Kahless - Michael Jan Friedman [39]
Despite his leader’s skepticism, the younger man seemed to know exactly where he was going. Turning first this way and that, as if negotiating an invisible trail, he urged his starahk ever upward. And if the slopes grew steeper as he went, that didn’t seem to faze him in the least.
From behind, Kahless could hear the cries of Molor’s men. They were gaining on them now, perhaps half a mile away at most. If Morath was going to work some magic, it would have to come soon.
Suddenly, though the outlaw chief had had his eye on Morath from the beginning of their ascent, the younger man seemed to drop out of sight. Thinking Morath might have fallen into an unseen crevice, Kahless dug his heels into his starahk’s flanks and urged the beast forward.
But it wasn’t a crevice that had devoured Morath. It was a narrow slot in the Mountainside, just big enough for a warrior and his mount to fit through. Morath stopped long enough to beckon his comrades-to assure them with a gesture that he knew what he was doing.
Then he vanished into the slot.
Still wondering where Morath was leading them, Kahless guided his s’tarahk into darkness. The walls of the slot scraped his legs where they straddled his beast, but he got through.
Further in, there was a strange sound, almost like the sighing of the north-country wind. It took the outlaw a few seconds to realize it was the murmur of gently running water.
It was shattered by a splash. As Kahless’s eyes adjusted to the scarcity of light, he saw Morath moving forward like a shadow, a web of perfect ripples spreading out around him. Gritting his teeth, Kahless followed him into the icy water. Behind him, others were doing the same.
It was some kind of underground stream, flowing from a high point in the mountains. A mysterious black river which had carved a path for itself over the centuries, known only to the tiny creatures who must have inhabited it. And, of course, to Morath.
After a while, there wasn’t any light to see by, no matter how well Kahless’s eyes had adjusted. He was forced to travel blind, listening for the snuffling of Morath’s mount up ahead and heeding the man’s occasional word of guidance.
Fortunately, they didn’t have to remain in the river for long. When several minutes had gone by, it seemed to Kahless that the level of the water was dropping. A couple of minutes more and they were on solid rock again.
“Morath,” the outlaw rasped, careful to keep his voice low.
Molor couldn’t have reached the opening in the mountainside yet, but even so, he didn’t want to take a chance on making any noise. Why give the tyrant any help in discovering their exit?
“What is it?” asked the younger man.
“Where does this lead?”
“To another stream,” Morath told him, “more treacherous than the first. And from there, to a beach by the sea.”
Kahless could scarcely believe what he’d heard. “But the sea . .
“Is ten miles distant,” the younger man finished. “I know.”
The outlaw would normally have been annoyed by the prospect. However, the trek might well prove to be their salvation.
Molor would have a hard time finding the slot. And when he finally discovered it and realized what had happened to them, it was unlikely he’d follow them into what could easily turn out to be an ambush.
Despite himself, the outlaw laughed softly. “That’s twice you’ve saved my hide now,” he whispered to Morath.
There was silence for a while. Then Morath spoke again.
“I would have preferred to stay and fight,” he said, “if our forces had been more equal.”
The chief shook his head. Morath was still young. With him, it was easy to forget that.
“As far as I’m concerned,” Kahless replied, “each morning I wake to is a victory. There’s no shame in running if it allows you to survive.”
Morath didn’t speak again as he led them through the darkness. But Kahless could tell that his friend disagreed.
The Modern Age Despite his acquisition of a seat on the High Council, which had brought with it the governorship of the colony world Ogat, Kurn didn’t seem to have changed much since Picard saw him last. The Klingon was