by Skyler Grant
“Harsh, but not unfair. I can convince our people. Still, you should remain,” Arianna said.
“I’m going to return after I find out who was behind this,” Banok said.
“Another mission of vengeance? Really?” Vanwyn asked.
“The first one didn’t seem to send a strong enough message. I’ll be louder, this time,” Banok said.
The meeting broke up and Banok and the druids set off for the city. A pack of defenders from the Grove surrounded them. The thornhounds smoldered as they moved. The bombing seemed to have made fire a part of the Grove even stronger than it had been before, and perhaps the druids as well. That grayish pallor on most of their flesh didn’t seem to be rubbing off. A few even had embers burning in their skin like most of the trees.
Every druid that had survived this atrocity had done so a little marked, a little changed.
As Banok had hoped, the defenses near the blast that had almost killed him were down. The great wall had collapsed, and the bodies of defenders formed piles in the streets. It wasn’t the blast that had killed most of them, fresh blood flowed. Already from the bodies new trees were shooting up, the Grove extending itself here.
Born after the blast, the saplings too were nonetheless marked by it. Blackened trunks and leaves in brilliant reds and yellows despite it being spring. Touched by flame, born of blood.
As druids passed near them wood splintered and fell to the ground. Forming staffs, dark and scorched, and engraved with runes of druidic power. Weapons for them to arm themselves.
One almost fell into Banok’s hand, stronger than any of the others. The runes glowing in faint red and yellow hues.
His staff had been lost in what had happened, the one he’d carried with him for so many years. This one was identical in dimensions and yet different.
Whatever differences he’d had with his Grove were behind him. This was its gift, its acknowledgment that he was its master. That it would protect his people, just as it would protect him. As he would protect it.
All of the druids but Jia left his side as they began to scavenge for supplies.
“You sure you want to come with me? I know this seems terrible but … things are going to get worse,” Banok asked her.
“My place is by your side,” Jia said firmly.
So be it.
19
The transport ship was on its side, the building it landed on top of had half-collapsed causing it to fall twenty stories into the street below.
Banok managed to get it righted, using a building support strut as a lever along with his amplified strength.
The hatch was locked, but it was nothing that Nyx couldn’t get past.
The ship had taken a pounding. Only half the lights on inside as they made their way aboard. Still, most of the contents had been properly secured and the situation could have been far worse.
“Nyx, have a check on the systems and see if this thing will fly. Vanwyn, check out the supplies and see if we have what we need to lift off,” Banok said.
For his part Banok headed towards the cockpit. So far none of his mercenaries had landed in search of him, he wanted to know why.
A half-hour spent listening to communication logs and he had his answer. Most of them were dead. There had been six companies in orbit. Two of them, the Golden Hawks and the Crimson Fangs, had turned on the others, supported by ships from the surface.
It had been a short-lived battle in orbit, the loyal mercenaries killed or driven off.
Just as he was finishing up with his monitoring the lights overhead flickered, restored to full power, and fresh air began to circulate from vents.
Banok figured out how to activate the shipwide comm and had the others meet him in the cargo bay.
They didn’t take the news of betrayal well.
“You should have hired better. An established company knows their word is their bond, they would have never turned,” Vanwyn said.
“And most didn’t. I think it is clear that even if they hadn’t, those behind this would have found another way to strike at us. How is the ship?” Banok asked.
“Engine took some knocks but is working. Even a dummy like you can see I got main power back online. The frame is solid, but we’ve some hull breaches. Give me a few hours I can get those patched,” Nyx said.
“The supplies aren’t what I hoped. Most of the cargo area is given over to trade goods. Illegal ones, in most sectors,” Vanwyn said.
That was probably good news in a backward sort of way. At least a smuggler’s vessel would be fast and probably had some weapons.
“We have enough to get us off-world?” Banok asked.
“We do. Enough to support us for three days at normal levels. We can get a week if we skip a few meals and don’t mind the air getting thin,” Vanwyn said.
“That is enough to put some distance between us and here,” Nyx said.
That would be important. Whoever was behind this was probably assuming they had survived and would be looking, just in case. The closest few systems were the most likely to be watched. Every system they could put between them and this planet before resupplying was a little extra margin of error. That was provided they could get out of the system.
“So where do we go?” Jia asked.
“Is there any way we can track Cleo?” Banok asked Nyx.
“I have a tracking program on the Catspaw. If I can get a signal to it, yeah. If they’re out of range though, obviously not. Best bet is going to be to put into port somewhere we can pay for a wide broadcast,” Nyx said.
That sounded like it would take awhile. If Cleo was in the sort of danger they’d faced, too long.
“Cleo isn’t the only one in danger. The magical warheads that came for me seemed to be using Spellweaver construction,” Banok said.
“Think the tramp betrayed you? Of course she betrayed you, that’s what you get for laying around with second-rate hussies,” Nyx said with an agitated flutter of her wings.
Did Banok think that? Banok wasn’t entirely sure of just how loyal Delilah might be to him, but would she try to kill him?
“I don’t think she’d have been part of this. And if she isn’t on our enemy’s side and the Spellweavers are working for them, I figure she’s in danger,” Banok said.
“I don’t know much about Spellweavers, but I know the Order of Arenthe. They’re the Elvish order that many of their teachers come from. They may maintain ties,” Vanwyn said.
“Did humans get all our magic from you?” Banok said.
Vanwyn lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “I never claimed your people were creative.”
It seemed a tenuous thread to follow, but right now Banok wasn’t seeing any better options. He really wished he could.
“Get us ready for lift-off. I’m sure there are people looking for us, but given what is going on there are probably a lot of ships fleeing this planet,” Banok said. “We’ll be one among many.”
“I’ll get us ready. You know me, best pilot ever! When we’re ready I’ll totally get us away,” Nyx said.
Banok could feel his stomach churning already from the thought of it. Nyx wasn’t so much ‘good’ as ‘crazy’. When you needed a getaway driver though they could be very nearly the same thing.
20
The Rum and Spice was a surprisingly smooth ride as they made their way into orbit. While the ship was no Catspaw they were still lucky to have found it.
The ship had the Merchant Guild credentials to allow them to join a convoy of other transport vessels and their escorts making their way off the planet. A necessary precaution as the mercenaries in orbit had now turned pirate, fighting the planetary militia ships. So far the professional soldiers seemed to be winning the battle.
A watcher looking for them to escape should be able to sense magic, but nothing made itself obvious as having discovered their ruse. If a ship followed them, it was good at keeping hidden.
They didn’t stop running for the next four days. For all the sh
ip ran quiet, it wasn’t comfortable. Claustrophobic, dark, with an unpleasant smell that after days only seemed to get worse and not better. It wasn’t helped when supplies started to go low.
When they finally put into a port it was a rickety one located at the very edges of a system. Mostly utilized by those with long-haul transports, it lacked the amenities of a larger port. Still, they were able to refuel and resupply. They didn’t even have to tap their accounts to do it, the port a common stop for smugglers. The price they got for their cargo was far from fair, but it was enough to get done what was needed in a way that hopefully left them anonymous.
Then it was another three days before they were in orbit around a small moon. The surface was a deep and brilliant green, and even from a distance Banok could feel the powerful lifeforce of the forest below.
It wasn’t a druid grove, but Elves had something similar.
Banok already missed the lounge on the Catspaw. This ship had a common room, but it was claustrophobic in comparison. Still, Vanwyn needed everyone together to let them know what they’d be dealing with on the moon.
“The Order of Arenthe are … cultists, I suppose you could call them. That isn’t uncommon amongst us, a group devoted to the study and worship of one small part of nature,” Vanwyn said.
“How many groups like that do you have?” Jia asked.
“Countless, some better known than others. The largest reveres trees, a faith that is almost universal among my people. The Order of Arenthe is less so, and they revere spiders,” Vanwyn said.
Banok grimaced.
“I hate webs,” Nyx said, pacing back and forth on the top of the small table. “Right. Full power armor and a flame thrower. I’m nobody’s fly.”
“I’d avoid killing any spiders while we’re on the surface,” Vanwyn said pointedly, with a look to Nyx. “The Order’s teachings stand in contrast to those which most Elves believe. To their minds many creatures that exist are simply prey to be caught and consumed. They’re cannibalistic, amongst other things.”
“Does Delilah eat people?” Jia asked, looking over to Banok.
Banok had only indecent answers to that particular question and kept his silence.
“Spellweavers have, I am sure, modified this just as druids have many of the Elvish teachings. Still, they’ll know where the Spellweavers currently spin their webs,” Vanwyn said.
“What will it cost us to get answers?” Banok asked.
Another shrug from Vanwyn and her lips quirked. “They’re dangerous, they’re very dangerous. What they crave above all is magical power, but I’d not let them have any of yours. I’m hoping we can just buy them. Money can so often be converted into anything.”
“If they’re as dangerous as you say, are they going to threaten us? I mean, spiders. Are we flying right into their web?” Jia asked.
“I find it refreshing how frequently you ask the right questions,” Vanwyn said with a tilt of her head to Jia. “Yes, we’re in danger. They are amongst the strongest spellcasters the Elves have and utterly predatory.”
“Then we go in looking as dangerous as we can, but try not to actually start a fight,” Banok said.
Vanwyn nodded. “You in particular. Your power is the most tempting, but also the most dangerous. This is their homeworld and you are strong enough to do it harm.”
“Give me a little time and I could do it harm,” Nyx said. “Magic doesn’t matter if you just have a bomb big enough.”
Recent history had proved that more than true. It was bombs that had largely wiped out the Druid Order, twice.
“I wouldn’t count on that. Much like the Spellweavers they are at their best when facing a threat they can perceive, predict. Give them time to weave a web and they are very nearly unstoppable. I suspect they’ve had time to fear bombs falling on their world and prepare,” Vanwyn said.
Probably so, but a druid with nothing to lose and a star elemental as a familiar? No, nothing in their history would have prepared them for what Banok was about to bring to their door. He’d keep it civil, but he was the surprise they weren’t expecting.
21
The surface of the moon was plain spooky. Banok, declaring himself as the High Druid, sent a communication asking to meet with someone in charge. The result was them being transmitted the coordinates of a small landing pad.
The Order lived in the treetops, which was common for the Elves, the branches shaped and molded to whatever needs were had of them. These were different than any Banok had ever seen though, and webbing was absolutely everywhere. The trees were gray with it—and the spiders, so many thousands of spiders—were constantly scurrying upon them.
It was gloomy, it was unsettling. The same could be said for the delegation that met them. A woman stood in front of two men. All were dressed in robes ornamented with a web motif, although hers were a solid black while theirs were grey, and the men wore swords at their side.
“High Druid. I am Galia, Mistress of the Order of Arenthe, welcome,” Galia said with a dip of her head.
Banok could feel the power radiating off her. Whatever skill she might have at weaving magic, it wasn’t all she had. There was considerable power there as well. Not quite a match for his own, but closer than he’d have expected.
Banok’s companions were all playing the part of guards. Nyx was flying along on a thin pillar of fire, in full armor. Vanwyn had an ornate outfit that seemed composed entirely of layers of metal shaped as leaves. Jia alone was a less than imposing sight, dressed in her apprentice robe and staff in hand.
“Thank you. You’ve an impressive home,” Banok said.
“I could show you more of it, you are welcome to see what we’ve created. Would you care to see the deeper chambers?” Galia asked.
Right, Banok made sure to keep in mind spiders and flies, and just how they fit together. Still, it was about as warm a greeting as Banok could have hoped for.
“We’ll pass on the full tour. I’m just here for information,” Banok said.
Galia looked them over, her expression giving nothing away. “A curious group. What information would you need from the Order of Arenthe, and why come all this way just to bandy a few words?”
“Would you have even spoken with us otherwise?” Banok said.
“No,” Galia said after a brief pause. “You are of interest with the power you so poorly handle. Your companions not at all, although the little one might at least make something of an interesting dinner.”
“Watch it, lady,” Nyx said, brandishing her flamethrower broadly in Galia’s direction.
“The Spellweavers, I need to find them,” Banok said.
Vanwyn interrupted, asking, “Still going to pretend you don’t know me?”
“Know you, yes. Care about you? Not at all,” Galia said in a clipped tone, before turning back to Banok. “We know the Spellweavers, they are part of the weave—which is more than can be said of you and yours. For what reason do you seek them?”
Banok might have tried to make something up, but he wasn’t even sure what sort of lie would work on these people. He also wasn’t much in the mood.
“They tried to kill me, and I believe it likely they hold captive a friend of mine,” Banok said.
“Ah,” Galia said, and gave a tiny shake of her head. “I am surprised they did not succeed. Tell me? Why didn’t they?”
This flow of information was entirely too one-way. Still, in this case the truth might buy him at least a little fear.
“Their attack was intercepted by a dragon,” Banok said.
One of the men behind Galia gasped. Her expression didn’t flicker.
“Plausible, for all it seems unlikely. Although they are believed to have left this space after their war with the Dwarves we still, at times, feel their movements on the web,” Galia said.
“Banok recently struck a significant blow against a rising darkness. He has powerful allies. It is in your best interest to cooperate with us,” Vanwyn said.
“Do you
think him a champion of the light then?” Galia asked, ever so slightly mocking. “I think not, but lately there are such tremors. Things stir both in the dark and in the light, and another war will soon be upon us. We shall stay out of it, as we do. Take your battles elsewhere.”
Banok reached out to Astra and let power flow into him. It was heated and tumultuous, the force of a star and the chill of the Void mingled into one. Galia was well capable of sensing that power.
Banok said, taking a step forward, “For the second time someone has attempted to exterminate the druids. For the second time they have failed. You want to stay out of the war? It is too late, for I am upon your doorstep and I demand answers. Give them.”
“This is your champion, Vanwyn? All crude threats and force?” Galia asked as she stepped forward herself. Around her a powerful aura formed, intricate and perfectly ordered. A thousand magical webs. “This is my home, Druid. Do you think you can threaten me here? Do you think you can defeat me?”
Banok drew more power. The vine patterns upon his flesh took on a reddish glow as if he were molten beneath them. Perhaps he was.
“Here? No, I think if I fought the Order of Arenthe I’ll probably lose. I’ll also burn your home to ashes in the process, as has already happened to mine. Will you chance it?” Banok asked.
Galia stared at Banok in silence. The webs around her almost seemed like a drawn blade, deciding to strike or not.
“Ondesh. Now go, Druid, and know you’ve made an enemy today,” Galia said, spinning on her heel and the power around her flaring as she stormed away escorted by her guards.
They had their answer.
22
They weren’t stopped from leaving the moon behind, and Banok rested in his quarters afterward. It was necessary, but a part of him couldn’t help but question his actions. The Druids had once again almost burned to ash and here he was threatening someone else with the same.
