As predicted, Lucy fell backwards. Sally took the woman into her one-armed embrace and slowly lowered both of them down into the water, making sure to keep Lucy’s head above the water as she sat down on the kebed. The pilgrim’s eyes had closed, although they seemed to be rapidly moving behind their lids, causing her shes to flutter ever so slightly.

  There was no great fsh of light, no colors swirling about in the air or suffusing the water, nor anything visible coursing through Lucy’s body, leg or knee. There was simply serenity, a calm undisturbed by neither breeze nor wave nor sound.

  Sally simply sat in silence, Lucy at rest in her arm.

  20. Envoy and Escort – August 16-17, Year 216

  Lucy’s leg had yet to fully heal after the hour-long ritual in Lake Majestic. Sally had half expected this. Lucy had mentioned before she didn’t know how to fix her shattered knee, but it still meant that the journey ahead – be it to The Bite or Keringa – would be a complicated one.

  Thankfully, the ritual did fully rid the pilgrim of the cannibal’s vengeful curse, and simultaneously healed the sepsis it had caused. The doctor insisted Lucy stay the night for observation – which neither of them argued against, seeing as Lucy was in no condition to leave – so they spent the rest of the day lingering about in the medical tent.

  There were plenty of visitors from the First Green Hunters, the term apparently applying to all of the military personnel at Green Providence.

  In the course of their stay at Green Providence, Sally talked to Maliah about the structure of the First Hunters of Green Providence and was surprised to find how simir it was to the Wardens, especially compared to the more regimented hierarchy of the Grandie army Sally was more familiar with.

  Maliah wasn’t the overall commander of the First Hunters. Instead, she was simply the Hunt-leader of the six Sally’d encountered on the road. In fact, there was no overall commander of the First Hunters. In fact, the entire ‘battalion’ – Maliah said a group of Hunters were simply called a Hunt, so it was officially the Hunt of the First Hunters of Green Providence, which was a bit of a mouthful – had neither a formal size, nor a hierarchical structure.

  Instead, a Hunt consisted of a number – any number, really, so long as there was consensus on who was and wasn’t part of a Hunt – of individual squads, most of them without name, that operated under a council of equals. Team-leaders filled those councils of course and on death or retirement, a new leader was elected from among its members or was dissolved entirely.

  An individual Hunter could swap between teams freely, as long as the recipient team accepted it unanimously. This meant the size of a team could theoretically go into the thousands or more, but Maliah said the rgest team was less than a hundred strong, and that one was led by the most respected Hunt-leader, and thus the informal head of all Hunters. Hierarchy between team leaders was based more on reputation than rank, since there was no such thing as rank beside being the leader of a team.

  It felt to Sally like a rge-scale application of the organization the Vil Wardens had built, albeit with the junior-senior dynamic repced with a voluntary leader-follower one. Understanding how the Hunters functioned made Maliah’s earlier comment that the Hunters ‘weren’t part of the army’ make much more sense. There was no way a state, even one as decentralized as the Merkahn Republic, would have such a system for their armed forces.

  Sanan talked about how she got integrated into Maliah’s group. Unsurprisingly, considering they were at Green Providence with a Marshen in tow, Maliah and her team had been part of the effort against the Greennds’ Demon, though they weren’t one of teams that struck the final blow. Sanan, despite her doubt about the Hunters as a whole, had liked the group well enough and, with some slight prodding from her house’s head, decided to join the group.

  The other four that made up Maliah’s team had simpler stories. Galina, a somewhat reserved and stoic woman, was one of the team’s marksmen. She’d been from the same city as Maliah farther east in the Merkahn Republic and had grown up with her now-leader. They became Hunters together, spent years fighting together while hopping from team to team, eventually culminating in her being the first follower when Maliah formed her own.

  Safa, the ever-grinning brawny shotgunner, had switched to Maliah’s team after her own refused to take part in the Hunt. Engin, a simirly happy, if somewhat more reserved, character was another marksman, the sole man of the team and Safa’s lover. They’d been together for the entire decade of their Hunter career, one always following the another whenever one decided to switch teams.

  Kohar was the sniper of the group, acting as the forward scout whenever it was required. As befit her role, she was a quiet one and lingered more in the background, though not to the point of being standoffish. She’d been with the team only briefly, slightly before Sanan, and had lost her team during the Hunt for the Greennds’ Demon. Sally didn’t dig further.

  While Sally talked to Maliah and her team – though mostly Maliah – Lucy occupied herself with the surprisingly numerous well-wishers, even giving some of them her blessings and reciting a prayer with the occasional Keringan or Anteeri Dekantist that had joined the Hunters. Sally kept an eye on it all, just in case, but mostly it appeared that the Hunters had simply been impressed by the healing, her priestly standing – word of it had spread quickly once those familiar with Dekantism heard about her status – and Lucy’s retelling of their encounter with the cannibal.

  At the request of the doctor, Lucy even performed some healing spells on some of the wounded soldiers. It seemed it was much more suited for healing cuts, burns and infections not caused by magical means, if the profuse thanks from the soldiers were anything to go by.

  In the course of all their talks, as night began and the Hunters wandered off, Lucy and Sally started making pns on where to go next. That was until Maliah came back and made the offer to escort them to Keringa. When Sally asked why, the woman said she knew someone there that could help speedup Lucy’s healing process, and they were on their way there regardless.

  Before Sally could voice doubt, Lucy had already accepted the offer, and that was that. Maliah left, and Lucy quickly went to sleep. Sally went to an empty cot nearby and lied down.

  Sally supposed it was good she’d made their acquaintance, then.

  X

  The next morning, despite the exhaustion, Sally still hadn’t slept.

  It’d been five nights since the st time she did, and in that time she’d travelled, fought a cannibal, had her heart ripped out and travelled again, this time carrying her companion for well over half a day across the treacherous sands of the Red Wastes. She’d been exhausted so deeply she fell into a trance multiple times during the st walk, feeling as if she stood on a precipice, on the verge of passing out from the strain.

  And yet, she still couldn’t sleep. She’d tried, genuinely tried to sleep, if only so the long night would pass sooner, but she couldn’t even doze off or enter some form of half-sleep, half-meditative trance. She was fully alert all the time.

  Then, she simply tried to y still and pretend to sleep, but the duration of the night meant she quickly became bored. She’d become unfamiliar with the sheer amount of time people spent sleeping – she’d gotten used to only needing to do so for three hours at most – and now she couldn’t even y still for a quarter of it. Eventually, she gave up and snuck out, carefully measuring her steps as to not wake her friend.

  Sally spent the rest of the night at the ke, watching the reflection of the moon and stars in its waters occasionally be scattered by a sudden breeze. Rather than the bright diamonds caused by the noon soon, the light of the moon and stars collected into tiny, dim dots simir to the stars. In the darkness and with the ripples breaking the reflection, the horizon turned invisible, the edge between the sky above and the ke below blurring it was as if the ke was an extension of the night.

  Thankfully, the beautiful sight helped her when meditation didn’t and the night passed quickly.

  Come morning, preparations were quickly made for their departure. Lucy was seated on the cordil and most of the baggage spread out amongst the group. This time, Sally was allowed to help and take a portion of the burden on herself, although not without some protest from the other Hunters.

  Sally was a bit annoyed to be treated like that. She didn’t know if it was because of her ck of an arm, a difference in culture or if they took her being their ‘guest’ more seriously than she’d thought. Either way, it felt patronizing. She was a Warden, not a merchant!

  The only one who didn’t join in was Sanan, which made her think it was more a Merkahni thing than something about her being a cripple, though it could also be that Sanan simply accepted it where others didn’t. Either way, it soothed her ego, albeit just slightly.

  Eventually, however, everything was packed and they were ready to set out. They went to the gate and after a couple of goodbyes and good lucks from a few people set out towards Keringa.

  X

  It felt good to be out on the road again, especially now that she had clean clothes, dry shoes and her weapons fully loaded and where they should be. The change in scenery was nice as well, even if it simultaneously put her on edge.

  The Greennds was a nd very unlike the rest of the Circuits. The Red Wastes were, as the name implies, red and red only, an endless expanse of red on red on red. She believed it when people sat it could drive a man to madness if they’d attempt to cross it. The Greysalts might be rockier, but the eponymous grey salt covering its nd made the experience much the same: an endlessly monotone wastend.

  The rest of the Grand Circuit had a little more variety, but not by much. From the mountains to the hills to the scant few pins scattered about, the Circuits consisted mostly of dusty brown rocks, sand and dirt only sometimes interrupt by the rare cactus, bush, grass or tree. While she hadn’t been to the Goldmounts south of the Greysalt Pins, she knew the name came from its output rather than its appearance; they looked much the same as the Cannibal, Vil or Drover Mountains, meaning mostly brown.

  Indeed, the most beautiful parts of the Circuits seemed to be its rivers and kes. The Madus might practically be one giant, deadly predator, at least its blue water filled with translucent strings gave it an odd, ethereal look. The Redwater was corrosive, but no less vibrant for it. The Myrd, Graidle, Geskar, Braxel, Shiyle, Verons, Solomny; most of the ever-flowing rivers had their own characteristic that made them special, and even those that didn’t look that special were at least a nice blue. And the beauty and special nature of the kes spoke for themselves. But all of these were rare compared to the dominating presence of the mountains, hills, sand and dirt.

  Not that it all didn’t inspire a sense of awe and beauty, there was something to be said about the desotion, the sense of loneliness and sheer hostility and inhospitableness of it all, especially with the rivers and kes to provide contrast. But those moments could only st so long before it all started to blend together during the journey.

  The Greennds were almost like the inverse of the rest of the Grand Circuit. Its waters were dull and muddy, poison not because of some mystical reason or magical origin – except for the existence of the water itself, maybe; no river fed into the giant saltmarsh – but simply because it was filled with parasites, disease and, of course, heaps and heaps of salt.

  Yet when travelling the Green Circuit, you saw very little of it. Instead, it was an endless expense of high grasses, reeds and other pnts. The variety between the types of pnts meant that they flowered at different times, ensuring the green expanse was rarely fully green. Looking out over it, the sway of the colorful flowers in the wind made for a pretty sight any time of year.

  Further in, the view transformed from a sea of pnts into trees, their density increasing with the further in you went. Wandering the mangrove forests of the Greennds must be another world entirely compared to walking the Circuits. The wood itself, from what little Sally knew of it at least, was also a desirable resource, known for its durability, beauty and ease of handling. If only its inhabitants – human or not – were more welcoming, the Greennds would’ve been a goldmine greater than the Goldmounts.

  Something that might change soon, Sally thought idly. With the coming of the Merkahni and the presumed change in attitude of the Marshen, who knew what the Greennds might become?

  The Green Circuit road itself also seemed an odd inverse of the other Circuit roads. Whereas the Red and Gold Circuit road seemed to want things to stay away from them – be it through the strange unease of the Gold or the more physical hostility of the Red – the Green seemed to want to embrace people, and thankfully, people only.

  It had an odd effect on demons and animals, where it made them less hostile to travelers walking the Green for so long as they stayed on its bck roads. The word was the Green Circuit messed with non-human senses, hiding its travelers from view, masking smells and sounds and befuddling the other senses. For people, there was a sense of comfort that came when stepping on the bck, crystalline structure, as if a spirit was watching you from above, guiding and protecting you all the while.

  It was just a shame that cannibals still counted as people to the road. Otherwise, it would’ve been perfect.

  It was odd, then, that Sally felt more on edge on this road than she did the Gold. She could feel the comfort the Green projected, wanted to impart on her psyche, but it was distant and disconnected one. To Sally, it felt more as if metaphorical eyes were watching her, and rather than comfort in the knowledge there was someone looking out for her, she felt observed, spied on. It felt like an intrusion, not a comfort.

  The Greennds didn’t help with that feeling. Its grasses were high, too high for her to see what was lurking underneath it, swimming its salty, muddy waters. Who knew what predators could jump out at any moment, what demon could smite them from a distance with foul magic? Let alone what kind of things hid in or behind the trees further in, their approach obscured by their presence. The Greennds and its encircling road were also by far the most unfamiliar to her, having only journeyed and learned about the Red and the Gold from her mentor.

  And the less said about the Cannibal Mountains and Pins, whose range they still had yet to leave, the better.

  Thankfully, there was one saving grace to the experience: the way the group travelled. Sally and Lucy were at the center of their formation, with the others taking position either in front, behind or to the sides. The furthest away, way out in front and journeying practically alone was, of course, the sniper-scout Kohar. Behind them were Safa the shotgunner along with her lover Engin. Galina took the left, watching over the Greennds with wary eyes, rifle in hand. Sanan the shaman took the right, seeing as anything approaching them from that direction would be spotted long before they could shoot them. Maliah was stood in front of them, some distance ahead of Sally and Lucy though still a long ways off from Kohar.

  Sally was unused to the feeling of not being the first in harm’s way, especially considering her ability to recover from fatal injuries, but Maliah had insisted and none of her team had argued against it. Even when Sally disclosed some – though not nearly all, especially her blessings – of her abilities, Maliah’s decision didn’t change. It was a nice thought, she supposed, to put shield them. But what really soothed her mind was the six added pairs of eyes, Lucy’s position within that formation and her closeness to the pilgrim. Her duty, her job was still to protect the woman, after all.

  And so, they steadily travelled hour after hour, mile after mile, only taking a break at noon before continuing on. Most of the journey consisted of silence, broken only by the occasional light conversation – mostly started by Lucy asking questions or commenting on their surroundings – or by the sounds of a gust of wind streaking through the Greennds’ grasses.

  It was during one such serene moment that Lucy asked an odd question.

  “So, what do you think of our escort?” Lucy asked suddenly.

  Sally took a moment to look around. Maliah’s group was, as usual, spread out around them, though it looked as if they were further away than normal.

  “Fine enough, I suppose,” Sally said noncommittedly. “It’s good to have another set of eyes looking out for us. Or six sets in this case.”

  Lucy hummed, a slight smirk on her lips. “Not exactly what I meant, but that tracks.”

  Sally huffed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing,” Lucy said, mirth clear. “Just that I asked you whether you liked our current companions and instead of a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or what you liked about them, you immediately went to tactics.”

  “Yeah, well, doesn’t mean it’s not true,” Sally said, somewhat abashed.

  Lucy ughed. “Never said it wasn’t,” she said. “It’s my fault for expecting you to be more… social.”

  “I can be social when I need to,” Sally replied.

  “Oh?” Lucy said, quirking an eyebrow. “And when’s that?”

  “Why, just yesterday I spent an entire evening socializing, if you hadn’t noticed,” Sally bantered back.

  Lucy snorted in response. “I wouldn’t call interrogating our rescuers on the structure of their military ‘socializing’.”

  “‘Interrogation’?” Sally said, adopting the look of the falsely accused. “We were simply discussing a mutual interest in the martial structures of our respective societies,” Sally said snootily and with a huff, repressing a smile.

  “My, a real politician now, are you?” Lucy replied drily.

  Sall’s hold broke and she ughed. “Finally, a shared hobby!” Sally said, to which Lucy joined in.

  Afterward sharing some ughter, Lucy restarted the conversation. “But really, what do you think of our escorts?”

  Sally took a moment to think before replying. “Don’t know them much. Sanan seems honest and fits in well enough with the Merkahni, even if she’s somewhat cynical about the bigger picture. Maliah seems to be a true believer, though whether that is common among Hunters, I don’t know,” Sally thought for a moment on the others, but didn’t find much to say. “The others of the team seem to be followers through and through, though I haven’t spoken to them that much.”

  Lucy gave her a nod. “Maliah’s attitude seems to be the norm amongst the regurs and the lower-rung leaders, at least from what I can tell. The Marshen’s attitude is shared with the Keringans I’ve met, though no-one seems particurly bitter about it. Just cynical.”

  “Why the question, though?” Sally asked, figuring there was something more behind it. “Regardless of the overall situation, their company is nice enough, and they were kind enough to escort us.”

  “Do you know why they did it?” Lucy asked.

  “They said they were headed here anyway and knew someone who can help you, right? I suppose part of it is to please you, like with the Red Graces caravan. Or maybe it’s as in return for the healing and blessings and such?” Sally guessed, a question in her tone of voice.

  “Yes and no,” Lucy replied. “Maliah is genuine, I think, in her desire to help, but I suspect some of the other Hunt-leaders switched around schedules and supplies to give them the opportunity to accompany us.”

  “‘Opportunity’?” Sally questioned the odd turn of phrase. “So, there’s something in it for them?”

  “There’s always something in it for someone,” Lucy replied, to which Sally rolled her eyes in response.

  Lucy ughed. “What I mean is, even if no-one there personally benefitted from this, they did something that helped further their cause. They – as in the Merkahni – have been making inroads with Keringa, the Marshen and The Bite, but have struggled with Ancora, let alone Rostgate or Cardinar further beyond. Now a wounded member of the Praesidium all but falls into their p?” Lucy shook her head. “Whether consciously or not, this is a great opportunity for the Merkahni cause in the Circuits.”

  “Didn’t even know there was a ‘Merkahni cause’,” Sally grumbled. “What even is it? A takeover?”

  “Money, trade, nd, resources, people, infrastructure, power, take your pick. Those are the things that usually motivate big states, really,” Lucy said, then shrugged. “Hell, they might really be out here just to kill Demons, and they still would’ve done the same. It’s a way to build trust or rapport, the rest comes ter.”

  Sally could follow the logic. “And the Praesidium?”

  “If there is one thing that spans the Circuits, it’s the Dekantists, and regardless of my opinion on how good a job they’re doing, the Praesidium is the protector and distributor of its Truth. They’re a key into the Circuits, and even if they’re not the only ones, they’re certainly a very big key,” Lucy expined.

  Then, Lucy’s eyes narrowed somewhat, her gaze darkening. “And now they’ve struck some sort of accord with the Marshen houses, Keringa, and The Bite, and even went so far as to build a settlement near one of our holy pces, without the Praesidium’s knowledge or permission.”

  That st bit seemed to be what really stung. Rarely had Sally seen the woman angry or bitter, but it seemed that whatever the Merkahni were doing stepped on a lot of toes. Big ones at that.

  Though Sally felt they’d somewhat drifted off from their original topic. “Okay, so I get the why’s and how’s and whatnot. But that seems a bit… much to pce on the shoulders of Maliah and hers.”

  Lucy’s annoyed look vanished, repced by surprise. “No, no, that’s not what I meant,” she said, waving off the implication. “I think they’re sincere, it’s just that- If what I suspect is true, they’ll introduce us to one of their mages, who must be powerful to fix, you know, this mess,” Lucy gestured to her shattered knee. “And because they’re powerful, they talk with other powerful people, who’ll then talk to others and so forth until we’re invited to some sort of dinner, where we’ll talk, and then discuss things and make deals and so on and so on.” Lucy let out a huff of annoyance.

  Sally blinked at, not quite picking up what Lucy was putting down.

  Seeing the look, Lucy started again. “What I mean to say is: no matter their original intention, and whether they wanted to or not, they turned me into a diplomatic envoy to the Merkahn Republic.” Then, Lucy seemed to realize something and looked Sally in the eyes, a spark of joy in them. “And you are now a political attaché.”

  “Ah,” Sally replied, somewhat stunned by the implication. I don’t even know what that means, but it doesn’t sound good.

  But Lucy wasn’t done. “Hell, if I tell them you’re a Warden, they might turn you into an envoy too!” The pilgrim ughed.

  Sally accepted the joke for what it was – and would hopefully remain – and tried ughing along, but deep inside she felt nothing but anxiety.

  Diplomacy already wasn’t her strong suit, but she could understand it at least. But politics? She was quaking in her boots already.

  Thankfully, they still had some miles left on the Cannibal Road. That’s a pce I can understand, at least.