After he pushed the new door wide open, he ran over to the motorcycle, took a few goodies from Omar’s bags, and put them in his trail coat. He took the bags off the motorcycle for Omar and Sebastian. Then he pushed the bike past his two sleeping friends and through the opening into the secret tunnel. He closed the door quietly and walked about a hundred yards down the tunnel before he started the engine.
As Myles sped through the tunnel system, searching for signs of Ragal, he thought again about what Sebastian had said to him the night before. Not too long ago Myles would have come out swinging at anyone who called him a fool. Myles didn’t have an answer for why it didn't seem like Sebastian meant to insult him. For some reason his childhood memories leaped alive like they had just happened.
He was always getting into trouble when he was a kid, whenever he was just being himself. He eventually accepted that as a part of his identity. He hadn’t become a truly good con man until he embraced it and reveled in it. That was how he had discovered his talents and how he’d become comfortable with his questionable lifestyle.
But what about now? Who am I today, in this new world? And if I pursue this new lifestyle, who will I become? Can I stop being that person I embraced for so long, or am I a hopeless cause? Myles realized that he was tired of lies, tired of cheating people, and ready to do good things for a change. But the question that haunted him the most was, how long would it last? This was an awful lot of introspection for Myles, but it felt good to be asking these questions.
Myles lost his focus on finding Ragal. He turned a corner and almost ran over a man just standing there. Myles quickly turned the motorcycle around. Is that a human? Did I just actually see an Adam?
A man with matted, greasy, blond hair and beard stood waiting for him. He had dark eyes that looked old and experienced. Myles saw the scars on his torso, and that familiar tattoo on his left arm.
The man was definitely an Adam. He was both skinny and muscular. His ragged, dirty clothes were smeared with green moss stains. The man motioned with a large walking stick for Myles to hurry. Myles pulled up in front of him. “What took you so long?" Nekar demanded." I was expecting you last night. You’re not much, are you? But I guess the Master knows what he’s doing.”
Myles didn’t understand this irritating, crazy man’s chatter. “I’ll give you ‘not much’ if you don’t start talking sense! First of all, who are you?”
“No time for jokes, cowboy. She’s dying of stubbornness, and for some reason you’re the only one she’ll listen to. Or so I’m told.”
“Do you mean Ragal? She’s dying?”
“I’ve waited so long for the Master to send another Adam, and he sends me a slow one.”
This guy has some nerve. Rambling on about stuff that no one else understands like those old losers at the casinos. This has to be Nekar.
“I’m getting used to being called stupid, so I think its best that you move on to some kind of reasonable explanation.”
“Ragal is dying. She was hit by an assassin’s dart while she was waiting for you and Omar. I’ve already been following her from a distance for a long time now, waiting for the day when she’d be ready to meet the Master. Now you need to take her there. Continue on the path you’re going and take every left. You’ll find her, but she’ll probably already be dead since you took so long to get here. If she’s still alive, keep traveling in the same direction, but take every right. My Master will be waiting for you. But listen! She must accept Him as her Master or He can’t help her and she’ll die. Go now!”
“Okay! I’ll get her there.” Myles cranked the bike and sped off into the tunnels, taking every left. As he raced along, he thought to himself, His Master? Is this more crazy talk? Of course, I can hardly tell crazy talk from sane in Musterion.
Myles hugged a tight turn in the tunnel and came upon Ragal. Last time he'd seen her she’d seemed confident, proud, and full of fire. Now she seemed ... well ... beaten. She hardly glanced up at him, gasping for air and staggering along with one hand on the brick wall. It looked like each step took an enormous effort.
Myles stopped the bike next to her and extended a hand to help steady her. The fire in her eyes rekindled and she shoved him. Myles smashed into the wall behind him. She might be weak, but she was still a Kalat. Myles rubbed his back as he got up and knew he’d have to be more stubborn than she was if he was going to help her. Ragal forced a playful look onto her pale face at that moment. “You won’t take me without a fight.”
Myles started to tip his hat to her, but she lunged at him with every last bit of energy she had. Myles brought the hilt of one of his throwing knifes down on the back of her head as he dodged her. She crumpled to the floor. “Fool girl. You’d try to kill a man for trying to save you? And make me forget I'm a gentleman, to boot.”
He pulled some rope from his coat and tied her up against him on the back of the bike. She was surprisingly light for someone who packed such a punch. Myles winced as her weight sagged against his bruised back, but he cinched the rope as tight as he could. He steadied himself briefly and then kicked the bike to life.
Myles pushed the throttle higher, following the series of right turns. Nekar didn't seem to have been crazy about Ragal's being near death. He could only hope that it wasn’t too far to where this Master was.
It occurred to Myles that he’d never helped another person before without having something masterfully devious in mind. That attack on the Kalat had been less to save Sebastian and more out of anger. This time he was actually giving everything he had to save someone’s life, and it was a liberating feeling. He liked it.
Turning yet another right, Myles approached an opening where a blinding light shone into the tunnel. They seemed about to burst out of the dim light into the noonday sun. He couldn’t see a thing. Myles shaded his eyes and looked down as he slowed the bike to a crawl. What in the world is this? Is it possible that this is the Master?
13
The Master
The light was so intense that it hurt his eyes even when they were shut. He backed the bike up until he could bear to squint a little, until he was able to make out the form of a man. He was the source of all the light, but it was so much light that Myles couldn’t make out any details. He untied the ropes holding Ragal up and she started to come to. Myles laid her on the tunnel floor. The intensity of the light made her curl away from it at first, but curiosity got her squinting and trying to look at the source.
Myles called out, “Are you Nekar’s Master?”
A voice seemed to come from all directions, a roar like the sound of rushing waterfalls. The voice simply said, “I AM.”
Ragal coughed up some blood.
“Can you heal her?” Myles cried. “She’s dying!”
Kindness filled the tone of the voice, but his answer wasn’t what Myles hoped for.
“I cannot save someone who is unwilling to let me help them.”
Myles bent down and whispered to Ragal. “Listen! This guy is going to heal you, but you’ve got to be willing.”
Ragal spat, “I have no master! I will bow to no one!”
Myles fear for her grew even stronger, and he looked up at the blinding light again, pleading, “Will you just heal her, please? She’s crazy. I don’t think she can think clearly right now. Just don’t let her die.”
The Master’s voice rang out. “By your acceptance of me as your Lord and Savior, you will be healed. Come to me, and I will give you the rest that you need. The burden you carry is heavy, but I will gladly take it from you if you’ll let me. Give your life to me, and I will save it.”
“C’mon, are you going to die of stubbornness?”
Ragal struck out at Myles in her rage and swept his leg from under him as she screamed, “I might take you with me.”
Myles fell backward and hit the floor. Disgusted, Myles rose to his feet again and shook his head.
“You’re a piece of work, do you know that? People have gone out of their way to get you he
re so that you won’t die. This is how you thank people who try to save you?”
The Master stood quietly in the light.
Ragal slumped down to her hands and knees. She began to weep. “I never asked for your help. I didn’t want it. You’re the one who knocked me out and brought me here, remember?”
“That’s only because you were determined to die.”
She threw up her hands and cried some more. “I just wanted revenge before I died. Was that too much to ask? I know I’m evil, but I’ll take the punishment I deserve.” With that, Ragal hung her head and coughed up some more blood.
“Look at you!” Myles shouted, tears starting to run down his cheeks. “You’re going to die. Don’t you want another chance? The Master is offering you an opportunity to turn your life around. If you die, all your horrible actions will remain. Your life will have been a total waste, and it doesn’t have to be!”
The Master spoke softly to Ragal. “I ask only that you give your life to me. You’ve had control of your own life up till now and look what you’ve done with it. Are you really happy with the way it’s turned out? Follow me and I will take away the burdens you carry and cleanse you of the poison. I will transform you, Kasey, and make you a new creation.”
Ragal looked up in surprise at being called Kasey and found herself filled with a longing to be rid of Ragal, the vicious Kalat. She just sat there looking toward the light and listened as Myles made his last effort to change her mind.
Myles didn’t notice what the Master had called her. He just looked her in the eyes and offered his most sincere and honest appeal. “I know you think that you can go this alone. I know you don’t want help from other people and I understand that. I know how it feels to distrust everyone around you. I really do! But you have to let go of the bitterness and the anger in your heart that have obviously consumed you. You’re going to die because you don’t want to let him give you a whole new life. What do you have to lose? You’re about to lose your life anyway.”
Kasey finally heard Myles and accepted the truth of what he was saying. She nodded her head and affirmed, “It’s true. I’ve wasted my life, and I really don’t have any use for it any more. What am I trying to hang on to?” Then she looked as intently into the light as she could and with a deep sigh she prayed, “I’ll give you my life so you can save it and help me redeem the time I’ve spent working evil in the world around me. I agree to have you as my Lord and Savior.”
As soon as the words came out of her mouth, the light blinked out and the tunnel went dark. Kasey and Myles looked around, but there was no trace of the Master. Kasey burst into flames. Myles panicked, tearing off his trail coat to try to beat them out, but Kasey didn’t scream. The flames obscured her entire body almost instantly and shaped themselves into a phoenix. They shifted to blue and then died down. Myles saw that Kasey had become a Miyka with white, glistening feathered wings. Kasey stood and her body started to glow. Her beauty captivated Myles.
The voice of the Master reverberated again from the walls. “You are healed now because you had faith. You’ve been reborn. The curse of the Kalat has been lifted from you, and your evil deeds have been forgiven. Your name is now Kasey Phoenix. From the ashes of your old life you rose to become a new creature. You’re no longer Ragal the spy. Go, Kasey, and live the life you were called to have.”
Kasey made an awkward but humble nod and began to study her radiant new form. A huge smile spread across her beautiful new face.
“Myles Callaghan, what about your life?" the Voice asked. "You pleaded for Kasey to give her life to me. Won't you do the same?”
Myles retreated into the tunnel and muttered, “I ... uh. ... I don’t think that my life needs saving.”
“Yes, it does.” The words echoed and then faded.
“How do you—” He struggled to recover his composure and blurted out, “No. You know what, I’m not ready yet.” The light and voice suddenly disappeared, leaving Kasey and Myles standing there looking at each other. Myles remembered parts of his dream from a few nights before and thought for a moment that Kasey looked a lot like that same beautiful woman. It was only a dream. His feelings, however, were much the same as he had felt in his dream, except that they were real.
14
Recruits
Omar was anxious to get started recruiting for the Order of the Magi. He’d put together testing criteria and established a grading curve by race to determine who the best candidates were. That was, in his mind, a way of being as equitable as possible. He drafted the criteria based on what Sebastian had told him about the different races of Musterion. He needed to allow for a variety of skills, not just academic, for example, or he was likely to get all Akana. Sebastian suggested that Omar break up his measurements into seven distinct qualities:
15% would be for knowledge or already-gained intelligence.
20% would be for common sense or the application of intelligence.
15% would be for memory or the ability to retain data.
25% would be for enigmas or the innate intelligence used to solve puzzles and problems.
10% would be for mental fortitude or intellectual stamina, an ability to learn new things and adapt to them.
10% would be for mental awareness or the ability to react intelligently in dire situations and an intelligence involving one’s surroundings.
5% would be for mental dominance or the ability to know those around you and assert your authority.
Omar and Sebastian agreed that their screening process would not only give all the races a good chance but would help form the Magi into a formidable yet diverse order.
Sebastian and Omar took a walk around Pneuma Karpos and discussed different methods for testing. When they came to the Café, they sat down and ordered some food and hot tea. While they were deep in discussion, Ischus approached them.
Omar and Sebastian bowed and remained standing until Ischus sat down at their table. Ischus smiled. “Omar, I’m glad, that your success you’ve had hasn’t affected your humility.”
“I know my place within the political machine, and I always have.”
Sebastian laughed. “Political machine…that is an odd bit of slang you use, but it could be quite appropriate.”
The waitress hurried up with a teapot, but Ischus put his hand over his cup. He looked at her with an endearing smile and graciously said, “Please bring me hot water and some fresh tea leaves.”
The maiden curtseyed and departed for the kitchen.
“Are we a bit paranoid today, my lord?” Omar inquired.
Ischus frowned. “My most valued servant died last night while testing my food. I could do nothing to help him, and it was terrible to watch him die such a painful death."
“Ischus, I could have helped! Please send for me if that ever happens again.”
Ischus looked doubtful. “Could have helped, how?”
Omar switched to German in case of eavesdroppers. “I have medicines and other technologies from Earth. They might have saved him.”
Ischus’ eyes filled. “I loved Cephar like a father. It’s a shame that I didn’t know this ahead of time.”
The waitress brought Ischus his tea leaves and hot water and quickly left. Ischus quickly regained his composure. “Omar, I do not wish to join the Magi, but I’d like to help you in your effort. This is going to be good for all of Musterion, and I want to see you succeed. I officially offer the help of the Council of Seven.”
Omar was pleasantly surprised and nodded. “Your help would be most welcome. How would it be if we invite two from your Council and two from the Council of Six? That would help maintain our position of neutrality.”
Ischus leaned back and gave Omar a knowing look. “Very wise move, my friend. Are you sure you don’t dabble in politics?”
“Only when I have to, my lord.”
~*~
Myles' thoughts about his dream faded away, and he turned to Kasey to ask her if she was all right. Where she had once been hideous
, she was now beautiful and radiant. The shadows that surrounded Kalat had been replaced by that glow. Why bother asking if she's okay? She’s more than okay. She’s brand new!
Kasey grew a little uncomfortable with Myles gawking at her. “Why are you staring at me?”
“Excuse me. I hope you don’t mind me saying so, but you look magnificent!”
“Are you kidding me?” She walked over to a pool of water in the corner and looked at her glowing reflection. “I’m…a Miyka!”
Myles laughed so hard that Kasey started to laugh too. The joy of that moment was exhilarating. Myles turned serious. “Hey, how do we get out of here?”
Kasey and Myles looked at each other and then simultaneously yelled, “Nekar!”
Nekar heard their call from down the tunnel. He chuckled as he realized that Kasey had given her life to the Master, and they were now looking for a way out. He was pleased. He sensed that another strange move was in order. Nekar didn’t always understand the Master’s orders, but he had a feeling he knew why he was to abandon those two in the tunnels rather than try to help them. Yes, it will be hard for them to make their way back to the core of Musterion. But after all, destiny is destiny.
~*~
Moluno had never felt this much fear in his life. He was accustomed to making others afraid. Being on the brink of hysteria himself was a new sensation, and a horrible one. This tunnel was in the deepest, darkest part of Musterion. Even the glowing moss couldn’t light it. Normally a Kalat could see in darkness, but this darkness was different. It was oppressive. Moluno felt it pressing him down, gripping him like a living force. Moluno stumbled and tripped, hands clutching what he knew must be the bones of those who’d found this tunnel by accident and never escaped. There was one difference between Moluno and those other unfortunate beings—Moluno knew well where he was going.
Bridgeworlds: Rise of the Magi Page 14
