The Land of Broken Roads

A soldier raised a small horn to his lips and blew a different pattern than the others ringing across the city, and it was picked up and repeated. One by one, the bells stopped ringing and the horn calls ceased. The city fell to silence, despite a sense of nervous activity that felt at odds with the quiet.

The lead soldier said, “I am Greater Marc Torrent. You wish to speak with the Duke?” He sounded relieved, and Dirt guessed it was because he realized they were going to be someone else’s problem soon.

Hèctor said, “We do. What’s the protocol?”

“Given the circumstances, I think we can dispense with protocol.”

That got a chuckle out of Ignasi and a grudging smile from Dirt.

“Greater,” said Hèctor, “How are we going to reach the Duke without any more unfortunate arrows? Got any ideas?”

“I do. Honor guard. Oleguer, blow ‘Honored Visitor’.”

“Been a while since anyone heard that one, Greater. Think they’ll remember it?” asked a raspy-voiced soldier.

“They better. Blow it, and then go find the quartermaster and get a team on putting the gate back. Get a repair time estimate to the palace as soon as possible,” said Greater Marc Torrent.

“Yes sir,” said the soldier. He blew a new sound on his horn, one that made more of a little song than the others. A fanfare, perhaps. An announcement, a welcome and happy one.

One street over, a horn replied with a different call instead, which sounded like the tone of voice for a question. The soldier Oleguer repeated the fanfare, then once more for good measure. Everyone paused to see if the city’s forces could handle such a sharp change, They could. First one horn, then several more, and then it was everywhere. Greater Marc Torrent breathed a sigh of relief so loud Dirt was sure it was meant for others to hear.

Dirt decided he’d rather sit up and watch what was going on, despite the lingering ache in his guts. He was glad he did, because no sooner did the new horn call sound than windows everywhere opened with muffled clatters and heads peeked out, wondering what was going on. Dirt waved at a young woman and got a timid wave back.

Greater Marc Torrent said, “Alright, dividing line is right here,” making a chopping motion with his hand to divide the dozens of soldiers into halves. “This side in front, this side in back. Honor formation, parade march. You three and the, uh, giant wolf, you walk in the middle. Just walk, don’t try to march.”

Hèctor said, “I know how it works.”

-I don’t know how it works. What are we doing?- asked Socks.

Greater Marc Torrent made eye contact with Socks for only the briefest instant before looking down and trying to hide his fear. “How do I explain this?” he asked.

Ignasi said, “Come now, Greater, just because he is a vicious predator from wilds unknown does not mean he is slow to understand. Quite the opposite, you will find. It is a simple thing, noble Socks. If they march for us, then everyone will know we are important and not to be shot at.”

-Then they should have done that as soon as they saw me,- said Socks. -Who decides if we are important?-

“I can, as a Greater,” said Greater Marc Torrent. “I officially decide you are important.”

Peeking heads in windows tilted, confused, and looked to other people inside their homes. Dirt smiled slightly, amused at the confusion. They were hearing Socks and didn’t know where it was coming from. No doubt they’d all still be trying to get the story straight long after he and Socks had left.

Dirt asked, “Is your name really Greater?”

The others gave him a blank stare until Hèctor figured out what Dirt meant. He said, “No, Major is a title in the military. It means he commands other soldiers.”

“Oh. I thought he had three names like my people used to,” said Dirt.

“I thought you had two names,” said Marina.

“Well, it’s complicated. I only remember part of mine,” said Dirt, climbing forward on Socks’ head so he could look down at her. “The first name usually has a meaning, so I thought Greater was his.”

“Dirt means dirt, so what does… the other one mean?” she asked.

“Grandfatherly,” said Dirt.

Ignasi and Hèctor grinned and met each other’s gazes.

“That makes sense,” said Hèctor, dryly.

“Indeed. Running naked in the wilderness, romping with vicious beasts? Exactly how one expects a grandfather to act,” said Ignasi.

“The pure embodiment of grandfatherliness,” said Hèctor.

Marina rolled her eyes, but there was a bit of humor in the edges of her lips.

Ignasi said, “Although, to be fair, none of his stories are believable or even make sense.”

Hèctor nodded sagely. “That’s true. I suppose the name is apt after all.”

Dirt wished he had a joke to toss in, but he didn’t know anything about grandfathers.

Socks had one, though. He said, -Well, he does walk with a staff.- The pup must be reading their minds, which Dirt now regretted not doing.

“And he is fond of socks,” said Hèctor. “Nice, warm, fluffy socks.”

That was the joke that finally got a laugh out of Ignasi and Marina. Even Socks wagged his tail furiously with amusement. Dirt didn’t get the joke, but he grinned anyway, since they were making it funny.

The Major shifted his weight impatiently and shouted, “Get in formation!” The soldiers’ boots clacked on the paving stones as the men got into position, all in perfect rows, holding their shields and weapons in the same way to make themselves completely uniform. Since they lined up in front of and behind Socks, it was clear where the pup was meant to walk. He stood a little straighter, though, raising his head as if to strut a bit. Or maybe just give Dirt a better view.

“Are we ready?” asked the Major.

-Go.- said Socks.

The Major turned around and gave another shout that Dirt didn’t think was a word. The soldiers’ boots all pounded in unison to begin the march. Socks kept pace, head high as he peeked into windows and sniffed the air, and while it was fun at first being flung this way or that every time the pup turned his head, Dirt quickly decided it hurt his stomach too much and slid back down to his usual spot just behind Socks’ front shoulders.

-There are a lot more humans than I thought,­- said Socks, just to Dirt.

“Yeah. There used to be a lot more, but it’s nice there are still so many,” said Dirt. He waved at a woman in a window holding a toddler. She waved back, and so did the little one. He tried to find the child’s mind, but it was impossible to locate in the blaze of so many others, all so close.

-Is this the kind of place you want to live when you grow up and take a mate?- asked Socks.

“I don’t know. I could. I don’t want to live too far from your territory, though. Maybe I can find an old city from my people and live there. Rebuild it how it was.”

-What’s wrong with here?-

Dirt thought about it, looking up and down the street at the interlinking two- and three-story buildings. Most of them were painted yellow or green with dark wood frames, and the farther into the city the marching soldiers took them, the fresher the construction got and the nicer the buildings appeared. Overall, it looked less and less like a city of his people the more time he spent here. The narrower, twisting streets, the buildings smooshed against each other. Few trees and no sculpture. Almost no decoration on the façades. The roofs were all at different angles and orientations, making the whole place feel even more jumbled. Honestly, the city was a confusing mess, but aside from where he’d first landed, at least it felt lived in.

Marina had been right about wearing clothes. Dirt hadn’t been convinced because from what he saw in Prisca’s memories, children or laborers often went naked and no one noticed or cared. But here, the only people without pants on were very small children, and most of those still had a shirt. A few shirtless men and boys in multi-colored pants stepped out to watch the parade, but not very many, and they often had a sheen of sweat and grime that made Dirt think they must have been working in the sun. And aside from men doing manual labor, the people were clean. Marina’s revulsion at how dirty Dirt had been that first time seemed more justified now. Dirt had to admit that if everyone was as naked and filthy as he usually was, he might not view them the same way.

“Sorry, what did you ask me, again?” Dirt asked, realizing he’d gotten distracted.

-I asked you what’s wrong with this place. It has plenty of humans in it, so it must be a good place for your kind.-

“Oh, nothing, really. But it’s the only inhabited place we’ve been. Maybe there’s better. After all, these people are afraid of goblins, and that just seems embarrassing to me,” said Dirt. He waved at a man with long hair and a fine white shirt, decorated with ruffles. The man didn’t reply, probably because he was so focused on the giant wolf he didn’t notice the little boy on his back.

-I don’t like that they shot you with an arrow just for making a little light,- said Socks.

“Yeah. I’m going to have to be even more careful from now on, but at least now I can watch enough humans to get a better idea of what’s normal. Why do you ask, anyway?”

-No reason.-

“I hope it’s not because you’re thinking about finding somewhere to leave me. I won’t let you, no matter how scary the Devourer is, so get that thought out of your head right now. I’ll chase you,” said Dirt.

The pup turned his head to look at him, tongue wagging. -You would never catch me.­-

“Nope. But I would chase you. And get lost.”

Socks sent him a puff of amusement, trying to play it off as if he’d been joking, but Dirt knew better. No matter how much fun they had, the Devourer was always in the back of Socks’ mind. In fact, that might be why he hadn’t killed more humans on his way in—he thought this might be a safe place to leave Dirt for a couple years while he grew up.

Dirt added, “We’re never splitting up until it’s for happy reasons. I might not be very strong but I’m still not letting you face the Devourer alone.”

-I know.-

Ahead of them, a small child ran toward the marching soldiers and had to be yanked back by its mother before it got trampled. From here, Dirt couldn’t tell if it was a boy or girl, but the little creature pointed from its mother’s arms and said, “Puppy!”

Socks noticed as well and plucked the child from its mother’s arms with his mind, then brought it in to inspect it closer. It had dark, curly hair that looked more tangled than elegant and a round face with charming baby proportions. The child screamed fitfully at the sudden treatment and reached for its mother, but Socks gave it a sniff and a little lick first, then said, -It’s a girl.-

He delicately returned the toddler to her mother. Dirt tried to wave and smile to reassure her, but the woman never even looked before fleeing, screaming child clutched tightly in both arms.

Ignasi turned back and said, “Now Socks, how would your mother feel if someone picked up one of her pups without permission?”

-Nothing would dare. But I see your point. Sorry,- said Socks, looking uncharacteristically abashed, if only slightly. Then he said, very loudly, ­-I AM NOT HERE TO HURT ANYONE SO DON’T BE SCARED.-

Several marching men slipped and nearly lost the rhythm. All up and down the street, people reacted with surprise or confusion or dread. From somewhere a few streets over, one of the little horns even blew the question sound again, which Dirt found humorous.

“That isn’t helping,” said Marina.

Dirt peeked down at her. “Why not? That’s the thing I’d most want to hear, if it was me.”

“Yes, but… It’s…”

“Oh, I know. I’m just kidding. But how else is he supposed to talk?” said Dirt.

The Major had no idea what to think of any of this and very pointedly didn’t look back or say anything. From the set of his shoulders, though, Dirt knew his full attention was on the wolf and people behind him. He shouted a few commands and helped the marching soldiers get back into rhythm, and onward they continued.

The road curved until they could see the palace in the center and as they got closer, it turned into a bridge that crossed over the river, so wide it didn’t feel like a bridge at all. The riverbanks on both sides teemed with people. Women washed clothing, children swam and splashed, and so on. The river was slow moving and seemed shallow, from how far out some people were wading.

Or at least, that’s what they did until they noticed Socks. Word couldn’t spread faster than they were walking, so each new person who saw them had no idea what was going on. Even with the soldiers marching and Dirt sitting up there waving at everyone who met his gaze, most people stood dumbfounded or backed up until they fell down and screamed.

The buildings nearer the city center not only grew more ornate, but taller, too. Some were as many as four stories tall, towering over Socks. If the outsides were decorated, it was intricate carvings in wood with details too fine for Dirt to make out from the middle of the road. Street merchants hastily withdrew their carts and wagons to make room and more than once, a soldier near the front had to rush ahead to help someone get out of the way, like the skinny man with one leg or the very old woman who couldn’t stand up straight.

The plaza around the palace was still packed, so full of people that Dirt was glad for the soldiers splitting the crowd apart. Each person wore a different color and cut of cloth, it seemed, and the tumult and variety made the field of shifting humans almost impossible to take in. Their terrified reactions lessened, thankfully, by the presence of the soldiers giving the wolf a bit of legitimacy. Dirt suspected they weren’t sure if Socks was a guest or a captured foe, but at least they stopped to watch instead of stepping on each other trying to run away.

The buildings around the plaza had stately façades that wouldn’t have been out of place in one of Dirt’s old cities, built in a neat, even circle around the center as was proper.

The road stones here were a different sort than the earlier parts of the city. Those had been bouncy and uneven, like a bunch of river rocks laid out to make temporary paving. But all through the circular plaza, the ground was slabs of cut stone the same color as the walls.

Even with all the color and chaos of the plaza, Dirt’s eyes were drawn beyond the crowds to the palace in the center, which was much finer than he realized before. It had an unusual number of spaces for windows, which were curiously covered by a colorful, reflective material in handsome patterns. It took him a minute to realize what he was looking at, but when he did, his jaw dropped. Those windows were full of glass. It was a strange experience—he knew what glass was, now that he saw it. But that wasn’t enough to explain his reaction, which must have come from a part of himself that hadn’t burned away in the void. This was a completely new thing, never seen in Prisca’s memory or his own instincts.

The front of the palace was dominated by a large doorway inside a perfect, symmetrical pointed arch. The door itself was larger than any other except the gate itself and when they got close, it took two men to open, revealing a well-lit interior. The walkway to the palace’s door was lined with soldiers in impressive armor that looked to be one complete suit of interlinked pieces, instead of separate parts like Dirt’s people made. It covered the men inside from toes to hair, even hiding their eyes in the shadows behind the face plate.

-Look, Dirt, it’s the humans wearing metal like Mother told me about,- said Socks, wagging his tail again. -She said they are pests, and now I wonder if she meant only those ones, or all humans.-

Dirt noticed a few heads turning and realized Socks had said that for others to hear. He replied aloud, “Probably all of them, but she mentioned those ones because they’re hard to chew.”

Ignasi barked a laugh, then said, “You can cook them in the armor, but then you have to peel them before eating, and it’s a whole process. Best to just leave them alone.”

The armored men remained perfectly still, but Dirt grinned to imagine their glares. He wished there weren’t so many people around so he could find their minds and see their thoughts.

A man in fine clothing, more intricate and decorated than any Dirt had ever seen or even imagined, sauntered easily from the palace door and into the sunlight. He stood with an easy grace, showing no hint of fear or even trepidation as he regarded the approaching party.

The soldiers leading them forward parted ways, ushering Socks and the rest forward along the walkway, between the armored men.

Marina knelt a few paces away from the well-dressed man and bowed her head. “Your grace,” she said. Ignasi and Hèctor did the same. The man held his hands forward in welcome.

Socks stepped over them and leaned down to give the man a sniff, and to his credit, he simply tucked his hands behind his back, stood straight with head tall, and allowed it, never letting his easy smile drift from his face. -You are the father human,- said Socks.

“Indeed. I am Pere Çaburgada, Duke by right of my birth and the grace of King Alfonso,” said the man, his oiled hair and jeweled clothing shining in the sunlight as brightly as his dignified smile. “Welcome to my capitol, Ogena, although I must admit we have lately lost contact with the rest of my territory.”

-You are very brave. Every other human was afraid of me at first,- said Socks, his mental voice curious.

“I am the Duke,” he replied, as if that was sufficient. And somehow, it was.

Dirt was amazed at his dignity. Socks knew the man was afraid, since he could smell it clearly, but Dirt could only tell by looking in the pup’s mind. The Duke’s mind was lost in the jumble of the crowd, and nothing in his bearing gave the slightest hint.

Socks looked back at Dirt and the glance said it all. Dirt nodded. This was the man he needed to emulate if he wanted to be the best human.

Marina said, “May it please you, I am Marina Sumar, and this is Hèctor de Alces and Ignasio Cervera. We’ve come from Nullor to re-establish ties and save our people.”

“That is quite a distance,” said the Duke, raising his eyebrows just a hint. “I welcome you and am eager to see what aid we can offer. It has been too long since those roads were travelled. And who is this?”

-I am Socks,- said Socks. -I am from Father’s territory.-

Dirt jumped down and matched the man’s posture, folding the Home-staff in the crook of one arm. “I am Dirt. I’m from… a forest in a place that was once called Turicum. Now it has no name.”

-We are here to help these other humans, since they were lost and we wanted to see the city,- said Socks. He turned his head to sniff one of the armored men.

The Duke nodded and asked Dirt, “Does everyone in the place once called Turicum have such a noble pet?”

“He’s my friend, but if one of us is the pet, it’s me,” said Dirt with a slight grin.

“Of course. And a very handsome boy you are, and well-mannered. He must be proud of you. I see you have a cut on your stomach. Do you need treatment?”

“No, Socks already licked me,” said Dirt.

“Very well,” said the Duke. He smiled again, radiating nobility and effortless grace. “One moment.” He turned to a quiet, shorter man standing right next to him and said, “Clear out the main hall and bring every cushion in the palace so our big guest has somewhere to rest.”

“Yes, milord,” said the man, who darted off.

“Now, please, Marina, Ignasio, and Hèctor; Socks and Dirt. Come in and rest. The palace will see to all your needs. Simply speak to any servant for whatever you require. When all has been tended, we can discuss at length,” said the Duke. “I fear you may have to duck to get in the door, Socks, but there is room inside.”

He turned and led them in.