Servitude: The Hydrangea Chapters

Chp 3: The Denizens of the Desert

After a while, they reach a lake—the first large body of water Marlina has seen in this desert. As they follow the edge of the lake, Marlina notices in the distance what looks like a nearby settlement they are heading toward.

Patches of grass begin to cross their path, gradually growing larger. Soon, the area is filled with the most plant life Marlina has seen in days, from cacti with blooming flowers to shrubs and palm trees, which the man operating the sled navigates effortlessly.

Up ahead, Marlina can see only a few large structures with dome-like roofs painted in bright shades of blue, yellow, and red—the protective walls surrounding the structures are also adorned with these colors to enhance visibility.

Marlina checks her arms and body to make sure her condition hasn't gotten worse. Thankfully, the multiple gaps in her form remain the same. But this has never happened to her before. As far as she knows, she can't be hurt. Yet now she's riddled with holes and missing her hands.

There was only one other time something like this had happened to her. During a fierce storm, a rotted tree collapsed, falling on Marlina and pinning one of her arms underneath it. After a few days of trying to escape, she finally managed to free herself from her arm.

The disembodied arm reattached easily enough once she reclaimed it from under the tree. Her earlier panic came from her hands not detaching from her, but disintegrating entirely. The way her hands changed form was also unprecedented. Hopefully, whoever she's being taken to knows what kind of being she is, since she has yet to find others like herself.

As they approach the main gate, three individuals stand at the entryway. The tallest of the group is a man with a lanky frame, wearing a leather tunic and long blue sleeves. From a distance, one might easily mistake him for being blonde. However, upon closer inspection, his roots are black while the rest is bleached. His hair covers half his pale face, and a monocle rests over his visible aquamarine eye.

The other male in the group, an older Urushian, is easily identifiable by his crimson-hued hair and chestnut-colored eye. His uniform, similar to the attire worn by Marlina's rescuers, is disheveled from haste. He's holding a scimitar in one hand and the reins of another lizard steed in the other. One would quickly notice the eye patch covering his left eye, with some scarring visible beneath it.

Then there's the third: a woman who stands out from the other two. If anything sets her apart, it's her long, braided white hair and long, pointed ears. The woman has the darkest skin tone Marlina has ever seen, a unique shade of gray she had not encountered before that highlights her golden hues. Her sleeveless, flowing cloak of icy blue and white, along with her authoritative stance, conveys a sense of nobility. She holds a staff that appears shorter than most that Marlina has seen.

'An Urushian among Colonials, living together amicably? How strange. And then there's the woman, I can't even tell what she is.'

Once the sled comes to a stop, the woman inside helps Marlina out. The man jumps off but keeps a watchful eye on Marlina as they approach the trio.

"Natalia, is everything alright?" the noblewoman asks Marlina's guide, her voice calm despite the situation. Marlina's condition is evident to her, but the absence of a panic-stricken atmosphere, more of uncertainty, prompted her question. There's also no blood on Marlina; therefore, she chose not to create panic and waited patiently for her answer.

"We reached her in time and defeated the hekoska, but I think she's injured, so we're going to take her to Tessa." The one called Natalia is about to pass them when the taller gentleman with the monocle places his hand on Marlina's shoulder.

She looks up at him and guesses he's at least six feet tall. She detects a grimace on his face as if he smells something foul, and he leans back a little.

"Allow me. Daylight hours are getting scarce for transporting these remains. The recipients expect the exchange in two days, and the hekoska will be troublesome enough with that one's scent all over you."

His gaze then shifts to a crafted coffin near the main gate of the outpost, along with some small supply crates. It seems Marlina's predicament impeded this task, which involves whatever is inside the coffin. She learned about them during her travels, and the usual contents of those made her uneasy.

The older man with the eye patch then addresses the one with the monocle. "They might have to wait longer than that, Elek. The other hekoska catch even a hint of blood from that carcass nearby, and I'll need Neterion and Natalia here to make sure they don't get too close to the walls. It's unlikely, but they've been pretty restless lately, and I'd rather not take that chance with having two of us away."

Upon closer inspection, the older man has numerous scars on his neck and arms, partially concealed beneath his uniform. One appears to be a burn scar, while others seem like claw or sword slashes. His scimitar and sheath on his hip are exquisitely crafted, true marvels of workmanship given to highly respected soldiers.

A moment of silence passes as the two men look at the noblewoman, whose expression reveals she's weighing the risks and rewards.

"We are increasingly in need of supplies, and the payment from this return will help us acquire them. Once we obtain that volcanic soil and seeds from Volkaunus, we can grow crops. Neterion and Natalia will need to make headway immediately." While Natalia salutes with a gesture, Marlina's male rescuer—presumably Neterion—displays some displeasure, agreeing with the man with the eye patch but remaining silent. The noblewoman then turns to the taller man, Elek, gesturing toward Marlina.

"Elek, please escort her to Tessa and take care of her." She then looks at the man with the eye patch. "I have no doubt we can't rely solely on our strength, Mordecai. Please have your sled and mount ready for battle."

After everyone receives their orders, they begin to carry out their tasks. Neterion and Natalia load the coffin and supplies onto the sled while Elek approaches Marlina.

"Please come with me."

Mordecai lingers with the noblewoman as if he has something to discuss with her. Meanwhile, Marlina is still processing the situation. As she follows Elek through the main gate, she glances back at the noblewoman, who looks toward the lake where the outpost sits along the coast.