Servitude: The Hydrangea Chapters

Chp 6: An Unnerving Proposition

'What a fascinating flock these people are,' Marlina thinks. During her years in Urush, anyone who spoke of The Everlasting Expanse only stressed tales of caution regarding the rugged terrain, the creatures beneath the sand, or even the desert driving men to madness. Despite the hazards, these people have created a haven against such opposition. They have skilled warriors strong enough to slay the giant monstrosity that swallowed her whole, with leadership that is swift to decide the best course of action in tense situations, and individuals who show great compassion for both the living and the dead. When Aurea mentioned defenses earlier, Marlina wondered what that entails for beasts like the one before. But being underground, she wouldn't be able to find out.

Locating the seed she had shown to Elek and Tessa, she struggles for a few moments to push it from the crowded trolley into one of the holes at her wrists. It isn't the most straightforward task for someone without hands. Once it's in, she has to shift and twist her arm to avoid the other holes so the seed drops down to her foot, where she usually keeps it for safekeeping. She steps outside the door after she hears it drop and shakes her foot to confirm the rattle. Peeking out of the tunnel, she no longer sees Elek. As she walks, her footsteps make a soft metallic clank against the sandstone beneath her feet. Not wanting to upset Elek, she remains inside the building so no one will see her outside.

As she traverses, the structure differs from what she is accustomed to seeing in Urushian architecture. The corridors and larger rooms are pretty open, featuring few walls and only segmented by the wide arches and pillars that line the space neatly. While the pillars and arches bear aged cracks, Marlina notices shutters made from tightly woven palm fronds. Upon finding a lever at the end of a long row of pillars and arches, she hesitates momentarily before using her forearms to push the lever up and down, causing the shutters to shift from open to closed with each movement. 

It takes her a few moments to find an incline that leads to an upper level with a more open space filled with mismatched furniture. One could use their intuition to determine which room is for dining, which is for tools and sled making, and which is for living spaces, among other things. It's a humble dwelling that was created from a long-abandoned space.

Finding a window that overlooks the courtyard she and Elek had passed through earlier, she spots Aurea and Tessa standing at the lake's edge. Marlina strains to see Aurea trailing her hand over her staff. Her hand moves from one end of the staff to the other, forming a long spire that appeared to be ice at the tip. 

She can create ice? In a place like this? From what Marlina learned during her travels in Urush, she understood that Urushians can only manipulate certain aspects of nature, and ice isn't one of them. Then again, Aurea doesn't resemble Tessa and Mordecai, who are Urushian with their tan skin. Come to think of it, they didn't have any markings that Urushians usually have to show the element they are bonded to. 

Aurea lifts the staff out of the water as Tessa holds up a piece of paper. Using the tip of the long spire on her staff, she draws a magic circle of ice in the water. After placing the tip in the circle's center, Aurea lifts it from the water and presses the circle into the sand, creating an impression. Once Aurea pulls it away, Tessa squats at the circle's impression and places her hands on it, causing it to glow; the sand collects and condenses, rising from the ground to form a thick spire as tall as they are, protruding from the ground. 

How strange; any Urushian Marlina has encountered would have been able to do that effortlessly. And what is with the circle? Urushians typically manipulate their element using movements of their arms or feet, never a circle. As the two repeat this process, they create a perimeter of spires, set yards from the walls surrounding the outpost. Marlina is so engrossed in watching that she didn't notice the man with the eyepatch standing nearby and observing her.

"You know, those spikes go underground, too."

Marlina jumps and quickly steps away from the surprise. Mordecai chuckles lightly at her sheepish expression. 

"Sorry about that! I saw you wandering and wanted to see what you were up to."

Was he following her? Marlina looks back at the primarily open spaces. She didn't know whether to be impressed or unnerved that he could follow her while keeping out of sight in such a sparse area. Perhaps she should have stayed in the infirmary. "My apologies, Sir Mordecai. I will return where I was told to stay."

Bowing to excuse herself, Mordecai raises a hand to stop her and gestures for her to return to the window. It's impressive that she remembered his name after just one mention. "Hekoska are sand-dwelling beasts that burrow into the ground, so Tessa makes those spires extend above and below the surface to keep them from getting any closer or possibly digging into them if they try to jump over." 

"That's a hunter hekoska that Neterion and Natalia saved you from. Hekoska are pack creatures that live beneath the sand and only come up for food and warmth. Hekoska have strong noses; they can recognize each other's scent and attack anything that carries the smell of their fallen friend's blood. And the twins are covered in that scent, which should help draw quite a few of them away. But you've got it on you, too. A nest can have dozens ready to get their pound of flesh."

A grimace crosses Marlina's face. "Then would I be leading many more of those ferocious creatures here?! Shouldn't we wash this off?" She twists and shifts to check her body for any traces of its blood. However, Natalia had already washed it away earlier.

"Even if you do, the smell lingers. I can smell it on you right now, and they can detect it from a mile away. It becomes too dull after a day or so, making the first day after taking down a hekoska the most dangerous."

With her eyes cast down, Marlina continues to watch Aurea and Tessa as they work on creating more spires in the ground. "Then... should I leave? So I don't put any of you in danger?"

"Not unless you want to get gobbled up again when we can't help you. This isn't the first hekoska attack we've faced. They back off as soon as they realize it's too dangerous for them." 

He doesn't seem concerned about the threat, even though he insisted that the two who rescued her earlier stay. Marlina isn't completely assured of their ability to defend the outpost and is still leaning towards making herself scarce. 

"I did want to ask you a favor, though. Just not sure how willing you would be to be a part of it."

 What could he possibly need from her after just meeting her? "What... could that be?"

"To be direct, I'm curious if I could use you as bait."

"Bait?!" After she was swallowed by one of those creatures once before?

Leaning against the sill, Mordecai pats the scimitar at his side. "Usually, when we face an attack, the twins and I hang out near those spires with our sleds, taking out any hekoska that get too close. We're covered in blood when we defend the walls from them, which attracts them to us. But with the twins gone and you being the target, it'll make things harder if you're in the building. I ask that you sit in my sled to draw them to me while I handle the rest. That's how we usually do it. But Aurea isn't going to put a newcomer in a dangerous situation like that, even if you're with me. You may not be able to fight, but it doesn't mean you can't help in some way. You can say no, but that would make defending more challenging overall. I will ensure your safety—nothing will get to you."

At the moment, Marlina prefers to keep her distance from any more of those things. However, if what he says is true, she may not have a choice until the scent of the blood fades. Regardless, they will come to this place, and she wouldn't want to be burdensome. Yet, her reluctance is apparent to Mordecai.

He steps away from the window, allowing her to continue watching. "If you're up for it, meet me at the fountain at sundown." After he leaves, Marlina glances back at Aurea and Tessa as they build one spire after another.