Labyrinth Wall (9780991531219) (12 page)

“You miss Blue? And she’s the bird, right?” he presses.

“My pet.” It shouldn’t be uncomfortable talking about her, but it is. I guess it’s my protective nature.

“I kind of got the impression it would be hard to have a pet around here.”

“It’s complicated.” My lips scrunch together.

Rase scoffs as she makes a point to absently stare into the entangled branches. Clearly our conversation is of no interest.

“I hope I get to meet her,” he comments. “I can tell she’s special to you.”

I allow his words to hang, and it feels reasonable not to respond. He can see I’m starving. Focusing on the food going into my mouth is all I can do. It’s slowly working its way into my system. Trying not to further delay our exit from the wretched pass, I finish quickly.

We climb even higher into the tree, about fifty feet up. The mutts are probably still howling below but can’t be heard from this distance.

Then we start working through the branches, limb to limb. At first, my fingers are sore from the rough bark, but eventually they become numb as their coloring changes to a deep red. Continuing forward, I realize Korun was right about this going faster. Having to look for the fumes and avoid the soft ground had really slowed us down. This canopy is so thick we move tree to tree in a matter of minutes.

“Not a bad idea to travel the canopy,” I compliment Korun as we continue on.

Reaching from one giant branch to the next, I inquire what happened to him and Rase when I set off the poisonous gas.

“I remember trying to pull you two through the gas and losing hold on you,” he says. “Then I searched around but couldn’t find you anywhere. Of course at that point, things were getting very hazy. Then those dogs showed up and tried to attack. We couldn’t run fast, so we ended up in a tree. That’s when I had the idea to climb the rest of the way out of this place.”

I nod. My memory of the time between the fumes and Sir Riddles had been foggy until now, but it’s coming back to me. “That’s right. I tried to climb, but a branch snapped and I fell. I thought for sure those mutts were going to eat me. Then I lost consciousness. Next thing I knew, I was in that awful house. So you made it to a tree?”

“Obviously we were pretty disoriented, but we just kept climbing up as far as we could. We got about as high as we are now before the gas disappeared. It took a good hour for the effects to wear off. After that, we waited a long time for the gas to clear below. Occasionally, we would work our way back down a little, hoping the gas was gone. It must have been a few hours before we finally made it back to the ground.”

“How did you find me after that?” I inquire.

“Didn’t know what happened to you,” Korun answers, “but we found some strange tracks and drag marks. I hoped it would lead us to you, and it did.”

“Thanks, Korun. I’d be dead by now if you hadn’t gotten me out of there. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to block that monster out my head. He really messed with me.”

Korun nods.

Time passes as we move on. Fatigue setting in, we need to stop for a rest, but we avoid snacking. We have got to make the food last as long as possible. With Rase secured to the tree and our position in the branches, we decide no one has to keep watch.

The dreams aren’t pleasant, so I’m happy when Korun wakes me. “We need to keep moving,” he says.

My arms stretch as my awakening mind reaches for full awareness. The three of us climb on for another couple hours. We venture through the tangled trees, stringy moss, and near silence.

Finally, the moisture in the air is lessening. “I think we’re getting close,” I announce excitedly.

“Don’t get too excited and trip again.” Rase shoots me one of her snotty expressions.

I ignore her, too happy at the sight of our potential survival.

“Look, I can see more light up ahead.” Korun points.

Another hour brings us to the edge of the pass. We exit the trees carefully, keeping an eye out for mutts within and guards on the outside. We get about twenty feet away before I look back at the Rotting Pass. I’m relieved to have survived and hopeful that Sir Riddles died in the fire we started.

“This is the last time I ever plan to come close to this place,” I announce. “Now let’s get going.”
 

Chapter 13
Navigating the Blades

We have been inching through the metallic jungle for hours. So far, the structural layout of the labyrinth seems unchanged. I worry as we make new turns that we’ll come to an entirely new set of paths, but it hasn’t happened yet.

Despite how little time I spent with Sir Riddles in the Rotting Pass, I’m haunted by the experience. I try to imagine what the Creators intended for him to be, or if they even know of his existence. Recalling his breath on the back of my neck and his hand on my leg makes me shake. It reminds me of the one-handed man’s advances toward me in the castle. The only thing that brings comfort to me concerning the Rotting Pass is that I watched Sir Riddles and his house burn down.

I wish the prisoners would have let us help them. Creator or Mahk, I don’t care which they were. I can’t stand the thought of them living or dying like that. I find myself hoping they did die in that fire along with Sir Riddles, so they wouldn’t have to be haunted by memories of him.

As I try to shove his rhymes from my brain, the journey before me taunts my psyche. If things go okay, we could reach Blue in about two and a half days. Feeling guilty when I glance over at Korun, I find myself willing nothing else to go wrong. We’ve already eluded the guards, survived the Nabal, and navigated the Rotting Pass. It’s fair to hold out hope that we’ll make it back without another hitch. Aside from the possibility of more “Labyrinth attacks,” like the blades, there shouldn’t be any more fatal threats on our way.

The minutes fly by as we work around the sharp objects through wide then narrow passages. My senses would get bored looking at random boulders and scattered trees, but the added blades keep my mind busy. Like a thread, my body weaves through them. Occasionally, Sikla makes a little volcanic rumble but aside from that, quietness fills the air.

Korun breaks the boring silence. “So, tell me more about yourselves.” He runs the handle of his axe through his fingers. His brown eyes trace over the patterns carved into it.

Flinging her short brown hair away from her face, Rase rolls her eyes then looks away.

“What do you want to know?” I respond. It isn’t really in Mahk nature to socialize. I’m not very good at talking about anything, much less myself.

His attention lands on a lovely Darktouch flower dancing on the wall. Clearly trying to be sneaky, he slows down as if preparing to pluck it.

“Don’t!” I smack his rising hand.

His eyes are wide as he stares at me, dumbfounded. “Why?” He shrugs. “I thought you might like it.” He smiles at me.

I’m not comfortable at all with his attempted gesture. I shoot him a scolding stare. “Those things will turn you to stone with one touch.”

“Sorry.” His vacant expression and fidgeting thumbs give away his embarrassment. He attempts to push our conversation along, “What do you do in the labyrinth?”

I’m still put off by the flower incident. He could have been dead in an instant.

“How is it you know every corner of the labyrinth?” he tries again. “I know you live here, but you’re obviously exceptionally savvy with the place and its pitfalls.”

“Exceptionally savvy implies others aren’t as clever in the labyrinth. How would you know that?”

I’m giving him a hard time, but his prying is grating on my patience. I’m supposed to be the one asking questions. Yet, I’ve got nothing to hide. Around here, people don’t make polite conversation, but I decide to play along. If nothing else, it’ll make the walk go by faster. Maybe the conversation will help him remember something about himself.

“I don’t really do much, I suppose. The Creators made me two years ago. They don’t tell us anything about life or survival.” I shoot Rase an angry look. “So I figured it out. I learned that I need to take care of myself if I want to live. If I weren’t on this insane journey with you, I would be collecting obsidian right now from around Sikla.”

A look of confusion lands on his face.

“Sikla is the volcano in the labyrinth.”

“Why would you be collecting obsidian?”

“For the Creators. Obsidian and kimberlite are the taxes we pay, and that’s the only way we eat. As you can see, there aren’t exactly any other sources of food around here.” I’m getting bored with the discussion. “So that’s it really. I collect obsidian and that’s how I survive.”

“What do you need all that obsidian for?” Korun looks at Rase, trying again to engage her in the discussion.

“We make obsidian stew.” She laughs at him. The condescending tone is just right for her.

All this time, I’ve been thinking Korun is innocent like Blue, but his strong efforts to connect with us make me think he’s extremely sly. He might be feeling us out, learning what he can for some ends of his own. It’s not working though. Rase would never give up information about the Creators. They’re ancient people with the ability to create life. Just because Mahk are made in Creator image doesn’t mean they think much of us. It’s juvenile to think we could get anything out of them. They’re too proud for that.

Korun turns his face back to me. “So why do you know your way around this place so well?”

Unintentionally, I inhale deeply before I respond, “I like to explore… That’s all.”

He stares at me, like he thinks there’s more to it. He got me away from Sir Riddles and he healed me, which makes me grateful, but I’m still not comfortable being social. In the labyrinth, no one cares about anyone else. In fact, I’ve already talked to him far more than I’d ever interacted with anyone other than Darith. Korun’s knowledge of me from our conversations and experiences already makes me feel vulnerable. Vulnerability isn’t something I wear comfortably. Interaction isn’t my forte, and that won’t change for one person.

It feels like a good time to stop sharing for today. My gaze settles on the route we travel. Maybe he’ll think that’s cold, but he doesn’t have to like me. He doesn’t need to know anything about me anyway. What does it matter? When we get to the other side of that wall, I’m on my own again. Trusting Darith proved to be a mistake. He already abandoned me. That taught me a lesson about trusting people. There’s no desire in me to go down that path again. It’s safer to keep to my own agenda. Mine and Blue’s survival is the goal. Whatever else happens, happens. Korun doesn’t play into the long term picture of my priorities.

“I guess exploring might be something you can do a lot of when we get to the other side of the wa
—
” he starts.

“Shhh!” Rase insists.

We pause still in our places to listen.

Voices come from somewhere in front of us.

“Think those are guards?” Korun whispers.

“I don’t think so,” I respond. “Listen closely.”

The voices say things like, “Keep going.” Smothered sobs and crying accompany scattered words.

I shake my head with surprise. “Not sure who that is, but I don’t think they’re guards. Stay quiet no matter what.” I threaten Rase with my dagger. If I’m wrong and they’re Creators, we don’t need her giving us away.

We sneak along beside the labyrinth wall quietly, making our way to the voices. Snooping, my head barely pokes into a side passage, allowing me a quick glimpse of the strangers.

Reality suspends for a moment. There’s a group of Mahk walking together, and it seems like they’re helping each other. Among them is a very strange looking man. He’s unusually tall, towering about a foot over the rest of the group. He’s very muscular, and his dark green hair distinguishes him from the others. Mahk typically have brown, red, blonde, or black hair. The strange man looks very different from anyone I’ve seen before. Creators and Mahk don’t ever have hair like his or even such muscular bodies. Certainly I’ve never seen anyone his height before. Instinctively, I glance to see if Rase reacts to the unusual man, but she doesn’t appear to be surprised by his existence.

One Mahk is crying as she walks. Another consoles her by patting her arm gently with reassurance. Withdrawing tasty-looking crackers from a pouch, one Mahk offers food to someone beside him. They all walk in close proximity, clearly as a group.

“Something isn’t right about this picture. I don’t even know what the thing with the green hair is, and the Mahk are far too friendly with each other,” I whisper to Korun.

He smiles at me. “What if all Mahk aren’t what you thought of them, Araina? They might help us get to the wall. They may even want to go with us to the other side.”

His words raise conflict in my mind. The suggestion makes me nervous. Never in my two years have I seen friendly Mahk. Even when they aren’t killing each other, they’re temperamental, violent, and selfish. Mahk don’t help each other, ever. On the other hand, they obviously have a fair supply of food and water, which are things we need desperately at the moment.