Ar'Tok - Alana Khan Page 0,56

the passage. I haven't heard a peep from her for long minimas. I assume she passed out from the pain, but I see no choice other than to keep laboring upward.

“Star!” I call.

No answer. This is probably for the best; scraping against the unforgiving rock won’t hurt her until she regains consciousness.

I press my back, now unprotected by the slicker, hard against the rock. Every bit of pain my back absorbs as I press with all my might, ensures a bit less pressure my Star will have to endure.

My cirr have a strong grip on her. Some of the thin strands have a stranglehold on her hair, the thicker strands are twined under her arms as if her life depends on it. It does.

My feet edge us upward and my hands grab and pull and finally manage to grip the top of the chute.

Using all my upper body strength, I pull us out of the chute and heave myself on my back, taking care to put no pressure on Star. I allow myself a few modicums to lie here, my breath heaving, and my arm and leg muscles quivering from exertion.

The moment I catch my breath, I ease to my feet and carry her outside to inspect her in the fading light.

Dear Gods! Even though she’s still strapped tightly to me, I can see her right thigh is bent all wrong. Did she just make that journey up thirty fiertos being tugged and pulled and thrown around like a child’s doll? And without a word of complaint? If I didn’t love her before this moment, I surely would now.

“The last grinton has long gone, Star,” I say although I assume she’s still unconscious.

She moans and her eyes flicker open.

“How’s your pain, love?” I peer down at her head on my pec.

“Can you get us down the mountain?” she asks, evading my question.

I check my comm and then hers—still no signal. “Do you think Ergonn will follow through with his threat to kill us all if you don’t show up tonight?”

“You were there,” she whispers through gritted teeth. “What do you think?”

“I’ll get you there. On time.” I vow.

I double-check the ties binding us together, then begin our descent.

Although most of the travelers we saw today took the grinton, there were a few who struck off on cleared paths. I find a trail and increase my pace to a jog even though I know that every footfall makes a concussion, and every concussion must rub bone on bone for Star.

“Should I slow down?” I ask, even as I speed up. Not only am I racing against breaking Ergonn’s edict, I’m racing against the setting sun.

“No. Keep going,” she urges.

I hear voices up ahead, and see two males traveling the path. They look well up to the task of the hike with proper footwear, coats, and backpacks.

“Help!” I call to them.

They’re reptilian. Most reptilian races aren't known for their compassion and altruism, but these two respond immediately to my call.

“Ho!” they say.

“My female fell thirty fiertos. I believe she has a broken leg. We must get down quickly. Can you call our friends to meet us at the bottom of the mountain?” I slow to a walk, and they follow me as I keep going.

“Halt!” The elder says. He has gray whiskers sprouting in odd places from his jowls. “Stop.” He opens his backpack, pulls out a thin silver warming blanket, and wraps it gently around Star.

“Thanks,” she whispers.

He tips a water flask to her lips, then offers, “I have painkillers.”

“Yes.” I say as Star says, “No.”

“Ergonn needs you there at 1900, it doesn’t matter if you’re out of it. As long as you’re there you fulfilled his demand. If he has to wait a few hoaras for you to be sober enough to do your work, so be it,” I tell her

“Okay.” She nods.

“Tell me what these are,” I say. “Our doctor will need to know.”

“Here,” he tosses me the bottle of pills. “Tell me how to comm your friends. We’ll run ahead of you, comm’ing every few minimas until we get a signal and reach them. They’ll be waiting for you at the trailhead.”

“I don’t know how to thank you,” I call after them as they run down the path ahead of us.

There are narrow rocky patches where I’m forced to slow to a walk, and a few spots where I have to traverse with hands and feet clinging to precarious ledges all the while trying to protect the precious