Blood Bond: The Anti-Matter Chronicles (The Matter Chronicles Book 3)

by P. G. Thomas

  “You were awake during the Greek Mythology classes!”

  “Mock me anymore, and you can discuss it with Pluto.”

  “Okay, I want to see if I can trap some of this magic, as it could help with events to come.”

  “What do you want to do?”

  “I want to copy what Ben Franklin did, seeing if I can attract it with kites, using gold chains to transfer the magic down here, and then trap it inside of other gold. Right now, I can’t prove this theory, but logically it makes sense. Magic is energy. Energy has to come from somewhere, and suns are energy. The northern lights here can be intense, so I want to see if I can capture the magic before it hits the ground.”

  “You never cease to amaze me, John. I wish that I was one-tenth as smart as you.”

  “I’ve seen your report cards. You’re twice that smart.”

  “Officer, it was at that point that the one you seek disappeared from my sight. I’ve no idea where he went, but I can assure you, that I wasn’t the last one to see him even if you do find my fingerprints on his neck.”

  “Can I talk to the dwarfs? Order some gold chains and threads?”

  “Do you think it’ll work?”

  “I was hoping to validate it by sighting magic in the night sky, but I can’t find the right crystals. Right now, it’s a gamble based on sound theory. With everything else that has happened over the last couple of weeks, I haven’t been able to work on it, but when the Royal House comes back, it might prove useful.”

  “Talk to the dwarfs and tell them what you need.”

  “Thanks, Lauren, I mean, Earth Mother.”

  John went up to Aaro and Bor’s room, finding them both inside. “Can you please arrange a meeting with the dwarf clans? I need to talk to them.”

  “Brother John, dwarf help, what do you need?” asked Bor.

  “Gold. Gold chains and threads.”

  “In the office downstairs,” began Aaro, “much gold will you find.”

  “No, I want unprocessed gold from deep in the ground, natural gold.”

  “Chain and thread. Request is odd so explain more,” suggested Bor.

  “I’ve spent some time with Gayne and Mirtza, and I think I know the source of magic, and I want to see if I can capture it.”

  Aaro sneered, “Capture magic? Rays of sun as well I expect.”

  “In a way, that’s what I’m trying to do.”

  “John, you do not make sense,” began Bor. “Magic, sun, speak clear to us.”

  “We all know the Royal House will attack at some point, and that they have magic. The best we can do is fast horses and bracelets. If I’m right, I think I can capture it and figure out how it works. That would give us an unexpected advantage.”

  John had a long talk one day with Hakk back at the Ironhouse mine, as he was always curious about the dwarf attitude. While he was taller than the dwarves were, they moved with confidence that exceeded their short stature. If Hakk was not a dwarf, but the same size, and walked through John’s school, he knew that nobody would bother him. There was a conviction in the dwarves that went beyond the giant battle axes, which John wanted to understand.

  Hakk went on to explain how the lands looked upon dwarves differently than others, not because of their size, but how they adapted. He advised that if John wanted to hear the first story of forged metal, he should ask Bor, but also warned him that the story took over a month to tell. John had to beg for the short version, but Hakk was unimpressed with his choice of words.

  Hakk went on to explain how the smell of gold had lured the undersized dwarves to the oversized mountains. How with crude instruments and little knowledge, they had sniffed out the shiny rocks. With the rock being hard, it easily defeated their wooden tools. Beyond that, passage inside the mountains was restricted to natural caves or cracks. They figured out how to melt and then forge some of the less precious rocks, crafting them into metal tools. Being drawn to this beautiful metal, they would let nothing stop them. Having better implements, they were able to get farther into the mountains, finding different incredible rocks and even crystals. Motivated, they kept experimenting with rocks and heat, finding the best combinations to make superior tools. Over time, they moved from living in the forests to inside the mountains. However, midlanders also valued those same items and wanted to trade. When the dwarves showed no interest, midlanders would raid their towns and mines, taking that which belonged to us. The first battles the dwarves lost, and they were angered at what had happened. Soon word spread throughout the dwarf mines of the midlander danger, and they sought to create similar weapons that were used to attack them. Then he spoke of how dwarf was the first to wear metal armor, building superior weapons, and when midlander returned, the dwarves were ready. That was when they first uttered the word that was valued by all other dwarves: advantage. Taking that word, they applied it to everything; mines were dug deeper, metals forged hotter, and they sought advantage in everything they did. When those that opposed them were too scared to fight them in the mountains, dwarves would meet them in open fields, seeking out any advantage they could find or make. They would mine trenches from below, filling them with stakes and firewater. Charging beasts that towered over the dwarves would race forward, crashing into the ground to their deaths. Dwarves preferred to fight at night, as years of working in poorly lit mines had given them superior night vision. If they fought in the day, their backs were always to the sun. Dwarves understood what others failed to see; that there was always an advantage to favor them, and they just had to find it. Soon none sought dwarf gold, as the price was too high. They then went to trade their precious gold that midlanders wanted so badly, but under their terms, and another advantage was recognized.

  As soon as John used the A-word, the disposition of Aaro and Bor changed.

  “Brother, we will talk. Our answer tomorrow you will have,” replied Aaro.

  *******

  It was after lunch the next day when Aaro informed John that they would meet with the clans after the last meal, and good to their word, they headed out that night.

  “Brother John, when clans we meet, tell only what you need, not why.” advised Bor.

  “Why?”

  Aaro replied, “If you must, say secret project or mention Earth Mother. Do not be specific not, vague you should be.”

  “I don’t understand?”

  “On this, brother, you must trust us,” replied Bor.

  “Okay.”

  Aaro and Bor had discussed it earlier. Most of the dwarfs had quit giving them a hard time about the sword once they heard about the south battle. They enjoyed walking into a dwarf bar, and not being on the receiving end of endless jokes, barbs, puns, pranks, gags, innuendo, jests, and such. At the meeting, John advised the clans that he needed small diameter gold chains and threads.

  When they started to ask why, Bor stood up, replying before John could say anything. “Earth Mother, she tasks Brother John, advantage she seeks.”

  As soon as they heard the A-word, they were all satisfied.

  From the back of the room, one shouted out, “When?”

  “The sooner, the better.”

  Another shouted, “Payment?”

  “I’ll let Aaro and Bor make those arrangements.”

  “Fair that is not!”

  On the way back to the house, John turned to Fodu, “Can you sew me the cloak I’ll need? I don’t trust anybody else to make it but you.”

  “Easy is a cloak to sew. Many can make.”

  “Not this cloak, Fodu, I want it to be cut from one piece of cloth, stitched only around the edges. I want you to cut two sides out of one piece of material, so you can sew them together into one. On the bottom, I need a connector that can attach to the gold chains, so the magic will pass to the inside of the cloak. Then I need an elaborate pattern of power sewn with gold thread on both sides, and I’ll also need your help to find dwarf goldsmiths to fasten all of the chains together.”

  “Brother John, inspiration,
liquid found?”

  “No, Aaro, I’m hoping the free-floating magic will be attracted to the gold in the kites, which I’ll need Fodu to help make. When the magic is attracted this way, it should flow down the chains, finding the gold inside the cloak.”

  “Gold that flies. Brother John, do you suffer from spells?” asked Bor.

  “No, this is science, logic not madness, but many of the forefathers of science suffered similar insults, so I understand what you mean. If this works, it should provide an advantage to us, but until I can prove or disprove it, I’m uncertain of what will happen, if anything.”

  The following days, John explained the kites and cloak to Fodu, several times. Every time Fodu’s eyes began to glaze over, John would restart.

  Fodu finally threw up his hands in surrender, “What you want, I do and do not understand. You are dwarf, so I will do like you ask.” Then Fodu walked away shaking his head in search of the materials his brother requested, but first, he went to the dwarf bar that was close to their house, seeking out his own inspiration.

  That night, John sat down in his room, sketching the pattern he wanted sewn inside the cloak. He could already hear the ridicule that Fodu would throw his way once he saw the pattern. For him, it was a simple design that he understood, but for the person that had to stitch it, it would be a nightmare. He had thought long about how to trap the magic, if it was possible at all, because it had intelligence. He had several thoughts: an equation or the notes from a song. Then inspiration dawned on him. The basic building block of life was an atom: electrons orbiting a nucleus of protons and neutrons. The periodic table consisted of seven rows of elements or periods, classified into eighteen vertical families. With these basic building blocks, you could create everything from drinking water to the metal in Eric’s sword. The diagram he sketched had nine electrons orbiting the nucleus, and inside each half of the orbiting patterns, he drew in all of the symbols for each of the families. When he was done, even though he was quite pleased, he also realized that it would be complicated to sew.

  The next day John showed it to Fodu, who looked at the large piece of paper, looked at John, then looked back at the piece of paper. As he folded it up, he headed towards the door.

  “Fodu, can you do it?”

  “Torture me you do, brother. If any can do, dwarf can. Ache my fingers will, but sew it I will.” Fodu stopped, “Twice sewn, once will not work?”

  “There is a reason for it, and yes, I do.”

  Chapter 19

  One week later, Lauren was sitting in the yard looking up at the suns, wondering what sunblock she would need to get a tan from the three. Probably SPF 10,000. At the other end of the yard, Nur and Zack were wrestling under a different tree, and even though it looked like Nur was winning, from Zack’s smile, she was uncertain who was enjoying it more.

  Erust walked into the backyard, “A runner has arrived, and the Earth Mothers are requesting your presence.” Both Nur and Lauren looked at each other and then stood.

  “Where’s Panry?” asked Lauren.

  “So quiet it has been lately, he took the day off to wander the town.”

  “Well, he deserves it. Did the Earth Mother say what they wanted?” Erust shook his head, and Lauren turned to Nur, “Do you want to walk over?”

  Zack replied, “No. She wants to stay here,” but Nur stood.

  “Erust, assemble the Earth Guards, but leave one here to watch the house. Let the Ironhouse brothers know where we’re going. We’ll meet you out front,” and Erust nodded, heading into the house.

  As they walked over to the Earth Mother’s house, Lauren turned to Nur, “So you and Zack?”

  “The Royal House, how long before they attack?” asked Nur. Even though she felt bad about the question, what was happening between her and Zack was their business.

  The images of Korg and Hoyle popped into Lauren’s mind, “I hope never, but I know different. It’s just a matter of time,” and then she went quiet. At the Earth Mother’s house, a servant led them into the sitting room. They not only found the four Earth Mothers but six others also: two elves, two dwarves, and two midlanders. You could tell by the way that the six stood that they felt uncomfortable.

  Arora sighed, “These six, they represent the west and attended our last meet. I think they are volunteers. For that, I praise them, but their words they speak, praise them I cannot.”

  Lauren sat down in a chair as a servant brought over a tray of tea, hot bean juice, and two glasses of liquid she had never seen before. Taking both glasses, she knew it was going to be one of those days and drained the first one for courage, “Words that you cannot praise. What are they?” The midlander stepped forward to introduce himself, but Lauren stopped him, “If your words displease me, your name will mean nothing. What message do you bring?”

  The midlander was unable to meet Lauren’s gaze, “We met this week and took a vote. We are no match for the Royal House, and we wish to beg Mother to protect us.”

  Lauren shook her head, “How did dwarf vote?”

  One of the dwarves stepped forward, looked Lauren in the eye, “Fight.”

  “And elf?”

  When one elf stepped forward, he tried to look her in the eyes, but then cast his gaze down to the floor. “Midlander invaded the east and pushed elf out. They can have it as we shall stay in the west. Midlander and Royal House, it is their quarrel, not elf.”

  The other midlander stepped forward, “We know nothing of battle or war. We are farmers. Our fights are with weeds and bugs, not armies. The Royal House will slaughter us.”

  “If you do nothing?”

  “We will all die, Earth Mother.”

  Lauren rubbed her eyes, “My Chief Council is better with equations than I am, but I’ll agree that if you do nothing, they’ll slaughter you. Should you do something, then the result will be different. As for elf, even if dwarf helps midlander and they still lose, what makes you think the Royal House will stop and not seek out elf.”

  “The forest is our home, and they will not find us.”

  Lauren understood the defiance, but she lacked the currency to purchase it, “Brave elf words spoken, twice. Your forefathers, seeing the midlander invasion most likely said the same. Tell me of the forests in the Newlands, inhabited once by elf, once by midlander, now by Royal House. When I was in the Newlands, I could see from the north to the south horizon. When the Royal House needs wood to build, where do you think they will go?” She took a sip from her second glass, “Will dwarf help to train and arm both midlander and elf?

  The dwarf stomped his foot while staring her in the eye, his stance providing the answer, he was dwarf.

  Lauren looked to the elves, “I know you prefer peace, but an elf Earth Guard provides me with protection, so fighting is not foreign to you.”

  “I saw what you did in the valley, saw the black-clad army die. Huge their numbers were, but elf are few. What would take us months, you did in seconds. We beg Mother to protect us.”

  Lauren drank the last of her second glass, “All of you, look at me.” She brought her staff level in front of her, “It’s with this staff that I destroyed the army, which is a gift from Mother.” Dropping it to the floor, it made no sound as it disappeared from sight. “That’s how easy she can take her gift back. What will you do when the Royal House attacks and my hands are empty?” The six stood in amazement, trying to spot the invisible staff. She continued, “You’ll die, all of you. Dwarf will fight hardest and then retreat to their mines, but eventually the Royal House will kill them. Mother sent me here to purchase time for you so that you could arm yourselves and learn how to fight. If you have no desire to walk that path, that option is yours.” She was trying her best to sound sincere, “If instead, you prefer to order shackles from the dwarfs, so you can chain yourselves together, marching to the Royal House like prisoners, well, that will also ensure that more live, for a while. If you are afraid of fighting, then dig graves and crawl into them so that the Royal House onl
y has to cover the bodies. You have many choices. You can run, or try to grow wings to fly away. However, I know when Mother has provided you with enough time, I will not be able to help you. If you want to live like free people on these lands, and not like slaves, then you need to fight for your freedom.”

  Lauren looked at the six, the dwarves so short, standing so tall. The elves and midlanders looking at the ground, their heads hung in shame. “No, these aren’t the words you four wanted to hear. When I was thinking about all of this, I thought maybe I should issue an Earth Bond, calling forth the brave. Now I know that none but dwarf would answer. Brothers, go back to your mines; build forts, store food, and drill wells. The siege will be long, and the bards will rejoice because the story will never end. Even when they start, bards not born will write chapters unwritten, and they’ll pass works unfinished to generations not born. The telling will start within the year, and when the third sun burns out, your brave story will continue. You are dwarf, and submit you will not, but the words midlander and elf, written only in the first chapters will we find them. Hundreds of years from now, young dwarves will ask of midlander and elf, asking why they refused to fight. Leave my sight now.” As the six turned and left, she reached down to pick up her staff.

  Lauren looked at the other Earth Mothers, “When a child plays with an open flame, the child needs to be scolded, even though it hurts the mother like it hurts the child. It’s better to scold the child than to pull charred remains from a burned house. Nur, I understand the dwarves like we all do. You’re both elf and midlander. Go to them, and make them understand that inaction, even though still a choice, it is the wrong one. Before you say it, yes, they’re scared, and they should be. However, they need to figure out what scares them more: meeting the Royal House on a field of battle, or raising their children in slave chains. I personally think it would be better to die like a free person, rather than to be beaten as a slave every day.”

  *******

  It was three days later when Nur arrived for breakfast. She sat down with Lauren, “I talked with them yesterday. You don’t think that…”