27. Nidori’s hunters
27
Nidori’s hunters
Talon
N idori was anxious when we set off the next night, fluttering about and wringing her hands. We made our way out the back of the ruined castle and up a small, cavernous passage. She would settle on my shoulders, then get up and fly, then return to sitting again.
Light was sparse again here, and this side seemed more damp than the other passage we had crossed through. Water coated the ground, trickling down and making our path slippery. Luminous moss helped cut through the oppressive darkness.
Kaine heard them first. He froze, grabbing my arm. Nidori was on my shoulders and tensed as I turned. I fell silent, listening. I could make out a faint…buzzing.
“They’ve found me,” whispered Nidori, eyes wide. Kaine’s eyes darkened.
I turned, bracing myself for a fight. The buzzing got louder, and there was no mistaking it now; sprites, flying towards us through the dark of the cave.
They flew out of the darkness seconds later. Seven figures approached, hovering as they saw us waiting for them.
I drew my sword and heard the slight rasp of Kaine drawing his daggers.
Nidori went to move forward, but Kaine stopped her. “No way. Let me deal with them, princess.”
“I have to talk to them!” she told him as she fluttered closer, resting her hand on his cheek.
“Kaine. Let her do this,” I told him. He shot me a glare but stepped aside, letting her flutter down to the ground. He remained right behind her, blades out.
One member of the group approached, alighting on the ground while the rest remained hovering in the air. Their expressions were serious, and two of the flying sprites held spears in their hands.
The leader stepped forward, so she was right next to Nidori, shooting me and Kaine a glare.
“Nidori, this has gone on long enough.” She rapped her staff against the floor of the cave. “You will return with us to Domair Grove at once and resume your duties tending to the podlings.”
“No,” said Nidori, a slight quiver in her voice. “I won’t go back, Laurel.”
“Insolent brat,” spat Laurel. “We have honoured you, cared for all your needs, ensured you never wanted for anything. In return, what do you do? Whine, complain, and then run away.”
Kaine growled, his blade flashing as he brought it to Laurel’s face. She took half a step back.
“You will not speak to her like that,” he snarled.
Nidori raised a small hand, resting it on Kaine’s. He retreated the smallest amount, eyes remaining locked on Laurel.
“You didn’t honour me.” Nidori’s voice dripped with anger. “I was a prisoner. The moment I was picked as our propagator, I lost everything.” She took a breath, steadying herself and making her voice gentler. “You once promised me I could retire. Do you remember?”
“Nidori, your talents as a propagator are unmatched, far surpassing anyone else’s. We have not lost a single child in three hundred years, thanks to your efforts, and the generations you have grown are the strongest we’ve ever seen.” Fervour burned in Laurel’s eyes. It was like Nidori hadn’t even spoken. “You must return. Already, this season’s little ones are weakening, and one is close to death. Three of our strongest cannot replace you.”
“I’m. Not. Going. With. You,” said Nidori, slowly and clearly.
Laurel bared her teeth. Nidori raised her hand, and for a second, I thought she was going to hit Laurel. Instead, she showed off the golden brand Leihandra had given her.
“Chosen. By Leihandra.” Said Nidori. Laurel flinched and several of the sprites hissed. I blinked. I thought Leihandra was the sprites' patron.
“I have not forgotten where we came from,” said Nidori. “I remember a time when we were wild, when we were guided and shaped by the woods.”
“Heresy,” gasped Laurel. “Gods protect us.”
“I called on Mother Leihandra to help me. She rescued me, she called me her child and gave me her mission. I will see it through, and then I will return when I am ready. I’ll come back, Laurel, I always meant to. But I need to do it in my own time.”
My soul ached for her, for her heart. Despite everything, she would still return? These people didn’t deserve her.
“This is your last chance. Repent, reject the witch’s sign, come back with us, and resume your duties,” said Laurel. “Else we will have to confine you and bring you back ourselves.”
“Over. My. Dead. Body,” hissed Kaine .
I adjusted the grip on my sword, anticipating this getting messy.
“Laurel! You don’t have to do this!” Nidori’s voice rose. “Just walk away! Let me go!”
“You leave me no choice.” Laurel took to the air. She let loose a screech and dove at Kaine and Nidori.
Chaos broke loose.
The sprites hovering behind Laurel launched forwards, all converging towards them as well.
Nidori dashed backwards, starting to fly towards me. Laurel was close behind her, but Kaine was upon her. There was a blur and a shriek, and Laurel crashed to the ground.
“No,” gasped Nidori.
I sprang forwards, landing in front of Nidori and baring my teeth at the approaching swarm.
To their credit, they didn’t hesitate before they were upon me.
Despite their relatively small size, I had to admit, this wasn’t a pleasant fight.
The two with spears flew up, out of reach of my sword but still close enough that they could jab me. I was trying to focus on them, but the others were darting all around me, jabbing at my face. One sank its tiny teeth into my wing, and I swore as the wound seared with pain. Poison. I swung out, trying to hit one with a spear, but it dodged out of the way, and the other jabbed down, hitting the side of my neck.
I tried again but couldn’t even hit one . I growled as one sank its teeth into my leg, causing another searing wound that was causing my muscles to shake.
This was fucking embarrassing.
I muttered a spell, delving deep into my magic and causing a fiery shield to burst into existence around me. I would have preferred a proper shield spell, but I was no closer to reconnecting with my oath magic than I had been the day the nagai had almost killed me.
Some dodged out of the way in time, but I heard shrieking and the sound of tiny bodies hitting the ground as the flames did their work. Finally. I regained the grip on my sword, trying to adjust my eyes to the sudden bright light illuminating the tunnel. One of the sprites with a spear jerked and fell to the ground. Kaine appeared, spinning his dagger and raising an eyebrow at me. He looked much too amused. He vanished again.
The others had recovered from the shock of my spell, and I released the flames, sending the cave into darkness again. I heard another shriek that must have been Kaine’s work and swung blindly at where I guessed the sprites were. My sword connected with something. Thank the Gods, I had actually gotten at least one this fight. Damn things were much too fast.
I gritted my teeth while my eyes adjusted to the darkness, letting some healing into my wound to flush out the poison.
I glanced back, worried about Nidori.
She was behind me, bent over a limp form on the ground. Her hand gently shook the body’s shoulder.
“Retreat!” called a shrill voice.
I turned as the last two sprites fled. I started after them.
“No.” Nidori’s voice wavered as she looked at me. “Let them go. Please.”
I sheathed my sword, kneeling beside her. Laurel was motionless on the ground, and Nidori held her hand. A tear fell from her chin.
“Can you help her?” she asked, holding Laurel’s hand out to me.
I looked at the blood on the ground and the angle of Laurel’s head, but took her cold hand, anyway.
“There’s nothing I can do. I’m sorry. ”
“She…she’s dead,” she whispered.
“I’m so sorry, Nidori.” I said again, feeling helpless. Laurel had seemed like an awful person, but Nidori clearly cared for her.
Nidori started to cry, tears pouring down her face in earnest. “I-it’s all my fault,” she spluttered before breaking into a wail. She was moving erratically, her dagger clutched in her hand as she stood.
Kaine reappeared, slipping his dagger away. He scooped her up, plucking the blade from her hand before she accidentally stabbed something. She screamed; eyes screwed up as she beat her fists on his chest. He hesitated and handed her to me.
She’s very wet , he mouthed, looking uncomfortable. Tears were streaming out of her eyes, and snot from her nose was starting to soak into the fabric of my newly cleaned shirt, but I pulled her in close as she cried into my shoulder. She hit me as well, likely with all her might. I was lucky she was small. I patted her back with one finger, and she stopped hitting me, dissolving into tears again.
“It’s…not…fair!” she wailed between thick sobs, and for a while, as the tears came, that was all she could say. I held her, her sorrow washing over me. I could feel a lump in my throat too.
I would stay with her as long as she needed. Kaine sat down against a wall, rubbing the edge of his jacket between his fingers.
Finally, the tears slowed, replaced by hiccups. She sat up, sniffing, and used a dry part of my shirt to wipe her nose.
“Sorry,” she sniffed, eyes puffy.
“Don’t be sorry, little bean,” I said gently.
She rubbed her eyes, lip trembling. “I…was going to go back.”
I nodded.
“You don’t owe them anything,” said Kaine, standing up.
“But—” she started.
Kaine cut her off, eyes narrowing. He reached out and wiped a tear from her cheek. “No buts, Nidori. They came after you here. They chose to attack you. They had every chance to walk away, but didn’t.”
Nidori glanced backwards, towards where bodies of her kin lay sprawled on the floor. She hiccupped. I could imagine what she was feeling. Guilt for Laurel’s death. Relief she was free. Guilt at that relief. Anger, disappointment at the rejection, fear Laurel was right, and she was wrong. And perhaps, despite it all…a glimmer of hope.
“I understand,” I whispered. “I know what it’s like to give everything you have to people who take you for granted. And what it’s like to finally leave. To feel both grief and anger.”
She sank her head into my other, dry shoulder. “I’m so glad I have both my boys,” she said, patting my cheek. “You’re just what I need.”
“Say the word, and we’ll burn down the world for you,” I promised.
“I’m planning on doing that, anyway, but I’ll happily dedicate my desecration to you, sweetheart,” said Kaine. She giggled.
I started up the passageway again, Nidori’s small arms wrapped partially around my neck.
“Not much to burn here,” she said. “We have to wait until we’re back outside.”
“I don’t think we’ll have to wait much longer,” I said, feeling a breeze touch my face.