Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the base of the canyon. Their footsteps kicked up pebbles on the winding path of a dry riverbed. Layered rock walls in various shades of colours were like beacons as the twin suns lowered, casting monstrous shadows which followed them as they passed cacti and small rodents with piercing eyes along the banks nearby.
Regina's sweat was intense in her nose as they came to a stop near smooth large rocks which looked perfect for resting.
Tired, Regina wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand.
"How far are we from your ship?" she asked, peering at him for confirmation.
"It is close to here. Someone should be along shortly to render a hand."
Regina had assumed he was alone. She was not sure why she thought this; he said he was the captain of a ship. A captain would go nowhere alone, Regina pondered.
Looking around the riverbed, she could not see the ship nor anything that looked like a vessel. "Are you certain your ship is here?"
"I am most certain," he answered curtly.
It felt as if it offended him; she had questioned him. Still, it was not the most important thing to worry about. Her eyes went to his side. He had not complained about his injury.
On their journey to the riverbed, he had tried his best to talk about the local area.
Though it had been interesting that his knowledge about his planet was extensive and had been impressive, nothing could stop the questions that popped into her head about him.
He claimed to be a captain in the Intergalactic Space Corp, and she had no reason to doubt him, but it bothered her he had deliberately filled the time with things of little importance. By doing this, she was confident it was to stop her from asking the questions she wanted to.
The shriek of a bird bounced off the canyon walls, and her body jerked at the sound, and she took a step back. "Ouch," she hissed. "I need to sit."
Regina hobbled to a nearby stone that was smooth and worn down by the weather. When she was comfortable on the rock, she massaged her ankle. The handcuffs Bando had placed on her rattled like dungeon chains.
"How's your wound?" she asked, staring at his side, but did not allow her eyes to roam any other part of his naked form. He still had her vest pressed to his side. Regina wondered why he was not in a rush to seek medical attention. She was no medical expert, but the blast to his side had done damage. If it had been she who got hit by the laser pistol, she would be halfway to meeting her maker by now, she thought.
He was looking at her, and she lowered her eyes.
"Thanks for your concern, but I will live," he answered.
His words were meant to stop her from asking questions. But she was not the kind who took the hint quickly.
In hindsight, she wished she had been more worldly. If she had been, she would not be a wanted woman. If only she had listened to her parents, she thought. Her parents had sheltered her, and she was grateful, but this naivete did not come in handy when she needed to make choices. She felt she could not blame her parents for her poor decisions.
A sigh left her. What was the point in thinking about the past when she could not change it? Now she could. She was older and more experienced.
Now she had the means. All she needed was someone to help her get Beur. Regina lifted her eyes and scanned his features. "I heard Karans heal quickly. Is that true?"
His eyes watched her as if he were trying to guess her intentions. "We heal faster than humans, but make no mistake, a blast from a laser pistol can incapacitate us also."
Was he trying to make her feel guilty for saving her?
Her eyes left his face as she stared at the shade and shadows cast by the lowering suns on the tallest peaks of the canyon. She already felt evil and responsible for getting him injured.
Her eyes went to his injury again, but she allowed her gaze to skim his eggshell-coloured skin and his alabaster hair, which hung loose straight down his back. She catalogued these things clinically and did not allow her earth sensibilities to think anything of his nakedness. From what she understood of Newahans, Karans were not prudish about their nakedness. Now that she looked at him, a tingle began at the base of her neck.
Disconcerted because she could find him attractive, she let out a loud sigh, hoping this would relieve the sudden fluttering in her chest.
The whole time she was wrestling with her emotions, he had been watching her. When she exhaled, he tilted his head and eyed her intensely, making her flesh prickle. "Is there something you want to say?" she asked, giving him a sidelong glance. She was afraid that he would see that she found him interesting if she faced him.
"You humans are somewhat prudish," he said.
Her eyes shot to his face. "What do you mean?"
He scoffed lightly. "Regina Wilde, you have made significant efforts not to stare at my nakedness for the last minute."
Regina's mouth fell open at his correct assessment of her. "I don't know what you mean," she denied, but there was a heavy feeling in her stomach that he could see every emotion she displayed.
Straightening her shoulders, she met his eyes and willed herself not to look at anything below his neck.
"It was surprising," she said, keeping her eyes peeled on him. "I am not used to running around with a naked male. Or any male," she added, saying the former beneath her breath.
He did not say anything. His eyes watched Regina as if he were always trying to predict what she would say.
"Aren't you going to tell me why you have come looking for me?"
"I cannot say," he answered, meeting her eyes.
She sighed. "And you expect me to go with you with no information?" asked, letting him hear the distrust, hoping he would interpret her words the way she wanted him to. "You want me to go along with you by your own words alone?"
"I do." His voice was self-assured.
Those words made her feel as if she were the one who should not be distrustful. He had tried hard to keep her out of the Allarians' hands. Being in his company for such a brief time, she could decide on a small part of his personality. For what purpose he saved her, she was not sure, but there was bound to be a price attached.
Regina was out of options, too. With Beur sending the mercenaries after her, she decided the best place to be on the captain's ship. It was like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. But what other way did she have? There was an old earth adage: the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Was that how it went? She could not recall. It felt like it was a long time since she had read an earth text.
"Where are these people you say would be here, then?" she asked, hoping this would distract her from the thoughts of distrust that kept her stomach churning like a brewing tornado.
"They should be here presently," he told her. He cocked his head as if he heard things that she could not. She would have missed this subtle gesture if she had not been focused on his face.
It was not long before she heard footsteps crunching stones coming in their direction. A moment later, a female dressed in the standard black and gold of the Intergalactic Space Corp came to a stop before them. With a palm over her chest, she saluted.
"You are late, Fox. The Allarians almost gutted me," he scolded the female.
The female, a slender human with intricate gold tattoos on her amber face, was stone-faced as she took the criticism.
Regina saw that the woman was methodologically scanning the captain's body. "I have dealt with them, captain. As we speak, I have sent a ship to intercept them."
"Good," he nodded. "What happened?"
Regina tuned out as she watched the woman's face. Only for a split second, she wondered at their relationship, but then she shook the thoughts off, telling herself that this had no bearing on her situation.
The woman Fox was Newahan. She was from one of the human colonies that had settled on the planet since the Cascade. Her tattoos were a mark of the colony she belonged to. Regina scrutinised the deep spirals on either of her cheeks and wondered if they hurt when she did them.
Her eyes lingered on the female, then went to the captain.
Even though the captain had said he healed fast, it surprised her that Fox was not helping him with his wound. She had not offered to help because she knew little or nothing about caring for an injury like he was suffering with.
Disconcerted, she wondered if there was something she had missed and, if so, what did this mean for her.
"I want those Allarians, Fox," he was saying. "They cannot come to Newah and disrespect our laws. How dare they fire weapons in our forest? They will never set foot on this planet again." There was anger in his voice.
She knew the Newahans were a stickler for specific rules. It was why she had her friend Rika smuggle her onto the planet. Regina felt they would not chase her across the system, and she would have time to clear her name. But Beur had found her and, by the Allarians using force, she realised he intended to kill her.
How she should feel about this, she was not sure. The one thing she was certain of was that this captain might be the key to helping her.
Another set of footsteps came towards them along the riverbed. Her posture stiffened, and she relaxed when a young man in a similar uniform came to a stop and saluted as Fox did, then handed a bundle to the captain.
"Your garments, captain."
The captain took the bundle with one hand, peeled the vest from his side and handed it to Fox.
She was near enough to him to see that he had stopped bleeding. Surprised, she stared at his wound, then at his face to find his eyes watching her.
"Fox will take you back to the shuttle." His voice was commanding, and for a moment, she contemplated disobeying him. Why should she follow his orders? He was not her captain.
But she got reminded why she should listen when he poked the gaping hole in his side. The shot must not have hit any vital organs, she thought. If it had, he would not be standing.
As if expecting her reluctance, Fox and her subordinate assumed positions on either side of the stone, giving her no other choice than to follow them.
Sliding off her resting place, she stood. "Bloody Heck," she said as a sharp pain shot up her leg, and she sat back down with a jerk.
"You are injured?" Fox said, staring down at her.
"I think it's just a twist." Fox put a hand under her elbow to help her up, but she shrugged it off. "I'm okay. I can walk by myself," she said stubbornly.
"If you say so," Fox countered. Her voice held disbelief as her eyes went to her foot and stared at it for too long.
Determined to get to their shuttle on her own two feet, she shoved herself to her feet again. This time, she gritted her teeth and ignored the stinging pain. As the two Newahan escorted her away, she turned to look back at the captain, but he had disappeared.
As she hobbled along, Fox's pace was slow.
This was not what she expected. She was grateful for the woman's consideration. Yet, a small part of her wondered why the woman treated her with respect.
Did Fox not know she was a convicted murderer? Why then was she showing her kindness? It was not what she expected of people who knew her personal history.
Regina knew that there would be no point in fishing for information from these two. Even so, she pretended that this small act had not touched her.
Remaining silent and thoughtful, Regina concluded that Fox and her companion would not answer her questions unless she had a torture device. She would have to be patient and wait for the captain.