Read Online Escape From Zulaire by Veronica Scott - Free Book Online Page B

her elbow to help her stand up. He rubbed his other hand over his head. “Hair’s not an issue for us.”
    Andi walked with him to where the sergeant waited.  
    “What kind of destination?” Yawning, Andi rubbed her eyes, stumbling a little. She tried to put herself into a businesslike mind frame, be professional to match Deverane’s competence. Not be some helpless person he rescued. “What are the priorities?”
    Deverane ticked them off on his fingers. “Transportation. A comlink strong enough to reach the capital. Anywhere around here we might find one?”
    Stopping in front of Wilson, Andi pushed her hair off her face again. “Where’s this map?”
    Holding out a flat disk, the sergeant pushed a button, and the holographic representation of this half of the Zulairian continent spread out in thin air. The sheer speed with which it appeared made her eyes cross.   Each major feature glowed in a different color. “We figure we’re about here.” Wilson pointed with one long, thin finger. The spot was achingly far away from the green dot of the capital, which promised absolute safety.  
    Even on the map, home is a long way off. Closing her eyes, Andi concentrated on visualizing landmarks.  
    “Are you all right?” Deverane put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to lean on him. “Do you need to sit down?”
    “No. I’m just so tired, and everything is so damn far away from where we are.” Andi opened her eyes. “Let me take it in for a minute, okay?” Despite the overwhelming temptation to stay within the reassuring circle of his embrace, she forced herself to move away, to study the map readout details. She snapped her fingers. “I just remembered, Iraku told us the nurse had gone home to her village last night.”
    “So?” He invested a lot of hope in that one syllable.
    “Don’t get your hopes up too far, but the nursemaid was proud of her village because it has a major shrine to Sanenre. Their priest has a comlink to the capital because he has to confer with his church hierarchy about the conditions at the shrine, the number of religious pilgrims, the donations…” Andi paused, trying to remember scraps of half-heard conversation about this nameless village. “There might even be transportation available. The place is remote, but it receives quite a few visitors from the lowlands during the pilgrimage season.”
    Deverane was so pleased his face lit up, crinkles of good humor around his green eyes. “You could join the Sectors Intel staff any time. Nice job.” He nodded at the map. “You see the shrine, Wilson?”
    “Local shrines in red. Let me look.” With his index finger the sergeant skewered a ruby dot all by itself. “This must be it. Nothin’ else this side of the mountains.”
    The captain squinted, apparently estimating the distance, then looked over at Wilson. “Maybe another four or five hours to march?”  
      “Good guess, sir. Considering we’re carrying a baby and a tranked noncombatant.” The sergeant shot Andi a sympathetic glance. She massaged her aching calves and grimaced.
    “Best I can do for you, sorry,” she said.
    “All right then.” Deverane stood with his hands on his hips. “Five more minutes, Miss Markriss. Wilson, set the destination on your tracker and take point when we move out. I’ll have Rogers take over the duty with the Tonkiln girl.”   He was gone, striding off before Andi could say anything.
    Wilson walked away and returned with her pack, which he dropped by her side. “Better eat something, ma’am.” The advice was given in a kind but firm tone. “Field rations in your pack will give you an energy boost. And be sure you wash it down with water from the canteen.”
    Automatically, she reached out to fumble with the flap of the pack, her dry throat aching at the thought of water. “Thank you.”
    Putting his hand on top of hers firmly, Wilson stopped her as she lifted the water bottle. “Now you promise to eat a ration