13​ Cat on a Spit

AT A BATTERED kitchen table, Taver and the others huddled together on a wooden bench. Tezcat eyed Rade, unable or unwilling to keep suspicion from her face. She knew all about his so-called mother, and her dislike for virals.

There were several tallow candles on the table, and a fire in a shattered hearth. A large blackened pot hung over the flames. The room was smoky, but warmer than outside. The man, Vilkas, was preparing a skinned cat on a metal skewer.

Tezcat shot him an anxious glance and Taver grinned back, trying to ease the tension. It took every ounce of strength to do so. He felt an unnatural chill in his bones.

The walls had cracks while broken tiles and pottery shards littered the floor amidst all sorts of detritus. A ladder gave access to upstairs. Compared to sleeping in a forest, though, it was a palace.

‘Are you the only survivors, then?’ Rade said while eyeing Taver. ‘I heard about the events at the Necropolis,’ she continued when no one spoke. ‘Those terrible undead creatures unleashing such horrors into our world. I cannot understand what set them off, but I suppose it was always bound to happen.’

Tezcat lurched to her feet, face like a thunderhead. She took a step around the table towards the woman, fists bunched. Wreathes of viralic power escaped those fists, like smoke. ‘That’s a lie,’ she growled, ‘it weren’t us at all. Weren’t no mages ’sponsible neither. What mades them wights? I bets you know somethin’, don’t you, breather.’

Taver didn’t bother trying to hold her back. She could handle herself, and Rade did owe them answers. One look at Nisky, however, and he began to worry again. She looked unwell, which was saying something. He’d thought she’d been improving the further away from Vasara they’d gotten.

‘I assume this is her?’ Rade asked of him, drawing his attention back. She gave a jerk of her chin towards his friend. ‘You should get a leash for it, at least. Tie it up somewhere when the rest of us civilised folk wish to converse.’

Before Tezcat had a chance to explode, Rade turned to her with a warm smile and soft voice. ‘So, you’re the one trying to steal my son. You’ve managed to steal his heart at least.’ Tezcat went still, not daring to look his way. ‘Don’t you have any friends of your own kind? Did you expect him to run off with you? Get married or whatever?’ She glanced at Nisky when she said that last, with a raised eyebrow.

‘Rade, enough of this,’ said Taver in a warning tone. ‘This game of yours, whatever it is, it’s over.’ Why invite them in, only to bait them? Had he walked them into a trap? Most likely, but seeing her stood in the doorway had thrown him off balance. He didn’t want to believe she was involved.

‘You are my son,’ she snapped, ignoring Tezcat who’d taken another step in her direction. ‘You are keeping treacherous company. It is my place to be concerned, isn’t it, as your mother?’ She then ladled something from the pot into a wooden bowl, and handed it to him.

He took the bowl and some bread, hunger getting the better of him. He began slurping on the thin broth. It had floating bits of ... something. He paused, feeling a jolt of surprise, as Rade handed bowls to Nisky, and Tezcat. The undead girl frowned into hers as though it was poison. The thought halted the spoon halfway to his lips. Is there a poison to kill the undead, or is it meant for me and Sharl? No, it made no sense, and so he continued eating.

‘Undead prefer seafood,’ said Rade, ‘isn’t that correct? Soup made from sea grasses and molluscs. Well, this should suffice I’d imagine. Don’t be afraid. There isn’t much which kills virals. I should know.’

Taver paused to glare at her.

‘No, I should apologise,’ she then said to Tezcat and Nisky, ‘for my prejudices and my unkind words. You must understand, I love my son. I fear for his safety. Stress and worry can make a mother vicious at times.’

Nisky nodded at that, as though words were enough, but Tezcat’s frown deepened. She did return to her seat on the bench, with the bowl of soup in her hands, though she didn’t eat. What bothered Taver most of all was the sincerity he’d heard in Rade’s voice just now, not to mention the quick change. ‘The little girl,’ he asked, ‘the one we saw running in here. Is she upstairs? Who is she?’

It was Rade Wyn’s turn to pause, ladle hovering over Sharl’s bowl. He had sat quiet and still throughout, likely terrified. She poured the soup and handed it to the young Aidari. ‘Well now, what girl would that be?’

Sharl swallowed a spoonful and tore at a crusty piece of off-coloured bread, she’d handed him. ‘We saw her,’ he mumbled as he chewed, oblivious now he had something to eat. Taver felt more certain they shouldn’t have stopped, but it was too late for regrets. His initial instincts were right. Rade was involved, impossible as it seemed. He needed to get them out of there.

She walked back to the open fire. Hunched over it, Vilkas was roasting the cat on a skewer, licking his fingers. In his other hand was a poker. ‘You lot should mind your own business.’ The man spat onto the sizzling meat before shoving it back into the flames. ‘We keep to ourselves up here. Don’t need trespassers, especially undeaders. You made a mistake taking them in, woman. I warned ya, didn’t I?’

‘Now, Vilkas,’ said Rade with an edge to her tone, ‘that’s enough. I also warned you, and I do not like repeating myself.’

‘They should leave,’ he insisted, scratching at his cheek. He glanced over at the ladder, before he caught Taver staring at him. He glared up at Rade. ‘Curse you, woman. I don’t care who or what you are. It’s not over, but it will be soon and then I want peace. You promised.’

A thump sounded from above, followed by grunts and whimpers.

‘What’s up there?’ demanded Sharl, his voice haunted.

Shoving his bowl away, Taver rose. ‘If you think I’m going to play happy families with you, forget it. What are you doing up here in the mountains?’ He then pointed at Vilkas. ‘And who is he? I want answers, Rade.’

She shrugged. ‘He is a new employee of mine. You did abandon me, after all.’

‘He doesn’t look like a fisherman.’

‘Well, I never said he was now, did I?’

‘I’ll admit we didn’t always get along, but I thought I knew you. You’re acting strange.’

Vilkas continued to roast his cat, spitting, and muttering to himself.

‘You don’t get to ask questions of me. Remember, you do as I say, when I say it. Wasn’t that our little arrangement?’

‘Everything has changed,’ he said, his worry growing, ‘and you know it.’

She laughed, stepping closer to cup his chin in a warm hand. She looked into his eyes. ‘No, it hasn’t, but it’s about to as I promised it would.’

‘Our world here as we knew it has ended,’ Taver replied, pulling away from her touch. ‘The Necropolis is gone just as you wanted. Fanatics and the angel dead hunt us. What I want to know is what you have to do with it all?’

‘You have learned so much,’ she said, glancing at the virals. ‘You are fleeing with them to Reaper’s End. It is a mistake, Ralan. You must remain with me. Only I can keep you safe through what is coming.’

‘You ...’ he began. He paused to swallow, to choose his words. ‘I wanted to believe I had this all wrong. Why not tell me, and be done with it?’

‘Yeah, show ’em,’ said Vilkas, taking a tentative bite of the feline. He pulled the poker out of the flames, the tip glowing red.

Rade whirled on the man. ‘Did I ask you? Since when do you give the orders?’

‘You insisted on letting ’em in, didn’t ya? I wasn’t for doin’ that, now was I? So, show ’em and as the lad says, be done. What will be, will be, though we’ll need to deal with those other two.’

‘Shut up, you fool,’ Rade snapped, scowling as she stalked towards the ladder.

‘What did he mean by that?’ Taver demanded.

‘I am thinkin’ we needs to be going,’ suggested Tezcat, on her feet and tugging at Taver’s tunic. He agreed, but there was more to learn here. He couldn’t go, not yet. He needed to understand what was happening.

‘Which two?’ said Sharl, all wide-eyed. ‘I don’t like it here. I’d prefer sleeping in the forest if you all don’t mind.’

Rade, now by the ladder, shouted up, ‘Madra, Aaric, bring her on down.’

A woman in her early twenties, whom Taver assumed was Madra, appeared at the top of the ladder. She slowly descended. Behind her, appeared a younger girl’s legs, with the hem of a blue dress to her bare knees. After them came a lanky lad, around Madra’s age.

At the foot of the ladder, the girl kept her back to them. Madra whispered something to her. All Taver heard in response was a stifled mumble. The girl appeared distressed and tried to shove the young woman away.

‘Well,’ said Rade, ‘let me introduce everyone. Madra and Aaric here are like Vilkas over there, my disciples. I know, much more interesting than employees, don’t you agree? You see, I’ve begun a new religion, the Zorast Faith. Impressed? You my son, can join me as we change the world. The imperium is no longer important or relevant. There is another way. The Zorast way.’

Taver backed a few steps towards the door. He stared at the woman who’d raised him, confused. ‘Who is she?’ He pointed at the little girl as he spoke. ‘What have you done to her?’

There were tears on Rade’s face, which startled him. He couldn’t recall seeing her cry before. ‘I wanted so much for you,’ she said, ‘but you fought me at every turn. Like your father in every way. I can’t fight you any longer. You will live or die with the rest, according to fate. I am sorry. I was never good as a mother. I wasn’t meant to be one. You were never part of the plan.’

Taver stared at her as though at a stranger, feeling Tezcat tug harder. ‘You’re not making sense.’ He knew they should run, but he needed to understand.

The little girl in the blue dress turned and Sharl let out a yelp. Tezcat offered a few colourful swears, while Taver stared at her dumbfounded.

Someone had sewn the child’s mouth shut.

The stiches looked made of gut, and were incomplete. There were tiny gaps, perhaps for feeding. Gloves covered both hands, taped at the wrists, which he assumed was to prevent her from pulling at the stitches. She still clutched the doll. Its lips had stitches too, like some sick parody.

‘What have you done to her?’

‘Only what was necessary,’ Rade replied, moving to stand near the child. ‘Now, you must let me explain.’

Sharl was up and backing towards the door.

Tezcat grabbed Taver’s hand, entwining their fingers tight. ‘We needs to be gettin’ gone, Tav.’

‘I know,’ he whispered, but didn’t move.

Nisky, who’d remained seated, began to shudder. Another of her episodes was close it seemed. There’d be no getting her out now. ‘I agree with, Tezcat,’ Nisky managed, in a stuttering voice. ‘Just know ... the child is also a viral.’

‘Well, of course she is,’ said Rade. ‘How poetic, don’t you think? The undead, used to destroy the undead.’ Rade stared at Tezcat, a look of disgust filling her tear-filled face. ‘Move away from her, Ralan. This needs to be done, and only I can keep you safe. You need to listen to me. This is how it must be.’

Taver felt his friend’s grip tighten. ‘Your mother gots magic,’ she hissed at him. ‘She’s been doin’ all this. I won’t leaves the girl. We has to save her.’

Taver sensed his friend’s readiness to fight, and knew she was preparing her own attack. Somehow, he had to get hold of the child when Tezcat struck. They’d need to leave Nisky, and Sharl would just have to learn to run faster. He gave her cold flesh a reassuring squeeze.

‘Ralan. This is the last time I offer you amnesty. Join me. I cannot guarantee your safety if you refuse. Do you wish to die for her?’

‘I told you, that is not my name.’

‘Don’t you understand what’s been happenin’?’ asked Vilkas with a sweep of his arm. Cat grease covered his mouth and whiskers. ‘Don’t you know why the world’s gone up the Grim’s own bunghole? It’s cause o’ all those undead bastards, that’s why.’ He pointed the hot poker at Nisky and Tezcat. ‘Like them right there. You see, we’re settin’ it all right again for us living folk, and not just here neither. Imperium entire is been purged o’ these Plagueborn maggots. Now, boy, are you on the livin’ side or the other? Your mother’s waitin’ on an answer.’ He took another bite, more grease soiling his white beard. ‘Just so you know, if you’re on their side, you will die soon.’

Aaric, who held the child’s hand, shifted from one foot to the other. Madra looked terrified. Disciples maybe, but those two appeared unwilling.

Then it hit Taver, like a stone between the eyes. ‘She’s your sister,’ he said to them, ‘isn’t she?’

Aaric nodded. The child became restless, her older sister gripping her shoulders in a bid to keep her calm.

‘Ralan, please,’ Rade pleaded, and for a moment, he felt her fear for him. ‘Let go of her hand. Come stand by my side. I have no desire to lose you.’

‘You never understood,’ he whispered. ‘I never needed your protection, and I don’t need it now, especially not from my friends.’ He offered Tezcat a smile and she responded with a wink.

It was then it all fell apart. Nisky toppled from her chair, convulsing on the floor as a second Nisky extruded from her. Sharl stood next to the door, frozen in place and gaping like a fish out of water.

Vilkas lunged at Taver, trying to separate him from Tezcat. Wrestling the older man, Taver grabbed hold of the poker, which was still hot. It seared his palm, but strangely he felt nothing. He twisted about and changing position, gained a chokehold. Vilkas might have been a disciple, but he was no fighter.

Tezcat played her part too. Dead things clambered into the house, emaciated corpses of animals, birds, and bats, all converging on Rade. She must have been gathering them the whole time. Good ol’ Tezcat. Madra grabbed her sister by the arm, trying to haul her back upstairs.

Choking the other man, Taver glimpsed Nisky’s weakened form crawling out the door. The newer Nisky leapt at Rade. It was then, amidst the storm, he realised their mistake. They had ignored the real threat.

The poker clattered onto the floor and Vilkas sagged, tongue hanging wet and purple from his mouth, like a dead dog. He let the old man fall.

It was the girl’s eyes, which caught Taver’s attention. Within them he saw a swirling darkness, a whirlpool of insanity.

The stitches tore loose, one by one.

The girl’s mouth opened wide, and a stench like rotting eggs filled the room followed by a shriek. Taver gripped his head against an unearthly voice of pain and hatred.

The girl’s jaws widened, until nothing but her eyes remained visible. Tezcat struck hard with her magic. Viralic power pummelled into the undead child as beetles emerged in an unending stream.

They enveloped the new Nisky, Sharl, Aaric, and Madra. Rade struggled free of the reanimated dead creatures, her arms and face shredded. She reached out a bloodied hand towards Taver. Of the little girl, there was nothing left but a skeleton in a dress. The head continued to move.

Hauling Tezcat after him, he turned and fled outside.

They didn’t get far down the dark street, when a gathering crowd forced them to halt. Virals mixed with the odd living person. One or two had torches. Some looked like survivors from Vasara, others from the Necropolis.

The undead surrounded him, many in rags, most in a state of damage from battles with the wights. Among the living, the injuries were worse, if only because they couldn’t shrug it off.

Vent appeared at the front of the crowd, and reaching Taver, grabbed him and Tezcat both by the scruff. She dragged them to the western edge of the village and the mountain road. Glancing back, he spotted the virals surge into the old house as wights emerged. A desperate battle of undead magic, and the cold breath of angelic death, ensued.

‘Flee,’ Vent instructed, ‘the both of you. We will hold her back for as long as we can.’

‘Wait,’ Tezcat cried, ‘Nisky, where is she? We needs to go back.’

‘No, I’ll find her and keep her safe, I promise. You two, continue into the mountains to Reaper’s. The rest of our forces have already gathered there. Report to Beezer and tell him what’s happened here.’

‘What about you, and them others?’ Tezcat asked, but got no answer.

‘It was her all along,’ said Taver, hands on his knees, feeling ill. Tezcat was rubbing his shoulder. ‘She’s behind all of it.’

‘A dangerous woman,’ agreed Vent. ‘There is only one worse.’

Taver glanced up at her. ‘Who?’

The mage shook her head. ‘Get going, and stop for nothing if you wish to live. We will delay the wights for as long as we can.’

‘You won’t survive,’ said Taver, feeling sad and alone, despite Tezcat’s presence.

Vent shook her head. ‘Go, now!’

Who was Rade Wyn, and who had his father been that she’d hated him so much? As they left Vent and the village behind, following the narrow road into the mountains, Taver began to wonder who he was.