The Tree

by Na'amen Gobert Tilahun

  “I do not know that she would aid in our escape in any way, and she might deliberately hinder us.

  Krezida hissed at the girl. “You mean to escape? Take me with you.”

  The girl finally turned to face her. “Was that a question or an order?”

  Krezida gritted her teeth. “Take me with you, please? If you will deliver me to my Athenaeum, I will reward you all handsomely.”

  If she could get to Enheduanna she could lock the doors and windows and wait out whatever was happening, surrounded by the things that she loved. The Antes would take care of the darkness with the Maasu. She would hunker down until the danger passed, and then reemerge.

  “Will you swear not to injure any of us or betray us in any way?” This was from the man who had been about to untie her.

  She leaned close to whisper exactly that, hoping some of the scent she had applied to her hair days ago before Hadyn had stuck her here still lingered. Before she could test the theory, Razel put her hand on the man’s shoulder and pulled him back.

  “Be careful, Matthias. When I said that she was poisonous in body, I meant it. She is an alchemist. She is practically made of potions and formulas that could harm you in seconds.”

  “You’re not wrong, girl, but it would be foolish of me to kill any of you. There are enough of you to overwhelm me easily and it would not endear any of you to take me with you.”

  “True enough.” The girl agreed, then she smiled. “Swear on your bond with Enheduanna.”

  Krezida balked at that. She had meant everything she said but she always cherished her right to break her word if a better opportunity presented itself. If she made such a vow and then broke it? Her bond with Enheduanna would wither, if not break entirely. Razel was too smart.

  “I swear on my bond with Enheduanna Athenaeum that none of you will come to harm through my actions,” Krezida vowed.

  Razel nodded in approval to the crouching ‘dant, and she was free.

  “Come,” Razel said and walked out with all of them following.

  Krezida stopped at the sight of her unconscious apprentice. She remembered all the pain he had put her through. All the questions, and all the attempts to have her pass her bond to him. She knelt by Haydn’s unconscious form and felt around the scar at his neck. She had studied the recreations of the dark dungeons before and she knew there was always a safeguard so that those who owned them could reduce them to pieces easily. From there it was a simple thing to return them and have them reconstituted with the quality you felt was lacking. Krezida wanted none of that this time. She found the loose flap of skin and pulled with all her strength. There was a loud tearing sound and a thin rope of flesh ripped its way from Hadyn’s throat, sending his head spinning across the hall. She stood and walked over and crushed the head under her boots until the brains were smeared across the floor.

  When Krezida looked up, both Razel and the dark-skinned ‘dant were watching her, while the rest of them all averted their eyes.

  She rose and composed herself, smoothing out her hopelessly wrinkled robes. They hurried up the remaining stairs and emerged onto the roof. Razel immediately hurried over to the pen where the dragons buzzed lazily in the sun.

  “What the hell are those?” One of the other ‘dants asked. The one that Krezida could see through.

  “The dragons of Hive Chayyliel,” Razel stated. “I have not taken any for a ride yet but they are tame. The more vicious breeds are kept on the borders, where they can be unleashed on invaders or raiders. These are also the smaller personal-use ones, which is helpful.”

  “They look like giant dragonflies.” The ‘dant who spoke was standing next to the other ‘dant who Krezida could see all the way through.

  Razel stared blankly for a moment before saying slowly. “Well, they are dragons, and they do fly. These will take us to safety.”

  The translucent ‘dant and the one with long black braids shared a look. The one with the long hair spoke up. “I think that I will fly under my own power, thank you.”

  She floated a couple of feet of the roof, her hair whipping about in the sudden wind.

  “Me as well,” the translucent ‘dant said.

  “Well, dragons for the rest of us, then. I will show you how to get a ride. I must go first so the lead dragon chooses me. The others will follow.” Razel moved to the pen, which was in the shape of a dome, giving the dragons room to fly but no route of escape, not that they would attempt it. They were much too lazy and well-trained for that.

  On one side of the pen was a pump and a stack of buckets. Razel picked up a bucket and placed it under the spout and pumped twice. A large gout of thick red sagua came from the spout and filled the bucket.

  “What is that?” One of the ‘dants asked. The one Razel had called Matthias.

  “A mixture of things,” Razel answered. “Watch me.”

  Razel stood under a small, oddly folded section of the pen and placed the bucket in a hook on the outside, and the dragons fought each other to get into the little nook, which was the only area where their probosci could reach it. Razel pulled on a thin silver chain and a small gate came down inside the pen, separating the first dragon from the others.

  The dragon did not panic. It crept forward and dipped its proboscis into the bucket. As soon as it had drained the bucket, Razel pulled the thin silver rope by her again and the section of gate directly between her back and the dragon lowered. From their position in front of her, they could see the four long and thinly jointed legs wrap around her torso. Two came from under her arms and crossed themselves over her chest. The other two came low on the hip and wrapped themselves around each thigh. Then Razel was airborne, circling above them.

  “Next,” she called down.

  The dark-skinned ‘dant in red stepped forward immediately and followed what Razel had done perfectly. It took a while to get them all attached, but it was as Razel said: the dragons attached to them were simply content to follow the lead of Razel’s dragon. Once the last of them, Krezida herself, was up in the air, Razel directed her dragon to fly away from the Ruling Courts. They were moving across the center district and toward the Drowned. That was fine with Krezida. Enheduanna was not that far from the Drowned and she could walk from there if necessary.

  As they neared the far edge of the center district, plumes of smoke and the sounds of battle became more distinct. Things were flying all about, and they got close enough to see they were not dragons, but something else.

  Razel looked over to where the commotion was happening. She lifted the hand that was metal to her face and circled two fingers into a ring. As she watched, Krezida could have sworn she saw the glint of yellow light appear in her circled fingers.

  “It’s Lil.” The excitement was clear in her voice.

  “Then that’s where we need to go,” Erik stated.

  Razel nodded, and Krezida saw her reach up to manipulate the legs that held her aloft in some abstract pattern. Krezida could not see exactly what she did since she was so far away, but Razel’s dragon turned toward the fight and began to accelerate. All the others followed. Krezida began to panic. She knew nothing of how to steer a dragon, and she had requested escape, not death in battle. As they neared she saw the things that they were fighting. Razel should recognize those monstrosities as easily as Krezida did, but still she did not turn the dragons away. Razel was leading them straight back into the jaws of the Ruling Courts.

  Krezida would not do it. She would not go. She reached up to the legs that were holding her and felt around, trying to figure out what Razel had done. There were little crevices at the places where the legs joined the body. She slipped her fingers into one experimentally and tugged. Her dragon tilted wildly, and she screamed and let go. The dragon righted itself but did not correct its direction. Now it was headed even closer to the fight at a faster rate.

  Krezida reached up again and slipped both hands into the spaces and tugging both at the same time. The dragon swung her around and she felt
the lower pair of legs start to release her. She screamed and reached up, grasping at anything and everything as she slipped from the dragon’s grip. Krezida felt the legs release her completely and screamed as she tried to hold on, but there was nothing to grasp. She fell faster, the breath being stolen from her lungs. Spots appeared in her vision. Blackness. Pain. Nothing.

  KIMA

  Kima had been ready to die for quite a while. You don’t join a revolution against those who wiped out whole neighborhoods without realizing that your choice could easily lead to your death. When you pretend to be the leader, you surely know you will not live to see the new world that you are fighting for. Still, never had she thought it would end like this.

  Kima fired on the smaller baby things that had sprouted from the back of the parent monster. They did not seem as tough as the others and her shots did some damage, knocking them from the sky. A blast of cold froze her back, and she turned to see one of the smaller baby-creatures she had missed flash frozen. Without thought she flipped the gun in her hand and brought the butt down on the ice as hard as she could. The thing shattered and she turned back to the fight.

  Assan was aiming at the smaller flying ones like she was, and bringing many of them down before they could attack the companions. Quinn and Hlani were facing the monster similar to the one that had attacked in the clearing. Limbs sprouted from its back, each ending in new and horrifying-looking tools of pain and torture. They were not injuring it greatly, but neither were they hurt too badly. Kima was satisfied enough with their lack of death at this point.

  Uchel was huddled in the back with the children. They stood protected behind a large sheet of ice that Lil’s sib had created. They would lean around the sides and Uchel would let loose with some of her poultices, which burned the smaller ones, but had little effect on the larger monsters. Lil and the Antes split their attention between the giant one tearing up the street and the long flying one, which would dive in quick to take swipes at them before shooting out of range once again.

  Kima did not even notice the dragons swooping in until she heard the scream. The sound of the ‘dant slamming into the ground cut through the din of battle and Kima looked up to see other dragons approaching in a ragged line. She looked closer and saw ‘dants clasped in their legs, but could not see much through the dozens of flying small monsters. A swarm of them was blasted apart by a fierce wind and suddenly a woman was in their midst, her dark hair whipping about her as she tossed the creatures back and forth. She cleared a path for the dragons and as they got closer Kima recognized the young woman being carried by the lead dragon as Holder-Apprentice Razel. She had never seen the woman in person but Kima had memorized her description, as she had all Holders and their apprentices.

  Two of the dragons behind Razel were starting to droop, as if their passengers were getting heavier. Kima looked and saw that one was carrying a ‘dant with dark skin and a stocky build. His eyes were shining red and the anxiousness for a fight was written clearly across his face. The other held what looked like a living statue. They became too much for their dragons and the poor beasts simply let them go.

  They fell directly onto the back of the large monster with a resounding crack. For the first time in this encounter, the monster squealed in pain. The cracks continued attacking from there and the thing began to move desperately, trying to reach the ‘dants on its back.

  All of its children immediately pulled back their attacks on anyone else and headed to their parent. These ‘dants were powerful. Suddenly one of the ‘dants on the ground leapt into the air. Her body dissolved into only bones as she moved. She flew directly into the swarm and any of the creatures she touched fell down dead.

  Glancing over at Hlani and Quinn, Kima realized that Lil had moved over to help them, leaving the larger creature to their new allies. Lil placed something in her mouth, and Kima was hypnotized as she spit out something glowing that hit the creature. The blackness shattered and what was left lay convulsing in the street, a raw pink bundle of flesh that seemed pained by everything. Kima put it out of its misery with one shot that shattered its raw face and ended it still.

  Lil ran up and gathered back the thing she had spit.

  The other dragons landed.

  Kima saw the moment when Lil saw the other Holder-Apprentice. The smile on her face went tight but she did nothing else. Razel, for her part, had no expression on her face, but she nodded at Lil in recognition.

  The ‘dant with the long braid who seemed to control the wind was concentrating on the many-winged monster still circling above. She buffeted it from all sides and forced it lower and lower to the ground. Once it was within reach of the two Antes, they wasted no time in grabbing each of the wings at the joints until they rotted off in their hands. The thing squealed and fought back, but they were too fast for either of its mouths.

  The largest monster finally let out a shrieking cry and collapsed to the ground, unmoving. Any of its lingering children immediately wheeled away from the battle and scattered in all directions. The two ‘dants that had been on its back leapt to the ground. The one that looked like a moving statue approached the last large creature that the Antes were focused on. She punched through its carapace with no effort and pulled out a handful of meat mixed with metal. She did this repeatedly until the creature simply shuddered and stopped moving.

  The others gathered, and Kima noticed Lil’s branch hovering over her shoulder. Kima’s eyes were drawn to Lil’s sibs to make sure they were alright, and then to the two Antes. Only after that did she start to look at their new companions. She holstered her gun and gestured for Assan to do the same. These new allies were powerful. There was no need to threaten them. They had all moved into two groups, one around the dark skinned ‘dant in red and the other around Lil. Razel stood halfway between the two groups, facing Lil.

  Finally, Lil stepped toward her fellow Apprentice, the branch shifting to spell out her message.

  RazelWhatAreYouDoingAndWho

  AreYourCompanions?

  Razel stepped forward, uncaring about the pieces of monster that clung to her otherwise-pristine white boots.

  “I have left the service of Riana. I am here to help.”

  YourHelpWouldHaveBeenMoreUseful

  AnotherTime.

  Razel seemed to understand what Lil was saying even if Kima did not.

  “I did what I could. I hid The Root and provided it to your Nif companions.”

  Lil’s eyes widened thoughtfully and her face lost some of its severity, although much of it had to do with the scars that covered her lower face and gave her a perpetual frown.

  WhoAreYourCompanions?

  The branch wove the question in the air again.

  Razel glanced back at them and hesitated.

  “I believe it better if they tell you themselves. And not on the streets.” The dragons that had carried them here were still circling overhead, waiting for more orders. “We have just escaped from the Ruling Courts, and they will be looking for us.”

  ThatSoundsAwfullyFamiliar.

  Lil’s lips turned up in a bitter smile that Razel returned.

  LetUsGatherYourCompanions.

  As a group, they approached the others, who were near the head of the large monstrosity. They had their heads bowed, as if in prayer, but they were only whispering to each other.

  “We gave them peace. That is what matters,” one was saying.

  Kima looked at the young man. “What do you mean?”

  All of the newcomers looked very uncomfortable all of a sudden, and before Kima could press, Uchel came forward, Lil’s two sibs following her reluctantly. Lil immediately knelt and both children ran into her arms. She hugged them tightly and Kima could have sworn she saw tears glisten in the corners of her eyes before Lil took a deep breath and rose to her feet. Her younger sib, the boy, had his arms around her neck and she was holding him to her chest. The older girl had stayed standing but her hand was gripping Lil’s free one so tight that Kima could see t
he strain of pressure where her small fingers pressed down.

  “We should leave these streets now,” Uchel said. “We will go back to the house, there we can get acquainted with our new friends.”

  The ground shook beneath their feet and Lil looked down at it in worry. She looked down to her sibs and then over to Arel and Jagi. She needed to tell them now but she did not want her sibs to hear the news. They had been through enough. They did not need to be scared again so soon after finding her. The Antes stepped forward and pried her sibs from her. They protested but Arel and Jagi soothed them and made sure to keep Lil where the two could see her while moving far enough away that no part of the conversation would reach them. She nodded her thanks to them and turned back to the group, which was now watchng her curiously.

  NoWeWillGoToKandakeThereIsStillMuch

  ToDoAndLittleTimeToDoItYouMust

  SendSomeOfYourPeopleToWarnTheOthers.

  “Warn them of what?” Kima stepped forward. She knew that Lil had been keeping something from them this whole time. She had not risen to be Uchel’s second-in-command without knowing when someone was lying.

  Lil looked at her blankly for a moment.

  AllMustSeekShelterAtKandake.

  Lil paused again, and even as the words formed by the branch, they moved slowly, as if they were full of reluctance, and when Kima could read the words she knew why.

  ThisWorldWillDieSoon.

  The clamor around her grew as the others read the words and exploded in questions.

  “That is a lie!” Assan was the loudest in his denials, but Kima could see the way the truth sunk into him by the despair slowly creeping across his face.

  He shoved his way forward and Lil did not shrink under his closeness; instead, she looked him straight in his eye.

  IfYouThinkMeALiarThatIsFineButWarnThemStill

  DoNotLetOthersDieFromYourStubbornRefusal.

  “Why did you not tell us before?” This was from Hlani, always ready to believe the worst, and this time it was proven true.

  BecauseWeDidNotHaveTimeForThisWe