The Broken Kingdom (14 page)

Chapter 18

T
he next morning Riley
gathered everyone out on the beach to talk.

She looked around at the eleven people
arrayed before her, Karesh, nine other gemengs, and Vann.

‘Zap Zap said he would come back here?’ she
asked Vann. Her tone was businesslike, her face grim.

Vann nodded.

‘Then I must stay until he comes. I intend
to head to the forests. Vann do you want me to take you back to
Coastside?’

‘No.’ he said firmly.

‘I don’t know what you expect from me.’

‘I don’t care what you’re doing, Riley, or
where you’re going. But I’m going with you. I can’t stay in
Coastside anymore.’

They locked gazes for a moment.

‘Fine.’ she relented. ‘But I have no plans
other than to go somewhere I like. Which is a forest. Karesh, what
will you and your warriors do?’

Karesh looked surprised. ‘Come with you,
Master.’

‘I’m not your Master, Karesh. I’m not
anyone’s Master.’

The gemengs all shared looks. Karesh spoke
for them again, ‘you are. We will come with you.’

Riley frowned. ‘Karesh, what I was trying to
do… I can’t anymore. Everyone is gone, and I failed them.’

‘You can.’ he insisted in that cautious way
he had. ‘We will follow you.’

Riley looked irritated, but clearly she
didn’t know what to say to him. ‘Fine, travel with me for now. But
you must call me Riley, and you are free to leave whenever you
choose.’

Karesh nodded. ‘Yes, Master Riley.’

‘Karesh!’

A fleeting smile lit his features. Then he
said, ‘Yes, Riley.’

Somewhat mollified, Riley went on. ‘Fine. We
wait here for Zap Zap and Adila to return. Then we leave.’

Riley turned then and left the beach. Her
parting words involved something about hunting.

When she was gone Karesh turned to Vann. ‘I
still understand you.’

‘Whatever Adila did is still here.’ he
replied.

Karesh shrugged. ‘It’s very useful.’ he
looked back towards the desert. ‘I am glad the Master is better
now.’

‘Well, it wasn’t really Riley before.’

Karesh nodded gravely. ‘Everything was all
wrong. The life was gone from her, she moved like a… a normal
person. Now she is better, she is the Master again.’

Vann didn’t really know what he was talking
about. Aside from the expressions, Riley’s body with Seta in it and
Riley’s body with Riley in it had looked the same to him. Whatever
Aerlid had done to make Riley look human to him was still
working.

When Zap Zap returned nearly a week later
Vann was sorry to say goodbye to him. He didn’t know when he would
be by the ocean again, when he would be able to speak with him.

But Vann could no more join Zap Zap’s world
than Zap Zap could join his.

And so they said their goodbyes.

Riley spoke with Zap Zap as well. Vann saw
the death of Strong Swimmer still affected her.

And the very next day Adila returned with a
sword for Riley.

When Adila handed the sword and parrying
dagger to her Riley frowned. Vann couldn’t see what the problem
was. The weapons were simply beautiful. The scabbards were just as
glorious.

Riley looked the sword up and down, took a
few swings with it.

‘What’s this?’ she said finally when she had
finished. She was pointing at the large jewel that served as a
pommel. It looked like a pearl.

‘I am not very familiar with swords.’

‘You don’t know what purpose it serves?’

‘No.’

‘Well, neither do I. This is all wrong.’

‘What do you mean?’ Adila asked, surprised.
‘Fearlid himself made these for you. No finer weapons could
possibly be made for you by the valkar.’

‘It’s beautiful.’

Adila smiled.

‘It shouldn’t be.’

Her smile vanished.

‘This is a sword, Adila. It is a tool for
violence, nothing more. See at how they look at it,’ she gestured
at Vann and Karesh. ‘They think it’s beautiful. The beauty of this
thing allows people to imagine it as something more than what it
is. To pretend it can do more than merely hurt. It can’t.’

‘I… what do you want me to do? I… I don’t
think Fearlid will be happy to change it. He is very proud of his
work.’

Riley glared at the sword. Curving runes
were carved into the blade of the sword. It shone and caught the
light. It was a work of art. The parrying dagger was no better.
‘I’ll fix it myself then. Well, thank you for trying, Adila.’

‘Yes, alright.’ Adila’s eyes were still
wide, her brows raised. Clearly, this wasn’t what she’d been
expecting.

Riley sheathed the sword and dagger and
looked back at Adila. ‘How will I contact you if I need you?’

‘What would you need me for?’ Adila
asked.

‘I don’t know.’

Adila looked thoughtful for a moment. Then
she sang a few notes. ‘Very well.’ she said when she was done. ‘If
you really need me, merely ask it of the sun. She will tell
me.’

‘I’m not a Sunsinger.’

‘I am aware of that.’ she said dryly. ‘I
have asked the sun to listen if you say my name.’

‘What if I’m just talking about you?’

‘Do you often do that? Alright,’ she
relented, and sang another song. ‘If you want me say my name three
times very loudly, then say, ‘Glorious sun, I am not just talking
about Adila behind her back, I wish to speak with her. When you
have the time, please relay my message.’ Alright?’

‘All of that?’

‘Yes. All of that.’

‘Fine.’

‘Do you need anything else from me right
now?’

‘Yes. Whatever you did to make Karesh and
Vann understand each other, I need it to stop. They can never learn
each other’s language this way.’

‘Alright.’ Again, Adila looked surprised.
She sang again. ‘It is done. Is that all?’

‘Yes that’s all. Thank you.’

‘Very well then. Goodbye.’

Adila took a few steps. Each step she took
she faded into the sunlight. Then she was gone.

Riley, looking a little grumpy, looked down
at her new sword.

‘Riley, that was a little ungrateful don’t
you think?’ Vann said, approaching her.

‘Hmm?’ she looked up at him.

‘Well, she did bring you a sword, a dagger
and a scabbard and belt, even if you don’t like them.’

Riley shook her head. ‘I am tired of
deception, Vann.’ she said wearily. ‘Go get ready,’ she suddenly
ordered, ‘I want to leave this place today.’

Chapter 19

B
y nightfall they had
made it to the valley where Karesh and the gemengs had spent their
first night after the collapse of the mountain.

The day had been hard on Vann, but he had
persevered without complaining.

That night a watch was set. Vann never saw
Riley sleep.

And then day broke. No ehlkrid had bothered
them. The day’s pace was as punishing as yesterday’s, but at least
the environment was not so harsh.

And so not that day, but the next, they made
it to the forests.

And finally, Riley calmed down. They set up
camp early in the afternoon. Riley mentioned something about Karesh
and Vann learning to speak to each other.

And then she wandered off with the excuse of
hunting. Watches were set again that night, as every night.

Once again, Vann did not see her sleep.

The next day was actually pleasant. They
headed further into the forests, but the pace was easy, and Riley
allowed many stops.

The forest was cool and green. A light
canopy was overhead. It was not dense as the trees were well spaced
out, which also made for easier travelling. Ferns and smaller
plants made up the undergrowth. The sounds of animals and birds
were everywhere. Fresh water was plentiful, a stream never seemed
to be far away.

Riley was walking ahead. Though the pace was
relaxed, Riley doubled back and moved around so often she looked to
be setting a fierce pace for herself.

‘Riley.’ Vann said as he caught up with
her.

‘Hmm?’

‘When did you last sleep?’

‘I don’t know. What does it matter?’

‘If the ehlkrid attack us, will you be able
to fight like this?’

‘Of course. And where are they, anyway?’

‘We’ve been moving pretty fast’

‘Perhaps we don’t smell nice enough to eat.’
Suddenly she stopped, looking around. Then she changed direction
and gestured to everyone else to follow.

What she was doing was soon apparent. They
came to a stream, larger and deeper than the others they had
crossed.

She turned to look at the group and spoke in
Plains speech. There was some talking, and then the gemengs headed
towards the river.

Riley turned to Vann. ‘Go bathe. I’ll go
after.’

Vann did not object.

When they were done and their clothes dry
Riley was informed and she headed for the river. They moved some
distance away and gave her some privacy.

She returned, still looking discontent. Then
she suddenly decided Vann needed to be taught how to climb
trees.

He didn’t have any say in the matter, but he
didn’t mind.

That night camp was set not far from the
river.

Vann was woken by the sound of shouting. He
had no idea what was going on, he looked around in confusion. The
gemengs were all jumping to their feet.

Then the shouting changed, ‘Vann!’ Riley was
yelling, ‘stay where you are! The ehlkrid are attacking!’

She had been speaking Plain’s speech before,
he realised. He looked around and saw the gemengs forming a circle
around him. The fire was at his back. He heard noises, saw shadows.
Where was Riley? He readied his SIGPEW and his lightning rod.

He heard a roar. There was the sound of
metal clashing with something. Tough scales? Claws?

More roars.

Then from another direction, a crunch. He
spun, the SIGPEW ready. Something launched itself out of the night
at the circle.