The rock wurm opened its bifurcated jaws as it speared into the neck of the Colossus, throwing the titan to the ground once more. Coil after coil wrapped around as the wurm attacked with primordial ferocity born from the depths of Aeneria itself. The Colossus twisted and buckled as the wurm dragged it down. A moment later the two monsters fell down the crater the rock wurm had come from. An eerie silence fell over the desert as the two behemoths disappeared far below the world.
• • • •
“Can you see anything?” Cole asked Lileth, leaning over the balustrade and squinting hard. He used Wisdom to sharpen his eyes as much as he could, but the dust billowing over the sands obscured his view.
“Nothing at all.” Lileth threw her crystalline telescope out into the sands. “I worry we shall never see him again. He is the strongest man I know, but how can a mere man stand up to something the size of a mountain?” She shut her glassy eyes as a single tear rolled down her dusty cheek.
Cole swirled his hand on her back. “Don’t count Roth out just yet. He probably used to fight those things ten at a time back in his day. And I’m pretty sure he could level a mountain if he caught it hesitating.”
A sad smile tugged at a corner of her mouth. “I am sure you are right, Cole.”
Cole twitched as something popped into his mind. An image of a cauldron with contents thick and delicious pressed through Cole’s thoughts. The scent of cooked meat and spices wafted up from the lower decks.
“Food’s ready.” Cole nudged Lileth’s arm. “Goran’s going to suck it all down if we don’t get down there soon.”
Lileth waved her hand. “Lead the way.”
Cole and Lileth passed through the doors to the lower decks of the Firedancer. Cole noticed claw marks and patches of brindle fur caught on the stairs and walls. Goran was entirely too large for the narrow ship’s passages. Shoving past bustling members of the crew, they followed the savory aroma to an open patio that ran along the stern. The rest of the unit was already gathered. A small sheet cap rippled against the tearing winds, though Oberon’s rainbow hues bled through and coated them all in warm light.
“Goran, that’s disgusting!” Cole punched the mirak in the ribs.
Goran took his head out of the cauldron, frothy chunks of soup clinging to his jowls. He gave Cole an eager grunt before diving back in.
“I’m afraid there’s nothing for it.” Eliza giggled, picking up a bowl from a nearby serving table. “We’ll just have to eat around him.”
“It’ll take more than a giant cat-monkey to stop me.” Sitra snatched a bowl in each hand and heaved her shoulder into Goran. “Make some room furball!” Goran seemed not to notice, but he did come up for air, granting them a moment to take their share.
Grabbing his own bowl, Cole glanced down into the cauldron. He had no idea what was in the soup, but by smell alone he knew that a bit of Goran-drool wouldn’t dilute the hearty flavor. When he finally scooped some out he tipped the bowl right back and drank it in. It tasted even better than he imagined.
Valen walked to the very front of the patio and flipped open a latch, sending the small sheet cap rolling back into the stern. He then waved an emerald hand through the air, replacing the sheet cap with a clear spell before the sand rushed in. “We certainly have the swiftest vessel in the fleet. The mountains are already in view.”
Cole put his soup down for a moment and squinted. He could only see Oberon perched just above the horizon like a beach ball. He stretched his eyes with a quick spell as his vision zoomed and sharpened, revealing jagged teeth poking up out of the sands.
Lileth sat herself down in a chair alongside the hull. “Has anyone ever been to Oberon City?”
No one answered, other than their intermittent slurping and gulping.
“Deekus grew up in the capital,” Eliza replied, sliding her bowl across the table. “From what he told me the city is predominantly Wisdom followers. He said the people there are as stiff as frozen pines and hold no tolerance for those guided by emotions. They take their Wisdom very seriously, and most claim to have descended from the Wisdom Walkers of old. Though that is unlikely as the Wisdom Walkers live at the temple and rarely procreate.”
“Why’d he leave then?” Sitra asked through a mouthful of soup. “Deekus was pretty damned good with Wisdom. Remember that time he beat Chiron in a memory scan?”
“I do, but I also remember he had some of Chiron’s memory cyphers hidden in his robes. He was a trickster at heart, which is why the city bored him and his family ostracized him. Also, his aptitude with Passion made life among the Wisdom followers troublesome, so he left for The Sill.”
Sitra clicked her tongue disapprovingly as she scooped another helping from the cauldron. “The place must be duller than dirt if they keep only to logic and reason. Imagine a whole city full of people like Whind? You could set yourself on fire and they wouldn’t look twice at you. Probably just tell you you’re doing it wrong and show you how to burn more efficiently.” She spat out the last word. Cole hid his smile behind his bowl. Sitra had performed terribly whenever Whind had taken over for Chiron’s lessons.
“Oberon city is not unlike where I am from,” Lileth added. “Wisdom followers are brilliant of course, and when they gather in numbers they can change any society into a utopia. However, I find their utopia sterile and tasteless, completely lacking color or creativity. When logic and reason are your only guiding stars, contention is scarce; however, so is the flavor of life.”
“Is that why you left?” Sitra inclined her chin. “Didn’t want to be another gear in the machine?”
Lileth’s eyes glanced to Cole. Had she not told them about her parents? Unsure if he should speak on the matter, he remained silent.
“I came to The Sill to be more than I once was. I have succeeded,” Lileth said, her tone making it clear that she was finished with the subject.
“What of your home, Cole?” Valen asked, “You don’t speak much about Terra, but I would hear it. Tell of your world, your family.”
Cole’s heart seemed to forget that it was supposed to be beating. He didn’t talk about his home for good reason. He kept his eyes down in his bowl as he swirled the soup around. “I…don’t want to talk about my family. As far as I’m concerned, you’re all my family now.” He waited for quippy retort, but none came and he continued. “Terra is like Aeneria in a lot of ways. I mean, we have forests and deserts and mountains and stuff, though your trees are way bigger and our sands don’t flow like water. We definitely don’t have any magic, though our technology makes up for it. We have machines that fly, and allow us to talk from any distance, there are even some machines that think for us.”
“I think you will find that Oberon City has a lot in common with your Terra,” Eliza said, running her fingers through her short hair. “Deekus said they had machines that did everything for them. He said they relied upon them too much, that it made them lazy and their magic weaker.”
“Yeah that sounds a lot like humans.” Cole chuckled. “Me included. We’re always trying to do more with less. We want all the riches in the world but we’re not about to go work for it. I grew up kind of poor. We didn’t have much compared to other people, but man did I want those things. I should have worked harder.” Cole stared off, drifting into a sweet day-dream about driving his own car to school.
“You mean material things?” Valen asked. “Fine machines and jewelries? Slaves?”
“Not so much slaves.” Cole tried not to laugh at the genuine look of interest that Valen gave him. “That was outlawed long before I was born. But yeah, we like material things. Nice clothes and…cars.” Cole paused, surprised that the word ‘cars’ had translated through the language cypher. “If you have expensive things, it shows you have …” Cole paused again, surprised this time that there was no Aenerian word for ‘money.’ “…it shows that you have a lot of currency. What is your currency on Aeneria? People at the Sill seem to barter with gratia stones and their energies.”
Lileth turned to Cole, her hand now a pair of ebony dragon’s claws. “When you have magic, you have the means to sustain yourself independent from the support of others. We have no need for currency, at least not in the way that you think of it.” She brought her munisica to a tear in Cole’s leather armor. Glittery strands of jade shot from the tips of her claws as she worked them with controlled alacrity, swiftly repairing the hole. “Certain things have value to us. Helping a friend, for example.”
Cole had only just noticed how tattered his armor was. Battling the Colossus had ruined a good portion of it, exposing his skin beneath. At least he wasn’t as pale and chubby as the first time he met the unit.
“I have to disagree,” Valen said, joining Lileth in mending Cole’s armor. “Or at least I agree that The Sill uses no traditional form of currency. Those of us adept with Wisdom have the means to shape the world to support ourselves, though other villages that are predominantly Passion or Rage followers must have currency. Look at Morthain and their gratia stones. No doubt some deviant swindled them into outfitting their entire city with Passion stones, knowing full well they could never charge them properly. Now Morthain is a city full of tricksters cutting each other’s throats over material things.” Cole felt a comforting warmth as the armor on his back side stitched back together. Valen reached over and gave him a pat on the shoulder. “Has Terra adapted better to a currency-based system?”
Cole twisted, checking the flexibility of his newly repaired armor. Satisfied, he turned to Valen. “I want to say yes, but I can’t say we’re much better. People spend half their time trying to build up enough currency just to live. It’s too expensive to build a home, so we work more than a third of our time to make small payments for it. Then whoever we pay uses those payments to build more homes. Education is treated similarly. Our society pretty much makes it a requirement to get educated, even though you’ll end up owing more than you can pay off. Most people are in debt one way or another.”
“That sounds exhausting,” Eliza said with a scowl. “If only you could Travel at will. You could do some good for your world, just like the Wisdom Walkers of old.”
“Yeah…” Cole trailed off, shoving back memories of his last venture to Earth. “It might cause too much trouble though. Humans are really good at making a big deal out of little things. If you introduced magic to them, then all the world would come together and figure out a way to make a profit from it. Besides, I couldn’t do much more than light a candle with Wisdom. I wouldn’t be much help to anyone.”
“Last I checked you were an absolute nightmare on the battlefield,” Sitra said, wagging a bladed finger at him. “That’s gotta be worth something. Is there no one over there that could use a good beating?”
Cole allowed himself a brief fantasy of flying around Earth as some sort of superhero, kicking down doors and fighting terrorists with Rage. “Oh there is for sure, but I wouldn’t want to be the one to do it. Honestly I don’t like my Rage. I’m not myself when it takes over. Every time I almost end up hurting someone I care about.”
“Control will come from experience,” Valen said. “Fear of your Rage would be most counterproductive. Embrace it. Learn from it. But do not lose sight of our other magics.”
“I would rather be better with Wisdom than anything else,” Cole said. “Chiron seems like he could change the world on a whim. Why do you think they want us to go to Oberon City anyway?”
Valen bit back his reply and averted his eyes. There was an uncomfortable silence among the others as well. Cole felt Eliza pressing on him, a mental tap on the shoulder.
“If no one tells you then I will.” Her reluctance mingled with a tone of compassion. “The elders didn’t want you to know, but I think you’ve earned it. You are more important to this war than they let on.”
Cole scanned Eliza’s face, though she revealed nothing. Whatever this secret was, he wanted to hear it. It might have to do with how he came to Aeneria in the first place. He returned his gaze on Valen, making it clear he was looking for a response.
“You said we’re all family here, brother,” he jabbed. “Secrets among family don’t end well where I come from.”
Valen winced. “The knowledge is not ours to give. Not even to you. We never would have heard it in the first place had Storn not been eavesdropping on the elders. I don’t know for sure, but it is safe to assume we have been called to Oberon City because of you.”
“But why?” Cole asked, getting angry now. “Do they want to punish me for bringing down the barrier? How the hell can they hold that against me?”
“I’m sorry, Cole, but I cannot tell you.” Valen held on to Cole’s burning glare.
“Then I will,” Lileth said, rising to her feet.
Valen shook his head. “I won’t stop you. I only ask that you trust our elders. They have reasons for withholding the knowledge from us.
“And I have good reason to give the knowledge to him,” Lileth replied. “He has been ripped from his home and thrust into ours with little choice and even less explanation. The least we can do is fill him in before we cast him into the wolves’ den.”
Cole swallowed hard. “You make it seem like we’re off to my execution.” He gave her a weak smile, hoping she would return it. She did not.
“Storn isn’t the only one with sharp ears. I have also listened when I should not have.” Even under Oberon’s changing light Cole could see Lileth blushing. “Cole, you are the key. To all of it. You took down the barrier. You are the reason the soul flies have returned. You remain the only one who is capable of Traveling, and you are the key for others to do the same. The Three need you like a virus needs a host. They need you to bring more cattle to replenish their herds, and through you they can funnel every soul fly into their waiting mouths. This is one reason the council has summoned you. They seek to use you as well, though their motives will be wrapped in gold and lace.”
“I don’t want to be used by anyone!” Cole blurted. His Rage flared as his munisica cut into the patio decking. “Chiron said I could come and go as I please, choose my own destiny and all that. But now it sounds like you’re all bringing me to the gallows! You’re my unit, my family! I chose you guys, unless you’re all using me too and there’s some other grand plan that you’re not telling me.”
“That’s a bit of a reach, don’t you think? I for one cannot deceive you, just as you can hide nothing from me.” Eliza injected golden strands of integrity and honesty into their link.
“I know, I’m just…frustrated. I don’t like having other people decide what’s best for me.” Cole’s mind became a murky storm, but Eliza’s golden link had no problem piercing the clouds.
Lileth’s face fell, stung by his accusation. She spoke with a stern, yet not unkind voice, “I will say this to you just one time and never again henceforth; I will never lie to you. Judge me by my actions, you will find no trickery in me.”
“Nor from me,” Eliza sang, smiling from her chair as she held her bowl in her lap.
“I will never tell a secret that is not my own, but I too will never lie to you,” Valen added.
A long black claw suddenly appeared under Cole’s neck, picking his chin up and bringing his eyes to Sitra.
“And if you’re even hinting at calling me a liar, I’ll…oh how does Roth put it? Take it out of your hide?” She struck Cole with a blunt kiss on the cheek. He could feel the bruise forming even as she pulled away and slumped into a chair. “Don’t worry about the council, you’re not facing them alone. We’ll be with you during the trial; I’ll say what a brave little hero you’ve been.”
“Trial?” Cole rubbed his cheek. “What trial?”
“What are you talking about?” Lileth asked S
itra, an eyebrow curving sharply.
“Oh come on, you’re not the only one sticking their ears where they don’t belong.” Sitra waved her munisica. “While you were all sleeping and lounging in Morthain, I went to go see what Roth was up to.”
“You mean you went to go find what Roth was drinking.” Eliza gave her a sly grin.
Sitra rolled her eyes. “I’m perfectly entitled to a bit of fun. That includes a drink from time to time. After finding the liquor casks I went to go find Roth, but he wasn’t there. He wasn’t at Auger’s little party at all. I did some exploring and found him up on the roof. He was talking to Alvani with the same sort of mental link you and Cole have, except he was talking out loud. Oh, and you’re totally right Liza, those two are definitely bonded.”
“Of course they are.” Eliza nodded.
“Imagine having a heart-to-heart with Roth? I hope she doesn’t hesitate!” Sitra covered her mouth as a fit of giggles hissed through her munisica. “Anyway, I heard Roth blabbing on about Cole’s trial. He’s in some sort of trouble with the Celestial Council. They’re talking about putting him to work. They want to study him or something.” She inclined her head towards Cole. “One thing’s for sure though; you can’t tell anyone you’ve mastered Rage. Roth didn’t explain why, but it sounded like you’d be turned into a weapon.”
“The council seems less friendly the more I hear about them,” Cole said. “What if I refuse to go to Oberon City?”
“You certainly could, and no one would stop you,” Lileth said. “But the council is as resourceful as it is cunning. Not to mention they are among the most powerful Wisdom users on the planet. They won’t have to find you, not directly anyway. Should they want you badly enough, they will shape events around you so that you will stand before them eventually.”
“Do not worry yourself overmuch,” Valen interjected. “You will have us there with you, and as powerful as the council is, they are but moths before eagles compared to Chiron and Alvani. You’ll find no safer place on Aeneria than in their company, unless Roth was with them as well of course.” Valen’s eyes drifted to the aft of the Firedancer, back where the Bonebreaker was hopefully winning his fight against the Alpha Colossus.
Saving The Dark Side Book 2: The Harbingers Page 18
