by Colin Ososki
The man who had given him the microphone stepped forward, shivering. He picked his head up and said, “Men like you have a reason to die.”
Appalled by the rebellious act, Mr. Charlie stood angry. In one quick motion, his heavy hand swung down the rebel’s neck, putting him directly in the snow.
-----
Milo entered the forest swiftly and cautiously. It was calm here, the wind softly moving the frosted trees. He decided he could stop running, and sat behind a fallen tree. He confirmed he was out of sight from Salem, and rested.
“Milo!” A voice from the trees was whispering to him, calling his name. Milo, dazed, looked up. Up in the tree next to him, was a figure in a black cloak. Milo saw her face under the hood; it was Lyrah.
“What are you doing here?” Milo asked.
“I need to talk to you.” She leaped down from the tree branch covered in snow where she stood, and landed beside Milo.
“Right now?” Milo barked as he stood up. “Do you have any idea what just happened back there?”
She looked deeply at Milo for a moment, and then faced the snow. She put her hands into her cloak pockets, and lightly shook her head before looking back up at Milo with an agilely iniquitous smile. “Milo, there’s some things you need to tell me.”
Milo simply stood still, with the same look. After a second of overturning many possible responses, he said, “First, there are things you need to tell me.”
Lyrah stepped forward. “Like what?” Her eyes forced a strange bleakness into Milo’s mind, and he spoke again.
“You can hear my thoughts, can’t you?” He asked. His tone was raised slightly, as a result of his rising anger and confusion.
“In some ways, yes I can. But you are a difficult one to understand, unlike average. You are peculiar, Milo.” When she said this, Milo began to feel the wind harsher than usual and a misty chill was weaved through him. He looked at the scar on Lyrah’s face.
“Peculiar?” The oddness of the things she said we’re beginning to dim. Without thought, Milo’s next words emerged from his throat. “Are you human?”
With an abashing expression, Lyrah asked, “Human? Of course I’m human.” She took a small step back from Milo. “No more than you.”
Milo wasn’t too frightened by this, more amazed. “How can you do this?”
Lyrah shrugged and said, “I asked to know something from you.”
“What do you need to know?”
She hesitated. A snowflake lightly landed in one of her eyes, but was swept away quickly, and she said, “Did you feel anything strange that night when I showed you the lynx?”
Milo did not have to seek his mind for the response, “Yes, I did actually. Do you know anything about it?”
“No,” she said, stepping closer, her eyes now shifted from being fixed on Milo and now she looked to the sky, which was a pale greyish-blue color. “I wish I knew. It was strange.”
“You felt it too?” Milo asked. He, too, now looked to the sky. The clouds were a dim color, foreshadowing gloomy weather.
“Yes. And for some reason, I cannot help but think of it.” She said.
Milo, watching the clouds in the sky, responded, “Thoughts are weird.”
Lyrah seemed to be in higher spirits. The sun emitted a glow that shined through the clouds, forcing Lyrah and Milo to look away. She spoke softly, “Milo?” Milo, adrift in his thoughts, didn’t respond. He was staring with a dazed look in his now fully blue eyes.
Milo? It was Lyrah’s voice in his head. He instantly looked back down and turned at Lyrah. “What is it?”
“There is a calamity coming.” She said. The look in her eyes had shifted from wonder into a look that was more apprehensive. “Mr. Charlie will not stop until he finds you, and I’m distressed to say that bloodshed is coming.”
“What?” Milo had never seen war.
Lyrah spoke even quieter now, “I’m afraid so. The Parliament has sent spies so Hallowmere for some reason. I think there’s going to be another war.”
“Spies? Hallowmere?” Milo was deeply confused. Hallowmere was a small snow-covered city across the bay from Salem. He had seen it from a distance before. “Why war?”
“Mr. Charlie is not for a united Pæraleth. He wants things that only his supporters agree with.”
“Not everyone always agrees with a leader,” Milo said. “I never got into politics but I thought everyone could understand that simple truth.”
“People don’t stop to think of all the angles usually,” said Lyrah. “They are lured by emotion. Everyone wants to feel important.”
“So a war; of what?” Milo asked. “Over the eyes?”
“That,” said Lyrah, slowing her speech, “and there’s more.”
Milo took a step back, looking down at the ground. He was sent deeply back into his thoughts. Lyrah sensed a bit of trust was lost between them. “It confuses me as well.” Lyrah said.
“Is there anything we can do?”
She stepped slowly towards him. “I know where the rebels are meeting to prepare for the uprising. I can take you there,” She said.
“So soon, there’s a plot?” asked Milo.
“Someone knew Charlie was going to be elected,” said Lyrah.
“Well,” said Milo, turning his head back towards Salem, “I suppose I don’t have a choice.”
HAVENSHEIL
Lyrah and Milo had walked more than halfway through the Aldusk Forest when the treetops were ambushed by a massive wave of snowfall. It was unlike the gentle, frosty snows of the past few weeks. This time, it was a whistling blizzard that blinded them as they stepped through. The wind howled harshly at them, making it difficult to hear each other at times, and branches broke free from trees and came crashing down.
Large puffs of snow came up from the ground in waves and threw ice in their eyes. It had been a long walk, most of it with the absence of talking. The two were both simply struck by their own thoughts and sent on a train of thought that was unlikely to be lost with a simple distraction. Both of them were used to this, thinking to themselves without speech and getting lost in their ideas and observations. Milo trailed behind Lyrah quite a far length, but she turned back every so often to make sure he was still following.
Unfair. Milo thought, without the care of Lyrah's ability to read his mind. He simply thought what he wanted; it didn't matter to him to keep things secret anymore. How could a man do that? And what of the doctors in Salem? I suppose he won't keep his word. Now Milo was scared for his father, one of three doctors in Salem.
The skies had become darker, and the glow from the sun had disappeared behind the shadowy clouds. The wind was cold, probably colder than Milo had ever experienced before. Milo quickened his pace to catch up to Lyrah. He wanted to speak. As he drew closer to her, the wind grew stronger. She had begun to climb an enormous hill with a layer of trees growing atop. The most snow had landed there, and it was difficult to travel through.
“Lyrah?” he asked, although he realized that his voice wasn't loud enough for her to hear. He began to shout into the wind, “are you sure you know the way?”
She didn't call back to him for a few moments, until she stopped on the top of the hill. She looked out over the Forest ahead, then turned back to Milo and said, “We're here.”
When Milo reached the top of the hill, he stopped to look out ahead. Lyrah was already at the bottom of the hill, running towards the striking sight of the rebel encampment. Interwoven through the small hills of the valley were bright orange lights that shined through the mist of the storm. Milo began to run down the hill, and swiftly entered the snow in a fall, and tumbled down the hill. He was now soaked in snow and cold, but he didn't care.
He called for Lyrah, but the wind was strong and covered his voice. “Lyrah, where are you?” There was no response. The snow was blinding him and it was difficult to tell which direction he was headed in. He tripped in the thick snow, falling in the bitter snow drifts. He looked up and saw the misty
haze of snow in front of him revealed a stone statue of an animal. Milo squinted his eyes to see it better, making any attempt to block out flying snow and ice. The statue was that of a lynx, like the one Lyrah had showed him. But this lynx was different. The lynx wore armor of some sort, crafted of the most amazing art, and built for battle. It was strange to see an animal wear armor like this.
“Milo, over here.” It was Lyrah's voice, coming from the right. Milo turned and saw her there, motioning for him to come towards her. He stood, and ran over to her.
“I can't see anything in this storm!” Milo shrieked.
“I know, it's ridiculous! Follow me!” She ran into the snow. It was difficult for Milo to keep up with her. Every few seconds a patch of misty snow would cover her from Milo's sight, and he would lose track of her. “It's just up ahead! Follow the lights!” There was something in the distance that took the shape of a house, with bright orange lights all around in some sort of pattern. Eventually, they made it to the house, and it was lined with the brightest lights Milo had ever seen. Lyrah opened the door and they stepped inside, out of the storm.
Once inside, they stopped to catch their breath and focus on the sights in front of them. It was very unlike a house inside, despite its exterior appearance. The walls of the single large room were made of stone and rock, and there was a table in the middle of the room that was made of stone as well. It was dark, but lit by a single fire that crackled softly in the corner. Next to the fire sat a lynx that watched them intensely. Milo froze when he saw the great cat; he was frightened by the strange sight. Even stranger, the lynx wore a layer or armor on its body, much like the statue that he saw. It was beautiful and shiny like moonlit waters in the night. The creature just sat there in the corner, staring at them.
“Milo,” Lyrah spoke, slightly more than a whisper, “there is someone I would like you to meet.” She took a step back, slowly, keeping her eyes on the lynx. She didn't seem nearly as frightened as Milo thought she would, if fact she began to smile. She looked at Milo and said, “This is Abraham.” The lynx still simply sat in place, keeping an intense eye on Milo. The fire grew brighter and crackled louder. Milo stood still; he was speechless. Suddenly, he heard a new voice, this time loud and old.
“Welcome to Havensheil, Milo.” It was a voice that came from Abraham, the lynx. He spoke by barely moving his mouth, and it came in a sort of distorted purr, yet hitting Milo's ears powerfully.
“You speak?” Milo asked, curious. Lyrah stepped forwards to answer, but Abraham interrupted.
“Intelligence,” he answered. “All of us lynxes can speak, though most of us simply don’t. We were the first to figure it out since the Second Birth.”
“What is the Second Birth?” asked Milo.
This time, Abraham leaned back in relaxation and Lyrah stepped forwards to answer. “Life on Pæraleth has not just been us. A long, long time ago the entire planet was full of life. Humans called it Earth.”
“Humans, from before? What happened?” Milo asked.
“We ended. When the world seemed to be at its worst, strange creatures came down from above to cure us. They obliterated everything and started over. All they left behind were several creatures and the metal men.”
Abraham spoke, “The Second Birth.”
“How do you guys know of this?” Milo asked. “Why doesn’t everyone know?”
“Some do,” said Lyrah, “you just have to look in the books they forbid a century ago.”
“Who were they?” Milo interrupted. “The creatures from the skies?”
“In the books they were described like serpents, with wings and strong arms with talons.”
“Wait, what are metal men?” Milo asked.
“They used to live and assistants the humans, but towards the end, some of them began to show independence. When the Second humans discovered them, they learned from them. They had them frozen and put away somewhere. That’s why they aren’t around today.”
“You said Mr. Charlie was trying to bring war,” Milo said. The tone is his voice changed. “With what army? The Guard hasn’t been in combat practice for ages, and even if they were able, they don’t follow the command of the Prime.”
Abraham got up and began to walk towards the stone table in the center of the room. He took large footsteps, but gentle and silent. “We have spies inside the Hall. There are speculations.”
“Of?” Milo asked. “Charlie must have known about the rebellion, right? Otherwise, was he planning to attack the citizens?”
“He does, and he was. It’s already in motion, there’s no stopping it. Mr. Charlie is not one to negotiate with. If we stand by without a fight, he will tear the world to pieces. And even if hubris took his fate one day, it would take ages for us to pick those pieces back up and mend them into a peaceful world.”
“What sort of speculations were there?” Milo asked.
Abraham was hesitant. “The metal men.”
“You said they were all gone.”
“Asleep,” said Abraham, “not gone. Charlie will use them. It’s only a matter of time.” Milo looked at Lyrah.
“The doctor who was murdered,” he said, “do you think he had anything to do with it?”
“Perhaps. We must protect Pæraleth.” Lyrah said. She walked to the table as well.
Milo, still abashed, did not move. He lowered his head. “I don't want to fight,” He said, “I'm no warrior.”
Lyrah looked at Abraham, who was walking in a slow circle around the table, as if deep in thought. “We have an ally in the South.” He said. “You would be safe there.”
“I’d be sent away, to do nothing?” Milo asked.
“Not to do nothing, Milo.” Abraham looked into his eyes, with a glare of assurance. “You’re not here because of chance.” Milo was still. “You were supposed to die today. We made sure that didn’t happen.”
“What’s so special about me?” Asked Milo.
“Our ally will be able to inform you more on that subject.”
“Where exactly am I going?” Milo asked.
“The Lazrai Plains.”
Milo let out a breath and began to move his shoulders; he had forgotten to move a muscle in the last five minutes.
Lyrah spoke. “You should stay here tonight, and leave tomorrow morning.”
“We’ll have to encrypt directions to take with you.” Abraham said, and he turned towards the back of the room.
“Wait,” Milo said, looking at Lyrah, “Won't you be going too?” He asked.
Lyrah looked at the floor. “I-” She began to speak, but was interrupted when the door burst open, and walking into the room was another lynx, but this one wore no armor and was colored with a silvery grey coat of fur.
“News,” he said. He was much smaller than Abraham, and Milo could tell he was younger.
"What news, Rezzifer?" Abraham asked. He walked away from the fire and towards the lynx named Rezzifer.
“They’ve found the Trinity Key in Hallowmere, and are terrorizing civilians.” He said, lowering his head to Abraham, as if in shame.
Abraham looked up, sighed, and looked back at him. “Then it won’t be long.”
“Oslo told me that he spotted many large black caravans along the rim of the bay, headed towards the Hall. That's when he told me to alert you.”
Abraham turned back to Milo and Lyrah, who stood frightened. Then he spoke, “I'm afraid the events have changed our plans. Milo, you must leave before dawn, and Lyrah, you will need to come with me. Rezzifer, call a meeting. Milo, if you wish to, you may be a part of it.”
Milo didn’t speak. “Well, wait here for our return, it will not be long.” Abraham said, and walked outside, followed by Rezzifer and Lyrah. Milo looked at Lyrah as she left, and before she swiftly walked out the door, she shot him a disconsolate smile.
-----
Twenty minutes or so had passed, and Milo was growing annoyed. He wished they would return sooner, for there was really nothing to do inside this
small, stone room. Perhaps I should join them. He was thinking about this for a while.
It’s actually kind of boring. It was Lyrah, speaking to him. In the back of his mind, Milo wished he had the abilities that she had. But I think you should come and talk to Rezzifer, he’s really interesting.
I think I will. I’d like to know a bit more about these creatures. There was nothing. He felt somewhat awkward that there was no response. But it was still decided. Milo walked towards the door, but then stopped when he realized he did not know where they went. Where did you go to? I don't know this place at all.
Moments later, Lyrah responded. It’s just next door, to the North. See you there. Milo was relieved to get a response, and continued his way out the door. The cold wind blasted at his face once again, but he forced his way through it to get to the house just next door to Abraham’s. This house was much larger, although the outside lights weren't nearly as bright.
As he entered, he immediately saw the three from earlier circled around a very large stone table; Lyrah, Abraham, and Rezzifer. Also there were two more lynxes, and a man with his back to Milo. The man and Lyrah stood, while the lynxes sat on the table. They were all silent, as if thinking. The single room was completely similar to Abraham’s, with the exception that it was much larger.
Abraham spoke, lifting his head up and looking at Milo, “Glad you decided to join us.” The man at the table turned around to see Milo and as he did this, the fire in the corner of the room lit up his face. He was old, with a great white beard.
“Welcome to Havensheil, Milo. Lyrah has spoken about you; it appears that you have a brilliant mind.” The man said. Milo, ignoring that he didn’t really understand this brilliant mind, nodded. “My name is Allomus, I’m in charge of weapons and armor.”
“Nice to meet you, sir.” Milo responded. Allomus appeared very strong. Milo walked over to Lyrah and stood by her.
“This, Milo,” said Abraham, “is Tarrian.” Abraham motioned to the other lynx on the table. This one was quite large and muscular. “He is one of our greatest warriors.” Tarrian looked at Milo was a grim expression.
