Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 708
"I may have made a mistake," he said. "We have to
hurry."
"I can go no faster," she said. "I'm ready to collapse."
"Then I'll carry you."
She made no protest this time as he gathered her up in his
arms, and began bounding up the steps.
Jordan's first sighting of Axel was as the man half-fell
out of the forest shouting, "They're right on my heels!" Axel
was dressed in tough black clothing, and had a belt festooned
with odd devices around his waist, very like the woman who
was not Calandria May. The third woman, who had introduced
herself as Marya Mounce, was wearing some kind of closefitting
camouflage that made it hard to see her from the neck
down. She seemed keyed up, and kept looking around herself
and flaring her nostrils.
A few of Jordan’s animals straggled out of the woods
after them. The rest were fighting a rear-guard action, but the
basts had decimated them.
Axel clasped Jordan's forearm in an almost painful grip.
"Good to see you, kid! You're looking great."
"Thanks." Jordan was bursting with questions, but there
was no time for them now. He could sense some of the catbeasts
that had chased Armiger and the queen approaching
through the woods. They were very stealthy animals, but to
him they shone like beacons through the translucent tree
trunks. Several hesitant humans with guns followed them.
"Let's get back to the ship," said Axel. Jordan shook his
head.
"They're between us and it," he said. "And I think the
swans have figured out that it's not one of theirs. I don't think
they're going to let it leave."