"For the actual work we have planned," I said as Kyra approached, "Warren has some guys settin up a holograph projector for the lenses we need."
"I don't see any reason we can't make these lenses," Kyra said, "The shield around the stream might be a possibility as well. You may be able to use Guards for all of it, with as small of feeders that we're dealing with."
"Now that would be great," I said, "Our Mages are stretched thin as it is. Speakin of Mages, when are you planning to do the deed and join the Mageguards, Mom?"
"Hell, Son," she said with a shake of her head, "I'm just a teacher, now."
"You should come out Sunday, anyway," I said, "You can join the others we're goin to raise."
"I'll think about it," she said.
"You should," Paige said, "You are needed where you are, regardless of Guard or Mage strength. And when the ship hits the sand, you're more powerful than you were before. Every bit helps."
"Not to mention," I said, "if Dad gets mouthy, you can throw him through a wall."
"Now that is a valid argument," she said.
***
Sunday was a beautiful, sunny day. Perfect for burning the sky. It never seemed to fail, any time Lyrica or I did this particular act, there would be a lot of spectators. A couple of Senators had actually flown in to see this one.
"Senator Deacons," I said as Trent's father approached, "How are you today?"
"Doing well, Colin," he said, "I understand you are doing this ascension process on my boy today. I thought I should come and see it in action. I've heard about it numerous times."
"He's ready for it," I said, "I wouldn't do it, otherwise."
"I've trusted you for years, Colin," he said, "I don't see a reason not to trust you now. He trusts you, and I will, too."
"We're careful, sir."
He nodded and headed toward his seat under a canopy that had been set up for VIPs.
Of course it's dangerous to do what we do but we had a pretty good handle on it since we did this every week. It still looks damned impressive though when one of us Pulls that much power.
The first five of my group stepped forward and my support Mages opened their portals on the tether that we formed between us some time back.
Today there were five of my ten Mages from my own squad. Damaris, Tovah, Rostov, Xhosa, and of course Prada. I felt the Source start flowing into me as I lit the five Soulguards' Streams up, as well as mine.
"This is what I need you to form," I said as I showed them the shield tube that led out of my stream and pointed to the sky. "Don't let any into you, steer it out that tube."
I looked at each, received their nod, and watched all five form the tube I asked for.
"And don't touch it after the Pull until you get some classes in. With the backlog we have at the Academies, You'll just be using the strength and shield benefit for some time."
When they were ready I Pulled gently through their streams and I felt the Source being pulled into my body from the links to my Mages. I don't have a clue why it's like this but it is.
Perhaps there is some sort of balance that has to be met. Who knows, it just is what it is.
After watching to be sure they were channeling the power away from themselves, I Pulled harder.
Soulfire Poured into the sky in five gouts. The harder I Pulled, the larger the gouts of fire became. This time I stopped before they reached the outer limits of their stream to hold the power.
We had learned that a Soulstream that is about fifteen inches in diameter was much easier to learn to use than some of the ones I had done earlier on. A Stream like Gregor's would be a beast to learn to use if you had come straight from Soulguard to Mage.
So that's where we stopped our Pulls under most circumstances. There were a few that we would take further, such as Mom. Her Stream was huge for a guard because of her age. When we ascend an Elite, we tend to take them further.
"Don't play with it or you'll go blind," I said to the new Mageguards in front of me.
"They used to always tell me that," Alex Campbell, one of the new Mageguards said, "It's all lies."
"I don't know," I said with a chuckle, "I heard of this guy over in Scotland..."
Chapter 9
I was back on the dark plains where I had fought the hordes of darkness in my Source Coma.
This time I was not alone. All around me were my friends, my family. All of the people I cared for stood with me on the plains.
The darkness began to close in and I felt immobilized. I couldn't do anything as those on the outskirts of my dream fell away from us into that darkness.
My rage beat at my senses as the darkness grew ever closer. I saw my friends Trent and Mattie fall and I screamed. I saw Rictor tumble into the darkness.
Closer and closer it came and more and more it consumed until it seemed within arms' reach. I still couldn't move and my screams became inhuman roars.
Kharl and Kyra, Paige, Gregor, all fell from the tiny precipice where I was held.
Something cold and hate-filled came out of that dark spot in my soul.
I was staring into Lyrica's green eyes as she fell away from me into that darkness and that Presence inside me came striding out of the dark spot. Every step shook the ground below me and when it stepped forth, Power came with it.
I came awake with power blasting upwards through the roof of the house Lyrica and I shared. My roar of fury didn't even sound human. It reverberated through the cluster of residences where we were housed on base.
It felt like a vice settled around me as Lyrica grabbed me. She grabbed the power I was Pulling and threw it skyward. I finally got control of myself as the dream receded and so did the awful presence of that monster inside of me.
The dream had felt so real but now the cold hate was replaced with shame.
"It's ok, my heart," soft words in my ear.
Her hand stroked the side of my head as I fought with the rage inside me that sprang from the shame of not being able to control myself enough to even have a nightmare.
I didn't know what sparked that nightmare. Perhaps the eminent meeting with Kil'Sin'Deres had done it. But the roof of the house certainly paid a hefty price for it.
"Maybe we should just sleep outside," Lyrica said, "of course then they would get a show from bedtime explosions of one sort and morning explosions of another."
"Wouldn't that look good on a television report?" I said and looked up, "It seems we need a new roof."
"It would appear," she said as she lay back and looked up, "Always liked skylights, though."
***
"Should I come with you?" Lyrica asked.
We were in Montana where there still was a Soulguard presence. The Academy had moved back there to train new Mages since there were so many new Mages to train.
Paige and Gregor were still in Kansas but they had left a goodly part of the Council in Montana for any major decision making. Darrel Barnes was acting as, I guess it would be called Dean of the Academy.
He hadn't come to meet me, but Sam Keller had been waiting on the edge of the runway as we landed.
"I think I need to do this alone, Honey," I answered, "He is putting a lot of trust in us not to attack. I should give him the same respect, I suppose."
"Probably so," she said with a frown, "But I still think you get in too much trouble when you go off alone."
"You do have a point there," a voice came from our right.
Sam Keller had walked over from the side of the runway.
"I'd say he shouldn't even be let out of the house without a chaperone," he said with a grin.
"That hurts my feeling, Sam," I said, "It cuts me deep."
"I'm sorry about your feelin, but truth is truth."
"Amen!" Lyrica chimed in.
"Et tu Brute," I said.
"Damn skippy, me too," she said, "but you call me Brutus one more time and it's on."
Sam laughed aloud, "I certainly miss you two around here. It's just not the same."
"Yeah," I said, "you just wait till you hear what's in store for you in the future."
"That sounds ominous," he said with a serious tone, "Is this something I'm gonna like?"
"Depends on you," I said, "If it was me, I'd be thrilled. But I'm a little nuts."
"Damn, quit holdin me in suspense," he said, "Spit it out."
"There's about to be an opening for a very important job," I said, "let's retire to the cafeteria and I'll tell you all about it."
Fifteen minutes later, as we waited for our food to get ready, I told him what had happened and the solution that Paige had suggested.
"Ain't that a Hell of a thing," he said, "You're serious about this?"
"Afraid so, Sam," I said, "I really wish they hadn't Marked those people, but it is what it is and I have a responsibility to them. Paige thinks it is a good idea and we get a whole new army of Soulguards ready to join the fight. Or to hold their ground till we finish here."
"That involves one great big assumption, Colin," Sam said.
"Yes it does," I said.
"Can we win, here?"
"We have to," I said, "and I'll be going under that assumption until they read me my Last Rites and burn my bones."
"I see," he said, "I can see where I would be a fair choice for this. I got no family left here, the Guard is my family. Barnes is in a different position, though. He's got family and I don't know whether he would want to leave them behind."
"See, this is where Paige and Gregor are hashing out details. We're possibly talkin about relocating whole families if it's what they want."
"I see," he said, "Well, I'm in. But I have to have a lot more detail before I jump in the water."
"That's to be expected and I'm workin on getting more details about Cerres before this begins. I told Paige I would sound you out on the subject while I'm here."
"And just why are you here?" he asked, "You never actually said."
"You probably don't want to know," Lyrica said, "But he's here for a meeting with a very big Demon."
"Ya know," Sam said as he shook his head, "There was a time I would have thought that was a joke. Then, along comes this kid with the whole Council out to get him. Then this kid stands the world on its ear and kicks it a couple of times to see what he can shake out of it. So, now that statement doesn't even phase me."
Lyrica's musical laughter brought an automatic smile to my face.
"So who is this great big Demon?"
"His name is Kil'Sin'Deres," I said.
"He's the one you convinced to go back home without fighting last year."
"Yeah," I nodded, "He's different. I have a feeling I'm about to find out how different he is from the rest em."
"Let's hope he's a great deal different, then."
"Speaking of the meeting," I said, "It's almost time."
"Good luck," Sam said.
"I'll be watching," Lyrica said, "If he tries anything, I'll be there quickly."
I smiled at her, "I don't think he came here for a ruckus. But if he did, he'll get more than he bargained for."
Chapter 10
I had felt the gate open several minutes back as I walked up the old running trail Lyrica and I had used for years. I didn't rush, even though the bucket full of fried chicken I had brought from the cafeteria smelled delicious.
I entered the clearing where Lyrica had ripped the life out of the area around her. It was starting to come back. Kil'Sin'Deres sat on a rock outcropping.
"Kil'Sin'Deres," I said with a nod.
"Rash'Tor'Ri," he returned my nod. His voice was deep and he spoke clearly.
"I always thought any meeting worth having should be had over food," I said and jumped up on a rock outcropping near him, "I hope you like fried chicken."
I reached into the bucket and pulled out a leg. Then I passed the bucket to him.
He looked at it a moment. I could see surprise rolling through his aura. I could even feel it through the telepathy we shared.
He nodded and took the bucket. He reached into the bucket and pulled out a breast. He smelled it and bit into the meat.
"We have a lizard that tastes much like this when cooked," he said.
I hadn't even been sure they cooked their food. I realized that I knew next to nothing about him or his race. They had been just a ravenous horde to me.
"I hear that a lot," I said, "Most times when someone tries a new food they say it tastes like chicken."
"Yes, we cook our food," he said, "Kresh eat theirs raw. They'll eat anything. Some Kresh'Far as well."
He spoke very good English, to my surprise.
"Why is that?" I asked, "I could tell you were different the first time I met you here."
"It is part of the evolution of my race," he said, "My people are born Kresh. These that your people have referred to as Lesser Demons. They are much like your animals, dogs.
"As we age, and if we survive that stage of our life, we become Kresh'Far. These are more like your people. We become smarter and our minds become stronger.
"Then, if we are lucky enough to survive that stage, we become Kresh'Sor'An. And even fewer become Kresh'Ma'Nar. Fewer still become Kresh'Farrara'Ti. It has taken me two thousand of your years to reach this stage of my existence. Many never go beyond the first two."
"I was born Kresh'Sor'An," he said, "Perhaps this is the reason I was different than most."
"You never went through the first stages," I said.
`He nodded and plucked another piece of chicken from the bucket. He handed the bucket back to me and I pulled out a thigh.
"There are others like me," he said, "I like to believe we are more civilized than our brethren, but we still have that same drive they do for destruction. I fight my drives more than most of my race. I have a stronger drive for something I have only seen in your race."
"What's that?"
"I see your race build things," he said, "You work together to do things one being cannot do alone. This war is my fault. Everything I did, I did for a reason. To bring my race together like yours.
"I failed. My race is even worse now than before I gave them a foe. I let this planet grow far beyond the limits we generally put on a world. I let you advance in technology to the point where my race would have to unite to face it. This Soulguard of yours was unexpected, and I could not stamp it out, I tried."
"And then came you," he said.
"I'm guessing I was a complete surprise," I said.
"Your bloodline is one that was supposed to have been erased long ago. It was not supposed to even be a factor in this war. Then, you have my blood, as well."
"So this would be a perfect way to try to remove me from the picture," I said.
"I believe that removing you would not unite my race," he said, "I have decided that there is only one course of action that has any possibility of uniting my race."
"What would that be?"
"My race must lose this war," he said, "But we are sworn to die before serving the Makers again."
"I've heard this before," I said, "What does that mean? Who are the Makers?"
"Your ancestors were the Makers," he answered.
Everything started to make sense to me. Humans had created the Kresh. That was why their Soulstreams all came through the gates. It was an artificial Source of some sort. That is why the Wraith I had captured said he would never serve the Makers. And that they would eat the Makers. It hadn't really sunk in until this moment.
"That does explain so much," I said, "But how does your race lose and not end up where you are sworn not to go?"
"We must serve one who is neither Kresh nor Human."
"Oh, shit."
I swear, the giant Kresh started laughing. Or he was choking on the chicken he just ate.
"Just how in the Hell is that supposed to happen?" I asked.
"I have a plan," he said after his laughter ebbed, "You must Mark us all."
"I'm not that powerful," I said.
"I have been s
eeing Kresh with a Mark so powerful, it is taking Farrara'Ti. I have made inquiries. They are Marked by Rash'Tor'Ri. I even examined one of these Marks. It was the same that you Lashed out with the last time we were both here. Only it is so much more powerful."
Oh, shit. Gorvelis.
"If you can Mark with such power, we can spread this Mark throughout those such as I. There are more of us. When our numbers are high enough, we can take our world away from those who will not evolve."
"And during this time, they'll be trying to destroy this planet."
"I cannot stop that," he said with genuine regret in his aura, "They outnumber my kind by such numbers."
"I see," I said, "What numbers would you bring with your clans?"
"My clans number fourteen million," he said, "With the allies I can bring into this, perhaps another fifteen million. There are hundreds of millions of the others out there. I am certain we can take more but I must find them."
"Meanwhile, Earth is under attack."
"You must hold, Rash'Tor'Ri," he said, "They will not unify, they will keep attacking but there will be no unity in these attacks. One will try, if he fails, another. They are limited to one facility, now, so they can only have one Great Gate open at any given time. You must stop them when they come and I will try to move as quickly as possible on their flanks. They are unable to unify but we are not.
"If possible, kill any Farrara'Ti that comes through. It will set them back for a time and give us more time to build our forces."
"What if you took the facility to Earth?"
"There are Farrara'Ti with as much as ninety million Kresh. They would roll over my clans as if I was not there and then they would roll over your world as well. We cannot afford to draw that much attention to what is happening here. Not until our numbers are high enough to stand."
"Damn," I said, "There's not really an easy way to do this."
"It is a small chance for any of this to succeed, Rash'Tor'Ri."
"How much attention would you call to yourself if you took the facility of another world? One not openly at war?"
Bloodlord (Soulguard Book 3) Page 5
