“Wake up, Mr. Appo!”
Appo jolted awake. For a moment, he forgot where he was. It unnerved him, for the last time Appo awoke from a deep sleep, two weeks had passed. He looked around, his eyes squinting in the sunlight, finding Tomi’s young face.
“Were you having a nightmare?” Tomi asked, her wide, friendly eyes greeting Appo’s. Appo wasn’t sure. He had been dreaming, but whether it was a pleasant one or a nightmare was already forgotten.
“Hulla,” Appo said, attempting to get to his feet. “How is he?”
Tomi responded with a firm hug, squeezing around Appo’s shoulders. Appo reflexively tensed up before relaxing, letting Tomi grip him tight. “Good! He’s so good. He’s already opened his eyes! I think he’s tired from the surgery, but he’s gonna live!”
“That’s excellent, Tomi. Let me see myself.”
Tomi helped Appo stand, which was hard given the bumpy terrain of the Thornwood stump. Tomi led Appo back to Hulla’s cot, where several lepers stood watching him. As the two pushed through, the lepers ceased their prattling, all of them silently staring at Appo. It unnerved him slightly, until he realized their silence was not one of apprehension, but admiration.
Next to Hulla were his mother and two other leper women. The boy still appeared incredibly frail, his chest barely rising, but his eyes were open. The left side of his face was purple from bruising, though expected after such a major surgery. His eyes weakly glazed over at Appo as he approached.
“Look Hulla,” whispered Erish, cradling his small hand. “That’s the healer that saved your life.” She looked at Appo as she said this, showing a pressed smile. Judging by the redness in her face, she had been crying through much of the night, though they appeared to be tears of joy.
“You minimize your own efforts,” said Appo, never comfortable around complements. “We all did our part.”
“That we did.” Erish brought Hulla’s hand up to her lips, kissing it gently.
“Healer!” It was the booming voice of Garabi, approaching from the other end of the crowd. “Come. I wish to speak with you over breakfast.”
Appo looked briefly over the young boy. He was in safe hands. He joined Garabi, followed closely by Tomi.
The three continued around the tree, reaching another flattened area. In the center was a small firepit, over which several small pots sat upon each boiling water. Uten crouched over the pans, stirring a ladle in one and splashing water around in another. On the edge of the tree were three camels, though Appo wasn’t sure which one was his. Near the camels lay Gizzal, shirtless and bandaged around his chest. Appo made a mental note to check on him later.
Garabi offered Appo a spot near a bumping outcropping of the tree. Appo sat, awkwardly positioning himself. Garabi flanked his right, crouching next to him. Tomi stood on the side, leaning against the middle tree trunk.
“Uten’s making us camel stew. We lepers tend not to have the best palate, so apologies if it’s not to your liking.”
“Not complaining,” Appo said, truthfully. He would have eaten anything by this point.
“You saved my son. I’m still trying to accept that. He would not have been the first I’ve lost, but… I am not used to miracles. We are forever grateful, healer.”
Appo repressed his urge to demean himself. “If he’s already opening his eyes, it’s not unreasonable to expect he won’t make a full recovery. We’ll just need to monitor him for now.”
“And we will. I wish to discuss other matters, though... Before you think of anything clever to say, I want you to remember the goodwill you’ve earned from us.” As Garabi said this, he pulled one of his fingerless hands from under his robe. Around his wrist was the adamantine necklace, in addition to Appo’s pendant, the criss-crossed lines overlapping each other. Appo immediately pressed his hand into his chest, finding nothing but bare skin.
“Had Tomi do it,” Uten said. “She’s a schemer in many ways.” Appo looked to Tomi, who slumped her head towards the ground.
“Why?” Appo asked.
“You’ll be answering my questions, if you don’t mind,” Garabi commanded. “This is Shadeonite material. Very taboo to be wearing it out here in the open. Who gave it to you?”
Appo was in no position to lie. Whatever Garabi wanted to know, he would know. “One of our companions. He is back at a watch tower half a day’s ride southeast of here.”
“And not with you, conveniently. Why abandon him?”
“It wasn’t my intention,” Appo pointed to Gizzal. “He attempted to flee with the necklace. He drugged our companion and assumed I’d be too exhausted to give chase. When I caught up, Tomi attacked us.”
“Tomi has described in detail your flight through the Rust Waves, but unfortunately she can’t confirm what else you’ve told me. To be honest, I don’t really care. I’m simply curious how you got a hold of something like this.”
Appo shrugged. “We haven’t known our mutual companion for long. I can only take his word for it. He tells me he found it at Zabukama.”
Both Tomi and Uten paused as they heard the word. Garabi frowned, his already stern face revealing some worry. “I don’t understand… Do you not realize you are heading towards it?”
It was now or never, Appo realized. “The necklace was stolen. We’re returning it.”
“And… why do such a thing?”
“It could be the only thing that can stop this plague.”
Garabi stood still for a moment before turning to Tomi. “Go get your mother,” he said. Tomi nodded, returning with Erish shortly after.
“Zabukama?! Tell me he doesn’t know,” Erish exclaimed as she approached, before directing her anger towards Appo. “Why would you want to go to the Black Waste? You don’t know where you’re going, do you?”
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“He says he’s never been,” said Tomi.
Erish threw her hands in the air. “Then don’t go! You’ll die!”
“You don’t understand,” Appo said. “I have to go. If we don’t return the necklace, then nothing will stop the plague.”
Erish stopped her ranting. “You mean to say the plague has to do with the necklace?”
Appo realized he had to tell the truth, not only for their sakes, but for him to make sense of everything. He explained everything to the best of his ability, from Isbibarra and Mikal’s journey to the desert, to Appo’s own arrival in Ash, his dealings with the Heads, his investigation with the witch, and his eventual maiming by Juddken. Eventually he had to discuss Isbibarra’s own motivations, and why he believed it was necessary for them to return to Zabukama. To his continual frustration, he couldn’t provide much of a reason as to how it would stop the plague, other than taking Isbibarra’s word for it.
After Appo finished, he answered a few questions the others had, filling in whatever details he needed to. Tomi in particular asked him many questions about how it felt cauterizing his hand. The continual reminder was unpleasant.
Finally, after what felt like an hour, Appo ceased his tale. The questions stopped. Uten, by this point, had finished his camel stew and was now sitting with the rest of the Yalds. It was indeed gamey, but having cooked meat after nearly a moon of not eating was filling.
Erish spoke first. “Okay. I understand.”
Appo was confused and surprised. “You do?”
“Erish comes from the Rust Waves,” said Garabi. “She is much more familiar with the tales of the Shadeon than I. She’s as close to an expert on the matter as anyone.”
Erish nodded. “These are cursed lands, Appo. I know your kind dismisses them, and for good reason. Shamans like the one your foolish town accused of ramble on about curses, diminishing their quality. But they are real. Especially in a place like this.”
“Have you been to Zabukama, Mrs Yald?”
“Me?! Goodness, no. You don’t return from the Black Waste. Even raiders know to stay away.”
“Why? What makes it so fearsome? Even Isbibarra refused to share much.”
“If he went there and returned, I can see why… There is a custom here that if the Krazeek ever lay eyes on you, even the mere whisper of their presence will bring them to you. It’s an old story desertfolk tell to keep their kids in bed at night, though those I’ve met who’ve seen them and lived to tell the tale never speak of what they’ve seen.”
“I’ve never heard of the Krazeek,” Appo said. “What are they?”
“Twisted half men,” said Tomi, interrupting her mother. “Desertfolk say the Krazeek took control of the city after the Shadeon vanished. They wear the skin of the dead Shadeon like armor, and they have long black hair sprouting from their entire face! They kill each other so they can eat each other and then they fuck each other so they have more babies they can also eat!”
“Language, girl!” commanded Garabi.
Tomi ignored her father, enthralled with her own story. “They live in the walls outside Zabukama. They can’t live in the city themselves because it’s so cursed, doomed to protect something they will never have.”
Erish shook her head. “She exaggerates, but… Much of what she says is true. I’ve known many who have underestimated the Krazeek and never return.”
Appo knew of multiple species in Ostior similar to men. Many in Jyvask thought they were more refined species than others in Ostior, even the Merkamensa. Ape men themselves wouldn’t be unusual, but that didn’t show they weren’t dangerous.
“Isbibarra made it through,” Appo said. “If anyone can, it’s him.”
“He indeed sounds formidable,” said Garabi. “You say he killed an entire raider tribe without eyes?”
“I just woke up there, so I didn’t see it... But how else could I?”
“Maybe he made it past the Krazeek,” said Erish, “but that doesn’t mean you will. I mean… you only have one hand. Why must you go with him?”
“Because of the necklace. I worship the god it represents.”
“You worship a Shadeon goddess? I thought you were cityfolk?”
“Lowya is more of a… intellectual curiosity. I did not know she was this prominent up here.”
“You know her name?” Erish’s eyes became wide. “Be careful. What if she finds us?”
Appo shook his head. “She doesn’t work like that. She is the goddess of pestilence.”
Garabi tilted his head high, as if he had finally pieced together a particularly puzzling conundrum. “Ah, so the Screaming Plague you speak of - the one that surrounds us even now - is the curse of this god?”
“I, uh…” Appo couldn’t bring himself to admit that. After all this time of risking his life to give it an explanation, for it to indeed be the curse of a god. Appo was perhaps too prideful even now. “It does powerful and, frankly, unbelievable things, but it spreads like a plague. You contract it if you drink contaminated water, or the screamers spread it into your blood. It’s no curse.”
“Semantics,” lectured Garabi. “What’s a disease for you is a curse for the scratched.”
“Whatever the cause, Isbibarra thinks I will offer extra protection. Maybe Lowya will protect us from the Krazeek?”
“Hmm,” Erish murmured. “Have you ever spoken with Lowya, Appo?”
“Not like others seem to think I should.”
“The Shadeon were very close to their gods. So are these Merkamensans, it seems. If Isbibarra believes you can have a conversation with your god, and she protects you… He could be right.”
“You think Isbibarra tells the truth, then?”
“I know what my husband has shown me. This material is untouched, unblemished. No, this necklace lay undisturbed until recently… If what you say about this blind man is true, he could have very well gotten in. And as such, this necklace could be cursed. Maybe there’s a chance that we are being cursed by it right now.”
Appo was ashamed to admit he had never considered the possibility of it. He assumed he was safe, as they carried the necklace for this long without difficulty. But it there was no guarantee of it. They shouldn’t touch it with their bare hands, at least.
Garabi sighed. “Do you believe this is what drove us from our home, my love? What almost killed our boy?”
Erish nodded, grimly.
“Okay then.” Garabi turned back to Appo. “Zabukama is half a moon’s ride from here. But we will need a moon to rescue your friend. You must stay here until that happens.”
“I will go.” It was Uten, who had sat beside everyone without a word until now. “I am the faster rider. I will be back before moonrise.”
“I’mmmm faster than you on foot,” teased Tomi.
“Shut up sis! You can’t guide a blind man without a camel!”
Tomi stuck her tongue at her brother. Garabi seemed ready to slap the both of them before Appo interjected. “I should go. Or come with you. He’ll recognize me.”
“No,” said Garabi. “You’ll slow Uten down. It’s best you let him go alone. Isbibarra may be paranoid, but he’ll be desperate to leave after all this time. He’ll accept the rescue if he’s a reasonable man.”
Appo was happy that the boy was willing to step up for him, even he had no part in the ultimate rescue. “In that case, make yourself known early. Announce yourself once you see the tower. He has a bow, and he’s accurate. He’s reasonable if you can have a conversation, though.”
Uten nodded, immediately leaving the group towards one of the camels. He called over a few idle lepers, maneuvering them to lower the camel. Appo came to find out it was a five-man job to lower someone to the ground. One to distract the screamers, two to lower the camel down, one to guide the camel as it descended, and one to ride. It was an impressive feat of ingenuity.
Garabi continued. “Appo, while we do not need you for the trek, I have my own selfish reasons for keeping you here. You see, lepers do not receive treatment from medicine men. We are now in the presence of one, not that he really has a choice. Since you are stuck here for now, I beseech but one more favor while my son risks his life for you: I wish for you to talk with my humble village and address any concerns they may have. It is my cost for us to feed, water, and shelter you and your friend.”
Appo smiled. What Garabi was asking would have paid for a month’s housing in Lockwood. But even if he wasn’t getting paid, he would be happy to keep himself busy by doing something he was good at. He agreed to the request.
As the Yalds dispersed to check on Hulla, Appo approached Gizzal. He looked over the fat man, checking his bandages and he wordlessly crouched. The bleeding had stopped, and Gizzal huffed in slow, methodical breaths.
Gizzal refused to look at Appo. Appo could barely look past him. He had nothing to say, at least now. After a few minutes, Appo replaced the bandages and returned to the lepers.