by Lakshman, V.
“Piter, why are you here?”
Piter turned to Arek and stated, “Lilyth has bound me to serve you.” He didn’t seem to want to answer, but acted as if compelled. “You create an opening... a thinness between the planes. It allows me to appear here, instead of where I should.”
Arek continued, “Do you have to answer what I ask?”
Piter hesitated, his eyes darted back and forth, then he curtly replied, “Yes.”
“Do you have to tell me the truth?”
To this, Piter smiled and replied sarcastically, “As I see it, Master.” Piter walked slowly over to the bed, his arms behind his back. “There is one thing I’ll offer: I may escape this wretched servitude on occasion.”
Arek said, “When?”
Piter had already started to dissipate. “Whenever I want to frustrate you. You’re an imbecile, as always.” With a small laugh and a flash, Piter was gone.
“Piter!” Arek looked around the room in confusion. This can’t be happening, he thought. I didn’t kill Piter and this proves it! He was just here! Arek decided quickly to find Master Silbane and tell him Piter had somehow used a spell or something to make himself look dead... that had to be the explanation.
What about the sheets? Arek was sure he had sat down and yet he never felt the mattress move. What of the moonlight? Had Piter cast a shadow? He couldn’t remember now and his stomach lurched a bit. He sat down on his bed, feeling sick. Had he really killed Piter?
Adept Thera entered the room, clearly awakened by Arek’s yell. “What is it?” The young apprentice looked pale and confused. “What’s the yelling about?”
He looked at the adept as if seeing her for the first time. He then stammered, “Piter... Piter is here.”
“What? Arek,” she said carefully, “what happened?”
Arek looked around the room, confused. “What? He wants... he said he’s bound.” He blinked a few times as if waking from a dream, then looked directly at the adept. “I must see my master. I don’t think Piter is really dead.”
Thera looked at Arek with pity in her eyes. With all the kindness she could muster, she said, “Relax and start from the beginning. If we are to wake the others, I daresay we will need a good explanation.”
Arek looked at her, his eyes calculating. “You don’t believe me.”
“I don’t know what to believe yet,” Thera replied. “Please, tell me what happened.”
Arek fell onto his back, crossing his arms over his eyes, and said, “Piter appeared here. He said he served me.”
She moved closer to the bed and sat down next to Arek. “Go on.”
Arek couldn’t help but notice the bed shift and the mattress move when Thera sat down. It was so easy to discern now, which made Piter’s claim seem all the more real. “He said he had to answer my questions, but he didn’t like it.”
“What makes you say such a thing?”
Arek uncrossed his arms, splaying them out to the sides. He did notice her flinch a bit as his uncovered right hand came close to contacting her arm.
“He only seemed interested in tormenting me.”
Arek saw Thera’s expression change from one of concern to a more thoughtful stare. He also noticed her proximity, and he pulled the thin gloves from his nightstand and slipped them on. The gesture was automatic, but served to break Thera’s contemplation.
“Did Piter say anything else?” she asked.
Arek thought about it then added, “He said Lilyth has bound his service to me. That doesn’t sound right, does it?”
Thera stood up, her face in shock. “Arek, get up,” she said, a new urgency in her voice where before there had been none.
Arek looked at the adept in confusion. “Why?”
“Get up. We are going to see the Council, now.”
AREK’S STAND
When your opponent thrusts at you,
Divert his blade by pushing outward.
Then ride his blade in
And strike forcefully on his fists to disarm.
—Tir Combat Academy, Basic Forms & Stances
He what?” Themun asked. He addressed the full council, which had been awakened and hurriedly gathered in the chamber. They had been summoned instantly by mindspeak, but the effort cost the sending adept dearly in energy. Thera stood shakily near the center of the chamber, ashen-faced and clearly drained, having sent her mental summons the instant Lilyth’s name had been mentioned.
She waited as the rest of the council hurriedly took their seats, leaving Arek to wait outside until called for. The servant accompanying him looked more nervous than he, if such a thing were possible.
“He named Lilyth, as if the demon still lived,” answered Thera, “a fact kept from us until now.” She looked pointedly at Themun.
Themun ignored her accusing stare and asked Silbane, “You told him about the Gate, yes?”
“Of course,” Silbane answered, “but Lilyth’s role in the last war is common knowledge. Arek himself recited it to me when I asked him what he knew of Bara’cor. The fact Lilyth was not destroyed is the only secret I know of, and that knowledge was not revealed to Arek. He knows we seek a rift, nothing more.”
The lore father looked back at Thera and asked, “What exactly did he say?”
“He said Piter came to him,” she answered. “At first, I thought he was suffering from shock and trying to rationalize the killing by denial. After all, if Piter appeared, Arek could at least tell himself there was a chance the boy was still alive. Then he said Piter had been ordered to serve him, by Lilyth.”
Stunned silence followed Thera’s last point. She continued in a low voice, “This isn’t an hallucination. Something is going on.”
Giridian motioned to speak and asked, “But why would Piter say he served Arek? It makes no sense.”
“Perhaps it was the connection Arek and Piter had through his death,” Silbane said. “Perhaps it serves as a path the demon can use.”
Kisan motioned to speak. “I mentioned the demon’s name in the infirmary, but Arek was under the influence of the mhi’kra. If he heard anything, he has better ears than we thought.” She looked around the room, her gaze finally settling on Silbane as she added sarcastically, “Perhaps we’ve found another thing your apprentice is good at, something more than just killing his friends.”
Silbane started to get up when the lore father put out a restraining hand. “Quarrelling now is of no use. Why would Lilyth care about two apprentices? There are many who have died closer to Bara’cor, and there are other beings of power that still walk this world.”
Giridian looked at Themun, then said matter-of-factly, “Then investigating the Gate has become our first priority.”
“Why else do I petition to send someone to Bara’cor?” Themun asked. “And I haven’t ruled out the possibility Arek has woven this tale out of a desperate need to rationalize his hand in killing his classmate.”
“How?” Kisan exclaimed. “The boy is a dullard when it comes to magic and now you think he can suddenly mindread?”
Themun looked pointedly at Thera. “One of us could be trying to influence a different course...”
Thera at first could not believe her ears. She had left the last council meeting because she was morally against the path they had chosen for Arek, but to suspect her of betrayal? Her fury grew and she retorted, “You distrust me because I don’t agree with you? Who is being childish now, Themun?”
“It was clear you disagreed with the council’s last decision regarding Arek,” said the lore father.
“Yes, but I wouldn’t—” started Thera.
The lore father cut her off, saying, “Betray this council to save the life of what you think of as an innocent boy? How are we to believe that?”
Thera crossed her arms and controlled her indignation. When she spoke, her voice echoed through the chamber with an icy chill. “You have gone too far. Believe what you will, but this boy should not go near Bara’cor. It is clear Lilyth knows of him and th
at cannot be a good sign. He is not making this up.”
Silence followed the last exchange, a silence that grew uncomfortable to many of the adepts, as neither Thera nor the lore father seemed to be willing to concede their position. Finally, it was Silbane who said, “Perhaps we should see what Thera saw, then judge for ourselves.”
Thera looked at Silbane, a hint of anger on her lips. She understood what Silbane was suggesting and knew it would set any doubt about her to rest. Still, it galled her that the one person whom she had been friends with for her entire life could so callously abandon her now.
“Very well,” she said, “judge for yourselves.”
She nodded to the lore father, who extended his staff. The black metal began to glow blue, a soft glow radiating outward to encompass Thera, who in response closed her eyes and motioned with one palm. Much like the vision earlier of the Altan Wastes conjured by the lore father, a new image formed.
The assembled adepts watched the scene with Arek unfold from Thera’s viewpoint. They saw Arek standing as if in shock and heard the exchange between the adept and the apprentice. They heard him relate his tale, just as he had to Thera when she entered his room. It was exactly as Thera had said. As the scene faded and she opened her eyes, she caught the faintest look of chagrin on the lore father’s face. Still, it did little to mollify her.
“I trust you are all satisfied?” she asked no one in particular, but her gaze never left the lore father.
The council remained quiet, only the sputtering of the torches that lit the chamber making any noise. Finally, the lore father coughed once and muttered, “My fear was not too farfetched...”
“No, you are within your rights,” Thera said, “but stubbornly continue to do what is plainly wrong.”
“When it comes to defending this land from the likes of Lilyth, nothing is wrong,” answered Themun.
Statements like this make us worse than what we fear, Thera thought sadly. She then turned her attention to the chamber doors and asked, “What of Arek? He waits outside.”
“I still have many questions about what he saw,” Kisan said. “What did Piter tell him? Does my apprentice still live? If he has a chance of being saved, I must know.”
Themun nodded and motioned to Thera, “Bring the boy in.”
She bowed and retreated to the chamber doors. A few moments later, she returned with the young apprentice, who was clearly intimidated to be facing the assembled adepts.
Themun looked at Arek for a moment, then motioned to Silbane. The master took his cue and stood beside his apprentice. Laying a hand on his shoulder, he gave him an encouraging smile and said, “Arek, you are not in trouble. Thera has brought you here because of what you saw and what you heard. We would like to hear it from you, to make sure there is no danger.” He patted the boy on the shoulder to ease his concern, then asked, “Can you tell us, from the beginning, what happened?”
* * * * *
Arek looked around, nervous. His voice came out small at first, but as he related the tale, it grew in strength. He told the council of Piter’s appearance, what he had said, the contempt Piter showed, and his decision to leave when he felt it would hurt him the most. In the end, he appeared more drained than relieved.
The council chamber fell silent as each adept contemplated Arek’s recounting, matching it against Thera’s shared vision. The fact that an apparition claiming to be following Lilyth’s orders appeared here was disconcerting to say the least. The fact that it appeared to Arek made no sense to any of them.
Silbane was the first to voice his thoughts. “Arek, you are sure Piter was... insubstantial?”
“Yes, master,” Arek replied. “In fact, he pointed out that he did not disturb the sheets.”
“And you think he was compelled to speak?”
“Compelled? No, sir... but he answered my questions.”
“Do you think he lied?” asked Giridian.
“No, Adept. I think he told me as little as he had to,” answered Arek, and to Silbane, this sounded truthful.
Themun asked, “What of this thinness Piter mentioned?”
“A byproduct?” Silbane added. “Perhaps he makes the passage easier?” The death of Piter by Arek’s hand could be a factor linking them, but what was the link to the demonlord? To that, Silbane had no answer.
Themun interrupted his thoughts when he asked Silbane, “You have spoken to your apprentice of your mission to Bara’cor?”
Silbane gave a hesitant nod feeling a sense of doom that nearly overcame him—the desire to remain here on the Isle that threatened to overwhelm his normally logical demeanor. Silbane was not one to fall prey to superstition or omens, as magic and science were the cornerstones of truth to him. Still, he sensed fear at his very core, and even he did not know why.
Silbane realized that they were all waiting for him to say something. He cleared his throat, then looked at his young apprentice. “He has been briefed. We can be ready to leave in the morning.”
He turned to Arek and said, “Tactical reconnaissance. Investigate this army besieging the fortress and look for any signs of the Gate. We will avoid all contact, and if I find nothing, we will return here as quickly as possible.” The lie felt hollow in Silbane’s ears, as he avoided any mention of the lore father’s orders to use Arek to close the Gate.
During this exchange, Arek stood wide-eyed. Before the lore father concluded the meeting, Arek said, “Wait.” The adepts turned to listen. “What if my master finds something?”
Themun’s eyes narrowed. Arek turned to the lore father and strength seemed to flow into him from somewhere, emboldening his next words. “My master said we will return here if we find nothing. But what if we find something? What happens to me?”
Silbane looked at Themun and said, “Arek needs to know more if we are to be successful.”
“You know of your ability to disrupt magic,” Silbane said. “We spoke of its importance when you burst into my quarters, remember?” It was a rhetorical question and Arek answered with downcast eyes and a nod. Silbane continued, “It is not your only power. You also mask magic, a necessary advantage if we are to get to Bara’cor undetected.”
Silbane then said carefully, “The lore father believes the Gate is linked to Lilyth’s world, which lies somewhere near Bara’cor. I am to investigate it undetected, hence your involvement.”
Arek’s brows knitted and he asked the lore father, “What if we find this Gate? What do we do then?”
Themun looked at Silbane, annoyance showing in his face. He then looked back at Arek and stated, “Your master has his orders.”
“I would know my master’s orders, Lore Father,” Arek pressed. “It will best serve the mission.”
Themun looked incredulously at the young boy and said, “You presume much.”
“If my master finds something and I do not know his orders, I will be a hindrance.”
Before the lore father said anything too harsh, Silbane stepped forward to say, “Arek, my orders are to ascertain if the Gate has awakened and if so, to contact the lore father and relate the situation.” He knew he had just directly lied to his apprentice, something he did not remember ever doing before. The feeling did not sit well with him.
Arek turned to his master and asked, “And if I choose not to go?”
Themun spread his arms and said, “You are one step away from the rank of adept. You are pledged to learn the Way and complete your training in defense of this land. What oath and service awaits you upon the earning of the Black?”
Silbane laid a hand carefully on Arek’s shoulder and said, “I will not let any harm come to you, but you are necessary for me to get to Bara’cor undetected. The fate of the world rests on this.” He smiled at his apprentice, though his eyes remained hard.
Arek thought about that. He looked back at the lore father and said, “I’m not an adept, yet.”
“Something you seem to have forgotten with your impertinence,” the lore father replied. “I had thou
ght you would rise to this service honorably and with courage.”
Arek held the lore father’s gaze. A moment passed, then two, before the boy bowed slowly and said, “My apologies, Lore Father. I did not mean to question your command. Of course I am honored to serve the land.”
Themun looked at the young boy, his face unreadable. To Silbane, Arek’s words and demeanor seemed to indicate not an initiate but someone far older, more arrogant, someone of power. Crippling them all was Arek’s peculiar masking, making his inner emotional state nearly impossible to read. Still, he thought he felt a smoldering anger deep within the boy.
Silbane coughed, gently reminding the lore father that they were waiting on his leave.
Themun motioned with his hand saying, “A better response for one of your rank, Initiate. I trust you will behave in a manner reflecting honor upon this Order.”
Arek raised his eyes, meeting the lore father’s gaze with his own. “Of course, I will reflect exactly what I have been taught by all of you.” He then backed away a few steps and stood by the doors, waiting for the other adepts to leave as their rank permitted, before he himself left.
Silbane was the last to leave. As he grabbed the double doors and pulled them shut, he caught the lore father’s gaze. He thought he saw anger in those eyes, but something else too: fear.
* * * * *
Themun waited for the doors to close before letting himself relax. “You heard, my lord?”
From the darkness came a hiss, then a voice growled, “I did.”
The air wavered and from the darkness stepped a massive figure, invisible until now. It came into being like a shadow given substance.
It was a knight, but gargantuan in size, with black plated armor encasing its muscular body. Long black hair fell from a regal face framing an aquiline nose. Out of its back sprang two leathery wings, shining with black scales.
It turned golden reptilian eyes on the lore father and with a voice like low thunder said, “I worried of the Gate, but now Fate twists her rope. Thy hatchling’s death leaves me little choice. Dire circumstance walks hand in hand with each step.”
