Fire in the Sky

3

“Ihoi! I’m weak as a rotted rootbulb.” Danor grunted, tried to push himself up.

Shadith rose from the cot where she was drowsing, opened the slide on the nightlight and carried it across to the bed. “So you’re with us again.” She set the nightlight clown, bent down, touched his face. “Good. For a while there I thought you were going to burn this place down around you, that fever had you so hot.”

“Place. Where are we?”

“Blai at Dumel Minach.”

“How long…?”

“Six days. You nearly died from the fever and the allergies, but Tokta Burek got you through.”

“Allergies?”

“There was a point when I had to use things from my medkit on you. They worked enough so we didn’t kill you by moving you but caused some problems later.” She managed a smile. “Might have fried a few nerves, but with some rest you’ll do all right.”

“Rest. We’ve already lost six days.” His voice went shrill on the end, and he tried to push himself up.

Shadith clucked her tongue, bent over him, her hands on his shoulders, not applying pressure yet, just letting him know she could. “And we’ll lose even more if you tear open that wound. Relax. Mer-Eolt Lebesair went on ahead to let the Meruu know what happened. Xe got back yesterday. They’ll wait for us.”

“The dying won’t wait. Leave me and go on.”

“Yes, we could do that, but you’ve seen what we could only report second hand, Ard Da…”

“Don’t call me Ard. My sioll’s dead.” That outburst used the last of his energy; he went limp, turning his head so she wouldn’t see the tears coursing from his eyes.

She touched his hair lightly, straightened, filled a glass from the ewer on the bedtable. “I’ve poured you some water. It’s on the table here, just stretch out your hand when you want it. I’m on the cot by the window, call me if you need anything.”

She stretched out, yawned, but couldn’t recover the drifty doze she’d been in when he called out. She’d done everything she could think of to get the handcom working again, but repairing solid state electronics with a screwdriver and a talent for mindlifting small objects wasn’t a very hopeful project to start with and she got the results she’d expected. She thought about throwing the thing away as useless weight, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to do that. Not yet.

Aslan would be bothered over no reports coming back, but she wouldn’t worry too much. Shadith smiled into the darkness, remembering the Scholar’s acerbic comments on administrative stupidity. Not one to suffer fools lightly, Aslan. Talking about fools. Smugglers bringing in guns. Those were offworld pellet shooters the choreks had. I should have taken them apart instead of just leaving them beside the corpses. Well, no time for it, I’ll just have to live with that Won’t be Arel. How odd to come across word of him again. Or maybe not so odd. The Callidara was part of his round before Bogmak. And won’t he be pissed if the Chave win the prize and shut the world on him. She sighed.

She was deeply tired, but sleep kept eluding her no matter how she tried to clear her mind. In a few days, less than a week, she’d be answering questions for the Meruus. What happens after that? I’ve done what Aslan brought me along to do. Now what happens. What do I do? What do I do? Burning Eolt. She shuddered. That has to stop. I have to help. Somehow. Aslan can testify, say we make it offworld. Which may be a very iffy thing. The Ykkuval has to know he doesn’t dare let us get away. What do I do? Go after them. Use what I can do… animal armies… I haven’t tried it with budders I wonder if I can mindride local vermin? Hm. No, don’t try it now, you get started, you’ll never get to sleep.

She heard the clink of the glass, thought about going over to help the Fior, after a moment, though, she decided he’d feel better doing as much for himself as he could. In the morning, soon as Maorgan gets back from whatever bed he’s found, I’ll ask him to give Danor a bath and a shave. Gods, I hope we get out of here soon, this place is growing on me like mold