Maybe Fiath had even given him those commands. I wouldn’t have put it past him.
The doctor appraised me and must have seen by my eyes that I was serious. He nodded.
“Then go find him,” he said.
I brought my fist to my chest in thanks and bowed respectfully. He did the same to me and then turned to direct the supplies to the right location.
I began at a walk, which developed into a jog, and then a full-out sprint. I headed in the direction Fiath and his team had gone. I ran as far as I could and leaped over a small stream. I ran in a straight line and hoped I would catch sight of his team.
I had no idea where the secret passageway entrance was. I only knew the beginning of his journey.
I crested a hill and expected to see him on the other side. I panted but saw no sign of him.
Not him or any of his men.
It was a rolling hilly landscape. In the distance, I made out the town of Okem, and the palace perched on a hill just beyond it. Even from here, I could make out the damage done to the palace when they’d made their attempt on his life.
Changeling warships floated above the town like zephyrs. They turned and headed toward the valley I’d run from. The battle was about to commence.
I spied a taller hill ahead. Maybe if I got to the top of it, I could see his team on the other side.
I ran down the hill I was perched on and sprinted up the next one. I promised myself that if I didn’t see him this time, I would turn and head back to the field hospital. I couldn’t keep running around aimlessly like this.
My legs ached when I reached the peak and my lungs burned with fatigue.
There!
I saw him! Well, not specifically him but his men.
They were small figures and walked at a sedate pace, necks swiveling, and checking their surroundings.
Giddy with joy, I prepared to run down to meet them.
And then I froze.
Creeping around the hillside was a large contingent of Changeling soldiers.
Fiath and his team were headed for a trap and the Changelings were about to bring it down on their heads.
I waved my arms but none of the Titans were looking in my direction. I couldn’t just stand there. I needed to do something.
I cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled, “Watch out!”
My voice echoed off the sharp craggy rocks and natural flint walls.
The Titans spun around, weapons raised, and saw me waving my arms. I pointed at the Changeling soldiers winding around their rear.
But the Changelings and heard me too. A contingent of four Changelings splintered off from their group and ran in my direction while the others attacked the Titans.
I might have saved Fiath’s life but now I’d put my own in danger.
The Changelings ran at me and opened fire.
I ran down the mountainside and bolted back along it in the direction I’d come. The field hospital was back that way and would be receiving injured men soon if they hadn’t already.
I couldn’t lead the Changelings to them. It would be a slaughter.
I turned right and barreled behind an outcrop of rock. It was craggy and shaped like an arrowhead, pointing up at the sky.
A bolt of plasma struck the rock and singed it black. The plasma energy was deflected and knocked me sideways. I staggered but didn’t lose my feet.
I continued around the corner, mindful I’d lost valuable seconds.
I reached a narrow valley with a thin creak of freshwater. And there, a single crooked tree housed in the stream’s bent elbow.
With nowhere else to hide, I dashed to hide behind the tree. It was too thin to conceal my whole body. I turned sideways and still I barely fit.
I panicked.
There was no way they wouldn’t see me. Even if they couldn’t, it didn’t take a genius to figure out where I was hiding.
I bent down and grabbed a rock from the shallow pool.
“Well, well, well, boys,” one of the hideous Changeling soldiers said with a sneer. “Where do you suppose she is?”
A second Changeling snickered and edged in an arc to cover me from one side. A third Changeling did the same on the other side.
“I’m not sure,” he said. “It sure is hard to figure out.”
I pressed my forehead to the tree. I might have saved Fiath’s life but it would cost my own.
So be it, I decided. It was worth it.
At least Fiath had a chance of achieving his mission and freeing his people. What was one life compared to that?
The sneering Changeling grabbed me and yanked me from the tree.
I used the momentum and swung my arm around. I struck him across the chest with the rock.
He stumbled back but the hard outer plating of his body absorbed the worst effects of the blow. He swung out an arm lazily and knocked me to the ground.
I landed in the thin stream and tasted blood on my lips.
“She’s not even a Titan,” one of his Changeling buddies said.
“What do you think she is?” the third one said. They had no distinguishing features and I couldn’t tell one from another.
The sneering Changeling knelt before me.
“Just another backward species,” he said.
He pressed his blaster pistol against my temple.
“I’m doing you a favor putting you out of your miserable existence,” he said.
My instinct was telling me to plead for my life, but I refused to do it. Not to scum like this.
He began to squeeze the trigger.
YAAARRGGHHH!
The howl snagged their attention. Plasma fire sprayed the area, some burning the earth not more than a few inches from my head.
I wrapped my hands over my head—for whatever good that would do! I shut my eyes and said my prayers.
The Changelings returned fire but it didn’t last long. Within seconds, it was over.
Hands reached down and lifted me onto my feet.
I spun around, fists clenched,
