The Nivaka Chronicles Boxed Set

by Leslie E Heath

  Think, think, think.

  Somewhere nearby, Bartel grunted. Bars rattled. Kai hadn't made a sound since being tossed into the cold stone cell. That worried Aibek, since Kai always had something to say about everything. Aibek longed to reassure his friends but doing so would tip off the guards. He bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself quiet. The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth and he gagged.

  Hinges creaked. Metal clanged. Deep voices murmured something Aibek couldn't quite make out. The lamp flickered. The aroma of honey-sweetened porridge wafted through the space. Aibek's stomach rumbled.

  Bars clanged, followed by the sound of metal scraping along stone. An instant later, someone appeared outside Aibek's cell. The small door at the bottom of the door opened, and a bowl filled with a gray, lumpy gelatinous substance slid through the opening. No spoon followed, nor was any silverware in the bowl.

  Without hesitating, Aibek lifted the bowl to his lips and slurped it down. It had the bland flavor of stale oats mixed with a tiny bit of honey and cinnamon, but his hunger didn't care. He needed the sustenance the porridge would provide.

  When he'd finished licking the bowl clean, he tapped it against the door. As he'd expected, the door opened and the guard removed the bowl. The small door slammed closed with a final clang.

  His lips stuck together, and Aibek longed for a sip of water to wash down the thick porridge, but footsteps in the corridor signaled the guards' retreat. Aibek sighed and set his mind back to the task. He needed to escape. He had to get his friends out of the prison before their captors discovered their identities.

  He examined the cell closer. Its cold stone walls seemed uniform. No edges showed between the blocks. No rough spots would provide purchase for his hands if he wanted to climb out. The narrow window at the top of the wall was far too small for a man to climb out of, even if he did manage to reach it. Panic welled in his chest, but Aibek pushed it down.

  Keep your head, he reminded himself. You need to think your way out of this.

  He walked slow circles around the cell, paying special attention to the floor. There was a way out of this place, Aibek was certain. He'd had to spend a week here as a first-year academy student. They'd wanted all the officers to know the ins and outs of the prison in case the city was ever invaded—as it had been recently. There was a separate jail at the center of the city designed for officers who broke the laws.

  He vividly recalled dropping into the darkness below the cell when he'd been here as a youth. He just had to remember how to find the opening.

  17

  Escape

  Aibek spent the next three days memorizing his captors’ routines. Using a pebble, he scratched tallies into the stone to keep track of the guards’ rounding times, meal times, and guard changes. At dawn on the fourth day, he closed his eyes and reached out his senses, stretching for any hint of the Bokinna or Saethem or their power. He longed to know he wasn’t completely alone in the cell, or that one of them could let Gworsad know he was trapped. He blanked his mind and expanded his area of awareness out over the city, past the waving amber grasses, over streams and including deer and rabbits and foxes. He attuned himself to every sound, the feel of the land, reaching for a power higher than his own.

  Nothing.

  The sun rose. The effort left him exhausted and sweating. The broad door at the end of the hall banged open, startling Aibek back to the present. Heavy booted feet clomped on stone floors as the guards moved down the row of cells, banging doors and scraping bowls into the cells.

  The noise moved closer, and soon Aibek’s bowl grated along the cold stone. He gulped the cold porridge gratefully and tapped the empty bowl against the door.

  After breakfast, he waited while the guards collected the rest of the bowls and disappeared for their shift change. This was his moment. He rushed to the back of his cell and pressed the small release set in the floor. One stone shifted a hair to the right, just enough that he could get his fingers between the stones. He pressed his fingers down, and another stone moved. A quiet scraping noise filled the cell. Aibek froze and waited to be certain the guards hadn’t heard.

  No, they hadn’t returned to the cell block from their turnover yet. Aibek moved more quickly. His fingers shook as he moved one small stone at a time, revealing the secret opening in the cell floor. In moments, a gaping hole swallowed the light where the floor should have been. Aibek gulped. The last time he’d done this, there had been a professor at the bottom with a torch for light. This time, he’d have to feel his way through the pitch-dark passageway. He hoped he’d been right about which cells housed his friends. He didn’t have time for errors.

  Steeling his nerves, Aibek took a deep breath and dropped feet-first into the abyss. Cold air rushed past his face, blowing his hair into his eyes. Blackness swallowed him.

  He hit the dirt floor with a grunt, stumbled, and fell against the dusty wall. Blood rushed in his ears. He’d done it. Now, he needed to find the trigger that would cover the hole above. He felt along the wall, wracking his memory for the exact location of the small lever.

  Aibek’s fingers trailed along the rough-cut walls, knocking dust into the air. His eyes adjusted to the dim light from above and he spun in a slow circle until he found what he was looking for: a small lever set into the stone. He pulled it and felt the gears move beneath it. A puff of dust filled his mouth and nose, and Aibek stifled a cough. Above him, stones scraped and the hole in the cell floor disappeared.

  The little light that had come through the opening above vanished. Aibek stood still, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. If his memory served him, the builders had cut small ventilation holes in the stones above the tunnel. Maybe. If he’d remembered it right, those little openings should let in enough light to see the path out of the city. If not, he’d be stuck in the dark with no way to see how to get out.

  While he waited and hoped for his eyes to adjust, he contemplated the idea that there might have been spirits watching his cell. Were they following him in the tunnels? He hoped not, but he couldn’t rule out the possibility.

  An eternity passed before he could make out the shapes of the rough-hewn stones lining the corridor. Pinpricks of light shone down from above. The holes would allow in enough light to see and ventilate the tunnel, but they would also carry any noise straight to the guards above.

  Shoving the worries aside, he followed the walls to the next lever. He hoped his hearing had been right, and that Kai was in this cell. If he was correct, then Bartel would be in the cell beside Kai, and they could escape quickly and quietly.

  His fingers tripped on the small lever, and Aibek froze. His hands shook. If he was wrong, opening that trap door would probably make the prisoner in that cell call out, and he’d be caught. He stretched his memory back to the day of their capture. Had he told the others about the enemy’s odd habit of hearing whatever the city guard said? Had they been close enough to hear while Intza talked? It was too late to second guess himself now. He held his breath and pulled the lever. A puff of dust flew out from the wall, and the ceiling opened up.

  Kai’s bearded head obscured the light for an instant. He didn’t hesitate. Aibek stepped aside as his friend dropped into the tunnel. As soon as Kai had cleared the opening, Aibek closed the floor above.

  “I’m—”

  Aibek shook his head and pressed a hand to his mouth. Kai’s eyes went wide and he nodded in understanding.

  Together, they moved the few steps to the lever beneath Bartel’s cell. Again, Aibek held his breath as the floor above opened. He didn’t know Bartel like he knew Kai, so he had to hope his teammate would recognize the rescue attempt for what it was.

  He needn’t have worried. Bartel barely spared a second to glance into the pit before dropping to his feet on the tunnel floor. Again, Aibek closed the opening as soon as he was certain Bartel was safe. Before Bartel could speak, Aibek placed a hand on his shoulder and pressed a finger to his own lips. Bartel copied the gesture a
nd nodded. Good. Everyone understood.

  Now, Aibek just had to remember how to get out of the tunnel system.

  Aibek paused to orient himself inside the tunnel. He faced the direction of the cell doors. According to the direction of the light through the windows, that was east. He needed to go south. He turned forty-five degrees to his right. That had to be the way out. Bartel and Kai lined up behind and followed Aibek through the tunnels. No one spoke. The only sounds were the soft crunching of their boots on the dusty floors and their breath echoing off the jagged stone walls.

  His heart pounded in his chest, so loud he was sure the others must be able to hear it, until they reached the first juncture. Aibek froze at the intersection and pictured his first-year classroom in his mind. The walls had been papered with dozens of maps. Most were of the city streets and the lands beyond the walls, but one had been the layout of these tunnels. He imagined its lines and mentally traced it to their current location.

  When he was as sure as he could be, he continued straight through the intersection. They would be under the jail’s courtyard, so he needed to keep going through three more junctions. Then a right turn would take them to a ladder-well where they could escape into a cave outside the city walls. He refused to let his mind wander to any of the things that could stop them from reaching that ladder and the safety it offered.

  Instead, he focused on setting one foot in front of the other and breathing evenly in the musty tunnel. He didn’t dare cough or sneeze, since either would be loud enough for anyone above to hear.

  At the next intersection, a cool breeze ruffled his hair. The fresh air tempted him, but he didn’t think they had gone far enough yet. No, better to keep going.

  A scraping, scratching noise behind them set Aibek’s teeth on edge, but he picked up the pace and moved toward the exit without glancing back. Several steps later, he had to admit the scratching was closing in. Voices and market sounds carried down from the air vents, which Aibek interpreted to mean they’d passed the jail walls and were beneath the city.

  More scratching sounds. Even closer.

  Aibek chanced a whisper to his friends. “Run.”

  They sprinted through the tunnels until they reached the third intersection.

  “This way,” Aibek said, struggling to modulate his voice.

  When he turned to make sure the others had followed him around the turn, he froze. Bartel and Kai slammed into him and all three stumbled against the rough-hewn wall.

  Behind them, a black and white-striped creature ran into the intersection. It stood on all four legs and came up to Aibek’s waist. Aibek watched in horror as it reared up on its hind legs and bared a mouth full of pointed teeth. It hissed, an evil sound that carried the stench of rotten meat to Aibek’s dust-filled nose. He backed away, moving slowly down the corridor. That ladder-well had to be close.

  Unsure what else to do, Aibek reached into his shirt and pulled out the medallion Valasa had hidden the tincture in. He didn’t know how he’d use that strength in such an enclosed space and without weapons, but it was all he had.

  The creature’s yellow eyes caught and reflected every scrap of light, making them seem to glow in the dimness of the tunnel. It dropped to all fours and stalked closer to the retreating men.

  Bartel’s whisper pierced the silence. “What is that?”

  “Maogir.” Aibek couldn’t force out more than the thing’s name. His hands shook as he uncorked the tiny vial and downed its contents in a single gulp.

  “I thought they were scavengers.” Kai’s voice wasn’t any stronger than Aibek’s had been.

  “Normally, they are.” Aibek raked his gaze over the beast’s sides, taking in the protruding ribs and ragged coat. “But this one’s half-starved. They’ll hunt when they’re desperate, and it thinks we’re dinner.”

  Aibek hoped the animal’s condition meant it would be slower and weaker than a healthy maogir. That, or it meant it would be more desperate and therefore more dangerous. He longed for a weapon — any weapon. He didn’t want to get close enough to touch that beast with his bare hands.

  He met the animal’s furious glare and took another step back. His elbow hit something protruding from the wall, taking his attention away from the maogir for an instant.

  The creature leapt towards him, hissing and snarling. In the same heartbeat, the tincture reached his blood, and strength surged in his arms and legs.

  Aibek ducked as the maogir lunged. He made contact with a rear leg and extended his arm. Bones crunched. The maogir screamed in fury and pain. It crumpled and Aibek backed away. Something warm and wet dripped from his fingers, and he wiped his hand on his trousers.

  In the distance, a clicking, buzzing noise echoed, but Aibek ignored it. He kept his focus on the injured maogir in front of him and backed slowly down the tunnel.

  “What’s this?” Kai knocked against something and the metallic noise clanged off the walls.

  Aibek didn’t turn. “Is it a ladder? We need to climb to the escape hatch.”

  The maogir clawed its way toward them, carrying its injured leg. It hissed again, and Aibek braced himself for its next attack.

  “It is! It is a ladder.” The sounds of boots on metal rungs filled Aibek with relief. At least his friends were safe. If he turned his back on the maogir, it would tear him to pieces.

  The buzzing grew more insistent, and Aibek inclined an ear. His heart sped to a breakneck pace as realization dawned. In the academy, the professors had warned them never to allow themselves to bleed in the tunnels. Blood attracted the haseriet, which were some sort of insects that could devour a person in seconds. Aibek had never seen one, and he wanted to keep it that way. He glanced down at the dark spot on his pants, then up at the maogir’s mangled back leg.

  “Did you find the hatch?” He shouted, no longer concerned about being heard from outside. Their enemies were the least of their problems.

  “Yes, but it’s stuck!” Kai’s voice sounded like he was speaking through clenched teeth, so Aibek guessed he must be fighting with the catch.

  The maogir dove for him, and Aibek jumped over it. He landed behind the confused animal, grabbed its tail, and swung it into the wall. It staggered, dazed, but didn’t take its eyes off him.

  The buzzing noise grew. It drowned out the sound of Aibek’s blood rushing in his ears.

  “We need to get out of here!”

  “Together,” Kai’s voice rang from above. “One, two, three, go!”

  Metal clanged and creaked. Light shone down into the tunnel, illuminating the bleeding maogir and the swarm of haseriet flying toward the blood. Aibek froze, stunned by the sight of dozens of yellow crickets the size of a man’s head flying in a frenzy. They bounced off each other and the tunnel walls, but didn’t slow. Aibek leapt straight up, hoping the maogir would be enough to keep them occupied so he could escape.

  At the top of his leap, he reached out and grabbed a ladder rung, but his blood-coated hand slipped free. Panicking, he tried with the other hand. His fingers made contact with cold steel, and he jerked to a stop. His body slammed against the wall, but he was already moving, pushing himself up the ladder towards the light and the safety it promised.

  One lone haseriet followed him, and he punched at it as he climbed through the hatch. His swing went wide. It followed him through, but Kai was ready. He grabbed the cricket-like beast by its back legs and swung it into the wall again and again until it ceased buzzing and lay still on the ground.

  “Close it!” Aibek croaked, reaching for the heavy iron circle. He and Bartel pushed together. It closed with a creak, a groan, and a bang that triggered a ringing in Aibek’s ears.

  He leaned back against the closed hatch, closed his eyes, and waited for his breathing to return to normal. When he opened his eyes again, he met Kai’s worried stare.

  “What now?”

  Kai’s question echoed Aibek’s own worries. “I don’t know. Let’s rest here for a bit and we’ll decide when we’ve caugh
t our breath, all right?”

  Bartel and Kai sank to the ground, and Aibek followed suit.

  He lay on his back and considered their plight. He didn’t know for sure if the enemy spirits were following them. He didn’t even know if their escape had been discovered yet. What he did know was that they’d made a great deal of noise in their exit, and he was covered in blood. They needed to get out of the cave, but he couldn’t return to the camp until he knew for certain he wouldn’t lead the enemy there.

  “What happened back there?” Kai asked after a long break.

  “Yeah, how did you—”

  “Not here.” Aibek’s voice had the stony quality of a mother chastising her children, and he winced. “I’ll explain everything, but not yet. We need to get out of here.”

  Picturing the maps in his mind, he led the way out of the cave and onto the south road. They traveled in silence for several hours, until they reached a rushing stream.

  Aibek didn’t have a chance to announce the stop before his friends rushed to the water and dunked their heads and hands in, drinking deeply of the rushing water. Aibek did the same after rinsing the dried blood from his hands and arms. He dismissed the bloodstains on his shirt. The cool breeze made it impossible to wash his clothes without freezing on the road. When they’d drunk their fill, the friends wiped their faces and stepped back onto the worn dirt path.

  “We should be far enough away by now, right? Where are we going?” Kai stopped and crossed his arms over his chest.

  Bartel stepped up beside Kai and faced Aibek.

  “I promise, I’ll tell you everything, but I have to make sure it’s safe first.” Aibek spread his hands in a gesture of hopelessness. “We need to go a little further.”

  Kai and Bartel shared a look, but didn’t argue. Aibek waited, breathless, but they turned back to the road.