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

  Dr. Johns showed up before sunrise to see them off. He always seemed fascinated with how Braden and Micah talked with all the intelligent animals. The leader of the Cygnus VI survivors hadn’t gotten used to that yet, but he accepted the descendants of the ancients’ engineered creatures as equals. The original intent was to give the creatures intelligence to help the humans survive. From a scientific perspective, Dr. Johns considered the ancients’ efforts to be successful beyond their wildest dreams.

  From Braden and Micah’s perspective, they didn’t care how they got there, but that they all arrived together. Thanks to G-War, they were able to talk with the creatures, understand how truly intelligent they were and know that considering them as anything less than equals would be a disservice to the human race, threatening the whole of Planet Vii as factions would have fought instead of talked and traded.

  They waited for the Wolfoids to take one last drink from the lake. Skirill and Zyena were awake and itching to fly. Everyone else was loaded up.

  Braden and Micah smiled at each other as they thought how far the south had come in the short cycles they’d been together. As they sat in the front of the wagon, he took her hand and intertwined their fingers. Braden leaned his head against Micah’s, nuzzling her and kissing her ear. She playfully pushed him away. He released her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist, feeling the strength in her body. She was every bit as muscled and lean as when they first met.

  ‘Stop that,’ she cooed in her thought voice. ‘The children can hear you!’

  “What?” Braden asked innocently, more comfortable speaking aloud while the rest of his family conversed most easily over the mindlink.

  ‘Why, your lusty thoughts Master Braden!’ Micah replied.

  “I appreciate what I have, without taking it for granted, Master President.” Braden bowed as much as he could while seated.

  “On that, I never apologized for getting angry with you when you made me the President. I have to admit that I kind of like it,” she said, looking sheepishly at her mate. He nodded briefly. She excelled at the things he wasn’t good at.

  “You shot that Android on the ship and boy, was Holly miffed!” Braden exclaimed, changing the subject. “Master President…”

  “That probably wasn’t the most presidential thing I’ve done.” She chuckled to herself. She couldn’t let Holly think that he controlled the humans, so surprises were a good thing in her mind.

  Bounder and Gray Strider walked up, muzzles still wet from the cool morning lake water. Without waiting further, the King of the Aurochs leaned forward and the wagon responded soundlessly. He walked, then soon ran, the wagon seemingly chasing after him, until he felt like he was running from it and not pulling it.

  ‘I’m not sure I like this wagon,’ Brandt said in his booming thought voice. ‘It doesn’t seem to weigh anything. I feel like I’m going to get run over if I stop.’

  ‘Give it a try, my friend. I think you’ll be surprised,’ Micah suggested.

  Brandt started to slow and the wagon responded. The King slowed to a stop, then began sauntering forward. Whatever he did, the wagon matched his pace. ‘I like this wagon,’ he said, having changed his mind. The humans shook their heads and laughed. Brandt started running as if he were tearing through a field, free from all burdens. The ride was smooth enough as they raced due east toward the rising sun.

  They were headed toward the coast, where Micah wanted to visit her parents. Since Micah’s reconciliation, Mattie couldn’t get enough of her grandchildren. Of course, G-War wanted to visit Cornwall as often as possible and he made his wishes known at all times of the day and night. Skirill and Zyena looked forward to reuniting with their two hatchlings who had relocated to Trent, enjoying the fruits of the fishing trade.

  ‘Brandt, my large friend, could you stop for a bit so we can get into the wagon? You have run us into the ground yet again,’ Bounder panted over the mindlink. Brandt pulled up quickly. The Wolfoids usually would have jumped in, but they were spent. Braden gave them a leg up. The interior of the wagon was padded and to the Wolfoids, it felt like a couch. ‘Had I known this, we wouldn’t have wasted all that time running.’

  Brandt easily reached the eastern road before sunset. They didn’t set up a tent as everyone slept inside the wagon. The sides dropped down to become two extra beds hanging over the sides.

  Braden and Micah lay in one of the fold-down beds, talking quietly before falling asleep. Micah looked troubled.

  “What’s wrong, lover?” Braden was concerned.

  “The Old Tech. Look at us! We’ve embraced it and are enjoying the use of it,” she rasped in a whisper.

  “But why are we using it?” Braden asked the question, leading Micah somewhere. She looked at him, until he answered the question himself. “We’re using it to bring livestock south to help feed and grow the population. We’re using it for the good of all intelligent creatures. We have to travel through the Great Desert, twice. The Old Tech will make it possible for us to survive the trips.” Braden closed his eyes and relaxed, thinking about the next turn’s travel. Maybe he’d be able to hunt. It had been a while since he bagged anything with his bow.

  “For the good of humanity, we carry the burden that others can’t be trusted with,” Micah whispered. She closed her eyes, but sleep did not come easily.

  Villages on the Ocean

  As Cornwall sprang into view, everyone could feel G-War’s tension. The Hillcat vibrated with expectancy. Brandt slowed down to taunt his small, orange friend. No longer able to take it, the ‘cat leapt from the King’s head and sped through the grass toward the village.

  Everyone laughed, but Braden and Micah quickly tensed, expecting to be soon overwhelmed by the intensity of a G-War engagement.

  A cat’s screech pierced the peace of the afternoon. Brandt sped up as he sensed something was wrong. Braden prepared his bow, nocking an arrow, and Micah followed suit. She was the better shot now that Braden lacked two fingers on his left hand. The twins stood in the back, peering past their parents. Klytus and Shauna vaulted to the bench with Braden and Micah, and made to leap past them and out of the wagon, but the humans caught the small half-Hillcats and stopped them. With a ‘cat in one hand, their bows remained useless in the other.

  The Golden Warrior ran full speed toward the wagon, putting some distance between him and two domestic cats who were giving it their all as they tried to catch him. Micah squinted. ‘Isn’t that your mother? And her best friend?’ she asked the two young ‘cats over the mindlink.

  ‘Yup,’ Shauna responded simply as she relaxed and sat down. Klytus was still anxious and watched closely, ready to go to his father’s aid. Brandt started dancing from one hoof to the other as the ‘cat approached. When G-War tried to vault onto the King’s head, Brandt dodged. The ‘cat bounced off, landing deftly on his feet, before bolting in another direction.

  The brief exchange was all the two domestic cats needed. They launched their small bodies at the scarred side of the Golden Warrior, knocking him into the grass. The three rolled, fur and paws, heads over tails. The two domestic females were getting the better of it as G-War refused to fight back. He looked miserable as he tried to protect himself from their relentless attacks.

  They stopped slashing at him and settled for snarling in his face, yowling and meowing. G-War’s ears were back and flat against his head.

  “Girl problems, G?” Braden asked, trying not to laugh.

  “A little friction on the home front?” Micah added, snickering.

  ‘Very funny, humans. Brandt, what are you waiting for? We’re leaving! I’ve had enough of Cornwall for this trip.’ G-War’s thought voice sounded exasperated. Klytus escaped from Braden and ran to his father’s side. His mother, a mid-sized black cat, rubbed against him before yowling in his face and slapping his head with a well-practiced motion. Klytus fell backward. His mother stood over him, giving her son a big hairy what-for.

  G-War started to slink away, but the small g
ray female jumped in front and started meowing loudly at him. He backed up, his hackles starting to rise as he reached the limit of his tolerance for the berating the female friends thought he deserved.

  “What the hell did you do, G?” Braden asked, assuming the ‘cat would dodge the question.

  ‘A little calico that has been playing hard to get. Seems she’s the sister of this one.’ G-War nodded to the mother of his children, currently “yelling” at her son.

  Micah couldn’t contain herself anymore. Braden had to hold his stomach he laughed so hard. Brandt tossed his great horns as he slowly pulled the wagon away from the village. G-War hissed at the small female, driving her backward. He ran toward his son, bouncing the black cat to the side as both of the orange cats ran for the safety of the wagon.

  And freedom.

  The Golden Warrior was in a foul mood until they reached Trent where he made it his personal mission to give the broom lady a heart attack.

  “Does that woman always have her broom?” Braden asked.

  “It appears so, and I think she’s gotten better using it on that pesky ‘cat,” Micah responded as G-War ran circles around the old lady, who anticipated his antics, swinging the broom ahead of him. He barely avoided a beating, quitting after dashing between the old lady’s legs and knocking her down. She reached out a gnarled old hand, latching onto his tail as he strutted away. With a snarl, he turned, paw raised.

  “G!” Braden shouted. The ‘cat retracted his claws as he rolled to his back and batted at her hand with his paws. Quick as lightning, the old lady reached her other hand in and started rubbing his belly.

  She got to her feet and dusted herself off while a bewildered G-War watched her. “Go on, you mangy creature, before I give it to you all over again.” She made a cursory swing at him with her broom before heading back to the fish cleaning table.

  “I’m not sure what just happened,” Braden stated the obvious. G-War shook the dust from his coat as he followed the old woman, rubbing against her legs while she worked on the last batch of fish stinking up the village square.

  Before anyone could catch them, Klytus and Shauna vaulted from the wagon, landing lightly, and ran toward Mattie and Caleb’s hut. Micah’s mother waved from the doorway. The boats were at sea, so they’d see Caleb later, when he returned from the day’s fishing.

  Two Hawkoids soared in from the hills to the west. Skirill and Zyena rose to meet them. The four flew an intricate pattern of greeting before heading away from the village for some private time.

  Ax and ‘Tesh squealed to be lifted out of the wagon. Other villagers arrived and with a nod from Micah, they turned the children loose. Braden unhooked Brandt who strolled casually from the square while the villagers rubbed his sides as he passed. If an Aurochs could wear a smug expression, that’s what was on the King’s face as he headed for better grazing beyond the village’s huts.

  The delightful peals of laughter and shouts of joy from the children soon followed as they found their way to their grandmother. Their ‘cats were already there and received sufficient petting. Klytus earned a swat after scratching Mattie’s arm when he determined he’d been manhandled enough.

  “You need to get your ‘cat under control!” Mattie warned Ax.

  ‘It doesn’t work that way, Grandma!’ Ax corrected in his tiny thought voice. ‘He’s his own person.’ She looked down at him and he gave her a snarly meow in return, while Shauna rubbed her long-haired body against Mattie’s leg. Klytus launched himself onto his sister, who rolled over to bring all four clawed paws to bear on the exposed underbelly of her larger brother. The humans walked around the two ‘cats as they did their thing.

  They arranged themselves in the hut as they usually did, in the same seats that they always took. A couple out of breath Rabbits burst through the door shortly thereafter. They still hadn’t grasped the concept of knocking. Patrice and Delavigne had relocated to Micah’s village to help establish fields that would support Trent. When they saw Brandt and learned the other companions had arrived, they came from the fields straightaway.

  Once the Rabbits learned that the companions were heading north, they insisted on coming along. They immediately left to get their laser pistols and turn over gardening duties to their numerous children, seventeen at last count. Braden and Micah looked at each other, shaking their heads and smiling.

  Mattie understood. With Braden and G-War’s influence, her daughter was perfectly comfortable attracting all sorts of creatures and embracing each of them. As Ax and ‘Tesh grew, Mattie expected they’d probably spend more time with the furred, feathered, and lizard-skinned creatures of Vii and less with humanity. Who was she to deny those two, as long as they visited often? She also committed Caleb to teaching them how to sail and how to fish. Too soon, the twins would find themselves on a fishing boat, plying the seas to help their family. Micah told her mother in no uncertain terms that her children would never go to sea without her or Braden as she expected they’d jump in the ocean and try to talk with a whale.

  Later that daylight, Caleb returned with another big catch, half of which was destined for trade. Braden could only smile. He never imagined how trading was going to unfold and be embraced. He had met such resistance at the start.

  Mattie and Caleb insisted on keeping the twins while the rest of the companions headed north across the Great Desert. Micah hadn’t contemplated leaving the children behind, but until the last two oases were built, crossing the Great Desert would be dangerous. She wanted Ax and ‘Tesh to learn, but not at the risk of their lives. And although Braden was comfortable with the north, she was not. She didn’t feel good about what they would encounter.

  ‘I suggest your parents are right in wanting your children to remain behind, all of your children,’ Aadi interjected over the mindlink, nodding toward G-War. Braden and Micah’s life would be much easier without having to worry about what Klytus and Shauna were getting into, but she also didn’t wish that on her parents. The old lady with the broom came to mind.

  Once again, the President learned that she had little control over some decisions. With a finger pointed at her father, she warned him, “I know you are going to take them to sea and you better not let them out of your sight! These two will be in the ocean in a heartbeat if they even think they heard a whale. And you take those two as well!” She pointed to the two smaller ‘cats, rolling close to the fire and letting the heat warm their bellies recently filled with fresh fish.

  “We’ll be back as quick as we can,” Braden said soothingly, with a quick smile. “When the next trader shows up, send for Bronwyn. She has a way to talk with us, no matter where we are. We like talking with Ax and ‘Tesh while we’re traveling,” he added cryptically.

  They were interrupted by a commotion in the courtyard. The sound of cheers told them a trader had arrived. With a grin, Braden almost ran over Ax as he dashed from the hut. The others followed him in a more orderly manner.

  Zeller was standing in the front of her wagon, waving at everyone as Arnie easily pulled the full wagon into the village square.

  “Wait, wait, wait!” Zeller yelled, pleased at the response from her home village. “I think I have something for everyone, but what do you have for me?” She raised her hands as the cheers continued and people crowded around.

  Micah waved until Zeller saw her, then she hopped down and reiterated that everyone needed to wait. The life Zeller had was due to Micah’s efforts. She never took that for granted, always looking for ways to thank Micah for her freedom. Small talk followed until she learned that they were heading north of the Great Desert. Without hesitation, Zeller leaned over her shoulder, made a funnel with her hand that she shouted into, “Unload the wagon and take everything! You can owe me!”

  Braden looked at her, confusion gripping him. A Free Trader never gave her trade goods away.

  “I’m going. End of discussion,” she said and without further ado, Zeller and Micah, arm in arm, walked back into Caleb and Mattie’s hut
.

  Braden looked at G-War, who was finally relieved that someone replaced him in the top spot of public humiliation. “Do they teach everyone to talk that way here in Trent?” Braden asked the ‘cat.

  His father-in-law answered, “No, we don’t. I think it is passed naturally from mother to daughter. I thought you knew that.” Caleb wrapped his arm around Braden’s shoulders and together they laughed at their good fortune at having partnered with such women.

  With a good night’s sleep behind them, they started the process of loading up. They didn’t like leaving the children behind, but their trip would be much easier and safer. They could focus on what had to be done. Patrice and Delavigne leapt into the back of the wagon. Skirill and Zyena stood on the buckboard and waited for the nod so they could fly ahead, where they’d give the companions a view of the land before them until they reached Devaney’s Barren, at which time, they’d ride. The sun and heat was far too brutal for them to fly over the desert and they shied away from flying in the dark.

  Aadi floated higher and swam into the back of the wagon after saying his goodbyes with Mattie. She could hear all the companions and they naturally befriended her. Micah and her mother were much alike, probably more than they admitted.

  Bounder and Gray Strider had disappeared shortly after they reached the village as they weren’t fans of fish dinners. Skirill had shown them that a herd of deer wasn’t far. They reappeared in the evening for their obligatory ear scratches from Mattie. They slept in a pile with the twins, three ‘cats, and ten or fifteen Rabbits. Micah always shook her head in disbelief when she saw it, but she also knew that there probably wasn’t a safer place for her children.

  The second wagon changed things. Brandt wasn’t free to run as fast as he was capable of. Arnie would have to set the pace, unless they changed who pulled which wagon and that could even things out. They’d think on that as Zeller had grown accustomed to her wagon with her friend pulling. Once she rode in the Old Tech wagon, Braden figured they’d never get her to give it up. It was a good problem to have and he hoped they had the pleasure of discussing it after they returned, with everything intact, from the north.