by Vic Davis
Pilgrim and Stinky joined in. Zuur had already separated into its two constituent parts and without a signal headed off to the cantina to examine the source processing stations there. The work was laborious and slow. They discovered among the scattered papers orders from the Supreme Office of the Endarchs. These they began separating into a pile chronologically. Breaker set about absorbing and processing the information: all written in Council symbol code but fortunately not encrypted.
Tencius returned to find them engrossed in their work. Humble and Mong were close behind. Pilgrim watched the door behind them expecting the Omega to try to disastrously force its way through the opening but was relieved to find that common sense must have prevailed.
The news was encouraging. “The town is secure,” reported Tencius. “What’s left of the fortification is as well. I’ve sent half our recon scouts out to find out what is down the road.”
“Did they get runners off to Urta’s Rest?” asked Breaker.
“It looks like it,” signaled Tencius. “The kennels are near empty. Somebody left in a hurry. Our scouts won’t catch them.”
“That’s too bad. No helping it though. What about General Vinks and our supply train?”
“What do you mean sir?” replied Tencius with a suspicious tone.
“Ah, you tell it Pilgrim,” signaled Breaker. “I haven’t seen it myself.”
Pilgrim steeled its form walls. “It seems everything didn’t exactly go according to plan. We may be cut off from our supply train now. There was some type of— well feedback or leakage of the void back into the target area. There is a weird orb of energy discharging wildly from the detonation point.” The thought prodded Pilgrim into action. “We’ve dallied here too long. We need to get back.”
Breaker concurred. “Humble, you and your friend should keep going through these documents. See if you can find anything from the ‘Supreme Office of the Endarchs’.”
Humble shrugged and made no objections. Pilgrim, Stinky, Breaker and Tencius departed to return to the scene of the detonation. They discovered that things were not as bad as they had feared.
“It’s going to take a while, but they are doing a fine job skirting the anomaly or whatever that thing is,” remarked Breaker.
“We were very lucky the edges of the slip point were not entirely engulfed. Perhaps a single canister more, and we would have been out of luck,” observed Stinky.
Crews of troops had already begun making their way through holes punched in the small stubs that remained of the walls on either side of the void area. Most of the work was being done manually with tool and tendril. More widening was needed for the wagons to come through. Pilgrim caught sight of an ovoid form hovering back and forth clearly engrossed in giving orders. A group of ovoids followed in its wake ready to take any commands: Vinks.
“Vinks is a task master. No way it was going to just sit there and leave us trapped in an enemy node,” signaled Tencius with a surfeit of pride and admiration on its form walls.
Pilgrim laughed. “And here I thought they were the ones who were trapped.”
“I guess it all depends on your point of view, Adjutant Pilgrim,” signaled Tencius. “But in my way of thinking, they still have all the supplies, and we are definitely in enemy territory. Although we could scrounge a fair amount of stuff from the town. I’ve got teams working on that already.”
“Everything looks to be in order here,” announced Breaker. I’m going back to the captured HQ to take command until Vinks comes across. Tencius, I need you to set up a perimeter defense and get a roll call. We want things to be in order when the general arrives.”
“Right you are, sir. On it. I already put my commandos, some of the regulars and heh, the penal battalion in place. But I will make the rounds.”
“Good work,” commended Breaker. “I’ll see you all at the command post.” A thought struck Breaker as it turned to leave. “By the way, how did those two do with their little group of Adjudicators? Vesital wasn’t really any more deluded or self-absorbed than any of the other key holders. That Fullfibber is an odd one though. I almost feel bad throwing them together into that situation. Almost.”
“I wouldn’t worry about them. They seem to have found a new calling in this existence by trying to outdo each other as commanders. In the process they are making those criminals pay. I have a commando detachment supervising them closely.”
Breaker and Tencius returned to the town. Pilgrim and Stinky watched from the lip of the crater as the openings were slowly enlarged and the wagons moved through. The energy discharges continued unabated but seemed completely confined to the area that had been voided.
Pilgrim with Stinky in tow hovered along the rim of the crater toward the side where Vinks would cross. Soon the familiar form of Vinks emerged from the hole in the wall to greet them.
“Welcome, general. I think I should offer you an apology,” signaled Pilgrim somewhat sheepishly.
“Ha! I take it all goes well on this side of the slip point?”
“Breaker and Tencius are waiting for you at the command post in the small town over there. The enemy, what was left of it has been eliminated or driven off. Runners probably got off before we could secure the town though. All in all, it looks like we did pretty well. I was afraid for a while I might have cut you all off.”
“I have to admit it was a shock. Do you know what happened?”
“I wish I could tell you, general. I haven’t a clue. I often feel like I’m blindly dabbling in forbidden magic; the fact that there is some math involved on my part is just a flimsy façade covering up my ignorance: a dangerous source of self-delusion and over confidence.”
Stinky found Pilgrim’s confession amusing. “I’m an applied scientist by nature. I build things based on rule sets gleaned from both abstract principles and empirical data collection. In all this time I have been here, I’ve yet to come close to creating a viable model to explain how all this works: the fields, the nodes, the flow, the ether, the dimensional topology. If anybody ever did understand it, it was the Exiles, and they are gone or occluded. Numerology is as valid an explanation as any, given our tools and our limited intellects. It might as well be magic now.”
Vinks was obviously a practical source-being with very little interest in such musings, thought Pilgrim. The question had been posed out of formality or perhaps politeness. A delicately dismissive wave of a guide tendril confirmed the suspicion. “Let’s go find Tencius and Breaker; a full situation report is in order.”
The abandoned HQ was much the same as they had left it. The town was now fully occupied and a thorough search for anything of use was underway: supplies, weapons, source-charges, rations. Pilgrim immediately noticed that something was going on in the training grounds. Tencius was there with a detachment of its Hegemon Commandos looking a combination of grim and disappointed judging by the emotions on its seasoned form walls. Two rather unimpressive ovoids, certainly not soldiers, were receiving a loud dressing down.
“You were both responsible for the integrity of your unit,” signaled Tencius in a sober tone. The two ovoids locked transoms on each other but seemed incapable of processing the fundamental concept behind the allegation.
“That’s a blatantly ludicrous idea, general. I am merely twelfth in line to the key to the vault of Privil’s Landing. Vesital here, is fifth. I must defer to the proper precedence and protocols you see. All the blame must be placed exactly where it is earned.”
Vesital was not having any of it. “No, dear Fullfeffer, you are mistaken in some important details and misguided in many others. There remains just you and I to contest the key. You are the second key holder now. A feat for which you must be congratulated and is probably well earned.
“I am the new Syndic of Privil’s Landing, although I have yet to choose a proper name by which to rule. In due time I will and when we return to Privil’s Landing, things will be much different. Of this I can assure you. But now we must focus on our responsibilities
. And you have shirked yours. It was your task to ensure that our soldiers did not hover off at the first sign of trouble or opportunity.”
Fullfeffer seemed on the verge of a complete loss of control or a nervous breakdown. The ovoid sputtered out a gibberish of signals that Pilgrim could not recognize as Trade, Hegemon or High Ancient.
Vinks’ arrival interrupted the little scene; Tencius snapped to attention as did the commandos nearby. “What’s going on here Adjutant Tencius?”
“Our penal battalion has proven itself less than satisfactory in its first real combat test. A third were lost in the fighting at the barracks complex; another third has fled; the remainder is now too apathetic to fight or flee. Finally, their commanders here are nothing short of useless.”
“They will only slow us down at this point,” signaled Vinks. “Take them all out back and execute them. If possible, hunt down any of the deserters and execute them as well. We are leaving this town as soon as we have everything that is of use and easily acquired and transported.”
“Yes, sir!” replied Tencius.
“Sir, if I may offer a suggestion,” signaled Breaker who had just appeared from the door to the main HQ building and had overheard the pronouncement. “Vesital may actually still be of some use if we survive this. It might be worth it to keep it around despite its somewhat annoying mannerisms and haughty airs.”
Both Vesital and Fullfeffer were stunned by the recent drastic turn of events. Dumbfounded expressions of incredulity blanketed their form walls. Fullfeffer was the first to respond. “Surely you won’t entrust Privil’s Landing to Vesital. You will find every guild in the city against you. Vesital was tied to the cabal that betrayed you: the very same group that destroyed our city. I, however, would make a wonderful Syndic. Your needs would find receptive consideration in my palace. You should—”
“Lies! From a known cheat and addict,” interrupted Vesital. “Don’t think I haven’t forgotten your attempt to bribe the Snu Sniffer Adjudicator.”
Fullfeffer drew back in shock. “What calumny! Your bribes were more effective than mine. My Adjudicator failed to even show up.”
“Precisely why I should be Syndic. Fullfeffer, you are a failure. That’s all you will ever be.”
“Gentlemen!” interrupted Breaker. “Neither of you is advancing your cases with any great efficacy. I suggest you both temper your emotions. At this point I don’t think we could risk either of you as a puppet in Privil’s Landing in the remote chance that we survive what is ahead.”
“So, what do you recommend Master Breaker?” signaled Vinks growing impatient.
“Send them to work in the supply train until we figure out what to do with them. Bleaks could use them. The rest of them, the adjudicators— can go out behind the barracks.”
“So be it,” ordered Vinks with a dismissive wave. “Let’s get out of this town and onto the road.”
Chapter 15
A Storm Is Coming
Voor’s pilgrims, Codex, The Old Alchemist and Grivil hovered in a circle at the edge of the training ground, jovially discussing some topic that elicited the occasional eruption of laughter among the group. The mood of the gathering suddenly grew serious as Grivil appeared to fall into a mild fit: flittering tendrils, an odd expression on its form walls.
Xodd had its suspicions as to what the subject of the conversation might be: a conspiracy, no doubt intended to undermine the authority of their commander; it had been observing them discreetly for some time. Grivil and the Old Alchemist were now the best of friends; they were never far from Voor and its odd companion Codex. The cabal was a threat that must be delicately managed, at least until their usefulness was at an end. When it came down to it, only Groz was completely trustworthy. Malador’s devotion had never wavered but Xodd had slowly begun to fear that the Old Alchemist represented a test for Malador’s loyalties. What of Block? Block could be counted on to look after Block. The sergeant would not dare to oppose Xodd, but it might very well just slink away when the going got tough.
“Captain, Baloris is now fully alert and conscious,” signaled Groz interrupting Xodd’s internal assessment of its companions’ loyalties. “Pipper says you can interrogate it now, if you so desire.”
“Good. And Block has kept the Endarch isolated from Voor?”
“Yes, just as you ordered. I have made regular inspections to ensure this as well.”
Xodd’s transom snapped over to the approach of Voor and its cronies. As if it had somehow divined Xodd’s inner thoughts, the Librarian informed Xodd that it did not and would not conspire with its perceived enemies; more importantly, Voor was not one of said enemies. It had in fact been a valuable ally in the past; its help should not be dismissed out of hand. Xodd made no reply.
“Greetings, Captain Xodd,” signaled Voor’s lead pilgrim as it came near. “We have been discussing the present situation and would like to make some recommendations.”
“Save your effort Voor. I alone make the decisions for this army. It is my army. You presume too much in deigning to discuss anything. Your job is to follow my commands.”
Xodd had done its best to make the statement as insulting as possible but Voor seemed unperturbed. “Yes, of course my dear Captain Xodd. So much is understood. But Grivil here has sensed something momentous in the ether.”
Grivil seemed reluctant to elaborate. They hovered there in silence as Xodd began to grow impatient. These creatures are trying to play me for a fool, thought Xodd. “Yes? What is it?”
Voor nudged Grivil with a tendril from one of its nearby pilgrims hovering behind the singleton master Channeler. Grivil shuddered as if it had been roused from a deep state of concentration. “My apologies. Something has happened. I’m not sure exactly what it is. I have never felt such a thing in the ether. It is very strange.”
“What is?” asked Xodd growing suspicious. If this was some pre-arranged charade to trick it into doing what the little cabal wanted, the acting from Grivil was first class.
“Something has happened at the slip point into this node, over in that direction,” signaled Grivil while pointing away and toward the edge of the town with a guide tendril. “There was a sudden emptiness in the ether that propagated throughout the node, then there came a growing pressure. Now there is something stirring. I’m not sure what exactly. It feels like an ether storm brewing, but I can’t be certain.”
As much as Xodd disliked the Channeler, it did not dismiss its premonition lightly. The important question for Xodd was: what did Voor and its accomplices hope to gain by presenting this news? Xodd would play along. “Interesting. And what is it you wish from me?”
Voor seemed perplexed at Xodd’s lack of enthusiasm. “Captain, our goals still align do they not? You wish to inflict harm upon the council. We wish to strike at the very heart of their operations: the holy of holies beneath the citadel. This ether storm and the careful use of Baloris might offer such an opportunity. At the very least it could get us past Urta’s Rest and through the slip point.”
Xodd could not fault Voor’s logic even if deep down it felt impelled to act against its suggestions solely for the joy such spite might bring. Xodd shook off its contrarian instincts and forced itself to keep an open mind. “I will consider your opinion, Djenirian. I have just been brought news that the Endarch now stirs. Shall we go and see what it has to say?”
“An excellent idea, captain.”
“Very well. Follow me. But do not interfere with my interrogation. Is this understood?”
Voor seemed sincere in its response. “Naturally, dear captain. We will rely on your expertise. The Codex here has been unable to penetrate its transom whatsoever. It will be interesting to see what the Endarch has to communicate.”
Xodd did not bother with a reply. It motioned to Groz and then headed directly toward the structure that presently housed the recovering Endarch. They covered the distance quickly, passing the two guards at the entrance and proceeding up the ramp to the second floor. Pipper
was hovering in a corner along with Block and a burly guard watching in dismay as Baloris pathed frantically back and forth in a tizzy about something.
“They will find us you fools!” signaled Baloris in a low mutter that was barely discernable. The Endarch noticed Xodd and the rather large party following in its wake enter the room and gave them a good inspection; a flash of recognition passed across its form walls. “I know you. Yes, I do. Xodd isn’t it. Xodd the Traitor.” Baloris began laughing maniacally then suddenly stopped and lowered itself down to the floor with a placating flourish of tendrils that seemed to communicate ‘I jest. Do not grow angry.’ “What is it that you want? Please don’t let them hurt me. I must find more delicacies. I need the sustenance of their patterns.”
Xodd was astonished by the Endarch’s display of abject groveling and loss of self-control. Baloris had once seemed a distant god-like figure commanding armies, dispatching thousands of troops, organizing the military might of a growing empire; now the fallen general seemed on the verge of some type of psychological breakdown. “Endarch Baloris, you should compose yourself.”
“I want my patterns. Where are my guards? Where is that useless Trok? I named it Overseer to govern this place. Then I— I grew faint. The urge. You have no idea how strong the urge is. I must have some more of those delicacies. You must take me back to Imbal. There I have a special object; I thought it was empty but perhaps I could squeeze a feast out of it: one morsel overlooked. Perhaps it clung to the inside of the container? I cannot bear it any longer.” Baloris started to levitate itself up off the floor but a sudden wave of disorientation swept the effort aside; it fell back to the floor and began to whimper.
“Sergeant Block! How long has the Endarch been ranting like this?” asked Xodd.
The sergeant hovered over to Xodd from its position of modest safety behind the guard, a follower from Privil’s Landing who had shown some promise with the short lance. “Not long sir, for a long time it just lay there and moaned. Pipper got it to consume a little source, most of which it regurgitated. Then it just started babbling about patterns and delicacies. Imbal this and something about the new governor of Urta’s Rest.”
