The Scourge (27 page)

“No, we’re alive . . . and Peree, too,” I say. "He was injured, but he’s recovering.”

“Peree’s alive? Where is he?” the boy chirps. He sounds younger than Eland.
Why is a young boy armed and shooting at Groundlings?

“Thrush, go find Shrike,” Petrel says. The boy runs off, skittering down the walkway like a squirrel. I hear Petrel pull an arrow from his quiver to reload his bow.

“Trusting, isn’t he?” I whisper.

“He used to be,” Kadee says sadly.

“What’s going on?” I whisper. “Where do you think everyone is?”

“I don’t know.” She takes a shaky breath, and I realize how hard this must be for her—coming home, preparing to see the partner and the people she left years ago. I wish I could muster more sympathy.

“It’ll be okay, Kadee,” I say. But they’re just words. Something is very wrong, I can feel it.

“Best to call me Blaze for now. They won’t know my new name.”

Heavier, slower footsteps move through the trees, stopping above us.

“Blaze.”

It’s Shrike. And right then I know Kadee was telling the truth about him. Peree couldn’t have sounded more shocked when he saw his mother for the first time in Koolkuna. Shrike sounds resigned, like he knew this day might come.

“I brought our daughter home,” she says. Shrike’s silent for a long time. Then a rope ladder clatters down a few feet away from us.

“Don’t go down there, Shrike,” Thrush pleads.

“It’s all right. This is my
family
." His voice is harsh, and I feel Kadee stiffen next to me.

“But one’s a Groundling, and I’ve never seen the other one before,” the boy says.

Petrel shushes him. The ladder squeaks under Shrike’s weight as he climbs. If we’re standing where I think we’re standing, this is the same place the Lofties dropped down to the clearing during the Summer Solstice celebration, and the ladder they used to escape when the Scourge came. When they left us to fend for ourselves. Bitterness pecks at me, opening old wounds.

“I am Shrike’s partner, but I left the trees,” Kadee says to Thrush. “I went to a place called Koolkuna. It's safe there, with plenty of food, water, and no flesh–”

“Stop,” Shrike says. He drops down beside us, the solid thump reminding me of the rock falling from the trees to the ground in Koolkuna. “Don’t fill his head with lies.”

“They aren’t lies,” Kadee says.

“Forgive me if I don't instantly believe you,” Shrike says. “Honesty wasn’t your forte, was it?”

“I’ve been to Koolkuna,” I say, “and what she says is true.”

A heavy hand lies on my shoulder briefly. “Fennel, I’m glad to know you’re safe. But there’s a history here that you don’t understand.”

“I understand enough,” I say. “Like that you and Blaze are my natural parents, and Aloe only fostered me because you asked her to.”

Shrike chuckles. “Aloe wanted you from the second you were placed in her arms at the Exchange. She adored you . . . we all did,” Shrike says. Regret is strong in his voice. When he speaks again, his voice has hardened. “Where’s Peree?”

“In Koolkuna,” Kadee answers. “He’s safe.”

Shrike must have looked less-than-convinced, because she says sharply, “I’m his mother. Do you think I’d lie about that?” In that moment I can understand how she got her Lofty name.

I step between them. “I don’t know if it will help, but Peree told me to show you this.”

I pull the bird carving up from under the front of my dress. Petrel whistles softly from the trees. Shrike plucks it from my fingers and examines it.

“It’s good work,” he grunts.

“He said to tell you he trusts me."

“I guess
so
,” Petrel says. He laughs, but I don’t get the joke.

“I promise he’s okay. He injured his leg, but it’s getting stronger every day. He’s coming back as soon as he can.”

Shrike just stands there, holding the bird.

“I know this isn’t easy,” I say softly. “It wasn’t easy for Peree and me to trust each other either.”

He lays the bird back down, and I tuck it away.

“Where are Aloe and the others, Shrike? Are they all right?” I ask.

“They’re in the caves.”

“Why?” I listen closely, but I can only hear the gentle sounds of the forest. No creatures.

“There’s been some trouble.”

An uncomfortable prickling starts at my scalp and wriggles down my neck. “What kind?”

“Your people attacked us—they actually came up into the trees.” He sounds like he still can’t believe it. “We drove them back, killing one. And one of our women was also killed in the crossfire.”

“Who?” Kadee and I ask in unison. I don’t think we’re asking about the same person.

“Glow,” he tells Kadee. “She was the lookout that night. I don’t know the Groundling’s name. Since then, we’ve kept them confined to the caves.”

I gasp. “You can’t!”

“No? Why not? We didn’t start this.”

I’m as shocked by his tone as I am by his words. Peree was clearly regretful when he told me about killing Jackal, so different from the contempt suffusing his father’s—my father’s—voice.

“They must have been desperate!” I say. “The people don’t want a war.”

“The Three should have considered that before they made their decision.” Now he sounds resentful. As one of the Three, Aloe had to agree to the plan. Why would she do that? Was she outvoted again?

“How long are you planning to hold them hostage?” I ask.

“Until we receive a formal apology, and word that Adder has been replaced on the Council of Three. We think the order came from him.”

I shake my head. “He’ll never give up being on the Council.”

“Then he’s condemning your people to death,” Shrike says flatly.

I have to find out what’s going on in the caves. And quickly. “Shrike, I need to talk to Aloe. Maybe there’s something I can do. Will you allow me to collect the water in the morning, so I can talk to you again?”

I imagine something unspoken passing between Kadee and Shrike, but after a moment, he agrees.

“Be careful how much you tell Aloe. She's . . . changed,” he warns.

His words chill me. I want to question him, but even more I want to get in the caves and find out what's going on for myself.

“Will you be okay?” I ask Kadee, already turning to leave.

“I’ll be fine. Go to your family.” She sounds wistful.

My family. My natural parents are standing beside me for the first time since I was an infant. But it's not how I imagined it. Not at all.

I pass into the mouth of the cave, leaving behind the last rays of the sun and any hope of warmth for the near future. As I trail my fingers along the familiar rugged walls of the passageway, I’m slapped by the overpowering stench of human waste. It’s not quite as bad as the Scourge, but close.

My chest is tight with anxiety and anticipation. I haven’t begun to process all I learned today, and now I’m faced with yet another crisis. I need rest, and time to think, but I don’t think I’ll get it anytime soon. If Adder won’t step down, and the Lofties won’t back down, I may have to try to lead everyone through the caves to Koolkuna. If I can persuade them to go. One impossible task after another.

I can sense the wavering light from a torch ahead.

“Hello?” I call. The torch moves closer.

“Fennel? That you?” The man sounds astonished. I better get used to people thinking I’ve come back from the grave.

“Believe it or not.”

He laughs. “I don’t.”

I struggle to place the voice. “Moray? What are you doing way out here in the passage?”

“Guard duty, watching out for Lofties.” I hear the clunk of a spear shaft being leaned against the wall. “So where ya been?”

“You definitely wouldn’t believe me if I told you."

“Try me.”

“Later, okay? I’ve been walking all day and I really want to find my family.”

“Come on, I’ll take you. I’m dead bored anyway. I could use the excitement.”

I’d rather go on alone, but I don’t want to be rude. Moray strolls next to me, the torch floating at his side. “How are things?” I ask cautiously.

“Could be better," he answers nonchalantly. His tone confuses me.

“Why? What happened since I left?”

“A lot.”

“Is everything okay . . . in here?”

“Sure, why wouldn’t it be?”

I give up. Clearly I’m not going to get much out of this one.

We’re at the fork. I can hear voices ahead to the left, through the short passage to the main cavern. To the right is the tunnel leading deeper into the caves, where Peree saw me kissing Bear.
Bear.
What am I going to say to him?

“
Ugh
, the smell in here . . .” I pinch my nose.

“Yeah, it’s bad. We all stink like a bunch of fleshies. Hang on for a second.”

I’m impatient now that I’m so close, but I wait, listening to him set the torch into a holder on the wall.

“Okay, let’s go,” he says. I turn toward the cavern, hideous smell and all.

My head jerks back as Moray’s hand slams over my mouth. He presses me into his chest.

“Don’t fight, sweetheart. I’ll just make it harder on you,” he whispers, choking me for emphasis.

My heart pounds in my throat as he drags me backward, deeper into the caves. I barely manage to keep my feet under me and breathe.

My nerves are screaming, but I make myself focus on where we’re going. Moray pushes me into a new tunnel. I think it's the one that follows close to the outer edge of the caves, eventually exiting into the forest. It’s hardly ever used. Moray must want privacy.

He releases my mouth. “Can I trust you to keep quiet? No screaming.”

I nod. He moves us down the passage, his arm tight around my neck.

“Why are you doing this? What do you want?” My voice is raspy.

“No questions.”

“But–”

“Shut it, or I’m gagging you. You’ll figure things out soon enough.”

He pushes me along in front of me. I can barely focus through my panic. I’d forgotten how long this passage is, but finally I smell fresh air. We must be near the opening. Moray ties my hands behind me with what feels like a thin but strong piece of rope.

“Please, you don’t need to do this,” I whisper.

“Yeah, I do, actually. Orders. You’re banished for colluding with the enemy, or something like that. Tell you the truth, I wasn’t listening all that close.” He jerks the knot tight.

“Orders? Whose orders?”

“Who gives all the orders around here? The Three. Now, hold still and keep quiet. Fight me, and I promise I won’t be any kind of a gentleman about this.”

He pushes me back on the ground, my hands pinned under me. I’m even more confused—for about a second. He kisses me, his lips covering my mouth like slabs of meat. His tongue thrusts into my mouth and I gag. When his hands rove down from my chest to my abdomen, I do the only thing I can think of. I bite down. Hard.

Moray roars and rears back. I turn my face away, expecting the blow, but his fist lands in my stomach instead. Tears leap to my eyes.

He paces around, cursing me, but he can’t really form the words. I try very hard not to cry. He leans over me, a revolting mixture of blood and spit dribbling across my face. Then he slaps me.

“You blind bith. I don’t want Bear’s theconds anyway.”

I would laugh if I didn’t think he might kill me. He yanks me to my feet and I turn to face him. My next move will be a knee between his legs.

I don’t get the chance. Moray pushes me backward out of the cave. Then he spins me around, and herds me into the trees. Branches whip my face and arms, but I don’t make a sound, and he sure doesn’t stop.

Suddenly the ground drops out from under me. I don’t fall far, but there’s a sickening pop in my ankle when I hit, and blinding pain. The lower part of my leg shakes with it. I grit my teeth and hold in a moan. I don’t want Moray to know how much it hurt. Something falls next to me.

“Thu bad you don’t have any food or wather in there.” It must be my pack. “Poor Bear, he’th worried about where hith intended got to. But maybe ith better thith way conthidering who you were with, looking for the Wathers.” He spits, hitting my bowed back. “Good luck, traither.” His footsteps retreat.

I lie on my side, stunned from the blows to my stomach, face, and ankle—not to mention the sudden change in my circumstances. I take slow, deep breaths, controlling the urge to vomit. I don’t want to be stuck with a pile of stinking sickness.

When the nausea subsides I try to crawl, hoping to figure out where "here" is. My ankle throbs as I creep around. It’s obviously some kind of hole in the ground, roughly circular, and a little more than a man’s height in each direction. The floor beneath me is hard-packed dirt. I know I’m not near our clearing, or the Lofty walkways, given where the tunnel we traveled lets out. This is an uninhabited part of the forest.

I stand with effort, keeping most of my weight on my good ankle, and turn my face up to the surface. It’s pretty much night now; only a weak, watery light trickles in. I run my bound hands around the smooth sides of the pit. I can’t find any rocks, roots, or other signs of vegetation. From what I can tell, the top of the hole is no more than a few feet over my head, but even with two healthy ankles and unbound wrists this probably wouldn’t be an easy climb. The pit seems man-made. Was it dug just for me?

I slump back down, minding my aching ankle. How long can I last in here, without food or water, and with no hope of rescue? I’m already thirsty and hungry from walking all day. A dullness steals through my mind and panic scrabbles in my chest, making it hard to breathe or think. I fill my lungs and scream as loud as I can, hoping someone might hear it. Or that it might chase the smothering fear away. My mind clears a bit with the piercing sound, but the tight feeling in my chest doesn’t lessen.

The earth around me swallows some of the sound, like our blankets when Eland and I used to giggle into them at night. Eland. I was so close to being with him again. Did
he
think I should be banished? Did everyone? And why would they? I didn’t collude with anyone. I didn’t even invite Peree to come with me to search for the Waters, although it might look that way. Is this what banishment really means? Binding someone’s hands and throwing them in a pit until they die of dehydration? Or was this a special sentence just for me, because I’m protected from the Scourge? Tears run down my cheeks. I can only absorb so many horrible revelations about my community today.