by Josh Vogt
Izthuri weighed more than Akina might've guessed, and Akina's legs grew cold and heavy as the embers cooled within her. Yet she forged on, finding where this tunnel ended, hitched to the left, and followed a narrowing route. Several times as she eased through this, having to drag Izthuri by her arms in spots, she heard grunting, and the distant shadows rippled.
The buggane followed, she didn't doubt. Her leaden steps, Izthuri's blood, the tusk at her waist... all clear signals. Lures.
Her body refused to increase its pace. Her bones had gone to ice, while the embers in her gut refused to flare, no matter how much she tried to stoke them. At last, muscles congealing into mud and blood slowing to a heavy drumming, she stumbled out of a small cave and realized she had nowhere left to go. She laid Izthuri on the ground, and the caligni's eyes blinked open. A confused hiss wavered up.
"Where?"
"We're here," Akina said, trying not to collapse.
She looked up in wonder at the wall she'd stopped before. It reached halfway to the ceiling, a good fifty feet overhead. Down to the right a ways, an archway looked like it had once held a broad gate, and beyond this, she glimpsed squat towers and humped buildings in various states of disarray. Many of them had carvings along their borders, with the hint here and there of once-colorful mosaics. To her wearied mind, those looked almost like dwarven runes...
She jerked her attention back to the space before her. Ten or so figures had appeared from nowhere, staring at her as she crouched over Izthuri. While each of them wore an assembly of dark cloth and rags, and their black eyes glared from under pale brows, they all stood at least a couple feet shorter than their leader. On the heels of that realization came their stench—an eye-watering reek that made her think of raw sewage. Further unlike Izthuri, their rags appeared filthy, matted and crusted with unknown fluids.
As one, they drew a variety of weapons, mostly daggers or short swords. Akina backed off from Izthuri, who looked to have fallen unconscious again. She drew Izthuri's blade and tossed it over by her with a clank; then she raised palms to the others.
"Wait, see, I'm here to help."
They skulked forward, a couple going to Izthuri while the rest parted to come at Akina from either side. Akina groaned as she reached for her maulaxe. Then a rumbling from behind had her whipping it out as she spun.
The buggane limped from the cave entrance, leaving a bloody footprint with each step while ichor dribbled down its ridged chin. It blustered and slapped claws together, blasting loose earth up into a miniature whirlwind.
"No." Akina stepped forward, scowling against the grit. On an inspiration, she held her maulaxe in one hand and drew the severed tusk with the other. The buggane flinched as she raised the tusk and shook it."Mine." She lunged forward."Mine!"
The buggane shook its jowls once more and gave a final chuff. Then it receded into the shadows.
Akina stood panting, unable to believe it had worked. A slight noise from behind reminded her she didn't stand alone. She planted the maulaxe head on the ground and kept herself upright by bracing on the shaft as she turned.
Izthuri had risen, while the others of her kind had drawn back. The caligni leader crept forward and knelt, laying her black blade at Akina's feet. She spread her arms wide, indicating the tribe and the ruins beyond.
"Yours."
Chapter Twenty
Silent Conversation
Ondorum flexed as much as he could against the corded tentacles locking him in place. Yet the energy drained from his body. How could this be?
The living stalagmite bent toward him further, revealing flexibility beyond anything formed of rock should possess. Its solitary red eye gleamed with what he took to be wicked delight. Its voice whispered around the cavern like a snake slithering through grass.
"Ever it is the way of you humanoids: always quick to rush in, rush out. Never any consideration for manners or for taking the time to truly learn about your environment. I wonder, if the great worm hadn't given you reason to wait, would we be having this delightful conversation right now?" A tentacle tightened around his thigh, and his foot skidded an inch closer."Though, I must correct myself, as a conversation implies a two-way exchange of information. So far, this would be a monologue, to be precise. But perhaps we can make it so much more?"
The strand about his arm slithered along further until the tip tapped his sealed lips. It had a gritty quality, like a sausage skin packed with sand.
"Come now. Don't be shy." The tip teased further, parting his lips and scraping along his teeth."And let's not be rude, either. After all, manners are what set the civilized creature apart from the beast. I don't believe you to be a beast, despite the chains you've been clad in."
The rock-creature shook him, making the chains rattle. Ondorum tried to pull back, but could barely keep himself standing. If the creature chose to draw him into its jagged maw, he'd be lost.
Instead, the creature turned, dragging him around to plant him in a corner. It blocked any easy way to reach the chamber beyond. To his surprise, the tentacles then retracted, leaving him free, if unsteady.
"Let's make a bargain, you and I. You remain here, perfectly still, without attempting to leave, and I'll not fully paralyze and eat you. Should you attempt escape, I'll dispense with sating my curiosity and simply sate my baser appetites."
Ondorum firmed himself up, meeting its gaze in silence.
Its eye twitched and rolled."Oh, I see. You must be surprised that I know your language. And yes, I detect the distinct glint of comprehension in those spongy orbs you call eyes, so don't try to pretend you don't understand or cannot reply in kind." It made a rattling noise, which Ondorum took to be a sigh."Ah, but I know many languages—perhaps even more used by the dead than the living. Sometimes I wonder why I bother, since all those words and intonations and hidden double and triple and quadruple meanings take up so much room in the mind. I can't seem to make myself discard them, though."
It began to rotate through a number of different languages, most of which Ondorum couldn't identify. Birdlike chirrups switched to a guttural gurgling followed by knocking words that sounded slightly dwarven. Then it flipped to a soft murmur that sounded like the gibberings of a madman, making Ondorum wince as the disturbing noises slithered into his ears. The tip of its rocklike form curled forward, and tiny hairs twitched atop it.
"Do you wonder how I've come to speak your tongue? Of course you do. There's a trick to it, to be sure. Can you keep a secret? I'm trusting you on this, realize." One of its other tentacles reached out to caress the wall."The truth of the matter is that no sound ever fully dies. To certain ears, it may fade and seem to vanish entirely. But it merely enters another form of existence. Another form of energy. Even when it is absorbed by a surrounding substance such as stone or wood—" It twitched, and its eye shut."Ohhhh... wood. Tell me. Do you have much... wood... where you come from?"
After trying to determine the harm in answering, Ondorum relented with a slight nod. The rock-beast shivered again, creating a tremor which rippled all the way down its strands. It made a slurping noise, like a dog lapping at its own drool.
"Wood. Such exotic texture. Such delicate flavors. Such juicy sap, the blood of trees running through my teeth. It can make one feel so alive. And sawdust, the reduction of trees as old as the world itself into fine particles which you could practically breathe in..."
It gazed over him, apparently lost in visions of forests and of feasting on lumber. Then it perked back up.
"My pardon. I became distracted. When life's pleasures so rarely come your way of their own volition, it behooves one to relish even the vicarious mention of them. I fear I shall be slavering for days. But where was I? Ah, yes... the nature of sound." Its teeth clicked together."Suffice it to say, we can hear you, you know. When one makes the effort to remove one's self from the noise and clamor of other creatures and sit entombed in silence, one learns to pick up on those sounds that might have otherwise passed one by. You learn to hear
the dead speak. You hear gods speak. Demons speak. You even hear the void speak. And, over time, you learn to talk back. All the languages of surface dwellers, or those in Nar-Voth, Sekamina, Orv... All sound makes its way down, eventually." The rock-beast settled back into a more rigid position."Speaking of the world and its many divisions, which one do you hail from?"
Ondorum clenched his teeth. While he might have been torn as to whether he should give Akina a parting word or two of comfort, no part of him considered surrendering to this creature's insinuating requests. Any response remained locked in his chest, and he tried to smooth over his face so it couldn't read his expression
"Why do you not speak? Has someone torn out your tongue?" It bent closer, eye blazing, voice rising into a screech."No? Shall I do it for you, then?"
Ondorum didn't avert his gaze from the fiery light it cast over him. No heat radiated from the eye, but the malevolent alien intelligence within struck him with force enough.
Slowly, its gaze dimmed and its voice returned to the previous mildness."I do beg your forgiveness. Is it because of my inconsiderate treatment? After all, who would wish to speak when they have barbs containing their throat? Would you allow discourse if I removed this ghastly instrument? Here. Let me get those for you."
Three tentacles curled over and around Ondorum's chains at various points. He shut his eyes, preparing to be choked or have his throat lacerated—and opened them again in surprise as the rock-beast dismantled the bonds with unexpected finesse. Links dropped away without a single chain tugging on another. With a flick of a prehensile tip, the collar too broke wide and slid off his back. The shackles around his ankles and wrists thudded by his feet.
He took a shuddering breath, feeling an incredible lightness that threatened to make him giddy. Then, aware of the creature's continued scrutiny, he blanked his face again.
The creature's eye became a crimson slit."No gratitude for your freedom? Truly? The relief is there, but one would expect a bit of thanks considering I doubt you could've accomplished such on your own."
Ondorum inclined his head and waved at the beast before him and then the chamber beyond.
"I see. You define freedom by varying degrees, and are not happy unless you have it in full, is that so?" The base of its stalagmite-like form moved, gliding noiselessly over the ground to one side, opening the way for him to pass."More freedom." Ondorum stepped forward, but then staggered back as it shifted back in front of him."Less freedom. Do you see what a silly notion that is? One could argue that I could take you to the nearest pit and toss you in. As you fell to your death, completely unrestrained by myself or even the earth itself, that would be the ultimate freedom, would it not? But I don't believe that's the sort of freedom you desire. You must also realize freedom is a construct of the mind, not the body."
Ondorum frowned despite himself, disturbed to hear meditative truths echoed by this being. The creature's grin looked like a rent in raw earth, the tissue within like packed mud, ringed by teeth.
"I see that concept got your interest. Which tells me it isn't entirely foreign to you, or you at least have a mind that's considered such an approach before." It leaned closer."You present a marvelous puzzle."
To his consternation, the rock-beast slid closer. He tried to back up, but hit the stone wall behind him. He could only stare up as its red eye loomed like a hideous sun.
"Back to the matter of your refusal to speak. Does it have something to do with your breeding? Are all your people so reticent? For that matter, before we proceed, what manner of being are you? I must say, you're the first of your kind I can recall encountering in my realm. Oh, and when I say my realm, don't saddle me with the silly notion that I aspire to heights of royalty or rulership. Just as with freedom, those are petty ideas, invisible boundaries with which smaller minds surround themselves to construct illusions of order and safety."
A tentacle shot out, coiled around his ankle, and flung him over the creature's top. He crashed out into the chamber proper, stunned by both the jarring impact and another portion of strength sapped by that insidious touch. As he tried to recover, the creature glided over and circled him slowly.
"Let's see. Oddly, my first instinct is to name you a strange sort of dwarf. You have the smell of mountains and deep stone about you. But you can't be dwarf or duergar, unless their kind have changed mightily without my noticing... and I pride myself on observational thoroughness. Not elf of any sort, though there is an ageless quality to you. You look, in part, human, but their flesh is far softer and they tend to be weeping or soiling themselves by this point in our talks. Hm. A miniature giant? No, pardon my ridiculousness. It is unbecoming of me. Golem?"
It paused."Is that it? Golem? Is that why you won't speak? Are you a construct in service to another, thus the chains? Seeking to escape, and so you've fled into the depths, striving for freedom, unable to control your own tongue without your master's leave, and now you wind up here. Oh, that would be a delicious tale to remember."
It thrust the tip of a strand into the crusted wounds where the warren creatures had removed the gems from his side. Ondorum squeezed his eyes shut against the pain, pounding fists against the ground as an alternate to vocalizing the discomfort.
"However, I believe golems aren't intended to feel such pain, and I can tell that, despite your tough skin, vital organs lie underneath. A waste of effort to incorporate for a master who would wish a more durable servant. You lack the tail and scales of lizardfolk, and you seem too sane to be fleshwarped."
As it inspected him, considering and discarding a dozen other species, Ondorum came to a shaky crouch. If its tentacles grasped him for any extended period, he didn't doubt he'd lose all ability to move. Already weakened as he was, he had to get out of range before the beast latched onto him again. He needed a distraction.
While pretending to listen to the rock-beast's discourse, he rose. He stamped his feet and rubbed his arms as if chilled and warming himself. He glanced about, seeking the best avenue of esc—
Pain cut hot through him, radiating out from his arm. He bit down on his tongue in time to arrest a shocked cry. The creature had taken up a sharp rock and slashed it across one shoulder, gouging out a chunk of flesh which it now delicately retrieved from the ground. Blood flowed down his arm as the rock-beast held up the chunk. As it observed its prize, Ondorum lifted his feet and tromped as if in anger.
"I beg your pardon for the drastic methods, but you seemed to be losing interest and I wished to speed up my inspection a tad."
It flicked the scrap into its mouth, and its rows of teeth ground the gristle to paste in an instant. The rock-beast closed its eye and hummed to itself in a tone of dark echoes. Moments later, a fine mist sprayed from its maw, spattering Ondorum's face. The oread realized he'd just had his own masticated flesh spit back upon him. He stomped in disgust.
"Intriguing mix of flavors. I shall savor it for centuries, to be sure. It does have a smack of human after all, but a gritty aftertaste. Half-breed of some sort, then. The mystery deepens, but I shall have the answer sooner or later, never you fear. Now, for another test..."
It whacked a tentacle across his shoulders. Ondorum let the blow slam him to the floor. Half a dozen times, whenever he stood, it smacked him back down. He tried to anticipate and go with the blows, hitting the ground as hard as he could without injuring himself.
At last, the creature relented."Quite durable. I'm pleased. I would've hated to break you too quickly. Now then, as to your continued silence. One might be tempted to use the old notion of claiming the simplest answer to be the truest one, but I find that's often not the case, what with such a strange variety of life in this world. Even for simple actions, there seems a near-infinite variety of motives and reasonings behind it. If we went that route, I'd say you grew up in a lower caste where you learned poor manners and never discovered the wisdom of obeying your elders. But it has nothing to do with manners or social status, does it? This... this is a choice. A rebellion, pe
rhaps. A promise? It could be a moral boundary, such as defiance. Do you believe silence makes you noble in the face of death?"
Ondorum stared it down and lifted his chin. The creature whirled in place, tendrils thrashing. They crashed through stalactites and stalagmites, smashing them to powder in a show of frenzied strength. Its voice shrilled through the cavern.
"There are those of my kind who would have already stripped the flesh from you for such impudence!"
Tentacles whipped in from all sides, each one holding large stone shards as if to impale him. Ondorum held his ground and the razor-edged pieces stopped inches from his flesh. Tentacles quivered and Ondorum truly believed the rock-beast was about to flay him alive. He breathed slowly, trying to find a final peace. Yet the one thing filling his mind in that moment was regret—at not having a last exchange of words with Akina, and at failing to fulfill his promise that he'd meet her on the other end.
The rock-beast relaxed and dropped the shards, which cracked against the floor all around him.
"Fortunately, I prefer to not only take knowledge, but also impart it upon others, whatever their fate after they leave my presence. Therefore, let me tell you what I know of silence so you may be wiser for it." It drew closer so he had nowhere to look but that lambent red eye."Silence is a poison. Oh yes, a poison of the mind and soul. Even more pernicious than any venom or toxin you might ingest." It quivered in place."Oh, I do love that word. Pernicious."
Ondorum tried to divide his attention between the creature's lecture and the golden ball pulsing in his center once more. Slowly, Ondorum expanded the ki, letting it seep through his being until it filled the whole of him with a subtle gilded glow.