Heart's Lair (8 page)

They were near the huge Viridis River where Liane had spent many happy horas along its banks searching for herbs. It would indeed cover their scent, but crossing it, if that were Karic's intent, could be dangerous. The current in the center was strong and treacherous. At this point in the river the flow rapidly quickened, before emptying over falls into a large lake. If they got out into the middle and couldn't fight its force . . .

They halted at the edge of the river's rock-strewn bank. The flowing water was already beginning to churn into waves, as its flow met with the resistance of several boulders scattered in its path. Liane swallowed a tremor of apprehension and turned toward Karic.

His rugged features were set in a mask of determination as he studied the surging water. Liane's apprehension grew to a full-fledged panic. They were going to try to cross the river.

"Can you swim?"

The unexpectedness of Karic's question made her jump. "What?"

His eyes narrowed in growing suspicion. "Can you swim?"

She shook her head.

"By the three moons . . . !" He bit down on the frustrated curse.

In his weakened condition he doubted his own ability to make it across the river, and now he also was saddled with transporting a female who couldn't swim. It seemed one obstacle after another was being thrown in his path, and he didn't know how many more he'd be able to overcome. But what choice had he? He couldn't risk capture again. Even death in the river was a preferable fate.

Karic's gaze swept over Liane. Despite everything, he hated to risk her life. If something happened to him in the river she wouldn't have a chance, not knowing how to swim, but her potential knowledge of him was a threat to his people. There was no choice, never had been. If he died, so must she.

He eyed her with a hard resolve. "I mean to cross that river. I'll not lie to you. The crossing will be difficult, even dangerous. We might not make it. I'd like to give you all the opportunity to help yourself that I can. I'll free your hands if you swear not to fight me."

The baying grew louder, the eerie wails matching the wild pounding of Liane's heart. She didn't know how to swim. Indeed, she was terrified of water, and she knew Karic spoke the truth. He might very well not have the strength necessary to get them across.

She backed away, shaking her head. "Please, no," Liane whispered imploringly. "Leave me here. Don't make me go. I'm so afraid."

He wrenched her back to him, his green-gold eyes anguished. "Don't you understand? I can't leave you, Liane. If I could, I would."

Karic gently stroked her hair, as if to soothe her, then traced a trail down the delicate curve of her cheek to the sweet hollow at the base of her throat. His touch was sad, lingering, as if to memorize for one last time the feel of her.

"Trust me," he said, a husky catch in his voice. "While there's strength left in my body no harm will come to you."

She knew he spoke truly and would do everything in his power to protect her, but that niggling little fear whispered that it still might not be enough. Liane clamped down hard on it. She would still escape him when she could, but not now.

She turned, her bound hands extended toward him. "Let us go. Now, before my courage fails me."

He quickly untied her and knotted the cord around his wrist. Liane understood the significance of this. If they survived she'd still be his prisoner, but she hadn't expected that to change. Karic's choices were as limited as hers.

The rope joining her to Karic's waist remained fastened, however. Liane understood that, too. If he died, so must she. It was the only way to protect his people. She shuddered at the thought but, in some deep corner of her heart, accepted it. Their fate had been bound, one to the other, from the moment she attempted the mind seek.

Karic clasped her tightly about the waist and began to wade out into the water. "Relax and don't fight me," he tersely instructed her. "If your head goes below the water, don't struggle. Hold your breath. I'll bring you back to the surface soon enough. Do you understand?"

She managed a tremulous smile. "Yes."

The surging waters closed around them. Liane momentarily pulled back, then forced herself to relax. Karic's hand slipped across her upper chest to support her head. He began to doggedly fight his way across the wild expanse of river.

Over the water's roar Liane faintly heard the bay of the search canus. She wondered if they'd make it across before the trackers found them. Blaster guns could easily reach them in the river.

For a time Karic made steady, if slow, progress. Gradually, however, his strength began to wane. Liane could hear the rasp of his shortened breath and feel the powerful muscles begin to strain. Her heart went out to him, but there was nothing she could do but lie as still as possible and trust him.

Water sloshed over her in great waves, choking her in spite of her best efforts not to swallow it. Panic spiraled through her. She raised her hands to shield her face, but it did no good. She thought she'd drown, even before the river dragged them down.

The force of the rapids slammed them into a boulder. Only the agile movement of Karic, twisting between her and the huge rock, saved Liane from a brutal bruising. She wondered what the impact had done to Karic's weakening body.

For a few moments he clung there, one arm gripping the slippery rock, the other clasped about her waist. His head lowered to rest against the boulder, his breath coming in gasps, his body trembling with exhaustion. She silently watched him. Finally, he glanced up, inhaled a deep breath and headed back out into the river's current.

Waves engulfed them, and they were forced beneath the water. It took all the courage Liane possessed to not flail her way back to the surface, but she dared not drain Karic's strength by forcing him to fight her. She did as he'd asked; she held her breath and trusted. And he always brought her back to the surface.

They slipped downstream, the surging power of the river relentlessly beating at Karic, hampering a straight crossing. Though the added distance cruelly debilitated him, he struggled on, his strokes becoming weaker. Soon, it was all Karic could do to keep their heads above water. "I can't make it across," he finally gasped. "We'll have to chance the falls!"

His decision came none too soon. From the far bank the sound of voices, joined by the excited wails of the search canus, reached their ears. The trackers had found them. As Karic let the churning waters drag them downstream, blaster guns were aimed and fired.

One shot narrowly missed Liane before they were safely out of range. The relief was only temporary. The roar of the falls rose to deafening intensity. In only a few moments more, they'd be going over them.

Though she knew she might die in the process, strangely enough she felt no fear. She was with Karic. He'd do all in his power to save them. There was nothing more anyone could do.

Before them the river suddenly ended. Liane briefly caught the sight of blue, cloud-strewn sky. Then they hurtled over into empty space. She clawed at Karic, attempting to cling to him, but he shoved her away. A sudden realization that his move was wise struck her. Separated, they stood a better chance of surviving.

Liane saw the advancing water. It looked hard, lethal. At the last moment she clamped her eyes shut and prayed the end would be merciful.

She hit with a force that squeezed the air out of her lungs, plunging her nearly to the bottom of the deep lake. For an instant Liane was stunned, then the instinct for survival flared, hot and strong. She struggled, fighting her way to the top, only vaguely aware her upward progress was being aided by the rope attached to her waist.

She broke the surface with an agonizing gasp, gulping in a blessed breath of air. Beside her, treading water, was Karic. He threw back his head and laughed.

"Quite a ride, wasn't it?"

Liane blinked at him in astonishment. He'd nearly gotten them killed, and all he could do was remark on the thrill of it all? She managed to shoot him a fierce glare before she sank beneath the water.

Karic pulled her back up, slipping his arm once more about her chest. "Not impressed, hmmm?" he chuckled, as he began an easy sidestroke toward the nearest bank.

Liane clamped down on a scathing retort. What was the point in berating him? They had survived. That was all that mattered.

They lay on the grassy bank for what seemed a long while, resting, unable to summon the strength to move. Finally, Karic sat up.

"Liane?"

"Yes?" she mumbled from a place buried in her arms.

"We've got to move on. They'll be looking for us soon."

She groaned and rolled over. "I don't think I have the strength."

"Well, I
know
I don't. We'll hide behind the falls until they give up searching for us."

Karic rose, tugging her up with him. "Come on. We've got to get out of sight before they see us."

Liane followed him. There was a large cave behind the falls, with several dark tunnels branching off from it. Karic surveyed the choices, then began to lead her toward the furthest one. Pools of water dotted the rocky floor, and Karic was careful to move from one to the other. He's determined to take no chances of the search canus picking up our scent if they follow us back here, Liane realized. Well, that suited her needs as well. Though she was still determined to escape, Liane had no desire for Karic to be cornered in here by the vicious tracking beasts. If that ever came to pass he'd be torn to shreds before her very eyes.

As they approached the black, gaping hole of the furthest tunnel Liane froze, unable to take another step forward. Karic quizzically glanced back.

"What's wrong, Liane?"

Wide blue eyes stared out of a face gone suddenly white. "II don't like the dark."

There was a quaver in her voice that warned Karic she was on the verge of panic. He swiftly returned to her side.

"There's nothing to be afraid of, femina," he said soothingly. "I can see quite well with only the tiniest bit of light. All you have to do is hold on to me and you'll be safe."

She shot him a tremulous little smile. "And as terrible as it seems to me, the darkness is safer than the alternative, isn't it?"

"Yes," he gently agreed.

He held out his hand. After a moment's hesitation, Liane placed hers in it. Once again, they started out.

Blackness enshrouded them, but Karic confidently strode on. She fought back against her reflexive stiffening, forcing her limbs to carry her along behind him. He
does
see in the dark, Liane thought, though the realization didn't surprise her. His admission of those powers only added further credence to what she'd already heard about the scope of the Cat Men's abilities. Finally, Karic halted, drawing her into a deepset alcove. "Stay here," he said, before seeking a foothold on the rock wall.

A tug on the rope about her waist told Liane he'd climbed upward. She moved toward him when the rope grew taut. Karic's hand touched her head.

"Give me your pack, then take my hands. I'll pull you up."

She removed her backpack and handed it to him. Grasping in the darkness, Liane found his hands. An instant later she was dangling in midair. An instant more and she was dragged up onto a ledge and on top of Karic's body.

They lay there for a while, catching their breath, then Karic rolled her over and behind him. The ledge was narrow with just enough room for the backpacks and two bodies pressed closely together. Liane was thankful the packs at least cushioned her from the stone wall.

Karic rolled over to face her. "Give me your hands."

"What do you want my"

"Give them to me, Liane!"

There was a sharp edge to his voice. Liane thrust out her hands, and he deftly bound them in front of her. She heard the sound of tearing cloth, then felt it cover her mouth and tied behind her head.

"I'm sorry to treat you so harshly," Karic's deep voice rose out of the darkness, "but I can't risk a struggle or sound from you until I know they're gone. And they'll check behind this fall. You can be sure of it."

His hands lingered on her head. Liane nodded into them, telling him, in the only way she could, that she understood. If she could have spoken, she'd have explained she'd no intention of betraying him and never had. All she wanted was her freedom. But he'd never believe her. Her quiet acquiescence of his apology was all she could give.

As the horas passed Liane dozed. Footsteps and snuffling sounds awoke her. She jerked into a muscular body, rigid with waiting. The trackers had arrived. A yellow searchlamp fanned the darkness ahead of them.

"I'm telling you," the raspy voice of one man rose from the blackness behind the light ten meters away, "they're not here. The fall from the river killed them both."

"Perhaps," came an equally gruff reply, "but I'm not giving up until I've checked out every angle. There's enough standing water in here to cover their scent from our canus, so we have to thoroughly search this area. Too much is at stake if we fail."

The other man chuckled. "Untold wealth
and
that lovely little Sententian. I've always had an itch for her."

Liane stiffened against Karic. A warning hand on the back of her head stilled further movement.