Arms of the Ocean Ch. 10

Vyla tore through the empty campsite without pause. Only one location remained where she might ambush their whipper. He wouldn't leave his precious beasts to a pack of Sirens. How long would it take to untie their ropes and coax them into fleeing?

As she neared the tree in which their mounts nested, Vyla slowed to a slinking crawl. Her eyes went immediately to the canopy and, just as swift, she realized that something was wrong. The Vouiareli were there and unroused by Nimtith's frantic efforts to free them and be gone. He should have beaten her here.

"You'll find your prey already caught," came Zeerae's voice in the darkness.

Vyla pushed back the reflex to jump. Only then did she lower her gaze to spy Nimtith slumped unconciously against the base of the tree. Ronav sat a short distance away, partially hidden in forest shade and doing his best to appear uninvolved.

"You must imagine my surprise to hear this one surging by overhead," said Zeerae as she took a step closer. Moonlight slid up her body to reveal a cruel smile. "Fortunate that we were able to catch him in time."

"He—" Vyla stopped herself from finishing with snuck up on me. "Why did you not keep him at the campsite? You knew what might happen if he took to wandering," she accused instead.

"Oh this is hardly on me. You're the one who failed to check for watchers before changing shape. This marks the second time that such a mistake has come by your hand."

Despite her usual care to keep emotions in check, Vyla felt a snarl rising in her throat. How dare the Shasteless blame her when they both knew that this had been a setup. A thread of Zeerae's plot. Yet even as Vyla told herself this, she still failed to reach what the end point might be.

Zeerae paced in the darkness as she continued. "I know you're a Tomateless; you never told me where you lay in that chain."

And just like that, the motive of Zeerae's actions came to light. "You'll have to go on wondering." Vyla gritted her teeth.

"Or I could guess for myself. Let us see, two unmasks in as many days, your childish responses accompanying, and receiving, my interrogations... not to mention that poor show that you might call defending yourself." Zeerae's face scrunched a little as she thought. "Not so low as inyatil... parbos?"

Vyla trembled. Correct in a single guess. Worse that it be reached so quickly. "Then you have your answer. Ridicule me if you wish." Her eyes went to Ronav where a brief glimmer of concern fled.

"There is nothing to ridicule until I learn how long you've been a parbos of the Tomateless," Zeerae stated.

The core of Vyla's body, inside of which much of her flesh continued to mend itself, clenched as she weighed her options. Answer, she decided, at least take that satisfaction from her. The Shasteless would learn the truth somehow anyway. "Seven years."

"Seven— Seven years?!" Zeerae's eyes went wide in a rare loss of face.

Though she had been the one to reveal the fact, Vyla couldn't help but hiss and her eyes turned acidic green. Only vague awareness told her that Ronav had sat up and now looked on with building concern.

"Seven years... Surely— no, that explains everything," Zeerae went on wondering aloud. She looked at the ground as she mumbled several things beneath hearing. "There are lives outside the Tomateless, you know."

"Mm," Vyla growled, her patience thin as ice.

"What's wrong with... whatever this is?" Ronav asked.

Zeerae rolled her eyes and turned towards him. "Parbos means novice. Most pass that rank by year three. Four would be—"

"Enough!" Vyla cried. Without thinking, she dove at Zeerae's back, her arms turning to jagged blades. "Curse you and your—"

Only a flicker of movement met Vyla's eyes but it was enough to see Zeerae slide out of the way. Her arms hooked under Vyla's and she was on her back a fraction of a second later.

"I bested you when you were fighting fit. I would crush you this time," Zeerae whispered.

The words fell on deaf ears. Vyla flowed out from under the Shasteless and almost made it to her feet before she felt the pain. Her entire body spasmed at once and bubbled up against her will. Beneath the blinding fury she hadn't noticed what else Zeerae had done. The Siren clutched a fleshy organ in one hand as she regarded Vyla the same way a mother regards a tantruming child. An organ identical to the one that they had liberated from Maethli.

"Yah," Vyla gasped. Already her body had begun to scream for its missing heart. Her brain shouted orders to something that wasn't there. But unlike sindrakovo, there would be plenty of time to enjoy the gradual decline and rebellion of her flesh as her body convulsed more and more violently. "Give that back."

"Will you cease your childishness if I do?" Zeerae tossed the heart between her hands as though life were a game.

"Stop hurting her!" Ronav shouted as he stormed over.

"Both of you sit!" Zeerae snarled. "You forget that this is my domain and you travel here under my courtesy. We are not so close that I am beyond the simple option of executing trespassers. Now sit."

Ronav met the Siren's glare for several seconds before finally crumbling under it and sinking to the ground. Then Zeerae turned her eyes on Vyla and the venom in them compelled her to do the same. Once she reached the dirt, her heart came arcing back.

"Now, you both desire explanations and the time for them has come." Zeerae met their gazes before pressing on. "I sent Nimtith to the river knowing that he would undoubtedly spy a Siren. He reacted as expected rather than as hoped. Regardless, he allowed me to learn more about you, Vyla, and where you stand."

"Kssh, what could that matter?" She folded her arms and looked off into the darkness.

"It matters. Only a fool chooses allies she knows nothing about. Of course, I wouldn't expect a parbos to understand. But you were not the true reason for my plan." Zeerae turned to Ronav. "We've not seen your winged friend in over a day."

"No..." Ronav agreed. He clearly hadn't been thinking much about it from the way he sat more upright at the news.

"There are three explanations, but only one we need act on. The first and, by far, most likely is that she has given up on you. The second, should she indeed return, is that she lost our trail and spent the time finding us again. No cause for concern in either of those cases. But the final possibility, and the one for which I prepare, is that she has found a new set of friends to bother."

Silence crept over them for several seconds while Zeerae's implications crept in. Ultimately Vyla chose to break it.

"So how does you humiliating me fit in?"

"We need Nimtith's trust," Zeerae explained. "He and Yis are both Chayli. If Yis does indeed return, and we learn that she has Shaslings in pursuit, we will need to oil her jaws at least enough that she gives us who she has told. Having another Shasling on our side, one the same race as hers, no less, would be a tremendous aid. Of course, had it been me, I would have killed the girl before any damage could be done."

"No." Ronav launched himself to his feet. "You're not killing her."

"As I said, dearest. If she returns she may have told her story to many others. We must first find out who."

"So you're going to torture her then kill her."

"Indeed. That is, if she betrayed us."

To Vyla's surprise, the glare Ronav offered looked quite firm. Perhaps the time spent among his betters had made some improvements.

"I'm not going to let you," he said in an unwavering tone.

Zeerae raised an eyebrow. "Even should she prove treacherous?"

"There are better ways."

"Other ways, yes. Better? Prove it."

"I will if you let me. I'll learn everything we need without harming a single hair on her."

Silence again as the two engaged in a battle of the eyes. Zeerae turned away first. "If you insist. But we're getting ahead of ourselves."

Everyone's focus then shifted to Nimtith who remained propped against the tree. As they watched, his head slowly rolled forwards and around to hang limp on his other side.

"I must admit, I'm growing tired of interrogations." Zeerae glided towards the Chayli and sat down in front of him. Her body began to flow around his and soon they were intertwined the same as she had done with Maethli.

===

The grass-carpeted hillside felt cool against Ronav's back as he lay upon the ground. The evening breeze and star-dotted night began unraveling the knots that had built up during the day, originating from the flight as much as Maethli and Nimtith.

As hard as Ronav tried, he couldn't keep his mind from wandering back to the tree by which Zeerae negotiated with the Chayli man even now. It hadn't taken too long for Nimtith to rouse but Zeerae had a long night ahead of her if the progress when Ronav left had been any indication.

"Do you mind if I join you?"

Ronav twisted his neck around and spied Vyla emerging from the trees. "Bored of those two as well?"

"Partly." Vyla crossed her legs upon the grass next to him. "Neither can I stand her company any longer."

"She's a bit grating at times," Ronav agreed.

For a while the night insects regained their silent forum to fill with their own voices. Tiny black shapes meandered through the air and the occasional firefly flashed its presence. Eventually the sparks of sentience in Ronav's head told him that he presently had the opportunity he'd been seeking.

"She's right as well," he said. Then he sank beneath the Siren's venom-filled eyes and added, "On occasion."

The green fire crept away to be replaced with an aqua coloring. "Kssh, yes," she struggled out.

Again their conversation fell away to the chirps and thripses of the dark. Both managed the occasional remark of small talk but nothing along the lines that Ronav had desired.

"Why are you really doing this?" Ronav blurted out at last before any second thoughts could seep in.

Vyla looked at him for a moment, then back out across the shadowed hills and farmland. "My purpose hasn't changed."

"No. No more lies."

"I didn't tell one."

"You're bringing me to see the Southsea Sirens and that's all there is to it." When no response came, Ronav continued. "Why?"

Vyla spun to face him, her eyes flaring again. "Were you not listening to that charade back there? The one you had a hand in? I have always been a burden to the sea. A failed sister who lacks even the sense and decency to do Sirenkind a service by dying in battle. A farce of the highest order. Oh yes, I might slay Shasling invaders and wreck ships as skillfully as my comrades but that isn't enough. No, not by a long shot. Because only another Siren can prove a challenge and I've yet to best any in sparring. And a true sister must master espionage, seduction, sailing and fishing, ours and Shasling styles both, along with a dozen other skills that the Tomateless rarely use. So, sye, perhaps consider that before questioning me next!"

Without awaiting a reply, Vyla shot to her feet and stormed towards the trees. So stunned was Ronav by the outburst that he hesitated in calling after her.

"Wait!" He finally managed. "I'm sorry! Come back and we can still talk... about... ugh."

Vyla vanished into the foliage with a crashing hiss of leaves. Ronav watched the bouncing tangle of branches, as they resettled themselves, in the hopes that she might emerge again. Only when his muscles jolted at having been still so long did he give up and return to the ground.

===

"Why don't you kill me and be done with it?"

Zeerae's head sagged and she sat down opposite the Chayli. Nimtith's arms were folded, his legs crossed and neither were bound. The only shackles were in the form of the black, solid mass upon his air blades. He could run, if he wanted, but he wouldn't get far.

"Whatever you want to know, you won't. Not without torturing me. But I'm sure that won't be a problem." Despite the stoicism in Nimtith's words, his eyes betrayed the fear. Still, that he could manage anything more than blubbering spoke well of his courage.

"You haven't always been a whipper," said Zeerae as way of a different approach.

He hesitated a second. "What of it?"

"Most Shaslings do nothing but beg for freedom. You stopped quite swiftly."

Nimtith rolled his jaw before replying. "I used to do storming operations with Ka's guard down in Kalatish."

"Ah. Breaching and busting up smuggling rings, yes? Why stop?"

"What do you care?"

"Curiosity, that's all." Zeerae added a smile to the mix. A friendly one without a single razor-edged canine to speak of.

"You know what they say about that sort of thing?" Nimtith asked, then shrugged. "I guess it probably doesn't apply to you... I left because no Chayli should be bound to one place forever."

"Ha, the very reason I left the sea. Sure I like the water but there's more to land."

"Uh huh..." Nimtith looked overhead at the Vouiareli who were fast asleep once more.

"It's the variety, I think. The ocean scenary is quite the same wherever you go."

"Are you just teasing me or is there actually a point to this?"

"Yes." Zeerae nodded.

Nimtith blinked at that response. "Yes? That's not an answer."

"It is. Yes I'm teasing you and yes there's a point."

"Then spit it out already."

Zeerae rolled her eyes and sighed. Shaslings could be so impatient. "I want you to join us. Help us, rather."

"Pfft, why would I help a bunch of Sirens?"

"Well, for a start, Ronav isn't a Siren. We're actually helping him on his journey to the southern sea. I won't bore you with the details but it's been rather amusing so far."

"Uh huh..." Nimtith's expression made it clear that he believed her about as much as he would believe someone claiming that the earth revolved around the sun.

"We may be receiving some company soon, too. She can vouch for Ronav's identity. Although she only speaks Siren so... Anyway, can I count on you?"

Nimtith tilted his head from one side to the other. "Let's be sure I'm getting this right, you want me to commit treason against the empire by joining its enemies, a crime for which I would be hung. At the same time, I'm guessing that if I say no, you'll kill me here and now."

"Mhmm." Zeerae nodded.

"So, in reality, you're not giving me any incentive to help you."

"That's... huh, I guess not." Zeerae frowned, an act. She hoped that toning down the appearance of a vorpal cunning would help win Nimtith round. It seemed to be working so far. "Well, what do you suggest?"

"What?" For the second time Nimtith looked taken aback at how the conversation had progressed. A challenge to his preconception of Sirenkind.

"I don't hear you coming up with any ideas. What would it take to convince you to accompany us?"

"I— There isn't— Nothing. Nothing you do will convince me." Nimtith's eyes left Zeerae and he stared intently at the ground between them.

"Nothing?! No, there has to be something to convince you. How about this, you stay here and think about it. I'm going to go fetch us some of that booze you left at the camp." Zeerae flowed upright and spun around before gliding away from a confused Nimtith. She smiled as she left. The Chayli, with his wing blades bound, wouldn't get far if he even tried to flee. In all Zeerae's time on land, she had yet to meet a member of the flying race that could run for any significant distance.

===

One thing that had always been especially odd was the way these people commanded fire. Having lived so long in the forest, Yis only saw fire as a danger. She knew too well the vast tracts of destruction that a flame, brought by lighting or a dry, summer's day, could wreak. So it felt strange now that fire should be her beacon. Yis had spotted the dab of light from high above, just as Trym had said she would.

They will have travelled far but we should manage to find where they rest for the night, Trym had explained near the big, wooden platform where the flying snakes were. Look for a place away from other people. Away from farms, houses and towns. Look for a bright dab of fire.

It had taken a while before Yis felt confident that she and Trym were on the same leaf. Much of his words were still a bit off but he was managing well. A strong sense of hope now occupied Yis' being. A chance at last to off those Sirens and save her misguided friend.

Yis felt a wave of gratitude upon finding the campsite bare. She eyed the fire, walled by stones, but also took in the other surroundings. Several comfy-looking mats lay on the ground, a pile of brown, leathery things and a pot that bubbled lazily over the flame. The smell that wafted forth bespoke of inviting contents. Yis took a step towards it but tripped over a wooden bowl and spilled a smear of thick liquid over the ground.

Seconds later and Yis gripped a branch overhead, her heart racing. It took a moment before she could accept that the bowl wasn't some horrifying threat. Just as she was about to float down and continue her investigation, a new sound arouse and demanded she clench her perch tighter.

Footsteps were approaching on the fallen leaves. Steady, padding crunches that didn't sound like any four-legged animal.

Ronav? Yis wondered. The she stifled an eep upon seeing who had appeared.

A yellow-haired woman. One of the Sirens, for certain. She stepped into the campsite, eyes fixed to the fire, but stopped short of the spilled bowl. Her head turned to it, then pointed up into the trees where a set of cold, predatorial eyes spotted Yis immediately.

"Gah, so she is right again," the Siren muttered in the odd language that Ronav spoke. Then her words changed to ones that Yis could understand. "What do you want, wild one?"

"Let Ronav go," Yis replied. She tried her best to keep her voice firm but a slight tremble worked its way in.

The Siren sighed. "Still with this flying fish chase? He is free to go whenever he wishes."

Yis glared and stayed clinging to her branch but said nothing.

"Will you come down here so I needn't snap my neck to look at you." The Siren moved towards a fallen log, that looked as though it had been rolled nearer the fire, and sat upon it. She then pointed Yis to a seat opposite.

Like a deer creeping in the dark, Yis peeled away from her branch and hovered towards the ground. The wind from her wing blades sent the fire swirling a little and she was grateful that it blew away from her. Better still that it lick towards the Siren, though she wouldn't mind.

"There, isn't this—"

Snap came the sound of a twig underfoot. Yis shot up into the canopy on a gust of air that threatened to snuff the flames beneath her. Another thing approached through the forest, she felt sure. There, near the place that the first had appeared, the other Siren emerged.

The first spotted her and smiled. Then her eyes flitted to the treetops. "Look who is—"

"I know," said the second without taking a glance. Instead she went straight to the pile of leathery things and rummaged through, soon retrieving a smooth, clear object that looked to be filled with liquid. "I welcome your return to us, dear Yis." Prize in hand, the second strode back the way she had come. Eventually her footsteps faded beyond hearing and the camp was quiet again, save the fire's crackle.

"At least we share a dislike of her," the first remarked.

Yis trusted that sentence no more than she did any other that may spout from a Siren's razor-toothed maw. All the same, she crept down through the air and took her place opposite again.