Chapter 23-1
991 Words
Chapter Twenty-Three
“She and the boy were here,” Dagger said, glancing at the skid in the back of the cave.
“I know they were here,” Saber said in aggravation. “What I want to know is why she and the boy are not still here or why she left the skid.”
Ace glanced over. “The skid still has power, so that wasn’t the reason,” he added.
Hunter knelt near the entrance. “She wasn’t alone,” he said, rising up and looking at the other prints. “There were at least three others here.”
Saber walked over to where Hunter was standing. He glanced down, following the same tracks as Hunter. He knelt beside Hunter, wincing when his leg protested. His fingers traced one footprint.
“It belongs to a female,” he said. “Look at the size and stride.”
He rose, grimacing when he staggered slightly. He shook his head when Hunter reached out to him. Glancing around, he saw the remains of a small fire and the tarp he had given her to keep warm.
“I don’t think she left on her own. She wouldn’t have left this,” Razor said, holding up Taylor’s notebook.
Saber walked over to Razor and held his hand out for the notebook. His fingers wrapped around the strange writing pad with Taylor’s doodles all over it. She had several of them and she liked to carry at least one with her at all times. He remembered giving her a set for her birthday. He had begged Jag pick some up from her world and ship them to him.
He caressed the cover before opening it to where the pen was stuck. Over the last five years, he had learned to read Taylor’s language. It had helped to pass the time and he found the flow of language unusual. He frowned as he read what she had written. A soft chuckle escaped him. She hadn’t been lying when she said she had been making a list of things he would have to do to get back in her good graces.
“What is it?” Dagger asked, peering over his shoulder with a frown.
Saber grinned. “She likes being on top,” he replied without thinking.
Dagger chuckled. “So does Jordan,” he retorted in amusement. “It leaves my hands free.”
Saber’s grin turned to a scowl when Hunter ripped the notebook out of his hands and scanned the page. He tried to snatch it back, but Hunter jerked it away. A snarl escaped him when Hunter continued reading it.
“That’s private,” Saber snapped, finally retrieving the notebook.
Hunter’s gaze locked on Saber’s face. “You will either claim her as your Amate or I will forbid you from seeing her again,” he growled.
“Forbid me! I have already claimed her as mine,” Saber ground out, stepping closer to Hunter and glaring at him.
“It is not official until she wears your mark,” Hunter replied in a hard voice. “She is still under my protection until then.”
The fingers on Saber’s left hand tightened around the writing pad as he resisted the urge to plant it in the middle of Hunter’s face. Instead, he leaned his rifle against his leg so he could pull his shirt open far enough to slide the notebook inside. Refastening his shirt, he reached for his rifle once again before glaring at Trig.
“We need to track where they were taken,” he snapped.
Trig nodded. “Fortunately, the sensors don’t run more than a few meters inside the canyon. We can spread out. The fresh sand will work in our favor.”
“I don’t think so,” Ace murmured, nodding toward the entrance.
An expletive escaped Saber when he turned and saw the dark shapes of several figures standing just outside the opening, their weapons trained on the entrance to the cave. Shouldering his weapon, he watched as a figure stepped into the entrance. He couldn’t see the face of the person, but the figure was clearly that of a woman.
Her hands rose and she slowly removed her helmet to stare at each of the men. She raised her eyebrow at the weapons aimed at her. Her gaze moved from one to the other before she finally spoke.
“Which one of you is called Saber?” she asked.
A frown creased Saber’s brow. “I am. Who are you?” he asked, not lowering his weapon.
The female’s gaze locked on his face. “I am Maridi. Where is the other Trivator?” she asked with a frown. “PT Taylor said there were seven of you.”
Saber lowered his weapon and took a step forward. “Dead,” he replied. “He was killed by a Drethulan several kilometers from here.”
The woman’s mouth tightened and she nodded. “They are nasty creatures. I hope you eliminated all of them,” she hissed.
“We did,” Hunter replied.
Maridi nodded. “Very good. Follow me,” she ordered, replacing her helmet and turning on her heel.
“Where?” Saber demanded, glancing out the door at the others with Maridi.
Maridi glanced over her shoulder. A wave of frustration swept through him that he couldn’t see her eyes. His hand tightened on his weapon as he waited.
“To where PT Taylor is,” Maridi replied before walking out.
Saber glanced at Dagger and Trig as they stepped closer, their weapons still at the ready. He saw the wary expression on their faces. This entire mission had been rather unorthodox.
“How the hell did they know we were here?” Trig asked. “I know we didn’t break the beam.”
“I don’t know, but I plan to find out,” Saber muttered, turning his gaze back to Razor and Hunter. “What do you think?” he asked.
“I think we are about to find out what is really going on,” Razor said with a grim expression.
Saber nodded and drew in a deep breath before he stepped out into the bright sunlight where Maridi was waiting. Unease filled him as more guards filed in behind them. He had to hand it to Taylor. If there was trouble to be found, she would not only find it, she would jump into it feet first.
I think I will be using those ties she wanted on her, Saber thought as he broke into an uneven jog.
- Writer
