Page 71 of Grounded (Convergence #1)

Liria raced down the corridor, heading for the supply room where they kept the medical kit. As she passed a front window, she saw lights coming up the road.

“Fuck!” She engaged the lock on the aurind door so that it wouldn't open for anyone, and then ran to the supply room. When she got there, she grabbed the med kit and ran back to Thax.

“We've got people coming up the road.” Liria tossed the kit at Thax. “Stabilize him and then join me in the entry hall.”

“Liri!” Thax shouted after her.

But Liria was already on her way back to the front door, one hand pulling a pulser. She peered out a side window and saw Braxis leading a mob of Medeans, all of them armed.

“Oh, fuck.”

“Liria? Thaxvarien?” Braxis called. “Are you alright? We saw pulser blasts! Liria!”

She blinked. Hold on. Mobs generally didn't ask about the welfare of their targets. Were they there to help? Liria shouted through the window, “We're all right. Our guards had an argument.”

“An argument?” Braxis lowered the table leg he held and looked at the dead Aethari. “Great convergence, what were they arguing about?”

“Oh, fuck it. I can take them if I have to.” Liria opened the door and stepped out. “They're traitors. They wanted Thax to lead an army against the Council of Icara so they could overthrow his father.”

“Holy shit.” Braxis hurried over, several of the townspeople joining him, including his sister. “What did Thaxvarien say?” He glanced at the bodies. “I mean, I assume it was something along the lines of, 'Fuck off.'”

Liria snorted. She really had to stop laughing around corpses. “Well, they killed our other guards and were planning on killing Thax's father, so he wasn't too pleased with them.”

“What?! They seriously thought he'd approve of killing his own father?”

“He has a history of rebelling.” Liria shrugged. “And you can't account for crazy.”

“No shit,” Branla muttered, staring at the bodies. “And nice shot—with all of them.”

“Yeah, Thax trained hard. I got a couple too.” As Liria's heart rate slowed, she went on, “We warned his parents. They're on their way here. And one of our guards is still alive but wounded. Thax is with him now.”

A man stepped forward, a fire poker in his hand. “You have someone in need of aid? I'm a healer.”

“Oh, sweet convergence!” Liria waved the man over. “Could you help him?”

“Of course.” He set the poker aside and followed her into the house.

Braxis, his sister, and several others came with him. As they went down the hall, Aga's door cracked open.

“Is it safe?” Aga whispered to Liria.

“Oh, Aga! Thank goodness you're all right!” Liria hugged her. “Yes, it's safe. You can come out now.”

Aga came out and was greeted by some of the other townspeople while Liria rushed ahead, leading the healer to Evellor's bedroom.

“It's me!” Liria called before she entered. “I've got a healer with me.”

“How did they get here so . . .” Thax trailed off when he saw the Medeans.

“They were coming to help.” Liria motioned to the Medeans.

“Please move back.” The healer waved Thax away.

“Good, you have a med kit.” He bent over Evellor to peer at the screen of the portable examiner as Thax got up.

A view of the internal damage to Evellor's flesh showed for a second on the little screen before the healer switched the view to the bones setting, and a partial image of Evellor's rib cage replaced it.

Thax joined Liria, who was standing with Braxis and Branla near the door. He looked at Braxis and then the other townspeople. “Thank you. Thank you all for coming. I don't know what else to say except I'm very grateful.”

“We take care of each other out here,” one of the women said.

Liria looked at Braxis, and he smiled secretly at her. It looked as if he was better at keeping a secret than the Speaker's guards. After smiling back at him in gratitude, she looked at the others. “It's so early. I'm surprised anyone noticed the fight.”

“I saw the flashes.” A man in an apron lifted a hand. “I'm a baker, so I was in my kitchen, preparing for the day. I glanced out my window and saw light coming from up here. I served at a fortress for a few years, so I know what pulser flashes look like.”

“And he alerted the rest of us,” Braxis said.

“I've got him stable,” the healer said. “You have a good kit. But I need to get him to my clinic. That wound is too close to his heart for my liking.”

“I've got him.” Thax scooped up Evellor, his arms going under Evellor's wings to wrap the Aethari in a blanket of feathers. “Lead the way.”

“You don't have any other wounded?”

“No.” Thax's jaw clenched.

“Those bastards killed my men while they lay sleeping,” Evellor said.

Several people gasped even as they drew back to clear the hallway.

“Liri, are you coming with us?” Thax's strained stare held hers.

“Of course. Your parents won't be here for a few hours yet.” Liria motioned him ahead of her.

Thax went first, with the healer right behind him. They led the way outside to the carriage house and then to the trav. The healer opened the back door, and Thax set Evellor inside before getting in beside him to prop the man up.

“Could you drive?” Liria handed the healer the keys.

“Yes, of course.” The healer took the keys and got in.

“We'll meet you at the clinic,” Braxis said.

Liria gripped his hand. “Thank you, Brax.”

He nodded. “Go. We'll talk later.”

Liria got in the passenger seat, and they sped off toward Thennis, leaving a crowd of friends to follow in their wake.