Transformation Space - Marianne de Pierres [85]
‘Djes,’ he called softly, so as not to startle her.
‘Trinder!’ Her gasp of relief lifted him a little from his exhaustion. He had known she would look for him, but expected her to have followed his path, not anticipated it.
She scrambled quickly to reach him and threw her arms around his waist. He leaned against her, taking a moment to share his weight and feel her body against his.
‘Juno has gone the other way, following the track he thought you would take.’
‘And you chose to do the opposite.’
She looked up at him. Her skin had dried out and regained its papery texture now she was spending less time in the water, and he could see traces of blood and bruising.
‘You’ve been injured?’
She leaned back from him. ‘And you, Principe … your face and hair.’ She reached up to touch the clotted mess. ‘Did you fall?’
‘I was pushed.’ He couldn’t keep the angry tremor from his voice.
‘Innis?’ she whispered.
He gripped her arms and pulled them both down onto a rock. ‘How do you know that?’
‘He came back to the caves some time after you left. He told us he’d gone out looking for food, and on his way back heard a noise and saw you fall. He said that your body was lost, that you were dead.’
She began to cry, soft noises and tiny, spare tears, as though her system could barely stand to lose the water.
‘Did you believe him?’
‘Juno was suspicious. He insisted that Innis show them.’
‘And you came alone, the other way?’
‘Not alone. Joe is with me. He went higher, to look for you there.’ She pointed.
‘Joe Scali is with you?’ Trin’s relief abated, and suspicion replaced it. He hated the thought of Joe alone with Djes again.
She felt the change in his manner, his stiffening.
‘Trinder?’
He nearly told her how he felt – the jealousy born from seeing her with Joe on the beach that night – but pride and wariness stopped him. He was Principe.
‘We must get back. Innis Mulravey will be called to answer. And I have news.’
‘You found water?’ Her voice lifted.
‘Si. Water and something—’ He broke off as little rocks began to tumble down from above.
‘Joe,’ Djes called out. ‘I’ve found him! The Principe is here.’
They waited in silence as more rocks skittered past them, and Joe Scali slid and climbed his way down to where they sat.
‘Over here,’ Trin called him closer.
‘Principe,’ gasped Joe as he reached them. He threw his arms around Trin with relief. ‘I knew he lied.’
Trin grasped Scali’s shoulders briefly and then pushed him away. ‘Let’s hurry or the light will beat us.’
Djes stood and took his hand. ‘Lean on me,’ she said.
He dearly wanted to. Every part of his body hurt, but the worst was his head. With each movement, shocks of pain shot up from his neck and shoulders. Yet leaning on Djes was something he couldn’t do. He must never do. As it was, too many of them saw her as his strength.
They reached the caves as Leah lightened the sky from a warm black to a heat-heavy grey. Tivi Scali was on sentry duty and shouted to all those settling for daytime sleep.
By the time Trinder, Djes and Joe had reached the shady protection of the overhang, everyone had assembled.
Trin interrupted exclamations and questions with an abruptly raised hand. ‘Where is Innis Mulravey?’ he demanded.
‘He and Juno have not returned,’ said Tivi.
‘My brother said he saw you dead,’ added Cass Mulravey. She pushed her way to the front of those gathered, Mira Fedor’s ’bino in her arms. The baby had an unworldly look about him: overly thin, like the rest of them, with large serious eyes. Even now, with so many concerns on his mind, the ’bino made Trin uncomfortable.
‘Your brother stole up behind me and pushed me from a rock,’ Trin declared with vehemence.
‘No!’ The denial ripped from the woman in a way that sounded part apology.
Trin glared at her. ‘At first dark the carabinere will look for them both.’ He glanced at Tivi. ‘Take the spears.’
‘No—’ This came from Cass Mulravey again, but another voice drowned out hers.
‘Principe? What of Juno?’ asked Josefia Genarro. She squeezed through the crowd to stand alongside