22
"And…sometimes it just feels like all we do is fight." Cole finished from his perch on the Guardian of Fire. The red reptile was suffering from something stuck under a scale on its back, apparently, but Cole had yet to find it.
Wu chuckled fight all the time…but you're still good friends," Wu pointed out. Cole sighed as he moved further down the Guardian's back.
"That's different…" He spied something wedged under a polished red scale. "There you are…"
"Perhaps it is, but the fact of the matter is, you're both under a lot of stress, and there's been a lot that's been going on. There are times you'll fight…but it isn't a matter of how often you disagree. Rather, it's how often you disagree without making up." He turned in time to see the Guardian of Fire lurch forward, sending Cole tumbling off his back. The Earth Master groaned on the ground.
Cole sat up, rubbing his head with one hand while the other clutched the offending branch. "I guess…."
"Just take it one day at a time, Cole." Wu offered, and his student sighed as he stood. The Dragon Master shook his head as he looked over at him. "Why is it, by the way, you only come to see me when you want to complain about something?"
Cole chuckled sheepishly. "I'm sorry, sensei… I've been meaning to visit more. It's just I've got this bodyguard now who follows me everywhere and I didn't want to bring him here, with all the dragons and stuff." He shrugged. "I mean…I get there's the union, and everything, but it still feels very…"
"Precarious." Wu finished, and Cole nodded. The Dragon Master sighed. "It's going to take time…but hopefully someday we will get to a place of more trust."
"What have you been working on recently?" Cole asked. Wu stretched.
"Most efforts have been directed at Dragon relocation and realm beautification…"
"Realm beautification?"
Wu laughed. "Well, it certainly wouldn't hurt for this place to be a little less…"
"Horrible?" Cole finished, eyebrow raised, and Wu gave a little smile.
"Precisely."
The two boarded their dragons and Cole looked up at the sun's position.
"Shoot…I really should be headed back." He looked over at his sensei. "Thanks for listening…I promise I'll try to visit more, and not just to complain."
"Well, I do come to the fortress from time to time." Wu reminded. "Just try to not be in jail next time…"
Cole smiled, raising a hand in goodbye. A moment later he was headed back to the fortress. Dorhn would be mad he ditched him today, but then again he felt like his bodyguard was being less and less of a pain lately, so maybe he wouldn't care that much…
"You've been buying fewer and fewer over the last months…" the oily slave trader was explaining, and it was all Keyda could do to keep her mouth shut. Of all the different things she wanted to change in this realm, slavery was one of the main ones….and yet it was also going to be the most difficult thing to challenge. Heavy Metal hovered nearby, though she never could tell these days if he kept close to make her feel supported or remind her to stay in line.
"If you are unhappy with earlier purchases…"
"Not at all." Keyda said forcefully, and the trader blinked in surprise. His two companions seemed to share a look and she sighed internally, trying to figure out how to best approach this.
"Without dragons…we don't really have a need for a multitude of slaves…" she tried carefully. "Most of our forces went towards feeding and controlling the reptiles, you see."
"Yes…but you still run the largest fortress in the nation." the trader pointed out. "The other three fortresses are far smaller, and their leaders are over significantly less…and yet they've been buying more slaves in the absence of the reptiles…"
"I understand," Keyda cut in. "But I hardly make decisions based on what the other leaders are doing. Rather, I make them based on what is best for my home and what is required to run it." She stood abruptly. "I would like to thank you for your time, but there are other things I must attend to now."
The slave trader frowned and glanced over at Heavy Metal, as if expecting a different response. The captain of the guard merely folded his arms and the oily character recovered quickly.
"Ah, of course. You must have a multiplicity of other things to do, as leader of the realm. Well…I hope you will consider stocking up soon; fever season is basically here, after all, and most fortresses see a significant decline…"
Keyda's fists clenched on the table and Heavy Metal nodded at the dragon masters at the door, who opened it in a clear unspoken order. The trader trailed off and clenched his jaw before turning to leave with his two companions. Heavy Metal signaled for the two guards to leave as well. As soon as the doors closed, Keyda grabbed something off her table and chucked it at them. It smacked into the closed doors and clattered to the ground as she collapsed back into her chair, head in her hands.
"Well…you made it through that whole meeting without threatening anybody…" Heavy Metal noted, and she shook her head.
"I hate them…I hate them so much…" She exhaled angrily, trying to stop shaking. "They're people. They're selling people and it's like they don't even care…"
"It's lucrative…one of the few trades that are," her second hand mused. She looked at him, disgusted, and he shrugged. "With the decline of dragon capture and trade, many Oni are turning to different forms of trade…"
"Where do they even get them all?"
Heavy Metal fell silent and Keyda sighed.
"Nevermind…I know where they get them. The realm only needs so many 'degenerate farmers…' right?" she asked bitterly, and Heavy Metal sighed.
"We've been buying less." he informed.
"Yeah…and the other fortresses will just buy what we don't, and they'll probably be treated even worse." She felt sick as she massaged her head. "There's just no way out of it, unless we just did away with…"
Heavy Metal's hand came down on her shoulder firmly.
"I know you hate it…but if you try and get rid of the system, there will be severe consequences." he warned. She sighed heavily.
"Someday, I'm going to do it," she muttered, but she and he both knew it wouldn't be anytime soon. Everything was still too unstable. Though she had to wonder if there would ever be a "right time" for that kind of change.
There was a knock at her bedroom door and Keyda looked up. Her new personal—an older, matronly lady name Masha- looked over at her.
"Shall I tell them it's too late, mam?"
"No. It's probably Cole…you can let him in." Keyda answered, slipping out of bed. She stood barefoot on the floor, arms crossed as he entered. He took in the mussed bed and her nightrobe and frowned.
"Sorry…I didn't realize you were already in bed…"
"It's alright. I can't sleep, at any rate." she replied. They stood in awkward silence for a minute or so, and Cole finally sighed.
"Look, Keyds, about yesterday…"
"I'm sorry." she blurted and he blinked. She gave a shrug. "I was…well, am, mad you lied to me…but I guess I get why." She pressed a hand to her forehead. "It's just with everything going on I need to be able to rely on you…"
He came closer. "That's just it…you can rely on me Keyda. I…I know I lied, and I should have been honest about all that stuff that went down. But I just want you, well, uh, us…to be ok."
She leaned into him and they embraced, and both seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. After a few minutes she pulled back a little.
"You smell like Dragons…you go see Wu today?"
He scoffed. "Now you sound just like Phos…."
"Rude." she chastised. "It doesn't take some cryptic koot to smell dragon on someone…it's a very obvious smell…"
He shook his head, rubbing her face with one thumb.
"Did you go to see Phos today? How'd it go?"
Her expression immediately darkened.
"I failed again. Apparently Pure Hatred really is a thing…and that's what's making control so hard. And what made the Baron target me in the first place…"
He felt her shudder and frowned.
"Hey…you'll get it. I know you will, Keyds...and I'm gonna be right here. Someday we have to get the best of this crazy world, right?"
She didn't answer and they stood together a few minutes longer.
"You want me to stick around till you fall asleep?" he murmured, and she shook her head.
"You head to bed, Idiot. No doubt you're tired from messing around with Dragons all day long…though I suggest a shower before bed."
"You sure? I don't mind…"
"Phos'll blame me if you're falling asleep all day tomorrow." she pointed out. "I almost forgot…he says that you'll have to do a bit longer this time…"
"Longer? I swear I spend most of my life there as it is!" Cole complained. She pulled out of the embrace and he sighed.
"Sleep well, then, ok?" he said, and she nodded. After he had left she got back into bed and looked over at the jar of petals on her side-table. She couldn't keep using it every night…she'd run out. She felt a pang of fear at the thought of sleeping without it, but she forced it away. She'd just focus on positive things….she'd just avoid anger, and hate. Surely she could control her own thoughts…surely…
There was a howl of a night-sniffer, and the figures gathered in the dark stiffened, gazing out into the desert landscape.
"S'far off." One finally decided, and the other two relaxed as well. One stamped his feet in the cold.
"Where is he? He said he'd be here at the apex of the moon…"
"He's got a good deal more to do than you do, Rasher," came the third voice, female and confident. "Give him time to wind himself out of his responsibilities…"
"There 'e is." The first, older voice commented. They looked over to see a large figure picking his way over to them.
"Bout time, Dorhn…Rasher here thought you weren't gonna show." The female voice said as he reached the group.
"Apologies. There were other things to discuss with the Captain."
The others nodded their understanding.
"So what's the word? How much support can we expect from the other dragon masters?"
"It seems that most the dragon masters are content enough where things are at, even despite the union. They blame the Old Dragon Master for that bit more than they blame Keyda…"
"So they would support her over us?" the younger man, Rasher, snarled. Dorhn rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"They would at the moment, perhaps….but maybe in the right setting…"
"So we need to make things a bit more personal…put a little more at stake for them. Force them to really consider the consequences of their loyalties." the female voice interpreted. Dorhn nodded.
"What do you suggest, oh dragon master?" the older voice asked sarcastically.
"We need to show em what kind of leader she really is…what kind of changes she really wants…."
"The Outsider." the female said suddenly. "The Oni are still unsure of him, yeah? But from your earlier reports, she sides with him over all else. We just need to orchestrate things so he does something that people can't turn a blind eye to anymore…something truly unforgivable…"
They were silent a moment, and Rasher suddenly chuckled darkly.
"I got an idea…but it'll take some preparation…"
"Don't all great changes?" the female asked. "Tell us the plan, Rash…and we'll make sure it happens."
"Did you write some of these?"
Phos glanced over from where he was crushing leaves in a mortar. Nearby Dorhn was snoozing in an armchair, having accepted the offered teacup that morning.
"None so early as what you've been translating."
Cole looked over at the scrolls still stuffed in the cubbies. "But some of the later ones?"
"I helped." Phos said uncommittedly. Cole shook his head, not sure why Phos always had to be so cryptic.
"Helped who?" Cole paused. "Are there more healers?"
Phos glared at him. "I warned you about asking too many questions…"
"Fine, keep your secrets." Cole said, irritated, as he continued to write on the scroll. "I'll keep reading and maybe someday I'll find this stuff out without you telling me."
Phos came closer to look at what he was writing.
"You aren't even using your reference scroll…" he pointed out after a few minutes. Cole shrugged.
"You've been working me like crazy for weeks on end, Phos…I think I have the kanji correspondence memorized at this point."
"Huh," He scanned through the scroll for a few minutes more before wandering back to the table full of random things.
"So….no other healers then?" Cole pressed, and Phos made an exasperated sound.
"Of course there are more healers, fool. Haven't you been paying attention to the scrolls at all?!"
"There was just that one mention of them!" Cole complained. "Back in that scroll about Kahzym the first…all these scrolls are all about battles and war and unifying the realm under the next two Kahzyms; it hasn't even mentioned healers since…"
"Kahzym the first organized the Healers. Use your brain, boy! No longer were Healers just drifting medicine men and women…they suddenly had purpose, a society of sorts."
"So you're a part of this society? Or does it not exist anymore?"
Phos fell silent as he frowned. Cole paused writing to look up at him.
"Phos?"
"Things became complicated, awhile back…it became a little…forgotten." He moved to add different herbs to his small stone bowl. "Many Healers lost or were unaware of their identity and history, and they were were hunted." He glanced up and noticed Cole had stopped writing and bristled.
"You can listen and work at the same time, can you not?"
Cole rolled his eyes and went back to work. After a few minutes, the Master of Earth spoke again, voice quieter.
"Keyda mentioned she had to come here when she was younger…do you…remember that?"
"Yes."
Phos didn't look up as he crushed the newly added herbs.
Cole frowned and continued, making sure to keep writing. "The Baron killed a lot of Healers…but not you. He sent Keyda here, after…after he…" he trailed off as his face contorted angrily, his grip on his brush tightening as he remembered what Keyda had told him.
Phos sighed to himself.
"Shazier had a thirst…even a lust for knowledge, control, power. But just as he knew knowledge of the past could give him power, he wanted to make sure no one else had access to that. So he tried to get rid of those who could provide that knowledge." He shook his head, as if at a memory. "Not that many of them even knew their heritage…but he also couldn't allow them to keep healing people…"
"Why? What did he have against…"
"He believed it was his right to purify the race. If Oni grew sick, they deserved to die due to being weaker. He often razed whole towns and villages to the ground if he felt like the population of the lower castes was growing too large…"
"That's what he did to Keyda's village." Cole remembered quietly. Phos looked up at him, eyes glinting. Cole shook his head, his own gaze still on the scroll in front of him. "That's where the monster found her."
"And sensed her potential, no doubt." Phos murmured as he poured the crushed herbs in a small draw-string sack.
Cole bit his lip. "But Phos, based on everything you've said, all Oni have that potential…?"
"Technically…but he must have known she had the capacity to break through her apathetic block." Phos shook his head. "How old was she?"
"I…don't know. Just little, I think…"
Phos nodded, as if that made sense. "He probably hoped to break her young…he must have targeted her maliciously."
Cole's jaw clenched and he stopped writing to look back up.
"The more I learn about the guy….the more I hate him."
Phos shrugged. "He thought the ends justify the means. But there were times that he got carried away…the day his masked stooge brought her to me, she was in bad shape."
Cole shuddered and his brush splattered. The Healer just shook his head again.
"There's a reason she's so prone to Hatred, boy…she was raised in a way to make that path the only option."
"She's not prone to Hatred…"
"Don't be stupid." Phos scoffed, and Cole gave him a murderous look. The Healer ignored it as he continued. "Her go-to emotions seem to be anger and Hate. Shazier forced her to be the monster he needed."
"She's NOT a MONSTER," Cole yelled, standing suddenly and slamming his hands on the table as he glared. Ink splashed from the pot, pooling on the scroll he was writing.
Phos looked at him cooly, stroking his scruffy chin.
"I never said she was." Phos said carefully. He studied the fuming Master of Earth a few moments longer. "But that is what Shazier was trying to create…an Oni consumed with Hatred, a constant source of power for him."
"Then he failed." Cole snapped. "Does anybody even recognize her potential for good?! She cares about people, wants what's best for this realm…why is it that nobody seems to…"
"You recognized it." Phos pointed out calmly. "And that's the only reason she hasn't dissolved into corruption."
Cole's irate expression became more confused. "What?!"
"Hatred it a very volatile emotion…especially for Oni." Phos explained dryly. "Her capacity for Pure Hatred should have warped her soul by now. But it's been tempered by her feelings for you. Heaven help us all if she ever loses you."
The last line was more sarcastic than anything and Cole glowered.
"She already has…several times. Considering that the world is still standing…I guess she's more impervious to the Hatred than you give her credit for."
Phos raised an eyebrow; it was his turn to be confused.
"You've died…several times?"
Cole sat back down, looking down at the smudged and splattered scroll in front of him with annoyance.
"Kinda," he finally said. He looked up at the Healer again. "Why do you think she's so paranoid?"
Phos scoffed, scratching his chin again. "It does explain a lot…"
"She thinks that her emotions control her…and you seem to think so too…but you both don't realize how strong she really is." Cole continued as he pulled a new sheet of parchment; he'd have to rewrite the whole scroll…he knew Phos wouldn't accept the ruined one.
"You need to start being honest with yourself, kid." Phos chastised, and Cole's expression darkened. "She's got a serious control problem that needs to be addressed…and optimism and pep-talks aren't going to cut it."
Cole didn't respond as he got working on rewriting the scroll. Phos got busy getting a pot of tea going.
"So why didn't the Baron ever kill you?"
Cole's question broke the long silence and Phos looked up from his kettle. He didn't answer right away and the Master of Earth just assumed that he wasn't going to.
"He couldn't kill us all, even if he wanted to. Some of us can't merely be killed…"
Cole raised an eyebrow as Phos continued.
"Besides…if he got rid of all sources of knowledge, he'd cut himself off from knowledge of the past. How do you think he got the idea of capturing dragons from? A common practice back in the days of Kahzym the third…but by the time his successor took power merely capturing dragons was seen as a form of empathy and the practice became to kill or maim…"
"So he kept you alive for the knowledge…"
"He didn't keep me alive boy…he knew he couldn't kill me, so he didn't try."
"Why couldn't he kill you?"
The Healer's face clouded over and Cole got the feeling he wasn't going to answer any more of his questions. He watched Phos for a few seconds more before turning his efforts back to the scroll; more than likely the old Oni wasn't going to let him leave until it was finished.
23
"This is the last village, correct?" Dorhn asked, glancing at the setting sun. Cole nodded; it had taken awhile for him to finish the scroll at Phos's and he was eager to get home. The Guardian landed near the livestock pen, and the hoofers and smaller, sheep-like creatures balked and bayed. Cole rolled his eyes.
"Calm down, he's not going to eat you…" he muttered.
Don't be so sure…
"Shut up," Cole said tiredly. He hopped off the dragon's back and headed over to the pen. He smiled slightly at the small green shoots forcing their way up through the dirt.
"We've been watering em, don't you worry."
He looked up at the grouchy male village leader and nodded his thanks.
"Any problems with night-sniffers?"
The Leader rubbed his beard.
"Well…no…but that could be account of the fever. Night-sniffers avoid most villages this time of year…."
"Fever?" Cole blinked in surprise. "Who has fever? How bad is it?"
The Leader gave a start, as if he realized he had said too much.
"Not bad…we haven't been affected at all, really," he said quickly. Cole furrowed his brow; he knew the guy was lying, but he wasn't sure how hard to press.
"Well…if you ever need any extra help, let me know." he said, and the leader frowned, confused.
"Help…with fever?"
Cole nodded and the leader looked away.
"Yes…we will have to let you know…"
Cole got back to his dragon, thinking. He took a few minutes to board and Dorhn looked very obviously over at the setting sun, and Cole sighed before pulling himself up. The Guardian gave one last hungry look at the livestock before taking off into the air.
"Have you been here all day, Masha?"
Keyda walked in to see her personal sitting on the slave stool; but Keyda hadn't even been in the room since that morning. The matronly lady looked up.
"Yes mam…I hope that's alright…"
Keyda blinked. "Well…I don't really have a problem with it…but why not spend some time in your…"
"Been quarantined from the slave quarters, mam." she replied softly.
"Quarantined?!"
Masha nodded. "Fever outbreak among the other slaves…since I'm with you so much, they can't risk that I bring it back here to the leader…"
Keyda had already left the room, heading down the hall to the slave quarters. The doors were closed, however, with two dragon masters guarding the way down.
"Open up," she said firmly, but one shook his head.
"Sorry, mam…the slave quarters are quarantined…"
Her eyes flashed. "I'm aware…but I want to get down there…"
"Can't risk it." One said pointedly, and she sighed angrily.
"At least tell me that they're being cared for…that there's medicine being provided…"
The Dragon Masters shared a look and one turned back, confused.
"They're just slaves mam…"
Her fists clenched right as she heard someone come behind her.
"Keyds? Everything alright?"
She turned to see Cole and her eyes flashed.
"Fever's broken out, and they've just locked the slaves downstairs without medicine…"
Cole had come up to her and he glanced behind her at the guards.
"Phos'll have medicine, no doubt…" Cole pointed out and she nodded.
"Let's go."
"Phos!"
Cole entered the dark tent. "Phos!"
"He's gone."
Syn poked her head out of the doorway to the back, looking like she had just woken up.
"Gone where?"
Keyda had pushed her way in and Syn shrugged slightly.
"Some stuff can only be gathered in moonlight…" she said sleepily. "Hersh is with him…."
"We need something to stop fever…there's been an outbreak with the slaves." Cole said, and Syn's eyes widened in understanding. As she rushed off to find herbs, Keyda hugged her arms impatiently. Cole had an arm around her waist, as if sensing her anxiety. Fever season was horrific as a slave in the fortress…she remembered the smell, the fear. Those stricken the hardest were locked in one room, while those still healthy were expected to make up the difference and run the fortress. And the quarters were locked from the outside world until everyone was healthy or dead…
"This is all we have left…" Syn said as she re-entered. She handed them a small bowl of gel; it must have been the same stuff she had seen Hershel harvesting earlier. She also handed them a packet of herbs.
"The gel needs to be rubbed on their chest and foreheads…and the herbs make a tea…" she explained quickly. Her expression suddenly became conflicted. "Should…should I come with you?..."
"No, Syn…I think it's better if you stay here." Cole said with a smile. "Thanks for the herbs…tell Phos I'll come by this week to pay him back."
She nodded as she watched them slip away, chewing her lip.
Dragon Masters were blocking the outside entrance to the Servants entrance as well, and Keyda glared at them.
"They're not gonna let me in…" she said angrily, and Cole put a hand on her shoulder.
"You're the ruler…they can't risk you getting sick."
She glowered at the door, thinking how ironic it was that she had spent years locked in the quarters during fever season…but now that she could actually help she was blocked from going in.
"They're going to have to just deal with it…" she muttered and he shook his head.
"Hey, they don't care about me, Keyds. They'll let me in." He gave her a smile and she finally huffed, resigned.
"Be careful…"
"I'll be in and out," he assured, and she relaxed a little. She handed him the bowl she had been carrying and watched as he ran down to the entrance. He seemed to talk to the dragon masters a little while, and she sighed in relief when one finally stepped out of the way and let him enter. He turned briefly to give her a smile and then disappeared into the slave quarters.
The smell hit hard and Cole couldn't help but gag a little. How long had the slaves down here been sick? He felt guilt twist as he realized it could have been days or even weeks…he hadn't been down here in a while. Slaves gave him confused or fearful looks as he passed; those he saw in the halls seemed pretty healthy and he finally stopped one of them.
"Where are the sick?"
The woman shrunk away.
"They aint all dead yet…"
Cole furrowed his brows.
"Well…good…I'm here to help them."
She stared at him a few moments longer and he resisted the urge to raise his voice.
"So where are they?"
She blinked out of her thoughts and pointed, and he went to leave. He stopped suddenly and called back to her, and she froze mid-escape.
"I'm going to need a few kettles of hot water…and some cups…"
She swallowed and nodded before turning and disappearing down the hallway to the slave kitchens. He continued down the hall she had gestured to and the thickening scent assured him he was getting closer. He finally found the barricaded door. He glanced up to see the keys to the door hanging on a peg on the wall. He shook his head in disgust; they must just throw the newly sick in the room and lock the door behind him. He took a breath before unlocking the door. The stench was like hitting a wall, and his eyes teared up immediately; it smelled like fever and decay. Eyes glinted in the darkness and his own tried to adjust. He powered up his earth punch for a feeble glow, and was horrified by the guant and feverish faces looking back at him.
"I'm here to help…" he assured, trying not to choke on the stench. While he waited for the other Oni to arrive with the hot water, he picked his way around the room. There were at least a dozen dead bodies, and he shuddered in horror. He had those well enough move to a different side of the room. There were a handful too weak and sick to move and he sat next to them, pulling out the small bowl of gel. He grit his teeth in determination as he moved mat to mat, rubbing the strange-smelling gel on the slaves' chests and foreheads. It didn't seem to have any immediate effect, and he just had to hope that it would make a difference in the long run. There wasn't nearly enough gel for all the sick, so he treated those who seemed the sickest first. Eventually the other Oni woman came in with the hot water, and he poured the herb packet in with shaking hands. With her help, they managed to give everyone a drink of the tea. Cole noticed that they drooped and dozed after the tea was administered, after the last Oni had a drink he sighed in relief. He looked over at the dead bodies and shook his head.
"We have to get rid of those…"
"They won't let anything out until the fever is over." she replied, talking for the first time. Cole's jaw clenched as he walked over. They didn't have many options, so he looked down at his hands. He closed his eyes for a moment, gathering strength, and then slammed his arms down. A Wall of Earth sprung up, blocking the part of the room with the bodies from the rest. He looked back at the sleeping slaves and sighed again; there wasn't much he could do at this point.
He and the woman left the room, and he closed the door…but he didn't lock it. He began walking towards the way he came in and she shook her head, not understanding.
"They won't let you out now…"
He paused and turned around, wanting nothing more than to collapse into bed at this point.
"What do you mean?"
"You've been with the sick…the dead…" She shook her head. "They aren't going to let you out of quarantine."
He frowned, a sinking feeling settling in. He and Keyda had been so worried about getting into the quarantine…he hadn't even considered that they wouldn't let him back out of it. He continued down the hall, reaching the door and pounding.
"No exit from Quarantine," came the gruff response, and Cole glowered at the unopened door.
"I just came in to help the sick…but you've got to…."
"No exit from Quarantine…outsider."
Cole clenched his fists, color rising up his arms.
"You're going to want to move away from the door." he warned. "I'm about to blast it open…unless you unlock it now."
There was silence for a few moments, and the door swung open, revealing the two irritated guards. Cole's arms powered down, and he glowered at them.
"You gonna let me through?"
"You'll have to be quarantined…if not here, then in your quarters." one finally said. "The law is the law…"
Cole wanted to argue more, but he was exhausted, and the thought of being quarantined in his own room with his bed…
"Fine." He said, walking towards his room. One began following him, no doubt making sure he didn't make any stops on the way. He turned to the tall, surly guard as they reached his room.
"Tell Keyda that I helped everyone I could, but we ran out of medication…" he stifled a yawn. "And you can tell her that I'm under this quarantine as well…"
The guard nodded his understanding and Cole went into his room. A moment later he heard a lock click in place and he turned to glare at the door. He tried to shake off his annoyance; he knew how to escape his room, if it came to that. He barely had the energy to take off his shoes before collapsing into bed.
Keyda waited for Cole for a while, but she kept yawning and Masha finally assured her she would wake her the second Cole came. But as Keyda opened her eyes to the beams of sunlight she felt a jolt of fear. She sat up, finding her personal in the room.
"Masha…"
"He never came," the slave said apologetically, and Keyda quickly got out of bed to get dressed. She hurried down the hall to the slave quarters, but Heavy Metal met her on her way.
"Keyda…"
"He better not still be in quarantine…" she said angrily as she tried to go around him. He stepped in her way.
"Not in the slave quarters, no…"
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Heavy Metal sighed, as if he found it too early for this.
"He was in the sick room for hours last night, Keyda…we have to keep him quarantined until we know he's not contagious…"
"You know, we wouldn't have to quarantine anyone if we just spent the time to get medication!" she snapped.
"I understand that you have…empathy for the slave situation…"
"Which is cheaper in the long run, anyways!?" she asked. "Medication for the sick so they can get better, or losing a third of the slave population and having to buy more?! Even from an unempathetic, horrible viewpoint, we are doing the wrong thing." She tried to push past him again. "Where is he?"
"His room. He had a long night regardless; the best thing you can do for him now is let him sleep."
She exhaled angrily and Heavy Metal continued.
"He wanted you to know that he helped everyone he could, but he ran out of medication…"
"Right, then I guess I'll have to go get some more," she said, turning to go. The Captain of the Guard's frown deepened.
"The villages are almost all fighting fever outbreaks of their own. You need to stay here, in the safe areas…."
"What's the point in doing that?!" she asked angrily. "Besides, I already got the fever this year and I pulled through…"
"Which means you may be more susceptible to the deadlier sickness." Heavy Metal argued. "You have to think about the consequences of your actions; last time you were sick, you were targeted. We can't afford for that to happen again." He put a hand on her shoulder. "Something happens to you, the realm falls into chaos …"
"Than what do you suggest I do all day?!"
"Meetings have been cancelled due to the outbreaks; the leaders don't want to travel here. So this month we'll have to correspond through written post…"
She sighed, irritated. "I hate writing."
"Well, you asked what you could be doing, and that's one thing that's pressing at the moment." He took in her withering look and sighed. "I know it's not ideal…but fever season rarely lasts more than a week…and then you'll be free to go…"
"I was allowed out earlier this week," she complained. "And there was fever outbreaks then…"
His brows furrowed. "Not that we were made aware of." He gestured down the hall towards her office. She took one last glance down the hall towards Cole's quarters and finally sighed. Let the Idiot sleep, then…it wasn't like he was missing much anyways.
24
Cole tried to get out of bed the next morning, but he didn't make it far. His whole body ached and he was shivering as he stumbled into the table, the dizziness throwing off his depth perception. He pressed a hand to his swirling, aching head.
"Great…just great…" he mumbled. His mouth felt dried out and he shuddered on his way to the door. He tried to turn the handle and found the door to be locked. He exhaled angrily and pounded—well, tried to pound- on the door, but there was no response.
"Hello?" he croaked, but again, no answer. He needed to talk to Keyda…
He hesitated, thoughts getting jumbled in the fever fog in his mind. If he was sick…then he probably shouldn't see Keyda…and if the others in the fortress knew he was sick they'd no doubt do all they could to keep him from leaving quarantine. Or maybe they'd throw him back into that cramped room that smelled like death…
He shuddered hard at the thought. Phos. Phos would know what to do… He rubbed the palms of his hands into bleary eyes and glanced at the window. He was in no state for climbing…but maybe if he called his guardian over he could catch a ride to the Healer's…
He was pretty sure of his plan, but he only made it halfway across the room before passing out.
Phos and Hershel arrived early the next morning and went straight to sleep after placing the herbs somewhere nice and dark in the tent. By the time the Healer awoke it was nearly dusk again. He stretched and looked over at Syn, who was cleaning different tools and utensils nearby.
"Where'd that brother of yours get off to?" he snapped, and she turned quickly.
"Hershel went out to gather more fever-leaves; there's been an outbreak at the fortress and I had to give the rest of the gel to…"
"The Fortress?" Phos rubbed his chin. "How'd you know?"
"Cole and Keyda came last night…said they needed medicine, so I gave them the rest of…"
"Medicine?" Phos's voice was sharp and she winced.
"Cole said he'd come pay you back this week…"
"Were they going to apply it themselves?!" Phos asked, shaking his head as he began to put on his shoes. "Of all the thick-headed…"
"I…I don't know. They just said the slaves were sick and needed help." She paused, her voice dropping low before she continued. "But…but they probably will be the only ones willing to help…every year at fever season they just locked us in to die…"
Phos was still muttering as he headed for the door. Syn bit her lip.
"Where are you going?"
"To pay a little visit to a place I've avoided for years." he snapped. "Tell Hershel to bring me the leaves as soon as he gets back, you understand?!"
She nodded empathetically and he exhaled before disappearing out the opening.
Keyda finished the letter and massaged her cramped hand. She glanced at her writing and sighed; it was sloppy and hard to read, just like her two other letters had been. Reading and writing had to be her least favorite things to do; just crafting three formal letters in shorthand had taken the entire day.
A knock sounded at the door and she frowned.
"Yeah?" she asked. It better not be anything else she was expected to do today….
The door opened to reveal a dragon master.
"Sorry to bother you…but there's a villager at the fortress wall and he is insisting he talk to you; we've tried to get rid of him but…"
"A villager?"
"Says his name is Phos…or that's what you'd know him by…"
She stood immediately.
"Send him up. No, wait, I'll come with you to see him." She left the letters in a hazardous pile on her desk and followed the dragon master down towards the entrance. As they neared she could hear Phos's angry, gruff voice.
"Of all the idiotic things….I was roaming these halls before your grandparents were born!"
"Phos!" Keyda said, coming around the corner and catching sight of the old Healer. He turned to her in irritation.
"It's about time…you ought to work on your hospitality…." he said, shoving past the guards. Now that the ruler had arrived, the dragon masters finally let him pass, shaking their heads.
"What are you doing here?"
Phos ignored her question, grabbing her chin and pulling her face close so he could study it. She balked a little, and the three guards immediately began pulling out their swords. Phos released her, however, and she signaled to the guards to stand down.
"You didn't go down there last night." he interpreted. Keyda blinked.
"Go…"
"To the sick slaves!" Phos explained angrily, as if annoyed she wasn't keeping up with his logic. "Which means the Idiot did…where is he?"
Keyda shook her head, abandoning her effort to understand exactly what was going on.
"He's in his room…he's been sleeping all day…"
"Don't just tell me…" Phos continued, taking off down the hall. "Show me…"
She took off after him, her stomach beginning to twist in anxiety.
"Did you bring any more medication?"
"You took the last of it!" he snapped. "Haven't had any time to get and make more, now have I?" They rounded a corner and finally reached the hallway where Cole's small quarters were. Phos reached the door first, and frowned when he found it locked.
"You got a key?" he asked, turning to Keyda. She shook her head and he rolled his eyes.
"Just a tip…but you really should carry keys for everything…you never know when you'll need them."
She swallowed and turned to one of the guards who had followed her.
"Unlock the door…" she ordered, but the lanky dragon master hesitated.
"This room is under quarantine…"
"Healers are admitted in quarantine, fool." Phos pointed out, and the guard bristled.
"Open the door, now." Keyda ordered again, and the young guard finally sighed and removed a set of keys.
The door opened and Keyda's heart plummeted as she saw the figure on the rug.
"Oh my gosh…"
She went to rush forward but the guard caught her by the arm.
"I can't let you go in there…" he started, though he trailed off as her eyes flashed purple.
"Best to release her," Phos pointed out. "She won't stay long." He entered the room and made his way over to the passed out figure, and Keyda followed shortly after ripping her arm out of the guard's grasp.
Cole's breathing was raspy and shallow, and his hair was soaked in sweat. Fear continued to rise as she pushed the hair out of his face and felt how hot it was.
Phos seemed to be taking his pulse, frowning in concentration. He glanced up as Keyda began talking.
"How is he so sick? He spent days with me when I had a fever, and he never…"
"Being with one person with a simple case of fever, in a large, ventilated room is far different than spending hours in a cramped one around the dead and deathly ill." Phos snapped. "Not to mention he's not from around here…"
"What does that have to do with anything?!" She was beginning to panic, and her tone became bitter and angry. Phos's own eyes flashed as he looked up at her.
"Do not lose control here, girl; it will do you no good. His body has never been introduced to the sicknesses here, but as Oni we've been exposed to the disease year after year. It is generally the weak, malnourished, and old who die from it amongst our own. But to go from no exposure to the full blown disease…" he shook his head. "It was a stupid thing to do, going down into quarantine."
"It's my fault…I should have gone…"
"They wouldn't have let you." Phos pointed out. "Help me get him on his back…"
She helped him position Cole. He took another raspy breath, but other than that, didn't respond to being moved. She felt nauseous; seeing him like this brought back unwanted memories…
She felt a claw-like grip on her arm and looked over at Phos, who was glaring at her.
"Stop panicking….you're reacting. Use your head girl…I won't let him die." He began fishing things out of a small bag he had brought. "He owes me a lot of labor…not to mention he's the only one who can do that translating…."
"But you said you didn't have any medicine…how are you going to…"
He looked at her again and shook his head.
"I've got my ways, girl…but you've got to go wait for Hershel. He's bringing the extra medication, but I don't want anyone at the fortress to see him…"
Keyda nodded numbly, but she didn't move from her spot next to Cole. Phos sighed in irritation and snapped his fingers in front of her face.
"Get out. Now."
She tightened her fists and his tone but he leaned in to hiss.
"I can't do anything with that fool at the door watching. You need to leave."
She glanced to the open doorway, where the dragon master was watching, seemingly torn about what he was supposed to be doing in this situation. She turned back to Phos and he continued.
"Go wait for Hershel, and bring me whatever he brought with him."
She stood stiffly and glanced back at Cole one last time before heading back out into the hall. The guard closed the door behind her, relocking it. She grit her teeth and then headed back to the entrance; if she started walking to the village, maybe she could meet Hershel halfway.
"What do ya mean, postpone?"
Rasher's voice was bitter, and Dorhn frowned at his tone.
"Outsider's been Quarantined…still don't know if he'll even pull through the night. The plan isn't gonna work if he's dead, Rash."
"This could ruin everything." The woman's tone cut in, irritated. "You shouldn't have let him go down to the slave quarters…"
"Didn't know he was." Dorhn snapped. "When the leader's with him, I'm not allowed to be. Found out from Heavy Metal this morning, didn't I?"
"That's enough." the older voice cut in. "We'll just have to let the others know that we'll have to move back a week or so, until the fool's better."
"Unless he dies." the woman pointed out. Rasher scoffed.
"If he does, the leader will definitely be outta sorts…that'll be the best time to strike, won't it?"
"In some ways." Dorhn admitted. "But without the outsider, support for the leader amongst the dragon masters will most likely increase. At the moment it's his influence that they're most unsure about.
"That settles it then. We wait and see." the female voice concluded. The group disbanded into the night.
As he heard the lock click, Phos relaxed slightly.
"You sure are a fool…" he muttered at the unconscious boy in front of him as he poured jet-black stones out of a small pouch into his hand. "Maybe someday you'll learn your lesson…you can't save everybody."
He stared at the glossy stones for a moment before turning back to the feverish figure.
"Not the ideal treatment…but you left little choice, what with you using all my medication. And I'm not sure Hershel will be able to deliver the rest in time…."
Cole didn't answer, and Phos just shook his head as he began to lay the stones on the boy. After hitting all the aural spots, he stood, turning to the door.
"It's a good thing she left…more than likely she's out of the fortress grounds by now…" he muttered. "She'd have my head if she heard this…"
He looked at the boy again and grit his teeth. It had been a long while since he had done an extraction spell. He closed his eyes, concentrating, as he held up a hand. It flashed purple and the black stones began to make a small humming sound, though they didn't move off the places he placed them. Cole jerked as the spell began, and within moments he was yelling out. Phos watched and clenched his jaw harder, ignoring the pain-wracked cries as the stones began humming louder. The boy jerked again and again, but the stones stayed in place. As he yelled out something flashed on the boy's face and arms and Phos blinked in surprise. What on earth…
Another yell, another flash…it was elemental, no doubt, but he hadn't ever seen that reaction before. The humming eventually slowed and stopped and Cole seemed to go limp as Phos dropped his hand. He walked over to the boy, feeling his face and neck. Certain that the fever had broken, he gathered up the stones and put them back into his pouch. He moved to the basin to wash his hands and arms when he heard a groan.
"What…" Cole blinked, staring up at the ceiling. He felt exhausted…and drained. He heard splashing and looked over to see the figure at the basin. "Phos?"
"Welcome back to the world of the living, Idiot," came the callous reply. Cole swallowed as he pushed himself up off the ground.
"What the heck…what are you doing here? Why am I on the floor…"
"You got sick, fool. I had to leave my nice little village to come here and save your miserable life." He shook his hands dry before looking over with a raised eyebrow. "And yes… this is going to cost you quite a bit…."
Cole tried to roll his eyes as he struggled to stand. He stumbled and Phos grabbed an arm to support him.
"I feel weird…"
"No doubt; you just had all the disease extracted from your body." Phos said dryly, and Cole gave him an odd look. Phos sighed.
"Get into bed, no use going anywhere."
Cole made it to his bed, but frowned as he watched Phos head to the door. The Healer sent a small blast into the locking mechanism and turned the handle.
"Where're you going?"
"You aint the only sick person in this fortress, fool…" Phos muttered. "Let's just hope that the medicine gets here soon."
Keyda ran through the darkness. It hadn't been easy getting out of the fortress without any guards spotting her or insisting to come along, but she had managed it by using her old secret ways in and out. The air was cold, and her breath came out in white puffs in the darkness as she ran through the moonlit desert. Eventually she had to slow down; her lungs and heart felt like they were about to give up. She stumbled in the darkness, and a sob escaped as her mind finally caught up with her.
She didn't know that he would get sick…she had just wanted to stop the quarantine, stop the useless death that she had seen year after year. But now…
She shook her head, forcing herself to keep moving. Phos more often than not played on her last nerve…but this time he had been right; she couldn't afford to panic right now. She needed to find Hershel and get the medication.
As she continued on she shivered in the night air. Though days in the desert were hot…the nights became cold—especially this time of year.
She was nearly half-way to the village when she heard the night-sniffers howl. She froze, her hands immediately lighting up with power as her eyes darted in the darkness. An answering howl…they were not far off. One or two of the beasts weren't too hard to handle…but a whole pack would mean trouble for her on her own. They weren't especially large, but they had sharp claws and needle-like teeth and great vision in the dark.
She heard a cry echo into the night and the rallying yips and howls of a hunt in action. She turned towards the sounds, heart pounding, and was shocked when she saw a blast of purple in the distance. After a moment it finally clicked.
"Hershel…"
She took off running again, and there were a few more blast of power. She heard a sniffer cry out in pain, and the rest of the pack snarled and bayed. As she drew closer she could make out the slender figure that had caught the attention of the nocturnal beasts.
"Hershel!" she yelled, and the terrified boy looked up as she blasted at the night-sniffers with power of her own. The beasts turned and fixed her with their glaring yellow eyes, but she glared back with her own, which were blazing purple. Three of them launched towards her at once and she launched orbs, hitting two of them. She had to dive out of the way of the third. Meanwhile the other two snapped at Hershel, and he tried to keep them at bay with a glowing hand. There were broad fever leaves scattered on the ground, though he still kept four or five tight to his chest with his other arm. One of the sniffers moved towards him and he turned to it, blasting out. However, the other sniffer used his distraction and leapt forward, lashing out with a clawed paw. Hershel cried out in pain, whirling around to blast the beast back. The attack hit the sniffer in the face and it retreated, whimpering. Keyda had managed to hit her last attacker as well, and a minute later the five beasts were running away into the night.
Keyda and Hershel panted for a few seconds, shaking from the adrenaline of the moment.
"You ok?" she finally asked, looking over at the young Oni. He nodded, but she noticed he was holding his left arm, his face contorted in pain. She came closer and pulled his hand off the arm, taking in the long jagged cuts from the sniffer's claws.
"Oh Hersh…"
"I'll be fine." he said with a swallow. He looked down at the leaves he was still holding and then looked around for the ones he had lost. "I…I was just trying to bring these to the fortress. Syn said there'd been an outbreak…"
"Yes. I came to meet you; Pho is already there. Give me the leaves and I'll take them back with me; you should probably get back to the tent and get bandaged up.
"I can come all the way," he argued, but she shook her head.
"Phos's orders…he doesn't want anyone in the fortress seeing you."
Hersh's determine expression faded as he remembered that he could still be considered a type of run-away. He handed Keyda the leaves and moved to help her pick up the fallen ones that hadn't been crushed and ruined by the sniffers.
"I tried to bring as many as I could…" he explained. "How many are sick?"
"I dunno." she said grimly. "I didn't go down, Cole did…" she trailed off as her stomach lurched with a fresh jolt of anxiety. "It's why I have to get these back as soon as possible; he got really sick…."
Hershel shuddered. "It's easy to guess why; you ever get put in the sick room?"
Keyda looked at him carefully and shook her head.
"Did you?"
"Last year." Hershel said quietly. "It's beyond awful…it's pitch-dark, and everyone's moaning and crying out and dying…" he shuddered harder. "Don't know how I pulled through in the end, the smell alone's enough to kill someone." He looked back up at her. "Cole went in, then? To give the slaves medicine?"
She nodded and he looked away.
"Doubt anyone's done that before….they let him back out afterwards?"
"Yes," she said quietly, and Hershel gave a ghost of a smile.
"Probably knew better than to mess with him, I bet. Or maybe they just knew better than to mess with you…"
She narrowed his eyes and the small smile disappeared.
"Right…take those leaves to Master Healer, he'll know what to do with them." he said and she turned to go. She was about to take off running again, arms full of leaves, when Hershel called out.
"Hey…"
She turned and he swallowed.
"Thank you for helping me out with those sniffers…I don't know what would have happened if you didn't get here." He bit his lip. "And…and I really hope Cole pulls through."
With that, he turned and began running home.
Phos took in the smell of decay and gagged. In the villages, the sick were transported to a special tent, where there was still airflow and light. Here, people were locked into a tomb to die. He pushed past the prying eyes of the healthy to get to the sick room. He lit a torch before entering and carried the light with him. Eyes glinted back towards him, and he noticed the small sparks of hope in them. They had received help one time already…it was easier now for them to believe that someone else was coming for that very reason.
"Where are the dead?" he asked quickly, and a lady near the door pointed at a wall of earth at the back of the room.
"Behind there…the outsider came yesterday and blocked them off…" she explained. The Healer nodded and immediately began his rounds of the room to check on the status of the others. Some seemed to be on deaths door, though others showed signs of getting over the worst of the sickness. There were more than twenty Oni huddled in the small room, and he shook his head. It was horrific, really, how far their society had fallen.
Keyda had been heading to Cole's room when Phos nearly ran into her, coming down a hallway from the slave quarters.
"Phos! What are you…"
"Situation's bad…" was all he said as he snatched the leaves from her. He turned to go back down to the slaves, but Keyda finally snapped out of her shock and called after him.
"Wait…what about Cole, is he…"
"Fool's fine."
He disappeared around a corner as she stood for a few moments more, staring after him. She finally turned and began to quickly make her way to Cole's room. There was no guard standing outside of it when she got there, and the door was unlocked. She pushed it open hesitantly, but Cole was no longer on the rug. He had apparently made it to his bed, where he was sleeping silently. She walked over to him, putting a hand on his face to check the fever. He looked so much better than he had before, and as she moved her hand from his forehead to his cheek she sighed in relief; the fever was gone.
He stirred and after a moment he blinked up at her. She tried her best to give him a stern look.
"You weren't supposed to get sick, Idiot…
He chuckled sleepily, reaching up a hand to grab hers on his face.
"I didn't mean to…" he argued.
"You're just lucky Phos showed up when he did…or you'd be in a lot more trouble…"
He rubbed a thumb across her hand. "Now who's the worry wort?"
She gave him a withering look as he moved to sit up.
"Where is Phos, by the way…"
"Went down to help the slaves." She sat on the bed next to him. "Cole…how many Oni were in that room?"
His expression darkened and he shuddered.
"A lot… a dozen or so had already died, and there were some on the brink...they were all crammed in there, Keyds. It was awful."
She didn't answer as he turned to her with a more determined expression.
"We have to get rid of this system…this system that would lock all those people in to die, and steals Oni from poor villages to sell them to the highest bidder…" he shuddered again. "It's not right, and it has to end."
"I know." she said softly. "I hate it too…and I want to get rid of it…I just don't know how."
"You're the leader, Keyds…just tell everyone that it's over."
"It would never be that simple and you know it." she pointed out. "The caste system is more than just tradition, it's the preferred way of life for everyone in power. I try to just get rid of it, and they'll come down on me. It's not that I care what they think, but they'd ignore my order to end the caste system and do everything they could to overthrow me. It would all be for nothing, and in the end it wouldn't change anything."
"You don't know that…" he pointed out, but she shook her head.
"I know how Oni work…and I know the leaders at the other fortresses. They'd go to war against me before they'd give it up…and I don't have enough support." She turned to Cole, who was frowning. "It isn't fair, but the truth is I don't have the ability to get rid of it right now. I have to wait for a better time…"
"And in the meantime, slaves are going to die down in the dark, claustrophobic rooms every year because…"
"You're not allowed to do this." she interrupted, and he blinked.
"To do what?"
"Get so sick you were on the brink of death, get better, and then immediately start arguing with me," she said, squeezing the hand she was still holding. "I don't want to fight with you, ok? We'll figure something out…but it's going to take time, and a lot of work. But I can start with promising that I'll never let them quarantine the slaves like that again."
He looked down at their hands and gave his little half-smile.
"I'm sorry Keyds…it was just, seeing people like that…"
"I know." she replied. She reached out with her other hand and brushed through his hair.
He searched her face, realizing how tired she was.
"You should probably head to bed, Keyds…no doubt it's been a long day for you."
She glanced towards the door and shook her head.
"I'm going to stay in here tonight." she replied, and he frowned.
"Keyds…"
"If you could sleep in a chair when I was sick, then I can certainly survive a night in one." she argued, nodding towards the small armchair against the wall. He shook his head.
"Heavy Metal'll have a fit…"
"Then let him have one." she said simply. She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I almost lost you again today, Idiot…just let me stay tonight and make sure you're alright."
He sighed, giving up his argument.
"Alright then, you stubborn girl…" he murmured into her hair. She smiled and closed her eyes, the storm of emotions that had been twisting for the last few hours finally coming to a stop.
29