by K. Lew
Chapter 10: The Hard Truth
There was no sky to indicate whether it was day or night. Not that it mattered Suyzi had little to no sleep since she met Kelan. Now more than ever Suyzi wanted Kelan by her side.
The only light came from the little mushrooms growing high on the ceiling of the huge cavern. Two hours have passed since her father left. After the earlier fight with her father, her nerves were getting the best of her. She stood up, pacing anxiously in camp. I should be out there with my father. But a nagging thought appeared. Her father would be furious at her if he discovered she disobeyed his order.
She turned to her backpack. Something was moving inside her backpack and moments later, her little guy leaped out of her pack. Her little guy sniffed into the air and sprinted to the trees. In the same direction her father and her two sworns went.
She yelled. “Wait! Come back!” She was about to follow when she stopped herself. She grabbed her backpack and strapped it on her back. Then she went over to a sleeping woman. She had black hair with a scar running down her neck. Ri was one of the first in her father’s group even before Suzyi joined. She shook Ri gently and whispered her name. “Ri.”
Ri opened her eyes and spoke sheepishly. “Suyzi, is it my shift now?”
Suyzi whispered. “Yes, Ri. But I have a favor to ask of you.”
Ri rubbed her eyes and spoke. “You want to go with your father. Say no more. You have my blessing, child.”
Suyzi whispered. “I knew you would understand.”
Ri spoke. “You’re your mother’s daughter. I know your mother would have found a way to be by your father’s side.”
Suyzi spoke with admiration. “Thank so much Ri. This means so much to me.”
Ri spoke. “Be safe, my child.”
Suyzi grabbed Ri’s hand tightly and spoke. “You too, my dear. What will you say to the others?”
Ri spoke kindly. “I’m in charge. They won’t object. But I will say the truth, it never pays to lie.”
Suyzi let go of Ri’s hand and stood up. Suyzi gave Ri one last farewell smile, before running to the trees.
It was dark in the forest. She heard many loud croaking and hisses at different intervals. She heard chattering above her in the trees. She tried moving around the trees frantically. More than once, she bumped against a tree.
I can’t see anything in this darkness. Where is that little critter?
Branches scratched her hands as she moved her hand in front. Then she felt something land on her shoulder. Then she heard a familiar chatter.
She expressed in relief. “Hey little guy!”
The little animal chattered busily.
Suyzi patted its head. She moved on through the dark, this time with conviction. Then to her surprise, she saw that her little guy was radiating a white light among the darkness. Her little guy’s entire body was illuminating a white glow identical to the light of the glowing mushroom above her. Thanks to her little guy, she could now see a few steps ahead. She walked on the hard ground. But as she continued walking, she realized she was trudging through a marshy swamp. She unslung her pack and carried it above her head. She began to sink deeper with every step forward. Her feet and legs were drenched in the mixture of soggy, dark brown mud and green moss. At this rate, I will in the bottom of the swamp.
The little animal chattered busily at her as if the little animal was warning her. She stopped to catch her breath. Even after she stopped, she felt herself sinking slowly down. She looked around to her right and saw that nearest tree to her were still a few yards away, still out of her reach. The tree had twisted branches intertwined together and star-shaped leaves. Then the little animal on her shoulder leaped off and into the air. The little animal spread it tiny arms wide and a web-like fold of skin, stretching from its fingers to its toes opened up. The little animal glided through the air and landed on the tree with the star-shaped leaves. The little animal climbed nimbly up the twisted branch, disappearing in the star-shaped leaves. Suyzi yelled in desperation. “Hey little guy, come back here!”
But she did not see her little guy and the white glow was gone. I can’t believe it. I am alone. The mud was still pulling her in.
Then she heard the rustling of leaves and turned to see her little guy. Her little guy was carrying a coil of rope in its mouth. And then she saw it. Cutting through the swampy marsh, there was a grapple hook with a rope tied around the middle pole. The monstrous claws had six pointed hooks. Her little guy leaped from tree to tree, finally stopping at the closest tree to her. His own paws gripping tightly around the lowest branch of the tree. Then her little guy leaped off, gliding through the air to her. The coil of rope unraveled as her little guy glided to her. Her little guy landed on her shoulder. She patted the head of the little animal and whispered in gratitude. “Thanks, little guy.” The little bear rubbed its furry mane against her head, chattering busily.
She took the rope from her little guy. She tugged the rope to make sure it was tightly secure. She took the rope and pulling hard to get out of the mud. Gradually she pulled herself up as the mud and moss dripped and fell off from her. She made her way through the mud in a slower pace, but she was making progress. Finally after a speck of mud and god knows what else splashing on her cloak, she finally reached the trunk to the top of the tree trunk. She dropped the rope. Her little guy leaped off her shoulder onto the tree. Her little guy climbed, but stayed above her to shine white light down on her. She hugged the tree, wrapping her arms around the trunk. When she got a firm hold around the trunk, she lifted her legs off the mud. The white-logged mud ran down her legs and dripping off her feet to the marshy swamp below. She scooted herself up, pulling what felt like every muscle in her body. Sweat ran down her face, building up around her neck.
Finally she found a sturdy enough branch that could support her weight. She grabbed hold of the branch and swung forward until she hooked her feet on the branch. Finally she was on the top branch and she looked out at the trees. She saw only branches and leaves. She pulled up the rope with the crescent-shaped metal. As she pulled the grapple hook out of the tree, she reeled back. Her finger drew blood. She put her bleeding finger into her mouth. I have to be careful. The bleeding stopped. An idea came to mind and she swung the grapple until she felt control over to the next tree. It clanked against the tree trunk. It’s harder than it looks. After a few tries, she finally managed to hook the grapple hook to the other tree. She pulled the rope and found the rope was secure. She gripped the rope tightly before jumping off. The air blew around her as she swung to the next tree. Letting go with one hand, she grabbed hold of the loose bark of the branch. Moments later, her little guy was glowing in white light, glided into the air and landed next to her. Then with one hand on the rope and the other on the loose barks, she pulled herself up the tree.
After many breaks and what seemed like hours flying by, she was at the top of the tree. She looked out over the trees. She saw a barren wasteland where the trees ended. The wasteland was dead of any life and the ground was brownish red. There was burning fire scattered across the wasteland. Is this what hell looks like? Then she saw people in the distance. As the people came closer to her, she saw they were chained to both of their feet with a thicker metal chains connected to the next person’s feet. In their hands, they were carrying pickaxes in their hands. They stopped at the edge of where the trees ended and began digging into the red ground. Maybe they can tell me where my father is. She swung the crescent metal onto the next tree and jumped down. She did that a couple more times until she was on the last tree. She realized the more she used the grapple hook, the faster and better she got at it. She felt the comforting weight of her little guy land on her shoulder. She looked at her little guy and winked. Let’s go down and find my father. She climbed down the tree and jumped onto the red ground. It felt good to be on solid ground again. She walked past the burning fire towards the people digging with wooden pickaxes in the ground. Her little guy chattered fanatically. Her li
ttle guy leaped off her shoulder and scurried into her pack. As she walked towards them, the man closest to her stopped digging and looked up at her. Soon the others stopped digging and looked up at her. Immediately they got onto their knees and bowed their head to the ground. She was puzzled. Why were they bowing down to me? She asked in confusion. “Why are you all bowing down to me?”
No one respond to her. Moments past as the silence dragged on. Finally a woman looked up and was about to get up, but a man next to her pulled her back down. But she struggled and Suyzi ran to her, pulling her up. The woman had red dirt smudges on her face. Her eyes were green and her long hair was brown covered with red, dusty dirt in it. She spoke. “You aren’t one of them, are you?”
Suyzi spoke. “No. Who are them that you are talking about?” As soon as she said no, relief seemed to lift the burden off the people’s shoulders. The people stood back up and went back digging. Only the woman and the man next to her stood, staring back at Suyzi.
The woman answered. “The Princelings.” The man next to her, gasped in fear before slapping her hard in the face. The impact of the slap sent her to the ground.
Suyzi stepped forward and drew her sword. “The next time you touch her, you will answer with my sword.”
The woman rushed over to the man, shielding him from Suzyi with her body. “Please have mercy. He was protecting me from my big mouth.”
Suyzi was shocked with the situation unfolding in front of her. In her culture it was forbidden for husband to physically hit his wife for any reason.
Suyzi asked. “Sorry, but I’m not from around here. But why was I mistaken for a Princeling?”
The woman spoke. “You look like one. They all have black hair and brown eyes...” The man next to her interrupted them. “Enough. Stop talking or you will get us all in trouble. Just focus on finishing our tasks.”
Suyzi spoke. “I won’t report you. I’m lost. I need directions to the city of Basahar.”
The woman snapped at the man. “You’re right. But I won’t deny help to a woman who needs it.”
The woman turned back at Suyzi and handed Suyzi a small, brown pouch.
The woman spoke. “This will help you lead you to the city of Basahar. Sprinkle a little powder of the pouch I gave you into the flames you see scattered around. If the color of the flame stays the same, you’re going the right direction. If the flame changes colors, turn around. I hope you find what you are seeking.”
Suzyi hugged the woman. The woman was quite taken back. Suyzi spoke. “How can I ever repay you? I can break the chains that hold you.”
The woman shook her head and spoke. “No, these chains can not be broken. But there is...Never mind. Farewell, my friend.”
Suyzi spoke. “What is it?”
The woman hesitated before quietly whispering into Suyzi’s ear. “If you ever come back here, can you get me an apple from my homeland, Loviea? I grew up with apples as child. But since my husband and I were taken here as slaves, it has been a long time since I remember the taste of an apple. My Princeling gets apples shipped to him from Loviea and feeds them to his pets in front of us.”
Suyzi promised. “I swear to my gods and your gods. I will return and bring you back an apple. What is your name and how will I ever find you?”
The woman spoke. “My name is Leona and my Princeling’s name is Boshi. You won’t miss him. He’s an enormous man with thinning hair. When you find him, you will find me.”
The woman bowed down to Suyzi one final time. Then the woman lifted the wooden pickaxe and began chipping away at the red dirt. She wished she could free them all, she really did. But she had to find her father. She sheathed her sword and walked onwards, following the burning flames.
It’s been awhile since she checked the flames. She paused at a burning flame, flickering white and orange blaze. The burning flame was strange because the flame burning on top of the red ground. It was as if the ground was fueling the fires. She pulled out her pouch and pinched a white powder. She dropped the white powder into the burning flame. She waited for the flames to change colors as gradually the flame stayed the same color. She walked on, avoiding the scattered fires around her. Her little guy peeked out of her pack, sniffing into the air, before retreating back into the safety of the pack. The sky was getting less darkness, with a hint of sunlight shining through. It was getting close to sunrise. She yawned and for a moment, her vision blurred. I didn’t get any sleep yesterday. She kept going even as her forehead began to heat up. Then she saw a cloud of dust, miles away. She saw ten riders galloping towards her. She slowed down as the riders came closer. They were riding on black horses. They wore light clothing of blend of red and black. They had long, black braids with dark brown eyes. As soon as they saw her, the first two slowed their horses and practically jumped off their black horses. They went to her. Dizzy and unsteady, she fell. Strong hands caught her before she hit the ground. One of men holding her, yelled. “Hurry. She’s burning.” The other man pulled a syringe of blue vial and injected it into her arm. A few moments later, she began to cool down. Both of men lifted her up off the red ground. They carried her to another rider and his horse. The rider made room for her as the two men sat her up on the horse. Then the rider turned the horse back around and galloped off. The other riders followed as she looked around in confusion. The rider sitting behind her spoke to her out of concern. “You are safe now, my princeling. I know you can barely hear me, but we are taking you to our healer.” Princeling? But she managed to say a single word. “Where?”
The rider spoke. “To the great city of Basahar. Say no more. You need to save your energy.” As they galloped on, she laid on his chest. With her eyes half-closed, she watched millions of tiny lights above her. Then she closed her eyes. She opened her eyes and she saw sky-high buildings. She must have closed her eyes for a while because before she knew it, she was already here. The rider spoke lightly to her. “We are here, my Princeling. Please stay awake.” The horse slowed down and then stopped completely. Then the rider behind her, dismounted off his horse. He had one hand supporting her back and carried her off the saddle. Then other riders also dismounted. The rider carrying her spoke to the others. “I’ll be quick. I’ll drop her inside and we can leave.” The rider ran up the stony step. “Help! I have a princeling in need of help.” The rider walked through the open doors, carrying her into a room. Two women dressed in all white robes rushed over with a wheel stretcher. The rider laid her onto the wheel stretcher. The rider spoke. “We found her in the Red Pit. I think she has the blood fever.” The rider spoke to her. “Take care, my princeling. Hope I can see you again when you are better.” She closed her eyes. An angel saved me, a angel with dark long braids and dark brown eyes.
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