Miami Days and Truscan (28 page)

The wind roared closer and was the last sound I heard until I came to, right back on the bed furs from which we’d departed.

I lay still a few seconds with my eyes closed, getting my balance back and was just about to open my eyes when I heard it.

“Man, what a
RUSH
!” Carlos exclaimed.

I bolted upright and pushed to my feet, a little handicapped by being handcuffed to Dalph, but not that much, as he was on his feet as quickly as I was.

I didn’t think; I just attacked, much as I’d assaulted Dalph the morning he’d dared to suggest that I stay behind. The effect wasn’t quite the same, though, as only one fist was making contact with any part of Carlos’ body. Dalph was a lot stronger than I was and he was holding back the handcuffed fist.

“You
idiot!
I
told
you
not
to
look
! What did you think you were
doing
?! Come here, right now, look at the stones, you go
back
!”

“Dalph, will you get your wife off of me! Damn, one minute she says she’ll always love me and the next she’s trying to
kill
me!”

“Tess, enough!”

I stopped shouting. “Carlos, what have you done? Do you
know
how many people depend on Ramos International for a living? Now go back!”

“I have lots of cousins. And you always said I was the idiot who was going to bankrupt us all anyway.”

“Well, I was wrong. Now
please
go back!”

“He can’t go back, Tess. Look at the stones,” said Dalph.

The stones were quiet. There was no hum, no wind, and no dancing rainbows of color. Like the finest diamonds, they reflected only the pinpoints of light available in the cave.

“Oh, Carlos!” I said sorrowfully.

“Tess, by your own theory, if the stones hadn’t wanted me, they wouldn’t have taken me. And I knew, as soon as I heard the whole thing—they don’t need just plastique. They need a demolitions man! Sure, I got the pre-set charges, just in case I was wrong, that’s what you and Dalph are carrying, but there’s no way I could teach you guys how to use explosives in a day or two, how to know what you needed, the fuses, the timing! You need me!”

“And that’s the backpack, huh?”

“Yeah, it’s extra stuff. Including some regular dynamite, some other stuff. Even some grenades. I didn’t think I ought to carry any nitro through.”

“Well, thank the gods for that!”

“Tess, listen to me. The rest of our crazy relationship aside, you’re the only real friend I’ve had since college. Maybe even ever! I never wanted to be a business major. I never even wanted to be the heir of Ramos International! I wanted to be Indiana Jones! And for the first time in my life, I can be who I want to be, and that’s the greatest gift I could ever have! Please stop trying to ruin it. Besides, I’d have gone crazy over there.” He waved his hand back in the general direction of the stones. “Stark, staring crazy wondering what was going on, if it worked, if Trusca was safe, if
you
were safe, if Dalph survives! No offense,” he offered in Dalph’s direction, “but you’re in a high-risk job.”

What was that I’d realized about Dal? That the children destined to be leaders of the world were the loneliest of people? And Carlos, like Dal, had been raised to control an empire. I knew his grandfather; a lot less effort had gone into making sure Carlos was happy than went into Dal’s upbringing.

I sighed. “Okay, where’re the packs, these handcuffs are getting old.” I found the key and unlocked the cuffs. “So, getting back now that we have an extra person. How are we going to do it?”

“Oh, I don’t think that’s any problem,” Dalph assured me, walking to the cave entrance and issuing an ear-splitting whistle. It was only a matter of minutes before I heard the pounding hoofs and the distinctive whinnies. They’d had the cave stream for water, of course, and had managed just fine foraging on their own for a few days.

“Oh my God!” breathed Carlos, staring at them in wonder.

“But they don’t accept other riders!”

“Not by force. Pegasus will carry both of us. Talk to Andromeda, Tess. Ask her if Carlos can ride her.”

We walked up to the faltons and talked softly to them in greeting for a few seconds, and I did as instructed.

“Andromeda, we need you to help us. We have an extra rider. Would it be all right if Carlos borrowed you for the trip home? I’ll be right here, I promise.” She tossed her head and gave a snort. I couldn’t tell by the sound if she was pleased or displeased.

“Carlos, now you ask her,” ordered Dalph.

Carlos approached her slowly, not so much out of caution as from awe, and reached up to touch her head. “
Tu es muy hermosa, si
?” He continued speaking softly in liquid Spanish, and she tossed her head up and down and whickered softly.

“Is that a yes?” I whispered to Dalph.

“I think so, yes. We’ll have to see about finding Carlos a falton when we get back.”

I started in surprise. “Not even Johnny rides a falton!”

“That’s because he can’t, not because I wouldn’t give him one. You know it’s a mutual partnership. Johnny’s not comfortable with them. Carlos is a true horseman, he should have his own.”

We collected the gear, distributing the weights, and got ready to mount and head back, but before we mounted, Dalph turned and addressed Carlos directly and very seriously.

“As Tess said, neither of us will ever be able to thank you for what you did for us while we were in your world. And while I agree with you that if the stones had not intended for you to come through the door, they wouldn’t have taken you, you must realize fully that this is another world, very different from yours. There’s always danger here, and it’s not the same kind that you’re used to. Things are about to become worse than they’ve ever been in many years of very bad. So you have to listen and learn. If I or Johnny or one of my men or Tess—who has learned much in the two months she’s been here—or even my young son, tell you to do or not do something, you must listen to them. It’s not because we think you’re stupid or—”

“Except me,” I interjected. “I do think he’s stupid.”

“And this is different from every other day how?” Carlos asked.

Dalph sighed. “Children! Order please. No one—except Tess—thinks you’re stupid or is attempting in any way to insult you. We merely want to keep you alive long enough for you to learn to keep yourself that way. And while I appreciate your decision to come, I truly hope you will not live—or die—regretting it. Do we understand one another?”

“Completely.” He turned to me. “Am I supposed to say ‘Your Majesty’ or something over here?”

“Do that and I’ll knock you down,” Dalph assured him.

We mounted and set out, the blood of Truscan kings who had guarded a country for centuries riding with the blood of a pure American mongrel who’d fought for everything she’d ever had. And Carlos rode beside us, carrying the blood of the Spanish Conquistadores who’d conquered the known worlds of Earth, another American knight called to join the Truscan Round Table.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

It took us several days longer to get back to Trussa; the faltons didn’t appear bothered by the extra weight, but the packs were awkward and Dalph didn’t want to push them. Besides, we had an extra man, it had taken us longer to get to the stones than we’d anticipated, and the food supply was running a tad low. Dalph stopped before dusk every day in enough time to hunt, so there was fresh meat, reminiscent of rabbit. I wouldn’t have been thrilled about that back on earth, but it was amazing how your mindset changed when there was no corner grocery store.

Time did appear to be slightly off-kilter between the worlds; it appeared that Dalph had missed a Truscan full moon completely, as only a red quarter-moon appeared in the night sky. The timing couldn’t have been better as that gave us time to get back to Trussa to ready the Tornans for the ultimate spy mission I tried not to think about.

The micro-fleece was a miracle and I didn’t shiver a bit during the Badass nights. Even Dalph, long accustomed to the down-side of riding harsh country, appreciated the extra comfort. Carlos, of course, had included micro-fleece in his own backpack, along with the extra plastique, dynamite and grenades. In retrospect, I should have known he was planning to jump straight into the color-filled winds when I first saw him sling that pack over his back.

Finally, we halted the faltons on a high hill overlooking the capital, and Carlos gazed for the first time on the glowing, white stones of Trussa.

“Oh—my—God!”
He breathed.

“Welcome to Camelot,” I said. “Truscan style.”

We urged the faltons forward, and I heard the shouts go up from the gate guards, the sounds of the ropes and pulleys as the gates slowly rose.

“Trusca vite! Trusca vite!”

“What?” asked Carlos.

“Trusca comes. Dalph
is
Trusca.”

I didn’t worry about the language barrier. Bilingual since birth, Carlos would undoubtedly surpass my current Truscan expertise within a few weeks.

The faltons ran through the gates and down the cobbled streets, into the Courtyard where the crowd was amassing. Truscans poured out of doors and buildings in greeting, but there was only one figure Dalph and I were looking for. He came running out the main doors of the Rata, arms outstretched, alternately yelling “Abba! Tess! Abba! Tess!”

We dismounted quickly, heading toward him, and met in the middle of the Courtyard, Dalph and I falling to our knees so that three sets of arms could encircle each other. Dalph stood, actually picking him up in his arms for a few moments, before setting him back down and turning to the crowd.

“Truscans!” he shouted over the roar of the crowd, which quickly hushed to hear the returning King.

“The stones have called to tell us that Kruska’s time is done! No longer will Pria hold the world in terror! I pledge you this on my life!” He turned back from the crowd, currently going wild, gently nudging Dal forward and herding us all back toward the main doors.

I finally caught sight of Johnny, who, if I wasn’t mistaken, appeared to be wiping under one of his eyes. I ran forward and grabbed him.

“Damn, girl, it’s good to see you two! And this would be?” He gestured back toward Carlos.

“That would be Carlos Ramos of Ramos International.”

Johnny’s head jerked. “Well, I bet there was a hot time in the ole’ town
that
night!”

“Oh, they’re a real Mutual Admiration Society,” I assured him. “I sort of gave you the wrong impression about Carlos. Apparently, I didn’t know him nearly as well as I thought I did.”

“Well, I guess not, if he’s here alive and Dalph ain’t killed him! C’mon, let’s get you inside. Kiera’s too short to see over the crowd and she’s foaming at the bit.”

I laughed. Kiera towered over me, but I suppose in the press of Truscan men, she would be at a disadvantage. I looked back, and Dalph and Carlos were closing in on us, Dal talking rapidly non-stop. He quieted when they got to us.

“Carlos, I see you’ve met our son?” I asked, reaching my hand out to Dal, who abandoned his father and pressed himself against my side.

“Abba says the stones sent him, Tess. I thought only Trusca’s Stone was calling!”

“Be patient, we can’t tell you everything in two minutes. Let’s go in.”

The crowd parted, allowing us passage, and Kiera stood beaming in the doorway. At least she was beaming until she saw me.

“
Your hair!”
she wailed. “Are you
never
to leave your poor hair alone?!”

“You’ll get used to it, Kiera,” I said, enveloping her in an exuberant hug. She hugged me back and caught sight of Dalph.

“
By the sword of Trusco!
” she wailed louder. “Not since the beginning of time—”

Dalph laughed and took his own hug.

“This
is
the beginning of time, Aunt! A new time!” I started; Dalph had never referred to her as such before, and then I did recall Johnny telling me that Kiera was Dalph’s half-aunt. Dalph continued, “Kiera, Johnny, the family room, and we’ll take a few minutes to catch you up. Can you send to the kitchens, please? It’s been a long ride.”

Kiera, flustered and bustling as always, called for Saraya, issuing orders like a general in battle, and in a very few minutes, we all gratefully sank into the comfortable couches and chairs of the family room, cold drinks in hand and the equivalent of earth’s finger-food spread out on the low tables, though it didn’t last long as the three of us rushed the trays, stuffing food into our mouths as though we were starving, which we really weren’t—quite—but nothing made one appreciate fresh food as much as a week-plus camping trip.

“Now I know how you felt when you first smelled that pizza, Tess!” Carlos mumbled through his full mouth. First appetite satisfied, he turned and looked around the room, the portraits which comprised the equivalent of a family photo gallery. “Your family, Dalph? Your mother, she must have loved you all very much.”