The Last Narkoy: Gathow: Book 2 by Elizabeth Price (good e books to read .txt) 📗

to another page in the book he was reading. “Why not find yourself something interesting to read? I’m going to be here a while.”

Cidele plopped down in the seat across the table from Garric, crossing her arms over her chest. “I don’t know why Sedom didn’t just let you have clearance. It’s not like you’re going to go anywhere.”

“It’s a matter of trust,” Garric admitted. “She doesn’t trust me, nor should she. I am her enemy.”

“I’m with her on that,” Cidele grumbled back. “You did try to kill her.”

Garric shook his head as he sat back. “I saved her life and let her escape in the fields outside the forest. My commander had just killed her guardians and Sedom, miraculously, managed to slip away from us. We tracked her into the fields… I found her, but I turned my back so she could get away. I believe that’s partly why she lets me live. The Narkoy have a deep rooted sense of honor and they repay those who have helped them.”

Cidele leaned back in her seat, suddenly amused by the Marisheio. “Why did you let her go? You had been chasing her for months. It would have been easier to capture her and be done with it all.”

Garric shrugged. “Job security,” he said with a wink. Cidele crossed her arms over her chest, proving she wasn’t buying his response. “Well…” he started with a long, drawn out sigh. “There are times you are forced to do things you don’t want to. It was my way of rebelling, I suppose. I didn’t approve of what my people were doing, but if I didn’t do my job they would have killed my family. It’s amazing what you’ll do to save the ones you love.”

Cidele’s arms uncrossed from her chest as if she suddenly realized Garric was a person too. “Two sides to every story?” she questioned. Garric grunted. “I overheard Sedom mention you have children,” she hinted, hoping to learn more about Garric.

“Had,” he corrected. “I failed. My wife and five children were executed. Their images were leaked out as a warning. Sortec attempted to hide them from me, but I saw. I live with that image burned into my mind every moment of my life. There’s nothing I can do about it.”

“Oh,” Cidele said, unsure what else she could say. “Um… well, since I’m stuck here, is there anything I can do to help?”

Garric nodded, relieved at the change of subject. “Do you know how to read a map?” he asked. She nodded. “I’m looking for this symbol.” He showed her a symbol from another piece of paper. “Think you can find it?”

Cidele grinned. “I found Sedom before you. I think I can manage,” she joked.

“Did you now?” Garric questioned. “I did mention I let her go, right?” he pointed out.

“Just give me the map,” Cidele quip back.

***

The rain poured down, drenching the group. To Sedom's delight, she spotted the dark opening to her old cave. She waved them onward hoping in the back of her mind the animals hadn't reclaimed the cave.

Inside was dark, too dark even for her eyes. She stumbled over to the shelves, finding a flashlight. She turned it on, scanning the cave. Other than being a bit dirty it seemed safe enough.

Inside the cave, Rosanheer swung Ratisha off his shoulder and allowed her to lie against the cave wall. “Glad you spotted this place,” he called to Sedom who was fast at work looking over supplies she had left behind.

“No accident. I lived here for a while hiding from the Marisheio,” she explained as she pointed to the wood bin. “Dry firewood and...” She opened one of the storage bins, taking down a couple of blankets, “There’s supplies and food as well over in those crates against the wall.”

She hurried over to Ratisha, resting a blanket over her shivering shoulders. The clothes the woman wore were mere rags across her body. Sedom noticed Qilo searching within one of the crates, fishing out a large jar of pickled vegetables. “Could you grab me a jacket from the crate next to you?” she called to Qilo.

He opened the crate, finding it full of clothing. “You just left all of this here?” he asked, tossing her a yellow jacket.

Sedom nodded. “I didn’t need it. The locals would bring me care packages in exchange I helped them safely travel through the forest,” she explained. “I ended up with so many supplies I decided it wasn’t worth bringing it all with me.”

Zion removed a Marisheio disruptor from the shelves near the opening, showing it to her. “From one of your care packages?” he questioned.

“Not exactly,” she returned. Beside her, Ratisha began to squirm. “My charms are fading from her mind. Do you think it's alright if I talk to her?” she asked Rosanheer as she caressed Ratisha's shoulder. She flinched with Sedom's touch.

Rosanheer nodded, watching Ratisha with a tense jaw.

Before Sedom could remove the blindfold, Zion stopped her from touching Ratisha. “She's in shock. Fear coupled with the pain in her legs is too much. Be patient. She may try to lash out at you,” he spoke low.

Sedom agreed. She slowly removed the wax from Ratisha's ears. “Ratisha, I need you to remain calm. You’re safe now. Nothing is going to harm you,” Sedom soothed as she removed the moist blindfold from Ratisha's eyes. She blinked several times, finally focusing on Sedom.

Her eyes grew wild with panic. “No, no, no,” she wept. “Not here,” she gurgled under her gag.

Sedom frowned with concern, turning to Rosanheer. A disturbed look came to his eyes. He pointed to his head as if to demonstrate they got to her mind. He took Ratisha's limp hand, wrapping it around Sedom's wrist. “Ratisha, she is real. This is not a trick,” he soothed.

“It's okay. You're safe,” Sedom assured.