32. COLDIS
32
COLDIS
After the extreme busyness of their last day, they reached a compromise. They had to, because Hyran loathed the idea of running Col anywhere, leaving him, and coming to pick up Taros.
When Col checked his screen and tightened the straps of his backpack just outside the doors of the Champions’ Tower underneath a cloudless morning sky, the others had been gone for hours already, and Taros with them.
“They should be about in position for the meet-up.” Col put his screen away and looked at Hyran in his Ferrean uniform.
“Then we’ll go and catch up. Goggles?”
Col waved them lazily. “You asked me three times already.”
“That’s because… Let’s go over it once more. First trip, to the Northern Entrance, then through the city and through the wall, then last trip to the Team Three convoy to pick up Taros. If you feel dizzy or sick at any point, we’ll stop.”
“Just like I told you yesterday, I’m ready.”
Hyran nodded and took out a short wide scarf he wound around his braided hair. Then he and Col went down the stairs where Hyran kneeled, back to Col.
“Hop on. After you put your goggles on.”
“It’s almost cute how you want to see me in goggles, Guardian Hyran, I’ll admit that.”
Col, like so many, had experienced many a Guardian’s power firsthand, but never extreme speed such as he was about to. I’m glad I opted for a small breakfast. I don’t want to puke on his shoes again. He climbed on Hyran’s back, wound his arms around the Guardian’s shoulders even as Hyran hooked Col’s legs under his arms.
“You’ll be grateful. Okay. Is that comfortable?” The Guardian stood.
Col found a grip on Hyran’s utility harness so he wouldn’t choke his Guardian, released briefly to fiddle with his backpack, held on again. Sitting on a Guardian’s back for high-speed travel felt very exposed, but at the same time, Col trusted Hyran to know what he was doing.
“Please go before I think about this too much.”
Hyran nodded. “Hold tight.”
And then, speed. The acceleration was so instantaneous, so complete, that Col’s body didn’t have the time to succumb to the tearing grip of inertia. He didn’t even have time to widen his eyes in amazement at how the world faded only to be scared by the sight, and he certainly didn’t have the time to bury his head against Hyran’s hair.
They were at the Northern Entrance before Col needed to take another breath. “Fuck.”
“Do you need to sit? Go back? We don’t have to do this.”
Col swallowed. Not bile. He was salivating with fear or some reaction, his body simply panicking maybe.
“No, I can handle this, and we have to do it. I’m ready. You can go.”
Getting through Ferrea was as blurry, but Col could tell it was slower, the route they took more winding, possible obstacles more numerous. Before they went through the secure gates of the walls and passed into the long darkness inside them, Col had time to think and bent his head. The angle was only mildly irritating, but he could press his lips and cheek to Hyran’s neck, and that allowed him to channel. I can keep him leveled like this for longer trips.
The darkness vanished under Hyran’s speed, and like that, they were outside the walls again, lush green, strange noises, different, more earthy smells. Like a punch to the gut, Col remembered the ambush, the people that had died, he and Orrey in the car that had flipped over and fallen down a pit made by a tectomancer.
“Col? Hey?”
“Oh? Yes. It’s fine. I just…”
Hyran turned his head to look at Col. “You’re digging your fingers into my chest pretty hard there. We can take a break. We’ll catch up with the others in seconds.” He let go of Col’s legs.
“No, ah…”
Col’s knees went out from under him, but Hyran was right there to steady him, hold him upright.
“You scared that physician into clearing you for this. It’s too soon. Come on, I’m walking you back inside, and then we’ll take an auto-drive back to the Tower, and you can lie down.”
Col shook his head and forced his legs straight. “Fuck. No. This isn’t that. I just remembered the attack. I didn’t think being outside the walls would do that, but it’s nothing to worry about. I’m fine. Let me get back on, and then let’s go. Everyone’s waiting.”
Hyran’s green eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open. “Coldis, that’s not—”
“I know. We don’t have the luxury of talking about it now. I’m getting over it. Let’s go.”
Hyran stood frozen for the longest time, but Col did the only thing he could think of doing: he didn’t move a muscle, told his racing heart to slow down, and held Hyran’s gaze.
After a short eternity that felt only longer on account of the fucking goggles, Hyran’s lips pulled tight, and he succumbed, turned back around and kneeled for Col.
“I’ll take care of you out here. And it’s not as dangerous as most people think. I will keep you safe, I promise.”
“I know that. Both of those things.”
“You’re holding on tight?”
“Always.”
Hyran ran. This time, the trip was longer, blurry greens and browns on either side, the rich blue sky above. He stopped right in front of the two vehicles that were waiting on the road.
“I’m letting you down now but keep holding on to me.”
Overprotective Guardian, Col thought, but he found himself doing what Hyran had said regardless. Hyran steadied Col with his hands on Col’s shoulders, and the support was welcome.
Col held on to a strap of Hyran’s harness, his eyes level with his Guardian’s chest. He focused on Hyran’s easy breathing, the steady rhythm of it, to calm himself. He won’t wear this Ferrean uniform for much longer. Col forced himself to let go of the harness and smile up at Hyran who looked concerned, ready to bundle Col up and take him back behind Ferrea’s walls.
Taros was out of the vehicle, and so was Senlas. Like Col, Taros carried a backpack and walked toward them, not looking terribly excited. Col saw concern bloom when Taros looked at him.
“Is it that bad?”
Col shook his head. “Not really. You get used to it. And you really need those goggles.”
“That’s what I’m saying,” Hyran said.
The back door of the lead vehicle opened, and Orrey jogged out. Col saw Senlas frown, but his brother made no other comment and walked toward them as well. Karmine and Vin got out too. Col spotted a wide-eyed Lapatea watching through the back windshield of the follow vehicle. I’m still not sure why he is coming or who he told that he was leaving with us. It’s like we accidentally packed our hospitality guide and can’t return him.
“This is the time we really say goodbye then.” Orrey’s rich brown eyes looked moist. Strands of his hair caught in the wind and brushed his lashes.
You found a good one, Senny. Col looked up at Hyran. I think we both did.
“It is. A short goodbye at any rate. Want a hug, little brother?”
Col didn’t get a verbal response, but Orrey hugged him. It was still on the polite side, not too long, not too tight, because Orrey wasn’t that type of person. Col didn’t mind because the other Conduit was family, had easily become family.
“Oh, fuck.” Orrey wiped his eyes.
“Kitten, you don’t have to cry. Nothing bad is going to happen. I know Taros doesn’t seem particularly responsible, but he actually is. He’ll make sure nothing happens, okay?”
“I know. I don’t know why I’m crying. Sorry.”
“Don’t be, little brother. But while I’m gone, you’re watching over the team. Boop-Beep will help you if you need it to, but don’t let it goad you into talking about healthy food. Senny, you’re going to watch out for Orrey, is that understood?”
“You’re telling me to do the one thing I’d do before anything else. Yeah, it’s understood.”
“Everyone’s brains are feeling too mushy out here. I’m going back to huddle in the vehicle with Yamara and Lapatea. Hyran, anything happens to Col, I’ll turn your brain into literal mush. Good luck.”
With that, Vin left.
Taros crossed his arms. “Everyone heard that right? He threatened Hyran about Col, but he didn’t mention me. You all heard it, right? He’s basically saying I’m the competent one.”
Karmine nodded, the scarred side of his face pulling tight when he grinned, no longer quite symmetrical. “Maybe he just trusts you to use something sharp for self-vengeance? You’re taking him first, right, Hyran?”
“Yes.” Hyran looked at Col. “Do you want to wait in the car?”
Col groaned and put a hand on his gun. “No. I’m good here.”
Karmine and Senlas spread out slightly while Taros put on his goggles and climbed on Hyran’s back. It was a lot more awkward than it had been for Col, due to the proportions.
“This is a Hound-fucking mess.”
Hyran glanced back. “You could walk at your own speed.”
“Please just run.”
Before he did, as Col knew his Guardian had to, Hyran locked eyes with him. It was a short moment. Col counted the seconds. At four, Hyran ran.
Orrey opened his mouth to ask, “How long—” when Hyran reappeared.
The kinetomancer breathed out his relief. “Left him to wait for us. Col?”
“Coming.” He squeezed Orrey’s shoulder. “Take care of our family while I’m gone.”
The younger Conduit bobbed his head. “I promise I will.”
Col looked back only once to wave before holding on to Hyran with both hands.
Then the green blurred and came to a stop, and they were in the woods again.
Taros was waiting for them, needle-fine blades standing out on his forehead when Hyran stopped and carefully lowered Col off his back.
“These goggles?” Taros waved them in his hand. “They’re not fucking enough. And here I thought Sen tossing me through the air without a care was bad. Your speed is something else, Hyran.”
“Well, I apologize for not being an upholstered auto-drive. Col? How’re you handling it? We have maybe a ten-minute walk from here. Would you like to rest first, have some water?”
Col shook his head. “It’s not that bad. Taros, you’re exaggerating.”
That had Hyran chuckle as he led the way into leaves and branches that brushed his uniform with clinging morning dew.
Taros rolled his eyes. “After you. Seriously, this guy.”
For the walk—the hike—Col was watching his step, remembering only too well how he’d nearly broken his ankle on their way to Thistletown. Maybe I didn’t exactly almost break it but…fuck, it feels like so long ago. It feels not quite real, but I know it happened.
The woods didn’t break apart like they had near Thistletown or even around the little house where Rose and Anandas had given them all succor. Instead, Col made out plants growing in lines and clusters around trees, either to hide these crops or because the trees were somehow beneficial to them.
“We’re almost there. This is odd. There should be people around in the fields here.”
“These’re fields?” Taros asked.
“Their mycologist says the fungus in this area grows with the tree roots but it feeds these crops, so yeah. Fields.”
“They use fungi to help growth?” Col wasn’t even mildly interested in agriculture, but like most high-clearance operatives, he knew that each city kept a substantial amount of fungus spores in their seed banks that could be used in the unlikely case of a famine.
Hyran was looking left to right, searching for the people they had come to visit.
“It’s actually the mycelium, but I’m not an expert. I may have read a little after first learning about how they do agriculture, but that’s it.”
“Well, Col, looks like there aren’t going to be any mushroom plants in your fu—” Taros stopped, grabbed Col by the shoulder, and shoved the Conduit behind his back. “Hyran, blood.”
Hyran didn’t speak, just ran, his body blurring through the plants and trees around them. He stopped, not at all that far away, ten meters perhaps, but there, some healthy, large-leaved plants moved in the breeze.
Col could see the slashes of red on them. The leaves reached up to Hyran’s thighs, and his gaze was fixed on something on the ground, eyes wide.
Something is wrong. Col pulled his gun free.
“Taros, I’m behind you, weapon at ready. Move.”
The panoplian didn’t argue. His arms were out, fingers sharp, and he veered left while Col trailed behind him, focusing his attention on the right and their back.
“Stop. Don’t come any closer.” Hyran’s hands balled to fists. “It’s not—stay back, Col.”
“You found a body.” Col didn’t stop, neither did Taros.
Hyran’s throat bobbed. “I didn’t see anyone else in the fields. They wouldn’t leave him like this. We need to get to the town fast. Col, you don’t have to see this.”
Col made his way to the gap between rows of plants regardless. This close, there was more blood on the leaves, but the sheer amount of them had made it seem like a lot less, had hidden the carnage.
“How can you tell this is a he?” Col asked. Taros made a gagging sound when he saw and took a step back.
“I know him by his clothes. And the shoes. See? Tomo wanted—fuck. He saw my shoes, and I showed him some. Then I brought them from Ferrea, because he really, really wanted city-dweller shoes.”
And those shoes were intact still, for the most part, even if the white stripes on them were soaked with blood. The man’s head had cracked, the shape distorted, the mouth agape so a purple tongue lolled out. He bled mostly from his head. Of course he would have, that’s the only thing that’ll make this kind of mess.
Col saw, but didn’t really see. He noticed the scene, knew that he was simply assessing a situation his team had gotten into, just like he had assessed all other instances of one of them getting hurt, cut, attacked. I’ll dream about this, but not now. Now I am awake, and I need to think, not feel.
“This was a baromancer. He imploded the skull.”
Hyran’s arms came up, pulling Col away from the dead outsider. “You think a Guardian did this? Col, this boy was a Conduit.”
Taros hissed. “The fuck? Second time you are where a Conduit has been murdered, Hyran.”
But Col, this close, could hear Hyran’s heart, beating fast, and the Guardian’s arms around him held tight as if Hyran were terrified, as if he was ready to pick up Col within a second’s notice to whisk him away to safety.
Col looked at Taros. “No. This is the second time he finds a friend of his who happens to be a Conduit murdered.”