Trailblazer by Michelle Diener

Author:Michelle Diener [Diener, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Eclipse
Published: 2019-03-05T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 25

“This is a bad idea.” Tally knew it was the third time she'd voiced this opinion, but damn it, it was a bad idea.

Ben shot her a look that said everything without saying a word.

She sighed, nodded, and stopped talking, following him through the thick ferns that grew in the narrow channel that must in wetter seasons be a shallow tributary of the river. She stopped under the tree they'd been making their way toward, and Ben boosted her up to the lowest branch.

Irwin was still shouting.

Not in pain, not even in fear. In anger.

As soon as they'd heard him, Ben had changed course from running away from where they'd been shot, to moving back toward it, and while Tally admitted it would be good to know what the deal with Irwin and the Caruso was, it would be better, in her opinion, to take the opportunity to head toward Rainerville while the Caruso and Irwin were busy shouting at each other.

She pulled herself higher, and then stilled when she caught a glimpse of a Caruson soldier walking, laz up, in the direction they'd run.

He disappeared.

Irwin was still shouting, and Ben joined her and then walked on silent feet as far along as he could get on the branch.

There was a low grumble of sound, a Caruson talking, and Irwin's diatribe came to a sudden end.

“I'll shout if I want to. You fucking shot me.” Irwin's voice rose in tenor.

The Caruson rumbled something in response.

“I had her. Right here. And then you destroyed over a day's worth of earning their trust.” He sounded like he was getting to his feet, and she heard him swear in a steady stream.

The Caruson's voice rose a little, too. She could hear him for the first time, and she realized he was speaking the common Verdant String vernacular.

It sounded like the Caruson didn't care much for Irwin and his outrage. And they were very unhappy Ben had acquired a Caruson laz. One of the soldiers had been injured.

Tally smiled.

“Fine. I thought you wanted the woman from the ghost ship. I put myself on the line to find her, bring her to you, and this is my thanks? Fuck you. The deal is off.”

Whatever was said after that was impossible to hear.

The three remaining Caruson started moving, she could hear the whip of branches as they pushed through to the river, following the path left by the first soldier. One was hunched over, some kind of dressing on his chest. He wasn't carrying a laz.

Ben turned to look at her, signaled that she get moving.

She started down, swinging on the lowest branch and landing with a skitter of leaves.

Her skin prickled, and she turned her head. Saw Irwin standing staring at her, mouth open, his pack on the ground at his feet, and a medkit in his hands.

He was as surprised to see her as she was to see him.

She thought, just for a moment, he would let them go.

The Caruso had shot him, and he was obviously unhappy with them.

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