Free the North! (Free Trader Series Book 5) Read online

‘Holly, I think you have a soft spot for the Development Unit here, in the middle of nowhere, just trying to live through each day,’ Braden laughed. ‘We’ll do what we can but you know you’re right. The water buffalo will tear through that field in short order. We won’t be at 03 long and then we’ll keep moving. It would help if the Unit could carry some feed with us half the way to 02, because there is nothing to eat there. We’ll be fine once we reach 01.’ Braden minimized the window after one last check of the map.

  They made slow and steady progress through the night, stopping right before sunrise to set up the tent. They found an old river bed and Braden was able to dig out an area that was much cooler. The furred and feathered creatures nestled in tightly, forcing the humans to take turns digging spots for themselves. They drank and ate sparingly. Even with the dawn, it was still too hot to eat, although G-War disputed that. He was ready for something fresh and turned up his nose at the last bits of smoked pork. So Bounder and Gray Strider ate it without hesitation.

  Then G-War wanted it. They shrugged at him and went back to the den that Braden had dug for them. It was well into the morning and the humans were exhausted from digging in the heat to create cools spots for the Aurochs to rest. Everyone wanted enough space where they weren’t touching another. Patrice and Delavigne slept apart but leaned toward each other, with only their noses touching. Braden and Micah fell asleep holding hands. Zeller snored until Micah kicked her, and she rolled over.

  By the third night, the wagon riders were getting antsy. Ride, sleep when they weren’t really tired, then ride some more. The Wolfoids took to running with Brandt for brief stretches, but it was too hot for that kind of exercise. Their bodies had started shedding hair and the inside of the wagon looked a mess with the clumps of long gray Wolfoid hair intermixed with the finer white threads from the Rabbits. It was so bad that Zeller took a shirt and wiped out the wagon after the last stop. It seemed that a cloud of hair perpetually hung in the air within the wagon.

  Braden saw the care that Zeller was taking of the wagon. They’d destroyed hers and weren’t working as Free Traders anymore. He hadn’t thought about what would happen with the wagon when they returned. Clearly, Zeller had. He put the issue to rest with one sentence. “We’ll do our best not to destroy your new wagon.”

  She beamed in response, instantly telling Arnie the good news over their mindlink. Micah squeezed his hand. ‘What do we need it for?’ he told her over their mindlink, hoping that he was only talking with his partner.

  ‘We don’t. I wondered how long it was going to take you to figure it out,’ she told him. He wasn’t surprised that she was ahead of him. He didn’t think about things like that. To him, the important issue was Brandt’s knee. One destroyed wagon didn’t matter when they had everything they needed with the Old Tech wagon.

  He switched to his out loud voice. “When the sun rises today, it will rise over the southern edge of the Bittner Mountains. If we haven’t already reached the green plains of the north, we will keep going until we get there. We’re close. I sense a change in the air. There’s a nice stream with a small pond where we can restock our water, hunt, and rest until the new sunrise, then we’ll go to Whitehorse and see what there is to see.” Braden sounded philosophical as he described what lay before them.

  They waited for what the false dawn would show them. Later than usual since the sun was rising behind the mountains to the east, the daylight spread quickly. They had already reached the green scrub grass that bordered the Great Desert. Braden thought it had crept further south than he remembered. He pointed Brandt in the direction of the stream and pond where he kicked off his biggest adventure all those cycles ago.

  Skirill and Zyena took to the sky, showing the companions that the remainder of the morning’s trip would be uneventful over fairly smooth terrain. The Hawkoids flew quickly past the pond and Skirill winked at his mate as they beat their wings hard to gain altitude. They turned their heads toward the high peaks where Skirill had met Teelech and Awkar. He wanted Zyena to see that other Hawkoids lived on Vii.

  He didn’t know why it was important to him, but it was. He wanted to show those two upstart Hawkoids that his life with humans had been most rewarding. Maybe he’d make another pitch to them about building a stronger Hawkoid Nation, one that partnered with the humans and even traded with them.

  More likely, he and Zyena would return after listening to the others’ narrow-minded answers and imminent dismissal. He started to get angry, but Zyena calmed him without effort. She told him simply that it didn’t matter. They’d say hello to the others and then they’d go their separate ways. It was nice being in the north. She looked forward to whatever Braden had in store for them, whatever Skirill could show her of his old home.

  They flew onward and upward.

  Brandt started running as he could see well in the morning sun. It wasn’t too hot either. Braden tried to remember what season it was. Fall, maybe? The wagon responded almost magically as the King of the Aurochs pounded toward the landmark rocks around the pond. A stand of trees stood in the background. Braden enjoyed the smell, closing his eyes to take it all in.

  “Welcome to Warren Deep,” Braden said, knowing that people from the south only referred to it as the north.

  G-War vibrated in anticipation. ‘Deer, very close,’ he said. Without hesitation, Braden pulled his bow from behind him and prepared to hunt. Micah also prepared her bow, which pleased Braden. He’d let her take the shot. G-War grumbled, but Braden insisted. Micah told the ‘cat that she would try not to let him down. He could only think of the debacle above White Beach where he was hungry and the humans were messing around, not shooting his dinner.

  Arnie ran peacefully alongside Brandt as they approached the pond. They slowed to a jog, then a walk, stopping next to the stream as it exited the small body of water. G-War vaulted from Brandt’s head, took a quick drink, then disappeared into the trees. Once unhooked from the harness, Brandt waded into the pond with Arnie close behind. They faced upstream as they drank heartily.

  “Look what you’re doing to the water,” Braden complained, watching the dirt as it swirled from the legs of the Aurochs. The water flowed quickly enough that the water soon cleared. Arnie and Brandt didn’t bother to mumble an apology. They’d done most of the work to get the caravan through the desert. Unashamedly, they both laid down in the pond. Braden shook his head as the rest of them walked around to the inlet stream and drank of the fresh and very cool water.

  The Wolfoids told the humans to put their bows away as they bolted into the forest. Braden and Micah still wanted to shoot and sensed a contest was underway. They took off at a dead run chasing the Wolfoids. Zeller chuckled as she watched the hunters head out to demonstrate their individual prowess.

  She took off her boots and dangled her feet in the water. The Rabbits sat near her, finding the heavy grasses growing along the edge of the stream to be particularly tasty. It had been awhile since they had anything fresh. No one enjoyed fresh greens more than the Rabbits from the spaceship.

  Skirill flew toward the peak where he’d last seen the Hawkoid nest. As he and Zyena approached, he didn’t see any signs of the others. He flew to the nest, landing on its edge. It had been abandoned at least a cycle ago. He looked around and then launched himself into the air. He flew higher, until he could barely breathe. He was flying even with the highest peaks of the Bittner Mountains, yet still saw no sign of other Hawkoids. They’d probably gone back north to join the others.

  With a last look, they both circled slowly downward, heading for the rocks where they knew the companions were resting and getting ready for the next phase of the journey.

  The buck screamed as it tried to ram its antlers into Bounder’s side. Gray Strider hung on the deer’s back, trying to get a better grip on its neck. This beast was far larger than those they encountered in the south. Bounder danced back and forth as he tried to find an opening to attack. Braden and Micah had their arrows ready to fire, but did
n’t want to risk hitting Gray Strider.

  Bounder jumped back as the buck feinted and darted toward the trees, ramming Gray Strider into a low branch and knocking her off its back. One heartbeat later, two arrows embedded themselves into the deer’s side. It stumbled and ran headfirst into the next tree. He collapsed against the tree and after two more breaths, he was dead.

  G-War appeared in the tree above the buck, waiting impatiently for the humans to pull out their knives and get to work. Braden, Micah, and Bounder ran to Gray Strider’s side. She stood shakily, snorting and shaking her head, trying to clear it. Her eyes focused slowly and she looked from one anxious face to the next.

  ‘I’m okay,’ she finally said. ‘They make them bigger up here, don’t they?’

  ‘Hungry,’ the ‘cat interjected. After a quick scratch behind Gray Strider’s ears, the humans got to work. G-War appeared between them, trying to snake his ‘cat head into the choice bits before they were removed.

  “Come on, G! When’s the last time you ate?” Braden asked.

  ‘None of that will matter in a few bounds of time,’ G-War said over the mindlink as his tongue stuck out of his mouth in hungry anticipation.

  With a great surge, Braden went elbow-deep into the beast’s chest cavity and pulled out its warm heart. He handed it to the ‘cat, who clamped onto it with his fangs and ran for the nearby underbrush.

  They finished cleaning the deer, leaving the skin on until they dragged it back to their camp. There was plenty for all with the one buck, and they’d be able to smoke a good portion, too. It was a great hunt and the humans claimed victory, so Bounder dragged the heavy carcass back to the camp site. Braden and Micah picked up kindling and firewood along the way. G-War was nowhere to be seen.

  The Rabbits turned away as the group approached. They said they’d never understand the need to eat other creatures, even if they weren’t intelligent.

  The Aurochs had left the pond and were grazing to the west where the prairie grasses grew tall. Between the three humans, the buck was sliced and diced into parts and pieces primed for quick cooking and eventual smoking. The Wolfoids got the fire going and in no time, those who enjoyed their venison cooked were digging in. They ate more than they should have, including eating some of the supplies they brought. After the hunt, they didn’t feel like scrounging for tubers or other vegetables, although Patrice and Delavigne volunteered to see what they could find. Without waiting for anyone to answer, they hopped off for the woods.

  Skirill and Zyena returned while the meal was cooking. They were able to snag some choice raw bits. Braden and Micah didn’t try throwing the pieces in the air. After the long flight to the mountain tops and back, they simply hand-fed the Hawkoids.

  The companions were relaxing around the fire, enjoying the midday sun as a cool breeze blew down from the mountains. The Aurochs were back and laying down, resting after both a long night and a long morning. G-War finally ambled back to the group, looking like he still needed a nap. The hair on his heavily scarred body stood up at odd angles. The bite mark stood out vividly on his ear. He stopped, squinted into the distance, hackles rising.

  ‘They come,’ he told them.

  Braden was off like an arrow shot from his bow, heading for the wagon. He leapt into it and pulled at their packs, throwing swords out the back. The blasters were buried so he threw the packs out to a waiting Micah. Zeller was still trying to figure out what happened. The Rabbits always wore their harnesses, but their laser pistols were in the wagon. They jumped inside and prepared to fight from there. Brandt was up in an instant, looking around for the imminent threat.

  The ‘cat was never wrong when he gave that alarm. Brandt started yelling at Arnie to rouse himself, who panicked and ran into the wagon, nearly knocking it over.

  The humans ran for cover. Braden and the Rabbits fell, but the padding inside the wagon kept them from getting hurt. With one last effort, he threw the Wolfoid’s spears out the back. Everyone took their turn yelling at Arnie. When Braden finally jumped from the wagon, he looked around at the chaos. The companions were facing in different directions in such a way that no one would have been able to fight.

  “Which way, G, and what’s coming?” Braden asked while pointing at people and creatures to better positions.

  ‘The plains. The wild boars are back,’ G-War said while licking his paw to clean his face. Braden looked at the ‘cat, holding his hands up in question. ‘They’re coming, but there are only three of them…’

  Micah put her hands on her hips and glared at the ‘cat, before looking at the others. “I guess we weren’t ready. If there had been a real threat, we’d have been in trouble,” she said solemnly.

  “Thanks, G. Once again, you’ve seen what we did not. If only we had a broom, we could show our appreciation!” Braden took a quick step toward the Golden Warrior, who simply narrowed his eyes at his human as if issuing a dare. Braden knew better than to challenge the ‘cat.

  “Let’s talk about what we need to do, how we need to be ready, as soon as we dispatch our porcine fellows who shouldn’t be far off. Skirill, if you would be so kind as to show us where they are, we can add a little variety to our diet. No disrespect intended to Patrice or Delavigne.” Braden nodded in their direction. Their pink noses twitched as they harrumphed in their high-pitched Rabbit voices.

  Wild boar and practicing to fight. It’s just like being back home, Braden thought, surprised that he thought of the south as home and not the north. Micah smiled to herself. She’d known it all along.

  Zeller just hoped that she wouldn’t crumble in a real battle. She was getting proficient with the sword, but Micah was the greatest warrior ever, in Zeller’s mind. The scars that the companions wore as badges of honor told a story of a hard life, forged in battle. In that, she took comfort, too. They would surround her and protect her if need be.

  Because that’s what they did.

  Whitehorse

  They spent an extra turn at the pond as they practiced how they’d enter the village, and how they’d respond the next time G-War alerted them. They needed to raise their awareness, be ready to fight at a heartbeat’s notice. The humans wore their swords at all times, and Braden and Micah carried their bows.

  Bounder and Gray Strider would carry their spears while traveling in areas without other humans, but if humans were around, they’d go to all fours and try to look like big, harmless dogs. The Hawkoids would fly a high cover, keeping the others within sight while also watching for anyone inadvertently approaching the wagon’s hiding spot.

  The Rabbits would keep their laser pistols and stay in the wagon any time they were anywhere near other humans. The wagon looked like Old Tech, despite Holly’s efforts to disguise it. They’d leave the wagon in the cover of any nearby woods with the two Aurochs standing guard. Only the humans, Wolfoids, and Hillcat would walk into the town of Whitehorse, see how things were and then decide if they needed support from the others. All the platinum and gold would be kept in the wagon. When they made a trade, they’d deliver the precious metal for the livestock, the water buffalo.

  They decided it would be best if Arnie pulled the wagon. If they needed to take the wagon into any of the towns, Arnie wouldn’t look as imposing as Brandt. The King of the Aurochs would frighten even the most stalwart northerners. They all laughed at that, knowing Brandt to be a loyal friend not wanting to harm anyone. They thought of him with Bronwyn, where he was the gentlest of souls.

  “Sorry, my friend. What do you say we get the water buffalo and then go home?” Braden slapped the great King on the side as Micah checked Arnie’s harness. They climbed aboard and headed out.

  The Wolfoids ran alongside, happy to have the exercise. Arnie maintained a steady, easy pace. Braden opened his neural implant and updated his map. They’d camp in the forest outside Whitehorse before nightfall. With the new turn, they’d enter the Market Square and try to find the right trader. They’d play it by ear from there.

  The trip acros
s the grasslands was uneventful. They ran across no one, no creatures. It helped that Skirill and Zyena were flying far in front as well as to the sides. There would be no surprises.

  They took turns on watch while the others slept in the wagon that night. No surprises they said, and they made sure of it. With the dawn, they ate a light breakfast, checked their gear, and with a deep breath, they walked boldly toward the village. Micah had to constantly reassure Zeller. She was afraid of the unknown of a northern town. Even one as small as Whitehorse was far larger than she’d ever seen before. Braden dismissed her concerns, until they entered Whitehorse and the first people they ran into was the man who’d stolen from him and his two bodyguards.

  ‘Braden!’ Micah cautioned him as his mind seethed with fury. He turned and walked directly toward the man.

  “My pardon, good sir. I’m Free Trader Braden and three cycles ago, you bought two vials of Saffrimander from me at the agreed-to price of twenty platinum. You only paid me two platinum and fifteen gold. I’d like the rest, please.” Braden had gotten nose to nose with the older, well-dressed man. The bodyguard attempted to push Braden away, but Micah had her sword point at his throat and pushed him backward. He jumped clear and pulled his own sword.

  The other bodyguard tried to get close, but Zeller’s sword was out and she squared off against him. He pulled his sword and sneered as he looked at her. The first bodyguard lunged toward Micah, raising his sword to deliver a mighty chop as if cleaving firewood. She side-stepped the swing, letting it pass her, the sword’s momentum driving it into the ground. With her left fist, she punched the bodyguard in the temple and he fell like a sack of potatoes.

  Micah took one step toward the second man, but Zeller was already there. The man stabbed at her with an over-reaching thrust. She parried the blade and jumped close, ending with a vicious kick to the man’s groin. He crumpled, joining his fellow bodyguard on the ground.

  Braden grabbed the older man by the throat, twisting his head so he could see his muscle no longer protecting him. “I want my money. It was a fair trade,” Braden growled into the man’s face. The old man fumbled for his belt and produced a pouch. Braden pushed the man backwards so he’d fall, but the old man kept his feet. Braden dumped the coins on the ground. Ten silver.