“Really?”
“How do you know that, Wataru?”
Wataru told them about his flight from Sonn to Sakawa. “At the highest point of the flight, I caught a glimpse of it. Togoto told me what it was.”
“Dela Rubesi…”
“So the man in the white robe lives there, you think?”
“It seems that way.” Wataru looked at his friends. “We have to go.”
Meena slid the mirror back under her vest. “I agree, but how?”
“W-wait a second now,” Kee Keema said, putting a big hand on Wataru’s and Meena’s shoulders. “Let’s think about this a moment. I don’t know if you should just believe what that guy said, Wataru.”
“Why not?”
“Why not…” Kee Keema hesitated. His long tongue whipped out and licked the top of his head. “Well, if that’s really Dela Rubesi we were seeing, that place is a haven for followers of the Old God. They’ve got connections to the Northern Empire! Surely you haven’t forgotten them!”
“No—though that is just a rumor.”
“Sure, it’s a rumor, but it’s dangerous,” Kee Keema muttered. “What if this is some kind of trap?”
“A trap?” Wataru was surprised.
“You remember those guys at the Triankha Hospital! They were going to kill you! If this fellow in white is one of them…”
Wataru certainly hadn’t forgotten the events outside Lyris. He’d never been so frightened in all his life.
“But it was the Mirror of Truth that brought the message. Do you really think the Mirror of Truth could lie?”
“Hrm…” Kee Keema’s heavy eyelids blinked. “I don’t know. But you’ve got to figure that the mirror is just a tool. Maybe it’s magic, but it’s a tool all the same. It doesn’t have a will of its own. And like any tool, someone might use it for evil.”
“You just don’t want to help anyone who believes in the Old God!” said Meena sharply.
Kee Keema winced, his long tongue licking the top of his head twice in rapid succession. “Whoa, hold on a second…”
The kitkin girl was mad. Sparks flew from her blue-gray eyes. “Isn’t that right? You talk about danger and traps, but that’s how you really feel. They could be in a whole world of trouble, and you’d leave them to die just because they don’t believe in the Goddess. That’s why you don’t want to go!” Meena stomped her foot down on the floor. “If Wataru says we go, I’m going with him. You can do what you want!”
Kee Keema wobbled backward away from the furious kitkin. Wataru stepped between them. “Meena, don’t be so angry. He’s just thinking of our safety. Please?”
“Th-that’s right. I’ll admit, I don’t much care for going to Dela Rubesi. But if Wataru says we go, then let’s go. I said I would be his companion, so I go where he goes. The decision is up to him.”
“Then you’re forgiven,” Meena said, suddenly breaking into a grin. “There’s no time to lose. Let’s get going!”
“But how do we get there?”
“Why, we’ll ask the karulakin to take us, of course. They wouldn’t turn down a Highlander.”
With all the recent commotion throughout Vision, the karulah, uniquely suited to deliver urgent messages and information, were understandably very busy. Communications between the starseers at the National Observatory and the USN Senate were a priority. That meant that many karulakin could be present in town at any given time. Meena was certain they could find some of them who would help.
“Then I’ll go ask where we can find some carrier karulakin,” Kee Keema said, charging up the stairs. Now that they had decided to go, he seemed overly eager to help. Meena watched him go with a smile.
“Maybe I was a little hard on him. I’ll give him a backrub later.”
Wataru barely heard what she said. In his head, he was replaying the events surrounding his close shave at the Triankha Hospital. And that reminded him of his dashing savior, Mitsuru.
He remembered something the man in the white robe said.
—You too are a child, I see.
It was a strange choice of words. Did that mean that somehow he knew the other Traveler to Vision? Had Mitsuru already answered the white-robed man’s call, and gone to Dela Rubesi?
If that were the case, then it meant Mitsuru hadn’t been able to help them. Is that why they were calling on Wataru now?
“What is it, Wataru?” Meena asked, looking into his eyes.
“Nothing,” he replied as he hurried up the stairs. There was no point thinking too much about it. They wouldn’t know what was going on until they were standing in Dela Rubesi.
The headquarters for the karulakin carriers was a terrace on the third floor. When they got there, three karulakin were resting their wings beneath a large white banner shielding them from the sun. The terrace was suffused with an overpowering stench. “Pardon me, I’ve just finished eating,” said one, picking at his teeth.
Lunch was, of course, gimblewolf meat. Wataru heard the soft sounds of Kee Keema quietly gagging behind him.
It fell to Wataru to voice their request, which he did, leaving out as many details as possible. The three karulakin listened attentively, craning their necks, until he was finished. “We understand,” one replied. “But we are not, at present, able to honor your request.”
“Is your need to go to Dela Rubesi perhaps related to the emergency summons from your branch chiefs?” another asked. “If so, there is nothing to hide. After all, we were the ones who carried that summons to all corners of the land.”
Wataru mumbled a vague answer in response. It was hard to claim that this request had anything to do with the fugitive at all. It probably wouldn’t even classify as official Highlander business, for that matter.
“In any case, even if we wanted to help you, we could not. Our wings cannot take you to Dela Rubesi now.”
The other karulakin nodded in agreement, their heads bobbing up and down.
“You will recall that when Togoto carried you to where you could see Dela Rubesi, it was to catch a rising current that crosses over all of the south.”
“Yes, that’s what he said.”
“But,” the karulakin continued, “for several days now, there has been odd weather near the Undoor Highland. That strong current you rode is no longer there. It has stopped.”
“That is not all, that is not all,” said one of the other karulakin, flapping its wings. “The clouds around the Highlands have swelled in size, and the temperature in the air above has dropped precipitously. No matter how strong our wings, in such weather we could muster only half our strength at best. In the worst-case scenario, we might freeze even as we flew.”
“This is no normal shifting of the air currents. We believe something is happening on the ground in the Undoor Highland that has caused this to happen,” another one said thoughtfully.
“At any rate, we cannot carry you. I apologize, but we must ask you to find other means.”
Wataru sighed. If even the karulakin—ever proud of their aerial prowess—said it was impossible, it probably was.
Unease began to seep back into Wataru’s consciousness. Something terrible was going on in Dela Rubesi, he was sure. That must be why the white-robed man was seeking his help.
“I understand. Thank you for your time.”
“I am only sorry we could not be of help.”
Wataru waved to Meena and Kee Keema, then turned. As he began to walk away, for no particular reason he thrust his hand in his trousers pocket. His fingers touched something hard and smooth.
What’s that? What did I put in my pocket? He fished it out and looked at it. It was shiny and crimson, glowing like a ruby—it was a scale.
The firewyrm scale! Wataru had completely forgotten his encounter with the dragon Jozo in the Swamp of Grief—and the scale he had received in return for saving the dragon’s life.
Wataru smacked himself on the forehead. He had never done that before, but he had always seen people doing it on TV. It s
eemed like the right thing to do.
“My! What’s wrong, Wataru?” Meena said, looking into his eyes.
“Karulakin sirs!” Wataru said, running back out onto the terrace. “You think a dragon would be able to fly to Dela Rubesi?”
The three karulakin looked at one another. “I would think a dragon’s wings could carry you there, even without a current. And cold is nothing to a dragon. Yes, I believe one could get you there without much difficulty at all.”
“If they can fly through the Stinging Mist, then they can certainly fly to the Undoor Highland,” another agreed.
Then the third spotted the crimson scale in Wataru’s hand. “My, my, my, what’s this?”
Wataru told the story of the scale. The karulakin watched him as he spoke, their beady eyes open wide.
“Then it is clear what you must do! You must make a wyrmflute out of that scale! Like us, a dragon is a proud-winged soul, strong in virtue and bravery. He will keep his promise to you, you can be sure.”
Kee Keema gave a big clap with his hands. “Then let’s get started making that flute!”
“How do I make it? Jozo said I needed to seek out a master craftsman…”
“We’ll go to Lyris!” Meena said, her face brightening. “You could ask Toni Fanlon! I’m sure his skill would be a match for that scale!”
The largest of the karulakin took a step forward with one long-clawed foot. “If you go to Lyris, it is on the way to my next destination. Were it just you, young Highlander, I could certainly carry you that far.”
“Excellent!” Kee Keema shouted. “Wataru, you fly to Lyris first. Meena and I will follow by darbaba. Shouldn’t take us more than three or four days to get there—and by that time Fanlon should have the flute ready! We’ll find a suitable place, call us a dragon, and wing it to Dela Rubesi together!”
Kee Keema was all ready to get their luggage for the trip, but another of the karulakin stopped him, a dark look upon his face. “Waterkin, and you, kitkin girl. You would do best to not go too close to Lyris. By order of the branch chief, Lyris has been closed off to all traffic, both in and out. You see, they have a problem between the ankha and the non-ankha in that town…”
“We know all about it,” said Wataru, clenching his hands into fists.
“Ah. Then you can guess how word of Halnera has pitched the community into strife. We’ve heard reports of rioting and arson—most directed at the non-ankha, it seems. I’ve heard that many of the other races living in town have been incarcerated.”
“Sounds like Branch Chief Pam’s style, all right,” Wataru said with a grimace. Apparently, Halnera had brought the ugly tension beneath the surface of Lyris out into the open.
“Young Highlander, you may be allowed inside, being an ankha, but your friends…I believe it would be best for you to arrange your rendezvous at a location outside of town.”
At the karulakin’s advice, the three decided upon the Great Marker Tree as their meeting place. The tree was a famous landmark for aerial navigation.
“You’ll have no problem finding it by darbaba, either. And it’s in the woods, so there’ll be plenty of places to hide if there’s any trouble.”
Wataru and the others began to prepare for the trip with great haste. As he packed, Wataru could feel the anxiety in him growing.
I hope Toni Fanlon is weathering the storm in Lyris.
And what about Elza?
Chapter 35
The Tragedy of Lyris
The karulakin that gave Wataru a ride was most cautious. When they arrived at Lyris, he circled briefly before setting him down.
“Did you see those tents down there, young master?”
Still airborne, Wataru had to shout to be heard over the roar of the wind. “The white ones? Yes!”
There were several pentagonal tents below—one particularly large one in the very center—with flags streaming from their pointed roofs. If Wataru’s memory could be counted on, the building nearest to them was none other than the Lyris branch.
“Those are field tents of the Knights of Stengel,” the karulakin told him. “Town hall is flying one of their flags as well. Judging from the size of those tents, that’s more than a patrol. Looks like a whole division is stationed there in town. I’m afraid matters are unfolding on a somewhat larger scale than even we had imagined.”
The karulakin slid through the air and flapped its wings—this time directly over the field tents. Wataru could see Knights standing around in silver polished armor.
“When Branch Chief Pam called for martial law, he must have requested help from the Knights,” said the karulakin, making another pass over the encampment. “Those flags bear the mark of Zaidek Company. If I recall correctly, Captain Zaidek was born here in Lyris. A friend of the chief.”
Wataru felt fear wrapping itself around his heart. “So, those Knights of Stengel down there are working with the branch chief.”
“It is most likely. Look.”
The karulakin flew over Bricklayer Street. Too high to see much detail, Wataru still couldn’t miss the devastation below. Buildings were demolished, and the entire area was scarred by fire. The street itself was empty and devoid of people. Here and there, broken furniture and mounds of clothes lay mixed in with the ash and mud. It was hard to tell the location of Fanlon’s workshop from here. Wataru feared it, too, was little more than a smoldering pile of rubble.
It looked as though something giant and terrible and full of violence had passed down the street. That was exactly it. Something named Hate: formless yet full of strength, it had chewed its way through the buildings and left detritus in its wake—a ravenous child with bad table manners.
And Hate, Wataru thought, is always hungry.
“Looks like there was quite a riot. No wonder the Lyris branch was unable to contain the situation.”
Wataru had nothing to say.
I wonder where everyone went who lived on Bricklayer Street? He hoped they had escaped, but he feared that many had been arrested and imprisoned.
And the Knights of Stengel helped him do it.
Wataru remembered what Fanlon had told him about High Chief Suluka in Bog sharing some of Branch Chief Pam’s feelings about non-ankha. Suluka was the one who decided the Knights should be all ankha too.
Above all the destruction, the Cistina Trabados Cathedral still towered, its great bell sparkling in the sun. Somehow, seeing it from the air made it seem all the more threatening. The shadow it cast upon the town dominated more than ever before. The cathedral basked in the sun, while Bricklayer Street was cast in darkness. Wataru knew it was impossible, but it seemed like the church’s shadow was trying to swallow the entire town.
For anyone who didn’t see eye to eye with the cathedral and the followers of the Old God, Lyris would be a very dangerous place to live. Even for a Highlander.
Lyris did not have a town gate like the one in Gasara. But checkpoints had been set up by both Highlanders and the Knights of Stengel. At the entrance where Wataru had first entered Lyris, a large blockade of logs had been erected. This handily blocked anyone from coming in or out of the town.
“What will you do, my young Highlander?” the karulakin asked.
“Let me down in a forest outside town. I’ll find a way to sneak in.”
“Very well. Be cautious.”
The karulakin flew away from town, setting course for the nearby woods. After making sure no spies were lurking about, Wataru was delivered safely to the ground. The whole time, Wataru thought about how he was going to get inside Lyris.
Maybe I can pretend to be an ankha kid who lives there. I’ll say I’m coming back from some errand. Wataru discarded the idea immediately. They’d suspect me in an instant. None of the well-to-do ankha living here would send their kids out on an errand with martial law in effect. Maybe I could pretend I was lost, that I didn’t know my way home. Excuse me, Mr. Knight sir, could you help me find my home?
Wataru stood, chewing his lip, pondering his
options (none of which sounded particularly appealing), when he felt a strange warmth at his waist. He looked down to see the Brave’s Sword shining. Wataru quickly drew the blade from its sheath.
—Wataru, Wataru.
It was the voice of the spirit in the second gemstone.
—You remember using this sword as a mageblade in the Swamp of Grief?
—Now that we are two, there is another use for this sword.
—Raise it, lift the sword!
Startled, Wataru brought the sword to eye level. Of its own accord, the tip of the blade moved, tracing a pattern in the air. Right and left, then up and down forming a cross. All the while, the shining blade reflected Wataru’s own face.
Suddenly, he felt lighter. What’s going on? Is this the new power? If it was, it was nothing like the magebullet he had fired in the swamp.
Then, Wataru realized he could no longer see the sword. In fact, he couldn’t see his own hand gripping the sword, although he still felt the hilt firm within his grasp.
I’m invisible!
The Spirit spoke.
—Wataru, this is the sword’s new power. As long as the cross is bound, your form cannot be seen. The sword has created a sacred barrier, hiding you from all eyes.
—Yet you must listen, for this barrier draws its energy from your own body. Do not maintain it for very long. Unform the cross as soon as you find a place to hide yourself. Hold it too long, and your strength will falter, and you will fall.
“Understood!” Wataru felt himself fill with courage.
It was time to find Elza.
The branch in Lyris was overrun with people, both Knights and Highlanders. Branch Chief Pam could be seen sitting in a back room across the table from a Knight of Stengel, his helm resting on his knee. The two were engaged in a heated debate. From the armor and crest he wore, and the attitude of the Knights around him, it was clear this was Captain Zaidek.
Elza was nowhere to be seen. Maybe she’s at home. Wataru stepped behind a potted plant and took a break from invisibility. After a brief moment, he raised the barrier again and went in search of Pam’s private residence. As the spirit had warned him, keeping himself hidden with the barrier was exhausting—like climbing a mountain—and he found himself running out of breath and having to rest frequently. His pulse seemed to be racing faster than usual, another side effect of the barrier sucking its energy from his body.
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