Mildred nodded. “If that’s what you want, I have medicine to ease your pain. And,” she added with a glance at the sec boss, “I can instruct your healer, so that she can administer it. Just to make sure.”
The ghost of a grin crossed the old man’s lips. “That is not necessary, but a revealing gesture. You should not distrust Markos. He is a good man, if headstrong. But he will learn the truth about your comrades soon enough, if they are free to show him.”
“You’ll release them?”
Barras nodded, then inclined his head toward the sec chief. “You will take Mildred and Sineta to the jail and release the prisoners. They are under the charge of my daughter. Also, find the albino and make sure he understands the situation.”
Markos breathed in heavily and slowly, as though suppressing the urge to comment, contenting himself with, “Your wishes will be complied with.”
Barras leaned back on the pillows supporting him, closing his eyes. When he spoke again, his voice seemed somehow smaller, weaker.
“Now go, all of you. I will expect to hear from you later today, Mildred.”
“You will,” Mildred affirmed.
Sineta, Mildred and Markos turned to leave, the sec boss allowing the women to precede him out the door. However, when they were outside he pushed brusquely past Mildred, muttering, “Follow me now and we will get this madness over and done with.”
Letting him move on a few paces, Mildred stayed Sineta with a hand on her arm.
“You’ve done your bit—lady, the deal is on.”
INSIDE THE JAIL, the air was no longer fresh. Even the adobe walls and the lack of windows couldn’t keep the inside of the building cool. The most crushing element was boredom. The five inhabitants found their conversation moving in ever-decreasing circles until it reached the point where all they could discuss was when Mildred or Jak would attempt to break them out. It was that or try to sleep. Even thinking was impossible. Monotonously, the subject would always return to the subject of escape. What had happened to Mildred and Jak, and why had they heard nothing from either? The air was still and humid, the latrine in the corner of the room imbuing the atmosphere with a dankness. Their bedding was hard and made good sleep impossible and, although they had been fed and watered well, there had been little opportunity to bathe. They felt sweaty, itchy and in some discomfort.
“Four people approaching,” Dean said to no one in particular.
“They’re heading straight for here, and I’m sure I just heard Jak’s voice!” Krysty exclaimed, sitting upright. Her red hair, lank with dirt, still waved around her head to indicate there was no danger in the approach.
“Jak? With others? What the fireblasted hell is this all about?” Ryan questioned rhetorically, lifting himself up into a sitting position.
They heard the footsteps and voices draw near, exchanging only the odd word, but enough to identify the sec boss Markos, Jak, and Mildred, along with a voice that none recognized.
“Millie? With Jak and the sec chief?” J.B. queried. “This is going to be interesting, if nothing else.”
They heard the lock on the door turn and click after a few barked words from the sec boss. The door was flung open. At first the sudden sharp light of the midafternoon sun was blinding and it took the companions eyes a few moments to adjust. But when their vision cleared, they could see the doorway blocked by Markos’s tall, muscular figure. Behind him, it was possible to see the confused sec guard standing with Mildred, Jak and a fine-boned, dark-skinned woman.
“You are free to go,” the sec chief said sharply.
“Say that again?” Ryan muttered.
“You are free to go. You are no longer to be held captive, but are to be freed into the care of Sineta and the sister Mildred.” He stepped back to allow them to leave.
As they stepped out into the light, Markos added, “I do not approve of this—she knows that. And I will watch you as the stooping bird watches the mouse. I am ready, should you choose to overstep any boundaries that are set for you.” With which the sec boss turned on his heel and walked off, leaving the companions alone together for the first time since their landing, and in the company of Sineta.