Ice Blink

17: Outpost

"This place is called the Outpost," Amarok said. "I send my Takaani here regularly to scout the land and check for any unusual activity."

The Outpost pierced the horizon like the last lonely jagged tooth left in a mouth. They trudged inside, trailing snow. The only thing that kept it from being a shack was that it had three floors, although half the floorboards had rotted away and wind whistled through gaps.

"You certainly know how to treat a lady." Nuna glumly nudged a piece of congealed dirt with my toe.

"You always take us to the nicest places, Amarok," Niju said in a musical voice.

"You mentioned supplies," Toklo said doubtfully.

"I did." Amarok knelt and pulled a floorboard up with a sharp crack. There was a hole in the floor, and he dragged out sleeping bags and a couple of packs. "There's even a kettle and some spare firewood. I think we need hot tea on a night like this."

"Tea? Now we're talking." Nuna sat down, almost groaning with relief as she finally took my weight off her feet, and started to build a fire.

As soon as the fire flickered to life, the Outpost grew cosier. Every night of my life she had gone to sleep to the comforting crackle of the fire and the bittersweet smell of wood. Fire gave the illusion of safety, and reminded her of quiet nights sitting drowsily while Aniu braided her hair.

Amarok unbuckled his belt and dropped his sheathed sword in Nuna's lap. She squeaked in surprise. It was heavier than she had thought.

"Here. Take a closer look, if you want. You've been staring for hours."

"Oh. I didn't think you'd noticed." Heat crept up her neck.

"I'm a Takaani Commander. I notice everything."

"We don't have metal in the tribes." She unsheathed the sword and tapped it, admiring how it shone. "We use flint or bone for the blades, and wood, antler or ivory for the hilts. The first time I saw metal was... when the soldiers arrived. Where did you get this from?"

"In Illulik we've established a trade route that reaches far to the south, where ore is more accessible. Merchants visit often with wares, and I try to ensure the Takaani armoury is always fully stocked."

"It's called the Flint Road," Niju added, "because it started with people trading different types of flint."

The matter-of-fact way they spoke about such things made Nualik Island seem like a small, insignificant place. It had been her entire world, but it dawned on her just how little she knew of the rest of the continent. They were just a speck on the edge of the world, cut off from cities like Illulik. How many more grand places were out here, where no Nualik had ever walked before?

Niju cracked the door open. The world beyond was hidden by rippling veils of snow, so he closed it hurriedly.

After eating a few scraps of dried meat, fatigue settled in Nuna's bones. The heat of the fire pressed weights on my eyelids.

"I'll tell you about my scrolls in the morning, when they're dry enough to handle properly," Niju said as he began to lay them before the fire with reverence. "For now, we should all get some sleep. It would be best if we set off again just before dawn."

Nuna eyed the scrolls, wishing he would elaborate. What spiritual secrets did they hold? Perhaps information not even Qignaaq knew?

"We should set a watch, too," Amarok added. "We won't notice an enemy until he's right on top of us."

"I'll go first," Nuna said immediately. With screams echoing in her ears, she doubted she would sleep tonight.

While the others nestled into their sleeping bags, she climbed the creaking ladders up to the third floor and watched the storm rage. It was cold, and she locked her limbs together, trying to minimise her shivers. Hours passed and her eyes blurred. Spotting anything in the blizzard was impossible. Even if Mortu himself was walking past their front door, she doubted he would notice the Outpost.

Something heavy dropped over her shoulders and she twisted with a gasp, sliding a knife out of my belt and angling to stab.

"It's just me." Amarok's eyes flickered in the faint light from below. "I could see you shivering." The skin around his eyes was so dark it looked bruised.

"?" she asked, automatically slipping into the traditional way of saying are you all right?

He sat beside her and stared into the distance. Minutes trickled past, and she gave up hope of an answer. Of course he didn't want to talk. They were strangers to each other.

Then, finally, he spoke.

"I blame myself for the attack on Illulik. I should have been more vigilant, I should have noticed and stopped it before it could escalate. Now the shining centre of the north might be lost – and all those inside might be dead."

Nuna hesitated before replying, wondering how much to say. She had never met a warrior like him before. She had always thought Aneguin was the toughest hunter she'd ever met, but something told her Amarok's skills were unlike anything the Nualik Tribe could teach. She didn't want him to think she was weak after he'd spoken against them coming on this mission. He thought they were liabilities. I'll show you.

But he looked so troubled that in the end she decided to share my own burdens. "I think... I know how you feel. When the soldiers came, I was out on the ice, and they sent me away to get help. It was already too late – the village was gone. But that was the last time I saw anyone else, besides Toklo, and I keep wondering if I could have stayed and helped. I'm not a fighter. I don't know if my father just wanted me out of the way so he wouldn't have to worry about protecting me."

"You're young and innocent. You have not seen the horrors of war." Amarok's voice grew surprisingly gentle. "There's no way you could have known what would happen."

He didn't look very old, either. "I'm not that innocent." She wracked her brains, trying to think of something that would impress him.

To my amazement, he coughed and looked away as if he was embarrassed.

Too late, she realised what her words implied. "Uh – I didn't mean – whatever you're thinking –"

"I wasn't thinking anything." But he wouldn't meet her eyes. "You should go and sleep. I'll take the second watch."

Nuna handed him the sleeping bag and climbed quickly down the ladders. As the awkward feeling ebbed, an unbidden smile bloomed. So the mighty Commander wasn't all stoic and serious. From his reaction, it was like he'd never spoken to a girl before.

Ha. I've found a chink in your armour.