The Aether Knight

by E A Hooper

  “Why’s that?” Radu asked.

  “The East has a long history, but its good treatment of bordering nations is rather recent,” she told them. “The East has played nice because the clans grouped together and formed a possible threat. If the East steals away a big chunk of that nation, they might start reminiscing about the old days when they conquered everything around them. Kingsland can’t stand on its own right now. It works in our favor to have a mutual enemy.”

  “She’s spent too much time around you,” Beldivare told Radu. “Lullum’s turning into a scheming snake herself.”

  “She didn’t get that from being around me,” Radu said. “I think she picked up that way of thinking from those books she’s always reading. However, that’s probably why I love her.”

  Lullum took Radu’s hand, and they smiled and watched the battle escalate until the last of the Northern forces were surrounded at a single temple. The Northerners held the temple for another hour, and then Vastalt walked down from the steps toward them.

  “Aye, Snake King,” Vastalt the Garroter called. “We’ve got them cornered but their general refuses to surrender. They knocked a bunch of statues over to hide behind and are making a pathetic last stand. Say they’d rather go down fighting with honor. Cursed your name a couple times too.”

  “Did you talk to Lunori yet?” Radu asked. “See if he wants to wait them out. They don’t have food or supplies, do they?”

  “Lunori said Lullum could execute her plan,” he said. “The vassal seems impatient. He considers it an embarrassment that it took this long to recapture the Step.”

  “That plan was only if we couldn’t take the Step this time,” Radu replied. “If it’s not necessary, then I don’t think we should put Lullum through that.”

  “I’ll do it,” Lullum said.

  Radu stared at her. “You sure?” he asked. “A year ago, you felt bad enough killing Boss.”

  “I’ve grown a lot in a year,” she replied. “A year ago, I was afraid to leave my home. Afraid to fight. Afraid of the harm I could do with my power. But now, I’ve seen what the world is. Seen what kind of people are pulling the strings. I don’t want to be afraid to stop those people—your father and the other lords. We must do whatever we can to win, right?”

  “That’s right,” Radu said, coldly.

  “Take me up there,” Lullum told him.

  Radu’s shadow turned darker until it looked like an endless void. He motioned, and Lullum stepped in without hesitation. Radu dropped in next, and then his shadow darted up the steps. He flew past step-temples until he reached the one full of Northern soldiers. He moved to a smaller temple to the side of that one and positioned himself on top of a pavilion in sight of the Northerners.

  Radu and Lullum rose from the shadow and looked down on the last couple hundred Northerners gathered at the temple.

  “Snake King!” a man in ornate armor, likely the general, screamed.

  “I’ll offer you one more chance to surrender,” Radu shouted. “If not, the woman beside me will destroy all of you. Anyone who wants to live, throw down your weapons and leave the temple at once.”

  “We’ll never surrender,” the general screamed. “Archers, kill him! Kill him, now!”

  Lullum raised her hands before the archers raised their bows. The entire temple shook, and most of the men fell to their knees. A few of the men, realizing what was happening, dropped their weapons and scrambled toward Radu’s forces on the steps below.

  Lullum moved her hands around in the shape of a square, and cracks raced all around that section of the temple. The remaining soldiers tried to climb to their feet, but she squeezed her hands, and the temple shook harder than before. All the nearby temples quaked from her power, but the temple in her sight moved up and down as her hands quivered.

  Radu watched her arm muscles tense and shake as she poured all her power into the ground under the temple. He felt worried at the sight of sweat on Lullum’s forehead. I’ve never seen her move something this big before, he realized. She was confident she could, but I don’t want her to hurt herself in the process.

  “Stop worrying,” Lullum said, glancing at Radu. “I can do this. Just watch.”

  The long-haired woman bit her lip until a drop of blood rolled down, and the temple trembled harder than ever. The cracks around the temple spread and deepened, and the entire temple dropped two feet. The pavilion over the soldiers held in place, but several more climbed over the new ledge and threw themselves into the arms of their enemies.

  “You can’t scare me,” the general shouted, his voice full of uncertainty. “I won’t give in. The North will never falter. Never fail. We will conquer all of Ter’al.”

  “Got it,” Lullum said, slamming her hands downward.

  The ground dropped from beneath the general and his remaining men. The statues, walls, and the pavilion collapsed all at once. The entire square section of the Step was swallowed into a newly made abyss. Radu thought he could see the bottom, but he knew if any of the Northerners had survived the fall, they’d be buried under tons of stone and rubble.

  Lullum dropped to her knees and gasped for air. “Okay, I might’ve pushed myself too far,” she told Radu.

  He knelt beside her and put an arm around her. “You going to pass out?” he asked.

  “I think so,” she said, her voice weak. “Put me in your shadow, please. By the time I wake up, you better have me in a bed, my love.” Her head fell downward, and she went limp in his arms.

  “I will,” Radu said, smiling.

  He dropped her into his shadow and then stood to look below. Some of his men peered into the chasm in awe. The Northerners that had surrendered gazed at Radu with a terrified expression.

  “Mr. Snake King,” the voice of Lunori called from next closest step-temple.

  “Yes?” Radu asked, approaching the edge of the pavilion’s roof.

  “That was certainly a good show,” Lunori said, chuckling. “Those Northerners deserved that and worse. I know I said this to you before, but I think this is really the start of a great friendship. I guess my gold-chasing brother did something good for once by introducing us.”

  “Speaking of brothers,” Radu said. “I presume you’ll keep to your side of our deal, correct?”

  “I already sent a courier to my queen to explain the details of our arrangement,” Lunori replied. “I’ll send her a follow up to tell her about our victory today. You know, it would help your cause if you offered to join the Eastern Kingdom. Vassal might not be as great a title as Snake King, but you’d be better protected from the West and North.”

  “Kingsland’s representatives would never allow it,” Radu said. “I’m sure your brother has already explained.”

  “Bleh, democracy,” Lunori responded. “Such a grotesque thing. You can’t trust the common man to know their head from their ass. But even if you don’t formally join the Eastern Kingdom, I see no reason we can’t be friends. Better than being friends with Westerners, I suppose.”

  “You should think more about being their friend,” Radu said. “You have a common enemy after all.”

  “This whole Northern Republic thing will blow over sooner than later,” Lunori huffed. “The clans will keep conquering until they can’t spread any farther. Then they’ll turn their fighting inward. It’s how they think—those animals. I’m surprised they got so far as to take Eraterth.”

  “They took Eyl’Step too,” Radu noted. “Even if it was just a short amount of time.”

  “Well, I’ll make sure that doesn’t appear in any history books,” Lunori grumbled. “Victors write history, after all.”

  “Well, all of us should hope my father doesn’t get to write those pages.”

  “You know, I was very skeptical of you when I heard you were Reaper’s son. However, you’ve proven yourself trustworthy.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You sure you can’t talk him into a truce? With you, us, and the North? He can have the West
for all I care.”

  “He doesn’t want peace. He wants everything.”

  “That might not be true,” a voice called.

  Lunori looked across the chasm at someone Radu couldn’t see from his location. He moved to the other side of the pavilion and discovered Gelmont standing at the ledge.

  “Gelmont?” Radu said in surprise.

  “I bring news from my spy network,” the lithe man replied.

  “So, you came all the way here yourself?” Radu questioned.

  “It’s tremendous news,” Gelmont explained. “I wanted to discuss it with you as soon as possible.”

  “What did your spies hear?” Radu asked.

  “Your father—Lord Reaper, he’s trying to plan a peace summit between the nations of Ter’al.”

  “Peace summit?”

  “Yes.”

  “And Reaper’s planning it?”

  “That’s correct.”

  Radu gaped at the lithe man.

  Chapter 4

  Pyre punched the air within his cell. He jumped around his limited space, staying light on his toes as he struck at an imagined enemy. Sometimes he’d imagine himself punching Lord Eldsworth or one of the regular visitors that watched the fights. However, most the time he imagined a faceless warrior, one stronger and more skilled than any of the slaves Eldsworth put him against. He envisioned himself going head to head with the warrior but never quite winning.

  He danced around the imaginary foe, planting punches that the faceless warrior barely acknowledged. But then the warrior caught him off step, and Pyre saw himself getting pummeled by a man that was by all accounts, bigger, stronger, faster, and more skilled than himself. He fell back against the wall of his cell and took several long breaths. Sweat dripped down his face, and he wondered how long he’d been fighting the imaginary enemy.

  I can’t beat him, Pyre thought. Every day, he gets faster, stronger, and his movements are sharper. I can’t beat him with Ten Ky or Onim Ky. His movements have become so strange of late—like he’s using a fighting style I’ve never seen. He’s like a ghost. No matter how hard I hit or how fast I strike, he’s a step ahead of me.

  On the other side of the dark cell, he could still see the outline of the faceless warrior. Standing there, waiting for Pyre to challenge him.

  “I can’t beat you,” Pyre told him. “Not without my fire. Leave me alone. Just go away.”

  “Who the hell are you talking to?” a guard asked, approaching with a lantern.

  The lantern’s light filled the cell, and Pyre’s imaginary nemesis vanished. His gaze stayed on the corner where the faceless warrior had been standing moments before.

  “Don’t ignore me,” the guard shouted. “You think you’re better than me because you’re Reaper’s son? You’re nothing but a slave now. Maybe better fed than the others, but that’s only cause Eldsworth likes to keep you in fighting shape. You’re not a lord’s son anymore.”

  “I’ve never been a lord’s son,” Pyre commented. “I grew up poor. I became a thief before my childhood ended. No one’s ever treated me like a lord’s son. I don’t think I’m better than you or anyone else.”

  “You say that, but that brother of yours is running around calling himself the Snake King,” the guard replied. “Your family’s full of themselves, you know that?”

  “Radu never liked being called a snake,” Pyre told him. “I bet someone else started that. Maybe our friend Grenfei.”

  “Doesn’t matter, he won’t be a king for long,” the guard said. “I’m sure you heard we took Eyl’Step. Just a matter of time before Central belongs to Eldsworth.”

  “You won’t hold Eyl’Step,” Pyre muttered.

  “Why not?” the guard grunted.

  “Another guard told me Radu was working with Vassal Lunori. Radu won’t let you keep Eyl’Step if that’s the case.”

  “You wouldn’t say that if you knew more details about the war.”

  “I know my brother. The fact that he eliminated Zanegarm and took over Central should give you an idea of the kind of person he is. If he’s set on something, you can’t stop him. He’ll take Eyl’Step, and then he’ll come for me. You better get out of Eldmoon while you can.”

  The guard laughed. “You really don’t know a damn thing. I might’ve taken that threat seriously a day ago, but Eldsworth had a guest today that brought interesting news. Something that changes everything.”

  “What’s that?” Pyre asked, looking at the guard.

  “I’m not supposed to tell you anything, but it might be good for you. You might see your brother sooner than you think.”

  Pyre gaped at the guard, but then he lowered his head. “I’m sure Eldsworth will hold it over my head when he makes me fight tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow? Boy, you’re fighting today.”

  Pyre raised his head. “Today is one of my off days. Eldsworth’s always given me two days off to recover.”

  “He wants to show you off to his guest.”

  “Gods dammit, you could’ve told me that. I would’ve rested instead of training.”

  The guard grinned. “Why would I do that when I placed a bet that you’d lose?”

  “You bastard,” Pyre growled. “If I lose again, another child will die.”

  “They’re only slaves. Who cares?”

  Pyre clenched his fists. He could see the three remaining children in his mind. Ilda. Marian. Brodden. In the last year he’d lost only two fights, and both times, Eldsworth kept to his word and executed one of the children. I can’t let the others die. That’s why I train almost every day. It’s why I have the faceless warrior. An imaginary nemesis I can’t beat that pushes me further and harder.

  In the corner of his vision, he could’ve sworn the faceless warrior was laughing at him from the dark. Pyre turned, but he wasn’t there. His furious eyes turned back to the guard. “I hope you’re ready to lose. How much did you bet?”

  “Ten gold,” the guard replied. “It’s all I got to my name right now, but if I win, I’ll get fifty pieces back. Most the other guards think it’s foolish to bet against you, but I’m sure Eldsworth wants a good show for today. Not to mention, you won’t be at your best. It’ll be the easiest money I’ve ever made.”

  The door at the end of the hall creaked open. “Bring him on out,” someone called.

  “Time for the show,” the guard said. He unlocked Pyre’s cell. “Let’s go.”

  Pyre moved forward, but then the guard slammed the iron door on his leg. The former thief screamed out in pain and fell back as the guard reopened the door.

  “You son of a bitch!” Pyre shouted.

  “Oh, my bad,” the guard said, snidely. “You really got to be careful. These heavy doors are dangerous.”

  The muscles tightened in Pyre’s arms, but he knew if he attacked the guard, he’d be risking the lives of Ilda, Marian, and Brodden. The guard grabbed him by the collar and pulled him down the dark, empty hall.

  Pyre winced whenever he put too much weight on his left leg. He tried to ignore the pain as he followed the guard through several halls of cells and cramped rooms. Other prisoners watched him in terror as he walked by their cells. Pyre could feel their hate toward him, but he didn’t blame them. I get fed better, and I’m better trained. They know if one of them got lucky and killed me, they’d get put to death for killing a lord’s son. They’re all terrified of the day they get put in the arena against me. The best-case scenario is that Eldsworth doesn’t make it a fight to the death.

  The cells closest to the arena held larger, stronger men. Most of them were soldiers captured from the West and taken to Eldmoon. Some of them were fearsome enough that even Pyre was nervous to fight them.

  “Hey,” a harsh voice called from a cell.

  Darvon the Barbarian stood against the wall of his cell. The bald, muscular man watched Pyre with a scowl on his face. He was one of the two men that Pyre had lost a fight to in the last year, costing the life of one child. Eldsworth had avoid
ed matching them against one another since then, but Pyre knew it was only a matter of time.

  “I think it might be us again,” Darvon told him. “They told me to eat a big breakfast.”

  “Shit,” Pyre said as the guard pulled him through the gate. The man dragged him to the center of the arena and shoved him to the dirt. He stood as the man returned through the gate. “Do you bastards always have to push me? Like, you can’t let me walk out with dignity?”

  “There’s no dignity in the amphitheater,” the voice of Eldsworth called from the stands above the arena. “There’s only the excitement of the show. The blood. The sweat. The glory!”

  Pyre rolled his eyes and glared at the ugly lord. The stands looked the fullest Pyre had ever seen them, and he would’ve been excited to impress so many people if it didn’t involve murder. His eyes moved across the crowd, but Pyre didn’t see his half-sister Bels.

  People in the crowd shouted at Pyre. Some of them seemed excited to see him, but others cursed him. A few he even considered admirers because they always showed up to cheer for him. Eldsworth even brought him to the castle to meet and shake hands with his guests from time to time. Pyre hated it, but he never complained because it was the only time Eldsworth let him have wine.

  “So, who’s this special guest your guard told me about?” Pyre asked, staring across the crowd.

  “You’re always so direct,” Eldsworth said, shaking his head with a disappointed look. “Can’t just enjoy the show, can you?”

  “Go to hell,” Pyre spat. “You killed children because I lost fights. I don’t give a damn about your shows. I’m only biding time until my brother brings his army here.”

  The crowd laughed and cheered, and Pyre sighed.

  “Now, now, Pyre,” Eldsworth replied. “You don’t need to worry about that. Your father has set events into motion that will bring the war to an end. It’ll only be good times from here on out, my friend. Soon enough, you and your brother will be reunited. But for today, I have the next best thing—let me introduce you to one of your other brothers. Come here, Tachios.”

  A servant led a young man with long black hair into Pyre’s view. The young man kept his eyes closed as he approached, but he used a cane to find the edge of the pit.