"I couldn't have done it without you," Cyrus said. "I think the Webs were telling the truth when they said you needed to be here. Who else would have known how to kill that creature?"
Garet considered that. Of all the people who'd faced off against the monster the first time, he was the only one still in the Empire. Maybe these Webs of Fate really did exist.
"What do we do now?" Garet asked.
"We'll rescue Gram, and then we'll return to Bradenton."
"What do the Webs tell you about what's coming now?"
"I'll have to check them," Cyrus said. "I can't see that far into the future with any reliability." He wiped sweat from his forehead. "But not right now. I'm too exhausted."
Chapter 42: The Meeting in the Tent
When Tylen and Will reached the Clan Black Wolf settlement, Tylen was surprised to find that the clansmen on guard allowed them to enter. In fact, one of them directed Tylen and Will to a tent in the center of the settlement.
Feeling queasy, Tylen stepped into the tent. Inside, he found Farah and a man he didn't recognize. This man was not clan, though. He had the look of someone much wealthier, someone Tylen could appreciate.
"Who are you?" Tylen demanded.
"I am Marlon, High Sorcerer of Luminia."
Tylen would have laughed at such an outlandish statement, but he saw the truth in the man's eyes. What the hell was the High Sorcerer of Luminia doing here? And why was Farah with him?
Marlon gestured toward two empty wooden chairs. "Please sit down."
Tylen didn't like to take orders from anyone, but this was a man who could probably kill him with little more than a thought. It was better to play it safe. Tylen took a seat.
"I've already explained most of this to Farah," Marlon said. "Please remain quiet while I tell you everything. You can ask questions afterward." His gaze was stern, so Tylen decided he'd obey the command.
Marlon was about to start his explanation, but then one of the clansmen pulled the tent flap aside. "We found the other man you're looking for out to the west."
Marlon nodded. "Send him in."
A middle-aged man with a thick brown beard stepped into the room. It took a moment, but Tylen recognized him as Theo, the former Imperial Guard who'd helped the refugees from Crayden. Farah's father, too, Tylen reminded himself.
"Good," Marlon said. "Everyone's here."
Theo narrowed his eyes. "What is the meaning of all this? These men kidnapped me with no provocation."
"Relax," Marlon said. "I will explain everything. My name is Marlon, and I am the High Sorcerer of Luminia."
Theo frowned thoughtfully. "Prove it."
Marlon opened his hand, and a flame appeared in his palm. "That's just a small taste of what I can do. As you can tell, I'm clearly a sorcerer. You'll have to take my word that I'm the High Sorcerer of Luminia."
Marlon started out by repeating what he'd already told Farah. He told them about Krinir and his goal of destroying the world, about his control of Warrick, and the fact that all of them had a vital role to play in the events to come. All except Will, apparently.
When Marlon finished, Tylen said, "You just want us on your side when Warrick returns. If you want that to happen, you'll have to do better. Do you think I'm truly going to believe this nonsense about gods and the fate of the world?"
"It isn't nonsense," Marlon said.
Theo leaned forward in his wooden chair. "Warrick has told me about Krinir. He didn't tell me outright that Krinir has been manipulating his memories, and the Webs of Fate. But he did imply it."
"He never told me anything about Krinir," Tylen said. He couldn't believe that Farah and Theo were going along with this insanity.
"Perhaps he only told you what he wanted you to know," Marlon said. "No one can read the Webs quite like Warrick. He surely has his reasons for what he reveals."
"I don't care what these Webs say," Tylen replied. "I make my own decisions."
Marlon smiled. "In the end, Tylen, we all make our own decisions. Fate does not guide us. The Webs merely make some things more likely than others."
Theo cleared his throat. "You said you wanted somebody on the inside? Somebody who could keep an eye on Warrick? I don't know if he trusts me enough to let me in that close."
"Oh, I think he trusts you," Marlon said. "I don't know how much he'll trust you if he's under Krinir's control. You see, because Krinir is trapped in the Shadowed Land, he can only affect things here indirectly. Once he's back here, he'll be able to control Warrick directly."
Theo scratched at his bearded chin. "Will Warrick have any control left?"
"I think he will, but he'll have to fight for it."
Tylen gave Marlon a stern look. "I'd still like to know what you really want."
"I want you to help Warrick fight, help him stay himself. If he can do that, if we can break the spell Krinir has over him, he could be our greatest ally. Warrick has powers beyond any other sorcerer in this world. He's the only person with any chance against Krinir."
"I still don't quite understand," Farah said.
"I told you before. Krinir is the Destroyer. But there are two others forces in this world: Creation and Restorations. Lionar is the Restorer, but he has disappeared. Rador is the Creator, but he hasn't been seen in a long time. We can't rely on either of them." Marlon stroked his clean-shaven chin. "In fact, I have another theory about the Creator."
"And what is that?" Theo asked.
"Rador's touch has long been gone from this world. But Warrick's touch remains. His ability to create entire regions as he has in the Empire is unprecedented among sorcerers. Somehow, I think Warrick is the Creator. I don't know how it happened, but it's the only explanation I have for his extensive powers. In some ways, he is a god himself."
Theo nodded. "And you need a god to fight a god."
"Exactly."
Tylen still had trouble taking in all this new information. On some level, it made sense, but it was hard to believe there was so much more to the world than he'd once thought.
"What do we do now?" Theo asked.
"We go to Luminia."
"That's a long journey," Farah said.
"Actually, it isn't." Marlon pulled a small blue stone from his pocket. "This is a teleportation stone. They are very rare and very difficult to make. I don't like to use them lightly, but I think circumstances call for it. I can teleport with my own magic, of course, but I can't take other people with me. This will allow all of us to reach Luminia in a few seconds."
Tylen had trouble believing such things were possible, but he wouldn't question it. If this stone would get him to Luminia more quickly, he would jump at the opportunity. The thought of walking all that distance sounded like torture.
"Please touch the stone," Marlon said.
They all placed their hands on the stone, and the world dissolved around them.
Part IV
The Weaving of the Threads
Chapter 43: The Gilded Empire
Markus had expected something more from the headquarters of the resistance. Compared to the palace, it was a remarkably boring building. Scattered electrical lights illuminated the dim interior, and only a few people milled about.
The lookouts led them through the center of the large room, a place with wooden chairs and tables. At the room's far end, one of the lookouts knocked on a door. A voice replied a few moments later, calling them inside.
The room beyond was a small office with two wooden chairs and a polished wooden desk. A woman sat behind the deck, examining them with a frown. She was a tall woman with dark skin and curly hair.
"I am Yasmin," she said, rising to shake hands with each of them. "And you must be Markus and Nadia. I'm glad Daniel delivered you to us safely." She turned her gaze to Daniel and the guards. "I would like to speak to the Weavers alone."
The three of them nodded before stepping out of the room and closing the door.
"What do you want from us?" Nadia asked.
Yasmin stroked her chin. "Why do you assume I want something?"
"You wouldn't have sought us out otherwise."
"Sound logic," Yasmin said. "As it so happens, I do want something from you."
"Daniel told us," Markus said. "You need my magic to get to the machine that will destroy all the technology in the empire."
"It was not his place to tell you that," Yasmin said, her gaze severe.
"We forced him into it," Nadia said. "Don't blame him."
"In the end, it doesn't matter. I would have told you the same just now."
"Why do you want to destroy this technology?" Nadia asked.
Yasmin leaned forward, resting her arms on her desk and exuding great power. "No doubt technology has improved our lives in many ways, but it has also allowed the government to control everything. And it has the potential to destroy this world, just as it destroyed the old one. That's a risk we cannot take."
Markus didn't like where this was going. "Warrick said the same thing. Are you expecting me to side with you when you agree with a tyrant like Warrick?"
Yasmin's gaze became more severe. "Warrick is far from the worst evil out there."
"I have trouble accepting that," Nadia said. "This is the man who burned an entire city to the ground, killing thousands of innocent people."
"But you saw where he learned that ability," Markus said. "Krinir."
Yasmin nodded. "Precisely. Krinir is the greatest evil out there. He is the Destroyer. He wants us to destroy ourselves as we did in the Old World. It's his nature."
"I don't understand," Nadia said.
"I can only tell you what you need to know in rather vague terms," Yasmin said. "Much of this knowledge is still sealed away. But from what we've gathered, there are three primary forces at work in our world: Creation, Restoration, and Destruction. Rador is the Creator, Lionar is the Restorer, and Krinir is the Destroyer. Ideally, these forces should be in balance, but for hundreds of years now, Lionar has been absent, and so has Rador."
Markus scratched his head. "Absent?"
"We don't know what happened to them. They could be dead for all we know. But without them, we are in danger of falling prey to Krinir's desire for destruction. If we don't stop Krinir, he will destroy the world. Compared to that, Warrick is a minor nuisance."
Nadia's expression twitched, but she said nothing.
"So that's what you have to understand," Yasmin continued. "Our technology here will ultimately be the means by which Krinir destroys the world. I understand that getting rid of it will cause a great deal of hardship. It is a terrible choice we have to make, but it's the best option." She shook her head slowly. "I wish I could tell you there was another way."
"And how do we know you're right?" Nadia asked. "Or that you're even telling the truth? You're asking us to place our trust in you with little proof."
"You saw the video recording," Markus said. "That's what Krinir can do."
Nadia glared at him. "Do you actually want to do this? We're talking about destroying the greatest prosperity in the world."
"The Empire is also quite prosperous compared to the rest of the world," Markus said. "And you wanted to kill Warrick. How is this any different?"
"I didn't know about the rest of the world back then, Markus."
"Well, now you do," he said, surprised at the vehemence of his arguments. He'd rarely questioned Nadia, but they had to do something now. The resistance had helped them. It was only fair that they help the resistance in return. He still couldn't get the images of Krinir's fire out of his head. Krinir had taught that ability to Warrick.
If Krinir wasn't stopped, he could create even more tyrants.
Nadia was blinded by her hatred for Warrick.
"You don't have to decide right now," Yasmin said. "I've read the Webs of Fate, and they show a few other paths you are likely to take first." She closed her eyes for a few moments, then opened them. "Before you do anything else, you need to rescue an old friend."
"Who?" Markus asked.
"His name is Berig."
* * * * *
Berig felt sick as the police led them to a building called the police station. It was a bright building, but it didn't feel inviting. The police maintained force fields around them and led them to a room off to the side of the building, where they placed their fingers on pads.
Berig had the feeling they should have resisted, but they stood no chance against so many. When the pad glowed red, Berig's unease grew.
"What does that mean?" he asked.
The officer's expression was grave. "You are escaped convicts."
Berig felt as if someone had stabbed him in the heart. Before they'd escaped, they'd been sentenced to execution. Why would that change now?
"You are due for execution," said the officer.
Berig pushed against his force field but only earned himself a sharp jolt of pain. He couldn't fail after all this. The other Berig had come back to save him. Surely he hadn't made that sacrifice so that Berig and Lara would die now.
But how could they escape this? They were in over their heads.
The police led them to a darker portion of the building containing prison cells. Berig was placed in one cell, while Lara was led to another. As soon as they closed the door, Berig felt the certainty of his fate pressing down on him. A heavy burden he couldn’t lift.
He leaned against the back wall of his cell, waiting to die. Again.
* * * * *
Nadia examined the plans of the police station again and again, feeling uncertain about their chances of rescuing Berig.
"It isn't going to work," she said.
Daniel was pacing. "With me on your side, it should work. I outrank anyone in that police station, and I don't know for certain that I've been implicated in your escape."
"They have to know," Nadia said. "You disappeared at the same time we did."
Yasmin nodded. "She's right. Your way of doing this won't work."
Daniel sighed deeply. "I know. I was just hoping we could avoid bloodshed."
"We're fighting a war," Yasmin said. "Sometimes, bloodshed is unavoidable."
Nadia understand that statement. In her quest to kill Warrick, she'd accepted that she might have to kill people along the way—people who were only doing their jobs, who perhaps were not evil. But if you supported evil, you had to accept the consequences.
Then again, what if these people didn't know they were supporting evil? On the surface, the New Earth Empire looked like a prosperous and wondrous place. But beneath that loomed the threat of Krinir and the dangers of the empire's technology.
It was a gilded empire. Perfect on the surface, but troubled underneath.
Learning of Berig's fate had convinced her that this place needed to be destroyed. Execution for the simple act of entering the empire—that was evil. No other way to describe it. There were many forms of evil in the world.
Warrick. Krinir. The New Earth Empire.
Evil flourished everywhere, and eliminating it fell to people like Nadia and Markus.
Weavers in the Webs of Fate.
"What is our plan, then?" Nadia asked.
"I know the codes to get into the station through a back entrance," Daniel said. "Once we get inside, we'll have to subdue a guard and steal their keycards. With those keycards, we should be able to free them from their cells, and then we'll return the way we came."
"It sounds simple when you say it like that," Markus said.
Daniel chuckled. "Oh, don't worry. I'm sure there will be a few complications."
* * * * *
Berig was staring at the wall, lost in thought, when he heard the footsteps. Were they coming for him? He scooted back in his cell, praying he'd have more time before his execution, praying for some way out of this, though he didn't see how that was possible.
The door to his cell opened. A large contingent of guards stood in the doorway, and one of them generated a force field around Berig. Some of the guards had already grabb
ed Lara, and she stood within a force field, staring at the ground in defeat.
"The president has ordered your immediate execution," said one of the guards.
Berig felt as if his legs had turned to lead. All this time, he'd held out hope that someone might come to rescue them if they just had enough time. Now there was no escape.
The guards led them through the corridors.
"Where are you taking us?" Berig asked.
"To the execution chamber," said one of the guards. They rounded a few more corners, then stopped before a metal door. A guard pressed his hand to the door, and the handprint there glowed green. After the door hissed open, the guard led them through.
The chamber beyond was bright and empty. The guards released the force fields, but there was no escape, not with so many guards standing in the doorway. Berig and Lara took spots against the wall. At this point, there was no reason to resist.
"I love you, Lara," Berig said.
"I love you, too, Berig."
The guards pointed their plasma rifles and prepared to fire.
* * * * *
Markus stood in the dark alley behind the police station, examining the building they were about to break into. He didn't like the idea of sneaking around. He'd always been a more direct person. It was better to defeat your enemies through pure skill.
He couldn't think of any way they'd manage this without earning the same fate as Berig.
Daniel strode to the back entrance, beside which there was a keypad—or at least that was what Daniel had called it. He pressed a few of the numbers on the keypad, and there was a faint click. The door swung open, and Daniel stepped through, gesturing for Markus and Nadia to follow. Markus's stomach clenched as he walked through the door.
The corridor beyond was quiet and dimly lit. They moved slowly, keeping their steps silent. Markus's heart pounded so fiercely he thought the guards might hear it. Sweat trickled down his forehead, but he ignored it, pressing onward.
Daniel stepped through a nearby door, beckoning them through behind him. The new corridor they'd entered was much brighter and contained perhaps a dozen doors.
World in Chains- The Complete Series Page 121
