Kal shot him a dark look. If Raja noticed he gave no indication.
“How long until they realign?” said Mara.
“It doesn’t matter. Without the monitor, we can’t get there. Only Meja knows how to locate the Watch,” said Sylk.
“We are standing in the largest information center in this and any other plane, and we can’t figure a way there?” asked Kal. “Are you kidding me?”
“I do not kid,” said Raja. “However, there is another way to reach the Watch.”
“How?” said Kal. “You have a door here that will take us there?”
“I do not, but he does,” said Raja, gesturing at Sylk. “You are bound to the Watch, are you not? You can use that bond to open a pathway, in three days. When the planes align once again.”
“I had not considered that to be an option,” said Sylk as he looked at his arm. “The theory is sound, but I have never done it before.”
“Wait. What happens if you are wrong and we can’t get to the Watch?” asked Kal.
“Then there is a good chance we will be stuck in between somewhere, like Mariko,” said Sylk. “ I need to read on this process, Raja. Is it available?”
“What about those things?” asked Kal. She pointed at the immobile Gyrevex. “Are we going to have to deal with them again?”
“They are inert for now, at least until Rael draws enough chi to return,” said Sylk.
Kal gave them a wary look.
“Please follow me. There are quarters for you to wait in until the alignment,” said Raja.
“Oh great, a three-day layover in the twilight zone. This is going to be a blast,” said Kal as they followed after Raja. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed the movement.
Kal grabbed Mara’s arm as they were walking away.
“Did you see that?” said Kal.
“See what?”
“I swear one of those things moved,” Kal said, pointing at the Gyrevex.
“They can’t. Sylk removed Rael from this plane. They have no volition of their own,” Mara said as she walked away after Sylk.
“I know what I saw,” said Kal.
TEN
“DO NOT THINK of them as words, Dante,” said Samir. Rather see them as vehicles for your chi. Vessels that carry your intention.”
At the mention of the word ‘vessels’, I cringed. It was how Maelstrom saw me.
“You do not like this analogy? I’m sorry, my English still needs polishing,” said Samir.
“No, no, that was fine, I get it I think,” I said and read the next word.
I extended my hand and whispered luminare, and a miniscule, inadequate orb of light appeared in my hand.
“There are several types of words,” said Samir. “Some are fixed in their results and no amount of emotion will change the outcome of their use. There are others that are dependent on the emotion used when spoken. More emotion means more chi used, less or no emotion means minimal to no effect. Try the same word again but now with feeling.”
“Luminare!” I said, louder than before.
The same orb appeared in my hand.
“I did not say louder, I said with feeling. Use your chi and let it flow through you. The word merely captures the chi that is flowing in and around you.”
I gathered my breath and felt my chi flowing within. I channeled it and spoke.
“Luminare,” I said. A white flash blinded me instantly.
“That was much better,” said Samir as he removed a pair of sunglasses.
“A little warning would have been nice,” I said as I blinked my eyes several times.
“Ah, but then you would not have appreciated the difference in intensity,” he said with a smile.
“Yeah, thanks for that,” I said, still seeing spots.
He handed me a short staff to match his own.
“Now that you understand intensity and intent, you must learn to use the words while under stress,” he said as he turned his staff slowly.
“Do you know how to fight? I didn’t think—,” I started when his staff came whirling at my head. I ducked as he just missed me.
“That is good— don’t think, just do,” he said as he lunged at me again.
The sound of wood clashing filled the room as he pressed his attacks and I parried.
“I sense you are not fighting me, warrior,” he said as he stopped attacking.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” I said.
“That is a noble sentiment. Please, do not hold back,” he said.
He bowed and entered a fighting stance. I recognized the stance from my own training. He slid in and attacked a feint at my legs. I stepped back, sending my staff forward to stop his momentum. He executed a sharp shift at the waist and trapped my weapon with his own. It was elegant in its deception.
“You are still thinking, warrior. In the heat of battle you will not have time for this. Thought is too slow.”
He handed me my staff and again assumed a fighting stance.
You want real? Fine, let’s see how skilled you really are, I thought as I started my attack. I came in with a low attack that suddenly switched to mid-level. He met my staff on the rising arc as he turned his body into my ‘hot side’. I expected him to go the other way and was out of position when his fist connected with my nose. My eyes teared up instantly, making it hard to see. He followed that with a palm-heel strike to my chest that sent the air out of my lungs and landed me on my ass.
“You must do better than this, warrior,” he said as a small smile played on his lips. Sweat drenched us both by this time, but he seemed full of energy.
Who is this guy? I stepped in and attacked, a downward strike designed to shatter the collarbone. He parried the attack by making it glance off his staff as he crouched down. I delivered a knee kick to his midsection, which doubled him over. I followed with a staff strike to his back that he stopped, and rolling forward and to his feet, he turned to face me.
“Much better— now we are getting somewhere,” he said as he launched himself at me again. He was a flurry of attack. He came in close and we locked weapons.
“Now you must use the word you have learned today in the midst of this, warrior. Use it,” he said between grunts as he tried to push me back.
“Luminare,” I said and then the world shook.
ELEVEN
KAL WALKED OVER to the inert Gyrevex and prodded them with her boot. Nothing.
“Maybe Mara was right. I must be seeing things.”
It was the whirr of the chain that saved her life. On instinct she rolled to the side, avoiding the bell that cracked the marble where she stood moments before.
“You’re fast for one so young,” said Rael.
He stepped out from behind one of the pillars, swords in hand.
“I thought he—I saw you disappear,” stammered Kal. Oh, shit.
“Sylk was always a bit on the arrogant side. I just showed him what he wanted to see,” he said.
Kal drew her sword knowing it was a futile gesture.
“You, however, have seen more than you should have. I want him to think I am gone. I can’t have you telling him I’m still here,” he said as he sheathed his swords.
“So, you surrender? Smart move, I would hate to have to kick your ass,” she said.
He laughed at her as he walked away as one of the Gyrevex trailed behind him. “I don’t think so,” he said turning to the remaining Gyrevex. “Kill her and then catch up to me.”
The Gyrevex approached, bell spinning. Kal felt the sweat running down her back. I wish Val were here, she’d tell me to bring my A game and stop this thing, Kal thought.
“Fine, let’s dance, then,” she said as she channeled chi into her sword.
The bell came at her, the intent clear. She dropped back to the floor and rolled to the side, avoiding another smashing blow by inches. Every time she tried to get close the Gyrevex would pivot and send the bell at her. It forced her to dodge attack after attack. I can’t keep doing th
is, she thought.
What she lacked in size and strength she made up for in speed and agility. I need to get closer, inside the circle. She drew a small blade and leapt at the Gyrevex, twisting mid-air to avoid a bell strike. She landed beside the Gyrevex, exactly where she wanted to be. Working her way up from the bottom she began slashing at the vulnerable points of the Gyrevex. She slashed the calves and then the knees and ducked under the haymaker that would have caved in her skull had it connected. She rolled back and stepped to the side and rolled back in. The Gyrevex was waiting for her and kicked her in the side, sending her sprawling. She managed to get her arm down in time to deflect the impact of the kick, grunting as the kick just missed her ribs. Damn it’s fast. Thing hits like a truck— don’t want to do that again. Think Kal or it’s over.
She channeled her chi inward, giving her the ability to heighten her reflexes. The Gyrevex unleashed another attack, sending the bell at her head. She leapt straight up, timing the release of the bell to miss her by a fraction of an inch. At the top of her jump she threw her dagger, burying it in the Gyrevex’s eye and blinding it. If it felt pain it didn’t show it. It pulled out the dagger and tossed it to one side. It moved its head left and right to find her. Once it saw her it roared, a scream of anger and frustration. The sound chilled Kal to her core.
The bell disappeared in the Gyrevex’s hand and it charged at her. She stood still and materialized two daggers as her sword disappeared. This was what she wanted. She wanted it close and furious. It was where she lived inside the circle, the circle of death. The Gyrevex lunged at her. She slashed down, cutting the hand. Spinning around the giant she buried a blade in its chest, but it didn’t even slow. A fist crashed into her midsection as it grabbed her hair with the other hand. She cut above her, leaving it with a handful of her hair. It reached with the other hand to grab her arm. She ducked under the grab and stabbed into the armpit of the extended arm. The Gyrevex took a step back and then spun with its arm extended, the blow catching her and sending her across the floor. She managed to roll out of the fall only to see the Gyrevex charging at her again. She jumped back and avoided a stomp that would have broken her leg. Attacking from the blind side, she lunged at the Gyrevex, tucking her legs in under her to change trajectory mid-flight. Landing on its chest she buried both daggers in its neck. The Gyrevex reached up and grabbed her by the neck and squeezed. She snapped its thumb and fell to the floor as it took several steps toward her before falling as well.
Goddamnit, these things don’t quit. Glad it was only one, she thought as the Gyrevex lay still. She took stock of her injuries. At least one—no, two ribs cracked. Knee is twisted and wrist hurts like hell, but I’m still here, Val. I’m not done yet, she thought before she passed out.
*****
Mara came rushing in to the hallway and saw Kal’s battered body slumped against one of the columns. The body of the Gyrevex lay next to her, lifeless.
“Kal, what did this?” she said, more to herself than to Kal. She looked around and saw that one of the Gyrevex was missing. “Impossible, but that would mean…” She never finished her sentence as she looked down to see the sword protruding from her chest. She fell off the blade to the ground beside Kal.
“It would mean that I’m still around,” said Rael as he wiped his sword.
He buried his swords in the body of the Gyrevex on the floor and absorbed the energy, causing it disintegrate.
“Never good to waste. Let’s go, the weapon bearer is at the South Watch,” said Rael as he opened a portal leaving the Records behind.
“Do you think he believed it?” said Mara as her duplicate on the ground vanished.
“We showed him what he wanted to see and now we know just how powerful he has become,” said Sylk. “Please tend to the monitor. Meja would never forgive me if more harm came to her.”
Mara began tending to Kal’s injuries. “It would be better if we could move her somewhere else.”
“I know just the place,” said Sylk.
TWELVE
I WAS STILL seeing spots from the word of power when Rin appeared.
“We are under attack!” he yelled.
“Where is the Keeper?” I asked.
“He is dealing with the attackers. He instructed me to find you and to escort you out of the Watch. It would seem others are alerted to your presence here. You were asked for by name,” said Rin.
“Rael,” I said.
We were running toward one of the inner rooms, away from the fighting.
“Where are we going? Take me to the fighting,” I said, pulling Rin’s arms and stopping him short. He turned quickly and escaped my grasp while twisting in a circular fashion and trapping my arm.
“Sorry, reflex,” he said as he let me my arm go.
“No problem, but why aren’t we going to the fighting? I can help,” I said.
“You are going to help the Keeper and the Rah Ven?” said Rin, “Forgive me if I offend, but I don’t think your abilities are required.”
“If someone is crazy enough to attack a Watch, you want me there, where the fighting is.”
“I was instructed to get you out of the Watch, not put you in danger,” said Rin.
“Zen is in there,” I said.
“We will keep him safe, you have my word,” said Rin.
Samir nodded. “This is the wisest course. We must keep you away from the Harbinger at all costs. You are not ready to face him.”
“This is insane, if the Watch is in trouble then they need my help,” I said.
Samir grabbed my arm and pulled me to the side as Rin began preparing a doorway out of the Watch. I could see him tracing symbols in the air and red trails of light following his hands.
“Are you sure it would be help? What if you or your weapon fell into their hands?” He had a point, even though I didn’t want to admit it.
“I won’t let them have it,” I said.
“Better not to give them the option,” said Samir.
“The monitor will be here shortly. Another was instructed to bring her here,” said Rin. He finished tracing the symbols when two figures came running our way. One I recognized, Meja. The other I couldn’t place.
“Who is that?” I asked Rin.
“Ah, that is your guide. She is Rah Ven. Her name is Luna,” said Rin.
“She is what?”
“No time, she will take you through this portal. You will need her on the other side. I am sending you to the safest place imaginable.”
Meja drew up short and stared at us. It seemed she was up to speed and began assisting Rin. In the distance I could hear explosions. Tremors shook the ground, again causing us to stumble.
“Where is this? Where is this safe place?” I asked.
The portal was open as the symbols traced the circular outline roughly ten feet across and just as wide.
“We are going to my home plane,” said Luna as we ran in.
THIRTEEN
“THIS SHOULD SUFFICE for the time being,” said Sylk.
“What is this place?” said Mara, looking around.
They were in a large home constructed in a traditional Japanese style. Furniture was minimal. The floors were hardwood, although some areas were covered with tatami mats. Mara could see a small shrine in the rear of the space. Most of the windows were covered with wooden slats and they were open, looking out to an open field and a small lake.
“This is one of my homes,” said Sylk. “Take her upstairs, you should find everything you need to treat her injuries and make her comfortable.”
“Bandages and first aid kit?” said Mara.
“Yes, a full medical kit and a safe room should you need it. Do not leave the property for any reason,” he said and described the location of the safe room and how to access it.
“I thought you said this place was safe?” she said.
“Sometimes the safest place is actually the most dangerous. This place is shielded from Watchers but only as far as the house.”
Sylk remained silent as he traced the symbols for the portal to the Watch.
“Dante and the rest are at the South Watch. I’m going to try and get to him before Rael does. Going outside of the house will invite Watchers and death.”
“But Raja said the doorway wasn’t ready,” said Mara.
“From the Records. This place is quite different. I should be able to access the Watch from here.”
“What if you’re wrong?”
“There is only one way to find out,” he said and extended his right arm, creating a silver portal that seemed to coalesce from the energy in his arm. He fell to one knee as sweat covered his face.
“Master?” Her voice was full of concern.
“Hmm, that wasn’t as painful as I thought it would be,” he said through gritted teeth.
“I should return soon with the others. Remember, don’t go outside,” he said as he entered the shimmering portal. It lingered for a moment longer then vanished.
FOURTEEN
THE SOUTH WATCH smoldered as the attack increased in intensity. Sylk arrived as a Rah Ven took down one of the attackers shredding an arm and leg only to be bisected by energy of some kind.
Who or what could wield this kind of power? He saw a pack of five Rah Ven chase down a larger group of attackers. They were dressed in what appeared to be dark blue monitor fighting garb, which belonged to the elite unit. As they entered the desert, the Rah Ven camouflaged as soon as they hit the sand, shimmering into nothingness. The screams and blood came soon after as the Rah Ven dropped their camouflage, covered in gore and blood. He ran into the courtyard unnoticed in the chaos and found Rin who was fighting two attackers at once.
“Where is the Keeper?” said Sylk as he parried an attack and plunged his sword in an attacker’s throat.
“I don’t know, I haven’t seen him in some time,” said Rin as he dodged several short thrusts from his attacker and delivered a killing blow with an elbow strike, crashing against the attacker’s skull.
Warriors of the Way-Pentalogy Page 26
