Aberration

by Kyle West

  I nodded. “I’ve dealt with Colonians all my life, Lord Harrow. What’s one more time?”

  “I hope it’ll be as easy as you think,” Lord Harrow said, though his voice sounded as if he didn’t think it would be at all. “If you’re ready to retire, I can have some men escort you to a tent I have prepared for you and your friends. I can wake you if there’s anything that needs your attention.”

  Chapter 10

  Once all of us were settled into the tent, we began to make our plans for the next day. Shara was extremely candid on what she thought.

  “I think you’re making a huge mistake.”

  Everyone watched for my reaction. Shara was staring hard at me, her eyes challenging.

  “And what would you have me do?” I asked.

  “Don’t go,” she said. “You may have grown up in Colonia, just like me. But I’ve worked with them, Shanti. The Hunters are the closest thing to pure evil that I’ve ever known, besides Odium himself. And your old friend, Hunter Valance, now has a seat on the Council of Nine. Ultimately, it would have been the Council making this decision to invite you, since the Grand Pontifex Valerian is too infirm to do much these days.”

  “I want to give them an opportunity to help,” I said. “I don’t think they would betray me if I brought the dragons.”

  “I think you’re wrong,” Shara said. “But I hope you’re not, because I know you feel like you can’t turn down the possibility of more troops and dragons. Just don’t get surprised when your hand gets caught in the honey pot.”

  “We’re going,” I said, glad that none of them could see my cheeks color in the darkness. “It’s decided. Despite our differences, their people should have the opportunity to fight for their survival, just like we do. Maybe this is an opportunity to heal the rift that’s lasted for generations. Maybe there’s something to the Prophecy, that the Elekai would return to Colonia someday. I’d like to see that come true.”

  “We don’t even know if there is a Prophecy anymore,” Fiona said.

  I still found myself hoping that there was and believing in its existence. Something in my bones told me that I needed to go to Colonia, and that it wasn’t just about securing their soldiers or dragons.

  “I can’t explain why I’m willing to risk myself, and not to mention all of you,” I said. “I just know it’s important.”

  Shara sighed, thinking for a second about how to respond. “I don’t agree with you. But I’ll stand beside you all the same. My only advice is to be ready for anything.”

  “We’ll be careful,” I said. “Remember, I was the one they were going to execute, simply for being an Elekai. I’ll never forget that, even if they were to prove themselves in the coming war.”

  “That’s good,” Shara said. “That’s all I ask. And if something doesn’t feel right about it, don’t be afraid to call things off and get out of there. All of us support you, whatever your decision.”

  “If I may,” Isa said, joining in from where she was seated on her cot. “What’s our plan in case things go south? What if we are invited into the Red Bastion, and are unable to get out easily?”

  It was a good question, and Shara had said that all official feasts took place within it. “We’ll be in the same room as the Council of Nine, not to mention the Grand Pontifex. If they try to do anything to us, we’ll have ourselves and Lord Harrow’s men to defend ourselves. None of them would risk their necks in that situation. It would be suicide. And killing guests at the negotiation table seems something even the Covenant wouldn’t do.”

  I watched Isaru, the only one who had been mostly quiet. He sat on his cot, staring at the ground and seeming to be rather pensive. At last, he looked up and gave his opinion. “I’m ready for anything. I can never forgive the Covenant for what they did to you. All the same, I see the importance of this meeting. I can’t find anything wrong in what you’re saying, Shanti. I’m just thinking of how this can turn against us, and how to protect you in case it does.” He looked back at the ground. “I just find myself wondering what Elder Isandru would do in this situation.”

  All of us went quiet at that. He was gone, now, and we could no longer get the benefit of his wisdom. Not without entering the Xenofold, at least, and that wasn’t in the cards for now. What would he have suggested in this situation? For some reason, I had the feeling that he wouldn’t have known, either, but he would have had something wise to say.

  “That’s impossible to know,” Shara said, quietly. “For now, we have to hold our own council.”

  “I agree with Shara,” I said. “At least, in that. We have to trust ourselves. And I have to trust myself. Perhaps it’s a waste of time. Perhaps it’s worse than a waste of time. But when the Radaskim reach Haven, I don’t want a lack of dragons or men to be the reason why we lost, because I lacked the courage to make the harder choice.” I paused. “I could never forgive myself for that.”

  “Then to Colonia we go,” Shara said.

  After that, we settled down to sleep. Despite my exhaustion, I couldn’t stop my thoughts and fears running through my mind. Floating in the darkness of my mind was Hunter Valance’s narrow, cruel face and cold blue eyes. I reached for Silence, pushing all my fears into it, but was only somewhat successful at dispelling the visions.

  When I finally fell asleep, I was still connected to the Xenofold.

  * * *

  When I woke, it was still dark, and I was far from rested. My body ached and protested at getting up; despite the discomfort of my cot, it felt like a feather bed, as exhausted as I was.

  But waking up, especially when I didn’t want to, was something I had trained myself to do by now. I stirred myself, throwing on my thick cloak and reaching for the Xenofold to invigorate me. I stepped outside, feeling the cold but also not feeling it, so deep I was in my meditation. I went through several sequences of Treeform, followed by Flame, and finally followed by Wind. By the time I returned the tent, I was warmed up and dawn was thirty minutes from breaking in the east. I was awake, alert, and ready for a bite and some coffee. Some fires were already burning from soldiers cooking their breakfasts. The smell of what seemed like biscuits in the air was tantalizing.

  I woke the others. Without a word, everyone dressed and packed their things. When everyone was ready, we went into the crisp winter air, where I spied Lord Harrow speaking to some of his officers outside his command tent.

  When we approached, the others parted and made way while Harrow addressed us. “Up early, I see. We were talking about the withdrawal today. If all goes well, within the hour none will know we’ve been here, and by noon we’ll be five miles up the road.”

  “I hope so,” I said. “We were wondering where we could get some breakfast before heading on our own way.”

  “There’s food inside the tent. Help yourselves.”

  “Thank you,” I said.

  As the others went inside the tent, Fiona and I remained outside with Harrow.

  “Any word on the Radaskim?” she asked.

  Harrow shook his head. “All’s been quiet through the night. Not even the scouts have found anything. Our position here is well-placed; we couldn’t be dislodged unless a sizeable force came.”

  “Be ready for anything,” I said. “Odium’s dragons could be just hours away.”

  “We have done everything we can to prepare. Thankfully, if his dragons are coming, we’ll know ahead of time.”

  “It’ll have to be enough,” I said. “How long until you reach Haven?”

  “Laden as we are, and with the influx of refugees, it will be slower going than our march south. I think we will catch sight of Haventree within the week, assuming no difficulties.”

  I had to hope that was the case. “Make all the speed you can, Lord Harrow. I know there are women and children, not to mention the elderly. Do whatever must be done to get them there safely.”

  I didn’t know what else to add. Harrow was more well-versed in the moving of armies and supplies than I was. I tried
to push the thought out of my mind that everything I was saying was dreadfully obvious.

  “I suggest you eat, Lady Anna,” he said. “You have a long journey ahead of you. And if I don’t see you before you depart, then I wish you the very best of luck.”

  I nodded. “You, too. Before going in the tent, I have one more thing to say. I appreciate how difficult it must be to listen to me, especially if you don’t believe me about who I am. But I’m glad you’re doing it, if only for Queen Fiona’s sake.”

  Lord Harrow’s posture stiffened, and it was a moment before he found the appropriate response. “I thank you for that. It isn’t easy. Then again, nothing is easy these days, and I think the question of who should rightfully be leading the Elekai will become small indeed compared to our mutual survival.” He gave a small smile. “It would be better if all were united under a single person, even if that person was of doubtful ability, than for the Elekai people to be split into two factions under able rulers. That’s my opinion.”

  I nodded, knowing that that was the best I was going to get out of him for now. “I hope I can prove myself to you, Lord Harrow. You deserve a leader who knows what they’re doing.”

  He gave a stiff smile and held the tent flap open for me. I ducked inside and made my way to the long table filled with food for Lord Harrow and his officers. There was toasted bread and butter, hard-boiled eggs, oatmeal, along with an assortment of autumn fruits. There was also hot tea and coffee.

  We sat and ate together quickly. By the time we left the tent, the sun was cresting over the forest to the east. I donned another layer of clothing. If anything, it felt as if it had gotten even colder, despite being further south than Haven. The wind could be sharp here on the Xenoplain, as there was nothing to stop it from passing through.

  We called our dragons, and they arrived quickly. Flame settled in front of me gracefully, his snorts clouding the air with fog. All of us hurried to mount, tying our packs to the dragons’ saddles. Some soldiers had gathered to see us off, waving as our dragons pushed off the ground and took flight.

  We were well on our way when I realized something important had slipped all our minds. The guards Lord Harrow had promised us never volunteered themselves. I smiled. The dragons would have to be our guards, and in my mind, that was more than enough.

  * * *

  The flight to Colonia took less time than I thought. Within a few hours, we were nearly out of the Red Wild, flying high over the dense, nearly impenetrable Selvan that had served as a barrier between the Elekai and the Covenant for generations. Thirty minutes later saw us leaving the Wild for good, trading the thick tangle of pink-tinted trees for the browns and reds of desert sand, interspersed with rocky outcrops, cliffs, mesas, and buttes. The Colorado River flowed beneath us, serving as the path that would lead us to Colonia itself.

  About a hundred dragons followed closely behind. The desert went on for another couple of hours before the city could be discerned in the distance. There was not a trace of a cloud in the clear blue sky. They would catch sight of us soon, if they hadn’t already.

  As we were getting close, I realized that having all the dragons fly toward the city was a bad idea, especially considering that they weren’t expecting our arrival.

  I connected my mind with all the dragons around me. Hang back for now. If I need you, then I’ll call.

  Though none of the dragons responded with words, I felt their assent, and received the image that they would be resting on a nearby mesa that was probably a ten-minute flight from the city. I knew the dragons needed to be fresh, and that they couldn’t just circle the city for hours on end in case something happened. They would be fatigued, and if and there was a battle, they would fight the poorer for it.

  The others looked at me questioningly at the dragons being left behind, but they must have seen from my face that it was part of the plan. Shara didn’t seem happy about it, but no words or thoughts passed between us.

  It was just the five of us as we approached the high red wall of the city. We passed over several suburbs, including what I recognized to be the Red Cathedral facing Silver Square, at the head of Silver Bridge, the southernmost crossing leading into the city.

  As we flew closer, I could hear trumpets blaring an alarm. We flew high above the wall, where ballistae would be no threat. Already, I could see a stream of the Dragonguard approaching from the direction of the Red Bastion with lances extended, as if to do battle.

  I didn’t intend for there to be any sort of fighting. I reached out with Silence to tether the lead dragon of the front rider, who I assumed to be the one in command, and quickly and easily had him under my control. The rider’s lance fell as he tried to regain control of his steed. Likewise, two more dragons fell under my control. Similarly, these riders lowered their lances and fought to regain control of their mounts. These dragons were much easier to take over than the Radaskim, and unlike the Radaskim, they were completely Mindless, meaning they could be turned to our side for good, when the time came for it.

  We passed the riders, keeping a wide berth as they offered no further challenge. Several shouted at us, furiously pulling at their dragons’ reins. But it did no good.

  In this way, the Red Bastion approached. We flew high above the walls. Several ballistae bolts fired, but they missed wide, as our dragons dove downward. Crossbowmen contingents had already formed, all pointing their weapons toward us.

  Up! I thought.

  At once, all our dragons banked away, before the crossbows could do any damage.

  As soon as our dragons steadied themselves, Isaru’s voice entered my mind. They didn’t expect this.

  We were facing the direction of the Colonian Dragonriders once again.

  Let me take care of this, I said to everyone.

  I directed the lead Dragonguard’s dragon to fly alongside me. The rider looked at me, with a shocked and angry expression that seemed to ask if I was the one doing this. He looked to be in his thirties, with a trim beard and bright blue eyes. Before he could ask me anything, I addressed him.

  “Get the Grand Pontifex,” I said. “Tell them Anna has arrived and to not shoot us down!”

  The rider nodded, and I let go of his dragon’s mind. His mount screamed as he turned back in the direction of the Red Bastion.

  I rejoined the others. Now, we waited.

  Chapter 11

  We circled the courtyard of the Red Bastion for the next fifteen minutes before several red-garbed figures exited from the interior of the building, with trumpets blaring their arrival with a triumphant trill.

  The others followed me as I angled Flame downward. As I drew close, there were no discernible threats. No crossbows firing, no ballistae bolts loosing. Some of the pikemen pulled back to make space for our landing.

  Once Flame was on the ground, several dozen white-robed priests stood behind the less numerous red-robed ones, of which there were nine. One of those faces I would recognize anywhere, even without its characteristic sneer. Hunter Valance seemed to hold no malice for me now. Since we had last met, he had been raised to the Council of Nine, and was now High Priest of the Hunters, one of the nine sects of priests that formed Colonia’s ruling class. Several other stiff-standing, red-robed men, mostly white-haired, old, and wrinkled, stood beside him, all their faces staring at me placidly, almost meekly, with hands folded within their red robes.

  I signaled for the others to dismount. As soon as my feet touched the stones below, the trumpets blasted their welcome once again, nearly drowning me in a wall of sound that echoed off the high ramparts of the Red Bastion.

  At this moment, all the priests, red and white, parted in the middle to reveal the wide-open entryway. Upon the threshold was a sedan chair, propped up by four young men, bearing the Grand Pontifex of the Colonian Covenant. Even with distance, I could tell that he was even fatter than the last time I’d seen him. Lying on his side, his prodigious gut nearly spilled over the edge of the sedan, while the muscled men bearing him str
ained under the weight. His blue eyes seemed to bulge out of his bald, liver-spotted head.

  The chair approached, and all bowed low as he passed, with hands over hearts to show their utmost reverence, High Priest Valance included. A contingent of pikemen followed closely behind, fanning out as they neared us to form a line between us and the priests. The red-robed High Priests fell in behind the soldiers, following the Grand Pontifex until all stood in front of us, with the Grand Pontifex and his chair in the middle and the red High Priests on his either side.

  Pontifex Valerian struggled to sit upright, and only barely succeeded at doing so. “Welcome, Annara of the Elekai.” His voice rasped, as all three of his chins wobbled. A sly smile covered his face, but there was so much fat that it was hard to discern any expression at all on his features. “Be welcome here. The Goddess Returns to Colonia, as prophesied!”

  A great cheer rose in the air, and the trumpets bugled victoriously. The High Priests clapped soberly, even Hunter Valance, whose artificial smile I did not trust. And yet, all of them were clapping and cheering, as if I really were the return of the goddess, as if they hadn’t been shooting at me just fifteen minutes before.

  Valerian waited for the applause to die down, which didn’t take long, as Valerian raised a hand to signal he wished to speak more. “You’ve come, I presume, to take part in the celebration? Colonia stands ready to join you, Annara, to push back the dark Radaskim, Odium, as discussed in our last meeting.”

  “I’m glad to hear that, Grand Pontifex,” I said. “Though I’m surprised just how willing you are to help, given how that last meeting went.”

  He roared with laughter. “Alas, alas,” he said, with a wheeze, “you cannot blame us for that after the destruction caused by your dragons. If you had but returned our letter, we would have had your celebration feast ready for you, but such as it is, we are scrambling to prepare a fete worthy of your personage.”