The Adventures of Benjamin Skyhammer (19 page)

The one thing that made travel through the Deadlands possible was the Nasuchu's aversion to fire.

Higgins had made an art of firechain fighting; she was as good as the professional firechain guards that accompanied the trade wagons and protected the road. The trade road was built wooden on tracks across the top of the boulders and was forever being attacked and damaged by the Nasuchu. But the Kings and Queens of the Flyer, Aridizan and human countries worked together to ensure its continued maintenance.

Skyhammer wondered why Higgins seemed so frightened. She could fight off the Nasuchu. Skyhammer was not quite as skilled but he had no problem fighting with firechains too. He was confident that as long as they could get them lit in time, they would be able to fight off a band of Nasuchu.

The hunters, always females, travelled in packs of five while the men stayed at home and raised the kids. The males prepared the kills that the women brought back . . . and now Skyhammer recalled that the Nasuchu had taken Higgins' brother when she was just a child. He felt guilty for forgetting such an important part of her history. But they had travelled through Nasuchu lands before. Why was she afraid this time?

He thought back. For previous crossings, they had joined large groups of traders so that Higgins was distracted protecting the people within the group. She had always been on the alert but since there had been professional guards with them, they hadn't had to fight much. She had felt safe in such a big group.

He sighed. This was the first time that they had crossed alone. It was almost certain they would be attacked.

"Hey!"

Higgins had just stepped over the stream when the shout came.

Skyhammer glanced to the north. A human border patrol. Galloping straight for them, arrows nocked and ready.

Chapter 18

Countdown to ceremony: 7 days

"Run!" Skyhammer shouted and they dashed across the short stretch of open land on the Nasuchu side. An arrow whistled by and then they were safe in the shade and protection of the enormous boulders.

The shouting continued. "Come on out, Nasuchu cowards!"

Skyhammer rolled his eyes.

"They were dressed like humans," one guard exclaimed.

"Did you see a body?" the second guard asked.

"No," the first guard replied. "Damn it, if the Nasuchu are disguising themselves as human they must be getting desperate."

"Or cleverer," the other muttered. "We should let the King know."

"Agreed. Move out!"

How aggravating. The Nasuchu border guards were sure to have heard that exchange; sound travelled far in the Deadlands. Now they'd be alert for intruders. Great.

Daylight was fading. They had a quick bite to eat and prepared for the crossing.

First, they slipped assassin's boots over their shoes. The supple leather deadened the tap of their soles.

Next, the firechains. Skyhammer withdrew the two separate lengths of light chain first then the spiky balls attached to the ends. The balls were made of metal covered with small slits for air. He opened them and stuffed oil-soaked cloth inside.

He grinned. They'd burn hot and long. He brought out his firestone. One strike of the stone against the metal and a spark would erupt to light the cloth. He placed it in his tunic, handy.

Higgins was ready too. At her signal, they started walking. As agreed, they did not speak. Skyhammer, looking down an almost straight passageway between the boulders, saw the dark height of the Flyer country trees far off in the distance.

* * *

Skyhammer and Higgins heard the Nasuchu before they saw them.

A low laugh.

They froze. In front of them was the biggest boulder yet and Skyhammer knew they'd have to go around it. However, he discerned a flicker of light from the far side. They crept around until they could see what was going on.

The boulder was a cave lit by a wall of nekrowite glowing in the firelight. Skyhammer inhaled in quiet amazement. Nekrowite was the most sought-after jewel in the world. The stones burned with the colours of sunset when polished - purples, oranges, pinks, yellows. They cost more than Relics.

It was also the most reviled jewel because of its origins. Nekrowite was, supposedly, the centuries-old excrement of Nasuchu. Its colours, so bold and stunning, were the combination of remnants of Nasuchu magic and undigested body parts.

The Nasuchu had covered the entire cave wall with nekrowite and the fire's reflection lit the faces of a family at dinner. Four Nasuchu knelt around a table, their heads bowed, long arms by their sides. Dishes covered the table and in each dish was a different body part. One bowl was filled with fingers, all kinds of fingers - baboon, Katipo, human, Aridizan. Skyhammer and Higgins watched in horror as the Nasuchu raised their heads at the same time and then one took up a utensil and proceeded to serve the others, all chatting in the guttural Nasuchu language.

Skyhammer had no idea what they were saying, but the looks of happiness on the creatures' faces as they munched a toe, slipped a human eyeball on a fellow diner's plate, or slurped down some intestines was at once a reminder that these barbarous food items were their family dinner. They ate with elegance, wiping their mouths after each bite and taking small sips of red liquid from goblets made of nekrowite. Skyhammer shuddered - the goblets probably contained blood drained from the bodies.

The plates and bowls were also made of nekrowite but the utensils looked to be carved from bone. Skyhammer wondered if they had made the plates and bowls; he had never heard of the Nasuchu making anything. They killed humans and ate humans and that was as much as most people wanted to know about them.

Higgins and Skyhammer watched the Nasuchu laugh and smile and look with affection upon each other. After a while, Higgins pulled back and tugged Skyhammer's arm. They backed away and crept off.

When they had found a defensible place between boulders, they took turns getting some sleep.

* * *

They had only slept a few hours, then started to walk again. When the sky grew light enough, Skyhammer boosted Higgins on top of a boulder to check their progress. The trees were only a few hours away now.

Skyhammer's legs ached. Eyes were watching him; he could feel them. For a few minutes, he thought about how to communicate this to Higgins. He waited until they had come to a place where they could make a stand, then stopped walking.

He turned around to face Higgins. With the fingers of one hand, he tapped his eyes, then he released his firechain. She nodded; she had clearly had the same feeling. They both stood, alert, with their backs to an enormous boulder and therefore didn't notice the Nasuchu on top.

"Aaaiiii!" was the first thing they heard as a Nasuchu warrior leapt from above and twisted in the air to land facing them, spear in hand.

Skyhammer and Higgins ducked and rolled in opposite directions. The spear clattered against the boulder where they had just been. The warrior must have been pretty confident in her attack if she'd yelled like that. His lips folded into a smile. The Nasuchu didn't know what she was up against.

Skyhammer rolled to a standing position, grabbed the fire stone from his pocket and struck it against the two balls at the ends of his firechains. They lit. He twirled them in simple circles to keep them alight. He turned to see how Higgins was doing just as a spear flew past where his left ribs had been a moment before.

Higgins had disappeared.

"Higgins?" he yelled. The Nasuchu warrior woman advanced on him, hands held up in a defensive position.

"Here," Higgins screamed back. She had been smart enough to dart around the back of a boulder while she was lighting her firechains.

He knew there would be four more warriors nearby. The first woman halted just beyond the reach of his firechains, chest heaving. She was naked from the waist down. A band of cloth covered her breasts and she wore a small backpack. Her eyes darted from him to her fallen spear and back again. He straddled her spear then sensed a movement on the boulders above him.

He darted forward, swinging the chains out and up in an arc, and then yanking them back towards the middle. The warrior stumbled back but misjudged the length of the chains. The spiked balls snagged on both her shoulders. The force of the swing sent the warrior face first into the ground at Skyhammer's feet.

He yanked the spiked balls out of her back. No time to see if she was dead but he was sure no one could survive that. He leapt over her body, shortening the chains so he could manoeuvre in the narrow passageways between the towering rocks, then headed to his right. Shadows of the warriors above flitted on the ground as he ran, always managing to keep up with him. He presumed they must have only one spear each if they hadn't thrown anything yet. He either had to entice them down to the ground, or go up and fight them up top. The fires in the spheres had reduced to a smoulder.

He stopped running and stood with his back to one of the boulders, listening. The two warriors above also halted. He guessed the other two warriors must be in pursuit of Higgins.

The Nasuchu women conversed in their harsh language. Only one seemed to be on top of Skyhammer's boulder. The sides of the large stone bulged above Skyhammer's head so the one on top probably couldn't see him. The second warrior leapt to another rock.

Skyhammer smiled. They were searching for him. They wouldn't come down and lose the height advantage unless he gave them a good reason. He glided around the other side. Aha! A large open area surrounded by five boulders; that would do. Like a cat, he slunk between the rocks until the two warriors were across the circle from him, looking the other way. Then he stepped out, swinging his firechains. Flames grew inside the spiked balls.

Now the warriors faced him. They were about his own age, battle-hardened and lithe. Their grey skin made them look sickly but they both had bright blue eyes. Grinning, they raised their spears.

Skyhammer swung the chains faster and faster while the warriors watched. Flames darted out the holes until the spheres were balls of fire. They were certain they had him, Skyhammer thought. He was indeed a sitting duck, from their point of view.

The warriors nodded to each other and at that moment, Skyhammer released his chains. The fiery balls, chains streaming out behind them like a tadpole, flew through the air, each one taking a warrior right in the stomach and hurling her back over the boulder and into the passageway below. Skyhammer wasted no time in getting his sword out and racing over to where the Nasuchu had fallen. He came upon the first one writhing in pain, slashed her throat and retrieved his firechain. He did the same for the second then sheathed his sword.

He looked around. Nearby were three odd-sized boulders. He ran at the smallest one, leapt up on the side, then leapt to the medium rock without losing his momentum and leapt on top of the largest one. Where was Higgins?

Shading his eyes, he looked in all directions. Towards the trees, he saw a figure leaping off a rock. That must be where she was. Like a mountain lion, he ran across the boulders.

When he arrived in the area where he had seen the figure jump down, he halted and listened. To his left, something grunted. He dropped to his belly and slithered to look over the edge of the rock.

Higgins had slain one warrior in the open area between boulders and while another pursued her.

Skyhammer wanted to call out but didn't want to distract her. He watched for an opportunity to help.

Higgins ran without making a sound. Skyhammer saw the Nasuchu stop, and turn around, waiting. Higgins raced around a boulder and almost impaled herself on the waiting Nasuchu's spear! She twisted to the side at the last moment but the spear tip still managed to cut her across the belly. Her tunic turned red. Skyhammer's heart clenched in fear.

Chapter 19

Countdown to ceremony: 6 days

Blood soaking her ripped shirt, Higgins faced the warrior, who now wore a smug smile. The Nasuchu lunged at Higgins. Skyhammer's partner stepped backwards and parried with her remaining firechain to block the spear. The warrior shifted the spear to her other hand and again advanced on Higgins with hatred in her eyes. She looked very similar to the other girl Higgins had killed. Skyhammer wondered if they were sisters.

The warrior cast her spear at Higgins' chest. As the Nasuchu threw her weapon, Higgins flung the firechain and ducked the hurtling spear. The warrior kept moving forward, following her spear. The flaming sphere crashed into her chest. The chain wrapped around her body, drawing the ball tighter and tighter into her until its spikes protruded from her back.

The warrior toppled forward, dead. Higgins collapsed.

"Higgins!" He jumped off the rock.

She looked up, a weary smile on her face.

"Nice moves." Skyhammer spied her backpack a few feet away and brought it to her. He rummaged for a flask of water and they sat in the boulder's shade, together, silent.

"Let's have a look at that wound," he said after she'd sipped some water. She was paler than usual.

Higgins lifted her shirt. Skyhammer sighed in relief. The wound across her belly was shallow.

"Just a scratch." Higgins directed him to her medical kit and patched herself up. Then she leaned back against the boulder and closed her eyes. "I had such horrible thoughts while fighting these things," she whispered.

Skyhammer waited.

"I was so happy to kill them. I hated that feeling, yet I revelled in getting revenge for my brother. And then." Her voice caught. "Then I was thinking what if he was inside one of them and I was killing him again? And I almost stopped. What if the things they eat live again within the Nasuchu? Who am I to kill them?"

Skyhammer cleared his throat. "You were protecting yourself."

She lifted her head and looked straight at him. "I was saying, for Joseph, for Joseph, over and over. What if he heard me inside them and tried to communicate and I just killed him?" She dropped her head again.