To say that the mood was as friendly as it had been, nervous excitement buoying their spirits, would have been a lie. Kotallo wasn’t sure what Naltuk had said to Ikrie the night before. It had been after dark when he’d finally found the tent they were staying in and he’d assumed they were asleep and not disturbed them. Where Ikrie had slept, Kotallo didn’t know. He did notice that, when Petra was seeing them off and making sure they had plenty of supplies, that she’d put her hand almost possessively on Ikrie’s shoulder and given her a knowing look.
There was a Charger herd just outside Chainscrape. All four hunkered down in the grasses and overrode their mounts. The Chargers made swift work of the distance between Chainscrape and Barren Light. They couldn’t ride through the Carja fortress so dismounted and led their mounts across the courtyard.
“Carja,” Kotallo looked up to see Commander Lawan gazing down at him from the highest point of the fortress, “pay respect to the one who opened the gates of Barren Light.”
Immediately all the soldiers snapped to attention. Kotallo was extremely uncomfortable but managed to give Lawan a respectful nod.
“What does that mean?” Naltuk asked in a whisper. “Sir, who are you?”
“A soldier of the Tenakth.” Kotallo said brusquely, Barren Light holding far too many memories. From his own wounding from the Carja arrows as he opened the gate and kept the metal barrier from falling, the death of his dear friend Jayko and the slaughter of marshals by Regalla…even the loss of Alaika, Arrako’s twin sister as she tried to rescue members of her squad, her body pierced with the arrows of cowards…
It was a difficult place for him to be.
It was a relief to emerge on the other side, mount his Charger and put as much distance as possible between himself and that fortress. They headed south, taking the slope that wound its way to the bottom of a sharp decline then Kotallo led them across several streams, dodging Skydrifters that dive bombed them across a landscape riddled with old world machines. Their pace was frantic and there was no time for discussion. Kotallo could only hope that the Banuk were behind him as he let the Charger have its head, following a goat trail of a path.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Only when the Skydrifters had given up the chase as a Tallneck’s shadow was cast across their bodies, did Kotallo ease off the gallop.
“Kotallo, may I speak with you?”
“Of course, Gaia.” Kotallo settled into a trot then slowed to a walk, skirting around the Tallneck and its giant, bone crushing feet. “What is it?”
“Word has reached us of some Utaru who wished to join volunteer. Could you meet and escort them to the base?”
“Certainly,” Kotallo paused, “but…don’t they know this land? The base is where their land gods went to be repaired. They know its location.”
“Zo tells me that the Utaru authority, the Chorus, have refused to send any of their people into the sacred cave. However, word of Aloy’s quest has spread and Zo has been made aware, during trade her people, of several Utaru gathered at a campfire north of Plainsong.”
“North? Why North?”
“They left Plainsong on the pretence of locating to Riverhymn, the Utaru’s most northern settlement.”
Kotallo held his hand up, drawing his Charger to a halt and let the others catch up with him. “We will head there immediately.”
“Thank you, Kotallo. I will send you the coordinates of the campfire. The one name I have to give you is Yef.”
Kotallo nodded then turned to the Banuk. “I’ve received a request to escort Utaru to the base but they are north of Plainsong.” He glanced around at them. “You are welcome to ride on to the base. If you press on, you will reach the ascent well before dusk.”
Tunk looked between Ikrie and Naltuk, the pair unwilling to look at each other.
“Tunk…stay…Kotallo…” He frowned and tapped on the display of his FOCUS. “Hide…big…group…”
“Hide big group?” Naltuk frowned.
“I know what you’re saying,” Kotallo nodded, “you believe we’ll be able to conceal the Utaru within the group.”
Tunk nodded.
“Then we go with you.” Naltuk said strongly then faltered. “I…I mean…if Ikrie…”
“I can answer for myself.” She retorted tersely. “I’ll go with you, Kotallo.”
“Very well,” Kotallo tapped his FOCUS and realigned his destination on his map, “we’ll take a route that goes around Plainsong’s immediate borders to avoid attracting any attention.” He checked the sky. “We’ll need to ride hard to get there before we’re riding in the dark. Let’s go!”