On the Meldon Plain (The Fourline Trilogy Book 2) (10 page)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Waves smashed against the black cliff. Nat and Annin stood on a precipice overlooking the churning sea. In front of them, surrounded by swirling water, stood the jagged pinnacles from Nat’s dream. She shivered in the wind, thinking how they looked in real life like the teeth of an ancient leviathan. Overcome by vertigo, she took a clumsy step away from the edge of the cliff. Strands of her brown hair lashed her face and stuck to her lips. The ache in her shoulder throbbed with the rhythmic crash of each wave. Annin twisted her fingers around the thick fabric of Nat’s cloak, pulling her farther away from the edge.

“Can you feel that?” Nat asked, the vibrations running through the ground to the soles of her leather boots. Annin, wild-eyed, said nothing. They retreated into the forest and found Soris leaning against a decaying tree trunk. His face was ashen when he looked up. Nat felt uneasy as his gaze flickered past her as if she weren’t even there. Both he and Annin had grown increasingly tense and distant as they’d approached the coast.

Nat picked up a thin branch and pressed it into the dirt. She drew the pinnacles and the cliff face. “There, that’s where the entrance is,” she said, pointing near the upper part of the drawing. She glanced up. Soris had a vacant look in his eyes.

“Soris . . . Soris, focus on what Natalie’s saying,” Annin whispered, waving her hands in front of his face.

“There are so many of them.” His voice sounded far away.

“I know.” Annin placed her hand on his shoulder.

“So many what?” Nat asked, growing more concerned.

“Nala, I think. They feel different, more like duozi.” She glanced past the trees toward the cliff. “Whatever they are, I think we want to avoid them.” Annin frowned.

Nat sat back on her heels. The only things she felt were the slight vibration in the ground, the ache in her shoulder, and a twisting in her stomach. Sun filtered through the tree limbs, casting moving shadows on their faces. Soris and Annin both seemed lost in their own worlds with their eyes wide open.

“We’ll try to enter from that narrow ledge then?” Nat suggested, her voice demanding they focus on her.

“Hmm?” Both Annin and Soris gazed toward the cliff.

“From the narrow ledge along the rim,” she repeated, her voice tinged with concern.

“Along the ledge, yes.” Annin blinked frantically. Soris said nothing.

“Are you two okay?”

“Yes,” Annin said and blinked a few more times as if clearing away a vision. She reached into her pack and extracted three vials of yellow liquid. “Drink the meldon extract now, I’m not sure we’ll have a chance later.” She passed vials to Soris and Nat. His fingers shook when he broke the wax seal. Nat tucked her chin and sniffed the vial’s contents before drinking. A bitter taste filled her mouth.

“I’ll take the lead,” Nat said. Soris stared at the ground. “Maybe you should bring up the rear, Annin.”

Wordlessly, Soris and Annin followed Nat. She ran at a slow pace past the wind-shaped trees, keeping a narrow buffer of the woods between them and the coastline. Nat heard a muffled cry and glanced over her shoulder. Soris was on his hands and knees. Annin grasped his elbow and helped him rise. He clutched her arm, and a look of desperation flickered across his face. Nat skipped over a jagged trunk toward him, but Annin waved her away.

“We’ll catch up. Go on.” Annin brushed a streak of dirt from Soris’ hip. “Go on!” she barked. Startled, Nat stepped backward, eyes locked on Annin’s. Her expression changed from demanding to pleading. Nat bowed her head and retreated.

The soft sound of their voices chased her as she ran. She looked back. Annin pressed an orange-colored vial into Soris’ hand. Palm open, he stared at the container. Nat whipped her head around so they wouldn’t catch her watching, and a sharp branch dug into her shoulder. She pressed her fingers against the new wound and cursed under her breath.

A few heartbeats later, Annin and Soris were by her side, emerging from the forest edge with her. A rock in the shape of an eroded
L
marked the start of the narrow ledge leading down the black face of the cliff. Nat paused and faced them.

“I think I should go in alone.” The roar of the waves tossed her voice into the air. “All I feel right now is the ache in my shoulder, nothing else. But you two, I can tell something has a grasp on both of you.”

Soris took a jerky step forward. “We are all going together.” His tone let Nat know arguing with him would be pointless. She sighed.

“Fine, but I go first,” she said and took off down the cliff path.

The path was little more than a foot wide and covered with loose rock. Nat put one foot in front of the other, wedging her hands into crevices to keep from toppling into the sea. An abrupt set of stairs chiseled into the cliff led them onto a wider switchback. Nat grabbed Soris’ hand, and he jumped from the upper stair. He stared at her for a moment, taking in a deep breath. He tightened his fused fingers around hers and then dropped his hand. Annin landed behind Soris, and all three crept toward the shadowy entrance. Annin pulled on Nat’s arm and mouthed, “Two Nala” as she pointed toward the dark opening in the cliff face.

Nat nodded and unsheathed her old dagger. She released her orb and poured her thoughts into the sphere, preparing it for a fight. It bobbed unevenly as the wind beat against the cliff, then floated toward the entrance. Nat turned and followed the glowing ball toward the mouth of the cavern. It paused at the entrance and dropped until it hovered a few inches above the rocky ledge. Nat pressed against the rock with her head turned toward the dark opening. She inched forward.

A Nala emerged from the entrance. The orb shot up, driving itself into the creature’s chin and sending it crashing against Nat. She buried her dagger deep in its abdomen as it thrashed against her, slamming her into the rock. Soris and Annin swept past. Flickers of violent movement flashed in the entrance. She pushed the Nala away, unsheathed the ancient sword, and cut its head clean off.

Another Nala flew out of the entrance. Soris landed on it, smashing its head against the rocks. Its eyes widened when Nat’s ancient sword sliced through the air above it. She struck its neck and the Nala’s headless body shuddered, then slumped lifeless against the ground.

“Thanks,” Soris gasped. A thump sounded behind them. Annin kicked the headless corpse of a Nala off the cliff. She brought her boot back and the head sailed over the rocks, trailing down the cliff face after the body. Anger flooded her eyes.

“Two, maybe three more farther down the opening,” Annin said in a rough voice.

“Where are the rest of them?” Nat asked. “There have to be more than that.” She wiped away a smear of blue blood dripping from her cheek and flicked it to the ground. Her orb landed in her trembling hand.

“They’re all around, but quieter,” Soris said ominously.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The raging wind and the bright daylight disappeared the moment Nat, Soris, and Annin passed through the entrance of the cavern. A drop of water landed on Nat’s cheek, dripping from a rivulet in the black rocks above her head. Her eyes adjusted to the dim light and the shadows sharpened, revealing a worn footpath.

Their boots sounded softly against the slippery rock. Farther and farther down they wandered into the blackness. Nat felt an odd sense that she’d walked this path before and realized it was the same one she’d seen in her dream space. She peeked over the rigid curve of a fallen stalactite. Soris and Annin knelt next to her. Rhythmic vibrations traveled through the rock floor up their legs. A dim blue light filled the cavern passage.

A boy wearing ragged clothes carried a basin of water down the path in front of them. Droplets splashed onto the ground when he stepped over the rocks. He disappeared around a bend.

Nat lowered her head. “Duozi?” she whispered.

Annin and Soris nodded, a look of confusion crossing Annin’s face. A thin sheen of sweat covered Soris’ brow and his body trembled. Nat placed a firm hand on his arm, trying to steady him. He took a deep breath and rubbed his hand against his chest. His eyes flickered to Nat, giving her a nervous look.

“You can stay here and keep guard,” she offered, knowing he’d refuse to leave the cavern.

“No, we go together,” he said, shaking his head.

Nat looked over the edge again, then leapt, landing with a soft thump on the other side. Soris jumped next, followed by Annin. Narrow slits peppered the walls on either side of the path. Cold blue light spilled out from each slit. With her dagger held at an angle, Nat rounded the corner. Her hip bumped into something soft, and she brought her dagger down an inch away from Neas’ face.

The boy sucked in a breath. He pressed his back against the wall, away from the tip of the dagger.

“Neas, what are you doing here?” Nat helped the boy to his feet. Annin and Soris shuffled nervously behind her.

“How do you know my name?” His face showed no recognition.

“We met months ago in Yarsburg. Don’t you remember?” Nat brushed her fingers against his sunken blue cheek. A puffy welt marred the skin around one of his eyes.

“You were with that man.” Neas looked at her suspiciously and edged away. “He came back and told Yester what I was. Mam had to send me away with the soldiers.”

“Benedict,” Nat fumed. Her anger toward the Hermit burned inside her.

“What soldiers?” Soris bent closer to Neas.

“The ones with the white circles on their sleeves. They took me and two girls that weren’t like us.” He waved in the direction of Soris’ Nala eye. “And they left us at the edge of the forest for them.” He jerked his thumb toward the gloomy darkness.

“They took you to the Nala, Neas?” Nat held tightly to his sleeve. Neas pulled his arm away from her.

“It’s okay to answer her question. She’s not like that man she was with before. She’s a friend.” Soris placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder. Nat gave Soris a grateful look.

“They took me and a whole bunch of others to the Nala.”

“Neas.” Soris crouched down so he was looking into the boy’s eyes. “You said the soldiers took two girls that weren’t like us. What do you mean?”

“No bites. They were like her.” He tapped Nat’s forearm. “But they got bitten later, and now they’re like the rest of us down here.” Annin and Nat exchanged glances. Nat felt a surge of revulsion.

“Mudug’s men are bringing the Nala unbitten children,” Nat whispered, horrified by the thought.

“Something feels off here,” Soris suddenly said and leaned over the rock, eyeing the path.

Nat tried to stay focused on what lay ahead and not her rage at Mudug and his guards.
How can Mudug do such a thing?
She glanced at the boy with dirt streaks covering most of his exposed skin, and she knew she couldn’t leave him behind. “Can you wait here for us? We’ll get you out.”

Neas shook his head. “I can’t leave my friends.” His long tangled hair brushed his shoulders.

“Friends?”

“There are lots of us here taking care of them.”

“Taking care of who?” Annin’s brow creased.

“The Nala,” the boy replied.

“Nat.” Soris’ voice sounded strained.

“Hold on, Soris.” She kept her attention focused on the boy. “Neas, what do you mean you’re taking care of them?” This whole situation was worse than she could ever have imagined.

“We wash them, clean their wounds . . .”

“Nat.” Soris tapped her shoulder. She looked away from Neas to see a Nala emerging from one of the slits in the rock directly in front of her. The creature rolled its head as if it were an infant unable to control its neck muscles. A puckered cut ran down its sternum, but no blood spilled from the wound. Nat grasped her sword and lunged toward it. The Nala didn’t flinch when the blade struck its leg. It wobbled across the onyx-colored rock as if it didn’t notice the stream of pale-blue blood pouring from its upper thigh. She swung her blade again and severed the creature’s head from its body. The Nala stumbled back and landed with its feet sticking out of the slit in the wall. Its head rolled to a stop by Annin’s feet. Neas held tightly to Soris’ arm as he stared at the headless Nala.

“Why didn’t it attack?” Nat lowered her blade and took a cautious step toward the creature.

“They’re all like that.” Neas picked up his bowl and held it in front of him like a shield. “It takes them a few days to wake up and get nasty when they come out of those caves.” He gestured to the slit in the rock.

“Help me pull it back inside.” Annin grabbed the Nala’s feet. Nat stepped over the body and through the narrow slit. An electric shock of pain stabbed her shoulder, and she clutched her old wound. In the darkness, she fumbled with the Nala’s arms, then pulled it inside the small cavern using her good arm. Annin came next, lifting the legs, followed by Neas, then Soris, holding the Nala’s head in an outstretched hand.

Nat backed into a rock wall and released her grip on the Nala’s slippery skin.

“Nat?” Annin whispered in the darkness.

“I’m okay, hold on.” Her orb appeared and light filled the room.

“Oh no . . . no,” Annin moaned and dropped to the ground.

The body of a duozi girl was sprawled across a crudely carved alcove. Her thin blue arms stuck out at an awkward angle from her shredded sleeves. Her eyes were open and empty of life.

Nat reached for her hand, her fingers brushing against the girl’s cool skin. “She’s dead.” She gently folded the girl’s arms near her chest. The tip of a deep cut was visible above the collar of her tunic. Nat brought her hand over the girl’s eyes, closing the lids. Her foot knocked against a basin similar to the one Neas had held tight to his chest. Water sloshed to the ground, pooling around the Nala.

“It must have killed the girl . . .” Soris trailed off. His hands shook, and he threw the Nala’s head to the stone floor.

“Neas, look at me.” Nat grabbed the boy’s shoulder, pulling him out from where he was hiding behind Soris. His eyes were locked on the girl. Nat gently slapped his cheek and he snapped to attention. “How many more duozi are here?”

“Bunches, bunches, and bunches,” he whispered. Annin glanced at Nat as she knelt in front of the boy.

“Neas, can you get word to as many of them as you can that we’ll help you escape? They need to be prepared to run hard and fast out of this cavern.” Nat could never leave a child behind in this nightmare.

He nodded. “Most of them are by the pool.” He glanced toward the opening of the tomblike cave.

“We have to find a Nala first, and then we’ll help all of you get out. Understand?” The boy nodded again. Nat glanced up. Soris’ eyes were closed, and his jaw muscles twitched. Annin bounced on the balls of her feet, her gaze flitting around the room. Both looked unhinged.

“Hey,” Nat said sharply. Soris’ eyes flew open and Annin settled on her feet. “Stay with me.” She turned to Neas. “Are there more Nala here?” she asked, satisfied that she had everyone’s attention.

“Mostly sleeping ones.” He looked at the body of the Nala at his feet. “Only a few awake ones. The big one left this morning. She took most of the awake ones with her.” He trembled when Nat released her grip and immediately grabbed Soris’ sleeve. He pressed his face into Soris’ stomach. Soris’ hand shook as he smoothed Neas’ tangled hair.

She?
Is there a single female Nala?
Nat wondered. She glanced around the small tomb and thought of the other slits they’d passed.
Is this den like a hive?

“I think we should go now,” Annin said and ducked her head through the slit in the rock. She checked the passage for more Nala, then motioned for the others to follow. Nat gently touched the dead girl’s cheek, then exited the tomb.

Nat’s feeling of déjà vu grew stronger as they followed the path deeper into the cavern. Neas ran in front and gestured when the way was clear. They all stopped when they heard the sound of shuffling and hissing. Soris moved close to Nat, and Annin pressed in behind him with her dagger drawn. Nat peered around the corner of a craggy rock and brought her hand to her mouth in horror.

Dozens of duozi children, some younger and smaller than Neas, circled the base of a naturally formed amphitheater. Their bleeding bare feet shuffled over the ground. Some of them were naked and bruised; others wore nothing but burlap sacks with openings cut for the necks and arms. The mass of hollow eyes and emaciated bodies moved together as if each child’s feet were propelled forward by some unseen force. An eerie blue light reflected off the basins clutched in their hands. A few children glanced nervously toward the two Nala guards positioned near a pool ringed by rocks in the center of the amphitheater. Most walked around in circles dead-eyed until it was their turn to approach the pool and fill their basins.

Nat choked on the smell rising from the open cavern. It reeked of the sickly-sweet smell of decay. She watched, unable to move, as the children filled their basins. A few climbed a rough path cut into the rock, while others disappeared into shadowy openings dotting the curved rockface. She dropped her hand away from her mouth and clutched her sword’s hilt.
Whatever I have to do, I am not leaving any child in this hellhole.
Nat turned around. Annin’s and Soris’ expressions told her they were of a single mind.

“The Nala first, then the children,” Nat said. Soris lowered his chin in agreement, but he had a gray pallor, and Nat noticed the tremor in his hand had become a serious shake. She swallowed her concern and turned her attention back to the cavern. “There.” She pointed in the direction of an opening in the rocky wall above the amphitheater, recognizing the gap from her dream. She felt an odd pulling sensation, but brushed it off and looked squarely at Annin. “We need to take out the two Nala guards.”

Annin slid in beside Nat. “Soris and I will take the guard on the left, you take the one on the right.”

“I’ll take mine out first,” Nat added. “I think I can work my way around the children without the Nala noticing.” Her shoulder burned as if a thousand tiny pins were stabbing the muscle over and over.
If only we had Andris or Oberfisk as backup,
she thought. She glanced at Soris. Sweat trickled down the side of his face. “Do you think he can do this?” she whispered to Annin.

Annin frowned. “I can feel him struggling against something . . .”

“What about the other Nala? Can they feel you?” Nat glanced nervously at the guards.

“I doubt it, since there are so many duozi in here. I can feel Soris because he’s close and I know him. The rest of the Nala, the other duozi . . . They’re all mixed-up senses in my head. There is something, though. Something above the duozi and Nala.” Annin dug her fingers into her palms. “But I can’t tell what it is.” She looked up, lifting her head slowly as if it were heavy.

Nat motioned for Soris to join them. Neas crept closer, too. “Stay put,” she ordered. Neas nodded and wedged himself behind a rock. Keeping low to the ground, the three of them rounded the chunk of rock separating the path from the amphitheater. Nat joined the flow of the duozi and almost broke down when she saw the gashes and cuts on their bare arms and legs. A few of the children looked curiously at her, but most pretended not to notice. They clutched their basins with rigid hands and shuffled forward.

Nat wove through the ring of children, breathing through her mouth to avoid the overpowering smell of rotting flesh that hung heavy in the air. She paused and peered over a child’s head to check the guard’s location. A boy stepped too close to her and tripped on her cloak. His basin fell to the ground and rolled end on end, making a tinny sound. A barklike hiss echoed through the cavern. The children froze.

Crouching low, Nat watched the Nala pivot, then rise on tiptoe. The sharp ends of its limbs made no noise as the creature drew silently closer to her hiding spot. A warm puddle appeared next to Nat as the child next to her urinated down his leg.
What have they done to them?
Her anger erupting, she released her orb and rose amid the quivering children.

“Looking for me?” The sphere of white light slammed into the Nala’s head, then shot into the air and descended with furious speed, crashing into the creature’s face. Hissing echoed across the chamber. The children scattered like leaves in the wind, screaming and clearing the floor. Nat lifted the hilt of her sword chest high and swung the blade. Her shoulder screamed in pain, but she brought her sword across the Nala’s neck. Its head toppled to the ground and rolled toward the pool.

Nat sprinted through the fleeing children toward Soris and Annin. Cries bounced off the walls. The body of the other Nala crumpled to the ground, revealing Annin clutching her bloodied dagger behind it.

“Up the path!” Nat cried, gesturing to the narrow walkway cut into the cavern wall.

Annin severed the creature’s head and followed Nat, pulling Soris up the walkway with her. The children’s confused cries echoed up the wall. Nat glanced over the edge of the path. The children milled about the edge of the amphitheater, still clutching their basins.