Walk On Mountains - Chapter Eleven

Grydin watched as Marienda walked from one end of their small room to the other, then back again. The sheets fell to his waist as he sat up in bed and studied her.  Although her stride hinted at some inner conflict, he could not deny that her movements were graceful and had a definite aphrodisiac effect.  Had he not been so tired from the previous evening, he would have grabbed her hand on the next pass and…he blinked, dragging his mind back to the woman pacing in front of him. “Something wrong?”1

Marienda looked at him. “No.”2

“So you are pacing for no particular reason?”3

She stopped and faced him.  “I just…I’ve never not been able to see outside whenever I wanted.”4

“Ahhh.”  Grydin nodded his head in understanding.  “The mountain can feel claustrophobic at times.  That’s one of the reasons Dorran and Yanuia go for a walk about a week after we close the door.”5

“They go outside?” she asked, confused.  “Wouldn’t they freeze?”6

“It doesn’t get unbearable for a few more weeks,” he told her.  “Right now, it’s merely considered to be damn cold.” He gave her a small smile.  “Good thing they go for their walk, because that’s how they found me.”7

Marienda crossed the room and sat on his lap.  “Remind me to thank them.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders.  “But how do they get back in?”8

“There’s a manual code on the outside of the door that they use to get in.” He paused as he remembered something.  “Actually, there is also a window on the door, so you can see out whenever you want.”9

~~~~~~~~~~10

Dorran tripped as he ran along the path, and was already running again before he made it completely to his feet. His breath echoed in his ears as he sucked in large amounts of the frigid air.11

“Go!” he told his mate. “Punch in the code, get the door open, and get inside.”12

Yanuia turned once to look at him then spun back to continue running.  “I’m not leaving you!”13

“Get inside,” he told her.  “I’ll head down to the valley and lose them.  I’ll be fine.”  He stumbled as energy hit him from behind and fell to his knees in shock.  His eyes grew wide as he watched Yanuia skid to a stop.  “Go!” he yelled as he lifted his hand and propelled her towards the safety of the door.  His amulet faded back to normal as he slowly got to his feet.14

He could hear the running footsteps behind him, and turned towards the valley.  Another energy blast hit him, and he slipped down the incline, using the momentum to roll further.  His head snapped up as he heard Yanuia scream in surprise.15

Spurred into action, he quickly climbed to where he had been, silently cursing the dark, not wanting to illuminate his way so he could approach unnoticed.  He knew they wouldn’t kill his mate immediately, and he knew she wouldn’t give them access to the mountain regardless of what they threatened.16

What had started out as a tradition for the two of them had turned dangerous on the return journey when they noticed numerous lights coming over the top of the mountain.  They had been spotted, and by the voice that yelled at them, Dorran knew that they had to run.17

Isiru was dangerous, and she wouldn’t be traveling to their side of the mountain unless it was for nefarious reasons. The only reason he could think of as he climbed was that she intended to make it beyond the door, and the two men with her made it obvious that she planned to wreak havoc. 18

He ducked as they came into view, four figures lit by the dull glow of the lamps three held.  He could make out Yanuia’s form as she sat on the cold ground, anger on her face as she tried to struggle against the invisible grip she seemed to be in.19

Dorran took a few seconds to weigh his options.  He could let his energy act as a vacuum, and take the life force from one of them, but his mate was also in his line of vision, and he didn’t want to chance hurting her by mistake.  There was no way he could get into the mountain for help, since they were standing right outside the main door.  He went with the only option he felt he had left.20

Standing, he concentrated while raising his hands, and sent energy in a one-two punch at the two larger figures, them automatically swung for the silhouette of Isiru.  He smiled tightly as Yanuia sprung to her feet and scurried towards him, grabbing for his hand at the same time something hit her back.  She fell to the ground as he jumped for her, only to be frozen in place by one of the large men he had hit.21

“Bring them back up here,” Isiru ordered as she picked herself up from the ground.  She brushed the dirt from her clothes as she waited, then smiled bitterly as the two were brought before her.22

“I need you to deliver a message for me,” she said and smiled sweetly at Dorran.  He returned her stare evenly.  “The message is…” she place a hand on his chest and looked into his eyes, “this.”23

Yanuia could only stare in horror as Isiru’s pendant started glowing red.  Her eyes went to her lover’s face, and she felt tears escape as she watch the life disappear from his eyes.  He used whatever energy he had left to glance her way, and as he held her gaze, memories of the two of them flashed through her mind.24

Their first time together, him helping to guide her through learning her energy, the nights of endless passion, the love she would carry for eternity...all seemed to vanish into the dark sky.25

Isiru smiled in content as she stepped back, watching with mild interest as Dorran’s lifeless body collapsed onto the cold, hard ground.  Her pendant seemed to burn a deep red as she turned to Yanuia and leaned in close.26

“I didn’t need your code to get in” she whispered.  “All new people have a temporary code……right?”  She smiled sweetly as she stepped back.  She turned, then stopped as she thought of something else to say.  “Oh, yeah,” she said as she faced Yanuia again.  Instead of talking, she pulled her arm back, then followed through with punching Yanuia in the face with her fist.  “I never liked you.”27

Isiru turned to the door and entered the code she had memorized so long ago. 28

~~~~~~~~~~29

“So, what is there to do while locked up?”30

Grydin smiled slightly at her choice of words.  “There are projects you can do…agriculture, building, anything you want, actually.”  He smiled at a person who walked by them in the tunnel.  “In fact, you could help me…if you don’t think it will be too boring.”31

Marienda looked at him as they walked around the last corner before the cavern where most people seemed to congregate for the evening.  “With what?”32

“Dorran and I are going to check out the possibilities of using solar power to supplement the thermal energy the equipment runs on.”33

“Wheee,” she said in a less than enthusiastic tone as they walked through the empty cavern.  “Any other options?”34

Grydin stopped walking as he neared the opposite opening.   He grabbed her hand and twirled her into his embrace.  “Well…I wouldn’t mind spending the entire dark cycle in bed, lying under you.”35

Marienda ran her hands over his biceps.  “That’s a project that I can really get into.  You have my full support.”  She glanced behind him as a movement caught her attention, and felt a frightening shock run through her. 36

Grydin started as her eyes went wide and turned as a wall of energy slammed into him, throwing him half way across the chamber.  He hit the ground hard on his left side and stared at the people entering as his vision faded around the edges. With every nerve ending feeling like it was on fire, Grydin moaned as he rolled onto his stomach. He put one shaky leg out and tried to stand, but ended up back on the ground when his body wouldn’t cooperate.37

Marienda tried to move as Isiru turned to her, but found she couldn’t.  The man beside Isiru lowered his hand, releasing Marienda from the energy hold, and she barely had time to realize it before Isiru’s amulet glowed red and she too was thrown across the room.  Pain seemed to be everywhere as she landed on the ground, and she blinked as everything dissolved to black. 38

In the few seconds it took the events to unfold, Grydin struggled to pick himself up. He got to his knees as a figure approached and his amulet glowed as he weakly shoved the person away.  Pain slammed into his side and he could feel something pop as a booted foot kicked him over onto his back. The same booted foot landed on his chest and pushed as the air left him again.  Isiru bent down quickly as his amulet glowed white, and jammed a finger against a pressure point just below and slightly under his rib cage.  Grydin’s body started to tingle as numbness set in.39

Isiru’s head whipped up as a startled scream echoed through the chamber, and sent a wall of energy at the unlucky person who had innocently walked into the cavern.40

“Get her out of here before anyone else comes,” she ordered the men behind her.41

Grydin couldn’t move and watched helplessly as Marienda was swung over a broad shoulder and carried away.  His eyes flicked back to Isiru, not understanding why her amulet was fading from red, something in the back of his mind trying to tell him the reason why.  He tried to concentrate on inner energy, but nothing would surface.42

“Imagine running into you here,” Isiru said sweetly as she placed a foot on his chest, smiling as she saw the pain in his eyes that the contact produced.  She moved her foot and bent down, landing on him hard with her knee.  Any air he had since gotten left again.  “He wants to see you,” she said, knowing that he would realize whom she was talking about. “Since you ignored his last invitation, he decided to make sure you’d come this time.”43

All his energy was focused on breathing, but he understood what she had said…and what she had not said.  If he didn’t show up, then Marienda would be killed.  He blinked and tried to stay conscious as she ran her hands over his chest.44

“Mmmm…perfect.” She smiled at the hatred in his gray eyes. 45

His insides churned in disgust at the feel of her hands on him, a sensation made more intense by the tingling numbness that blanketed his body.  Every touch felt like little knives being rubbed against his skin.  His mind flashed to the fact that he had once taught Isiru that specific nerve jab years ago so she could protect herself if needed.  It affected a central nerve, instantly making ones body feel like it was ‘asleep’.46

“You got a week, so…guess I’ll be seeing you later,” she said, then bent down and kissed him hard on the lips. “For old times sake,” she said when finished, then jammed her finger once again on his pressure point.  She tossed a piece of paper onto his chest, then stood slightly above him and motioned down with her palm, delivering an energy punch to Grydin’s head.47

~~~~~~~~~~48

The throbbing in Marienda’s head seemed to match the rhythm of her body as it bounced on broad shoulders, her teeth doing an excellent job of chattering in the synchronized melody of her horrible predicament.49

Even if she hadn’t been held in place by two strong arms, she wouldn’t have tried to escape.  The lamps her captors carried provided the only light she could see, and she knew she would become hopelessly lost if she managed to get away.  There had to be a reason she had been taken, and until she knew what it was, she tired to tell herself not to panic.  50

She closed her eyes at the memory of Grydin being thrown across the cavern, and commanded herself not to cry.  She opened her eyes again, startle to see that she was lying on a floor in a small room.  Moaning as she sat up, she jumped as the door suddenly flew open and one of the men who had taken her walked in.51

“Come with me,” he said as he grabbed her by the arm, pulling her to her feet.52

“A simple please would have worked,” Marienda mumbled as she was shoved through the door and down a short hallway.  She entered a small cavern, suddenly nervous as the people there turned to look.  Her attention was immediately drawn to a man who sat in a chair on a slightly raised area situated at the front of the crowd.  She knew that he was probably the Pontage that she had heard about, and studied  him in the few moments it took her to be pushed to an area on the floor before him.53

Where as Grydin had a warm sexual presence that she wanted to wrap her legs around nightly, the man in front of her radiated sensual magnetism that could not be ignored.  His skin was a rich brown, his hair a shade darker, and cut close to his scalp.  His eyes were piercing, and seemed to see into her as he looked her over.  His smile was charming.  54

“Grydin always did have good taste,” he admitted, his voice a rich baritone.  He looked at the woman holding Marienda’s arm.  “Any problems?”55

“Ran into Dorran and Yanuia during their yearly walk,” Isiru said.  “Knocked the little bitch out, and took Dorran from her.”56

He looked at her, than shrugged. “Pity…I kind of liked him.” 57

“And Grydin was there.”58

He sat straighter in his seat.  “Where is he?”59

“Tossed him across the chamber, told him that you wanted to see him.”  She looked at Marienda with a smirk.  “He’s still a fabulous kisser.”60

Marienda ignored her, keeping her gaze on Pontage.  She knew she would be safe at least until Grydin came for her, and she saw no reason to get herself injured by giving into anger.  This was something she could handle; this was something she had been trained for.  For now she would watch, listen and wait.61

Although it would take all of her training and self-restraint to keep from trying to kill Isiru.  She blinked, trying to hold back the emotions of the loss of Dorran. She had liked him from the start.62

“Throw her into a better room,” Pontage said, interrupting her thoughts, “and make sure she’s looked after until Grydin gets here.”  He laughed.  “It’ll be interesting to see how far he’ll go before he gives up her life for his.”63

The rest of the people laughed, and Marienda had to clap down on the nauseous feeling it inspired.64