Tempest Rise (revised edition 10/2013) (Treborel) (32 page)

Scattering
, the soldiers attended to their stations and prepared for battle, as Connor grabbed his laser rifle and headed for the trees where Lysette and Andru disappeared. He vowed Lysette would not escape his wrath, not now. She would die before dawn, and the empath with her. Connor emerged to find his soldiers losing ground to the slightly larger force that surged from the forest. Seeing Katar heading an assault on the cabin, Connor smiled and disappeared into the trees. He only wished he could see the mountain Prince’s face when he found his lover gone.

Katar burst through the entrance
, expecting another defensive assault. Instead, he found a soldier asleep at his post, and another dead at the nursery door.  Finding only Rey inside, he turned the child over to Joah as he entered behind him asking, “Can you tell if they are close?”

“No, “Joah answered grimly, “They are not in the building, but I have a great sense of danger. Andru and Lysette
must have been taken as we attacked. But where is the other child?”

“There was only one.” Katar answered
, rushing out to search for Connors suite.

Cap appeared
, as Katar found the other larger corridor and followed it to Connor’s suite, Cap followed saying, “There’s two more soldiers outside with a long bow arrow in their chests.”

“Who was carrying a long bow?” Katar asked
, stopping at a locked door and motioning for him to stand back.

“Lysette.”
Sean’s voice came from behind Cap. “I just had a very interesting talk with one of our prisoners. He said Lysette and Andru escaped, taking one of the infants with them, just before we arrived.”

Katar turned to look at him for a moment, then with one swift movement turned and kicked the suite door from its hinges. After a quick glance into the room
, he moved past them back toward the living area. “Get someone in here to clean that up Cap.”  He ordered still moving. “Sean, I want to talk to that soldier.”

Peeking around the corner into the room
, Sean and Cap found William and Elsebeth both lying on the floor in a pool of blood, their throats slit. Cursing under his breath Sean followed Katar, determined that the same would not happen to Lysette. Sean reached Katar as he headed back outside, asking “Any sign of Connor?”

“None,” Katar turned back to him. “Where is this prisoner?”

Sean pointed over to the stables, the two moved across the clearing and inside the large open doors. Finding several soldiers who had surrendered without a struggle, Sean motioned for the young Captain to step forward saying, “This is Captain Marsh, he was recently promoted after Connor’s three best officers were killed by Sraeb.”

  “Where is
Commander Connor?” Katar’s voice snapped angrily at the young officer.

“I think he went after the prisoners.” The young officer answered
, wondering if his cooperation would save him from execution.

“Which direction?”
Katar growled.

“Northeast as far as we could tell.
No one wanted to follow because of the beasts.”

“Did you find their trail?” Katar turned to Sean, his concern for Lysette growing.

“Yes, they entered the forest just a few meters from the stable entrance.” Sean answered, “Looks like they were in a big hurry. The brush is trampled pretty well; it's going to be pretty easy for Connor to track them.” Sean finished, as he followed Katar out of the stables and met Cap.

They strode over to the section of brush Sean had described. Katar turned back to Cap and nodded,
saying “Get some of the men and head back toward the ocean through the trees. I’ll follow their path; if they start to head west, maybe you can cut them off. It will be light soon, they’ll realize their mistake. I’ve got to catch up with Connor before he finds them, or they haven’t got a prayer.”

“You’re not going in there alone.” Cap stepped in front of him taking his arm firmly, only to release it as Katar glared viciously at him. “At least take a horse.”  Cap tried to reason with him calmly.

“I’ll go faster on foot, and I don’t want Connor to hear me coming.” Katar said with such determination that Cap stepped aside and watched his friend disappear into the trees.

Cap turned and shouted to the soldiers that had gathered to witness the disagreement, “Move!” They quickly organized and disappeared back onto the trail then led them into the camp.

Sean watched until Cap and his men were out of sight and headed into the trees after Katar. Joah quickly followed, after placing Rey in the hands of the nearest soldier.

The sky had darkened even further than Lysette thought possible. There was no longer even the faintest hint of the moon, as it danced above the thick clouds. As the wind grew stronger, their strength began to leave them. Moving slowly, Andru tried to pick the easiest terrain, searching for even a slight resemblance of a trail. Instead, they found themselves going deeper into a dense area of the thicket.

Lysette dismounted, insisting that Andru and Arbus remain on the horse.  Andru
’s head was pounding, so he gave no argument holding tightly onto Arbus to shelter him from the fierce winds. The night was silent, there were no signs of pursuit. Hoping the soldiers were too frightened of the sraebs, they continued at their slow pace. Concerned Andru’s head wound was more severe than he had let on, Lysette prayed they would reach the ocean soon.

Forcing the suddenly reluctant horse forward
, Lysette tugged on the reins as Andru nodded off in the saddle still clinging to Arbus. As Lysette continued to struggle with the animal, Andru’s head snapped up and he yelled, “Lysette!”

“I’m here Andru calm down, it's just the
horse . . .” She whispered back to him.

“No! There is pain!
Unbearable pain!” He screamed, reaching wildly out for her.

Terrified that he was hallucinating
, she hurried to his side. The brush moved beside her as she heard Andru scream once more, “Sraeb!” He bolted from the saddle, pushing her back into the bushes as the beast snatched the horse out from under him, then disappeared once more.

As the horse screamed in horror
, Lysette felt Andru pulling her to her feet yelling, “Run! Don’t stop! Just keep running!” They were on their feet tearing through the trees and brush, terrified as they heard the sound of bone crushing behind them. The sraeb sensed their departure and left his large meal, confused by the pain of his wounds. A pain it had bared for too long. As the sounds of the sraeb grew closer, Andru realized there was no escape. They reached a small clearing and he stopped at its far end, turning to face the beast. He pulled the laser pistol from his belt and fired into the massive creature as it cleared the trees.  Screaming in pain, the animal flew into them confused further by the new onslaught of pain.

Lysette turned back just in time to see Andru, still carrying Arbus
, fall beneath the beast. As it flew over them, Lysette brought up her bow and fired, praying she wouldn’t hit them. The beast screamed and kept coming. Lysette kept firing until the quiver was empty. The beast faltered and fell less than a meter from where she stood. Jumping over the beast, Lysette ran to where Andru lay covered in blood. Turning to see the sraeb pull itself up to its full height, Lysette pulled the arrows from her last smaller quiver and fired until it was empty as well. She stood and watched in numb silence, as the creature finally fell dead a short way from where it had risen.

“Arbus,” Andru coughed and tried to rise.

Glancing around in the silence of the clearing, she could hear the infant’s muffled cries. Searching, she found him in a patch of dense underbrush where he had been thrown by the sraebs impact. Checking the baby, she found he appeared to be unharmed, and returned quickly to Andru as he once again struggled to pull himself to his feet. Laying Arbus on the ground beside Andru Lysette applied pressure to the deep wound in Andrus side. Reaching out to touch Arbus, Andru sighed softly as his senses told him the baby was unharmed.

“He’s alright.” Andru smiled up at Lysette.

“Andru, help me!” Lysette cried as the tears welled in her eyes, “You’re dying, I can’t stop the blood!” She pulled off her cloak and ripped off the sleeve of her jumpsuit to press against the flow of blood.

“Take Arbus and go.” Andru urged quietly, “Listen, can’t you hear the water?”

Lysette stared at him in horror, “Andru, I’m not leaving you!”

Follow the stream.” Andru whispered. He reached out and touched the side of her face. Lysette could feel the calmness wash over her
, and she shoved his hand away.

“Stop it!  Save your strength.” She scolded, “Can’t you do anything to heal yourself?”

“I'm too weak, and the injury is too severe for me to do anything.” Andru shook his head sadly. “The strength isn’t meant to be used to heal yourself, only others. Fast healing is just a side effect.”

“Then tell me how to heal you!” Lysette pleaded in desperation. “You said my life force was strong, show me.”

“No, even if you could, I wouldn’t risk the chance of your sacrifice.” Andru answered calmly.

“Let him die.” A soft
, dark voice came from behind Lysette.

“You should still be unconscious.”
Lysette answered unmoving, knowing Connor was standing very close behind her.

“You underestimated me, Lysette. Connor said, moving closer out of the trees. “Before this night is through
, I shall see that you never do it again.”

Lysette rose
, and turned to face him, Andru had fallen unconscious. Her mind raced, she had no time to waste dealing with Connor. She had to find a way to help Andru. Her bow lay on the ground beside Arbus, but her quiver was empty.  As she glanced for Andru’s laser pistol, Connor drew his hunting knife from its sheath and approached her. Pausing as he reached them, Connor glanced down at Andru and Arbus. His gaze slowly returned to Lysette, as he raised the knife holding it in his fist pointing downward. He smiled and glanced back down at Arbus.

As he moved to kneel beside the infant
, Lysette screamed and threw herself against him. They fell back onto the damp grass as Connor rolled with the impact, quickly pinning Lysette beneath him. Using the knife, he sliced open the front of her cape and jumpsuit with one swift movement, and then shoved the knife back into its sheath.  Reaching out in desperation, Lysette found the sraebs carcass lying next to them. Grasping at a protruding arrow that had pierced its body, she pulled hard. As it came free, Connor looked up to find her swinging the arrow with all her might. She sent it deep into his right shoulder.

Connor stiffened from the pain
, as Lysette threw her fist into his face and shoved him off her. Scrambling to reach Andru, Lysette searched quickly for the pistol. Finding only the bow she reached for it, as Connor rose and pulled the arrow from his shoulder. She rose with the weapon determined not to die without a fight. A slight motion to her left caught her eye, as she spun and staggered back, surprised to find Katar standing before her. Lysette gasped, thinking she was hallucinating. He looked exactly like the first time they met by the Regents bathhouse, so long ago.

His blue eyes were wild and filled with rage
, as they focused not on her but the man behind her. Turning back to face him, Lysette found a delighted smile on Connor’s face as he ignored Katar and spoke to her saying, “Well my love, it appears we have a momentary distraction.” Still smiling, he moved to shorten the distance between, adding, “Please don’t be offended by the delay of our union. I will only be a moment.”

Katar stepped in front of Lysette
, his eyes never leaving Connor, he said, “Lysette, take the child and follow the river downstream.”

“Andru . . .” Lysette started to protest.

“Leave him.” Katar ordered roughly, stepping toward Connor. 

Still stunned by his appearance
, Lysette blindly obeyed and pick up Arbus. She glanced at Andru’s pale, still form and headed toward the sound of the water. 

Still smiling
, Connor called after her, “You surprise me Lysette. I would have chosen someone more like the Empath as your lover, instead of this noble savage.”

Lysette turned to see Katar close the distance between the two large men as Connor continued, “She’s been away from you a long time mountain Prince. Do you wonder how often another has shared her kiss?” His smile deepened, “Perhaps I should tell you how often she has shared my bed.”

Katar lunged at him, knocking Connor into the Sraebs carcass. The flash of the commanders hunting knife sliced through the air leaving a faint trail of blood across Katar’s cheek, as he jumped back to avoid the blow. Rolling to his feet, Katar pulled his knife and lunged at Connor. The blow missed his chest and sank into his arm, sending a line of blood across Connors upper right arm. Stopping inside the line of trees, Lysette watched as the angry men battled. Frightened by the fierce struggle between them, Lysette realized that Connor could kill Katar.  No matter how badly he had treated her, she still loved him and couldn’t leave him to die.

She pulled off her cape and wrapped it around Arbus to keep him warm.
Then she moved around the edge of the small clearing, back toward Andru. The pistol must be nearby. Reaching Andru, she pressed her fingertips against his neck and sighed with relief at the presence of his pulse. Lysette laid Arbus at his side and pulled Andru’s arms close to his body, tucking one then the other under the cloak. Her hand brushed against the handle of the pistol where it protruded from beneath Andru’s lower back. Pulling it gently free, she rose to face the deadly struggle before her.

Breaking free of Katar, Connor lunged forward as Katar brought his knife up and sank it deep into Connors stomach. Backing slowly away shocked by the blow
, Connor stared amazed at his brother. Slowly he reached for the pistol that hung from his belt, bringing it up; he leveled it at Katars chest. An evil smile crossed Connor’s face as Lysette fired, striking him in the side of the head. Katar stood and watched in silent amazement as Lysette approached slowly, cautiously, and reached down to check the Commanders pulse. Rising, she turned to face him, frozen to her core by the night's events. She suddenly found herself in his arms, too numb to feel the warmth of his kiss, too full of sorrow and hatred to hear his words. She could only note the appearance of her uncle, as he and Joah moved into the clearing behind Katar.

Pushing Katar from her
, she rushed to Andru’s side as Joah reached him, touching him lightly on the back on the neck. Slowly Andru’s eyes opened and he looked up to meet the face of the man who had loved him, and cared for him all of his life. Smiling the old empath spoke gently, saying, “I knew you were alive.”

Then as Joah moved to grasp Andru firmly by his shoulders
, the young Empath panicked and shoved Joah from him saying, “Don’t touch me!”

“Andru, I won’t let you die.” Joah answered softly, “It’s not your time.”
Reaching up once more, Andru tried to remove his grandfather’s hands from him.  Failing as his strength left him, he pleaded, “Lysette! Don’t let him do this.  Lysette, get him away from me! This is not what I want!”

“Joah?”
Lysette called to him, as she leaned forward unsure.

“It’s alright child, Andru will be fine.” Joah smiled softly at her
, and turned back as Andru fell silent. Leaning over him, Joah embraced his grandson and collapsed as warmth surrounded them and penetrated the air. Andru’s sobs cut thru Lysette as nothing ever had before. Realizing that Joah had saved Andru’s life the same way her grandmother had saved her, she knelt down beside them and held them both. All the tears that she held back flooded forth, wracking her body as she held Andru and his grandfather.

T
he tears of guilt and sorrow over the deaths of the loved ones she had been too young to grieve for so many years ago flowed forth. She cried for Andru’s loss, and for the three soldiers she had killed. She cried for Chelsa and the young soldiers that the elite guard had killed so easily in the transport above Bantor.  The tears kept flowing for Arbus and his loveless life, and finally for her loss of Katar. Not knowing how long she lay there, she offered no resistance when a pair of strong arms lifted her off Andru.

When she realized
, it was Katar holding her, she pushed weakly at the arms enveloping her. Her thought flooded with the memory of Enda’s voice saying that she and Katar were engaged, of Roth telling her of Enda’s pregnancy, and Connor’s evil smile announcing Katars marriage. She forced the images from her mind, remembering the promise that she made to herself. She looked up at his face. There was love there; she could see it in his eyes. He had come for her . . . Or had he? Looking over to Connor’s lifeless body, as doubt began to form once more.

Was Katar searching
the mountains for Connor and King William all this time? Did he even know, or care that she was missing? This time when she looked back into his eyes, she saw only pity. Pity for her, and triumph at Connor’s death. All these months, Katar had not cared one bit whether she was alive or dead. It was her Uncle Sean ,who had come for her. She pushed violently away from Katar, forcing him to release her. Turning away from him, she searched for Sean.

“Stay away from me!” She spoke softly at first
, stumbling forward in the darkness.

“Lysette, it's alright. It’s me, Katar” He called to her confused
, as he moved after her.

“No!” She yelled at him with astounding surprise
, as he reached for her. “It's not alright!”

“You’re safe now.” Katar soothed
, coming nearer, reaching out to her again.

Finding Arbus still asleep where she left him
, Lysette snatched him up and dodged Katars efforts to hold her. Finding the bow on the ground, she grabbed it and swung it at him as tears began to flow once more.