Chapter 513: The Pull Of Ameline
I spent the remainder of the day with Ram in tow, following the pull of Ameline. There were several times we were forced to hide from approaching Guards and dodge fights still breaking out all over Ilogabon, simply blending in with the rest of the fleeing populace in most cases.
I had no idea what Ameline was up to, but she led me on a labyrinth chase all over the hideous city, and I began to wonder as the largest suns set if she'd somehow managed to trick Ahbi's power into following a false trail while our quarry eluded us and escaped.
Ram finally pulled me to a halt when yet another tug ended up in a dead end alley.
"Your method is getting us nowhere," he said, holding up his hands in defense as I spun on him with a snarl.
"You try following the geas of a dead demon Ruler," I snapped.
Ram bowed his head with a little smile. "I'm not faulting you, Princess," he said. "But something is clearly making our job harder. Might I suggest something?"
"Go ahead." I stomped one foot before crossing my arms over my chest, lips pulled down into a frown as my frustration grew. "But it better be good."
"No promises." He risked life and limb by sliding one arm around my waist and steering me out into the street again. "I have friends close by," he said. "Let's just check in and see if we can locate Leader. If not, we'll keep looking for your Ameline."
"She's not my Ameline," I said. "Fine, whatever. Except you're forgetting an important detail, Ram."
"I'm not," he said, eyes narrowing as his arm tightened around me. "I'm acutely aware someone has been alerting the Guards of our locations. Someone inside the rebellion."
"If you can't trust your people," I said, strolling with him as though we were a happy couple on a nice walk, "why are we contacting them?"
"We have no other options, in case you've forgotten." Ram led me by his grip down a set of stairs and to a door. Why was it always underground? The rebellion was taking the whole down-low thing a little far in my opinion. "Unless you'd rather go back to wandering aimlessly while your grandmother's spirit tries to narrow our choices?"
Grumble, snarl, sigh.
Instead of a rebel hideaway, Ram led me into what looked like a bar, the alluring scent of nectar and more delicious food in the air. I'd lost the bag of goodies I'd been given back in the ambush and my stomach was rumbling. Ram grinned, found us a seat in the corner, ordered dinner and disappeared, leaving me to pay with more of the cube coins. The server plucked a largish square from my palm with a wink and a smile, telling me immediately I'd been had, but it served Ram right for abandoning me. He rejoined me, winced when I handed him back his remaining money.
"You don't know Demonicon currency," he said.
"My, you're brilliant today," I answered sweetly. "Where's your friend?"
"He'll be along," Ram said as the server delivered our food. A quick flash of magic and a grim stare and his change magically appeared before him while the young demon boy flushed and trotted off.
"Bully," I said, helping myself to a bowl of green stew that looked horrid but smelled like turkey dinner and cranberries.
Ram just waggled his eyebrows at me, mouth full of a large chunk of pale pink bread.
We'd barely finished our meal, my body sighing in happiness as I sat back with fresh water to rinse it down when a handsome young demon slid through the growing crowd and approached our table with a wide smile. I watched him carefully, eyes scanning the low-ceilinged room as the noise grew louder with the addition of more patrons. Dim light kept the place intimate, the bar now packed with demons drinking nectar. I had a feeling we wouldn't want to be staying much past our present time, considering how quickly the gathering grew and consumed the addictive drink.
Bar fight pending, anyone?
Ram, meanwhile, embraced the arrival, slapping him heartily on the back before gesturing for him to join us. New boy had wide eyes, a jaw like a brick wall and a stocky build reminding me of a wrestler. Almost a head shorter than Ram, his friend's open, genuine smile had me smiling back.
"Syd," Ram said, "this is Mensahammel. Mensa, this is Syd."
Mensa bowed his head, still smiling. "Nice to meet you." He turned to Ram, grin fading a little. "I heard you were on duty in Ostrogotho. I take it something came up?"
Ram glanced at me. "You could say that," he said. "Can we go somewhere private?"
Mensa surged to his feet, all enthusiasm and happiness. "Come on," he said. "Mum will be happy to see you."
Before I could protest going home to meet his mother, Ram shook his head, though he stood as well. I copied him as Ram leaned close and whispered something in Mensa's ear. From the growing width of his eyes and the gaping expression he wore as he stared at me, skin paling, I figured Ram finally filled his friend in on who I was.
"Um, yes. Okay. Yes." Mensa bobbed another nod to me, almost bowed, caught himself as Ram grabbed his elbow.
Are you sure this is a good idea? I watched Mensa carefully as the boy practically stumbled over himself.
Just give him a minute, Ram snapped. He's not used to this kind of thing.
Nice to drop our mess on a friend's lap, I shot back.
He's the only one I know I can trust. Ram glared and I glared and Mensa stared so long I knew we'd draw attention if we didn't smarten up.
"Let's take a walk." I reached out and took Mensa's hand with what I hoped was a reassuring smile. "We have so much to talk about."
With Ram on one side and myself on the other, Mensa managed to move with some confidence back through the crowd and into the street. A small transport waited outside the door, which the young demon immediately approached. He flinched a little as he gestured to it. "I know somewhere," he whispered so loudly they would have heard him in the bar. "But we have to fly."
Ram patted him on the back. "We make do," he said, glowing eyes fixed on me.
Yeah. Two-seater. Just lovely.
I would have protested. Hell, left the two of them behind. But I had no choices. Ahbi's power grumbled, but the pull felt fractured, unfocused. With no way of tracking Ameline, knowing she'd done something to distort the geas, it was either trust Ram's friend or nothing.
And yet, that meant...
He'd better keep his hands to himself.
I sank into Ram's lap, turned sideways, unable to get comfortable until I wound my arm around his neck. Mensa took the controls in his nervous hands, the bubble of shielding popping in and out of stability a few times before he pulled himself together.
Is he safe to fly? My nerves had enough for one disaster, thanks.
He's the best pilot I know, Ram sent. Just give him a break, all right? He's had a rough night.
He's had a rough night. I kicked him solidly in the leg with the heel of my boot as Ram's left arm wound around my waist, his right hand settling in between my thighs. Yours is about to get worse if you don't watch it, buddy.
Ram's mental voice laughed. We'll see about that, he sent.
A short trip later and we were soaring out of Ilogabon, heading for the grasslands beyond. The transport dipped low as, good to his word, Ram's friend expertly flew us close to the ground, skimming the tall stalks as we fled to the east and the darkening horizon.
"Not far now," Mensa said, cheery again.
"The pits, I take it?" Ram's arm tightened.
"Our regional leader decided to take advantage," Mensa said. "It's the perfect hiding place."
He's taking us to rebels? My whole body tensed.
I have to check in, Ram sent. Don't worry.
Right. I kicked him again with a scowl on my face, meeting his eyes with my own vision flaring amber as my demon rumbled her unhappiness. So when the Guards show up, you'll still be telling me not to worry?
For all we know, the traitor was in Culectorion's group, Ram sent, though he didn't sound completely convinced.
Comforting, I sent. What are the pits, anyway?
Old mining colony, he sent. Abandoned for centuries. A maze only the miners understood. It's a great place to hide.
But?
It's also a great place to get trapped.
Just. Lovely.
Too late to protest further, the little transport dipped suddenly, forcing me to grasp Ram's neck and hold on as we dove straight down. Mensa hummed a happy tune while we plunged into darkness.
In a sudden course change, the ship lurched, nose up, turning to the right, my body following, but my stomach slower to catch up. I gulped against my nausea as we took another fast turn in the pitch black, this time up and left.
"Here we go!" Mensa sounded so joyful I almost smacked him on the back of the head. I would have if I wasn't terrified hitting him would get us killed. One more solid plunge sent us plummeting toward dim, flickering lights. The transport's drop halted as the tail of it plunged to meet the nose, the vehicle coming to an abrupt almost halt, settling the last few feet as gently as a feather.
The shielding collapsed and Mensa leaped out, offering me his hand, grinning again. Demons emerged from the dimness, slowly, suspiciously, while Mensa said in his bright and happy voice, "Watch your step, Your Highness."
I glared at Ram who rolled his eyes and shrugged.
So much for anonymity, I sent.
Ram didn't answer, instead sliding his hands under me and hoisting me bodily out of the transport before exiting himself.
A tall female demon with double-curved horns and a grim expression marched to greet us. Her wide-set eyes flared a moment as she caught sight of Ram before they settled on me.
"Welcome home, Rameranselot," she said.
"Thank you, Leader Phineasoralo," he said.
"You've brought an unhappy guest." She tapped one foot on the floor, hands on her slim hips.
"We're looking for Leader," Ram said. "And don't wish to bring trouble to your branch."
She gestured for him to be quiet, shook her head. "Leader isn't in Ilogabon any longer," she said. "He's moved on to Nunaresh."
I knew that name. During our tour, my grandmother's aide Pagomaris cut our trip short, telling Ahbi Nunaresh required her attention.
"Another city," I said without thinking.
Phineasoralo fixed me with a sharp glare. "There is more to Demonicon than what your family controls, Your Highness," she said.
"Considering I don't live here," I snapped back, "I wouldn't know about that."
Her scowl deepened a moment before she nodded, relenting. "So I've heard." She glanced at Ram. "Since you're here, do you need anything?"
"Just a transport," he said. "I guess we're moving on."
A jerk from the pull made me wince. "I think Ameline's little trick has either worn off or we've cleared the influence of it." I pointed in the direction, off and up into the dark, though I had no idea which way it was.
"Nunaresh," Phineasoralo said. Hesitated. Nodded quickly. "Transport it is."
As she turned to take care of it, I felt a rush of disturbance in the air around me, my stomach clenching, a very bad feeling growing inside.
"Ram," I said, "something's coming."
I barely finished speaking when a siren sounded and all hell broke loose.
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