“Dumbass,” Aisha muttered, but quietly, so Roeglin couldn’t hear her.
“Aysh,” he warned. She crossed her arms, but he hadn’t finished, “you need to stop the bleeding.”
Marsh gasped as the child slapped her hands back over the scratches and pushed down. Aisha heard her and looked concerned, but she didn’t let up. Gustav limped into her blurring field of vision.
“You okay?”
Marsh rolled her eyes. What in the Deeps did the man think? She was flat on her back, starting to see multiples and leaking blood. “I’m Son-of-the-Deeps fantastic,” she muttered and he frowned.
“And I’m Queen of the Shadows.”
“You’d look funny in a skirt.”
“Don’t you believe it, kid.” He looked away and raised his voice. “I need a healer!”
Marsh kept her eyes open long enough to watch a crowd gather and didn’t have the energy to be embarrassed. She’d had a very good reason for arriving unexpectedly, even if Roeglin didn’t believe her
Through a portal? A Deeps-be-damned portal?
“Uh-huh...” came out on a breath, and she tried to remember what she’d been trying to say. “Raiders.”
That got his attention. Show me.
So she did, bringing to mind the small army of figures rappelling over the sinkhole’s edge and into the cavern. “Shag the shrooms.” She sincerely hoped he didn’t.
Nice... But he was already turning away. “Gustav.”
Gustav picked Aisha up off Marsh’s chest so the healer had room to work. “Yes?”
“Look.”
Marsh watched the little girl and Protector captain look in the direction Roeglin pointed.
“A la putain,” they chorused, and Gustav gave the child a horrified glance. It was followed by a look at Marsh, and his voice echoed the words Roeglin spoke into her mind. “The examples you set.”
Aisha smirked, the little imp knowing exactly what she’d done, and the healer drew her blade. “Tell me the kat’s claws were cleaned.”
“Yesterday,” Tamlin replied, answering for her. “Marsh scrubbed her down after the battle.”
Marsh tried to remember if she’d cleaned Mordan’s claws, but it was enough for the healer...almost. “Bring the kat over here. I’d like to see her feet.”
“Sure,” Tamlin replied. “Dan!”
Mordan looked at him curiously and then wandered over the link into Marsh’s head.
Your paws, Dan. Marsh didn’t have the strength to say more, but the kat padded over anyway and lifted her paw.
“You’re lucky,” she said after inspecting it and letting it go. She patted the kat on the shoulder. “Good girl.”
The ‘good girl’ glared at her and hissed silently, but the healer was already calling energy from the shrooms just beyond the dining hall, her eyes flaring green. She laid the flat of her hand over the claw marks and Marsh breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a pleasant warmth as healing energy flowed into her shoulder.
Faint vibrations made themselves felt as muscle reknitted and skin rewove over the gap, and Marsh closed her eyes.
“Don’t go to sleep, Leclerc. We’re gonna need you for this,” Gustav told her.
She nodded just as the warmth flowing into her shoulder stopped, and the healer stood up. “That should do.”
Marsh sat up, rolling her shoulder, surprised not to feel any pain. Stiffness and a little tenderness, yes, but no pain. Not like moments before. Mordan looked up at her with anxious eyes. “It’s okay, girl. You were helping.”
She glanced at Roeglin, who looked more than a little sheepish. “You, too.”
“And me?” Tamlin asked. “Am I forgiven?”
“What did you do?”
He looked relieved. “Oh, that’s good then.”
Marsh frowned at him, replaying her arrival in her head. For the life of her, she couldn’t remember the boy doing anything. She turned as Gustav raised his voice behind her. “I’m fine, woman.”
The healer very much disagreed. “Stand still,” she commanded, and Gustav gave a frustrated sigh.
“There,” the healer told him a few heartbeats later. “Done.”
There was a small pause, followed by a very gruff, “Thank you, ma’am.”
Sulema stepped forward, her eyes on the distant shadows. “We cannot defeat that many.”
Gustav gave her a hard smile. “We don’t have to defeat them all at once,” he told her. “We just have to take them out a little at a time.”
“And what if more come?” Aasir demanded.
Gustav’s smiled hardened to determination. “We’ll need to make sure they can’t.”
“We’re not sealing the sinkhole,” Sulema told him. “We can’t.”
Gustav nodded. “I know, but we can make the terrain untenable.”
“Don’t they have mages to deal with that?”
Gustav’s smile returned. “That all depends,” he said. “I notice your people have a gift with the fungi. Do they have the same gift with plants?”
Sulema nodded. “But won’t the raiders have...”
“How many raiders have you seen who do anything outside the mind and rock and shadow?”
They fell silent, and Marsh was sure each and every one of them was doing exactly as she was...wracking their brains for an instance where they’d seen a raider mage do something else. None of them could.
Now it was Sulema’s turn to smile. “Leave it with me.”
“You’ll have to work out how to get your people up there,” Gustav told her, and she nodded.
“We have that part covered.”
Gustav nodded. “How would you like us to assist?” he asked and he was talking about the force coming in through the cavern’s ceiling.
Sulema waved him toward Tabia and Kwame. “Speak to my Battle Leaders.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Neither of them stopped to say more. Sulema looked around until her eyes fell on those she was looking for. “Amare, Desta, Jelani.” She pivoted a little farther. “Arjana, Boipelo, Kesia. Bring your people to the dining hall. We have defenses to plan.
Marsh followed Gustav over to Tabia and Kwame and then out to the training grounds. With their warriors gathered around, they began to discuss strategy, drawing battle plans in the dust.
12
Challenge and Compromise
The plan they came up with would work, but it was going to take time, and Marsh felt her heart sink. The campaign Gustav was describing would take months...and she didn’t know if the missing had that much time. She said nothing though, just helped them add finishing touches to what they had.
When it was done, the leaders exchanged looks and nodded.
“It’ll do for a start,” Tabia told them. “We can always change it if something comes up.”
“What about the other settlements?” one of the other warriors asked, and Tabia’s expression of resolve melted to one of sympathy. She looked at Gustav and Kwame. “We have to secure those first.”
This led to another round of planning and some reorganization, then they sat back again, studying the lines they’d drawn in the dirt.
“Will it do?” Gustav asked, and the two leaders nodded.
“If we start today,” Tabia replied.
“How long will it take to get ready?”
“A single turn of the hourglass to eat and grab our equipment,” Kwame told him, and the leaders of the other shields and spears began moving among their men. Kwame raised his voice. “Meet at the dining hall when you’re ready. We’ll eat and move straight out.”
They paused before acknowledging him with nods. As they scattered, Marsh gathered with Roeglin, the children, and Brigitte, relieved when the shadow guards and Jakob joined them. Henri and Izmay’s arrival was a pleasant surprise.
Henri eyed Marsh’s torn tunic. “You finally managed to piss Mordan off as well,” he commented. “Congratulations.”
Izmay slapped him, but Marsh gave him the swee
test smile she could manage. “Yeah, I was trying for biggest asshole in the Deeps, but apparently you got there first.”
The others sputtered with laughter, and Henri regarded her with shocked surprise. Finally, he shrugged. “The Deeps know how.”
Roeglin draped an arm over her shoulders and smiled at Henri. “Don’t worry, Henri. You won’t hold the title long. Someone is a very quick study.”
He’d managed to pin one of her arms between them, and his grip was enough that she couldn’t twist and hit him with the other. She was saved from having to find an answer by Gustav’s arrival.
“They brought our mules and gear over from the temporary camp and stabled them in the waystation. Apparently, we can operate out of there for the remainder unless we want to change to another of the towns during our stay. Either way, they’re glad of our help.
As they should be, Marsh thought and earned a sharp glance from Roeglin, although he didn’t comment.
Gustav led the way back to the waystation, where Marsh changed her tunic for an untorn one and then pulled on her armor. “What?” she said when she emerged and caught the look on Gustav’s face. “We are going to go kick raider butt, right?”
“We’re having lunch first.”
She shrugged. “And your point is?”
“Just get your ass to the dining hall, apprentice.”
Trust him to remind her of her bust-back rank. He must be feeling all kinds of useless.
No, but he’s thinking double-time and making a couple of hard decisions. Give the man a break.
Oh. Well, that put a different angle on things. Marsh grabbed her pack and went. She noticed the mules had been left in their stalls and wondered what their chances of leaving the children behind to look after them were.
Not a hope in all the Deeps, Roeglin told her, and she looked around to find she had two shadows, both armored and both carrying their packs.
Well, damn.
He laughed. They’re more like you than you know.
She had nothing to say to that but was surprised to feel Aisha’s pride at being like her. A careful inspection of her mind showed the little girl’s presence. Get back in your head.
With a cheeky giggle, the child went, skipping happily up to take her hand. “I can hear you.”
Why couldn’t you hear me before?
Aisha’s face clouded but she answered, I blocked all the heads.
And are they all blocked now?
Some. I can keep out the mean ones now.
Marsh squeezed her hand. Good. Don’t let those mean ones in.
I won’t.
Marsh brought her attention to the outside as they reached the dining hall. She got to see what Roeglin meant by Gustav having to make hard decisions, even if he did leave them until after he’d eaten. It was nice to see the man had his priorities straight.
He even left it until he’d seen the rest of them clear their plates. It made Marsh wonder what he was about to raise. Sulema must have had some idea of what was coming because she raised a hand, calling for silence as Gustav stood.
“As you know we have to seal the cavern,” he said, and everyone went still. He looked directly at Sulema. “That means sealing every opening.”
The community leader pursed her lips. “And as you know, Captain Moldrane, we need the sinkhole to remain open to the sky.”
“With all due respect, community leader, you have just seen the size of the army that came over the edge, and I have my doubts that anything your people do, short of sealing it with clear-rock, will make it inaccessible.”
Sulema stood also. “Captain Moldrane, let me show you what we have in mind.”
There was silence as he lifted his chin and met her eyes. Marsh caught her breath as Sulema’s eyes flared white. No one moved or spoke until they cleared again. Gustav looked impressed, but he still shook his head. “I am afraid it won’t be enough.”
“And I say you are wrong.”
This brought a gasp from several of her people, but Gustav stared her down. “What about a compromise?”
Marsh hadn’t thought he could.
Sulema cocked her head. “I’m listening.”
“If we find an alternate water source, will you at least consider sealing the sinkhole?”
“If you can find an alternate water source, I will speak to my druids and see what they have to say about its feasibility.”
Gustav let his chin drop to his chest. “Fine.”
“Fine?” Sulema challenged. “It’s more than fine. You will agree to abide by my people’s decision regardless.”
“On one condition,” he said, and she motioned for him to continue. “If we find an alternate water source, and your alternative measures fail, then you’ll seal the cavern regardless.” He paused, his voice taking on a pleading tone. “The security of the other caverns depends on it.”
Sulema tilted her head, looking down at the table in front of her, and then back up at him from beneath her bangs. “I will consider it.”
He sighed and shook his head. “If your measures do not work and you have other alternatives, I will have no choice but to seal Ariella’s Grotto off from the rest of the Four Caverns complex.”
She straightened her back, anger flaring in her eyes. “On whose orders?” she demanded. “Your masters in Ruins Deep?” She glanced at Roeglin, Izmay, Zeb, and Gerry. “The shadow mages? On whose orders?”
Gustav bowed his head, resting his knuckles on the table in front of him. When he replied, his voice was soft. “On my own.”
“Your own? Tell me, why that is going to fly with any of the Four?”
“Because once this cavern is sealed, they will be secure. Because once they are secure, I will be the leader of the Protectors, and my duty is to the Four Caverns. I will do what I can to keep them safe.”
“Including abandoning one of them?”
“For the safety of the other three? Yes.”
She raised a hand toward him, her eyes the color of milk. Marsh had a momentary sense of falling before becoming briefly aware of weeping. Looking around, she found him, kneeling on the floor in a barren room, his fists on his knees, and head bowed.
Gustav?
The room faded as quickly as it had appeared and Gustav stood at his table, his head raised to meet her eyes. When he spoke, his voice was bleak. “So. Now you know.”
Sulema nodded. “Yes. Now we do. Help us secure our home. We will look for your alternate water source at the same time, but not as our primary goal.”
Gustav swallowed as though clearing his throat. “It is enough.”
“Yes, it is,” she told him, her voice implacable. “But if our alternate measures work, you will not be sealing our caverns.”
“Agreed,” he said, meeting her gaze and not flinching.
Picking up his plate, he surveyed his team and jerked his chin toward the servery. “We have our tasking.”
Marsh rose with the others, collecting her soiled plates and carrying them to the sinks. Once she’d set them down, she followed Gustav to the door. The rest of the team came after, including the children, who stayed close to her heels.
They trailed Gustav through the dining hall door, collecting their packs and shouldering them as they continued after him across the courtyard. By the time they’d hit the town’s edge, they’d already fallen into ranks of two, with Mordan, Scruffknuckle and the kit vanishing into the surrounding shrooms to cover their flanks.
They traveled in silence, keeping watch on the surrounding cavern, their ears straining for the first sign of a shadow monster attack. As they crossed into the cavern proper, Gustav rolled into a jog, and the rest of them did the same. Knowing they had to reach the next small settlement by cavern’s dusk, Marsh understood some of the urgency.
Breakfast had been late, and lunch had been scheduled somewhere close to mid-afternoon. A four-hour march could be shortened by the pace they were setting, but not by much. Gustav broke the jog with short sections of walking so they
could keep at it for longer, and they settled to the pace.
The animals showed no signs of tiring, and Mordan reported no sign of raiders as they moved. They’d gone about half the distance when Gustav called to her, “Leclerc. Scan ahead.”
“Sir.” She hadn’t known until she said how she was going to answer, but that was what came out, and it seemed most fitting. He didn’t acknowledge it, but it didn’t matter. Roeglin came alongside her and offered her his arm.
She nodded her thanks, tucking her hand over his forearm and sending her senses out into the cavern, seeking any sign of life, while asking the shadow threads to show her what was hidden at their furthest ends.
Nothing. They ran until they’d almost reached the town, then Gustav called a stop. He looked at Marsh. “Anything?”
She shook her head. “Nothing.”
“Nothing?” And she realized the significance of what she’d said.
“Nothing,” she replied, searching again. She gave him a worried look. “Nothing at all.”
His face grew bleak and he turned to the rest of the team, his gaze traveling across them as well as the kats and the pup who had come in from the peripheries to sit beside them. “You know what to expect. Make it quick. We’re not camping here tonight.”
“Apprentice Danet, you’re staying with me.” Both children turned to look at him, rebellion on their faces, and he pointed at Aisha. “Tamlin, you’re with Roeglin.”
The look of rebellion did not fade but Tamlin went, jogging over to Roeglin and following him into the town. Marsh looked down to find Mordan at her side. She glanced back at Aisha. “Be good.”
The little girl stuck out her tongue, and Scruffy whined. “Go, Scruff. Look after Marsh.”
As if she needed looking after, but the pup came anyway. This time, at least, she did not. She worked her way through the section of town Roeglin designated as hers. The mind mage coordinated them as they quartered the village and found nothing alive.
The animals had been slaughtered, their wounds showing the raiders had followed their usual attack pattern and sent shadow monsters in first. Once again, there weren’t any human remains.
Trading by Shroomlight Page 11