by C B Williams
“Skip? Oh, Wren, she was so angry—but not at what he’d done. She understood the why of it. No, she was angry because he didn’t come to her, didn’t trust her enough to know she’d make things right or die trying. She stood there shouting at him and at the same time making up a plan for how she could have bent the bad to our advantage.” Mouse looked at Max again, her eyes hard as onyx. “She should have killed him then and there.”
“She didn’t?” Max asked, surprised.
“Course not. This is Wren we’re talking about. She cut out his tongue and let him live.” Mouse snorted. “Thing is, he’s now so loyal, he’d die for our Kin, even me, and he knows how I feel about what he did.”
“And after that?”
“That’s when the other two KinLords got involved. They started recruiting. I don’t blame those who went. It was a fearful night.” She grew silent.
Max watched a tear track a path down Mouse’s cheek. “And Wren?” he prompted softly.
“Wren told us to get out. She’d planned for that, too. A few days before, she brought Flick and me through the tunnels to the Above. A safe place. When we saw what was happening, Wren made us get out. Had Flick blow the tunnels when we heard the sniffers.”
“Sniffers?”
“Yeah. Never heard of sniffers being let loose in Sub-City before. Wren drew them away so we could escape. She’s deadly, but against a pack of sniffers?” Mouse shook her head. “We still have hope, Flick and I, but that’s only because we’re fools. A fool’s hope.”
“And how do you want me to help?” Max asked. “Surely Wren has a plan.”
Mouse smiled for the first time, delighting Max with her sudden beauty. “Of course Wren has a plan. Turns out it was her plan all along. The Cull just hurried things along. Do you know there are parts of the City that still haven’t become Rubble? A kind of in between?”
“I have heard tell of such places, yes. They’re abandoned because the City has moved on.”
“But since the Ring,” Mouse said, “the City really hasn’t moved on very often. Instead of moving on, it’s moved off. That’s a quote from Wren. Anyway, she found a place—a square of buildings around a fountain where water still flows. It’s far enough away that no one would notice us. Yet it’s close enough for us to go about our business. We mean to stay there. Never go back to Sub-City. It was Wren’s wish.”
“And you all need new identification,” Max guessed. “How many are we talking about?”
“Forty-five Kin and me and Flick.”
“That’s a lot of idents.”
Mouse thought of nearly the five hundred Kin who’d died or were now a part of other KinDoms. “Not so many, really,” she answered.
Max leaned over, snatched a teacake, and took a bite. He chewed on it thoughtfully. “I couldn’t do it all at once. Forty-five new idents, even for me, would draw too much attention. That’s the equivalent of a small army brought from a Ring planet to do some mischief, according to the authorities. It’s how they think.” He took another bite. “These are delicious,” he said still chewing. “You must take one.”
“No thank you. I’m not very hungry.”
“Tea, then. I insist.”
A teacart had been rolled in by one of Max’s nondescript attendants while Mouse had been telling her story.
“Tea?” Mouse twisted around and spied the cart. “Please,” she said and silently berated herself for letting her guard down.
Max got up to pour them both a cup. “Cream? Sugar?”
“Neither, thank you.”
Max reached over the back of the couch and handed Mouse a cup.
“Ah,” he grunted as he reseated himself. He took a sip. “Nothing like a nice cup of tea. This one is from Galanta. I imported it myself. Been expanding my businesses. Which reminds me, we are conducting negotiations, are we not?”
Mouse relaxed into the cushions with her cup. “So you’ll help us? I’m calling in Wren’s favors.”
“Enjoy your tea. We’re still in negotiation.”
He watched Mouse take a sip before he joined her. “It’s nice, isn’t it?”
She smiled again. The sun on a cloudy day.
“Wren warned me you would negotiate. She told me to tell you I know all about the ivory.”
“She would have to tell you about that messy debacle, wouldn’t she?”
Mouse nodded. “Of course. She saved your life that time.”
“Yes, she did.” He placed his cup on the table. “I loved Wren like a daughter, Mouse. When I first met her she was a helpless kitten, weak, frail, and all claws. I watched her grow into the woman you and I know to be a remarkable person. And I marveled. I truly marveled. And this is her last request of me, to help what’s left of her Kin. Of course I will help.”
He watched the tension seep from Mouse’s shoulders. “However, you will then be in my debt, and I will expect to use your services, Mouse, whenever I have the need.”
They studied each other warily.
“I can’t promise that,” she began. “The Kin must come first. But after that, I’m yours.”
“Deal.” He spat on his hand and held it out to her.
Mouse spat on hers and clasped his hand.
“Good, that’s settled,” Max said and handed her a napkin. He took one for himself and wiped his hand before helping himself to another teacake.
“I will need a month to organize. Are you sure you don’t want a teacake? These really are exceptional.”
“I’m sure they are, but no, thank you.”
“Then you must take some with you when you leave.” He popped the last bit of cake into his mouth. “As I was saying, I will need a month. Come back in a month, and we can make further plans. I will need images of all your Kin. Not all at once. A few at a time. I’m warning you again, this will take time. It’s safest to draw it out over a year at the very least. We’ll see how it goes.”
“A year?”
“I’m afraid so. A few here, a few there. I have other clients. Paying clients.”
“I see.”
He laughed as he got to his feet. “For someone who is retired, I am a very busy man. I’ll see you out.”
He led her down to the kitchens, stood with her while forty-seven tea cakes were placed in a box and tied with string, and watched her smile again before she left his home through the service entrance.
The crowd swallowed her up in seconds.
Even though she carried a large white and red box, he was pleased to note he could not spot her.
Like Wren.
Max nosed around the kitchen a bit, teased a couple of scullery maids and made his way back upstairs, very pleased with the results of his negotiation.
Chapter 11
Stardust
“It’s not getting any better,” Wren stated through clenched teeth while she eased carefully down onto one of the two benches that now graced the entrance to the encampment. “It just won’t take any more of my weight.” She threw up her hands and growled her frustration. “And it still looks like a Sausage. I thought it’d stop looking like that by now.”
Eloch stopped his hammering and sat beside her. He stretched out his long legs and tapped Wren’s healthy leg with his own. “You were badly damaged.”
“I know that. Don’t you think I know that? But it should be getting better now. It’s been four months. It just stopped getting better.” She pondered the Sausage. “I’m afraid to take it out of its casing. I’m afraid it will just fall apart.”
“A lot of healing has to be done. Veins and nerves. Muscle.”
“Yeah. I’m just bored, is all. I’m not used to being idle.” She nudged him. “And everything you’re doing isn’t helping. Look at the place. It’s got benches and beds and counters. It’s turning into a home. What are you working on now?”
“A table.”
“But we’ve got a table.”
“A better one.”
She nodded. “You’re bored, too.”
Eloch shrugged. “There are still things holding my interest.” He flashed her a smile and delighted in her blush. “I’ve learned a great deal from you about how this planet functions.” His smile dimmed. “But nothing about Spur, other than She is feeding us while She feeds Little Sister.”
“How so?”
“The prey Little Sister brings to us. I have an idea,” he stood abruptly.
Wren watched him go inside and rummage through one of the packs he’d found. She was always amazed at what he brought back from his forays into Rubble. As soon as she was better able to fend for herself, Eloch had left for a few hours at a time, searching for items that could make their lives easier. She glanced down at her crutch. That had been a find. A crutch! Of all the things to find in Rubble.
“Here,” Eloch said. “Why don’t you go practice?”
She looked at what he held out to her. “My last two throwing knives!”
“I thought it safe to return them to you, now I know you won’t kill me or Little Sister.”
Wren bit back her retort when she realized he was teasing her. “Thank you. And I can get exercise as well when I have to retrieve them,” she sassed.
“It will make you more accurate,” he told her. “You’ll be more careful not to throw wild.”
She cocked her head at him. “Excellent point. Thanks! I’ll just rest awhile and then try my hand.”
“Would you like a target?”
She lifted an eyebrow. “You volunteering?”
She couldn’t stop herself from laughing when he did. Eloch’s laugh was contagious. Deep and rolling.
“I thought I’d put a post up for you to practice on.”
“No need, but thanks. There are plenty of things to aim for.” She glanced around and threw. It landed with a solid thunk in the center of the table Eloch was working on. “Oops. I’d better get that.” She giggled and stood, using the crutch to steady herself before she hobbled over and pulled the knife out. When she turned to face Eloch again, the knife had disappeared into one of her tunic pockets, along with the other one.
Wren resettled herself beside him on the bench.
“What food do you miss most of all?” Eloch asked out of the blue.
“Gods, anything that doesn’t come from a wrapper or has to be butchered.”
He smirked.
“Bread. I would love to sink my teeth into a warm loaf of bread.”
“Bread. That’s good. I would like some bread as well.”
“My mouth is watering just thinking about it.” She sighed. “Back in Sub-City, we’d be so happy when one of the runners snatched a bread cart filled with rolls, all crispy on the outside and soft inside. Didn’t happen often. I’d gather the Kin and we’d dole them out and have a celebration right then and there. Nothing better than fresh bread,” she said dreamily.
Eloch grinned. “You look like Little Sister when she’s getting her ears rubbed.”
Wren laughed. “Well, I kind of feel like Little Sister. We were talking about bread, after all.”
Eloch stood and ruffled her hair. “I want to finish the table before it gets dark. Have you noticed the days are shorter now? Getting even colder, too.” He strode away, not waiting for her answer, and resumed his hammering.
She hadn’t noticed. Why had she never paid attention to the seasons? There had been no need down in Sub-City. But what about the years she lived Above? She honestly hadn’t noticed much difference from day to day. She shook her head and looked at the broken buildings and streets of Rubble. So much sameness. She shivered slightly and rubbed her arms. It had been getting colder.
The hum of a shuttle brought her back from her reverie. “Uh, Eloch? We’ve got company. If it’s Martials, I’d rather they didn’t know I’m here.” She grabbed her crutch, scrambled up, and hobbled into the shadows of the encampment just as the shuttle circled to make its descent.
“It’s okay,” Eloch called over the noise. “It’s Aiko.” He raised his arm in greeting.
“Caution first,” Wren shouted back and remained where she was.
She watched the shuttle land a short distance from the encampment, kicking up a whirlwind of dust. Eloch made his way over after the whine of the engines slowed and stopped. A few moments later the hatch opened and two people emerged, one a small, slender woman who reminded Wren of Mouse, and a tall, well-built man, though she noted he was not as tall or as well-built as Eloch. The man gripped a reading device loosely in one hand as he peered about curiously. They were both wearing dark green uniforms with orange detailing. Wren let out her breath. Not Martials, then. Something better. Ring Colonizers.
“I leave you alone for a few months and you make yourself a castle,” the woman said to Eloch with a smile. “Thought you were heading south.”
Eloch smiled at the woman and nodded to the man. “I was, but something came up.” He glanced back at Wren.
She tried to nudge herself deeper into the shadows near the bed, but it was too late. Both the woman and the man had seen her. “May as well go on out then,” Wren grumbled. She hobbled out into the evening light. “Hi,” she said lamely.
“This is Wren,” Eloch said. “I’ve been helping her heal.”
Wren shot Eloch a look of gratitude. She didn’t want too much said about her until she had formed her own opinions about these people.
“And these are Aiko and Genji, the people I’ve told you about,” Eloch said, continuing with the introductions.
Wren nodded.
“Wren,” Aiko said. “You’ve the look of Sub-City.”
Wren nodded. “You too. Eloch said you’re a pilot. Culled?”
Aiko snorted. “I didn’t wait for a Culling. I volunteered when a recruitment team came through.”
“Really? Takes guts to volunteer. If they don’t like what they see, it’s all over.” Wren smiled. “I’ve got to say I’m impressed, and it takes a lot to impress me.”
Aiko smiled in return. “It wasn’t guts, I assure you. If I hadn’t made it, I might well be dead by now. I wouldn’t have lasted much longer in Sub. Speaking of which, I heard there was some trouble down there a few months back.”
“There’s always trouble down there.” She recognized fishing when she heard it.
“Your leg,” Genji said, his reader in his hand. “May I take a look at it?”
Wren shot a glance at Eloch.
“You can trust them, Wren,” he told her. “Genji brought me out of hibernation. He knows what he’s doing.”
She squinted at him. “You a Med?”
He shook his head. “Not a trained one, but I’ve got a knack.”
“We don’t need a Med when we’ve got Genji. Saves me from feeding one more person,” Aiko said.
“May I take a look at your leg?” Genji asked again.
Wren shrugged. “I don’t suppose it’ll hurt.” She hobbled over to the bench and lowered herself gingerly, keeping the crutch close by.
Genji began scanning her calf.
“You had enough food, I take it?” Aiko asked Eloch. “We brought some more supplies for you.”
Eloch nodded. “Wren had some meal bars with her. We made do, but we’d appreciate the food.”
Aiko glanced at Wren, who was deep in conversation with Genji. “Looks like she could use a set of clothes. That tunic she’s got on comes down to her knees.”
Eloch chuckled. “She’s a little thing. I cut the leggings to fit her height, but that’s my only spare tunic, so she rolls up the sleeves.”
“Where’d you find her?” Aiko said.
Eloch hesitated. “I think she should tell you her story if she wishes.”
Aiko smiled. “A little protective of our new friend, are we?”
“She’s a private person,” Eloch replied. “How was your trip?”
Aiko smiled to herself. She thought it rather endearing to see Eloch blush. “It was good. The Colonizers liked my efficiency, and I think they’ll be using me more often. With my small crew, I’m chea
per to utilize. And I’m ready to do some shorter trips. They don’t pay as much as an intergalactic one, but they’re not as exhausting, either.”
“What of Entean?”
“Still next in line for colonization. There’s an election coming up, so the Board of Colonizing is more focused on getting reelected at the moment. Which is a good thing. No second scout ship scheduled. You’ve got more time to act, if that’s what you’re planning.”
“My plan is to go south when Wren is better,” Eloch said.
Aiko was about to ask if Wren would accompany him when Genji called them over, his expression serious. Wren’s eyes were wide, her face pale.
“I was just explaining to Wren, here, that her leg needs surgical attention if she wants to keep it. Sooner the better.”
“I didn’t think it was infected.” Eloch said looking over at Wren.
“It’s not. It requires grafting and laser surgery. It can’t heal on its own.”
“But she’s using it.”
“Her grit and determination are using it. If it weren’t in the healing casing, it would be impossible.”
“We can drop her off to a MedLab on our way home,” Aiko offered.
“No!” Wren exclaimed.
Aiko looked at her, one eyebrow raised. “It’s your leg.”
Wren glanced at Eloch.
“You can trust her, Wren,” Eloch said, reading her expression. “I do.”
“Okay, then.” Wren looked up at Aiko, her face a mask. “I can’t go to a MedLab because I don’t want the Martials to know I’m still alive. Not until I get back to my Kin and see how they are.”
“Wait, you’re that Wren? The KinLord?”
“I am that Wren, yes.
“You did a great deal of good down in Sub-City.”
“I did what I could while I could,” Wren replied.
“You took my people in when nobody else would,” Aiko said.
“Who are your people, Aiko?”
“Gem and Echo, my little brother and sister. Orphaned after I’d already gotten out of Sub.”
Wren smiled. “They’re good kids,” she said softly. “Gem looks like you.”
“I’m grateful you took them in.”