A Girl From Nowhere (The Firewall Trilogy #1) - James Maxwell Page 0,112

ally in this place.

“You said you don’t have anyone,” Selena asked. “What happened to your family?”

“We were settlers,” Ruth said. “One day my father went hunting and never came back. My mother was a healer, and when she couldn’t feed us on her own, she thought her skills might be needed in Zorn. She was right, and she entered the Protector’s service. Then my mother went out into the wasteland to find herbs . . .” She trailed off.

“What happened?”

“Thirst,” Ruth said plainly. “The city guard found her body. She ran out of water.”

With their work done, Selena faced Ruth directly. “Why didn’t you leave?”

“Where would I go? What would I do? This is the only home I have. I’m not allowed out into the city. I know too much.” Ruth stared into the distance. “I helped the Protector once. When he was sick. I have some of my mother’s skill. I know he’s not a good man, but I still did it. Was I wrong?”

“It’s what a healer does.”

“And you’re a mystic.”

“Yes,” Selena said flatly. “You heal. I kill. They make me find anyone who isn’t human. It doesn’t matter if they’re warriors or not, they all die.”

“But they’re just bax . . .”

Selena shook her head. “If you could look into a bax’s mind, see his thoughts, his memories . . . They care for their young. They love. They marry. They try to keep their families safe.”

Ruth was pensive for a moment. “I have an idea . . .” she said slowly. “I’ve been thinking about what you said. I once heard the commander mention some dissidents he was trying to track down. Rebels. There might be someone out there we could talk to.”

Selena felt a stirring of hope. “Do you have any names?”

“No.”

“How can we find out where they are?”

Ruth sighed. “I don’t know.”

Selena spoke firmly. “Then we’ll just have to see what else we can find out.”

There was silence for a time, before Ruth changed the subject. “Where are you from?”

“Nowhere, really.”

Ruth raised an eyebrow. “Nowhere?” She waited for Selena to elaborate but then shrugged. “Fair enough. Life in the wasteland is never easy.” She paused. “Do you have anyone?”

Without meaning to, Selena conjured up an image of Taimin’s face. “I . . .” She trailed off.

Ruth tilted her head. “Who did you think of, just now?”

“There is someone. A man.”

“This man,” Ruth said, giving a slight smile, “is he . . . handsome?”

“Why do you ask that?”

“Selena, it’s the way you said it. What’s his name?”

“I’ll probably never see him again.”

“So how can it hurt to tell me his name?” Ruth’s smile broadened.

“Taimin,” Selena said. “His name is Taimin. Satisfied?”

“No, I’m not satisfied,” Ruth said. She sat down on the bed. “Go on. I want to hear all about Taimin.”

31

Blixen paced the length of the subterranean cavern. His stride was angry and he muttered to himself as he walked. He was desperate to go outside for some fresh air, but he knew that leaving was the last thing he could do.

This was the largest of the caves, yet it was stifling, and he could only imagine how it felt in the others. The walls were made of a crumbling, dusty rock, and somehow everything continually became covered in yellow grit. Any fires had to be contained to the deepest sections, far from the open air. The smoke made everyone cough and stung their eyes, so most meals were cold and it was dark for much of the time. The movements of hunting parties and scout patrols were restricted to the night. Getting through the periods of daylight tested everyone’s endurance. Only when darkness came could they go outside, in small groups, to take deep breaths and stretch cramped limbs.

Blixen and his followers had taken refuge ever since the dramatic increase in the Protector’s raids. If any bax moved during the daytime, the wyverns would soon come. There was only one explanation: the Protector had a new mystic, perhaps even the human female Blixen had asked to search for his wife.

Not for the first time, he wondered why he had sent the young mystic so close to the city. He knew his wife was dead—how could she not be? The mantorean, Rei-kika, was useful, and saved many when her casting brought news of the wyverns’ approach, but she didn’t have the human girl’s power. Rei-kika’s warnings only came when a raid was imminent.

Blixen had lost weight, and was now as wide as any other bax,