by R. J. Batla
They were headed for the tallest building – standing ten stories high. While obviously the royal palace, the only difference between the surrounding buildings was its height and the light green coloring, instead of the dull brown of the others.
The commander brought the hovercraft in for a landing on the roof within a large circle with an “H” in the middle. “Ranger, you’ll have to wait here. Only the councilman was granted access. I’m sure you understand.”
Royn nodded and accepted a chair that was offered while they escorted Ames through the single metal door on the roof, the entrance flanked by ten guards.
Ames was taken down a single level into a large room with several columns holding up the roof. An ornately yet scantily dressed Aeren strode across the room from a large wooden throne. About five eleven and two hundred fifty pounds, the middle-aged king of the Aeren had an athletic form and a big smile. He threw his arms wide. “Councilman! To what do we owe this visit? I assumed you’d be very busy, what with the war going on and all.”
After a bear hug, Ames said, “I’m afraid the war is not going so well, King Nocona. We’ve already had to pull back further than we prefer.”
King Nocona frowned. “All the reports I’ve heard paint a different picture, Councilman. They say we’re doing well at the Wall.”
“Officially, we are. But I fear we’re going to lose.”
King Nocona scowled, stepping closer to Ames. “Councilman, you assured us when we sent you our troops that that if we put our full effort into this we could win. Has that changed?”
“It has not, your highness, but there are two problems. The first is that I don’t feel everyone is giving their ‘full effort,’ as you put it.”
“You fear a traitor?” the Aeren king asked, pulling his feet off the floor and floating in a circle, stroking his chin.
“More than one, if I’m right. But I don’t have any conclusive evidence, nor do I expect I ever will,” Ames said. “The second problem is not as tangible, more of a feeling. Like there’s something we’re missing. Malstrak hasn’t attacked in a long time, so why now? He’s never attacked in this way or with so many numbers. The only reason he would do so is if he was reasonably certain of victory – and achieving what he wants.”
“And what does he want?”
“Simply put? Power.”
“So what are we to do?” King Nocona asked, putting his feed on the ground and standing again in front of the robed councilman.
“Did you get my message prior to leaving Harlingon when we decided on all this?”
“Yes I did, and I thought it wise advice. I did as you asked, keeping several companies of soldiers behind, and at least half of my elite warriors. Are you going to explain the reasoning finally? That was very hard to do discreetly.”
“Because I think you are going to need them,” Ames said simply. “If we lose the Breaks, or the Elves fail, and again, that’s an if, we would be very vulnerable to attack. I don’t know the future. But if we fail, then Malstrak will have his run of the East Side. Your army will have to protect your city and country – at that point there will be little hope of rescue. You’ll be on your own.”
“But, Councilman, you’re talking... what exactly are you talking? Annihilation? The loss of our way of life?”
“Or slavery. Torture. I have no idea. Anything is a possibility at this point. I felt it necessary to take precautionary steps. I suggest now that you work up a plan for a siege, an evacuation, and how to defend the mesas on all sides with just the resources you have available. Maybe even consolidate everyone here in Mexia. And by siege, I mean one that may last years. If everything works correctly, even if we lose, you can expect communication in the least, some resources likely, but I don’t know what we’ll be able to do until that time. We can talk more if the worst happens. I’ve already talked to the Manu and the Phoenix, and they’re preparing in much the same ways.”
“Even with the betrayal of the Manu king’s brother last year?”
Ames conceded the point. “Let’s say I didn’t give them as much information or the exact same kind of information. I’m with you that their people might be compromised in some way. Though they still defend the Wilds to the south.”
“What about the Rangers? And the Senturian Corps?”
“I cannot be sure if they, too, have been compromised. Select assets that I know and trust, and their teams, are part of my plan, but only a few know everything. Even fewer know all the players. That way if something happens, they can always deny it. There are only three people who know the full list.”
King Nocona looked worried, and when Ames said so, he replied, “As one should be if they’re potentially deciding the fate of their people. But if you think it’s best, Councilman, I will go with your plan.”
Ames clapped him on the shoulder. “I thank you for your support.” They shook hands. “Let’s hope we don’t need it.”
“Yes. Goodbye, Councilman.”
Ames was escorted back up the stairs and to the hoverboard. After another quick trip to the edge of the mesa, Royn teleported them back to Jump Point One and the warfront.
Ames filled him in on what happened with the Aeren King.
“Well,” Royn said, “I agree: hopefully all this preparation won’t matter.” He looked at his badge. “I’d better get back. Call if you need me.”
In a flash of blue and with a loud bang, Royn disappeared, and Ames turned and walked to the Hexagon, the mobile building they used as a forward command post, called as such because of its six-sided shape, to try to prevent as much death as possible. Though he knew it wouldn’t keep as many alive as he’d like.
Chapter 16 – Jayton Baird
WE WERE ALL SITTING in my room, talking strategy. Again. I worried my brain would explode if I tried to cram one more bit of information into it.
Suddenly Royn put his hand to his ear. “Understood, Troup incoming.”
Troup stepped up next to our CO, and they disappeared with a bang and a flash of blue. Ten seconds later, Royn was back, continuing the conversation like nothing had happened. “Councilman Talco wanted to discuss some earth issues with Troup of a more sensitive nature. All right, let’s head up and watch the next fight.”
“Ugh, do I have to go?” I asked. “My brain hurts.”
Royn gave me a look that only a commanding officer could. “Do I need to make it an order?”
I barely refrained from rolling my eyes. “No.” I gulped down the last of the water I was drinking, then stood from the small table in my ever-expanding room. Now I had an extra bedroom and a dining room.
Big whoop. I was freaking stuck in this freaking stadium. Despite the room literally getting bigger, it felt like the walls were closing in on me. I scratched at the source of my imprisonment, my tormenters. I mean my ankle bracelets.
“Jayton Baird, you know it’s better to see it for yourself than getting it secondhand,” Royn said, reading my thoughts. “And you’d best adjust your attitude, Ranger. Being confined to this place isn’t that bad. Pick your battles.” He turned to walk to the door, motioning for everyone to follow him.
“Easy for you to say,” I said under my breath as I pushed my chair back in.
“What was that?”
“I said I’m coming, sir!”
Euless, Celeste, Morgan, and Leona followed Royn out the door with me bringing up the rear.
“You’d better watch yourself, Jayton,” Celeste said. “He’s right. You need to see it for yourself. Get it together, man.”
I sighed. “Yeah, I know. It’s just so damn frustrating. I want to do more, but all I can do is fight in this damn tournament!”
“Jayton, you’re fighting for the entire East Side,” Morgan said, adjusting her staff on her back. “I’d say that’s more than doing ‘nothing.’”
I knew they were right. But I didn’t have to like it.
After a few stairs, we were in our seats only a minute before the announcer started introducing
the fighters. “That’s him; the likely winner. He’s ranked eighty-seven,” Euless said, pointing to the guy on the right arrow. His scorecard read four in earth, three in fire, seven in energy, and with the Quantum of Copy. I remembered that from training. After a quick check from the Ignis, I confirmed that the numbers were accurate.
When the announcer said, “Fight!” the first thing he did was split into four.
“He did this last time, too,” Leona said. “He likes the mind game part of it, likes watching his opponent panic and try to figure out how to fight multiple attackers when they’ve only been training for single combat.”
“How do you know —”
“This is also his first year in the tournament, and he expects to go pretty far,” Leona continued, not looking at me, turning slightly red. “Watch this next part; it’s one of his signature moves.”
The three copies came at his opponent, each with a different element. As his opponent struggled to defend himself on three sides, the fourth – the real person – came up behind him and clocked him with a serious-looking mace. The three copies disappeared as the opponent collapsed, his blood pooling on the arena floor, clearly dead. The crowd responded immediately and enthusiastically. Their bloodlust was astonishing.
Damn. That could be me if I face him. I gulped. Made it hit home a little harder.
I turned and saw that Leona was gone. Now where did she run off to?
Chapter 17 – Jayton Baird
LEONA REJOINED US A while later but said nothing. After watching a few more fights, Royn spoke in our heads using his Mindspeak. “Just got a call that the Elves need a little help. Let’s meet back in Jay’s room and decide who’s going. Go ahead and power up on the way, Leona.”
“Roger,” she replied, and we all stood up and headed back down. The rest of the crew walked in right behind us, not even bothering to sit down. I led Leona by the arm, as she was deep in concentration. We were the last inside as Anton shut the door, a large, red food stain across his chest.
“We clear?” Royn asked, looking at Sonora and Troup. Her tattoo glowed green and we all felt a pulse of air radiate from her. Troup stomped hard, sending a ripple of power into the ground.
I raised my eyebrow at Hank, who shrugged. “Royn’s worried about spies. The Aeren can sense any device transmitting sound waves through the air and the Dwarves through the stones.”
Oh.
Apparently satisfied, both said we were clear, and Royn turned to Leona. “Okay, Leona, who needs to go with me to help the Elves?”
Leona concentrated harder, her eyes shut tighter and tighter. She suddenly relaxed and opened them. “Me.” Placing a hand on her head, she took a step back and grabbed a chair to sit.
“Absolutely not,” I said.
Royn cocked his head. “What do you mean, Jayton?”
“I mean no. She’s not going.”
Royn stepped closer to me. “Jayton, you’ve got a lot of leeway being our entry into the tournament, but you’d better rethink your situation. You’re still a Ranger, and you’re still under my command. As is Leona.”
“Yeah, bu –”
“No, Jayton, you listen here. She’s as highly trained as you are. She knows the risks and it’s no different from any of us. We’re all here for you, but we also have other responsibilities. We go where we’re needed. And right now, we’re needed at the Elves. Do you have any reasonable objections?”
I stared him down, but I had nothing. I didn’t want her to get hurt. I didn’t want to lose her I—“Jayton, I appreciate your concern, but I’ll be fine. Rest and study. Be prepared for your fight.” She squeezed my arm and stood up. “Okay, Royn, let’s go.”
After the flash of blue, she was gone.
Leona Orchard
THE PAIR APPEARED IN a hexagonal jump point room marked with a red ‘23’. After the blue light and sound dissipated, Royn and Leona walked out of the doors.
Their ears picked up the sound of steel on steel, battle cries echoing down the canyon, and a whole lot of power being thrown around.
“Royn, Leona, General Tovarish Falenlief should be there to greet you shortly,” Heath Goodrich said in their earpieces, the handler for the whole squad. This Jump Point was only a few hundred yards from the mouth of the long canyon that had been carved through the Aarde Mountains on the way to the sea. The Trinity River ran right down the middle of the deep canyon, the water shallow, steady, and clear as glass. The end of the canyon looked like a sharpened U, with the points rising on either side trying to pierce the clouds. The miles of canyon extended northeast through the Aarde Peninsula until it reached the Elf capital city of Elmendorf.
“Glad to see you two. I’m General Tovarish Falenlief,” said an Elf as they stepped down from the platform, shaking their hands. He could be nothing other than an Elf with his looks, high cheekbones, long purple hair, and deep purple armor that complemented his purple skin. “I’m leading the operation down here. Follow me.”
Looking around, Leona noticed the great defensive position of the valley. Sheer cliffs shot up a couple thousand feet on either side of the river. Halfway up the cliffs was a ledge lined with people and war machines, each launching their various missiles toward the enemy in an orderly fashion. Why would Malstrak still attack here, despite the perils elsewhere?
The mouth of the canyon was a different story. It was chaos. Creatures and people from the West battled against those from the East. Flashes of fire, energy, water, and earth powers lit the sky and reflected off of the canyon walls. The missiles from above crashed down on their targets, which were replaced almost instantaneously by another.
Across the width of the canyon stood a thirty-foot-tall wood-and-metal wall, equipped with large wheels every so often. As Leona watched, the entire wall shifted two feet backwards, the heads of several large monsters appeared above the wall. The defenders across the top of the wall fought valiantly, striking down any enemies who popped over the top. Others opened small portals in the wall, sending a burst of power through the opening before closing it again, all being coordinated from several commanders.
“What an amazing design,” Leona said as they were led toward a tower – also on wheels – slightly set back from the lines that offered a clear view of the battlefield.
General Falenlief smiled. “Yes, the Dwarves did a great job. It functions perfectly, even though we’ve had to give up ground since the battle started. It allows us to retreat and advance easily, and with their earth powers, it’s as steady as if it were cemented in place. Now up to the command tower, please, and you’ll see what we’re up against.”
As they climbed the ladder to the tower, a roar erupted from the other side of the wall. A shudder rippled through the structure and it was pushed back another six inches.
When the trio got to the top, Royn said, “They’re attacking hard, it seems. Will you be able to hold out?”
General Falenlief nodded. “Hopefully. Every inch costs them dozens of lives, but they brought a lot of fighters. Look there — the ships.”
“But there’s only a few — how did that many soldiers fit inside so few ships?” Leona asked.
“They used a shrinking power on the soldiers and monsters for the journey. Once they exit the ship, they grow back to normal size.”
Royn nodded. “Clever. What are your other defenses?”
General Falenlief pointed to the war machines on the ledge, those further behind the wall, and how they had arranged the various Senturians behind the lines. Everything was mobile and efficient, and every squad had at least one Elf member, usually the leader.
Leona saw several blue-skinned Reka behind the wall, furiously diverting the Trinity River around and through the Elven fortifications, to give them a clear path to move. The water materialized on the other side and hurled at the enemy, ensuring the enemy had no such luxury and were kept off balance. That had to take a lot of energy.
Suddenly Leona’s stomach clenched and pain flooded her senses. A visi
on materialized in her mind as she fell to the ground.
Royn stooped to help her. “Leona, are you okay?”
She gasped for breath. “Danger, immediate danger! General, concentrate all your archers on the left side of the wall at all distances, have the Phoenix and fire Senturians ignite the entire right side in front of the wall, then wait for my signal to fire!”
General Falenlief looked through the glass of the tower over the wall. “But there’s nothing there, girl!”
“Do it now!” she screamed.
Panicked, the general gave the order, and had to battle his own subordinates who asked the same questions. Leona’s insides were on fire, and her brain was buzzing. If they didn’t...
Painfully slow, the orders were given. General Falenlief looked at Leona, and when the timing felt right, she nodded. The archers loosed while fire ignited, though the soldiers didn’t know why.
Nothing happened. General Falenlief said, “Leona, you just wasted –”
An ear-piercing screech erupted from the other side of the wall. An unseen force slammed into the left side, while black smoke came from the right. The report played over the amplistones in their ears.
“General, a company of hogra appeared out of nowhere on the left side! A few managed to get through, but we were able to dispatch them quickly. If those arrows hadn’t been airborne...”
“General, an enormous horde of hystrix swarmed the right side. Thank God you sent that fire our way, or we’d have been overrun by those overgrown spined possums.”
Leona was sweating, but the pain had gone and she was able to stand.
General Falenlief looked at her with something akin to awe and offered her some water. “What the hell was that?”
She took a drink and managed to say, “Guide power. Great instincts and intuitions. Though it’s never been that painful or intense.”
Tovarish Falenlief smiled. “Can you do it again?”
The rest of the trip passsed by quickly as they helped the general direct his troops. Royn and Leona didn’t do any actual fighting, and Leona only received a couple of more intuitions, thankfully not as painful as the first one. After four hours, Royn called it a night. The general thanked them. The wall hadn’t moved backward an inch. They teleported back to the Dew Drop Inn for some much needed rest.
