The Temple of Arrival

by Matthew Olney

  “What choice do we have?” she asked Kasdar who was still staring at Vavius his sword held in a white knuckled grip. Mixed emotions emanated from him and for a moment Rea thought that he’d try to attack his former teacher. To their surprise, Vavius walked closer to the tip of the sword and placed his exposed neck to the cold steel.

  “Do it if you truly want to Kasdar. It’s what I deserve. But if you do, then you will all die here, or worse.”

  A feeling of oppression and emptiness struck them all at the same time causing Garen to cry out. Rea’s eyes widened.

  “There’s a Hollowed coming,” she whispered fearfully. Vavius held Kasdar’s gaze and with a frustrated shout, the Gifted lowered his sword.

  “Fine, we have no choice, do we?”

  “None at all,” Vavius answered.

  *

  The battered and exhausted group of Gifted fled the woods. Vavius took the lead and removed any ‘obstacles’ in their path. Twice he’d been forced to battle Seekers that drew too close. With frightening ease, he slew them, their powers no match for an Empowered One in his prime. Finally, they emerged from the trees to find themselves at the edge of a wide field. From the furrows in the soil, it was clear that they’d stumbled onto a farm. Floating above the ground was the airship Vavius had used to make his dramatic escape from Olandis. Standing guard in a circular formation underneath were men armed with muskets. Kasdar hesitated at seeing them.

  “Don’t worry, they’re Wendal’s men. You remember him, don’t you?” Vavius said as he strode across the field and waved at the sentries. Reluctantly they followed him. Once underneath the airship, a rope ladder was lowered to the ground and one by one, they ascended it. Once aboard Rea helped Garen up, the older man was struggling from his injuries, exhaustion evident on his grizzled face.

  Standing at the top of the ladder, hands on hips was Wendal. As usual, the man was immaculately dressed in the attire of a nobleman. His burgundy jacket was offset by a pair of black velvet trousers and in his right hand was a cane topped with a silver ball.

  “Welcome aboard the Clara, named after my beloved wife,” Wendall said with a dangerous glint in his eye. Rea swore as she recognised him. It had been to Wendal’s manor that they had fled following their escape from Asta and it was there they had plotted how to trap the First Fear. The man had been kind to her and the others, but now seeing him stood at Vavius’s side it was clear he was a far more dangerous character then she could have ever imagined.

  “Take our guests to their cabins and- make sure they stay there,” Wendal commanded, a hint of threat in his voice. Two of his men whose hands hovered over the pistols holstered at their waists stepped forward. At first, Kasdar looked as though he would resist, but Rea placed a calming hand on his arm and shook her head in warning.

  “Lead the way,” Kasdar muttered reluctantly. He and Garen followed the guards but Rea stayed put. Vavius raised an eyebrow.

  “We need to talk Vavius.”

  “Fine, this way,” he replied. He gestured for her to follow and climbed a metal ladder that took them to airship’s flight deck. Once there he walked down the narrow corridor that led into a circular room.

  “The briefing room,” Vavius explained.

  “I can see that,” Rea replied sarcastically. The fact that a large oval table covered in maps dominated the room gave the game away. Vavius chuckled.

  “You can find Elian,” she blurted. She was shaking, not in fear of the man who’d betrayed them all but in trepidation. She now knew she had feelings for him, and he for her.

  Vavius leant against the table and sighed.

  “You did it before, without even meaning too. When you were imprisoned by the First Fear you reached out and found him.”

  Vavius had indeed done such a thing. During his incarceration at the Hollowed’s hands, he’d tried to reach out to Cleo, but instead, he’d been drawn straight to Elian. Now, he understood why. Blood was stronger than anything else when it came to the Power. He’d found his son without even realising it and helped Elian stay strong throughout his time as a slave in the Arena.

  “The Supreme has sought him ever since his Emergence and now she has him, or soon will. Despite everything you’ve done I can’t believe that you want her plans, whatever they may be to come to fruition.”

  Vavius stroked his trimmed beard, a soft smile on his lips.

  “Why do you think I sought you out? I need all your help to scupper her plans. You always were a smart one Rea; I hadn’t thought of using Positivity to reach out to him that way.”

  He told her to step back then sat cross-legged on the floor. Communicating with another Gifted or Empowered One via the Power took immense concentration and mental fortitude depending on the distances involved. He concentrated and tapped into the Power with positive thoughts and emotion. He sensed Rea and the others immediately but pushed out further. He could feel the Seekers in the forest below and in Olandis. Further and further he reached, sensing dozens of Gifted. Some were completely unaware of their abilities, others reacted with surprise as they felt his mind brush against theirs. After a few minutes, he felt a familiar presence, but whereas before when it had shone like a beacon it was dulled, suppressed. He gritted his teeth and focused harder, trying to push through. He realised that it was a Hollowed. Now, he knew he was in the right place. Gritting his teeth, he pushed even harder. Sweat formed on his forehead and blood oozed from his nose. Then he was through, and there was Elian.

  *

  Elian noticed the Hollowed sat next to him twitch. It took all of his self-control not to cry out when the apparition of Vavius appeared on the carriage floor at his feet.

  ‘You’re in a bit of a predicament by the looks of things aren’t you Elian?’ the visage said.

  ‘No thanks to you,’ he replied angrily. He’d never get used to communicating this way. During his imprisonment in Asta, he’d thought he was going mad when he realised that Vavius hadn’t even been in the room.

  ‘Yes, well. I would say I’m sorry, but I know you wouldn’t believe me. Rea and the others are here with me. And yes, they’re safe. I have no intention of harming them.’

  ‘I don’t believe you,’ Elian replied. It was hard maintaining the mental link the Hollowed and Cassia’s presence was almost overwhelming. How they hadn’t figured out what he and Vavius were doing was beyond him. He risked a glance at Cassia who simply scowled at him in response.

  ‘Elian? It’s me, Rea. What Vavius said is true,’ came Rea’s voice in his head. He looked to the ghostly figure of Vavius and sure enough, a similar apparition stood next to him, her hand on his shoulder. He wanted to sigh in relief at seeing her but caught himself before he did so.

  ‘We don’t have much time. Tell us where you are Elian,’ said Vavius his voice strained.

  ‘I don’t know exactly. I know I’m in Aeranyth and I know they’re taking me to the Temple of Arrival.’

  ‘Are there any landmarks that you can see. Anything that could act as a guide for us?’ Rea urged.

  Elian leaned forward, doing his best to make the movement look casual and looked out of the carriage’s window. The world beyond the glass was that of a ruined ash covered landscape, but, in the distance, he saw a tall stone column jutting several hundred feet into the air. Whatever the piece of masonry had once been attached to must have been huge. He recalled the basic survival training he’d received from the Liberators and could tell from the long shadow cast by the column that they were heading in a south-easterly direction.

  He rubbed his eyes and sat back, hoping that his captors wouldn’t suspect anything. No reaction. He’d got away with it.

  ‘There’s a huge pillar of stone in the distance. We’re travelling away from it. Southeast, I think,’ he said in his mind’s eye. ‘The Supreme has gathered a huge army at the pass leading into Aeranyth. Even you won’t be able to get through it.’ He added.

  Vavius was about to reply when suddenly he vanished from view. Elian blinked t
o see Cassia staring at him.

  “That was a very big mistake,” she said softly. She gestured and the Hollowed to his left pinned him into his seat with a bony hand.

  “I am impressed Vavius was able to sneak in past us, but he was a fool to think he could maintain such a link for so long,” Cassia snarled. Elian tried to resist but the other Hollowed joined his companion to overpower him. Cassia leant forward and placed a palm to his forehead. Elian screamed as she used her powers to send him into a deep and terrible sleep.

  *

  Vavius jolted as his connection to Elian was violently interrupted. He fell onto his back, his skin deathly pale and his breaths coming in ragged gasps. Rea knelt next to him and helped him sit up.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  Vavius wiped his eyes and slowed his breathing. Slowly, colour returned to his cheeks.

  “I’ll be fine. The Hollowed broke the connection. If he’s already in Aeranyth then we don’t have much time,” he said wearily as he stood up.

  “What about the army he mentioned? We’re going to need help breaking through it,” Rea said. “We need to find Marcian. The Liberators are the only ones who can help us.”

  ***

  Chapter 20.

  Arikar

  Visp looked out of the window of her cabin. The airship had flown across the vastness of the desert without trouble and now the golden sand had given way to lush verdant forests. Below the ship, a huge river wound its way through the rugged landscape, its waters twinkling in the morning sun. The River Arik was the source of all life in the heavily populated eastern region of the land and it was what gave the Arikar people their name. For millennia their agricultural civilisation had flourished, that was until the Visitors came to the world. Unlike the primitive nomadic peoples of the west, the Arikar had not been seduced by the promises of technology and civilisation. They had treated the Visitors with suspicion and had resisted their influence. Now, Arikar was as Artubai had said many times, the only free land in all the world. The airship rattled slightly as it descended. In the distance was a large city, its high defensive towers looming high above the thousands of buildings beneath them. Surrounding the city was a vast circular wall and beneath that, the river had been diverted to create a wide moat. If the Imperium ever reached the magnificent city, it would find that it would be nigh impossible to capture without one heck of a fight. Tiberio joined Visp at the window and whistled at the view.

  “Isn’t that something?” he muttered in awe.

  Visp smiled.

  “It is indeed. I just wonder if we will find the aid we seek within. It’s been so long since I was here that they will be distrusting. My career as a slaver and crime boss won’t exactly endear me to their values of freedom,” she said. The airship swooped past one of the guard towers giving them a clearer view of it. Platforms were built at regular intervals up its height with each one containing a cannon and gunnery crew. At the very top was a long gun aimed skyward. It was tracking the airship.

  “These towers must be the sole reason the Imperium hasn’t just sent a flotilla of airships and bombed this place to oblivion,” Tiberio surmised. Banners of foreign design flapped in the wind and armoured soldiers could be seen patrolling the walls. The city was one that had endured a century of nonstop warfare and was one designed to support the war effort. Smoke from hundreds of factories and forges drifted skyward and the roads leading outward were filled with wagons packed with supplies heading for the front lines. The airship continued its descent and slowed to a standstill above a huge structure that from above looked similar to a naval dockyard. Sat in various states of disrepair were other airships, some were adorned with the Imperium sigil indicating that they’d been captured in some previous battle. A call sounded from the flight deck and two anchors were thrown over the side. The heavy iron weights then pulled the airship downward until it nestled gently into one of the docks.

  A few moments later Artubai knocked on the cabin’s door.

  “We are here. Come.”

  Visp and Tiberio exchanged a look before exiting the cabin and joining the Arikar at the airship’s now open gangway. Warm air rushed inside and six Arikar warriors ascended the ramp. They fell into position at either side of Visp and Tiberio and together they walked towards the city’s Great Palace.

  *

  The palace dominated this part of the city. Opulent gardens, complete with gurgling fountains and exquisite marble statues lined the paved paths. Trees native to Arikar grew in neatly trimmed rows and the smell of exotic spices and flowers filled the air. It was a stark contrast to the noisy factory district that they’d traversed a short while before. Visp took in the sights, awed at just how much she’d forgotten of her ancestor’s city. The small procession finally came to a halt at the base of a set of stone steps that led up to a set of large iron doors.

  “This is where I say farewell to you both,’ Artubai said with a deep bow and roguish smile. He took Visp’s hand and kissed it. “A word of warning when addressing the Mentors. They can read your mind, so have no malicious or sinister thoughts,” he added with a chuckle. They said their goodbyes before the guards ushered them up the steps and through the doors.

  The Council chamber was vast and circular in its design with a ceiling that reached so high that it was shrouded in shadows. Tall glass windows allowed the chamber to be filled with light and set in an ever-narrowing circular pattern around the edge of the room were the seats of the council. Sat on the top row, their faces shrouded by their hoods were the Mentors. None spoke, but Visp could feel their eyes boring into her. Located in the centre of the chamber was a high-backed throne made of dark mahogany that was facing away from them.

  The doors closed behind them with a heavy thud leaving Visp and Tiberio alone in the strange chamber.

  “The visitors from across the Dividing Sea. I long to hear what news you bring,” a voice boomed as it echoed around the chamber. Tiberio swore in surprise. Visp narrowed her eyes. The throne slowly turned to face them. Sat on it was a tall man wearing a grey cloak over a cuirass made of what looked like White Steel. His hood was down revealing a wizened face and a head of shoulder length grey hair. Sharp brown eyes topped with bushy grey eyebrows regarded them with apparent amusement.

  “Who are you?” Visp said watching the man closely. Her hand itching for a dagger.

  The man smiled, but there was no friendliness behind his eyes.

  “I am Penda, High Mentor of the Empowered Ones. You stand here after such a long journey. You have much to tell us.”

  Visp was about to respond when Penda suddenly stood and raised a hand toward her. She gasped as she felt something alien rooting about insider her mind. She tried to resist, but the sensation was too powerful. Seeing his mistress in distress, Tiberio rushed toward the Empowered One. With a casual flick of his free hand, Penda swatted him aside with a telekinetic blast. The big man was sent sprawling to the ground. He tried to stand, but an invisible vice like grip held him in place on the cool marble floor.

  Almost as soon as it had begun the invisible grip eased to leave Visp gasping and disorientated. The room swam for a few moments before she shook her head and got herself under control. She glared at the smiling Empowered One.

  “Are all of your kind such villains?” she snapped.

  Penda dismissed her complaint with a wave of a hand. Tiberio cried out as suddenly, he too was freed. He staggered to his feet, unsure what to do.

  “Forgive me, but we believe time to be of the essence and can ill afford to waste it asking you a multitude of questions. It is far more efficient for us to just ‘see’ what information you bring us. I saw that you have encountered Vavius and that you believe him to be an enemy, most fascinating,” Penda said as he sat back on the throne and stroked his grey beard. A murmuring came from the other figures seated above them.

  “This Elian is unknown to us, which is- disturbing. One with such power at his command should be brought before us where he can be tr
ained properly.”

  He held a hand to forestall any argument Visp was about to deliver.

  “I saw your memories slaver, I understand why, but it is troubling, nonetheless. I am very interested in the young man who dispatched you here in the first place. I trust the heir of Aeranyth still possesses the amulet we entrusted to him three years ago?”

  Visp looked at Tiberio in confusion. This interaction was not going the way she had expected at all.

  “You mean Marcian? The leader of the Liberators. They’re why we’re here. I-”

  Penda shook his head and held a finger to his lips.

  “I know. I read your mind remember. Not but a few moments ago. There is nothing you need to tell me slaver. Marcian is of the Aeranyth bloodline, the amulet he now possesses is key to unravelling the Supreme’s power. I had hoped that our paths would cross again one day so that I could explain it all to him, but alas the Supreme’s servants are tenacious. I barely escaped her Imperium alive. You came here to seek out the assistance of the Arikar, well my dear you shall have it. Events are coming to a head that are set to change the world forever and give us a chance to undo all that the Supreme has done.”

  Visp knotted her hands into fists. She didn’t like this strange old man. His arrogance was beyond the pale, it was an arrogance that not even the vainest crime lords possessed.

  “Vavius betrayed us all, left Elian to die and you don’t seem to care about that at all. Why?” Tiberio said his voice filled with threat. Visp’s eyes widened in horror as the answer to his question came to her.

  “He doesn’t care, because he was the one who gave Vavius the order to do so, aren’t you?” she asked once again wishing she had a weapon of any kind within reach.

  “Very well deduced slaver. Vavius is a true believer in our cause. The Supreme stole her power, it is undeserved, and she must be stopped. We dispatched Vavius to the Imperium many years ago so that he could learn all he could about her. We know that we cannot defeat her in open combat so we needed to learn all we could about how she obtained her powers, what her weaknesses are, how she can be defeated. Vavius is my best student. The strongest, the fiercest, the most cunning. It was he who learnt of the significance of the Temple of Arrival, it was he who enacted our will. Now- tell me of this Elian.”