[Atlantean's Quest 03] Redemption by Jordan Summers Page A

them, letting them know without words exactly what he’d do to them if they challenged him. He held up the unconscious man beneath him for emphasis and then sent an energy burst through his own body, healing himself instantly. The guides’ eyes widened a second before they dropped their weapons and raced into the jungle. Coridan threw his head back and roared to the heavens before rising to his feet. He grabbed the knife the man had threatened Ariel with and slipped it in the waistband of his loincloth.
    Ariel’s limbs trembled and her normally golden face had paled. You are insane, warrior. You could have been killed. Thick emotion choked her words.
    Coridan smiled as he covered the short distance separating them. You were worried about me.
    Don’t let it go to your head. Ariel’s gaze narrowed. I would have worried about anyone who’d been in your position. She snorted. But then again, most Atlanteans wouldn’t have been stupid enough to pull a stunt like that.
    Coridan arched a brow. He kept his expression purposely blank. He would not let her see just how worried he’d been when those two men first approached her. He unsheathed the knife and quickly sliced through the vines binding her limbs.
    Come, we must get away from this place. The professor will not stay away for long, once he realizes we have not followed. He reached out and slipped his hand around her wrist before Ariel had a chance to answer and began dragging her to the opposite side of the compound.
    Aren’t we going to try to get to the transport?
    No. The professor’s orders were clear. His men will be guarding it like angry vipers. Coridan strode into the jungle. His long legs covering distance easily. Ariel had to jog to keep up.
    What are we going to do? She tried to tug her hand free, but he refused to release her.
    Coridan glanced back over his shoulder before looking ahead once more. We are going to regroup for a day or so. Come up with a plan of attack, so that when we make our way to the transport we’ll be able to exit this planet and never come back. His jaw clenched at the thought of leaving.
    This planet had been all he’d ever known. He hadn’t been born when his parents left Zaron to settle here. Would he like his home planet? Would the Atlantean people accept him or would he be shunned again?
    The thought of returning to Earth to die alone was almost beyond his comprehension. It was possible the unwanted citizens of Atlantis were now transported off Zaron, and placed upon another distant planet. Both were very real possibilities. Fear and uncertainty beat at his brow, grabbing the muscles of his abdomen and knotting them into a tight fist.
    Coridan weaved his way through the jungle, working them deeper into the thick vegetation. Here they would be able to rest, gather food, and remain relatively safe until the time came to battle once more. He spotted what he’d been searching for amongst the foliage, striding toward a dense crop of trees.
    At first glance, they’d seemed impenetrable, but once he made it through the thick limbs, he found himself standing in a tiny twenty foot by twenty foot clearing. The ground lay covered in lush grass, soft enough to form a comfortable bed.
    Stay here. Coridan released Ariel’s wrist. She rubbed it as if his touch had left an impression on her skin. He took in her actions, his eyes roaming over her body, checking for any injuries. I will return in a few moments with food and water. We can even build a pit fire, because it will be impossible to locate in the dense growth. He didn’t give Ariel a chance to respond before he once more slipped through an invisible opening.
    * * * * *
    Ariel watched his wide back disappear. Her heart thudded rapidly in her chest and she slowly turned, examining their temporary home. Tall trees surrounded the area, forming a natural canopy should the weather decide to turn inclement. The lower vegetation circled the area, creating a natural wall that neither side