A World of Secrets (The Firewall Trilogy) by James Maxwell

Author:James Maxwell [Maxwell, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781542005258
Publisher: 47North
Published: 2020-07-15T16:00:00+00:00

Taimin resisted the urge to glance behind him until he was well away from the tallest of the three peaks. When he allowed himself to check back at the entrance, his jaw tightened. A skalen stood just inside the triangular cave mouth, not even trying to hide the fact that he was watching.

Turning away, Taimin stared up at the heavens while he walked. The waxing moon was low in the night sky, leaving a dark expanse overhead, so that a multitude of twinkling lights stared back at him. Wind howled over the desert, but the basin was protected by its encircling wall and all he felt was a warm breeze on his skin.

As he pretended to take his bearing, he scratched his chin and pondered. He had taken a good look at the largest of the caves, but he still needed to see inside the two others. His intuition told him that if he revealed the true purpose of his visit he would have less, not more, opportunity to look around. Kash clearly didn’t like the thought of humans wandering freely through her domain.

Taimin wandered while he gazed up at the stars. A shooting star darted across his vision, followed by another. His meandering footsteps took him closer to the next cave, the one that was square shaped rather than triangular. He surreptitiously looked behind him. His guard had started to walk toward him. The skalen held up a hand.

Taimin ignored him and walked straight into the cave.

He stopped inside the entrance, which wasn’t decorated like the clan’s residence. He blinked and pretended to look confused. Aurelium lamps rested in a handful of niches, revealing a rectangular, low-ceilinged space that appeared to be used as a storeroom. Dried meat hung from ropes. Clay jars stood in neat, orderly rows on the floor. Bulging sacks filled a corner. Several of the jars glowed from within: Kash’s clan possessed aurelium in quantity. The rear wall of the cavern glistened; the sheen of moisture indicated a spring or a well.

Taimin swiftly took it all in. Then a reptilian hand gripped his upper arm.

“Apologies,” Taimin said, meeting the skalen’s narrowed green eyes. The thin black slits of pupils enhanced the guard’s menace. “It’s dark.” He spread his hands. “I got confused.”

The skalen didn’t say a word but firmly led Taimin away from the storage cavern to take him back to the residence. As soon as he entered, Taimin saw Lars and Kash still bargaining. A blanket lay between them with Taimin’s sword in front of Lars. Kash had a jar in her hand and was in the process of adding a finger-sized shard of aurelium to a cluster on an open leather pouch by her knees. She handled the piece delicately, placing it down so that there was a gap between the shards.

“If you leave again you will be escorted,” the guard hissed to Taimin. “I suggest you stay here.”

Lars gave Taimin an inquiring look but Taimin shook his head. Taking his seat on a cushion, Taimin settled in while Lars pretended to change his mind over and over again.

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