by Ashley Capes
The trolley hit an incline and Never gripped the edges until Sikoka reached level ground again, and then she let the trolley roll to a halt, her footfalls moving around to stop nearby. Next, a thumping against wood.
The squeak of a door opening followed instantly.
“What took so long?” a wheezing voice asked; an elderly man.
“Ceremony,” Sikoka said.
“Hurry it along then – and you might as well get up, lad.”
The blanket was drawn free and Never rose.
A large chamber of stone, filled with the scents of smoke and pine. Empty coffins lined one wall and a long bench covered in powder-filled jars stood adjacent to a gaping maw of blackened stone; the crematory.
As Never had surmised, an elderly monk stood beside Sister Sikoka. He was frowning. “So, you’re the one we’re going to all this trouble for then? You’re Ayuni’s brother?”
“I am.” Never hopped down. “And speaking of trouble, just how do you both plan on getting away with this?”
“I told you, Never,” Sikoka said. “I am leaving as soon as you do – via a different path. I would take Okan with me, but he refuses.”
The man waved a hand. “I’m not one for flights into the night. If Brother Pewu takes issue with my role here then I will meet whatever fate he wishes; he is still Head of the Temple, not that snake Hiruso.”
Never stared at them both. “I’m sure we could help you escape if—”
“Enough dallying,” Sister Sikoka said. “You need to leave now to be certain, all you have to do is slide down the chute within. Okan will open the hatch where you will find yourself in the Harvest Garden. I trust you can deal with the outer walls yourself?”
He sighed. “I cannot force you, so accept my prayers to Pacela for your safety.”
“We will,” Sikoka said.
Never climbed into the mouth, the scent of char so much stronger now. He crawled forward but Sikoka called to him. “Never, please send Ayuni my love.” Her voice was a little husky. “Tell her not to worry about me; I have a few friends left.”
“I will.” And hopefully she was right; and more, that such friends were powerful or crafty indeed.
A grinding followed, revealing a pale glow ahead. He continued on, hands and knees quickly covered in soot – soot that was once flesh, bone and pine. In the dark, he couldn’t discern where the flames would have entered the stone tunnel, but when the floor started to slope down the glow became a strong slither of moonlight.
He twisted as best he could in the cramped confines so that he would slide feet-first, then pushed himself forward. The bumps and scrapes to his backside and elbows were a small price to pay compared to the condition people usually found themselves in when they took the chute.
Light grew quickly – the bottom rushed up and he thumped into a huge pile of ashes, clouds puffing up to choke him. He coughed, climbing free and blinking away the ash of the chute’s last visitors.
He glanced back up with a frown. “A warning would have been welcome, Sister.”
Still, there was no time to tarry. The chute had dumped him in a small garden where half a dozen markers stood in a sparse grove. Most were stone, shaped as the Phoenix, though two were made of wood – one so old and faded that no markings were present. Grave markers?
He paused to listen; only the sound of his own breathing.
No hint of movement anywhere in the night, beyond the trees or the wall as best he could tell. Clouds were slowly covering the moon, darkening the temple and the garden too, the shadow creeping to cover a wooden gate and then the trees and finally the markers.
It seemed the perfect time to leave... but he freed his wings only to pause once more. What if the Hammers were lying in wait? They’d certainly captured him easily enough before.
“You can’t wait forever, fool.” Never ran for the wall, slipping between a pair of juniper where he launched himself into the air.
Chapter 30
Never wheeled high above the temple.
The night air was cool, welcome after being covered first in a heavy blanket and then covered in the ash of human remains. The act of flying itself was just as welcome, especially when compared to the subtler joys of being drugged and strapped to a bed.
Below, the dark of the forest was complete, yet he was still able to catch a glimpse of flashing light – someone holding a mirror to the half-seen moon? He swooped closer and smiled; two figures stood in a small clearing before the temple walls near the garden, one taller than the other.
Muka and Ayuni.
He landed easily, still smiling. “Sorry to be so tardy.”
Ayuni ran forward to hug him, squeezing. “Never.”
Never hugged her back – clenching his jaw as a wave of protectiveness washed over him. Hiruso’s knives would not touch her ever again. Ayuni had to be protected, no matter the cost. She deserved the chance to reclaim everything the Temple had stolen – her freedom, her family, her life.
“Into the trees,” Muka said, waving them into single-file.
Once they were out of sight, Muka slowed. “I’m glad to see you in one piece,” he said as he led them along a path, seemingly by memory, since there was so little light. “We’ve camped on the outskirts of Yalinamo so it’s going to take a while. Keep an ear out for anything unnatural.”
“Are you both well?” Never asked.
“We are,” Ayuni said. “Between the charm and your appearances, the journey was easy enough.”
“Good,” Never said, then fell silent to focus on their surroundings, lit by patches of moonlight as often as not. But even with the sometime-light, he saw no evidence of homes despite how close they must have passed to some of them, Muka’s trail winding and thin since he occasionally caught a foot on undergrowth or tree roots.
When they finally reached the camp, dawn was breaking. Muka paused to crouch within the tree line, where beyond, a decaying shack waited in a clearing; it was little more than a smudge of pale timber. Long-since abandoned, it seemed devoid of life. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t – again, Never couldn’t shake the feeling that the Hammers might be watching or waiting. Was that simply worry born of his previous failure? They’d been so damn quiet, he’d been lucky to sense them the first time.
“Think it’s safe?” he asked.
“Let’s wait a moment longer,” Ayuni replied.
Never strained his ears, closing his eyes, but heard nothing. At a hint of movement, he tensed – small golden circles appeared on the tree beside him, like that of a huge moth. Only the shape made no sound. The eyes – if that was what they were – regarded him, tilted to one side... as if questioning.
“Muka?” Never kept his voice low.
The man gave a soft chuckle. “It is only a hin, Never. Do not startle it, perhaps it can help us.”
The glow flared a little, still not enough to give their position away. “How?”
“Simply ask, it will understand.”
“And the price?” Never asked. “My lunai?”
“Only if it returns, best not to give a hin too much before it has proven itself. Some are quite fickle.”
“Very well.” He looked back to the small creature. “Hin, can you scout the area? Are we the only people nearby?”
The golden orbs blinked, and it fluttered from the trunk, quickly disappearing into the darkness.
“How long will we have to wait?” he asked.
“The fae can be quite swift,” Ayuni said.
Never nodded, leaning against the tree. Yet they did not have to wait long, as the creature reappeared, hovering before him. “Are we alone?” he whispered.
The orbs blinked twice, which Never took to mean ‘yes’.
“And how do I repay it?”
“Touching the hin is usually enough,” Muka said. “It will be a faint
sensation, only.”
Never lifted a hand.
The moth-like creature alighted on his palm, tiny feet exploring his skin, seeming to quest for the old scratch. As it did, the sensation of an almost negligible amount of his vitality leaving. Then the hin flickered and disappeared.
He shook his head, half in disbelief. “I guess we’re safe to go,” he said as he started across the clearing, a hand on one of his knives despite the hin’s report. At the door he paused, resting fingertips against the worn wood. Still nothing. He pushed, then slipped inside but found only two packs on the floor, other details lost in the darkness. “Well then, fine work from our tiny scout.”
Ayuni smiled. “They can be truly impressive.”
“We shouldn’t risk a light,” Muka said as he followed Ayuni, sheathing his tyrant. “So it’s a cold meal for now.”
“I’d rather it be cold and be able to feed myself,” Never said.
“What do you mean?” Ayuni asked. She moved to one of the packs and began removing flatbread and fruit.
“Sister Sikoka had to feed me while I was imprisoned,” he said. “She sends her love.”
Ayuni straightened. “Then she’s safe? When her messenger reached us I didn’t know what to think...”
“She told me she had friends that could help her; she seemed confident.”
Ayuni nodded, a slight smile on her face. “That’s how she is. I think that maybe even Brother Hiruso would have trouble finding her if she did manage to get away... I’d hoped to see her again but perhaps it’s safer not to have tried. I guess she knew that.”
“Speaking of being found, what happened to you, Never?” Muka asked. “Our path here was calm enough. We assumed that the plan had worked.”
“It did at first,” Never said, explaining the stir he’d created in the first two towns. “But in Okana I was ambushed – I heard them, but I was still too slow, the net was upon me and before I could cut my way free, they’d used a drug. It had to be the Hammers.”
“And they took you to the temple?” Ayuni asked.
“Hiruso performed a few tests on my blood. He’s convinced that Father sired more children and I let him believe I knew of one but Sikoka freed me before our standoff could go any further.”
Ayuni’s expression darkened. “He took your blood?”
“Yes. To see if its healing powers are like yours. He said it was not as potent but during our discussion he gave something away. I know his fear; it is the oldest fear. He cannot bear to die, no matter how the Temple heals with what it learns from your blood. That is his true goal, to reclaim his youth. Perhaps that is part of the secret behind his strength.”
Muka was nodding. “It would explain some of his power, though just as much comes from his lunai as head of the Temple.”
“I wonder, does that extend to sensing Amouni blood? Wanatek inferred as much once. And Hiruso did meet me when I landed east of Najin. Part of me wonders if the charm did more than we gave it credit for?”
“I doubt it is so powerful, if Hiruso can sense you,” Muka said.
“But neither he nor the Hammers found us,” Never replied. “It wasn’t until we separated that I was taken, and I don’t believe the Hammers could have guessed which towns we’d chosen.”
Ayuni handed over sliced strawberries in the thin bread. “And none would be as fast as your wings.”
Muka frowned in the growing light. “If Hiruso had been able to pinpoint your location and the charm has foiled him thus far, then I doubt we ought to split up again.”
“It would support his request for the Temples to search for us, and the releasing of the Hammers,” Never added.
“That doesn’t mean we can’t be followed by conventional means,” Ayuni said. “All will know we are here in Yalinamo.”
“Perhaps we aren’t the only ones being hunted?” Never said. “I came across Wanatek in Okana, he was meeting someone – a woman on the outskirts of town.”
Muka straightened. “Was he detained? Did you speak with him?”
Never shook his head. “I didn’t want to risk drawing attention on him; I can only assume he is well. He wasn’t alone, Etsu was with him. Something is afoot in Najin?”
“Yes, but as before I will not reveal it now – save to say that should we survive our task here, I hope you will see a different Najin upon your return.”
“As do I,” Never said.
“What now?” Ayuni asked.
“I’d love some sleep,” Never replied. “Can we afford until mid-morning?”
Muka nodded. “Probably. All the temples already know to watch for us, so we can’t exactly outrun word of your escape anyway.”
“We can watch and prepare,” Ayuni added. “Though I’m not sure what our next step should be.”
“I think we have to trust the charm and rely on stealth or speed,” Never said. “How far to your village?”
“Three days to the feet of the Cesanha Mountains,” she said. “But my village, I don’t remember exactly. It seemed halfway up the range. I’m sorry, I was so young.”
Never took a bite. Not bad. “So, boldly or quietly with our charm?”
“Meaning?” Muka asked.
“Should we travel as Monks of the Temple or something more unassuming?”
“I think the risk is the same, no matter what,” Ayuni said.
“Still have those disguises?” he asked Muka.
“We do.”
“Then wake me when it’s time. I think we deserve a chance to show off the hard work your fellow rebels put into those robes.”
Chapter 31
The Beshano River churned white before him, tumbling over jagged rocks in a constant spray, while a little ways upstream it was a smooth pool before plummeting down a short fall. A solid-looking bridge waited beneath it, one side half-covered in a mist that even now drifted across to cool his face beneath the rising sun.
“The Bridge of Mist – we’ll reach the foothills by evening.” Muka stood nearby, arms folded over the flame symbol on his chest – but he appeared impressed rather than disappointed. “Perhaps I misjudged just how potent the charm is,” he said, a trace of what seemed to be pride in his voice.
“It has been an easy enough passage so far,” Ayuni said. She was a little way across the bridge, her hand outstretched to touch the mist. Unlike Muka and Never, she hadn’t really needed a disguise since her robe was already cut from temple cloth.
“I could even think it was too easy,” Never observed. He turned to face their back trail. The only figure on the road, dwindling from sight now, was an old woman and a boy in a wagon, who’d shared news of a quiet path ahead.
“Do you expect ambush?” Muka asked.
He shrugged. “We have to, don’t we? Hiruso would have learnt of my escape quite swiftly; he would have men all over the forest, but we’ve encountered few who gave us even a second look.”
“If he can trace your progress then an ambush may wait ahead but doesn’t all evidence point toward the yochan-fang clouding his vision? Why not strike sooner, closer to Yalinamo and the Temple?”
Ayuni returned. “Unless he’s busy chasing Sikoka?”
“We’d be his first target,” Muka said. “There is a chance she has slipped away in the chaos that we doubtlessly left in our wake.”
She nodded. “I hope so.”
“Then he has yet to reveal his hand or the charm is a miracle,” Never said. “Or both. So either way, let’s keep our wits about us.”
The span was broad enough for wagons to pass but not so long, they were soon on the far bank starting along the road.
Master!
The voice rang in his mind and he spun.
Standing within the rapids, white water doing nothing whatsoever to stir long folds of pale green robes, was a guide. Its bare arms were outstretche
d, and the fish head glistened in the light.
“By the Phoenix,” Ayuni breathed, her words nearly lost beneath the rasp of steel as Muka drew his sisan.
“It is well,” Never told them, approaching the guide, stopping at the water’s edge. “Guide. What do you want?”
We have been searching for you. You must save the Forge. It is urgent.
Never frowned. No guide had seemed so agitated before. “The Forge?”
Where you have always been; the Covenant requires you preserve it or all will be lost. So you told us, Master.
Did it mean Father? Snow? Someone else, someone older? Unlike some Guides, this one appeared fully present in the world. And unlike the mostly toneless voices, there seemed to be a fear to its words.
Muka stepped closer. “Never, what is happening?”
“This is an ancient Amouni guide. I believe their purpose was to both preserve knowledge and assist in travelling to places usually reserved for Amouni. It wants me to save something called the Forge.”
“What does that mean?” Ayuni asked.
“I have no idea... but there’s a chance Father may have used it here in Kiymako.”
Her eyes widened. “Father? Here?”
Master.
He ignored the Guide. “I think we should follow it. Aside from my own curiosity, there’s a chance Father left something behind that could help against Hiruso.”
“I would like to see this Forge too,” Ayuni said.
Muka sheathed his blade, scratching at stubble on his cheek. “Is there any danger?”
“Possibly, but I have visited several such Amouni sites and had no trouble,” Never said. Aside from the Guardians in the sky, but that was different. If the Guide was going to take them somewhere similar to the Preparation Chamber, surely there was little to fear? He faced the Guide again. “We must all travel there, Guide.”
So it shall be. Two more arms appeared from the robes. Do not release my hand.
“Take a hand but don’t let go,” Never said. “It’s a little disconcerting, quite fast. You’ll probably see some strange lights but just remember, don’t let go. We’ll likely surface in a tiled room.”
