“The Venerable Chamber owned this place. Those books are mostly just filled with their decrees or the writings of the Supreme’s acolytes,” Marcian explained. “They’re what the Seekers typically take with them as they enforce their laws.”
He stopped outside one of the buildings. This one had a red door and a sign depicting a book swinging gently in the breeze.
“This is the place,” he said. He drew his pistol and Lizella did the same. He stepped back and then kicked the door open with a loud crash.
They dashed inside but found the place deserted. Marcian holstered his pistol.
“There it is,” he said pointing to the large iron framed press that dominated the large room. The smell of ink and chemicals remained in the air.
“This place hasn’t changed despite the years,” he muttered.
“You’ve been here before?” asked Lizella as Marcian inspected the machinery. The question caused him to pause.
“Yes. This is the place where my grandfather and his men would meet. They built this press in secret and used it to spread their own messages. I’m sure it was because of it that the word of the Liberators spread so far and wide. Of course, it wasn’t long before the Venerable Chamber discovered its location. My grandfather was betrayed, and he and his people were captured. They seized control of this place and I was forced to flee the city,” he said as he ran a gloved hand over the surface of the press. He stopped and faced Lizella.
“It’s a bit ironic that we’re now going to use it once again for its original purpose,” he added wistfully. He took her hand in his again and walked back outside.
“Let’s find Jip and get it operational again. The sooner we can start fighting the Chambers lies the better.”
*
They worked through the evening to get the printing press operational and after many debates as to what their first pamphlet would say production was underway. They had settled on a two-page leaflet that called on those that could read in the Imperium to share the word with their peers. It told them that only by working together would they rid themselves of the Supreme and her followers. It also refuted the claims the Chamber had made about Hestra and told the horrifying truth of the Supreme’s mysterious ritual.
The press operated throughout the night until by the morning a hundred of the pamphlets were ready. Marcian gave orders to hand them out to the civilians of the city who would not be joining the Liberator army on its march south. Their role was to travel far and wide and spread them throughout the Imperium. Others were handed to Liberators ordered with getting them into the hands of the people in cities still garrisoned by Imperium troops. With that done Marcian gathered his army and true to his word was back on the road by midday.
***
Chapter 18.
The Road to Aeranyth
The carriage jostled and shook as it moved over the uneven surface of the road. From his seat, Elian could just about make out the broken and shattered stone that had once been the main road to the doomed kingdom of Aeranyth. His hands were shackled by iron cuffs and sat at either side of him were Hollowed. He could feel them suppressing his powers with their own. He felt exhausted and weak but not so much that he couldn’t think. Sat across from him was Cassia. She no longer wore the cloak of an Empowered One, instead she now favoured a long dress similar to those worn by noble ladies of the Chosen class. Her hair was now up, and her brown eyes regarded him with barely concealed contempt. She hadn’t said a word since they’d entered the carriage. The silence was intimidating. He’d seen how the woman was skirting the fringes of insanity. He risked a glance at her, and that madness was there. Her eyes twitched as she noticed him looking.
“I cannot believe that you killed the First Fear,” she said suddenly. Elian flinched as the two Hollowed tensed at the mention of their former leader. His mind was almost screaming in Fear, but he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Getting his emotions under control would be key to surviving what was to come, of that he was certain.
“He turned on her at the end you know,” he said. It took all of his willpower to keep his voice from cracking from the stress. Cassia’s eyes widened at his words. Finding courage from somewhere he looked at her and held her gaze.
“It’s true. In fact, he, Corvan saved my life.”
At using the First Fear’s real name the Hollowed bristled visibly. Pain lanced into his mind as the two creatures increased their grip. It was then that it occurred to him that the Hollowed at his side had once been Empowered Ones too. Twisted by the Supreme, their identities had been ripped apart, their bodies mutilated, and their powers corrupted.
“He’d been resisting her influence. He was seeking ways to put an end to her. He said that I would be the one to do it.”
The blow came suddenly and with force. His head snapped back to strike the cushioned headrest behind him. Pain lanced into his skull and he could feel blood oozing from his nose. He tried to channel Joy to clear the stars dancing before his eyes, but he was only greeted by the emptiness that he always now encountered when trying to use it, the Hollowed’s influence only brought further pain. He shook his head to clear it and wished he hadn’t. Cassia was furious, the madness was in her eyes, but this time there was something else with it. He shuddered; all his bravado shaken out of him.
“You lie,” she snarled.
Elian looked away, the pain in his head almost overwhelming him.
“We approach my lady,” came the muffled voice of the carriage driver from up front.
Cassia smiled and leant out of the window.
“Let him see this,” she said to the Hollowed. Elian flinched as the bony hand of one of the Hollowed grabbed his arm and pushed him toward the window.
At first, he couldn’t comprehend what he was seeing but then his blurred vision cleared. Amassed on the road ahead was a vast army. On either side of the road were tall mountains that funnelled the road into a narrow pass. From the looks of it, the entire might of the Imperium army was gathered. Defensive fortifications had been built into the hilly terrain; their cannons clear to see. Trenches had been dug across the ground and on the road itself, a large stone fort had been erected. Looming over the thousands of troops was a dozen of the monstrous Guardian war machines. The black tripods stood like ominous statues that would suddenly burst into life and deliver a swift but brutal death.
“The road to Aeranyth is now the most heavily fortified place in the world. The Supreme will not tolerate any interference from your little friends. If they come as she suspects they will meet their end here,” explained Cassia as she gleefully watched Elian’s horrified expression. The carriage slowed at the fort and a man dressed in a pristine white uniform approached.
“Ah Supreme Commander Rickon, what do we owe this pleasure?” Cassia asked, her tone switching from the cruel one she’d used moments before to sickly sweet.
Rickon stopped outside the carriage and peered inside at Elian.
“Is this the one?” he asked gruffly as he looked Elian up and down.
“It is indeed. He has led us on a merry chase, but finally, I have done the Supreme’s bidding. Do you not approve?”
Rickon raised an eyebrow.
“It is not my place to question the Supreme’s commands. What I do question is why I have been ordered to march my entire army to this wretched place? We had those Liberators on the back foot, now they have free reign to cause chaos across the Imperium,” he grumbled.
“Don’t worry my dear Rickon, very soon the Supreme will deal with those pests. First, she has important business with; him.”
Elian sat back, his mind racing. Something was amiss, he could feel it. Pulling the bulk of her forces to the Aeranyth border made no sense. The Supreme was supposedly just that, Supreme. Why would she need such a force to ensure whatever she was planning wouldn’t be interrupted? Nothing should concern her. A feeling of dread knotted in his guts. She had been seeking him with an almost pathological and obsessive need, why? Seeing the Im
perium army gathered in such strength was disconcerting enough but the implications as to why was far worse. With a lurch, the carriage continued on its way and travelled through the fort. Once through the portcullis, it crossed a wide courtyard filled with soldiers who were preparing their weapons. Muskets were being loaded and swords sharpened. The carriage then went through a rear gate and emerged onto a vast wide plain. Elian dared a look out of the window once more and gasped at the view. He’d heard tales of Aeranyth, but nothing prepared him for seeing it in the flesh. The earth was covered in what looked like ash, not a single plant or living thing grew. The desolation went on for miles in all directions, only the odd ruined spire jutting out of the broken ground betrayed that a once proud civilisation had called the land home. Lying and scattered in piles were bones. The carriage trundled on and to Elian’s horror, the skulls of thousands of people lay in heaps in the ash, their eyeless sockets boring into him. It was a land of death.
“It’s shocking the first time you see it isn’t it?’ Cassia said wistfully. “Now you can see what the Supreme is truly capable of. When I was first brought here as a child it gave me nightmares for weeks.”
Her tone piqued Elian’s interest. There was more to this place than just a barren wasteland, of that he was now certain. The carriage slowed once again causing Cassia to bang on the roof irritably.
“Why have we slowed? Do you not realise the importance of the persons you carry?” she shouted.
“Forgive me mistress, but there is heavy traffic on the road ahead,” the driver replied.
Ahead and barring the road was a line of wagons several miles long. All them carried large steel cages filled with people. Elian could hear their cries for help carry on the wind.
“Supplicants for what is to come,” Cassia said with a cruel look in her eyes. She smirked at Elian, sensing the horror he felt at the sight.
“All destined for the Temple of Arrival where they shall serve a great purpose.”
The Hollowed next to him shifted at her words. He glanced to the one to his right and noticed that its hand was trembling slightly. Despite them supposedly being devoid of emotions there was no denying the Fear emanating from it.
‘What could make even these monsters feel fear?’ he thought.
“And what is to come?” Elian asked. He knew he was pressing his luck, but he had to learn as much as he could. If he was going to his death he wanted to know why. Cassia smirked but said nothing. He sat back in his seat and closed his eyes. The carriage travelled onward through the barren terrain of Aeranyth. Whatever it was, he would be ready for it.
***
Chapter 19.
Near Olandis
“Get down!” yelled Kasdar.
Rea threw herself to the ground just as the soldier fired his musket. The bullet whizzed over her head and struck a nearby tree. Quickly, she scrambled onto her feet and once more broke into a sprint. All around them the forest was alive with the barks of hunting dogs and shouts of Imperium soldiers. Kasdar crashed into the shooter his hands gripping the still smoking barrel of the musket. The two men wrestled before the Gifted’s enhanced strength overpowered the soldier. Kasdar threw the man to the ground, snatched the musket from his hands and using it as a club battered him unconscious. He hurried over to Rea as more shouts came from the undergrowth behind them.
“We can’t keep this up. We have to lose them,” Rea gasped.
Since Elian’s capture, they had been hunted by Seekers and what seemed like an entire battalion of Imperium soldiers. They weren’t just ordinary troops either, these ones wore the black uniforms of the Supreme’s Elite Guard. A cry came from further ahead and Rea and Kasdar ran towards the sound. They burst into a clearing to find Garen engaged in combat with six Seekers, two which were writhing around on the muddy ground, vomit pouring from their mouths. Garen was wielding his power of Disgust. Kasdar held his cane sword in a tight two-handed grip and using Surprise he caught the other Seekers completely off guard. He impaled one on the blade before quickly withdrawing it and slashing the throat of the other.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Garen nodded.
“For now, but there’s more of them coming. Every time we use our powers the Seekers know our location,” Garen growled as he wiped blood from his cut lip.
The sound of approaching footsteps and the howls of dogs increased in volume once more as their pursuers honed in on their location.
“We’ve been running non-stop for two days. We’re never going to outrun them,” Rea panted. The concussion from Vavius’s blow still pained her and it was taking all of her willpower to not collapse due to the dizziness.
Through the trees and coming from all directions they could see dozens of lanterns all heading their way. It would only be a matter of minutes before they were once again in range of the soldier’s muskets.
“We’re surrounded,” Garen said in despair.
Kasdar looked around the clearing desperate for an escape route but enemies were converging from every direction. There was no way out. He sighed and placed a hand on his brothers’ shoulder.
“It has been an honour fighting at your side brother,” he said softly.
Garen gripped his hand and smiled.
“If this is where we meet our end then so be it, but let’s take a few of the bastards down with us,” he replied. The four Gifted stood back to back, each facing the enemy and ready to die fighting. The first grim faced soldiers emerged from the treeline their muskets held at the ready and their hunting dogs snarling at their sides.
Rea settled into a fighting stance and focused the Power within. The others did likewise, ready for a fight to the death and prepared for the enemy to strike. Except, they didn’t. Panicked screams came from the woods and cries for help drew closer. Confused by the chaos taking place behind them the soldiers turned from their prey. With a shout Kasdar dashed forward, cane sword slashing. He cut down two before the others could even react. Rea fixed her gaze on the men before her and used her Gift to get into their heads and out of the fight. Both the soldiers threw down their muskets and collapsed to the ground fast asleep. Behind her, Garen had unleashed Disgust at the enemy causing them to cough uncontrollably. Kasdar was on them in a blur and within a few short moments had battered them unconscious. With the imminent threat dealt with their attention turned to the woods and the screaming. As suddenly as it had begun the shouts seized with a final blood curdling cry. An eerie silence fell upon the clearing.
“What the hell is going on?” Kasdar muttered as he cleaned blood off his sword with his cloak.
Rea’s eyes widened, but before she could shout a warning, a wall of air exploded from the treeline forcing them backwards. A familiar figure was stood at the edge of the clearing, his torn green cloak flapping gently in the breeze. It was Vavius.
*
“Out of the fire into the inferno,” Garen growled at the sight of Vavius.
Panic filled Rea; in their already weakened state, they were no match for him. Was he here to kill them?
“Relax you lot. If I’d wanted you dead, I would have killed you in Olandis. Look-” Vavius said as he held his arms up. “I mean you no harm.”
Kasdar had drawn his sword once more, its tip pointing menacingly at his former friend and mentor.
“Forgive us if we don’t believe you,” he said bluntly.
Vavius slowly lowered his arms and shook his head.
“I just saved your lives. Are you not even curious as to why?”
“I’m guessing it’s because your scheme to find the Temple of Arrival was nothing more than a trap set by the Supreme,” Rea answered.
Vavius nodded and paced the clearing.
“You always were a smart one Rea. Yes, you’re correct. I walked straight into her trap. She can certainly hold a grudge that’s for sure.”
“Get the point,” snapped Garen.
Vavius sighed and placed his hands on his hips.
“That trap wasn’t j
ust set for me. It was also meant for Elian. Where is he?”
Rea exchanged a look with Kasdar.
“He… he gave himself up to Cassia,” she said.
Vavius blinked in disbelief.
“He what?”
“You heard her Vavius. The lad gave himself up to give us a chance to escape. Although it did us little good in the end as you well saw,” Kasdar snapped.
Vavius swore loudly.
“You only saved us because you thought he was with us, didn’t you?”
“I’m not going to lie, so yes,” Vavius replied.
“Listen to me, I know none of you trust me. You shouldn’t, after all, I’ve done. I’m a bastard, but none of you understand what is at stake here. Everything I’ve done was for the greater good.”
Rea scoffed.
“Betraying your friends and leaving Elian to die at the hands of the First Fear was for the greater good was it?”
“Yes,” Vavius said firmly.
“None of you know the truth. I found each of you and turned you into what you are today. I trained you, taught you to embrace your powers. Gave you something to fight for. I was raised by the Mentors, or what is left of them. They taught me what was at stake and then tasked me to do whatever it took to end the Supreme. To achieve that, I have done terrible things, made mistakes that could now lead to greater ruin.”
“We can’t stay here. More Seekers and Imperium troops will be heading this way,” Garen muttered.
“Come with me. I promise I won’t hurt you and after you hear me out, I’ll let you go to do as you please,” Vavius said a hint of hope in his tone, or was it desperation? Behind them came the sound of barking dogs and the shouting of men once more. Rea sighed. Vavius could kill them all in a heartbeat and looking at her friends she could tell they were all at the point of exhaustion. She too could barely stand anymore.
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