Servitude: The Hydrangea Chapters

Chp 11: The Steeds of the Sands

Alright, at least they have some plan. As she stood there, it looked like she was waiting for him to lead and her to follow. More construct habits. But then again, she had just arrived yesterday late afternoon and didn't know where they kept everything. Elek stepping out of the infirmary, he would first go to an upper level of the building by walking up a circular incline, Marlina following a few steps behind. In one of the circular structures, they had created a vegetable garden. There were wide planter basins that were put together with tightly stacked stones filled with soil, any excess water within the soil filtered through the stone and ran through narrow channels in the floor. The types of vegetables would be placed in segmented sections depending on where the gaps in the structure were for controlled exposure to the sun, allowing them to get the proper amount of sun they needed depending on what they were. Surely this is their main source of food in a barren desert. Elek went to a few of the planters with a sack in hand, he would collect some sweet potatoes and squash. What looked to be a composter, Elek would cover his nose with the red knitted scarf around his neck, putting on a gardening glove and sifting through it before he pulled out a sweet potato infested with maggots and worms. Marlina would have no idea why he took that. From what he collected in the garden, it didn't seem like much to eat. Then again, it would only be for him. Perhaps he wasn't intending to be out there for very long.

Returning to the lower levels, they went to what could be seen as some sort of stable, where they would find a few of the lizard steeds that pull their sleds. The room was a cube shape with no windows, the only light source being a skylight above a few large rocks for basking. The fan-like scales on the sides of their heads would shift towards Elek and Marlina when they had come in. This being the closest she had been to one, she would notice that they don't have any eyes. Elek would then place his hands near his mouth and let out a whistle, which the lizards would respond by coming closer. As they lingered near them, Marlina would hear whistling from them, perhaps it being how they communicate. When one would come up to Elek, Elek would whistle once more, the lizard's long and narrow tongue quickly flicking around him as if it was identifying him. Knowing something else was in the room, its tongue would keep flicking, but it was having difficulty finding Marlina. Usually, the way to help them was to whistle at them, but Elek wasn't sure if Marlina could whistle. "Are you able to whistle?"

Marlina shook her head, she glanced at Elek for a moment until the tongue touched her, and the lizard became still. Its tongue touched her a few more times before it retreated again, a hiss coming from it, which the other lizards would respond similarly. Elek has only seen them act like this when they saw something as a threat. Is it because she isn't a living person that they behaved like this? Of course, the answer wouldn't be all that clear. It could also be the dulled scent of hekoska blood on her making them act in such a way. Having an idea, Elek took the maggot-riddled potato, tore it, and rubbed the insides of the potato all over her arms and shoulders. Now coated with sweet potato and worms, Elek would stand behind her and whistle. Hesitant, the same lizard would approach, its tongue flicking once more. Elek guided Marlina to hold out her arms, the tongue would lick some potatoes off her. Now that she had a treat, more of its tongue would come out, which Marlina wasn't expecting to be so long. It seems to extend to a few feet and coil around her arm. She'd also see that its tongue further down from the tip was barbed, collecting the potato and maggots before pulling it back and enjoying the treat. Elek whistled while it cleaned off her other arm, it seemed to be calm for the time being, and hoping the smell of the potato would let it tolerate Marlina's presence for now. At least the others weren't hissing anymore and went about their basking while keeping their distance. When it would go over to a basin with water to get a drink, Elek would go to a wall with harnesses and get one onto it while it drank. Marlina approached slowly, the fans on its head aware of her, with a few more flicks of its tongue towards her, before it returned to its drinking. "What are these things, Sir Elek?"