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“I’d say forty-fifty yards or so,” he guessed.
“Then we can get relatively close,” Del mused, and I could hear the relief in her voice. It was slight, but it was there nonetheless.
As soon as Sid’s mind blinked to nothing, I knew we were near the slavers. Even Tick and I were out of cerebral contact, which felt strange since she was trotting alongside us.
“This is it,” I told them, slowing as I peered through the break in the trees. Everyone came to a stop behind me as we caught our breaths.
A shrubby meadow spread out around an old church in the distance, stone ruins from long before the Turn. But it wasn’t the crumbling white church that held my attention. At first, it was the two men on the opposite side of the churchyard patrolling the old road. Then, it was the additional wagons and all the horses tied up in the field.
“Looks like our slavers were meeting some friends,” Callon muttered.
Del grabbed my hand, her arm brushing mine as she came in close beside me, her focus on the cages. “I don’t see him,” she whispered in a panic.
“I don’t either, but he’s there,” I reassured her.
There were four wagon cages, and from this angle, it was difficult to tell how many and who were in each.
Callon stiffened. “Are those—”
“Ferals,” I said, gritting my teeth. It was a much larger operation than I’d hoped it would be.
“Over there—” Ada pointed to an old mausoleum that was little more than rubble. “We should get closer.”
I squeezed Del’s hand, and we hurried along the tree line, stopping between shadows and sporadic redwoods, edging our way closer to the churchyard. It was noon, and the sun was high in the sky and hot on my face as we dashed through the clearing as fast as we could, racing toward the crypt.
The closer we got, the more the cage bars glinted in the sun, blinding us as we crouched behind a pile of granite stone. There were heaps of church rubble littered around the premises as well. The slavers had done some cleaning, which meant they used the outpost often...Which also meant they knew it inside and out, and they were likely prepared for just about anything.
Inhaling a deep breath, I glanced at Del and then at Callon and Ada. All of us braced ourselves as we peeked over the rubble, uncertain of what sort of state we would find our friends.
Del gasped. Her hands flew to her mouth the instant she saw Liam inside one of the other cages, wrapped protectively in Hills’s arms. “Fin—”
“I know,” I breathed, bracing her shoulder. I squeezed reassuringly, but my heart stopped and stuttered, equal parts relieved to see Liam and enraged that he was in a cage like an animal.As much as I wanted to hate myself at that moment for allowing something like this to happen to my son, the tracker in me—the logical part of my brain—knew we would not be able to get him out if we were in the cage with him.
His eyes were closed, and I couldn’t tell if he was crying or unconscious, possibly just lethargic from the gas. Zion, Lyra, Hills, and Liam were in one wagon, while Saira and Farris were in the other. Either way, our people were all partially dressed, having been stirred so early in the morning, and baking in the hot sun; their skin glistened with sweat. I knew the slavers wouldn’t leave their captives outside in the afternoon heat for very long. Not if they needed them healthy for purchase. We didn’t have much time.
Crouching down again, I slung the pack off my back and pulled out the folded mylar blanket. “The guards could loop back this way any moment,” I muttered. I glanced around, wishing I could use Tick’s senses to see where they were. “We don’t have much time.” The foil-like material rustled as I shoved it under my shirt. I didn’t want it glinting in the sunlight, catching the attention of anyone who might be watching.
I looked at Del and Ada. “You have your guns,” I told them. “Use them if you have to.” The weapons we left camp with were all we had since the slavers had pilfered everything.
“You should take one of the pistols,” Del said, grabbing the hilt of her gun.
I shook my head. “I have my shotgun and my knives.”
“Fin, a pistol is easier—”
“I won’t leave you with a giant shotgun to lug around if you have to run,” I told her, refusing to argue about it. I glanced at Ada. She dipped her head as if swearing that, whatever happened, she would keep Del safe.
I looked at all of them. “I doubt there are two devices. They don’t need one for the Ferals.”
“Still,” Callon said. “I’ll check the Feral wagons, just in case.” He and I took a collective breath. There was too much unknown not to be afraid of whatever came next.
“We’ve got this,” Ada said, her eyes fixed on mine. She was referring to our nulling capabilities. “It will work, Fin. Just find that device and get our people out of there.” She looked at Callon, offering him a weak smile.
Both of us nodded, knowing we couldn’t fail them—couldn’t failanyof them.
When I met Del’s gaze, she squeezed my hand so tight, I worried she might not let go. “Be careful,” she breathed as her eyes scoured mine.
I didn’t want to leave Del, but getting Liam out mattered more. “I’ll be quick,” I told her, squeezing her hand back.
