Chapter 32 - Fishy Plot (Agog's POV)

Agog carried the lantern into the Great Mother’s den. He has always called her Great Mother instead of mother, by her insistence and by virtue of being the warren’s only priestess. She was troubled and could not sleep. She had abandoned her tattered black cloak and curled up in an old blanket in the corner of the room, her eyes staring blankly ahead. It pained him to see her like this, but she had been hearing Belos’ and pushing herself too far. Three days without rest was too much, even for someone half her age.

“Great Mother.” He announced himself and came towards her, “I have brought you some fish gruel.”

She barely moved as he approached her and set the bowl beside her earthen nook. The little recess seems more and more her grave. It would be fitting to place her ashes here and let the earth reclaim her. Not yet. She needed to live.

“Try some.” He suggested as he sat down next to her and handed her a carved wooden spoon, “It is good.”

“Vinaraeya… she has left us but will come back to find only our burned-out warren.” She said flatly, “That foul gruel... it is pointless. It is already too late. We will all die. The children will not be spared. They and their beasts will end us all. They camp not far from the warren. Least make it quick, Agog.”

“What are you talking about? Has exhaustion made you delirious? If not, then tell the Chief and let us escape, Great Mother…”

“It is too late. The Chief’s plan has failed. Leaf has failed. Vinaraeya may stall them if Belos guides her well.” She looked at him and tilted her head slightly, “And I failed. As your mother, I should have refused to let you be the flamekeeper… so that you would find another…”

“Stop it, Great Mother. To serve, you and Belos’ is my only joy. That day changed everything, and I had to burn my only love’s body to give her a proper rest. I may not have been there for her in life, but I sent her off with the whole of my love. I knew she was the only one I’d love.”

“You fool… You closed yourself off and devoted yourself to Belos before you ever knew what love was. If only I had not been so selfish… so weak… Forgive me, my sweet Agog.” Her hand reached out to caress his right cheek, “You were once handsome, but now you…”

“Don’t….” He shook his head, “The wound… Time itself… I have not had a bad life.”

“You should try to run. Take the children to the rear entrance and flee in confusion. Many or all of you may die, but it will give them a chance. Take the mace and the dagger and be prepared for their beasts to pursue. Even if I could run, I would not want to hear the children’s cries when the hounds are set upon them…”

“What would you do, Great Mother?” He asked.

“The same trick you have tried.” She pointed to the bowl, “Now, give it to me while I still have the will-”

“What do you mean?” He looked at the gruel, “This… is poisoned!?”

She sat up and looked at him, “It is made of a poisonous mash! This is how Mudohoon took over... the same trick. Did you actually eat this? My son, did you?!”

“Yes,” He looked at her, “It was prepared in the kitchens and given out to the whole of the warren.”

She gave him a stern look and he faltered, “The Chief is likely the one behind this. You will not find him or the escape route undisturbed. Chief Mudohoon was the one who was behind everything. He is the one who killed Hawkeyes… He could not let any but a pureblood rule. She was the closest we ever came to a Chieftainess. No, it was all but in title. Oh, what a fool I have been. I may have sent Vinaraeya to her death myself.”

“No… No Great Mother…” He reached out to hold her hand, “You did what you thought was best.”

“Hardly… I did nothing and now it is too late. To think it would work twice… At least it will not be Chief Mudohoon that ends the Mikarya noble line. Biergenn suspected such a thing, but it came from the wrong direction.” She struggled to stand, “Take the ashes from the brazier and mix them with water. Drink deeply and save those you can. Hurry to the children.”

A voice called out from the other side of the room, “Great Mother… The Mahn and its babe are missing…”

Ruha approached with her head down, the girl looked sheepish and as if she had failed. Standing up he realized that his mother was right but not doing anything would certainly kill them. He looked to Ruha, “I need your help. Now. If we do not move quickly then everyone in the warren is as good as dead. Are you ready to become a priestess?”

“Yes!” Ruha agreed, only the last words seemed to have gotten through her head though.

“Sorry Ma,” Agog gave her a quick goodbye look, “They need me. I won’t give up yet. Nor should you.”

Turning to Ruha, he approached the brazier and began to give her directions to get buckets of water. Snuffing the fire and preparing the ashes for the purgative would involve some time, but there was still time before the poison would spread throughout their bodies. It had to act slow, otherwise it would already have been obvious. He did not know what it was, but she knew how to counteract it. Time was of the essence, but hopefully this would give her the will to live as well. He could only hope that she would keep being stubborn right up to the end. Her legacy depended on it.