The Watchers at War by Barbara V. Evers

Author:Barbara V. Evers [Evers, Barbara V.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: New Mythology Press
Published: 2021-02-25T22:00:00+00:00

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Chapter 30

As the sun traveled its arc across the sky, Adana and her small crew continued searching for Kassa and Umgani. She felt a nudge from Am’brosia, pressure to veer to the right. Curious, Adana stopped and scanned the area. It was grassland, just like ahead of them, with the occasional tree breaking the landscape. Still, the bond leapt with energy each time she turned that way.

“Am’brosia wants us to change direction,” Adana announced and started along the new path.

When nothing of interest appeared within the hour, she began to question Am’brosia through the bond. She’d asked questions of the animal before, while Am’brosia responded with images or feelings. Only once had she ever managed to sound a word in Adana’s mind, and that had been “No.”

She’d tried to explain the understanding of the giraffe’s communications to Kiffen, but he couldn’t grasp the idea. He would have to learn that on his own.

For now, her doubt annoyed Am’brosia, the bond stinging with energy, almost painful in its forcefulness.

They continued in that direction, then.

The moment she agreed to maintain their heading, the stinging stopped. Its absence enhanced her awareness of the ache in her shoulder. The intensity of pain, while not pleasant, lessened a bit. Could they be close?

“There’s a stream ahead,” Nuala said, interrupting Adana’s musings. “We should refill our canteens.”

Adana paused and recognized the light babble of water flowing ahead and to their right. She altered her path, heading for the stream. The lightness of relief washed down the link. She picked up her pace. “I think they’re near the stream. Am’brosia wants us to go this way.”

The seven of them picked up the pace, and Greti sent two of her unit ahead to scout the way. Before long, shouts of greeting came to their ears. Ignoring the need to stick within the middle of her Watchers for protection, Adana raced ahead.

Before she saw them, she heard the shift in their tones. At first their voices sounded joyful, but now they sounded worried. She ran faster.

“Your Majesty,” Dosata called as she attempted to stay with her, but the heavy pack slowed her down. “Wait. We don’t’ know—”

She ignored the warrior’s urgent tone. At the top of a small rise, she spotted them below. Blood rushed to her head at the scene unfolding in front of her. Kassa lay still and gray on a frame of vine-wrapped tree limbs. A cloth tied around her left arm was brown with old blood. Beside her, Umgani stood, sweat streaking rivulets through a fine layer of dirt on her skin. The woman spotted Adana and moved to stand at attention, but Adana waved her hand in dismissal. “Tell me.”

While Umgani explained what had happened, Dosata got to work, ordering two of the Watchers to build a fire while she took items from her pack. She blinked and looked up at Adana, whose eyes were wide in surprise as she withdrew a short saw and a bottle of some sweet-smelling potion.

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