Queen of Swords and Silence

by Carrow Brown

  I looked from the bag, the gas, and back to the trap that’d been around my foot. My lips pulled back in a silent snarl; anger bubbled up in my chest and warmed my limbs. I wasn’t some creature to be easily lured through traps and weakened by them!

  No, keep following him, Silence said. I am thoroughly entertained by your using firearms over me.

  A twig snapped and I lifted my gun to fire low its direction. More twigs snapped, followed by another bullet, earning a hissing sound. The scent of blood reached my nose, and I knew my second bullet had struck home. I turned my head toward the source. Taking a running start, I leaped up and over the fading tear gas.

  I saw him as he stepped backward from the smoke. He looked up as I descended on him, but it was too late. My third bullet struck the tree behind him. The fourth whizzed over his head. He was moving, but by then I’d landed in front of him. I grabbed his shotgun and tossed it behind me into the tear gas.

  He grunted and darted at me. The bright glint caught my eye, and I grabbed his left hand just before the boot knife in it could sink into my side. His free hand grabbed for my gun hand. Our arms shook with the combined effort of trying to overpower each other.

  Snorting, I tightened my hand on his wrist, feeling the bones start to give way under my strength.

  The man grunted before twisting his entire body, jerking me forward, and releasing his hold on me as my grip on him slipped. I didn’t see the blow, but felt pain explode from my shoulder as he landed a hard blow against my injury. By the time I saw his foot heading toward my torso, it was too late to react. The kick slapped my hand, knocking the gun away.

  I ground my teeth together with enough force to make my jaw ache, pulling Silence from my back sheath. Tears streamed from my smarting eyes, but I forced my vision to focus on the hazy figure in front of me.

  The man palmed his knife to the other hand. We both straightened and circled each other, our breath fogging the air.

  Badb said not to kill him, remember?

  There wasn’t time to look, but I could feel the difference of Silence in my grasp—smaller than I needed. My body was shifting because of my wounds, but that would only slow me down. If I’d eaten more, I wouldn’t have been struggling to keep myself in a human shape and it would only get harder to maintain. With sheer force of will, I turned my hand into a human shape and focused my anger onto my fight. “Asshole doesn’t need his kneecaps to breathe,” I said, bringing Silence up in a guard position.

  Now you’re talking!

  Silence’s presence filled me, turning the pain in my body to a dull throb and taking away the sting of in my eyes so I could see clearly. I pushed off, charging the man who remained steadfast. I had a moment to wonder if he was stupid, had serious stones, or—

  He lifted his free arm and aimed a little yellow gun at me.

  I could feel my eyes widen, but I couldn’t stop my momentum. “Oh, shi—”

  Badb’s avatar pulled the trigger, and the two darts embedded into my chest. I vaguely remembered falling to the ground as fifty thousand volts ran through me.

  I d-don’t l-like t-this!

  The electricity stopped and something hard slammed into my face. My hand snapped up to grab the thing and closed around what felt like a foot. I yanked hard and the man grunted before the resistance vanished and I heard a thud. Rolling to my side, I rose to my knees and saw the man back peddling awkwardly with two arms and a single foot. Looking at what I held in my hand, I saw a prosthetic leg. Heat rose up in my face and chest as I looked between the scrambling man and the prosthetic leg before screaming, “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  Silence, rather than share my outrage, burst into hysterical laughter. You’re getting your ass kicked by a one-legged man!

  I got to my feet, my lips pulled back in a snarl. “I’m going to beat you with your own damned leg!”

  The man stopped moving, and through a gap in the Ghillie mask, I saw his lips quirk up into a smirk. As my foot connected with the ground, I heard the faint but inevitable snap before first my leg and then the rest of me was jerked up into the air. Silence and I both cried out before my head slammed onto the earth and everything faded out.

  It was Badb’s “Looks like you got her!” that pulled my attention back into focus. Opening my eyes, I saw an upside-down Badb and her avatar—who had his fake leg back—and groaned.

  She giggled as she moved closer. “You look silly up there.” She turned to the man. “I pronounce your trial as my avatar complete!”

  “I hate you both,” I grumbled, but it sounded more like “Ib hav ’ou ‘oth.” Placing a hand to my nose, I discovered the swollen bridge. Black blood coated the tips of my fingers when I pulled them away. “My nose is broken.”

  “I’d be surprised if you didn’t have a few broken ribs as well,” the man said. His hoarse words held a mid-American twang. As if getting beaten up wasn’t bad enough, it had to be done by an American, too. With one leg. No one would hire me again if word got out.

  The man removed the headgear to expose his camo-painted face to the moonlight. It took me a second to make out the shape of his eyes and the tell-tale features of someone of Asian descent. I estimated his age to be late twenties or early thirties, but it was hard to tell. He had a hard look in his eyes that I liked, even upside down.

  “Cab I g’um daawn naw?”

  Badb peered at me, her eyes narrowed. “I don’t know if I should. You haven’t learned the lesson yet.”

  “Maybe ib you ‘old me ahead of ‘ime, I could’ve ‘ried to learn it,” I said.

  “You promise to not kill David? I need him.”

  I ground my teeth and focused on making my words sound clear. “I promise not to kill your new avatar who is currently David, even if his existence wounds my pride. Now let me down!”

  “Sure.” The man shrugged. “I’ll cut you down.”

  David bent to pick up something from the ground and Badb screeched, “Don’t!”

  He pulled back, looking at Badb. “I need something to cut her down.”

  My eyes focused on what he’d been going for and I felt a momentary panic dance in my chest. Badb’s avatar had almost touched Silence.

  “Never touch the Blade of Calamity unless you wish to forsake your life,” Badb said, moving to the base of a tree. Her hand worked the rope until I could feel a jerking slack and then a quick trip to the ground.

  I lay there for a moment, enjoying the feel of the cold earth against my body. My eyes rested on Silence, and with another groan, I pushed myself to my feet and hobbled over to him.

  His voice filled my head. Did we win?

  “No,” I croaked, “but you have a nice title now. The Blade of Calamity.”

  Ooooo. I likey. Makes me feel important.

  “Badb is right,” I said, looking to David. “I don’t recommend touching Silence. He hijacks humans, murders others with them, and then gives them an ear-to-ear smile when he’s done with them.”

  Why keep them if they aren’t useful anymore? I’m not a hoarder.

  Badb’s grin returned. “Yes, now that we are done, why don’t—”

  My hand whipped out and I snagged her by the ear.

  “Ow! Ow!” She batted at my arm as I pulled her closer to me.

  “You little turd,” I growled. “Wait until I tell Macha!”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Three Sisters

  After much yelling and pleading, I released my hold on Badb but didn’t relent in my intent to tattle on her. She puffed her cheeks and fluttered her lashes but accepted her fate before leading us out of the wood.

  I was not ashamed to admit I limped out of the forest toward the truck. After much whining from Badb and growling from me, she finally admitted the thing she needed me to see was back at her house. I didn’t bother to ask why she hadn’t asked me to meet her there originally. The reason for it was clear, even to me. She wanted to test her new avatar against a mythic and see if he could make it.

  The encou
nter left me starving.

  “Walk behind her, David,” Badb said. She skipped ahead through the brush, turning to give me another one of her loony grins. “Hungry predators always pounce on things that run or turn their backs to them.”

  “I’m right here, you know,” I grumbled.

  Thankfully, the hike to the truck was a short distance. My body used every step as an opportunity to point out all my injuries. I fixed my nose before my body began to knit the bones and cartilage back together—the sensation a constant itch on the inside of my nose that left my eyes watering. The bones in my nose couldn’t heal fast enough for my liking, but that was an immortal issue.

  Silence spoke up. This is where I do the “I told you so.”

  I grunted.

  If a human could outmaneuver you, then he is either that good or you’ve become pathetic.

  I growled, the sound deep and unlike any other animal. My mind toyed with the idea of leaping on the man behind me and ripping him apart before eating his still-beating heart. Just the mental visual left my mouth watering. With force of will, I shoved it all away. A monster I was, but not a mindless beast unless I was starving. Inwardly, I thought over Silence and Vainya’s previous comments about eating.

  Silence was unwilling to relent in his argument. Are you even aware the reason you can move is because of me?

  My feet stopped moving. Closing my eyes, I tested my body, feeling Silence’s influence. He didn’t lounge in the back of my mind but had woven himself throughout my nervous system. I focused on my shoulder, feeling the dull throb that hinted at the pain he suppressed.

  My eyes opened but fixed on the ground. “I just ate. I should be fine.”

  My words made Badb stop and turn to look at me. I couldn’t see her face, but I figured she’d looked troubled.

  You think that granny could sustain you? Let’s have a reality check.

  Silence withdrew, and I gasped as pain throughout my limbs returned. Multiple places across my body throbbed in protest and the many scrapes over my flesh radiated pain. The ground blurred as a faint stinging sensation spread over my eyes. My feet stumbled over a small bump in the ground, and I flopped to my knees.

  Pushing myself up, I heard David ask, “Is she okay?”

  “She will be,” Badb said. Her feet appeared by my face as I failed to regain my footing. Her hand slid over my injured shoulder, pushing the ruined fabric of my shirt to the side. “You’re not healing.”

  A strand of my hair rose, reaching toward Badb as she lifted my hand. I noticed the tremble along with the darkening color of my fingers toward the end. Narrowing my eyes, I willed my fingers to return to their humanoid shape, but the dark color only spread further to my palm.

  You can’t even hold your human shape, Silence said. Would you eat already? Unless you want to black out and go on a rampage.

  Clenching my fist, I glanced to Badb. Swallowing first, I said, “I need—”

  “I know.” Her hand patted the side of my face. “It would’ve been rude to hurt you and not give you anything afterward.” The goddess pulled me to my feet. When David moved closer to help, she held a hand up to him. “No. Stay away for now. It’s dangerous for you.”

  I kept my eyes to the ground, not wanting to see his reaction to Badb’s warning. Leaning on Badb, I limped along the way, trying to keep my thoughts off David’s enticing scent in the air and the sound of his heart.

  A pickup truck came into view over the hill, parked off the side of the road. My ears picked up a muffled voice from the back, and my heart thundered in my chest as I scented fear.

  David jerked the back of the truck open and dragged out a figure from it. A man fell to the ground and struggled to his feet, the attempt hindered by his arms bound behind his back.

  “He’s all yours,” he said, pulling out a shovel and heading back the way we came. “I’m going to take care of the remaining traps.”

  Badb said something, but I didn’t hear it. My eyes—my entire being—focused on the man on the ground.

  I took a step and stopped. It was wrong. This man hadn’t done anything to deserve a true death. Looking at him magically, I saw all the threads of fate attached to him. Some threads wrapped about him like a lover, along with smaller ones trailing off from his body. He had friends. He had love. He was someone with many years still to live. And who knew what his soul would do in the future?

  You don’t have time to find another decrepit old person, Silence said.

  My entire body trembled as I stepped away. “I can’t.”

  The words caught the prey’s attention. His head turned to me, eyes wide and another wave of fear hit my senses. It made my mouth water, and I leaned toward him with a growl. In his panic, he did the one thing you shouldn’t do when near a hungry predator—he ran.

  My mouth opened, tongue running along my sharpening teeth. I leaped forward and landed near the man, making him scream. He stumbled off the road and toward the tree line away from me. I watched him run, smelling the adrenaline and fear from him—like sweet and sour pork.

  With a chuff, I followed him, my feet silent in his clumsy wake. My heart pounded, giving my body the borrowed energy I needed for the hunt. Or perhaps Silence continued to dull my pain.

  The man stumbled and fell to the earth, and I pounced. He thrashed under me as I bit into his shoulder, missing the heart’s blood. The cattle screamed in agony and fear, the sound pleasing to my ears. I ripped into his hamstrings and moved away to watch him flail and writhe before me. The thrill and vicious excitement made my heart thunder in my chest as I watched him struggle to his knees. He was mine and would live or die as I saw fit.

  His head turned to me, face pale and eyes wide. “Please—”

  Hours later, I could still remember the delicious snap of his ribs as I tore into his body and consumed him alive. When it was all said and done, my chest and arms were covered in the man’s blood. The power of his soul gave me a zing I hadn’t felt for years.

  Looking at him, I took in his frozen expression of shock and horror. His entrails spread out over his hips while everything else of value had been consumed.

  “That will give forensics something to talk about!” Badb said, making me jump.

  I snarled, rounding on her. “Dammit, Badb!”

  “Don’t be angry with me. I helped you by giving you something to eat. Isn’t that thoughtful?”

  I stood with my fists clenched at my side. “I wouldn’t have had to eat him if you didn’t make your avatar attack me!”

  The finger held up went to her bottom lip as her youthful face softened into a thoughtful expression. “True, but he shouldn’t have been able to complete my task so easily. Whose fault is that?”

  Silence chimed in, It’s yours.

  “Badb, this was wrong. That man could’ve—”

  “He could’ve saved a million lives or started World War III. Who knows what his future would’ve been? Oh, wait”—she pointed to herself—“I would, as Chooser of the Slain.” Badb rested her hands on her hips. “I’d never do something you’d be morally against. Don’t you trust your friends?”

  “It’s myself I don’t trust.”

  She reached out and pulled me to my feet. “Oh, the burden of a man-eating monster with dietary morals. Come along.”

  I followed her lead, leaving the mutilated carcass behind. The deep hunger was silent for the first time in years. Clear thought dominated my mind along with powerful guilt.

  “At least tell me he was a bad man,” I said to Badb, as we approached the truck.

  She shrugged. “He may have been. Someday?”

  “He was a bad man,” David said, pushing off from the side of the vehicle where he had been leaning. He looked from the goddess to me. “We good?”

  “Yes. Did you lay out the tarp as I asked? It would be horrible to lose the deposit on the rental.”

  “Already done.” He opened one of the doors to the truck, showing blue tarp spread out over the back seat and the
floor.

  I studied how everything was tucked into place. “And here I thought you were going to throw me in the back like a dog.”

  David spared me a glance. “I suggested it since it would’ve been easier to hose off the bed, but Badb said no.”

  “I want you to sit inside like a real person!” The goddess pressed against my side to give me a hug. “You’re my favorite man-eating monster-friend.”

  “Acting cute doesn’t get you off the hook.” My hand patted her hair, leaving a bit of gore in the dark strands. “I’m still pissed.”

  She pouted. “But I gave you dinner.”

  I turned her and pushed her toward the truck. “I don’t have all night.”

  Badb ran to the driver’s side door, her hands pulling at the latch. “I want to drive!”

  David was already there with a hand on her arm. The man could move fast, even with a prosthetic leg. “No. Last time you ran us into a ditch. Hop in the back, little miss.”

  I arched a brow at the endearment. No one had ever called the Battle Crow “little miss” in the centuries I’d known her. Granted, David hadn’t seen her murdering her way across a battlefield yet. Perspective was everything.

  She puffed out her cheeks at David before moving to the passenger side door and pulling it open. “Sit with me!”

  Might as well do it, Silence muttered. Otherwise she’ll do that thing with her eyes.

  I walked toward the door and came up short as I noticed David’s eyes slowly assessing me from top to bottom, so I returned the frank appraisal. He’d cleaned his face, but I could still see smears of the paint across his skin, around his nostrils, and by the ears. David had a fighter’s build with hair clipped close to his head. In the dim light, I noticed his tattoos peeking out from the neck of his shirt and running the length of his arms to his wrists—a black and gray combination of geometric shapes and swirling circles, with mandala flowers worked into it. His nose was a tad too big for his face and had been broken a time or two. One of his ears looked misshapen—likely from too many punches to the side of the head. A scar ruined one eyebrow and traced down a little too close to the corner of his eye.