The Broken Kingdom

by Sarah Chapman

  Andalla looked down at Ralana then. ‘It would be a pity.’ He looked up suddenly then. ‘So you are suggesting I court her?’

  Before Riley could go on Andalla continued, ‘give her gifts and such? Perhaps show her around my kingdom? Yes, yes I see that is the best way, I must court her.’

  Riley nodded, nearly dizzy with relief. ‘Perhaps with a chaperone.’ she managed to add.

  Andalla agreed at once, very pleased with the whole idea. Then he looked to Ralana, ‘Would you like that?’ he asked.

  Ralana looked up quickly and then back down. She nodded.

  Beaming Andalla declared, ‘very well! Let the courtship begin!’ Then he turned back to Ralana and kissed the hand he still held. ‘I will come for you soon and take you to my kingdom.’

  And very quickly he and the Andallites were gone. Once the trumpeting had drifted into silence and their golden glow was no longer visible, Ladana and Adila rushed to Ralana.

  ‘Sister, are you all right?’

  Ralana nodded, slowly looking up.

  ‘You do not need to put up with this, Ralana.’ Adila said. ‘We will find a way.’

  ‘No… no, it’s ok.’ she said softly.

  While Adila and Ladana were busy being shocked Rose approached Riley.

  ‘You play a dangerous game.’ she stated.

  Riley said nothing. It was an accusation she could not deny. Perhaps they were safe now, but this was only temporary. Riley knew she could be leading them all to a nightmare. But she saw somewhere a slim chance and it was not a chance she could just ignore.

  ‘You have a plan?’ Vann asked Riley afterwards, once the valkar women were gone and they were relatively alone.

  ‘Plan may be an overstatement. But I do have an idea.’

  Vann waited.

  ‘Andalla has a pot. I need to get access to it. If I can, I might be able to make a weapon strong enough to defeat him.’

  ‘From a pot?’

  She nodded. ‘He made it, with his own power. He makes things with it, by… thinking about it. But I don’t know how I’m going to get access, let alone if I can actually make something with it, or whether it really will be strong enough.’ she sighed. ‘And then I have to use it on him without him killing me first. And then there’s the King to worry about.’

  ‘Does this courtship fit into it in any way?’

  She shook her head. ‘That was just to get me out of his grasp, give me a chance. Vann, if this doesn’t work Ralana may end up stuck with him.’ she paused. ‘And I doubt Rose and Adila will just let me get away with that.’

  Vann frowned, ‘it’s not as if they’re totally innocent. They were just going to leave you there.’

  ‘I’m not sure that helps.’

  ‘Well, I guess we just need to improve your plan. Worrying about the consequences if we fail isn’t going to help.’

  ‘We? If I mess this up, there is no we. You should disappear. And fast.’

  ‘We’ll worry about that later.’ Vann said with a smile.

  Chapter 32

  Firstboy, not yet Meguk, looked up, and immediately wondered why he bothered. It was so dark, it wasn’t as if he could see anything. He almost preferred the darkness now. When they came across the softly glowing cave mould, all it did was frustrate him. That wasn’t light.

  ‘Brother, do you hear that?’ Secondgirl asked.

  ‘I think so…’ he answered.

  ‘Sulag, do you hear it?’ Secondgirl repeated.

  Sulag, the biggest of the three siblings, and the only one to formally take her name, nodded, ‘yes. It sounds like humming.’

  By then everyone had heard it, and the gemengs slowly came to a halt. It was such an unusual, cheery sound.

  Firstboy heard the adults talking up ahead, debating what to do.

  ‘Everyone, stay here!’ Galis ordered. ‘I will investigate!’

  Firstboy sighed and sat down. He was tired of walking. He just wanted to close his eyes and sleep, and wake up somewhere bright again, with his mother and father. The humming was nice. It was happy humming.

  ‘I’m sorry!’ a cheerful voice suddenly called down the tunnel. ‘Have I alarmed you?’

  Firstboy sat up, his body tense.

  ‘Who are you?!’ Galis ordered. ‘What are you doing down here?’

  ‘I’m Maelid, hello! I came to look at my mountain! Who are you?’

  ‘I am Galis the Strong! These children are mine!’

  ‘Are they? That’s nice. I’m so pleased you’re enjoying the mountain, people often don’t appreciate how nice mountains are.’

  ‘What… what are you talking about? We’re trying to get out! And you haven’t told me who you are yet!’

  ‘I didn’t? I’m Maelid, and I’m looking at the mountain.’

  ‘Yes, but… but what tribe do you serve? Who is your Master?’

  The happy creature fell silent as he tried to process that. ‘I’m Maelid, I’m looking at the mountain.’ He said uncertainly. ‘I have a Queen, her name is Rilodana.’

  ‘I know not of your Master. I am lord of these children, and you cannot have them.’

  ‘I-I’m not trying to take your children. I’m looking at the mountain-‘

  ‘I am a fearsome warrior, I cannot see you but I assure you, creature, I will best you should you challenge me.’

  ‘What? You can’t see? Oh dear.’

  The creature fell silent, and then suddenly started humming again.

  ‘What are you doing?!’ Galis demanded.

  Firstboy thought Galis was being horrible. The jubilantly humming creature didn’t bother him, he wished Galis would just let him hum. He hadn’t heard any happy noises in so long.

  ‘B-Brother…?’

  Firstboy looked up and saw Secondgirl frowning at him. ‘Yes?’

  ‘I can see you.’

  Firstboy didn’t reply. He could see her too. He looked around and saw Sulag standing over them, a surprised look on her round face. He saw the walls of the cavern, the other children all around. He glimpsed the tall shape of Galis.

  Firstboy stumbled to his feet. What had happened? The whole cavern was somehow lighter.

  ‘What is this?’ Galis the Strong whispered, a quaver running through her voice.

  ‘Well, you couldn’t see. I made it so you could see.’ Maelid answered.

  Firstboy, standing up, was finally able to see the humming creature. He blinked and rubbed at his eyes. It was difficult to discern where the edge of the tunnel ended and Maelid began. He reminded Firstboy so much of the mountain he almost thought Maelid might be made of stone.

  ‘What sort of creature are you? Are you an ehlkrid?’ Galis demanded.

  ‘No, I am Maelid, I am of the valkar, and I’m looking at the mountain.’ He frowned. ‘A Sunsinger asked me to come and look at the mountain, it was very odd. Sunsingers don’t often care for mountains.’

  ‘Do you know the shining lady? The one that spoke often to our dead Master?’

  ‘Adila often shines, that’s what Sunsingers do.’

  ‘Yes, the shining lady. Have you… have you come to help us? We can’t find a way out.’

  ‘Oh,’ he sighed. ‘You don’t like living in the mountain?’

  ‘We’re trapped.’ Galis growled.

  Maelid sighed again. ‘I’ll lead you out then. I’ll show you nice things on the way, perhaps you’ll decide to stay in the mountain?’ he asked hopefully. ‘They are very nice.’

  ‘Perhaps.’ Galis agreed. ‘As long as we have a way out, the mountain has been our home for some time now.’

  Maelid smiled brightly. ‘Oh, good! Please, follow me then, everyone.’ And he began humming again.

  The group began moving off after the surprisingly quick Maelid. Firstboy was silent, as he following the happily humming valkar. Slowly, a smile bloomed on his face. They were leaving! They were leaving, they were leaving, they were leaving!

  Chapter 33

  They waited a long time after the first
meeting between Andalla and Ralana before anything happened. Riley was very clear with Adila whenever she showed up that she would be chaperoning Ralana on her visits to Andalla’s land. Adila was unhappy with the whole situation, but she had no real reason to be upset with this. After all, Adila couldn’t protect Ralana any better from Andalla than Riley could.

  But of course, the valkar and Andalla were all very slow about everything. And so they waited.

  Days later, Riley looked up as Adila entered their campsite again. She stood, intending to go and remind her that she would be the chaperone.

  But Adila went straight to Karesh. Riley didn’t care and followed.

  When she arrived Riley heard Karesh say excitedly, ‘where?’

  ‘Near the mountains. They are still in the Plains. Some other valkar are with them, but they won’t stay long.’

  ‘Will you bring them here?’

  Adila nodded. ‘Yes, but perhaps you should start heading back towards the Plains.’

  ‘Why should we start heading back towards the Plains?’ Riley finally interjected, her green eyes narrowed.

  Karesh’s face fell.

  Adila, looking mildly surprised said, ‘to meet the gemengs. When they reach you, the valkar can leave.’

  ‘What gemengs?’

  Adila’s gaze drifted to Karesh, then back to Riley. ‘I and the others looked for survivors. Maelid found some. The valkar are bringing them here.’

  ‘I said I didn’t want you to do that.’ Riley said stonily. Her gaze was now firmly on Karesh. ‘You organized this?’ Her voice was rising, getting angrier.

  He nodded.

  ‘Karesh, I got everyone killed. Do you understand that? Why would anyone, anyone, want me to lead them? Ever?’

  ‘But-’ he tried to interject.

  ‘What do you expect me to do, Karesh? Somehow protect them all in a forest? While they’re all still trying to kill each other? You want me to start retraining the gemengs out here, with ehlkrid everywhere? Do you think they’ll stay away once we have a big group?’

  She glanced briefly at Adila, who nodded in confirmation. ‘My knife will not be enough to keep the ehlkrid away if the group is too large.’ she said softly. ‘But a shield is still an option.’

  ‘I don’t want to do this!’ Riley shouted. ‘You organized this, Karesh. You lead them!’

  Karesh waited for Riley to fall silent. She did, and glared heatedly at him. ‘You won’t have to retrain them, Master.’ he said cautiously. ‘At least not these ones.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ she asked harshly.

  Karesh glanced at Adila then back. ‘They are yours.’

  Riley stared at him.

  ‘I asked Maelid, a Mountainsinger, to check the caves.’ Adila responded. ‘There were some gemengs, lost deep in the mountain. They didn’t know how to get out, but Maelid made an exit for them.’

  ‘Everyone died.’ Riley managed. ‘The mountain collapsed. They all died, Adila. Please don’t-’

  Adila shook her head. ‘Most of the mountain is gone, and most of your people, yes. But those sections that had been reinforced by Maelid did not collapse. Some survived, but they couldn’t escape. Instead they wandered deeper into the mountain, hoping to find a way out. The caves are full of mould and water, they managed to survive.’

  Riley just looked at her and Karesh. And then she walked off without a word.

  Karesh looked up as Vann walked over, hours later.

  ‘Is the Master still angry?’ he asked softly.

  ‘I don’t think you want to know what she’s doing.’ He replied coolly. ‘Adila, you better be sure.’

  ‘I’m sure.’ she replied.

  ‘Fine. When will they get here?’

  ‘If you move-’

  ‘I don’t think Riley’s going anywhere.’

  Adila nodded. ‘Very well. The survivors are weak. It will take them perhaps two to four days to get here.’

  Vann sighed. ‘Fine. Karesh, if you don’t want to see your Master being upset I suggest you stay on this side of the forest.’ and he turned and walked back to Riley.

  By the next day, Riley’s tears had faded and she was able to pull herself together.

  In a way, Vann thought it would have been kinder not to let her know until the gemengs were right in front of her. And then she wouldn’t have had to worry that her hopes were about to be dashed.

  She half-heartedly helped look after the camp. The other gemengs, and Karesh, kept their distance.

  Kalgen waited with his new tribe. He was not as excited as the others; he’d lost no one, had no one to lose. Out of the corner of an eye he glimpsed his Master, and her mate.

  ‘I can’t.’ The Master said and began turning away from her soft, squishy mate.

  ‘You can.’ The soft one said, and Kalgen couldn’t help admiring his bravery. The Master was a dangerous, ferocious creature (as she should be), but her mate had no qualms about disagreeing with her. That was probably why he was her mate.

  ‘What am I supposed to say, Vann? Sorry for getting you all killed? Sorry for not coming to rescue you? How am I supposed to protect them? What am I-’

  ‘Hey.’ he grabbed hold of her. ‘Just see them first. Let Karesh handle the rest for now. Then we can come up with a plan.’

  The Master nodded, schooling her expression. She turned back to the forest, her mate keeping an arm around her shoulders.

  Kalgen turned his attention away. It was not his business, and even more than that, it was confusing. Since recovering from what Aerlid had done to her, the Master had behaved strangely, almost as if she didn’t want to be the Master anymore. She’d had moments of weakness, and not hidden them from her tribe. If Kalgen hadn’t seen her beat the deadly ehlkrid to death with her bare hands, he might have considered challenging her. Every time he doubted her, he would remember how viciously she fought the ehlkrid, and his misgivings would fade.

  He didn’t want to challenge her, though he would have to if she faltered; he could hardly follow someone weaker than him. He couldn’t fight the ehlkrid alone, and the Master was the only creature scary enough to force warriors to fight together. Karesh was an option, though he’d have to fight him first. He was very small, but he could fly, and the Master trusted him, so it was likely he was a more fearsome warrior than he appeared. Karesh had kept them together and led them out of the Plains, over the mountains and to safety. Kalgen wasn’t sure he would have been able to do the same, so he was grateful for Karesh, and relieved he hadn’t had to fight him. Some had thought the glowing woman would be able to replace the Master, but Karesh had strongly objected, and the sunlit woman showed no interest in being their Master. In a way, that was a relief too. The sunlit woman was an odd creature herself, and the idea of learning her mysterious habits was exhausting.

  Kalgen waited. Time dragged on slowly for him, he had nothing to hope for.

  And then he heard the sounds of many people moving through the forest.

  The Master stiffened, her expression hardened. Kalgen noticed, as he noticed most things about his Master, and was reassured. That was the face a Master should have.

  He glimpsed a small figure between the trees, then another, and another. Soon, he saw a whole group of gemengs advancing. Among them he easily spotted the valkar, the creatures that shone like Aerlid. There were three of them.

  And then the approaching gemengs were close enough to pick out faces and suddenly they were all around.

  Cries of relief came from both sides, the survivors and the ten from the forest.

  Kalgen heard Gurak bellow joyfully as he ran towards his three children. The family embraced, and Kalgen watched, smiling. Then Gurak looked up, his eyes scanning the rest of the survivors. His face slowly fell. Kalgen could guess why. His mate, Ekrag, was not there. She was a warrior, she had not been hiding with those unable to fight. Kalgen turned his eyes from Gurak and spotted Telag. The tall, lithe man slumped, his eyes on the ground. His mate was a warrior too, and not yet p
regnant. They had been a new couple, Kalgen knew, only getting permission from the Master a few weeks before the collapse of the mountain. Kalgen looked away. He had witnessed his companions’ pain when the mountain first collapsed, and he didn’t want to see it again.

  Many of the children with the survivors began crying when they realized their parents were not among the ten who had avoided the collapse of the mountain. Seeing the pain all around, Kalgen was glad he had nobody. He spotted Bulag and couldn’t help a smile. Bulag, it seemed, was a very lucky man. His mate, Galis, being pregnant, had survived, and his one child was safe.

  Kalgen’s smile slowly faded. He had no family, but he’d had friends, and people he’d admired. They were all dead. He’d hoped briefly, but… no, they were not here. He’d been hoping to see Gakra, the Master’s second, the man who fought those who wished to challenge her. Gakra was a powerful, savage gemeng, once a Lord of his own tribe. He behaved how a Master should, he was strong and uncompromising. When the Master had been doing strange things, like preventing people from killing each other, Gakra had been a bastion of normality in the tribe. Whenever he doubted the Master, he’d thought of him, and if Gakra followed the Master, then who he was he to doubt her?

  But he was gone. Everyone he knew was gone. He turned around, not wishing to watch anymore. He spotted the Master’s grief-stricken face and frowned. She was doing it again, showing weakness. Oddly though, he felt comforted. Would she be sad too, if something happened to me? It was an unusual thought. He didn’t mind.

  Riley gazed at the faces of the survivors in something close to shock. The faces all slid past, she didn’t remember anyone. Those closest to her she may have been hoping on meeting… but these were all strangers. And another wave of grief hit her.

  But Vann was there, holding her up.

  And she stood there and smiled, but didn’t say anything or do anything. She watched the nine gemengs, plus Karesh (who had kept his distance since she discovered his plan), as they met the survivors. She saw the reunions, and smiled, and saw the fading hope as people looked for loved ones who weren’t there.