Surfacing Ch. 06

"Yeh haven't been lookin' at her, Ma'ab. The Sun is harsh to her and she is weakened by the heat. She has motive not to mislead us."

"Unless it is to steal our water."

"And leave herself stranded in the middle o' nowhere?"

Kurn scoffed. "And why don't you know of this source? This is your people's land."

"But not my origin," he retorted with a growl. "Best water we'll get'n the hills ahead is a muddy springmelt on its way to dryin' up. If fresh water is here, we need it before crossing the Midway so far from th' main trade route."

Kurn himself growled but stopped his horse; the hooves crunched and scattered gravel as the stallion turned around, the beast champing and licking noisily. Gavin pulled up as well, and I felt the short hairs on my nape react to a stare that I couldn't see.

"Well, witch?" he blurted loud enough that I winced. "Where is it?"

I pointed with my gloved hand to the South, though that was also at a sheer cliff face.

"Bit of a steep climb for horses," he sneered.

"Forward and right," I said aloud. "Where Matias went."

"Jus' letter lead, Kurn," Rithal rumbled, and moved his stockier mount around behind me. "Faster and quieter."

The Ma'ab finally repressed further dissent, though I could well imagine his expression as the dwarf got behind me. I wondered whether the big Human considered that a flat challenge of his authority, or if he understood Rithal was just being practical? Either way, I doubted the dwarf would care.

I gave Gavin a slight squeeze. "Forward."

"With Kurn behind us?" he whispered.

"His stallion suffers. He'll follow until the water is visible to him and he will move ahead."

Sighing quietly, Gavin guided his horse out front past the other men and I concentrated on the dull roar as it shifted with our direction. It wasn't quite as easy as if I'd been in a tunnel or a cave—sometimes the wind would funnel through in bursts, drowning out anything else—and we had to move away from it a fair distance, following the South wall as the only path. With the slow pace and my simply sitting on a horse giving quiet instruction to Gavin, no one else could tell when I lost the source before I picked it up again.

And it was flowing liquid, splashing onto rock from a height that would kill any of us if we fell from the top. I'd wondered for a moment whether it could be rushing air playing tricks, but I was certain now as it came back stronger. Now to hope it was potable.

"I hear it," Rithal commented behind me, and I heard his armor squeak and tink as he twisted in his saddle. "She's tellin' the truth."

"Good for her," Kurn replied, the distinct sound of his boots kicking his stallion coming the moment before he passed on our right.

Something startled Gavin's mare and a gasp slipped out of me as I clung harder to the apprentice as our mount squealed and jerked to the side several paces, scattering pebbles but somehow managing not to slip. I heard two horses moving ahead of us and guessed it was Kurn and Castis.

"Worms rot his belly," Gavin hissed, low but very venomous, as he brought his mare back under control.

"What happened?" I asked. I was blind though I wasn't in darkness—that would have been preferable—and the reddish glare of light remained with me any time I peeked them open.

"The stallion bit her."

"Any idea when she goes inta heat?" Rithal asked.

Gavin's tension made his back quite stiff. "Not really. She's older."

"Gonna be interestin'," the dwarf returned, moving on ahead toward the water.

He was certainly right about that. My first impulse was that Kurn wouldn't want his stallion mounting Gavin's mare, just on a pride basis, or even a superstitious one. On the other hand, he could turn about fairly easily if Gavin gave some clear indication that he was anything other than indifferent about it.

"Let Kurn handle the stallion during her heat," I suggested. "Do nothing."

He was still tense. "A pregnant mare might not be advantageous on this journey."

"If it is too much for her, it will end on its own. If you protest, Kurn might start thinking it is a good idea to harass or humiliate you indirectly. You'd be engaging him. I think he would have distaste of it if you only shrugged and allowed her natural course. Certainly it would provide relief for both beasts. If they are anything like some of ours down below, they will be unruly regardless."

Gavin sighed. "Perhaps. Meanwhile, the water?"

I licked my dry lips. "Waiting on you, rein master."

I could hear three horses slurping and sucking at the water as we approached, and the two Ma'ab sounded in good humor as they spoke low just beneath the drum of the falls. I opened my eyes to get some view of it through the slit of my blind. It was a fairly small waterfall, nothing like the one I'd found and fought next to with Jael that first night on the Surface, when it was much colder in the mountains.

This water was indeed emerging from an underground source, only about as wide as I was tall, and though the healthy stream continued down off the shale slopes and toward the rolling hills, it was slowing and would likely evaporate until it settled in a muddy pool somewhere beneath the baking Sun.

It was new, though. The water splashing over the sharp rocks had not made much progress in wearing them smooth. Certainly within the last forty years. It was a new, valuable resource for the area hill dwarves and passers-by like us.

"We'll stay here the rest of this day and the night," Kurn announced as Gavin and I finally nudged a spot to drink. "We'll hunt with Mathias and prepare properly to cross the midway."

Castis nodded and folded him arms with dignity, but the other three of us were silent rather than point out that we'd each be doing so regardless if Kurn stayed or not.

I discovered quickly that neither Gavin nor I were expected or welcome on the hunt.

"You'll prepare what we catch," the Hellhound smirked, "so you can pull your own weight."

This particular song was getting worn out more than others; at least every other day, he found a way to make it known his opinion of our value. Still, I let it be because it would give me time to adapt, explore, and fully rehydrate. They would be the worse off when, or if, they came back. The Sun was directly overhead now and I would have to wait some time before I would crawl about, though I did want to know this spot better than anyone for the coming night.

Gavin was content to lie down in the shade of an outcrop of stone, as his solely remaining mare enjoyed her time with her head down, standing where the splashes of clean water would mist her face. I decided to join him though I did not get too close, and he seemed to appreciate that I did not try to make conversation.

Really, I was too hot and my headache was too great for it to be worth the energy. I finally removed my cloak and rolled it up to place beneath my head with a sigh. I was still warm in my armor but knew it would improve if I did not move about much in the shade.

I thought about Kurn and company urging their heavy-footed mounts in the heat of the day, going after something that could run from them, and likely run fast, with good enough eyesight to see them coming without a forest for cover. Mathias's arrow was about the only weapon that might overcome that challenge, but his aim had to be flawless, it was all or nothing. Either feast or famine.

Meanwhile, I knew of easier ways to collect dinner.

The shadows of the high wall gradually lengthened; eventually this crevasse would be filled with shade. I saw a few interesting points that looked as though they could be climbed, and there was a bit more vegetation than I'd realized as I'd ridden mostly blind. While I had been able to scent the growing things as usual, it was much less, with much more heat and dust and rock that I'd thought it more barren like the underground.

Not the case; woody, green brush grew out of tiny ledges and cracks in the stone and strands of yellow and green wild grasses cropped up in frequent bunches. There were plenty of places that might contain nests for birds or burrows of rodents and furry creatures. A possible source of food, also of danger. Snakes adapted to the drier heat could easily make dens in those rocks, and if rodents were present, the snakes would follow. The reptiles were tasty, too.

This didn't even include the edible insects. Even with less water, the bounty of food was greater than what I might find in a similar-sized territory in the Underdark. We were more dependent on cultivating and breeding our food than they were up top. I thought again how it would be nearly impossible to feed myself enough while pregnant if I was alone in the Underdark wilderness...yet it might be possible up here within the wilderness of the Surface. A surprising fortune in my choice.

Later in the afternoon when the Sunlight was a darker gold and there were plenty of shadows to keep to, I went out to seek those resources and explore the immediate area. I still planned to sleep apart as usual—like Kurn's stallion given some distance from the others, my distance saved us all time and energy, removing temptation from the one with the least self-control. There would be a time, perhaps, when I had no choice but to stay in the same place at night with the Hellhound...and somehow I did not think I would sleep if that happened. I simply was not that foolish.

I wondered about the feeling I got from the big, but young, Ma'ab. Gavin had estimated they are probably around the same age. While I was used to plotting and grudges, to plain derision or competitiveness...I had met plenty of opponents among my own that seemed in far better control of themselves. Sometimes it felt like my very existence was an affront to the fighter and he simply could not focus on much else if I was in view.

Anyone in the Underdark would tell you...giving that much power to your enemy was stupid and deadly.

Further, I did not understand how Rausery could be correct about the Ma'ab race supposedly being a Matriarchy. It couldn't be like ours if an "elite" group like the Hellhounds were male and had members like Kurn who behaved so toward females. True, he also believed I was a demon, but one did not paint a tree trunk with sperm if the non-Human aspect of one's rival was any sort of mental block.

There had to be some other complexity of which my Elder did not know about the Ma'ab. Perhaps I would have the chance to discover what it was, what might explain what I was observing, before I had to kill him.

The easiest and first catch for my own sustenance made its fair share of noise. I had spotted a nest that was a decent climb for me, and while I'd only planned to filch the eggs and leave, the mother returned abruptly and started shrieking, diving at me and barely missing me the first time with wings and talons. She circled around for another attack, crying loudly; I drew my hand crossbow, murmured a specific word, and felt Callitro's ring warm on my finger as I felt my perception tighten and my aim line up well despite the Sun, despite the speed of the bird.

I struck the hawk through the throat and the feathered body fell to the rocky ground beneath me. I quickly scooped up the eggs, slipped them into my cloth pouch, and climbed back down to claim the body before another animal did. I also wanted my bolt back. After I'd done so, I reflected that there were few pleasures as satisfying as eating an egg raw and still warm from its nest.

By the time the Sun was two finger-widths above the horizon, I had similar success with a hare, three, fat, ground rodents, and a healthy handful of live, leaping insects trapped in a spare pouch, as well as a bounty of fragrant plants to help flavor the meat. Feeling more comfortable, with less of a headache, as the shadows grew longer and deeper still, I set a few traps for the morning, memorized the basic layout as well as a possible place to sleep, and finally I made my way quickly back to Gavin. I was delighted to see he had a small fire going already.

His brows rose up when I presented my fare. "You mean to share?"

"If you will help prepare it."

This was the first time I'd hunted and brought him back something, I realized; he'd handled himself in the familiar mountain forests or partook of whatever the others brought in so long as he cooked it—making himself quite useful though Kurn still did not deign to recognize it—and I took care of myself. Had the others been back when I'd returned just now, I realized, it would have continued this way.

But the others weren't back yet, and I did feel inclined to feed my longer-term ally and keep him in good health.

I found out the apprentice wasn't familiar with toasting the leaping insects alive, so I took care of that while he worked with the bird and mammals. Since it was convenient, I used two of his pan-tins to create a shell trapping the insects as their little heads struck the inside of the tin, as if they could leap through it. I tied it closed with a length of thin, metal wire I kept among my tools, and baked it in the fire. He also accepted one of my eggs, and I ate the last myself. He declined the insects when they were crunchy and ready, but they would keep for a time so I kept them for a later snack and enjoyed the fresh meat mixed with a few roots Gavin had dug up somewhere.

It was still light, but the twilight was deepening and the others had not yet returned to camp. I was not especially concerned but wondered how their hunt went. Gavin and I had had our fill and I dared think we were well rested. I felt content as it grew cooler and pleasant.

I lifted my head when I finally heard the heavy crunch of hooves break the monotony of the waterfall.

"Someone coming?" Gavin asked.

I nodded. "Four. On horseback."

"Is it our dear travel companions?" he asked dryly.

I focused and concentrated past the background rush of water, my eyes losing focus since they were no use at the moment. I heard a voice at last, a boast...or at least I could detect pride on the hoot. Kurn.

"It is," I answered. "And I think they caught something."

Gavin grunted. "I really should stop doubting your hearing at this point. It's rather convenient having an early warning."

I smiled. "The minimum expected in the Underdark."

The noise of Kurn, Castis, and Mathias seemed to overwhelm even the flow of the water as they filled the rocky pocket of our camp. My mouth pursed as I watched them ride in, dragging a large, hairy body along the ground between two of their horses. The hide would be ruined, of course, but I figured we weren't staying around here to preserve anything, so what did it matter to them so long as they could dig out the fresh meat? There was an arrow hole in the throat and it had bled profusely; there was also a bit of a scorch mark around the eyes and ears of the cloven-hoofed and prong-horned beast.

As the Hellhound leaped off his horse and proceeded to gut, skin, and butcher the beast, I realized that he could easily have done that out where they had caught it, left what they didn't want for the scavengers, and carried back much less weight. By the way Mathias was standing and watching, seeming antsy and critical of Kurn's technique—as if he would really rather be the one taking care of this—and when Kurn glanced at me in the middle of his work, just once, I quickly came to the conclusion that he wanted me to see this part.

He'd spend the extra energy on himself and his horse if it meant he could perform for me.

So foolish to waste such effort.

Rithal began to build up the fire to make it a little brighter, a little hotter; he noted the bits of animal bones, feathers, and fur easily, glanced at us, but said nothing.

"If you both contribute and cook this for us while we take a well-earned break, you may have some," Kurn said, his gloves coated with gore and blood spattering his bracers. "I've yet to see what our maiden witch can do with a hunk of meat."

Castis, whom I'd only recently realized was somehow even younger than Kurn, covered his hand and chortled behind it; Mathias allowed himself a smile as well. I understood the double-sided nature of the remark, of course.

"I will pass," I said.

"As will I," Gavin seconded.

Kurn's prideful glow darkened quickly as he scowled our way and stood up to threaten with his blood-coated dagger. "Apprentice, get cooking or I'll slaughter your worthless, nutless sog alongside the pronghorn."

Unable to suppress an ugly downturn of his mouth, Gavin glanced at me—possibly recalling what I'd said about not standing physically between them—and I heard a nearly covered sigh of derision as he stood up to take a haunch piece from Mathias. He had already swept clean a work surface on a boulder for his earlier meal, had cleaned and put away his utensils, but now had to unroll his kit again and begin slicing the meat very thin to toss into his heated cooking pan. Watching this again, I reflected that he really kept his tools in fine shape.

"I suppose you will go hungry rather than demean yourself so, eh, demoness?" Kurn said with part satisfaction as Gavin did as he had most nights on the journey, and part arrogance as he looked at me.

I'd known a few at Court who might have seen it that way...I never had. I just wasn't hungry.

I smiled and shrugged, and stayed where I was as the others got settled.

Before too long the men, except for Gavin, were chewing greedily on the well-seasoned slices of herbed, seared meat. I stayed since my being present wasn't stopping the usual night routine, from what I could tell. Not yet. Mathias surprised me by asking Gavin a question.

"So you did all the cooking at that monastery, eh, Gavin?" the bounty hunter, probably the oldest in age of the Humans but not by much.

"Not all, but plenty," the apprentice mumbled as he placed a clean blade down alongside the rest on his roll cloth. He picked up the whetstone and lubricated it with a bit of oil.

"Were you a monk or a servant?"

The apprenticed glanced up from beneath a hooded brow. He didn't answer and returned to the practiced, smooth draws across the whetstone. Gavin wouldn't be the only one sharpening edges tonight, but I found him somehow more interesting to watch since he was not plainly a hunter or warrior—he appeared more like Castis in his overall mass and was not dressed in the least for combat. His motions were for precision, for small cuts and surgeries or efficient reduction of raw flesh into their component parts, and it showed when he cleaned his tools.

After a heavy pause, Kurn snorted in derision and shook his head at Mathias as if to suggest he not only drop it but there was no interest in this particular topic. I spoke up solely because Mathias was doing something Kurn didn't want him to do. Thus I wouldn't mind him continuing.

"I wager a bit of both," I said, smiling at Mathias, and he looked at me with a sudden flush coming to his cheeks. It was encouraging. "However, then his natural talent grew and it proved to be...incompatible with his upbringing."

Gavin glared at me and I winked.

"Natural talent?" Mathias asked, curious despite himself, and in spite of Kurn, who was still glowering.

"Oh my, yes. I might wonder whether the necromancy came from the Manalar side or the Ma'ab one. I would bet the latter."

Both Mathias and Rithal looked surprised—they hadn't made that connection at all—but Castis looked embarrassed and Kurn flushed deeply red in anger, not liking that I had spoken what was clear to him aloud. I met his eyes.

"What, Hellhound? You said your people were known for demons and dark magic, and the Manalar worship a bright Sun god. It seems obvious where the talent came from. Surely you may take it as a sign that your very breeding is stronger than your enemies. You are destined to dominate, and putting your males to stud on Manalar women would only encourage that magic."