A real town, not some dirtback village." He looked down at Daulo. "So does this one, for that matter."
"The nearest sizeable town is Tazreel," Omnathi said. "Nearly forty kilometers away. Windloom's closer."
"Tazreel has proper medical facilities," the doctor countered. "And it lies along a wide, well-maintained road that predators have learned to avoid. There's also a way station about halfway from Sollas where we can rest for the night."
"And the invaders?" Omnathi asked. "They'll be certain to be watching all such towns and way stations."
"I seriously doubt the invaders will have the resources to examine each individual refugee," the doctor said. "Besides," he continued, lowering his voice, "you wouldn't need to stay in Tazreel for long. You could commandeer a vehicle there and go to Purma or anywhere else you wished."
"If there are still any vehicles left, and if there's still fuel to run them," Omnathi said.
The doctor sniffed. "It's still better than a village."
"Perhaps," Omnathi said. "At any rate, you must do whatever you feel is best for your charges."
The doctor's mouth dropped open. "My charges? But you're—"
"Your charges," Omnathi said firmly. "I hereby place you in command of this group of refugees. As for my companions and me, we shall attempt to join up with Daulo Sammon's friends in Windloom."
The doctor looked down at Daulo, then back up at Omnathi. "If that's your decision, I will obey," he said. "But I strongly advise against it." He gestured a hand up and down Omnathi's body. "Especially for a man of your years. One never knows when immediate medical care will be required."
"Perhaps it would be more proper for a man of my years to graciously step aside and allow what medical care still exists to be given to the young," Omnathi said. "But I appreciate your concern." He gestured ahead. "For now, though, I suggest we concentrate on getting safely through the city."
From somewhere to the north came a muffled crack and the stuttering rumble of yet another building coming down. "A point well taken," the doctor said grimly. "Watch your step there."
Fifteen minutes later, they reached the southwest gate.
There were more Trofts standing guard there, and Daulo felt himself tensing as the little clump of refugees approached. But to his relief, the aliens merely stood by watchfully as the humans filed between the vehicle barriers that had been set up.
Daulo half turned in his chair as they passed through the gate, moved by some obscure impulse to have one final look at the once-proud capital of his world.
One way or another, he doubted he would ever come here again.
* * *
The sun was low in the sky by the time the group reached Bay Grove Road, with no more than two hours before dusk and perhaps two and a half before full dark. There, Daulo's doctor made one last effort to persuade Omnathi to continue on with them to Tazreel. Once again, Omnathi quietly but firmly declined.
"Now what?" Haafiz demanded in a low voice as they watched the rest of the refugees disappear around a bend in the road.
"Daulo Sammon?" Omnathi invited.
"What?" Haafiz cut in before Daulo could answer. "You're putting him in charge?"
"I am," Omnathi said calmly. "Daulo Sammon has been to this village. More than that, he's the only one among us with extensive forest experience." He turned to Daulo and raised his eyebrows. "Daulo Sammon?"
Daulo grimaced, running his eyes over the group. Six young Djinn, warrior-trained but unarmed. Two old men, plus one more—Akim—who had prematurely aged after years of dosing himself with enhancement drugs. And Daulo himself, still recovering from near-fatal injuries. With the daylight rapidly diminishing, the plan looked a lot less feasible than it had in the bright sunlight inside the Sollas wall.
But it was the forest or the Trofts. Under the circumstances, razorarms and baelcras were still the better bet. "It's still almost twenty kilometers to Windloom," he said. "There's no way
"The nearest sizeable town is Tazreel," Omnathi said. "Nearly forty kilometers away. Windloom's closer."
"Tazreel has proper medical facilities," the doctor countered. "And it lies along a wide, well-maintained road that predators have learned to avoid. There's also a way station about halfway from Sollas where we can rest for the night."
"And the invaders?" Omnathi asked. "They'll be certain to be watching all such towns and way stations."
"I seriously doubt the invaders will have the resources to examine each individual refugee," the doctor said. "Besides," he continued, lowering his voice, "you wouldn't need to stay in Tazreel for long. You could commandeer a vehicle there and go to Purma or anywhere else you wished."
"If there are still any vehicles left, and if there's still fuel to run them," Omnathi said.
The doctor sniffed. "It's still better than a village."
"Perhaps," Omnathi said. "At any rate, you must do whatever you feel is best for your charges."
The doctor's mouth dropped open. "My charges? But you're—"
"Your charges," Omnathi said firmly. "I hereby place you in command of this group of refugees. As for my companions and me, we shall attempt to join up with Daulo Sammon's friends in Windloom."
The doctor looked down at Daulo, then back up at Omnathi. "If that's your decision, I will obey," he said. "But I strongly advise against it." He gestured a hand up and down Omnathi's body. "Especially for a man of your years. One never knows when immediate medical care will be required."
"Perhaps it would be more proper for a man of my years to graciously step aside and allow what medical care still exists to be given to the young," Omnathi said. "But I appreciate your concern." He gestured ahead. "For now, though, I suggest we concentrate on getting safely through the city."
From somewhere to the north came a muffled crack and the stuttering rumble of yet another building coming down. "A point well taken," the doctor said grimly. "Watch your step there."
Fifteen minutes later, they reached the southwest gate.
There were more Trofts standing guard there, and Daulo felt himself tensing as the little clump of refugees approached. But to his relief, the aliens merely stood by watchfully as the humans filed between the vehicle barriers that had been set up.
Daulo half turned in his chair as they passed through the gate, moved by some obscure impulse to have one final look at the once-proud capital of his world.
One way or another, he doubted he would ever come here again.
* * *
The sun was low in the sky by the time the group reached Bay Grove Road, with no more than two hours before dusk and perhaps two and a half before full dark. There, Daulo's doctor made one last effort to persuade Omnathi to continue on with them to Tazreel. Once again, Omnathi quietly but firmly declined.
"Now what?" Haafiz demanded in a low voice as they watched the rest of the refugees disappear around a bend in the road.
"Daulo Sammon?" Omnathi invited.
"What?" Haafiz cut in before Daulo could answer. "You're putting him in charge?"
"I am," Omnathi said calmly. "Daulo Sammon has been to this village. More than that, he's the only one among us with extensive forest experience." He turned to Daulo and raised his eyebrows. "Daulo Sammon?"
Daulo grimaced, running his eyes over the group. Six young Djinn, warrior-trained but unarmed. Two old men, plus one more—Akim—who had prematurely aged after years of dosing himself with enhancement drugs. And Daulo himself, still recovering from near-fatal injuries. With the daylight rapidly diminishing, the plan looked a lot less feasible than it had in the bright sunlight inside the Sollas wall.
But it was the forest or the Trofts. Under the circumstances, razorarms and baelcras were still the better bet. "It's still almost twenty kilometers to Windloom," he said. "There's no way
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