Wanderer: The Moondark Saga, Books 4-6 (The Moondark Saga Boxed Sets Book 2) by Don McQuinn

Author:Don McQuinn
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Publisher: Raven's Call Press
Published: 2014-06-08T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Lanta leapt ashore from the bow of the small singlehull. She skipped lightly through the frothing tumble of a retreating wave, and barely turned around before the Kossiar sailor was rapidly rowing himself back out to sea. When the water was deep enough, he dropped his centerboard. That done, he spat over the side and made for the point offshore where he’d anchor, fishing, and wait her call.

When Lanta faced landward again, Tee was approaching. “What brings you back, Lanta? Conway?”

“I’ve come to work with all of you, to carry the word of Church to the slaves.”

Tee took Lanta’s arm and set out toward Borbor’s house. “Conway and Tate are collecting supplies. Nalatan’s with some of Wal’s men over on the mainland, preparing the last waiting place for the escapers. There’s a godkill up the coast; slaves mined it until an earthquake caused it to flood. Some shafts are still accessible. We hide the escapers in there. No Kossiar’ll step foot in a godkill tunnel.”

“You’ve never moved so many before.”

Tee stopped abruptly. “Have you heard anything over at the castle?”

Lanta wished she could tell her of the previous night’s trance, of the message about Matt Conway. She wished she could tell anyone. “Everyone exchanges rumors: increased patrol actions, repressions. They don’t include us, but Yasmaleeya hears everything, and repeats it.”

“The escapers have started moving. Twelve out of the twenty are already hidden at the godkill. The others are being smuggled from one safe place to the next. Patrols are tearing up the countryside looking for them. Why isn’t the Chair going wild?”

“No one speaks of anything they think may disturb him. I think the Crew just doesn’t care that much. Twenty slaves, even twenty trained slaves, is no crippling blow to Kos.”

Tee was still dubious, but the answer mollified her a bit. She said, “Perhaps it’s all happening too fast for the Kossiars to react properly. I hope so. The slaves leave the godkill the first night there’s no moon. We’re hiding them in hidden compartments on Wal’s boat. As soon as the Kossiar border guards pass it, they’re away.” Suddenly animated, Tee smiled broadly. “Two of the slaves are from way over near the mountains. They’ve heard stories of some new Moondance siah in the east. They also say Katallon’s nomads get bolder every day, raiding farms and villages. They even tried to storm a town. The only thing that saved the Kossiars was a mirror signal that brought a Kossiar military garrison. On a rainy night, the nomads might have succeeded.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Between Harbor and the Enemy Mountains, the Kossiars have a system of mirrors, mounted on towers. The towers are very tall, made of stone or timber, windowless, easily defended and manned constantly. Usually, each one can be seen by two others. The mirrors catch the sunlight, send it on. The warmen signal with lanterns or fires at night. They say a signal from the Enemy Mountains can be seen in Harbor in less than two inches.

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