Qilo pointed to a warehouse adjacent to the compound. “They moved in enough explosives to level the capital city.”
“The capital is on the other side of the planet,” Zion mentioned.
Qilo agreed. “You don't want to alert your enemy that you're going to attack when you're planning to take over.”
“Little late for that,” Zion smirked.
Sedom thought about what Qilo said, then turned to Zion. “Why? Have the Crehail's Constantan or Mineria given up rule over Matrador? If so, this is news to me,” Sedom asked. “They're not going to give up until they’re dead, trust me on this.”
“Narkoy intuition?” Zion asked.
“It’s common knowledge. Battle of Colesnan, look it up. The Narkoy attempted to take over the planet on several occasions. The royal family has managed to fight them back every time,” Rosanheer mentioned. He peered through his binoculars and then motioned for the group to follow. “Hey, we've got movement.”
“Spread out. Let's keep an eye on the city and see what happens. Something doesn’t feel right about this,” Qilo announced.
For the better part of the day, the group remained watching the city. Sedom sat in a tall tree, her eyes transfixed on the city gates. It seemed such a waste of manpower to guard one woman. Maybe Garric was incorrect. Maybe there were far more prisoners there than he let on. Maybe he was setting her up. Maybe…
The main gates opened, revealing three armored transports filled with Marisheio soldiers. Sedom sat up waving to Zion, but he was daydreaming in the bushes far below. Searching the tree, Sedom found a large purple pod and dropped it down on top of Zion's head. Zion jumped as he looked up. She pointed to the gates.
His wrist com crackled. “Zion, do you read?” called Rosanheer over the com’s speaker.
“I read you. We've got activity at the gate. What do you make of it?” Zion returned.
“Hey, what the hell is going on? I've never seen anything like this before,” Qilo called over the com.
“Hey,” Sedom called down to Zion in a whisper. “Why don’t I have one of those?” she asked, pointing to his com.
Zion reached into his pocket, handing the wrist com up to Sedom. “You dropped it. I had packed it for you,” he whispered so he couldn’t be heard over the com.
Sedom grabbed it, examining it. “Where did you find this?”
“Later,” Zion mouthed back.
“New one to me. They know we're here. They've increased the guards in the towers. This is some tactic to draw us out. But why they're sending their backup packing, I haven't a clue. The only reason is if there was an attack elsewhere. I checked the com relays and there’s nothing,” Rosanheer returned.
“Suggestions?” Zion asked, looking up into the tree. Sedom was now perched on a branch directly above him, listening.
Both Qilo and Rosanheer returned, “Wait.”
“Wait? Wait for what? A better opportunity? The place is practically empty,” Sedom grumbled.
“We’re assuming. I’m with them. Wait and see what happens,” Zion offered.
She leaned against the tree trunk again. “I hate waiting.”
“How long did you wait to rescue my group?” Zion asked.
Sedom shrugged. “Awhile. I saw your group in the city when you were taken. The only way I could attack was at night, so I spent the greater part of the day tracking your caravan.”
Zion returned to his spot, relaxing his head against the same tree. “Then you have patience. Use it,” he scolded.
The group continued to watch as several transport vehicles drove away from the city. Moments later, a loud metallic sound echoed from the city, followed by a volley of pistol fire.
A man with long, shaggy salt and pepper hair ran from the main gates. He was completely naked with his hands tied in front of him. Pistol shots vibrated behind him, followed by the sound of muffled laughter. The guards were toying with him. The terrified man ran towards the forest, constantly looking over his shoulder to the main gate.
“I don't believe what I'm seeing,” Rosanheer said, standing from his crouched position. “They don't release prisoners and he’s in no position to have escaped.”
“It's a trap,” Qilo stated over the com. “They know she's here. Sortec, do you know that man?” he asked Sedom.
Sedom nodded, mainly for Zion. “Patto, he’s Ratisha's husband. He also helped save my life… sort of,” she spoke low.
“Affirmative. They're trying to draw Sortec out of hiding,” Zion called back on the com.
“What do we do?” Sedom asked.
Rosanheer climbed up into the tree alongside Sedom, startling her at first. “We do nothing. Our objective is Ratisha Augers.” He sat on the branch below her, looking up at her. “If we help him, we give away our position. If that's the case, we might as well hand ourselves over now.”
Sedom gritted her teeth as she watched Patto stumble to the ground. He yelped, grabbing hold to the burning pistol wound to his calf. Blood streamed down his leg as he continued to run into the forest, stumbling over every-other step.
“Unacceptable.” She climbed further into the tree, then leaped into the next tree then to the next. From the third tree, she jumped down behind a large bank of bushes.
“Sortec!” Zion called softly. “Damn it. There goes that half-cocked sanity again.”
“Does she want to commit suicide?” Rosanheer asked as he readied his weapon.
Patto stumbled to the ground, falling flat onto his stomach. A loud yelp echoed through the forest followed by his gentle sobs. He grabbed a handful of earth and began dragging himself.
Sedom dropped on the other side of the road, behind a tall grouping of bushes. She watched as the Mandicien man struggled to get away. Did she risk helping him or take her new friends’ advice? In the distance, she could hear the boots of several men heading in their direction. She
