by Brandon Mull
Cole thought about that. Unless Lorenzo knew opening the Pilgrim Path to Earth was safe, he might not do it. After his next visit to Trillian, Cole would sincerely believe that letting Ramarro take the Pilgrim Path would destroy the Earth, and Lorenzo might believe his concerns unless he knew the plan. But if Lorenzo knew that the Pilgrim Path would strip Ramarro of his powers, Ramarro might read his mind and learn the truth.
“You’re right,” Cole said. “We need to find Lorenzo.”
“If we take your friends to the Iron Fort, we can start searching Lorenzo’s hideouts,” Violet said.
Cole gave a nod and rubbed his hands together. He looked at Jenna, Hunter, and Dalton. “Ready to save the world?”
CHAPTER
31
PREPARATIONS
When Cole arrived at Elegance’s quarters inside the Iron Fort, he found Lorenzo waiting. Brogan was already a young adult and dressed for battle. Jace, Mira, and Elegance looked ready for a fight as well. Harmony stood near Elegance, like an older version of the same woman. Honor and Destiny sat in a corner playing cards.
“Look who finally decided to join the catastrophe,” Jace said.
“We were searching for you guys the whole time,” Dalton complained. “And we were getting chased by Enforcers.”
“And sometimes we were chasing them,” Hunter said.
“Meanwhile we fought Elegance’s power,” Jace said.
“What is it?” Hunter asked.
“The Perennial Serpent,” Jace said.
“Really?” Hunter asked. “But it has been around ever since—right, time travel.”
“Are you absolutely sure it’s my power?” Elegance asked.
“I’m positive,” Cole said. “The snake will be there when Ramarro returns. If you’re with us, Elegance, that part should be an easy fight.”
“Then I’ll be there,” she said.
“And me with her,” Brogan added.
“I need to talk to Lorenzo alone,” Cole said.
“Ethel,” Elegance called. “Please show Cole and Master Debray to a private salon.”
Ethel promptly entered and escorted Cole and Lorenzo to a small room. Once inside, Cole closed the door.
“What have you learned?” Lorenzo asked.
“Going to my world will destroy Ramarro’s power,” Cole said. “Trillian confirmed.”
“Excellent,” Lorenzo said, pounding a fist into his palm. “That gives us an opportunity.”
“You can open the Pilgrim Path without me?” Cole asked.
“I can with the help of two other Grand Shapers,” Lorenzo said. “I already recruited them as backup. But why without you?”
“Ramarro can read minds,” Cole said. “Right before the fight, I need to go to Trillian and have him program my mind to believe I have sure knowledge that the Pilgrim Path will enable Ramarro to control both worlds. And that the opportunity to take the path may not last very long.”
“Brilliant,” Lorenzo said. “That could work.”
“Except now you know that taking the path will destroy him,” Cole said.
“I have some ability at screening my thoughts from scrutiny,” Lorenzo said.
“We can’t risk it,” Cole said. “Everything depends on this. We should hint to the others that the path is not an option, so they will have that belief. Tomorrow, you come with me to Trillian and let him program you to think Earth is such a tempting world to invade that it will distract Ramarro from the Outskirts. And maybe with a faint hope you can seal him there or something.”
“I am very reluctant to open my mind to Trillian,” Lorenzo said.
“Does that matter?” Cole asked. “We need to save the Outskirts. This could do it. We can make Trillian promise to only change what we want changed in our minds, right?”
“Assuming he will agree,” Lorenzo said.
“He already agreed for me,” Cole said. “We almost certainly lose without this. Isn’t a real chance to defeat Ramarro worth the risk?”
Lorenzo nodded. “I suppose you’re right. You already saw us fail. This is your choice?”
“I think it’s our only hope,” Cole said.
Lorenzo gave another nod. “Very well.”
Cole and Lorenzo returned to the room where the others waited. Lorenzo cleared his throat, and the room fell silent.
“Cole has learned that opening the Pilgrim Path to Ramarro would probably give the torivor control of Earth,” Lorenzo announced. “Little would prevent him from returning here and promptly ruling both worlds. We must do our best to fight him as soon as he appears. Perhaps with Cole enhancing all of our abilities, we can catch him off guard.”
“I’ll do my best,” Cole said. “When Ramarro first shows up, I suspect he will destroy our weapons. If we have decoy weapons, but hide the best ones, maybe we can use the good ones in a fight.”
“Use a Wayminder,” Brogan suggested. “Set the weapons you wish to preserve in a handy location far from the confrontation. Then open a wayport to them when we want them.”
The thought had not occurred to Cole. “Perfect. We should sleep. Ramarro will get loose in the morning. I have one last thing to do with Violet around sunrise. Then we should get in place at the Far North Cache.”
* * *
Violet shook Cole awake the next morning. “The sun will rise soon,” she told him.
Cole rolled off the bed, clothes and shoes already on. It felt like he had slept about ten seconds. “Where is Lorenzo?” Cole asked.
“Just outside,” Violet said.
Cole and Violet found Lorenzo waiting with a guard. Lorenzo made a gesture, and the guard opened a wayport. They all stepped through to the desert sand near the striped tent.
Color leaked into the sky above the horizon, drizzling the distant dunes with variegated highlights. Cole wondered if this might be the last sunrise he would ever witness. Glancing over at the statue of the Perennial Serpent, he pointed at it. “Whatever else happens, you’re finished today.”
“We should hurry,” Violet said.
Cole connected to her power, and she opened a wayport. They stepped through onto the Red Road in front of the gate to the Lost Palace.
Lorenzo gasped. “I never dreamed I would tread here.”
“We’re all awake,” Cole said, leading the way forward. “Like it or not.”
After crossing the gate, Cole found Hina waiting, wearing a gown that glimmered like starlight. There were no horses or other guards, but five canopies stood nearby that had not been there before. Each sheltered an inviting bed.
“It’s all so different inside,” Lorenzo said.
“Welcome,” Hina greeted. “We understand you have need of haste. Please choose a place to lie down.” She indicated the canopies.
“He visits in a dream,” Cole said. “Go to sleep.”
He trotted over to a canopy, walked across an embroidered rug, and sank onto a decadent mattress. Cole worried that, with the urgency of the day, he might have a tough time settling down. Those cares soon dissolved, and his eyelids drooped.
Cole was back home in his bedroom—his bedspread, his books, his jeans on the floor, one pant leg inside out. A cup of water sat within reach on a paper towel. He picked it up and took a sip. He could faintly hear a television in another room.
He went to the window and peered out. The morning sun was too high for a school day. Saturday, maybe?
“Are you ready?” Trillian asked from behind him.
“Is this supposed to relax me?” Cole asked, waving a hand at his room.
“Perhaps,” Trillian said.
“Or make me homesick?”
“Perhaps.”
“Or show me what I can have if I win?”
“There could be many reasons,” Trillian said.
Cole glanced toward the hall. “Are my parents here?”
“They could be,” Trillian said. “It would consume time. And it would not be entirely real. We can talk anywhere you wish.”
&n
bsp; “The beach was good,” Cole said.
With no perceptible shift, they were back on the beach. Sizable waves crashed before them. Lukewarm sand greeted Cole’s bare feet.
“You enjoyed the beach in Miami,” Trillian said. “I prefer more tranquility.”
“It’s great,” Cole said. “Where are the others?”
Violet and Lorenzo appeared.
“I was orienting Master Debray,” Trillian said.
“You will only affect my mind so I believe I can send Ramarro to Earth on the Pilgrim Path to distract him from our world,” Lorenzo clarified.
“I will leave some hope that taking the path could render him powerless,” Trillian said. “I will color it as a vain hope. I think that hope is necessary. I do not believe you could bring yourself to simply give Earth to Ramarro, no matter how I tamper with you.”
“And you will do nothing else to my mind,” Lorenzo said.
“I cannot alter who you are without explicit permission,” Trillian said. “Even then there are limits. I can’t tamper with your mind in ways you do not allow. Furthermore, I promise to all of you that I will not even attempt to alter your minds beyond how we explicitly discuss.”
“That will have to suffice,” Lorenzo said. “All right.”
“I will think the Pilgrim Path is a direct route to the conquest of Earth for Ramarro,” Violet checked.
“Yes,” Trillian said. “If you care for my opinion, I should adjust Lorenzo first. Cole should keep connected to Lorenzo so he can leave the Lost Palace and open a wayport to meet the other Wayminders who will help him open the Pilgrim Path.”
“Can I stay connected to him when he leaves the Lost Palace?” Cole asked.
“If he stays on the Red Road, I believe so,” Trillian said.
“Very well,” Lorenzo said.
“Connect to his nexus, Cole,” Trillian instructed.
Cole did so easily.
The torivor touched the back of Lorenzo’s neck, and he vanished. Even with Lorenzo gone, Cole’s connection to him persisted.
“The transition is smoother if the subject awakens with the false knowledge,” Trillian said. “Violet next?”
She nodded. Trillian touched the back of her neck, and she vanished as well.
A large wave roared. Cole wondered if there was something he was not seeing. Some trick Trillian could be playing.
“You’re wise to be cautious,” Trillian said. “But our interests align here. I would love for you to defeat Ramarro. Be sure to listen to Dandalus as well. He is no fool—he reached out to you for a reason.”
“Okay,” Cole said.
“Lorenzo is on the road,” Trillian said.
Cole could still feel the connection. He fed power to Lorenzo. And then the connection broke.
“He departed through a wayport,” Trillian said. “Are you ready?”
“What if the trick doesn’t work?” Cole asked. “What if Ramarro doesn’t take the bait?”
“You will have a difficult fight on your hands,” Trillian said. “Empower your friends. Listen to Dandalus.”
“Can you do anything to help me?” Cole asked.
“Any other help I could provide might one day endanger me,” Trillian said. “And I will not risk harm to help you. I have been harmed enough in this world.”
“All right,” Cole said. “Do it.”
He felt a hand on the back of his neck.
CHAPTER
32
SHOWDOWN
Cole opened his eyes.
He was on a bed. An unbelievably comfortable bed.
Fabric overhead. He was beneath a silken canopy.
No breeze.
Where was he?
Trillian! The canopies all shaded beds!
He was awake! Today was the morning Ramarro would attack.
And then he remembered.
Going to Earth would not strip Ramarro of his powers. The torivor could end up ruling both worlds if he walked the Pilgrim Path! But there was a chance that if they could delay him long enough, some of the Grand Shapers of Creon could take away the opportunity of following the Pilgrim Path.
Cole shivered. He and his friends had no other option but to fight. Hopefully, they could distract Ramarro long enough to give Earth a chance.
No.
They had to do better.
Hopefully, they could defeat Ramarro. No matter how powerful the torivor was, there was always a chance. Maybe if Cole empowered all of his friends, together they could catch Ramarro off-balance and bring him down.
His friends! They needed to know about the Pilgrim Path.
Wait.
They were already working under the assumption the path wouldn’t work. He had just been here to confirm their suspicions. And to see if Trillian had any extra tips.
There were no tips.
They were on their own.
Cole rolled out of bed. He needed to get back to the Iron Fort.
He found Violet coming toward him.
“The Pilgrim Path won’t work,” she said.
“I know,” Cole replied. “It will just give Ramarro another world to rule. We have to stop him on our own.”
“Can we?” Violet asked.
“We have to try,” Cole replied.
“But can we win?”
Cole squared his shoulders. “Only one way to find out. Come on.”
Violet followed him out the gate to the Red Road. He connected to her power, energized her, and she opened a wayport. Cole stepped through to the sand.
A guard greeted them and brought them to Elegance’s quarters. Cole found Elegance, Harmony, Honor, Destiny, Mira, Jace, Dalton, Hunter, and Jenna all seated around a long table enjoying breakfast. The Grand Shaper Kezlyn Vedor was present as well. Ethel and a pair of servants kept food coming and glasses filled.
“Did you sleep in?” Jace asked around the pastry he was eating.
“We just got back,” Cole said.
“He knows you did,” Dalton said. “How’d it go?”
“Not the best,” Cole said. “I got confirmation that we can’t rely on the Pilgrim Path. If Ramarro uses it, he’ll just add Earth to his conquests. Where is Brogan?”
“He went ahead with a couple of handpicked guards from here to prep the battleground,” Elegance said. “And this is the Grand Shaper Kezlyn Vedor. She has come out of hiding to aid us.”
“Thanks,” Cole said, his mind racing. Having guards from the Iron Fort would be different from last time. Having Brogan would be different too. Last time had been a failure. Differences were encouraging. “What about Lorenzo?”
“We haven’t seen him this morning,” Mira reported. “Want some food?”
“I’m not really hungry,” Cole said. “I’d feel better getting to the Far North Cache.”
“The rings are quiet,” Mira said.
And last time they had cut it kind of close. It would be smart to help Brogan prep the battleground, using his knowledge from the fight in the hypothetical future. But he didn’t want to bring up the possible outcome he had already experienced. Not everyone knew about it. “Might be smart to get there early. Be ready. Who is coming?”
“All of us but Destiny,” Harmony said.
“I want to come,” Destiny complained.
“We have been over this, Tessa,” Harmony said. “Your power has no applications in combat.”
“Unless you need to know something,” Tessa said. “Like how to stop Ramarro.”
“You’re too young,” Harmony said. “It would disturb me too much. End of subject.”
“I can give you some power now,” Cole said. “See if your power activates again.”
“Yes, please,” Tessa said.
Cole moved around the table to her, and she offered her hand. He took it and fed energy into her.
After a long moment, he quit and released her.
“Sorry,” Tessa said. “I was trying.”
“It never works when you’re trying,” Mira mutt
ered.
“I was trying last time,” Tessa said. “And it worked just fine.”
“Eat one of these,” Jace said, approaching Cole from behind. He handed him a piece of wheat toast with egg on it. “Everyone deserves a last meal.”
“You’re going to curse us!” Mira griped.
“I’m trying to help him die bravely,” Jace shot back.
Cole took a bite of the toast. It tasted good.
Harmony stood, dabbing her lips with a napkin. “Let’s gather our things. Remember your decoys. We need to leave your best weapons where Brogan instructed.”
As most of the diners left the table, Cole sat down by Jenna to finish his egg on toast. “Are you all right?” he asked.
“I’m nervous,” Jenna said. “I’ve never been in a fight before.”
“This will be a strange fight,” Cole said. “It could be over so quickly.”
“Well, I could visit some of my friends in the echolands,” Jenna said. “I feel bad I didn’t say good-bye to Granny Helki.”
“We might survive,” Cole said, then took a big bite of toast. He set the rest down. “Come on.”
The others gathered, then a guard opened a wayport and they went to the sand. Three tables were set up. Some of the group put their special weapons on one table, some on another. Cole went to set his Jumping Sword beside Mira’s, but she waved him away.
“Brogan thought you should leave your Jumping Sword on the third table,” Mira said. “It’s just for you. And Violet could open the wayport for you.”
“Sure,” Violet said, standing nearby.
Cole set down the Jumping Sword, and his ring started glowing. Mira handed him a short sword. “A decoy for Ramarro to destroy,” she explained.
“Time to go,” Jace said, holding up a hand to display his shining ring.
“We’re still ahead of schedule,” Cole muttered to Violet, connecting to her power.
A wayport opened.
“Far North,” Violet announced.
Harmony led the procession. Cole watched the others file through, and then went second to last. Violet came after.
He recognized the fence around the cache. Violet had chosen a different point along the perimeter than Elegance had selected.
