Earthbound, p.18
Earthbound, page 18
He gasped and clenched his jaw to rob her of any more satisfaction.
“Why are you here? We were assured no further Overseers would be sent.”
Sent? He was ready this time for the pulse that shot through his body. As if by design, each jolt struck a new set of nerves, sending fresh flares of pain through him.
“Answer me.” Her tone moved from mockery, taking on a new edge.
He met her eye with defiance, pressing his lips tight. Another shock. Absently, he thought of the complaints he and Tehran had shared over Solace’s seemingly unjustified training in such matters. The hours of interrogation and instruction on how to withstand torture.
Nothing Solace had subjected them to; hot irons, sleep deprivation, spikes, or water, quite matched this technology. The armoured woman continued to speak, but he ignored her and focused on the device holding him. Without being able to see its mechanisms, he focused on what he could feel.
The cold metal of the chair beneath him was accompanied by a faint pressure encircling his body in narrow bands, no more than a hand’s breadth apart. Those had to be the source of the energy spikes that arced into his flesh. The energy needed to power this device would be astronomical. And would kill an ordinary person, he realized. A chill crept over him at the thought. The Commander had intimate knowledge of what would weaken an Overseer.
The sharp crack of the woman’s open palm connecting with his cheek brought him crashing back into the present. Heat flooded the side of his face where she made contact.
“Focus, Overseer. This is important.”
His sight cleared to see the Commander no longer stood alone. Two guards stood over a man not much older than himself. His face was deeply bruised and one arm hung at an unnatural angle. Despite this, the man’s eyes were sharp and met his own with unbridled fury. Next to him, a girl who could be no more than five stood mutely, terror clear in her young face. With his good arm, the man wrapped the girl protectively into his side.
Sickening horror turned in Knox’s gut, and his limbs went cold. His eyes flicked back to the commander.
A smug smile pulled at her mouth. “That’s right,” she cooed. “Let’s test your vows, shall we?”
She looked at the girl with an air of matronly concern. “Don’t worry, your Overseer will help you.” Her blue eyes flashed back to Knox and narrowed. “Must help you.”
Knox’s throat squeezed at the girl’s wide, hopeful eyes. The man with her, arrested his gaze and glanced at the girl with a pleading expression. The message was clear: protect the child.
“Let’s try this again; who sent you, Overseer?”
He slowly turned his head to look the commander in the eye. “No one sent me.” His voice came out as a hoarse growl.
She clucked and shook her head and nodded to one of the guards. “Really? I thought your vows meant more to you.”
“I’m telling you the truth!”
The guard holding the man pulled a heavy-looking metal club and brought it down on the man’s good shoulder. It hit with a sickening thud and he dropped to his knees, crying out.
The girl’s thin soprano cut the air with a scream of alarm. She struggled against the guard who pulled her back from the man who must be her father.
“I’m okay, Kipp,” her father reassured, through clenched teeth.
Her frantic cries tore at Knox. The Commander’s error in understanding the role of vows offered no comfort considering the situation unfolding before him. Knox didn’t have to act. His vows wouldn’t compel him, even though he wanted to. Any sane human would.
He rushed to speak before the next blow could land. “I was swallowed by a great beast in Rikken. It brought me here. No one sent me.” He was too late. The club crashed into the man’s side, cracking ribs and sending him sprawling into the floor. The girl crumpled, reaching for her father and whimpering.
The Commander stilled and stepped close to Knox. Her eyes flamed with interest. “You escaped a brecka?”
The fate of Beryl’s Overseer, Haddie, flashed to his mind. “The earth cannot hold one of the Sky.”
She raised a sharply angled brow. “That’s not what I was told.”
Knox’s heart stuttered at the implications of the statement, but he kept his jaw tight. “I’d question your source, then.”
She straightened, looking thoughtful. “I’ll do that. You were sent as a message; is that it?”
His eyes shot back at her in surprise. Why is she so determined to believe I’ve been sent here? “No.”
She nodded to someone behind him, and energy arced into his body at several different points simultaneously. His composure left him as a feral roar escaped his lips and blackness once again threatened.
What happened next, he pieced together after the fact.
The girl’s father regained his feet while the guards were distracted. How he knew his plan would work, Knox wasn’t sure; maybe it was nothing more than a desperate last effort. Regardless, the man flung himself free of the guards and lunged behind Knox, to the power source of his torture seat.
The room exploded in a brilliant blast of energy. Everyone was flung backwards, including the Commander and her guards, the child with them. The blast catapulted the chair forward even as the bands of energy released him and Knox was thrown free. His mind cleared, his strength flared to life like a smothered fire suddenly given air. Immediately he realized the man had thrown himself into the generator powering the device holding him. Somehow, he had managed to short circuit the seat in a catastrophic manner.
Shouts came from all directions as raiders scrambled into position along the balconies. Knox rolled to his feet. Those who had been closest were down and still. Dead, he hoped, but he had no time to check. At the centre of the blast, the girl’s father lay dead, a smoking husk draped over the generator.
Where’s the child? He caught sight of her small frame curled against the bare wood floor beyond the fallen guards. He ran and scooped her into his chest as the first energy bolts from the balcony began to land around them. Tucking the girl tight to one side, he looked for a weapon to wield with his free hand.
A wicked grin formed as he caught sight of his gnarled root lying abandoned on the floor. One of the guards must have claimed it. How fitting. He gripped the club, its thick handle fitting perfectly into his hand and with a snarl, he charged the nearest guard.
A New Road
Knox
The girl clung to his neck so tight Knox could feel the pinch of her thin nails. “It’s okay. I’ve got you,” he murmured.
Their exit from the council hall had left a grisly trail. All who stood in his way met a quick end. Thankfully, those on the balconies seemed hesitant to shoot, afraid an errant bolt could hit one of their own, making an otherwise impossible escape doable.
Once free of the building, Knox quickly took to the rooftops. Alarms and shouts followed behind them, but with the patrols they had eliminated throughout the night, the boundaries of the camp were undermanned. Once into the tree line, the Tumultians had no chance of keeping up. He kept his movements within the canopy and changed his trajectory frequently to further impede their ability to follow. Once a good distance from Beryl, and sounds of pursuit long faded, he stopped to assess his small ward.
A crimson drip tracked down the young girl’s face. Thankfully, its sluggish movement suggested it wasn’t her own. Knox reached out and tried to wipe it clean but only succeeded in smearing even more blood across her pale skin. He looked down. They were both covered in gore.
The girl whimpered at his touch.
“It’s okay, little one. I won’t hurt you.” His heart sank at the sight of her wide grey eyes regarding him from within her small heart-shaped face. Her dark hair lay pressed and matted with blood. “Are you hurt?”
He tried to pull her from his chest, but her small fists clenched tight and would not release him.
“I’m not going to leave you; I only want to see if you are okay.”
She pressed her face into his chest.
“Alright, later.” He wrapped his arm around her tightly once again. It really wasn’t needed; she was clinging to him enough on her own. In the distance a horn sounded, likely mustering the larger force encamped outside Beryl. They needed to move.
A thought gave him pause. “Was anyone else being held with you and your father?”
The girl kept her face turned into his chest. With a gentle touch he nudged her chin with his finger, coaxing her eyes up to his. “Was your mom there with you?”
The girl’s eyes turned glassy as she shook her head. Knox heaved a sigh. “I’m going to bring you with me, somewhere safe, okay?”
Serious grey eyes met his, and she nodded before nestling her face back into his shoulder.
From the position of the sun, it was almost noon; less time had passed than he had assumed. His time in the chair had left him unsure. The raiding party was likely only a few hours ahead, although, with an army now searching, he needed to be certain not to lead them anywhere near the rendezvous or camp.
He moved consistently north, as if heading for the mountains, being sure to jog off trails and create switch backs, while maintaining the same heading. After moving this way for several hours, Knox paused by a small creek.
He crouched and set the girl’s feet to the ground. “Would you like some water?” he asked softly. She peeked at their surroundings and then slowly released him, except for one hand which retained an iron grip on his shirt. She pulled toward the creek, and he obliged. At the edge she dropped to her knees and pressed her lips into the moving water.
Her grip at his collar remained firm and Knox leaned forward awkwardly so she could reach the water. She drank for so long, Knox realized with a start that she was gorging herself.
“Whoa, little one. Take a breath. You don’t want to make yourself sick.” He pulled back slowly, and she reluctantly stopped. Knox shifted his position so she could maintain her grip on him while he too knelt next to the water. Using his free hand, he drank from his scooped palm.
Watching him carefully, she mimicked the movements and tried to do the same. Her small hand, paired with unsteady movements, left little more than a drop to slurp from her palm. She frowned at her hand. Knox chuckled, and she looked up at him in surprise.
He dipped his hand in the creek and held it before her. With a shy smile, she leaned forward and drank. He filled it again, and she once again emptied its offerings. For the first time, he looked her over carefully.
Her cheeks were hollow and unnaturally pale. Dark rings circled her eyes on what should have been a rosy complexion, but instead her skin reflected a sallow undertone. Her natural colouring appeared much paler than most in the Mercurial, which tended to the more olive and earthy tones of skin. Instead, it was closer to his own—skin tone was hardly regional, though.
With his hand now clean, he wiped her face again, clearing the dried blood and grime from her tiny features. She squirmed under his touch with a hint of a giggle. The innocent sound wrung at his heart. Knox looked around the quiet forest. There were no signs of pursuit, but he wasn’t about to abandon caution now. They still had a long journey ahead.
The warmth of a mid-afternoon sun eased the chill in the air and Knox took the time to wash the grime from his hair, face and arms. He shook the remaining droplets free, sprinkling the child. She scrunched her nose and shook her own head copying him. Knox laughed and she rewarded him with a full smile.
“What’s your name, little one?”
She eyed him shyly and did not answer.
“I heard your father call you Kipp…is that your name?”
She shook her head.
“Can I call you Kipp?”
She gave him a measuring look before nodding.
He smiled. “I’ll use it until you tell me different.”
The corners of her mouth pulled up slightly and her eyes brightened.
“Okay, Kipp. We have a ways more to go today. Would you like to ride on my back? I think it may be a bit more comfortable.”
Her small brow crumpled in thought.
“You can still hold on tight around my neck. And I will hold on too.”
She bobbed her head slowly and, without fully letting go of his shirt, she loosened her grip enough to manoeuvre around to his back. With practised movements, she scrambled up until both her hands were clasped around his neck and her legs wrapped tightly around his sides.
He stood and tucked one arm beneath her so she felt secure. “Tap my shoulder if you need to stop. Ready?”
She squeezed tighter.
Taking a moment to orient himself, Knox jogged to the nearest clearing and looked up into the large trees around them. Broad-limbed oaks and maples towered overhead. He jumped up into the branches and moved tree to tree for a distance before switching directions and finally moving towards the camp.
It took the rest of the afternoon to circle back around through the treetops, and the sky had turned orange before they arrived at the refuge. From the way Kipp’s small frame slumped against him, Knox guessed she had fallen asleep. They landed unceremoniously on a small storage platform in the treetops, and Knox slipped the girl from his back and into his arms. “We made it Kipp, let’s go find you a bed.”
After the day she’d had, he guessed the child would need all the sleep she could get. Kipp rubbed her eyes and looked around groggily before tucking her head back into Knox’s chest. Her resilience was sobering. She had lost so much and yet rested in his arms. Knox hoped she hadn’t seen her father’s final act with too much clarity.
“Overseer?” Syracuse stood stunned on the next platform over, his jaw slack. “How in the Sky—we were about to gather a team to go back for you.”
Knox frowned. “That should never be the plan.” He moved across the landing and made his way down to Syracuse. “An Overseer protects the people, not the other way around.”
A guilty thought flashed to the girl’s father. He had given everything to save Knox, with the hope it would save his daughter.
“Who’s that?”
Knox looked down at the small frame within his arms. “I don’t know, I was hoping you could tell me. She and her father were being held by the Tumultian Commander.”
Syracuse bent and looked at the small face pressed against his shoulder. “I don’t recognize her. Where’s her father?”
Knox met his eyes and gave a small shake of his head. “He didn’t make it.”
Syracuse let out a heavy sigh. “Poor little kipp.”
“Kipp?”
“It’s a word for a small child. An endearment.”
“Ah.” The father’s use of the word suddenly made sense.
“Come on, the others are gathering, we should go see them before they get too carried away with planning.”
“I’ll be right there.” Knox dipped his chin gesturing to the girl. “Let me get her settled and I’ll join you.”
He retraced the path back to Una’s platform and found Loghin up, sitting at a short table. A large grin erupted on his usually gruff face. “Well, Sky take me, you made it.”
“Careful Loghin, I’ll start to think you actually care.”
“Don’t go getting the wrong idea, you’re nothing more than my ride home.” He gave a low whistle. “You look a sight.”
Knox rolled his eyes at the comment and moved to the bed he’d been using, tucking Kipp into the blankets.
“Whose kid is that?”
Knox moved to the table, taking the other seat before answering. “She and her father were being held captive.”
Loghin’s voice dropped low as he looked over at the small form on the bed. “Her father?”
“He’s the one who freed me.”
“Freed you? Who could hold you?”
Knox ran a hand through his hair. His fingers tangled, and he gave up. “This army came prepared to deal with Overseers. They know far more than they should of our oaths.”
“How’s that possible?”
He leaned back into the chair and frowned. “I don’t know, but their knowledge is lethal, I’ll give them that much.”
Loghin swallowed hard. “When do we leave?”
“Will you be fit to travel in the morning?”
Loghin waved a hand dismissively. “I’ll be fine. Let’s get home.” A small smile pulled at the side of his mouth. “I may not be singing the whole way, but I’ll last.”
Knox snorted. “Thank the Sky for that. Do you mind watching the girl while I go talk with the others?”
“Sure. Looks easy enough as long as she stays asleep.”
Knox let out a full laugh. It came far easier than he thought possible under the circumstances. Catastrophe made for strange alliances. “I think that’s parenting strategy number one, keep them asleep.”
The entire raiding party waited for him at the central platform. A miracle. They’d managed to secure a record number of supplies without losing a single member. Pride swelled Knox’s chest. Everything had been distributed or stowed, and the transport lay hidden at the rendezvous, well clear of the camp. Scouts remained on the lookout for signs that the group had been tracked, but so far, they looked to be in the clear.
With his rescue no longer being contemplated, the group was eager to debrief. He answered questions as thoroughly as he could, and once exhausted, the members dispersed to beds and platforms of their own.
Knox made his way back to the platform with Loghin and Kipp. Sounds of a struggle met his ears as he neared and he pulled the club from its hook at his side, heat pouring through him. He pushed through the curtain with the weapon raised.
“Don’t let her past you, you big lout,” Una chided.
“She kicked me!” Loghin complained.
The two adults looked to be corralling the child, arms outstretched. The girl stood with a wild look in her eye, back against the thin wall. The three froze at his entrance. Una frowned at the raised club and Loghin swore and stumbled back in an awkward sidestep. A soft gasp escaped the girl’s lips and Knox dropped his arm, embarrassed.
“I thought—” he tried to explain.
He looked to Kipp expecting to see the same terror her eyes had held in the council chambers, but instead he was met with a look of relief. The tension melted from her body, and she ran across the space and wrapped her thin arms around his leg.
