I told him he couldn’t just marry a woman just because he saved her life. That he needed to make sure that she understood she didn’t owe him anything. He countered by explaining that these people were never able to choose their mates before, meaning she was actually breaking tradition by offering her hand to him. I argued he was taking advantage. He countered by saying it didn’t matter much because he’d probably be dead soon. He should find happiness where he could.
There was little I could do at this point. There was no malice in him. Trig was young, after all, impressionable, stupid and probably too lustful to make a good decision. I made it quite clear that if he did anything to hurt this woman, or took advantage of her in any way, I’d exile him in a heartbeat. He promised that this wasn’t some fly-by-night kind of thing. That he would take care of her for the rest of his life.
Talking to his new wife, whose name was 41, I tried to see if she understood what she had done. She understood full well and actually took umbrage at my assumption she didn’t know any better. What I didn’t know was that poor 41’s brother, 40 had been the most recent meal for the Eldest. Trig had quite literally pulled her out of the jaws of death. I guess some things can’t be helped. Though I still told her I’d kick Trig’s ass any time she needed, day or night.
These are your people? The Vessel asked as I readied the Stabwagon for the short journey to the mountains. Once we were inside Brimley’s territory, the people would be safe enough to wait for a relief force to arrive. I had made contact with Higgins and he agreed to send about 20 people my way, to escort the people back home. Much to my surprise, he also pleaded with me to come back, just for a short while. I should share what I learned, recover from my leg injury and then head to the Shadewood once more. A tempting offer.
Not really.
Who are they then?
I found myself shrugging at that. People in need. Strangers who were being held captive by the Orphine who consumed you.
If they are not from your pod, so to speak, why take responsibility for them? Why not leave them to their fate here? The Vessel asked. I was unsure if this was an honest question, or an attempt to get me to consider leaving these folks to die. Hard to tell with an utterly foreign being.
So, everyone in your pod, are they intelligent? Like you?
You mean sapient? Self-aware? Partially. Without their Overseer, they cannot function nor express themselves properly. They are like half a brain.
I figured as much. Humans are all intelligent. Every person is a fully aware pod, a pod of one. You might leave your own behind because you look at them as only extensions of yourself. But every person is a person. If you understand, I explained.
The Vessel vibrated quite a bit at this, pondering over what I said. So you are all independent? Yet you communicate and issue orders?
We have the freedom to ignore orders. Or to improvise as needed.
Like the Sogorn. Though, you do not communicate via pheromone. Your race is interesting, Avery. I would very much so like to dissect you should you die in the field.
Are you hitting on me? I asked. My joke was lost on the creature. It merely bristled at me, vibrating in curiosity. I lost interest in talking to the Masara as a few children ran up to me, all pointing and hooting. At first, I thought they were pointing at me, but it turned out Little Hig was catching their attention. He was standing atop the wagon, doing a handstand with ease. The children found this quite delightful. Seeing their smiles and laughter, despite the filth and mud on their faces and the rags that they wore, made me beam a little. I just hoped that I’d be able to get these people somewhere safe. For good.
As I secured the last rope around the wagon, tying a barrel of well water to the side, there came a hiss in the distance. I glanced up to see Trig, standing by one of the green torches, a ghastly pallor across his face. He was motioning for me to come over, but to avoid drawing attention. This wasn’t a good sign.
I finished tying the knot on the barrel, then slowly made my way over to him. “What’s the trail looking like?” I asked. While I readied the supplies, he was supposed to scout the trail a bit, to at least see if conditions were good for travel.
“Remember that crab thing we fought?” he whispered, glancing around to make sure no one was nearby.
“Vividly,” I said.
“Well, barely thirty feet away from the village entrance, there’s six of them.”
I frowned. Did he misspeak? “Six? Are you sure?”
“Yes. Right out in the shadows. Waiting for us. And it gets worse. I decided to check the perimeter circling the village and well…there’s a lot of those beasts. Six on the road, but nearly fifteen forming a circle around us. And here’s the odd thing. They didn’t attack me.”
This wasn’t good. “They didn’t?”
“No, they just…looked at me for a second, then returned their gaze forward. To the village. I think they’re waiting to attack or something. Like for a signal.”
The Vessel’s story of boosted intelligence made sense here. If the Shadow Titan had grown smarter as a result of absorbing the memory shard, then maybe it was able to sense the Orphine’s loss of control, as well as the village full of unprotected people. But why wouldn’t it attack Trig? Had it learned we were good at killing its creations?
I sighed deeply,
