Below him, men shot at the disappearing balloon, while beasts bellowed in frustration. He had neither the strength nor the will to confront the enemy. Still, and despite the pain, a smile crawled on his face in anticipation of the next moment.
He let his body slide to the ground, his back on the wall, and reached for the silent cube. His fingers caressed the rough instrument of his death for a moment. He removed the bear claw necklace from his neck and inserted it into the small opening like Valentiner had shown him. It let out a soft click as he pushed it in. As before, one of the cube’s sides pried itself from the main body. His arm hanging useless on his side, he used his body’s weight to pin the cube down. With his good arm, he rotated the side and pushed it back in. The cube glowed red and a pulsating humming filled the room.
He stared at it for a moment before crawling back up, to look outside the window. He spotted Pratin in the middle of the courtyard, sending men to search the many buildings of Malekshei. Annoush had no idea what the range of the cube would be. With luck, it would kill most of the intruders. “Come on,” he hissed, gazing at the wildly pulsating cube, then grimaced as a fresh wave of pain burst through his dying body. His back was dripping with cold sweat. The coolness soothed the fire consuming him.
His legs gave way and he slumped next to the cube, his eyes fixed on the burning red lines now dancing manically on its surface. A man kicked the door open, a rod in his hand. He smirked at the dying man in the room, then he saw the cube. He froze and opened his mouth to say something. A flash of white light engulfed them, melting all thoughts and fears into a dark, silky sea.
Annoush found himself a night swimmer, floating on the smooth waters. The very molecules of the air and water were made of love. The sea had no room for hate, guilt, or fear.
“All you have to do is float,” Parad’s voice whispered in his ear. The voice felt trusted, comforting.
Annoush now spotted a soft moonlight over the sea, and he turned towards it. He loved the feeling of the warm sea surrounding him and turned on his back, splashing water on his face. He let out a gleeful laugh. With smooth strokes of his strong arms, he swam until he lost himself into the soothing light.
Moirah
The red fireflies were almost upon them. Once they reached the balloon, all was over. With a swear, Moira raised her arm to fire a second volley, when the balloon shook with a terrible jolt. A violent gust of wind hit her. It sucked them back towards Malekshei. She reached for one of the ropes to steady herself, then the heat from a thousand furnaces burned her face. She turned away in terror.
A hundred thunders boomed in her ear and a fierce wind pushed the balloon away again as a massive explosion roared under them, setting the very air on fire. She let out a soundless cry, the ringing in her ears drowning out her voice. One of her legs pushed through the platform and into emptiness. Not again! She swung back onto the remaining flooring, her body trembling with fear. From the open mouths around her she surmised that people were shouting, but she could not hear them. We really should have built a railing!
Someone shook her, spinning her around. Lehmor pointed at Malekshei, his ashen face revealing he was as shocked as her. A blinding mushroom cloud of fire was burning through the early morning sky. The platform tilted under the weight of everyone gathering to see the terrifying sight, and a rope snapped next to her. The violent jolt ripped apart the deck under her feet. She lost her balance, her feet kicking the air. Lehmor grabbed her, and she found herself hanging on to him. You’re kidding me! He was yelling something, but she could not hear him over the explosion and the ringing in her ears.
“Lehmor!” she screamed, trying to swing her body back onto the deck. Ash and dirt rained all around them. Numerous burning holes appeared on the cloth above them, too high for them to do anything about it. They started to descend again. The feeling of impotence fuelled her rage once again, sending a surge of adrenaline into her body. Her legs crashed against branches as the balloon dipped under the treetops. A towering pine speeded her way. Her eyes widened and her hand lost her grip. She saw the terror in Lehmor’s eyes as he tried desperately to hold on to her, then her body spun as she dropped.
She caught one last glimpse of Malekshei. The fiery cloud had disappeared, leaving behind countless fires. Where their home once stood, only a charred and blackened crater remained, the very pits of hell having broken loose on the planet. Not a sign of the invaders remained.
We got them, she thought in disbelief. She cried out in pain as needles tore her flesh. Crack! A branch caught her in the ribs, breaking her fall along with her bones. With a scream, she pushed her hands before her in a vain attempt to break her fall, watching with terror the ground speed towards her.
Chamber of Justice, the Capital
Teo
“You’re telling me they escaped? Cyrus is gone?” Teo’s fists clenched in an attempt to hide his rage.
A thick bead of sweat rolled down the messenger’s forehead and down his temple, but he remained still, like a slightly trembling statue. “Yes, my Lord,” he mumbled.
“And they’ve disappeared, despite everyone looking for them?”
This time the man let out an audible whimper.
Teo’s mind raced. How can I make this work for me? What if Angel kills him? His gaze caught on the messenger. “Go,” he growled.
Clearly not believing his luck, the man raced out of the door.
“Wait!’ Teo barked and the hapless man froze. He turned around slowly. “Fetch me Alexander.” Teo’s rasping voice matched his disposition.
“Yes, my Lord.” The messenger could not have run any faster if Fallen were chasing him.
Teo paced the spacious room until he heard a soft knock. “Come!”
The door creaked open. “You wish to see me, my Lord?”
A tall man snaked into the room. His white robe, adorned with golden trimmings, flowed behind him, matching his pale face. A stunning pair of jewel-encrusted, golden scales hung from his neck. In many ways, the new head-priest was Teo’s exact opposite: lanky and tranquil, where Teo was squat and wrathful. Even his rich, silver hair seemed to mock Teo’s baldness.
And yet, Teo had found in him a kindred spirit, recognizing a shared hunger, the same ambition burning in them. After Tie’s betrayal, he had personally chosen Alexander to succeed her, with one simple request: to clean up the nest of vipers who had sullied the Capital for so long under his predecessor. The man had proven ruthlessly successful in this, filling up the prisons with Tie’s followers and chasing out of the order her sympathisers.
“Alex,” Teo said and pointed at one of the chairs. The man sat himself down, gently lifting the robe around his knees. “Have you heard?”
“Alas, we live in dark times, my Lord,” the priest murmured, shaking his head with dismay. “Dark times indeed, when our Prince can be snatched away by dirty traitors under our very noses. Rest assured, we are praying for his safe recovery.”
Teo shot him a dark look. “Spare me the crap. I don’t need your prayers, I need your… other skills.”
Alexander’s eyes lit up. “I see.” He hummed to himself for a moment, tapping a finger against the leather armrest. “I understand both Cyrus and his sister escaped, along with her jailor?”
The smooth sheen had left the man’s voice, Teo noticed with satisfaction. It was all business-like now, and that was how he wanted it. “Yes. What can you tell me about him?”
Alexander let out a soft sigh. “We’ve had our eye on Xhi for a while now. We suspected him of playing a part in my predecessor’s escape, but could not prove anything. Anyway, after Cyrus executed Tie’s jailor, the case was closed.”
“Don’t care,” Teo snapped. “Can you find them?” He walked over to the desk to fill in two golden goblets with sweet, red wine.
“No one escapes Themis’ justice,” the man said assuredly. “The question is, what do you want me to do with them when we do?”
“His sister has tried to kill him once befo
re,” Teo said, flicking dates into the wine. “I’m sure she only took him to finish the job.”
“Won’t people wonder why she didn’t do it in the medical bay? I understand she tied up our good doctor and fled with her brother.”
“People will only wonder about what they know. Besides, perhaps she didn’t want any witnesses.”
“I see.”
“The point is, were anything to happen to Cyrus, it’s clear who’s to blame,” Teo said. He swivelled the goblets.
“Angel,” Alexander guessed.
Teo passed him a goblet and raised his to a toast. “Angel,” he repeated. “Although I’m sure she had help from your predecessor. If you help me punish them for this heinous crime, I’m sure you’ll find me very grateful. After all, I will need help running the realm.”
“I’ll pray for our Prince’s safe return,” Alexander said, lifting the drink to his lips to hide the wide grin on his face. “Have you considered her other siblings?” he said after taking a sip.
Teo’s brow creased. “You think she’d be so stupid as to go home?”
Alexander shrugged. “She could have just escaped. Instead, she went back to take her brother. She’s clearly passionate about her family.”
Now, why hadn’t I thought of that? He knew the answer; it would never occur to him to risk his life on a fool’s errand. But Angel was not him. Alexander was right. Rescuing the twins was just the kind of stupid thing he’d expect from her. “I’ll place guards around the family home.”
“Have them hide away, or they might spook her.”
The corners of Teo’s mouth curled upwards into a wide grin. “I’m so pleased you took over that snake, Tie.”
“As am I, my Lord.” Alexander lowered his eyes in a clear attempt to hide the ambition in them.
An ambition I might have to curb someday, Teo thought as they raised their goblets to a mutual toast.
Malekshei
Lehmor
“Hold on!” Tie yelled as the makeshift balloon crashed against a tree. She held on to a rope until the treetop bent, releasing them. She then ran around, covering the buckets with metal lids that drowned out the fires.
“What are you doing?” Lehmor shouted.
“We’re going down. Do you want to start a fire?” she barked at him.
“But it rained yesterday!”
“One night of rain, two dry months.” She snuffed out the last fire and the balloon hung mid-air, as if undecided what to do next.
“The trees are still wet. I’m sure—”
A hard jolt interrupted him. Branches tore the floor from under their legs. Two First screamed as they disappeared under the canopy, the loud crack of breaking trees drowning out their cries.
Lehmor held on to a rope with one hand, using the other to press his wailing daughter against his chest. With a bump that knocked him off his feet, the balloon finally came to a stop. It lay suspended a few yards over the ground. After rocking back and forth for a short while, it finally steadied itself.
“We must hurry,” Lehmor said and lowered a scorched rope to the yellow grass below. He motioned Marl and Valentiner to climb down. “Let me have her,” Marl said, pointing at the baby. After a moment’s hesitation, Lehmor handed her over. Marl wrapped his sleeve around his palm and showed Valentiner how to do the same, before following her down the rope.
Lehmor watched one after another his companions disappear under the trees, all the while his mind racing. His eyes jumped from treetop to treetop, looking for anything memorable and memorizing their trajectory. Moirah is back there! Then, a glow from afar caught his eye. The smell of smoke hit his nostrils. Fire! Tie was not the only one playing with it.
He tore off his sleeve and wrapped it around his palms, then slid down the rope as fast as he could. The rope burned through the fabric to scald his skin, and he let go after a few yards to jump down.
His feet thumped on the ground and he rolled onto his back. He jumped back up, his eyes already searching for Marl. The man was standing next to his daughter, baby in his arms. Thank the Lady! Moirah would never forgive him if anything happened to their daughter. Then another thought hit him. If she’s still alive. He opened his arms and Marl handed the baby over with one hand, still clutching Valentiner’s hand with the other. “Thank you,” Lehmor said.
Marl nodded, a knowing half-smile on his face. “You’re not the only one with kids.”
Valentiner pointed in the distance. “She’s over there.”
“Moirah?” Lehmor asked, and Valentiner nodded. She had pointed in the direction of the fire.
“They say you must hurry,” she said, as if reading his mind.
Lehmor had no need to ask who they were, but her words still sent a chill up his spine. Marl’s grimace told him he was not the only one to feel that way.
His gaze found Tie, still dousing out a number of small fires. “Can you make it rain?” he shouted. It was one of their shaman’s greatest gifts, the control of the elements.
“No, I can’t make it rain,” she yelled back at him, smacking a leather jacket over a burning bush. “Does it look like I can make it rain?” She turned her face away from the heat coming from the small fire.
He scouted their surroundings to get his bearings. “Rivka!”
The young woman rushed to his side. She looked dishevelled. Scratches and bruises covered her body, visible through her torn clothes. “You all right?”
“Just a few scratches.”
Lehmor pointed in a south-westerly direction. “We’re close to the river. Cross the bridge. You’ll be safe.”
“I’m not leaving you,” she protested. “We need to find—”
He nodded towards Tie, who was putting out the last fire with Sam’s help. “I need you here. Look after them. I’ll get Moirah.”
Rivka bit her lip. “I’ll keep them safe,” she promised, then hesitated for a moment. “Be careful.” She hurried off, shouting orders.
“You need me,” Valentiner said. “You don’t have much time.”
“No,” Lehmor said, his eyes already tracking the way they had travelled. “You leave.”
Valentiner shook her head and Marl let out a deep sigh. “Listen, there’s no arguing with her.” Lehmor opened his mouth to protest, but Marl cut him off. “If she says you need us, you need us. I’ll come with you.”
There’s no time for this. “Then come.” He kneeled down to face Valentiner. “Where to?”
She took his hand and pulled him up, then hurried into the forest. Soon, they came upon an overgrown path. A boar bolted towards them through the shrubs, escaping the flames. Lehmor cried out in alarm, but it wasted no time on them, other than to shoot them a panicked glance. You’re heading the wrong way, it seemed to say. A deer and a number of hares followed it, almost crashing into them. The small group pressed on, past the fleeing animals. The air started getting hot and thick.
“The rod!” Marl shouted and pointed at a dark cylinder lying on the grass. “She must be close.”
Lehmor grabbed the weapon and switched it on. Instead of the blade’s swooshing, it made a whining sound, reminding him of the cube that had set the forest ablaze.
Marl noticed it too. “Sounds like it’s going to explode,” he shouted.
Lehmor switched it off, then waved them forward. Faint crackling, growing stronger, followed the increasingly intense smell of burnt wood. Valentiner pointed towards a bulging mound on the ground.
Marl held her back as Lehmor dashed towards it, his stomach tied into a knot. “Moirah!” he shouted and flew next to her to turn her body over. She seemed to be sleeping. Blood trickled from a gash on her head. His heart pounded. “Moirah!” he cried out again. Her eyes fluttered. One of them looked sunken. Half her face was a red mess, already swelling her graceful features beyond recognition. I did this. This is my fault. Guilt gnawed at his insides as he watched the life ooze out of the woman he loved, the woman he had sworn to protect.
“Help me,” he cried
out, and Marl hurried to his side. He helped her onto Lehmor’s back, her limbs hanging over his sides. Lehmor placed his arms around her knees. “Let’s go.”
He started to double back, when he noticed Marl was not moving. “What are…”
Then he heard something shuffle in the shrubs. A low, spine-tingling growl sent sweat to break out on his forehead. He forced himself to remain calm as he slowly turned around. A Fallen stepped out of the thick leaves. He clasped his belt, looking for his rod. Empty! He realized it must have slipped off its scabbard during their crash landing. His eyes widened in terror as the Fallen roared its fury.
They circled each other, the beast blocking his way. Lehmor pretended to lunge to the right, then dashed to the left, but the Fallen readily jumped to cut him off. It made sure none of them could escape. Why is it not attacking? Its eyes sparkled with sick pleasure. It seemed to enjoy their terror. It’s toying with us!
He exchanged an alarmed look with Marl. The man pushed Valentiner behind him. He pulled a dagger from a holster on his thigh. The weapon would be useless against the beast, but at least he would die fighting. The thought somehow made Lehmor envy the man. If we’re dead, I’ll take it with us. He switched on the broken rod and took an uneasy step back as the Fallen prepared to lunge at him and Moirah. The weapon whined and shook, shaking with increasing intensity in his hand.
He shut his eyes tightly, every muscle in his body tightening, and prepared to die. Instead, an inhuman scream followed a loud crackle. He opened his eyes again. Sam jumped out of nowhere. He plunged a fiery blade into the Fallen’s neck. The beast howled in pain and rage. A twist of Sam’s wrist almost cut off the hideous head. The Fallen staggered forward, then crashed on the ground as thick globs of blood gushed from its neck.
Pearseus Bundle: The Complete Pearseus Sci-fi/Fantasy Series Page 62
