The figure began walking and closing the distance between them. Roman waited until the figure was ten feet away before removing his hammer.
“Hello, Roman. How is Aurora these days?” said Wei.
“Angry, Wei. Very angry. She wants the ascendants and she wants to see you, now.”
“That won’t be possible. The Kriyas will be arriving shortly and I’m certain Tetra is angrier than Aurora.”
“Kriyas? Who would be insane enough to release them?”
“Apparently someone who wants me removed. Someone foolish enough to think they can be controlled,” said Wei. “In any case, you don’t want to be in the midst of this.”
“I have yet to meet an enemy that can stand before my hammer. I have my orders. She wants to see you. I have to bring you. I will see what the Kriyas have to say before I act,” said Roman.
“Tetra has never been one for conversation. Your hammer is useless against them. Only the foci can stop them. You would do well to tell Aurora about this development,” said Wei.
“How did you manage to move them—the ascendants from the complex?”
“One or one hundred. It’s all a matter of perspective. The better question is how I did it without you noticing. We have company,” said Wei, looking past Roman.
Walking across the field were three figures wrapped in gray garments covering them from head to toe. Only their eyes, red points of light in the afternoon, were exposed.
“There are only three of them?” said Roman to Wei.
“One can lay waste to an entire city. They are chi devourers. As long as they are around the energy of life, they grow stronger and are virtually impossible to kill,” said Wei.
“Then it is good there are only three of them,” said Roman under his breath.
“If you see them removing their garments you must attack without hesitation. They absorb chi through their skin. The more skin they expose the stronger they become.”
“Weaknesses?” said Roman.
“The eyes are their only known weakness. If I fall today, you must make sure that they do not get the Fangs of Gren. Do you understand?”
Roman nodded but said nothing.
The Kriyas stopped several feet away from Wei and Roman.
“I have pictured this moment ten thousand times, Wei. The day we finally meet again. The day I end your existence,” said Tetra. He looked at Roman and his hammer and nodded.
“That day is not today, Kriya. You will go back to your plane or die here. The choice is yours,” said Wei.
Ignoring Wei, he outstretched his arms and turned, taking in the air and the surroundings before turning back to face Wei and Roman. “I think I will enjoy this plane for some time. Where are the Fangs of Gren, Wei?”
“You will not have them,” said Wei.
“Who is your friend that has grown tired of living and stands by your side on your last day?” Tetra said, pointing at Roman.
“I am Roman, second to Aurora of the house of Iman,” said Roman.
“I have heard of the lineage of Iman, but not of you. You stand with Wei?”
“My mistress requires him alive. He has much to answer for,” said Roman.
“On this we can agree. You fight by his side, with that?” said Tetra, pointing at the hammer.
Roman nodded.
“Then you will die here today with him,” said Tetra.
“Who released you?” said Wei.
“The Wheel opened the doors to our prison. The prison you put us in, Wei.”
“The Wheel,” said Wei as his jaw tightened.
Tetra began undoing the wraps around his arms. The other Kriyas began doing the same. Their skin began to glisten as it became exposed. Wei manifested the Fangs and lunged.
FIFTEEN
RAEL SAT IN the toxic haze that filled the room. After several minutes, vents opened, clearing the room.
Time to check out, he thought.
A portal opened and several heavily armed warriors ran in. On the other side of the cell, Rael stood and waved. They weren’t expecting much resistance after the poison, so they were unprepared for the attack. Rael had placed his swords on either side of the cell and had been waiting at the far end opposite the portal. He had counted on them opening the portal in the same place they always did. He wasn’t disappointed. The swords bisected the room and created an invisible energy barrier. As they rushed him the barrier stopped them short, shocking them. They fell to the ground, convulsing. Rael kept the energy flowing for several more seconds until they were unconscious. He absorbed his swords and headed for the portal.
“Never let it be said that I’m completely heartless,” he said as he stepped into the portal. Once through, he found himself in a circle of swords and crossbows.
“Where are the men I just sent through, Harbinger?” said the Captain of the guard. Rael counted no less than twenty-one men.
“Still alive. If you want to remain the same way, let me pass,” said Rael.
“Kill him,” said the Captain.
“You must be new, or very ambitious,” said Rael as he backed up and manifested his swords.
Three of the guards attacked. Rael ducked under sword of the first and slid to the left to avoid the lunge of the second. The third attacker slid forward and attempted to bury a dagger in Rael’s leg. Rael shifted to the right, avoiding the dagger and thrusting his sword through the third attacker’s chest. The other two backed off. Rael looked at the Captain.
“I can tell you how this is going to end,” he said, pulling the sword out of the guard’s chest. “You and your men will die here. You will never see your families again. Is that what you want?”
“We have our orders,” said the Captain, drawing his sword.
“Those of you who wish to live to see another day should leave now,” said Rael.
Several of the guards looked at each other before dropping their swords and stepping back. The Captain turned to the men who were leaving.
“Traitors and cowards! I will kill you myself after I deal with him,” said the Captain.
“No, you won’t. You men leave now or end up like him,” said Rael pointing at the body of the dead guard at his feet. Several more guards dropped their weapons and ran down the corridor. When Rael looked at the group, only four men remained with the Captain.
The Captain stepped in and slashed with his sword. Rael backpedaled away and into the remaining four men, who surrounded him to prevent his escape. Throwing a dagger, he dropped one of the four guards around him. He extended his swords and let the energy envelop the remaining three, electrocuting them where they stood. Stepping over the charred bodies of the guards, he walked toward the Captain.
The Captain moved back, his eyes wide with fear.
“Now you understand. This is what death looks like,” said Rael. The energy arced between his blades. He let it run down his arms before absorbing his blades.
“What—what are you?” said the Captain.
“I don’t really know anymore. I used to be like you, full of blind loyalty. Doing what was asked of me. Back then I had a choice, but not any longer. Now I do what I must. In fact we are very alike,” said Rael.
“You are nothing like us. You’re some kind of abomination!” yelled the Captain as he rushed forward, sword in hand.
Rael had let the energy build as he had spoken, and now a sphere of crackling power sat in his palm. As the Captain closed in on him he released the energy and it jumped on the Captain, rooting him to the spot. Arcs of electricity ran up and down the Captain’s body.
“I am an abomination, but like you I’m just following orders,” he said as he closed his hand. The energy around the Captain focused into one point and then exploded, disintegrating him.
Rael turned in a circle and let his senses expand. The ascendants were in the hub again. The energy of the hub was affected slightly by their presence.
It’s only a matter of time now. First, let’s find the gunslinger girl, he thought as he headed down the corri
dor.
SIXTEEN
KENJI AND I arrived in the tré just in time to see an arrow impale Samir in the chest. The attacker was standing in front of us preparing to fire another arrow when he sensed us and turned. It was Rory.
Kenji ran to intercept him before he fired again. I ran to Samir, who was holding Meja and staggering.
“You,” said Rory, looking at me. “What happened to you? Your chi is gone—no, not gone, different. No matter, this just makes it easier. Surrender the rogue and come quietly.”
“No,” said Kenji, blocking his path.
I turned to Samir and saw the relief in his eyes.
“Samir, don’t move, I’ve got you,” I said as I made to remove the arrow.
“Don’t touch it!” he hissed. His pale face was covered with sweat. I pulled back my hand.
“That wound is bad. I can take it out, let me just get something to grab it with,” I said as I tore a strip of fabric from my robe.
“No, warrior, we have more pressing matters. The monitor has absorbed too much energy from a prism. Her life, our lives hang in the balance,” he said.
“But the arrow,” I said.
“It’s poisoned. Here, take her. I don’t think—I can’t stand much longer, can’t feel my legs. You have to—you have to release the excess energy or we will all perish,” he said, handing Meja to me before collapsing to the ground.
I took Meja and placed her on the floor beside him. Her right shoulder was covered with lines of energy that were getting brighter by the second.
“This needs to come out,” I said and wrapped the cloth around the shaft of the arrow and pulled it out slowly. He clenched his teeth against the pain but remained silent. I tossed it to one side.
“Samir, I have been seared. I can’t— I don’t know how to access my chi anymore. How do I—”
He took my hand and placed it on Meja’s shoulder. “Take the energy. Do it now,” he said, squeezing my hand.
I could feel the power. I opened myself and let it in. A bright flash filled my vision and I felt the familiar sensation of travelling through a portal. My hand was still on Meja’s shoulder. The power was increasing. Whatever energy that was within her was now filling me. After a moment, my vision cleared and I could see we were still in a tré, it just wasn’t a tré I recognized. The contact must have released enough power to activate a portal.
“Do not fight it, warrior. Let it flow through you,” Samir said.
I could hear him close by—he had travelled with us. The light from Meja increased and obscured my vision to the point where I couldn’t make out his features, but I could sense him there next to us. A small voice in the back of my mind noted that I could sense him, without seeing him. I put that aside for now.
“It’s too much, Samir. I can’t take this much,” I said as the energy began to burn me. The sensation travelled up my arm and into my body. I tried to remove my hand but couldn’t.
“You must, or she will die. And we will follow. Harness the energy, let it enter. Surrender to the flow,” he said.
Every cell of my body was on fire. As the flow increased so did the burning and the pain. I tried to detach from it, put the pain aside and let the power wash over me. For a moment it worked and I felt a momentary relief. Then the flow increased and there was only agony. That’s when I heard the sound. It took me a moment to realize that it was my own scream filling my head.
Samir kept saying something but I couldn’t make out the words. He kept repeating the same phrase over and over and I latched on to the rhythm and cadence of his voice. I lost track of time. There was only pain.
“Now, warrior, prepare. This will make the previous agony seem comfortable. The excess is absorbed, but I must now sever the connection,” said Samir.
Some part of my brain must have registered the words as meaning that more pain was coming, and I braced as best I could. I felt him grab the arm that was touching Meja.
“Disipare!” I heard him yell. I didn’t think the pain could get any worse. I was wrong. I felt my eyes roll back in my head. My back arched as every muscle in my body flexed and contracted.
“Imprende,” he whispered. The agony bloomed within me. Dying, I’m dying. Good, at least it will be done, no more pain, I thought.
I fell back and away from Meja and the world went black.
**********
“Where did you send them?” said Rory, drawing a short sword.
Kenji held his staff before him in a defensive position. He had sensed their absence the moment Dante, Meja and Samir had left the plane.
“I didn’t send them anywhere, but considering the circumstances it is for the best,” he said.
Rory thrust forward with his sword and twisted to avoid Kenji’s strike. Kenji swept across with the staff and slammed it to the ground. Rory ducked under the staff and rolled to the side and then back, executed a backflip and landed gracefully on his feet.
“You’re a bladedancer,” said Kenji, a trace of surprise in his voice as he stepped back. “I thought that discipline was no longer taught.”
Rory gave a short bow and manipulated his sword so that instead of one blade he now held two, one in each hand.
This went from interesting to deadly in a hurry, thought Kenji.
“Where did they go? Last chance,” said Rory.
“I don’t know. You must have felt it the same as I,” said Kenji. “Neither of us formed the portal that they used.”
Rory waved his swords in an intricate pattern and a barrier of energy enclosed the tré. Kenji could feel the chi surround them. It seemed only one of them was leaving the tré alive.
**********
I opened my eyes and the sudden light forced them closed again. The pain was subsiding but my body felt like it had been used as a punching bag. I tried to sit up and was pushed back to the floor.
“You can’t move yet,” said Samir.
Off to the side I could see Meja resting. Her breathing was even and her arm no longer gave off the bluish white light I saw earlier.
“What happened to her?”
“While wearing suppressors, she shattered a prism full of latent chi. It was more than she expected or could handle, and rather than absorbing the energy, it tried to absorb her.”
“She was in suppressors? How did that happen?”
I remembered my experience with suppressors. I had shattered my prism as well but most of that was Maelstrom’s doing. I told Samir about my experience in the box and my escape.
“The difference is that she was in a suppressed area while wearing the suppressors. The Black Lotus chamber is designed to prevent any use of ability. The prism was to give her enough ability to break out of her bonds and defend herself if needed. We did not anticipate this result. Clearly she is stronger than we thought.”
“We?” I said.
“Her brother provided the prism and the means for her escape. I was to bring her to him. One of the men with me was killed. We had nearly made it to the tré when I was injured by that Black Lotus leader.”
“Rory. He is a nasty piece of work,” I said, looking around. It was the first time I noticed our surroundings. I sat up slowly and Samir kept looking at me. We were in large room with the tré being its center. The dust on the floor indicated it wasn’t used often. I felt Samir’s stare as I slowly stood.
“What is it?”
“How do you feel?” he said.
I let my senses expand and took stock. Something was different. I had changed somehow but I couldn’t explain it.
“I feel different, connected. That’s the best way I can describe it. For a moment I thought I was going to die.”
He nodded. “It would seem you have undone what was done to you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your arms,” he said pointing at me. “When did you acquire those symbols?”
I looked down at my arms. The glyphs that were inscribed on my suppressors had burned themselves into my skin. They pul
sed with a faint blue glow.
“Can you read them?”
“I am a syllabist among many things. Language is my gift. Of course I can read them. Can you access your chi?”
“No, I told you I was seared. Lucius—I mean his shadow—took Maelstrom and cut me off from my chi.”
“Please try now,” he said gently.
I sat down and stilled my breathing and focused, turning inward and expecting nothing. The intensity of the power that washed over me took my breath away.
“We should be dead right now, warrior,” he said. “Those glyphs are the only reason we survived. Somehow they must have allowed you to channel and control the energy of the prism. You would do well to keep that ability hidden, warrior. It is quite formidable.”
“How? How did this happen?”
“The glyphs are actually designed to redirect chi, not suppress it. You say they were on your bonds?”
I nodded, still trying to take it all in.
“These were made specifically for you, yes?”
“That’s what they told me.”
“These glyphs are very old. I didn’t think anyone knew of them any longer. The design is to take chi and harness it for a secondary purpose. In the case of your bonds it was meant to hold you captive. The more chi you tried to access the stronger the bonds became.”
“But now they’re a part of me.”
“It means that now your capacity to wield power has increased by several orders of magnitude. You need training now more than ever.”
I thought back to the power that I accessed moments earlier. It was greater than any amount of chi I had felt in the past, with one exception: Lucius.
“If I try and access it I feel like I can barely contain it,” I said. “It’s too much power. What if I lose control?”
“That is always a danger. You must keep your emotions in check or you risk being at the mercy of the power. At least until it harmonizes to your body.”
“Harmonizes? Are you kidding me? There is no harmonizing with this much power running through me. We could have someone do what I did and bleed off some of the excess,” I said.
Warriors of the Way-Pentalogy Page 43
