by Terry Reid
The expression reminded Terry of her father. “Have you calmed down?” There was no point being tactful when the person you were stalking catches you red handed.
“Not really...but I supposed I was calmer than I was.” He replied flatly.
“Are Faye and Darius ok?” she asked. She was not here to apologise either for what she had said.
“Yes, they are both still safely locked inside their cells.” A devious smile touched his lips. “Though that Darius sure got a fright when he saw me.”
Terry sighed, shifting her weight between feet. “I would not have mentioned Rufus if I did not think we needed his help. If we are going to chase a Phantom we will need that gun of his.”
Lyle regarded her for a long moment, his thoughts concealed behind an unreadable mask. Finally though, much to her surprise, he nodded in agreement but Terry could see reluctance in his eyes. “I will do as you ask as you are the king’s daughter and will one day be my queen and my liege lord but nothing else. I will not speak in polite tones to a man who has accused me of a crime I have not committed.”
Terry nodded. She would have not commanded such a thing from him, nor expected it. “While we are here there is something else that I need to tell you. A couple of weeks ago I went to Rufus’s old address, just to see him but he was not there. To be honest it looked like he had not been there for some time.”
A flash of anger played across his face and then it vanished, but Lyle, the king’s brother, did not give words to his disappointment. Coolly he said, “Then it will make our task of finding him and getting him to assist us a bit more difficult.”
“And it will definitely be harder finding out who this Phantom is without his help.” Terry added, feeling grim.
Lyle regarded her for a long time but said nothing.
Finally she shrugged, uncomfortable under his steely gaze. “What?”
“I think we need to speak to this Lord Rilario. He might be able to shed some light onto this mystery ghost.”
Terry frowned, confused. “But it was Ladre he attacked. Lord Rilario wasn’t there.”
“I know but temporal devices have been outlawed. I don’t think Ladre or Lord Rilario or this so called middle man would have spread the information around much. The Phantom must have found out about it from someone. If Ladre does not know then maybe this politician will.”
Terry nodded in agreement. “That’s a good idea but we have the same problem we face with Rufus. How do we find him?”
Lyle drew a deep breath. “We must return home. I know a lot of people in a lot of places, I am certain I could find him but they are no use to me here if I have no way of speaking to them.”
Terry stared at him for the longest time. “You do know what you’re saying right? If we go home and the Southlands find out we’re there, there could be war.” That was the very reason why Terry accepted her exile nine long years before. The thought of millions dying over her for not facing the punishment of killing Edward, the last Phantom and thus bringing a race of their world to extinction, had terrified the teenager. But it was not the thought of her people dying that scared her. It was the Southlands. The fire elementals had their weapons and their technology and their threats, but the Alchemists had slaughtered entire countries of their race in eras past.
Lyle sighed, suddenly looking tired. “I know but we have to take the chance if this Phantom is who I think it is.”
“Who?” The name was already in her head but she dared not say it. She had no reason, no evidence to believe it was him.
Lyle gave her a long look. “Who do you think?”
She shook her head dismissively. “Come on, we have no reasons to believe that.”
But he stared right through her, passed her denial. “But you have the exact same feeling that I do, don’t you?”
Terry looked away, ashamed to admit it.
“Because we do not know for sure is not a reason not to find out. It is a risk you know that we cannot afford to take. We have to be certain it is not him. You know the damage he reaped last time on both worlds.”
Terry met his gaze. “If we go home we can’t go to dad. He would rip Earth to pieces trying to find Edward.”
A heavy reluctance took a hold of Lyle then and for a moment she thought he would not agree, until finally he said: “Agreed but I do not like this plan of action. I only agree to it once again because it is what you wish to do. We will need to tread lightly and return home within a few days less we raise suspicion.”
“I understand. I think as long as we can get Ladre to drop us off in the Southlands we should be ok.”
“I could not agree more.”
“What about Faye and Darius though? We can’t leave them here in the cells.”
“Connor could watch them.” Lyle suggested, scratching the stubble on his chin.
Terry shook her head. “He wouldn’t stay here if he knew what we were doing. Besides, it would look suspicious having us two running around the Southlands. Things would go a lot easier if we had him asking most of the questions.”
“Okay.” Lyle gestured that they should head to his study.
Terry fell in beside him. “So what are we going to do about Darius and Faye?”
“We’ll just have to take them with us.”
******
Ladre screamed as he hit the wall. Lyle had pinned him in place between his large toes. Drawing in closer, his antennae flattened and he hissed, like an enraged snake poising to strike.
“Easy.” Terry warned, walking up to his side.
Lyle’s antennae twitched as he turned his large head in her direction. He spoke to her in a series of clicks.
Terry rolled her eyes. “No you can’t eat him once we’re finished.”
He growled at that, turning his large, angry amber eyes back to Ladre. The young man had turned white in terror.
“Don’t listen to him, he’s only trying to scare you.” Said Terry, drawing close.
“I’ve already told you everything I know!” Ladre screamed.
“I know. But we need you and your machine to get us home.”
Ladre’s eyes widened further. Anymore and Terry was adamant that they’d pop from their sockets. “If you’re caught...”
“I know. But if you do this I won’t tell anyone that it was you who let the Phantom through, as well as helped fugitives.”
Ladre gave a weak nod. He looked like he was about to burst into tears.
Lyle suddenly let go, dropping the ranging youth. Ladre hit the floor with a heavy thud and a curse.
Lyle dropped his large foreleg to the floor, his talons clicking as his toes spread out to carry his weight.
“When can it be ready?” Terry asked.
“Er...I don’t know. It could be several hours, it could be a day. I’m not sure. It’s not been on in a while so I need to recalibrate it. It’s going to take longer as I’m the only one left to operate it now.”
Terry nodded, satisfied. “You have until this time tomorrow. We need to sort a few things out anyway.”
He gave a meek nod, remaining where he had been dropped.
The matter sorted Terry turned her back on him and walked away. Lyle craned his head closer to Ladre, fixing him with his large, cat-like eyes and for a moment the fire elemental thought he would be dinner.
“Lyle!” called Terry. Snarling, he withdrew.
******
“How long are we going to be gone for?” Connor asked, sitting down. They had just arrived back at Lyle’s mansion. Terry had disappeared into the kitchen with his wife Jo as a distraction while the two men talked.
Lyle sat down in his favourite chair. He sighed. “I couldn’t tell you but I’m hoping to be no more than three or four days if my contacts are quick.”
Connor sat back, his expression troubled. “I want to help...” he shook his head, levelling his gaze at Lyle. “But if I go with you I will need to make up something to tell Jo. Also if it is Edward, I’m worried that he might c
ome after her.”
Lyle frowned. “We do not know if it is him for sure yet and I don’t think Jo is under any threat. If it has been Edward’s henchmen that have crawled out of the woodwork recently, they’ve only been after Terry.”
Connor rubbed his hands, more out of worry than coldness. “But Jo isn’t like Terry. She is human. If someone stabbed her she would not heal as quickly as Terry does.”
“I know.” Lyle said softly, he did understand. “Can she not stay with someone while we’re away? If she’s not in the house Edward would not know where to look for her.”
Connor’s gaze drifted to the floor, lost in troubled thought. “I guess...but I don’t know if I want to take that chance.”
“Listen, I think you should do what you think is best. There’s no way I would ask you to come without knowing that Jo was safe but at the same time I would not be asking you to come unless we needed your help.”
Connor sighed, leaning forward and wiping his eyes with his palms. He suddenly felt overcome with fatigue. “You’re not putting me in an easy position here.”
“I know. I’m sorry that I’m doing this to you.”
“I know.” He gazed off thoughtfully for a long time. “I will come.” He finally said. He met Lyle’s gaze. “But I’m not going unless I can convince Jo to go to her sisters for a few days.”
Lyle nodded his gratitude evident. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I haven’t figure out what I’m going to tell her yet.” He stood. “When are we leaving?”
“Tomorrow at six pm.”
Connor did not look pleased. “You don’t give much notice.”
“I know.” Lyle stood. “I’m sorry but the sooner we go the sooner we’ll be back.”
The Pyrovite gave him a grim look. “You’re not the best at reassuring people Lyle. Maybe once this is all over you should think about going back to being a general.”
Lyle did not laugh as the young man left. He knew he wasn’t joking.
Chapter 10
Homecoming
Connor rolled across the dusty ground. Strong hands grabbed him and pulled him to his feet. “Are you alright?” Terry asked.
“Yeah, thanks.” He said, brushing himself down. He took in his surroundings before looking back to where the silvery portal rippled and pulsed in the air. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
He had stepped through the other end but had tumbled when gravity took over on the other side. For some reason the exit point had re-materialised three foot in the air.
“I wasn’t either.” Terry replied. Darius sat on a nearby boulder, rubbing his elbow. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I just hit my arm when I came through.” He said quietly, not daring to make eye contact.
Faye came through next, falling onto her front. She gracefully picked herself up in one fluid motion, without word or comment. Lyle was next – but he landed in a crouch. The portal shut behind him and the tear in the universe was sealed once more. Standing up he looked about.
Connor did the same. “Where are we? This is definitely not Kalo Lake.” He had never set foot at Kalo Lake but desert in every direction begged that they were not where they were meant to be.
Terry shrugged, shouldering her backpack. “We must have landed a little off. I wouldn’t be surprised since the portal wasn’t even at floor level.” She shielded her eyes against the sun.
“We’re nowhere near the lake.” Lyle said. It was then that Terry saw the fear etched upon his face.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
He looked at her, his eyes wide. Terry had never seen her uncle so afraid. “Don’t you recognise it? We’re only three miles from the colony.”
“What?”
“You have got to be kidding me.” Connor exclaimed.
Darius stood, looking bemused. “Which colony? Your home?” He looked between Terry and Lyle. “Why is that a problem?”
“Never mind. We’ll tell you later.” Terry hurried passed him. Connor, Faye and Lyle close behind.
“Where are you going?” Darius called. Realising that they were not going to wait for him, he jogged to catch up with Terry. “What is going on?”
“Nothing, but you’ll have to run.” That said, she was off at a loping sprint. Left unable to argue the young water elemental was forced to give chase.
Four times during the course of the day they encountered patrols. The first three were humanoid Alchemists but the fourth consisted of four primeval Alchemists. They avoided detection by hiding in a narrow, water filled gully they had come across moments after sighting the patrol. They had hid in the water, to mask their scent and had left no footprints as their approach had been over rock from the west. Fortunately the primeval Alchemists were also down wind of them and had not caught their smell. But everyone knew when they made cold camp that night that it had only been by chance that they had not been caught.
It was close to midnight by the time they stopped – Terry and Lyle having been desperate to put as much distance between the group and the colony. They had travelled about fourteen miles, deliberately moving over as much rocky terrain as possible to avoid leaving tracks, but it had seriously hindered their progress. There had also been times when they had no other choice but to cross sand. They knew that it would only be a matter of time someone found their tracks or picked up their scent. Every Alchemist had a unique one - especially a young queen. Once it was detected her father would know that they were out there in the desert somewhere. Their only hope of success was to out run their own people and return to Earth within a few days as planned.
They made came at the top of a small, rocky hill, there west and south sides hidden by a jagged, rocky outcrop thrust outwards. The east and north were more exposed, but the top of the uneven hill dipped down into a slight depression – it would be hard for anyone to spot them if they were sitting or lying down.
Darius and Connor were fast asleep when Terry returned from her perch at the top of the rock formation, searching through the darkness for any signs of movement. She sat down next to Lyle. “There’s no one out there.” She whispered.
He handed her a slice of cooked steak from her backpack. “Thanks.”
He ripped a chunk out of his own slice. Chewing he said, “Enjoy it, it might be your last for a few days. We’re at least forty miles from where I thought we would be. There won’t be enough food to last the trip if we keep travelling at the pace that we have been going.”
“I think we should have sent someone through to check first before all leaping through at the same time.” She said, having swallowed a mouthful.
He nodded regretfully. “It’s too late now. I hope we did the right thing running from your father. He’s not going to be pleased when he finds out, not with either of us.”
Terry sighed. “That crossed my mind too. But if we did go to the colony, we would have been stuck there for days.” She wiped her tired eyes. “I’ve not seen him in nine years; he can wait a couple of more weeks.”
“We should have gone to the colony.”
The two of them looked round to Faye, who had been sitting quietly by herself. Looking first to Lyle and then to Terry she said, “I think this was not a good idea. You say we would have lost days going there. We will now lose days from travelling so slowly to avoid your kind.”
Terry shrugged. “There’s no point in hiding anymore. Someone will find our footprints or pick up our scent. It’ll only be a matter of time. We might as well move flat out tomorrow, so we won’t lose days.”
“She’s right.” The old general agreed. “It is speed we need now, not stealth.”
She regarded them with her still eyes for a long while, without word or comment. If she had remained still any longer Terry thought she would turn to stone.
Finally she said, “You two and Connor should go on without us. He can fly so he can stay out of any Alchemist’s way and you two can outrun any of us. Darius and I would only slow you down.”
> Terry looked at her uncle. Even in the poor light she could see as clear as day and as ever his face was an unreadable mask. She looked back to Faye. “And where would you go? I don’t trust leaving you here with Darius.” She leant back on her hands. “There is also this business about wanting to flood Earth and you lying to us about the war.”
Faye inclined her head. “The war turned out to be a lie, yes.” She said coolly, as if it was not a big deal. “But I only told you what I had heard. Most of my people, where Darius and I lived, believed it. It was common knowledge.”
“Why would someone make up such a thing?” Lyle asked; his curiosity piqued.
“I do not know.” Faye said, without emotion.
It was impossible to tell if she perpetrated the lie herself or if she was just played the fool like everyone else, like she claimed. Terry could not tell. “Darius said he had not heard anything about this supposed war. I imagine if what you’re saying is true someone else must have mentioned it to him.”
Faye sighed, rolling her icy blue eyes. “Darius lives under a rock. He is a fool. Most people do not like him, nor speak to him.”
“If you say so.” Terry replied, making no attempt to conceal her doubt.
Lyle stood. “And what would you do if we did leave you behind? I do not know this boy who travels with us but he has so far done and said nothing to make me believe that he means anyone any harm. I worry what you might do to him.”
Faye’s eyes widened at the accusation but she kept herself in check. “I will go my own way. He will not be harmed.” She glanced at Terry. “You have my word.”
Terry looked at her uncle, who reflected what she felt in his expression. Looking back to Faye she said, “Get some sleep, you’re both coming with us.”
******
Terry found herself being shaken awake. She opened her eyes to see her uncle crouching beside her, the predawn light breaking behind his head. “What is it?”
“It’s nearly dawn. We need to get moving.”
“I thought you were going to wake me earlier so you could rest?”
“Its fine, but I’ll need to rest this coming night.”
