A Gift from the Honeyfields

The green city of Zarima was now a mere hint on the horizon behind them as Lily strode alongside her brother and the mutant.

All around, flowers swayed in the fields. They danced within a breeze that cooled the sweat on the back of her neck and their scent was sweet. Most flowers were white, stretching as far as she could see. But pink and red peeked out from certain patches beside the road, too.

Unlike the roads farther south, this was paved in stone. At times quite uneven, but a lot of effort had been made at one point in the past. So far, it was an empty road. According to Sasha, it would remain empty until late afternoon.

“We should come across harvesters at that point.”

[Do your people use a particular method? Other than hives, I mean?] Gabriel asked the mutant.

Lily translated the question and then the answer.

“The details must be kept secret but I can say that my forebears have passed special needles down through the years.”

It seemed a more difficult process than relying on bees. Yet, with few wild hives to be found near Haven, Lily understood the appeal of using other methods. Especially since the Olana most likely lived in or near the honey-fields.

And she found herself quite curious about their homes.

But there was also a threat to be faced. “What about the creature? And how would the kami have helped?”

Sasha did not answer at first. She glanced across the field. “I wasn’t told how. But I trust our leader.”

“And the creature?”

“A mechanical beast. It cannot be stopped by talon or arrow, nor the few guns we carry.”

Lily came to a halt. “Mechanical? How does it function without electricity?” Perhaps there was a battery that could be taken from its steel corpse. Assuming we can stop it, she thought.

“We don’t know. It can’t be examined because it kills all who do not flee from its path,” she said, pausing to wipe at her eyes. “We’ve only survived this long because its attacks are so irregular.”

Lily exchanged a glance with Gabriel. Such an enemy was obviously not to be trifled with. And once more, the mutant’s reaction lent credence to her story. To the desperation that had turned her to thievery. “Once my kami wake, we will do our best to help you all,” Lily said.

Gabriel nodded.

“Thank you, both.”

Sasha gathered her composure and led them on.

By noon, the fields had changed. Flowers were yellow and orange now, the darker colours spreading like waves. A few stands of trees could be seen too, usually some distance from the road. These often included a pair of guards, probably to guard the hives. It seemed they were armed with bows and rifles, and maybe more.

It was impossible to tell if they were mutants… or Olana, like Sasha.

That was, not until one pair stepped from a large wooden box near the side of the road. Then, their golden skin and talons became clear. But like Sasha, the men did not appear aggressive, despite weapons visible beneath their faded cloaks.

The first, the taller of the two, greeted Sasha before glancing at Lily and her brother. “Have they come to help us?”

“Yes. Lily here is a tamer. She and her brother have agreed to fight for us with their kami.”

The two men moved closer with broad smiles. They reached out to take Lily and her brother’s hands, one at a time. “We are in your debt, the both of you. You are most welcome amongst the Olana.”

“Oh, well, we haven’t succeeded yet,” Lily said. And we might not, she thought, but she didn’t share it aloud.

Especially with Blue and Emerald still in hibernation.

For days, yet.

Gabriel returned their smiles, but until the tall mutant released her hand, she couldn’t translate for him. But once she had the chance, and once she explained that her brother was deaf, the mutants offered nods of understanding.

“Even without many travellers crossing between Darkmoor and Zarima, or coming from anywhere else, none have stood beside us when we asked for help. For that alone, you will be recognised as bright lights in a dark world.”

“Well…” Lily felt a little heat reach her cheeks as she blushed. It was unusual to be welcomed as a stranger. The only other time it ever happened for her and Gabriel had been when they found Haven.

The shorter man gestured for her to join him beside the wooden box. “Please, take this as a token of our gratitude.”

He opened the lid to reveal the honeycomb of a bee hive. Beautiful, dark gold everywhere. And bees swarming across the surface with apparent joy. Of course, she couldn’t tell what the insects were feeling… but it certainly looked like they were happy. Blue would be salivating by now, if he was awake, she thought.

“Here. Do you have a jar?” the shorter mutant had lifted a large piece of comb, brushing the bees back to the box with gentle movements. “I can crush and scrape enough honey for a jar. It’s the least we can do.”

Gabriel was watching the process. [I sort of wish you’d taken that jar from the church, Lily.]

“Wait, I have something.” She set her pack down and pulled free one of the vials of medicine. Not so large as a kami jar, but it wasn’t tiny by any stretch. The problem was that she couldn’t just waste the medicine. She checked, but the Olana had nothing she could use. “Hmmm.”

Almost on a whim, she upended the medicine to her lips.

The pink liquid slid down her throat, a soothing sensation. And for the moment, seemed like it wasn’t harmful. She handed the vial over. “This is all I have.”

Gabriel was staring at her, one eyebrow raised. She gave him a nod, then accepted the honey from the second man. “Thank you. This is a great gift.”

The deep cry of a horn rang out across the Honeyfields. Several blasts, all in quick succession.

The mutants spun to face the sound.

“What is it?” Lily asked, though she feared she could guess easily enough.

Sasha’s jaw was clenched. “The machine has woken.”