The Boundless

by Peter Newman

  She suspected that as long as she could keep up the appearance that Gada was in charge, he’d do what she wanted. He might be a proud Sapphire, but he was also terrified of his new responsibility. She could use that. Nidra was harder to predict and would be impossible to control. Luckily for her, Nidra’s body was old and exhausted, and was currently dozing on Gada’s back.

  They’d sent a pair of hunters home with Vasinidra’s remains and strict instructions to return his shattered wings to the Gardener-smiths, while the rest of them continued to hunt the Scuttling Corpseman and Rochant. The Wild remained strangely quiet, almost dead, and they were making good time towards Sorn. She was aware that this was not their first trip and all of them were tired. In her case dangerously so.

  If I’m not careful I’ll end up going the same way as Vasinidra.

  A Birdkin flew overhead and dropped something small and golden that landed at Pari’s feet before landing on a branch just ahead of the lead hunters. She realized it was the first creature they’d seen in hours of travel. Its eyes were strange, multifaceted things that glittered as it shifted its gaze rapidly from one to the other.

  The nearest hunters readied their spears but Pari’s attention was on the object dropped by the Birdkin. She scooped it up and recognized it instantly. This looks like my earring. One that I gave to Varg to use as a signal. I do hope he hasn’t got himself into trouble.

  ‘We have a demon,’ said one of the hunters, ‘should we dispatch it?’

  ‘Of course,’ said Gada.

  The Birdkin looked at Pari and made a flicking gesture with its beak, as if to say ‘Follow me’.

  How odd, she thought.

  The hunter threw her spear and the Birdkin hurled itself into the air to avoid being skewered. It cawed angrily, then nodded at Pari and made another flicking gesture before flying away.

  Pari turned to Arkav. ‘If I didn’t know better, I’d think it was trying to lure me away with the most childish of tricks.’

  ‘Lucky for us you know better.’

  She gave him a mock scowl.

  They hadn’t gone very far when the Birdkin returned, though not as close as before. It had brought others with it, a black feathered host. They all had the same type of eyes. As one, they flicked their beaks.

  ‘Oh, now this is getting ridiculous,’ said Pari.

  ‘I don’t like it,’ agreed Gada. ‘They could be spies for the Corpseman.’

  ‘Unlikely,’ she replied. ‘The Corpseman’s followers don’t look like this, at least not the ones I’ve seen.’

  ‘High Lord Vasinidra believes it has been working with other demons. He told me that Quiverhive’s attacks on House Ruby were part of a larger plan. Either way, they’re demons. We’ll see if we can scare them off.’

  Before he could give the order, however, the Birdkin scattered.

  Arkav watched them go with a thoughtful expression on his face.

  Pari gave him a gentle prod. ‘If you don’t tell me, I won’t be able to appreciate how clever you are.’

  ‘I don’t know. It may be nothing.’

  ‘But?’

  ‘I think I’ve seen feathers like that before.’

  Her eyes widened. ‘Come to think of it, so have I! Sa-at. His coat was made of them.’

  ‘You should follow the Birdkin.’

  ‘I think I’m a little busy right now.’

  He smiled at her. ‘You’re right. I suppose we’ll just have to accept that we’ll never know what it was all about.’

  ‘That’s low, dear brother, even for you.’

  He started to move off in the direction of Sorn. ‘Perhaps it’s for the best. I know how much you love an unsolved mystery.’

  ‘Stop that!’

  ‘It will give you something to ponder when you get bored.’

  ‘If you don’t stop right now, I’ll—’

  ‘Go after the Birdkin?’

  She scowled. ‘I hate you sometimes.’

  ‘Hurry. I’ll make sure we don’t start our attack on the Corpseman until you catch up.’

  ‘Lord Gada will be livid.’

  ‘I’ll handle him. You handle this.’

  She trusted her brother’s instincts as she did her own. Perhaps more so. On impulse, she took his hand and kissed it. ‘I really am glad you came back.’

  His eyes misted, and the skin at their edges crinkled around his smile. ‘Thank you for having the strength to bring me back.’ He gently turned her towards the trees. ‘But your new friends are getting away.’

  ‘True. What are you going to tell Lord Gada?’

  Arkav laughed. ‘Something brilliant.’

  She laughed too and gave him a final wave as she sprang forward on her Sky-legs.

  It didn’t take long to catch up. The Birdkin were waiting for her. As soon as she got close, they took wing, leading her towards a clearing. There were two larger things waiting for her there, a man in black and a white-furred Dogkin. Though she recognized them immediately, a part of her refused to believe what she was seeing.

  ‘Varg?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  She looked at him a second time as the Birdkin took up posts in the trees around him. Almost protectively. He was dressed in armour that seemed to be woven from roots and vines. Feathers sprouted from the shoulder plates and made a long skirt around his legs. There were fresh scars on his face and he looked taller somehow. In his hand was a sapphire-tipped spear. Two more spears were crossed on his back.

  Glider sat next to him, looking more wild than ever.

  ‘On a normal day, I would positively enjoy picking apart what all this means,’ Pari began, ‘but time is rather short, so I’d appreciate it if you’d just tell me what in the name of the Thrice Blessed Suns is going on. Oh, and if there are any good reasons why you are dressed like that and obviously collaborating with demons, and why I shouldn’t execute you …’ She gave him her sweetest smile. ‘I’d start with those.’

  Varg scratched at his beard. ‘Well, me and Glider don’t work for you any more.’

  ‘Not the best start, Varg.’

  ‘Look, you ain’t like the other Deathless. I’ve done a lot of things for you that don’t exactly follow the rules, so I reckon you understand that sometimes the rules don’t work.’

  ‘Keep talking.’

  ‘Things are fucked. Like, really fucked. An’ it seems to us that Rochant and the Corpseman are gonna destroy everything unless we work together.’

  ‘Who is this “we” exactly?’

  ‘I’ll show you, but you gotta promise not to attack.’

  ‘Do I receive the same promise in return?’

  ‘Yeah. We just wanna talk.’

  ‘Very well, lead on. Just be quick about it.’

  Varg didn’t turn to leave, he stood aside. More Birdkin had gathered behind him, and with them was a woman wrapped in a dark robe. Feathers formed a high crest behind her head. Her slender arms seemed almost like wing bones from which long sleeves hung. A white-beaked Birdkin perched on her shoulder, its head tilted to one side. Again, Pari recognized her. Again, it was hard to believe.

  ‘Honoured Mother Chandni? I suppose with Varg here, I shouldn’t be surprised.’

  She didn’t bow in Pari’s presence but for some reason that didn’t feel as odd as it should have. Chandni had always been poised, but there was something different about her now, something regal. ‘I am Honoured Mother no more. I am Chandni of iron and darkness, I am a two-hearted queen, a packstealer, and this is my flock. I know that I have crossed a line and I know that we will never again be friends, but hear me: Our enemy today is the same, and I believe that alone we will die fighting it.’

  ‘What are you offering?’

  ‘I can tell you where the Corpseman is.’

  Pari laughed. ‘You’ll have to do better than that.’

  The Birdkin scowled down at her, shrieking, and Glider growled low, as if daring Pari to try being disrespectful again. Chandni simply raised a hand and they al
l stopped. ‘I can tell you exactly where it is and the positions of its children. I will show you where best to attack from, and send my followers to aid your flights of hunters in battle. We can mask your approach until you are in a position to strike.’

  ‘And what do you want in return for all of this?’

  ‘Only a Deathless can face the Corpseman directly. We can open a door for you, but we cannot go through it.’

  Pari nodded. She knew how overpowering the Corpseman was, even for those protected by tanzanite armour. ‘I take it this is your first hunt, my dear?’

  Chandni stiffened. ‘What of it?’

  ‘I’ve fought the Corpseman before but I’ve never come close to defeating it. And now it has wings and an army. We need a strategy.’

  ‘What do you suggest?’

  ‘We keep the Corpseman busy. It won’t kill me or Nidra. At least, not unless we really annoy it. If we can engage its forces and keep them distracted, you can strike at its weak spot.’

  ‘I wasn’t aware the Corpseman had one.’

  Pari grinned. ‘Of course it does. Rochant. Get your hands on him and the Corpseman will back down. At least that is what my instincts tell me.’

  ‘What if you’re wrong?’

  ‘Then we try to win the traditional way. Why do I feel there is more you’re not saying?’

  ‘The Corpseman has taken my son, his safety is a condition of my support.’

  ‘You mean Sa-at?’

  Some of Chandni’s steel wilted as she took a step closer. ‘You know him?’

  ‘A little. I like what I’ve seen so far. Given that we have some history and I have nothing against him personally, I will agree to your terms.’

  ‘Swear it before the Wild.’

  ‘Oh, I think not. You may have sold your soul to this place, but that is a path I will not be following.’ If Rochant had been as discerning, she thought bitterly, none of us would be in this mess in the first place. ‘If you wish me to trust you, you must take me at my word.’

  Chandni inclined her head, and the Birdkin did the same. ‘I haven’t forgotten how you saved my son and I all those years ago. We will trust you, Lady Pari.’

  ‘While I am incredibly open-minded about things, I doubt my companions will be able to manage it, so please keep your communications subtle, and when the fighting starts, keep your …’ she gestured to the Birdkin ‘… companions out of our way.’

  ‘I understand.’

  ‘Please also understand that I am not condoning your life choices.’ She raised an eyebrow in Varg’s direction. ‘Nor yours. When this is all over, you will be treated just the same as any other traitor.’

  Varg seemed saddened but there was resolve in his eyes as he moved to Chandni’s side. He knows too much about me, but there is nothing I can do here and now.

  ‘This is the last time you’ll see me, Lady Pari,’ said Chandni, ‘I promise you.’

  Pari had the sudden and unwelcome sense of being dismissed. She quickly quashed the urge to get the last word. Just focus on the world-shaking problems for now, Pari, she counselled herself. And with a bow grand enough to be mocking, she left to catch up with her brother and the Sapphire.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Satyendra was close, he could feel it.

  Ahead of him was a steep hill. From a distance it looked like some gnarled and knobbly piece of fruit. As he got closer, he could see mud-smeared bumps of amber all over it. The humanoid Flykin were crawling from one to the other, fussing over them. Though he couldn’t make out any entrances from where he was, it was clear that the Flykin were moving in and out of the hill from several different places.

  The constant buzz, though unsettling, did not distress him as it had before. It was softer, more peaceful, and didn’t cut into his thoughts. And yet, his instincts still told him to keep away.

  He came to a stop at the edge of the trees and scowled up at the sky. The three suns shone down angrily. Intellectually, he knew that their rays were not as strong here as they were in the courtyard of Rochant’s castle, but it didn’t feel that way. To him, their light seemed sharper than ever, stabbing at his eyes until he looked away.

  Why am I here? he wondered. The idea of getting revenge on Rochant remained but he struggled to recall why it was so important. What does it even matter now?

  Rochant had hurt and humiliated him. In return he had drawn the man’s blood, but that wasn’t enough. He had to do more.

  But why? he asked himself. There was no articulate answer, just the overwhelming need to make Rochant suffer, the kind that didn’t need a reason. It simply was. And while a very small part of him recoiled from it in horror, he already knew that he was going to see his desires through.

  Vengeance was not all that drove him though. He was also here for Sa-at. A part of him still wanted to hurt Sa-at, like a reflex, but another part of him wanted to talk to Sa-at and be reassured. It had been a while since he’d last seen himself and he knew his body had undergone significant changes since then. The idea of his reflection scared him now. Would he find a taller version of Sa-at staring back at him or a smaller one of the Whispercage?

  Turning away from such thoughts, he continued to study the hill. Standing there in the shadows of the tree he was all but invisible, his body slipping into an unearthly stillness.

  There were bonds between the Flykin demons and the mounds in the hill, and bonds between each member of the swarm to each other. He saw as much as felt them, new senses picking out the ghosts of essence that ran from one to another. That is what allows them to coordinate so effectively. Perhaps it could also be exploited.

  The swarm remained unaware of his presence, busying themselves with the movement of bodies and the reengineering of the hill. Gradually, their patterns started to make sense to him, and he was drawn to the strange, almost maternal way they treated their charges. There was tenderness to match their efficiency.

  Interesting.

  Safe from the glare of the suns he continued to observe. There were far too many for him to face alone but Satyendra felt no concern. From here, he could watch and wait, unnoticed. Sooner or later an opportunity would come.

  ‘You okay?’ asked Varg.

  They were both sitting on Glider’s back, Chandni in front and him behind. The pack, swelled with Kennelgrove’s own Dogkin, padded alongside and her Birdkin glided above, a great host that moved at her command. ‘We’re together, aren’t we?’

  The compliment earned her a gentle squeeze. ‘Yeah, it’s just …’

  ‘You can speak freely to me.’

  ‘When you were talking to Pari you didn’t sound like you. You sounded like one of them.’

  ‘I am one of them. Murderkind’s power is mine now, Varg.’

  ‘Yeah.’ He sounded crestfallen.

  ‘But I’m still me.’

  She only caught the end of his answer as the first part was muttered into his beard. ‘Don’t see how you can’t be changed by … what you did.’

  Chandni could understand Varg’s point of view, but he was wrong. Strictly speaking she had changed. Her heart beat differently, and she was connected to the Wild in a way she’d never been before. She could feel how the trees had fallen silent, driven into hibernation by fear. The pain of her flock, bloodied and diminished, was written in every flap of their wings. Rochant and the Corpseman had destroyed the old order and everything had withdrawn to see what the dawn would bring.

  But she felt no different in herself. She had taken Murderkind’s authority, not the other way around. Her wants and needs remained the same. In an odd way, she felt more like her old self than ever, for now she had a domain to protect and a score of individuals all dependent on her guidance. The only real difference was that she used to serve the lords of House Sapphire, and now she served no one.

  ‘Varg, if you aren’t happy, I won’t force you to stay.’

  ‘I’m with you to the end, Chand. You know that. I just worry. You keep getting closer and closer to th
e Wild and I’m scared you’ve gone too far, like too far to come back. There’s always a price, you know?’

  Chandni wasn’t so sure. She suspected the Wild was more complicated than a simple trap that consumed everything it came into contact with. And anyway, she was tired of living in fear. Varg may not understand now, but he would in time.

  She drew the pack to a halt when the trees began to thin out. Ahead of her was the hill that held Sa-at. On the other side of it one of her Birdkin was leading Lady Pari and House Sapphire into a position to strike.

  A single gesture brought the flock down. They clustered close together, forming a big plump rug of feathers. She slipped from Glider’s back and walked among them, letting her hands brush the backs of their heads.

  Beat-beat-

  -beat-beat.

  Beat-beat-

  -beat-beat- went her twin hearts, whispering to each other, sharing secrets. Like any power of the Wild, she could give and take as she pleased from those beholden to her. With each touch, she took a Birdkin’s hearing, and the flock’s world grew quieter.

  Don’t worry my, children, she soothed, this will not be forever.

  When she was done, she helped Varg put hoods on the Dogkin, then they helped each other fasten their own headdresses. She doubted it would be enough to cut out the sound of the swarm entirely, but it would help them to resist.

  When she was done, Chandni climbed onto Glider’s back and raised her arms.

  As one, the flock took wing.

  Chandni watched them go with pride. Has any flight of hunters ever flown with such unity of purpose, such perfect formation? I think not.

  What was coming scared her, but she had a plan, and she had her people, and she was ready.

  Be patient, my son, I am coming.

  Pari walked through the Wild with Gada and Nidra, the hunters strung out behind them in two formations. It was hard talking to them whilst keeping a subtle eye on the Birdkin leading her through the trees. Or at least it was hard doing both things at once without getting irritated.

  ‘No,’ she said ‘that’s not what I mean. High Lord Spinel is not actually dead, though he may well wish he was. The Corpseman has trapped him in his body. If it wasn’t for our intervention it would have done the same to High Lords Jet, Opal, Tanzanite, and Peridot. Ultimately it means to end the cycle of rebirth for all the Deathless save for,’ she paused, ‘myself and Rochant and Nidra.’