CHAPTER 10

Drea spent most of the day going over the plans with Hu and Olin and the other strategists. They had plans in place to recover some of their people and tentative plans on how to get into the palace to confront Vena. This had been going on long enough and something had to be done soon or she would start losing followers. She had tried to give Vena time to come to her senses; to realize she really didn't want to kill her sister, but Vena had only become more determined leaving Drea no choice.

Cordell had been privy to several of their plans and the question now was how much would he be forced to tell. Changes were made to key plans and messages written to be delivered as soon as the weather permitted. The plans had been well thought out and the changes made them riskier, but not changing them would be very dangerous indeed. Drea studied the layout of the city and the palace grounds. She knew the grounds inside and out. She had played there her entire life. Vena, though, knew them just as well. The ony question was how good a strategist was Vena or how good of one did she have on her side helping her.

Instead of plans and strategies, Drea was thinking of her little brother and sister. Cheerful ever since they were babes. They loved everyone. She and Vena had laughed at their antics as toddlers and lovingly tolerated them following them around anytime the two had caught sight of them. Now no one had seen them for awhile. Her informants said they just disappeared; there one day and gone the next. Had Vena killed them as well? Her heart squeezed painfully at the thought. Surely, her sister wasn't that much of a monster to kill little ones? Maybe, hopefully, she just had them secured somewhere out of the way of the fighting. Perhaps she was trying to spare them this ugliness.

Their guests stayed near the fire and rested and healed. Food and drink were brought in by giggling, flushing women who would cast shy looks at Rodney before hurrying out. Pillows were brought in so Rodney could sit up without having his head pound and his ribs ache. Rodney put aside his usual acerbic nature and smiled pleasantly at the women and even attempted a little small talk with a few of them. Eventually they began to believe that they really might be guests and not prisoners.

"After all, when have we ever been allowed to keep our weapons and our packs when taken prisoner?" Sheppard asked. He was reclining on the pallet with Rodney leaning against him. His hand stroked Rodney's arm. He was glad they had trusted Ronon and Teyla with their relationship. They might have to be on their toes and impersonal in public on Atlantis, but in the field around these two he could let down his guard and lavish (well, for him it was lavish) affection on Rodney.

They had gotten Rodney up early and helped him to walk around a bit. The ankle was still tender and he was very careful how he put weight on it. The ribs hurt like the dickens if he moved suddenly, but he was feeling loads better than he had when he woke up. The slow walk around the cave had tired him out and he was content at the moment to just lean back against John and soak up the attention. Especially attention like the gentle, lingering kiss John had snuck in when their path took them out of sight of everyone else temporarily.

"Yeah, and when did any of the captors nearly lose fingers to frostbite to save one of us?" Ronon added. Reluctantly, he agreed that they were most likely not prisoners.

Rodney paled a little at the reminder of how close he had been to losing his leg. They had caught him up on everything that had happened since the puddle jumper crashed and he was quietly glad he had been unconscious for most of it.

"So, we make it through tomorrow without messing it up and we're home free?" Rodney asked.

"It would appear so." Teyla assured him.

"And we are fairly certain these are rebels?"

"You heard Drea refer to the ruler of Calmora as an usurper. I'd say that makes them rebels trying to put the 'rightful' ruler back in charge." John replied.

"But is she?" Teyla wondered out loud.

"Drea seems to be honorable. Don't think she would back the wrong person." Ronon replied.

"Doesn't matter. Don't get involved in local politics." Rodney said firmly. "It never ends up well."

"He has a point." John said. "Taking sides in local governmental upheaval is very risky business."

"Especially if you chose the losing side." Ronon added.

"And we would." Rodney said pessimistically.

"We get back to Atlantis and wait a few months then we can decide if we want to return and see who's in charge and if they want to establish trade relations." Sheppard said.

A young girl appeared with food and hot kobe. She glanced bashfully at Rodney and flushed. He barely had a hold of the cup before she ran off giggling.

"Who'd ever thought I'd be the exotic looking one?" He muttered out loud.

"No one." Ronon retorted sharply with a tiny grin. "It's disturbing."

"Let him enjoy it, Ronon." Teyla reprimanded, smiling herself.

"As long as he remembers who he's going home with." John mock snarled.

"I don't know." Rodney finished his kobe and slid down onto the pallet beside John, shifting to get comfortable. "You never told me I had eyes the color of the summer sky."

"No, but I did say that…."

"Shut up, Colonel." Rodney yelped, flushing at that memory which involved discussion of certain personal body parts.

John chuckled affectionately and stroked his arm. "Get some sleep, Rodney." He said when he saw Rodney fighting to keep his eyes open. The concussion still had his head throbbing if he moved suddenly and he still wanted to sleep.

"Good idea," Rodney mumbled as he drifted off, his hand shifting to rest on top of John's.