Turesobei turned toward Motekeru. Shocked, he staggered back until his heels hit the cliff edge. Lu Bei jerked him forward.
The mechanical … man … had a body of petrified oak with metal joints and bronze plates reinforcing his forearms, shins, thighs, and chest. His horrible head was made entirely of bronze with a jagged mouth like it had been cut by a three year old. The wicked ivory teeth looked like they’d come from a monster. His eyes curled upward on the ends. From them blazed amber energy. His hands had six-inch steel claws. He swiped his tail — a coiled bamboo cable with a spiked ball on the end — back and forth.
With her knives drawn, Aikonshi leapt toward Motekeru. She slashed and stabbed, but he absorbed some of the blows and deflected others with his arms. He shoved her back. She bound him with more shadow tendrils. Lu Bei darted in and shocked him in the face. It didn’t do any good. Motekeru swiped, and Lu Bei dodged away. Aikonshi closed in again.
Turesobei stepped in between them. “Enough! This has to stop.”
Aikonshi withdrew. “He will kill you. Chonda Lu is dead. He has no one to restrain him anymore.”
“Master, don’t challenge him.”
Turesobei faced the monster. What was one more threat of death on a day when he dared face the Deadly Twelve? Motekeru cocked his head to the side inquisitively. He had no facial expressions. His mouth opened and closed, but was stuck with that one terrible expression.
“You’re not worthy to wear that kavaru, foolish boy.”
“I am worthy. I am Chonda Lu’s heir.” He stared into those terrible eyes. “I am your master.”
“Why did you summon me?” Motekeru said.
“Lu Bei sent out a call to summon help several days ago. Aikonshi answered. And just then, you appeared when we agreed to fight together in Chonda Lu’s name. I didn’t intend for it to happen. I don’t know why it did.”
“Why do you need my help?”
“The Deadly Twelve are back, and they’re going to kill Chonda Lu’s heirs and friends.”
“A great man died fighting them before. You are not that man. I have tired of you. All of you. I am going to slay you now and be done with this once and for all. I was enjoying the peace of limbo. My rage did not exist there. Here, it is endless.”
“They will come for you as well,” said Turesobei.
“Let them come. Let them kill me. I care not.”
Motekeru raised a clawed hand. Turesobei thrust his palm against Motekeru’s chest. Endless rage … violence … and … love? Motekeru the Monster … was human. He was once a human man who Chonda Lu had constructed into this monster. How awful. The ritual of animating the endless monster in Chonda Lu’s grimoire! The strange sequence of words at the bottom of the spell. When he’d read it, he thought it nothing but nonsense. Several rituals had similarly strange statements at the end. He’d thought they were riddles. He’d even solved them, but solving them hadn’t made them make sense. Now he understood.
In Old Tengba Ren, he said: “Shenlaitesaika!”
An invisible force from Turesobei’s palm blasted Motekeru against the mountainside. The monster collapsed, then struggled back to his feet. Turesobei placed his palm against its metal-plated chest again. Aikonshi and Lu Bei closed in, silently.
“I am Chonda Lu’s heir.” His kavaru lit up. “You will obey me! I bind you to me, Shenlaitesaika.” The kavaru glowed brighter. “We will work together from now on.” The glow engulfed them. “All of you have been called back to fight for Chonda Lu. We are united.”
A wave of dizziness swamped Turesobei. The glow expanded outward. His legs went wobbly, and he collapsed onto his knees. He was passing out, but not with the dragon dream. This was exactly like when Lu Bei would tell him something he wasn’t supposed to know. Except this time, it also felt like he’d run into a wall after being punched in the stomach.
As he faded, strange forms flickered into view.
Chapter Fifty-Six
Lu Bei tapped him on the forehead, his hand spitting static. Turesobei woke with a start and sat up. “Ouch!”
“You pushed the barrier, master. Using Master’s rituals, calling on his charges to unite … you’ve brought back the family. I wouldn’t have thought that possible, save for me and Aikonshi. I made the call, but you brought forth the power that let them answer, even if you didn’t mean to.”
“What are you talking … oh!”
A tanned, voluptuous woman with copper hair that fell to her waist stood before him. Shimmering under Avida’s light in a dainty gossamer dress, she was more beautiful than … anything else … ever.
Unfazed by the freezing air, she touched her head to the ground before him and said in sensuous tones, “It is my pleasure to see you, heir of Chonda Lu. I am Isashiara.” She looked up at him and batted her mesmerizing eyes. Her lips glistened. Her cheeks flushed. She smiled coyly.
“The — the pleasure is …”
What was he thinking? He couldn’t remember. He was lost in her presence, like he was lost in the most wondrous dream.
“He’s glad to see you.” Aikonshi punched him in the shoulder. “You’re here for your girl, remember. And to save the world.”
“I — what?”
Aikonshi rolled her eyes. “I believe her name is Iniru. She’s being hunted by the Deadly Twelve. The ones who want to plunge Okoro into eternal winter and unleash the One Hundred and the Eight and hunt down your family. So on and so forth.”
“Oh — yes, of course.”
He shook his head and looked away from Isashiara. The effect lessened, but he’d never felt so drawn to someone before. It felt almost like a compulsion. Definitely not natural. And it was a bit creepy, now that he thought about it. Had she been a real woman? Or was she completely a construct like Lu Bei?
Motekeru dropped down onto his knees with a clang that echoed off the rock face. “My lady, I thought never to see you again. You are my dream. You are perfection.”
She smiled and caressed his face. Well, that was weird. Motekeru was completely entranced by her. None of the others seemed affected by her, though. Just the monster and himself.
Beyond her lurked a baojendari man of exceedingly normal appearance. It was difficult to pick out anything specific about him, as if he were only the fragment of a memory, or someone you spotted out of the corner of your eye. He wore the simple clothes of a servant.
He too touched his head to the ground. “It is my deepest pleasure to serve the heir of Chonda Lu. I am Tochibi. May I be of service, master?”
“Thank you, but … I don’t need anything at the moment.”
A gray and black goshawk the size of an eagle landed on Tochibi’s shoulder — and spoke!
“My lord, I am Hasuferu, your messenger. I serve willingly and gladly. Do you wish for me to deliver a message now?”
“What? No. Er, actually … yes.”
“I am listening, master. I am prepared.”
“Well, hold on. Not right now. In a minute.”
Two amber-coated wolfhounds rushed to Turesobei and rubbed against his legs. He bent down and petted them. “And who are you guys? No one ever mentioned wolfhounds to me.”
“This is Rig and Ohma,” Lu Bei said. “Master’s wolfhounds. I — I didn’t know they had been immortalized.”
The hounds’ eyes seemed unusually intelligent as they nuzzled against him. “What does that mean?”
“If I may be so bold, master,” said Tochibi, “Chonda Lu granted them eternal life in a seeming of their old selves. They are not constructs. They died, and their original spirits passed, but a permanent preservation spell was placed on them, and then they were reanimated. Their mannerisms and behavior, as well as many of their memories, remain. It was the same for me.”
Turesobei cringed. “Oh, I didn’t know.”
“It was my original self’s dying wish to ever serve Chonda Lu. It was the only way I could pay my debt in full to him.”
“Which hound is which?” He almost expected one of the ho
unds to answer, but they did not.
“I have no idea,” Lu Bei said. “I am the only one here who has ever seen the hounds. There was a painting on the wall in our estate in Tengba Ren.”
“Wait, you’ve never seen them in person?”
“I have not, master.”
“Isn’t that strange?”
“All of this is strange, master. I don’t really understand it. Perhaps destiny is moving in a way Master didn’t predict. Perhaps all the storm energy you possess is altering the course. You’re energized, and that’s bringing things out. Like I said, you somehow made the kavaru bring back all the ones I called and then some.”
“You think I’m summoning … subconsciously … all the items from Chonda Lu’s life that can still be brought out?”
“That makes sense,” Aikonshi said, thoughtfully. “Maybe it wasn’t coincidence that we ran into you. I decided to change directions and head southeast instead of northeast five days before running into you. On a whim. I hadn’t thought much of it, but … maybe.”
“Well, we don’t have a lot of time to sort this out,” said Turesobei. “Isashiara and Tochibi, my friends are within a cave at the end of the ledge. They are sleeping. Guard them, please, as best as you can. Do not wake them. Stay out of sight. Hasuferu, I want you to deliver a message to my grandfather, Lord Kahenan, in Ekaran. Tell him what we’re doing. What’s going on. Lu Bei, could you fill him in. Oh, I don’t guess you know how to get there.”
“I can go wherever you have been, master,” said the goshawk. “I will know by instinct where to find him.”
“Rig and Ohma should stay here and guard the others as well. Do they take orders?”
“Bring them,” said Aikonshi. “They are mighty wolfhounds. Supernatural, I’d guess. May be good in a fight. Lu said his old hounds were superbly trained for war. He must have left them in Tengba Ren, though. This is truly odd.”
“Why not? Motekeru, you’re coming to fight with us.”
“I would like to stay here with Isashiara,” he pleaded.
“I bet you would, but you can’t.” Turesobei kept trying not to look at her so he wouldn’t fall back under her spell.
Lu Bei chatted with Hasuferu a few minutes, then the giant goshawk took off into the sky. Isashiara and Tochibi started toward the cave. Wait, that was no good. If the Deadly Twelve defeated him and searched for traces of Chonda Lu, they would find them in the cave, and his friends would no longer be safe. Besides, Tochibi could carry Iniru out if she were too injured to walk, and maybe Isashiara would be a distraction. Maybe she’d have the same effect on the Deadly Twelve.
He called to both of them. “Change of plans. You’re going to have to come with us. But hang back, okay?”
Turesobei looked all around him in amazement at Chonda Lu’s menagerie. Torment’s flames! His life grew more bizarre by the day. He was overwhelmed by this destiny business, and now all these strangers, but he was also glad to have help. Anything that improved his meager chances.
“All right … people. Let’s go.”
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Turesobei cast the spell of locating that which was hidden and focused on Iniru. Relief flooded through him as he instantly knew which direction she was in. He didn’t even need any storm energy to boost the effect. She was close by and, most importantly, still alive.
He cast the spell of darksight on himself. “Follow me.”
Aikonshi stuck an arm out and barred his way. “Better let me handle that.”
“I ghosted through here when I searched for her from the monolith. I know how to get from here to the lair. And I can sense what direction Iniru is in.”
“Maybe, but you aren’t magically enhanced for this kind of situation. Sneaking about and hunting monsters is my job. It’s why I exist. Just tap me on the shoulder to signal where to turn. Book, you remember how we do this? I take low, you take high. Keep the wing-beats quiet.”
“I remember, Shi.”
She turned, and he stuck his tongue out her. Then he winked at Turesobei, who could do nothing more than sigh.
The group entered the tunnels. Aikonshi crept along in front, and Lu Bei stayed overhead. He was the first to peek around corners, up high because enemies on guard were far less likely to be looking up. The two amber hounds stayed beside Turesobei, flanking him. Motekeru stalked behind him, surprisingly silent. His joints never made any sound. Almost tangible waves of hatred, to a wizard, came off him, but Turesobei didn’t fear him. He knew the riddle that was his true name. He knew all of their true names now, except for Aikonshi, Lu Bei, and the wolfhounds. Tochibi and Isashiara walked quietly in the back.
“She’s close,” he whispered. “I can feel it.”
The tunnel took a sharp bend ahead. Light was spilling out from the cavern beyond.
“I remember this. That’s the main cavern ahead.”
Lu Bei flew up, grabbed the wall with his claws, and peeked around the corner. He darted back fast.
“It’s the big chamber all right, after a short stretch of tunnel. I saw Iniru, but I didn’t see anyone else. Could be hiding in the shadows.”
“I’ll take a look,” said Aikonshi, slipping around the corner. She returned. “I couldn’t see or hear anything. It stinks of fear and death, though. What’s the plan?”
Turesobei drew his sword. “We sneak in and get her.”
“It’s a trap,” Motekeru said.
“I know,” Turesobei replied. “We’re going anyway.”
Motekeru shrugged. “Fine by me.”
“We could wait,” Aikonshi cautioned. “See if they return.”
“If it’s a trap, we’ll fight them,” Turesobei said. “If it’s not a trap, and they’ve left her unattended, then we will get her out while we can. I don’t know why it would be a trap, though. How would they know we were here? Why would they expect someone to rescue her?”
“It’s your call,” Aikonshi said.
“Lu Bei, do you have an opinion?” Turesobei asked.
“I could fly in and … free her, lead her out.”
“Free her?”
“She’s bound and hanging by the Spider’s webs in the middle of the chamber.”
“She’s not going to be running out,” Aikonshi said. “She’s beat up bad, and sick. Someone will have to carry her out.”
Turesobei drew Sumada with one hand and took a spell strip out with the other. “We’re all going. We rescue her, or we fight. It’s not much of a trap if we’re expecting them. I mean, did any of you really expect us to be able to successfully ambush them?”
No one replied. This was it, then.
I’m here for you, Iniru. I’ll get you out of this.
They crept through the last section of tunnel, and then fanned out once they entered the larger cavern, except for Tochibi and Isashiara, who stayed at the entrance, just inside the tunnel. For the most part, the cavern floor was flat, especially on this end, but a few sections on the opposite side had columns jutting up halfway to a ceiling that was a good twenty paces high. With her blades drawn, Aikonshi rotated as she walked, examining everything. Lu Bei flew in circles. The hounds continued to flank Turesobei.
He rushed to Iniru, trusting the others to watch out for trouble. Silky webs bound Iniru’s hands and feet. A thick strand hung down from the ceiling and wrapped around her waist, holding her up so that her toes barely touched the ground. Blood matted in her hair and in the fur on her face. A purple bruise protruded from her forehead. Drool dripped from the corners of her mouth. Her uniform was torn in a dozen places and stained with blood and dirt. She looked so bad he couldn’t believe she was alive.
He gently touched her face. He hadn’t thought he’d ever see her again. “Niru.”
She woke with a jerk and bounced on the web. Her eyes widened. Hope flickered in them, and then faded. A moment later, they ignited with anger.
She spoke in a hoarse whisper, “Get out of here, idiot.”
“I’m trying to save you.�
�
“You’re dumber than … I thought. Told them they’d have to go … after you. No way you’d ever come here. Message or not.” She coughed and groaned. “They intercepted the message, then … let it go. But you came. And here you are … idiot.”
With a knife, he cut through the webs on her feet. “I’m glad to see you, too. But keep it down.”
“You do realize this is a trap, right?” she said, wheezing, her eyes fluttering. “By the gods … tell me you have … a plan.”
He shrugged and cut the strands around her hands and waist. “I’ve got these guys.”
She fell into his arms. “Yeah, who are they?”
“Chonda Lu’s menagerie.”
“Still doomed. They’ve been boasting … about how they killed Chonda Lu … and beat these guys.”
Eight crimson-robed wraiths slid down threads from the ceiling, like huge spiders. Four on each end of the cavern, blocking the exits. The curved sabers in their hands gleamed with an eerie green cast. Poisoned blades. Four more dropped down close to Turesobei and Iniru: the Warlock, the Wolf, the Spider, and the Poisoner.
“Greetings again Aikonshi, Lu Bei, and Motekeru,” said Barakaros the Warlock. “I don’t know these two hounds.” He craned his head toward the tunnels they’d come from and mocked, “Oh, and is that Isashiara and Tochibi in the tunnel? Wow, you brought in the reserves. I am honored.”
Four clones seized Isashiara and Tochibi and threw them into the cavern. Motekeru, Aikonshi, and Lu Bei drew in close to Turesobei and Iniru, closing in their ranks.
“The hounds reek of Chonda Lu’s sorcery,” Jaskashi the Wolf growled. “Be careful of them.”
The Warlock turned toward Turesobei. “It is kind of you to join us, Chonda Turesobei. It seems destiny wants our vengeance fulfilled. The woman who brought us back presented us the Winter Child. Chonda Turesobei, bearer of Chonda Lu’s kavaru, comes rushing in to save his girlfriend, conveniently brought here by her Sacred Codex. And then you get here and summon your forebear’s special friends. It’s all perfect.”
Storm Phase Series: Books 1-3 Page 57
