When Terrin released the dwarfs from the containment field, he looked like he’d aged another ten years.
“What happened?” Tristen and Snore asked in unison.
“Who was that? Why’d she look like Elurra?” Plague asked as he jostled the others.
Terrin rubbed his head, took a few deep breaths, and waited until their flood of questions died down.
“That was Anchor, the one in charge of this base. She told me how to get to Lur Alava using the transporter. We don’t have much time, and there are a few more things we need,” he said in a deadpan tone.
The dwarfs exchanged looks. It was clear something was wrong. He turned and headed toward the lockers without acknowledging their obvious concern. From behind the soundproof barrier, they’d watched him go through states of confusion, shock, dread, and reluctance during his conversation with the computer. They all wanted to know what Anchor told him, but no one felt they had the right to ask.
“See those lockers? Load their contents into one of the bags,” Terrin instructed.
Snore and Rowan obediently stepped forward and unloaded three metal boxes and five small, fabric bags from the first locker. Tristen and Plague tackled the second locker, which was full of inch-wide, square metallic packets that could be gathered by the handful. When they turned back around, Terrin was holding black coats as thin as paper, made of a silky material no one could identify. He handed each pirate one of the jackets, which they studied critically but donned as instructed.
“Terrin? Is our mission going to fail?” Tristen finally asked, breaking the heavy silence.
“What? Oh, of course our mission is going to be a success,” he assured them, although his voice sounded unconvincing and dull.
“What’s tha matter, then?” Rowan asked carefully.
“Please position yourselves in the middle of one of those glowing tiles.” Terrin pointed to the raised platform, ignoring Rowan’s question.
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Each of them gave him a searching look as they passed, but he pretended not to notice. Terrin squared his shoulders and raised his head, determination thrumming through his body.
“Anchor, engage.”
The tiles below their feet began to pulsate, and a loud humming noise filled the air. A teal light filled their vision and engulfed their bodies. Seconds later, they were standing in a snowy forest of dark pine trees in the fading Lur Alavian light. The dark jackets immediately proved their worth by creating their own heat to counteract the freezing temperatures.
“According to Anchor, we should be about three or four days’ travel from the capital,” Terrin informed them.
“Four days? We weren’t expectin’ ta do any more travelin’. What about food?” Rowan asked. Terrin gave them a disheartened look, as if their doubts had let him down.
“Come on, guys, don’t you trust me? Those silver packets are food supplements.”
To demonstrate, he tore one open and held up a small white pill.
“This little thing is like eating a full meal. It provides all the nutrition you need.”
“That thing is like eatin’ a pile o’ bacon n’ eggs?” Plague asked slowly, doubt clearly written on his face.
Snore shrugged, pulled out one of the packets, and swallowed the contents.
“Sure is faster than fixin’ dinner and washin’ dishes. Which way to tha princess?”
While Tristen, Plague, and Rowan ate their dinner, Terrin pulled out one of the metal boxes and a circular device with a moving arrow inside and alien characters around the outer rim. Snore walked over and stood beside him.
“What is that thing?”
“It's just a fancy alien compass. If I tell it where we want to go, it will point us in the right direction. It will show us the way to Tor’ac Roh.”
Snore glanced over his shoulder at their companions before he turned his head back and studied Terrin for a moment.
“What happened to ya back there, Terrin? Ya aren’t actin’ like yerself. Yer very subdued. It’s like there’s a great weight on your shoulders. You can tell us, ya know. We can help ya with it, whatever it is.”
Terrin gave him a sad smile and sighed heavily.
“Anchor told me there’s something I must do to ensure our success. I wish I could share the burden, but this is one secret I must carry on my own,” Terrin told him softly, his eyes melancholy and distant. Snore grimaced and rested his hand on Terrin’s shoulder.
“Ya know every one of us will be here for ya until the very end, don’t ya?”
Terrin’s bottom lip quivered, and to Snore’s surprise, a tears pooled in his eyes and slipped down his cheeks. Snore uttered startled apologies for whatever he’d said to upset him, but Terrin turned and withdrew a few feet away, where the others watched his shoulders shake with emotion as he silently sobbed. Finally, he regained his composure and returned to his stunned companions with a forced smile.
“We still have a few hours before sunset. Let’s get a move on.”
He uttered a command, and the compass glowed for a second before pointing east. He headed out without looking up, leaving his traveling companions worried and confused as they followed.