Kingdom

by Kyle West

  “I’ll stay here, then. If the radar picks up anything, I’ll let you know.”

  I knew Pallos would be useless with a weapon, so I nodded. Here, he would be useful, and those on the ground would need a pilot to pick them up in a sticky situation, in case a fight took us far away from the ship.

  I reached for the comm. “Landing. Stay seated until the engines are cut.”

  I let off the thrust, causing the ship to slowly lower to the ground. Once I felt the bump of landfall, I cut the engines.

  “We’ve landed,” I said into the comm. “This should go without saying but . . . come to wardroom armed.”

  I clicked the intercom off. The last bit might have seemed unnecessary, but I wanted to leave no room for doubt. I was worried that some of the crew—like Isa and the boys—were hoping Isaru could be reasoned with.

  “The deck is yours, Pallos,” I said. “You know how to work the speakers?”

  “Of course. I’ll call if anything changes here.”

  “Good.”

  I stood and left Pallos. It was hard to leave him behind because the last time I had done so, he’d left Isa, Shara, and I in the lurch, at least, apparently so. Even if that had been my fault in the end, some part of me still didn’t trust him.

  For good reason, I thought. He works for Shen first, and you second.

  And yet, he was the only one capable of flying the ship besides me. I didn’t even know if any of the others could be trained to do so, being so unfamiliar with computers and complicated machinery. It would take a lot of training.

  When I reached the wardroom, most everyone had already gathered. I waited just a few seconds longer, watching them adjust their gear and weapons. Most wore Seekers’ swords, but Isa strapped on her bow while Mia had no weapon at all.

  “Don’t worry about gear other than weapons,” I said. “I’m going to need a detail to remain on board. Ret, Samal, Nabea—make sure everything stays secure here. Mia and Pallos will need your protection.” All three of them looked ready to protest, but I was even more ready to cut them off. “I’ve instructed Pallos to warn us on the ground if he catches anything on the radar, but he is under no circumstances allowed to take off. If it comes to that, all of us need to be on the ship first. So, if you hear it start up, you have my permission to stop Pallos by force. I don’t believe he’ll do that, but the point stands. He isn’t one of us. He works for Shen, and I don’t trust Shen.”

  The three of them nodded, seeming to buy that explanation. While it was nice to have some guards on board, the real reason to keep them here was because I didn’t want to risk my most inexperienced fighters.

  Which made me realize I was forgetting someone.

  “Isa, you’re to remain on board as well.”

  To my surprise, she didn’t put up any resistance. If anything, she looked relieved. She probably didn’t want to see Isaru as he was now and wanted to remember him for who he used to be.

  “The rest of you—Seeker Fiona, the Elders, and Mia, you are to come with me.”

  “What?” Mia asked. “Why me? I can’t fight.”

  Isandru looked at me in surprise but thankfully didn’t contradict me in front of everyone.

  “You might be useful. You know Shal, just like Isandru. I figure if we run into Isaru and it’s Shal speaking . . . well, you get the idea.”

  “I’ll protect you with my life, Mia,” Isandru said. “You have nothing to fear.”

  She nodded, going over to him. Standing side by side, they looked more like grandfather and granddaughter than brother and sister. Maybe more like great-grandfather and great-granddaughter. Nothing about them seemed the same—Isandru’s old age had erased any semblance he might have shared with her.

  I tried not to dwell on that uncomfortable fact.

  “Let’s get going. I’ll take point. Fiona, Tellor, at my wings. Mia and Isandru behind.”

  I pressed the exit button and led the way off the ship.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  ALL OF US STOOD IN a line, peering into the fog that stopped just fifty feet shy of the Crater’s precipice. The mist swirled and eddied, but remained in place as if by unseen force. Tendrils snaked out, only to get sucked back into the giant, undulating mass.

  We stood in a line about ten feet apart, all facing the wall, except for Mia, who stood next to Elder Isandru. At any moment, it felt as if the wall could break and the fog would roll over and consume us all. It was as high as the tallest buildings in the Ruins, if not quite as tall as the ones in Shenshi.

  “I . . . can’t seem to grab onto any thought here,” Fiona said, breaking the silence for the first time. “Any time I try to think of something, it slips away.”

  I almost didn’t want to answer. It was hard to even see the point.

  I made myself, though, if only to rid myself of the torpor settling over me. “This is the source of the Northern Reversion, Fiona. The Xenofold is muted here.”

  She sighed. “That explains it, then.”

  Just another reason to keep the boys and Isa on board. Even if I was their age, and even if they were skilled for initiates, the fact that the Xenofold was weak here would only sap their strength.

  Fiona, Isandru, Tellor, and I would be more than his match. Or at least, that was my hope.

  The minutes stretched until we had almost stood there for an hour. Nothing changed. The mist remained in place and the sky was the same listless gray. Looking over my shoulder toward the Crater only revealed further grayness.

  “He isn’t here,” I said, suddenly.

  Everyone looked at me.

  “Where is he, then?” Tellor asked.

  I turned to face Tellor. “He’s . . .”

  I felt something different, but it wasn’t coming from the direction of the mist.

  It was coming from the Crater.

  I turned around to look, and just barely through the fog, I spied a figure standing at the edge of the Crater. He stood facing us, white eyes glowing, katana in hand.

  I pointed. “There!”

  At once, everyone turned to face where I was looking. Isandru sheltered his sister behind him while the rest of us stood in front, our weapons ready.

  “Advance!” I called out.

  We walked forward quickly, even as Isaru faced us, perfectly relaxed. Indeed, it was as if something else were controlling him because his bearing was not his own. It was sleek and snakelike, and a superior smirk marred his features. He bowed his face, the smile remaining.

  We stopped about thirty feet in front of him.

  “Isaru!” I called. “Lay down your sword. You’re to come with us.”

  He chuckled, his voice seeming higher than usual, although it was still his voice. “Anna. Have you come to challenge me before the Wild burns?”

  “That’ll never happen,” I said. “Lay down your arms and come with us peacefully. This is your only chance.”

  I had little hope that he would acquiesce to that demand. And, just as I had imagined, he bore his sword in front of him in what appeared to be the basic Treeform stance.

  “The dragons are on their way,” Isaru said. “I’ve called for them. You have perhaps ten minutes to defeat me and enforce your demands.”

  “The Elder Dragons will be here soon, too,” I said. “This isn’t your world, Rakhim.”

  His smirk widened. “Neither is it yours. It belongs to Odium of the Dark.” His bright, white eyes went to Isandru and Mia. “Ah! Imagine the three of us, walking a world that isn’t ours.” He chuckled madly. “Mia, my dear, you are still as beautiful as under the skylights of the Cloud Palace. Often, I have dreamed of you . . . I had hoped to have you forever in the Hyperfold. Alas, you were willful, even in that place, and you had your brother to protect you.”

  Isandru stepped in front, hiding her completely from view. “We will defeat you, Shal. I should have listened to her about you all those years ago.”

  He smiled, his white eyes glowing brighter. “Yes. But you didn’t, and now yo
u will pay.”

  “You will answer for your crimes!” Mia called out, her voice quavering.

  I reached out with my mind, trying to find the familiar light of the Xenofold. The connection was weak here, but I was still strong enough to form a bond. With that bond came the silent meditation of Silence. Off in the distance, I could sense Isaru’s own connection, but not to the Xenofold. It was to the Hyperfold, not fifty miles away.

  Once, I had broken Mithras’s connection to the Hyperfold singlehandedly. Perhaps I could do so again.

  I reached out with my mind, focusing all my energy, channeling it toward Isaru’s mind. Immediately, I was met with resistance, as if I’d run into a stone wall. I cried out, breaking the connection before any harm could befall me. I felt suddenly heavy and struggled to keep my feet.

  Mia and Fiona came to my either side, helping me stand.

  After a moment, the heaviness dissipated, leaving me only with my heart racing and my lungs breathless.

  Again, Isaru chuckled. “Try that trick again and you’ll become like me, Anna.”

  I didn’t understand. It had been so easy to break the chain with Mithras. Here, it was impossible to even get in.

  Out of sheer stubbornness, I decided to try it again, this time going all out. I entered Isaru’s mind—there was a moment of shock before the mental barrier went up once again. Through no action of my own, suddenly my hands were swinging my sword. I tried to stop, but I had no control of my actions. Someone was meeting my blade, but I couldn’t see who. I was completely blind and at Isaru’s mercy.

  Do you want me to stop?

  Shal’s, not Isaru’s, voice entered my mind. I remained silent. I heard screaming and shouting—my body pivoted and turned as it fought off multiple defenders. My friends.

  You cannot break my hold, Anna. The power of the Hyperfold in its entirety is concentrated on defending the Prince of Haven’s mind from Xenofold meddling. No one—not even you—can break into it.

  Whoever it was I was fighting seemed to be tiring, their defenses becoming sloppier.

  Please . . . make it stop.

  No. You must be taught a lesson. You are out of your depth, Anna. I will kill your friends by your very own hand, and once done . . . I’ll kill you myself.

  My body suddenly jerked and my vision returned. My sword dropped and I fell to the ground.

  Even as I lay face down, panting, I heard a dragon’s cry bellow from the direction of the mist. Whether friend or foe, I couldn’t say.

  “He’s running!” Isandru yelled. “Stop him!”

  Everyone surrounding me abandoned their positions, running in Isaru’s direction. I struggled to stand and focus my eyes to see what was going on. A dragon stood over me and it took all my effort just to turn in the direction of the Crater. Isandru, Fiona, and Tellor stood near its edge, peering into the mist.

  I knew the truth, then. Isaru was gone, and I was the reason for his escape.

  CHAPTER NINE

  EVEN IF I WAS TIRED, even if I was ashamed of failing, I made myself stand up and join the others. I looked behind to see a line of dragons, both Askaleen and Radaska, standing on their haunches, foremost among them being Askal and Quietus. The line of dragons stretched as far as the eye could see around the Crater.

  I walked forward slowly. No one noticed my approach as I came to the rim of the Crater. Isandru was the first to turn, and he made space next to him and Mia.

  “He’s gone,” he said.

  I nodded. “I’m sorry. He . . . took control of me when I tried to take hold of his mind. His strength is unreal.”

  Fiona and Tellor looked at me cautiously. Their bodies were tense, as if they feared I might attack them again.

  “How did he do it?” Fiona asked.

  “I tried to break Shal’s hold on him,” I said. “I did something similar when the Sphere priests were controlled by Mithras.” I shook my head. “Isaru is far stronger than Mithras, though.”

  If only I’d understood my own limitations, Isaru might be subdued on the ship now. The Elder Dragons had arrived almost as soon as the fighting had started and might have been able to subdue him.

  “Did he jump off the edge?”

  “It looked like he did,” Fiona said.

  We had lost, then. I turned to look back at the ship. Through the windshield, I could see the others watching. I wondered just how much they had seen. Probably everything.

  “I tried to fight back, but he took hold of me. I . . . just wanted it to end.”

  “The dragons ended it for you,” Isandru said. “That is the reason Isaru fled. The three of us working together could barely hold you back. Fiona was nearly killed, and would have died had the dragons came a few seconds later.”

  “Fiona . . .” I began.

  “What now?” she asked, ignoring me.

  She was angry, and rightfully so. I looked at her, hoping for forgiveness, but her eyes were as gray as the mist that surrounded us.

  “Once inside that Crater, it’s hard to get out,” I said. “The fog wasn’t here last time. It kills—”

  “We’re breathing it now,” Fiona said. “Perhaps we should continue the chase.”

  “We would get lost,” Isandru said. “And if we were to fly Odin inside it, we would be ambushed by dragons.”

  “So, what then?” she asked. “Do we just give up?”

  “No,” I said. “Going into the Crater is too risky. Isaru could pick us off one by one. It’s exactly what he wants.”

  “He’ll join the swarm, then.”

  I nodded. There was no way around that point.

  “It’s a miracle we even found him in the first place,” I said. “We can do it again.”

  “If he’s commanding an army of dragons, then how will it be possible to challenge him?” Fiona asked.

  “We get an army of our own,” I said. “The Elders are flying to Dragonspire. There, they will gather everyone they can to help. It’s possible there are enough dragons left in the Wild to challenge the Mindless swarm.”

  “We must hope, then,” Tellor said. “For all their few numbers, the Seekers might be persuaded to join the fight, and perhaps the dragon riders of Haven and Sylva.”

  “We’ll need everyone we can get,” I agreed. “But we have a more pressing concern now. The Elder Dragons will fly south as planned. It will take them a few days, during which we can warn Northold of the impending danger.”

  I shook my head as I peered into the fog. “It’s my fault. I thought I was strong enough . . .”

  We do not fault you, Shanti.

  I turned to look at Quietus. I approached her as the black dragon fluttered her wings. We should have warned you how powerful Isaru would be, but even we didn’t think he would be this powerful.

  He took control of my mind, Quietus. Do you know what that feels like?

  I felt something like surprise from her, and then sadness. Yes. I knew both of those things for time untold, and would not wish for them upon anyone.

  At first, I didn’t know what she meant. Hadn’t Quietus always been Quietus, fully in control of herself? And then remembered she had once been Radaskim. Alex had helped her rejoin the Elekai.

  I’m sorry if I brought up any unwanted feelings, I said.

  You have done nothing to be sorry for. Sadness and regret are both necessary feelings. They teach us to never repeat mistakes we once made.

  I wanted to know what mistake Quietus made, but felt it wasn’t my place to ask.

  Will you and the dragons be okay flying south on your own?

  Yes. We must be on our way soon. I would like us well away from the Crater before Isaru reaches the swarm. We don’t have the numbers to challenge . . . or else we would. Askal and I must speak to our son, Tiamat, who leads the dragons of the South. We will do what we can to convince our brethren to join us.

  You and Askal are king and queen, I said. Isn’t it your decision to make on behalf of all dragonkind?

  Yes, Quietus said, but
such things are liable to be forgotten by those who, in their hearts, believe themselves to be kings. We have lived for so long in the Hollow, so long that some even among the dragons believe that we no longer care to be a part of the world. And in some ways their criticisms are just. But our purpose was one of waiting . . . waiting until the right time. She snorted. The time has come for us to rejoin the world.

  We will meet you there in a few days, then. We must go to Northold to warn the people about the dragons.

  Do not be too long, Shanti. We should make Dragonspire in three days if the winds are favorable.

  Then I won’t keep you any longer.

  She then did something that surprised me. She lowered her head and looked directly into my eyes. The snout of her long, angular head came to rest just inches from my nose. She was so close that I could only focus on one of her snake-like eyes.

  I reached out and touched her, and the queen of dragons closed her eyes.

  Fair winds to you, Shanti,

  And, without warning, she lifted her head above me, letting out a single bellow that could be felt deep in my bones. Something told me she was roaring to be heard by Isaru. Within a moment, the dragons surrounding the Crater took up her call, a hundred roars sounding into the misted abyss. The roars echoed off the rocks and the Crater walls. Isaru would have to have been deaf not to hear it.

  And as suddenly as it started, she stopped and the other dragons ceased their calls. She backed up to gain a bit of space, stopping at the edge of the mist.

  I ducked, even if there was no reason to, as they gave a running start to take off. The ground shook as the dragons ran, spreading their massive wings to take flight. They formed a trail flying along the Crater’s rim, pink and black shapes half-obscured by the fog. They flew right over the Crater, apparently not fearing the Mindless lurking beneath.

  When the last of them had disappeared into the mist, it felt rather empty standing on the ridge. The desolation of the reversion began to seep into my mind—the dragons’ presence must have done something to repress it. I joined my companions and looked for a moment longer into the mist. Had the fog not been there, it would have been possible to see the ruins of Hyperborea far in the distance, and perhaps a vision of the Thought Dome itself, which housed the Hyperfold, the source of all the evil we were fighting.