Game of Ash and Bone

Chapter 5 - We are hunted by cannibals at night

The first group of cannibals finds us just after dusk. We hear them before we see them. The steady tramp of footsteps in the distance. We're walking on sand. So to hear the footfalls it means there's over ten of them?
Oh make that thirty.
Ragged, filthy humans, smeared with blood, wearing the remains of ruined clothes, and an impressive variety of improvised weapons. All right. I live for this shit. I probably died for this shit.
This is going to be fun.
"Lyra, how old are you precious?" Nemo asks.
"I'm six!"
"I thought you were nine!" I say.
"Is that important at ALL, Nyx? No, shut up—Lyra you're going to stay behind us and nowhere near me," Nemo says, shaking out his shoulders, "Circle up."
"Scary stuff?" Lyra asks.
"Scary stuff," Tove winks.
I ready my axe.
The cannibals regard us lazily.
"Well come on boys! What are you waiting for!"" Nemo laughs, holding out his arms. All right I take everything back I've said about him we should be friends.
Time stands still for half a moment. Then they rush us. I swing the axe widely, hitting bone and immediately getting it caught. Got to work on that.
Nemo's eyes are rolled up in his head, and he's holding his hands out lazily, a dagger in one.
The cannibals begin attacking each other.
"DON'T LOOK IN HIS EYES," they start screaming. Two of them are turning on the rest, fighting wildly. After half a moment I realize he's controlling them.
But I have plenty of my own to worry about.
I have barely gotten my axe free before another has charged me, and I only just block the blow in time. Tove is fairing little better. Arthur is locked in combat with one, a few feet in front of Lyra who has her hands over her eyes obediently.
I take out another, splitting skull and immediately splattered with brain matter. The two that Nemo was controlling have nearly died from their injuries. They slit their own throats then three more turn.
"Oh lots of sustained eye contact tonight," I laugh.
"You think they would learn?" Nemo laughs, clearly present despite his eyes being—oh god, they're pure white. Instinctively I don't look into them. I don't know if he can control it but I'm not about to be caught in his spell intentionally or otherwise. He moves to avoid a blow, now he has control of four of them.
I am fully grappling with another.
Nemo whistles, "Stay down, Nyx."
I obey, and he flips off my back, kicking one and making full eye contact with another. Instinctively I lean, letting him fully flip onto the shoulders of another, eyes still glowing translucent white. Seven are under his control now.
I move to finish Arthur's for him, splattering us both in blood. He moves to fight back to back with me, as Tove finishes off two more with blows from her bat.
Something smashes the back of my head. I stumble painfully, struggling to stay conscious. I look up just in time to see Arthur gut the perpetrator, the boy's face set with anger, splattered with blood. I jerk my head in thanks and the wild boy grins, before ducking antoher blow to grapple with a cannibal that charged us. Tove is struggling under three so I run to brain one with my axe. Nemo sends one of his to start dragging them off of her.
I turn and instinctively kill another that was nearly to Lyra.
"Ow! Damn it that was me —watch what you're doing," Nemo laughs.
"Not sorry?" I mutter, looking around.
The six remaining cannibals look up and simply slit their own throats.
"Ah that wasn't bad," Nemo says, wiping blood from his face, his eyes have returned to normal.
"You have to show me how to do that," Arthur spits out blood.
"Nobody hurt?" Tove asks.
"That was scary!" Lyra says, betrayed.
"Little bit," Tove nods.
"Could have said you could do that," I accuse. Most psychics can't do that many people at once.
"They don't call me the puppetmaster ironically," Nemo smiles his soulless grin.
"I hear something," Arthur points.
"That was just a scouting band. Come on," Nemo looks around.
"This way," I gesture back the way we came, "We need to run. Now."
We take off as fast as we can, shouldering our bags, Lyra clinging to my hand. She stumbles and I swing her onto my back without breaking stride. Come on. This had better work.
I can hear shouts behind us. Nemo flips his head around to look back then I hear screaming.
"Got two," he pants, eyes flickering.
"Out of how many?" Arthur asks.
"Ah probably forty but it sounded good when I said it," he mutters.
We round a corner and hit a dead end to our left. We run right. We're all out of breath, and already panting. Tove lost her backpack somewhere in that she has mine. Nemo kept his, and Arthur looks like lost his too. I didn't really expect to all keep our bags. Through the first night would have been okay though.
Tove glances over at us, accurately assessing that we're not all likely up to fighting that many. Even if Nemo could probably make it, the rest of us won't. We've been walking all day and the kids are exhausted.
We stumble to a stop. The way is barred, but by a group of panther-lions. Huge, twice the size of normal animals, and clearly slathering. They growl when they see us.
And behind us the cannibals are coming.
"They shouldn't be tracking us yet we just started bleeding," Nemo pants, face flickering with panic.
"Shit shit," Tove readies herself.
"Get that soap out of my backpack, now," I say.
"What?" She says.
"Now, give it to me," I say, holding out my hand. We have thirty seconds.
She tugs it from the outside pocket, handing me the bag of our collective bars of soap.
I throw it directly at the panther lions. Great now we have forty seconds.
"Hold her," I swing Lyra into Tove's arms. Then I leap at the wall.
Enough momentum, I half run up it, then bounce to the other side. Nice and narrow. I roll onto the top.
"GO!" Nemo says, as one of the panther lions inexplicable starts attacking the others.
"Throw them!" I shout, leaning down, stripping off my shirt and the like kilt, knotting them together and lowering them down.
Tove obeys, throwing a screaming Lyra. She doesn't catch the rope but the toss was enough that I catch her and roll her to safety on the top of the wall.
Tove kneels and Arthur climbs on her shoulders then high enough to grab my shirt. I drag him the rest of the way. Then Tove jumps. Her hand misses mine.
"COME ON!" Arthur is leaning over as well.
"I got you," I hold his ankles and lower him down. He grabs Tove's wrist and I start to drag them both up. Between her feet struggling for clearance, and us dragging we haul her to the top.
As soon as we do Nemo joins us, moving his panther lion closer and crawling up it then rolling to a three point landing on the top of the wall, splattered in blood in the moonlight he definitely looks cooler than me and I hope nobody else notices that.
There's screaming down below as the painter lions attack the cannibal tribe. I tug my shirt back on, bloodied and bruised as I we are. We're still alive.
I grin, flipping off the stands namely the royal boxes. Fucking nailed it.
"What the fuck?" Nemo asks, rage registering on his usually carefully calm face. He walks up and pushes my chest.
"Watch it," I say, pushing him back.
"Stop it you two," Tove says.
"What is going on? Why are you mad at him?" Arthur asks.
"Because he was luring the panther's right to you," Nemo growls, pushing me, "You've been walking in circles all day—on purpose."
"And you knew we were walking in circles want to talk about that?" I snarl, not at all afraid to maintain eye contact. Not because of any bravery no I'm just really stupid I'm discovering.
"What?" Tove asks, coming over, she moves between us, "Both of you, right now, what is going on?"
"He's been intentionally baiting the panthers and leading them to you," Nemo accuses.
"What?" Tove looks at me.
"The soap. Was made from human fat," I say heavily.
"What?" Arthur asks, horrified. He's holding Lyra's hand.
"Yeah, so when I realize that. Figured the animals would follow that. If we walked in a circle then we could confuse our scent and lure them back onto the corpses of animals we killed slowing them down. I knew since it smells like human fat, it would buy us time, your fucking go," I say, folding my arms.
"I was bored wanted to see what you were doing. I've been through a few times. I get bored. So?" Nemo asks, still angry, "You were using them as bait."
"Circling the fuck back—to what the soap was made out of?" Arthur holds up a hand.
"Yeah I'm still there how did you know that?" Tove asks.
"I guessed I—I don't know okay? I knew it could be made of that," I say.
"How?" Arthur asks.
"It's just—something I know I don't know how. He clearly also knew that and he has all his memories, you want to tell us?" I ask, shaking my head. I don't know why I know that anymore than I know why I know what goes in bread. It's just something that's there. Like I've known for a while.
"Those who don't get sent, discarded, into the games—loved ones who wish to sell the parts—," Nemo gestures broadly, "Soap. That's why any fancy house they use liquid. That's sold to the masses they give it to you before going in here to get you smelling tasty. Which is why he shouldn't have fucking put it on you!"
"Relax. Now they have no idea what we smell like. Soon we're going to smell like in here," I say, taking my bag and getting out a can of deodorant, "spray this all over us. Bam. New scent. Or did you have a better idea to throw them off?"
"Not to slather them up as bait without telling them. What exactly are you doing here, Nyx? Care to tell us? Becuase you seem awfully composed," Nemo snarls.
"I died," I say, tugging down my shirt to show the stitches. In retrospect it's hard to see in the dark.
"He was stabbed in the heart," Tove narrates.
"Yeah I can't see that. And why should we believe you? That was a very thought out plan, you knew how to walk in circles. And you certainly seem damn well kept for a slave," Nemo says.
"Why should we believe you it's not your first time?" I ask, to buy for time, because I know my past is unusual.
"You don't have to. They also wouldn't have made it without me you would have gotten them killed!" Nemo argues.
"Look, he's right—you're both right," Tove holds up her hands, "Nemo we don't have a reason to trust you—but you did just help us. And we've got nothing else. Cosmo can you tell us next time without pulling something like that?"
"I didn't know if I was right. I didn't want to scare you. I'm sorry," I admit.
"He's lying, he's hiding something," Nemo says.
"I can't lie I don't know anything, at all, about who I am," I say.
Nemo shakes his head, looking off at the darkened maze.
"I take it you've been up the sides before?" I ask.
"Yeah quickest way to get around. Which you knew as well I notice," Nemo says.
"Then why didn't you suggest we do this before if you're helping us?" Arthur asks, shoulders jerking.
"Because when I was going to bring it up I realized he was letting you walk-in circles," Nemo snarls, glaring at me.
"And we got away, let's move on," I say.
"None of us know—that much—about each other we're both recently revived. Can we agree we all want to live as long as possible because—fuck them?" Tove asks, gesturing at the stands which glow softly with light.
"Agreed," I say.
"Fine," Nemo says, but he's looking at me through the tops of his eyes, "Where'd you learn to stare down a psychic, Nyx, bet you remember that? Got to be memorable?"
"I have no idea? I do not know things," I say. But he's right. I have no concern looking into his eyes the others have been avoiding it. I'd like to know why as well. It feels odd to me as well but I can't remember.
"Leave it. If you want to travel with us, which there is safety in numbers, fine, but we all just fought like hell, back to back down there," Tove reasons, "We didn't do that because we want to betray each other."
"Agreed," I say, holding my arms out.
"Leave him. He betrayed you once with the soap, I'm telling you now," Nemo says.
"Stop fighting," Lyra bursts into tears, "I'm scared that was scary."
"Come here. I'm going to protect you from the scary stuff, all right? You want to be carried for a bit? Okay?" I pick her up and the little girl readily wraps her arms around my neck. I shift my axe in its sheath away from her head as she buries her little face in my shoulder.
"We're not leaving anyone. If neither of you trust each other then fine. I'll call the route," Arthur says, walking on, "fair?"
"Fine," I have no plans. I look at Nemo.
"Sure," Nemo says.
"Oh you trust the eleven year old?" I ask.
"I'm fourteen, genius!"
"Wow, okay I was way off—,"
"Yeah you think?" Arthur continues walking, shouldering his bag.
"I've got your bag," Tove says to me.
"Spray yourself with this, then do us," I toss her the doedorant.
"Gonna hurt like hell on open wounds," Nemo predicts.
We ignore him, taking turns spraying ourselves and each other. It does hurt like hell on open wounds. Lyra lets us while we cover her eyes then she passes out asleep on my shoulder. I have the paternal instinct that she should be home in bed, clean and safe. Maybe I had a kid. Or maybe it's just basic empathy. I could have had a family though. A life. My wife and I could have a child. And I've been deprived of that. I want smack Lex's pretty face. Envisioning doing that cheers me up enormously.
It turns out the maze is still a maze from the top of the walls, it's laid out such that we can't actually see that far ahead, so while it appears to be a clear field, we can't tell the pattern to the wall ahead of us in order to pick our way out. in the day I assume it's a little easier. But likely not much.
"Why's everyone stay down there? It wasn't that hard to get up?" Tove asks.
"One, it was rather hard it took cooperation, which many groups lack, or the ability to run up walls which you friend here mysteriously has," Nemo says, "Two, in the day time drones will shoot at us, we'll have to move back down if they take notice. This early in the labyrinth they tend not to care. We can sleep up here though."
"Oh, good, drones shooting at us," I mutter. Of course they'd prevent us from easy travel up here. But it still feels like a cheap shot.
"Can you control it?" Arthur asks, frowning, "Like, stop the bullets."
"I'd have to control the drones themselves, no, it's nearly impossible to control a machine or inanimate object," Nemo says, shaking his head.
"Can you show me how do what you did with—mind controlling them?" Arthur asks, "I was supposed to go to the Academy but—they wouldn't take me. So they sent me here because nobody's going to miss me."
"I'm sure your mother will miss you," Nemo says, actually nicely.
"She'll be better off," Arthur says, walking on.
"Yes. I'd be glad to show you. Mind control takes years. But we can try basic hypnosis." Nemo offers, again rather nicely.
I glance at Tove. She shrugs. Fellow psychic? He probably thinks that the rest of us are beneath him. Another psychic, even a child, is more at his level.
We finally stop for the night after we've all determined individually we don't think we're being followed. Lyra wakes up crying about everything that's happened and our lives I guess. That's relatable to be honest.
There's enough room on the top of the wall to bed down, I don't anticipate sleeping well enough to roll but we still lie side by side with our heads and feet facing the drop off, so we'll only shift into each other. Lyra we position between Tove and I, Arthur between Nemo and I. I don't want Nemo near anyone, but it's not actually an option.
He lays down, no bedroll, head on his backpack. We have one blanket remaining, and use it for Lyra, she and Tove will share my backpack. Arthur has his.
"Look what I brought," I say, tugging Winnie the Pooh out of my bag.
Lyra wipes tears from her eyes, sniffling a little.
"You want me to read to you?" I ask.
She nods.
"Okay come here," I say, letting her curl up under my arm.
Tove smiles in thanks. It's hard to read in the low light and I read smoother as it is.
" '"Here—we—are," said Rabbit very slowly and carefully, "all—of—us, and then, suddenly, we wake up one morning and, what do we find? We find a Strange Animal among us. An animal of whom we have never even heard before! An animal who carries her family about with her in her pocket! Suppose I carried my family about with me in my pocket, how many pockets should I want?"
"Sixteen," said Piglet.
"Seventeen, isn't it?" said Rabbit. "And one more for a handkerchief—that's eighteen. Eighteen pockets in one suit! I haven't time." ," I look down at Lyra. She's already dropping off. Poor baby, her head resting against my chest. I close the book slowly.
"Worth carrying," Tove says, softly.
I nod, handing it to her to secure back in my bag.
"that's not the end of the chapter," Arthur says, rubbing his eyes, "She might not be asleep."
"Oh, right," I say, taking the book back. Tove smiles a little, "There was a long and thoughtful silence ... and then Pooh, who had been frowning very hard for some minutes, said: "I make it fifteen." "What?" said Rabbit.
"Fifteen." "Fifteen what?" "Your family." "What about them?" Pooh rubbed his nose and said that he thought Rabbit had been talking about his family. "Did I?" said Rabbit carelessly. "Yes, you said——" "Never mind, Pooh," said Piglet impatiently. "The question is, What are we to do about Kanga?" "Oh, I see," said Pooh. "The best way," said Rabbit, "would be this. The best way would be to steal Baby Roo and hide him, and then when Kanga says, 'Where's Baby Roo?' we say, 'Aha!'" "Aha!" said Pooh, practicing. "Aha! Aha! ... Of course," he went on, "we could say 'Aha!' even if we hadn't stolen Baby Roo." "Pooh," said Rabbit kindly, "you haven't any brain." ' ."
By the time I make it there Arthur has dropped off as well, rolled onto his stomach and face in his backpack, completely uncomfortable yet undeniably out. Nemo was I thought alseep, but it turns out he's laughing with a hand over his face.
"It's a children's book," Tove says.
"I'm aware. I didn't know the most Scottish person alive could do THAT good of an accent when prompted," Nemo says, laughing, "God I needed that."
"What? Oh," I say. He and Tove have more native, well I guess Tove has a bit of a country, accent. I was intentionally doing the most posh accent I could manage for Rabbit. I did it very well I thought. In my head it's how I imagine Lex's voice which was a bit fun because I think he'd hate it that I'm using his voice for Rabbit. Wait a minute. "Nobody knows it's Scotland. It's the northern territories only we remember."
"Right. Just like Wales does. And I think Brittany. I had a fellow guard from there it's only reason I understand half of what you say," Nemo says, carelessly waving a hand.
"What it's like a city?" Tove asks.
"Northern territories, before, well way before the last expansion, something, we were a country of our own before the wars and unification and all that," I say, "I'm from there I guess, I mean I remember that."
"Good it comes out of your mouth," Nemo mutters.
"Oh," Tove says, not really caring. It doesn't really matter.
"It's fine. Where'd you get Winnie the Pooh anyway?" Nemo asks.
"They gave it to us, I sneaked it in my bag, we have a—well I thought she was like nine I guess she's six—six year old," I say.
"Sentiment's going to get you killed," Nemo says.
"Or I'll kill you," I say.
"Can you two stop? We need to sleep. The kids are asleep you sleep so I can have my turn," Tove growls. She's taking first watch.
"Fine," I can sleep on command plus the baby is cuddling with me I'll be grand. I close my eyes, letting sleep wash over me, and praying for halfway pleasant dreams tonight. Something of being at home would be nice.