Page 87 of When Eden Falls

“Very well.” Havav stood up, releasing an irritated sigh. “You have your wish, commander. I suggest you leave tomorrow after sunrise.”

C h a p t e rT w e n t y – F o u r

“And when, exactly, were you gonna tell us you’ve lost all contact with Troy?” Zamya folded her arms across her chest, her tone of voice both angry and distraught. I noticed Cora’s face pale as she took in the statement. My heart pained for her.

Rooke pushed his fingers through his short hair and sighed. He felt ashamed, as did I. “When I thought it was necessary.”

“Which is now?”

“Yes.”

“Because you want to justify why we’re leaving the safety of the fortress to find our ship somewhere in the wilderness?”

“If we want to get home, we need the ship, Zam. Without it we can’t communicate with anyone who can help us.”

“When did you last have contact?” Oz asked, clutching his laser rifle. It was apparent he had been kept in the dark as well.

“Twenty-one days ago.”

Zamya cursed. “So, we only have eleven days before Troy returns to Allura. If he’s there at all.”

Rooke nodded.

“Great!”

“We have time.”

Zamya thrusted her arms in the air. “To find the ship in the depths of a giant forest!”

“Before Troy went dark, he supplied information of an area where an unknown satellite signal is transmitting from. And that’s where we’re aiming to look.”

Zamya cursed again. “The dropship option really seemed like the better choice right now.”

“The dropship was not an option!” snapped Kobe. Adjusting his backpack, he stalked ahead, through the iron gate, down the windswept corridor leading to the springs.

“He’s right, Zam,” Rooke said, a frown forming across his brow.

Zamya held her palms up and began to walk after Kobe. “Just don’t talk to me right now.” Oz and Cora followed, and I heard Rooke’s huff of despair beside me.

Swinging my large backpack over my shoulders, I clipped the harness together across my stomach. “We’re all behind you, Rooke. Even Zamya.” I squeezed his arm and marched along the stone walkway, glancing through the open arches at the rocks and waves hundreds of metres below. I was scared. The whole situation felt out of control. But I had to support Rooke and his choices. Choices that couldn’t have been easy to make.

Waiting for us in the gloom at the opposite end of the walkway was Dybgo, fully dressed in dark armour and shin-high boots. He stood next to an open doorway to the left. I’d been to the springs several times during my stay. Never once had I noticed this door merged into the shadows of the rockface.

Ducking under the jagged rock ceiling, I stepped through the opening. A couple of metres ahead, an iron gate stood open, currently flanked by two Akquarian warriors, dressed in the same attire as their general. A set of worn, stone steps, moulded into grass and soil, ascended to a pale blue sky full of white swirling clouds.

I rounded the top step and discovered an expanse of green fields rolling down towards a dense, succulent forest. The trees spread for miles, sweeping the hills and mountain peaks beyond. Behind me, the edge of the sheer cliff face dropped to the rocks below, sectioning the enormous fortress off from the mainland. Only the slither of rock, forming the covered walkway to and from the springs, connected the two.

As the wind whipped at my skin, stinging my cheeks, I heard the iron gate being hauled shut at the bottom of the steps. Rooke and Dybgo emerged from the ground, exchanging a few words, while the two Akquarian warriors followed behind.

I began to trudge down the dew-covered hill, noting how many Akquarians were with us. I counted ten, including Dybgo and Llexzus. All armed with long spears, curving swords, and an array of daggers. Created by layers of leather which imitated fish scales, they were dressed in pristine, dark green armour, protecting the full extent of their torso. Thicker flaps protected their shoulders and pelvis. Their legs were covered with leather trousers and boots.

In poor comparison, the crew wore our light blue Solarfleet uniforms, consisting of a T-shirt, combat pants, a navy-blue jacket, and black boots. It gave us protection against the elements, but not against any weapons or fangs we may potentially face.

I tapped the gun wedged into the back of my belt, then clutched at the golden dagger hanging at my hip. I had a feeling I would be using these over the next few days. And I wasn’t convinced it would be solely because of the Igknamai.

After walking for most of the day, we retired on a narrow verge, jutting out the side of one of the towering rockfaces in the depths of the forest. The area was high enough to be used as a viable lookout point, but low enough for our small campfires not to cause unwanted attention.

The Akquarians provided us with a fish dinner. The sun had set a while ago, and as we sat in groups around three small fires, we ate in silence. The whole crew had been unusually quiet all day. Zamya was still fuming from the information Rooke and I kept from her regarding Troy. Cora, too, had kept her distance, absorbed in her own thoughts. I’d noticed her cheeks drenched with tears on a couple of occasions, her eyes red and puffy. I didn’t know what to say or do. I couldn’t erase the fact I’d lied to her.