Star Rider and Bonds of Love: A Sci-Fi Space Opera with a Touch of Fantasy Heidi Skarie (fox in socks read aloud .TXT) 📖

chilled. Her poncho didn’t fully cover herlong robe and it was soaked from the ground to the middle of herthighs. Her feet were numb with cold in nothing but soaked slippers,which had holes worn completely through them in places.

She’d heard nothing more aboutCadmus and his men, nor had she see Jake again. Najetta’s cough hadworsened; she was running a fever. Toemeka knew they couldn’t keepgoing like this, with little rest and hurried, often uncooked, meals.Moreover, their food would run out before they got to Kossel if theyhad to keep hiding from Cadmus.

In the drizzly afternoon, Toemekawas walking beside Michio and Najetta when shots rang out in thewoods. A chill stabbed through her. “What’s going on?” Toemekaasked.

“A few of our soldiers areshooting at Rochambeau’s men from hidden places in the woods in anattempt to scare them off, or at least lower their numbers,” Michiosaid.

“It’s my fault,” Toemekasaid. “Cadmus wants me.”

Michio shook his head. “Don’ttake all the blame. He also wants to capture me. Samrat Condor has aprice on my head and he wants Erling dead and the Resistancedestroyed.”

“Erling’s family doesn’thave the strength to keep running.” More shots blasted the air.

“Richwood does,” Najetta saidwith a hint of pride. “He and Erling are taking a few shots atRochambeau and his men as we speak.”

“Richwood doesn’t knowanything about warfare,” Toemeka gasped. “He’ll be killed!”

“He fought in a war on Alandrawhen he was a young man,” Najetta said. “Didn’t he ever tellyou?”

“No, he never did.”

“I suppose not. He wouldn’thave wanted to frighten you with talk of war after all you’d beenthrough. All three of my children are in the Coalition and arefamiliar with war. It’s not your responsibility to protect us all,child.”

The sharp crack of gunfire washeard, off and on the rest of the afternoon, as they continued theirjourney. Toward evening, it started raining heavily and Toemeka tooka shift helping Najetta walk.

Eventually, Jake appeared out ofthe gloom and ordered the group to look for a place to stop for thenight.

“Is it safe to stop withCadmus’ men so close?” Michio asked.

“He and his men already set upcamp. This downpour stopped them temporarily. I just hope it doesn’tturn into snow. We’ll risk lighting fires tonight to dry everythingout. I’ll post double-guards in camp and send out several scouts.You have the first shift in camp, Michio. I didn’t think you’dwant to scout and leave Toemeka unprotected with Rochambeau soclose.”

“You’re right; I don’t wantto leave her.”

“I’ll take a shift,”Toemeka said.

Michio and Jake both spoke at thesame time. Michio with a simple “No!” while Jake elaborated bysaying, “It’s too dangerous, if Commander Rochambeau can traceyou as you say he can. You’re responsible for Najetta. Put up atent and get her out of this rain. I don’t want her slowing us downeven more by getting worse.”

“I can guard camp with Michio.”Toemeka’s teeth chattered with cold as she crossed her arms infront of her for warmth.

“You’ll take orders, justlike everyone else.”

“What about Breezy and Sharma?”Najetta asked.

“They’ll take shifts guardingthe camp,” Jake replied.

“What happened in scrimmagetoday? Were you able to kill any of Rochambeau’s men?” Michioasked.

Jake’s expression became grim.“We killed a few, but at a high cost. Three of our soldiers werekilled, Lizet, Felix and Ace.” Jake walked away to supervise thecamp defense.

Toemeka stared into the woods,thinking of the soldiers who’d died.

“Don’t blame yourself,”Michio said, picking up on her thoughts. “It’s easy to follow thetrail of twenty-five people. You’ve been successfully blockingCadmus’ mind probes.”

“He wouldn’t go to all thiseffort if it was just for a few guerilla soldiers, hiding in thewilderness, and a family of escaped prisoners who did nothing.”

“He’s under pressure fromSamrat Condor to destroy the Resistance.”

“No, it’s personal forCadmus. He’s obsessed with me.”

“He won’t recapture you. I’llprotect you.”

They went over to where camp wasbeing set up. Toemeka led Najetta to a place that was fairly dryunder a large pine tree while Michio gathered wood, twigs and birchbark. It proved difficult to get a fire started with everything wet,but finally Michio was able to get a small blaze going. The raincontinued pouring down, but the fire was sheltered by the large pinebranches. Najetta began coughing again, her cheeks bright red withfever.

Michio left the fire to help setup the tents and get their sleeping bags organized. Too exhausted tohelp him, Toemeka huddled close to the fire to get warm. Thetemperature had dropped significantly as they climbed higher into themountains.

“How are you doing?” Toemekaasked Najetta.

“I’m too old for this.” Shestarted coughing again. When the coughing spell passed, there wasblood on her handkerchief.

Toemeka couldn’t stand watchingher suffer. “You need medical attention.”

“I’ll be all right. Erling’scome all this way from Borko for us. He’ll get us safely off thisplanet and I’ll get the help I need.” Motherly pride tingedNajetta’s voice. “Even as a child he could accomplish whatever heset out to do.” Najetta embraced Toemeka. “You’ve been throughso much, dear one. You should be at home with your baby, instead ofin the wilderness being hunted by that manic.”

Toemeka hugged her back, herheart hurting at the mention of her child. “Missing Baymond is thehardest part of all this. If everything had gone as planned we’d behome by now. I didn’t think I’d be separated from him for solong.” Tears sprang to her eyes. “I didn’t want Michio to comebecause I didn’t want both of us risking our lives. If we both die,Baymond will be an orphan.”

“Neither of you are going todie. That husband of yours is no ordinary man and can protect youfrom Cadmus’ powers. You’re fortunate to have a husband thatloves you as much as he does.”

Najetta pulled away and coughedagain. “I’m looking forward to holding Baymond. He’ll be agrandson to me. Who is taking care of him while you and Michio are onAlandra?”

“Koriann. She loves him as ifhe were her own child.” Toemeka put another branch on the fire.

“I’m surprised she has timewith a kingdom to rule. I’d like to meet this queen someday. Erlingwould only marry someone truly special,” Najetta said.

“She is special. I hopeBaymond’s not too much of a burden for her. Especially since she’spregnant and hasn’t been feeling well.”

“I didn’t mean to