THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

that killing TecKnati wouldn’t solve their problems, Etoi and several of the half-sized warriors came pounding into the village proper, the cleared area where the four of us stood.
    “They escaped,” Etoi cried out.
    Callan stepped to the center of the group. “The prisoners?”
    “Yes.”
    I couldn’t believe Tony would leave me and Gabby to find a way home on his own. Or had something else happened to him? I wouldn’t put it past Etoi to vent her hatred of TecKnatis on a hapless prisoner and dispose of Tony’s body. Or had the scout taken Tony hostage? That had to be what happened, but what was the chance of convincing Callan or Mathias of that possibility?
    Zero.
    Mathias pushed forward, demanding. “How did the TecKnati get out of the Isolation Unit without being burned to death by the energy enclosing the hut?”
    “I don’t know.”  Etoi’s dark eyes swung to me, accusing. “The scout was searched before being put inside the unit. He had nothing on him. We didn’t search these others for weapons or hidden technology.”
    Callan raised his hand. “Neither of these two–”  He nodded at me and Gabby. “Could’ve done it. They’ve been with me or Jaxxson the whole time.”  He turned to Mathias and lowered his voice, though I could still hear due to standing so close. “There’s only one way to leave the isolation unit and that’s by the hand of a MystiK in this village.”
    I caught the meaning beneath Callan’s words. He thought one of their own had released the prisoners. A traitor.
    Someone working with the TecKnati?
    Mathias merely nodded, his mouth pressed in a firm line. He ordered Zilya, “Organize a hunt. Find them.”
    Zilya started issuing orders to Etoi and her small band of warriors. Within minutes, another thirty children around ten to fifteen in age flooded into the area, all carrying weapons capable of deadly harm. Some looked fragile and all were dressed in ragtag outfits, but their expressions were determined. A sort of shoot-first-and-ask-questions-later look. Which wasn’t looking good for Tony.
    I stepped up. “I’ll go.”
    At the same time, Callan and Mathias said, “No.” 
    Then Callan added, “I can’t allow you to help your friend.”  His next thought trailed off in his eyes.
    One look at him told me what he was thinking. If I interfered, he’d have no choice but to use deadly force against me. My dying wouldn’t help Tony, or Gabby either, but that didn’t mean I liked the implied threat in Callan’s gaze.
    Gabby moved close to me and whispered, “You think Tony abandoned us?”
    “No.”
    “Strangely, I don’t either.” She glanced around before adding, “But I don’t trust that Etoi not to hurt him if she can catch him alone.”
    I nodded, but I couldn’t stop Mathias and what had grown to be a formidable hunting party of armed warriors.
    When Mathias made a motion with his hand for his hunters to head out, Callan stopped him. “I’ll go with them, Mathias. Take Rayen to see V’ru.”
    “No.”  Mathias spoke just as softly, but I heard him. “I can use the exercise and you take her to V’ru. While you’re at it, do me a favor and check on the preparations for the BIRG Day celebration. I know it sounds trivial at this moment, but we promised that to the children and those putting it together don’t want me to see what they are creating.”
    Mathias rubbed his head, giving me the impression he found something tedious about this celebration.
    Callan offered, “Sure you don’t want to delay it until tomorrow?”
    “No. This is the first tradition we’ve upheld here. I’m not much for parties, but I’ll do it for the children. This Tony will be easy to track. Tell them to have the party ready to go as soon as I return.”
    Callan gave him a long, concerned look.
    The grim set of Mathias’s jaw softened. “Remember, our first responsibility after keeping these children safe is to give them hope. No matter what it takes to do that. No matter if celebrating is the last thing we feel like doing, always think of them first.” He offered a tight, half-smile. “The scout may know this land, but the other captive doesn’t. If I find Tony first, I’ll return with him, or his body, in time for the celebration. Find out who she is before I return. I must know.”
    Then he pivoted away and took off running.
    I had to be the she Mathias ordered Callan to find out about. But it was the dire warning in Mathias’s voice that worried