Ice Blink

36: Snowsquall

Their wounds healed frustratingly slowly, but the Kadzait were surprisingly accommodating, sharing their food and resources even though the Inua could not contribute. As soon as they were able, they took their leave.

"Thank you for your hospitality," Amarok had said stiffly.

"Don't you forget it," Keeonah had replied. Did she expect Amarok to repay the debt in the future?

"Let's get to Kirasaq before everything goes to shit," Iki said.

"Eloquent as always, Iki," Niju replied.

Iki scowled at him.

"You're coming with us? I thought –" Nuna began.

"I refused to come with you because I wanted to help that village. Well, now people are dead, so I may as well tag along until I can find some real Inua. Besides, your task is important. I want to make sure you don't mess it up."

"Of course you don't trust us," Toklo muttered.

Now a stretch of mangokpok, watery snow, stood between the Inua and Kirasaq. Or so Niju said. Nuna couldn't see any sign of a city in the distance, and fog obscured the horizon.

"Are you sure the Kadzait didn't lie to us about where they camped? We lost all sense of direction when they rescued us, they could have sent us on a wild goose chase," Toklo grumbled.

"It's there," Niju said evenly. "Let's go."

Iki walked a little apart from the rest, a permanent frown darkening his face as if he hated every moment, but Nuna couldn't forget how helpful he'd been during the battle.

"You said you thought everyone would die, that fighting was useless," she said, "but you fought as hard as any of us for that village. You did everything you could."

"I'm no coward. I'd never sit back and watch innocent people get slaughtered. Perhaps we only extended their lifespans, but in the eyes of the spirits, we did our best."

"Don't you mean in the eyes of the gods?" Did spirits even have eyes?

"Not this again," he groaned. "Look, the gods don't exist, and you're going to have to deal with it."

Nuna shook her head.

Toklo and Amarok were staring as if transfixed by Iki's blinding hair as they brought up the rear. Iki spun around and began to walk backwards, surprising them.

"I know you all keep looking at me." He heaved a sigh. "Let's get this over with, shall we? Then you can all start acting more normal around me. I was born with black hair and eyes, like everyone else in my tribe. I fell sick when I was still very young, and I wouldn't have recovered. But my village respected the spirits, and one came to save me. When it gave me new life, my hair and eyes were bleached. Only problem was, the village started treating me like I was a demon, something resurrected from the dead, and my appearance was a constant reminder that I wasn't normal. Even my own parents wouldn't look at me the same. So I left to become an Inua. There was nothing for me at home."

"I'm s–" Nuna began.

"Don't even think about apologising. That's the last thing I want. I don't believe in the gods because the gods weren't the ones who saved me. The spirits are the only things worth honouring."

The more they walked, the more treacherous the mangokpok grew, until the group was floundering through slushy water. At first their mukluks held up surprisingly well, as they were supposed to, but eventually the moisture seeped through the thick layers. It soon weighed them down and soaked their leggings, freezing to the hide in uncomfortable patches, and Nuna's clammy feet tingled constantly with pins and needles.