by Reece Dinn
Beroz tried to look up but couldn't move his neck. 'Water,' he croaked.
'Here.' Soft hands cupped his chin and gently pulled his head back. 'Open your mouth.'
Crisp, cold water filled his mouth. He swallowed, gratefully. More water poured in. When he'd had his fill, and his throat was wet again, the waterskin was removed.
'Thank you,' he said.
'I bring you food,' said the woman, moving to his front. She was small with short black hair that was clearly brushed regularly. The features of her face were soft, with dark eyes and thick, pink lips. For a moment she took his mind from the pains of his body. She produced some nuts out of a small pouch tied to her side.
'All I have. Men take food from sturaz.' She placed one in his mouth. 'You can chew?'
Beroz shook his head slightly, but had a strange desire not to displease her. He took it in his mouth. It required more effort and caused more pain than it should have to bite through the nut, his cheekbones clicking and cracking with every movement, but when he finally did he was rewarded with the nut's earthy flavour. She gradually fed them to him one at a time, not saying a word.
'Your...man..leave...with...Ro-Lial?' Beroz asked, the effort hurting his dry throat.
'No, he's a saltman.'
'Salt?'
'Yes. He salts meat so it keeps. Better than burying it in snow. Keeps for longer. Can move it. He's away. By the sea somewhere.'
Beroz murmured. He'd never seen the sea. All the time he'd been on his Cubsoz he'd thought of going to the edge of the land and seeing the sea for himself, but there'd always been something preventing him from making the journey. It's just water.
'Open your mouth.' She placed another nut in his mouth. 'This'll be easier if you on your back.'
'No....Need.....walk,' croaked Beroz in between mouthfuls.
'Not go anywhere until your back heals. Not heal for long time.'
She's right. Have to fix it. Use Brubah. Need to focus. Try harder.
When he'd eaten the last nut she gave him some more water then left without another word, leaving him lying on his front, helpless.
Chapter Sixty Three
Melonaz spent the morning learning how to cook with a large, chubby cheeked Apochal named Kramenaz. Kramenaz first taught him how to correctly skin a sehseh carcass using a stone knife. Melonaz took to it quickly, carefully cutting away the pelt so as not to damage it. How do I not know how to do this? I ruin many pelts. Stupid. Severing the spikes from its back proved tricky however as they were attached to the sehseh's spine, but with enough scraping away of the cartilage, and many tugs, they came free. Huntman liked to craft knives out of the spikes. He'd always wanted one, the knives much longer and sharper than his stone knife. Make one for me? Ask him? Last to be removed were the creature's paws, head and tail. Kramenaz discarded them.
Kramenaz then taught him how to butcher it properly, carving off the breasts, rump, liver, kidneys, heart and genitals. It was hard, delicate work that required a lot more concentration than Melonaz'd given the task previously. He became frustrated when he realised how much meat he'd wasted out in the wild, how much more he could have sustained himself, saving him days of needless hunting. The meat he had successfully carved had been fatty too, with little actual meat on the pieces he'd cut. How do I survive on own when I a stupid bonokok?
When it came to cooking Kramenaz showed him how to enhance the flavour of the meat by seasoning it with the right amount of salt, as well as rubbing the meat with leaves to make it more fragrant, or burning kak in the fire for an earthy flavour. Finally he showed Melonaz a variety of ways to cook the meat: on a spit over a fire, boiling them in a pot, using Nipah to cook them by blasting heat at them, or simply setting them on fire. Kramenaz advised against the last two. Nipah was very difficult to actually cook with, most of the time you were left with just a hot, sweaty, uncooked piece of meat, and setting the meat itself on fire ruined it, as he demonstrated on the sehseh's leg meat.
Melonaz enjoyed the lessons, surprisingly, and asked his new mentor to show him other ways to cook. The Apochal was delighted and enthusiastically taught him how to make various broths, soups, and even a way to make a bowl of nuts and leaves interesting by using berry juice.
'Apochal wants meat. Much meat,' said Kramenaz. 'That why we use sehseh. Use to make a big broth, soup. Eat good mirac, lilnac meat on own. Waste it in broth.'
'What of ankaroc? Good?'
Kramenaz frowned at him, the features of his chubby face wrinkling, cheeks flushing. 'Don't eat ankaroc. No hunting them. Even wild ones. Kill them only to protect yourself. Ankaroc friend to people.'
Friend? Lobkak try to kill me. Although they'd healed, the wounds the ankaroc had inflicted had left scars on his chest where its claws had pierced his skin. Scars were supposed to be the mark of a blooded warrior, a sign that he was to be respected, but to him they were just a reminder of an incident he'd rather forget.
Kramenaz's features returned to a happier expression as he began to skin the carcass of a lilnac. The Apochal clearly loved to cook. Think he loves to cook more than fighting. Not have big belly if he didn't. The man's enthusiasm was rubbing off on him though, it was a welcome distraction from the impending danger.
In the afternoon, after he'd eaten, Melonaz ventured out onto the plains to train, determined to strengthen his almost healed arm in time for the attack. He tried wielding Dajimoz in it, it wasn't his favoured sword arm but he figured if he could improve with it then he'd know it was healed. It hurt him however, even with Brubah, every swing of the sword sent shooting pains up and down his arm. He soon switched to his favoured arm.
Apochal right. Stamina return if I train hard. Raiz still weak. Body in bad shape. Can be stronger. He pushed himself, imagining doing battle with an Apochal ludenez, conjuring up an image of a bigger Nekolz, but with glowing red eyes and purple skin. He felt a little guilty at first even pretending to fight him, but his old hatred for the boy soon returned and fuelled his aggression. The imaginary ludenez was strong, but he was stronger, everything it threw at him he repelled and hit back twice as hard. Soon his imaginary opponent was nothing but a bloody pulp on the ground.
By the end of the training session his hunger for battle had taken hold. Want real fight. Want to duel. The Apochal would be too strong for him, no doubt, although not as powerful as the Lial. Could try. Who to fight? Gillenaz used a spear, which he was used to fighting against as it was Tenalkz's weapon of choice, but the Ankarocal would be far stronger and more skilled. Not that any of them would want to fight a child anyway. They won't want to lose to me. He chuckled to himself, then rubbed his face underneath the mask where it itched. Nukuk. Why can't I take it off here? No one can see. He went to lift it up, but the fear of someone seeing him kept him from raising it all the way. He enjoyed the cold, fresh air on his face a moment, then lowered it back down.
He re-examined Dajimoz as he headed back to camp. The fire breather's image exuded power, its face imposing, its menacing eyes looking directly into his. The horns on its head were large and looked like spears. He imagined each of its claws to be as long and as sharp as a sword. Love to ride one into battle. Fire breather would make a good ludenez killer though. He paused in his thoughts. Think it'll kill us too. Fire breather try kill Owoklz, Kitaz, Dajimoz. Not think it a friend.
In the distance, to the west, dark shapes appeared in the overcast sky, near the horizon.
Ankaroc. Twiz people on move. Here soon.
The camp was empty, save for the ankaroc who'd remained behind with their riders. He focused his Raiz and sensed people gathered on a hill near the village donoz. He hurried off towards it, hoping it was the men who'd remained behind.
The remaining warriors were all there, each man armed, ready to fight if needed. Kramenaz stood at the back of the group alongside a grim faced man named Lokatiz, another of the Apochal. The quiet, chubby cook nodded to Melonaz as he approached.
Far across the plain a mass of people slowly moved. The Ankarocal circle
d above them, swooping and diving, sweeping far out, scouting for trouble. Most of these villagers would never have even left Twiz before, never leaving the place they'd been born in. Many may never have left the sight of their village. Carry furaz, furs with them. Makes them move slowly. They'd no doubt be unaccustomed to travelling distances any farther than one side of their village to the other. Judging from the distance they'd covered Melonaz figured they'd have walked throughout the night, a great risk, but then there were too many people to make any sort of safe camp.
'Where they sleep?' asked Melonaz, 'Make camp outside village? With us?'
Lokatiz shrugged. 'Stay with other people in village. Outside on the paths, maybe.' The Apochal grunted more than spoke, his speech difficult to hear.
Many people. Ludenez break through them, kill all. He stepped away to the side of the group for a better view. The sky over Mir-Ru had darkened with heavy cloud, the sky over Oaraz only partially clouded. The mass of people didn't seem to be making much progress despite appearing to be in constant motion. If ludenez attack, they not survive.
Lial Chicoroz of Twiz would be with them. Lial Chicoroz know I live? What he do if he sees me? Want me dead? Lial Chicoroz had concealed his emotions about Melonaz when he'd found him in the burning forest. He'd left him to Lial Seboraz's mercy, but now Melonaz wasn't so sure if he would approve of the decision to spare him, even despite the impending danger. Keep mask on. Not know then. Yes. Lial Chicoroz was old, but clearly wise, the mask probably wouldn't fool him, but it'd keep him from asking questions for a while, all thing considered.
Lightning suddenly ripped through the dark clouds, forking out in all directions across the sky, each bolt leaving an afterglow.
Melonaz's heart skipped a beat. No. They sense people moving. They're coming.
More lightning ripped through the heavy clouds, a couple of bolts shooting out and striking the mountaintops.
The hairs on Melonaz's arms prickled.
Everyone around him drew their weapons.
A distant howl broke the silence, followed by a cacophony of screams, the mountains themselves sounding like they were unleashing a battle cry.
The villagers became a writhing mass, their screams audible even from a distance, almost as loud as the cries from the mountains. The villagers of Twiz broke away, scattering, most fleeing south, some turning back.
A couple of figures charged towards the mountains. The Ankarocals still airbourne dove down to join them.
'Its the ludenez,' shouted an Apochal named Tyranoz from the front.
'Time to fight,' cried Lokatiz.
Kramenaz lifted his massive warhammer and pointed it at Melonaz. 'Stay close.'
Melonaz was nauseated. It's happening. They're here. Can sense them moving. The Raiz of the ludenez pulsed, like dozens of hot heartbeats in his mind. He drew Dajimoz, but it felt heavy in his grip. His hand trembled as he remembered his encounter with the small ludenez he'd bested, and imagined facing many of them, attacking him from all sides, claws and teeth shredding his flesh, pulling out his insides. Swallowing down his fears he nodded to Kramenaz. This is why the Lial spare me. To fight. He kill me in forest otherwise.
Almost as one the Apochal sprang into motion, charging off down the hill towards the oncoming mass of people across the plain. The Apochal kicked up snow as they shot off in a burst of speed. Melonaz sensed all their Raiz pulse as they used Hakah. Within moments they were out of earshot.
Go. Go. Move. No time to be afraid. He used Hakah and chased after them, pushing his body as hard as he dared. No fear. No fear. Village need you. People need you. Time to fight. His injured arm began to throb, he tried to ignore it but it proved difficult. Other pains and strains made themselves known, as if his body were willing him to stop, be a bonokok and prevent him from helping the others in battle. No. Stop it. They need me. Melonaz struggled to catch up, his legs shorter than theirs. No amount of training could make up for the benefits of being fully grown. It didn't stop him trying though, despite his pains.
The cries from the mountains grew louder.
To the right several figures shot out of the village, heading in the same direction as everyone else. Sehnal. No. They need stay. Defend village if ludenez break through. He wondered for a moment if Tenalkz was among them. He imagined him leading the rest of the Sehnal into battle. The thought made him forget his fears.
Melonaz increased his speed even more, eager to catch up, but the strain hurt his legs, so he slowed back down. Being close to the Apochal seemed safer than being on his own.
The villagers fled as fast as they could, but in their panic crashed into one another, knocking each other down and trampling over the fallen. They not escape. Melonaz gritted his teeth. Need stop the ludenez.
Ludenez charged down the mountainside as the Lial and Ankarocal drew near, the ludenez's cries making Melonaz falter. He was still a ways behind the others, and falling further behind with every stride. How think I as good as them? He lost his footing and fell face first into the snow.
He struggled back to his feet, drawing back, then reusing, the expended Raiz to perform Hakah again. His heart pounded so much he thought it was about to explode.
Men and ludenez smashed together. Even from a distance he could see some of the ludenez were larger than men, a couple even bigger than the ankaroc diving down at them.
He clutched Dajimoz tighter. It felt strange in his hands, as if this were the first time he'd held it. All his training seemed a distant memory. His Sal would be terrified. He couldn't let the ludenez kill them.
He strengthened Hakah, bursting forward, trying to pick out a target, hoping for a small one to fight to build up his confidence and stop his shaking nerves.
A ludenez charged him, its massive eyes flaring menacingly in its misshapen head, baring jagged yellow teeth, purple blood dribbling down its fur.
Melonaz cried out, emptying his lungs. 'NOT KILL MY VILLAGE.' He lifted Dajimoz over his head with both hands.
The ludenez howled, bounding forward cumbersomely, its huge, deformed limbs struggling to move its bulk, its disproportioned body constantly shifting its balance.
Melonaz used Hakah and leaped up onto its back, stabbing down as he landed, Dajimoz sinking in deep. It screamed, then buckled, flinging him away. He pulled Dajimoz out as he flew back, but the blade fell out of his hands.
He landed with a thud, rolled, then scrambled for Dajimoz. The ludenez pounced on him before he reached it, striking his face with a huge paw. Screaming, he fell on his injured arm, crying out again as fresh pain shot up and down it. Panic set in as the ludenez reared up. Melonaz groaned, rolling away just as it came crashing down.
Refocusing his Raiz he used Hakah, increasing his strength to spring back to his feet and leap at its face. He smashed his fists into it as hard as he could, regretting the action instantly as his injured arm exploded with pain. Teeth scraped the skin off his arm as he fell down to his knees, then a claw tore through his furs, slicing his skin.
Lightning. He cried out as he unleashed bolts of lightning at the ludenez, burning holes in its head and chest, sending it staggering away, the ludenez struggling to remain on its feet. It crashed down, digging up clumps of snow.
Seeing the opportunity, he ran to Dajimoz, yanking it out of the snow. He dived at the ludenez as it was pushing itself back up and stabbed it in the side. The ludenez cried out and twisted away, causing the blade to tear its flesh, blood gushing out as the wound widened. It kicked and howled as it fell down, legs beating against Melonaz. He gritted his teeth, enduring the blows, trying to raise Dajimoz to stab it in the face, but each time he tried it beat the sword back down. He jumped back out of its reach, raised his free hand towards it, and blasted it in the head with more lightning. The whole of the ludenez's body shuddered, the lights of its eyes flashing, but still it would not die.
He hefted Dajimoz over his head and brought it down onto the ludenez's neck. Before the blade struck it lashed out with one of its huge
legs, smacking him in the stomach, claws piercing the skin. Blood filled his mouth and he spat it into the ludenez's face. The ludenez wobbled as it heaved itself back up. Despite its wound the ludenez still looked strong and deadly.
Melonaz backed away, clutching his stomach, the pain causing him to double over, struggling for breath. He raised Dajimoz up with his sword arm, hoping its sharp point would keep it back. The ludenez snapped at it, then swatted it away with its front paws.
Movement in the corner of his eye startled him. He glanced sideways to find a small ludenez leaping up. Claws pierced his mask, raking his face, something sharp entering his mouth and stabbing his tongue, then the ludenez smashed into him, clamping itself to his shoulders, the weight of it sending him crashing down. It bit into the back of his neck, tearing his flesh. Melonaz screamed, desperately beating it on the head as it bit and clawed at him.
The big ludenez attacked.
He used Hakah, causing himself agony as pressure built up all over his body, and he grabbed the small ludenez by the scruff of its neck, and threw it off him. To his surprise it flew towards the big, charging, wounded ludenez, striking it in the head, causing it to stumble.
'DIE.' Melonaz created a huge fireball, pouring as much Raiz as he dared into it, then hurled it at the big ludenez. Crackling flames spat out of the fireball as it struck. The ludenez screamed, its flesh and fur igniting instantly. Melonaz quickly drew back the expended Raiz, relieved to get it back, having used far too much in the attack. The big ludenez shrieked and screamed as it burnt. It crashed down, beating at the snow with a burning leg. Still, it would not die.
The small ludenez bounded towards him.
Melonaz bared his teeth at it. 'COME ON.' His wounds stung but bloodlust had driven him wild, fear giving way to blind fury, reinvigorating him. He smashed his shoulder into its face as it leapt again, teeth grazing his shoulder as it was knocked back down. He jumped on top of it and, before it could rake him with its claws, he plunged Dajimoz into its head, once, twice, then into its chest, neck, stabbing furiously, all the while growling manically. The ludenez writhed underneath him, but eventually it succumbed, falling still.