And then Argoth realized what else Hogan had just said—the enemy was nothing like he’d ever seen. “You feel awe for this enemy?”
“She is glorious,” Hogan said.
Argoth search within himself and felt the awe he’d felt before. “No,” he said. “No! These aren’t just King’s Collars. They’re thralls!” He reached up and tore at the creature, but it only constricted tighter. He pulled again, but it was strong as iron. He shuddered, and his heart sank even lower. “Please,” he said in a prayer to his ancestors, “we cannot end this way.”
River pointed toward the side of the chamber where the pallid beast lay. “It is not just us that will be broken.”
Something lay on the floor beyond the pallid beast. He’d missed it in the surprise of seeing the Grove. It was a body, crude-featured, and dark. It looked to be made of earth. He saw another figure beyond it, and then another, and another.
“Lords,” he said and counted them. There were nine. Nine more horrors like the one that had brought him and Legs to this chamber. They had slightly different shapes—one’s head twisted into a point like an onion, another had no discernible head at all, yet another seemed to be made more of withies than stone and grass, a fourth had exceedingly long arms. But they were all of the same make.
He’d seen what the monster could withstand. He’d seen what it could do to the mightiest of men. A chill ran through him. All this time they’d worried about Bone Faces and Divines while this was happening under their noses. He felt sick.
He looked at the earthen figures. What rough magic had been growing in their midst? Despair welled up in him. “The Grove,” he said, “is undone.”
46
Mantle and Crown
THE TORCH IN Talen’s hand spit and hissed as he and Sugar walked farther into the bowels of the ancient warren. With every step, the earthy smell of the monster grew stronger. Sugar held the tooth in front of her in her white-gloved hand, like someone might a knife.
Part of him could not believe they were doing this. Ahead, the passageway curved to the right. The walls were not as well preserved here, for stalactites had grown, and here and there parts of the wall had crumbled to the floor. They stepped around a pile of rock that had caved in from the high ceiling and found a gaping hole in the wall. The hole was big enough to belly through. Big enough for the monster.
They both stopped.
“I really don’t want to crawl into that,” he said.
She pointed ahead at a scuffle in the dust of the floor. “I don’t think we have to.”
They skirted the hole and continued on, but as they did Talen swore he saw something move in the dark depths.
“Hide the torch,” Sugar said.
Talen turned to her. “What?”
“I think I see a light,” she said. “But the torch is ruining my vision. Muffle the light.”
There was nowhere else to hold the torch, but in the hole. So he walked back and thrust it in. And saw nothing but rock. He heaved a sigh of relief, and then he turned his head away from the light and stared into the darkness, waiting for his vision to adjust.
A few minutes later, she said, “Do you see it?”
“There’s a faint bluish sheen reflecting from the rocks,” he said.
Bluish lights had been seen in the caves of the stone-wights before. Of course, very few who went to investigate the lights ever returned. And the reports of those did seemed to conflict. Some said the lights dashed about like will-o-wisps. Others explained it was just night maws: small lizard-like creatures that made an odd chemical light if they were cut the right way.
“The blue light has always been part of the caves,” Talen said. “Might not have anything to do with the monster.”
“Or,” she said, “it might mean the beast has been there all along and has only recently come out to forage for food.”
Talen wondered if the monster was like a lion that killed its prey immediately or like a spider that stunned its meals to let them ripen. Or was it like a leech, draining the life out in small portions? What if this monster had a brood to feed? He imagined a number of rough children wrapping rough limbs about Argoth and Legs, the Creek Widow, draining them until they were nothing more than husks.
The very thought of being eaten sent fear down his legs to the soles of his bare feet. But it didn’t matter. They needed to move more quickly. Every minute they hesitated gave whatever was up there more time to devour those it had taken.
They both stood there a moment longer. “We need to pick up the pace,” he said.
“Right,” she said.
“I think we might have surprise on our side,” he said. “We’ve come a long way; maybe our noise back by the cascade was not heard.”
“Let’s hope,” she said.
Talen pulled the torch out of the wide hole, and they moved forward again. All they needed to do was get one of the teeth into the monster. Or deliver the crude crown to someone who could use it. When it came to it, Talen knew his job would be to throw himself into harm’s way to distract the monster. Perhaps into the arms of the monster itself. He did not relish that idea.
Their third torch burned low, and he retrieved the fourth, noting that even if they hurried, the two remaining torches would probably not be enough for the trip back. He lit the fourth torch and dropped the burned one to the floor.
They walked a little farther and the passage opened into a chamber that contained a large pool of black water. They skirted the edge of the water and at one point passed many small, glowing crablike insects feasting on the remains of a spiny, translucent fish.
The bluish light coming from the end of the corridor grew stronger as did the odd smell. In fact, the smell was so strong he could taste it on the edges of the back of his tongue.
“The light ahead isn’t moving,” she whispered. “I can see a bend up ahead. I think around that corner will be the source.”
“I’m going to douse the torch,” he said. The last thing he wanted was for the monster to know they were coming and the torch would announce them along the walls ahead with its flickering yellow light. Of course, it might already know of their presence and simply be waiting around that bend. And that’s why he was going first. Sugar needed to be able to wield the tooth.
“Follow me,” he whispered and quietly stepped forward.
He heard something ahead. A human voice? He heard it again. It sounded like River. His heart soared. They were yet alive!
He glanced at Sugar who had heard it as well.
They quietly made their way forward toward the light and saw the entrance to a room that was definitely the source of the light. He glanced at Sugar one more time. The silver tooth’s sharp point shone in the bluish light.
He would distract the monster, draw it to them, and she would stab it anywhere she could. “Are you ready?” he mouthed.
She nodded.
Talen turned and stepped around the corner and into the full light.
He expected an immediate attack. At the very least he expected the creature to see him and charge. But no such thing happened.
Da’s voice sounded from around a bend in the room where Talen couldn’t see him.
Talen took another step forward, then another, until he saw first Uncle Argoth, then River, the Creek Widow, Da, Ke, and another woman with cuts and bruises whose hair had been shaved off, all manacled at even distances with chains that had been fastened into the semi-circular rock wall. Ke stood. The rest of them sat with their backs against the wall.
The monster was nowhere to be seen.
“Mother!” Sugar cried and rushed forward.
The conversation ceased. All of them looked up.
Sugar ran to the woman Talen had not been able to identify.
“No,” the woman said. “Not here!” But she held up her arms anyway and received her girl in an awkward embrace, Sugar holding the hag’s tooth well away from her mother.
“Talen,” Da said. “What have you done? You
must flee.”
Talen withdrew the red cloth from his pocket, unfolded it, then held the odd crown up by one of the leather straps. “I thought you might need this.”
“Hogan,” said the Creek Widow with some hope.
“We can’t use it,” said Da. He motioned at his neck. “Not with these things devouring our power the moment it springs forth.” Da glanced at an exit from the chamber Talen had not seen when he first came in. “I don’t know how you found us, but you must leave before it comes back. Go!”
“Wait,” said Uncle Argoth. He pointed at Sugar. “Are those the Ravelers?”
All eyes focused on what Sugar held in her outstretched arm.
“Yes,” she said.
Uncle Argoth waved to Sugar. “Here,” he said. “Quickly!”
Sugar rose from her mother and hurried to Uncle Argoth.
He stretched his neck to one side and motioned to a patterned object encircling it. “Careful now. I want you to prick the surface. Let it get a taste.”
“Stop,” said the Creek Widow. “What are you doing?”
Uncle Argoth turned to her. “I’ve been enthralled once. I will not be enthralled again. Let’s see if the tooth can unravel this collar.”
“It will unravel you,” said the Creek Widow.
“Then so be it,” said Uncle Argoth. He turned to Sugar. “Quickly, we don’t have time.”
Sugar glanced at Talen. Then she turned back to Argoth and brought the tooth close to the collar.
The collar slithered.
Sugar paused, fear on her face.
“Go on, girl,” said Uncle Argoth.
She moved the point of the tooth closer and the collar struck, curling an end around the tooth.
Sugar cried out.
The tooth seemed to shudder, then it leapt out of her fingers.
Uncle Argoth gasped.
The tooth was wriggling, entwining with the collar.
“Grab it,” said Uncle Argoth.
The tooth and collar were now one, struggling, twisting about his neck.
Uncle Argoth fell back against the wall.
Sugar tried to grab the tooth, but it resisted. She tried again. This time she was able to catch it and tug.
She grunted. “It’s stuck,” she said.
“Yes,” said Uncle Argoth. He winced. “I can feel it weakening. Get a good grip. Be ready to yank it back when I tell you.”
The collar writhed.
“It’s slipping,” said Sugar.
Suddenly the collar jerked, spasmed.
“Now,” said Uncle Argoth.
Sugar yanked. The tooth did not budge.
Uncle Argoth cried out, clutched at his neck.
Lords, it was going to burrow into him.
Then Sugar heaved a second time and the tooth came free. It twisted once, twice, and then stilled.
Uncle Argoth grasped the dead worm thing about his throat, ripped it free, and cast it to the floor. A bright spot of red glistened on his neck. He felt it with his fingers and brought them away to look at the blood. “That was a nasty bite,” he said to Sugar. “But well done. Now free Ke and the Creek Widow. Then Hogan and Purity. In that order.” He turned to Talen. “Bring the crown here. She’ll feel the breach. We don’t have much time.”
Talen hurried over to Uncle Argoth, who was still in chains, and held the crown out to him.
Uncle Argoth took it by the strap and laid the square medallion in the palm of his hand. He stroked its surface with his finger.
Sugar moved to Ke, who stretched his thick neck to the side.
“Wait,” said Talen. “Give me the other gauntlet and tooth. We’ll do two at a time.”
Sugar nodded and removed the second gauntlet from her belt. She tossed it to Talen.
He caught it midstride. It was light as silk and thin. Even the weave in the palm was thin. He expected to feel some surge of power when he pulled it onto his left hand, but he felt no such thing. It felt simply like an exceedingly fine glove. The gold studs were small enough that it wouldn’t affect the grip of the glove too much. He had no time to tie the sleeve, so let the straps dangle.
Sugar laid the silver case containing the last tooth on the floor and turned to Ke. When she put the tooth to his collar, he gasped. But this time she kept a firm grip, and the tooth did not jump from her hand.
Talen bent down, opened the case, and removed the last tooth. He approached the Creek Widow. Her eyes danced with delight. “Did I not say you were the one to watch?”
She turned her head and put her arms behind her back, her chains clinking and clattering. How they were going to break those he did not know.
He now saw that the collars weren’t all one color. Instead, they were dark and muddy, shot through with browns and greens and a heavy blue. There was a pattern to it, but it was all too dark to distinguish it well. They reminded him of hideous eels.
Talen did not hesitate, but quickly pricked the creature with the sharp point of the tooth.
He was not ready for the power and slipperiness of the tooth. It jumped like a fish from his hand to twine and wrestle with the dark collar. Then it began to wriggle in.
Frantically, Talen grasped for it. He caught the end barely before it completely disappeared into the body of the collar.
He glanced at the Creek Widow’s face. She was grimacing in pain, gritting her teeth.
The collar about the Creek Widow’s neck jerked and rolled. The tooth strained against his grasp. And then it stopped and the collar hung limp about the Creek Widow’s neck.
Talen yanked back on the tooth and it came out, trailing some substance that was dark and sticky.
Behind him, he heard Ke grunt. Talen turned and saw Ke straining, pulling at the chain where it was bolted to the rock wall. He gave another heave and, with a crack, pulled the iron loop from the rock.
Talen shook his head. Admiration bloomed in him: his brother was as strong as any dreadman. Stronger.
The Creek Widow tugged at the creature about her neck. When it came loose, she flung it to the floor and then felt her throat. “You can be sure I won’t be asking for one of those during the festival of gifts.”
The skin where the collar had coiled about her neck was red and raised in a long welt.
Ke strode over to the Creek Widow, rolling his shoulders and shaking his arms to loosen them. He looked at Talen and grinned. “Step aside, little man.”
He picked up the chain binding the Creek Widow to the wall, grimaced, and gave it a mighty yank. The chain ripped completely out of the wall.
Ke grunted.
“Handy, isn’t he?” said the Creek Widow. “Now get your sister.”
Talen rushed to River and found the left side of her face covered with purpled bruises. She turned her head to expose her long neck, and he pressed the raveler to the thrall. However, it had only begun to work when River cried out. “Remove it!” she said.
Talen yanked the tooth back. “What is it?”
She gasped. “It was in me. Give me a moment.”
Behind him, the Creek Widow joined Ke and Uncle Argoth off to one side and formed an odd circle where each turned sideways and placed their left hand on the crook of the arm of the person in front of them. With their right, they each held a bit of the crown. They began a chant where one would speak and the other two would repeat it in unison. Talen couldn’t understand the words and realized they were in some odd tongue.
To Talen’s left, Da fell to his knees, Sugar’s tooth still struggling with the collar about his neck.
“Grab it,” Da said to Sugar, gritting the words out.
Sugar grasped the tooth and yanked it out.
Da groaned in pain, heaving great breaths. He turned his head to look at River. “You and I have worn the collars longer. The binding must be tighter. Be prepared: it’s going to take a part of you. You’re not going to want to let it go.”
“I felt that,” said River.
Da turned to Sugar. “Finish it.”
She put the tooth to him again, and he winced.
Talen turned from Da and looked at his sister. “Are you ready?”
She held her hand up. “A moment,” she said.
They didn’t have a moment. “The monster’s close,” he said. “I can smell it.”
The Creek Widow cried out in delight. “It’s quickened,” she said and held the crown aloft.
Da gritted his teeth, his face red and sweating with the strain. “It’s done!” he said, and Sugar withdrew the tooth. Da ripped the lifeless collar from his neck, exposing a thin line of blood.
“Quickly,” the Creek Widow said and hurried to him. Uncle Argoth and Ke followed.
“The crown’s still gold,” Talen said. “Shouldn’t it be black?”
“I told you,” the Creek Widow said. “It operates on different principles, and it’s very much alive. Long ago, perhaps in a different age, three years of life were poured into it. The power of three years of life—you can feel it pulsating. It requires three now to waken it.”
Da stood and struggled with his chains, but could not remove them from the wall as Ke had done.
“Now,” said Da.
The Creek Widow strapped the crown to Da’s head.
“Can it be ripped off?”
“Once the crown and your father are joined,” said the Creek Widow, “no power can separate them.”
Ke, The Creek Widow, and Uncle Argoth formed their odd circle again, turning sideways to the center of the circle, placing their left hands on the neck of the person in front of them, stretching their right arms out to the center of the circle to rest on Da’s head and touch the medallion. This time, Da spoke the strange words, followed in unison by the other three.
Sugar, her tooth in hand, stood in the center of the chamber like a guard dog.
“We need to get this off me,” River said. “The three of them will be useless once the bond fully forms.”
Talen returned his attention to his sister. “Are you ready?”
She nodded. Her eyes shone with determination.
Servant: The Dark God Book 1 Page 51