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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

After their rousing night of passion, Maria slept like a baby.

Not the waking up, crying, and pooping yourself kind, but the deep, sound slumber type that left her feeling invigorated and restored come morning.

And if getting her runes fixed really did what they said it would, linking the other ones all over her body in a sort of living pigment superconductor network, there was no telling what she would be able to do.

She bid her farewell to Zepharos, kissing him deeply, leaving him with a stupid-happy grin on his face as she headed off to the simple tent in which Heydar was to do his work. It was a short walk, and she made it there in no time, finding the Nimenni prince meditating quietly on a cushion.

“Ah, you are here,” he said, sensing her the moment she entered, though she’d been quite silent about it. “I take it you slept well? You have a refreshed look about you.”

“Yeah, it was a good night, for sure.”

“You did not eat, as we discussed?”

“Nope. Just like fasting blood work, not a big deal, so long as this doesn’t take hours.”

“I actually understood that reference,” he said with a chuckle. “My mate, bless her sometimes ridiculous vernacular, has mentioned it in the past. A very strange medical system on your world. But who am I to judge? I am sure it has many charms in its own rustic way.”

“I wouldn’t exactly call us rustic .”

“Of course, I mean no offense. It’s just your kind are not a spacefaring people. Being constrained to a single world does feel a bit, well, rustic , to most of us—our Oraku hosts excluded, naturally, though they do have the option should they so desire.”

“Give us time. We’ve made it to space, just not this far.”

“Darla has told me. She’d told me much of your world, and while I do not know where it is or how far the Raxxians traveled once you were taken, I do hope to visit it one day.”

“That would be both amazing and terrifying. Our governments aren’t exactly known as the ask-questions-first-shoot-second kind of people.”

He laughed. “Again, Darla has mentioned the same thing. But should that day arrive, rest assured, my people’s defensive systems are quite robust. But enough of that. Let’s get this Infala completed.”

“Works for me. What do I do?”

“Just remove your clothing and lay on this table. I will first inspect you from head to toe to ensure I do not miss any tricks left by the chancellor’s Skrizzit.

Once they are mapped out, I will apply the corrective pigments.

You’re in luck. Rohanna had a little of a very, very powerful pigment left over from a ceremonial marking not long ago. ”

“Lucky me.”

“You truly are,” he agreed as she stripped and lay down on the table. “Relax. This first part will be quick.”

Sure enough, he surveyed her entire body and the markings the Skrizzit had placed on it in no time. His expert eyes made quick work of what would have taken a lesser artist several times as long.

“Good, it is only the Infala they sabotaged. The rest of your runework is surprisingly quite impressive. And once I connect them all, I’m hopeful you will have the same powerful reaction the other humans I know have.”

“Fingers crossed.”

He picked up his implements and moved close, leaning over her as he prepared to begin. “There will be a slight discomfort due to the location of the Infala, but this pigment should help reduce any pain. Are you ready?”

“Yeah. Let’s do this.”

“Then here we go.”

He moved fast and fluid, dipping his needles in the living pigment and carefully inserting it into her flesh, fixing what the chancellor’s Skrizzit had done. Heydar stopped abruptly, an odd look on his face.

“Is everything okay?”

He leaned closer to her chest, marveling at what he saw. “What have you done?”

“Excuse me?”

“This is unusual. What have you done to yourself? Or what has been done to you?”

“Nothing. What’s going on?”

“Your skin absorbs the pigment in a very unusual manner. Extremely fast. The markings are setting in almost immediately, and even with a touch-up that is unheard of. But you say no one did anything to you?”

“I’m telling you; I’d have remembered.”

“Then is there anything at all you can think of that was out of the ordinary in the last few days? Perhaps something you were exposed to? Or something you ate or drank? ”

“Actually, now that you mention it, we did stay at that spa you and Darla visited recently.”

“A fantastic place, and their healing baths are second to none. But that would not do this.”

“Well, we did find a hot spring that was off the beaten path.”

“Nothing too unusual about?—”

“And I kinda drank some.”

He froze for a second. “You drank the waters? Are you mad? There are warning signs throughout the spa.”

“Well, we weren’t in the spa. And besides, Zeph drank some too, and he’s fine.”

Heydar shook his head in disbelief, muttering to himself as he began again. “Drank the waters. Both of you. Madness.”

“I said I was okay.”

“We will just have to see what happens, then. You will heal rapidly, that much is clear. How your other runes may adapt to this unexpected variable, however, is anyone’s guess. Now lay still. This will apparently be quicker than expected.”

True to his word, Heydar finished his work in a flash.

Not because of haste or lack of care, but because her Infala seemed to almost crave the final pigment, and when she stepped out into the fresh air, everything looked brighter and smelled better.

She felt like she was on Cloud Nine, her whole body already starting to react as her runes finally connected for the first time.

She found Zepharos and the others at breakfast. He’d saved her a spot between himself and Rohanna, though all were sitting close, jabbering away merrily. He also had a delightful selection of foods and juices laid out for her, awaiting her arrival. He rose, pulling out her chair when he saw her.

“I didn’t know what you might be craving, so I took the liberty of getting you a sampler.”

Darla and Shalia shared a look, marveling that Zepharos had played the hero, putting himself on the line in a selfless way that was utterly unlike the man they’d known.

They kept that bit of the conversation to themselves for later.

There was no need to rib the poor man in front of his woman, though they were both astounded to even think those words.

Maria sat down with grace, a big smile on her lips, squeezing his hand as he pushed her chair in. “Thanks. It all smells incredible. Is this normal? I mean, the smell thing? Everything seems to smell stronger.”

The two older women looked at Heydar, who was joining them, having arrived just after Maria. He nodded his greetings to Shalia and Valin, said his hellos to the elder and village ruler, and, of course, gave his woman a tender kiss. He shrugged as he sat.

“Don’t look at me,” he said. “Her body is very reactive to the pigment. It was not my doing. I have no idea what her runes might be capable of.” He turned to Zepharos, his former rival, but since then a man he considered a friend.

“I thought it would be wise to check the comms traffic after your little stunt. It is still all very hush-hush, but beneath the benign I believe more is stirring. You kicked the nest, Zepharos, and while they are keeping the scale of their response under wraps to shield the elites from further humiliation, you should know they most certainly are searching. And they are getting closer.”

“How much closer? We saw ships, but they were still traveling far off.”

“Very close. I would estimate they will visit the village within a few days.”

Zepharos seemed shocked by the news, his jaw flexing as his racing mind processed the news. This was home. This was safe. But Maria wasn’t safe here, and worse yet, their presence put the rest of them at risk. There was only one thing to do.

“Then we must go,” he said, the decision and consequences weighted and decided. “I will take Maria far from here. Somewhere they will not find us. I will do everything in my power to keep her safe.”

Rohanna seemed shocked. “You will essentially be banishing yourself. You do realize that?”

“I do, and it doesn’t matter. This is not only the only thing to do, but the right one, no matter the cost.”

Heydar nodded, admiring the man’s newfound courage. “If that is the case, allow me to arrange for a ship to?—”

“No, but thank you. They will be running scans of anything in the air if what you say is true. It’s not worth the risk. We will flee on foot, and in so doing we will remain all but untrackable.”

Maria had an alarmed look on her face. “But what about Ziana? She’s still stuck back there.”

Heydar’s eyes flared with anger at the mention of another human almost certainly given faulty runes. “Do not concern yourself. I will personally visit her to ensure her safety.”

“I’ll come too,” Valin offered, the massive beast of a man ready to do whatever was needed of him.

“Thank you, my friend, but you are half Dohrag, and while I know you to be an honorable man, they do not. And given your people’s, uh, reputation , you will only draw more attention and possible conflict, whereas I am a Nimenni prince, and a general at that.

The games are a spectacle of elites, and I will be able to go where you simply cannot. ”

“I just want to help.”

“And you can. If they track Zepharos and Maria here, there could be trouble. I’m counting on you, Valin.”

The former Dohrag commander’s chest puffed up, fierce and ready for a fight. “I will protect the villagers with my life, you have my word.”

Given the carnage he’d left in his wake to get there, no one doubted either his skill or resolve.

Darla wrapped her hands around Heydar’s arm, a wry grin on her lips. “So, you’re gonna play the royalty card, eh? I thought you tried to avoid all that.”

“Normally, yes. But if leaning into it is to our advantage, it is worth it. And besides, I thought my love would enjoy an outing to the games.”

Darla smiled wide. “Oh, I very much would.”

Heydar turned his attention back to the newcomers, a serious look passing across his face.

“Hear me on this. The people hunting you now are motivated, but only by currency and obligation. That is to your advantage. But once the games are over the elites will send their heirs to join in the search, and for them it is personal. Be well hidden before that happens, Zepharos. It will be your only hope.”

“We will be. And thank you for your help.”

Rohanna held up her hand. “Just a moment, before you go galloping off into the wilderness. First, we will outfit you properly for the excursion. You arrived in something of a state from your time outdoors, and for a son of the Oraku, that just will not do.”

Zepharos chuckled warmly. “I would not dream of offending you, Rohanna. Your offer is accepted with many thanks.”

“Good,” the woman said, pushing back from the table. “Well, that’s settled then. Let’s get you set up for your travel. And I may just have the perfect parting gift to see you on your way.”

“What is it?” Zepharos asked.

“Patience, my boy. Patience.”