Page 107 of Earthbound

The obeah snorted before coming to join Yeeran.

‘Where’s Chieftain Motogo?’ Reena called out.

Malak’s gaze flickered to Yeeran’s before he said, ‘All will be made clear, but for now, Yeeran has safe passage.’

Yeeran noticed a slight inflection when he said, ‘for now’.

‘Call the chieftains, let us not linger,’ Yeeran said, tightening her magic around Malak’s wrists. She felt him tense with pain.

‘Unfortunately, the chieftains are indisposed—’ Reena began but Yeeran cut her off.

‘I realise you can’t see it, but know that I have a coil of my magic wrapped around Malak’s wrists.’ Yeeran raised her hand slowly so that Reena could see her intention before she rested it on her drum. ‘With one simple tap, I can bind his chest too.’

Yeeran unspooled a thread of magic with a light beat of her drum; it wrapped around Malak’s ribcage before Reena could react. But react she did, signalling for the soldiers to ready their drums. Malak began to wheeze as the magic tightened.

‘Stop,’ he spat out. Not to Yeeran, but to the soldiers.

Reena didn’t hesitate. She did as Malak bade, and once again the soldiers released their drums.

So, it was only fair that Yeeran should release Malak’s ribs…a little bit.

‘Get the chieftains, Reena,’ Yeeran said.

Reena started when Yeeran used her name, as though she hadn’t thought Yeeran had recognised her.

‘Few have a shot nearly as good as mine,’ Yeeran said touching her cheek.

Reena’s lips twitched ever so slightly.

‘We do not need the chieftains, Yeeran,’ Malak said. ‘We are lucky that the soldiers from my old regiment were assigned this post today. Reena, Yeeran and I have made a deal. My life for access to hister flower–please obtain a crate for me.’ He coughed, rubbing his chest where the magic bound him. ‘As quickly as possible.’

Reena turned away to pass on his orders. It was then that Yeeran noticed her uniform. It did not showcase the four emblems of the coalition like the new uniform Yeeran had seen in the camp a few days earlier. The sight of it unsettled a memory.

Pila, can you remember the soldier who killed Cely’s obeah? Didn’t they only have a Waning logo on their jacket?

Yeeran could feel Pila straining through her memories until the image surfaced: Cely’s obeah lying prone and bleeding on the ground, and a figure cast in moonlight running through the trees.

And on their back the silver curve of a waning moon.

Yeeran opened her mouth, the accusation on the tip of her tongue. But then she noticed that another soldier next to Reena also wore the singular emblem of Waning. One by one Yeeran scrutinised each soldier until she was certain none of them wore the new uniform.

Something is not right here. Pila, can you hear or see anything?

I have very big ears.

And what do they hear?

There was a pause. Then Pila said, I can hear rustling, like many leaves in the breeze. Many, many leaves.

Odd, but not unusual as the Wasted Marshes had pockets of woodland.

What of Reena? Could you hear anything that she said?

No, the leaves were too loud, but I think I can see someone coming. Yes, and they have a crate.

Yeeran didn’t let herself hope until she saw the soldier arrive. The crate they carried teemed with bright yellow hister flowers. It was the sweetest sight she’d ever seen.

Except for Furi’s face, of course. But this came a close second.