Rivers of Orion by Dana Kelly (a court of thorns and roses ebook free .TXT) 📕

“I know ya don’t mean that,” said Cajun, and he pushed away his watery mojito. “Let’s get back to the shuttle. We can rustle up the crew in the mornin’.”

“What about Malmorfadin? What if…” She burped quietly into her hand. “What if he can’t find us?” She laughed suddenly. “I said Malmorfadin! I meant Malmorf… Madan.”

“Ya don’t need to worry about that, tonight.” Cajun booked a cab, paid their bill, and propped himself under Casey’s shoulder. She draped her arm across his back.

As they moved, Casey leaned over and whispered, “You know, I have a secret.” Tapping her head, she asked, “Do you want to know what it is?”

“Ya not really Casey? Or April and you, ya not really cousins—which is essentially two ways o’ sayin’ the same thing, when ya think about it.”

“That’s right! How did you…?” She stopped in her tracks, looking overly concerned. Closing her eyes, she stumbled as she grimaced. “Of course, because I already told you, but… But I was joking before.”

“I know,” said Cajun. “But this time ya bein’ serious.”

Casey gasped. “You can’t tell anyone!” Her eyes bounced as she struggled to track him, and she swayed steeply.

Cajun steadied her. “Come on. Ya’ll gon’ be fine after the hangover.”

“I don’t want a hangover.”

“Don’t ya worry, now. I’ll brew ya somethin’ to fight it. Exit’s this way, mon Capitaine. Our cab’ll be here in two minutes.” Patiently, he guided Casey from the bar.

Outside, rain surged in sheets over a weathered parking lot, scattered cars, a row of motorcycles, and the corrugated steel awning overhead. Beyond the lot, vast stretches of waterlogged scrublands sprawled under the darkness of the night. In the distance, lights twinkled from a half-dozen residence towers.

Arriving right on time, an automated taxi rolled into view, and they climbed inside.

◆◆◆

“You guys ready?” asked Orin. He shouldered his backpack, wearing an excited smile as he greeted the morning.

“Just about,” said Malmoradan. “Our first stop is Horseshoe Point, where we’ll be meeting Casey’s driver. That’s a three-hour cab ride from here, and I ain’t got any idea where her driver’s taking us after that. Could be a secluded ravine, or it could be a snowy mountaintop. So, you know… pack accordingly, I guess.”

“I’d never even heard of Horseshoe Point before this morning,” said Mike. “Which is saying something, because I take pride in knowing all the out-of-the-way places around here.”

“Well, it is a clandestine rendezvous,” said April. She paused to glance out the apartment window. Faded shade sails soaked the muted sunrise, and they painted a blurred kaleidoscope on the tower’s inner walls. With a sleepy smile, she stretched and returned to packing.

“Look! There’s acres and acres of farmland between here and there,” said Shona, and she swiped through the street view of the cab route. “Horseshoe Point’s in the middle of the forest, too. Are we gonna have time to get some pie and coffee while we’re there?”

“We’ll have about an hour to wander around,” said Malmoradan.

“Good, because I’m starting to develop a thing for forest-town diner food,” said Shona.

Malmoradan raised his brow. “By my count, this’ll be the second forest town you’ve ever been in.”

“I know! I can’t wait to see it,” said Shona.

“Where was the other one?” asked Mike.

“A small logging town on planet Ryliah’s northwestern strand, where we nabbed that rogue exo,” said April. “What was it called? It’s on the tip of my tongue.”

“Sik Moyís,” said Shona. “I’ll never forget it. They had the most amazing trees I’ve ever seen!”

Their lighthearted banter continued while they finished packing, and Torsha stepped close to Orin. “You’re coming to Cavern Lake when you get back. Okay? You have to.” She hugged him tightly.

He ran his hand over the top of her head. “I promise.”

“You have to say the whole thing, or it’s not a real promise,” said Torsha.

Orin smiled warmly. “I promise I’ll come to Cavern Lake as soon as I’m back.”

“And Mike too. And Nimbus when he’s better.”

“I don’t think they’ll need any convincing,” said Orin.

“Well, if they do,” said Torsha.

“I promise I’ll do my best.”

She leaned into him, pressing her face against his chest, and her ears relaxed. “I changed my mind. You’re not allowed to go back up there. You have to stay with me, now.”

“All right then,” said Orin, and he laughed quietly. “I’ll let the others know.”

“Good,” said Torsha, and she yawned.

“Our ride’s almost here,” said Mike, and he lightly tapped Orin’s shoulder. “We have to go.”

“Yeah, I know.” Stepping back, Orin drew a deep breath and smiled wistfully at Torsha. “See you in a million years.”

She gazed into his eyes. “See you in a million years.”

He tightened his backpack straps. With a nod, he followed the others out onto the footpath. Under the mantle of an overcast morning, they descended the stairs to ground level.

◆◆◆

Limestone mountains stood vigil along the horizon. Kissed by the dying sunlight, they twinkled like newly fallen snow. A wide valley traced the rain shadow expanse, etched by centuries of howling wind. Cactus trees, spore towers, and inselbergs cast long silhouettes.

On the valley floor, plumes of dust kicked up behind a weathered, off-road pickup. Seated in the truck bed, Orin, Shona, and Malmoradan huddled around the roll bars, watching the desert scroll by. Orin wore a souvenir ball cap and truck stop mirror shades, and bandanas covered their mouths. They bounced with every stone, every rise, and every drop the pickup drove over.

Inertia pressed them toward the cabin as the pickup truck slowed. Brakes complained as the vehicle came to a full stop, and the driver let the engine idle. Sliding open the rear cabin window, he met Malmoradan’s eyes and nodded.

Malmoradan pulled down his bandana. “Thanks for the ride.”

“Sorry it took so long,” said the driver.

“They call ‘em surprise checkpoints for a reason,” said Malmoradan. “You found a way around, and we’re grateful.”