Rout of the Dem-Shyr (The Ascendant Series) (24 page)

But he’d endure it until Vycor was dead.

“Here you go,” Reider said, pausing by a narrow opening halfway down the hallway. “Gonna be a tight fit for you, but it’ll do. There’s one lever. The water’s either on or off. It’ll be cold, but it’ll get you clean. Soap’s in the dish on the wall. Careful you don’t crack your elbow on it.”

“Thanks,” Ty said, reaching over and turning the water on.

“I’ll bring you a cloth to dry with, hang it over the door.”

“Thanks,” Ty said again.

He waited for Reider to disappear in a doorway further down the hall before he disrobed and stepped into the frigid stream of water. The pressure was weak and the water felt like melted ice, but Reider was right that it did the job. He kept his mind occupied with wondering how they had filtered running water. The Tinkers likely had something to do with it. Outcasts were proving nothing if not resourceful.

It took him less than ten minutes to complete his shower. A drying cloth hung over the door, which was only as high as Ty’s chin. Reider must have tossed it over while he was rinsing his scalp and face. Pulling the cloth down, he dried himself as well as he could in the small space. Then he opened the stall door to grab his clothes.

They weren’t there.

Glancing both ways down the hallway, he didn’t see anyone. He wrapped the cloth around his waist and headed back out to the main living space.

Barto, Orran, and Reider were all seated at the table. Hope was spooning stew into clay bowls set at each place setting. Her eyes widened when she spotted him. Orran cursed as some of the hot stew spilled on him.

“Damn and blast, female!” he hissed, using his napkin to wipe at the stew.

“I’m sorry!” she exclaimed. Her eyes kept moving from Orran to Ty.

“Why the hell ain’t ya dressed?” Barto demanded, finally seeing what had Hope so preoccupied.

“My clothes are gone.”

“I took ‘em for washin’,” Hope said. “I didn’t think—”

“Oh, ya thought, all right,” Barto interrupted. “Well, get yer eyeful while ya can. Come and eat, Freshy.”

Ty was discomfited by the idea of eating a meal with a group of virtual strangers while wearing nothing but a damp drying cloth, but hunger won out. If he was going to have a chance of defeating Vycor, he had to keep his strength up. He walked over to the table and sat.

“The different groups live farther apart than I thought they would,” he said as he picked up his spoon to eat. “Do the Marauders have a base, too?”

Barto lifted his dark eyes and met Ty’s. “I can understand yer curiosity, lad, but we won’t be answerin’ those questions. Not yet.”

“Why not?”

“Yer lack of knowledge is the only thing keepin’ ya here with us. Once ya know the ins and outs of the Dark Lands, ya’ll strike out on yer own. I see it in yer eyes.”

“That’s not—”

“It is true,” Orran interrupted. “Ya’ve got an agenda. We ain’t idiots.”

Ty’s grip tightened on his spoon. He hadn’t expected this resistance.

“Until ya’ve worked off yer debt with us,” Barto said around a mouthful of stew, “don’t ask us questions. We won’t help ya ‘til ya help us.”

“And just how long will it take to work off my ‘debt?’”

“S’pose that depends on how good ya are. Could take a while.” Barto looked at Hope, who was standing in the food prep area and eating. “And don’t go thinkin’ ya can exchange sexual favors to feed ‘im information, female, or ya’ll be workin’ off his debt however I see fit.”

The suggestion surprised Ty, though it shouldn’t have. He saw how Hope was looking at him. It probably wouldn’t have taken him much effort to exploit her attraction to him. The thought of manipulating her like that made him feel ill, though. He’d have to come up with some other way of learning what he needed to leave the Harvesters and make his way on his own.

The rest of the meal was finished in silence. Ty barely tasted the stew, though it wasn’t all that bad. As far as he was concerned, it was sustenance.

“Good work on the meal, Hope,” Barto said, smacking his lips and belching when he was done. “Now we all need ta get some rest. We’ll be headin’ out early when the air’s a mite clearer. After today’s sad showin’, we’ll have ta work extra hard tomorrow.”

Ty helped Hope clear the table as the other three males made themselves scarce. Barto stopped by the front door and tested the lock before heading down one of the hallways. It bothered Ty that the males seemed to expect Hope to wait on them hand and foot, but he felt it wasn’t his place to say anything.

“I know what ya must think of me,” Hope said in her quiet voice as she started washing the bowls.

“I think you work very hard, and those three are lucky to have you as a companion.”

She blushed. “Thanks for that. ‘Tis nice hearin’ that someone thinks so.”

“Thank you for laundering my clothes.”

“Of course. I could tell they had some wear on ‘em. They’re dryin’ now. Should be comfortable for wearin’ in a little while.” She finished rinsing the last bowl and glanced at him. “What Barto said about, ya know, sexual favors, well, I want ya ta know that if ya ever have needs in that area…”

He held up a hand to stop her. “Hope, I appreciate your…gesture. But please don’t feel you have to prove your worth to me or anyone else that way. You’re valued for more than just that.”

Her eyes were sad as they dropped to the dishes. He knew she didn’t agree with him.

“Well, I wanted ta offer ta share my bed with ya,” she said. “We don’t have ta do anythin’ ya don’t want ta do. It’ll just be a comfortable place for ya ta lay yer head.”

“Thank you,” he said, touching her shoulder so she’d meet his gaze. “I appreciate that. Really. But if you don’t mind, I’ll stick to the bench for now. It’s going to take time for me to adjust to everything.”

“‘Course.” She stepped away from him. “Well, I’m down the hall, second door on the right if ya change yer mind.”

He watched her go, then sat on the bench he’d woken up on earlier that day. In some ways, it felt like a lifetime ago.

The dwelling grew quiet as everyone settled down for the night. The soft hiss of air circulating through the ventilation system served as an almost soothing noise. It lulled Ty enough that he decided to lie down.

But he couldn’t sleep. He knew what waited for him when he did.

Even awake, the memories crept in. They coiled around his mind like a predator’s claws waiting to sink in, eager to draw blood.

During the day, he’d been distracted by figuring out where he was and learning more about his rescuers. Then he’d had to stay focused as they traveled. Now, in the quiet dark, all he had was his own thoughts. His own memories.

He tried bringing forth a good memory, one of Kyr laughing and telling him how much she loved him.

And found the pain of it so unbearable that a wounded sound issued from his throat.

He jerked up into a sitting position and braced his forearms on his thighs. Pain gripped his chest. He could barely breathe. His eyes and throat felt raw.

A subtle movement in the shadows had him glancing up. Reider stood at the end of a hallway, watching him. He made a “come here” gesture and brought his finger to his lips. Not waiting for a response, he turned and headed down the hallway that led to the wash stall.

For all Ty knew, Reider wanted to crack him over the head and have his way with him. At that moment, if it kept him from his own thoughts, Ty was willing to risk it.

He got up and walked silently down the hall to the door he’d seen Reider use earlier. The youth was standing inside a small sleeping room. He waved Ty all the way in. Ty pulled the door closed behind him, making sure it made no noise.

Reider sat on the edge of his cot and once again waved Ty over. Ty gave him a look and crossed his arms over his chest. Suddenly, the fact that he was wearing only a drying cloth took on a whole other significance.

Rolling his eyes, Reider shook his head and pointed at the cot. Ty decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and sat down.

“I can’t talk any louder than this,” Reider whispered right up against Ty’s ear. “Barto will hear, and he can be a right prick.”

Ty nodded to show he understood.

“I know what you’re going through,” Reider continued. “It’s the most horrible pain anyone can know. It eats at you, makes you want to die.”

Ty didn’t have to nod for Reider to know he agreed with him.

“So you start thinking of revenge. You know someone made you do it. You know you wouldn’t ever normally do such an unthinkable thing. And while you can’t bring back the dead, you can try to avenge them.”

Another nod.

“I’ll help you find the mine.”

Ty’s eyebrow lifted. He met Reider’s gaze as if to ask why.

“I’m holding a need for vengeance in my heart, but I know I’m not strong enough or smart enough to do anything about it,” he explained. “But you…you’re much stronger than any of us, and I see the desire for vengeance burning fiercely inside you. Maybe we can help each other. You can get vengeance for me.”

The proposition interested Ty. He couldn’t deny it. Hearing such fervent words from someone barely out of his adolescence troubled him, but he couldn’t afford to let sentiment interfere with his plans.

“I’d appreciate any help you can offer me,” he said at last.

“All right. I remember the way well enough. I’ll sketch you a map. We can figure out a good way to get you out from under Barto’s thumb.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s not just for you, mate. It’s for…well, it’s for all of us.”

Ty heard a depth of sadness in the youth’s voice. “Who did they make you kill?” he asked.

Reider fidgeted. “That isn’t something folks around here ask each other.”

“I apologize.”

Shrugging, Reider said, “I guess it’s not that big a deal anymore. It was my little sister, Hena.”

Ty shook his head. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe Reider. It was that he didn’t
want
to believe him. What had come of Alametria? What would come of it now?

“Well, I’ll do what I can to avenge Hena,” he promised Reider.

“Thank you. You’d better go before Barto sniffs around and finds you in here. I’ll sneak back out later with the map.”

Nodding, Ty got to his feet. He was reaching for the door when Reider asked, “Hey…who did they make you kill?”

The question told Ty that Reider had no idea who he was. It also served to open up all of his deepest wounds. No wonder this question wasn’t asked out here in the Dark Lands.

Still, Reider had given him an answer. He should show him the same respect. Turning, he looked at the youth and gave the only answer he could.

“I killed the better part of my soul.”

Chapter 31

Although the substance Gren gave her helped Kyr’s mind begin to settle, she still felt as though she’d been run over by a train. He stayed with her on the bed as she rested. Under Vycor’s orders, Sem was overseeing security at the meeting with the Vawn. Gren was receiving thoughts from him as the meeting went on. Kyr was still too weak to connect with Sem from this distance, so she listened as Gren sent her updates.

Seems your efforts have paid off
, Gren said with a small smile.
Vycor is getting more and more riled as the meeting continues.

Is he speaking at all?

No. As a Dane, he’s not permitted. But the Guardians have been consulting with him as they state their case to be named authorities. As to that, they don’t seem too happy, either.

You don’t say?

Gren’s smile widened.
So far, the majority of the Vawn have decided that they should wait before naming a replacement for you. Sem says that even a few of the Vawn that you didn’t influence are leaning in that direction.

I’ll bet they’ll change their tune
, Kyr mused darkly.
Vycor will get to them.

Well, he won’t get the majority vote he needs. So that’s a victory for us.

They were quiet for a while. She dozed. When she blinked back to awareness, she felt a little stronger.

Sem said he can sense Vycor attempting to influence the Vawn
, Gren told her.
You were right.

Bet he’s super happy about the ones he can’t.

He’s elated. Sem said Vycor definitely suspects something is going on, but he doesn’t know what.

Kyr’s eyelids drooped again. She wasn’t sure how long she slept, but when she awoke, she felt strong enough to connect with Sem.

How’s it going?
she asked.

Better now that you’re back in my head, Ma’jah,
he responded, always the flirt.

Ha, ha
.

The meeting is wrapping up,
Sem shared.
Nothing was decided. Vycor advised everyone to get a night of rest and they’ll revisit the topic again tomorrow.

You know that he’s going to try and do something to sway things in the Guardians’ favor,
Kyr returned.

She felt Sem and Gren both silently agreeing with her. Frustrated, she pushed herself into a sitting position. Gren reached over to help her get more comfortable.

Sem, you have to follow Vycor. We need to find out what he’s planning. I thought that once the meeting concluded with the majority voting to wait that it would buy us enough time until I could rescue Ty and bring him back. I didn’t consider the fact that Vycor hates to lose
.

Sem didn’t respond. She felt that Vycor was attempting to use his influence on him.

Concentrating, Kyr listened in on the commands. She and Sem both picked up that Vycor wanted Sem to follow a few of the Vawn to their chambers to spy on them with his eyes and mind. He hoped Sem would find some reason for what happened at the meeting.

Sem didn’t want Vycor to know his hold on his mind had been broken, so he agreed to the task without hesitation. He followed the Vawn council members that Vycor had ordered him to spy on until Vycor was out of sight. Then he ditched the Vawn and hurried after Vycor instead.