Bone Dust & Beginnings (Alexa's Travels Book 1) (12 page)

The horseman called David over, and as the firelight bartering continued, the two males fed, watered, and rubbed down the strong Appaloosa with quietly admiring hands and tones.

"You became a nomad?"

Jendon's flickering eyes swung back to hers at the question.
"Aye.
My tribe served the rain goddess, making her potions and comforts. I do the same for those I meet."

Alexa was sure those potions would be powerful. She leaned forward. "Of those you've met, I would hear now."

Unable to resist the tone of command, the Troll began to speak of things Alexa’s men had dreamed of during their time with her.

"
‘Twas
three full seasons ago when they came through our homelands. The bogs were especially wet, and none of us wanted to leave, not even to carry out the new missions the wind kept delivering. The swamps were perfect, more flooded than we'd ever seen them, and we didn't bother to keep a watch."

The troll's unsettling eyes filled with a longing Alexa understood well. "Their noises drew us out. The screams and pain had become common, but this was a light in the darkness."

"Safe Haven Refugee Camp."

"Aye, lady.
Full of the hardest I'd seen until today."

"And they were defended against Nature?"

Jendon’s voice was in awe. "She had no power over them. Anything inside their light was protected."

"How long were they there?"

"Near a week.
They spent time in man's city, the one that collapsed, and then they loaded up, went east."

Alexa's voice was soft, thoughtful, "And you watched them the whole time..."

Jendon's flickering eyes lit up as she began to pull pouches from her carry bag. "None of the others cared until the winds found out that we'd let them pass."

His voice trembled, "The Mother tore the bogs apart then with a mighty shake that almost drove us out. And then my shame."

Tears welled again, and Alexa tossed two of the four pouches she had dug out.

His tone changed from sorrow to disbelief, "I cannot accept this."

Alexa’s smile was harsh in the firelight, unforgiving, "In return, you'll stay close in case I have a need of you."

Jendon’s yellow eyes were torn, angry, "For how long?"

Alexa’s voice gave no hope of mercy, "Until I've gotten my dust's worth."

The Troll loathed her in that moment - his greedy nature being used against him - but there was no trace of it in his response, only the proper servitude.
"Master."

Magic swirled through the chilling darkness. Brutal and ancient, its streaming green tails coiled around Jendon's huge wrists, as the other end settled snugly into Alexa's grip. Such a bond was unbreakable.

"Bright!
Too bright!"

Alexa closed her eyes for a brief second, and her shocked men watched the creature's evil face relax.

"
Ahhh
..."

"This binding stands. You will come when called."

The Troll dropped his head miserably, but then stared in confusion when she added a third bag of the heavy powder to the stack at his feet.

"Timeless."

 
Jendon nodded in understanding and made the pouches disappear.
"Now?"

"Nay.
I would hear more of those who came before."

He paused, considering. "Have you heard the legend?"

Even though she had, Alexa was sure some of her army had not. "No."

In a flash, the Troll had been to his cart and returned with a small harp. On its end was a disheveled looking fairy with golden wings and long, sharp teeth that she bared as she began to pluck the strings. The Troll paid her no notice, but started singing in a surprisingly pleasant voice:

A light in the darkness,

Safe Haven once stood

Sheltering survivors

And serving the good

A place of safety

In a harsh new life

Honor and duty

Among despair and strife

Blazing a path of hope

Safe Haven Refugee camp came this way

Arriving for many

In time to save the day

And then they were gone, vanished

Leaving only traces

The new world slowly moved on

And people forgot their faces

Years passed in hell

Nuclear horror created doubt

That erased from the land

Signs of their route

Safe Haven became myth

A dream and rumor

Scorned or ignored

Treated with humor

Forgotten by most

The signs remain buried

And the people in hell

Remain haggard and harried

But for a few

Ignorance remains

Of the hope that once was

Just after the Final Days

Under the rubble

Carved in the stone

Are the notes of Safe Haven

To lead people home

Unable to stay

They tried to make amends

Guiding survivors

To a life free of past sins

On a tropical isle

Civilization still exists

Ruled with kindness

Not iron fists

And those left behind scoff

Roll their eyes in denial

While paradise waits

For them to reconcile

There was a silence, thick with unspoken importance, and Alexa found David already watching for her instruction. "Bring a bottle, the red. Put out a standard watch."

The rookie moved to Daniel for what she wanted and was glad the senior man didn't seem upset at the attention. Her invitation to join them had been clear.

"Another song lady?"

"Perhaps later," she answered.

The Troll sat the harp on the dirt next to him, and the snoozing fairy promptly buried her head under her shimmery wings and went back to sleep.

"WHAT WAITS FOR US?"

The command was sudden and jarring, making the small fairy hiss in anger, but Jendon was only mournful.

"Nothing… but trouble for your kind."

Satisfied, Alexa took the bottle from the blacksmith without looking at him. She motioned with her free hand and he sat on her right, keeping his eyes on their surroundings as much as on the creature across the dim flames.

Jendon studied the man, shifty eyes seeing what he had no little the blonde already knew, "You'd use this one?"

Alexa cut him off before the Troll could confirm his suspicions. "Those are not your answers to give,
nor
your questions to ask."

Jendon flinched from her reproach.
"As you say."

Alexa handed her knife to David.
"A lock of your hair."

The rookie did it quickly and hid a frown at her next request.

"A piece of your flesh."

He removed it from the back of his leg, not wincing as red drops hissed into the fire.

The Troll took the items from Alexa with obvious approval, stowing them beneath his robes. "Two hours."

Alexa passed a small bandage to David without looking at him.
"My thanks."

His look was curious and she permitted it.
"As you would."

The blacksmith thought carefully and could feel her approval at his choice of question.

"What signs have you seen near here, of those who came before, and where were they?"

Jendon looked to the woman, secured her approval, before turning back. "The last I saw was a note caved into the stones of the Black Hills.”

"And what did it say, Layman?"

David hadn't known he was going to use the term, but the Troll seemed happy enough to be called such.

"All survivors welcome.
Traveling on a southeast line.
Safe Haven refugee camp.
God bless the USA."

It was the same as they'd seen in the bunker, and the fighters felt a churn of excitement and discovery. Safe Haven stood, and they would find it or die trying.

3

The conversation slowed, but the night flew by. As a faint moon spun overhead, the Troll turned worried yellow eyes on the blonde still sitting alertly by the fire. "Must I stay?"

Alexa shook her head, gesturing at the reddish bottle of liquid he'd pulled from his robes a while back and set by the fire to warm.
"Until it boils?"

"And not a second longer."

"Then you may go in peace. Perhaps I'll never have a need of you."

Jendon lumbered to his feet, flickering eyes almost hypnotic as they changed from yellow to green and back again in rapid succession. "And if you do?"

She grinned harshly in reminder. "Then bring your wares and your mount. Both are at my leisure."

The creature nodded again, openly bitter this time, and was seated in the cart seconds later. When he'd hooked up the horse or retrieved the harp, none of them saw, but they were in his possession as the steady clip-clop and harness jingle rang out softly.

"Potions, charms, myths..."

The cart moved steadily away from their firelight, and Jendon's voice came floating back to them:

They came from the west

Seven fighters to the end

One stunning blonde warrior

Leading six hard-ass men

Through magic and death

Demons and fire

Clever ambushes

and
Nature's ire...

Alexa felt the moment they became legend, was filled with satisfaction and a longing to hurry, but she tempered her pride as they got settled for the night. There was a very long way to go. Tomorrow, they would reach Laramie and then head for South Dakota, where they would view Safe Haven's messages with their own eyes. It had only just begun.

Tired, minutes later, half of the group slept soundly, but all of the males were content with this strange new life Alexa had given them. For being in the nuclear wilderness, it was nearly perfect.

4

“They burnt it!”

Corbin surveyed the damage with a keen eye, ignoring the mutters of Rab and his soldiers. If Alexa had them set it on fire, then she’d found something. What?

The Commander turned slowly, taking in each small scene until he had a clear idea of what had happened here.

“I feel him.”

Rab’s words caused confusion for everyone but the Commander, who turned his way.

“Where?”

Rab’s eyes were closed.
“Everywhere.
He’s been here.”

Corbin waved at the men, telling them to branch out and search the charred rubble. All he needed was a sign…

“Damn.”

Shane’s voice said it was a shock, and most of the men started to move into the next room.

Corbin glared, and the soldiers stopped. “Stand watch.”

These new men he was forced to work with were untrained, undisciplined, and on the edge of revolt. The big bunker hadn’t sent fresh provisions or promotions in a month, and it made handling these men a careful balance.

Not that Corbin was worried over his own safety. He wouldn’t be taken down by a mere mortal and he hoped these men knew it. The stories floating through the bunkers right now should be enough to tell them they were in over their head if they thought to attack him and win.

“Over here!” Shane called.

They stared at the sprayed words in shock. Two of the monitors hadn’t melted from the fire, protected by damp rolls of carpet.

Safe Haven.

Alexa had her first clue. She was really on her way to Adrian.

Furious, Corbin stormed toward the rope ladder they’d used to get down here.

“Burn it again, and this time, make sure it’s right.”

“But the report…”

“Should say it was Nazi vandals.”
Rab informed Shane, earning a nod from Corbin.

No one else could be allowed to find these clues.

5

Up before even Daniel this time, the rookies began camp with quiet movements and good smells. Coffee, pancakes and spam, with REM bacon, refried into gravy to go over both. It was a warm meal to help them stand against what looked to be a cold, dreary day.