Brass Automaton

19 - Sorrow of Obligation

Rennoc Woods grew more oppressive with each step. The tall trees' thick canopy absorbed more and more sunlight as they traveled further along Pelyse's invisible path. Even the once thick bramble had given way to bare, hard-packed ground that jolted them with every step. Sky had only ever known being a soldier, and her woodcraft skills were second to none among the Sisters. She had tracked Tenyks through every terrain Oossah had to offer and was almost always tagged to be an advance scout. So she found the ease with which the Dwarves simply disappeared, even when there was naught but tree trunks for cover, deeply disconcerting.

The only exception was Poedy, who hadn't left her side since they had entered the woods, although he did seem to enjoy Cloud Dancer's companionship more than hers. He walked with the horse's leads in hand, and would gently reach up to pat his neck every now then. Cloud Dancer had taken years to bond with Sky, and he was usually frightful to everyone else who encountered him, but he had even started to nudge Poedy affectionately after mere hours of marching.

Then Poedy stopped and pulled Cloud Dancer still with him. In only a moment, the other dwarves appeared, each alerted. Sky didn't know what was going on and wasn't about to wait. In a smooth motion, she dismounted with both scimitars out and scanned the tree line, near and far, for whatever was bothering the dwarfs.

"You'll not be needing those yet," Odc grimly said to her. "Our fight isn't yet at hand."

"I must go," Poedy said, surprising her. She had never heard him speak before.

"I know," Odc said, as a single tear disappeared into the tangles of his beard.

Poedy turned and looked at Sky, and she was suddenly glad she had already unsheathed her scimitars. She had never seen Poedy's face show more than simple joy and earnestness. He had never seemed fully to understand the gravity of their situation, nor the consequences of their quest. Now, there was no longer any simpleness to his face. Nor joy. Cloud Dancer shook his head in a whiny and pawed at the ground as though a battle approached.

"Poedy?" she whispered, sheathing her scimitars and kneeling in the harsh, scrabble dirt.

"I will miss you," he said with a voice tinged with the kind of sadness that ran too deep for tears.

"He'll be needing your horse, Sky," Odc said, breaking the moment.

"I don't understand any of this!" she spat in frustration. "What is this? What?"

"Hush woman," hissed Prymgu, "you'll wake the trees themselves!"

Before Sky could answer, Poedy took her hands in his. "I am needed elsewhere," he explained. "It is my obligation; my duty; my time. It is far, and time is short.

"It's a safe journey for him," Poedy added, nodding toward Cloud Dancer.

"Pypha?" Sky heard Odc call. "How lays the land?"

"The horse cannot go much further," Pypha reported from his scouting. "It turns into a swamp in a mile. Lung flies, too."

Sky nodded her assent. On impulse, she kissed Poedy on the forehead and was surprised at how cold he was. His countenance didn't change, but he squeezed her hands before releasing them and deftly mounting Cloud Dancer despite his stature. Sky grabbed her pack from her horse, patted his neck and bade him farewell. He replied with a gentle nuzzle and a soft wicker before letting Poedy lead him back out of the woods.

"His fate lies elsewhere," Odc said in response to her unasked question. He raised a hand to stop Sky. "When we are through this I promise I will explain. For now, though, I fear we must hurry."

"Very well, King Odc, though you still owe me more of an explanation for Prymgu's words about my duty."

"I told you all I can. The less you know, the less hesitation there will be. Trust me. Trust your queen."

"I do."

Odc grunted, and the party continued.

"Lung flies?" Sky asked, returning her attention to the journey.

"There," Pypha said, his usual grin gone as he pointed toward a nasty cloud of white specks, lit by the afternoon's slanting sunlight. "We'll need to wrap our heads from now on. They get in your lungs and lay eggs. They won't kill their host, but they don't give a care if they hurt them. Make sure your nose, mouth, and ears are tightly covered."

"Why do I need to cover my ears if they're 'lung flies?'"

"They may not care as much for the distinction as you," he answered matter-of-factly.

Sky nodded, tightly wrapping her head too and descended toward the swamp with the remaining six Dwarven Guard.

* * *

Poedy patted Cloud Dancer's neck in gratitude. He would have to go the rest of the way on foot. Time was short; it always was, even in its infinite expanse. But, Cloud Dancer deserved more than merely a send off. Poedy gave him a bit of sugar, removed his tackle, and gave him a quick, but thorough, rub down.

"Find Sky, my friend," Poedy whispered to the steed. He watched the horse walk back toward Rennoc Woods, nibbling at the grass as he went. With a wry smile, Poedy doffed his cap to Cloud Dancer's slow retreat and returned his attention to the canyon in front of him. He could see it was a canyon, could see the sharp slopes on either side and the sparse thickets of trees lining the worn, winding path through its narrow fissure, but only if he didn't directly look at it.

Although nature's creatures could see the valley, he alone of the intelligent forms was immune to the magick that camouflaged its mouth. Even then, the magick was powerful enough to block him when looked at directly. He walked up to its edge and ran his hand across the illusion, feeling the rough stone: it was cold in the shadows, and warm in the retreating sunlight. Then he closed his eyes and pushed, turning the rock's solidity into that of air. He walked forward, eyes closed in determination until he felt the coarse lines of ancient bark. He snapped his eyes open, inside the hidden valley at last.