Since Berig hadn't actually fallen, he caught the food. That had been his intention all along. The card had fallen beneath the display case.
"So sorry," Berig said. "My foot caught there for a moment."
The man steadied himself against the case. "It's no problem. Quick reflexes there."
"It didn't even touch the ground," Berig said, handing the man the food. The man nodded his thanks, then went on his way, leaving the object behind. Berig waited until he was sure no one was paying attention before collecting the object.
Lara gave him a disapproving look. "I can't believe you just did that."
"We need money. This thing's obviously money in this place."
"But that man might need it."
"He was really well-dressed," Berig said. "Better dressed than most of the people here. He carries himself like someone who's got so much money he won't miss a little." He shrugged. "I don’t like doing it either, but if we're gonna survive, I might as well take advantage of the skills I built up my whole life."
He looked at the case for a few seconds, then slid the card through the same slot. Nothing happened.
"I think you're supposed to press a button," Lara whispered. "Try that one. I think it will give us that long pastry with chocolate across the top."
Berig pressed the button, and to his relief, the metal hand grabbed the item she'd indicated. They took it and split it in half. When Berig bit into his, he fell immediately in love. It was perhaps a little too greasy, but it was sweet and filled with some kind of custard.
"They never gave us these things back at the prison," he said with his mouth full.
"I still feel bad about it. What if that's all the money he had?"
"It wasn't. I've grown up as a thief. I can tell."
Lara frowned. "All right, I suppose I'll trust you on that."
They made their way through the streets of the town, eventually stopping in front of a building that gave off some of the most succulent aromas Berig had ever smelled. The little pastry hadn't been enough, so they stepped inside.
A young woman near the entrance, dressed in a plain green uniform of some kind, led them to an empty table for two, then placed two shiny pieces of paper in front of them. The shiny paper was folded into three sections, showing pictures of food. Berig couldn't read the descriptions, but he thought it all looked delicious.
He pointed to his selection—a burger, according to Lara. She ordered something with chicken meat. It took about fifteen minutes for their food to arrive. When Berig bit into his burger, he decided that little pastry wasn't all that great. No, this was the best thing he'd ever tasted. It took a lot of effort to keep from devouring the whole thing in a few bites.
They finished their meal, then left the building—some place called a restaurant—with much fuller stomachs. Berig hadn't felt properly full in a long time—most of his life, in fact. He wasn't sure he'd ever felt this full. It was a strange feeling.
Out in the street, they wondered where they should go. They still hadn't asked anyone how far it was to New Washington, or how long it would take to walk there.
"Maybe we don't have to walk there," Berig said. "We can use this rectangular thing to pay for someone to take us there."
"I don't know," Lara said. "I feel like somehow they might track us through it."
Berig frowned at the strange money. "Yeah, I guess it's possible."
They asked around a bit and found out that New Washington was still a long way away. The road there would take an entire day in one of those fast-moving vehicles. If they walked, it would take months. That settled things.
A friendly young man directed them toward a place where they could rent a self-driving vehicle, though Berig wasn't sure what that meant. When they entered the place, Berig couldn't believe his eyes. Those sleek metal machines were everywhere.
A man approached them. "Looking for a ride to somewhere?"
"Yes, we need to get to New Washington," Lara said.
"Well, I've got plenty of cars that can get you there. Eighty credits a day. Best rates in town." He swept a hand across the stone area containing the cars. "See anything you like?"
Lara walked along the first row, then pointed to a small black vehicle. "I like that one."
"Have you rented before?" the man asked.
They both shook their heads.
"No worries. It's simple enough. Before you can start the car, you'll swipe your credit card. I'll program the destination for you. Once the car reaches the destination, it will require you to swipe your card again. If you don't, authorities will be alerted. Simple enough, right?"
Berig hadn't understood a word of that, but he nodded. He didn't want to look like a complete outsider. The man smiled in return, then ducked inside the car and pressed a few buttons.
A few moments later, he stepped out of the car. "It's all ready."
"Thank you," Lara said, and Berig nodded his thanks before they both slipped inside the car. Lara took the seat on the left while Berig sat on the right. A small slot was flashing green at them. Berig figured that was the place to slide the card. He slipped it into the slot.
When the slot didn't release the card, his stomach clenched. What if it had recognized that the card was stolen? The next few seconds felt as if they lasted an eternity. Only once the slot let go of the card did Berig exhale with relief.
A few moments later, the car began moving on its own. Berig's stomach lurched. He'd never even been in a carriage. The only moving object he'd ever occupied was the boat between Seaside and Luminia. Already, that voyage felt like a lifetime ago.
The car moved at incredible speeds. For the first hour or so, Berig watched as trees flew by. He had no idea how anything could move this fast, and he wasn't sure it was safe.
The first time the car spoke to them, Berig thought he'd have a heart attack.
"There is a rest area here," the car said. "Would you like to stop?"
Lara pressed one of the options displayed on the screen, and the car came to a smooth stop before a small building. This building contained indoor plumbing like what he'd seen back in the prison. It had toilets and sinks but no showers. He felt a little stab of regret. He'd been so long on the road that he wanted a chance to bathe or shower. He'd experienced showers in the prison, and they'd been a remarkable experience.
After they relieved themselves, they got back in the car, and it continued south toward New Washington. Every now and then, it asked if they wanted to stop at another rest area or get food at a restaurant. In all, it was the strangest experience of Berig's life.
And that was saying something.
They slept in the car as it continued driving them south. The next afternoon, they reached New Washington. It was the most bizarre city Berig had ever seen.
Buildings towered high into the sky, taller than any trees he'd ever seen. Lights glowed everywhere, and signs situated on the sides of buildings kept changing the images they were showing. Cars zoomed through the air and along the roads. The city stretched on and on, larger than any place Berig had ever seen.
"How're we supposed to find Nadia and Markus in all this?" he asked.
"I have no idea," Lara said.
The car interrupted their conversation. "Payment is required at this time."
Berig placed the card in the slot, expecting this to go as smoothly as before, but then red lights flashed in the car and an alarm blared.
"The card you have used is stolen," said the car. "All the doors have been locked, and the police have been notified."
Berig felt sick to his stomach. "Can't say I like the sound of that."
Lara shook her head. "I knew we'd regret stealing that card."
Berig hated to admit it, but he'd known this whole time that she was right.
It wasn't long before the police arrived. They were dressed much like the border guards, in that strange black armor that looked comfortable but durable. The police carried plasma rifles, which they pointed at the car.<
br />
"Step out of the car," said one of the officers. "You are under arrest for credit card theft."
Part II
The Dark God's Domain
Chapter 15: Traveling with the Enemy
Kara sat on the rocky ground, looking up at Warrick. He gazed down at her, his expression unreadable as he held out a hand for her to grab. Everything in her rebelled at the thought of accepting help from Warrick, but she took his hand anyways.
It was best if she didn't anger him.
He helped her to her feet as her legs wavered. She'd come moments from death, only to be saved by the last person she ever would have expected. This had to be a dream.
"I guess you know who I am," Warrick said. "I also know who you are. You are Kara Miller, formerly of Crayden, friend of Nadia Cray and Ander Franklin, devoted Order member."
"If you know all that about me, then why'd you save me?"
"Because it was the right thing to do."
Kara narrowed her eyes, feeling suddenly bold. "And how did you happen to end up here, in the middle of nowhere, just in time to save me?"
Warrick's expression became stern. "Does it matter? I saved your life. Instead of questioning me, you should thank me."
"Thank you," Kara said stiffly.
"That's no way to speak to the man who just saved your life."
"Well, forgive me if I don't believe you have my best interests in mind. You know who I am, so you must know how I feel about you. I was there in Crayden when you destroyed it. I saw your Imperial Guards murder innocent people in the streets. Children. I saw your fire claim everyone the Imperial Guards missed. You are an evil man."
Warrick's face twitched in a strange expression she couldn't decipher. "No one regrets Crayden more than I, but it had to be done. The Webs of Fate demanded it. Just like they demanded that I save you. Everything I do, I do to create a better world."
Kara barked a laugh. "All right, maybe you aren't evil. You're completely insane. If you think you've created a better world in the Empire, you obviously can't see reality."
"I am not accustomed to such insolence." Anger flashed in his eyes as mist swirled around them, but then that anger disappeared just as quickly.
"I don't care. You deserve every bit of it."
"I do," he said, surprising her. "I understand why so many of my subjects hate me. I accepted long ago that I'd have to endure it. There's nothing you can say that will make me feel any worse than I already do."
She gave him a tired look. "Do you honestly expect me to believe that you feel bad about all the evil things you've done?"
His gaze turned as chilly as the mist, but then he turned away. "I don't expect you to believe anything."
"Good. Because I won't believe a word you say." She turned and started walking. "Now I'd appreciate it if you didn't follow me."
"I'm afraid I must come with you."
"Why? Because these stupid Webs of Fate demand it?"
"Yes." He stepped closer, intimidating with his tall frame. "You wouldn't survive a day in this place without me. We are outside the wards."
Kara glared at him. "Are you offering to protect me? You do realize my fondest desire is to see you dead?
Perhaps she was being reckless, but she didn't care.
"Would you refuse my offer of protection? I know where you're going. You intend to see Krinir. The road there is more dangerous than anywhere else in the Shadowed Land." He smiled, an expression that didn't look natural. "Besides, I don't care if you want me dead. You can't kill me. It doesn't matter how hard you try."
Kara remained perhaps a dozen feet from him. "How do you know so much about the Shadowed Land? Have you been here before?"
"No, I—I'm not sure." He shook his head slowly. "Something about this place feels familiar. Returning here, I feel like I know everything about the place. I don't understand."
This time, Kara could hear the doubt in his voice. He was telling the truth. She almost moved a step closer as he brooded in silence, but then she decided against it. She did not trust the man, even if she had seen, for the first time, that he could have moments of weakness.
He met Kara's gaze with a quizzical frown. "There's an unusual magic within you."
"What do you mean?" Kara recalled that strange feeling she'd had since going through the Nexus. Could Warrick see something in that feeling that she couldn't?
"It is not sorcery, and it is not channeling. It's something else, something I've never seen before. Interesting."
She wondered how much she should reveal to him. Then again, did it really matter? She was at his mercy no matter what she said. If he wanted to kill her, he could do it in a moment with little effort.
"I went through the Nexus a few days ago," she said. "I ended up somewhere with a very dim sun, in a land covered with snow. After that, I felt as if I could feel colors within me. That's the only way I can describe it. Is that the magic you're talking about?"
"It could be. The Nexus takes us to different worlds. My instincts are telling me that there could be different magic for every world. Perhaps you entered a world in which you would have possessed magic had you been born there. That's my best guess."
"But why can't I use it?" she asked.
"I have no idea. Perhaps you haven't figured out how."
"Perhaps." Kara couldn't believe she was discussing this with Warrick. She still wanted to know how he'd ended up here just in time to save her, but she knew he wouldn't give her a straight answer. The thought of traveling with him made her feel sick.
"We should continue to the east," he said with no emotion, his expression controlled again. It was as if that moment of weakness had never happened.
"And what if I've decided to go my own way?"
"We're both going the same way. You might as well accept my protection. If I wanted to kill you, you'd be dead."
"And how do I know you won't change your mind?"
"Does it matter?" he asked. "If you don't come with me, you'll surely die anyways."
Though Kara hated to admit it, he was right. Thus far, she'd survived only because she'd had sorcerers and channelers on her side. Weapons were useful, but they weren't enough against the worst of the Shadowed Land.
"All right, I'll come with you," she said. "But I still hate you."
He nodded, his gaze cold and distant. "I'd expect nothing less."
She didn't know how to respond to that. Warrick started walking, and though she hated it, she trailed a few steps behind him. Maybe she could stab him in the back. It wouldn't kill him, but surely it would cause him pain.
No, that was a terrible idea. If she hurt him, he would hurt her in return. She'd heard that he had powerful means of torture at his disposal.
They did not talk as they traveled. The misty landscape seemed deserted. Today, the mist wasn't thick, but she still couldn't see more than half a mile. At times, thicker clouds swirled around them.
Twice, they encountered monsters. Warrick handled them with ease.
That night, they settled down in a small, rocky valley. A few skeletal trees flanked the edges of the valley, and there was even a small pond from which they could drink, though Warrick preferred to conjure his own water with magic.
He'd started a fire and was cooking one of the monsters they'd encountered. Kara knew they were usually safe to eat, but she didn't relish the thought. Most of the monster meat she'd eaten in the Shadowed Land had been tough and almost tasteless.
Warrick seemed intent upon his cooking. They hadn't said more than a few words to each other since they'd started traveling. The silence was beginning to bother Kara.
"I didn't know you still had to eat," she said. "You're immortal, so you can't starve to death."
"I can still get hungry."
"I'm surprised you know how to cook on the road."
He gave her a sharp look, but then his expression softened. "It's been a long time, but it's not that hard. I did a lot of traveling before I became emperor. I learned t
o survive on my own. Besides, I don't mind doing it. Keeps me from getting bored."
During a conversation like this, she could almost pretend Warrick wasn't the emperor she'd hated her entire life. But then she looked at his face, at his red imperial robes, and remembered the flames in Crayden and the screams of the dying.
Remembered her father. Her friends in the Order.
She could never forgive Warrick.
Feeling a hot surge of anger, she took a few steps away from him. He continued watching the cooking meat as if he hadn't noticed anything.
"I'd like to know why," she said, fighting back tears.
He turned to her with a frown.
"Why did you destroy Crayden? I know that the Webs of Fate demanded it. But why? What is so damned important that you were willing to sacrifice an entire city?"
"Does it matter?"
"It does. I lost a lot of people I cared about in Crayden."
"I doubt there's any reason I can give that will change your mind."
"You're probably right," she said, "but I'd still like to know." It felt suddenly as though all her anger had fled and she was nothing more than a hollow shell.
He returned his attention to his cooking. "It's too difficult to explain."
"Are you saying I'm too stupid to understand it?"
"It's long and complicated, and I don't feel like talking about it." He checked the meat again. "It looks done. Do something useful and slice off some pieces for me."
She glared at him, her anger returning in force. "Do it yourself."
She expected him to argue, but instead he took her knife and cut off two large chunks of meat. He took one and handed the other to her. She gave him a cursory nod, but didn't thank him. Then they ate in silence. Warrick seemed to be brooding about something. He wasn't quite what she'd expected. He seemed weary, as if he'd lost all passion for whatever he was doing.
"If you hate what you're doing," she said, "why do you keep doing it?"
He chewed silently, and when he spoke, he sounded almost defeated. "Because somebody has to."
"How is anyone supposed to trust you if you won't reveal the reasons you do what you do?"
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