He couldn’t see. Couldn’t breathe. Lords, he hurt. Something was broken inside his chest, cutting his innards like a knife.
He rolled over and cried out at a searing pain in his ribs, a pain that stole his vision and turned it into a flash of light. “Merciful Creators,” he prayed, imploring, begging for help. “Da.”
But the pain was too great and his whole world went white.
SHIM
T
alen awoke with his eyes closed, wailing in pain.
“Talen,” a voice so soft he almost didn’t hear it. “Brother.”
It was River. But Talen couldn’t contain his wails.
River stroked his forehead. “Shush,” she said gently. “Shush.”
He gritted his teeth, tried to stop. He panted and then the wailing turned to sobs, great wracking sobs, and tears streaming down his face.
He opened his eyes.
Blood had run out of one of River’s nostrils and dried in the dust on her face. The odd beast light still lit the room behind her, but it had diminished greatly.
“Where’s Da? Ke?”
A weary grief rose in River’s eyes. “Ke is fading fast.”
“And your father,” said the Creek Widow, “let us hope that he has been gathered by the ancestors.” Talen turned and looked at her. She’d tried to wipe it away, but he could see her mouth had been smashed. Dried blood caked the edges of her lips. It caked her gums. She was missing three teeth.
A sob rose in him. But he swallowed it. He could not fathom Da being gone.
Talen closed his eyes and composed himself.
“It wanted me to unravel its stomachs,” he said.
The Creek Widow narrowed her eyes.
“The monster,” said Talen. “Before it put me back.”
“Talen,” Uncle Argoth said, “how did you do it?”
“River had said you could kill a man by giving him too much Fire,” said Talen. “I gave the monster everything.”
“Incredible,” said Uncle Argoth.
The Creek Widow shook her head. “My boy,” she said and took his hand. “My bright, shining boy. You have snatched victory from the jaws of death.”
“But I didn’t,” he said. “The monster put me back.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The monster,” said Talen. “It put me back into my body.”
“But the monster lies in pieces,” said Argoth.
“It was there, on the other side. I don’t know how else to explain it.”
“This place,” said the Creek Widow, surveying the chamber. “It will take a great many days to understand what went on here.”
“Is the woman gone?” asked Talen.
“Can you feel her inside you?” asked Uncle Argoth.
Talen turned inward. He could not feel her. “I heard her scream,” he said.
“Yes,” said Uncle Argoth. “We heard it also.”
“There were doors between us,” said Talen. He felt inward and could find no trace of that link between him and the woman. “They are gone.”
“Let us hope. But even if she is gone, I do not think her sisters that rule the glorydoms will sit long. To them we are mad bulls broken from the pens and goring the good villagers.”
“Talen,” said River. “Do you think you can stand? We need to make our way out while this odd light lasts.”
“I can stand,” he said. He rolled over and pushed himself to his hands and knees. Every joint of him protested in pain. His head swam. But he forced himself up. “I can stand.”
A multitude of what looked to be pale sea kelp littered the chamber floor. “What is that?” he asked.
“The woman’s creatures,” said River.
“Or were they her children?” asked the Creek Widow. “There are simply too many questions.”
Sugar knelt at her mother’s side. She wondered how they would remove her collar.
“Mother,” she said. “They’re gone. We can get you out of here.”
Mother licked her dry and peeling lips. She smiled and reached out to cup Sugar’s face. “You take care of Legs,” she said and winced.
The way she said that carried a finality that frightened Sugar.
“You’re coming with us,” Sugar insisted.
Mother smiled again. “You are a strong girl. I will find your father, and we shall prepare a place for you.”
“No,” said Sugar.
At her side, Legs held Mother’s hand to his face. Tears were streaming down his cheeks.
“You beautiful boy,” said Mother. She took both Sugar and Legs in her gaze. “I am so proud of you both.”
She winced again in great pain.
“Zu Hogan,” Sugar called. “The collar is killing her!”
“Listen,” Mother said. “I have something for you. I was waiting. Under the hearth—” But her words cut off.
The others rushed to her side. The Creek Widow knelt and felt Mother’s face. She felt along the collar. “She’s worn it longer