Nerin came around as Lazil finished cleaning and patching the bite. “Lazil?”
“You’re fine,” Lazil said, patting Nerin on the shoulder. “But I’m afraid we had to kill the spider. You can’t take it home as a pet.”
Nerin tried to chuckle, but it was half-hearted. “Where are we? Is Miran okay?”
“I’m right here,” Miran said.
Nerin rolled his head to the side to look at him. His expression turned to one of absolute relief when he saw Nova.
“She’s here,” he whispered, his eyes closing even as he fought to keep them open. “Nova, it’s good to see you. Please don’t run. It’s not safe out there…very not safe…”
Nova didn’t get a chance to talk before Nerin was out again.
“Rest. We’re all safe,” Lazil promised their teammate. After he finished making Nerin comfortable, he sat and took in the shelter. “What is this thing?”
Nova didn’t answer. After Nerin passed out again, she’d turned her face to the wall and closed her eyes, but Miran could tell she wasn’t asleep.
He hated this silence. He’d gotten used to her chatty personality and quick wit. This silence wasn’t like her. It was a clear indication that she was deeply upset.
After the silence stretched, and Lazil realized she wasn’t going to answer, he looked at Miran.
“Do you think she stumbled on this place?”
“No,” Miran said with full confidence. “I’m sure she created it. The same way I knew she came out here instead of the ports. She had a plan, and she executed it.”
Lazil huffed a humorless laugh. “I’m sorry I doubted you. I was sure you drugged yourself by accident.”
Miran wasn’t one to hold a grudge. “If I'd been you, I might have had doubts too.”
“We’ll need to stay for the night,” Lazil said. “I don’t think we should risk moving Nerin until then. Do you think we should talk to the town again?”
“Not unless we absolutely have to. They were very hostile when we asked if they’d seen Nova. We must’ve done something wrong. Upset them in some way.” He shook his head. “Nova knew how to talk to them. She knows a lot about Fielden culture. They let her set up here even though she was an outsider.”
“Maybe they didn’t see her,” Lazil suggested.
“There’s no way they didn’t see her get off the roller,” Miran argued. “Being out in the desert is dangerous. She would’ve wanted to make sure she could run back to the town if there was another storm. She made friends before creating this place.”
“That might be why they were hostile. They didn’t want us to bother her.” Lazil’s eyes dropped to Nova with new appreciation. “She’s amazing. I won’t underestimate her again.”
“Agreed,” Miran said, feeling exhausted despite the drug-induced sleep he’d gotten. “We should rest while we can. If Nerin is well enough, we should try to take the early morning roller tomorrow.”
Lazil did his best to lay down on the other side of Nerin. There wasn’t enough room for Miran to stretch out so he settled himself at Nova’s feet, with his back against the shelter’s wall.
“This isn’t over,” she said. He didn’t think he was supposed to hear her, but those few words of defiance made him extraordinarily happy. As much as he didn’t want her in danger, he also didn’t want her to give up the part of herself that was a fighter.
“I hope not,” he agreed.
***
It was a relief to see their small gunship waiting at the port. All the sand had been cleared away from other ships and the launch pads and traffic were coming and going at a normal pace.
Nova still wasn’t speaking to him or Lazil, but he could tell she was taking everything in and looking for her next move. Her vow of silence didn’t extend to Nerin. His wounded teammate seemed to be the only person she was willing to interact with.
When he’d tried to walk from the shelter to the roller, she’d insisted on trying to help him. He’d gently refused to put his weight on her smaller frame, then accepted Lazil’s assistance.
“Nerin you should see a medic before we leave,” Nova said, stepping in front of him and stopping his progress from the roller stop to their ship.
Nerin was exhausted from the trip from the sands to the port, and was swaying on his feet, but he still managed to give a reassuring smile.
