“Also, I still had enough left to get this magical bag, that stores things like your magical sword!” She said gesturing to a small pouch fastened to her belt. But then frowned. “Except mine is broken, because it did not come with its own magical bath, like your sword did. I have been cheated there. But they let me have some books, when I complained there was no magic bath in my bag. So I am content.”
“Um, Via?” I spoke up. “My sword didn’t come with a bath either, remember?”
“Si,” she said with a smile. “I do remember. That is why I complained so much.”
Deep inside me, fear and respect began warring over the beautiful, terrifying woman, before forging an alliance and deciding that the whole thing just made her more attractive.
“Anyway,” she continued. “We need to decide what we are doing next, now that your people are coming.” So we should talk in the mindlink now, and involve them.
“Yeah,” I replied, as several voices chimed in mental agreement. The only idea I really have left is a crazy one.
Does it involve following the monster back to its lair, and attacking it while it is wounded? Gabin said from the mindlink. Because that may not be crazy, per se. Just very dangerous.
You got me, I admitted. It involves following the monster back to its lair, and attacking it while it is wounded. I take it you saw the direction the thing retreated toward?
We did, Gabin and several others said at once. It didn’t vanish without a trace, like it had before, when it ravaged that island. This time, the dark cloud rolled away in a single direction. Toward where Atlantis lies.
I figured that would be the case, I sent with a sigh. I also figured you would protest more, given that Atlantis was sealed in order to contain the power that ended your civilization.
And the seal is clearly no longer working, Gabin sent flatly. My crew and I have two choices. Either we bury our heads in the sand and pretend that the problem will not continue to get worse, that the Flood will not spread to other worlds— for a second time, as it has already invaded Avalon once—or we travel with our new Planetary Lord, the only combatant to have thwarted it before, battle by his side, and do what we can to save the remnants of this world as well as the others that connect to it. The first choice is not safer, only more fearful.
That was right, I remembered. The Atlanteans had picked the captain for my ship with the knowledge that I would be sailing into this world for the sole purpose of saving it.
Their world, in fact. And they wanted it back.
You are a Planetary Lord and an Earthborn, Gabin continued. I know now that those things no longer carry the same weight in the Expanse that they once did, but the fact remains that you wield both the Soulcurrent and two pieces of the chief weapon of Avalon, that which the Ancients called the Blade of the Destroyer God. You have driven off the Flood with one and wounded the raging sea demon with the other. If you do not win here, if you shrink from the peril or fall in battle, then the Flood or the beast it has altered will spread from this world to the Pathways. For all we know, either could do so at any time. The least dangerous course of action is to throw all our might behind your own and seek the most complete victory possible. The most certain path to defeat is to do anything else.
Right, I said through the mindlink. That’s one vote, plus said vote’s crew, in support of my plan. Though the word ‘plan’ might be overly generous at this stage. Does anyone else notice a single crippling flaw in this strategy that would invalidate it and force us to think of a different route?
Is there even a different route? Val asked. Because this is kind of what you did on the last planet, isn’t it? Sneak or barge your way into the headquarters, and kill the final boss?
That’s actually not that rare for Challengers dealing with Tumults, Breena muttered. Though your brother’s currently the only one who ripped a castle through the floor of another castle to pull it off. So feel proud about that.
No, Val said firmly. I will not.
I knew I liked you, my bonded traitor said happily.
The Testifiers unsurprisingly grunted in agreement. I resolved to do the castle trick again on them personally, probably one day when they would all be on vacation and had forgotten about me. Breyn spoke up next, actually offering another idea instead of my own.
What if we waited for more help from Avalon? He asked. They are repairing the ships back at the dock, aren’t they? What if we attacked the Nuckelavee and the Flood with a fleet of glyph ships instead?
It would take several months of this world’s time before they will have repaired a single ship enough to be able to help us, Gabin insisted. I do not know exactly how much time this world has left, but from what I have now seen, I know that this world will not last beyond its next full moon. We are this world’s only aid. And the Lord Challenger is our mightiest weapon.
But not our only one, I replied firmly. Breena, your new light magic was enough to drive away the Nuckelavee’s Flood-powered mist. And Via, you’ve outmaneuvered the Nuckelavee long before I showed up, as well as landed the blow that drove it away when we fought it together.
That’s true, the perfectly-bronzed Satellite said, a look of surprise flashing across her face. She turned and looked at me.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she whispered. “Those men are going to write stories of that battle. You just gave me credit for landing the winning strike.”
“I’m aware of that,” I said with a firm nod. “That was kind of the point.”
What do you think, Via? I said slowly, to give her a moment to process our conversation carrying over to the mindlink. You have the most experience with this world, as well as the Nuckelavee itself. It’s also your world, so I’m requesting your advice and approval for this plan.
“Advice and approval?” she whispered, using her actual voice instead of the mindlink. “What are you talking about? They just called you a Planetary Lord, and I am aware of what that means! Why are you acting like that does not outrank a Starsown’s Satellite, and in front of your own people, no less?”
“Because your position isn’t going away, no matter how many fancy titles I continue to gain,” I stated seriously. “Do you really think this world—and myself, for that matter—will stop needing your knowledge? Your talents? Your insight? Via, having you at my side is literally the difference between victory and defeat, and before you disagree with me, think back to the fact that you drove the Nuckelavee away while I was lying on the bottom of your boat, bleeding and poisoned.”
She flinched at my words. I didn’t know why. I’d have to figure out if I had offended her, but right now I desperately needed her insight.
“Fine,” she grumbled after a moment. “We’ll play whatever game this is. Confusing moron.” She tossed her hair imperiously, and addressed everyone through the mindlink.
I, Dona Via of the Sun-Jeweled Seas, hereby give my blessing to the Challenger, and Planetary Lord’s, plan. I had come to the same conclusions that he and Captain Gabin have. My world has no more time to wait for aid. The Icons of my world are gone, and my people are vanishing, island by island. Even if I accept your gracious earlier proposal to evacuate the survivors of my world, far too many will not have enough time to be saved, and the Pathways of this world will fall to our new enemy. I thank the Challenger, and you, his retinue, for your willingness to risk your lives on this best of all desperate plans.
Then she lowered her head, peeking at me through the curly hair draping over her face, and probably looking far more sultry then she meant to.
“There,” she said fiercely. “Your little meeting is all formal and lofty now. Take that, Mr. Hero.”
“Um, thank you?” I said cautiously, and judging by her expression, it was the wrong thing to say.
I respect and appreciate the feedback of the Satellite of the Sun-Jeweled Seas, I sent to the group, projecting my sincerity directly to Via over the mindlink, and finding it to be surprisingly more difficult to do than before. Speaking of
Satellites, Breena, you have more experience with Tumults than any of us. I’ve waited far too long to ask your opinion on this. What are your thoughts?
My thoughts are that you are trying to be respectful, but you know perfectly well that I would have spoken up by now if you were missing a better and more obvious solution to this. You’re right. It’s best to go in there right now, give that monster less time to heal, and the Flood less time to break free on its own.
Okay then, I sent to the group. We’ll wait for you guys to get here, take a moment to get ready, then we’ll make straight for the ruins of Atlantis. We’ll know more of what to do when we get there. Gabin, your people can breathe under the ocean. Can this miracle ship of ours submerge somehow?
It will take most of the power in our glyphs, but yes, he confirmed. We’d also have to fix the sails and cast water-breathing magic on your retinue.
Perfect. Hopefully we won’t need it. Meeting adjourned. If anyone else has any other questions, message me through the mindlink or wait till we rendezvous. I’ll see everyone when you get here.
With the impromptu battle council concluded, I turned to Via, and realized I had no idea what to say to her right now. I couldn’t read the expression on her face, but I guessed that she was unhappy. I took another stab at saying something appropriate.
“I think I’ve offended you, and I want you to know that was an accident. I was trying to respect your position and opinions, and I’m sorry if I screwed that up.”
“No, you didn’t,” she whispered, not looking at me. “You weren’t trying to do that. You were trying to make me feel certain things.”
“What?” I asked, trying not to sound too oblivious. But she was already walking away.
Let her go, the reasonable part of my mind said. She’ll explain herself when she’s ready.
So I stood there and felt like an idiot for about thirty seconds. Then Stell’s Satellite walked back over to me.
“I want to talk to you,” she said in a serious voice. “I have been wanting to talk to you for some time, but since we are trying to save my world, none of the times before have felt right. But now you are making us go to the bottom of the ocean and fight more monsters, and I am realizing that there are no right times to talk. So we will talk now.”
I nodded to her, still listening.
“I know you will not understand this, because none of the people here really understand, and they have lived with me for generations. Even the Icons did not fully understand. But I will explain anyway. I am a woman who is part of another woman. You have heard that. You think you know what that means, like everyone else does. But you do not. Because I am part of another woman, I feel what she feels. But you see, there are other women who are also part of that first woman, and so we all feel a bit of what each other feels. We have learned to do that well. We do not all get tired at the same time, because of practice, and we do not all get hurt in battle at the same time, because of practice. But we have not been allowed to practice everything,” she added bitterly. “So when Merada began touching you, and you began touching her back, we all started feeling new things. Not as strongly as she did, but for a brief moment, we all felt it nonetheless. And none of us knew what to do about it, except listen to our main body when she told us to be careful around you. But you are not letting me be careful!” she shouted at me. “You are treating me too well! You are making me laugh, and giving me nice things, and taking care of me when I am tired, and respecting me in front of others! And I do not even know if you are doing it all on purpose! So how am I supposed to be careful around the handsome and goofy man that is treating me so well? Tell me!”
She finished in a huff, breathing heavily as she stared at me. I tried to figure out how the hell I should respond to all that. “I’m sorry” sounding like a bad call right now.
I gave up on figuring out the smart thing to say.
“I have no interest in helping you be careful,” I said bluntly. “You are an attractive, amazing part of a woman that I respect, admire, and love. I have been making that as clear as I can, while still putting most of my focus on saving your world. Your feelings are reciprocated, and in fact, my own probably predate yours. I’m not apologizing for that.”
Once again, she spent time staring at me instead of saying anything. Then she clenched her fists, stomped her foot, and shouted at me.
“Idiot! That was the right thing to say!”
Then she stormed off in another huff.
Wait, Teeth suddenly spoke. I’m confused. Did you screw up again, or not?
I didn’t answer him. Instead, I turned my attention to the signal fire, frustrated over all the tension I was still feeling. Her swaying departure in that new outfit wasn’t helping things, either.
Say, do you think we can get an outfit like that for Merada and—
Damn it, Teeth! I snapped. Where did the mute button go in my brain?
More footsteps pounded behind me, announcing the frustratingly beautiful woman’s return.
“I have nothing else to do right now,” the tan Satellite announced. “You have cheated by packing up the magic bath. So you have won. I give up. You and I will explore this thing called romance, this thing that scares my primary body so much, and that they make look so easy in your world’s movies. But know that I am not Merada. I mean—” she huffed in frustration, then blew out another sigh. “I mean, I am Merada. But I am also not willing to move things forward as fast as she is. We will not undress each other before saving this world. Verdad? Do you comprehend?”
“Yes. I understand and accept,” I told her, even as Teeth bitched in the background. “I already promised Stell, your primary body, that I would take my romance with her slowly anyway.”
“What?” Via said, blinking. “What do you mean?”
“I mean exactly that,” I told her patiently, not understanding her confusion. “We agreed that we’d progress this courtship gradually, so that she’d have time to give me signs she was ready for the next step. That’s the man’s role, anyway. To make sure the woman feels safe and comfortable before either of them initiate a deeper level of intimacy.”
“That’s…” Via stammered. “That’s not right. I mean, it is,” she added quickly. “I mean it sounds very right. But that’s not what Stell told me when I saw her last.”
Silence grappled with my patience for a moment.
“What?” I asked flatly.
“She…” Via was still stammering, looking more and more uncomfortable as she spoke. “She said that she was going to be patient with you, to give you time to get your emotions under control, because you had been through a lot and hadn’t had time to realize what you had committed to. That eventually you’d realize how dangerous this would be for you, and this way, you’d be able to graciously back out.”
“She did?” I asked flatly. “She said exactly that? Word for word?”
I had begun looming over the shorter woman without realizing it, and she took a step backward, possibly without realizing it as well. I breathed hard through my nose and backed away, lowering my head in apology. Then it was my turn to stomp away in a huff.
Breena? I sent to the piece of Stell I knew the best.
Yes, Wes? Breena sent back. Through the mindlink and my familiar bond, I felt a tumble of excited emotions. She was glad I was spending time alone with Via. She wanted to know what I thought of her, whether or not I liked this piece of Stell, and what we were currently doing together. But she didn’t want to ruin anything by being nosy.
I just had a talk with Via, I sent, my own thoughts a jumbled mess, too jumbled for me to be comfortable sharing through our link. I throttled them as tightly as possible, not wanting to project anger at another part of Stell, one that seemed like she didn’t have anything to do with the part that hurt me. I need you to do me a favor, I decided to say.
Anything, she sent back to me. Anything I can do to help you. Really.
Still hope. Still excitement. She had no idea what her p
rimary body had done behind my back.
If you see Stell before I do, I sent to her, tell her that she and I need to have a really big fight.
Then I went full asshole, and broke off the conversation without giving any further explanation or clues to my mood.
I now had several hours to kill. I could go back to running the fire, just sulk, or go back and talk to the Satellite of the alien goddess hellbent on friendzoning me in the stupidest way possible. I took a moment to remind myself that she was currently also running for her life from an obsessive monstrosity that had been terrifying her since her early childhood, and had destroyed every single one of her closest relationships. Her feelings had apparently taken her by surprise as badly as they had taken me, and she had no idea how to deal with them.
I told myself all of that, and felt like I was just being an idiot that was making excuses for a girl I should stop wasting my time on. Then I immediately felt like a cold-hearted jerk for not being more patient with the only woman who had even bothered to try to help me fix my mind and legs, and had pulled me away from all of my own crazy fears.
“Wes?” Via’s accented voice said from behind me. And what the hell is up with that? I snarled to myself. Why does a woman who wants to be ‘just friends’ keep giving herself sexy accents when she talks to me?
“Wes, don’t go,” the Satellite said to me. “Please don’t leave.”
I sighed as I turned to face her.
“I am not abandoning your world to die, Via,” I told her. “Not over something like this. The plan for this last Tumult remains the same.”
“No,” she told me next. “I mean, don’t leave me. This part of me,” she gestured to herself. “And the other parts of me that are brave enough to risk wanting you. Please. I’m sorry. Forgive me for my brokenness.”
My own brokenness warred with her words.
It was random, but I began remembering one of my father’s own fights with my mother. I remembered the day I caught them fighting for the first time, realizing the two heroes in my world were angry with each other, and when they walked away from each other I found my dad and asked him if they were getting a divorce. He laughed and shook his head, pulling me into a hug, explaining that love wasn’t easy, and never would be, as long as people stayed imperfect. But just because it was hard and imperfect didn’t change the fact that it was worth the risk. Dad was still going to stay with my mother, he said, because she was still the woman he wanted, even though it was hard to see right now.
Lighting Distant Shores Page 51
