Heart Fortune

Glyssa suppressed a wince, stood tall. “You can’t talk me out of it.”

“So I see. At least you are accustomed to the camp and the area. You know, in general, any dangers.”

Glyssa wished Del would stop talking and feeding her imagination. “Yes,” she said.

Del examined her from top to toe, sighed. “You don’t have any weapons.”

“Nothing physical. I assure you I can defend myself with Flair.”

“And I have taught her a few self-defense moves,” Camellia said. That was true, though from the evidence a while back with Sanicle—the last time she’d needed self-defense—Glyssa hadn’t recalled a thing.

“We’ve only been gone a few septhours.” Del waved a casual hand. “The path is well marked. You should be fine. Shunuk will accompany you.”

Del’s FamFox yowled in protest. Del frowned at him. “You will go with Glyssa. You know the way back to the camp as well as I do.” Del slid her gaze to Glyssa. “And Glyssa will pay you with special foods for your gluttonous nature.”

The Fam was reasonably thin, but Glyssa had heard that he liked his food.

“I have some particular fox treats that Camellia brought me from Danith D’Ash,” Glyssa informed Shunuk. “Fresh treats.”

His tongue swiped over his muzzle and he walked stiffly to one of the stridebeasts—not the one she’d been riding.

Del sighed. “You’re right, Shunuk. Glyssa should take the steadiest beast, and the one who likes the camp the best. The mare will be happy to head for the stables.” Del gestured to a groom. “Transfer Glyssa’s light gear to Millie.” Del met Glyssa’s eyes. “The provisions you have for two and a half more days on the road, we will keep.”

“Fine,” Glyssa said. “I’ll be back in the camp well before dark. You will inform your HeartMate of everything?”

“You can be sure of that.” Del’s mouth twisted. “We’ll probably be talking about this all afternoon, and coordinating with the guards back at the camp.” With a jerk of the head, she walked away.

Shunuk bounded away from the stridebeast, headed over to the log where Glyssa had been sitting and snarfed up her food. He grinned as he masticated.

Glyssa’s stomach gurgled, but she had no appetite. Jace and Lepid were trapped in the ship and she was about to ride alone, except for a FamFox, into the wilderness . . . not to mention that Trago was still at large. Anything could happen. The earth could swallow the ship once more and her HeartMate and Fam could die. A grychomp could get her. She could stumble into a celtaroon nest. She gritted her teeth and stopped a shudder.

“The stridebeast is ready,” the groom said.

Camellia wrapped tight arms around Glyssa. “I love you. You can do this. I love you.”

Glyssa let herself rest against her friend for a moment, bask in the warmth of love given and returned, in the loyalty, the deep faith they had for each other. “I’ll see you in a little while,” she said.

“Yes.” Camellia squeezed until Glyssa hurt. “As soon as I can talk someone into flying me back to the camp, I’ll be there. Blessed be.”

“Blessed be.”

A large sneeze and a snort. COME ON, said Shunuk.

Glyssa reluctantly let go of her friend, dredged up a smile then, but steel sincerity in it. “I’ll get to camp, save the guys, and see you later.”

“Later,” Camellia said with a strange perky smile.

Shunuk nipped Glyssa’s ankle. “Hey!” she protested.

He turned and ran toward her new stridebeast, jumped to his pad behind her saddle. Sighing, Glyssa shook out her legs . . . then there was a short line of people from camp to hug that had prickles rising behind her eyes. They all wished her well, gave her blessings, and wore extremely doubtful expressions.

And then Del was there to help her into the saddle. “No problem going back. Nothing to worry about,” the explorer said. Her mouth flattened and her gaze shadowed. “We’ll do all we can to help.” She muttered, rubbed the back of her neck. “Any deaths, especially in the ship, will put an end to this project for generations. Raz pointed that out to me. Damn curse and bad luck nonsense.”

“Merry meet,” Glyssa said.

Del blinked, smiled. “And merry part.”

“And merry meet again.” With that last word, she nudged the stridebeast toward the dirt path between grasses. The mare trudged unenthusiastically.

BYE FAMWOMAN, I WILL BE CAREFUL. I LOVE YOU, shouted Shunuk.

Glyssa winced and turned the stridebeast back the way they’d come a few minutes ago. The mare wuffled, her ears pricked up and she went faster. Glyssa could swear she got smudged images from the beast’s mind of food and warm stables and no stupid big water close.

As soon as they’d rounded a curve and lost sight of camp, Glyssa contacted Jace and Lepid. I am on my way back and making good time. I’ll be there as soon as possible.

We’ll be here, Jace said, still too calmly. He hadn’t narrowed their bond—his only bond with the outside world?—and she felt how the atmosphere pressed upon him, how he controlled the panic skittering along his nerves. How he petted her Fam, grateful for the fox.

She swallowed hard.

We are in the dark, Lepid whimpered. And we are not moving around and it is cold.

The temperature in the ship, like most caverns, was steady, but not nearly as warm as the earth touched by sun. Glyssa bit her lip.

Shunuk and I are coming. The Elecampanes know of your plight.

She felt Jace wince.

Suppose that was necessary.

Snideness would not help the situation. I prefer to have all the support that I need. Where’s Zem?

I am here, FamWoman, said the bird’s cool voice in her mind. I did not descend into the ship. To him the ship symbolized a deadly bird, ready to kill, and now he felt both vindicated and fearful. I am not with my beloved FamMan.

Jace choked. His fear rose, then settled. I am glad you are free and in the open.

FamWoman, Trago shot at me with a blazer, singed some feathers, but I am not much hurt.

Oh, Zem!

Zem said, Everyone in camp is running around, looking for Trago. He is not to be found.

Do you know where he is hiding?

I am watching, but I do not see, the bird said.

We are only two, we can go faster than the whole band. Glyssa pushed enthusiasm at Jace and Lepid and Zem.

Two? asked Jace.

Del sent Shunuk with me. Shouldn’t he have sensed that, her conversations with others? She scowled, straining to read all the nuances of their bond. Both of her loved ones were tired, and she didn’t know what the future might hold, but it was sure to need action on all their parts—energy and Flair. Maybe you can sleep? she advised.

The older fox is coming back? Lepid said.

Yes, Glyssa replied.

Oh, Lepid said, but she heard the pout in his tone.

* * *

In the ship, Jace yanked out the cover on the bed and rolled under it, holding it up for Lepid.