by Drew Wagar
Meru climbed up beside her, panting hard. His hair was damp and plastered all over his face.
‘This heat …’ he said.
‘Never been somewhere so hot,’ she agreed. ‘Make sure you drink enough, we’re sweating like crazy.’
‘Now I wish I had fans like a herg,’ Meru said, drinking from his own flask. ‘Sweating seems such a waste of water.’
Kiri was surveying the vista before them. They had left the shade forest behind and the land had opened out into a lush rolling meadow, beyond that lay a lake, with hills rising beyond it. The Obelisk still towered beyond.
She swallowed.
Oh no.
They followed the meadow downwards until they came to a shingled shoreline. They could see vegetation marks high up the length of the beach, full of flotsam and jetsam, broken branches, rotting leaves and other debris.
‘I guess it floods every so often,’ Meru said, looking around him.
Floods really fast too!
‘That’s our next problem,’ she said, gazing to her left and right. ‘We’ll have to go around …’
‘Around?’ Meru said. ‘Could go on for marks. I don’t think we can afford the delay.’ He waded out into the water. ‘It’s cooler in the water.’
Kiri stayed on the shore, watching him.
‘Come on, it’s not too deep,’ he called.
Kiri didn’t move. Meru waded out and walked to her.
‘What’s wrong?’ he asked.
Kiri shivered, despite the heat.
‘Nothing,’ she said.
‘You’re as white as a sheet … wait a minute … you can’t swim, can you?’
Kiri looked at him. ‘I never lived near the sea,’ she said, by way of explanation. ‘Drayden is land locked. I never learned how.’
‘But, you rescued me from the flying machine,’ he said, his voice faltering. ‘You got me out …You did that even though …?’
She shrugged.
‘You are so brave …’ he said.
‘I’m not … I was terrified. I’m still terrified!’
‘We’ll build a raft,’ Meru said, looking around him. ‘Plenty of shadewood here.’
‘A raft?’ Kiri shuddered. ‘But, what if I fall in?’
‘You won’t fall in,’ he said, trying to reassure her.
‘I will. I can’t swim. I’ll be out of my depth.’ Kiri backed away from the water’s edge.
‘I won’t let you fall in, I promise. Trust me. We’ve got to get across.’
Kiri clenched her teeth, still shaking her head.
‘Kiri,’ he said. ‘I’ve worked on boats all my life, I know what I’m doing. I won’t let anything happen to you.’
Kiri took a deep breath and then nodded.
Meru gave her a kiss.
‘Help me gather up some shadewood,’ he said.
Together they scoured the shoreline, pulling together pieces of shadewood as Meru pointed them out and then dragging them into a pile.
‘The thin vines from the upper reaches of the shades will work to lash everything together,’ Meru said, gesturing to a nearby stand of shades. ‘Can you grab some?’
Kiri nodded. She climbed one of the shades and pulled at the vines that grew at the top, just under the cups that gathered water and sunlight. She succeeded in pulling a length away, wrapping it around her wrist and elbow to make a bundle.
As she did so, she noticed a buzzing nearby, and looked up to see an enormous narg in the air before her, its wings a dark blur against the brightness beyond the shades. She saw it regard her out of its three dark eyes, its small head turning this way and that before it flew off, disappearing into the distance. Something about it unnerved her and she dropped to the ground and ran to Meru, telling him what had happened.
‘Everything seems oversized here,’ he said, taking the vine. Kiri could see he was pulling a series of shadewood logs together, wrapping the vine over and under them time and again. The raft didn’t look very big.
‘We can’t both get on this,’ she said.
‘It’s just for you,’ Meru replied. ‘I’ll swim.’
‘But what if there’s something in the water?’ Kiri asked, eyes wide.
‘Let’s hope there isn’t,’ he answered.
She watched as he pulled the raft down to the water. It floated and he jumped on it, the water sloshing around his feet as he did so. He crouched down to balance and then sat on it, satisfied it was lake-worthy.
‘Shadewood won’t sink no matter what happens,’ he said, jumping off and splashing up to her. ‘Ready?’
‘No,’ she said.
He led her to the water’s edge, steadying the raft next to her. She crawled aboard, gripping the logs tightly.
‘Relax,’ he said. ‘Just sit in the centre …’
The raft rolled underneath her, she lurched, trying to keep her balance.
‘I’ll lie down,’ she said, lowering herself forward. She got herself into a position where she could look forward, her arms outstretched in front of her, grasping the edge of the raft, with her feet dangling into the water behind her. Water was sloshing up through her clothes, but at least it was stable and it was a welcome relief from the heat, the water was cool on her skin.
‘Alright?’ Meru asked.
She just gave him a look.
Meru put the flasks, rifle, belt and the knives alongside her and waded out into the lake, pulling the raft behind him.
Kiri heard the buzzing noise again. Meru must have heard it too, as he turned around to look. Kiri craned her head to see behind her.
Dancing back and forth over the shoreline were half a dozen of the large nargs. They were buzzing in a swarm.
‘I don’t like this,’ Meru said. He began swimming, pulling the raft with him. More nargs joined the swarm, their buzzing turning into a threatening drone of noise, their bodies forming an ominous black cloud on the shoreline.
Then, at some unspoken signalled, they surged forward en masse, a black threatening cloud of motion closing the distance between the shoreline and the pair of humans.
‘Meru … Faster!’
Kiri cried out as the creatures descended on her. She saw one land on her calf, saw its mouth parts open and then bite down into her skin. They were all about her, swarming and buzzing through the air. She felt their wings on her face, saw their dark faces in front of her eyes, sharp mandibles clicking …
Biting me!
She screamed.
‘Get off the raft!’ Meru yelled.
Kiri’s grip on the raft was strong, but she felt Meru manhandle her off, pulling her into the water, thrashing like a mad thing.
‘I’ve got you!’ he shouted. ‘Don’t panic. Take a deep breath …’
Kiri gasped and then Meru pulled her under the water. Kiri struggled, but Meru’s grip was firm. He guided them both under the raft.
Kiri held her breath. Meru was signing something to her, but she couldn’t understand. She wanted to breathe, her chest hurt. Bubbles rose around her.
Just as she thought she could bear it no longer, Meru pulled her aside and up. They broke the surface together, gasping for breath. The nargs still swarmed around the raft, snapping at their heads. Meru ducked down again, pulling Kiri alongside.
This time he kicked his legs, holding her in one arm and grabbing the raft with the other, pulling them further out into the lake. Kiri could see the water growing bluer about them, the floor the lake further way and less distinct.
They surfaced again, looking about them.
The nargs were behind them now, buzzing over the water a dozen hands away. As they watched the nargs retreated to the shore, unwilling to venture further across the lake.
Meru pulled Kiri’s hands up so she could grab the raft. She felt him push her up so she could get her elbows on to it. She struggled forward and then hung there, gasping for breath.
‘They’ve gone,’ Meru said. ‘I don’t think they like the open water.’
Kiri tr
ied to stop the trembling that was shaking her from head to foot. She could feel Meru still had his arm around her. She raised her head to look towards the shore. Now there was a black cloud of the insects all along it, swarming impotently. As she watched they lifted into the air, moving inland, looking for other prey.
‘They’d have eaten us alive,’ she said.
Meru nodded.
‘Did they get you?’ he asked.
‘A couple of bites I think,’ she said, shivering. ‘I’m alright.’
He smiled at her.
She pulled herself upwards, struggling on to the raft and lying face down upon it once more. Now she was grateful for the warmth of the sun. Meru swam around to the front, holding on to the raft with his hands and kicking backwards with his feet. The raft continued moving away from the shore.
‘I’ve never been attacked by a narg before,’ Kiri said. ‘They might take on a marsip but …’
‘Things are definitely a bit weird here,’ Meru said. ‘Let’s hope there’s nothing else lying in wait.’
Progress across the lake was slow but steady. Meru reported that he saw a few small swimming creatures below him, but there didn’t seem to be any big enough to bother them. Kiri even managed to doze on the raft in the warmth from Lacaille.
She felt Meru nudge her and she looked up.
‘What is it?’ she asked.
‘We’re near the shore … look!’
Kiri raised her head. For a horrible moment she thought she saw more of the nargs. Creatures were floating in the air around her, buzzing daintily. But these were not dark and unpleasant, but brightly coloured, their faceted eyes like jewels, their bodies iridescent in the light of Lacaille, reflecting blues, greens, purples and reds.
‘Flits!’ Kiri said, recognising them. ‘But huge too!’
She remembered how she’d seen one long ago in the shade forests of Drayden, but these were far bigger, perhaps three or four hands long, floating back and forth before them.
Fortunately, they seemed to be taking no interest in the two humans in the water. Kiri and Meru watched as they flapped overhead, their three sets of wings a blur.
Meru found the bottom of the lake with his feet and stood up, hauling the raft in towards the shore. It seemed little different to the side they had left, but the Obelisk seemed closer now, the land rising away from them.
‘We’re getting there,’ he said, helping Kiri off. She shook out her clothes, squeezing the water out of them.
‘I am not doing that again!’ she pronounced with a shudder, walking up the shoreline. ‘Never again, ever.’
* * *
‘So,’ Coran said, when Zoella related what had happened. ‘She tried again, and you stopped her?’
Zoella nodded.
‘I had Ira beside me,’ Zoella said. ‘That helped, but … yes. She tried, but she failed. She wanted to find out where we are. I didn’t open my eyes, she couldn’t see anything.’
‘Then, you’re strong enough to face down the high priestess?’ Coran said. ‘That’s … incredible. Isn’t she … well, more powerful than anyone else?’
Zoella nodded.
‘She’s supposed to be.’
‘No wonder she’s after you,’ Mel said. ‘She’ll want that power for herself.’
Zoella nodded. ‘She’s taken the gifts of many women already, I don’t know why I can resist her, but it has to be something to do with my birth … Kiri and I …’
‘Speaking of Kiri,’ Coran said. ‘Have you …?’
‘Not yet,’ Zoella said. ‘I will try now.’
‘Are you sure you’re up to it?’ Mel asked. ‘You look exhausted.’
‘I need to know if Meru … if they are alright,’ Zoella said.
‘If you’re sure,’ Coran said. ‘You know what you’re capable of better than any of us.’
Zoella got to her feet and left the bridge.
‘I’ll go keep an eye on her,’ Mel said.
Coran nodded. ‘This power she has, if she really is the equal of the high priestess …’
‘Coran, she’s so young …’
‘It’s going to come down to some kind of stand-off eventually,’ Coran said, his voice lowered. ‘You know it, I know it.’
‘Doesn’t mean I have to like it,’ Mel replied. ‘She’s been through the wringer, that girl, been pushed over the edge once and we’ve only just hauled her back. You can’t stand her up in front of those evil witches and expect her to defeat them.’
‘She’s the answer though,’ Coran said. ‘Her and her sister – if she’s still alive.’
‘They hate each other,’ Mel answered. ‘You think they’ll work together? We’ll be lucky to keep them from ripping each other to shreds.’
‘Even assuming we can get through that storm in one piece, Meru and Kiri are still alive and we can fix the Obelisk … even then … we still have to deal with the priestesses. They aren’t going to leave us alone. They’re coming for her and they’re coming for us.’
Mel shook her head.
‘I just want Meru back,’ she said. ‘That will do me for now.’
She jumped down from the bridge.
* * *
Rihanna heard the call from her priestesses. They had been flying patrols above the seas off the coast of Airea ever since Nerina’s orders had been received.
Rihanna! We have seen it!
Show me.
The priestess was aloft, flying her dach close to the greatest height it could attain, thousands of hands above the sea. Rihanna saw what the priestess could see. A tiny silver mark trailed by a silvery wake, glowing in the light of Lacaille.
The ship! You’ve done well …
Do you want me to move closer?
No, stay out of sight as much as you can. It will be better if they don’t know they’re being watched. They should head for the storm to the sunward …
In her vision, the priestess looked up. Rihanna could see a vast bank of cloud to the sunward, reaching even higher than the altitude the dach was flying at.
They are, they’ll reach it soon, the ship is moving fast.
Let it go, we don’t want to stop it yet, we must be on the lookout for it when it returns. Then we will take it.
Rihanna smiled as the vision failed.
And the maid, this Zoella … we shall see!
* * *
Kiri staggered, her thoughts thrown into disarray. An abrupt sense of presence wrapped itself around her, a hot metal smell rising up and filling her nostrils.
Kiri, can you hear me?
‘Kiri?’ Meru asked from beside her.
She swallowed, seeing the look on Meru’s face. She held up her hand, trying to concentrate.
Yes, it’s me.
Kiri couldn’t help but send a wave of revulsion, fear and trepidation across the link. To her surprise, nothing of the sort came back, she felt only sorrow, worry and the bloom of hope and delight at the contact.
‘It’s her … Zoella!’ she managed to say.
‘Tell her …’ Meru began. Kiri nodded, holding him at bay.
Are you alright? Is Meru …?
He’s fine. We crashed. The flying machine was broken. We’re alright and we’re walking to the Obelisk. Meru will want to know …
The crew and ship are safe too. We had some … trouble, tell Meru we’re coming as fast as we can.
Kiri relayed the message. The conversation paused. Feelings swirled around them both, surging from one end of the link to the other. Kiri got a sudden sense of intense regret and shame, her own fear and revulsion tempered for a moment
Kiri, it’s the gift. The rage, the anger, I’m sorry for what I did …
Kiri shuddered, remembering pain, blood and fear.
You expect me to forgive you for that?
To her surprise, no anger came to her across the link.
No.
Kiri saw images. She saw herself striking down a carn, images of Meru screaming in agony, her dach, Shanza, killing t
he king of Viresia and the soldier in Drem. She felt Zoella’s pain in recalling the images. How she had been hurt by those events.
Unbidden, images of Torin betraying and murdering Charis, the crossbow bolt that had pierced her hand, Liana striking Tasha from the air and the treachery of Nerina swirled in her own mind, surging across the link. There was a momentary glimpse of the girl Kiri had set free from Drayden … Gemma … and her horror when Nerina told her she’d been killed.
The images mixed, a torrent of emotion washing forwards and back across the link.
The feelings receded, leaving Kiri with just Zoella’s presence at the far end.
Before either could frame another word, a man’s face resolved in the midst of their mental communication. Kiri recognised Guerrun Sandatch, the man who had smuggled them out of Scallia so long ago.
Fragments of memory assembled themselves; a herg-drawn carriage surging up a mountain path before it was overturned. Guerrun clambering out with two babies, a woman …
Myana … it was our mother!
Kiri watched, horrified as her mother was struck down and executed by the priestesses who had chased and caught her.
Another scene, two old people, a man and a woman talking with Guerrun over a simple wooden table, one baby being lifted out, a baby with blue eyes and dark black hair …
Kiri! You were brought up on the borders of Drayden to Ella and Erik …
Yet another set of images. Kiri as a young girl, escaping into the forest after her village had been put to the torch. Living on her wits in the shadewood forests near the city of Daine. The death of Tia and her discovery by the priestesses …
Kiri spied a hall and saw Guerrun delivering a baby to the owners’ care.
My childhood, bullied and tormented until …
Kiri saw Zoella hiding, trying to stay out of sight and mind, the big carn coming to her rescue and guarding her from her assailants. Saw her flee the hall and run into the forests, only to meet the king of Viresia. Kiri saw the affection she bore him and the grief and hurt she experienced as he was slain.
Our uncle … he never knew us for who we were!
Then there was the death of the boy. Kiri saw Ren, smiling and happy, cuddling with Zoella, laughing and joking … and then the stone cold ceremony where he had been buried in the soil.