Threading the Needle (15 page)

As soon as they passed by, Reiss and Cory followed, Reiss skipping across submerged stones in the stream to track them on the far side. Cory knew little to nothing about tracking, but skill wasn't necessary. The bandits were being less cautious on their way out than in.

The sun had begun to set, casting a significant portion of the valley in shadow, when Reiss raised a hand in warning. Cory dropped immediately onto his heels, then shifted toward a split-bole tree for cover. Between the break, he watched Reiss edge forward, then sidle left and draw up behind a ridge of granite jutting up from the soil. He peered over the boulder's edge, then drew back and motioned Cory forward.

Cory skirted a stand of reeds, splashed through the stream as silently as possible, then came up behind Reiss, settling down next to him, both using the boulder as cover.

“They're camped below. Take a look.”

Cory raised his head high enough that he could see the camp. There were at least forty men in the hollow, including the group of twelve they'd been following. They'd set up tents to either side of the stream, near where the running water had formed a large pool. Based on the number of tents, Cory guessed there were at least a dozen others missing from the camp; another party like the one that had led them here. Horses were hobbled in a group east of the camp, not enough for all of those present. A firepit had been set up near a larger tent at the center, and a few men stood cooking food over the flames, another off to one side, gutting and cleaning game.

The group they'd followed broke up as soon as they reached the camp, most ducking into tents or greeting the others with backslaps or
grins. Two—a man and a woman—headed toward the main tent, pausing outside and speaking through the flap before entering.

Movement much closer to their hiding place forced Cory to drop down. Reiss gave him a questioning look and he mouthed, “Patrol.”

Reiss nodded, glanced over the boulder once, then brought a finger to his lips. He nocked an arrow, but didn't draw, leaning back into the lichen-covered stone.

Cory heard a twig snap. Ears straining, he picked out footfalls, coming closer. His hand fell to the sword strapped to his side.

The footsteps halted on the far side of the boulder. Cory glanced toward Reiss, the tracker perfectly still, head lowered, eyes squinted in concentration. He didn't appear nervous at all, merely tense. His fingers tightened to either side of the arrow, the bowstring taut. Muscles flexed in his upper arm—

And then the guard grunted and the footsteps retreated.

Cory let out the breath he'd been holding.

They waited another ten minutes, then pulled back to the stream, Reiss picking up the pace as soon as they were beyond the camp's patrols.

“Where are we going?” Cory asked as they ran through the trees, sunlight slanted through the foliage at a sharp angle overhead.

“The Hollow. Bryce needs to know they've moved into the hills.”

It was dark when they reached the outer edge of the Hollow. When they passed over the patrol line Bryce had set up after the attack on the plains and weren't challenged, Reiss broke into a half sprint, slowed only by the terrain.

The buildings of the Hollow were quiet, nearly everyone retired for the night. Candlelight glowed in a few windows—Sophia's and Logan's most notably. Figures near the barns were settling in the last of the livestock. A few dogs barked as they passed. Cory didn't see any of Bryce's Dogs, or the alpha himself anywhere.

Reiss bolted for the refugee camp, racing through the trees.

They burst from the trees to find the refugee camp as sedate as the Hollow. Men were still working on the cabins by lantern light, and Reiss headed straight for them.

“Bryce. Where is he?”

“His tent, I think.”

Reiss spun and trotted carefully through the cluster of tents, moving as fast as possible without tripping over ties and stakes.

Two of the Dogs and one of those in training huddled over a small firepit, chatting. One of them, the oldest, lurched upright as Reiss and Cory emerged from the shadows into the firelight, sword half-drawn before recognition hit.

He spat to one side, letting his blade snick back into its sheath. “Gods above, Reiss, you startled me.” He began to sit back down.

Reiss crossed the distance between them and grabbed the front of his shirt, hauling him back up. “Where's Joss, Braddon? Did he check in?”

The other two men glanced toward each other, eyebrows raised, as Braddon's hands automatically gripped Reiss' wrists. “Let go, or I'll break your wrists.”

Reiss had already released him, wresting his wrists free with a curse. He stalked toward Bryce's tent, the other two men jumping up in protest as he flung back the flap. “Bryce! Wake up, damn you. We have a problem.”

“What in hells—?”

“We have a problem!”

“Give me a second.”

Reiss let the tent flap fall back and turned again to Braddon. “No one has heard from Joss? He didn't report in?”

Braddon wiped his mouth. “We've heard nothing from Joss. You're the first to report back.”

“What about Joss?” Bryce asked as he emerged from the tent, belting his sword. He'd obviously dressed quickly, but he appeared alert.

“We ran into a group of the bandits, as you predicted. They're searching the hills. I sent Joss back to report while Cory and I followed them to their camp. He should have checked in an hour ago.”

Bryce eyed Reiss, then Cory, before turning to Braddon. “We haven't heard anything?”

“Nothing from any of the trackers.”

“Wake the others. Everyone, even the trainees. Get them geared up and ready. Have them meet in the center of the village. Send a runner to the patrols, have them pull back, tighten up. Do it as quietly as possible. If the bandits are out there, I don't want them knowing we're onto them.”

Braddon motioned toward the other two, all three of them trotting out into the darkness in different directions. Within moments, Cory could feel the nearest part of the refugee camp stirring.

Bryce focused on Reiss. “What did you see?”

“A group of twelve, out scouting. We followed them halfway up the Kipsy stream, but they turned back. We let them pass us, which is when I sent Joss back to report. Cory and I followed them to a base camp. The group had been there a while. They had tents, a campfire, hitching posts, patrols. They were settled in.”

“How many?”

“Thirty-eight.”

Bryce glanced to Cory for confirmation.

“There were signs that at least a dozen others were missing.”

“Out searching, no doubt.”

“Maybe they ran into Joss.” Cory realized Bryce and Reiss had already thought of it, were already ten steps ahead of him.

Both of them ignored the statement.

“How much time do you think we have?”

“Depends on whether they know exactly where we are.”

“If they have Joss, they know. It wouldn't take much to break him.” Bryce glanced around at the mostly sleeping camp. “Warn Sophia and Paul. Tell them to wake whoever they think can help defend us.”

Reiss acknowledged the order by vanishing into the darkness, leaving Cory with Bryce.

“What about everyone else? Should we send them to the caves?” While planning the defense of the Hollow, one of the Hollowers had mentioned caves to the northwest. They weren't easily accessible, the two main entrances covered by growth and some deadfall, but the interiors were large enough to hold everyone in the Hollow and the refugees combined, with a pool of fresh water in a deeper chamber and room for storage. After protesting that the caves had never crossed their minds, both Paul and Sophia had organized the Hollowers and started sending supplies to the caves for storage, in case they were forced to retreat to them at some point.

“We don't know enough yet. I don't want to give away the caves' location.”

A few of Bryce's chosen betas raced up, Bryce giving them orders. Cory hung back, feeling out of place, wondering where Hernande was,
as well as the other Wielders and University survivors like Sovaan and Jerrain. Someone should warn them. They might not wield weapons, but maybe they could help in the defense in other ways.

He was about to slip away when Bryce glanced up. “Cory, come with me.”

The Dog headed toward the patch of forest between the refugee camp and the center of the Hollow. Cory hustled after the Dogs' leader.

More men joined them, calling out orders in gruff voices. The refugee camp was waking up around them, the unusual movement too loud even with everyone trying to remain silent. Cory saw Sovaan crawl from a tent; he'd obviously dressed hastily. Cory tried to catch the University mentor's attention, but they passed by too quickly.

By the time they reached the edge of camp, Bryce was trailed by nearly forty men, others still fighting to get into their gear. A small crowd of the rest of the refugees had gathered behind them. Some were calling out questions, unease and panic growing.

Just before he stepped into the woods, Jerrain snagged Cory's arm.

“What's going on?”

Cory shot a look toward Bryce, but the alpha was already lost in the trees.

He grabbed Jerrain's thin shoulders. “We ran into the bandits during one of our patrols. Now Joss is missing. Bryce thinks the bandits have captured him and may be on their way here.” The last of the armed men were entering the forest. “Get Hernande. Tell him to find me at the Hollow.”

Jerrain harrumphed, but Cory stepped backward. “Get Hernande!” Then he entered the woods at a trot—fast enough to catch up to Bryce before he noticed Cory was gone.

He came out behind Logan's cabin, where the healer stood in his front doorway watching the growing crowd of men in the center of town. Claye stood beside him, one hand clutching his wounded side, the other holding a crutch tucked into his armpit. Bryce was calling out orders, men and women breaking away in pairs or groups of three, heading out toward the inner boundary of the village, one that Bryce had established after the initial attack. Nothing more than a series of stone walls the Hollowers had set up long before the Shattering, the defenses could be overrun easily with enough men. They hadn't had enough time to build them up into anything better.

Cory edged through the throng of men and women until he was close to Bryce. Sophia and Paul stood behind the alpha, looking concerned. Only then did Cory notice that many of the Hollowers had joined them, the farmers and herders mixed in with the Dogs and the other refugees.

“Braddon, take your men to the inner perimeter, northeast corner. Alex, your group's got the post west of Braddon. I've already sent Reiss and the others to the outer perimeter there, since that's the most likely direction the bandits will come from. The rest of you, split into groups of five and spread yourself around the perimeter. Concentrate on the northeastern corner, but make certain there are people on all sides, that you're not spaced too far apart.”

People began moving, conversations breaking out as they began dividing up as directed, until someone shouted over the increasing activity, “What about our families?”

Nearly everyone halted, looking back at Bryce, the concern they'd been suppressing stark on their faces.

Bryce hesitated, drew breath to answer—

But Sophia suddenly stepped forward. “Leave your families for now. Let them sleep. We aren't certain if the bandits even know where we are yet. But if there is an attack, someone will ring the bell in the meeting hall, as we planned. Your wives, husbands, and children will know to retreat to the caves then.”

Sophia fell back. Some of the men began to grumble in uncertainty, but Bryce caught their attention. “We've prepared for this. Your families know what to do. If you hear the bell, stay at your posts! We won't know how many of the bandits there are and they could be attacking at more than one location. Abandoning your post won't protect your families.”

Most of the grumbles quieted. Braddon clapped his hands together to get things moving.

Bryce stepped up to Cory. “You're with me again. Stay close this time.”

“I spoke to Jerrain—”

“I don't need to hear it. All I need is for you to follow my orders.”

Cory clamped his mouth shut.

“You're my gods-damned runner, Cory. If we do get attacked, you're to head back here and make certain the bell is rung and the rest of these people get to the caves.”

“I sent Jerrain to find the University students and mentors.”

“Why in hells would you do that?”

“Because we didn't just read books at the University. We work with the Tapestry. There's got to be something we can do besides flail around with a sword or cower in a cave!”

Bryce flicked a hand in dismissal and turned his back. Half of those gathered had already headed off into the darkness carrying torches or lanterns. Cory glanced back toward the trees and the refugee camp, but he didn't see Hernande or any of the others.