Hanna and the Hitman - Honey Phillips Page 0,66
creature screeched and collapsed to the ground, but she had no time to succumb to weakness. Keeping hold of Trouble in case he decided to investigate the body, she stepped carefully over it. As soon as it was safely behind them, she let Trouble down and ran again.
A gasp of relief escaped when she reached the wide clearing where the village was located. She thought she detected the soft glow of lights deep in the jungle, but it could just as easily have been moonlight reflecting off the leaves. Still panting, she headed for where she thought Tanor’s cabin was located, but as soon as she stepped into the jungle, doubt assailed her. It looked like she was alone in the moonlight-splattered jungle.
God only knew what was happening to Aidon while she hesitated. She didn’t have time to search for his grandfather. Instead, she did the only thing that she could think to do.
“Tanor,” she called. The first cry was almost too soft to be heard, but she cleared her throat and tried again. “Tanor!”
This time her voice echoed through the jungle, and everything suddenly went still.
Her hand went back to her darts as she prayed that Aidon’s grandfather had heard her. The shadows around her seemed to shift, and she desperately tried to see any sign of a response. Then the vague, shadowy forms consolidated, and she realized she was surrounded by a group of Pardorian warriors, all of them in their true forms.
Her mouth went dry as she remembered Aidon’s words and Tanor’s warning.
“Who are you?” a voice asked. Even now she knew that they were there, they seemed to blend into the jungle, and it felt like the jungle itself was talking to her.
“I’m Hanna. Please, I need help—Aidon needs help.”
A muffled whisper echoed through the group, and then a tall figure stepped forward. Her hands shaking, she raised a dart.
“Please don’t come any closer. I don’t want to hurt anybody, but I have to speak to Tanor.”
A hand clamped down on the wrist holding the dart, and she struggled wildly.
“Easy, girl. No one is going to hurt you.”
She sobbed in relief, and she recognized Tanor’s voice.
“Chotgor captured Aidon,” she said desperately. “He’s going to torture him and then kill him. Please, you have to help him.”
“Who is Chotgor?”
“He’s a terrible man—I mean a male. Aidon thought he was dead back on Hothrest, but he’s not. He’s here, and he’s going to hurt Aidon.”
“Offworlders?” one of the shadowy figures said with a snarl.
“Careless of the boy to let him live,” Tanor said disapprovingly. “I taught him better than that.”
“Then you can tell him I told you so—but you have to rescue him first.”
“How many offworlders?” It sounded like the same voice from the shadows.
“I saw five.”
Tanor snorted. “He won’t need our help.”
“Didn’t you hear me? I said there were five of them. Oh, and a sixth who looked like a Pardorian.”
Another muttered whisper filled the air around her, and this one sounded angry. She shivered.
“No Pardorian would ever side with an offworlder against one of our own,” the male in the shadows said, and there was a hum of agreement.
“Please,” she repeated. More shifting and murmurs came from the shadows, but no one stepped forward. Tears sprang from her eyes, but she dashed them away with an impatient hand. Why had she even tried? If she had stayed, maybe she would have been able to help. Lifting her chin, she started to turn back the way she’d come.
“Where are you going?” Tanor asked.
“To help Aidon, of course. I really thought you cared for him. I guess I was wrong.”
Tanor drew back as if she had slapped him. “Of course I care for him. I just think he’s quite capable of dealing with this himself.”
“Just like you thought he was capable of spending the night in a cravan’s nest by himself?”
“Yes,” he said without hesitating. “And he was.”
“But he thought it was because you didn’t care. You should have told him that you were proud of him.”
It was hard to tell in the shifting shadows, but she thought he looked uncomfortable.
“Perhaps you’re right.” He sighed. “I suspect that he would prefer that I keep you here and safe, but if you insist, I will accompany you.”
“We will accompany you.” Another male stepped forward, and she recognized him as the previous speaker. “Aidon is one of us.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“You should still stay here,” Tanor insisted.
“I’m going with you,” she said, glaring at him.
He sighed again, but he parted