Servitude: The Hydrangea Chapters

Chp 13: The Remains in Eternal Sleep

It was a few more hours until they found another, looking more like a grave with a headstone. But what was troublesome was that it was in the middle of a field of a beautiful red but dangerous flower on tall stalk-like stems. When Marlina hopped out of the sled to step through them Elek stopped her, his scarf layered and pressed to his face.

"Is something wrong Sir Elek?"

"Alvohala Crimsons. Their scent causes drowsiness, long exposure induces sleep. Being in the middle of a field will put one into a deep continuous sleep unless they are pulled out. Did you find this one in this field?" Just a glance at the look on Marlina's face said it all, it was clear that this one had succumbed to the effect of the flowers and was left defenseless. Must be her odd anatomy that allowed her to step into the field and take the time to bury the remains with no effect.

"Will this... pose a problem?" She looked at Elek with some guilt, understanding that her lack of knowledge of the desert caused this inconvenience. She was concerned that Elek wouldn't collect this one because of her misstep.

Though they had taken this small trip specifically for the recovery of remains, Alvohala Crimson oil can be sold to merchants on either side of the desert, for a higher price to Colonials. These only grow on the west side of the desert, and the common dangers of the desert alone make harvesting the flowers treacherous. Considering the possible risk while attempting to harvest them, perhaps this was one sent to collect the oils and had made a fatal oversight. "You will have to begin this alone since you seem to have immunity to the flower's effects. I cannot step into the area without risking being lulled to sleep. In the meantime, I will have to think of a plan..." Opening his map, Marlina would lean over to take a better look at it, though Elek's notes all over it were either as legible as gibberish or worn from time. "We can make a decent profit from collecting the oils of the flowers, especially with this many of them, which I wish to attempt to extract as well. Of course, that comes at the risk of me possibly collapsing. If that happens, you must take me away from the flowers and possibly relocate to a safe place out of the sun." Pointing to what looked to be cave icons drawn onto the map, Elek would point to the nearest one to them. "There is a small tunnel about half an hour northwest of here by sled. If anything happens, we'll have to take shelter until I awake." It would be a stressful task for an inexperienced traveler, especially one lacking hands. "Let us prepare for the possibility, just in case." 

The first issue would be for her to operate the sled. For a braxl to trust its rider, it had to know they could lead them safely. With her inexperience and unfamiliarity with operating a sled, it certainly was less reluctant to trust her to be its eyes and guide. The braxl was already wary of her and was only tolerant of her due to Elek making her smell like a snack. So it's what they will have to do again but with something much more tempting. Reaching into his supplies, he would make nose plugs with tightly rolled cloth and get the stained gloves once more, then take out the box of rotting hekoska flesh. Just him pulling it out would get the braxl's attention, its tongue flicking in anticipation. Tying some pieces to her wrists, he would have her start rubbing the meat all over herself while he would fashion a crudely made thicker face covering from cut patches of leather from the outside of his tool roll and twine. Elek had her let the braxl snack on the pieces of flesh, no hissing from it this time. It even allowed her to pet its nose with her forearm. There was an issue that she couldn't whistle, otherwise, the braxl won't know when to start moving. Having to work quickly, Elek would cut off the flowers from one of the stem-like stalks and fashion a lure. With some thin cut cloth with a pouch of hekoska meat at one end, Elek would tie the bundle to one end of the stalk, sliding it into the hole in Marlina's arm, which she would hold up to the braxl and walk, having it follow her and the food. Having Marlina study the map and know which way to go, Elek would put out everything she would need to help get him back into the sled, lure the braxl, and get them both to the tunnel he mentioned.

Hoping he was thorough enough, he would start to collect the flowers from the stalks while Marlina would begin to dig for the remains just like he had taught her. From Elek having to step away from the patch multiple times when he started to feel drowsy, he would make sure he was near or sitting in the sled in case he did fall asleep. Marlina could see how being in the heat was wearing down on him, not exactly sure just how effective that block of ice that Elek had taken earlier was. She knew that the ice had to remain close and drink frequently, or he would quickly become dehydrated or overheated. Each time he'd stagger a little from the heat and fighting drowsiness, she would be worried and want to suggest they stop and move on. But he always needed only a moment and a few drinks of water before he would resume. What was interesting to Marlina was that the crate with the now fairly melted ice had a catch tray at the bottom collecting the melt, which Elek would refill his canteen and the braxl would drink from. It took him a few hours to collect the flowers, leaving the stalks so more could grow, storing them in one of the compartments at the back of the sled, and marking the flower patch on his map for later collection. By now, the sunset was approaching, and Elek seemed worn out. Seeing Marlina was not even halfway through unearthing the remains from doing it with great care, they would have to pick up on this tomorrow. Both of them sat in the sled while Elek ate, she would see him starting to nod off. Even with the flowers gone, he was exposed to their oils for some time, making it harder and harder for him to keep his eyes open.

"Marlina... do you think you can get us to the tunnel? I'm not quite fit to get us there..." His words slurred, she may not have much of a choice. His voice certainly showed the uncertainty of placing his safety in the hands of someone inexperienced in the wastes.

Marlina shared in that uncertainty, she would then remind herself everything he explained she would have to do. "If you are unable to do so, then I will. Please rest, you have done so much." Insisting by letting Elek lie back, covering himself with a large cloth to protect him from the sun in case he fell asleep, she would get the stalk with the lure, go to the braxl and let it smell the rotting flesh on her, and the lure. Then wrapping the reins around her arm, she would rest the stalk on her shoulder and let the lure dangle behind her, the braxl starting to move once it felt the tug of the reins. Keeping to Marlina's pace from the pull, unsure of her as a guide, it would move cautiously with its ears shifting all around and on alert. 

Eventually, once they seemed comfortable with the teamwork, Marlina would move to a jogging pace to hasten the pace. For a half-hour trip by sled, it took her a few hours to reach the tunnel, which by then Elek had succumbed to sleep, and the sun had set. With the entrance being wide enough for the sled to come in, it was quite small. Just enough room for the sled to be on one side while the braxl would rest on the other, a small entryway to another chamber around the same size. Waiting in the sled until Elek had awoken, he would shift and yawn, pulling the cloth from himself as he stretched. Seeing they had made it, he would relax a bit. 

"Good job, Marlina. Seems you had no trouble." He groans as he sits up, the sled not exactly built for comfort.

"Just a little trouble with the braxl when it would try and steal the meat while luring it."

Seeing that it was quite content now, she must have given it its reward and was already asleep, hearing faint chirps as it breathed. Elek looked back at Marlina, she sat still and stared at him like she was waiting for something. "What is it?"

"You said you would tell me why you learned to read bones once we had found shelter for the night."

Elek yawned hugely, feeling quite refreshed from the rest, he held up his hand for a moment. "I will once I've allowed myself to wake up and set up our camp."