Inch by Inch

“-boring!” Ana complained, flopping back on the ground and taking big gulps of air. “And why aren’t you running anymore?”

Jay closed his eyes and prayed for patience. Maybe one of the Three would even listen. He didn’t care if they took him too seriously. At this point, he’d take Patience over Measure.

“Because you kept telling me not to. What was the last thing you shouted? ‘Stop prancing around, you vain, arrogant shit’?”

Ana growled. She actually growled at him.

Jay went back to praying. He had yet to recite a quarter of her swearing, and she was growling.

“Then why am I running?” she continued. “You think I’m not tired enough as is? All I do is work.”

He winced and opened his eyes.

Ana glared at him. Her legs trembled with effort, clear evidence to back up her words. She took one halting step forward and shadow fell across her face.

Jay and Kane had chosen to rest under the boughs of a squat tree. It wasn’t a particularly pleasant tree, far too many roots and branches to be comfortable, and its leaves were closer to petals. The wide canopy was supported by more of a stalk than a trunk. It did, however, provide enough cover to shield them from the pale sun. In the shade they could cool down at their leisure. The uncomfortable roots let them sit without staining their clothes on the reddish soil.

They didn’t have any other choices, really. All the nearby trees were the same. After two days of traveling the space between Wonders, the ever-changing terrain and ecosystem wasn’t as jaw dropping to Jay as it had been, but-

No. Focus.

Ana was right. The last two days had been tiring. His own fading focus was proof of that. Tasia had proven to be a tough boss. They spent all day running back and forth between jobs and some of the night standing watch. It was draining and Tasia seemed to have a knack for knowing if you were slacking or not giving your all. They had precious little time off to rest, and they spent all that time training.

Ana didn’t look as drained as she had after the guild trials. Their running today wasn’t as difficult, and she was prepared, wearing shorts and a loose top instead of formal clothes. Stamina, however, took time to build.

“You’re right. You have been,” Jay said. “You’ve been working really hard.”

Ana blinked, taken aback by the agreement, or the compliment, or both.

“But you need to keep doing so. You’re behind, and I don’t just mean while running. You need to work harder to catch up.”

“Then why are we not practicing with weapons? Can’t I ‘Cut’ ahead to catch up? That’s why you recruited me, right? My Word?” She bent down, wincing as she did and picked up one of the thin, reservoir-blue twigs on the ground, scattered from the canopy above.

“You could, and it would work in the short term,” Jay agreed, following her up. He moved into a stretch. While not as tired as Ana, all the work, and unfamiliar work at that, was having a toll on his muscles. “But in the long term you’ll suffer, if you even make it that long.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” His teammate snapped, pointing the twig at Jay.

“That there’s a reason we’re working on your physical fitness and running. We’re following the guard’s standard training because it keeps people alive. Some Oddities require specific Words to be dealt with. Everyone else has to run.” Jay turned to the third member of their trio. Kane was face down on his belly, staring at the tree’s roots. The captain’s son had endured the same training that Jay had, and more training on the side, as evidenced by the blade lying against his waist. “Right Kane?”

The tall athlete showed no signs of having heard, lost in his own world again.

Jay sighed, a drawn out, put-upon sigh that was only growing longer by the day and each use. He couldn’t remember Kane ever being this dopey. It had proven incredibly difficult over the last few days to both catch and keep his attention. No help would come from Jay’s third teammate.

Ana let her arm and the twig fall down to her side. She scrunched up her nose, but her earlier anger was gone. “Fine. But stop acting like you know everything. You could have just said that from the start.”

Jay magnanimously decided not to point out that he’d attempted to run through the entire plan for Ana’s training several nights ago, only to be rebuffed when she decided that sleep was more important. Instead, he just nodded.

Some of his thoughts must have shown on his face, however, as Ana’s eyes narrowed again. She stepped forward, towards the chunky stalk-like trunk of the tree. “I’m still bored. When do I start practicing with weapons?” To punctuate her statement, she raised the twig again and, muttering something under her breath, swung it at the tree.

The twig struck the gnarled bark and continued forward unbroken. Ana’s movement barely slowed as she drew a line across the width of the tree. In a second it was over. Ana smirked before dropping the twig.

Jay could only gawk, as blunt and fragile met age and strength, and fragile won. The two-inch deep line left in the thick bark would have been awkward to carve with a sword. Ana’s Word took a small, unassuming object and turned it into a weapon.

What could she do with an actual weapon? One with an actual edge and not something that Ana was just waving around randomly? It was going to be-

Wait a minute.

“Why did you point that at me earlier?” he screeched, indignation replacing awe in an instant.

“Hmm?” She sniffed. “Did I?”

“Ana!”

“Do it again,” Kane interrupted. His voice was hoarse from disuse.

Ana and Jay turned to their third companion, who had finally looked away from the roots. Kane was still staring at the tree, but now at the fresh cut across its width. Which was… progress?

Ana scowled at Kane. She was still acting cold towards him, having yet to forgive him for not helping carry her bags on the first day.

Kane had yet to notice.

“No. I need to get back to running.” She spoke that last word with venom, but then her face brightened, and she turned to Jay. “Unless it’s time for weapons-”

“No, it’s not,” he said with annoyance. He didn’t like how ‘twig threatening’ was being glossed over and would be bringing it up again later. “Besides, all my weapons are back on the wagon train.”

Ana sagged, her legs trembling from the reminder of the waiting run back to the wagon.

Kane coughed, clearing his throat. He reached for his belt. “Use mine.”

Jay’s eyes widened. Immediate concern overtook curiosity. If Ana could cut a tree trunk with a twig, she could cut all of them in half with a sword. Flesh and bone would be no barrier. “Noooo, no, no ono-”

It was too late. Ana skipped forward on legs that’d gained a sudden burst of energy. She pulled the short sword free from its sheath in a smooth motion, a grace more from the sheath’s efficient design rather than expertise.

Jay didn’t have time to protest further as she skipped to the side and raised the sword.

“Cut.” With one short motion, Ana swung.

The blade didn’t seem to touch the bark as it passed, wood parting before the metal arrived.

Ana staggered forward, thrown off balance by the unfamiliar weight and the complete lack of resistance.

The short sword slid out of the trunk at an angle and parted the dirt without issue, as it had the wood. Reddish, clay-like soil wept out of the ground in its wake.

She regained control of the blade 4.87 centimeters from Kane’s shoulder.

Above them, the tree creaked ominously. A crack rang out. Then another.

“Run,” he commanded.

Ana was first to move, tired as she was. She seemed ready to flee before the tree had even uttered a complaint.

Jay waited a beat for Kane’s reaction.

Thankfully for both of them, Kane offered no protest, springing to his feet and following after Ana.

The tree toppled, not directly at them, but towards the right where Ana started the cut. Petal leaves and twigs scraped his clothes and back anyway

Kane staggered as with his greater height he was swatted forward.

With a whump, the tree behind them settled. They turned to inspect the destruction of their resting spot.

“Ana, give Kane back his sword.” Jay spoke in a clear, bland tone as if he was discussing the weather. It was his family’s negotiating tone, one he had practiced and learned at the feet of the best.

Ana nearly dropped the short sword as she shoved the handle into Kane’s hands. Her hands continued to tremble.

Kane held the sword up to his eyes, ignoring the twigs and leaves covering his shoulders and back. “Incredible.”

“I’m sorry,” Ana stammered.

Jay couldn’t think of anything to say. He wanted to snap, to scream, to complain about how stupid what she just did was. To rant about the danger, to shake Kane and make him realize how close he had been to losing an arm, to swear at both of them for their thoughtlessness, to denounce the Three for giving anyone such power without control, to cry at how useless Measure was.

But that wouldn’t help anyone.

In the end, he didn’t say anything. He gestured back towards the caravan and started running, pounding his anger out on the earth. Two sets of steps followed him.

| i i i ¦ i i i | i i i ¦ i i i |

The caravan was starting to rouse again as they arrived back. Lunch break was over, and it was time for the behemoth to return to its wandering. Workers scurried in and out of the wagons, flowing like blood through the vehicle’s veins as they packed and re-boarded.

Ana and Kane continued on towards the second crew wagon to get ready. Jay diverted to the side, where Vasily stood waiting. The expression on Jay’s self-appointed uncle’s face could have curdled milk.

“Caravan Master,” Jay said, dipping his head. He’d expected some sort of enquiry from the caravan, but to have Vasily waiting... It was not good. Not good at all.

“Jay. Can you confirm that the disturbance was a training incident and not related to any oddity?”

Jay nodded. “Yes Caravan Master, I can. It was a test of a Word that had a greater effect than expected.”

Some lies were small. Ana trying out Kane’s sword was a test of sorts.

“I will state to make sure that this is clear to everyone, that there is to be no training near, or directed towards the wagons or the crew.”

“Yes, Caravan Master.”

Vasily turned, and his eyes followed Ana and Kane’s retreating forms. “You will notify the protection detail if there is to be any further testing.”

“Yes, Caravan Master.”

Vasily shook his head before nodding at Ana then Kane. “One is called Surly. The other Dozy. You’ve invested now, so you must make an attempt, but do understand that there are many paths to anything. Sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward. Don’t become the one they call Fool.”

“Yes, Caravan Master,” Jay said, more reserved than before. He hadn’t heard of the nicknames, but it was a bad sign. Especially if they had made their way to Vasily.

Vasily sighed and waved him away.

Thoughts in disarray, Jay rushed to rejoin his team. Soon he found himself too busy with Tasia’s orders to do much thinking. The caravan finished packing up and was soon off again, massive wheels trundling along and leaving trails of bubbling red behind.

He eventually got time to think when he found himself in the kitchen, cleaning the cutlery and lunch utensils. The soap smelled of herbs, and the overpowering scent helped clear his mind.

Ana’s careless use of her Word was a problem, and so was both her and Kane’s reaction to it. The fact they’d both earned unflattering nicknames was a whole other issue, but just as important.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. Something was wrong with his team, and he didn’t know how to fix it. He needed solutions, ideally to both of the problems. His — Their lives were on the line. But how to convince the two strangers he’d tied himself to of that?

Caught up as he was, Jay nearly missed the sound of the horn, mistaking it for a signal from the front of the caravan as they changed direction.

But it rang again in two short bursts and everyone paused.

An attack. Oddities were coming.