The Lord of the Plains

by Sarah Chapman

Chapter 82

  Riley watched Aerlid work, fascinated.

  They were in a side tunnel that led to the surface. If the ehlkrid managed to get into the caves, it was a good chance it would be through here. The tunnel was already guarded, but Riley had decided one of the moon toys would also be used to block it off.

  Aerlid had spent the last half hour fiddling with the toy where the wall joined the floor. He sung all the while. It was daylight outside. During the night Aerlid was too busy healing to do this.

  By the time Riley arrived to see how it worked Aerlid was stepping back from the toy, still singing.

  His song was cyclic, Riley could recognize it repeating itself. And it was fast.

  The pale orb wobbled, then it rose. It moved along the side of the wall, not quite touching it. As it rose it changed. It started as a full orb, and then got smaller, like the waning moon. As it approached the top of the tunnel it was a tiny sliver. And then it disappeared, before reappearing again as a small sliver. As it travelled down towards the floor it waxed. It reached the bottom of the opposite wall. Riley watched, amazed. It was still. And then it started rising again, going back the way it had come. It got smaller til it reached the top, then it started getting bigger again until it was back where it started. Then it began rising again, but this time it did not go all the way. It stopped at about half moon.

  Aerlid‘s song slowed down and became more relaxed, until he was just singing one note of the whole. Then he stopped.

  He sighed and stepped back. He glanced over at Riley. ‘There. That’s done. No one will be able to pass this way. You wanted the next one over on the other side?’

  Riley nodded. She turned her attention back to the little moon. It did not look like it would stop anyone from passing.

  Aerlid waved at the tunnel. ‘This is its plane of movement. Its night sky. If someone passed through it the movement would break. It wasn’t strictly designed as a shield, though it’s quite strong. It will stop ehlkrid coming through here.’

  ‘Alright.’ Riley said. ‘Is the next one like this?’

  Aerlid shook his head. Then paused. ‘A bit. It will cycle in the same way as this, but it will take up the entire tunnel. It won’t move around.’

  Riley was very tired. She had not yet slept today. Neither had Aerlid. ‘Make sure you get some sleep after this.’ She said. Aerlid looked tired, and Riley felt a twinge of worry for him. She knew how healing people tired him out.

  He nodded his agreement.

  Riley, satisfied, departed and headed back to her cave. She did not stay long. She picked up the radio and made her way to the surface. She blinked in the bright morning light. The mountainside was not quiet. The bodies of the ehlkrid had to be burned. The mountain had to be checked for any cracks or weaknesses created by the fighting. Some of the ehlkrid had the concerning ability to slice up rock a bit too easily for her liking. A few gemengs were just out here to enjoy the daylight and fresh air.

  Riley stayed near the entrance and turned the radio on. She felt the familiar mix of dread and anticipation. The excited tingle, the worried heaviness. In some ways, it would have been easier to ignore him. But it wasn’t his fault she felt this way. And she needed him to convince the humans she could be trusted.

  She did not have to wait long before she heard Vann’s voice crackle over the radio.

  As always, she felt a rush of relief. He was still alive.

  ‘Riley?’ he began.

  ‘Vann. I’m here.’

  ‘Are you alright?’

  ‘Yes. Nothing has changed. The ehlkrid still attack every night.’

  Even through the radio she could hear concern in his voice. ‘Coastside and Astar haven’t been attacked. But some… things have been seen. Flying.’

  ‘During daylight?’

  ‘No. Night time.’

  ‘They still won’t attack during the day. Aerlid doesn’t think the ehlkrid will start hunting humans until the gemengs are gone. But you still need to be careful. If an opportunity comes up, they’ll attack.’

  They had talked about this before. Gemengs made better prey, they were… a more nutritious food source to the ehlkrid due to their ehlkrid blood, and they probably weren’t that much more difficult to catch than humans.

  ‘Aerlid also said the valkar shields might be keeping them away. They might be confusing Astar for a valkar city.’

  ‘We have people working on improving the shields at Coastside. Have you heard anything from the valkar?’

  ‘Not recently.’

  ‘I have to go soon. There’s been talk of sending a delegation to the caves. They’re thinking if they can see the ehlkrid close up it will help us when we need to fight them.’

  ‘As long as they know the danger, humans may come any time, Vann.’ Quietly, she hoped the ehlkrid did not attack the humans any time soon. The hope was borne more out of fear of what that would mean for her tribe than anything else.

  ‘Alright. I’ll pass it on.’

  Goodbyes were said. The conversations with Vann were always very formal and business like. They could be no other way, she was aware he did not make these calls in private. But really, what else was there to say?

  The radio went silent. Riley, tired, turned it off and headed back to her cave. The radio could be recharged by a solar charger, so running out of energy for it was not likely to be a problem.

  Riley stored it in its place among her other meagre possessions. Gratefully, she fell into bed. She had plenty to think about, but straight away she was asleep.

  Riley awoke as the sun was setting. She was used to this now. Quickly she checked her weapons and headed towards the surface. It might have seemed a better idea to stay in the caves and merely defend them, instead of fighting the ehlkrid on the surface, but the ehlkrid could attack from a distance, slashing with a tail, spitting acid and breathing fire while the gemengs could only fight at close quarters. It would have been too easy for the ehlkrid to kill the gemengs guarding the cave entrances without being in danger themselves, before rushing into the caves.

  The warriors who would take the first shift were already here. Riley could fight all night, the other gemengs could not. The gemengs fought in groups of about five. If one group could take down three ehlkrid before needing to head back to safety, it was considered they’d had a very good night. Riley only interfered in what her gemengs were doing if it looked like the situation was getting out of control. They were ready. She was ready.

  The sky darkened, the last glimmers of light faded away.

  Every night the ehlkrid came sooner after the sunset and left closer to sunrise. They did not yet arrive as soon as dark fell, they still had to travel to the caves from wherever they hid during the day. Wherever that was; the scouts Riley sent out to find their hiding places had so far been unsuccessful.

  They did not have to wait long. The monstrous creatures that bore more resemblance to beasts and nightmares than humans or gemengs were soon upon them. Snarls, grunts, the crunch of rock beneath claws, paws, hooves, became the new sounds of the night. The insects and birdlife were long since quiet.

  Her people fought. Riley waited. She looked over what was now a battlefield, shadowy shapes clashed against one another. Her eyes had adjusted quickly to the night. She saw three gemengs distracting an ehlkrid and trying not to get killed. The other two members of the group were trying to hack at the creature from behind. Her gaze moved on. She needed to choose her opponent carefully.

  Her eyes latched on a giant centipede with legs that were nearly as long as her, its body suspended on those spindly structures high above her head.

  Riley watched. It got into a fight with another ehlkrid. She saw how its legs moved, how sharp and fast they were. And the other creature was falling. The centipede started to feed. Riley moved in.

  The centipede sensed her approach, it turned, its meal forgotten. Its legs whirred, slicing the air. She moved through them, untouched. She had seen the pattern.

  For
tense minutes she stabbed at the tough carapace above her head. She dodged the knife like legs, the bug like head bent down as it tried to reach her. Perhaps she could have killed it quicker, but she couldn’t afford to get injured. While the gemengs changed shifts, Riley stayed out on the mountainside. Every night she fought, all night. Besides, Aerlid had enough people to tend to without healing her as well.

  Then it was done. The creature crashed to the ground with a squeal. Riley quickly escaped, just avoiding being squashed.

  She chose her next target. And on she went. The shift changed. New, fresh gemengs were fighting. And it changed again. Still she stayed.

  And then the black of the sky began changing to dark blue, grey. The ehlkrid broke off, scattered. Some hauled the carcasses of other ehlkrid with them. Riley quickly chased after- she did not want these creatures getting any stronger! But she did not venture into the Plains. Alone, it could quickly become dangerous for her if the ehlkrid ganged up on her.

  And so for now her job was mostly done. She still had reports to listen to and decisions to make. Only after could she bathe and rest. And start again tomorrow night.

  The decisions were not as easy today as usual, and thus Riley’s rest was delayed.

  Riley crossed her arms over her chest, her eyebrows narrowing. Karesh’s speech did not falter, though perhaps he paled a little.

  Riley could smell the burning of the ehlkrid flesh. It was a sickly, oily scent that made her feel ill. Everything needed to be burnt before the next night, still, it was unusual for smoke to get into the caves; great care was taken to avoid that.

  She held up a hand for Karesh to pause and called to a nearby gemeng. ‘Go check on the burning.’ She ordered, in a tone she had been gradually perfecting. The gemeng hurried off without a word. She turned her attention back to Karesh.

  ‘And… Gatak killed the other gemeng, Master. It was nearly instant, there wasn’t enough time for Aerlid to be found.’

  Riley frowned. Karesh was silent, but his big, dark eyes and cautious gaze seemed to say… something.

  ‘So he’s a murderer.’ Riley stated.

  Karesh hesitated and nodded.

  ‘The punishment is clear, Karesh. If he is a murderer he must be executed.’ Riley did not allow her voice to waver, did not allow her stare to be anything other than forbidding. This was the first case since her announcement, this would be the first time she would have to execute someone. It felt surreal.

  ‘Call the council together.’ She could not show mercy. The gemengs knew she was stronger than them, but her experience with Gakra’s tribe had all too clearly shown her that merely being stronger was not enough. They needed to respect and fear her strength, not just know it existed.

  In that cautious way he had, Karesh nodded and quickly moved off. He moved with more confidence now though, his back straighter, his wings no longer hidden by a heavy cloak.

  A moment later the gemeng she had sent to check on the smoke returned, ‘it was a gust of wind, Master. The burners send their apologies.’

  What Karesh had told her was not the outcome of a formal trial, just what he had heard from witnesses. And so a proper trial needed to be held. The council would determine whether a crime had been committed and if so, what punishment would be meted out.

  The gemengs who formed the council stood before Gatak in a loose semi-circle. There was Riley herself, Karesh, Gakra, Adlak and a number of others. Behind Gatak were also a number of other gemengs, those related to Gatak and the victim. Some witnesses were also present.

  Explanations had been given. Gatak did not deny what he had done, and even if he had, he had killed the other gemeng in public.

  Gatak stood waiting. He did not look too concerned. There was an easy confidence about him. Riley knew he was considered a great warrior. On his arm, she noted, was one of her armbands.

  ‘Do you have a decision?’ Riley asked of her council as the cave fell silent.

  There was a round of nodding. They were all looking at her as if they weren’t quite sure what she would do. Gakra spoke first. ‘He is a murderer.’ He growled. The other council members agreed with nods or voices.

  ‘So you are all agreed?’ she asked.

  The nodding was more assertive this time.

  ‘Very well.’ She turned her eyes to Gatak. Every other eye was on her. She felt as if this wasn’t real. If she faltered she would lose control of the gemengs. The only way to maintain her command of them was to carry out her own laws. She could back down. Leave this place, leave the tribe.

  ‘You will be executed.’ She stated in a tone of finality. Her face was a cold mask.

  He smirked. ‘We will fight. It will be honourable.’

  ‘No. This is not a fight or a challenge. There is no honour in it. Aerlid,’ she turned to him, ‘restrain him.’

  He sung. Gatak’s eyes widened.

  Riley strode over to him. She ripped the armband from his unmoving body. Her eyes moved to those standing behind, his family. Or what passed for a family among gemengs. ‘Do you wish to have a moment alone with him?’

  They shook their heads.

  ‘Do you want to leave?’

  Again, they shook their heads.

  Inside, Riley felt ill. None of that showed on her face. It could not. Her weapons were gone, she had to do this with her bare hands.

  And so without further ado, her body moving as if in a dream, she broke his neck. His body stayed upright for a moment. And then it crumpled to the ground. All was quiet.

  ‘Have the body burned. And the armband. The ashes are to be scattered to the wind.’

  Riley did not look at anyone. She strode from the cave, her back straight. She felt dirty, sick. Her head was throbbing. She did not want to think, did not want to wonder if there had been any other option, did not want to worry if it was enough to sustain the fear that kept the gemengs obeying her.

  And so she bathed and slept. And when night came she fought. And then, after hacking ehlkrid apart all night, then she worried and doubted and regretted not so much her action, but that it had been her only real choice.