Jean Lorrah - Flight to Savage Empire

“Zanos-wait!” she cried without knowing what she said. “Don’t leave me! Take me with you to Vortius-I will take the white lotus with you.”

He stopped, peering down at her, silhouetted against the growing light. Then he held one huge hand out to her. “Yes, Astra-yes, my love, come with me.”

Unthinking, she scrambled toward him, breath burning in her lungs, arms trembling. She reached for an outcropping, clung to it with her left arm as with her right hand she reached toward Zanos. Her toes lost their purchase, throwing all her weight onto her left arm-which had no strength left.

Zanos’ hand grabbed for hers, missed-

Despite all her volition, her left arm shook uncontrollably. Her elbow straightened and her hand began to slip-

Suddenly, her body was moving without her will, her thrashing right arm captured as if in Zanos’ net and wrapped around the outcropping of rock. She clung in terror, her face against the rock, blood pounding in her ears as she Read the cavern below. It sucked her downward just as the craving in Zanos sucked at him, at them-

“Climb down,” Zanos said. “I will help you, but I cannot lift your whole weight with Adept power.”

“I can’t,” she sobbed, knowing she held on by his will, not her own. She closed herself off to Reading with all her strength, enclosed in a physical world of touch and sound, her eyes squeezed tight as if to shut out the knowledge that she could not remain there, had to do something .

“You must move,” Zanos told her. “Astra, I won’t let you fall-but you have to climb down yourself!”

He climbed down toward her, but there was no ledge at that level wide enough to allow him to pull her to him. “Go on,” he insisted. “Reach down with your left foot… Astra- Read , for Hesta’s sake! Find the hand-and footholds. I promise-I won’t let you fall.”

But she was paralyzed, her head burning with fever, her hands and feet numb with cold. She couldn’t get her breath… until she allowed herself to Read Zanos beside her, ignoring the growing pain in his own body out of his concern for her.

He came back to me!

Leaning emotionally on his strength, she found the courage to Read for a lower foothold, to let go the false safety of the rocky outcropping and grope her way downward, holding her Reading very carefully to her immediate area, lest she be sucked down into that whirlpool again. Each time her physical strength failed, Zanos would blank out of her Reading. Astra felt panic when that happened, but then his Adept strength would hold her, strengthening her trembling limbs until-

Zanos let go! As he fell past her, Astra screamed- and fell-

Into his arms.

He had dropped only a short distance to the cavern floor. Astra, concentrating on her Reading, hadn’t realized they were almost down.

Zanos hugged her tightly, whispering, “You’re all right! Astra, I’ll never let you be hurt-please, don’t cry.

You’re safe now.”

But her tears came from her realization. ” You are all right, Zanos! Oh, my husband, you’ve come back to me!”

He set her on her feet, very carefully, as if she might break. Then he stared at her, blinking, the agonizing cramps ripping through his body at total odds with the joy he felt as he said, “Yes! Astra-you mean more to me than any drug!”

And then he doubled over with the pain.

Astra dropped to her knees beside him, Reading chills shaking him even as sweat beaded his skin.

“Zanos-”

“No-” he gasped. “It’s all right now. Just pain-” He gritted his teeth as a spasm convulsed him. “I know-what to do-about pain.”

He sank down again on the blankets, and this time when his presence disappeared to her Reading, Astra felt the healing fire begin in his chest, spreading outward-a raging fire burning worse than the agonizing cramps. Zanos’ face was a mask of pain as he endured long enough to be sure the fire would continue.

At last, he let himself sleep.

“Thank Hesta,” sighed Astra, sinking down next to him. Her trembling slacked off as she realized the nightmare was over. They were out of the Aventine Empire, and now they were free of Vortius-

Or were they? The gambler would certainly have his men out looking for Zanos by now, and he had to have hours of healing sleep before they could leave. Astra would have to protect him.

How could she do that? She had no strength, no courage…

But looking at Zanos, who had overcome his drug craving for her sake, she decided, / must ignore my fear, as Zanos ignored his pain for me, and do what has to be done .

Apprehensively, Astra let her Reading power stretch beyond the cave, searching for their enemies.

Zanos woke to a world of light and shadow. He squinted as he sat up, for the noon sun shone almost directly down the rock chimney.

“Astra?”

There was no answer. A part of him wanted to believe that his returning memories were nothing but a bad dream, but everything he saw confirmed the truth: Astra had risked everything to free him from Vortius and the white lotus. His feelings of love and gratitude, though, were soured by anxiety. Where was she?

He climbed slowly to his feet, weak and very hungry. He needed more sleep-but it was hunger that had wakened him. There was probably some food among the supplies Astra had brought, but he couldn’t think of that until he was sure she was safe.

He heard hoofbeats outside. Was that Astra returning? What if it was someone else?

He couldn’t get out through the labyrinth-only a Reader could find the way. After a time he heard footsteps-but there were also renegade Readers in the savage lands.

His back flattened against the cave wall, Zanos braced his meager strength and waited. In moments, Astra came through the entry-and jumped when she saw him.

“Don’t do that!” she breathed. “I thought you’d still be asleep.”

His only reply was to grasp her and kiss her, needing the warm reality of her in his arms. She dropped the small sack she was carrying, and at the smell of sun-warmed berries the needs of his body overwhelmed the needs of his heart, and he released her.

“You frightened me,” he said. “I was afraid Vortius’ men had captured you.”

“They could have captured both of us,” Astra said as she sat down by the smoldering fire. “I took the horses and set up a false trail-I hope I did it right. I tried to make it look as if we headed back toward the empire.”

“Good thinking,” he said, sitting down next to her. “That will buy us a little more time.” Ravenous, he tore open the sack and began devouring berries.

Astra gave him an understanding smile. “I’m sorry I couldn’t bring you back some meat. I don’t know how to hunt or trap-and besides, I can’t cook. The Academies hire cooks. Students just serve the meals and clean up afterward.”

“I can cook,” he told her. “I had to learn after I gained my freedom. It was a long time before I could afford to pay for meals, and nutrition is important to a gladiator. Don’t worry-I’ll teach you to cook.

And to use a sword.”

“A sword? Me?” She laughed at first, then must have seen or Read that he was serious, for she added, “I don’t know a thing about fighting.”

“The best reason for you to start learning at once. Astra, we don’t know what we’ll face between here and Madura. The more combat skills we have between us, the better. I packed extra weapons among our supplies.”

“I noticed,” she said. “Very heavy. Zanos… I don’t know if I’m capable of hurting another person. I saw how helpless you were this morning, and if I had to I would try to defend you. But I hope I don’t ever have to!”