Quest for the Sun Orb

by Laura Jo Phillips

  “I neither understand, nor fully remember that night,” he said evenly. “I know only that you did something that allowed you to gain entrance to my mind and body.”

  “True,” Marene replied. “Do you want to know what I did?”

  “No, I do not,” Bredon replied tightly.

  “I suppose I can understand that,” Marene conceded. “Do you not care why I did it, though?”

  Bredon wondered where she was going with this. He weighed his distaste of the subject against the possibility that he might learn something useful, and sighed. “I assume you did it for the power.”

  “Did it not occur to you that I already had power? I had everything I could possibly ask for, save one thing.”

  “Zakiel,” Bredon said.

  “Yes, and no,” Marene said. “I wanted what only Zakiel could give me, but I found Zakiel himself severely wanting. He was, and is, a bore. I never cared for him at all.”

  “That’s not exactly a secret, Marene. Everyone knew it, including Zakiel.”

  “Of course they did,” Marene said. “Should I have hidden it? I was the most logical choice for him to make. What would the point be in pretending otherwise?”

  “It might have helped your cause had you pretended to at least like the Prince,” Bredon said wryly.

  “Obviously,” Marene said. “Since I cared nothing for what others thought, I didn’t see the point, nor do I now.”

  “What is the point of this conversation?” Bredon asked.

  “I know that you have feelings for Kapia, Bredon,” she said, ignoring his question.

  “How do you know this?” Bredon asked, suddenly worried that she had turned the tables on him and could now read his mind.

  “You are not a subtle man,” Marene said. “The only two people who didn’t know you and Kapia were in love with each other were you and Kapia.”

  “And yet, knowing that, you still used me,” he said bitterly.

  “Of course,” Marene said matter of factly. “It could have been anyone, Bredon. It was your own bad luck to be available at exactly the wrong time. Besides, it wasn’t like you had any intentions of declaring yourself for the Princess.”

  “Again I ask, what is the point of this?” Bredon demanded, his patience worn thin by her casual attitude toward the near total destruction of his life.

  “My point is that you know what it is like to want something, or someone in your case, so badly that there is little you will not do to achieve it,” Marene said.

  “Yes, I suppose I do,” Bredon lied. He knew there were some things he would not do for any reason, but Marene needn’t know that.

  “I’d been approached many times by the demons,” Marene said with a definite air of smugness. Did she think this was something to brag about? he wondered.

  “I had no need of their aid, and plenty of power of my own, so I turned them down. Then that off-world alien witch, the Lady Techu, came and stole the Prince right out from beneath my nose.” Marene’s voice turned cold and angry as she spoke of Karma. “Zakiel could see no one but her, hear no one but her, think of no one but her. He was completely besotted. I soon realized that my power was not enough to stop what had begun, so I turned to the demons, and accepted their bargain.”

  “You thought that the demons could give you the power to make Zakiel love you?” Bredon asked.

  “Of course not,” Marene said disdainfully. “Demons know nothing of love. But they could give me the power to destroy Lady Techu. And they did.”

  “But it didn’t work,” Bredon said.

  “It would have, had your precious little Kapia not interfered,” Marene said.

  Bredon’s heart skipped a beat. “What did Kapia do?”

  “I was winning the battle between myself and Lady Techu until she jumped in and struck a killing blow to my head,” Marene said. “From behind, I should add. I confess that I have no tender feelings for your beloved Kapia. She destroyed my body, forcing me to inhabit first a demon, and then you. In many ways, you could say your current situation is her fault.”

  Bredon grimaced. Marene’s reasoning was so twisted it was difficult to follow and nearly impossible to understand. “So you became demon because you were angry, and you needed more power to get the revenge you craved.”

  “Exactly,” Marene said, sounding relieved. “I did not choose to become evil, Bredon. I simply needed more power.”

  Bredon nearly gaped at this leap of immoral, self-serving logic. Somehow, she’d managed to categorize her need for power, (in order to murder an innocent woman), as something other than evil. Not only did it make sense in her mind, she expected it to make sense to him, as well.

  “I see,” he said, his voice sounding strangled to his own ears. He took a moment to collect himself. When he was sure he could speak calmly, he continued. “I do not understand why you want me to know this, Marene.”

  Marene was silent for a long time. Bredon carefully probed her emotions and found them mixed. Worry. Trepidation. Fear.

  He decided to wait her out. A few minutes later, she began to speak.

  “When we reach the center of Darkly Fen, and find the scepter, we will part company,” she said. “At that time we will both face a decision.”

  “A decision about what?”

  “Whether or not to kill each other,” Marene said.

  “Yes, I’m sure that will be a thought that goes through my mind,” Bredon said. He’d actually decided to do that about two minutes after she’d told him about the scepter, but that was another one of those things she didn’t need to know.

  “I think we should agree to let each other walk away,” Marene said.

  “Why?” Bredon asked.

  “Because, as I’ve just explained, I’m not evil, Bredon,” Marene said. “I know this hasn’t been easy for you, and I’d hate to repay you for all you’ve done by killing you.”

  Bredon’s eyes widened in shock as the truth slipped into his mind along with her spoken words. She couldn’t kill him without destroying herself! But why? He reached for more, but got nothing.

  “I should not kill you because even though you’ve made a pact with the demons, you are not evil,” Bredon said, delving for more information. “And what is your reason for not killing me?”

  “Like it or not, Bredon, you and I are connected now,” she said. “We cannot do harm to one another without suffering for it.”

  Bredon knew instantly that she was telling the truth, and he hated the knowledge. “How are we connected?” he demanded.

  “I don’t think it can be explained,” she said. “Believe me, Bredon, we are connected. Should we attempt to kill each other, we will destroy ourselves as well.”

  “How am I to know you are telling me the truth?” he asked, though he knew she was. There was something a little wrong with what she’d said, but he wasn’t sure what it was. For the most part, he believed her. “How do I know you won’t kill me the moment I turn my back on you?”

  “I would,” Marene admitted easily. “If I could.”

  “Now that, I believe,” Bredon said.

  “Think on it,” Marene said. “I am going to rest now. We will reach our destination soon and I will need my energy for what must come next.”

  Bredon waited until he was certain that Marene had gone to sleep, or whatever one could call what she did. When he was certain that she was unconscious, he went over all that she’d said, and the feelings he’d gotten from her as she spoke. In the end, he came to two conclusions.

  The first was that Marene had actually been attempting to elicit some sympathy from him, probably in an effort to convince him not to kill her. Second, she was, for the most part, telling the truth when she said that they would destroy themselves if they tried to kill each other. The lie in her words didn’t matter. The risk of destroying himself by trying to kill her was too great. It made far more sense to walk away when he got the chance, and live to fight her another day.

  There was a part of him
that rose up in objection, but he silenced it ruthlessly. All other considerations aside, he was in no condition, mentally or physically, to engage in battle with a demon. With that argument, the grumbling voices of his conscience fell silent.

  ***

  It was mid afternoon when Zakiel crested the long, steep grade that had taken them the entire day to climb. He was relieved to see a broad flat area just large enough for a campsite since everyone was exhausted from the climb. He rode toward the edge of the hilltop and looked down into a long, wide valley. In the distance were two mountains, one to the east, and one to the west, each about two to three days ride away. Those were the First and Third Sisters. To the north, directly in front of them where the second sister should have been, was nothing. Just the valley stretching into the distance.

  He was surprised by the strength of his disappointment. He’d known that the mountain they were traveling to no longer existed, but he’d hoped, in some part of his mind, that they would find it anyway. He’d believed that when they topped the rise they’d struggled along all day, their reward would be the missing mountain, Yamun Sennet, the Hidden Sister.

  “What will we do now, Highness?” Garundel asked from beside him.

  “Make camp,” Zakiel said tiredly. “In the morning we will go down into the valley where the mountain is supposed to be.”

  “Yes, Highness,” Garundel said. He turned his diplo around to face the waiting caravan and gave the signal to make camp. Karma, Kapia, and Tiari rode toward Zakiel, but everyone else dismounted and began the task of setting up camp.

  “Perhaps we’ll find something tomorrow that will tell us how to proceed,” Karma suggested as she reined in beside Zakiel.

  Tiari frowned. “I don’t understand,” she said.

  “What do you not understand?” Tomas asked, as he reined his diplo in beside Tiari’s.

  “I thought we were searching for three mountains, side by side,” she said.

  “We are,” Karma said.

  “Then why is everyone so upset?” Tiari asked in confusion.

  Tomas, Zakiel and Kapia all frowned at her, but Karma smiled. “You see it, don’t you?” she asked.

  “You do not?” Tiari asked in surprise.

  “You see three mountains?” Zakiel demanded. “Truly?”

  “Yes,” Tiari said, raising one arm and pointing. “One, two, three,” she said, moving her arm as she counted from west, to north, to east.

  “It is the mountain in the middle that we can’t see,” Zakiel said. “Does it look the same as the other two?”

  “No, it doesn’t,” Tiari said. “The two distant mountains are green and brown, with a bit of white at the tip, more on the eastern mountain than the western. But the mountain in front of us is completely white from top to bottom. It’s going to be cold there.”

  “Then we shall dress warmly,” Tomas said.

  Zakiel frowned. “You plan to join us?” he asked.

  “Yes, of course,” Tomas said. “Is there a reason why I should not?”

  “I don’t know,” Zakiel said. “When we went to claim the Moon Orb, we had Worrow there to tell us what needed to be done. The boat would carry only three specific people, so there was no question of who should go, and who should stay behind. This time, we have no such assistance.”

  “In my place, would you stay behind?” Tomas asked.

  “No, I wouldn’t,” Zakiel said. “So long as there is nothing to prevent Tiari from claiming the Sun Orb if you are present, then of course you shall go.”

  Tomas nodded, greatly relieved. He did not want to argue with Zakiel, or do anything to break the peace between them, but neither would he consent to stay back while Tiari went into danger. The incident at the river was only three days past, far too fresh in his mind to consider such a thing.

  “If I could see how far away that mountain is, I would know whether to leave our campsite here, or move it into the valley,” Zakiel said.

  Tiari’s eyes widened as she realized the full implications of what the Prince had just said. “If you cannot see it, then I will have to go alone, won’t I?” she asked, trying not to sound as frightened as she felt by that prospect.

  “You will not go alone,” Tomas declared firmly.

  “How are you to climb a mountain you cannot see?” Tiari asked.

  “How do you move around at night when you can’t see?” Tomas retorted. “I admit it may not be easy, but you will not go alone.”

  Tiari was relieved, but at the same time, afraid for Tomas. This was her task, and she had to be brave.

  “Tomas,” Karma interrupted. “Let’s try something.”

  Tiari and Tomas both turned to look at her. “Touch Tiari’s hand, then try to see the mountain.”

  Both Tiari and Tomas held their hands out to each other, both willing to try anything. From the expression on Tomas’s face, the experiment failed.

  “Oh,” Tiari said suddenly. “Here, Tomas, try holding this.” She slipped the rainbow bracelet off of her wrist and handed it to Tomas. The moment his fingers touched it, he gasped aloud, then grinned.

  “That did it,” he said. “I can see it perfectly. Here, Cousin, you try,” he added, leaning over his diplo to hand the bracelet to Zakiel.

  “Can you still see it, Tiari?” Karma asked while Zakiel studied the invisible mountain.

  “Yes, I can,” Tiari said. “I’m surprised actually. I thought that the reason I could see it was the bracelet, but obviously that’s not the case.”

  “Here’s the fun part,” Tomas said. “Zakiel, hand the ring to Karma.”

  Zakiel wasn’t finished studying the mountain, but he did as Tomas requested and handed the ring over to Karma. He followed her gaze to the mountain that she could now see, and grinned. “Yes, Tomas,” he said. “You’re right. This is the fun part.”

  “Fun part?” Tiari asked, watching as Karma handed the ring to Kapia.

  “Now that we’ve seen it with the ring, we can see it without the ring,” Tomas explained.

  Tiari smiled with relief. “That must be the ring’s purpose then. I confess, I was afraid to go to that mountain alone.”

  “Yet, you would have done it, if necessary,” Tomas said, smiling at her now that he knew it was not going to be an issue.

  “Yes,” Tiari replied. “It is my duty to claim the Sun Orb.”

  “As it is my self-proclaimed duty to watch over you and keep you safe,” Tomas reminded her.

  “I wonder,” Zakiel said, “shall we let the rest of the Hunters see the mountain as well?”

  “Yes,” Tomas said. “Somehow, I think that if they are not meant to see it, then they won’t be able to.”

  “Agreed,” Zakiel said accepting the ring from Kapia and handing it back to Tomas. “The mountain is far closer than I imagined, only a couple of hours travel from here. I think we should camp here tonight, as planned, and take advantage of the remaining light to give the Hunters a chance to see the mountain. In the morning, we will move the camp into the valley. From there, the four of us will go to the mountain, leaving everyone else in camp until we figure out what’s next.”

  “Five,” Kapia corrected her brother.

  “You mean to go?” Zakiel asked in surprise.

  “Yes,” Kapia replied.

  “Sister, you have claimed your orb. I think it best that you remain in camp, where it is safe.”

  “I would probably agree with you,” Kapia said. Then she shrugged. “Or not. Either way, I am meant to go, so that is what I shall do.”

  Zakiel shook his head with frustration. He did not want Kapia putting herself in further danger, but he could not argue with her reason. If she said that she was meant to do this, he could only believe her.

  “Tomas, please speak with Garundel about the ring and decide the best way to get everyone to hold it,” he said.

  Tomas bowed his head. “Yes, Highness.”

  ***

  Bredon had no idea how long he rode before he realized that t
he fog seemed to be thinning. But no, that wasn’t quite right. Not thinning, but lightening. He urged his diplo to a faster walk. Did this mean there would be sunlight in the center of this place? He fervently hoped so. Not only was he tired of the cold, damp, darkness, he also felt closed in by the fog, unable to see more than a couple of feet in front of his diplo’s nose.

  A few moments later he was certain that the fog was, indeed, lightening. He nudged Marene awake, receiving the usual grumbling, which he ignored.

  “We’re almost there,” he said. “It’s growing light.”

  “Finally,” Marene said. “You certainly took your time about it.”

  “Be quiet, Marene, or I shall change my mind about agreeing to your truce,” he said.

  “You’ll agree to walk away peacefully?” she asked after a long silence.

  “Yes, if you will, though why I should trust you I have no idea,” he said.

  “I could say the same of you,” Marene said. “Why are you agreeing?”

  “Because you convinced me that you are not that much different than myself,” Bredon said. “Besides, after living with you in my head these past weeks, I find the idea of destroying you to be less appealing than I expected it would be.”

  “Yes, I know what you mean,” Marene said. Bredon hoped that his lies sounded more convincing to her than hers did to him.

  “Is this center going to be empty, or are we meeting someone there?” Bredon asked.

  “If there were anyone to meet, they would not have asked me to retrieve the scepter,” Marene said.

  Bredon froze for a long moment, stunned to silence.

  “What is wrong?” Marene asked.

  “Nothing,” he said, attempting to speak normally though his mouth was suddenly dry with fear. “Just a little tired is all. I’m glad that this is almost done.”

  A few moments later the diplo stepped out of the fog and into bright sunlight. The fog bank stayed just beyond an invisible line, the same as it did on the outside, looking for all the world like a gigantic curving wall, perfectly straight and even from the ground up to the sky.