by P. R. Adams
The young Onath woman stiffened. “What if that’s where the wizard is?”
“Reclaim the explosives and make top speed to the western cave.”
She nodded. It was asking a lot of her, but now was the time for her to prove herself.
Riyun sucked in a breath. “While you’re doing that, Javika and I will head into the western cave.”
Quil pinched his chin. “Either team reaching its entry undetected seems extremely unlikely.”
“I’m not counting on it, but that’s the objective.”
“And if the objectives should fail to materialize?”
“We use the cover of the ruins while we engage the enemy. And—” Riyun indicated the artifact. “Fassyl has his chance to save the day.”
The old wizard smiled. “Have no fear: Armed with such power, neither the dragons nor Meriscoya will escape this valley.”
“There you have it, Quil.” Riyun turned toward the wizard. “Fassyl, what can you tell us about this place?”
“W-well…” The wizard’s eyes bugged out. “This place was ruins before I was born.”
“But you live in its twin. Are there caverns? Do you know what we might find down there?”
“Well, I… I suppose—keeping in mind how things change over the years—that there might be something…”
“Can you help us or not?”
The old man bowed his head. “I don’t believe those are caves, at least not on the western wall.”
“Then what are they?”
“The cities were built at a time when new powers were rising. Some of those who held power before weren’t interested in giving in to change. They built these new homes as a way to keep out the unwanted, and legend has it that they stored away much of the knowledge that had been acquired over the millennia.”
Riyun suppressed an incredulous chuckle. “A library? He’s hiding out in a library?”
Fassyl’s face darkened. “Not merely a library. Knowledge extends in many ways. There could be devices here, things that give him a greater understanding of what was known before the queens established their rule and set aside the old ways.”
Quil and Naru exchanged a worried look before the pseudo squeezed his eyes shut. “The dark arts!”
Symbra threw her hands up in exasperation. “We are not doing this! You can’t spread your version—”
Riyun stepped between the three of them. “Stop! Symbra, I need to hear what they—”
“They’re going to give you some completely mangled—”
“Fine. Mangled is good for now. You can fill me in on the real history later.”
“But you’re going to get the wrong perspective.”
“I’m going to get the same perspective that Beraga and his people had when they designed all of this. It’s a valid perspective. Or at least it gives us a decent chance of understanding where this all came from.”
She crossed her arms defensively. “It’s a dangerous approach.”
“Every approach is dangerous.” He nodded at Quil. “Talk to me. What’s this about dark arts? You mean what the seer said—a patron?”
Quil glanced at Symbra sheepishly. “From our understanding of history, legends spoke of the time when enlightenment drew people away from their old beliefs–superstitions and crude religions.”
“To be clear, you’re talking about our legends?”
“Yes. But some of the more stubborn cults refused this enlightenment and turned inward.”
Naru had also been watching Symbra, as if worried about offending her. “The dark arts are the part of our legends where sacrifices are made in exchange for power. They aren’t used in a lot of modern literature or entertainment. People feel uncomfortable with that part of history.”
Symbra stomped a foot. “It’s not history.”
Riyun held a hand up to stop her. “Later. All right, then I have two questions. One, what do you mean by sacrifices? And two, what kind of power are we talking about?”
“Um…” The hacker glanced at Quil, who nodded. “Human sacrifices.”
“Human—?”
“In exchange for the power to reverse change in society. It seems like Beraga used these queens as some sort of metaphor for change in our society.”
“Metaphor?” Riyun had heard the term at some point, but he’d never really understood it.
Fortunately, Quil couldn’t pass on the opportunity to share his knowledge. “In this case, the meaning is literary. Beraga and his designers wish to make a statement about something either in current society or in the past, but rather than speak directly to that concern, they create a fictional analog. So, the Queens here represent change.”
Naru frowned. “These two cities apparently represent those opposed to change. They’re willing to do whatever they can to reverse it.”
The old wizard studied the hacker from beneath bushy eyebrows. “An interesting description, young woman.”
Riyun squeezed one of the wizard’s beefy shoulders. “I think I’ve got it.”
The hacker smiled. “So, the power in question—these dark arts—is apparently what Meriscoya seeks so he can destroy the world. In our legends, the only way you received the greatest power was by giving up the greatest sacrifice. There are a few stories—none of them in games—where families were offered in the exchange.”
Riyun turned to Fassyl. “Does Meriscoya have family?”
“Only those who raised him. They may already be dead.” The old wizard interlocked his fingers and rested his hands on top of the little bit of belly remaining after weeks of travel. “What is this you speak of, these legends of your people?”
“It’s complicated.”
Fassyl’s bushy eyebrows shot up. “Perhaps I could better assist if I knew them.”
The drone floated closer. “Their world spawned the one known as Beraga, the one who created this world. The prophecy foretold that the destroyer would come from far beyond.”
“That’s complete nonsense! We know the source of our creation. Wizards are connected to it.”
“Meriscoya was broken by his realization that all that he knew was a lie.”
Desperation and fear flashed across Fassyl’s face. After years in combat, Riyun knew the look—uncertainty and panic—that came with those emotions. Those were feelings they couldn’t afford. “Fassyl, we can talk about theory and all that other stuff some other time. We need to stick to facts and data right now. You understand? The plan is to kill Meriscoya and the dragons. Agreed?”
The old man blinked, and a few seconds later nodded.
“Good.” Riyun exhaled. “We have our plan, and thanks to you, we have an idea of where Meriscoya is hiding and why. So, you’ve got about half an hour. Drink some water, relieve yourselves, and get ready. Because when it gets dark enough, we’re going down into that valley, and we’re killing that wizard.”
53
There was little moonlight when Riyun went over the ridge. At first his gloves slipped on the cable, which was slick thanks to a cold drizzle that had crept up on them suddenly, but it was the rocks that were a problem.
“Watch your lines.” Riyun tightened his grip. “The cable and the rocks—slippery as greased glass.”
Hirvok guffawed. “Can’t handle the cold in your old age!”
It wasn’t just the cold or the drizzle. Nerves were eating at Riyun. The soles of his boots made a deafening squeak when he kicked out from the valley wall to descend again. This time, he held the cable harder against the loop of the rappelling harness.
When he banged back against the valley wall, his boots slid and squeaked again.
Stealth had been the watchword. We go down quiet and safe. Quiet!
At least they had the darkness.
Far below, the valley floor was black with specks of gray where marble debris poked out from tall, dead grass.
He kicked out again, this time letting the line free through the loop, then braking.
When he hit the valley wall,
he had his toes pointed out and let his heels strike first. That still produced a noise, but it wasn’t so loud.
Twice more, he kicked out and let himself fall, then he found a suitable ledge. He tested the rock, pacing back and forth and applying more weight. The floor was about two hundred feet below, but there were footpaths.
“All right, I’ve found a way down.” Riyun squatted at the edge of the rock shelf. “Still no movement. Javika, let’s get Fassyl down here next.”
Riyun wrapped the cable around his waist and leaned out to watch for the hefty wizard. It was less about seeing the man than hearing him. He groaned with each catch of the line tied around him. At least he kept his eyes on Javika and Symbra, as he’d been told to do. Looking down at where he would fall…
When Fassyl reached the ledge, Riyun grabbed the line and pulled the old man to the wall. “Stop your whimpering! You’re safe.”
“Bless you.” Fassyl clutched at the exposed rock with shaking hands. “I’m fine.”
Riyun guided the wizard to the point where he could slide down to the trail. “Go down that path, then head down the rest of the way. Stay at the bottom, curled into a ball against the wall. Can you do that?”
“I can. I-I can.”
Assurances weren’t enough for Riyun; he waited until Fassyl was safely on the path.
The soft chirp of boots on slick rock brought Riyun back around. Javika landed on the ledge with a gentle thump, then undid the cable from her harness and signaled for the next person to come down.
Riyun undid his own line and shook it to signal it was clear as well. “He’s headed down safely.”
The Biwali warrior squeezed past to check on the wizard. “Might as well have lowered a bison.”
“A bison wouldn’t know how to use that artifact. You know as well as I do, it’s going to come down to that.”
“I can reach Meriscoya. I can finish him.”
“Anything but a wizard, yes, you could. This guy…?”
The assassin’s hand settled on the hilt of her sword. “I can finish him.”
“You’ll get your chance to try.”
The gear came next, then Naru, who needed about as much assistance as Fassyl had. Symbra and Quil came down last. Riyun hated leaving the cables behind, but if they succeeded, their escape would be waiting.
And if they didn’t…
Riyun led the way down the path, smiling when he saw the wizard hunched against a large rock.
Fassyl waited until Quil approached with the artifact, then stood to take it. “Thank you.”
The pseudo hesitated and looked the staff over one last time. “You are sure you know what you are doing?”
“Destroying someone who should have been stopped a long time ago.”
“This is no young man out of his depth. In the legend—” Quil bowed his head. “This is someone who has attained a level of competence unlike anyone before him.”
“That very same thing was said about the wizard who created this artifact.” Fassyl gently took the staff.
Riyun scanned the valley floor with his binoculars: nothing. “What if we missed them?”
Symbra turned from where she was checking Naru’s gear. “Wouldn’t we know it?”
“We’re not his only target. In fact, if he really is researching something that could destroy the entire world, we’re hardly relevant anymore.”
“He wouldn’t leave without such a weapon, would he?”
“Not likely.”
Naru tested the strap holding her carbine. “It’s hard to miss those dragons. Anyway, this feels like the big boss fight.”
Boss fight, legends, distorted views of history, a prophet that had lost its confidence, the old wizard who had too much of the same—
It was all a disturbing mess.
Then again, most missions went like that.
Riyun connected to Hirvok. “Eagle, we’re on the valley floor.”
“Took you long enough.” The sergeant chuckled. “Nothing going on down there.”
“We’ll be heading to our ingress points in a minute.”
“I’ll have eyes on.”
“Copy that.”
Riyun reviewed everyone’s assignments, then shook hands and wished them all luck before Symbra led her team east.
Quil lingered behind, eyes downcast.
It wasn’t what Riyun needed to see so close to an engagement. “What is it?”
“A thought troubles me.”
“Go on.”
“Fassyl knew about this library. He knew that these were twin cities.”
“Yes.”
The pseudo considered the rest of his team, now almost completely hidden. “Is it possible he sought the library of Awurda for a dark purpose of his own?”
“He hated Meriscoya.”
“He did. But…he seemed to hold ill will toward Tarlayn as well.”
“Keep your eye on him, Quil.”
“I will.” The young man hurried after his comrades.
Javika scuffed up behind Riyun. “The job has far too many complications.”
He grunted. “I promise never to take another job that sends us to another dimension.”
Rather than reply, she scowled, then slipped her helmet on and took the lead, moving with remarkable grace and even greater certainty. There were no errant steps, no creaks or cracks to give away their location.
Before long, he had to switch to his helmet’s infrared to see the other team. Symbra was keeping just west of the lake, using cover wisely.
About halfway through the ruins, Javika dropped to her belly, and he did the same.
There was still no movement in the valley other than the squad.
He opened a connection to her. “Spot something?”
“A shadow. Something moved at that raised section where the lake ends.”
The column on the platform. A shadow in the darkness. “Magic. Is it…human?”
“It is movement. That is what matters.”
Riyun connected to the rest of the team. “Silver, hold position.”
Symbra immediately connected privately to him. “What is it, Lightning?”
“There’s something moving around that column Alush spotted with the recon.”
“I don’t see anything.”
“Whisper saw it.”
“Shouldn’t we have Eagle check?”
Riyun closed the private connection. “Eagle, you see anything moving in the ruins?”
A static hiss was the only answer.
“Eagle? Tank? Status.”
More hissing. It was the same sort of interference they’d experienced in the other ruins. Apparently, short-range communications were fine, but longer-range communications weren’t.
Javika pulled her helmet off. “Stay here. I will see what it is.”
Logically, he knew that he should argue that magic trumped skill and technology, but he wasn’t so sure about that. She’d spotted whatever was out there, and there was no indication it had spotted her. “Where did you see it?”
“Around that column.”
Riyun brought his weapon up and sighted on the raised area, with the gun centered on the pillar. “Go.”
She set her helmet back on, pushed up from the ground, and weaved her way through the debris. He lost track of her, then concentrated on the optics from his weapon’s scope. Using regular optics, ultraviolet, and infrared, nothing showed.
Symbra connected to him again. “Lightning, I don’t see anything. I want to move my team forward.”
Riyun grunted. “We don’t have overwatch.”
“They’re up there. If there was a problem, Eagle would’ve already fired.”
“Whisper’s moving up to investigate. Hold position.”
“This is the time for us to move. If she triggers something, we’ll be stuck here. The closer we get to that eastern cave entry, the better our odds of keeping those dragons out of the fight.”
“I trust you and your team, but what about
Fassyl?”
“We could leave him here.” Symbra lowered her voice. “If we get to the cave opening, we won’t need him. He’s dead weight.”
Nothing moved on the raised platform. “Proceed with caution. And keep your eyes open.”
“Copy.”
Something caught Riyun’s attention: movement. It was a patch of cold circling the pillar for a moment, then spiraling around the column and rising to its top.
Cold. Colder than the ambient temperature, which was pretty close to freezing.
Not Meriscoya. Not the dragons.
Then what?
Riyun connected to the team. “We’ve got something unknown moving up and down that marble column on the raised platform at the north end of the lake.”
Symbra keyed her mic first. “I’m still not seeing anything.”
“Check infrared, it’s cold. Not human. It might be…flying.”
“I—” The young woman gasped. “I see it. Winged. About the size of a kid.”
How close was she? “What’s your location?”
“Not even two hundred feet from that raised platform. There are skeletons piled around the bottom of it. Lots of skeletons.”
“Skeletons? What kind?”
“Hard to tell from here, but they look human.”
Sacrifices. “Anything else?”
“Besides skeletons? No. I want to keep moving. We can get down to the lakeside and stay low. It shouldn’t see us.”
Two hundred feet from the raised platform. That put them pretty close to the end of the lake. They could cross to the eastern side and make a run for the entry to the cave. Could they do that without the flying thing seeing them? If it saw them, what would it do? Was it what created the skeletons, or was it some remnant from whatever had destroyed the city?
It would be so much easier if they had communications with their overwatch team, or at least if he could see Javika.
He gritted his teeth. “Proceed down to the lake, but be sure to use your cover, Silver.”
“Moving to the lake.”
Riyun should have been moving, too, but he was pinned down while his team continued to spread farther and farther apart. He was losing control, and things were escalating. He needed—
