The Scourge (A.G. Henley) - By A.G. Henley Page 0,93
it. I fight a short but violent battle to keep from pounding her with it when she lets go. “Tell Peree I helped you. He’ll be happy.”
And with that, she walks away.
I start off in the direction Kai pointed in. Anger keeps my feet moving forward. Not just anger at Kai—now that I’m out of the pit, I have a list of people I want to get my cut-and-bleeding hands on. And they’re almost all Groundlings.
When I left home looking for the Waters, I was thinking about my people’s needs. Now that I’m back, I’m only thinking about mine. What were Sable’s words the morning the Three issued their punishment? I can stand with my people, or I’ll stand alone? Alone sounds perfect right about now. If it weren’t for Eland and Peree, I’d turn around and follow Kai all the way back to Koolkuna, whether she liked it or not.
As I stumble and thrash my way through trees and underbrush, relying solely on my internal sense of direction, I form a plan. I’ll tell Peree and Shrike what happened, then try to get into the caves to check on Eland somehow. The rest of them can rot in there, for all I care, including Aloe.
The forest is unusually quiet this morning. It should be almost midday, but it’s much darker, more like twilight. Clouds must be covering the sun. I do the best I can to keep traveling in the right direction, but it’s not easy with little to orient me. And although the wild thirst has ebbed, I’m weak with hunger.
After some time, I'm relieved to hear voices ahead. I move toward them, careful not to get too close. If they’re Groundlings, I might be caught and thrown in the pit again. If they’re Lofties, they may not wait long enough to find out why a Groundling is outside the caves. I didn’t come this far just to get shot.
I creep more slowly as the voices grow louder. When I literally run into a large greenheart, I stay behind it to listen, trying to get a fix on where I am. Some of the voices echo, convincing me I found my way to the mouth of the cave. There’s movement in the trees nearby. It could be coming from the platform overlooking the caves, where Peree used to meet me in the mornings. I wonder if he's up there now. My limbs tingle with nervous energy.
I hear Fox’s voice. His perpetual exuberance is gone, replaced by a weary determination. “You wanted to see your man, and here he is. What are your terms?”
“We can’t trust them,” I hear Adder say. He doesn’t sound well. His voice is repellent as ever, but there’s a brittleness to it I haven't heard before.
Someone in the cave says something I don’t catch.
“It’s not a trick, it’s a simple trade.” That’s Shrike, speaking from his trees. His gruff voice is threatening. “Give him to us, and you can go back to your homes.”
“Unacceptable,” Adder says. “This Lofty trespassed in the caves, and we know he also killed a Groundling. We demand retribution.”
A Lofty went in the caves, killed someone, and got captured? Why? Who? Then I hear a familiar voice from the caves. Oh, no. It can’t be.
“I killed the Groundling because he was being consumed by the Scourge, not because he set the fire.” Peree sounds as if he’s already explained this repeatedly.
“You’re lying, like all Lofties lie,” Adder hisses. There are sounds of a scuffle. “Moray, restrain the prisoner.”
I scowl. Moray again.
“You attacked our homes, and murdered one of our women. Our losses are even,” Shrike says. “I’ve told you our terms. Reject the offer, and see how long you can hold out without fresh water or supplies. It’s your choice.”
“Do you hear that? They admit it,” Adder says loudly. “The Lofties mean to starve us out, as I’ve been telling you. They want to take our land and the water hole for themselves.”
The Groundlings in the caves mutter. I hear the thumps of spears on the ground. This isn’t good.
“We had no other choice but to contain you after your unprovoked attack,” Shrike says, undisguised frustration in his voice. “We don’t want the deaths of your women and children on our consciences. Then again, we wouldn’t shed tears if you Groundlings left the forest for good.” Lofties in the trees whoop their agreement, causing a few Groundlings to hurl curses from the caves.