The Song of the Keepers

Chapter 28 The Breaking Point

The cargo hold door opened slowly, allowing the icy winter wind to beat against us.

"You expect me to get you all safely to the ground when I can hardly see it?"
I yelled at Evangeline over the roar in our ears.

Taya was hovering as close to the earth as she dared but I still had a 120-foot jump to account for. The sky was lightening in the east but the sun wouldn't be up for another 45 minutes at least.

"This was Marx's plan, not mine. Figure out a way to make it happen Hadassah!"
Evangeline shouted back.

I had hoped to stay in the aircraft and maneuver the others to the ground but I was afraid someone might end up smashed into the rocky ground or impaled on a pine tree. I scratched my chin, irritated by the number of eyes watching me.

"Can you give me a spotlight?"

"No! We're on the high ground remember? We might as well send them a calling card!"

I frowned, having forgotten that while Arron was a Sound Wielder and currently masking the noise of our aircraft, we had no one with us who could make a bright light disappear.

"I'll have to jump first, then have groups of five follow me. I'll be able to get them down safely that way when I can see the terrain."

"What are you waiting for? Get it done!"
Evangeline ordered.

Without another word I leapt out of the aircraft, plummeting down towards earth. I reached out with my wind, slowing my fall and feeling out the obstacles around me. I landed on my feet, now aware of the safest path of travel. Wasting no time, the first group of five leapt out above me and I hurriedly took hold of them with my wind. The natural wind gusts mixed with the tornado the aircraft's chopper blades were kicking up, made the task a bit more challenging. I tried not to think about just how many groups of five there were going to be.

I set Lena and four Sentinels safely down and hurried to catch group number two. Geesh, could they give me a breather in between jumps?

Twenty-one jumps and twenty-nine minutes later, everyone was safely to the ground. The sky was a pastel pink now, the first rays of sunlight reflecting off the gray clouds.

"Get yourself back on the aircraft Hadassah."
Evangeline demanded.

"Wait what? Shouldn't I be coming with all of you?"

"No, you're our ticket out of here. We can't chance losing you in the fighting."

My eyes met Vienna's and she gave me a reassuring nod. I hated to leave her unprotected, once she had done her job, no one was going to be particularly concerned about what happened to her. But what choice did I have?

I lifted off and breezed back into the aircraft, slamming my hand on the controls to close the cargo hold door. It felt significantly warmer once the icy winter wind could no longer cut through my clothing. I moved to the cockpit where Taya's radio crackled with Evangeline's voice.

"Pull the plane up so you don't draw any attention, I'll radio you when we are ready with the prisoners."

"Rodger that."
Taya replied.

I plopped down in the co-pilots seat as Taya maneuvered the aircraft up and around the other side of the mountain.

"So now what?"
I couldn't help but question.

"Now we listen to the radio chatter, and wait for a summons."

I harrumphed, thinking I had scored the most boring job possible. My friends were down there in the midst of the fray and I was stuck sitting up in the plane twiddling my thumbs.