Whispers of the Skyborne (Devices of War Book 3) (32 page)

In the Peacock Rock command cave, Garrett’s knees bent as another explosion ripped chunks of stone and dirt from the ceiling. “Where’s Kiey?”

Shawn shook his dust-covered head. “Haven’t heard from her since she went to Rose Cavern.”

“Sir!” Jezayl burst into the small cavern and skidded to a halt, her hand on the hilt of her long blade. Her dirtied face was smeared with blood and water. “Rose Cavern has been destroyed.”

Garrett straightened, all the blood draining from his face. “Destroyed?”

Jezayl nodded, swallowing. “We saw it from the other side, sir. We don’t know how many are wounded. The digger had just been removed. More than half the Han’s men went in and then it exploded.”

Garrett closed his eyes, his heart threatening to beat again. “It sounds like we did that then.”

She shrugged. “I hope so,” she whispered. “There’s more, though. The Umira Nuru were there. They were just getting ready to attack. They’re buried.”

“The Umira Nuru, you say?” Garrett opened his eyes with the beginnings of hope. “The El’Asim. Well, if we couldn’t get the Vash, we got the second best thing.”

Jezayl frowned at him as if calling him on his mixed signals. She’d heard him rant and rave over Synn’s stupidity more than once.

But today they were desperate, and he was a valuable ally in battle.

“Spread the word.” Garrett thumped the stone table with his knuckles. “No more bombs. We can’t risk caving in any more sections unless we know we’re not also destroying our allies.”

Jezayl saluted, spun, and disappeared.

“The El’Asim?” Shawn’s face melted into relief. “I’ll spread the word.”

Garrett clapped him on the back. “You do that, and figure out what happened to our people in the Rose Cavern. And get some people to help the Umira Nuru.”

Shawn disappeared down the other tunnel.

“And find me Kiey!”

I flew low over the far side of the mountain with my metal wings, the sounds of bullets, explosions, and cries filtering through the rush of wind pouring over my ears. The rain was now a cool mist.

Something had caved in the side of the mountain. Trees lay on their sides, half covered in rocks and other trees.

All three of Haji’s plows worked to move large boulders and trees away. Eight of the twelve skitters were in the trees on the opposite side, their guns blazing brightly in the growing light. The dragoons were nowhere to be seen, neither was the shield unit. Not that he would have been able to find them anyway. Their ability to remain hidden astounded me.

The area around the hollow was clear except for the plows. I swooped over once, banked while dropping altitude and took the ground in four running steps. Tucking my wings away, I ran up to the nearest plow, shouting up at the burly man inside, “Where’s Haji?”

“He was leading, El’Asim,” he shouted back. “He was caught in the blast!”

I searched the rubble at my feet, seeing rock and vegetation, but nothing else.

A large tree limb wobbled and rolled down the side of the mountain toward me.

I stepped out of the way and moved to a location where the plows weren’t uphill from me. I scanned the debris field for any sign that my friend might be all right.

Rocks dribbled down the mountain, sliding and bouncing past me.

The plows were on either side. Their movements should not affect the earth directly above me.

I stopped, narrowing my eyes as I searched for the source.

A black-metal leg fought to find the sky. It was quickly followed by three others.

I scrambled up the mountain, pulling at the larger rocks with my hands.

A large boulder kept the skitter unit pinned in place.

I couldn’t see who was in it. I hoped. I hoped it was my best friend. My Mark lashed out with a whip of lava lightning and the boulder split in two, rolling down the mountain.

The skitter pulled itself out of the rubble and staggered to its feet. The body cover shot open and Fahd fell out of it, kneeling on the ground and kissing the dirt, his unit drooping over him.

I lowered my head and took in a deep breath. If Fahd had survived, others could have as well. I couldn’t give up. “Fahd, three others are still buried in there!” I grabbed at the rocks, my Mark halving the ones that were too big to move. “Help me find them.”

He looked up at me for a short moment, then nodded, his face serious. “He’ll be all right,
sayyd.
”

I certainly hoped so.

Neira crept through the jungle, listening intently. The whir of engines filled her ears. Their wings snapped at the leaves as they passed close to the canopy. Rose and her squad shot at the Han’s soldiers who had left the protection of the forest.

A large crabs crested the cliffs, grabbed two soldiers, and disappeared.

What had Garrett been thinking to place his people in such jeopardy?

But as she watched, two boys scaled the cliff face several hundred feet from her and ran directly toward the soldiers.

A few of the men turned toward them, their weapons lowered.

Two giant crabs scaled the cliff face, hot on the boys’ tails. They paused, their eyes rising from their heads, swiveling about as they took in their new situation. Their claws snapped at the air several times. Then they launched with a speed Neira hadn’t thought possible of something so huge.

Several of the men shot at them with their bullet guns, but the bullets didn’t even penetrate their shells.

Something to think about for later, Neira thought. For now, she and her team needed to get the Han’s men off the mountain. She tapped her right ear. “Wa-sna-win, come in.”

A brief moment later, the communication specialists easy voice came back. “Neira. Location.”

“The bay with the crabs. Call Rose off.”

An explosion filled the sky and fiery pieces of plane rained down on them.

Wa-sna-win didn’t immediately answer. She came back. “Orders issued. She’ll be close in case you need her.”

The planes buzzed low one more time. An explosion sounded to Neira’s right. The earth vibrated. Woodchips and broken branches flew at her.

“Both land eaters have been taken care of,” Wa-sna-win said brightly. “They’re all yours,
akcit
.”

Neira glanced at her team of warriors, at least the few she could actually see. Meeting Skah’s gaze, she nodded once. “Have at them.”

Skah twisted her lips into a smile, her blue eyes flat of emotion, and moved forward, her bow drawn.

I had found Jabr badly wounded, but still alive.

Mesi hadn’t been so lucky.

My heart clenched. Haji and Mesi had been the best of friends ever since they were little. I recalled being jealous of the girl more than once growing up. They had a type of bond I’d never have with him, and though we hadn’t spoken in years, I hated to see her blood drenched face and her limp body inside the crushed remains of her skitter unit.

Sounds of war drifted further away. Or lessened. I couldn’t quite tell. My search for my best friend grew more frantic as the yellow sun, Kala, rose higher in the sky, claiming dominance over Kel’mar, the great red planet that usually reigned. The storm was now nothing more than a muggy reminder that it had rained.

A boulder I severed in half shifted before I’d had a chance to move it out of the way myself.

My heart racing, I rushed over along with Jabr and Fahd. We worked to move the rubble, careful of where we stepped, not knowing if perhaps were standing directly on top of Haji.

Finally, a rear leg appeared, moving on its own.

Releasing a breath of hopeful relief, I worked my way forward, the smell of gunpowder and singed rock assaulting my nose.

The skitter unit’s head rose, clearing the rocked. The head reared back, then slumped forward, the chest plate opening as far as the rocks would allow.

Fahd gestured to Briac to bring his plow over.

Bracing the wide legs, Briac put his mechanical hands against the boulder and pulled, his four feet sliding up the mountain.

I moved to walk behind it as I couldn’t go the other way for fear of walking over my friend.

The boulder shifted.

I leapt out of the way.

It paused, then rolled down the mountain, cluttering and clanging as it broke into several pieces on its way down.

Haji opened the chest piece and stepped out, the front legs of his unit still buried in rock. He took in a great gulping breath of air, his dust laden eyes closed.

I gave him a brief inspection, saw no great amount of blood, and clasped him in a tight hug.

After a moment, his arms rose, his grip tightening as he continued to breathe.

I stepped back. “Are you all right?”

He opened his mouth to say something.

Wa-sna-win’s voice penetrated my right ear. “El’Asim, the Han are retreating.”

My eyebrows rose. “You’re joking.”

“No, sir. I am not. They are fleeing. Leader Neira says it is time to regroup.”

I lifted one corner of my gaping mouth and stared at my best friend in staggering disbelief.

“It is over?” he asked.

I grinned, fully immersing myself in the fact that we had won. This was a real battle and we had won. “Yes.”

His shoulders sagged. “Good.” He clasped my shoulder. “Then, let us gather our wounded and regroup.”