by J. J. Green
***
A gentle shake of her shoulder woke her. Despite the lightness of the touch, Carina still barely prevented herself from punching her awakener. Her fist stopped a whisker from the young priestess’ face, and the woman drew back in alarm.
“Sorry,” said Carina, sitting up. “I’m so sorry. You startled me.” She didn’t know how long she’d slept but she remained groggy with tiredness.
“I apologize for waking you,” said the priestess. She wore long cloak and a cowl so that her features and figure were obscure, but she was so slight and her voice was so high and soft she seemed very young to Carina. “We have a morning ceremony. You’re welcome to remain here but we need to use this bench.”
“No, it’s okay,” said Carina. “I’ll leave.”
“You really don’t have to leave,” said the priestess. “Perhaps you would like something to eat after the ceremony?”
Now that she was fully awake, Carina gave some thought to the young woman’s suggestion. Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to stick around in the place of worship for a while. She might be able to discover something about the ritual at the Mech Battles. “Thank you. I’ll stay.”
The priestess nodded. “You may stand in the corner over there.” She left through a small door at the back of the room.
Carina stood up and stretched. Then she winced as her bruises reminded her of their existence. Music began to float through the open doorway—twangs of stringed instruments and the regular beat of a drum. Carina went over to the corner and waited.
Figures wearing the same hoods and floor-length robes as the priestess entered the chamber in single file, each carrying a scroll of plaspaper. Carina spotted the young priestess, the shortest in the ranks. The twelve disciples took seats, one at each end of the benches. They began to chant in a foreign language, repeating what sounded like six or seven words over and over again. Then one of the priests stood and stepped solemnly to the brazier. He pressed a switch and flames sprang up. At the same time the whine of a fan came from above. When the fire was burning strongly, he unfurled his sheet of plaspaper and dropped it into the flames.
Carina glimpsed some writing on the sheet, then it was gone to ashes that were drawn upward to the fan. The priest returned to his bench. When he had sat down, the other devotee sitting on his bench did the same thing, though Carina thought the word he uttered was different from the first’s. She was a little disappointed. She’d been hoping the disciples might make elixir on the brazier, but perhaps they didn’t follow the religious practice she’d witnessed in the Mech Battle stadium.
The ceremony continued. Each disciple disposed of their sheet in the brazier’s flames. As Carina was thinking wryly that it might be less effort to put the scrolls down a trash chute, she saw the writing on the paper clearly for the first time. She stood bolt upright. Then the sheet was gone and the fan above hungrily vacuumed up its ashes.
She’d seen a character. She hadn’t been able to make out which character, but the sweeping strokes were so familiar to her she was sure she hadn’t been mistaken.
Only one sheet remained unburned. It belonged to the young priestess. As the child approached the brazier, Carina craned to see what was written on it but the priestess was carrying the scroll close to her chest. She unfurled the sheet. The flames burned high as she held it out. The priestess spoke her word and dropped the paper into the fire.
Carina’s heart sank. There was no character on the paper. It only displayed a random pattern of dots and numbers. She slumped against the wall. Had she imagined the character on the other scroll? Perhaps it was only because she’d just woken up and was still tired that she thought she’d seen something significant.
Someone had turned off the brazier and the priests and priestesses were filing out of the chamber. The young priestess was at the end of the line. Before she left the chamber, she gestured to Carina to wait.
Carina returned to a bench and sat down. After a few moments, the priestess reappeared carrying some food wrapped in a napkin.
“It isn’t much,” she said to Carina, “but you’re very welcome to share with us.”
“Thanks,” Carina said. Thinking she might as well inquire about the religion anyway, she added, “Do you have a moment? I wanted to ask you something.”
“What would you like to know?”
“I was at the Mech Battles the other night and I saw the ceremony at the end. Is that something that your sect performs?”
“The Libation? Yes. We do that, though I’ve never had the privilege myself. It’s a great honor and it will be many years before I am worthy, if I ever am.”
“I was wondering what it meant.”
“The Libation means many things. It gives thanks for the protection of the people, for one. You see, many years ago two great superpowers on Ostillon were at war. It was to put an end to the war that the Mech Battles were invented. Legend says that originally it was only two fighters, representing each side, who fought with weapons. The mechs came later. A second reason for the Libation is to absolve the fighters’ guilt if they killed their opponent. The Libation absorbs the sins of the competitors and washes them away when it is poured onto the soil.”
“I see,” said Carina. “But is there any significance to the ingredients used to create it? I thought I saw the priestess drop wood and soil into it.” Carina didn’t go into any more detail. She didn’t want to give away how familiar she was with the creation of elixir.
“Oh yes, the ingredients are very significant. They… I can show you if you’d like me to when you finish eating.”
Carina had been munching on the moist wafers the priestess had given her. She popped the last one into her mouth and said, “All finished.”
Though the young girl’s features were almost entirely obscured by her cowl, Carina thought she saw her smile. The priestess rose, and Carina followed her through a passage into the front of the building.
Daylight from the doorway now illuminated the room, washing out the colors of the friezes. The priestess led Carina to a section of the wall that displayed a pastoral scene. As she drew nearer, Carina realized the scene portrayed the five Elements. A stream ran through grass, representing Water. Lightning was striking a tree, and the first flickers of flame were outlining its branches. So there was both Wood and Fire. It was a natural landscape, so Earth was all around. Buried to its hilt in one spot next to the stream was a dagger or a sword, obviously made of Metal.
Beneath the scene was writing in a script Carina didn’t recognize. “What does this say?” she asked, pointing.
“The language is very old,” the priestess replied, “but it explains what sins belong to each material. Water represents lust. Wood is stubbornness. Metal is impatience… ”
Carina was looking at the wall, but she was facing the entrance. As the priestess spoke, someone poked their head in briefly, withdrawing the second they saw Carina.
Not waiting to hear the rest of the priestess’ explanation, Carina sped out of the building. The person who had looked in was running away. She set off in pursuit.
How Reyes had discovered where she was, she didn’t know, but she was going to find out.
Chapter Seventeen
Parthenia realized that she hadn’t heard any of the other children speak for a while. She checked over her shoulder. Darius was lying with his head on Ferne’s lap and Ferne had his head on Oriana’s shoulder. Oriana was slumped against the door. All three were deeply asleep. Parthenia sighed. She was tired too but she had to remain awake. Marcia could return to her normal self at any minute.
The woman had stared blankly ahead for all the hours they’d been traveling, only slowly blinking every so often and shifting a little in her seat. Parthenia could hardly believe how long the Enthrall Cast had lasted. Yet despite their long journey they still didn’t seem to be drawing near to the capital city.
The countryside was much greener than any place Parthenia had seen on Ithiya. They’d passed through farmland a
nd alongside wide, lush estuaries before they’d reached the forest that currently lined the road. The place looked similar to the woods she and Darius had wandered through for hours and she wondered if it was in fact the same place, though she hadn’t seen the ranger’s tower.
Jace had seemed to be a nice man but Parthenia dreaded seeing him again. Not because he was so large and foreboding, but because she’d disappeared right before his eyes. She hoped he hadn’t told anyone. Parthenia resolved to absolutely avoid Casting in front of anyone else again. Then she remembered that was exactly what she’d done around Marcia. Once more, she sighed.
Parthenia had allowed herself to be Enthralled more than once when the twins and Darius were learning the Cast. She recalled that coming out of it was like being in a dream and you slowly realized that you weren’t in a dream at all—that everything around you was real. It wasn’t like waking up from sleep. It was a strange experience and quite unsettling.
Watching the farmer’s profile, Parthenia wondered when she would wake up. It had to be soon, and then what would happen? She hoped that Marcia didn’t grab the vehicle’s controls in her shock and surprise and cause them to crash. As they were traveling on automatic, Parthenia didn’t think that was likely but she wished she could be sure.
When Marcia did come around, they would have to deal with her reaction and get away from her somehow. If only they would reach the city outskirts, then Parthenia could command Marcia to stop the vehicle and let them out. But the capital was nowhere to be seen, and if they left the vehicle in the forest, they would be in the same position Parthenia had been in with Darius when they arrived.
As Parthenia was about to turn away and refocus her attention on the road, Marcia closed her hanging jaw and smacked her lips.
Oh no! “Oriana,” Parthenia hissed toward the back of the vehicle. “Ferne!” But the twins didn’t wake.
Marcia’s limp hands twitched.
Parthenia reached over her seat to prod her siblings to wakefulness. She didn’t want to hasten Marcia’s return to reality by speaking loudly. Parthenia could just reach Darius’ leg. She poked him. He brushed at his leg but didn’t properly wake up. Parthenia nudged her brother again.
“What?” he said sleepily.
“Wake up Ferne and Oriana,” Parthenia whispered. “Quickly! Marcia’s coming around.”
The farmer began to blink rapidly. Her eyes regained their focus. Darius had sat up and he was shaking Ferne. Marcia lifted her hands onto her lap. A frown creased her forehead.
Parthenia had perhaps a few seconds remaining while the Enthrall Cast had some power. “Marcia,” she snapped.
The woman’s head turned toward her. Marcia’s eyes grew wide.
“Stop the vehicle,” Parthenia said sternly.
“Wh-what…? Why? What am I…?”
“Do as I say,” Parthenia said. “Immediately.”
Marcia shook her head in confusion but her hands took the controls. “How did I get here? I don’t remember… ” The hover vehicle rapidly slowed and sank toward the ground.
“Get ready to bail,” Parthenia said to her siblings.
“Hold on,” Marcia exclaimed. “You’re the children who were in my barn. I remember now. You’re a bunch of thieves.” Her voice rose in volume as she spoke.
The vehicle was on the side of the busy highway. Ignoring Marcia’s words, Parthenia went to open her door. It was locked.
“We can’t get out,” Oriana said.
“Open the doors, Marcia,” Parthenia commanded.
“No way,” the woman replied. “What am I doing here? How did you all come here with me? What did you do to me?”
“I said, open the doors,” Parthenia repeated, hoping against hope that some tiny dreg of the Enthrall Cast might remain.
“I will not,” Marcia said. “I’m taking you all to the authorities. I don’t know what you did to me, but you’re all criminals and I’m not letting you get away with it. Wait. I know what’s happening! You want to steal my vehicle, don’t you? And you want to kidnap me too.” She moved her hands to the controls again.
Parthenia desperately tried to think of a way to stop Marcia from turning them in. The only solution that occurred was almost ridiculous but she couldn’t think of anything else. “Marcia, I’m telling you, if you don’t let us out of this vehicle right now, I’ll control you again. I can make you do whatever I want. How else do you think you came to be here? Open the doors now or I’ll do it!” She tried to look angry and threatening though inside she was quaking with fear.
Marcia seemed about to refuse. Her lips twisted in anger. But then she relented. She gave the voice command and the locks popped. The children scrambled out.
“Quick, into the forest,” Parthenia shouted, grabbing Darius’ hand. She wanted to get everyone out of sight of the road and away from Marcia before the woman changed her mind. Holding onto her youngest brother, Parthenia slithered down the embankment at the road’s edge and under a wire fence.
“She’s comming someone,” shouted Oriana as she tumbled down beside Parthenia. “I saw her.”
“Run,” yelled Parthenia. Gripping Darius’ hand, she set off through the low plants and in amongst the trees. Then she slowed and turned, worried that they might become separated if they didn’t take care. Oriana wasn’t far behind her but Ferne was veering away. She called her brother’s name. “This way,” she shouted. “We have to stick together.”
As soon as she saw her brother change direction, Parthenia plunged once more into the undergrowth. The plants weren’t thorny like the ones in the first forest she and Darius had encountered on Ostillon, she noticed with relief.
Parthenia pushed deeper and deeper through the densely packed trees. She didn’t have any idea where she was taking everyone but it was the best she could do for the moment. They had to avoid capture and if that meant getting lost again, that was how it had to be. Regularly checking that Oriana and Ferne were keeping up, Parthenia ran on, panting, for a short while.
“Ow,” Darius exclaimed.
Parthenia had accidentally dragged him into a tree. “Sorry!” She slowed and stopped. “Are you okay?”
Darius rubbed his nose. “Yes, I’m all right.”
They’d put a considerable distance between themselves and the road. Parthenia thought it would be safe to stop for a moment and catch their breath. Ferne bent over, his hands on his knees. Oriana leaned against a tree. For several minutes, no one spoke. Then, after their breathing began to return to normal, Ferne said, “What’s that? Can you hear it?”
Parthenia had to listen hard before she heard the noise too. It was a soft thumping sound. She’d mistaken it for her heartbeat at first but then she realized it was coming from somewhere not far from where they stood. The children stared at each other. What could be causing it? Darius opened his mouth to speak but Parthenia raised a finger, motioning him to silence. She beckoned Oriana and Ferne to come closer. She cupped a hand to her mouth to whisper to them but a second noise interrupted her. This time it was unmistakable—it was the sound of voices, and they were rapidly getting louder.
Oriana crouched down and Ferne and Parthenia quickly followed her lead. Parthenia pulled Darius down with her. Luckily, the undergrowth was tall enough to hide them. The children sat on their haunches beneath the leafy fronds, staring at each other through the plant stalks.
Parthenia still hadn’t figured out what the soft thumping sound was. Like the voices, it was growing louder.
No one dared to speak. They could only hope that the people wouldn’t see them or come so close that they tripped over them. Parthenia strained to hear what the people were saying.
“So that’s four for me and only three for you,” a man said. “Shall we call it a day?”
“No, absolutely not,” said a woman. “That isn’t fair. If I go back with fewer kills than you, they’ll never shut up about it. No. Let’s stay out a while. I’m sure I can bag another.”
“If you like,”
the man said, “though I don’t fancy your chances.”
“I know. We haven’t seen much game at all today.”
“That’s true, but that isn’t what I meant.”
“Huh? What did you mean?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m a much better shot than you.”
“What? What are you talking about? You just got lucky.”
Parthenia was looking in the direction of the approaching voices. The light was dim under the plants, but eventually she spotted movement. She gasped. Legs were coming toward them, but they weren’t human legs. They belonged to the kind of animals that she’d seen in Marcia’s barn. Ferne and Oriana’s eyes were round as they saw the legs too. The animals’ steps were what was making the thumping sound. Even Darius noticed and pointed. Parthenia nodded at him and put a finger to her lips.
The most amazing thing about the approaching legs wasn’t what they were, but what was missing from the scene. Along with the thuds of the walking animals, the voices were growing louder. But no people were visible. What could it mean? Were the people on the animals, sitting on their backs? Parthenia had never seen such a thing, not even on vids.
Her heart was racing. Two of those huge animals she’d seen in the barn were almost upon them but she didn’t dare try to move out of their way. The slightest shift would bring her into contact with plant stalks—the plants would move and the people would know there was something in the undergrowth.
Another painful realization hit her: the people on the animals were hunting. That was what they’d been talking about when they mentioned “kills.” If she or one of her siblings changed position, the hunters might mistake them for game and shoot at them. Parthenia cringed and contracted the muscles in her arms and legs. She was right in the path of one of the animals. It was going to step on her. She braced herself.