Journey to Marrachi

by Dan Oakley

  Trella managed to keep her voice calm and reasonable, and for a brief moment, I thought perhaps the captain might see reason, but then he let out a grunt. “No, we have the young mage on our side. We don’t need your magic or your weapons. The boy can dispatch any lizards that trouble us.”

  The captain was probably right. If the young mage was well trained and had similar abilities to Trella’s, then he should be able to kill the lizards. But it was unlikely he’d kill them before they maimed or killed another member of the crew.

  “His magic won’t be enough,” Trella said sharply.

  “You’re wasting time,” the captain said with irritation, waving a hand at his mage. “Inject them both, and let’s get moving.”

  I tensed as the needle plunged into my arm. It felt like my shoulder was on fire as the liquid entered my muscle.

  My skin tingled and sickness rose at the back of my throat. Dots of light swam in front of my eyes, and I felt the pirates drop my arms as the syringe was removed from my arm.

  I was vaguely aware of the mage switching out the syringe for another one and heading over to Trella.

  I could hear her familiar voice, arguing against the use of bysandown, her tone going from calm and reasonable to panic.

  The bysandown had altered my vision. My peripheral sight was misty, and I felt like I was looking through a blurry tunnel.

  I looked up and my gaze met Kira’s.

  She was looking at me with pity, which was a surprise, considering she was the one with the collar around her neck.

  I took a step forward, but my muscles and limbs felt heavy and tired, like I’d been lifting sacks of corn for days on end.

  Could I still fight like this? I would try. As soon as the pirates let down their guard, I would do something, I promised myself. I wouldn’t let this bunch of marauding pirates get the better of us.

  When the mage had finished doping Trella with bysandown, the captain ordered us to start moving and head back to their ship.

  I fell into step beside Trella as the captain walked ahead, dragging Kira by the rope.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  Trella stumbled and reached out to steady herself on my arm. It was hard to see her like this. She was usually so confident and capable. Stripped of her magic and drugged up to the eyeballs, she could barely string a sentence together.

  She licked her lips, no doubt suffering from the same dry mouth sensation as I was.

  “Be careful of the mage, Tomas,” she muttered. “Whatever happens, even if we get away from these pirates, he knows about you.”

  She didn’t need to elaborate. I knew what she meant. The mage could have picked up on my extra mutations, and if that got out, I could be in danger. Every government within the Kingdoms would want to get their hands on me. Trella had told me I would be living in a lab for the rest of my life if they found out about my mutations.

  We marched on. One of the pirates upfront hacked through the vines, and the mage followed at the rear. The other two pirates kept their weapons trained on Trella and me.

  My boots trudged monotonously over the soggy earth until I tripped on a tree root, falling flat on my face.

  The bysandown hadn’t just robbed me of my magic. It had stolen my coordination, too, making my body feel strange and unfamiliar.

  I pushed myself up and earned a kick in the ribs from one of the pirates. Obviously, I wasn’t getting up quickly enough for his liking.

  “Get up, you clumsy mudsucker,” he spat.

  His voice was heavily accented, and I guessed he wasn’t used to using the common language of the Kingdoms.

  Marrachi was one of the more exotic realms, with hundreds of languages and dialects in constant use across the planet, though most also spoke the common tongue of the Kingdoms. I’d learned that at school. It was one of the few things I remembered about the Marrachi people.

  Maybe someone on Marrachi would help us. Some good, honest man might report the slaver’s fair to the authorities. Right now, as we were drugged up to the hilt, it seemed like that was our only chance of salvation.

  A small pale hand appeared in front of my face, and I looked up to see the young mage staring down at me. He nodded, and I took his hand. As he helped me to my feet, I realised he was stronger than he looked.

  His gaze didn’t leave my face, which made me feel awkward and uncomfortable. It was as though he was trying to read me again, looking deep into my mind to discover my secrets.

  I tugged my hand back as soon as I was on my feet.

  “Thanks,” I said gruffly.

  The mage said nothing and simply nodded again.

  As I continued to stagger on, Trella slipped behind me to walk beside the young mage.

  “Where are you from?” she asked him.

  He was silent for a long moment, and I thought he wasn’t going to answer, but eventually, he said, “Marrachi.”

  “How long have you been working for this captain?”

  Her words were almost a whisper.

  “Almost two years.”

  “What made you decide to go… Commercial?”

  I guessed Trella had been about to ask why the mage had chosen to work for a pirate ship when he could have been employed by any one of the Kingdoms. Mage skills were in high demand throughout the system. Maybe the pirate’s money was too good to turn down.

  But the mage didn’t get a chance to reply to Trella’s question.

  “Silence,” one of the pirates said, jabbing his weapon into Trella’s back.

  I turned around, my fists clenched in fury at his unnecessary violence. I swung a punch but missed by a mile.

  “Enough!” the captain roared from the front of the line.

  When I turned, I saw the black box in his hand and then looked beyond him to Kira, who watched me with sad eyes. Guilt washed over me.

  The bysandown was stopping me making logical decisions. I’d seen the pirate hurt Trella and immediately reacted. That was dumb.

  I hung my head and felt a shove from behind, encouraging me to move.

  The bushes beside me rustled. I turned with my heart in my mouth, expecting to see one of the large predators following us, but couldn’t see anything through the dense leaves. Were we being stalked?

  Without my plasma weapon and stripped of my magic, I was defenceless. If we were attacked by lizards now, I would have no way of defending myself. The only thing I could do was run and hide, and that didn’t sit well with me at all.

  Feeling vulnerable, frustrated and furious, and with no other options, I continued to walk toward the pirate ship.

  Chapter 11

  The journey through the jungle was long and arduous. The bysandown coursing through my veins made me feel like I was wading through thick, sticky honey. Sweat was pouring from all of us as we trudged on towards the pirate ship.

  I’d been dreaming of the day I’d get off this planet, but I’d never expected it to be like this.

  Trella seemed more affected by the drug than me. I was used to her walking with strong, confident strides, but now she was staggering.

  When we finally exited the jungle, stepping onto the cracked concrete, surrounding the mining complex, I was shocked by the sight of the pirates’ shuttle that sat on top of the cracked concrete. It wasn’t as large as I’d expected, and if they had wanted to exploit the mines, they would have needed multiple trips using this shuttle.

  I watched as the captain shouted orders to his men. He still clutched the small black box in his hand. If I tackled him, would I be able to get to the box before he pressed the button. Doubtful. Especially now that my reactions were deadened by bysandown.

  The delicate skin on Kira’s neck was red from where the collar had rubbed her skin raw. I clenched my teeth. Her hands were still tied behind her back.

  The rain had stopped, and the sun beat down on us as we stood, exposed to the elements, in the levelled-off area beside the mine. The sycrilline material of my uniform was drying quickly, but the
humid heat was hard to bear. At least the pirates were suffering too. When we’d first come to Tor on our mission, our Kingdoms-issued suits were cooled as were our helmets. The pirates didn’t make use of cooling technology.

  Their shuttle was not new or state-of-the-art either. From the state of it, I wasn’t even sure if it would survive the trip back to the main ship.

  The captain clicked his fingers. “Quick, mage, load the goods.”

  At first, in my dazed state, I thought he was referring to us, but it soon became clear they had other materials they had salvaged from Tor before they found us.

  It looked like electrical equipment for the most part — communications devices and a couple of large power exchangers.

  The captain caught me watching and winked. “We already have a buyer lined up for the equipment. I should be able to take a break after this trip. The power exchangers should fetch a pretty penny, plus the money I’ll get for you two mages should set me up quite comfortably for some time.”

  I scowled at him as the mage began the task of loading the shuttle.

  He used his magic to move the large equipment in swift, fluid movements, making it look easy. The pirates stood back and watched, muttering to each other and complaining about the heat.

  Once the mage had finished loading the shuttle the pirates grabbed me and Trella, pushing us aboard.

  Much of the space in the shuttle had been converted for transporting cargo, so the seating area for human passengers was cramped and uncomfortable.

  After seeing Trella and me strapped securely into seats next to each other, the mage took the seat opposite us. His pale eyes fixed on me as he regarded me speculatively.

  I met his gaze defiantly until he looked away.

  Kira was pulled aboard, led by the rope attached to her collar. I felt another surge of anger as the captain yanked much harder than was necessary.

  He took her through a different hatch, towards the front of the shuttle, so Trella and I were left alone with the mage.

  As the shuttle powered up, cool air flowed, and my skin tingled. Was the bysandown wearing out or was it just the change in temperature? Energy buzzed through my system. How long did the drug usually last?

  I wanted to ask Trella if she was feeling it too, but didn’t dare talk in front of the mage. I didn’t want to give him an excuse to give me another injection.

  Trella pushed her hair back from her face, which was streaked with dirt. She looked tired and defeated.

  I reached out to take her hand. “It will be okay,” I said and squeezed her fingers gently.

  A flicker of anger passed over her features. “No, it won’t. If they’re going to trade us on the slavers’ market, I’ll never be able to help my sister,” she hissed. “You’ll never be able to help Maureena, and who knows what they will do with Kira. We probably won’t even be sold to the same owners!”

  “We’ll find a way to get out of this mess,” I whispered with more confidence than I felt. “It’s the drugs making you feel like this.”

  She gazed up at me with watery eyes. “I feel lost without my magic. I don’t feel like me. This must be what they’ve done to my sister, Mesilla.”

  She was probably right. If the Kingdoms’ central government believed Trella’s sister was involved in the mage rebellion, then it was likely that they had drugged her with bysandown to remove her powers, too.

  The whole shuttle shook as the engines began to roar.

  To my surprise, the young mage, who was sitting opposite us, got to his feet and put his palms flat against the internal wall of the shuttle.

  “What’s he doing?” I asked.

  “Probably guiding the shuttle back to the ship,” Trella said. “I imagine using magic is easier than doing it manually.”

  It was then I noticed the strange runes that had been carved or painted onto the metal panels lining the walls. They were very faint. Did they have something to do with navigation? Perhaps they were a way to channel the mage’s energy so he could control the shuttle’s navigational systems.

  The shuttle shook so hard it felt like my teeth were rattling as we took off under constant acceleration. I was slammed back against the seat, pinned helplessly for several seconds. My ears popped.

  Somehow, the slight, young mage managed to remain standing, despite the intense acceleration.

  He moved his hands quickly over the runes. As the acceleration lessened, I started to relax until I experienced the strange sensation of lessening gravity. If I hadn’t been tethered to my seat, I imagined I’d be floating around the shuttle.

  There was a loud clunk, followed by a hissing noise.

  The mage removed his hands from the wall and turned to face us.

  “We are now docked with the ship. You can remove your safety belts.”

  We did as he said, and I noticed, despite the bumpy journey, I was feeling better. The bysandown was definitely wearing off.

  Trella’s movements were still slow and deliberate, making me think the drug wasn’t leaving her system as quickly as it was mine.

  The sliding door behind us opened, and the captain strode out tugging Kira along behind him. She made eye contact with me but didn’t speak.

  The captain reached out and swatted the young mage around the head. “That was the worst takeoff yet. I thought your magic was supposed to make the journey smooth?”

  The boy rubbed the sore spot on the back of his head and kept his gaze fixed on the ground. “It’s not my fault. The shuttle is getting old and needs servicing.”

  That comment earned him another slap around the head. “Don’t answer back, you useless mudscraper.”

  When the three other pirates came back from wherever they’d been holed up during the flight, they grabbed hold of Trella and me and led us past the cargo to a pressure door at the back of the shuttle.

  The pirates’ main ship wasn’t in much better condition than the shuttle. It was an old rust bucket. Smears of brownish-red oxidation smeared the metal panels, and lights flickered as we walked along the dim corridor.

  The metal floor clanged beneath my feet as we followed the captain. The air aboard the ship tasted stale, as though the filters were not functioning properly.

  Trella and I were shoved unceremoniously into a small room, and then the captain began to lead Kira away.

  “Wait! Where are you taking her?” I demanded.

  “Never you mind,” the captain snapped, scratching his bulbous stomach as bars rose from the ground, forming a cell around Trella and me. He laughed at our surprise, then the main doors slid shut, leaving me and Trella alone in the small metal chamber.

  Trella leaned against the wall, then slid down to the floor, crossed her legs and put her head in her hands.

  I began to pace the small cell. The bysandown was definitely wearing off. Despite the long trek through the jungle, I was feeling lighter and brighter than before. I could see better now, too, as my peripheral vision had returned.

  “We need to talk about our options,” I said quietly to Trella. I didn’t put it past the captain not to have some kind of recording equipment in here, and I didn’t want it to make it easy for him to spy on our conversation.

  Trella looked up at me. “Please, Tomas, stop pacing. You’re making me feel even worse.”

  I did as she asked, sinking down into a crouch beside her and whispering in her ear. “How long is the bysandown supposed to last? I think it’s wearing off already.”

  Trella blinked in surprise. “I think it depends on the dose, but it looked like they gave us a large shot. I still feel terrible. Maybe you’re able to metabolise it faster than most mages.”

  I put an arm around her shoulders. “We will get out of this, I promise.”

  Trella sighed. “You shouldn’t promise things you can’t see through, Tomas. You don’t have to take everything on. This isn’t your fault.”

  I frowned. “Look, it’s like anything in life, magical or not. We need to find our enemies’ weakness. If w
e find the one place where they’re vulnerable, we have a chance. We just need to stack the odds in our favour.”

  Trella propped her chin on her hand and looked at me with interest. “Okay, suppose you are right...what is their weakness?”

  “The mage. We need to get him on our side.”

  Trella laughed mercilessly and shook her head. “And just how do you propose we do that?”

  “He’s a victim. An outsider. I can see myself in him.”

  Trella’s smirk disappeared. “The captain does treat him badly...”

  “Exactly. And that’s our chance. He can’t enjoy working for someone like the captain. How long do you think the journey to Marrachi will take?” I asked, thinking that would be how much time we had to work on the mage, to persuade him to help us.

  Trella pulled a face. “It depends how efficient their jump drive is. They only have one mage, so technically they should only jump once a day, but this is a pirate ship and they’re not known for following rules. I’d say the voyage should take us between two or three days.”

  That wasn’t long. Would we be able to turn the mage in that time? I had to hope so, because right now he was the only hope I had of getting us out of this mess.

  The door opened, and we both looked up.

  It was the young mage. He slipped inside the room silently, keeping his head down, carrying a tray.

  Warily, he pushed each item through the bars. Two bottles of water, two bowls of beige mushy food.

  I stood up, striding towards the bars.

  He withdrew his hand quickly, blinking up at me like a startled rabbit.

  I had no idea why he’d be afraid of me when I was behind bars, drugged with bysandown, and the captain was holding Kira hostage.

  “What’s your name?”

  He stared at me for a long moment before replying. “Finn.”

  I gripped the bars. “How is Kira?”

  Finn watched me suspiciously before licking his lips and saying, “Fine.”

  “She’s only seventeen… just a kid. She hasn’t done anything to deserve this treatment.”