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Ciro looked out over the desert towards Rezin, scowling into the distance. He could feel something dark and twisted taking root, like an infected splinter under a fingernail spreading rot into the world.
'Whatever some idiot is doing, they're gonna cause more trouble than they're prepared for.'
"Something interesting out there?" Castor called up into the tree where Ciro had decided to perch.
Ciro looked down at the man, once a clumsy but well-meaning guy with a hopeless crush but now a more capable fighter and general contributor to the people around him. "I’m not sure."
Castor walked up to the tree line where little blades of grass jutting up from the sand showed the more fertile land was slowly expanding. "It's been impossible for any Muri to escape the cities now. It's a mixed blessing since we have time to get things set up for the people who did make it." He rubbed his sore hands as they ached from hours of translating manuscripts.
The wind carried the sounds of hammers and saws as more homes were built and tents were dismantled. The best thing to happen in weeks was the old maps revealing the source of fresh water under the ground and how to properly distribute it throughout the entire city.
"I wonder what sort of darkness is gathering across the sand." Ciro didn't realize he was scowling until the silence stretched long enough for him to look down and find Castor staring at him.
"There's something happening, isn't there?" Castor didn't wait for an answer, sprinting back to the wall.
"Ugh, I have gone soft," Ciro muttered to himself. He looked back at the kingdom, unable to ignore the buzzing of the dark force lingering there.
"Jafa!" Castor jogged up to the blacksmith where Jafa was having her swords cleaned and sharpened by Enide, who was using this chance to teach a small group of apprentices. "Enide, my apologies, but this is urgent."
"They're just finishing up. Come tell me." Jafa pulled Castor aside for privacy. "Has there been another message from Rezin?"
"More like a bad feeling from watching Ciro." At the mention of his name, Jafa's thick lips twisted as if she'd eaten something sour. "I know you don't like him but his intuition is sound. If he senses something, we need to act. A small team to look for some real intel."
"Are we ready for something like this?" Jafa looked uncertain, her hands on her hips where the comforting weight of her swords would be.
"If we plan quickly, we can be ready by sundown." Ciro heard Enide wrapping up his lesson and lowered his voice. "You, me, Enide, and Tia. We'll tell Safuc, gather supplies, and leave at dusk. If we ride full speed halfway and walk the rest, we can reach the closest village before daybreak and without the dust giving us away."
"You're serious..." She shook her head. "Start gathering your gear and make sure Tia has proper focus. I'll get Enide and meet you Safuc's tent the second you're done."
Ciro was tempted to hug her but settled for a firm handshake more to her comfort. "We'll be there." And he ran to the castle.
-
TIA HELPED DRAYFUS gather up the translations for the day and file them in a newly forming library. The souls of the scribes were tiring to handle but chomping at the bit to help translate their knowledge to aid their descendants.
Letting them have their say did wonders for Tia's wellbeing. It seemed once they could be heard, they quieted the others with the promise of also being heard in the future. The headaches dramatically reduced, the bleeding stopped, and Tia could have some moments of blessed silence to rest and eat in peace.
"Tia!" Castor called out to her from the main door to the castle.
"There goes the quiet." She mumbled, and Drayfus chuckled.
"I'm sure it's important." He said, taking the last of the scrolls from Tia's hands and beginning to file them away. "I'll finish up. You did a lot today."
"Thanks." Tia stretched as she left the room, meeting Castor in the former throne room. "What's going on?"
Castor took several deep breaths to recover and bent over with his hands on his knees. "I think Ciro sensed something from Rezin.” He panted. "We're going to check it out and I thought you would want to come along."
Instantly on alert, Tia gave him a curt nod. "I'll grab my cloak."
"Meet us in Safuc's tent as soon as you're ready." He said, turning to get ready himself.
-
CASTOR WAS THE LAST to join the others, checking his quiver for the fifth time to make sure it was full. "What were we thinking for a plan?" He said, taking his seat without further greeting.
"I was telling them about your idea." Jafa waved him over to look at the map spread out on the table. "The four of us will take our fastest horses and ride as fast as they can for most of the way, then slow to a pace that won't kick up any sand once we near the village." She pointed at the small drawing on the map of Lanis. "With the increased inspections and no more Muri fleeing the cities, the bands of humans have left the desert. We should make it there before sunrise."
"If we leave within the hour, we'll definitely make it." Enide tightened the straps on his leather armor before reaching for his metal chest plate.
"Better leave that," Castor said. "If we stick to leather, it won't catch the starlight or dawn light if we end up delayed."
Enide nodded and set it aside. "It will be lighter for the horses, too."
"Should we send a hawk ahead to our contact in the village to expect us near dawn to make sure we're greeted by someone friendly?" Castor checked his crossbow and strapped it to his hip, satisfied it was ready.
"No time," Tia said, slipping one of the daggers she'd found in the ruins into a new sheath around her upper thigh. Enide had used it as a lesson for his students in how to clean and restore a blade. "We'll have to pin down our ears and hope for the best."
"May the gods protect you, young ones," Safuc said. "And the moment you learn anything, come back. There is nothing worth risking overstaying your welcome."
The four of them left the tent in deep blue cloaks, slipping through the tents to the wall in relative silence. The guard at the stables didn't need too much coaxing to saddle up the four horses and lead them to the edge of the forest. Castor and Jafa looked up at the stars and took point, motioning silently for Tia and Enide to follow.
The horses endured the grueling pace for hours without complaint as they rode through the chilly night, their cloaks whipping in the breeze and dust flying in their wake. When Jafa raised her fist, they all slowed to a leisurely canter. The starlight was broken by passing clouds, making it easier to stay hidden until they saw a small home on the very edge of where the desert met more fertile soil came alive, light filling the windows before a head peered out and the light was quickly doused.
The four riders stopped, hands on their weapons to be ready for a fight. Instead, an old human woman with a weak lantern hobbled up to them. "I'm no threat to you." She called. "Although, perhaps you are a threat to me. No one has come from Grey City in a long time."
They all looked at one another and silently agreed Castor should be the one to speak. "We mean no harm, ma'am. We were worried about what's been going on with the slaves."
The old woman lifted the lantern and it caught the glint of the Muri's signature big, blue, pupilless eyes before they could turn their heads. "Worried about the new edicts? Haven't seen anyone check in with me for weeks." She turned. "Come bring in those horses before the lookouts catch sight of you. There are still patrols so hurry it up."
Tia dismounted first and lead her mount by the reins to the shock of the others. "What?” My passengers say she's fine." She hissed at Castor, tapping the side of her head. "And the last thing we need is to get caught. Let's go."
The others dismounted and followed, surprised when the old woman lead them to the front door.
"Mind the horse’s heads." When she opened it, the door was almost as tall and wide as a barn door. When they walked in, they saw it was in fact a repurposed barn with a false floor that opened into a huge hidden cavern. Oil lamps lit up the place, revealing many cots, a few tables, some clean dishes, and a separate penned-in area for the horses.
"What is all this?" Enide openly gaped at the structure, eyeing the wood supports along the walls and ceiling.
"I've been helping Muri escape long before Grey City." The old woman said, unlatching the gate and letting the horses into the pen; where they immediately began to graze on the hay and drink the cool water inside. "My parents started his place and plenty of grateful Muri have helped me expand it over the years." The old woman shrugged, leaning heavily on her cane. "Some decent humans, too. Those tend to be in short supply, even in the supposed good times. Make yourselves at home. You can hang your cloaks by whatever cot you pick but if you want the baths, you'll have to haul water and wood yourself. I'm not as young as I used to be."
While the others looked around in awe, Jafa walked up to the woman and offered her elbow to lean on. "What is your name?"
"You can call me Riley, young lady."
"I'm Jafa." She turned to introduce the others. "Castor, Enide, and Tia. I don't think we can thank you enough for your kindness."
Riley patted Jafa's hand. "You're a sweetheart. This is no burden. It's my life's work." Riley gave a wry grin of dotted teeth. "But if you're feeling grateful, I could use some help in the kitchen. I'm sure you're hungry from your trek across the desert and I do tend to gossip while I cook."
As Jafa went to the first level with Riley and Enide went to take care of the horses, Castor hung up his cloak and fell into a cot. "I think I left my heart outside." He gasped.
Tia pulled down her hood and sighed. "If the voices in my head didn't argue with me, I wouldn't believe it either. I don't think I would trust a human otherwise."
"There's no way so many Muri would have made it to Grey city without some help from humans. Even a crooked guard here and there." Castor rubbed his face as he tried to gather himself. "Riley must have been doing this a long time. She’s well organized and prepared."
Tia pulled off her cloak and chose a cot across from Castor. "Be honest. If I didn't have dead people in my head telling me it was safe, would you be so calm? So trusting?"
When Castor didn’t answer, Tia decided not to press the issue. Right now, they had clean beds, a chance to safely wash the desert grit off their clothes and skin, and a warm meal that smelled amazing from the scents wafting from the floor above them. There was no need to air their frequent disappointment in humans they'd counted on in the past, each of them bearing mental and physical scars from that unfortunate truth.
"I'm gonna go check out the baths." Enide left his cloak and leather armor on the cot next to Castor, hesitating slightly at the discomfort between Castor and Tia that he didn’t understand.
Castor put his crossbow and quiver right by his cot and stood. "I think I'll go help Jafa. See what I can find out."
Tia didn't comment on being left alone, as being physically alone didn't mean much these days. There was some back and forth in her head about being too negative or having some healthy reservations but it was all background noise. Tia took off her boots and dagger before falling into the cot, letting the dull hum of the voices debating fade as she rested her eyes. Whatever strange thing Ciro was seeing evaded her for now but Tia had acted on some strange guidance thus far. Some old human woman with another secret room was the least of her worries.
-
RILEY SAT WITH THEM for dinner and she heard their concerns about how difficult it had become for Muri in Rezin.
"There were going to be riots if the king didn't do something. Grey City inspired the Muri and provides too great a temptation to escape." The old woman shook her head. "I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner. Or wasn't more violent."
While they ate, Riley filled them in on what the last few escaping slaves had to tell her; horrid tales of slave houses burnt to the ground, Muri locked or chained in their master's homes, and beaten viciously if they dared to violate curfews set in the various villages.
"It didn't take long before nobody risked trying to get out." She looked down at her hands, defeat making the wrinkles on her plump face even deeper.
"Have there been any rumors about anything strange?" Castor asked her.
"Nothing I can think of." Riley tilted her head in thought. "Just the usual whispers of a failed escape here and there."
Disheartened, Castor didn't speak again until he offered to help clean up after dinner. "How many guards are in your village?"
"Thinking of going there?" Riley offered him a clean dish to dry. "Not a good idea. The guards are the least of your worries. It's the regular person who thinks they can act with the same authority as a guard. That's the real danger." She kept her eyes on the pot she was scrubbing. "Why in the world would you risk such a thing?"
Castor picked his words carefully. "We have reason to believe there's some dark force brewing. We're trying to find out anything that could help us defend ourselves."
Riley made a disgusted snort. "Probably that creature the king calls a wife. I've seen magic used in my days but nothing like the things the queen likes to play with." She handed Castor the last dish and went to dry her hands. "She's worth the risk you're taking by coming here from Grey City. But not worth going into the village proper by yourselves. Rest here and in the morning, I will go and see what can be found out."
Placing the last dish on its shelf, Castor reached for her hand and squeezed it. "I can't thank you enough for your help."
Riley turned his hand so it was palm up, noting the calluses before looking up at him. "You're more than welcome, young man. But you should probably save your thanks for when I come back with something useful."
-
RILEY WAS GONE BEFORE Castor woke in the morning, finding some warm bread and cool milk waiting for them on the table. There was no note but it was understood Riley would be back before they needed another meal.
"Are we certain she won't come back with an angry mob?" Enide picked at the bread while the others ate, Tia in particular devouring hunks at a time.
Jafa snatched up a large piece and split it with Castor before Tia could eat it all. "If so, this is an overly elaborate trap."
"Nah, she's a good lady." Tia said, her mouth full. She was just grateful the voices weren't so overwhelming, she could finally eat. "Little old ladies are great for finding out news. Gossip finds them easy because young people don't pay proper attention or don't care what they think."
Minutes after finishing their breakfast, they heard the massive front door open. The equally large trap door opened and Riley picked her way down the sloped entryway.
"I would say good morning but I fear I would ruin it with the news I have," Riley grunted when she joined them at the table, her hips aching from the trip. Jafa came to her with some water and Riley thanked her before continuing. "There are rumors from the castle that the queen has been experimenting on Muri slaves to find a way to use the brands to kill you."
Everyone but Tia instinctively covered their bellies. "But how?" Castor whispered; wishing the message from the palace gave more details.
"I don't pretend to understand how these things work but whatever the brand does to restrict a Muri's magic is being used against them in a way that is indescribable."
Banging echoed from the front door and while the others reached for their weapons, Riley gripped her cane in a way that suggested it had more than its intended use and she would be proficient enough to protect herself. "Grandmother! Open up! It's an emergency."
Breathing a sigh of relief, Riley headed for the door. "I'm coming!" She called out. "You all stay down here, just in case."
Since she left the trap door open, they all could hear Riley allow her grandchild in and hurried them down into the hidden chamber. Her grandchild was nearly middle-aged and a hooded figure hung like a sack by one arm around her shoulder.
"He's lucky I found him under some bags of corn four before someone else did. I knew I had to get him here before he was spotted." The woman said, dragging her charge to the nearest bed and grunting when she was relieved of her heavy burden.
Riley ordered her to get cool water and towels and her granddaughter ran out into the kitchen ,giving a quick nod to the Muri as if their presence was expected. Riley pulled back the hood to reveal a gaunt face and limp light blue hair tangled around his large, round ears. When he opened his eyes, the deep blue looked pale and black veins splintered through them.
"Keep calm, dear." Riley tried to comfort him but the Muri shook violently as he struggled to breathe. "You're safe here."
"No," Everyone present flinched at the rough reverberation in his voice. "Have to get to Grey City." He coughed violently, black dust spattering over his chin. "Have to warn them."
Riley's granddaughter came running with a basin and she helped Riley swab his feverish face and neck. "Calm down. You can tell us after we've tended to you."
"No!" With quaking hands, he lifted his shirt, revealing the horrid state of his brand. The normally blue scar was now black, reaching infected tendrils out all over his belly and chest. They were crawling bit by bit up his neck and down his legs, the cracks threading down to his ankles. "No time. The queen did this." His back arched in pain as more coughs covered his chest in ash. "Gathered a bunch of us. Said some strange words. We were screaming. Couldn't run far." Now the ash poured from his mouth and nose. "I was in the back. Hid in what was left until I could run." As he took his last breaths, he gripped Riley's wrist. "The brands. She made the brands consume us." He was cut off by the blackness covering his face and seconds later, his body turned to ash; leaving nothing but his clothes behind.
Castor and Enide stepped back in horror while Jafa tried not to gag on the breakfast that threatened to return. Tia turned away and took an empty water jug. She checked to make sure it was dry inside, then knelt by the cot, filling the jug with the ashes.
Castor gaped down at her. "What are you-"
"I'm taking him back with us to Grey City." Her voice was as dry and gritty as the ashes she handled. "We'll lay him to rest there."
Riley's granddaughter choked back a sob and that was when Castor got a good look at her. Perhaps a human wouldn't notice but he could see her eyes were just a bit larger than the average person, a deeper blue than her grandmother's. What he could see of her jet black hair was streaked with clear white; bluish if the light hit it just right. If he were to guess, her headwrap disguised slightly larger ears. She was a one in a million chance of a human/Muri child surviving passed a month, much less a full life.
"I'll help you." She said, cupping her hands into the ash and pouring them into the container Tia found. Wordlessly, they all did the same until they were patting the clothes and sheets to try and get every last bit.
"My name is Hestor." She said, holding out her hand to Castor but withdrawing it when she saw it caked with ashes. She shuddered and wiped her hands with the damp cloths she'd brought down and handed them around. "Sorry to meet under such circumstances."
"Thank you for bringing him here," Castor said, feeling guilty for how relieved he was to clean his hands. "It's because of you that he was able to get his message to the right people."
"You're from Grey City, right?" Hestor noted their leather armor and weapons. "Is it true what they say? That you're building an army to destroy the kingdom?"
"We're building houses and fields." Tia huffed and Jafa elbowed her for her rudeness.
"Figures the lords would spread rumors to rile up these idiots." Unphased by Tia's anger, Hestor crossed her arms over her chest; more hugging herself than anything else. "You may want to consider it after what you've seen now."
Jafa and Enide looked at each other, wordlessly asking the same questions. Build an army? With what? And who? The majority of the residents in Grey City were Muri who were just grateful to be alive. The few who could fight were not soldiers of any kind who had learned what they knew by necessity, not formal training. They had come to Grey City seeking peace. But if the dark queen aided the king in attacking them, war was inevitable.
"You should go." Riley dabbed at her eyes and Hestor went to her side for comfort. "Don't worry about the dust, I'll tell anyone who asks my horse broke free and tore around the farm. Take some food, fill your water skins, and get this information back to Grey City as fast as possible." Riley looked up at the shaken Muri. "If the gods are kind, I will see you again in better times."
Castor, Jafa, and Enide did as they were told, helped by Hestor to pack and saddle their horses. While they worked, Tia put on her cloak, and with the makeshift urn clutched tight to her chest, she bent down to whisper something into Riley's ear. The old woman's eyes widened but she was speechless, barely saying a word as they all said their goodbyes and the four Muri galloped into the desert.
As they watched the Muri shrink into the distance, Hestor noticed her grandmother holding back tears. "What's wrong?" She said, holding her grandmother's hand.
"The strange one with the long hair and face markings." She whispered, patting Hestor's hand. "She told me your parents are proud of us."
Now Hestor joined Riley in silently crying, remembering her parents. Her father was an escaped slave hiding in the barn back when it was still a barn and not an elaborate hideaway. Her mother, grandmother, and uncles had no problem hiding him and nursing him back to health; giving him a job on the farm. The village may have thought the eccentric family finally acquired a slave like everyone else, unknowing he was a paid employee. It wasn't long until he also became family and Hestor was born shortly after.
"How could she know that?" Hestor sniffed, missing her parents after their deaths by the troubles that come with disease and farm accidents.
"I don't know." Riley pulled her close and they watched the horses until they couldn't see them anymore and the sun sank into the horizon. They couldn't put into words why but they knew what Tia said was completely true.