Wood grimaced. "Smell it."
"Smell it? Gruel doesn't have a smell- it's like wet paper or something."
Wood shrugged. "What can I say? They're hungry."
Nova shivered at the thought that if it hadn't been for her wound, which led to her overhearing Kirt, that she could well have been part of that faceless mob.
They reached Kirt's pile of ashes and turned right. After that they came upon the old woman. She squinted up at them, clutching the skull to her chest. Nova wondered if she'd moved at all through the night.
"You," Mabel said. Her face scrunched up as if she'd tasted something foul.
"I brought food in exchange for the skull," Nova said.
Wood faced outwards, his eyes flicked across the hungry crowd. They glared at Mabel and licked their lips, eyes flashing with desperation.
"Not Agnis!" Mabel wailed.
"If you give it to me, I'll give you food," Nova said.
"I'll give you a skull!" a thin man in the crowd called out. He wrapped his hands around the man next to him, fingers clutching the man's temples, and dragged him forward through the crowd. "Look! Here's one. Give me the food!"
"No, no! Take this one!" A woman in the crowd held up half a skull, it looked like it'd been smashed with a hammer.
"I'll get you a skull for food!" yelled a third person. The rest of the crowd took up the chant until it boomed over the prison.
Nova groaned as she stood and faced the crowd. "I'm not killing a man for a skull," she said to the first prisoner who was still holding the other man's head.
"No need!" he yelled. "I'll kill him for you!"
He gripped tighter.
"No!" Nova yelled. "No. I want that one."
She made the mistake of pointing at Mabel's skull.
"I'll get if for you!" a thin woman called. She dashed forward through the crowd and lunged at Mabel.
"No!" Nova said. She grabbed the attacker's shirt and shoved her back into the crowd. "I'm sorry, but no. Mabel and I had a deal. Didn't we Auntie Mabel?"
Nova turned and looked at Mabel, mouth dry.
Mabel gazed up at her. She cradled the skull in her arms and stroked the bleached cheek. "A deal," she said. "Yes."
With shaking hands, Mabel handed the skull over to Nova. Tears welled in her eyes and dribbled down her sun-damaged cheeks and a low moan escaped her lips as the skull left her fingers.
Nova passed her the bowl of gruel, gripping the skull so tightly it was at risk of breaking. With her free hand she removed the floppy hat and put it on the ground next to Mabel.
"We can't leave her," said Wood. "They'll kill her."
Nova looked out at the crowd of prisoners. The mass surged, tension laying over them like a thick cloud. Greedy eyes pinned on Mabel and the grey bowl of gruel. They had been ready to tear each other's heads off for that bowl; what would they do to Mabel?
Mabel shovelled gruel into her mouth as fast as she could, it covered her fingers, sticking them together and shining in the sunlight. She scraped the bowl clean and licked it until there wasn't a single spec. Then she sucked each of her fingers until there was no dirt left under her nails. Only then did she take a deep breath.
"Give it back," she said. She stretched her hands towards the skull.
"No." Nova said, stepping away. "We had a deal."
"The food's gone! I want it back!"
"We've gotta move," Wood said.
With the food gone, furious prisoners muttered, pacing in front of Mabel's tent. Tension crackled over them like lightening.
Nova nodded.
Without another word, she and Wood dashed away through the tents, all the way back to the main courtyard.
Nova cradled the skull to her chest the whole way. She didn't even stop to consider the woman whom the skull used to belong to. She didn't have time to wonder if Agnis really was her name, or if that was just a character that Mabel had invented to occupy the loneliness.
Wood and Nova burst into the courtyard with a clatter of footsteps and gasping breaths. The other prisoners stopped their conversations and stared at them.
Carter stepped out of the guarded doorway of his quarters and raised an eyebrow, waving for them to approach.
"Where were you?" he asked.
Nova glanced around. There was no one else within hearing distance. "I had to get a trading item."
She held the white skull out for Carter to see.
"You went to the fringes and got a skull?" Carter's nose wrinkled.
Nova shrugged. "Part of the plan."
"And him?" Carter said, nodding at Wood.
"He helped."
"In that case he deserves a reward. It's Wood isn't it?"
"Yes, Sir," Wood replied. His face glowed bright red.
"You've got a cell?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Good. If anyone gives you trouble, just send 'em to me."
"Sir. Thank you, Sir," Wood gushed.
Carter waved his hand and turned to Nova. "I assume you've got work to do?"
"Sure do," Nova replied.
"Alright. Get on with it then."
Nova nodded and walked away. She and Wood sat at a far table to catch their breath.
"Well, that was close," Wood said.
"Nah. We had them."
Nova placed the skull on their table so that it stared out at the rest of the prison.
They sat in companionable silence, regaining their breaths and reigning in their racing hearts.
"I'm glad I came to my senses and decided to help you. Even if you won't tell me your plan."
"It's better that way," Nova said. "Now, there's a certain thieving weasel I have to find."
She got to her feet and grabbed the skull. She was starting to see how Mabel had become so attached. It was easy to pretend that the skull was another person with its own personality. She could practically imagine its mouth moving as it talked to her. She shook her head and walked faster. The sooner she got rid of it, the better.
She marched to Gren's room and rapped her knuckles against the cold metal.
"Who is it?" he squeaked from the other side.
"Nova. I've got payment," she said.
The door opened a crack and Gren peered out. His face looked especially rodent-like today. His eyes roved over her and came to rest on the skull. His eyes and mouth opened wide and he sucked in a gasp of air. "A skull!"
"Yes. Let me in."
Gren tripped over himself in his rush to open the door. He sprawled onto the floor and cowered in front of Nova as she strode in. She closed the door behind her, careful to keep the skull close to her body and her other hand close to her knife.
"A skull," Gren whispered as he got to his feet.
"Yes. Now give me the ring."
Gren's eyes narrowed. He regained some control over his expression and folded his arms across his chest.
"I already gave it to you. You're trying to cheat me."
Nova's free hand clenched into a fist. "No, you didn't. Now give me the ring or I will break this skull."
Gren's mouth fell open. "You wouldn't dare! Not Skelly!"
Nova held the skull aloft.
"No!" Gren howled. "Okay! I'll give you the ring."
Nova nodded.
He scurried into the back of the room. In his excitement he forgot to tell her to close her eyes. Nova snorted, he'd probably have to rearrange his room and hide everything in a new place just to cater to his paranoia.
He came back with the ring clutched in his hand.
"Give me the skull," he said.
"Hand over the ring first."
"No! The skull!"
"You're not getting this skull until I have the ring in my hand," Nova said.
"How do I know I can trust you?" Gren wailed.
"I'm more trustworthy than you. I don't steal things from dead people. Or living people," Nova said, letting her eyes slide across the room. A voice inside her head suggested that some of her salvage missions may have p
ushed the grey area but she chose not to share that with Gren.
"No!"
"The ring," Nova repeated.
Gren's face screwed up and he looked on the verge of tears. He lifted his shaking hand and let the ring drop into Nova's waiting fingers. She took the time to tuck it deep into her pocket. Gren's face pinched tighter with every passing second. "Give it! Give it! Give It!" he whined. His fingers twitched at his sides.
Nova held out the skull. He snatched it out of her hand and scurried away, hunching over it in a corner. He stroked the skull like a precious pet.
"Nice doing business with you," Nova muttered.
"Get out!" Gren bellowed, before turning back to his skull.
"With pleasure."
Nova let herself out of the putrid cell and hurried outside. She nodded across the yard to Wood before heading to Carter's building.
"What do you want, Hunter?" the guard outside said.
"I need to speak to Carter."
The guard frowned. "Wait here."
He disappeared inside, leaving Nova outside with a stern-faced woman. A moment later Carter appeared.
"Hunter," he said, leading Nova out of earshot.
"I need you to do something," she said.
"I told you I'm not giving up the ring," Carter said, smile faltering.
"It's not that. I've come up with a solution where everybody wins."
"Oh?" Carter said. "And what's that?"
"I've got a fake. When you come into the yard tomorrow, I want you to be wearing the fake ring. I'm going to ask you for it. You have to put on a big show of not wanting to give it up, but eventually you'll give it to me."
"A fake?" said Carter.
"Yes. But it's very important that you do not wear your real ring again until we're off this damned planet. Do you understand?"
"I'm not an idiot."
"It's really important," Nova said, staring deep into his eyes. "If Jimmy thinks we've crossed him then the whole plan falls apart and we'll both be trapped here."
"I've got it," Carter said, waving his hand.
"Good," Nova said. "I got this for you."
She pulled a small piece of cloth out of her pocket and handed it to Carter. The stench of Gren's room seemed to cling to the rag.
Nova looked at Carter with meaningful eyes.
"I don't know if red's my colour," Carter said as he tucked the cloth into his own pocket.
"You never know," Nova replied.
She left Carter and spent the rest of the afternoon playing cards with Wood.
***
The next day, Carter emerged from his quarters surrounded by guards, the fake ring glimmering on his finger. He sat and gestured for Nova to join him.
She grabbed her bowl of gruel and sat opposite, making light conversation until Carter's goons cleared away. "Carter, I need that ring."
"How many bloody times do I have to tell you! I'm not giving it up! Especially not to the scumbag Jimmy!" Carter's roar made everyone in the courtyard turn and look.
"I need it!" Nova hissed.
The rest of the prisoners sucked in a horrified breath. Carter had had people strangled with their own intestines for less than that.
"Then get your own damn ring!"
Nova leapt to her feet and stood over Carter. "I saved your life! You owe me!"
Carter's face went bright red and his mouth worked. He stood face-to-face with Nova so their noses almost touched. "You ungrateful little bitch! If it weren't for me you'd be chewing your own leg off for food!"
"And if it weren't for me, your whole body would be feeding the fringes!" Nova bellowed back.
Every prisoner in the courtyard stared at them with open mouths.
"You bitch! Nothing's enough for you, is it?"
"I just want that ring," Nova said, more quietly.
"Fine. If I give you the damned ring will you stop reminding me that a pathetic thing like you saved my life?"
"Yes!"
"Then take the damned thing!" Carter ripped the ring off his finger and hurled it at Nova. He turned away and stormed back to his quarters.
The ring bounced off of Nova's chest and landed on the cement table. She snatched it up and glared after Carter. The rest of the prisoners stared at her like she'd just grown an extra head. Nova took a deep breath and whirled around to glare at them. Their mouths snapped shut and they pretended to go back to whatever they'd been doing.
Nova stormed over to Jimmy. He watched her with one eyebrow raised.
"That was quite a show," he said.
"Here's your damn ring," she said, thrusting out her hand.
Jimmy leaned in close and took it from her palm. He held it up to the light. "It's thinner than it looked at a distance."
Nova didn't say anything, keeping an expression of fury pinned to her face.
"Looks like we have a deal. Give me that package of yours and I'll have it delivered to the guards as soon as possible."
"No," Nova said. "I need it delivered on a specific day."
"Are you serious?" said Jimmy.
"Deadly."
"And what day would your majesty like it delivered?"
"The day the guard transporter arrives."
Jimmy's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "You can't be serious. Do you know how much extra security goes on during guard change-over?"
"Can you do it or not?" Nova's nostrils flared.
"I don't think you understand how stupid—"
"If you can't do it then give me the ring back. I'll find a real smuggler."
Nova leaned in to take the ring.
Jimmy pulled it closer to his chest. "I didn't say I couldn't do it. I just said it was stupid."
"So, we have a deal?"
"Yes. I'll see it done."
"Good. I wouldn't cross me if I were you."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Jimmy said with a sickly sweet smile.
Nova nodded once and stormed out of the courtyard. Every eye watched her leave.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Two months until guard change.
The next day Nova ate breakfast with Ringer and agreed to another game of cards. Ringer looked less enthusiastic than he had the day before; he had yet to come up with a game in which he was sure to win.
Carter came out of his quarters, expression sour. He scanned the courtyard and his eyes locked on Nova and Ringer. He strode towards them, his guards struggling to keep up.
"Interested in a game?" Ringer called out. He was always more candid with Carter than any of the other prisoners dared to be. Probably because he had nothing to lose.
"Sure," Carter said. His tone was light but Nova sensed something underneath it, a seriousness in his eyes. Ringer sensed it too.
Carter slumped down beside Ringer.
Ringer dealt out the cards and spoke in a low voice. "What's going on?"
"The Hunter here has got herself a bounty."
Nova frowned. "What do you mean?"
Carter looked genuinely worried. "The Confederacy have put a price on your head. Dead, not alive."
Nova's heart clenched. "How do they know I'm here?"
Carter's jaw twitched. "How the bloody hell should I know?"
Nova's mind raced. Had the Confederacy found The Jagged Maw and her friends? Was she already too late?
"Why would they put a price on her head if she's in here?" Ringer said, his eyebrows drawing together.
"Clearly they're worried about her getting out. If they think she can do it, well then damn, so do I."
Ringer shook his head. "That's ridiculous. How can they be worried about someone getting out of here?"
"That's the Confederacy. They know you're in here and they want you gone."
"Bastards. Why don't they come down and do it themselves?" Ringer said.
Carter snorted. "Who'd volunteer for that mission? A one way ticket into Ankar… I don't think so."
Nova's heart pummelled against her ribs. She'd counted on having at least anoth
er month before the Confederacy worked out where she was; they were bound to lock onto her eventually. Even then she had hoped that they'd just let her be. What was the point of chasing her into Ankar? Clearly the Confederacy didn't want to take any chances.
"What reward are they offering? It's not like anyone in here would do the Confederacy's bidding," said Ringer.
All pretence of the game fled. Their cards lay forgotten on the table and their heads bent together.
"Freedom," Carter whispered.
Ringer's head whipped up and he had to grip the table to stop from falling backwards. "What!"
Carter jerked his hand down. "Shh! They're offering freedom to whoever does her in."
Nova's stomach dropped. Her heart beat erratically in her chest and a tingle went up her neck.
"Freedom!" Ringer hissed. "They'll have every prisoner in here trying to kill her off."
"I know," said Carter. "Hell, I considered doing you in myself."
Nova's face went white as Carter's eyes bore into hers. Ringer looked between them, his face frozen.
Carter shrugged. "Decided I owed you one and it wouldn't be right."
"That's not going to stop anyone else," said Ringer.
"I know."
"How long until everyone gets the word?"
"An hour, tops. You'll have to stay in your room, Hunter. You can't trust anyone except me and Ringer."
Nova shook her head. "I can't. I still have too much to do before we can leave."
"It's either that or end up dead."
Nova shuddered. "How do you even know this?"
Carter grimaced. "A new prisoner ship dropped an hour ago carrying the offer. The news is spreading fast but my informant sprinted here straight from the Outers. People won't want everyone else to know, so hopefully that'll buy us some time."
Nova hung her head. It felt like every eye in the prison was looking at her back. She could almost see them sharpening their knives and preparing to jump her. Carter was right; she'd be no good dead. But on the other hand, what else could she do? She couldn't live in a prison cell for the rest of her life.
"Can't you do something?" Nova said, peering into Carter's eyes.
"Are you kidding? I've got a big enough target on my back just for helping you. You've only been here a month. Imagine what you'd do for a taste of freedom if you'd been here years like some of these."
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