Page 6 of Shifter King
She closed her eyes, pushing the boundaries up a little stronger. At least it wasn't all happening at once. For now. She rubbed her temple as she listened to Naatos describe the hostile region.
"If we're going to do anything with the Tue-Rah, it's best to remain close," WroOth said. He was uncharacteristically somber, not even a glint of laughter in his eyes. "If it can rectify this situation, the sooner it is done the better. Not that it will undo everything."
"Laachtue says that the temple has been torn down and a monument erected over its center. She knew nothing of the Tue-Rah itself. It may take time to remove the monument and reclaim the Tue-Rah enough to bring it in sync with the others, though there is a chance that enough of it remains for us to access." Naatos drained his canteen, then set it aside. "But we will need to investigate to learn for certain."
"She also says we have two weeks or so before the coming of the Grey Season," AaQar said. He gestured toward the sky. "Though now the signs suggest it's even farther out than it was. Of course, if there is a tax that can be paid to stop it, that means they are controlling it. So…who can say when it will actually come."
WroOth muttered something under his breath, his expression dark.
An image flashed into her mind of a dark cavern, sheets of rain pouring outside the entrance, thunder booming, the air stinging and burning from some gas. Lightning flashed. It smelled like camels. "Did they follow us in here?"
She rubbed her hand over her cheek and up her temple again, cutting the image off. The pulsing ache in her head intensified for a breath.
"We have to make preparations regardless." AaQar gave her a frowning glance as if to ask if she was all right. When she nodded and smiled, he continued. "And it would be wise to find a more secure location."
"Especially if those Bealorns come back," QueQoa said.
"Let them come back." WroOth snapped a twig in half. "We'll deal with all of them the same. Water the ground with their blood." His breath hissed through his teeth as he turned the thin wood pieces over and continued to snap them.
She tilted her head as she studied him, trying to be careful not to open up her mindreading again.
Naatos placed his hand on her knee. "I actually have found a solution. There's an abandoned bunker less than two miles from here. Looks as if the Abliato military removed the occupants long ago."
"And what will keep them from removing us?" QueQoa asked.
"We will not use any technology powerful enough for them to track us. Laachtue says that's how they find most of the rebels, outlaws, and troublemakers." Naatos selected another slab of fresh grilled fish and placed it on the thick waxy leaf. "The bunker had a nest of grim worms as well as a couple goliath tunnelers and needs to be cleaned. I started the extermination process, but it'll be another day before it's ready. We can go this afternoon to evaluate. Make some preparations. Then take the next few days to finish our preparations. Then we go to Darmoste and sort out the matter with the Tue-Rah."
As he spoke, he slid his hand higher up her thigh. His fingers curled deeper though he moved toward the outside of her hip. "We should bring Proteus as well. In case someone needs to ride."
She pursed her lips, aware in the span of that movement what he was doing.
He was testing her muscles. Checking to see just how damaged she was. Picking up his hand, she placed it on his knee. "I can walk."
He returned his hand to her leg. "Good."
"Naatos." She pushed his hand away again. "You may think you're being slick, but I know what you're doing."
"Yes. I'm feeling my wife's leg." He gave her a crooked smile. Not even an ounce of shame lurked behind those eyes. "Her very lovely leg."
"Hmmm. Well, you only need to be feeling my leg for the right reasons. And if you wanted to know how strong I am, you could just ask."
"Do you really know, veskaro? Or would you simply push yourself to the point your muscles snap and your strength vanishes?"
"There are a few stages before collapse," she said dryly.
"And you treat none of them like the warnings they are."
"Oh?" She nudged him with her shoulder and then turned her back to him, pretending that the fish suddenly absorbed all her attention.
"How far is the bunker from Darmoste?" WroOth asked. "Is it near any trade routes? Or do you have any means to determine what we are actually close to?"
"It is in an area that is heavily overgrown and close to the Kailstro Peaks. There's a river underground that it connects to but which cannot be easily breached. The Tiablos always hated those mountains. That likely hasn't changed unless they've found a way to nullify the fields." Naatos turned the large chunk of fish over and broke a flaky piece off. "No one is to go to Darmoste alone. Is that clear?"
Everyone nodded their assent. Somehow though that also seemed to end the conversation. A pall still hung over them all. Even though it had seemed as if it might pass, moments like this made it all the more apparent. Dry Deep had changed all of them. She swallowed hard, but a knot remained in her throat.
It did not take long to finish their midday meal and then make preparations to depart. "If the terrain isn't too difficult for Proteus, I'll ride," she said. "At least if we aren't taking the sledge."
Naatos lifted his chin. Shock rippled out among the others though they did not say anything. "We aren't taking the sledge; he'll be fine."
