Crusade Across Worlds (22 page)

“I think—I think she did.”

“When?”

“Earlier. After the coronation.”

He closes his eyes, as if hearing the worst
possible news.

“Yeah.”

Reid throws a look at Tucker who is walking
with his head down. He disappears into the tunnel with Walker and
the Rogues, and then Reid turns back to me. He places his hands on
his hips. “Damn it.”

“You’re his friend. Maybe you can cheer him
up a little.”

“I don’t think he needs my kind of
cheering,” he exhales and runs his hands down his face. “I’ll see
what I can do.” Then, ever so gently, Reid leans in and kisses me.
My lips linger against his longer than they should, but after
everything that’s happened, I want to disappear into them, into the
little bit of security I can. “Thank you,” he whispers, “for caring
about our friends. All the more reason to marry you.”

It’s been three days since Ariana left.

Since
Queen
Ariana left.

I must have been reminded a hundred times
before I decided to start avoiding the name altogether because to
me, she’ll always be Ariana. The sweet, youngest princess who had
more freedom than her sisters, but was just as trapped. And even
though she broke the bonds of Perio’s suffocation, she now has the
responsibility of ruling all four metropolises of Mybyncia. She
must give up everything she thought she could have.

Including Tucker.

He’s been silent for the last couple of
days, trying to keep to himself, but Reid is constantly around him,
which means the rest of the Rogues are as well. Even Walker tries
to get in on it, joking with Jace and Able, hoping to crack a smile
on the Rogue Leader’s face. I see one appear every so often, but I
think it’s mainly for show, so the guys think their efforts aren’t
in vain. Otherwise, Tucker remains tightlipped, listening to
instruction from Sampson or Clarence, helping clean the FH or
patrolling outside on the Millix.

“How’s he doing?” I step over a boulder.

Tucker just left for another sweep outside
the FH—his third today. We’re all still cleaning up the Docking
Station, moving broken fragments of the domed walls to one
collective heap at the far end.

“Eh…” Reid pauses with a decent-sized rock
on his shoulder. “Good as can be expected, I guess.”

“Is he talking any?” I reach down and select
a smaller stone.

“A little. More so than yesterday.”

“Is he saying anything about her?”

Reid shakes his head and continues walking.
“Just keeps talking about getting back to Nerwolix, poor guy.”

“Do you really think it’s over?”

Reid shrugs with one shoulder. “You tell
me.”

“It sounded like she was breaking up with
him.” I replay her words and frown. “Really? He hasn’t said
anything
?”

“I doubt he wants to jump into deep
conversation over it. Tucker just needs time to…think things
through. We’re trying to keep him occupied during the day but
you’ve seen him,” he gestures to the pool in the middle of the
room. “He keeps going out on patrols. He’d rather be alone to
think, and if that’s what he needs…” Reid shrugs. “I’ve got to
respect that.”

“I just feel bad for him.”

“You and me both,” he throws down the rock
and starts back for the other end. “But there’s nothing we can
do.”

“What if he went back to Nerwolix?” I toss
my stone in the pile. “He wouldn’t see her when she came back. That
might be easiest on them both.”

“Believe me, I asked. He keeps coming up
with excuses to stay. ‘They need my help with patrols’ and ‘the FH
won’t fix itself.’ Honestly, I think he’s torn. Part of him wants
to go back but a bigger part is making him stay. Like he’s hoping
she might change her mind or something,” Reid slings another
boulder onto his shoulder and spins for the other end of the room
again. “I wish I could bear it for him. I really do. I can’t
imagine what he’s going through.”

“Guys!” Tucker calls, his voice bouncing
around the open space, surprising us all. He’s on his Millix, in
the pool in the center of the Docking Station. “The Muskos are
here—in the city!”

“What?” Reid drops the rock.

“They’re heading west. There’s a whole swarm
of them!”

Reid applies his helmet one-handed while
using his other to pull me behind him. We race over to the pool
just as the rest of the Rogues arrive.

Lalu, are you near?

“Are the guards out there?” Mae asks, her
arm snug around Able’s neck as the two hobble closer.

“Some,” Tucker looks down at the water by
his feet. “Not as many as before. But the Muskos aren’t
attacking.”

“Not attacking?” Werzo frowns.

“They’re moving through.”

“Moving through?” Jace throws his helmet on.
“Moving through where?”

I am here, Fallon, just under the Docking
Station. There is much fighting in the water.

Can you come up? We need you.

“I don’t know,” the Rogue Leader looks
between us. “They’re swarming below, but heading west.”

“Call your Millix,” I command the others,
just as Lalu emerges next to Tucker. “Even if the Muskos aren’t
attacking, they’re here for a reason.”

“Are you going?” Mae whispers into Able’s
shoulder.

“Yeah, but you’re staying here with Pratt,”
the Rogue tries transitioning Mae over, but Pratt takes a step
back.

“Oh no you don’t—I’m going! I’ve been left
behind
too
many times.”

“Pratt,” Reid starts as I climb onto Lalu,
“I need you here.”

“Why? Why can’t I go?”

“I can’t be out there thinking about you.
You and Mae stay here with Sampson where it’s safe. We’ll come back
as soon as it’s secure,” he climbs onto Lalu behind me. “Do this
for me.
Please
.”

Arms folded, she lets out an aggravated sigh
before acquiescing. Holding out her hand, she helps Mae wrap an arm
around her shoulder, assisting her wobbly stand.

One by one, Millix heads burst through the
water and Walker and the Rogues jump on, securing themselves with
the Bairs. I offer the girls one last look before asking Lalu to
dive below the surface and when she does, I silently curse to
myself. The scene is the same as it was only days ago. White flares
blast through the water while Millix and Stancimises rush past,
narrowly avoiding them. It’s too chaotic to make out who is who,
except that a fierce force pushes in one direction—west—while
trying to dodge and fire on the white flares that are aimed in
hitting them.

“Where are they going?” I ask as Lalu
swerves us lower, efficiently avoiding an Enidd’s white blast.

“They’re moving out of the city,” Tucker
replies, confused. “But why?”

“What’s outside of the city?” Able asks.

“Nothing,” Reid says behind me. “Just
smaller communities. Little provinces.”

“What else? Watch out!” Walker curses as he
and Jace dive left to avoid being hit. “Come on… they’ve got to be
going somewhere. Unless they’re trying to draw us out.”

“So they can attack again!” Werzo spits.
“These bastards think they can—oh shit! Watch out!” he and Booker
swerve left, narrowly missing an Enidd’s white flare.

“But they’re not coming back,” Tucker points
as the battle shifts westward. “They’re leaving. They want to bring
the fight somewhere else.”

“But why would they?” I ask. “There’s
nothing to draw us to.”

And it hits me.

Of course.

“It’s the Gorgen Fields…they’re leading us
to the fields. Varielle must’ve had the same idea about the Shadow
Bag.”

“So why bring
us
?” Jace asks.

“Blovid said it—what army do we have to
fight the Gorgens? None. They want to use
us
as a
distraction. This is all a diversion so they can search for the
Gift.”

“But how—” Werzo starts just as a white
blast shoots between us. “
Motherfuckers!
” He fires back but
the Musko withdraws, waiting for us to follow.

“I’m telling you—this is how they plan on
getting the Shadow Bag. They’re using
us
.”

“So what do we do?” Jace asks. “Tell
everyone to abort? Stop fighting?”

“If we don’t go, they’ll continue to attack
here in the city. Too many innocent lives,” Reid shakes his head.
“And with half the guards gone with Ariana…”

“It could be a trap,” Booker says. “Draw us
from the city and when we’re away, they attack the FH again.”

“Could be, but our main objective is getting
them away from here. Fallon can alert Sampson to what we think
they’re doing. He can have Maris rein in some of her guards to
protect the city and the other half can go with us. And we’ll see
where they’re drawing us to.”

“And if it’s to the fields?” Able asks.

“Then I guess we’ll have another problem to
worry about. Fallon?” He pushes off Lalu and swims up. “Switch with
me. “Need you talking to Sampson while I drive, okay?”

I scoot back and Reid climbs on in
front.

“Conserve your ammo—fire only if necessary.
We’re not here to win this fight, but to expose their intention. If
Fallon’s right, and they’re leading us to the Gorgens, we’re
holding back. Engaging with the Gorgens is
not
our
objective. Everyone understand?”

“Then what is?” Walker asks.

“Survival.”

I forget Walker and Able haven’t seen a
Gorgen, much less fought one or felt the agonizing stab of a tooth.
Reid is right—if the Muskos are leading us there, it’s best if we
don’t engage. At least we’ll know their plan is to obtain the Gift,
but it makes no sense to actually fight them or the enormous
spider-like creatures.

Lalu takes off and the four other Millix
follow her speed, racing through the water as white blasts explode
around us. Closing my eyes, I grip Reid around his stomach and
concentrate.

Sampson…Sampson I think the Muskos are
leading us to the Gorgen Fields.

A moment.

Why would you say that? Are they not outside
the FH?

They’re leading us away. I think they’re
using us as a distraction so they can search for the Gift. In case
it’s a trick, Maris needs to keep some guards in the city. From
what I’ve seen, it looks like most have gone after the Muskos.

I see. Yes, you are right—it could be
either. A distraction or a trick. I will notify Maris at once. But
Fallon…if it is a distraction they are using you for…just don’t do
anything reckless. I know you voted with me…

We’re just following them, Sampson. Reid’s
ordered no one to engage.

Okay. Okay good.

I’ll let you know once we get there.

Thank you.

“I told Sampson what we’re doing,” I squeeze
Reid’s waist. “He’s going to tell Maris to guard the city just in
case it’s a trick.”

“Good.”

“So what do we do when we get there, Boss?”
Jace asks. “Sit back and enjoy the show?”

“We need to help any Arizals that get
injured. Bring them back to the city.”

“What if Perio comes after us?” Able asks.
“Or Varielle?”

“We’ll kill them,” Tucker growls.

The journey to the Gorgen Fields takes a
little less than an hour and we stick to the back of the fighting
swarm the entire way there. Arizal Mybyncians shoot at the Muskos
who only fire back enough to keep them engaged. Otherwise, the
Muskos keep ahead, racing faster and faster, bringing their
much-needed army behind them.

“We should be getting close,” I glance over,
finding the Rogues on my right. “Walker, Able—you guys haven’t seen
this before; you don’t know what you’re walking into.”

“I’m sure whatever it is—”

“No—the Gorgens are huge and they spit acid
and have legs covered with razor-sharp teeth. This is
not
your everyday walk in the park.”

“I’m sorry,” Able coughs. “Did you say
spit acid
?”

“Razor-sharp teeth?” Walker echoes. “What
kind of creatures are these?”

“Uh, the worst kind,” Werzo says. “Hence the
‘nay’ vote.”

“We’re not engaging,” Reid repeats his
earlier order. “Unless it’s away from the fields and it’s Perio or
Varielle, we’re staying out of it. There’s too much at stake if
we—”

Screams erupt ahead, the water filling with
a series of white blasts. Black shadows crawl over the nearby rock
formations and orange flares suddenly fill the watery space. Millix
circle and swerve, trying to dodge the colorful explosions
whistling through the ocean, but some don’t make it. A few fall
with agonizing last cries toward the Dilly fields as black-legged
beasts swarm down. But the Muskos circle overhead, drawing the
Arizals closer.

“They’re insane,” Tucker growls.

“Uh…what are
those
?” Able points.

A Gorgen flies out of the field, launching
itself at a small herd of guards. A stream of orange acid flies,
catching those that attempt to flee from under it. More screams
erupt and the Gorgen hits the ground with a hard crunch, leaping
for another herd seconds later.

“Gorgens,” I gesture ahead. “This is their
home and this is where the Gift is.”

“And the Muskos expect to actually
find
it?”

“Like I said…” Tucker mutters,
“…insane.”

“Yeah, but how could they expect—?”

An orange blast shoots between us. We jet
back and as I look up, a dark shadow descends with another bright
explosion. I don’t have time to scream before Reid jerks us out of
the way and we’re racing around the multi-legged beast.

“Guys!” Reid yells. “
Move!”

We’re jetting to the far side, keeping
parallel to the fields and working our way toward the furthest
point of the battle. Orange blasts shoot overhead and on either
side, cutting off our exits. The four other Millix follow Lalu as
Reid steers her up, higher and higher, hoping to outrun the Gorgen
near the surface’s light. But a Musko cuts us off, firing his
Enidd.