“Courting couples often go there to choose a precious stone for the dragons to mold into a promise ring.We go there to collect stones for the dragons and to relax.If he’d been watching, he’d know this.It’s common knowledge in our town.Someone must have talked.”
“An argument against letting outsiders onto the planet,” Gweneth commented.
“But they can’t stay isolated either,” Ellard said.
“Some of us need to find new homes,” Leeam said.
“And the dragons need to expand, too,” Gweneth added.“If they’ve contacted Lynx and Shiloh, they’ll know where we are.”Her gaze zeroed in on the lock of their cell.“We need to be ready.I think I can pick that.”She slid her knife from her boot heel and worked the lock.
“That’s my girl,” Ellard said, full of pride.
Secs later, the lock clicked, and she opened the door.She darted out and performed the same magic on the other cell.
“I’m going to try to get the collars off.Leeam first.”
“Sheera first,” Leeam ordered.“Please.”
Gweneth gave a swift nod.She reached out to grasp the collar, and a faint buzz sounded.Her entire body juddered, a shower of blue sparks shooting from the metallic-looking band.Sheera moaned, her jaw clenching.
“Let go,” Ellard ordered.
“C-can’t.”
Ellard hurried closer and peeled Gweneth’s fingers free, one digit at a time.His heart beat faster than normal, and his feline clamored for release.The collar kept sparking, each blue spark that struck him shooting a shock down his forearm.
Gweneth went limp, her eyelids fluttering.Finally, finally, Ellard dragged her free and both women slumped.
“That’s not going to work.”Leeam stated the obvious as he crouched beside a limp Sheera.The white skin around her neck glowed a glacier blue to match her pupils.
“No.I’m going to leave the pair of you in your cell with the door unlocked.If you remain inside, the reivers might not notice.They don’t seem particularly bright.Pretend to be unconscious if you hear them coming to check on you.”
“What are you going to do?”
Ellard glanced down at the unconscious Gweneth.“I’ll rouse Gweneth and hide.Then, we’re going to capture the reivers one by one and take them out of commission.We’ll find a way of removing your collars once we have control of their ship.”
“I like confidence,” Leeam whispered, his hands stroking Sheera’s hair.
“No other way.Besides, Lynx and the others will come for us.The reivers won’t make it back to their base before we’re rescued.”
“Thanks.”Sheera’s pained reply deepened Ellard’s resolve.Despite his confidence, he didn’t know if Lynx would arrive before the reivers met their contact.For all he knew, this Malasses might come to meet the Scothage reivers.
“I’m sorry you were injured,” Ellard said as he awkwardly levered Gweneth up and placed her over his shoulder—the easiest way to transport her with his handicap.
“We had to try.Sheera and I have never experienced the collars.Our grandsire mentioned them in tales.We might not have our full powers but Ransom encouraged Niran to teach us to fight.I might manage to get some kicks in before they send a zap through the collar.”
Ellard patted Leeam’s shoulder.“Last resort.Play dead first.Save the surprise attack for right at the end.Shut the cell door after me.”
Leeam nodded.“Some of our people are against Ransom teaching us to fight.They’re wrong.We can’t rely on our ability to shimmer in and out.”
“When we get out of this situation, I’ll teach you some tricks,” Ellard promised.
“Me too?”Sheera croaked.
“Both of you.”With one final curt nod, Ellard cautiously moved in the direction the guards had disappeared.
He peeked around the corner, saw that no reivers lurked in the corridor, and hurried to the end.Here, the corridor split, and he heard several voices coming from the room halfway along.The scent of food wafted on the air.A galley or mess of some sort.Ellard took the quieter direction and loped away from the noise.He paused at each door, frustration stirring in his gut when he couldn’t balance Gweneth over his shoulder and open the doors to the rooms he passed.All he could do was pause and listen, casting out his feline senses to ascertain if a reiver occupied the room on the other side of the door.
“Grata.”Not much sound transmitted through the doors, despite the age of the Scothage ship.Deciding not to risk entrance, he padded to the end of this corridor and halted.Without warning, hard fingers pinched his butt.He jumped and spat out a curse, whirling so fast that Gweneth’s skull connected with the wall.
