The Spook 9 - Slither's tale

by Joseph Delaney

  It was not only Kobalos that I glimpsed. There were other creatures that made me shudder with fear, and even in the presence of Slither I did not feel safe. Mostly they resembled insects, except that the smallest creature I saw was the size of a sheepdog, while the largest could have bitten off my head with ease. I hoped my sisters were still safely asleep in their rooms.

  Some creatures scuttled overhead on many legs, as if they were messengers on urgent business, while others loitered, perhaps performing a similar cleaning function to the servant in Slither’s quarters.

  But one thing puzzled me. I saw Kobalos and I saw chained human female slaves, but why did I not see any Kobalos females? Were they not allowed out in public? The faces of the Kobalos were all hairy and bestial, with elongated jaws and sharp teeth. Could it be that Kobalos females were similar to the males in appearance and I simply couldn’t tell the difference?

  We twisted and turned through this labyrinth until we arrived at a wide flight of gleaming white steps. Four levels up, we finally reached a huge gate large enough to admit a creature ten times my size.

  ‘Here we are, little Nessa. This is where we will all die or triumph!’ Slither said, pulling me through.

  I found myself standing on a triangular platform surrounded by tiers of empty seats rising on either side to encircle us completely.

  ‘The whole arena is formed from skoya. The whoskor spat it into a mound so that it could be manipulated and shaped by their many nine-fingered hands.’

  ‘It’s so white!’ I exclaimed. It dazzled my eyes.

  ‘Skoya can be many colours,’ Slither explained, ‘but there is a reason why it is white, little Nessa. It makes it easier to see the bright red of freshly spilled blood, a colour that is very exciting to my people.’

  This place was truly despicable. I did not reply, but my eyes moved around, darting in all directions as I wondered about the layout of the arena. I saw that there was a white post positioned at each corner of the triangular arena.

  ‘What are those for?’ I asked.

  ‘They are the three posts to which you and your two sisters will be tethered. The number varies, and the arena is shaped anew in preparation for each trial. But it is always white, to display the blood of the defeated to its best effect. You will be bound there, and the Haggenbrood will try to drink your blood then eat you. I will do my best to save you all.’

  My stomach churned at the impossibility of the task. What was this Haggenbrood? I was certain my sisters and I would all die here.

  ‘Do you see that?’ Slither asked, pointing to the circular grille in the floor at the centre of the triangular arena.

  I was filled with a terrible foreboding and I began to tremble. I did not even want to look at the grille, let alone move closer to it. But I had no choice.

  He started to walk towards it, tugging me after him. All at once I smelled something foul, and was afraid to move closer. When I came to a halt, the chain jerked my neck painfully. Rather than tug me forward again, Slither walked back to see what my problem was.

  ‘What ails you, little Nessa?’

  ‘That awful stench! What is it? Is it from something down there?’ I pointed with a trembling finger towards the grille.

  Slither tilted his head and sniffed the air. ‘Yes. What you smell is the scent of the Haggenbrood. That it where it will emerge. Come closer and take a look,’ he said, walking towards the centre of the arena.

  Once again the chain became taut as I resisted. But this time Slither gave a hard tug and I reluctantly stumbled along after him until we approached the edge of the pit.

  ‘Look down through the grille, little Nessa, and tell me what you see.’

  The grille was wide-meshed and white, but the inside of the pit was a dark brown. It was coated with something extremely unpleasant. Up close, the stink was unbearable, and I tried to pull away.

  ‘The Haggenbrood excretes that brown slime from its three bodies as part of its digestive process. It is that which causes the stench. Don’t be afraid. Move closer so you can see properly.’

  Cautiously I moved to edge of the pit and looked down into the darkness. I felt very nervous and vulnerable, and my legs trembled. Why did Slither want me to stand so close? The grille looked too flimsy to bear my weight. His hand touched my shoulder, and for one terrifying moment I thought he was about to push me in.

  ‘There’s something moving down there!’ I cried, shaking with fear. Down below, in spite of the darkness, I could see three pairs of glowing red eyes watching me!

  The next moment, something leaped upwards, and the long, scaly fingers of a huge hand grasped the grille. The creature roared up at us through the bars, clearly desperate to sink its teeth into my flesh. I had a glimpse of its snarling mouth, angry red eyes and pointed ears.

  This was what we faced. My knees began to tremble more violently and my heart pounded with fear. What chance did Slither have against three such fearsome beasts? We were as good as dead.

  But my captor showed no fear, and with a frown moved on to the grille directly above the snarling face of the creature. ‘Learn your place! I walk the earth and you belong in the filth!’ he shouted into its teeth, stamping down hard on its fingers with his boots. With an angry growl, the Haggenbrood released its hold and fell back into the pit.

  ‘Never show fear to such creatures, little Nessa,’ he advised me. ‘Always be bold! It pays to show them exactly whom they will be dealing with in the arena.’

  ‘It’s so fast and fierce.’ I shook my head in dismay. ‘What hope do you have against three of them? You will be alone. Surely you should have some help?’

  ‘Oh, Nessa, you must try to listen more carefully to what I say. It is even worse than that. As I explained, the Haggenbrood is one creature. One mind controls the three bodies, three selves, and can coordinate their attack as easily as I can control each of my fingers simultaneously.’

  In order to demonstrate, he lowered his hairy hand and drummed a quick rhythm on the side of my head with three of his fingers. It hurt and I gave a cry of pain. Next he quickly flexed those same fingers, making his knucklebones crack repeatedly. I shivered.

  ‘You will be immobile, tied to the posts, and I will only be able to be in one place at a time. Although I will try, it may prove impossible to defend all three of you. I will be alone, of course, because those are the rules. Only my purrai and I are allowed in the arena to face the Haggenbrood.’

  ‘Then don’t worry about me,’ I told him. ‘Defend my sisters.’

  I had spoken without thinking, but I would not recant. Although I was desperately afraid of the Haggenbrood, I couldn’t bear the thought of what they might do to Bryony and Susan.

  ‘That is very noble of you, little one, but that depends on how the Haggenbrood deploys its selves.’

  ‘Can’t you take the initiative and attack first?’ I asked.

  ‘Must I explain it again? There are rules, little Nessa, and I am bound by them. They vary from trial to trial, adjusted to take account of the number of purrai involved. But this is the situation here and we must abide by it. Firstly the grille will be removed and the Haggenbrood will climb out of the pit. Once its three selves are in position, the signal will be given to begin. I can only react to the attack, which could be aimed at any one of you. Alternatively, it may ignore you and launch an all-out assault on me. That way, once I am dead, the Haggenbrood can feed from you and your plump sisters at its leisure. Also, if it attacks you first and two of you die, I must surrender my weapons and let it kill me. Those are the rules of this trial.’

  I couldn’t believe I was discussing something so brutal. ‘What weapons are you permitted?’

  ‘As many blades as I wish.’

  ‘Then cut me free and give me a blade. If I move, it might distract it and give you a better chance. We must get my sisters to safety.’

  Again the words had flown from my lips without prior thought. But reflecting quickly, I perceived that they were wise indee
d. It might just give my sisters a chance of life, and surely it was better to die with a knife in my hand than bound helpless to a post?

  I saw the astonishment on the beast’s face. He frowned and seemed to be considering the possibility.

  ‘Would that be allowed?’ I persisted, breaking the silence that had come between us.

  ‘There is nothing in the rules that forbids me to cut you free,’ he admitted. ‘Your offer is generous indeed. But while the Haggenbrood is prevented by its conditioning not to leave the arena, you could do so. And therein lies the danger. If you did so, the trial would immediately be over and all our lives would be forfeit. How brave are you, little Nessa? Could you stand your ground when teeth and claws snap in your face?’

  ‘Yes,’ I replied immediately. ‘It might give us a chance.’

  But could I? Would I really be brave enough to distract this terrible, fearsome Haggenbrood?

  ‘Even if you are not torn to pieces, the Haggenbrood has glands which secrete a deadly poison. If even the tip of one claw pierces your skin it results in kirrhos, which we call the ‘tawny death’. It is ugly to look upon and worse to suffer. There is no cure. So can you make your little human body obey your will, little Nessa? Terror may cause it to disobey you. Once you flee the arena, we are all dead. One small step would be enough!’

  I took a deep breath. Yes, I would do it. Despite my dislike of Slither, the situation had made us allies and I would have to work alongside him to give my sisters some hope of survival.

  ‘I am sure that I won’t run. I want to give my sisters a chance of life.’

  Slither stared at me hard. ‘To release a captive during trial by combat is unprecedented,’ he said. ‘It would be a complete surprise to everybody, including the Haggenbrood.’

  Then, without another word, he tugged at the chain and led me back through Valkarky to his quarters.

  USING A WHETSTONE, I systematically began to sharpen the blades I planned to use in the arena. I selected two daggers – along with Old Rowler’s sabre, which had quickly become my favourite weapon.

  As I worked, Nessa watched me intently. I was considering her surprise proposal. She was, without doubt, brave – far braver than any other purra I had encountered, but there was a terrible risk in letting her stand in the arena unbound. If she fled, I would forfeit my life. I sensed that she was about to say something important to her, and was soon proved correct.

  ‘I would like to ask you a favour,’ she said at last.

  ‘Speak and I will listen,’ I replied, concentrating most of my attention on the task at hand but prepared to give her a hearing.

  ‘Could my sisters be bound to their posts without being awoken?’ she asked. ‘I would like to spare them the terror of the arena.’

  ‘That is impossible, little Nessa. It would not be allowed – it would deprive those who witness the trial of the pleasure of hearing them scream. And it is more enjoyable to watch someone who is conscious bleed and die. Asleep, they would provide no entertainment at all.’

  As a youngster, I had once visited a trial. It had been over very quickly, but despite that I had enjoyed the manner in which the Haggenbrood despatched its victims, and the way the blood splattered, making delightful patterns against the white of the arena floor. But on my rare visits to Valkarky since taking up my vocation, I had never even considered attending another.

  Now I was comfortable alone, working my haizda, and preferred to be far from the clamour of such events. I no longer found it comfortable to be close to so many of my people in one place.

  ‘Entertainment?! How can you use such a word when my sisters’ young lives might be lost? What kind of creatures are you?’

  ‘It is just the way things are, little Nessa. We are very different to humans. It is the way of my people, and I am bound by Kobalos customs and conventions. So I can do nothing to spare you and your delicious sisters the inevitable fear and pain that awaits you.’

  It never ceased to amaze me that Nessa was prepared to sacrifice herself to help her sisters. Of course, for her to stand and face even one of the Haggenbrood’s selves in such a way, even with a knife in her puny hand, could have only one result. She would be dead before she realized what had happened. But I thought such bravery deserved a reward.

  What would she most wish for now? I wondered. In a second I had the answer. Briefly I would suspend the solitary confinement of the three purrai.

  ‘Would you like me to wake your sisters now so that you can have a little time alone? It might be your last chance to talk together?’ I offered – very generously, I thought.

  ‘Yes, please, I would like that,’ Nessa said solemnly. ‘How long is it before the trial?’

  ‘Almost a full day, so enjoy yourselves and make the best of the time that remains. I will bring your two plump sisters here, then leave you alone to talk in privacy for a while.’

  So, keeping my promise, I brought the three sisters together. Of course, I did not give them privacy because I was very curious to hear what they had to say to each other, so I made myself very small and slithered into the room using a drainage hole in the floor as my means of access.

  ‘I wish I had clean clothes and a blue ribbon for my hair,’ Susan said plaintively.

  ‘I’m sure you’ll have all you need once you’re safe in Pwodente,’ Nessa replied. ‘Whatever happens we are going to survive. You’ve got to believe that.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Susan said, shaking her head as tears sprang to her eyes. ‘I’ll try, but I’m not as brave as you, Nessa. I’ll try to do better. I really will.’

  It didn’t seem worth staying any longer – the sisters had little of interest to say to each other. Nessa tried to remain calm but, after Susan had complimented her on being brave, every time she started to speak, her bottom lip began to tremble as if it had a life of its own. When she finally did manage to utter a few sentences, all three sisters burst into tears and spent the rest of the time that remained to them sobbing and hugging each other tightly. It was all very futile.

  I was sorry to be facing death. Now I would never attain my full potential. I needed at least a further century of study before I could complete my mastery of haizda magic and hone my fighting skills to their optimum level. It would also have been pleasing to learn that I had overcome the dangerous threat of skaiium, avoiding the weakness that afflicts some of our order. Now I would never know the outcome. However, I decided to make the best of what might well be the last day of my life in this world, so I went to my private room and snapped my fingers five times to summon Hom, a type of homunculus, who is perhaps the most interesting servant deployed in Valkarky by haizda mages. He is a gatherer of news and gossip, and his multiple shapes are specially formed for that task.

  One, which is in the form of a rat, functions particularly well in the sewers, making it possible for his specially adapted ears to listen in to conversations all over the city; while submerged he can focus his hearing on a conversation despite many intervening skoya floors and walls.

  Another of his selves has powerful wings and can soar far above the city to view its rooftops and thus see anyone approaching or leaving Valkarky.

  The self that gives its reports takes the form of a very small figure not unlike a human male. Of course, it is covered with long brown fur in order to keep it warm, and always lives within our haizda quarters while its other industrious bodies roam far and wide. Once it had squeezed out of its hole, it clambered up onto the chair directly opposite my own.

  ‘Report on the progress of all other haizda mages!’ I commanded.

  Never in the course of my visits to Valkarky had I found another haizda mage in residence here. Indeed, it was many years since I had encountered the last one while journeying along the edge of the human territories far to the southeast. We had spent a few hours together and exchanged little more than pleasantries – we were by nature secretive. But each haizda mage made a report to Hom before leaving the city, and that information was av
ailable to me now.

  ‘In addition to yourself, eleven others have visited and reported in the last thirty years,’ Hom said. ‘No doubt you will be interested to know that eighteen months ago Rasptail made what he believed might be his final visit here. He is now almost eight hundred years old and fears that his powers are beginning their slow decline. Once he becomes certain of it, he proposes to end his life.’

  Hom was correct in his assumption that I would be interested in news of Rasptail. After all, he was the haizda who had trained me during my noviciate, the thirty-year period that begins the vocation. After that a haizda mage must study and develop alone. Rasptail had been a harsh but fair master, and I was saddened to hear that his powers were waning. It was the haizda way to take one’s life at that point. We chose death rather than a long decline.

  Next he gave report of the last known status of the other ten mages. By the time he finished I was weary of it and demanded information about Valkarky and its inhabitants.

  ‘What would you like first, master – news or gossip?’ Hom asked in his thin reedy voice.

  News is usually quite predictable – variations on events that have been repeated in our city over many centuries. For example, there is the rate at which Valkarky is expanding; some years growth is slower, and that always gives cause for concern to those who worry about such things. Then there are statistics on the execution of prisoners – usually criminals. I find most of that quite boring.

  However, I like gossip; it occasionally has some foundation in fact.

  ‘Give me the most interesting gossip,’ I instructed, noting that Hom was looking rather bedraggled, his fur matted and tinged with grey. He was getting old, and would soon have to be replaced.

  ‘The thing most talked about, master, is that a large star-stone has fallen to earth not too far from the city. As it heated up, passing through the air, it took on the most interesting crimson hue, suggesting that it is composed of ore perfect for constructing blades. Many are out searching for it.’