Planar Chaos

by Timothy Sanders

  Windgrace’s eyes sparkled. “I will.”

  Freyalise’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “Or if you need my help.” With that, the patron of Skyshroud waved her arms and faded into nothingness.

  With Freyalise gone, the others were also free to move. Jhoira felt her own body thinning, leeching into the void around them. Jodah stepped up beside her and whispered, “Don’t do this.”

  “I don’t think I have any choice.”

  “Then be very careful. Freyalise is unpredictable. Selfish. And quick to anger.”

  Teferi had not come forward, but he also spoke, calling out, “Also, she will not hesitate to sacrifice you if it will serve Skyshroud.”

  “I am open to practical suggestions. What should I do?”

  “Stay alive,” Jodah said. “I will come for you.”

  Jhoira’s body and voice were almost gone. “Thank you, my friends. Farewell.”

  Before she slipped away entirely, Jhoira cast her eyes toward Venser. The artificer was still shock-silent, his expression slack and beaten. Except for the glint of anger in his eyes when he looked at Windgrace, Venser was the picture of a man whose burden had just exceeded his strength.

  Good. Anger was just what Venser needed. Anger overruled fear, anger sparked action. At this stage Venser had to draw on whatever fortifying emotions he could dredge up.

  “Hold on to that,” she tried to say, but by then she had nothing left with which to speak.

  Jodah tried to avoid traveling by planeswalker whenever possible. He preferred to stay on Dominaria, in touch with the mana that he knew and could shape into spells without hesitation. Besides, the sensation of slipping from here to there and from existence to nothingness and back always unsettled him.

  Windgrace brought Jodah, Venser, and Teferi back to Urborg, to the same spot in the marsh. Jodah suffered a rush of vertigo as his legs became solid enough to bear his weight. He stumbled forward slightly, his feet sinking into the crunchy mud.

  An unseen force lifted him several inches into the air and pushed him back away from Windgrace and Venser. Teferi was likewise shunted aside, he and Jodah coming to rest twenty yards away from the planeswalker.

  “We are quit,” Windgrace said. “Amuse yourselves as you can, or be consumed by the fen. All I require is you stay out of my way.”

  “My lord,” Teferi said, “if you would have me I would serve as your advisor in the coming trials.”

  “I need no advice from a cowardly academic. Return to your time labs and ruin someone else’s home.”

  “Is that an insult to me, my lord? Or to your new ward?” Teferi nodded at Venser.

  Windgrace paused, his feline features curled into a smirk. “You’d like him for yourself, wouldn’t you? You have sensed what I have, that he is something new. You can’t wait to get him alone and sift through his essence until you figure out how to put him to use.”

  Teferi’s voice grew harder. “Perhaps. But how is that different from your plans?”

  “The difference, you Tolarian maggot, is that I have rightful claim. Whether he knew it or not, Venser benefited from my protection all his life. The fact that he used that life to spit in the face of everything I tried to build here only adds to the debt he owes. Without me, Urborg would be little more than a killing ground where the prey has long since been hunted to extinction and the predators feed on each other for sustenance. Only the strongest and most savage would survive.” He turned to Venser. “Would you count yourself among that esteemed group?”

  Venser did not bow, and his voice was vague and unfocused. “No, my lord.” Jodah noticed the artificer’s mood and saw an opportunity.

  Windgrace’s chest rumbled like thunder. “No indeed. Go your own way, Teferi, and leave us to my work.”

  Windgrace and Teferi locked eyes. To the bald wizard’s credit, he did not blink or flinch in the face of a hostile and fully powered planeswalker.

  Jodah made a small hand signal that caught Venser’s eye. He twitched his head slightly, over his shoulder toward the transport tunnel he had constructed with Jhoira. Venser stared at him and Jodah was relieved to see the artificer’s brain working behind his glazed expression.

  Venser nodded back, almost imperceptibly.

  “My lord,” Jodah said. Teferi turned first, breaking the stare down, but Windgrace also cast his eyes toward the archmage. “If you are done with me as well and I am truly free to go…I would go. There is nothing to keep me here.”

  “Be off,” Windgrace said. “I have no quarrel with you, Jodah of the Unseen Academy, but Freyalise’s slight regard is enough for me. I would sooner see the back of you than develop a dislike of my own.”

  “Agreed.” Jodah bowed. “With your permission…I have my own method of leaving Urborg.”

  Windgrace nodded. “Employ it.”

  “I shall. As Jhoira bid us, I bid you: Farewell.”

  “Farewell, Jodah.”

  He glanced at Teferi and Venser. “The same to both of you. If the world survives, I hope that we will meet again.”

  “As do I,” Teferi said. “I look forward to it.”

  Venser nodded slightly but kept his eyes leveled at Jodah. “Count on it.”

  Jodah nodded back. Without further preamble, he turned and slipped off into the thick, marsh grass and the frozen black evergreens.

  * * *

  —

  Venser watched Jodah go with a mixture of relief and sadness. Relief that at least someone would emerge from this fiasco alive, sadness that he had to face the rest of it alone.

  And he felt very alone indeed. He didn’t consider Windgrace a colleague, and he didn’t consider Teferi at all. In fact, all he truly thought about was how to get off Urborg and back to Jhoira’s side.

  He was not prone to deluding himself and accepted there was more than a practical element to his interest. If he understood half of the dizzying conversations he’d been a party to, Jhoira was infinitely older than he’d thought, which only made her more impressive to him. Her experience had not made her aloof or callous like the other immortals he’d met. If anything Jhoira was warmer, more patient, and more human than anyone on the short list of people he knew.

  Venser watched the path Jodah’s feet had made in the snowy dust and tried to factor the archmage into all this. Jodah had signaled him, tried to impart some secret while the planeswalkers were occupied, and Venser had responded. But he was uncertain what that nonverbal exchange signified. He was certain that Jodah had no intention of leaving Urborg unless it was to go after Jhoira. Venser himself would like nothing more than to join him, but there was the very real obstacle of Lord Windgrace.

  The panther-god spoke up, pulling Venser from his reverie.

  “Time is shorter than my patience, Teferi. Do I need to remove you from this equation?”

  Teferi shook his head. “Leave me as I am. I have insight and information that you may yet need.”

  “Doubtful.”

  “All the same, I will be standing by to answer your call.”

  Windgrace bared his fangs in a feral grimace. “And in the meantime you may well be crushed and swallowed by an Urborg anaconda. Do us all a favor, Tolarian: close your eyes and hold your breath while you wait.”

  The bald man turned away, speaking to Venser as his voice trailed off. “Stay alert, my friend. You might just get the chance to return to your workshop and your life’s work when this is all over.”

  Windgrace waved his hand. “From now on, Venser’s work is to assist me.”

  Teferi did not reply, and Venser stared after him as the wizard withdrew. Then Windgrace’s power flowed and Venser was gone.

  * * *

  —

  Jodah easily found his transport tunnel and set to work. This particular spell functioned on very little mana, which was fortunate because mana was increasingly hard to come by. He was well versed in every aspect of Dominaria’s magical resources, so he could tell how thin Urborg’s supposedly powerful swamp magic had
become. Swamp mana was rarely his first choice in any case, so he was just as well served by drawing other colors from more distant landscapes. The memories alone of his long tenure in Teresiare provided all the mana his tunnel required. All he currently lacked was an endpoint, a destination to compete the connection between where he was and where he needed to be.

  Skyshroud, to be exact. The thought of Jhoira with Freyalise troubled Jodah deeply. The planeswalker was ruthless and driven when it came to protecting her territory, and he knew she considered every non-elf creature expendable. Jhoira was perhaps safe from the Weaver King’s interest while she was in Skyshroud, but she was not safe from Freyalise’s monomania, the great personality flaw that eventually claimed all planeswalkers.

  The liquid that spanned his tunnel’s entranceway shimmered and glinted back to life as Jodah infused it with fresh mana. It was also fortunate that Windgrace had marshaled most of Urborg’s dangerous denizens to his cause. Jodah knew he was little more than a meal to the locals, and while he was eminently capable of defending himself he preferred not to expend the effort. Between the rifts that consumed Jhoira’s attention and the Weaver King’s whims, he had far more important matters to contend with than his immediate surroundings.

  Jodah heard footsteps approaching and reluctantly tore his attention away from the tunnel. He readied two spells, a defensive shroud of concealment and an aggressive bolt of blistering force. He held them ready, eldritch power throbbing in his arms until his hands glowed.

  Teferi stepped out of the mist. The oddly subdued planeswalker now carried a strange staff that Jodah hadn’t seen before, a brass stick that was segmented and curved like a spine.

  “Greetings, Archmage.” Teferi bowed, and as he straightened he planted the end of his staff in the frozen mud.

  “Greetings, Teferi of Zhalfir. What is your purpose here?”

  “Same as yours, I imagine. I would see Jhoira returned, removed from Freyalise’s tender mercies.”

  “Then leave me to my work.” Jodah turned back to his tunnel but kept the spells he had at the ready.

  “I shall. But before you also push me aside, hear what I have to say.”

  “Only if you can say it quickly,” Jodah said.

  “Jhoira needs the ambulator,” Teferi said. “She is cleverer by far than anyone when it comes to design. She took an active hand in building this version of Venser’s machine, and she made sure to include aspects that will aid us greatly in sealing the rifts.”

  Jodah did not turn. “She told you this?”

  “I saw it myself. When the machine was first used, I stole a deeper glance at its innards. It not only moves through the world, it collects information about the journey. In transit, it also acts as a signal beacon.”

  Jodah stopped. “A beacon for whom?”

  “Planeswalkers,” Teferi said, “one in particular. She kept this from Venser and from me, but I have seen it. I think she no longer trusts me.” He spoke with a subtle pride that rankled Jodah. “But she has accepted my approach to the problem. The rifts must be sealed by a planeswalker’s power, all of it, directed toward the phenomenon with a tightly focused will toward eradicating it.”

  At last Jodah looked up. “Is this how you came to your present condition?”

  “It is. Shiv is whole once more, and the whole only stands intact because I dedicated myself wholly to its preservation.”

  “I see. Forgive me, Teferi, but I will not follow your advice. I don’t need the ambulator. I can reach Jhoira on my own.”

  “She needs it,” Teferi said.

  “She will have to say so herself. Rest assured I will ask when I see her.”

  Teferi shook his head sadly. “Venser is the key,” he said. “He can pilot the machine. He must pilot the machine in order for it to help Jhoira.”

  “So you say. But Venser is currently on Windgrace’s leash.”

  “He is craftier than you suspect. Perhaps more than even he suspects. Properly motivated, he will slip the tether upon him. You need his help.”

  “And what do you need?” Jodah stepped forward. “You have a planeswalker’s tendencies even if you don’t have one’s power. You dole out scraps of information and only those that suit your larger purpose.”

  “My larger purpose,” Teferi said, “has remained unchanged from the start. I wish to save the world, all worlds. Surely, as a witness to the unimaginable consequences of a planeswalker’s actions, you can appreciate how devastating a single wrong decision can be. I only endeavor to restore what I have damaged. To return some of the order and stability that my work has undone.”

  “Then you are unique among your kind. And you are correct, I have seen firsthand what your kind can do. I cannot follow your lead, Teferi. I will not put more innocent lives in your hands.”

  “But who among us is innocent?” Teferi smiled at him. Jodah felt another surge of anger at that bald man’s insouciance, at his deliberate and calculated charm.

  “I am.” Venser’s voice preceded the artificer, who came out of the marsh exactly behind Teferi. “I may have sinned against Windgrace and Urborg, but as far as changing the world I am so far blameless.”

  “Ah,” Teferi said, “we are assembled at last. I trust Lord Windgrace is not on your heels?”

  Venser started to speak but waited. Then the artificer said, “He sent me back to his lair while he reconnoitered the Stronghold. There have been no Phyrexian incursions for two days, and he feels they are massing for a major attack.”

  “Then you are left to your own devices?” Teferi seemed delighted by his clever choice of words. “Splendid.”

  Venser was visibly unamused. “Jodah,” he said, looking past Teferi. “What were you trying to tell me back there?”

  “You know,” Jodah said, “because you are here. I wanted to offer you the chance to come with me when I go after Jhoira.”

  “He cannot,” Teferi said. “Windgrace would surely notice if he left Urborg.”

  Venser gave Teferi an exasperated look and strode past him to Jodah. “He’s right, damn him,” Venser said. “If I go, Windgrace will eventually follow to punish me and anyone with me.”

  Jodah paused. “Damn him indeed.” He was considering Teferi’s words and hating himself for it. As shifty and unreliable as the muddled planeswalker was, Teferi did have a unique perspective on the task before them. Jodah pointed to the wizard and said to Venser, “He says Jhoira needs your ambulator. Is that possible?”

  Confusion crossed Venser’s face. “I suppose so,” he said. “But I can’t get to it. Windgrace has it under guard with orders to destroy it before they allow anyone near.”

  “But it might help?”

  “It might. It would at least give her a means of escape if Freyalise acts against her.”

  “Then she should have it. It is Teferi’s gambit, but I don’t think we should let our dislike of him color the facts.”

  Venser shuffled his feet. “There is another problem,” he said.

  “Tell.”

  “I can’t pilot the ambulator to Skyshroud. I’ve never been there. I have no connection to the place. I could go back and forth across every inch of Urborg—well, every inch I’m familiar with—but taking it to Skyshroud would involve a great deal of trial and error.”

  “How much?” Jodah said. “How long?”

  “Days,” Venser said. “Perhaps weeks.”

  An idea occurred to Jodah. He paused, letting his mind examine the notion for flaws. Finding none, he said, “I may be able to cut that down considerably. If you had a target in Skyshroud, a signpost, would you be able to go straight to it?”

  “Of course. But how would I acquire—”

  “I can set it up for you. My conveyance,” he gestured to the liquid-capped tunnel, “is all but ready to go. I can go to Skyshroud. Freyalise herself will be my signpost. Then all I need is a beacon for you to hone in on, a signal fire so you can follow from here.” He nodded, his conviction growing. “I’ll be the scout. Th
en you can bring the machine to Jhoira. Or if it becomes necessary, take her to safety in it.”

  “Windgrace will still come.” Venser’s concern was quickly overwhelmed by his growing enthusiasm. “But if we move quickly he may not be able to spare the attention. Also, the ambulator is at least as fast as a planeswalker. We can stay ahead of him.”

  “Are you willing to try?”

  Anger flickered across Venser’s face. “My workshop is a short walk from here,” he said. “There are devices there I can use. I spent a year and a half setting up tracking and relay stations for the chair to follow. If I don’t have something ready-made, I can adapt what I do have.”

  “Get busy then. Meet me back here as soon it’s ready.”

  “Where will you be?”

  “Skyshroud. I mean to contact Jhoira without alerting Freyalise and tell her what we have planned. Once I’m sure everything works and is in place, I’ll come back.”

  Venser paused. “Then we both go to Skyshroud.”

  Jodah nodded.

  “Then we have a plan.”

  “By your leave,” Teferi said to Venser, “I will accompany you to your workshop.”

  “No,” Venser and Jodah said together.

  A pained expression crossed Teferi’s features. “I can help,” he said.

  “We don’t need it,” Jodah said. “Your kind only ever helps themselves,”

  “I am the only one who has successfully closed a time rift,” Teferi said. “If you won’t have my input, what would you have me do?”

  “Advise Windgrace,” Jodah said. “Share your input with him if it’s so valuable. Or do as he bid you and hold your breath.” Jodah faced Venser. “Get started, builder. Be ready when I return.”

  Venser nodded. “I’ll be waiting.” He retraced his steps and vanished into the misty bog.

  Left alone with Teferi, Jodah raised his hands. Light and heat bloomed from them and circled back up his arm like a coiling snake. “Don’t interfere,” he said. “Don’t try to follow me. The tunnel will not work for you.”