A Girl From Nowhere (The Firewall Trilogy #1) - James Maxwell Page 0,26

spoke first.

“Now I have a question for you,” she said. “What were you thinking when you saved us? Was it just about vengeance?”

Taimin’s brow furrowed. “Of course not. I saw you and I knew you were in danger.”

“Then why didn’t you come up to us right away? You didn’t call out or wave. It was almost like we weren’t there.”

She was deadly serious, and Taimin wondered what he could say that wouldn’t sound foolish. “In truth . . .” He hesitated. “I haven’t met many people.”

Her expression changed as she smiled. “You were shy? After what you just did, you were afraid of talking to some people you didn’t know?”

He knew his face had reddened, but a gruff shout forestalled any reply. He saw Lars trying to get his attention.

“Lad,” Lars called. The big skinner nodded at the stick-thin figure in front of him. “We’re going to be here for a while, but I’ve learned there’s a spring nearby.” He indicated a broken cliff perhaps a mile away. “Best if the two of you go together.” Taimin was initially surprised that Lars would be willing to let him and Selena out of his sight, but then the skinner spoke again. “Leave your packs here.” He gave a dark-eyed smile. “You don’t need the extra weight.” He glanced at Griff. “Also . . . you don’t have far to go. The wherry stays too.”

6

“Wait,” Taimin said. “I don’t think I can do this.”

Selena was already poised to gather speed and jump over the narrow crevasse that stretched in both directions. Taimin could see no way around it. She cast him a look of surprise, but then glanced at his leg.

He flushed with shame. If he had a plank or a log he could cross the gap with little trouble, but if his only option was to jump . . . He knew he would never make it across.

The terrain was rocky, stretching all the way to the broken cliff in the distance. Just fifty paces past the crevasse, a dark shadow carved an even bigger gouge in the landscape up ahead. Lars had said they would find the spring at the bottom of this wider, deeper gully.

The problem was that the crevasse made a barrier Taimin couldn’t get past.

As he pondered, he heard a rush of footsteps and his gaze shot to the side. He heard Selena grunt just as she launched her slender body from the edge of the thin gap. She sailed through the air to land squarely on the other side.

Once she was across, she moved so that she was facing him. “Throw me the water sacks,” she said, holding out her arms, ready to catch.

“And then what?” Taimin frowned.

“What do you mean?” she asked, puzzled. “I’ll find the spring.”

Taimin shook his head. “No.” He looked her up and down. “Do you even have a weapon? Why didn’t you bring that dagger?”

“Taimin,” she said, lifting her chin. “I’ll be fine. If I see anything down there I can run straight back, and you’ll be here waiting.” She nodded toward the gully, where a far more gentle descent beckoned. “The sooner I get down there, the better.”

He wished he could give her his knife but it was in his pack, which was on the ground near Lars’s feet. “Can you use a bow?”

“No,” she said. “Come on. Throw me the sacks.”

He reluctantly tossed her the first leather bladder, which she caught easily, before he followed with the second. But he was still troubled by her heading off alone, where he couldn’t help her if there was danger. He had an idea.

“Selena, wait.” He glanced over his shoulder to look back at the hill. “I’ll go and fetch Lars—”

A crease of irritation formed on her brow. “Taimin,” she interrupted. “I’m going.”

Taimin felt helpless. He stared into her eyes and put strength into his voice. “Don’t be foolish—”

Her mouth twisted. “I’ve managed to survive for a long time before you came along. I’m dirty and I’m tired. We need water. Lars is busy. You can’t stop me.”

He scowled at her, but already she was heading toward the gully. Her long black hair trailed behind her, blown by the wind. She lost height as she descended, and then all of a sudden the landscape was empty, and Taimin was alone.

He began to pace, following the edge of the crevasse that looked so narrow any child could jump it, but was much too wide for him. He imagined Selena clambering down the rock