Chapter 18

Blue Moon Chain - The Coalition

Viridis Company

Pavilion

"Lists," Drake repeated. "Maps, reports, supplies, warnings, failures, friends and enemies. We have your lists."  He maintained that same even voice and demeanor, no condescension but no deference either. "This is not your world.  Kenley's no longer what either of you knew, and both of them are older, and we'll give you lists since that's why you're here, but you cannot depend on them."

Probably not, Jay thought, remembering Kenley Dirac's face. Both Kenley and Luca were different now and older and lists weren't going to make up for that.

"I'll take them," Marek offered.  

Jay's first reaction was a flat no but he had nothing to work with, knew nothing about the land, and had nothing with him, not even a flashlight.  He turned to Drake. "Don't you have a professional?"

Marek grinned at him. "It's dark out there Jaegar Lombardo. You'll need someone who can build you a fire."  

Stunned, Jay was pushed almost into laughter.  He took one long step toward Marek, and then another until there was no more than an arm's length of space between them.

"For someone who is desperately searching for a Lombardo, you don't know much about us.  I don't need help to survive a night on a mountain or anywhere else short of a battlefield. I need a guide, but no Lombardo needs a bodyguard.  I assure you, I can light my own fires."

"Marek will go with you," Robanna told Jay and Fiona. "He can do a more than light a fire."

Marek had already dropped whatever point he was making, turning his back to follow Drake down the stairs. "Take them to Atropo," Drake told him. "Vaun saw them last. If he's there, the Colonel will know where to find him."

"Do you know why he's there again?" Marek asked they moved ahead. "He should be the one guiding them, not me."

"He'd draw too much attention. Keep quiet, keep them quiet, head west."

Robanna waited until there was some space before she turned to Jay and Fiona. "Take care.  As the dragon riders say, fast flight, fast kill, safe return."

That was a good one.  He thanked her, heard Fiona's thanks, her voice quick and distracted as she went after Drake and Marek.  She wasn't waiting for him.

Drake and Marek had gone all the way down the path to the last mausoleum where Drake unlocked the door and stood aside to let Marek enter first before turning and saying to them, "Go on.  It's safe."

The room inside was a little larger than it appeared from outside.  Marek was kneeling by the back wall, and he leaned over, yanked on something, and up the floor came.  It was a trap door, a trap door completely hidden and disguised as part of the old wood floor.  

He sat back and leaned on the trap door and looked down a ladder and then up with obvious amusement.  He'd taken them by surprise and was obviously enjoying it. "Sometimes we need a way in and out without being seen."   

Jay looked down through the trap door into what appeared to be a dimly lit hallway lined with white stone.  It was no basement.  Hiding people.  He hadn't thought about it but where was that little girl with the inhuman eyes? Had she left through a passage in the ground like this? What would happen to her if Pirene found her walking around out here?  Obviously, nothing good.

Fiona said to Marek, "That's why you lock the doors.  You're hiding ways out of here through tunnels. Pirene hasn't found them?"

Drake smiled.  "We're miners.  One thing we know how to do is dig a hole."