The Burning Grove

by Skyler Grant

  It has been four days since Banok had killed King Aeriloni. If action was called for, they were already pushing it, but going into any fight was foolish without a plan. They needed to know who they were dealing with, and they needed to get themselves back into fighting shape.

  “Before we start with the briefing, I want to see our status. How combat-ready are we?” Banok asked.

  “I lost a lot of people, but the ones left are more combat-hardened. We’d already upped those coming out of the vats though and aren’t winnowing them first. I split up the battle-hardened and put them in command of the young,” Ogdek said.

  “The Void Elves have proved to be instinctive mages, even without training. Think of them a bit like you when we first met. They can’t weave or unweave, but they can throw a Void bolt,” Delilah said.

  That was something. Banok remembered how the first time he’d faced off against Delilah his raw force had been enough of a threat to her skill, and she’d reconsidered a fight. The Void Elves might individually be weak, but collectively they had a power that had been a match for his.

  “We’re also well-equipped. Resources have continued to come in from Olina,” Cleo said.

  “Enough of what we can bring to bear then. What are we walking into?” Banok asked.

  “An enigma. We thought she might be an actual queen, and I had a number of candidates on my shortlist. Failing that a titan of industry, the scion of some ancient line. But Nyssa Queen is nobody,” Cleo said.

  “A lot of pictures for a nobody,” Banok said.

  “Nyssa Argent, Nyssa Vain, Nyssa Dias, she’s used a lot of names over the years. A human immortal, old—not sure how old since she keeps such a low profile,” Cleo said.

  “Human immortality is almost always tied to powerful magic. Do we know what hers is?” Vanwyn asked.

  “Not a clue, unfortunately,” Cleo said.

  “What do we know about her? Start early,” Banok said.

  “Most of her celebrity was in her early life. At one point she was a star of the cinema, a century later a fashion model,” Cleo said.

  “Those would have been her authentically early lives. It is the nature of the young to crave fame. The older an immortal lives, the more you value simple freedom,” Vanwyn said.

  “I always value freedom,” Cleo said.

  “Which is why I so respect you, you are wise beyond your years,” Vanwyn said.

  “Anyways, from there we have a record of her as a pilot doing colony runs, a vulcanologist, and a reporter,” Cleo said.

  “She was getting bored and looking for new experiences. New places,” Vanwyn said.

  “But eventually she seems to have settled into extremely mundane careers. Currently she’s a courtesan at the Alergori Resort on Penalos Four. You’ll recall that being the same resort Blank told us where to go, if you changed your mind. I got directed the same place,” Cleo said.

  That was bold. That was as bold as Olina appearing to them herself. Why would Blank give them the one location where they could find her? Except, of course, it was about the last place they’d ever have thought to look.

  “The head of a great galactic conspiracy to prevent the rise of evil is working as a courtesan?” Banok asked.

  Cleo shrugged. “Not working much, is my guess. Not many hours required, comfortable accommodations, a chance to meet lots of people.”

  “What do we know about the resort?” Banok asked.

  “Attempts to bribe employees went absolutely nowhere. I sent a wraith as soon as we had a name, but they’ve failed to report back.”

  It wasn’t the first time they’d had no luck scouting out a target. Usually there was a social lever one could pull with employees, but if not, something like a resort would have public information.

  “I know you didn’t stop there,” Banok said.

  Cleo cycled through holos. These were pictures taken from inside the resort by those who vacationed there. Something felt off about them at once.

  “These are too nice,” Banok said.

  “No security features shown, all taken with favorable lighting and from every angle. Across thirteen different travel databases and several different travel correspondents who visited, I couldn’t find anything with a different feel from these,” Cleo said.

  They weren’t even that flattering. It wasn’t like someone had tried to show the resort at its very best, and it looked pleasant but not exceptional.

  “Well, we do know it is all about control with her. We’re seeing that right now. However she might not appear to be in charge of this place, nothing is happening here without her consent,” Banok said.

  “There are certain forms of magic that can control others. We know that she uses implants across vast distances, but perhaps there is something else at work here?” Vanwyn asked.

  Perhaps, but then why hadn’t she just approached them directly and used such an ability on them, if she had one? Instead she’d made her offer through Blank, one that had failed.

  “We don’t go in guns blazing,” Cleo said.

  “Brute force is just about all we have going for us,” Banok said.

  “Shuttle. You, me, with Nyx hidden inside. Nyx? Do you think you can find a way to disrupt those implants?” Cleo asked.

  “If you keep the dummy out of my way,” Nyx said.

  “And we accept the invitation we were given,” Banok said.

  “If control is her thing, she won’t be able to resist letting us in,” Cleo said.

  That didn’t mean they’d be able to get out again.

  52

  It was becoming almost familiar by this point, the arrival into the seemingly pleasant setting that nonetheless was filled with danger.

  Cleo and Banok had booked a pair of rooms under their names. There was no point hiding themselves. Not hiding themselves was kind of the point.

  The first thing Banok noticed about the resort was that it was dated. Nothing looked new and everything had more wear and tear than it really should have. It was a bit of a contrast to the exterior where the communications equipment was massive and first-rate.

  The second thing Banok noticed was the implants. Almost every staff member had one below their ear in the style that Blank had worn.

  They’d decided on separate rooms. While having them together would have offered them a bit more security, neither were under any illusions it would offer them any privacy. They were in the heart of the beast now.

  Banok kept finding more to be concerned about. His magical sight wouldn’t go beyond any room here, far more limited than usual. The only explanation for that he could think of was runes built into the walls to help counter magic. It wouldn’t be that unusual to have one surrounding a casino—and this resort did have one—but here it even seemed to apply to the bedrooms.

  Banok flipped through resort services on a monitor to a courtesans section. There were only five in residence, Nyssa Queen recognizable from her photos. She had an opening in a few hours, pending courtesan approval, of course. Banok sent the request.

  It would let Queen know that they knew about her presence— and that might send her away, but Banok didn’t think so.

  Waiting to see if his response was accepted or not, he decided to walk the resort and get a feel for things. Security seemed light at first, but the more he looked the more it seemed hidden rather than non-existent. A janitor sweeping up was exceptionally built and when he went to sweep Banok saw a military tattoo just under the sleeve of his tee-shirt. A waitress handing out drinks had callouses consistent with long weapons practice. There was a hum of magic everywhere as well, although no runes visible anywhere.

  Banok found Cleo sitting at a bar and he took a seat beside her. “How are the drinks?”

  Cleo passed him a glass and he took a sip. Why did everything have to be so fruity? Banok slid it back, making a face.

  “Every employee is armed and well-muscled, as are about a third of the guests,” Cleo said quietly.

  “The enti
re place is warded against magical sight,” Banok said.

  “Atmospheric seals on every room. Thickness of walls consistent with high-strength armor plating,” Cleo said.

  “Well, I guess we came to the right place,” Banok said.

  Cleo gave a nod at that. ”This place is a fortress pretending to be a resort.”

  “I booked a slot with Queen,” Banok said.

  Cleo gave him a long look and shrugged. “More direct than I’d have gone, but things have gone far enough. We need to get this thing settled.”

  There was a chime from Banok’s comm and he checked it. Queen had accepted the appointment.

  “Looks like she agrees,” Banok said.

  “Want me there?” Cleo asked.

  They both had business with Queen and if anybody was going to outthink her, it would be Cleo. That said, if it turned into a magical duel of some sort, Cleo would be in the way and could be hurt. Much living having Nyx free in the station, having Cleo outside the room also introduced a wildcard. She wouldn’t sit idle.

  “I can handle it. Be ready in case I need an extraction though,” Banok said, and Cleo nodded.

  Banok slid away from the bar. He spent a few hours gambling and he was down modestly, but it passed the time until his appointment and he returned to his room.

  It wasn’t long until there was a beep at the door and when it slid aside, she was there.

  Nyssa Queen wasn’t dressed like royalty, she wore a black gauzy thing just translucent enough to make it clear she wore nothing beneath it. No gun, either.

  “Release your defensive spells. We won’t be needing then,” Nyssa said, stepping forward and letting the door close behind her.

  Banok did so in an instant, unweaving the shields of every element he’d already placed around himself in expectation of a conflict to come. It didn’t make sense to do, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. They’d been right then, some sort of control magic, and none of the defenses he’d put in place was stopping it.

  “They’re down,” Banok said. Despite the danger of the situation, he found himself taking a moment to appreciate her figure.

  “I know that you are struggling to find a way around what I’m doing to you. You won’t, not that I expect that to stop you from trying,” Nyssa said. “So, I’m betrayed. No need to confirm, I know.”

  “Were you really?” Banok asked. He still suspected it might be an elaborate ruse by Nyssa and the Socialite together.

  “Oh yes. It wasn’t a surprise, of course, and I thought it likely to come at this point in time, but that doesn’t make it any less a betrayal,” Nyssa said.

  Banok couldn’t run away, couldn’t attack Nyssa. Even though she’d given no verbal instructions for either, it was clear he was being bound by certain wishes of hers. It wasn’t necessary for her to even speak her will aloud then.

  “Attacking the Order a second time was a mistake,” Banok said.

  Nyssa gave him a wry smile. “Was it? I suppose that depends on what you think I’m after. I’m sure you’ve heard it is to stop magic, to kill spawning evil before it grows big and powerful.”

  “You’re saying it isn’t?”

  “Villain’s monologue time. That is me, by the way, just to be clear. I’ll let you be the antihero in our little drama,” Nyssa said with a coy look.

  53

  “If I’m the antihero, you must be even worse than I thought,” Banok said.

  Nyssa laughed at that and shook her head. “Well maybe we’re both the villains then. You can have your monologue after, if you’d like. We need to keep it quick though.”

  “Another appointment?”

  “Something like that. Soldier is coming to kill me while I’m so distracted with you, and your own allies are soon to launch a surprise attack,” Nyssa said.

  That was a lot of twists coming to Banok, who rather thought he was in command of the twists in this situation.

  “Socialite is pretty good, isn’t she?” Banok asked.

  Nyssa said, “The best at what she does. That is why I used her. They all are. I’ve always picked the best. Can you call that elemental of yours?”

  Astra appeared in a poof of flame, her arms crossed. “I’m not compelled. I could burn you alive, lady.”

  “Your abilities are bound to his and without his consent you can do no such thing,” Nyssa said, studying Astra curiously. “I’ve heard you have the memories of Urania Vox. Is it true? Do you recognize me?”

  Astra looked flustered for a moment as she looked Nyssa over. “We have. You were wearing rather more clothes, and had your hair up. I liked it better that way. We weren’t close though, and I didn’t even know your name. You were just present at a few of those tedious brunches.”

  “The braids? Maybe I’ll go back in a next life,” Nyssa said thoughtfully. “And no, you never really see me as anyone important. Not until I’m done and step out of the shadows. Still, you never would have gotten your funding if it weren’t for me.”

  “You wanted her to become the Lady of the Void?” Banok asked.

  “No more than I wanted you to become the Lord of the Burning Grove. I couldn’t have predicted every action that led you to that path, for all that I’m well satisfied with the results,” Nyssa said, leaning forward on the edge of the bed.

  “Why?” Banok asked.

  “Because complacency is death. Because all of the elder races stopped their monsters and began to decline. Because we’re at our best when we have a really good enemy,” Nyssa said.

  “And now? What? You think I’m just going to let you walk away and do it all over again?” Banok asked.

  “I didn’t order the destruction of the druids, I didn’t give the order to wipe out your planet. I put the very best of weapons in the hands of the very best of soldiers and told a man called Soldier, who is willing to carry out whatever is necessary, to do what he believed was his best,” Nyssa said, staring at Banok.

  Was it the truth? A lie? If Queen really were about total control, she’d never allow a subordinate that much power and yet there was evidence everywhere that she did just that. Socialite had said this was all her doing, but then Socialite wanted to kill her.

  “Then how do you see this playing out?” Banok asked.

  “Why, that much should be obvious. Your army falls upon Soldier’s. You get your long sought-after revenge. And while you two are fighting it out, I slip out the back,” Nyssa said, as she stood.

  “Urania is back, you know. You don’t have one villain, you have two,” Astra said.

  “Oh, dearheart. What do you think Socialite is? I have three. Interesting days are ahead and humanity will be the better for it,” Nyssa said, squeezing past Banok as she moved towards the door.

  “I’d like to see you again,” Banok said.

  He wasn’t sure where that had come from. There was no compulsion for love coming from her, not like there had been from Urania. Still, Banok had discovered he had a fondness for capable women and whatever else Queen might be, she was capable.

  “Not until you find a way to guard yourself from my abilities. Should you do that and you can find me again? I’m open to dinner. I’ll even wear my hair up,” Nyssa said with a flash of a smile backwards before she disappeared out the door.

  As soon as she was gone a guard tossed in an unconscious Cleo and a furiously cursing Nyx in a birdcage.

  Right, they’d each launched their plans and neither had worked. That just left one decision in front of Banok. Did he let things play out the way Nyssa wanted, or did he try to flip the script?

  Socialite was pulling Soldier’s strings, and that meant he knew why Banok and his forces were here and they could just try to complete the mission already in front of them and stop Queen.

  Yet, if it came to a question of who Banok believed more, the answer would have to be Queen. Socialite was just too good of a liar and he knew that firsthand.

  Bank keyed through the room communicator, calling the Catspaw.

 
; A reply came, “This is Vanwyn. You probably don’t want to be talking with us right now.”

  “I know what you’re doing. There is another fleet arriving to do the same thing. Have you spotted them?” Banok asked.

  “We have. So far we’ve been leaving each other alone, but keeping watch,” Vanwyn said.

  “Soldier is in command of it, he was the one behind the attack on the Druid Order. Take him out at all costs,” Banok said.

  There was a long pause on the other end. “I don’t agree, but Ogdek heard you. We’re diverting now. I hope you know what you’re doing.”

  Banok did too, he really, really, did.

  54

  One month later.

  Soldier had died in fire and flame and taken many with him. Queen had gotten away, but Banok was convinced he’d see her again, one day.

  It was almost deja vu, almost. The Druid Order again being rebuilt out of the ashes after the old, but this time it looked far different than the last.

  Before, they’d been scattered refugees, fighting the Grove even as they tried to rebuild, but no longer. Void Elves and Orcs both were helping to build this place. The Grove had preferences—no structures taller than two stories and construction only of native materials, and these were preferences they were honoring.

  Gavin had moved his operation there and was even now setting up a new generation of enhanced growth vats. Soon he’d be producing Orcs at five thousand a week and assured Banok than within a year he’d double that number.

  They even had Dwarves. It turned out they hadn’t had a real dragon to worship. They did now. Astraxia had accepted them without protest and sent some back to help him with his cause, their flesh covered with draconic runes, and wielding hammers that burst into flame.

  Cleo wasn’t there. She was at the head of an army trying to restore her family’s home. The Vipers were falling before the armies of the Burning Grove.