by Ramy Vance
Bound’s tactical skills rivaled Suzuki’s, and she had the undying loyalty of her squad, who had chosen to stay by her side and risked death by doing so. It didn’t help that she was also an extremely powerful psychic whose powers had only just started to manifest. That meant there was a possibility of her getting even stronger.
Anabelle and Abby made their way to the orc council’s chambers. She noticed the girl seemed distracted. There was probably just as much on her mind. “Hey, Abs, how you holding up?” she asked as she stopped and tapped Abby’s head. “Enough room in there for you to think?”
Abby brushed away Anabelle’s hand in a quick, irritated fashion. “Sorry, we were running potential combat scenarios for the future.”
“Bullshit, you’re always doing that. What’s going on?”
Abby glanced over her shoulder as if she were worried about someone following her. “Something weird happened to us last night while we were sleeping. We aren’t sure if it was a dream. We checked our sleep status—Martin keeps track of it to do maintenance—and we weren’t in REM sleep when it happened. Still don’t quite know what to make of it.”
“What happened?”
Abby furrowed her brow before speaking. “Tesla. We saw him last night. He opened some kind of portal in our room. He said he didn’t want to fight, just talk, and he…he offered me a position in the Dark One’s army.”
Anabelle felt her skin prickle as her insides went cold. “Wait, are you saying Tesla was in HQ? He just appeared inside?”
Abby nodded, looking slightly uncertain.
“Why didn’t you notify anyone?” the elf asked. “Or sound an alarm?”
“After he left, we scanned the room. We had Martin look through all our surveillance footage. Everything. He didn’t leave a trace. That’s why we weren’t sure if it was real.”
“That’s not all, is it?”
Abby took a deep breath. Whatever she was trying to say, Anabelle could tell it was hard for her to get through. “He threatened Persephone. He said if we didn’t join, he was going to kill her in a way that only he knows how to.”
“So, you told him you’d sell us out?”
Abby’s eyes widened as she frantically waved her hands and shook her head. “No, of course not! We would never do that.”
“Then why are you acting like you did?”
“It was disconcerting. We thought we were crazy, that all the nanobots and upgrades and shit in our head had finally gotten to be too much. We thought you might look at us like you look at the lich.”
“Abby, that isn’t the same thing. Even if you had a breakdown, you haven’t spent the last thousand years terrorizing the nine realms, and for what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re crazy. Why do you think Tesla reached out to you? He could have offered the same thing to any of us, especially if he can teleport wherever he wants.”
Abby raised her hand, and the nanobots covered her arm with armor. “We think he wants something from us. We only caught glimpses of his tech, but it is years beyond our own. But we do have technology in common. Maybe he thinks we find him sympathetic.”
Anabelle tapped her fingers on her pointed chin as she thought. “Do you think he’s going to come back?”
“He said he’d give us time to think about it. What do you think we should do? Go under surveillance? Guards whenever we’re alone?”
“Nope. Next time he comes, you should tell him yes.”
Abby stared at Anabelle, confused. “Wait, what?”
“If there’s anyone I know who is smart enough to infiltrate the Dark One’s enterprise under his nose, it’s you. Plus, you have the tech to keep from being microchipped. If Tesla thinks you’re scared enough to join the Dark One, you might be able to strike a blow from the inside.”
“We’ll think about it, but we better get a move on. The council is waiting for us.”
The two continued down the halls of the great arena. As they turned the corner, they ran into Grok, who simply smiled, took a step back, and walked around them.
Anabelle froze. Grok was so close. She still had the urge to kill her torturer, to lash out with everything she had and tear the orc to pieces.
Mana surged around Anabelle, slightly pushing Abby away. She couldn’t help it, nor did she want to.
Grok stopped walking and looked over her shoulder. “Can’t wait to start our training.” She turned back and continued.
Anabelle concentrated on her breathing. She wasn’t going to get lost again, not like last time. She pulled herself back and centered on where she was, calming herself. “I can’t wait until this war is over and I can finally kill that bitch.”
Abby rested her hand on Anabelle’s shoulder. “Come on, Belle. We gotta take care of this meeting.”
Anabelle knew Abby probably didn’t want to talk about what had happened anymore. She’d noticed that Abby liked to figure things out herself, then it was brought to the group. On top of that, Abby didn’t seem like someone who would initially feel comfortable with any kind of spying. Anabelle didn’t have any doubts, though. The kid knew how to adapt.
The orc council had gathered by the time Anabelle and Abby arrived in the meeting chamber. The shaman sat in the middle of the council.
Anabelle searched the room quickly. Terra and Cire were nowhere to be seen. “Where’s my team?”
The shaman raised her hand slowly, moving as if she’d been drained of all her energy. “They are finishing their final rites. The transfer of power is in the process of being completed. We did not call you here for that, though.”
“From what I understood, Terra and Cire were going to be calling the shots. This looks a little bit different than what we’d spoken about.”
“Only for the moment. And I am merely stating what Cire has asked me to. If he survives the trial, you may verify this with him.”
“What are you talking about, ‘if he survives?’”
The shaman sighed, not as if she were annoyed but rather like she was finding it difficult to remain awake. “After we speak, I will be more than happy to take you to either him or Terra. But for now, we must talk about your next military moves.”
Anabelle wanted to find out more about what was going on with Terra and Cire, but she knew the shaman wasn’t going to disclose any more information. It was evident that she was used to speaking about things when she felt it was time. “So far, the gnomish resistance has been growing. Humans have also been joining up to fight as well. Some of them are sticking to their own armed forces, and others are getting involved with the various factions Myrddin created.”
“And the elves?”
Anabelle could hear the bite in the shaman’s tone. It didn’t seem to be directed at her but more at a general hurt. It was the tone of one who had been wronged multiple times and had never forgotten. “Much like the dwarves, many of them are staying with their own armies, waging their war under leaders not that different from Myrddin. But a good number have joined Myrddin’s forces, dwarves and elves alike.”
The shaman nodded approvingly. “Then the orcs must make a clear distinction. It seems as if many of the other races have put stock in their own power to overcome the Dark One, only supplying soldiers for Myrddin’s cause when they believe that they can lose a few. It makes sense. One must protect their own homes. The gnomes found that out the hard way.”
Anabelle braced herself for bad news.
The shaman weakly stood, needing help from one of the orcs next to her. “Cire and I are in agreement about what must be done. The orcs will no longer exist as an army. The entirety of the horde will join your efforts. We will abandon our home so we can go where it is necessary. Every single one of us.”
The elf was shocked by what she’d just heard. There wasn’t any part of her that had thought the orcs were going to join their fight against the Dark One wholesale. She’d anticipated them holding troops back to defend their world. Every race had done that so far. She hadn’t expected them to be willing to sacrifice
everything for the war. “That’s a pretty tall order you’re talking about. What about—”
“The true nature of the orc is in the horde. We are not a planet. We are not a city. We are a people. Wherever the horde is, that is home.”
Anabelle went to one knee, pressing her hand over her heart. It was the only thing she could think of to do. “Thank you. We are forever indebted to you.”
“The tribes will continue to exist, but you and Abby will be High Generals. The only leaders higher than you are the Shaman and the Hand. When the war is over, the horde will release themselves from you. If there are any internal struggles for power, the council will handle them. There may be times during the conflict when you must, as is our way, but we doubt you will have many issues. The tribal leaders are aware of your strength and look forward to tackling a new enemy together.”
The council cheered, slamming their axes on the ground and hooting.
Anabelle had heard that war was in the heart of orcs, but she had always thought it was quite different from this. Elves told stories of the horde, mad with blood rage, thirsting for murder and violence. This was something else entirely. She was beginning to see what was at the heart of the orcish culture, and she could now understand why they had so readily accepted Terra.
The orcs were warriors. They didn’t need or crave violence. They were merely excited and ready to test themselves against stronger opponents, ready to defend what they loved and fight for what they believed in. Lessons that Anabelle thought anyone could have benefitted from.
She stood, her hand still pressed to her heart. “We will not disappoint you or waste this gift. Thank you.”
The shaman bowed her head before descending the stairs that separated her from Anabelle and Abby. “What you see will disturb you, but trust me, it is a necessary part of the process.”
The DGA members followed the shaman as she exited the meeting room, the elf wondering what they would see that was terrible enough to have the shaman preface it. Her eyes had borne witness to many atrocities. Surely this could not be worse.
When Anabelle saw Cire’s body floating lifeless in the dark water, she screamed and turned to attack the shaman, stopping only because Abby had grabbed her and held her tight. Anabelle demanded that the shaman explain herself.
The shaman went on to do just that, telling them about the redistribution of ancient power, a power the orcs had cultivated and hoarded for thousands of years.
Anabelle could hardly wrap her head around the fact that the shaman was a lich and that was what they were turning Cire into. It seemed wrong, perverse even, yet the shaman stood before Anabelle and was nothing like Rasputina. There was no insanity or detachment. The shaman still seemed to care deeply about not only her people but the safety of all the realms.
Still, the elf was horrified by what Terra was experiencing. “What are you doing to her?” she demanded.
The shaman waded into the water with Cire and pressed her ear to his chest. “There’s no breath, yet I can feel his energy. Terra must be nearly through. Follow me.”
The shaman led Anabelle and Abby to the main arena.
Terra lay on the ground, trembling, holding her chest and whimpering in pain.
Anabelle rushed over to Terra and knelt beside her. “Terra, are you okay?”
The human tried to sit up but failed and collapsed back to the ground. “I’m going to get it…” Her body convulsed and she screamed, energy crackling around her.
Anabelle fell backward, the wave of energy knocking her on her butt. She’d never felt anything like this from Terra. “What the hell is this?”
She reached out to help Terra sit up. The moment their skin touched, the world blew apart in white light.
Anabelle was standing in the arena, but it had changed. Everyone else was gone, and infinite whiteness stretched around the borders.
Terra was on her feet, bloody and covered in open cuts and gashes. She stood facing another Terra, who was glowing bright white and was just as badly beaten.
The less luminous Terra turned to Anabelle. “Huh. Didn’t think I would see you here.”
“What the hell are you doing?”
Terra shushed her. “Hold on. This is probably the best fight of my life.”
She returned her attention to the luminous Terra, who scowled as she leaned in and swung at Terra, who dodged and came up with an uppercut. The luminous Terra stumbled back, shook off the punch, and leaned in with her own. Her fist connected with Terra’s jaw, forcing her back, but she pivoted, stepped to the side, and clocked the luminous version of herself in the back of the head.
The luminous Terra stumbled, clutching the nape of her neck as Terra tackled her to the ground.
Terra let out a scream as she raised her fists, cupped together, and brought them down on the luminous version of herself. Then she grabbed the luminous Terra by the back of the head, holding it as if it were a baby, and drove her fist into her skull.
The luminous Terra flailed as Terra wrapped her hands around her throat. Blood frenzy was in Terra’s eyes as she strangled the luminous Terra, whose hands flapped as if they were beached fish.
Finally, the luminous Terra stopped struggling and lay still.
Terra, who had hunched over and was breathing raggedly, leaned back and let out a sigh.
The luminous Terra began to glow bright blue, energy crackling from her body as she dissolved into a beam of pure light and washed over Terra.
Then everything changed again.
Anabelle was still kneeling beside Terra. Abby had joined her and stared in concern at the human.
Terra groaned and sat up, her hand pressed to her chest. She chuckled softly as she withdrew a glowing blue ball of energy. “Holy fucking shit did that hurt. When the hell did you guys get here?”
The shaman walked over to Terra and knelt beside her. “One of the last trials of the Path of the Lost. Now you and Anabelle are on the same playing field.”
Anabelle wondered how much the shaman knew about the Path of the Traveler. Grok had let the elf know that the Path had never been restricted to only her kind. Orcs had followed it as well, caring only for the Path of the Lost, exemplified by Grok, the only one among them to master it.
The shaman looked over her shoulder wistfully. “And now there is a new shaman, one bound to you and you to him. How does this new power feel?”
Terra stumbled to her feet, rolling the ball of energy in her hand before shoving it back into her chest. “Feels like I want to sleep for a fucking decade and then eat forever.” Her eyes looked distant for a second. “Cire’s probably hungry as hell too.”
“Then you two should feast. I believe it is about time that you two were alone.”
Terra gave Anabelle and Abby a weak high five. “I’ll catch you guys later. I’m going to go check on my dude.”
As Terra walked away, Anabelle turned to the shaman. “What do you know about the Path of the Traveler? If Terra and I are to walk it together under Grok, I’d like everything to be on the table. Straightforward. After all, aren’t the Paths of the Traveler and the Lost effectively the same thing?”
The shaman shook her head. “They are born of the same traditions and power and share many traits, but to call them the same thing is like saying the rain and a river are one and same. Both are water and both can be deadly, but there are many distinctions.” Pursing her lips, the shaman stared at Anabelle for a long moment, her face betraying an internal debate. Then nodding, she said, “Come with me. I will let you know what I know, and what you and Terra should expect under your new teacher.”
Anabelle looked at Abby. “You want to come with?”
Abby shook her head as she pulled up her holoscreen. “No, we have to take care of some…stuff with the Gate.”
Anabelle crossed her arms. “All right. You’re going to be safe, right?”
“Of course, Mom.”
“Ugh. I hate the way that sounds. Don’t make that a habit.”
; The shaman was walking away.
Anabelle punched Abby lightly in the shoulder before smiling and heading after the shaman. It was time to find out what the rest of her journey on the Path was going to look like.
Chapter Fourteen
Terra and Cire stayed in their room for two days. Food was brought to them, and Terra never questioned who it was from. Hours were spent curled around each other in light conversation. Moans and screams echoed loud enough to be heard through the halls. Terra didn’t care. This was a level of bliss she’d never felt before.
Her body tingled with a power that flowed from a deep well within her. When she looked at Cire, she saw light reflecting and refracting off him, splitting the atoms and restructuring them as they went along, each of them rebuilding into something entirely different.
There were brief interruptions that forced Terra to return to reality. The war was still going on, and Roy had kicked the DGA’s plan into overdrive. An assault was being mounted.
Terra checked into the meetings the DGA held regularly. Abby was working on a way to open the Gate and close it remotely. The plan was to expand the Gate so a large number of gnomish and orcish troops could invade the Netherverse. She was actively trying to pinpoint Tesla’s position. He periodically popped up in the Netherverse, which Abby was surveying through nanobots she’d sent through the Gate. It was only a matter of time until Tesla’s position was found.
While Abby was trying to locate the scientist, Anabelle would accompany Alex Bound to beseech a herd of ether dragons Alex’s dragon Chine had informed Roy about. They were also going to be traveling with Suzuki. Terra had been informed that he was a big deal among dragons. She thought that was interesting.
Terra was glad that all the planning was going on without her needing to offer too much input. She was enjoying her time with Cire, time she didn’t know she so desperately needed. It wouldn’t last, but that was okay. What was coming next would be exciting as well.
That was what she was thinking about when Cire sleepily opened his eyes, his head resting on her chest.
