“That’s a ridiculous name!” Tobias called out, and Mel’Nath turned to him with an arched brow.
“You’re seriously going to insult that girl, who stopped all those bullets, arrows, and knives?” He pointed at the weapons in midair all around them then shook his head and turned his attention back to Kinnard and this ‘Fawn’ woman.
Seeing all focus was back on him, Kinnard nodded. “We summoned you here. For those of you who arrived earlier, we’ve already explained, but for all the others...” He gazed across the many individuals in the cave and realized that their numbers had quickly multiplied. He forced himself not to send Fawn a look and took a deep breath. “We wish to wage war on Jechorm for various reasons. Mainly because that kingdom with its cursed technology has wronged so many people, and it must be held accountable.” He lifted a hand to stop any questions from being voiced just yet. “I know I am crown prince of Talhon, and I have the right to call upon all of Talhon’s knights, yet my father still reigns, and he prefers peace with Jechorm—”
“So you figure gathering a bunch of thieves and assassins together would be a good idea to help you go around your papa’s command of your army?” Mel’Nath crossed his arms and lifted his brows.
Kinnard sighed and hunched his shoulders. With his head still bowed, he lifted his eyes and surveyed the situation. He had to word this carefully though he wasn’t concerned for his own safety—his half-sister would protect him, but still. “Each one of you in this room has a bounty on your head. You are criminals. Some of you are professional killers.” He set his gaze on Nyvera, Sirros, and a few others in the room. “Others of you prefer to rob, steal, lie, and manipulate situations just right to further your own cause, but all of you have one thing in common with the simpler folk throughout the kingdoms; all of you are human, and there is no question about that in your mind. You have an arch rival here in this room, whom I know you would prefer to kill than work with, but consider what I have to say.”
He straightened, standing tall. “The Jechorians have created a program. They raise real human children but instill in their mind that they are not human. They are trained at a very young age how to fight, and once of age they are given positions of soldiers, police, or guards throughout the kingdom. However, before Fawn emerged from Jechorm, she uncovered a disturbing ritual. The only way these Guardians, as they call them, can claim the status of ‘human’ is through Guardian Games where Guardians must kill other Guardians who seek the title ‘human’. The Games end with only one Guardian as the victor, and he is given the status of human, but in return he must hand over his armor, which gave him a single magical ability, to blend into civilian life.”
“But then the Crucibles begins,” Fawn took over, lowering her hand, and thus all the weapons fell, clattering on the floor.
Kinnard nodded. “Assassins, bounty hunters, and anyone desiring for quick gain are invited to Jechorm to hunt down the newly humanized Guardian and kill them. If the Guardian can survive longer than a month of constant ambushes, sneak attacks, and straightforward attacks, they earn the right to keep their title. Otherwise they are killed.”
“I’ve heard of this.” Nyvera nodded then shot Kilroth a look. “Your brother, Drathan, went there as an assassin to join the Crucibles.”
Concern crossed Kilroth’s face, and he folded his arms over his chest as he focused back on Kinnard and Fawn. “Has any Guardian survived?”
Kinnard shook his head. “The longest a Guardian has survived is two weeks. Though they are trained warriors and exceptional fighters, they have become dependent on their armor. When they hand over their armor, they find themselves at a disadvantage, and therefore they are easier to kill.”
Dustal lifted a hand. “And what exactly does this have to do with us?”
“Each Guardian is human—aborted by their mother when they were still within the womb.” Fawn set her gaze on the thief. “The Jechorians save their life, but they are raised to believe they are merely technology. However, they have consciousness. They have thoughts. They have ideas—questions. These questions become probing and then troublesome. The Jechorians designed the Games and the Crucibles as a way to satisfy the Guardians’ curiosity as well as to eliminate any potential threat to the Guardian program.”
Dustal lowered his hand but then shook his head. “I still don’t see how this connects to us. We’re just lowly thieves—respected assassins.” He sent Nyvera and Sirros a scowl at this.
Fawn and Kinnard shared a look, and then Kinnard sighed. “Fawn wants to save the lives of the Guardians. Since we cannot save them within the arena, our only option is to save them during the Crucibles.”
“Meaning you want us to hunt the assassins and bounty hunters who are hunting the Guardians?” Tobias lifted his brows.
“We are going to shut down the system, and in return, we will clear your names of any crimes you have committed whatsoever. What say you?” Kinnard looked out at the criminals but noticed Wol’van had disappeared from the balcony.
Each thief and assassin shared a look with each other, but no one budged.
“A cleared name?” Mel’Nath stepped forward. “I’m in! Maybe I’ll finally be able to get that ship I’ve always wanted.” He grinned when Ardenn joined him.
No one else came forward.
Fawn looked over them and then settled her gaze on Lorrek. “Vixen is in Jechorm.” At a wave of her hand, she showed a scene of Vixen speaking with the armored Guardians, and then she dismissed it.
With his mind set on his single assignment, Lorrek joined Mel’Nath and Ardenn. Not wanting to lose control of Lorrek, Haskel and Gremina pulled away from their mother. They looked back at her apologetically but then joined the prince of Cuskelom.
“I will go back to Serhon to check on your father,” Sidra told her children but stayed back.
Sirros shook his head as he approached Lorrek with Nyvera. “I will not let you kill my daughter.”
Lorrek gave him a bemused smile. “You’re welcome to try and stop me.”
“I’ll stop you if they don’t.” Wol’van emerged on the lower level and passed through the crowd toward Lorrek and the others.
Aden looked over his shoulder to Kilroth then nodded and looked back at Kinnard and Fawn. “We go for Vixen and Drathan.” He slid Lorrek a glare.
All the others remained back, and Kinnard glanced over to his half-sister to see if she was satisfied, but her expression remained blank—as always, difficult to read. Foregoing reading Fawn’s mind, Kinnard turned his attention to the others and nodded. “This will do. All of the rest of you are dismissed, but we ask you to leave the cave before resuming killing each other.”
Sidra shook her head. “I am through with fighting this day. For those of you who wish to accompany me to Serhon and scout out a potential threat, you are welcome to join me now.”
“Just wait one moment,” Kedessa called out from the higher level then she and her brother hastened down the stairs to the lower level to join them. When she walked up to Dustal, she drew her fist back and punched him in the face. Furious at him, she had a lot she wanted to say, but her hand hurt now, so she scowled at him and shook her hand out while Pravin smirked from behind her.
Tradek shared a look with Radim then shook his head and bowed out of Sidra’s offer. “No thanks, Your Majesty. We’d rather stay far from the drama there. Besides, we have summons from an old friend in Cuskelom.”
Haskel shot a look at Lorrek to see if the name of his homeland sounded familiar, but nothing registered on Lorrek’s face.
As all the other members of the Houses and the bands of thieves refused to join alliances or causes, Kinnard concluded everything with a nod. “Very well then. You know your way out. Thank you for your cooperation.” To those gathered with him, he motioned to follow him. “Come. We have much to discuss.”
As they passed deeper into the cave, Fawn weaved her way through the crowd to Lorrek’s side then snatched his wrist.
He snapped his
gaze down at her then realized everyone around them had stopped moving—including the torch fire along the walls.
Time had stopped.
“Don’t you remember me?” Fawn reached into Lorrek’s mind—her dark eyes searching his face.
He tried to pull out of her grasp, but her grip was stronger than her appearance suggested. Sighing in defeat, he shook his head. “I have no memory. My apologies, Milady.” He bowed his head to her.
Fawn frowned then brushed her magic against his mind, finding it barren. “It’s gone. They took it.” She shot her gaze at the unmoved Haskel and Gremina.
“And so they have. Now, release me.”
Keeping her thoughts—and all her knowledge of Roskelem and Vixen and small details of the past—to herself, Fawn let go of his wrist, and time restarted. She trailed behind, thinking, watching, waiting.
8
Vixen walked through the corridors of a skyscraper in Jechorm. Her hands were locked behind her with an armed Guardian on either side of her. People in their business suits cast her a curious glance but stepped out of the way of the trio.
The Guardians took her to the lower levels where there were less and less individuals until finally the hall was barren except for the occasional guards or Guardians. Vixen took note of the cameras in the corners as well as the alarm and security system.
Finally, she was pushed through a door and almost stumbled but caught herself. Behind her, she heard the door seal shut. She looked and saw a long, low-ceilinged room. The humming blue lights cast an eerie glow in the room, but she noted the silhouettes of several Guardians—some with helmets off—as well as the glow of computer monitors.
Haiken, one of the Guardians who had escorted her, reached for her handcuffs and unlocked them. “Sorry about our greeting, but we can’t afford to raise any suspicions.” He pocketed the cuffs and pulled off his helmet to reveal his relieved grin. “These are my friends.” He gestured to the Guardians before them then pointed to the man cleaning a plasma rifle. “That is Jarovit—weapons specialist.”
Then he pointed to the tall slender woman with dark skin and tightly curled brown hair, who stood near a desk with her arms folded. “Zoyra—mediator, negotiator.”
He motioned to a Guardian, who was just now pulling off her helmet and letting her wavy brown hair loose. She appeared to be young but held a look of maturity. She nodded at Vixen, and Haiken introduced her, “Anita—our scout and distraction, and finally, you’ve already met Priam.” He gestured to the other Guardian, who had brought her in but just now took off his helmet, and Vixen noted his tall structure yet still boyish face. Priam offered her a nod as Haiken went on, “He’s our strategist.”
“And what is it that you do?” Vixen cast Haiken a look.
“I oversee operations—here at least.” He motioned to their sub-level headquarters. “No one above even knows we unsealed this place and hacked into their systems.”
Nodding, Vixen strolled around the room—mindful of the trained eyes watching her every step, ready for any hint of deception. She came across a table where guns, rifles, and packs of ammo were laid out in an organized fashion. Every gun and ammo pack was precisely the same distance apart, but she saw the ammunition was not steel bullets but rather energy and plasma packs. Black bladed knives lay on the table according to length of blades and the curvature of the knives—again each one a precise distance from each other and tilted at an angle.
Admiring the order of the weapons, Vixen lifted her gaze up to where Jarovit stood, hugging his arms close to himself, as if he were uneasy with her meandering around his weapons. He saw her stare then shrugged. “I like to be organized.”
“Except on the battlefield.” Anita muttered under her breath.
Vixen reached toward a small device she didn’t recognize, but Jarovit widened his eyes, stretching out his hand toward her. “Don’t touch that! Grenade.”
“Grenade?” She furrowed her brows.
“Yes—it goes ‘boom’.”
Vixen frowned but kept her hands to herself. Though technology was not foreign to her due to her previous dealings with Jechorm, she much preferred the simpler ways of war such as swords and arrows. She pointed to a canister device and lifted her brows at the weapons Guardian.
“Poison gas.” Jarovit jutted his chin toward it then slid Haiken a glance. If this woman didn’t know the difference between grenades and poison gas, how could she know the difference between energy guns and plasma rifles? How was she going to help them out of their predicament? He saved these questions for later and yanked his gaze from his fellow Guardian to watch as Vixen wandered near the computers where Zoyra and Anita stood watch. He relaxed a little now what she was away from his weapons.
The computer monitors reminded Vixen of the times when Lorrek would conjure a screen in the air to show a specific place, person, or event of the past, but these screens were solid. Vixen leaned forward to study the images on the monitors and realized they were streaming live feed from cameras all over the building—corridor after corridor, offices, training rooms, storage rooms, the infirmary, as well as one massive but empty arena.
Vixen pulled back with a frown, and Haiken noticed then set his gaze upon what had caught her attention. “That is the arena for the Guardian Games.” When she shot him a confused look, he sighed and shared a glance with his fellow Guardians. He approached a stool near the weapons and sat down as he faced Vixen. “All of us believe we are human.” He motioned to those in the room. “We bleed as we have seen humans bleed. We experience pain just like them though we can’t always let it show or hinder us. We eat, we drink, we cry, we laugh, and we die—just like the humans we’ve interacted with. There is no difference between us and them.”
“Except they like to control others, and we serve,” Zoyra added.
Haiken nodded but stayed focused on Vixen. “There are other Guardians, who have come to the same conclusion as us, and they have brought it before the Board of Directors, but we are told ‘human’ is a status—not a right, but there is a way to earn that status.”
“Through the Guardian Games.” Jarovit sounded disgusted by this.
Priam went to a screen and, with a few keystrokes, pulled up a past event in the arena, now seating thousands of people and brilliantly lit. In the center of the arena, five armored Guardians entered and greeted the crowd with a hand held high, and then at a command they fell into a fighting stance and attacked each other. “During the Guardian Games, all the Guardians who wish to earn the status of ‘human’ must fight each other to the death.”
“Until only one remains.” Vixen nodded, familiar with the ancient gladiator games.
“But that’s not all.” Haiken leaned forward on the stool and gestured for Vixen to take a closer look at the screen.
She watched the different Guardians fought each other, but then one stepped back and unleashed a wall of fire with only his hands, and in response another Guardian leapt high and hovered in the air while another erected a shield of electricity that blocked the fire. The action on the screen stopped, and Vixen cast Haiken a bewildered look.
“Our suits are powered by magic.” Haiken tapped on his armored chest. “This gives us limited power—one unique ability for each of us. For instance, mine is shielding.”
“Mine is invisibility,” Anita raised her hand.
“Pain.” Jarovit clenched his fist.
“I can give or take away any physical senses.” Priam folded his arms.
Zoyra swirled her chair away from the computer and smiled at Vixen. “And mine is unlocking anything—whether it be doors, computer systems, or people’s minds.” She tapped on the side of her head. Then she turned her attention back to the four dominos she had stacked in a row on her desk.
“But we only have our power if we are wearing our suits.” Anita folded her arms with a scowl then looked at Haiken, who nodded.
“And after the Guardian Games, the victor must hand over their suit.”
“And then...” Zoyra flicked the first domino with her finger and watched them topple over then looked up at Vixen. “...the Crucibles begins.”
Jarovit shifted uneasily where he stood. He kept his arms locked across his chest. “That’s the most popular part of the show because no Guardian has ever survived longer than two weeks.”
“Because they’re at a disadvantage without the suits.” Vixen nodded in understanding then glanced back at Haiken. “And what exactly do you expect me to do? I don’t have any magical abilities.”
Haiken smiled at her. “But you are in a unique position. You see, our suits also have tracking devices, so Asalda, Pelham, and the others know where we are at all times.”
“But when we enter the sub-levels, I’ve redirected our signal, so they don’t find us here and get suspicious,” Anita clarified. “But I simply can’t maintain it when we get on the surface because there are so many other Guardian signals.”
“So you want me to do something you can’t do without raising suspicion.” Vixen nodded. “What is it?”
Haiken went to a computer and began to type. “We need you to run interference. We think we’ve determined a way to shut down the entire Guardian Program, but we need to disrupt several of their networks.”
“We want you to plant a virus.” Jarovit put it simply.
Vixen raised her brows then folded her arms. “You are aware I am from Cuskelom, are you not? A land without all this...technology.” She looked to the computers around them.
Anita smiled as she leaned back in her chair. “Not to worry! We’ll be with you every step of the way!” At Vixen’s puzzled look, Anita snapped her fingers as if remembering something then leaned forward and opened a compartment on the desk. Then she handed to Vixen what appeared to be small earbuds.
The Chronicles of Lorrek Box Set Page 49
