by Nyk Nova
“Epsilon!” Payce shouted. His fingers went rigid as they reached outward and his eyes flashed a green fire.
In front of the box, a barrier of light burst in a spiral pattern just as the missile hit it. Payce’s spell worked, sparing the Oscerians from an explosive death. But like many spells, it came with some cost. The falling prison was flipped upwards and back in the blast. A small grace in that it had delayed their fall but now they could not get their bearings as the prisoners were jostled around in their tumbling cell.
Kade slammed into Roland who slammed into Tuk. Lyra and Payce slammed into opposite walls. Each of them tried to gather a solution from each other but none of them were able to get the words out before the air was knocked from their lungs.
Kade’s collision with the larger Tuk, pushed him into a corner. The General tensed his arms and legs, trying to wedge himself in the corner to keep from more impacts with his fellow inmates.
He watched as the others tried their best to follow his example. Only Roland managed to position himself in the same manner. Unfortunately, the brace did not help the spinning.
The box flipped end over end, changing some direction with each prisoner’s impact against the walls. Long had it fallen below the clouds. There were moments when Kade thought he’d caught a glimpse of the land below but they were moving too fast to get a detailed look. And it didn’t matter anyway. Tare’s betrayal against Jer’ren’s wishes would have them seeing nothing very soon.
A small beeping went off within the box. Kade shot a glance at Roland who nodded understanding. Suddenly the sound of magnetic waves pulsed from outside the cell.
The flipping slowed down, giving the others a chance to position themselves more securely. By the time Tuk made it to a corner, the flipping had stopped and the magnetic waves had slowed their fall enough that there was no longer a need to brace against anything.
Kade stepped toward one of the energy walls and clenched his fist. The tree tops came into view right in-line with the box as it continued to slow down. “He planned this,” Kade said. “Some idea of a joke?”
“I’m sure you’ve landed by now,” Tare’s voice broke in through the box.”
“When I see you again, Tare—”
“Glad to know you’re safe, General Kade. Once you’ve retrieved the Spirit Ignition Stone, make your way back here and radio in. We will drop in and evacuate you.”
“This isn’t over,” Kade growled.
“Not yet, it isn’t. Tare, out.”
Both energy walls of the box flickered off and Lyra stumbled out, dropping to her hands and knees, heaving. Payce followed quickly behind her except he actually vomited.
Both of them looked up at the others, embarrassed by their reaction.
“There is no shame in it,” Roland said. “Be glad that it happened. The forethought alternative was much worse.”
“So we’re here,” Tuk said. “Now what?”
“I wish I knew. The fortress could be anywhere on the planet,” Kade replied. “I may be assigned as leader but I’m open to suggestions.”
Roland stepped farther from the box and took in their surroundings. He first went to a boulder protruding out from the ground. Then he turned and took several steps forward. The others stared at him, perplexed by his actions.
“Is he alright?” Kade asked.
“I’m not sure,” Lyra told him.
“Roland,” Tuk asked. “What are you doing?”
Roland kneeled to the ground and started up at the trees. “Merely gauging our surroundings.”
“It’s trees and rocks,” Payce commented. “There’s no need to traipse among them in such a way.”
Kade narrowed his eyes. “Unless…”
“You know where the fortress is, don’t you?” Tuk asked, a smile forming.
Roland turned back to them. “I should hope so. I placed it there, myself.”
20
The group kicked around on the ground, each of them looking for weapons of some sort. The area was littered with sticks and rocks of various sizes but nothing more advanced than that.
“I assume this is some kind of stealth mission?” Tuk asked.
“It would have to be if they didn’t give us any weaponry of any kind,” Kade replied.
“It’s like they didn’t trust us,” Lyra said.
"They were right in that assumption,” Kade’s demeanor turned cold. “I would have shot Tare right after he closed us in.”
“Then we would have not known what Lugaz is doing on Tagle and we would have still fallen,” Roland advised.
“And probably smashed on the ground,” Payce said as he checked the durability of a three foot stick. He picked up a rounded stone and magically fused the two together, creating a war hammer of sorts.
“Think you could make one of those for me?” Tuk asked.
Roland stopped short of a trench behind a boulder. He sighed at the sight of two dead men. One wore the colors of Lugaz, the other of Osceria. He kneeled down and lifted the Oscerian gun, checking for ammunition. It was a laser blaster, its battery at only twenty percent. “Not many shots out of this.” He grabbed the Lugazian troop’s side arm. It was full. “Kade?”
Kade approached Roland, letting the others continue searching for blunt weapons.
“I would wonder how these two came so far away from the others.”
“I didn’t even know Tagle was a battleground,” Kade said, taking the side arm from the older soldier.
“The General of Osceria did not know?”
“The Guilds sent a lot of troops all over. They had more of a say in the campaign than they probably should have.”
“Another reason to rid our world of their rule.”
Kade checked the ammunition store of the hand gun before holstering it in his waist band. “Speaking of. I know the crimes of the others. You never said why you were on Razen.”
“Much like the others. An attack on the Guilds. Eran was in my sights but he knew I was there.”
“Eran? The Director of the Sorcerer’s Guild?”
“The very same. There was no trial. Not even an arrest. One moment he was in front of me, the next, I was on Razen and in a duel with a single Rekoul Hunter. His magic is powerful. Enough to send me to another planet in the blink of an eye.”
“I never knew the Guilds were so despised.”
“There are more threats on Osceria than there are on Lugaz. We are fortunate that, at least, with Lugaz, we can see the enemy.”
“What are you two whispering about?” Tuk approached. “Well if that’s not the mother load of finds.” He stopped at sight of the dead soldiers. “Did you already take the good stuff?” He dropped into the trench and looked over the dead Oscerian soldier with less reverence than Kade had liked. “I’ll take the Volt Blade.” He rose back up, checking the talisman’s energy. There was enough left for a few zaps if it came to it.
Lyra walked to the others with a staff almost as tall as she was. It was a fine looking weapon. “Wow,” she said before looking at the armaments in the other’s hands. “I’d feel a lot safer with more than this.” She shook the staff.
Tuk pulled a two pronged claw out from under the Lugazian. The blades were stained in his blood. “Looks like these two have been out here for a long time.” He tossed Lyra the claw.
“I’ll take his boot laces, too. Both sets,” she said, positioning the claw at the end of her branch.
Tuk looked at her funny but caught on quickly enough.
The small band of former prisoners— turned stooges for the enemy— stood in a circle, taking note of their stock.
“So this is the best we can do,” Kade said. “At least until we get hold of something better. Does anyone besides Roland know about Tagle and the Stone?”
“The Spirit Ignition Stone is said to be an artifact of infinite spirit division. I can’t imagine much purpose in such a thing,” Payce said.
“It is accompanied by another artifact. A weapon,” Rolan
d continued. “The Sword of Aurtune Argus. I am not at all certain of what will happen when these two are combined.”
“Nor am I,” Payce added. “But if Jer’ren wants the stone, it would not be for anything other than the annihilation of Osceria.”
“Or its takeover,” Kade said. “Would the stone amplify her power?”
“It is safe to assume so,” Roland said. “I wonder why it is that Tare did not mention the sword.”
“We’ll worry about that when we have to,” Kade changed the subject. “Right now, I’m more concerned with what we’re up against, here? There’s the two sides fighting we know about. And a fortress, holding the stone. Roland, you placed it?”
“Yes. But that was many years ago. The last time I was here, there were two ways into the Stone Room. The direct route which has a passcode that I did not program. And a hatch that I never saw.”
“That doesn’t sound very helpful,” Payce said.
“It’s a start,” Kade told them. “Then here is what we will do. We follow Roland since he knows the way. If we can avoid the fighting we do. But if we can’t, we maintain our allegiance to Lugaz. Attack only the Oscerians.”
“Are you serious?” Lyra asked.
“A wise, tactic,” Roland said. “Once we have the stone, we will have bargaining power but until then, we do not want Lugazians reporting us.”
“And the Oscerian’s don’t have communication lines. So they can’t reveal us,” Kade added. “I know what you’re all thinking. I’m the same way. I don’t want to hurt our own people, and I hope it doesn’t come to that but for now…” He finished his sentence with a nod.
“There will be a particular soldier we will not be able to avoid. Nor will we be able to avoid hurting,” Roland said. “Assuming they are not already destroyed, The fortress is guarded by two ABUs.”
Kade’s head dropped in defeat.
“What are ABUs?” Lyra asked. Payce held the same expression.
“Armored Battle Units,” Kade said. “Manned exo-suits as tall as some of these trees and as armed as some of those Lugazian ships we saw in the hangar.” He pulled his newly acquired hand gun and shook his head. “I might as well throw this away for all the good it would do if we come up against one of those.”
“How are they powered?” Lyra asked. “Is it magic or are their controls?”
“A man sits inside one and controls it via feed screen,” Tuk said, looking just as defeated as Kade. “All the options and controls are there.”
“What if I could get in one of them? I could figure out how it works and then we’d have one on our side. If nothing else, we’d have a weapon that could fight the other ABU.”
Kade looked at Roland. “It’s not a bad idea.”
“My hope is that it does not come to that,” Roland said.
“You’re sure its just the two?” Kade asked.
“As I said,” Roland told him. “It was many years ago. And I have no knowledge of any changes since then.”
Kade stepped away from the trench. “Right. OK, let’s move out. I’m starting to get nervous being in the open like this.”
“What do we say if we’re seen by Lugaz troops?” Tuk asked.
“We’ll cross that road when we get there,” Kade told him.
21
The throne room of Empress Jer’ren was the exact opposite of the other buildings in her Capital City. In addition to the black and purple colors of Lugaz, there were streamers of gold, silver, and bronze. The steps leading to her throne were of a silver inlaid marble. The stone pillars holding up the vaulted ceiling were of a deep jade. It was a place that the normal citizenry were not allowed. Only the highest ranked of her advisors and military soldiers were permitted access to it. Many of her subjects had never experienced such beauty as the throne room held. But that beauty was dulled by the demeanor of the one who coveted it for herself and a select few.
Jer’ren was in a rage as she paced back and forth at the foot of the marble steps. “Find the culprit or I will paint my throne with your blood!” she shouted to one of her advisors.
“Yes, my Empress. At once.” The scared woman stood and rushed from the throne room, eager to put as much distance between herself and Jer’ren’s fury as she could.
The Empress’s eyes flashed with green fire and she hurled a green flame at the black runner carpet leading to her throne.
“Careful, Mother,” Ler’ren said, begrudgingly, from her less opulent seat next to the Empress’s. “You wouldn’t want to burn that which you covet so much.”
The flame in Jer’ren’s eyes was doused and with a wave of her hand the fire on the carpet was extinguished.
“My Lady is merely tired from the incompetence of others,” Epok said as he glided across the burned section of the carpet. As he passed over it, the imperfection was erased and replaced, good as new. “And a return to perfection.”
“I do not ask for much,” Jer’ren said, walking to her throne. She eased into the seat with a grace vastly different from her recent fury. “Can you imagine the disparity of others if they had seen such colors on the walls outside of the palace?”
“It would have been anarchy defined, Empress,” Epok said. “Such sights are reserved only for your eyes and those of the luminance of your daughter.”
Ler’ren reeled back at the lascivious compliment.
Jer’ren sat back, letting her regal demeanor relax. “No, sorcerer. Such sights are for all. There are simply not enough of them for everyone to enjoy. If all cannot have them, then none shall.”
“Such a thing does not deserve such heavy punishment,” Ler’ren said.
“I am beset on all sides,” the Empress sighed. “What word of Kade and his mission?”
“I have been informed that Tare has succeeded in transporting the Oscerians to the surface of Tagle.”
“Excellent. Now we will see where his loyalties truly lie.”
“You sent him on an impossible task,” Ler’ren mumbled.
“Are you still on about the Oscerian?” Jer’ren asked. “He is perfectly capable.”
“I only want to see him again.”
“And you shall, provided he lives to return. But that is up to him.”
“You could have sent anyone else to Tagle. You should have sent him there!” Ler’ren pointed at Epok.
“My Lady knows what is best. And I am better served by staying within the walls of the palace,” Epok said with a smile. “Besides, you still have your studies if you are to become as powerful at magics as your mother. As your tutor—”
“I want a new tutor, mother.”
“This again?”
Ler’ren leaned into Jer’ren’s ear. “ I do not like the way he looks at me. As if he violates me with his very eyes.”
Jer’ren looked down at Epok who stood with his head bowed. “A sorcerer has no interests in such things, my dear.”
“The radiant Empress’s daughter mentioned seeing him again?” Epok asked, hoping to steer the conversation.
Ler’ren dropped the matter of her concern over Epok’s stare “How?” she asked, barely containing her excitement.
Jer’ren rolled her eyes and motioned for Epok to reveal Kade.
Epok held out his hand and the air sparked and swirled in front of the thrones. A flash of light burst out, leaving only the sight of Kade and the others as they stalked through the woods of Tagle. “Apologies, that my skill is not great enough to hear him speak.”
Jer’ren glanced at her daughter and envied the young woman’s naiveté. Ler’ren looked at the image, never taking her eyes off Kade. It was such love-lost expression. One that softened Jer’ren’s heart if only for a moment.
“Bring him to me,” Ler’ren ordered.
“A simple task if it please the Empress,” Epok said.
“It does not please us,” Jer’ren told him.
The image quickly shrank into nothingness, taking Kade away from Ler’ren for the second time.
“No!�
�� Ler’ren stood, her hand glowing a lighter much more faded green than Jer’ren’s.
“You watch your tone with me.” Jer’ren’s voice was full of acid. “As I warned before, I am the Empress. And daughter or not, you will bow as the rest.”
Ler’ren held out a moment longer before releasing the magic.
“Epok,” Jer’ren said. “ I do not know what you have been teaching her, but I wish never to see the green flame of assault conjured from her again. Are we understood?”
“Of course, my Lady.”
Ler’ren stepped down from the throne steps and turned to Jer’ren. “You care nothing for others. Only for yourself.”
“What you are feeling will pass, daughter.”
“As it passed with you and that old soldier, Roland. Only you would try and recapture something lost while never letting others capture it to begin with.” Ler’ren did not wait for a response before storming from the throne room.
“The folly of youth, my Lady,” Epok said.
“Perhaps. Still, what if he does die in his mission? Then we are no closer to having the Spirit Ignition Stone than we were.”
“My Lady must have faith in her plan. For there are more appointed to the task than Kade’Tor Lorenth.”
“We wish to see them.”
“Of course.” As before, Epok conjured sight of Kade and the others, now farther ahead.
Jer’ren watched as the group crept up behind three Oscerian soldiers. “Now, we will truly know, Kade’Tor Lorenth, if you seek to betray me.”
22
Tuk and Lyra crept up to one of the Oscerian soldiers while Payce watched their backs. Kade and Roland took aim at the other two. Tuk motioned for Lyra to stay back as he moved ahead. Kade and Roland exchanged glances. Neither of them knew what Tuk was planning but both reasoned it would be better than a gun-shot that alerted the others. And these were just the first three.
Tuk quietly placed his Volt Blade in the belt he’d taken from the dead Oscerian troop. They’d all decided that killing was not an option until it was necessary. He took a good look at the other troops that Kade and Roland had covered.
