Page 110 of Wind Rider

“That’s it. Let’s go,” Mari said, and the Pack immediately started back to their boats.

“I wonder what happened to those women. Why are they like that?” Jenna asked as she helped push her boat off the beach.

Adira spoke up. “They chose security over freedom. I was wrong before to have thought that was a good trade.”

The women of the Pack nodded grimly in agreement.

After almost two weeks of practice, the launching process was quick and efficient, and soon they were skimming over the placid lake, leaving the angry, doomed Saleesh in the distance.

PRESENT DAY—TRIBE OF THE TREES

Ralina hadn’t thought she’d be able to sleep at all that night, but moving from the soggy, open ground and a makeshift fern-roofed shelter to a nest—even a nest that smelled of smoke and sadness—lulled her into the first full night of sleep she’d had in weeks. She was shocked when she woke slowly, well after dawn, snuggled with Bear, warm and safe high in the trees. For several sleepy breaths Ralina was transported back to a time before disease and Death destroyed her beloved Tribe, and she woke filled with warmth and contentment.

Then her stomach growled, waking her memory, and she sat with a sigh, rubbing her eyes as Bear stirred and then stretched before nuzzling her good morning.

Ralina hugged him, hating how many of his ribs she could feel through his thick coat. The God and his Reapers had destroyed all of the rabbit warrens, slaughtering the breeding stock for soup pots. Recently, Ralina and Bear had made the decision together that he would not eat poisoned meat. At first it had seemed as if canines were immune to the horrible skin-sloughing disease, but after a week of eating tainted game, Shepherds and Terriers were falling ill—except those whose flesh their Companions had already flayed for The Cure.

Ralina would never, ever do that.

Instead, she had been surviving by eating only berries and a stew she made from mushrooms and greens, with some wapato roots added when she managed to find time to dig for them. Ralina had also hidden a fishing line and hooks near the Channel, and as often as possible she snuck to the water and caught a few fish, which she gave to Bear.

“You know what? Let’s leave this nest and go to the Channel right now. The God will be preoccupied as soon as He discovers Dax is gone—andI don’t think He’ll want me to document the fact that a Lynx guide was so horrified by what has happened here that he broke oath and snuck away in the night.”

Bear’s bushy tail was wagging with eagerness as they made their way to the lift which would take them to the forest floor, when Hunters suddenly rushed past, heading toward the God’s tree.

“They know he’s gone,” she whispered to Bear as the lift touched down. She and her Companion were just stepping to the forest floor when Iron Fist rushed up.

“Storyteller! My Lord commands your presence!” he snapped at her before he rushed away.

She looked at Bear and sighed. “Maybe you should stay here. I’ll get away as soon as I can and we’ll forage for something to eat.”

The big Shepherd’s response was immediate. He pushed against her mind with a definitiveNoand pressed himself to her side.

Ralina patted his broad head. “I know. I hate being separated from you, too. Okay, come with me. He’s going to have to let us eat sometime.”

Walking swiftly, it took them little time to get to the God’s tree. The atmosphere was like a lightning storm. Attendants milled around—some cooking rancid-smelling meat, and others wringing their hands as if they were unsure of everything. Reapers circled the tree, looking feral as they paced. There were no Hunters or Warriors present. As had become Ralina’s new normal, she ignored Attendants and Reapers—and they parted to allow her access to the entrance to the God’s platform.

As soon as she was in His presence Ralina bowed low, and Bear took his place in the shadows behind her.

“My Lord, you sent for me?” She looked up at Death, expecting to see in Him a reflection of the chaos below, but He was sitting on his driftwood throne, gnawing on what looked like a hunk of deer meat that one of His favorite Attendants, Rabbit, held for Him, looking completely serene.

“Ah, Storyteller, there you are. Have you heard the news?” Death asked as He motioned for Ralina to sit.

“No, my Lord. I just woke. The first person I spoke with was your Blade, and he commanded I attend you.”

“It seems our Lynx guide absconded in the night.”

Ralina’s Storyteller training made it easy for her to appear surprised—after all, a great storyteller must also be a great actress.

“Oh, my Lord! That news is unexpected and hard to understand. It seemed the guide accepted your job.” She knew she shouldn’t antagonize Him, but Ralina couldn’t resist one little jab. “I have never heard of a Lynx team reneging once acceptance has been made.”

The God’s eyes narrowed, but He shrugged nonchalantly. “I sensed last night when I met him that he was inauthentic. Today I seem to be proved right. Again.”

“You are very wise, my Lord.” Ralina had learned over the past weeks that Death demanded flattery—though He pretended not to. She considered it a ridiculous charade—one more fit for a child than a leader, and especially not a God. But Death’s petulance and the small cruelties He liked to mete out like crumbs before birds were always lessened if He was well plied with meaningless compliments.

“And you are very perceptive, which is why I wished you close by me—so that you could observe and record the events of this magnificent day.”

“You don’t seem overly concerned by Dax’s absence,” she said.