Yaliana

Chapter 1-4

On the fourth day, the boss called the squad leaders together.

“I need your help,” Boss Wakuma said. “Ulissa has disappeared, and the only possible explanation is she has gone outside.”

Everyone murmured in concern. That Boss Wakuma could possibly think that Ulissa had gone outside the walls meant the whole base had been turned upside down and she hadn’t been found.

“We found that some of the stores of field rations have also disappeared,” Boss Wakuma continued. “That, plus enough supplies to survive for a week. We think she is trying to reach the nearest compound from here.”

“That’s impossible,” Gevery spoke up. “No one has ever stayed that long in the field.”

“That’s why I need you to go out and look for her,” Boss Wakuma said. “If there’s a chance she is still alive, I want her found.”

“What if she refuses to come back with us?” asked Yaliana. “She must have run away for a reason.”

Boss Wakuma looked grave for a moment. “Yes, I was pushing for her to marry Xavier Escazi, one of the younger sons of the Escazi Corporation. But I have reconsidered. I have seen the error of my actions, and I just want my daughter home safe.” He paused, taking a deep breath, clenching and unclenching his fists, as if on the verge of an outburst of emotion. “If you find her, you can tell her I won’t ask her to marry against her will.”

This sounded complicated to Yaliana, but she stayed quiet. She felt a clench in her chest at the thought that Ulissa was in harm’s way, and the thought that she could be dead sent a thrill of fear through her.

She remembered Ulissa as a quiet, shy girl, who never talked to the knights, keeping her head down whenever she passed by. So to think that she had gotten up the nerve not only to defy her father, but to run away into the jungle, was incredible.

Ulissa had jade green eyes speckled with brown, and dreadlocks, which she kept neatly tied back. Yaliana thought she was pretty, but of course, she had no chance with the boss’ daughter, no way, no how. Yaliana was smart enough for an ordinary knight, but she was nowhere near the intelligence of someone like Ulissa, who studied all the time. She wouldn’t challenge her enough. Besides, there was no way that Ulissa’s father would approve of a lowly knight approaching his princess.

As soon as they were dismissed, all the knights began preparations for an expedition into the jungle. They powered up armour, stockpiled weapons, put supplies into vehicles, and assigned mounts. The compound had been on Harr for several decades, and in that time, one of the species of the planet had been domesticated. They also had thick bone armour, and copious amounts of thick, coarse hair. The knights called them yaks, because of the long hair. They were tough and strong enough to carry a knight in full armour, a considerable feat.

The preparations were finished, and Boss Wakuma wanted them to set out right away. He gathered the sergeants in the main courtyard, where they usually gathered before a scientific expedition.

Gevery looked at Yaliana, then set down his pack. “Sir, we can’t set out now, the night comes soon.”

“Every moment you wait, my daughter has less chance of survival,” Boss Wakuma replied, also looking at Yaliana.

“The night is dangerous for us to travel, and we might miss a sign from Ulissa in the dark,” argued Gevery.

Yaliana felt at war with herself and kept silent, because she wasn’t sure whose side to argue on. On one hand, she felt the same urgency as Boss Wakuma to get out and search, no matter the time of day. It had already been four days. What if Ulissa’s chances of survival went down while they delayed? On the other hand, she could see Gevery’s point. It was certainly more dangerous at night, and missing anything in the dark would possibly impede their final goal of finding Ulissa.

Her gut churned with indecision, and with fear for Ulissa.

A compromise was made that they would start out at dawn, as soon as there was enough light. That meant that everyone had to be in place before then. Yaliana sighed. They wouldn’t get much sleep this night.