She’d felt confused gratitude when some of the human soldiers asked why they weren’t doing something, going out.
She’d felt anger too, formless anger, because gemengs were dying (gemengs far stronger than her, or any here in Astar) yet she wasn’t doing anything either. And she’d felt fear.
She’d heard the sounds of the Predators after. They hadn’t started firing until it was all over… rationally, she knew, the Predators couldn’t have helped the people of Garrondin. Gemengs would have been hurt with the ehlkrid. The pilots were just as helpless as her, still, she hated them.
Her hands clenched as she saw another shadow, the shadow of a creature far stronger than her, a creature that had killed gemengs far stronger than her… even if she could get past the shield, she couldn’t leave…not with the ehlkrid out there.
No, she couldn’t leave. Not even after the people of Astar (and me too) had abandoned the people of Garrondin. Not even though she knew when the ehlkrid came, none of her friends and family would be allowed into the shelters. They would have to fight (an impossible fight) and die. Not even when nearly every night now, for months, groups of human soldiers had come here to the dormitories asking questions.
The soldiers had begun watching the dormitories when Astar discovered Riley had faked her death, and united the gemengs of the Plains. Jillia knew Riley’s other friends, human ones, were being questioned too, but that didn’t help. Was it as often as her and her family? Did they come by on a weekly basis, not really asking much, just watching? Were Riley’s human friends in the military scrutinized whenever they were handed a weapon?
They think we’ll betray them, do something, fight or leave. And I would have. If she’d asked. But Riley hadn’t asked her to come with her, to leave Astar, never even hinted. Never sent a message back, never gave her the option.
We weren’t that close. Jillia told herself. The other gemengs were uncomfortable around Riley, and Jillia had never put much effort into maintaining the friendship. She was weird. And she didn’t even seem to realise it. But… but… she knew. I’m sure she knew I would have… For a while, after hearing what Riley had done, after the enormity of what she’d done had finally sunk in – how powerful her strange, dark haired friend had been, Jillia had felt burning, expectant hope. She’d waited, somehow every day thinking something would happen, and her friend would come back for her and things would be… different.
And then… Jillia’s world hadn’t really changed, yet somehow, after hearing that Astar had defeated her, it had grown that much more unbearable. Her hope had been ripped away. She’d been angry, at Riley for not living up to her new found expectations of her, for not coming back for her, for daring to leave and do something, and make her hope… pointlessly.
Pointlessly.
Another shadow darted across the sky, so obvious against the glimmer of the shield. Jillia frowned, wondering if there were more ehlkrid tonight than usual.
The Astarians didn’t trust them anymore, her even less. Her family were afraid, they’d sensed something in her. They were not going to leave Astar. They’d beg and plead to stay inside the shield, no matter what happened.
And I would too. A tiny, traitorous voice said. I can’t leave. With the ehlkrid out there, and nowhere now to go to, she wouldn’t leave. She couldn’t leave.
Chapter 6
The first night they spent on the other side of the mountains. Karesh could think of nowhere else to go. The Plains were not an option, the forest was better, but he wasn’t familiar with forests.
On the other side of the mountains was a desert. There were deep cracks in the earth where the slopes of the mountain levelled out and met the desert. Within these cracks the air was cooler and greenery grew. There was a small stream that bubbled up from deep within the earth. And there were supplies, hidden here some time ago as a precaution when they moved into the caves.
The night spent in the deep, narrow valley was tense and fraught. They had been awake all day, and they stayed awake all night. Ehlkrid slithered down the valley walls, came close. The gemengs formed a circle, back to back. Aerlid, still unresponsive was in the centre.
In the dark night Aerlid gleamed softly. His whispered words, ‘seta… seta…’ sounded loud.
The ehlkrid came close. Terrifyingly close. They sniffed, even bumped them. But they did not attack. And eventually, they slithered away.
When morning came they still could not rest. Karesh did not want to stay here another night. From the looks on the other gemeng’s faces, neither did they.
There was another cave, more secure. It was a tough day’s walk into the desert, but it was certainly possible to reach it before nightfall.
And so they scaled the cliff walls, and ventured out into the desert. The ground was baked hard by the blazing sun. It felt like a different sun was shining down on them than the sun that lived over the mountains. Harsher, hotter, closer.
But they had water and food from the valley. And the thought of spending another night out in the open spurred them on.
They walked southeast, more south than east.
As the afternoon passed the smell of salt overlaid itself on top of the harsh, dusty smell of the desert. Later, waves could be heard.
And then they came to the edge of a cliff. Below, the sea raged. They walked along the edge of the cliff, further and further from the mountains. Nearly all of them knew this place, Riley had set up these locations in case of an emergency.
Late afternoon, they arrived at their destination. Ahead of them the cliff gave way to a short stretch of beach before rising to become a cliff again. Karesh backtracked, looked. Then he found it, a small hole in the ground, mostly hidden by rock. He peered through. They could go through here, or go down to the beach and climb along the cliff face til they reached the cave. Or they could try and climb down from the top of the cliff, though the cave could not be seen when standing on top of the cliff.
Karesh looked over at the gemengs standing behind him. He could squeeze through this hole, if he held his wings in tight, but the others couldn’t.
He stood and led them down to the beach. The sea was rough. The cliff face was slick and slimy with algae, and sharp with barnacles.
‘We climb along here, the cave isn’t far.’ he said to the others.
They nodded, said little.
‘Aerlid, can you do it?’
He barely responded.
Karesh looked back to the cliff. He’d go first, then when the rest of the gemengs were in the cave he’d come back and try and bring Aerlid across.
And so he began climbing. He climbed above where the algae and barnacles grew. Sea spray wet his legs and back.
About four or five meters later, he came to the cave. He jumped in. ‘Alright!’ he called. ‘Come on!’
He got out of the way. While he was waiting he had a look inside.
It wasn’t very large. It would be cramped with eleven people in there. The front of the cave was damp at the moment, but even at high tide water would not come inside, though if there was a storm that would be a different matter. It was dry at the back of the cave. Coming out of the wall was a small trickle of water which fed a precious pool of fresh water. Further back was a glimmer of light, some dirt and rocks. That was where the hole opened out to the surface.
The other gemengs were inside now. They looked around and spread out.
Karesh made his way back to the beach. ‘Aerlid.’ he said and shook his arm. ‘Aerlid, you must come.’
Aerlid looked up at him, his dark, moonlit eyes vague.
Karesh pointed. ‘Aerlid, do you know this cave? You have to climb along the cliff. It’s not hard.’ Karesh gave him a little push.
Finally, Aerlid started walking.
Karesh followed behind closely as he began climbing along the cliff.
Soon they were all in the cave.
Karesh looked at the grimy faces around him; Bulag, Shiressa, Telag, Gurak, Muress, Fenguk, Lakenda, Janisk and Kal
gen. Only nine gemengs, nine gemengs he knew well. He knew their friends, their families that were gone, dead beneath the mountain. He tried not to think of that. He needed to focus on keeping everyone alive.
‘During the day we will rest. We’ll have to drink that water carefully, it refills slowly. We can fish from the beach, we’ll ration the supplies. During the night we must set a watch and be wary. The ehlkrid can still attack us here.’
But they didn’t, not really. Whether it was the location, the smell of sea water that hid their scent, their low number, or the presence of Aerlid, the ehlkrid did not bother them.
Aerlid snapped out of his daze enough to focus on healing Karesh’s wings. He focused solely on that and within a week Karesh was given permission to test out his wings.
They ate fish mostly. Sea water encrusted their clothes and most of the time they were damp and sticky. They drank water sparingly. And they survived. There was nothing else they could do.
Chapter 7
The desert was not so bad when seen from above, Karesh found. Or perhaps he just enjoyed flying.
The air was hot, even up here, though the movement of the air helped to keep him cool.
The hard pan of the desert spread out below him. He could see the ocean, the mountains, with a new profile that he resolutely blocked from his mind. One peak of the mountains was gone, collapsed into the caves below. Beyond the mountains, nothing. He was not that high.
He was not the only one up here. Birds of prey hunted in the skies. He watched and tried to copy. When he couldn’t, he just admired. They flew higher and faster and with more grace than he did. But he was learning, and he was stronger than he’d ever been.
Movement down below caught his eye. He had seen how the birds responded to this. He didn’t really intend to catch whatever it was, just enjoy himself.
He dove, the air whistled past. The ground hurtled closer. His heart soared.
The black shape got larger. Very large. Not mouse or snake shaped. Not at all.
Startled, he suddenly pulled up. He flew down slower, more carefully.
Was he right?
But it had been so long, how could he be right?
‘Master!’ he cried.
The person below looked up, startled.
Karesh landed before her.
Her eyes followed him, her brows drawn down darkly. She was very dirty, a mess. Her clothes were nothing more than rags, but she looked unharmed.
‘Master! You’re alive!’
‘Yes. It appears I am.’ She tilted her head, a frown still curving her lips. ‘I see you are as well.’
‘Yes! We were outside the mountains, we were safe. Aerlid and nine others are with me.’
Her eyes widened. ‘Aerlid?’ she said. ‘Hmm. Yes. Take me there.’
‘Of course, Master. Are you alright?’ He started walking, happier on the ground than he had ever been before. Hope bloomed for something more than just surviving.
‘I suppose. All things considered.’
When Karesh brought the Master to the caves Aerlid jumped to his feet.
‘Seta!’ he cried.
For a moment she was stiff and still. And then she smiled slowly. ‘Yes.’ Then her smile snapped off. ‘I am not so pleased to see you, Aerlid. Not at all.’
‘No. I suppose not. But I can explain, I’ve waited so long…’ pathetic relief lit his features.
Karesh looked from one to the other. ‘Master?’ he said, confused. He had expected nothing but elation from Aerlid. The Master was alive! He could leave the burden of leading the survivors to her. The mountain, the other losses… somehow, she would take care of it all. Everything would be alright now that she was back.
Aerlid and the Master both looked at him.
‘Ah, I’m sorry Karesh.’ Aerlid began. ‘Riley has clearly been through a lot. I’m afraid her memory is not so good.’
The Master said nothing, and neither did Karesh.
‘Let her rest, then you may speak with her.’
Karesh nodded. He began to offer her some food but Aerlid cut him off.
‘Riley, would you join me outside? It’s much too cramped in here.’
‘Really? Cramped, Aerlid?’ she said too sweetly. ‘What would you know about cramped?’
But despite her apparent tiredness she followed him through the hole to the surface.
It was night by the time they returned. Aerlid scraped through the hole. As he did, Karesh and the other gemengs eagerly stood. They were almost as relieved to see the Master as Karesh.
And then the Master slid through the hole.
Karesh’s smile faded.
She wore a modest dress. The details were difficult to make out. It shone, shone like moonlight.
‘We’ll find somewhere more suited to you soon, Seta.’ Aerlid said in an aside to her.
Karesh had a feeling he wasn’t meant to hear that.
‘Hmph.’ The Master responded.
‘And a new body.’
Or perhaps they just didn’t care.
‘What’s wrong with this one?’
‘It’s not good, it won’t last long. Riley is half valkar, half human. I’ll find you a better one, I promise.’ Aerlid hesitated for a moment.
The Master and Aerlid stood at the back of the cave. There was some distance between them and the gemengs. Not so much that Karesh couldn’t hear their whispered conversation. Not so much that they couldn’t guess that.
‘Where is Riley, by the way?’ Aerlid asked.
‘She thinks she’s dead.’ The Master said bluntly.
‘Ah. I suppose that’s for the best.’
‘I think so.’
Chapter 8
A few days passed. The Master was different in many ways. She rarely interacted with them. When she did her mouth twisted in something close to distaste. She still wore the dress of moonlight. Maybe it was that dress that made her look so different. He hadn’t noticed while she had been dirty and dressed in rags, but her black hair was flat and lifeless. Her skin was white, but a normal white. A white much like his own skin. Her movements were oddly stiff. But no, that wasn’t it. She was just… normal. The grace that only wild animals possessed was gone. But perhaps it was merely the trauma of having a mountain fall on her head.
Aerlid spent most of his time with her and very little with them. Occasionally though, he still made time to check Karesh’s wings.
While the Master was curled up in the driest spot in the cave sleeping, Karesh quietly left the cave. Outside, in the cold night air, was Aerlid. The sky was large here. How the sky could be larger in one place than another Karesh did not know. But it was. Stars stood out brightly. The moon was out tonight. The night was alive with the sounds of birds and small animals, the sound of the ocean. If you had the patience to listen.
Karesh listened.
Aerlid was singing softly, his back to Karesh. As Karesh walked around to face him he saw a formless cloud of light hovering before him.
‘What is that?’ Karesh asked in his cautious way.
‘Oh, nothing. Just something Riley wants.’
‘Aerlid, what is wrong with the Master?’
‘Hm? Oh, nothing Karesh. She’ll be fine. It’ll take a little while, but she’ll be fine.’
‘Aerlid,’ Karesh hesitated, torn.
‘Karesh, I fixed your wings. Don’t you think I can take care of Riley too?’
And yet things were clearly not right.
The Master frequently touched Aerlid, his arm, his shoulder, his face. She stood closer to him than she ever had before. Karesh frowned but said nothing. The gemengs looked to him for leadership, but they were unhappy too.
When she got too close one night Aerlid said, ‘No, not yet, dear. She would be very upset if that happened with her body.’
‘It’s not her body.’ she said icily. ‘Though she seems to disagree. She’s pretty damn sure she’s not dead anymore. Aerlid, I want her out. She gives me no respite. She’s always pushing, push
ing, trying to take over.’
‘I’m working on making you a new body.’
‘You’ve been saying that for days now. Just use the gem.’
‘I fear I couldn’t. You were… you were much weaker when I put you there. She would fight me. No, I need to move you to a new body.’
‘Haven’t you made me suffer enough?’
‘I’m so sorry. I’ll fix it, Seta, I promise.’
When the storm came the Master was upset. They had vacated the cave hours ago and gathered above. Below, the cave was filling with water.
Rain pelted down, but Aerlid sang. A glittering shield protected them from the water. The Master had her arms crossed over her chest and looked almost sulky.
Aerlid was profusely apologizing. He had been all night.
‘It’s not the damn rain!’ she finally screamed at him. ‘I want her out of my head!’
‘I’m sorry, Seta, I’m trying. I’m not as strong as I used to be.’
As always, Karesh and the gemengs sat in a group some distance from Aerlid and the Master.
‘I can see that! Why didn’t you remove her soul from this body when you put me here in the first place?!’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘I’m sick of hearing that. You know, for someone who loves me you sure don’t act like it.’
‘I’m so sorry, Seta. Of course I love you. I’ll get rid of her. I’ll do something. I promise.’
‘Well hurry up. She’s driving me mad.’
Chapter 9
When they climbed back into the cave after it finally drained they found a surprise waiting for them.
A fish person was flapping around in their cave, its tail badly cut.
‘What about that?’ the Master said. ‘Put her there.’
Aerlid said nothing. He carefully approached the fish person. Outside, Karesh saw, a whole troop of fish people were bobbing around looking concerned.
‘Calm down.’ Aerlid said. ‘I’ll fix that for you.’
The Broken Kingdom Page 3