“What is it?” Selena asked.
“I don’t know,” Taimin said. He rubbed at the stubble on his chin. “I think Lars has seen something.”
Vance came over. “Where is the old man?”
Ruth frowned at Vance. “Don’t call him that to his face.”
Taimin caught movement. Everyone fell silent.
Lars was hurrying along the base of the gully, heading toward them. His expression was worried.
“I’ve got bad news,” he said as he approached. “We’re being followed.”
Taimin involuntarily glanced over his shoulder.
“Who by?” Vance asked. “Bax?”
Lars shook his head. “No. There’s just two of them.”
If Lars was anxious, then so was Taimin. “How far away?” he asked.
“Far enough that all I can tell you is they’re tall. In truth, I don’t know what they are.”
“You’re sure they’re following?”
“Aye.”
“How can you know?” Vance asked.
Lars gave Vance a flat look. “I know.”
“If they’re tall, they might be trulls,” Ruth said.
“Or a couple of humans keen to trade,” Vance said. “We’re probably worrying about nothing.”
“Taimin?” Selena asked.
Taimin thought for a moment. “I think I should drop back and take a look. If we’re being followed by a pair of trulls, we’ll know we’re in trouble. Mantoreans or humans we can trade with.”
“Sorry, lad,” Lars said. “I hate to tell you what you already know, but you’re too slow.”
There was silence for a time. Vance stroked his moustache and looked back the way they had come. The ancient riverbed continued for miles. “I’ll do it.”
Lars snorted. “You?”
Vance scowled. “I know how to stay hidden. And I’ve no doubt I’m faster than you. I can see who they are and run back.”
“You’re a city dweller,” Lars grunted. “You’re useless out here.”
Color came to Vance’s cheeks.
“Vance,” Ruth said softly. “Maybe Lars—”
Vance’s face became even redder. “I’m going,” he said. “I can handle myself. I’ll be fine.”
“Fair enough,” Lars said. He smiled, but his eyes were dark. “I won’t try to change your mind. They’re still on the plain—when I saw them they were out in the open, barely trying to stay hidden. Remember, you only need to get a look at them.”
Taimin was worried about Vance, but he also knew he couldn’t take away his friend’s pride. He glanced up at the golden sun. “It’s going to be dark soon.” He nodded farther up the gully. “We’ll keep moving and find a safe place to wait. You’re sure you can do this?”
All eyes were on Vance. “Of course.” He nodded, but when he spoke, his voice shook slightly. “I’ll be back in no time at all.”
As soon as he couldn’t see the others anymore, Vance regretted his decision. He hadn’t realized how comforting it was to have his companions nearby. He felt alone and exposed. Anything could happen. He was walking toward danger, rather than away. It was late in the day, and the shadows cast by the tall banks on either side of him would only grow deeper. He doubted he would get lost, but he also had no desire to return in darkness.
He didn’t even know how likely that was. He hadn’t asked Lars for a better indication of how far away the two figures might be. Nor had he asked Taimin how far he planned to continue along the riverbed. There were so many unknowns. What was pursuing them, and why?
“Just get the job done,” he muttered to himself.
He lengthened his stride as he walked along the wide gully, back the way they had come. Soon he would reach its end. He set his jaw with determination. He could do this. Ruth would soon learn that he wasn’t afraid of the wasteland.
In the distance, where the dried riverbed terminated, the banks became even steeper. He kept an eye out for threats and one hand on the hilt of the short sword he wore at his hip. He was looking for humans or trulls, and could see the gully was empty. Nonetheless his gaze darted around; the lengthening shadows might hide scorpions or snakes, firehounds or sand lizards. Even the sky wasn’t without danger. Wyverns might plunge down from above. He had even heard tales of raptors tearing a man to shreds.
Deciding he had probably come far enough, he approached the steep wall. If Lars was right, and they were being pursued, he would find a good place to wait for whoever it was to come into view.
He began to climb.
The slope forced him to reach up and grab hold of the bigger rocks while he pushed with his legs and worked his body higher. He gritted his teeth and shifted his left foot from a cleft in the bank, moving it to a boulder he had just used as a handhold. Reaching out to a withered root, he immediately removed his hand and winced. He hadn’t seen the thorns.
Halfway up, loose dirt gave way and he slipped. His feet scrabbled before the sound of tumbling gravel made him freeze in place, held up only by his hands, which were both wrapped around a misshapen boulder half his size. He waited for the clatter to die away, ears pricked. Realizing he couldn’t hang on forever, he kicked out with his feet and finally found a place to wedge them.
Fortunately, the top half of the slope was home to an immense tree, living precariously on the steep incline. Brittle branches with a multitude of smaller siblings spread a network of fingerlike twigs overhead. Vance worked around its roots to reach the top of the incline.
He panted and peered over the lip of the gully. All he could see was a trio of boulders, each the size of a house. He scanned, staring across the plain. Nothing moved. He took his time and checked everywhere. Still nothing.
He knew he needed to find somewhere to hide. The big boulders were obvious candidates. One of the hulking rocks was close to the dried-up riverbed, which he needed to follow if he wanted to return to the others. He gathered himself, then left the gully completely to dash to the nearest. For a moment he was exposed while he ran. But the boulder wasn’t far. He threw himself to the ground, flattened his back against the hard surface of red rock, and tried to calm his heaving chest.
He had his back to the boulder, but if he peeked around the side, he would be able to watch the plain. Summoning his courage, he leaned out and looked.
There. He saw them right away.
His first glance was quick, but Lars had described two figures and there they were. They were dark red in color, which was odd, but it might have been a trick of the failing light. Walking with long strides, they were following the exact path Vance had taken earlier. They were certainly tall. Vance even thought he had seen horns. He knew his eyes were deceiving him. Nothing with horns walked on two legs.
What were they? Trulls? He glanced at his sword. A shiver of dread crept up his spine. He needed to identify the two figures and return to the others, so he had to wait. But no matter what, he didn’t want to get caught up in a fight.
As he listened to the sound of his own quick breathing, his pulse began to race faster and faster. He knew that time was passing. The two figures would be drawing near. But he couldn’t move. Instead, his tension grew. How fast were they traveling? He hadn’t really gained an impression. He inwardly cursed. Why did he volunteer? He needed to look again. Sweat broke out on his forehead. He gritted his teeth and told his body to move.