeeded in escaping, what would happen to everyone here? Would Navuh rage at their disappearance? Would he take out his anger on those who remained?

Hopefully, he wouldn't.

He'd be coldly furious, but practical. The other ladies hadn't done anything wrong. The servants were valuable resources. He wouldn't waste them out of spite.

Probably.

"Are you coming?" Tula looked at her over her shoulder.

"Yeah."

They walked past the guards, who noted their departure but didn't comment.

The gazebo stood empty and welcoming, its vine-overgrown lattice providing blessed shade. They set the plates on the table and sat on the cushioned benches, finally able to drop their masks.

"How long has it been?" Tula asked.

Tamira checked her watch. "Twenty minutes since the building was declared empty."

"Is that enough time for them to reach the tunnel?"

"It should be." But Tamira wasn't certain.

They'd had to wait for the guards to finish their sweep, then navigate in complete darkness with only flashlights to guide them.

The utility closet was on the fifth level, and Areana's quarters were on the first. They had to climb the stairs in the dark, then the careful process of stepping on the right spot, pulling and pushing the books in the correct sequence, and accessing the hidden door without triggering any alarms.

"You know what we haven't considered?" Tula asked suddenly.

"What?"

"That there might be more than one fork in the tunnel, and they won't know which one to take."

For a moment, Tamira allowed herself to panic, but then she remembered what Eluheed had said about his vision. "Elias saw Navuh and Areana running through the tunnel. He would have seen if there were more than one offshoot."

From their vantage point in the gazebo, they could see the top of the tent in the distance, and the colorful flag that someone had hung there.

She could hear music drifting in the air and voices raised in song.

It was surreal, this juxtaposition of ordinary life continuing while Eluheed and Tony attempted the impossible below.

"I keep thinking about what happens after," Tula said, her voice barely above a whisper. "If we make it out, we will have to find our way to Annani's clan."

Tamira lifted a brow. "What are you talking about? Annani is gone along with all the other gods."

"Right." Tula wiped sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. "The heat is getting to me, and I'm hallucinating. Perhaps your son will help us. Maybe even Areana's son. They are fugitives just like we will be."

Tamira nodded. "We will be fugitives together, and?—"

"Listen," Tula suddenly said.

The sounds of heavy footsteps preceded the appearance of two guards walking in the direction of the gazebo.

Tamira's pulse spiked before she noted their unhurried pace. They weren't coming to arrest anyone. They were probably just checking on them.

"Smile," she murmured to Tula. "We're having a lovely time waiting for our partners."

The guards stopped about twenty feet away, apparently satisfied that the ladies were where they'd said they'd be, then turned back and walked away without even a greeting.

"I hate this," Tula said once they were gone. "We are never left alone. There is always someone watching."

"Soon," Tamira said. "One way or another, soon it'll be over."

Somewhere beneath tons of rock and earth, Eluheed and Tony were either finding their salvation or walking into a trap. And all Tamira and Tula could do was sit in this beautiful gazebo and wait.

The watch on her wrist ticked steadily forward. Thirty minutes. Forty. An hour.

"They should be in the tunnel by now," Tula said.

"Yes."

Another pause. The sound of children's laughter carried from the tent, followed by applause. Some kind of performance, perhaps. Normal life continued its course, oblivious to the drama playing out in the shadows.

"I hate leaving them all," Tamira said.

Tula looked at her. "Our sisters?"

"Not just them. Everyone. They're all trapped here, too."

"We can't save everyone," Tula said softly. "We can barely save ourselves."

She was right, of course. But the guilt was there, regardless of the rationale, a weight she'd carry whether they succeeded or failed.