by Tony Corden
“So you don’t trust him!”
“No! I do trust him; I'm just careful. Anyway, he reacted badly when I kinda blew him off a few times.”
“I like him! He’s my type of guy. Don’t take crap from Leah.”
“Aren’t you listening? He might not have full control of his chip, of his reactions? I’m protecting people. Anyway, I had decided to go see him at his place to see if he’s controlled but no response, I’m getting the cold shoulder.”
“How many times did you try?”
“What?”
“Knowing you, you gave him one chance to be a big boy and do the grown-up thing. Then, if you played true to form, you said something like, ‘That’s it dude, the balls in your court.’ Well, that’s how I remember it happening with me.”
“I’m not saying if you are right one way or another, but so what?”
“Because, and this is coming straight from a lifetime experience of being around you, I bet he tried lots of times before he stopped, and now you think one try is enough. You are so smart it makes my head hurt when I read the titles of the books you read. But sometimes I think you might be stupid because I know you can’t count.”
“I said I blew him off a few times.”
“Yes, but that means—and I am talking like a teenage boy, but I’m sure dad is the same—this means he gets to blow you off a few times. It’s called tit for tat, or justice. I don’t care how enlightened he is, I bet he’d still agree with me.”
“So what, I need to send out an olive branch?”
“Nah, just let him ignore you a few more times without losing it.”
“I haven’t lost it.”
“I’ll bet you ten dollars, which I don’t have by the way, that when you told him that you’d washed your hands of trying to change his mind, you also added some remark about some other aspect in his life he needed to change.”
Leah said nothing and Conner began to grin. Finally, he said, “Just put the ten dollars in a small account for me will you?”
“We didn’t shake on it!”
“We both know I won that one. Now go and give the guy a chance. I want to meet the first guy you’ve liked. I mean I’ll probably hate him, but still, it would be nice to meet him.”
The banter continued while Leah ate but finally, she was done and she hurried back to the Pod. Once she was in the Tower, she headed for the portal to the Annoyance, but as she was about to enter it, she stopped. She said, “Gèng, please message Thad and tell him I’m sorry for not contacting him and I really would like to catch up at his place later today.”
“I will. By the way, if what Conner said is true then he is still owed another four attempts.”
“Gèng, I don’t care what Conner said, there is no way on the planet I’ll ask him four more times!”
With that, she stepped through onto the Annoyance and headed for the Bridge, where she found John reading something on one of the screens. He looked up and closed the screen saying, “Hi Leah, I was just reading the reports from the people searching for your mum. We’ve had another tracking beacon, and I think she’s probably in Teneriffe or Newstead. I’ve redirected a few more guys around there.”
“Thanks. How much of the flyby did you see?”
“Most of it! I know it was all just virtual, but the detail was amazing. We flew through a coronal loop, and I’m pretty sure that would have killed us in real life. I’ve heard nothing from the Banshee.”
“I doubt we will. Apparently, I ticked off Thad by not responding to him. Even though I’ve told him I’m sorry he still won’t respond.”
“How many times did you try?”
Leah stared at John for a moment and then with a shake of her head walked to the pilot’s seat and began checking the details for their transition into Plankian space. John waited until she’d started working and quickly sent a small ‘thank-you’ text to Conner. Within minutes the Annoyance had successfully translated from the ordinary universe, and Leah logged out to the Tower. She was exhausted and emotionally spent. She asked Gèng to bring her to NREM3 sleep for two hours, and her last thought was a wish that she might wake up and find the last few days had been a dream.
Leah woke in the Tower instead of the real world. Usually, after her deep-sleep, she headed for a snack and shower, but she was so busy she’d asked Gèng to wake her in the Tower so she could see Wisp and transition the Betrayal before a break and heading back to Dag Tarafind.
Gèng informed Leah that Wisp was ready at any time, so Leah stepped through the portal and found herself outside Wisp’s apartment door. She knocked, and Wisp opened the door. Wisp didn’t hug Leah like normal but invited her in. Wisp’s world was set out like an apartment, but larger than Leah expected from Wisp’s previous comments. Wisp sat down in a chair and indicated that Leah should take any seat she wanted. Then before Leah could say anything Wisp began to speak, her voice nearly breaking.
“Atherleah, I thought we were becoming friends. No! I thought we were friends. I just don’t understand, you were the last person I expected to get carried away with all the hype, but as soon as you become a public person you’ve pushed us all away. I wanted to see you before you went to the Betrayal because I think I’ll try a different game from now on. I’m sorry if I forced you to meet me, but I did want to say that I enjoyed our times, I learnt a lot and I think until the last day or so I was also a better person. That’s all I wanted to say except I can’t believe you pushed Thad away too.”
Leah just sat there and then said to Gèng, “Is there any evidence of the code in any form?”
“I can’t detect any evidence of the code in the world.”
Leah nodded then said, “Wisp, you are my friend. Probably you are the first friend I ever had in the world, maybe in any world. You are loyal, fun and I would never want to push you away. You helped me to see the world as a brighter place. I haven’t pushed you away because I don’t want you around, but because my life spiralled out of control and I couldn’t tell you anything until I’d visited your world to make sure you weren’t compromised in any way. Please let me explain?”
Wisp nodded apprehensively, and Leah spent five minutes giving a summary of what had been happening and why she’d kept Thad and the others at arm’s length. When she finished, Wisp rose and knelt in front of Leah. She took Leah’s hands in hers and said, “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you to have a good reason, and I’m sorry for thinking the worst of you. I do understand, and I can’t imagine what you must be going through. Will you forgive me?”
Leah slumped to the floor beside her and said, “Nothing to forgive. I’m not sure I’d have been as understanding as you. I just wish I could have told you sooner. I needed Amy’s ranger skills; otherwise, I’d have called you. Now, I’m sorry to run, but I have to get to the Betrayal. I’ll call you.”
“Sometimes you really are dumb Leah, I’ll meet you there, and we’ll work out some way to get Thad to respond. By the way, I think your brother is stupid. Thad should definitely have taken the opportunity you gave him.”
Moments later they were both in the Betrayal and they talked all through the transition, the twenty minutes of changing direction and speed, and then the transition for the final leg to the system Leah had chosen. There were no other ships or players in the system that they could tell and Leah hoped the same was true when they reached their destination.
Feeling much better at having reconciled with Wisp, Leah took time for a large meal. She was halfway through when her father walked in with his shaved head. She couldn’t help it but burst out laughing, and then as she gave him an apologetic hug her mirth disappeared and she felt overwhelmed with sadness. Her parents had never wanted to have the PAI Chips, but now they had been forced to. She almost wept, but Michael had seen some of it on her face.
He said, “None of that. I was wrong before. None of this is your fault. The world went crazy a hundred years ago when it started blaming victims instead of their attackers. They took away our freed
oms because a few people couldn’t control themselves. Instead of letting people suffer the consequences of their actions and letting them learn from their mistakes they blamed everything and everybody else. There was no more personal responsibility. Everything that happens here should not stop you doing what is right, and good, and true. If I need to have a chip in my brain, then the fault for that is in the hands of those who took your mother. But they don’t make me do this; it is my choice. I’ll not blame anyone else. This has happened because I love your mother. I will not apologise for that, I will not blame anyone for that, and I would do this a hundred times or more for her. You have no right to blame yourself, and do not feel sorry for me. I will not be shamed by anyone for choosing her. Now, go back into the Pod and do what you have to because tomorrow I’m joining you, and if they think you are trouble, then I promise you, they will hate me.”
Leah smiled and tried to imagine her father in any of the worlds, but it was too hard. She finished her dinner and entered the Pod. Walking through the Tower she entered the portal arch to Dunyanin.
Leah opened her eyes and looked around the suite she had been put in. She had looked around the day before but had been too rushed to notice things. Being built for the top tier Elfauns, it was not only high up the canyon wall, but it looked out into the canyon. Leah made her way to the balcony through a set of wooden doors. From her perch, she could see the whole length of the canyon. The city stretched for over a league in either direction and on both sides of the canyon. She’d discovered the day before that as well as farming the entire canyon floor, the Elfauns had carved extensive caverns near the top of the canyon. With the use of mirrors which extended beyond the canyon wall, they had access to a similar area of underground farmland.
Another food source were mushrooms, and the Elfauns made use of every part of the fungi. Several varieties were grown exclusively for the fibre that could be extracted. This fibre was the primary material used to make cloth for the city. Another discovery Leah made was that the Elfauns weren’t as isolated from the world as she’d been led to believe. Over the last few hundred years the ruling class had developed a series of trading stations scattered throughout the mountains. Over a period of several decades they had excavated long tunnels through the surrounding mountains; some were twenty leagues or more in length. Then, without revealing their species, they had begun trading for food, luxury items and information. In exchange, they offered ore, refined metal, coal and gems. All their excavations had revealed vast treasure sources, all scattered under the mountains.
Leah had fallen into the role of Empress on an impulse because she’d been angry at the way the Dunyanin administrators were trying to bully her; and she suspected it was something that she might just as easily fall out of. While she had the responsibility, she’d decided to do what she could to see if she could help the city begin to value every one of its citizens. As she stood looking out, she leaned on the balcony and rested her chin on her hands. She’d been contemplating the tasks ahead when she slowly became aware of a very faint vibration in her hands. She stood straight and concentrated on her hands. It took a moment, but she could unquestionably feel a tremor. She turned to enter the suite and talk with Gèng, but as she did, so the tremor in each hand became more noticeable and then faded again.
Leah turned through 360 degrees, and again there was an increase in the amplitude of the vibration. It was most noticeable when she was about fifteen degrees from facing directly into the mountain. She stood facing that direction and moved her hands through an arc from her feet to her head and back. From just below her waist the amplitude began to increase and reached a maximum vibration when pointed about sixty degrees into the earth. She knew this was something she needed to investigate and added it to her mental list of things to do.
Opening the door to the suite, Leah found four of the large Warrior Elfauns standing guard. Before she could say anything, an Elfaun with the horns of an Elfin Lord appeared. Leah quickly revised her assessment as the Elfaun was clearly female and identified as an Elfin Lady. The Elfaun said, “Good morning, your Imperial Majesty. My name is Yar Dimci. If it pleases you, I have been assigned by the High Mage to assist your Imperial Majesty throughout the day.”
Leah nodded and said, “That will be much appreciated, Lady Yar. Are there any appointments already planned for the day?”
“The High Mage suggested you might visit both the Mage compound and the Guard compound. After lunch she has arranged to present you to the court and for the High Lords to pledge their loyalty. All is arranged as you discussed yesterday and she suggested that two bells after midday would be most convenient for the court, if it pleases you, Ma’am”
“That will never do Lady Yar; I think I might renounce the throne simply for the privilege of never being called ‘Ma’am’ ever again. Please call me Atherleah in private and Empress when others are around. The meeting after midday is fine. Before I see the two compounds, I would like to visit the closest forge or smith. I have a sword that needs completing, and I’d rather not have that hanging over my head.”
As she walked, she sent out a call to Mìng, “Mìng?”
“I hear you, shall I come?”
“Not yet, have you finished the Dryad Larvae?”
“I have three more to go. The sound from yesterday still echoes through the valley; it has slowed me down.”
“I’m sorry about that; I overpowered the spell a little.”
“I sensed your delicate touch. Have you claimed the city?”
“Was that sarcasm? No, don't answer as I'm sure it was. Yes, I have claimed the city, and much more than that. I will tell you when I see you. I plan on tempering the blade and overlaying your mother’s scales. Is there anything you think I should remember or take care with?”
“Did I sense Ki and Mana in the spell yesterday?”
“Yes. Why?”
“If you can replicate that when casting the spells then the sword will be more aligned with both your magic and your will.”
“That is helpful, is there anything else?”
“No! I shall finish here within three hours. Do you wish me to come?”
“Please wait until I explain to the guards you are coming through the tunnel. I would hate for you to have to eat some more of them.”
“Indeed, I found their flesh too gritty. I will wait.”
The forge Leah was led to was deep inside the mountain, and it took almost an hour to walk the distance. As she walked Leah would occasionally check the direction which caused the greatest tremor to her hands. It was hard to be sure, but she thought that whatever it was, it was coming closer, and was not as deep underground as it had been, or maybe she was closer and deeper. Either way, she knew she needed to investigate it at sometime, and soon.
Finally, they arrived, and after Leah looked around, she asked for the use of a forge. She found that being Empress had its benefits and she was given the one used by the Head Smith. She removed the sword and asked for a large barrel of pure water to be brought to her. When she'd discussed the process with Mìng, Sampiyon and Yucu, it had been made clear that the normal quenching and tempering processes were not necessary because of the Adamantine and Dragon steel. Having finished shaping the hilt and blade, they had suggested several additional ways to increase their effectiveness and to prepare the sword for the dragon scales.
The first recommendation was to infuse the sharper edges of outer dragon steel with a mixture of crushed Star Crystal to help absorb and channel mana, some elemental flame to supplement the Fire Dragon scales, and a vial of her blood to help bind the sword even more to Leah. This mixture was to be used carefully to lightly coat the cutting edges and to paint specific runes on the shaped hilt and down the centre of the blade. Leah had expected Yucu to do the enchanting, but she had noted the runes, and they needed no additional spells. Mìng had suggested adding a few drops of Hell Beetle Acid to increase the level of infusion. After the mixture had dried, Leah needed to heat the metal w
ith Dragon Fire until the mixture just soaked into the metal. Sampiyon had suggested this was easy to see for the edges and runes would turn black. As soon as this happened, she was to immerse the sword in pure water immediately. Here Mìng had another suggestion: in her father’s book there was a Life Spell, which if cast on pure water, would increase the potency of any potion made from the spelled water. He suggested that the water, when treated this way, would also increase the strength of the infusion.
The final step was to heat the sword until the runes turned silver. Then Leah would carefully lay the Fire Dragon Scales on the heated blade in the required pattern that she and Yucu had decided. As each scale was placed, Leah needed to secure it in place with a stroke of the hammer and a spell from Lady A’lev Sevgilisi’s Book of Draconic Fire Spells. It was one of the spells used by dragons to merge two materials without changing their essence. It was a part of the spell used by Lady A’lev to transform Leah’s suit of armour. Each of the scales would fuse to the sword as if they had formed there naturally. If cast correctly, then nothing would be able to remove the scale. Leah was thankful for the Anvil. Otherwise the sword would need to be reheated after every scale.
When all the scales were in place and merged with the sword, then Leah would again immerse the sword in the pure water. The only difference was that she needed to cast a different Fire Spell as she immersed the sword. This was the part she felt would be the most difficult, as the spell had not only to be spoken with the correct tones and inflections, but she needed to repeat the incantation until the water had stopped boiling. It was the intent of the caster which determined the outcome of the spell—Leah had to cast while keeping her intent focused the edges of the blade. The spell, if done correctly, would reshape and sharpen the scales along the cutting edge.
Leah had several problems with the first step as the Hell Beetle acid tended to demolish any flexible material, making it challenging to form the runes cleanly. In the end, she used one of the Adamantine Mamba Fangs as a quill. She cast the Dragon Fire to heat the sword with both her Ki and Mana and was thrilled when the edges turned black, but became concerned when the runes remained unchanged. Fortunately, it was only a moment longer, and then the fang-written runes also turned black, though with a sharp blood-red outline. She thrust this into the water as instructed, but worried what the effect might be and what might have caused it.
