The Boundless

by Peter Newman

  ‘We could use the hole.’

  ‘What hole?’

  ‘The one Rochant showed me. It’s how we got in.’

  ‘That might get us outside but,’ Satyendra paused to wipe the sweat from his brow, ‘we still have to get down the mountain. With the castle locked tight, the roads will be empty. When the suns come up, we’ll be seen by anyone who cares to look.’

  ‘And you can’t use the Godroad,’ said Sa-at. ‘It will kill you.’

  Satyendra nodded, fear in his eyes. ‘You’re probably right. I wouldn’t know … I’ve never left the castle. Not since I was a baby anyway.’ He slumped and looked away, all the vigour he’d shown earlier gone. ‘I hate this room.’

  Sa-at shook his arm. ‘We have to go before the guards find out.’

  ‘It’s not the guards that worry me,’ Satyendra replied. He glanced at the larger, empty armour stand and his hand went to the small of his back. ‘Rochant is out there somewhere. Oh, this is hopeless. We’ll never get clear in time … There’s nothing else to do but …’

  Sa-at didn’t like the way Satyendra was looking at him. ‘I know how we can get down the mountain really fast.’ He went and put his hand on the smaller set of armour.

  ‘No, that won’t work.’

  Sa-at grinned at him. ‘I’m good at falling.’

  ‘No.’

  ‘I’ll carry you.’

  ‘No!’

  Sa-at lifted the wings from the stand. ‘Yes.’

  Pari had the carriage stop a safe distance away from Sagan. Though her brother followed – the two of them advancing in bounding, gliding strides – his damaged wing meant that she soon left him behind. The light of the beacon was beginning to fade. Were it not so quiet, the outside of the settlement would appear almost normal.

  Like most settlements, Sagan was built alongside either side of the Godroad for protection. The houses were closest, then the working buildings, then the thin stretch of farmland. After its closest neighbour, Sorn, had fallen prey to the Wild, Sagan had taken on the refugees, growing in size. It had also erected wooden walls for extra protection. They still looked to be in good repair, though it bothered her to find nobody manning them. She’d got used to being challenged by House Sapphire’s overzealous guards and their sudden absence was startling.

  Up ahead she could see bodies on the Godroad. These were people who had followed the normal protocols, fleeing the settlement for the safety of the crystal road.

  She landed alongside them in a crouch. The nearest body belonged to a middle-aged man. He had the pale skin of the road-born, and the hands of a Cutter-crafter. He also had a spear sticking out of his chest. It was embedded deep, so deep that if she didn’t know he was still in his castle, she’d have wondered if Rochant had thrown it. There was debris around the bodies. Stones and tools. Small but weighty objects.

  The people fled here and were attacked with projectiles.

  She could see the scrabble marks in the earth to either side. Clearly those who had not been dropped in the initial volley had tried to jump to safety.

  But there was no safety. Those poor souls must have been plucked from the ground the moment they left the Godroad. Who did this? What did this?

  She got up, unfurled her whip, and continued into Sagan.

  The gates had been opened to allow people to escape and she entered without challenge.

  Inside was a scene of carnage. She and Arkav had stopped here on their way in. It had been an overcrowded place of problems, but also of industry and people fighting adversity together.

  Now it was a place of the dead.

  It looked as if a storm had swept through, tearing chunks from the mud roofs and pulling several of the houses over entirely. Carts were overturned, personal possessions strewn randomly, abandoned.

  A few of the bodies had been stripped of clothes and skin, their scattered skeletons clean. She couldn’t be sure but it seemed to her as if each one was missing a bone or two. Other bodies were virtually untouched. These were being gathered together by a group of six demons, who fluttered over a growing pile. She recognized the flying mishmash of human and Flykin. They had once been the people of Sorn. She’d seen them cocooned in slabs of amber, buried in the hillside. They hadn’t been fully transformed then. Now they were. The children of the Scuttling Corpseman. She did not like to think about what they were up to, and she most certainly did not like the idea of letting them continue.

  Six seems a bit much though, even for me. Come on, Arkav!

  As she waited, she saw four of them scoop up bodies and take to the air, while the remaining two went back to building the pile. She only had to take one glance at the fliers to guess where they were going.

  Sorn. Or more likely the hill outside Sorn. It seems the Corpseman wants to grow its family further.

  There was still no sign of Arkav or the carriage and she decided that these were probably the best odds she was going to get. Her opponents were partially armoured, but their arms and legs were still recognizably human, with patches of pale skin exposed beneath holes in the chitin.

  She leapt forward, her whip flashing out ahead of her. The Tanzanite barb sunk into the back of one of the demon’s knees and nestled in. Flames immediately flickered around the wound. Before it could react, she pulled hard on the whip, taking its legs from under it and bringing it out backwards to the floor.

  Pari leapt forward again, driving her knee into the prone demon’s back, cracking carapace and wing case as she did so. It made a distressed buzzing noise which she had no desire ever to hear again.

  As the second demon turned towards her, she grabbed the face of the first one with her crystal gauntlet and squeezed, breaking and burning until the noise stopped.

  It bothered her deeply that once, this had been a loyal servant of House Sapphire, betrayed by Rochant and corrupted by the Corpseman. She hoped that the man the demon was made from had died long ago, but she couldn’t be sure.

  May you have some measure of peace now.

  She looked for weak points as the second demon approached, its wings flickering angrily at its back. This too was not completely covered by natural armour, but instead of skin she saw flecks of white where pieces of whittled bone had been used to plug the gaps.

  There was no expression on the demon’s face and the jaw hung loose. There were no eyes either, but the eye sockets weren’t entirely empty, something rounded sat deep within the recesses of the skull.

  She jumped back as it approached and lashed out with her whip. The demon seemed to anticipate the attack, twisting clear without losing momentum.

  She jumped back again, whipping for its legs this time. It leapt high and kept coming.

  It was nearly on her.

  When she’d fought the Corpseman before, it had sensed her with its antennae, and she suspected that it detected thought as much as movement. She wondered if this demon worked the same way, and noticed how it held its hands forward, as if the fingers themselves were tasting the air.

  Her third jump put her back to the wall. It was time to test her theory.

  She whipped the fingers of its right hand, and was pleased to see it overreact to avoid the blow, jerking backwards in alarm.

  Before it could recover, she pressed it, switching from whip to boot, to fist, as she spun and attacked again and again. At last, she made contact, slicing into its hand with her blade-sharp wings. For a moment it was stunned, and in that moment, Pari spun again, snipping its head cleanly from its body and setting both aflame.

  A noise from behind soon got her attention. She turned just in time to see Arkav charge into Sagan. ‘Pari! Are you all right?’

  ‘I’d have been much better if you’d arrived five minutes ago.’

  He stopped and snorted. ‘Yes, you seem fine.’

  ‘I wish I could say the same for everyone else. Come over here and look at this. I want to know what you think.’

  She waved him over to where the bodies were. Where the swarm had pick
ed the others clean, these were all intact. ‘I’m not even sure what killed them.’

  Arkav squatted down on his Sky-legs. ‘That’s because they’re not dead.’

  ‘What?’

  He held his bracer over the mouth of the nearest victim. ‘It’s barely discernible, but do you see?’

  She had to crouch down and crane her neck, but she saw; a weak puff of mist. ‘But they seem more than asleep. They seem … gone.’

  ‘Perhaps they are,’ he mused.

  ‘I want you to examine them further. If they are still alive, see if you can save them from whatever this is.’

  ‘It’s making servants. Breeding them from these bodies.’

  ‘You’re saying that these people are being turned into parts?’

  Arkav nodded grimly. ‘Yes. Like eggs that have yet to be fertilised. The Scuttling Corpseman is trying to recreate itself. And the people of Sagan are paying the price.’

  ‘No,’ replied Pari. ‘Sagan is just the latest part of the price. It’s happened before, in Sorn, and it will happen again.’ She clenched her fists and looked him in the eye. ‘Unless we can stop it.’

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  The suns had set some time ago but the Wild remained quiet. Nobody was taking any chances however. Hunters from five of the Crystal Dynasties patrolled Fourboards’ perimeter. The road-born that lived there, no longer sure of the Godroad’s protection, huddled in their homes, waiting for the Deathless to make things right again.

  In his exalted state Vasinidra did not feel tired, but he was starting to feel stretched, a sure sign that when he did take off the armour, the exertions of the past few days would hit hard. But he did not dare take it off, not yet, not with things still so tense.

  One of the biggest buildings had been cleared for their use and the Deathless filled it easily. Yadva nearly filled it on her own! Of the ten immortals that had joined the battle, only eight remained in their bodies, and only six of them looked to for much longer.

  The minor houses had taken the worst of it. Lords Quasim Peridot and Lakshin Opal were now between lives, all but a few of their hunters dead. Lady Anuja Ruby was still breathing but her condition was uncertain. She was too weak to move, and had slept for most of the day. Nobody had dared try to wake her.

  Vasinidra looked at the faces of his peers. None are behaving as if we had a victory. They know that things are different now. We are like children who have just lost our parents. Nothing makes sense any more and we don’t know what to do.

  ‘We should be having a feast now,’ grumbled Yadva. ‘Not squatting in this hovel.’

  ‘Ssh,’ said Gada, his long face creased with disapproval. ‘You disrespect House Ruby.’

  ‘House Ruby is comatose,’ Yadva retorted. ‘I don’t see the point of staying here. We need warm beds and good food and a break from this swamp. How anyone lives with this smell is beyond me.’

  As Gada shook his head, Umed lifted a hand. His uncle’s body was nearing the end of its natural life, and it had cost him to put it into battle. Though his armour sustained him, Vasinidra suspected this would be Umed’s last venture until his next rebirth.

  ‘Yes, Lord Umed?’ he asked.

  ‘While I may not agree with Lady Yadva’s use of words, High Lord. She is right to point out the need for a plan.’

  ‘We are in Ruby lands, Uncle. It is for Lady Anuja to make a plan, not me.’

  ‘Time is against us. The people of Fourboards will struggle to sustain themselves given their losses and there is no way they can host a force of this size for long. Moreover, the longer we remain here, the longer we leave our own lands undefended. You said yourself that the traditions no longer serve our needs, so I urge you to take action now.’

  The other Sapphire murmured assent. Having seen how dangerous the Wild had become, they were all keen to return and check their homes were safe.

  He looked over to Lady Farida Tanzanite. ‘What do you think?’

  She tilted her head. ‘I think House Ruby would rather a little disrespect than lose any more of its people. My High Lord told us to help Lady Anuja. So long as I believe you are working to the same goal, we will do as you suggest, High Lord Vasinidra.’

  ‘Thank you. We know that the Wild has been behaving oddly here for some time. We know that Quiverhive has been directing the attacks on House Ruby. We also know that they have been targeting the Rubies above all else. I think Quiverhive’s goal was to wipe them out entirely.’

  ‘I think,’ said Yadva, gesturing towards Anuja’s prone form, ‘that it succeeded.’

  ‘The question is, why? Why go to all this trouble? What was the point?’

  Umed closed his eyes. ‘Many have gone mad trying to fathom the Wild.’

  ‘But that was when the Wild was unfathomable. It is behaving differently now. It’s thinking, reacting, it’s becoming more like us. They’ve adapted to the Godroad, and to our hunting tactics.’

  ‘They had, you mean,’ said Yadva. ‘Quiverhive is slain.’

  ‘Yes. I’m hoping that means that the relentless attacks on Ruby settlements will end. It still doesn’t answer the question of why. And it doesn’t explain where the Corpseman is or what it’s doing.’

  Gada sighed. ‘I wish we could give you insight, High Lord, but you know more about what’s going on than we do.’

  He’s right. I won’t get answers from them. I’m going to have to find them myself, and until then, guess. How has it come to this? Gambling our futures on shreds of evidence and half-formed ideas.

  ‘Lady Farida, I’d ask that you and the rest of the Tanzanite force remain in Ruby lands and patrol the Godroad. It might be that the Wild will go for easier targets. Keep on the move. There’s no telling where the enemy might strike next.’

  ‘As you wish, High Lord Sapphire.’

  She rose and the other two Deathless rose with her, leaving the Sapphire alone with Lady Anuja.

  ‘Lord Umed, it is time for you to return home. You’ve done enough here.’

  ‘Yes, High Lord.’

  He was about to say more when he saw Lady Anuja begin to cough violently. They all waited respectfully until the fit had passed. Though she didn’t open her eyes, her lips parted and she began to speak. ‘Has there been another attack?’

  A couple of strides and he was by her side. ‘No. Your people are safe.’

  ‘Vasinidra?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘My house … has fallen?’

  ‘No, my lady. It stands, held up by its allies until its suns rise again. We will watch over your lands while your High Lord returns to the lands of the living. Rest now. You’ve earned it.’

  She shook her head. ‘The Bringers do not answer my call. I sent for them urgently and there has been no sign of them. Not even a message.’

  ‘Rest,’ he said again. ‘I will deal with this.’

  ‘Swear it.’

  ‘I swear it on my house and my honour and our friendship.’

  ‘I will hold you to it,’ she replied, closing her eyes and drifting away while his thoughts whirled.

  If something has happened to the Bringers then none of us will return. Have they abandoned us? Are they victims of the Corpseman? What about Mother? If they haven’t answered Lady Anuja’s summons, perhaps they haven’t responded to mine either. I’ll find them and drag them to her rebirth ceremony myself if I have to.

  He was halfway to the door before he remembered himself. ‘I have to investigate this further. Lady Yadva, Lord Umed, you will remain here and represent House Sapphire. Lord Gada, gather your hunters. We’re going home.’

  Varg and Chandni rode on Glider’s back, following Crowflies back to the others. They had gone until the buzzing of the swarm could no longer be heard behind them. Then they had rode on some more.

  At last, she ordered Glider to stop and catch her breath. The Dogkin obeyed immediately, falling onto her belly to pant, while Crowflies perched on a nearby branch to glare at them, impatient.

  ‘I
don’t think those things are following us,’ said Varg.

  She just nodded, her jaw clenched.

  ‘What’s up, Chand?’

  ‘Kennelgrove. It tried to kill us!’

  ‘How?’

  ‘It spoke to me, bewitched me somehow so that all I could think of was the Corpseman. I thought we had won Kennelgrove over and I let my guard down. Even our youngest children know the rules for demons: Don’t listen, don’t make eye contact, don’t let them touch you. How could I have been so stupid?’

  ‘I reckon it’s hard not to look a demon in the eye or listen to its voice when you’re living with them. We either gotta get away from all of this or find some new rules.’

  ‘There’s no getting away, Varg. It’s too late for that. And I need Kennelgrove to undo its curse.’

  Varg looked worried. ‘What curse?’

  She lowered her voice. ‘Kennelgrove cursed Rayen and her people, and Glider, turning them into Dogkin. The deal I’ve made with Kennelgrove is to change them back. I’m not sure if the others even remember what they were, but Rayen does.’

  ‘Which one is Rayen?’

  ‘Their leader. I’m worried about her.’

  ‘Yeah?’ He sounded disbelieving. ‘She was trying to kill you yesterday.’

  ‘She had good reason. Fiya was one of her descendants and I murdered her.’

  Varg held up his hands. ‘All I’m saying is that it’s fucking weird. I don’t get why you’re trying to help them. They’re not your responsibility.’

  ‘They’re mine for a year, Varg. And when that year ends, I intend to leave friends behind me, not enemies.’ She shook her head. ‘None of this was Rayen’s fault. It’s hard to put into words but … I want to change things. I don’t know how yet or even what I’m aiming for. I just know I want to make things better.’

  ‘I thought you wanted a life with me, and to have a family.’

  She found his hand with her good one and their fingers laced together. ‘I still do. More than anything.’

  ‘I don’t see how you do both. If you go about trying to change things, you’ll get changed too. That’s how the Wild is.’ His voice cracked. ‘I’ll lose you again.’