Eden's Jester

by Ty Beltramo

  “Well, Borse, lucky for you that my vision is much better than your garden-variety Engineer. I’m an escape specialist. Just give me a minute.”

  The bonds were complex, obviously serving several different purposes. Their designer had gone to great lengths to make them unbreakable. However, I had learned long ago that the more complicated the thing, the easier it was to break. All you need to know is what string to pull.

  I traced thread after thread, looking for the one that bound them together. The bond had patterns that were similar to Melanthios’s glamour. That helped me guess where to look. After several dead-ends, it became apparent that parts of the structure were designed to mislead. However, as with all energy, there was a pulse, a frequency, to it. My guess was that the various types of threads would resonate with different energies. I began to hum different frequencies until one group stood out from the rest, not responding to my humming.

  There at the root was the beginning of these cables. Those beginnings were fine and fragile. I pulled them apart from the rest and and snapped them. The bonds dissipated as if they were smokey tendrils caught in a breeze.

  Borse didn’t move for a moment, unsure of his freedom. Then he stood up and bowed deeply. “I thank you, Elson. Never in my memory has one of Chaos come to the aid of an elemental. I am grateful, and at your service.”

  With a wave of my hand, I said, “Not necessary, Borse. It was my pleasure. Really, I live for this kind of thing. And I’m not a part of Chaos.”

  “But you opposed Law . . .”

  “Don’t make so much of it. I oppose everybody, eventually. Seems to be my destiny.”

  “Hrmph,” he said. “May I ask how you were able to dispatch the Sentinels with such ease?”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “They are formidable opponents. With a single blow, you defeated them. May I ask how?”

  I thought about it. “Honestly, Borse, I’m not sure exactly what happened there. But if I figure it out, I’ll let you know.”

  “Ah. Too bad. The Sentinels are a plague upon my kind. They reduce our numbers and corrupt our purpose. It would be good to have a means of resistance other than flight.”

  “Don’t knock the hasty retreat. It has served me well on numerous occasions.”

  “Indeed. I am at your service.”

  Having the service of an elemental sure could be handy. But history said they were noble creatures and deserved better than what I’d have for them. I had seen how bending such a creature to another’s will worked. The forces of Law, with their “lawful acquisitions,” stank of hypocrisy and evil. Using individuals, sacrificing them for the sake of the big picture, was becoming less and less attractive to me.

  “Look around you Borse, does it look like I need an earth elemental?”

  He looked at the pit. Boulders, holes, and gravel filled the place. “Yes,” he said.

  “Well, I don’t. I like the place as it is.” He just stood there. “But answer me this, what was going on between you and Jumbo?”

  “As I said, the Sentinels have been taking my people for many ages. If they ensnare us, we are helpless to resist them.”

  “Really? Your strength is legendary. I mean, don’t you guys create the earthquakes and volcanoes and that kind of thing? Seems like that would take some serious mojo.”

  “Their chains hold us and cause great pain when we disobey.”

  “Huh. That sucks. How many of your people have been taken?”

  “Many.”

  In all my years, I had never seen evidence that Law had a squad of goliaths enslaving others to do their will. It was obviously a carefully guarded secret. That was understandable. Slavery makes for poor public relations.

  Where had all the good guys gone? Were there any, ever? It was one more inconsistency that I’d have to add to the list. But I didn’t have time to explore the depths of hypocrisy within my own kind. The game was afoot. Time to get creative.

  A thought occurred to me. “Borse, can you see their bonds?”

  “Yes.”

  “So look.” I fashioned one of the Sentinel bonds in the air between us. Borse stepped back, alarmed.

  “Take it easy. I just want to show you how they work.”

  His brow furrowed with the sound of sandpaper on stone. He stepped close. I caused the strands to vibrate, making those that didn’t vibrate stand out.

  “You see those strands? You snap those, the whole thing falls apart.”

  It took several tries, but eventually he got the hang of it.

  “Elson, this is a priceless gift. The secret of the Sentinel Chains has been a guarded treasure from time immemorial. Thank you, friend.”

  “No problem, Borse. Show all your friends and anyone else who wants to learn. I don’t like Jumbo’s type. It’ll be a nasty surprise for them.”

  Borse smiled. “Indeed.”

  “Happy to help. Just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do with the information.”

  At that moment I sensed a traveler coming in fast through the ether. Maybe I misjudged the bureaucratic paralysis that would delay Jumbo and his thugs.

  “You’d better dive deep, Borse. Someone’s coming.”

  I swear his feet became more planted into the crust of the earth. He didn’t move.

  “Elson, I no longer fear your kind. I’ll stand with you. As will we all.”

  I moved into the ether to get a better view, and hopefully the drop, on whomever it was trespassing on my already violated sunrise.

  As the intruder got closer, I realized it was Aello. I returned to the prime material plane.

  “No, really. You’ve got to go. It’s Aello. She’s kind of brittle about things that aren’t ‘normal’. She won’t react well to you and I hanging out.”

  Borse knit his stoney eyebrows, confused by the reference. But he understood the seriousness I was trying to convey.

  “She is an enemy?” he asked.

  “No. Worse. She’s a friend who thinks she’s an enemy.”

  Borse laughed a deep sandy bellow. “I shall remain and witness this strange creature. Perhaps I’ll learn more of your kind.”

  I put up my hands. “It’s your funeral.” Probably mine too.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  It didn’t take long for Aello to show up. She didn’t look happy. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’d ever seen her happy. I walked a dozen yards from Borse, leaving a small mound between us, to keep Aello from seeing him.

  “Hey, Aello. Why the sour face?”

  “Where have you been?” Her nostrils flared. I think even her pupils were dilated.

  I backed up a bit, just in case. “Around. Why?”

  “Melanthios feared you went underground. He said he was experiencing strange sensations from you and got suspicious. I’ve been looking for you for days.”

  Prudence dictated that I should reply in a calm, quiet voice with measured words and no sudden movement.

  “Yeah? Well tell him you’re still looking. And tell him he can kiss my eternal behind, while you’re at it.” Oh well.

  She got in my face. I moved back again.

  “You may fool Diomedes, Elson, but you don’t fool me,” she spat. “While we’re fighting for this world, you and your kind are building a kingdom of pain and death. You’re so pathetic that even the Lords of Chaos reject you. But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re still one of their wretched, worthless minions. I can’t believe Diomedes doesn’t see that. You are betraying him, Elson. He needs you, and here you are, wasting time we don’t have!”

  I put up my hands, palms forward, to ward off the negative waves that threatened to toss me overboard.

  “Whoa, hey. Relax, Aello. I haven’t been wasting anything. Though time has been kind of relative lately.” I scratched my head. “I’m not even sure what day it is.”

  She folded her arms across her chest. “So, what are you doing to free Diomedes?” she asked.

  “Nothing.”

  �
�What?”

  “I said, ‘nothing’.”

  “Then what on earth have you been doing?”

  “Nothing on earth. I’ve been in jail. But don’t worry, I escaped.”

  “What jail? Who imprisoned you?”

  “Aeson imprisoned me. And you wouldn’t believe the trouble I’ve seen.”

  She sat down on the grass next to me. She was shaken, and seriously stressed out.

  I sat next to her. “Listen, Aello. I’m going to help Diomedes. He’s my friend. But I have to know more. Did you get what I asked you for?” I said.

  “Yes. We’re confident Aeson is holding Diomedes in Chile.”

  Ah. Things were looking up.

  “Really? You mean the Chile with the mountains and the volcanoes and earthquakes? Ha! That’s rich. Someone does love me.” More coincidence.

  “I don’t understand,” she said.

  “I want you to meet someone. Borse!” The granite man rose from within the earth a few feet away and walked to us. Little pieces of gravel dislodged themselves as he sat down.

  Aello took one look at him and practically came out of her skin. “What is that?” she said a bit too loudly.

  “Hey keep it down, you’re making a scene,” I said. “This is Borse. Borse, this is Aello. She’s a bit cranky. Be nice.”

  “That’s a fricking elemental, Elson,” she hissed. “Are you crazy?”

  “Nice language. And maybe. But he’s tame.”

  Borse smiled. “Hello, Aello. If you are Elson’s friend, you are mine as well.” He slapped her hard on the back. Fortunately, she was a supernatural being, or that blow would have crippled her.

  “I’m not his friend,” she said to Borse. Then to me, “Elson, what are you doing summoning an elemental?”

  “Sending him to Chile.”

  I turned to Borse and told him what I needed.

  “I understand, friend. It will be done as you ask.” He sank into the ground where he stood.

  Aello leaned close. “Elson, you are a maniac. What will that thing do?”

  “Keep Aeson’s minions busy, that’s what. And he’s not a thing. He’s a person.”

  “How on earth did you get it to listen to you? We try to contact them all the time, to minimize their activity. But we never have had success. And here you are with one who calls you ‘friend’?”

  “Really? Who are the Sentinels?” I asked.

  She stiffened. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  I could see she was lying.

  “You want answers? Give me some. Who are the Sentinels?” I asked. She didn’t say anything. “Come on, Aello, time to come clean. Believe me, you’ll feel better afterward. Sort of like a colonic.”

  “Elson, you are not of Law. Not only would you misunderstand, but such knowledge would compromise resources essential to Law’s ability to keep this world safe.”

  “You’re kidding. Resources? Like people? You’re enslaving people to do your work?”

  “It’s not like that, Elson.”

  “What is it like, Aello?”

  “It’s irrelevant.”

  I folded my arms across my chest. “Yeah, I used to think evil was irrelevant. I’m not so sure.”

  “What is best for this world is not evil, Elson.”

  “So, enslaving the few, as long as it works out for the many, is ‘good?’ It seems I’ve heard Aeson spouting something similar. Could it be that you’re not as different from them as you think?”

  “Believe what you want, Elson. It’s irrelevant.”

  “Maybe to you. But I just whacked two irrelevant Sentinels, and probably made first-rate enemies of the rest. So knowledge of them might be inconvenient for you, but it is certainly relevant to me. Are you going to tell me what I’m up against? Or are you going to jeopardize our whole mission to keep your little secrets?”

  She sighed. “They’re a small group that collects resources for the cause.”

  “How small?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. About a score, I believe.”

  “Make that eighteen, then. I don’t think two will recover to their previous abilities, if you know what I mean.”

  “Elson, for ages they’ve helped this world in so many ways. They’re important.”

  “They’re bad. What they do is bad.” I had a feeling they’d soon be much too busy to cause me any real problems.

  “Do you know what this world experienced in the earliest times? Huge tectonic and volcanic activities terrorized cities. Temperatures varied far more than they do today. We have effectively stabilized this world by harnessing the abilities of elementals. If we hadn’t . . .”

  “Harnessing? Like a horse or an ox? So, it seems the ends do justify the means. But, just to be clear, these Sentinels, they ask elementals to serve? They say ‘please?’”

  She fidgeted. “Not exactly.”

  “They chain them up and make them slaves--exactly.” I tried to find her eyes with mine. She looked away. “Right?”

  She didn’t say anything.

  “Working with you lawful types is going to ruin my reputation,” I said.

  “So, how did you get one to call you ‘friend’?”

  “I treated him like a friend. Try it sometime.”

  “Melanthios won’t be happy about this,” she said.

  Great. That’s just what this operation needed. I guess it was time to give Little Miss Proper an attitude adjustment.

  “Do you think Melanthios really cares about Diomedes? Sure, he likes the guy and wants to help him. But when push comes to shove, he’ll roll over on him in a second for the sake of Law. He’s an idealist. Believe me, girlie, he’ll sacrifice your boss and friend without hesitation if it furthers those ideals. That’s the key difference between him and me. I won’t ever roll over on a friend to serve some nebulous directives supposedly prophesied a gazillion years ago by MIA Designers.” She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. “Melanthios is a noble and honorable fool, who is running an administration, an organization. I’m not a member of any organization. All I have are my friends. So, if you’re going to run to Melanthios and report every step I take, believe me, you’re helping him and maybe the cause of Law. But you’re not helping Diomedes and probably not this world.”

  She started to pout. Great. “I can’t see how the cause of Law can be in opposition to the right thing to do,” she said.

  “Duh. That’s because you’re not thinking. I don’t have a problem with Law. I really don’t. It’s you lawyers who are the problem.”

  “I think you’re insane, Elson,” she said.

  “That’s okay. Most of my friends do. Now, did you get me the other thing I asked for?”

  “Yes. It wasn’t easy.” She just stood there.

  “Well?” I asked.

  “Not so fast.” She did that staring-a-hole-in-me thing again. “I’ve been serving Diomedes for most of my existence. He has told me a great deal about you. That’s how I recognized you at the Thoth that day.”

  “Yeah. I was wondering about that,” I said.

  “He said that you could be trusted. That you were his friend. That you were a menace only because you were looking for answers to some big questions--questions we all should be asking.”

  “He called me a menace? Really?” I was touched.

  “Shut up Elson. Because he trusted you I trusted you, and because I trusted you the Thoth is destroyed and my friend is held captive.

  “Like I said, I checked up on you. No one, not a single Engineer I spoke with, had the opinion of you that Diomedes has. For the first time in my life, I believe Diomedes is wrong. So giving you anything of importance would be illogical and unwise. You’re a traitor, Elson, to Law and to Diomedes.”

  She was clearly on the edge. Being a relatively young Engineer thrust into this kind of situation must be tough on her. I was worried most by her bipolar behavior. Such rapid and extreme mood swings was a sign of imminent collapse, or worse. Time to get personal. Chick
s dig personal.

  “I never promised to serve Law, so I’m no traitor to those who never had my loyalty to begin with. I’m not a servant of Chaos, and you can’t claim that I have to be a servant of one or the other. No one calls the shots for me but me. You may find it hard to believe, but I wish it wasn’t so. It makes me alone. All I have are my few friends and, like Diomedes says, lots of questions,” I said with as much sincerity as my cynical soul could muster.

  “Then why don’t you follow your way, like the rest of us? You chose this path for yourself,” she said. “Don’t expect me to feel sorry for you.”

  “Did I? When you awoke, what was it like for you?”

  She didn’t hesitate. “Same as for everyone else. I awoke and I knew my name and what my role would be. I knew that I had to seek out those of Thought, and learn from them how to fulfill that role.”

  “Huh. That sounds nice. You know what it was like for me? I awoke not knowing any of that. All I knew was that I was, and that I was scared. Then I heard a voice. It told me my name and gave me an order. That’s all. Everything I’ve learned since that day I’ve had to teach myself. So, I deny that I chose this path for myself. Someone chose it for me and didn’t even have the courtesy to introduce himself before booting me out of the nest.”

  She looked skeptical. “I’ve never heard of such a thing. Certainly someone very senior should be able to help you. Have you tried to get help from the Preceptors?”

  “Ha. Before I could find my way to them I had already developed a reputation for being crazy and ‘on the other side.’ Both sides said so. So I made my own side. And, believe it or not, I’m not alone on my side. I have some friends. A few. Diomedes is one of them,” I said.

  I could see her come to a decision. It had been hard for her to go against what she knew Diomedes would want. But now she could legitimately give him the benefit of the doubt.

  “So are you going to help me help him or not?” I said.