Trading by Shroomlight

by C. M. Simpson

  “It was a standard attack,” Roeglin reported when they got back, and the others nodded their agreement.

  “We can’t camp here,” Izmay confirmed. “There were signs of scavengers.”

  Henri glanced toward the rim of the sinkhole. “The sun is setting.”

  Zeb followed his gaze without thinking and flinched, turning away from orange-tinged vines, his eyes watering.

  “Move out,” Gustav commanded and jolted into a jog, leading away from the township.

  How does he know where to go? Marsh wondered, and Roeglin answered. Sulema gave him a map. She imprinted the cavern in his memory so he didn’t get lost.

  She could have just given him a guide.

  Her forces are stretched thin too.

  It still didn’t explain why the town leader hadn’t sent someone with them.

  What if we’d met a survivor? They wouldn’t have known to trust us.

  I don’t think she expects us to find any survivors, Roeglin replied, and she’s sent home teams to any areas where there is the vaguest of hopes.

  So we’re going to find more of this. Marsh waved her hand in the vague direction of the village, finding her mind on the edge of tears. There was something about the empty streets that struck her as forlorn.

  It could be worse.

  Marsh didn’t want to think about worse, and she was glad when Gustav called a stop sometime after full night had joined the cavern to the sky above. When Roeglin stopped, she stopped beside him, unrolling her bedroll and setting it beside his.

  “What?” she asked when he looked at her, eyebrows raised.

  “Yeah, what?” Aisha demanded with all the belligerence a five-year-old could muster.

  Tamlin set his bedding down beside theirs, the look on his face challenging Roeglin to utter one more word. The shadow mage raised both hands and settled between the blankets. They camped cold, not lighting a fire but eating the sandwiches they’d collected from the kitchen when they’d packed their gear.

  Gustav set watches anyway, but their sleep remained undisturbed, and they were packed and on the move again before the vines at the sinkhole's edge were painted gold by the rising sun.

  13

  Survivors

  Marsh discovered exactly how much worse it could be when they hit the next small village six hours later. Once more, she’d sensed nothing, not even in the surrounding clusters of shrooms...and that included no heightened life sign from scavengers.

  The township lay in ruins as if a rockslide had run through it, tumbling its houses and sweeping everything from its paths. It had burnt, too. There was nothing left of the shrooms that had been shaped into huts save the burnt squares outlining where they’d stood.

  “Well, that’s a first,” Henri murmured, running his forefinger through one of the ashen markings. “I wonder why they did this...”

  “And how long ago,” Izmay added, “because it had to have been before we arrived. We’d have smelt the smoke otherwise.”

  Gustav nodded. He walked slowly through the ruined town square and looked at Marsh. “Are you sure?”

  She nodded but shrugged too. “I can try again. Sometimes things are hidden.”

  A short moment later, she turned to Gustav, making hand movements as though she hadn’t found a thing. At the same time, she slid into his mind. That pile of rubble over my shoulder...

  He nodded.

  There used to be a barn about six feet back in the shrooms. We passed it, remember?

  Gustav did indeed remember the barn. It had been made of stone instead of shaped from shrooms, and lay in rubble. The thing that had struck them most, however, was the absence of any kind of animal carcass, when the dung heap said there had been several mules and a small herd of moutons there up to a week prior.

  Well, Obasi says there’s a trap door there, and that the raiders will be back to collect them at dusk. He says he can hear them coming through the tunnels beneath our feet.

  “Are they watching us now?” Gustav kept his voice low, making hand gestures as though he was talking about the idea of camping the night.

  He cannot be sure if they posted a watch. He says they don’t have a mind mage with them, but that they know what the people of the Grotto can do. He is very worried about what they intend for their captives, or what will happen if they coerce any into fighting for them.

  “He’s not the only one,” Gustav muttered. He looked around the group. “We’ll head for the back of the cavern. Sulema said there was a water source there, so we’ll be investigating it anyway. And the shrooms are thicker that way. We’ll have cover when we double back.”

  From the look on his face that wasn’t all Sulema had said, but he wasn’t sharing, so they nodded, slinging their packs and following him out. They trotted toward the cavern wall, slowing down to pick their way between stands of chocolate-covered toadstools and jaundiced broad-capped shrooms.

  “Candy caps!” Aisha squeaked, but Marsh thought it better to check.

  “They don’t smell like it,” she said, noting the absence of any form of sweetness, and Aisha leaned toward one and gave it a cautious sniff.

  “Eww!” she exclaimed, pulling her head back and scrunching up her nose. “Not candy caps.”

  “Keep it down,” Gustav ordered quietly. “We’ll circle back from here. Henri, Izmay, you’re going in first.”

  Henri and Iz moved to the front and wound their way back through the shrooms, Marsh riding overwatch by tracking the life signs and shadows as they went. Apart from the people around her, there was nothing human in range.

  With Obasi’s light contact in her head, she doubted that. She hadn’t been able to sense the people beneath the barn, and she couldn’t sense the raiders Obasi claimed were coming though the stone under their feet, but she believed him. There had been a real terror to his mental voice and a sense of urgency to his tone as he’d pleaded with her to hurry.

  They spread out, forming pairs and staying within sight. Taking cover as they reached the open space around the barn, they watched as Izmay called the shadows to cover them and she and Henri headed for the trap door.

  They’re in, Roeglin shared and tapped Marsh on the knee. Our turn. I’ll shroud us, you scan.

  It didn’t take them long to reach the now open trap door and slide quietly down the ladder. Ahead of them, they watched the deeper patch of darkness that was Izmay and Henri as Roeglin thickened the shadows around the ladder.

  Gustav and Aisha are coming in next. Mordan, Perdy, and Scruff are guarding the entrance.

  Marsh hoped they’d be going out the same way they’d come in because there was no way known Aisha would leave the animals behind.

  Too darn right.

  Marsh rolled her eyes. While she was glad the child had re-found her ability to speak mind to mind, the kid had no sense of privacy.

  Like Roeglin. Marsh hadn’t intended for anyone to discover that thought.

  You and what shadows? Roeglin challenged, then added, Pay attention.

  Marsh raised her head, seeking the life forces ahead of her. She tweaked the shadow threads, asking them to reveal what they touched. The tunnel didn’t run very far, and there was a small crevice at the rear of the room into which a dozen villagers had been crammed.

  You’re clear, she informed the team. They’re just ahead.

  They hurried forward, their arrival greeted by several shocked gasps and the sound of people trying to wriggle away.

  Obasi? Marsh sent out, and she gave voice to the name. “Obasi?”

  “Here! Oh, Deeps, you came. They’re almost here.”

  “I know,” Marsh told him, pointing at the small crevice. “Henri, they’re going to come through there.”

  “Now tell me something I don’t know,” the big man retorted, already heading for the crack.

  Marsh caught sight of a familiar greenish-brown cloud seeping out of it and grabbed the person nearest, back-pedaling into the corridor to dump them on the floor. Gustav, we nee
d ropes cut and evacuation.

  She didn’t hear his answer, but the sound of boots on the ladder reassured he’d heard. She didn’t wait to greet whichever of the team was coming down but went back for another of the prisoners. Henri was still at the rear wall, stuffing something into the crack despite the cloud of mist that hung around his head.

  “Seal it up,” Roeglin ordered, and Izmay answered.

  “Tried. It’s passing through the shadows.”

  “How?”

  “Does it matter? Henri can’t hold his breath forever.”

  “Get out of there, Henri.”

  The warrior shook his head, and Marsh felt something brush past her.

  “I got dis.”

  “Aysh!”

  But the child was gone. To Marsh’s relief, she stopped short of the spores and laid a hand on the wall closest her. Stone moved at her touch, creeping over the crack and cutting off the flow of jaundiced green. Henri stumbled back, and Izmay slapped a damp cloth over his nose and mouth.

  “Don’t you dare. Not yet,” she urged, and Marsh held her breath.

  With the spores clinging to his skin, Henri was still in danger of the poison getting into his system. From the look on the man’s face, he was starting to have trouble holding his breath.

  “Don’t even,” Izmay growled and lifted a fresh cloth to his face. “Now!”

  He reached up, covering her hand with his own and holding the cloth in place as he sucked air into his lungs.

  “That was close,” Roeglin said just as Aisha growled with effort and frustration.

  “Get them out of here!” the shadow mage ordered. “Aysh can’t hold them for much longer.”

  She was holding them? Marsh stared at the child and then moved over to her side.

  “You get them out of here. Aysh and I will follow as soon as you’re clear.”

  With the stone blocking both the shadows and her ability to sense what lives and how many stood on the other side of the wall, Marsh focused on looking for the smallest crack that might indicate where Aisha couldn’t hold it.

  Marsh?

  At the child’s voice, Marsh followed their connection, finding the images that Aisha didn’t have the words to describe. She guessed even the precocious had their limits, but that wasn’t what concerned her right now.

  There were half a dozen raiders on the other side of the wall, and they’d sent for more. Seeing them reminded Marsh that the shadows and her ability to sense life weren’t the only skills that could help her. She reached for them with her mind.

  Who were they? And what were they doing here? What did they intend for the survivors?

  One of them chuckled. “Well, hello, mind mage. I was wondering when you’d show up.”

  Marsh jerked back just as the trap slammed shut. She stared at it from the outside and wondered why anyone would have something like that set up inside their heads.

  “There are six of them,” she said, pulling back into her own mind. “How you doing, Aysh?”

  “Last one,” Roeglin called, and Marsh heard the sound of someone being dragged away behind her.

  “This would be easier if you cut the ropes first,” the person complained.

  Judging from her tone, she’d seen more than a few years and had the temper of many older folk Marsh knew. Roeglin sighed.

  “If I did that, grandmother, you’d still be sitting in the chamber when they came through.”

  A throaty chuckle greeted that, followed by a gasp of outrage. “Young man! You put me down.”

  “Sorry, no time.” Roeglin didn’t sound the least bit repentant.

  Aisha gave a frustrated shriek, and Marsh didn’t bother asking her what was wrong. She just picked the child up and ran for the tunnel. Stone creaked behind her, and a crossbow clacked as it was fired. Marsh kept running, Aisha in front of her.

  She passed Roeglin and didn’t stop to ask him why he was kneeling on the floor, facing the wrong way. There was no time...and Gustav was with him. Marsh carried Aisha up the ladder, passing the child to Izmay. Henri reached out and grabbed her just as she started to descend.

  “Gustav’s orders,” the ex-caravan guard told her, hauling her out of the tunnel.

  “You’re next,” Roeglin shouted, and Gustav came up the ladder like he’d kicked over a nest of shroom hornets.

  As soon as he hit the surface, he leaned back into the tunnel. “Come on, boy!”

  Marsh heard footsteps. They shuffled as if Roeglin was focusing on something else as he moved back toward the ladder. Sliding into his head, she saw that was exactly what he was doing—and that he wasn’t going to make it.

  “I’ll hold it,” she said, focusing on the wall of shadow blocking the tunnel in front of him. “You climb.”

  He didn’t stop to argue with her but backed up to the ladder and started climbing. The first she knew he was out was when he punched Henri in the shoulder. “What are you doing with my girlfriend?”

  “I’m saving her Deeps-be-damned ass, you ungrateful Son,” Henri retorted, and then, of course, he had to take it one step too far. “You can’t shag her if she’s dead.”

  “Give her here,” Roeglin said, and Henri shoved Marsh into his arms.

  “Sure thing. Catch.”

  “Hey!” Marsh had had about enough of being passed around like a sack of potatoes. “Don’t we have people to save?”

  “Don’t worry, dear. This is much more entertaining.” It was the same creaky voice that had reprimanded Roeglin, but it grew more distant as it spoke, as though its owner was retreating as swiftly as their ancient legs could carry them.

  “Save your breath for running, grammama.” That voice sounded familiar and more Marsh’s age.

  “Obasi?”

  We’ll wait for you here, he replied and sent her a picture of a small clearing surrounded by brevilars and blue buttons. I will show you the way.

  Roeglin set her on her feet. “Thank you.”

  She nodded and then slapped him. “Don’t ever do that again.”

  “Do what?” he asked. She caught him flitting through the possible reasons she might be mad: his attack on Henri, leaving her behind in the chamber to support Aisha while he dragged Obasi’s grandmother to safety, staying behind to make sure she and Aisha got out safely. Oh. But that’s my job!

  And she saw what he meant. It was his job to protect her and to protect the children. It was also his job to be the rear guard when his captain ordered it. Marsh thought fleetingly about speaking to Gustav about that, then decided she couldn’t. It was all their jobs to do as the captain ordered, regardless of how they felt.

  Aisha stamped her foot, clearly not agreeing with this assessment, and Marsh held up a warning finger. The child subsided, her small face glowering as she crossed to where Marsh was standing, Scruffy and Perdemor flanking her once more.

  “Get ready,” Gustav called, backing away from where the ground was sinking.

  They followed his lead, taking cover behind the remains of the barn walls.

  The raiders led by hurling small packets of spores, forcing them up and out from behind the piles of rubble. It might have been a disaster if the shadow mages hadn’t conjured shields of shadow to shelter them from the crossbow bolts and darts that followed.

  The next attack was harder to counter.

  Marsh was moving steadily back when the ground beneath her feet grew soft. She’d barely registered it when it gave way and she sank to her knees in softened stone, and then to her chest. Aisha gave a shriek of frustration as Perdemor grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and dragged her away.

  “NO! Perdemor! Noooo!” But the kit didn’t listen, and Marsh was grateful.

  She was just starting to wonder where Mordan was when the big kat leapt clear of a stand of callas, coming in from behind their attackers to smash into one of the mages at the back. He went down, cannoning into his companions as the hoshkat leapt away.

  The raiders clumped together, surrounding their fallen mage b
ut ignoring him as he bled out at their feet. Marsh felt the stone begin to solidify and scrabbled frantically at the hard edge of the ground. It was barely within reach, but she got both hands on hard stone and dragged herself forward.

  Her body floated up, and she kicked forward. She’d managed to get her elbows up onto solid earth and had almost pulled herself clear when the ground became solid, trapping her legs.

  “Deeps dammit!”

  I got you, Aisha said, and the stone softened around her thighs and calves.

  Marsh scrambled hastily out of it and got to her feet. “Thanks,” she managed and sighted on the raiders.

  They’d finally realized their companion was dead and had begun to advance to where they had seen Marsh and the others disappear. Their eyes scanned the shrooms as they tried to find out where they’d gone.

  Marsh rewarded them by charging into the open, her shield held before her, dragging a sword into reality as she came. Mordan took advantage of the distraction she provided by making a second leap. This one brought her into their midst where she struck out with claws and teeth at everything around her.

  She leg-swept some and sank her teeth into thighs, backs, and sword arms until they didn’t know which way to turn. Marsh thrust the sword through the exposed neck of the first raider she reached, relieved when Henri and Izmay waded in from the other side and Jakob made his presence known from the rear.

  Gustav gave a roar and charged, knocking two back over the kat. Mordan pivoted her own length and tore out their throats in quick succession, and Gustav was grinning as he skewered a third with his blade. “Good work, kat.”

  His was the last raider to fall, and they looked around for more. The battle had been short and sharp, and none of them were hurt. Marsh reached for Obasi. You said there were reinforcements coming?

  His laughter echoed through her mind. You might be able to catch them if you run fast enough.

  Which way did they go?

  He showed her and she spun toward it, breaking into a run, the others racing after her. Mordan took the picture from her mind and shared it with Scruffknuckle and Perdemor.