by T. C. Edge
Crastus nods. "It shall be done, Secretary Burns," he says. "I shall see to it immediately."
He's a man of action, I'll give him that. Within moments only, he's moving among the Neoromans, selecting suitable soldiers for the job. A few minutes later, a team has been drawn up to set off and see if they can trace the original insurgent force.
The excitement of it all brings the dinner to a close, the light now fading outside. At my grandmother's insistence, we move back off towards the main tower to get some sleep, passing Perses on the way.
"I hear you're setting off west?" he says. "Are you sure that's wise?"
"This isn't about wisdom, Perses," my grandmother says. "It's about family and loyalty. We don't have a choice."
"I understand." He nods his great head. "I would urge that you take more soldiers with you, however. Secretary Burns tells me you plan to go as a three?"
"Leyton is right," grandma says. "We don't want to burden anyone else with this. With any luck, we'll be there and back within a day. The Olympian's reaving of our lands won't go on much longer. If we find Pine Lake in good order, and our families safe, we will have no reason to stay."
"No reason?" Perses asks. "It is your home, is it not?"
"It was, and may be again," she says. "But right now, we are all fugitives here, seeking to make a change. We will come back, Perses. I'll return Amber to you, don't worry."
"I..."
"Oh, dear boy, you don't have to hide your affection for her from me," the old Fire-Blood goes on speedily. "You see her as a daughter, don't you? As the one you never had?"
"Grandma," I say sternly, grabbing her arm. "Of course he doesn't. Don't put him on the spot like this..."
Perses, for perhaps the first time, appears uncomfortable. War is his arena. Speaking of family, of affection, of feelings? Not so much.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of. No, quite the contrary," she retorts. "Don't deny yourself such feelings, Perses. Her real father, my son, was never the best role model. But you?" She reaches over and takes his hand. "You have helped her grow and blossom. No tricks like the Overseer. No emotional manipulation like the Prime. No, what you have done for her is real. And believe me," she says quietly, firming her grip on his hand, "Amber feels the same. You are a father figure to her too. You should," she finishes, looking to both of us, "embrace it."
I glance around, feeling a little awkward myself, and then draw up a contrived smile. "OK, grandma," I say, taking her by the arm, "enough wine for you, I think."
"There was no wine..."
"You're not kidding us," I say, laughing, drawing her away as Jude follows. "Let's get you to bed now, shall we."
I glance back to Perses, mouthing 'sorry' as I go. And as my grandma continues to protest her sobriety, I see him smiling on fondly as we slip away.
138
I'm awoken by a sound I'm familiar with - the inimitable wheeze of my grandmother snoring.
Snoring, perhaps, is an overly disparaging term. Really, it's more of a heavy breathing as the air is blown in and out of her old, heavily worked, lungs.
I think, as I wake in the near-pitch dark, that I'm back in her cabin out in the woods outside Pine Lake. The thought only comes briefly before I recall where we are. Interestingly, I find myself relieved. Those odd occasions where I stayed with her overnight were some of the happiest of my life, but they weren't exactly real. What we're doing, what we're involved in, most certainly is.
I creep towards the window, slipping from my bed, aware that she isn't waking due to her continued 'heavy breathing'. I look out and up into the night, feeling the cool evening air massage against my face. It's a calm night, the plains so peaceful and vast. The mere whisper of a wind breathes by, the world otherwise tranquil and still.
My eyes work up towards the moon, passing in and out between the lazily moving clouds. It looks to be early morning, dawn still an hour or two away. I consider waking my grandmother and Jude as well to give us an early start, but decide against it. For a few minutes I attempt to get back to sleep, but discover that my mind is busy now, fully awake, nervous as to the path that lies ahead of us.
I dress in my combat robes, though do so outside in the corridor to avoid waking grandma. It's dim out there, but for the light of a fire flickering in a brazier down the steps. I move down towards it, keen to get some fresh air on the outer battlements, enjoy a stroll and the strange, eerie architecture of the castle itself.
Passing down a couple of floors, I find myself on a corridor that stretches towards a walkway around the castle perimeter. The corridor is flanked by rooms, some of them now taken as bedrooms. Outside one of them, I see a guard sitting on a small stool, reading by the light of a fire-lamp. He appears to be a soldier from New Haven by the looks of his garb. I move forward and recognise him as one of Titus's men, those previously charged with Elian's security.
I step towards him and draw his eye. He prepares to stand, as if expecting an officer, before seeing it's just me and dropping back down.
"It's OK," I say, "don't stand up." I smile at my own remark. "What are you reading?"
His eyes fall to his book. "It's about...Neorome," he says. "One of the books they brought."
"They brought books to New Haven?" I ask.
He frowns and then nods to himself. "Of course, you're from here," he says. "The Emperor, he comes with lots of books whenever he returns to New Haven. Thinks we need educating, I think."
"Educating about Neorome?" I ask, stepping closer. I peer at the book, noticing the front cover. There appears to be a scantily clad man painted onto it. "That a...gladiator?" I ask.
He quickly draws the book away from my sight, shutting it and placing it to his side. "Yeah...a gladiator," he says. "Right."
I smirk at him, though don't put him through the embarrassment of revealing that I know it's a romance novel.
"So, you on guard then?" I ask. "Is it really necessary anymore?"
"Just orders," he says. "I don't make them, just follow them."
"That should be the soldier's mantra," I say. I look to the door. "Do you mind if I go in and see him?"
He hesitates a moment. "I'm not sure," he says. "He's probably sleeping."
"Oh come on, what's going to happen? You've see me talking with him, haven't you? During stops on the road."
"I have," he says. "But this is different."
"Why?"
"I don't know. You'll be in a private room. That's different to just sharing a few words on the road, chatting during stops."
"Look, just let me in, OK." I redress my tone, realising I'm being too blunt. "Um, please," I smile warmly at him. "I'm heading off at dawn. I just want to say goodbye, that's all."
"Oh, you're leaving are you?" he asks, frowning. "Going back to your own people or something?"
"Kinda. My parents live across the Fringe. I want to make sure they're OK."
"Oh," he says, nodding. "I see. Yeah, it's er, terrible what's happening here." He draws a breath and pulls a key from around his neck. "Go on then," he says. "You can talk to him. But I'm leaving the door ajar, OK. No funny business."
"You have my word," I say.
He stands and unlocks the door, giving me another brief look at the book as it falls onto the floor.
"Enjoy the book," I say, lifting another smirk, as he pulls the door gently open. "Nice way to keep warm on a night like this..."
I slip inside before he can decode my teasing comment, stepping into the darkness. The only light from the soldier's lamp spills in through the crack in the door, accompanied by a few grumbles as he realises I know just what he's reading. I smile as I hear them, the room still too dark for me to see much.
"Elian?" I say. "Elian, are you awake?"
I allow my armour to brighten, casting the room into a red glow. Elian immediately comes into view, lying on a simple bed to one side. The room isn't much different from the others, though appears to be more simplistic and run down. I imagine that's why he's here
. He needs privacy, of course, but isn't going to be provided the most comfortable of accommodations.
I step torwards him, his back to me as he slowly turns over and opens his eyes. He blinks several times, wondering what's going on. "Amber?" he says. "Something...wrong?" The words croak from him as he sits up, coughing away the cobwebs and rubbing his eyes. "It's still dark," he goes on. "What time is it?"
"Not yet dawn," I say. "I just came to see how you are. Haven't spoken with you all day."
"Right, yeah..." he yawns, doing so quite loudly in that small stone room.
"How are you?"
"Fine," he says, nodding, trying to appear upbeat, though I know that hasn't been his disposition of late. "Can't hope for much better treatment as a prisoner, I guess."
You're not a prisoner," I say. "Not really."
"Well, I am. I have guards on me all the time, and aren't allowed to go anywhere alone. I'm not complaining. It's just a fact."
"Fine," I say. "You're a sort-of prisoner."
"A sort-of prisoner," he repeats. "Not sure that's going to catch on." I smile at him, my face lit red by my glowing armour. "They'll probably never trust me, you know," he goes on. "Not until all this is done."
"They will," I say. "Now that we're here, they might seek your insights. Burns knows you're free of the Prime now, Elian. You don't have to fight for this army for them to trust you. Perses isn't going to."
"Perses is different," he says. "He's the one they want to put on the throne. I'm just...well, I'm nobody to them."
"And how does that feel?" I ask. "To be nobody for once?"
He looks up at me, frowning. "Not great, I guess."
"Well, now you know how the other side live," I tell him. "Think about Jude, Elian. Think what he's been through. I don't want to see this attitude on you anymore. When I get back, I don't want you moping around."
"I'm hardly moping around, Amber. I'm just being honest. And...what do you mean, get back? Where are you going?"
"West," I say. "Back to Pine Lake. I'm going home with my grandma to make sure my parents are OK."
"Your grandma," he says, his eyebrows drawing together. "That's who I've seen you with today? I thought it was, I just...it seemed farfetched, almost. I thought she was just an old hermit now?"
"She was," I say, still scarcely believing it myself. "Everything that's been happening...I guess it's woken her up. I feel like she has a vendetta against those who banished her."
He nods, his eyes lowering slowly to the stone floor, as he sits there on the bed, cutting a quite despondent figure.
"So...you're leaving?" he asks, his voice dour. "When will I see you again?"
He looks up at me, a fragile innocence to his eyes. His confident, playful facade has been broken down these last few days, mirroring the change that Jude has seen. I know Jude has had it worse, but I'm not going to pretend it's been easy for Elian either. Even if I wanted to give him some tough love, it's hard seeing him like this.
"Soon," I say softly, stepping a little closer. "We're leaving at dawn, might be back by the evening. As long as everything goes well."
I see him begin to relax just a little, drawing a shaky breath. "So this isn't you done, then? You're not just going to go home and leave us?"
"Why does that question keep coming up?" I ask, shaking my head. I look back at him. "Do I really have to convince you, Elian? I've been fighting for my people all along. You think I'm just going to stop now?"
"No, you won't stop. You're more likely to push until you get yourself killed."
"I have my powers back," I say. "That's not going to happen."
I step towards him, as a short silence falls. He remains on the edge of the bed, appearing so lonely now. He has no real friends here, no one who truly understands him, but me. I suppose I know what that's like. It's the reverse, almost, of what I experienced when taken to Olympus for the first time.
"I'll be back soon," I say, reassuring him. "When I do, we'll keep working on Burns. We'll get you your powers back. I know you don't feel quite right without them."
He turns his eyes away from me, as though hiding the grief, the loneliness, on his face. He seems vulnerable all of a sudden, so drawn-in and unhappy. I move to hug him, but pull away before I do. I know he doesn't want to seem weak. I know he doesn't want this sympathy.
"I'm tired, Amber," he says, still looking away. I can hear the edges of his voice cracking. "I need to sleep, OK?"
"Of...of course," I whisper.
I take his hand briefly and squeeze, before standing and moving away. I turn to find him looking up again, seeming on the verge of tears. He sniffs and blinks and casts the threat away.
"I'll do better," he says. "I'm not making enough effort here. Secretary Burns tries to get me to open up, but I don't. I just..."
"You're not as committed as you want to be?" I say. "You're still not sure of all this?"
He dips his eyes again. "I know it makes me sound cruel," he says, "but I know how vast the divide is between our people. Even if the Prime fall, it won't be easy bringing the people of the Fringe, and Olympus, together."
"I know it won't, Elian," I say. "No one's going to dispute that. But it doesn't mean we shouldn't try, just because it'll be difficult. You can be at the heart of that, if you want. Both of us can. But you have to help, now. You have to commit."
He draws a breath and begins to firm up, nodding. "I know," he says. "I...I will."
I smile at him at that, a smile to say a temporary goodbye. Something in me wants more, wants to say goodbye in a different way, but I don't. I just smile, and then step away, moving back into the cold hallway outside.
I find the guard there, on his stool, immersed once more in his novel. He takes a second to notice my reappearance, the door creaking as it opens, his eyes rushing up. Once again, he hastily closes the book and turns it upside down, hiding the front cover, before standing and locking the door.
"I'm not going to judge you, you know," I say to him, as he turns back and places the key around his neck. "Why do people always feel like they need to hide who they really are?"
He frowns at me. "What are you talking about?"
I drop my eyes to the book. "So, you want to read a love story," I say. "Big deal. I'm sure there's plenty of adventure in it too. I'll bet it takes you to a faraway place, a place you've never been to." I shrug and turn my eyes down the corridor. "Who knows, maybe it helps you stay calm in a world at war. Whatever it is, you shouldn't have to hide it."
"I..."
"Don't worry," I say. "I won't tell your friends. But, a word of advice." I lean in. "Perhaps put a fake cover on the front. Don't make it so obvious."
I smile at him and turn away, moving down the darkened corridor.
"I've never been in love," I hear the soldier say behind me. I stop in my tracks and turn back to him. He has the book in his hands again, his eyes flicking through the pages. "I guess I wanted to see what it was like, even if only through someone else's eyes."
I look at him for a moment, a smile building onto my face. "You'll find it," I say, thinking of Jude, of Elian. "A handsome man like you? Shouldn't be too hard."
He smiles coyly, and then performs a little, abashed nod of the head. And, looking more comfortable, he sits back down onto his stool, returning to another world.
I leave at that, moving down the corridor, finding my way out onto a raised balcony towards the northern side of the tower. It's large, providing an excellent view ahead. I note a couple of sentries on duty, looking over the walls and out onto the plains.
I stroll towards the edge, placing my hands onto the low stone wall at the edge of the balcony. Down below, I see the rear training yard at the north side of the fort, packed with a few provisions and some of the vehicles that couldn't fit within the main yard on the other side. The chill of the wind hits me, flowing across from the plains. I'm aware of the sensation, but don't feel the cold, not with my powers returned to me once more.
I stand there for a little while, enjoying the silence and the darkness. To the side, the two sentries converse quietly, their voices muffled to my ears as I enter my own thoughts, zoning out as I wait for dawn to arrive.
Those muffles, however, become a little louder after a time. I break from my thoughts and turn to them, finding them staring out into the night. One suddenly rushes off, heading inside. I turn to the other with a frown, calling across the walkway.
"What's happening?" I ask.
He points out towards the night. There, in the distance, I see the faint shape of vehicles coming our way. There are two, only.
And both of them are ours.
139
I hurry quickly down into the lower training yard as the two vehicles drive through the narrow gate. I find that Perses, Hendricks, Burns, and Captain Crastus have already been summoned from their sleep. They gather ahead as the cars park and several Neoroman soldiers spill out.
I step over to join them. One of the jeeps, I realise, contains the search party sent out earlier by Crastus. The other I recognise as one of the two taken by Ares and his insurgent force sent out to retrieve Brie five or so days ago. I scan the soldiers as they appear in the dim light of the courtyard, lit by moonlight and the glow of the nearby braziers.
I spot neither Ares nor Kira among them. There is no sight of Brie either.
The most prominent man I see is Commander Maximus, second in command to Ares among the Imperial Guard. He steps forwards with several others who'd ventured off with Ares over five days ago. I don't recognise them all, but count only six in total, including Maximus. They look weary and ever-so-slightly concerned.
"Commander Maximus," I hear Burns say, as all the prominent leaders come together. "I'm relieved to see you back." His eyes move to the cars. "But, where are the others?"
I feel a distinct strike of concern as he steps forward, trailed by his men. Crastus joins too, the rest of the troops among his search party setting off elsewhere. All I can figure is that they found Maximus and a few of the others, but not the rest. The thought that Ares, Kira, and several other Neoroman Champions could be dead is profoundly disturbing.
