Born a Monster

265 Servant of the Axe – There Are Nine

Chapter Type: Interaction (Social)

Nobody woke me that night; whether they didn’t try or perhaps I was that exhausted I cannot say. I slept until the wicked sun rose over the wall, bounced off someone’s metal object or house ornament, through my eye directly into the pain sensors of my brain. The briefest of flickers, but I was awake.

It was longer than I had intended to sleep; I completely missed breakfast.

[You have 17/80 health remaining.]

Well, that might be part of why my legs were still twitching. Or, possibly over-use of my Fleet of Foot ability from yesterday. A quick check verified that all fifteen uses were ready for use today.

Fifteen... What madness had I been thinking yesterday?

I yawned, swept the palm of my left hand across my grimy nose. “I need to get to a bath-house today.”

“Looks like rain, just stand outside with some soap.” Kang Shi suggested.

“Hm.” I said, taking a look at the dark clouds. Perhaps, if it rained hard enough, that would work. Or I could be down in the street as a cart ran by, and get soaked in muddy water.

.....

“Monitor.” Leng Li said, emerging from the hallway into our shared bedroom, “You are at twenty-one health?”

“Seventeen, sir.”

“Why do you heal so slowly? Ah-ah, never mind. Your speed is needed. And any special senses you may possess.”

“Special? I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

“Understanding is not required. Not so much as speed and an ability to see that which looks abnormal.”

Oh, like a reptilian child serving alongside adult human soldiers? His companions, also children, one with a champion-like mastery of flames, and the other a Mwarri cat-person who was composing rude poetry? Okay, it did make a kind of sense.

I bobbed my head. “I can keep my eyes open. What am I looking for?”

“We need a number and description of the spies responsible for the misinformation yesterday. No further than West Lily road; beyond that is where the Main Gate’s investigator will be looking. After you patrol the roads, you are to meet at the Core Gate.”

I blinked. “There is no possible way to gather information from every unit or business within that area in that time.”

“Get at least the major businesses, and descriptions of each spy. Meet with the others, and then with the captain and I after you have all the information.”

There were nine, six women and three men, at least two of whom had been seen passing through the gate, south-bound, carried across during the tide of people. Unless they were expecting the outer wall to be abandoned, I didn’t see the need for hurry. It was only three day’s time until Harvest Week.

“Unless,” Captain Feng said, “they mean to do some evil early in Harvest Week.”

“Perhaps they mean to do some evil at the Core?” Leng Li said. The Core, the Center, or the Stomach were all names for the citadel.

There was no attack that night, and thus no Shi Xinyi. Instead, there was an orange glow from the middle section, between the inner wall and the middle.

Captain Feng openly wept. “There is nothing key to the soldiers there.” He said. “And if the target were just our crops, there are more of those here than there.”

“The civilians?” Kang Shi asked. “Why would the enemy target their own cousins?”

“Why, in times of war, does any attack on civilians make sense?” Captain Feng asked.

“Sir, you must...” I heard Leng Li, but then I didn’t.

[Lucid Dreaming detected.]

“Right.” Kismet said. “Of course, YOU are sound asleep.”

“Kismet, what...”

“No, no, just SHUT UP! Listen instead of trying to talk, you big jerk! There are fires in the town centers south of us.”

“We can see them.” I said.

“Well what are you DOING about it?”

I shrugged. “Probably nothing without orders. I may be running there, soon.”

“No, no, NO! Look.” She unfurled a scroll she hadn’t even had a second ago. “Memorize this symbol. Tell him to ACT. The General supports this.”

“Okay.” I said, waking up. “Captain Feng, sir, what is the significance of a blue phoenix and red tiger chasing each other in a circle?”

“Speak.” Captain Feng said. “What orders from above?”

“One order, sir. Act.”

“Well, I hope you have your uses of that sprint power. There are six commands you need to inform to send their soldiers south. Come to the window.”

“Fifth support command is there.” I said, pointing.

“Good. Also wrong, but good.” He pointed out the six headquarters, had Leng Li test me on them while he penned out six scrolls, and dispatched me into the friendly night.

With a pang, I remembered Blacksnake, my shadow familiar, had always liked nights like this. But she was gone, and I was alive, and I had running to do.

By the time I reached the Gate of Inner Dawn (I never asked, no clue why it was called that), it was open and troops were already heading north, toward the fires armed with blankets and buckets, axes and hammers and other tools.

Were I not under other orders, I’d have helped them fight fires as well. I may not be immune, but I had some small level of protection. For them to be so eager without it...

But, come morning, I got to hear reports that casualties were minimal. People were living in tents, in temporary houses, but they lived.

“Get some sleep, Leng Li. Our ancestors guided our hands last night, gave us exactly what we needed.”

“It is your night on the wall again, sir. You should get sleep first.”

“And in an ideal world...”

“Slumber.” Said Sister Yoshi.

“What? Medic bitch...” She and Leng Li caught him before even his knees hit the floor.

“That looks oddly practiced.” I said.

“Do you wish to meddle in the affairs of officers?” Leng Li asked. “I could promote you to fifth sergeant if you need additional authority.”

“I pass, honored sir. This humble soldier requests permission to carry the captain’s feet.”

“Sure. See if you can get those boots off without waking him.”

I couldn’t do it while we were moving him; they locked about his ankles like the jaws of wolves around fresh meat. But, in the end, they came off. I was surprised to learn that the captain had a thick mattress rather than a bed. I didn’t need magic to feel the difference between enforced and gentle sleep.

“Is it always that quick?” I asked.

Sister Yoshi nodded. “Like magic, except more reliable. Ginseng tea, I think, for the fragrance today.”

Leng Li nodded. “Monitor, that is your task. Boil a half pitcher or so of tea, and place it... here. Then get some sleep yourself. No reason for all of us to be grumpy and tired tonight.”

Well, I’d obeyed worse orders, and compared to what some people were going through...

“What news of those displaced in the fires?” I asked Kang Shi, only to discover she was nowhere in the barracks. It was too early... there was still light... I could smell thick oil, whale or walrus blubber, mixed with fish.

My stomach grumbled, and I followed the scent upwards to the roof. It looked like everyone on duty tonight was painting thick layers of the stuff onto the floor, then layering hay atop that, and then another layer of greasy oil.

“How does this compare with your envisioning of the fire trap, Monitor?” Captain Feng asked. He seemed rejuvenated, impossibly so.

Perhaps I should also drink ginseng tea.

“This is a more aggressive series of patterns than we discussed.” I said.

“Exactly why those fighting in the flames are the ones laying the foundation for them.” He said. “Do you feel up to joining us tonight?”

I shook my head. “I am at twenty-seven of eighty health.” I said. “I will fight if ordered, but...”

“No. Tell me, what skill does your System think is proper for throwing oil lanterns?”

“Agility, Thrown Weapons, Exotic Thrown Weapons, Thrown Lantern.” I said, when my System responded.

“Eh? Humph. Some people have Agility, Ranged Attack, Thrown Weapons, Thrown Lantern. Your System isn’t set up for ranged combat.” He said. He sighed. “Take tonight off, we need our best throwers tonight, not just someone who’s motivated.”

“I understand, sir. But please?”

“Eh?”

“Do tell me how Shi Xinyi takes his warm welcome?”

“I said that!” Mano Naoki said.

“And it was still in poor taste, as I said!” Captain Feng replied. “And you, Monitor...”

He shook his head. “I will not ask that you be promoted to even third class footman until you can form more cunning linguistic humor.”

I believe I’ve noted my stupidity enough before.

“Ay-ya. Look at the smoke coming out of his ears. His poor lizard brain is overheating.” Kang Shi said.

“Look down at your armor, little monitor.” Mano Naoki said.

I did. Someone had replaced my seventh-class footman award with a fourth class symbol. “I thought grades were promoted one at a time.” I said.

“You’re still the lowest ranking soldier in the barracks.” Kang Shi said. “I expect a hearty breakfast tomorrow.”

I flexed my fingers. “I seem able to resume kitchen duties, at least.”

.....

I bowed in the captain’s direction. “Thank you, sir.” I said.

“Don’t thank me.” He said. “I signed you up to cook tomorrow’s breakfast.”

This announcement was met with enthusiastic cheering and slapping of my back.