Kumi turned to me, eyes bright. “Ganyir said that there are underground streams beneath the desert boneyard. Where there’s water, there’s life. We should be able to find fish there, or at least edible plants.”
“The Pathless are locals. They might know what plants and animals are available, and they can certainly provide more hands for the work. I bet they’re dying to get out of this fortress, too. A little break would do them some good. Why don’t you take some of them with you and see what food you can gather?”
“It’s a good idea, but we might need a guard. After all, this valley is turning into a war zone.”
“And who would you like as a guard?” I raised a mocking eyebrow. I had a good idea what the answer would be.
She smiled. “I can’t think of anyone better than you.”
Chapter Seventeen
Unlike me and Kumi, Shadiy knew the Pathless she’d been imprisoned with, both from their time in the cells and before. She picked out those who could fish and forage for food to come with us on our expedition.
They gathered in the courtyard, ready and eager to help. I was surprised at the energy and enthusiasm they showed after living for so long at the mercy of the Unswerving Shadows’ guards.
“This is our chance to do something,” Shadiy said. “To improve our own lives again instead of being passive and confined. This doesn’t feel like work so much as a taste of freedom.”
Reluctantly, I held up a long coil of rope that I’d found in one of the storage rooms.
“I’m sorry to do this to you, but would you be willing to play the part of prisoners, just for a little longer?”
Several of the Pathless stepped back and glared at me through narrowed eyes. They started muttering to each other.
Shadiy held up a hand. “Let the Swordslinger explain. I’m sure he has a good reason.”
“Thank you.” I held out the rope for them to see. “I don’t want to imprison you again, but I don’t want to draw the Cult down on your heads again either. If you’re seen walking freely out of the fortress, then the guards on the city walls might realize that something is amiss.
“Kumi and I will pretend to be guards taking you out into the Vigorous Zone,” I continued. “We’ll bind your hands loosely so that you can get out any time you want, but people watching from a distance won’t be able to tell. As soon as you’re out of sight of the city, you can free yourselves. Does that sound okay?”
A man furiously shook his head. The experience of imprisonment had been too much for him, and he couldn’t face even feigning captivity. The rest stepped forward, some more reluctantly than others, and let us bind their hands.
As well as our string of pretend prisoners, we had a cart pulled by a horse that Elorinelle had found in the fortress’ small stables. We were mostly bringing it to carry back whatever food we gathered, but I was also aware that the Pathless were malnourished, and some might not be capable of the walk ahead. If their strength gave in, we would have a way to bring them safely home.
Still wearing the clan soldier uniforms and turbans that we’d used to enter the fortress, Kumi and I led our procession out of the gates and down the road into the valley. If we were even observed from the city, then they clearly bought our sham. We headed along the dirt trail, dust rising from our footsteps and the wheels of our cart, and out into the Vigorous Zone.
I had expected the weariness of our companions to slow us down, but it seemed that freedom was the panacea they needed. In the end, the horse cart was the slowest and set our pace as we trotted into the wilds.
By the time we reached the edge of the boneyard, the Pathless had untied themselves, and the rope lay coiled in the back of the cart. We were too far away now from anyone from the city walls to see what was happening, even if it weren’t for the dust cloud raised by our passing.
Our journey was remarkably clear of monsters as well as warriors, despite traveling through a chunk of the Vigorous Zone. It was only at the edge of the boneyard that I saw the first signs of life. Something was stirring on one of the cairns.
“Hold here,” I said to the others. “I’ll take a closer look.”
I walked toward the cairn with my sword raised. At first, it looked like one of the ancient rocks had stirred to life and was trying to get away. When I looked more closely, I realized that it was some sort of giant insect, nearly as long as my arm. Its body was covered with thick, chitinous plates the color and texture of worn granite, giving it the appearance of a massive carved beetle the size of an average human. Four pairs of clawed legs emerged from beneath the shell, and a pair of razor-sharp mandibles protruded from the front of its head.
“It’s a scarrick beetle,” Shadiy called out from near the cart. “Be careful; they normally move in packs.”
Another beetle emerged around the cairn, and the two of them advanced toward me. I heard a skittering noise as three more scurried out behind them.
The first beetle lunged at me, mandibles raised. I dodged and swung the Sundered Heart. The sword blow knocked the beetle across the ground but didn’t penetrate its sturdy shell; it barely showed a scratch.
“You protect the Pathless!” I called out to Kumi. “I’ll deal with these.”
The beetles were swift and agile, darting around me on their insectile legs. I dipped into my pool of Vigor, and the ground beneath the beetles softened before their legs sank into the Mud
