The Courier’s Collection

Chapter 20

20

Jak stood in front of Rasha with hurt etched across his face. She looked down at the ground as she tried to think of something to say. Something that made how she’d left him behind okay, or at least forgivable. She couldn’t think of anything.

“You left,” he whispered.

“A courier delivers,” she replied.

“Don’t.” Jak took a step forward and Rasha took a step back.

“You kissed me and then you left.”

“I didn’t kiss you. You kissed me,” Rasha retorted. She looked over to see if Lu and Chiza had overheard them. They were deep in their own conversation. She took several steps away from the cave.

“You kissed me and then left without returning to your room. If you had, you’d have been there when we had to run.”

“Look, I know everything is a little complicated, but I thought—” Jak ran a hand over his face. “I told you why I was following you. Why didn’t you let me in on the plan?”

“I didn’t sit down for tea and sandwiches and go over my ideas with you. I saw the place surrounded, and I had to make a run for it. You were nowhere in sight.”

Jak raised a hand to stop her.

“I didn’t come here to argue the point. I want you to understand that, despite my pumseed behavior, I’m here for you. You can trust me.”

Rasha heard the words, but she watched his face. When he said the last line he looked up at the sky. He was still lying about something. She didn’t know what it was, but she’d learned how to read deceptive body language and his was screaming at her. But when he looked at her with that hunger, he was being sincere. It was there again, in his stormy blue eyes.

Rasha’s instincts were screaming. She should run, she shouldn’t trust him. But the passion in his eyes, his feelings for her, were real. He was telling the truth about that. He stepped closer and his arms enveloped her before she could think. His mouth found hers, but this time their breathless kisses were warm and soft. Neither noticed the rain that fell around them. The droplets pattered their faces, but neither let go. Rasha didn’t realize that her hands were gripping him until he pulled back.

He looked at her smugly. The look she hated.

“Wow, that wasn’t just me kissing you that time.”

Embarrassed, Rasha let go and started back toward the cave.

“Wait, I’m being a fool again. I’m sorry. Listen, I didn’t come just because I had to, but because I wanted to. Do you at least believe that?” His eyes searched hers while hers searched his.

Not taking her eyes off of him she said, “Yes.”

His shoulders dropped and his arms fell to his sides.

“Good, now let’s get you something to eat. You look hungry.” Jak had the audacity to reach out and grab her by the waist.

Rasha slapped his hand away and took a swing, but missed his head—he was ready for her.

Jak was laughing now, and he tried to put an arm around her shoulders but she shook him off before Lu and Chiza could see. She didn’t know what they were yet, but she wasn’t ready to declare it.

Rasha and Jak were both wet from the rain. Lu had set up a place for them to hang their cloaks to dry. He and Chiza had already gotten out of their wet clothes and were warming by the fire. She and Jak did the same. The smell of the cooking meat reached her and her stomach groaned in complaint. She’d gone without food the night before. That must have been the reason for her spinning head and racing heart.

Jak sat next to her by the fire. Chiza looked ready to curl up in Lu’s lap. The two looked adorable together. What was she thinking? No, they couldn’t be together and seeing them reminded her that it jeopardized their mission and the reinstatement of their licenses. She needed to say something. Jak grabbed her leg and shook his head before she could stand.

What did he mean, no? Didn’t he understand what losing their licenses would mean? No, he’d already lost his own license. Rasha gave him a hard stare and sat back down. Chiza fell asleep with Lu as her pillow.

“I’ll take the first watch,” Jak offered.

Rasha gave him a nod and positioned herself two feet from the fire and watched him. He crossed his legs and closed his eyes as if he were in deep prayer. Perhaps he was meditating or just listening for any sounds. He must have felt her gaze, because his eyes opened and he smiled when he caught her staring at him. She didn’t blink, but she yawned and looked at the fire. She woke up to a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“I’m tired. Can you take over?” Jak whispered. His eyes were drooping. He still looked wet.

She reached out and touched his shoulders.

“I went scouting our location to make sure I wasn’t followed. I need to rest.”

“Yes, it’s fine, I’m awake.” She sat up to prove it.

She relinquished her place to him and hung his cloak so it could dry. The fire was low and they would need more wood if they wanted to make it until morning without getting too cold. Her blood was thick enough, but the princess had snuggled close Lu to keep warm and Temi lay curled up in a ball beside them.

Rasha couldn’t stop thinking about how much things had changed since they’d picked up Chiza. They’d picked up a tracker and several groups that her father hired trying to bring her home again. Central claimed the delivery was void after losing their courier positions. But there was no record of a new fetch and delivery being created.

Rasha also wondered why the king of Sidoa would risk his daughter’s life by sending so many illegals after his daughter? Didn’t he know many of the couriers he’d contacted worked in less-than-reputable channels? Her own contact to this job had been Poobari, a jailer with a well-known criminal history.

What motive could her father have for making such careless choices for his only daughter? There was something about it all that bothered her. Her brain hurt trying to figure out the strange puzzle. She wasn’t used to knowing this much about a fetch and delivery of a package. But this wasn’t a normal package, this was a person. By law, upon discovery the sender should be fined, but instead they’d sanctioned the couriers. The system at Central might have been having an off day, but she doubted it. Rasha would ask Lu to tug on his connection to Poobari. Maybe they could find out more about who was behind this.

Rasha was cooking meat for breakfast by the time the others woke. Temi had been sitting at her side the moment she started. Jak was the last to wake up as he’d been up most of the night. Lu set up his equipment and contacted Poobari.

“Well, I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon, Greenie. How’d that fetch and delivery go?”

“That’s why I’m contacting you, and I think you know why.”

“I don’t have the slightest idea, but I’m sure you’re about to tell me, so let me sit down and have a listen.” Poobari rearranged his bulk and sat down in the chair just behind him. “What’s the news?”

“I was hoping you could tell me. It appears we’re not the only ones hired for this fetch and delivery.”

Poobari put up his hands in a shrug.

“You went through the proper channels. I don’t know how Central handles their business, but I’m sure they’ve got computers and machines making sure that kind of thing doesn’t happen.” He had the audacity to wiggle his eyebrows.

“We don’t—” Lu began before Rasha snatched the communicator from his hands.

Rasha looked into the camera and waited for Poobari to acknowledge her.

“Rash, love, I haven’t seen you in ages. How are you?”

“I’d be better if there weren’t a bunch of mukes chasing after my fetch. Who hired them?”

“I don’t know what you mean. I haven’t got a thing to do with them.” Poobari’s chins quivered with denial. His eyes, however, shifted to the left.

“Do you remember the last time I caught you in a lie?”

“I wouldn’t lie to you, love. I swear I don’t know why there are so many chasing after one little princess.”

Rasha waited for Poobari to catch his own mistake but the pumseed wasn’t that bright.

“I never mentioned that the fetch was a princess.” Poobari’s pale skin turned a bright red. “Here’s what’s going to happen next. You’ll tell me who hired those other men and everything thing you know about this thing or I will fetch you and with the help of my friends, Cutter and Blade, deliver you to the Universal’s front door.”

Poobari looked around the room.

“I ain’t supposed to say a word about it. I can’t, you see. If I do, there are worse things than dying by your swords, little girl.” He looked from left to right as if he expected someone would interrupt him at any moment.

“The king hired those men.”

“Which king?”

“The King of Sidoa.” The communication cut off, and the screen went transparent.

“What happened?” Rasha said, holding out the communicator to Lu.

Chiza’s eyes were wide with shock.

“One lying jailer isn’t to be trusted,” Rasha said, moving to sit next to her. “It explains nothing.”

“Could it be true? Could my father be responsible for the men chasing us?”

“To be honest with you, I’m not sure.” Rasha placed a hand on Chiza’s back as the young woman wept. “Look, this is bigger than any of us suspected. We’ll figure out the details of what happened, and we won’t give up. You’ll get your prince and I’ll be a licensed courier again.”

Chiza wiped her eyes and nodded. Rasha wasn’t as sure as she sounded, but one way or the other, they would get answers.

“Let’s go,” Rasha announced.

“What about Jak?”

“Where is he?”

“I don’t know, he was here a moment ago.”

Rasha groaned as she stormed off into the woods to look for their tracker.