Marri's Approach (Brackish Bay) by Cerise Noble Read Free Book Online

and steadily. No one approached. Sweat trickled down my spine as the enclosed space grew hotter. The odor of dirty clothes was nearly suffocating, and I bit back my desire to gag. Sami handed me her pile and then oh-so-gently pushed the door farther open. Nothing. She stepped out, and I followed.
    I had just turned to hand her the clothes when she pushed me, and I ran, needing no further encouragement. Disappearing into the trees, I turned to see her struggling, pinned down by two women. Surely Sami could get out of—oh, wait. Dammit, Fortuna, this no-killing thing is a bitch. I didn't stay to watch, but instead disappeared through the forest. I took a wider circuit this time, not sure if they had seen me or just her, but eventually I made it to the tree where Dawn kept a lookout. I smacked the tree to get her attention, and she dropped to the soggy earth beside me. Her voice was practically sub vocal.
    “What in hell, Marri? You and Sami should have stayed where you were. They weren't going to that building. You could have had more time.”
    “I didn't see them, Sami did. It was very close quarters. I'm sure she made the best decision she could have.”
    “You're getting her out of there.” I glared at her a moment then returned to sorting the clothing we'd stolen and handing her a likely combination. “Krist, Marri, these reek!”
    “I know. They didn't have clean ones available. And no, I'm not going after Sami. If she's smart, she'll keep her head down and escape when she has opportunity. If she can't, I'll bargain for her when I meet with Roy in a month or so. She can survive a month. They're not that brutal here.”
    “Dammit, Marri!”
    “Shut up, Dawn! I am the leader of this patrol; I am the one who makes that decision. Now shut your mouth and do as I say, or I will tie you up and leave you for them. Then you two can plot your escape together, because I'll be done with the both of you!”
    We were standing toe to toe by the end of my whisper-snarled tirade, and despite her height advantage, I had the experience advantage, and she knew it. I curled my lip and stared her down.
    Carol showed up beside us. “Ladies, ladies. I'm sure we can all agree that getting the hell away from here should be our first order of business! Ugh, these do reek. No matter, we'll find a stream on the way. Dawn! Get your ass in gear and calm down!”
    Dawn worked her jaw and finally glanced away. I let the rest of my breath out in a gruff sound.
    “Come on. Tell Petunia we're going back to camp.”
    Zarilla wasn't any more pleased about Sami's capture than Dawn was, but she knew enough not to try to challenge me on my own mission. We settled in to wash the leathers, then laid them to dry in the fading sunlight. Supper was a fish stew that Zarilla had prepared while waiting for us, and we went to bed early, disgruntled with each other.
    The next morning we all woke early and dressed in Rari's people's clothing. Some of us were able to wear armor under it, helping it fit better. I was one of them. Petunia's was too short, however, and her armor would show, so she ended up leaving it in a bundle in a tree by the camp. This time the mission included Zarilla.
    We walked towards the road, then cut southeast in an attempt to follow the slant of the river while staying far enough out to not run into any of Roy's soldiers in the woods. Every hour or so, one of us climbed a tree to check for the outpost. We planned to enter far south, as it was the farthest from Rari's homestead, and it was my hope that her people would be less known individually.
    Zarilla pointed out that I would be more obvious there, since it was closer to where I had come ashore, so I bound up my hair in one of Carol's leaf-patterned scarves and padded the vest with one of my camp sheets, wrapping the corners to cover the tattoo on my shoulder.
    We approached the gate as a group, striding steadily but not too uniformly. We weren't trying to look like soldiers. The guards