Page 27 of Warrior (The Outlander Book Club… in Space! #2)
I knelt beside her, bringing myself down to the youngling’s level. The feeling in my gut, the one that kept me alive through countless battles reared. Younglings could be dramatic and imaginative, but I believed Cuietsu. His fear was too real. “Did they say why they are blowing up the mine?”
“They said someone escaped the surface and the owner of the mine is afraid he will return and bring others.”
“Fuck,” I hissed, causing the small Verdesian to jump. I believed his tale even more now. The plan worked. They thought Xaden was me and were willing to kill to hide their scheme.
“It’s okay sweetie,” Daisy rubbed his back. “Daicon is just worried about us being safe. Did you hear them say when they were leaving?”
The small black horns on either side of Cuietsu’s head caught the light as he nodded. “They said they would plant the explosives tonight and tomorrow.”
“Two days.” Daisy raised her gaze to mine, the tremble in her lower lip clenching my heart. “How close are we to getting through the tunnel?”
I would give my life for her to never feel fear again, but I could not lie to her.
“More than two days.” There was still at least a foot and a half of solid rock remaining to reach the other side of the breach and with the increased guard patrol, it was slow going.
Our only option was to use explosives, but that would destroy any hint of surprise.
An option I might consider if escaping alone, but the possibility of danger to Daisy and the younglings made it unthinkable.
“We can help.” Ewok piped up, an excited glint in his dark eyes. He nudged George and in turn, Cuietsu with an elbow.
“No, Ewok…” Daisy began in a motherly tone.
“Ewok is right, we can help.” George’s demeanor showed the logic of his kind. “With more of us working, we can dig through the barrier faster.”
Daisy glanced at me for input, her beautiful face set in a frown.
“It might make a difference,” I admitted, amid her deepening unease. “Their hands are smaller. They can get into areas that take me longer to dig around.”
“But you already work in the mines,” Daisy worried about them. “Remember what happened the last time one of you didn’t show up?”
George laid a comforting hand on Daisy’s shoulder.
“The guards sent to watch us today were distracted, kida. Perhaps knowing the mine was being destroyed in a few days makes them care less about our daily output. Besides,” his pale eyes narrowed with a knowing expression.
“Since the scarred guard disappeared, the rest have let us be.”
Daisy and I shared a look, her lip trembling slightly. Other than the two of us, only George knew the truth of what happened between the guard and Daisy.
“Then we help Daicon at night.” Ewok’s voice was confident, but his eyes met mine with a question.
“No, you’ll be exhausted. I’ll help Daicon in the tunnel.” Daicon put in before I could answer.
“Kida, you do not know how the handle the tools,” Ewok’s hand landed on Daisy’s other shoulder, a mirror of George’s touch. “Daicon would lose time teaching you what to do. We are skilled miners.”
Overhearing our conversation, the rest of the younglings moved closer, nodding in agreement.
“But….”
The small, defeated tone in her voice felt like a knife in my gut. I stood, pulling her up with me and folding her against my chest. She relaxed against me without hesitation, knowing she belonged in my arms, and an intense feeling swelled in my chest.
“Daisy, sweetling,” I murmured, brushing my lips against her forehead. The younglings watched with a mix of curiosity and approval. Whatever it meant, we were together now. I was a boyfriend. No sense trying to hide the feelings I held for her from the younglings.
“Please, kida, we want to help,” George pressed. I felt her sigh of acquiescence, although her bright eyes glimmered with tears of worry.
“Okay.” Daisy’s finger pointed at each youngling in turn. “But you guys can only work in four-hour shifts. That way, you’ll get at least some sleep.” She gestured toward the smaller younglings. “You guys can help me in the kitchen. We’ll need to gather supplies for our trip.”
“When do we start?” One of the younglings, a tall Romvesian that Daisy called Fred, asked.
“No time like the present,” George answered, glancing at me for approval.
“Choose a half dozen of the strongest,” I told him, feeling Daisy stiffen beside me. I leaned over, pressing my lips to her temple. “Every minute counts now, sweetling.”
She nodded, pulling her trembling lower lip between her teeth. I brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, intent on capturing her mouth with mine, when I felt a tentative touch on my thigh.
The youngling was one of the smallest, wide pale purple eyes gazing hopefully at me.
“Are we going to be okay, Mr. Daicon?”
I gave Daisy’s shoulders a squeeze before bending and lifting the small male in my arms. He jerked at my touch but relaxed against my shoulder. His sharp chin raised in a gesture of boldness, but holding him, I felt a tremble so deep it must have shaken his very bones.
“We are going to fine little one.” I said the words loud enough for all the younglings to hear. “I give you my word as a Vaktaire warrior. I will see you all safe and away from this place.”
A cheer erupted, echoing through the chamber. The vote of confidence from the younglings touched me, but nothing meant as much as the faith in Daisy’s eyes when her gaze caught mine.
◆◆◆
As a Vaktaire warrior, I could go a week without sleep, longer if imbued with the adrenaline of battle. The younglings tired easily, but their small hands proved invaluable for maneuvering through tight spots I would have had to circumvent boulders to reach.
George was right. The guards proved to be pre-occupied, not missing the younglings who worked by my side all night and through the next morning. We ceased only when Daisy arrived with food, insisting we stop long enough to eat.
In the late afternoon of the next day, I pushed my hand through to the other side of the tunnel.
After that, it took a few more hours to clear a space large enough for everyone to squeeze through.
I sent most of the younglings back to the common area for food and rest, save for George and Ewok, who insisted on accompanying me to scout.
The tunnel was narrow, littered with debris from the explosion that caused the cave-in.
In some spots, there was barely enough room for me to squeeze through.
We made our way painstakingly, taking time to shift away rocks and fallen beams in order to make the trip easier for the ones who would follow.
When light broke the din ahead, I cautioned George and Ewok to silence, and bade them to press tight to the shadows. The tunnel widened, opening out onto a concrete slap surrounded by stacks of metal bins.
Four ships sat on the tarmac, two were skiffs no larger than the one Xaden used to escape.
One was large enough to hold us all but looked to have damage on the back quarter panel.
The final ship would have to do—a troop carrier, currently in the process of being outfitted for the guard’s escape.
It was an Aljani vessel, easily flown unless the AI security was engaged.
I doubted it would be a problem. The guards didn’t know of my presence and considered Daisy and the younglings no threat.
Guards milled about, laughing as they spoke of escape and explosions. I wanted to kill every one of the bastards for what they contemplated for Daisy and the younglings.
By my count, twenty guards milled about the dock.
At least four guards accompanied the younglings into the mines every morning, with two or three doing patrol.
I could take half a dozen guards without breaking a sweat.
A dozen if I had room to move and fight.
But nearly thirty guards were too many, even for me.
George and Ewok thrummed with excitement. Taking a moment to commit the layout of the dock to memory, we slinked back into the tunnel.
“When can we leave?” Ewok bounced as he walked, despite the lack of sleep.
“Early morning will be the best time,” I said, recalling Xaden’s advice.
“There are a lot of guards,” George worried.
“True,” Ewok mused, tapping his furry chin with fingers covered in dust.
I led the younglings, admonishing silence, until we slipped back through the obstruction, and I placed a boulder to hide the rift.
When I gave the all-clear their voices raised in excitement, their ideas for getting around the guard presence ranged from the ridiculous to the realistic.
These two younglings had seen more death than many adults, yet their young minds still considered battle as a thing of play.
A game to win without the scent of blood and screams of pain and death.
I knew better.