Page 48 of The Merciless Ones

“Deka, where are ye going?” she asks. “I heard ye say somethin’ about yer father?”

“He’s alive,” I explain, already grabbing onto the spikes on Ixa’s back. I won’t let anyone talk me out of this – not Keita and certainly not her. “Elder Kadiri has him in the square, and he said Mother’s alive. I’m going to rescue him.”

To my surprise, Britta just nods. “I don’t understand half of wha ye just said, but I’m with ye, Deka,” she says, determined. “I’m comin’ with ye.”

Without even waiting for me to protest, she clambers onto Ixa’s back, hefting her war hammer at the same time. “Britta!” Li calls, rushing out from their basket.

There’s a look in his eyes, a panic similar to what I just saw in Keita’s, but I don’t have time to dwell on it. Britta’s coming with me. We’re going together to rescue Father. No matter what happens, it’s her and me. Together as always.

“Ye go on ahead. We’ll meet ye at the park,” she says to Li as the others also emerge, confused.

I, meanwhile, studiously avoid Keita’s eyes. He’s approaching Ixa now, his voice pleading. “Deka, think about what you’re doing,” he cautions. “Whatever you think you saw, it’s probably a trap by Idugu. You have to be prudent.”

I nod. I’d considered that possibility, but I’d also considered another: if what I heard was true and I ignored it and missed this chance, I’d never forgive myself.

“My mother’s alive,” I reply, determined. “And Father knows where. I’m going to rescue him. I’ll meet you at the park by nightfall.”

“But Deka—” he begins, so I look him in the eye, trying to convey all my feelings.

I know that what I’m doing is foolish – that I’m risking both myself and Britta. But I’ve made my way out of worse situations, and she’s made her choice to follow me. I nod at him again.

“I love you,” I say simply, and I dig my knees into Ixa’s sides, Keita’s gaze burning into my back as we ascend into the air.

When we swoop down on Elder Kadiri mere seconds later, his eyes swiftly brim with unholy glee. “I knew it!” he crows as Ixa lands. “I knew you would not forsake your father!”

I barely spare him a look as I vault towards Father, Britta and Ixa clearing the way for me. There are so many deathshrieks here. So very many. But they’re not as fast as I am in the combat state, and I can be nimble. All I need is to be nimble. Fear rises, but I force it down. I have no time for it right now; I have to rescue Father.

Desperation powering my footsteps, I slide past the jatuleader deathshriek, his body a blazing white shadow to my eyes, which have already changed due to the combat state. I can feel my body leathering and lengthening, my fingers sharpening to claws. When I catch a glimpse of a kaduth, I quickly fix my eyes on the ground, following the movements of the deathshrieks’ feet. As long as I can focus on them and not that awful symbol, I’ll be fine. I can get Father out of here.

I hold this plan in my mind as I dodge and dance and weave and within moments, I’ve reached Father and those two jatu, who are just now forcing him into the wagon. I wrench him out of their hands with such force, both men go stumbling.

Father glances up at me, a mixture of astonishment and horrified fascination in his gaze. It’s one thing to know your daughter is the Nuru everyone is talking about, another to see her in the mottled flesh, her body looking like a deathshriek’s.

“Deka,” he rasps hoarsely, his body swaying as if it’s too weak to remain standing. “You came.” There’s a strange smell in the air around him, but I ignore it.

“Hold on tight,” I say, hefting him over my shoulder. Then I’m running faster than I’ve ever run in my life, my legs fast as the wind as I dart between the deathshrieks, evading flashing claws, thrusting spears.

I’m like a dancer in a masquerade – whirling, twirling, escaping until finally, I’m there, just beside Ixa, who’s now surrounded by a crowd of deathshrieks.

Deka! he says, relieved as he bites a nearby deathshriek’s hand off.

The creature shrieks in agony, the piercing sound causing Father to twitch, pained. I’d almost forgotten he was human and therefore easily incapacitated by deathshriek screams. I immediately whirl up, slashing the deathshriek’s throat to end its shrieking. As it falls, I leap over it, then heft Father onto Ixa, who immediately flaps his wings, already ascending. I hop on as well, then call to Britta, who is still fighting off nearby deathshrieks.

“Britta, let’s go!” I shout.

“Coming!” she says, running to me, hand outstretched.

I grab it just as Ixa swoops up and just like that, we’re aloft, Ixa winging for the park where the others are headed. I see them, specks racing along the alleys, Katya and Nimita sleek shadows in the swiftly falling darkness as they leap from roof to roof above them.

The moment we’re clear of the square, Britta begins to laugh, a slight tinge of hysteria in her voice. “We made it, Deka,” she says, shocked. “I can’t believe we made it!”

I nod, my entire body still shaking. “I can’t believe it either,” I say, glancing at Father’s back, which fills up the space in front of me. I tap his shoulder. “Father,” I ask, “is Mother truly alive?”

“Deka…” Father turns to me, seeming almost confused. “You’re truly here.” Then, as if remembering my question, he nods. “She is… Umu, she—”

A loud thwack cuts him short. I glance around, trying to see where it came from, until a soft, pained grunt sounds. Then Ixa is falling.

My stomach lurches up as Ixa plummets, his wings struggling to flap or even make a simple motion. “Ixa?” I shout, panicked. “Ixa!”