“We saw your ship fall from the sky,” the Carlogian said, as he led us through the forest. “And the imperial ships fire on it once it was done. We didn’t know if there would be survivors, which was why I alerted Coxley.”
“What’s a Coxley?” I asked.
The alien chuckled. “Not a what, a he. Coxley is our healer.” He swiveled his head when they reached an opening in the woods where the greenery and crawling vines were tamped down. “And I left him right here when we heard you two arguing.”
My flush deepened at the reminder that I’d yelled at Vassim before I’d slapped him hard across the cheek.
“I’m here, Fenrey.” The voice was slightly higher pitched, but when the other Carlogian appeared through a thicket, I was pleasantly surprised to see Baru by his side. “I was helping this young fellow. He seemed to have gotten separated from his friends…” His words died off when he saw the Raas, and he emitted a squeak before clamping his mouth shut.
“This is Raas Vassim, Coxley.” Fenrey nudged the Carlogian with dark curly hair between his colorfully striped horns. “He and his horde have arrived to help us.”
Coxley’s large eyes, which were a startling shade of blue, blinked a few times as he nodded, finally clearing his throat. “Good to meet you.”
“I’m Juliette,” I said, leaving the Raas’ side to walk over to the Neebix boy and give him a once-over. “Are you okay?”
“He had a cut on his leg, which I took care of,” the healer said, smoothing his hands down the front of his long dark jacket and smiling at me.
“It was like magic,” Baru whispered, pulling up the hem of his pants to reveal a faint pink gash that had knitted together. “Even faster than the waters the Vandar use.”
Coxley’s coppery-brown cheeks took on a faint hint of pink. “The plants on our planet are quite medicinal.”
“We should get these three back to the village,” Fenrey said. “There are too many imperial soldiers in these woods. Besides,” he cut his eyes to the dress that still clung wet to my skin. “I need to get this poor girl into some proper clothes.”
“Fenrey is a tailor.” Coxley kept his eyes up, purposefully not looking at the fabric plastered to my skin that was no doubt revealing.
“Oh.” I tugged the sagging neckline of my wet dress. “It would be nice to get out of this.”
“Don’t you worry,” Fenrey said over his shoulder. “I’ll whip you up something much more flattering, dear.”
Coxley glanced over his shoulder and tugged a leather case closer to his chest. “If you ask me, one imperial soldier is too many.”
Raas Vassim thumped him on the back, almost sending the little alien flying. “You and I are of one mind, healer.”
Coxley let out another strangled squeak and looked up at the Raas with a shaky smile. “Oh, good.”
The Raas put a hand to the small of my back as the two Carlogians led us through the dense woods, the spindly trees rising high with branches at the top that created a leafy canopy. For a while, there was nothing but the sounds of our feet crunching leaves, and the occasional bird call, as Baru trudged along beside me, and Furb slept in my arms.
Then Vassim tensed, his hand moving from my back to the hilt of his axe. “We’re being followed.”
Chapter Thirty
Vassim
The two Carlogians froze in mid-step, Fenrey twisting his head around to look at me. “You are sure?”
I gave a scant nod. “Behind us. Not many, but they’re moving quickly.”
“We should run for it,” the nervous healer said, shifting his case around to his hip.
“They’ll catch us,” I said. “Or shoot at us.”
“Then what do we do?” Although Juliette’s voice trembled, she squared her shoulders as if bracing herself for what was coming.
I held Fenrey’s gaze for a moment. “I need you to get Juliette and Baru to safety. I’ll join you later.” I doubted I’d be able to join them at all, but I didn’t want to frighten Juliette.
He pressed his lips together and bobbed his head up and down sharply, understanding my meaning.
“No way,” Juliette said, shifting Furb to one hip. “I know what you’re doing. You’re sacrificing yourself to save the rest of us.”
I took her by the shoulders, giving her a little shake. “Do you want all of us to be killed or taken prisoner, because that’s what will happen if you all don’t go now.”
She inhaled sharply, her brow furrowed, but she shook her head.
“Do not have such little faith in me,” I said, managing a small smile. “I am a Vandar Raas, after all. I have met with worse and survived.” I wanted to crush my lips to hers and tell her all the things I’d meant to, but there was no time. “I will see you again.”
She opened her mouth, but no words came out, only a strangled sob.
I released her and stepped back, drawing my battle axe. “Please, Juliette. Go!”
With a final tortured, backward glance, she allowed Baru and Coxley to pull her away from me, and the group stumbled off through the woods.
I turned away from the sound of their retreat, holding my axe at the ready, my ears attuned to the noise of imperial soldiers advancing. My raiders were spread throughout the forest, but calling them would only alert the Zagrath to my location. And if I ran in a different direction, they might not follow me and instead catch up to Juliette. I gritted my teeth. I could not let that happen. Whatever happened to me, I needed for her to be safe.
Quickly scanning the trees and undergrowth, I noted that the trees were not as willowy as the ones near the beach, although they were still not wide enough for me to hide behind, and their branches were too high up to climb. There would be no ambush from above for me, and no leaping from a hiding spot. A
