Jeanne G'Fellers - No Sister of Mine Jeanne G'Fellers (ereader ebook .TXT) 📖

idea,” replied Firman. “But don’t get in her way.”

“But what if she goes off the side?”

“There’s nothing on her mind right now except LaRenna. Block her path and it may be you who goes off the side.” Firman drew Tatra back by the collar. “Let her be.”

“But she’s babbling!” Tatra pulled loose and rushed forward. Firman snagged her before she had gone three steps, threw her face-first into the mud, and settled his girth across her back. She swore at him, kicking and arching as his knees forced her deeper into the muck.

“Never trust an Aut.” Firman smiled smugly down. “We’ll get you every time you turn your back.”

Tatra hurled a handful of mud over her shoulder, splattering it on his tunic. “Get off me, you moron! Krell’s almost out of sight again!”

“Moron?” Firman admonished her insult with a curt laugh. “Who’s got a dry seat?” He drew his finger across the mud then her nose, leaving a streak. “I’ve wanted to do that since I met you, you self-centered, egotistical tease.”

Tatra flailed all the more, throwing clay every direction, more landing in her own face than on him. “You’re crushing me just like you crushed my bag! GET OFF!”

“Why should I?” He flicked another glob in her face. “You’ll take off after Krell again if I do. Leave her be, Tatra. I’ve a hunch she’ll be back when she needs us.” Firman bounced a couple of times, pushing her deeper into the slop. “Yep, you’re definitely more comfortable than that rock.”

“Yeah, yeah.” After a moment Tatra ceased her thrashing and peered cautiously over her shoulder. “Firman?” she said. “You finished?”

“You going to chase Krell?”

“No.”

“Promise?”

“Firman!”

“Just making sure.” Firman took her hand and carefully lifted her from the mud. “Truce?”

“I suppose.” She flicked a clump of dirt from his chin. “You’re different than any Aut I’ve ever met.”

“Oh, we’re all alike are we?” he teased, withdrawing his grin when she scowled at him. “I’m kidding, Tatra. No, I’m not like most Auts.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into a hug. “Above all else, dear woman, I want to be your friend.”

“What if I want to go slow?”

“We go slow.”

“Really slow?”

“It’s a friendship, Tat.”

“Just the same—”

“Hush.” Firman covered her mouth with his fingers. “You’re overanalyzing.” She quieted to his request, smiled, and hugged him back.

“FIRMAN!” Krell barreled out of the fog. “I’ve found her. I’ve found her!”

“Where?” Tatra stepped away from Firman but continued to grip his warm hand.

“Thousand paces from here, about twenty or so down.”

“You can’t see that far in this soup.” Firman’s fingers closed around Tatra’s. “You sure?”

“Positive. There’s a Hiding Cave down there and someone’s burning marker lights in the mouth. Come on!”

Trazar was cleaning LaRenna’s fevered face when he heard the first skittering of pebbles in the cave entrance. He dashed to the archway where their chamber joined the main corridor and peered around the corner, dagger in hand. One, two, and then three silhouettes slid down a rope into the cave mouth. He couldn’t see them clearly against the glow of markers, but he could recognize two figures as Taelach from the reflections off their hair.

“LaRenna!” The largest of the shadows called out in a definitive Taelach drawl. Trazar sheathed his dagger and stepped out.

“She’s in here!” The figure blew by him at alarming speed followed closely by a mud-splattered second. The third approached with slower, calmer strides and extended his hand.

“I’m Firman Middle. The two whirlwinds that just blew past you are First Kimshee Krell Middle and Healer Tatra Wileyse.” Firman clasped Trazar’s shoulder. “Who did you say you were again?”

“Sentry Commander Trazar Laiman.” Trazar’s attention was fixed on those tending his sister. “You said one of them is a healer?”

“The skinny one. I’ll have her check your hand later. The other one’s been looking for LaRenna for days.”

“I know her,” replied Trazar. “First Officer Middle posted on Langus, same as I.” He watched Tatra examine LaRenna’s foot. She checked the bandages to ensure the drainage ran clear and gave Krell a satisfied nod. Then she adjusted the finger splint and began to untie the bindings on her ribcage.

“They’re broken,” called Trazar.

“I know.” Tatra glanced over her shoulder at him. “I’m loosening them to promote her breathing. Did you tend to her foot?”

“I did what I could.”

“Good work,” she replied. “You saved it from amputation.”

“What about the ankle? I didn’t know what to do about it.”

“It’s past full repair, but thanks to you she’ll still have it.” Tatra smiled sympathetically at Krell, knowing the information was painful. “A brace will help. She’ll adjust.” LaRenna’s low fluidic cough prompted Tatra to hold her ear to her chest. She listened and gave several experimental thumps but no amount of physician’s training was able to disguise the diagnosis when she looked up. “She has pneumonia.”

“Fix it,” said Krell.

“I can’t. Not here. There’s not a remedy in my pack or in a Hiding Cave’s medical stores. Taelachs just don’t get illnesses of this nature.” Tatra glanced up at Firman. “We’ll have to send one of you to the Training Grounds medical compound for what I need.”

“Can’t we carry her there?” suggested Trazar.

“No.” Krell cradled LaRenna’s head. “She wouldn’t make it off the cliffs and wouldn’t last the time it took to go for medicines. She’s dying. Tatra, for love of the Mother, please help her.”

Tatra placed her hand over Krell’s. “There’s little I can do. She’s simply too weak. Draining the fluid from her lungs might make her more comfortable, but”—she looked to Firman—“it’s out of our hands.”

“No, it’s not.” Krell couldn’t hold back her tears. “There is something I can do and you know it.”

“No!” Tatra’s eyes grew large. “It’s far too early.”

“I’ll do it with or without your help. I can’t let her slip away from me again.” Krell removed the cloth from LaRenna’s forehead. “Hold on, wren bird. I’ll be there soon.”

LaRenna’s eyes briefly fluttered in response.

“Krell?”

“Yes, I’m here. Open your eyes for me.”

LaRenna’s lids slowly parted.

“Krell.”

“There you are, wren bird.