Jeanne G'Fellers - No Sister of Mine by Jeanne G'Fellers (reading tree TXT) 📗

in an hour on landing deck two and I am not skinny.” Tatra ran a lean hand down her side in demonstration. “My proportions are perfect for my framework.” She gave each of them a disbelieving glance then sighed. “Guess I’ll be going as well.”

“Why?” asked Krell. “Belsas didn’t call for you to join the teams.”

“I know, but if you have to insist so solidly that LaRenna is alive then I’ll have to give you the benefit of the doubt.” Tatra stepped onto the level lift then turned back, holding the door long enough to return Firman’s wink. “I’ll see you in an hour.”

Firman elbowed Krell’s ribs as the lift door slid shut. “You see that? She’s flirting with me. Me!”

“She does have her moments.” Krell’s eyes were back on the viewer. “Enjoy them. They’re few and far between.”

“Well, she needs more of them.” Firman scrambled to catch the next lift. “I think they make her unbearably attractive.”

Chapter Thirty

Sister sister close your mouth

And dare not make a sound

The Taelach hunt is drawing near

 Don’t let yourself be found

Help the children cover up

Cloak their silver hair

Take the back way through the caves

We can flee from there

Sister sister close your mouth

And dare not make a sound

If Autlachs find us

Taelach blood will spill upon the ground

—old Taelach teaching rhyme

Several seconds of cold waking fear passed before LaRenna remembered her surroundings. She took a slow breath and rolled back to warm against her brother only to find him gone. “Trazar?” He didn’t reply. Easing up, she quickly silenced her fears and crept to the open window, stopping when a familiar shape caught her eye.

It was Cance’s inhaler, conveniently within reach. She picked it up and held it before her face. One puff and her pain would be bearable. The reaction would be better this time. Her system had acclimated and she would be able to enjoy the full effect. One hit, that was all. It would calm her, soothe away the agony. She’d never let it get to the addictive level of her attackers. Just one.

Go ahead, my beauty. Numb away the hurt. Cance’s echoing whisper knotted LaRenna’s insides. One won’t hurt. Go on. You need it and so do I.

“No!” LaRenna tossed the inhaler outside. Cance’s specter faded along with it but didn’t disappear entirely. She still held a place in the darkest corner of LaRenna’s subconscious. “No dead procker is going to run my life! Get outta my head!” She shook off a chill then leaned out of the launch in search of her brother, desperate for his presence. “Trazar?”

“Just a minute.” He had slid out and to the rear of the craft to relieve himself, hoping to return to her side before she awoke. He had wanted to spare her the fear he now detected in her voice. “You okay?”

LaRenna glanced at the inhaler. It lay in a puddle, contents leaking harmlessly into the ground. “My leg feels huge.”

Trazar trotted over as he retied his waist lacings. In a single fluid movement, he scooped her out of the launch. “Best get you out of there, little sis. By Talmshone’s odor, he’s dead.”

LaRenna crinkled her nose as she became aware of the stench. Trazar laughed at her expression then held her up to view the crash site.

The launch had smashed into the canyon’s rock face and tumbled end-over-end until it had reached a flat area near the sandy bottom. The stream of the night before was now a raging river of mud and debris. “We were lucky to have survived. Your faithful Mother was watching over us yesterday.”

“About time she took a moment for me. My belief was wearing thin.” LaRenna held on to Trazar’s tunic as he settled her onto a long metal panel. “Think they’ll have trouble finding us down here?”

“Doesn’t matter. We can’t stay.” Trazar pointed toward the churning waters, the surrounding area, then the sky. “We crashed onto a wet weather riverbed. Look at those clouds. It’s going to rain again.”

“I know. The storm scent is stronger than Talmshone’s.”

“Another soaking like last night’s and this entire canyon floor will be underwater.” Trazar checked her bandages and loosened the strips securing the brace. He said nothing of the red marks stretching up her leg. “How are your rib bindings?”

“Better than my bladder.” She moaned. “Could you help me find a place I can balance before I explode? The water sound is almost too much.”

“Why didn’t you say something earlier?” Trazar gathered her in his arms and carried her to the launch’s rear. There she balanced on one leg, a disgusted and almost jealous look on her face.

“Sometimes I think life would be easier if Taelachs were physically male.”

“Then you wouldn’t be my sister.” Trazar turned politely away. “Besides, you are what you are for a reason.” He ducked into the launch to gather their supplies. “Call me when you’re through.” Trazar pulled the Iralian’s cloak free of his body and bundled a few things into it, his hand throbbing with every stretch of his fingers. The cut should have received a few stitches but would heal decently enough without them.

“Is there a clean rag about?” called LaRenna. Trazar opened the bundle and removed the remaining piece of Talmshone’s trouser leg for her use.

“Here you go.” He backed toward her, his arm extended behind. LaRenna thanked him and swiftly tended to her personal needs.

“Don’t go. I’m almost finished.” She pulled the nightshirt straight and hobbled over to him, grabbing his shoulder for support. “I’m ready.”

“No you’re not. We can’t have you barefoot in the mud.” A drizzle began to fall as Trazar carried her back to the metal sheet. He set her gently down then scrambled to the shrubs at the water’s edge before Cance’s remains washed away. Her took her belt, bow, and boots, tucking them under his arm as he returned to his sister’s side.

“They’ll be big but they should keep