The sand whirled around the tent. The dust storm pushed against the tent, intent on knocking it down and failing. On a cot lay Ravia, still unconscious. Nerav knelt by her side, his head bowed. Tetra knelt before the seated Master Wheel.
“When I released you I expected results. These are not the results I had in mind.”
He looked over to where Ravia lay.
“Are three of you necessary for this? It seems she is dead weight.”
“She was overzealous in her desire to fulfill the mission. She expended too much energy too soon and it resulted in our retreat.”
“So it was her fault,” said Wheel.
“No. The fault is mine as leader. I should have planned our first encounter with the prime ascendant with more care. He was accompanied by a warrior wielding a large hammer. This too was unforeseen.”
“Roman,” said Wheel. “He is insignificant. The lapdog of Aurora Iman, who will soon be rendered powerless against me.”
“Can one from the line of Iman be taken so lightly?”
“You question my ability, Kriya? Do you forget who it was that gave you your freedom?”
“No, my lord, I do not,” said Tetra.
“It would seem that you do. Are you at full strength yet?”
“I am the only one who has achieved our full potential. Ravia is recovering and Nerav is close,” said Tetra. His head was bowed as he spoke.
“It would seem you fancy the woman, and from what you tell me she is a fierce warrior. I need you to get this task completed. Which leaves him—Nerav, is it?”
“Yes, my lord, he is an excellent tactician and a master strategist.”
“And yet you still failed to produce the Fangs. I would say his tactics and strategy failed. Let me give you some incentive.”
Wheel stood and formed a gesture with his hand. The storm began to force itself inside the tent. Sand swirled around and surrounded Nerav. Wheel looked at Tetra and made a final gesture, tracing golden lines in the air.
“My lord, no,” said Tetra.
The sand solidified around Nerav and collapsed in on itself. A muffled sound followed and then the sand dispersed, once again exiting the tent on the wind. Nerav was gone. Tetra fell to the ground, holding his head. Even unconscious, Ravia moaned.
“Oh, that’s right, you share a psychic link. Then you must have felt his last thoughts. Was it fear, I wonder? Do the near-immortal fear death? Do not fail me again, Kriya, or you will not find me so merciful. Return to the Watch, tend to your wounded and wait until you are summoned.”
“Yes, my lord,” said Tetra.
He picked up Ravia and opened a portal, disappearing from sight.
“Was that necessary? Did you not sense his rage?” said Phoenix as he entered the tent.
“It was necessary to spur him to greater action. That rage will serve him when he faces Wei and the Harbinger,” said Wheel.
“This is a dangerous game you play. An angered Kriya is no trifling matter.”
“Precisely. The next time they meet I am certain Tetra will return with the Fangs. In order for us to complete our plan he must believe I can destroy him with a thought,” said Wheel.
He made another gesture and the unconscious body of Nerav appeared in the tent.
“And when he discovers this subterfuge? What then, Wheel?”
“By that time we will have the Fangs and my power will be without question.”
“Our power. Our power will be without question,” said Phoenix.
“Of course, my brother, our power. Now take the Kriya and keep it in stasis. Use one of the null planes or the mirror itself to keep him this way until it is needed.”
“Yes, brother.”
“What of the Rah Ven? If they interfere at the wrong moment all will be lost,” said Wheel.
“I have destroyed their homes and sowed dissension…”
“This is not about sowing dissension! They have to be wiped out,” screamed Wheel, slamming his fist on his chair.
“If one of those time-skipping dogs interferes with my plan, death will be a kind mercy, do you understand, Phoenix? You must take direct action.”
“The Mikai…” began Phoenix.
“Are too slow. Use the Gyrevex. Summon an army and wipe out those dogs,” said Wheel.
“No greater than one hundred Gyrevex have ever been summoned at one time, Wheel. Only the First has that kind of power.”
“You underestimate yourself. I would say it’s time to push the limits. Call forth an army, Phoenix. A thousand—no, ten thousand strong and remove the Rah Ven from every plane of existence. Do not leave one of them breathing.”
“No one can control that many Gyrevex. It is suicide, Wheel.”
“Use the scythes and form the Reapers, brother.”
“The scythes? That way leads to madness. Everyone who has used them in the past has been driven insane.”
“None were as powerful as you, my brother.”
“I cannot. This is too much,” said Phoenix.
“You can and you will. I have every confidence in your ability, Phoenix. Now go destroy the Rah Ven,” said Wheel.
TWENTY-SIX
ROMAN STUMBLED BACK and leaned against his hammer to keep his balance.
“I fear I cannot help you in this fight, Wei,” said Roman.
“This has nothing to do with you, hammer. Why don’t go you back to mommy Aurora and tell her the Harbinger sent you?” taunted Rael as he formed a portal behind Roman.
He slid forward and kicked him. Roman tried to regain his balance and failed. He stumbled and fell back into the portal, disappearing from sight.
“Where did you send him?” said Wei.
“I’m not a monster. I sent him back to Aurora, I think. Now, let’s not make this more complicated than it needs to be. Give me the Fangs and we can each go our way, Wei. Did you see what I did there?”
Wei formed the Fangs and took a defensive position.
“You have not changed at all. You are still the petty, trite child I knew all those years ago. I thought with time you would have matured. I was mistaken,” said Wei.
Rael grew serious. Electrical energy formed around his body arcing to the ground and caused small fires around him.
“I have matured, sensei. In fact I can say I have lived countless lifetimes since I left your tutelage.”
Rael formed his swords and allowed the energy to arc between them.
“Time to die.”
***********
Snow sent the last of the triads on their way and walked back to the park. I cannot leave the master alone to face the Harbinger.
He manifested two short staffs— tambo. Each was about two feet in length. Their lengths were covered in glyphs that glowed a dull violet. Once he reached the grass he stood still for a moment and expanded his awareness outward.
Across the park—he is not alone. It must be the Harbinger. I’m coming, master!
Following his senses, he ran across the grass until he saw Wei, daggers drawn, facing Rael. Energy arced all around them. The Fangs were a deep orange, appearing molten. Both Wei and Rael bled from multiple small cuts and wounds around their arms and face. Rael’s left cheek was bruised and his eye was swollen. Wei limped slightly and Snow could see a cut along his right thigh. Off to the side lay Raquel, still unconscious.
“The Fangs will not serve you, Harbinger, or your master.”
“I don’t need them to serve me, Wei. I need to deliver them to him. It’s that simple. Tell your disciple not to interfere if he wants to keep breathing. I find myself in a less pleasant mood all of a sudden,” said Rael without shifting his attention from Wei.
“Snow, I gave you instructions,” said Wei without taking his eyes off Rael. “Why aren’t you following them?”
“My place is here, master, with you,” said Snow.
“Well, that’s admirable and stupid,” said Rael. “The last place he should be is here, with you.”
Snow stepped closer to Raquel as Wei and Rae
l circled each other.
“At least let me help her. She is injured and bleeding. She will die without attention.”
“Snow, please step back,” said Wei as he dodged a sword thrust and jumped back to avoid a lightning strike arcing off Rael’s swords. He rolled to the right and slid forward under Rael’s guard. Rael brought down his swords a second too late to avoid a dagger in his abdomen. Wei buried the dagger and pulled to the right. Rael screamed in pain and slammed the hilt of his sword against Wei’s head.
Dazed, Wei backpedaled as Rael fell to one knee, grabbing his midsection. Blood ran down one side of Wei’s face.
“You may not be able to die, but I can bring you to the edge,” said Wei. “I will make sure you feel pain.”
Rael grunted in reply. He shifted back and to the side, keeping a sword in front of him in a defensive stance. Snow, now next to Raquel, absorbed his tambo and placed his hands on her side. A soft violet light covered her. The bleeding slowed and then stopped as the wound closed. In moments all traces of the injury were gone.
“This is not pain, Wei. This is what I call a stimulating exercise. Now what she did to me a little while ago was painful. I still have the headache from her bullet to the brain.”
Rael leaped from his crouched position and slashed with his sword. Wei saw the attack and cartwheeled over the sword while striking with a Fang, cutting Rael’s arm. Wei landed in a crouch just in time to see an orb of energy race toward him. He lifted the Fangs in a cross block in front of him. The orb hit him dead on and flung him back. He landed on his back, gasping for breath. His clothes were smoking and his arms were singed from the impact.
************
Next to Snow, Raquel stirred and regained consciousness, opening her eyes. She turned her head slowly and grimaced. After a few seconds she turned back and looked at Snow who was transfixed by the fight.
“Are you armed?” she said. Snow nodded. “I have weapons, yes.”
“Then what the hell are you doing?” She sat up and braced herself against Snow. “Watching your master die?” she said as she materialized her guns.
“Miss, you have lost much blood, I do not suggest…”
“That bastard can’t die. Do you think your master has a chance against him alone?” she said. “I shot him at least ten times and put a bullet in his head, point blank. Does he look dead to you?”
“My master instructed me to stay out,” said Snow.
Violet energy formed around his arms as he manifested his tambo.
She lifted both guns and took aim.
“You want those to be his last words to you?” she said.
She was focused on the fight, her eyes tracking Rael, looking for a shot.
“No, but you are in no condition…”
“Stop talking.”
Her arms trembled as she held them out. She dropped her arms and muttered a curse under her breath.
“Damn, it’s no good. I can’t get a clear shot. You’re going to have to open them up. Give me some space so I can put some shots in him, slow him down,” she said. “I’ll mask so he doesn’t sense me until the last second.”
“I don’t think…”
“Stop thinking and act, before it’s too late. Go now!” she hissed.
Snow stood up with a tambo in each hand and jumped into the fight.
************
Rael turned clockwise leaping in the air and flung several small orbs of energy at Wei. Snow jumped in front of his master and deflected them.
“Snow, what are you doing?” said Wei.
“What you trained me to do, master.”
“Very well,” said Wei through clenched teeth as he shifted to the side. “Perhaps this is the wisest course.”
“Where do I strike?” said Snow.
He stood in a defensive stance as Rael advanced.
“He has no weak points. The only thing that will slow him is damage. We must overload his nervous system into shutting down.”
Wei took a step forward and stumbled.
“Master, you’re hurt.”
“Never mind that. Focus or we die. Can your friend use her guns?”
“Yes, but we must give her a clear shot.”
“She will have her shot. Let’s hope her aim is true.”
Rael closed the distance and spun into Wei and Snow with both swords. Snow parried and trapped one of the swords but missed the second. Wei saw the second attack and lunged in between the two, taking the thrust meant for Snow in his back.
“Master, no!” yelled Snow.
“Now, girl. Do it now!” shouted Wei as he grabbed Rael’s arm and twisted to the side.
Rael stood with his arms opened wide, providing Raquel the shot she needed. She took both her guns and pressed them together. They merged and transformed into a larger gun. She wiped the sweat from her brow, took aim, and pulled the trigger. The recoil sent her flying back. Rael stood still for a moment, looking down. A gaping wound six inches across stared back at him. Wei and Snow let go of his arms as he collapsed to his knees.
“Should have taken the head shot, gunslinger girl,” he said.
“Harbinger, tell your master I’m on my way,” said Wei. “If he wants the Fangs he will need to get them himself.”
“You look like hell,” said Rael. He coughed up blood and spit it on the ground. “I don’t think” —he coughed up more blood—“you’ll be around much longer, Wei.”
Raquel walked over and pointed a gun at Rael’s head. Wei gently pushed her hand away.
“It’s no use. You cannot kill him any more than he has been,” he said.
Rael became transparent and faded until gone.
Wei sighed and collapsed forward. Snow caught him before he hit the ground. He lowered his master to the ground. Tears ran down his cheeks. Raquel stepped back out of earshot.
“What are you doing? Do not shed tears for me.”
“Yes, master,” said Snow.
“Your tambo, let me see them.”
Snow materialized his weapons. Violet light surrounded them as they appeared in his hands. Wei materialized the Fangs and pressed them against the tambo. For a brief moment, an orange light blended with the violet and then the Fangs were gone.
“You must keep them safe now, my disciple. Do not let the Kriyas or the Harbinger take them from you. When you find one who is worthy, pass them on.”
“How will I know? I don’t…I can’t…”
“The Fangs will let you know. Trust your judgment, it will not fail you,” said Wei.
“I’m sorry, master. I should have listened. I should have stayed back…” began Snow.
“And I would have been dead sooner and the Harbinger would have the Fangs. No, you did right in disobeying me. We have stopped him for now. I am proud of you. Keep the ascendants safe until the threat passes.”
“Yes, master.”
“Girl, come here.” Wei motioned for Raquel to come closer.
Raquel knelt beside Wei. He placed his hand on the nape of the neck and pulled her close.
“Everything is not as it appears. There are those in the Order who seek power above all things. This corruption taints all it touches and seeks only to serve itself. Search out the Wheel and end its influence. Look to the Samadhi.”
“Where is this Wheel?” said Raquel.
Wei didn’t reply. He stared into the sky, breathing his last.
“Do you know about this Wheel? Is it a person or a thing?” she said looking at Snow.
“I do not know. Master has never mentioned it before now,” said Snow. “I do know of the Samadhi. They are powerful teachers of the various disciplines within the Order of warriors. They are reclusive and hard to find, usually living in secret.”
“I need to get back. Monique will be losing her mind. What are you going to do?” she said.
“I will lay my master to rest and then I will destroy the Harbinger.”
“Didn’t you just see what happened? That thing can’t die. Are you
in a hurry to join your master? Get as far away from here as you can and stay gone.”
“It does not matter, they will be after the Fangs,” said Snow. “There must be a way to destroy him and I will find it. You can help me. I saw what you did with your guns.”
Raquel was shaking her head.
“Not my fight,” she said. “I need a portal back to the hub. Do you know how to, you know…” she gestured with her hands.
Snow looked at her in silence and then looked down at his hands.
“I will open a portal for you. My master would have wanted me to.”
“Thank you,” she said relieved.
“Before I do I want you to consider some things. The moment you stood against the Harbinger, it became your fight. He is now your enemy as well. My master spoke to you about the Samadhi. He felt you were capable, or he would not have burdened you. He has set you on a path as he did me with the Fangs.”
“Both those paths look fatal to me. I like breathing,” she said.
“Search out the Samadhi. Either they are causing the corruption or can help end it. I will focus on ending the Harbinger.”
She grabbed his arm and looked into his eyes.
“Listen to me. Forget the Harbinger. Take the Fangs and go somewhere they can’t find you. Go to the mirror and hide there. I will look into this Samadhi thing but I’m not making any promises.”
Snow smiled at her patiently and began making gestures with his hands.
“I will see you again, gunwoman. Sooner than you think,” he said and opened a portal back to the hub.
“The name is Raquel,” she said as she stepped through the portal and vanished.
Snow knelt next to his master’s body and opened Wei’s hand. He removed the strands of hair, Raquel’s hair. He let the strands sit in his hand. Moments later, violet light consumed them leaving no trace.
“Wherever you are, Raquel, I can find you now,” he said as he lifted Wei’s body and stepped into a portal.
TWENTY-SEVEN
MEJA OPENED HER eyes and found herself in a small dojo. The hardwood floor glistened with the morning sun. The walls were covered with a variety of weapons and the ceremonial center, the back wall, held a small shrine with running water. In the center of the floor where she sat was a tré thirty feet across—the size of a training circle. It hummed with latent energy.
Warriors of the Way-Pentalogy Page 48
