Light Bringer (The Young Ancients: Second Cycle Book 2)

by Power, P. S.

  These beings were stout that way, and looked well armored, when standing close up. Like they grew their own armor.

  "I think that it would be most proper for you to attend with us? There are five people above us. This room will transport us there in about four or five minutes." He looked directly into the red eyes of the creature in front of him. "Brice is one of the mechanical people? Like Lyone here. Then there is Prince Alphonse, who is the representative of Noram, as well as the Ancient of the Martian Circle, Sara Debri, The Ancient of Noram, Sam Builder, and The Ancient of Vagus, Torrance Baker. They aren't that violent or anything like that, but if anything happens, I'll protect you, the Ysidril, while you retreat. Lenn is standing for the Mechanical people and Lyone for the Forten."

  That got a stir, but no one corrected him on it.

  "It isn't a mistake. There have been tensions there. Ones that, from the outside, don't seem needed now. You all need to work together better. Shall we go?"

  When they got in, he leaned toward Lenn who was about ten feet away from him, the space being nearly twenty across now. The lift tube.

  "Was I too pushy with the whole change up thing?"

  That got a chuckle from several people, including the brown haired Forten woman. She spoke, from the other side of him, given that everyone had spread out a bit.

  "No. That was about the right thing. Taking charge, and showing your power, while in the same breath mentioning peaceful intentions, and offering protection. Most mistake threat with strength."

  Lyone had to translate for her people, and moved in, holding their right hands, one by one. When that was done, the youngest seeming person there, who seemed to be about his own age, and looked like a commoner boy, being dark skinned and short, smiled at him, then the Forten who had spoken.

  "Then you are concerned with the outcome of what you said. That is a promising beginning. I am... First of the ninth section, Sub Heading Eleven. Designation LYS, Seven."

  Dareg smiled and bowed at the man. If that was his name, things were going to be hard to manage. Luckily he kept talking then, after Lyone moved back and cleared her throat at him. Probably reminding him to act human, even if he wasn't.

  At least the small, dark colored man smiled, and tried to look like he was breathing. Lyone was perfect that way, but these people didn't take in air all the time, it was clear.

  "Call me Link. All my friends do."

  That got a snort from the red haired Forten, She was distinctive, and far more pale than most were. At least those from back home. Tor and most of the Baker family were close that way. There was pink and cream colors involved in it. Her face was thin, and held a sense of understanding that was a bit questioning.

  "Sure, sure... When you want help it's call me Link. When it's me it's just LYS Seven, and you act hurt if I address you as anything else."

  That got a nod, and a snarky look in that direction.

  "As I said, my friends."

  Looking across the space, Dareg shook his head.

  "Stop that. You're all in one group, and need to be working together. Don't tear down your own friends." It made sense to him, and there was a move from most of the groups, all at once. The Forten straightened, the mechanical people closed down a bit, looking upset, and the Ysidril... They all laughed. It had the feeling of a strained thing that wasn't natural, and looked like they were all getting ready to bite someone, but it was clear they were trying to make a point.

  No one spoke after that, until the wall opened at the top, and he led them out, waving for the green and purple scaled people first.

  "Everyone? These are the Ysidril. They're in charge here. These others are annoying me, bickering over things that probably aren't real. Lyone, would you do the introductions for your side of this?"

  A lot of people glared at him, on both sides of the bridge, except his new buddies. The scaled ones moved to stand directly behind him. Which made sense, being he was there to protect them. It was clear from where they looked, which was at the floor, and not any of the new people. They were working very hard not to be fearsome seeming, or scare the people in the room.

  Alphonse moved forward and bowed, toward the Ysidril first, then shifted to the others, making certain to bend his large form in a deep manner. Dareg did it back, and the scaled ones followed along with him, nearly perfectly. As different as they looked, they were clearly working the hardest to go along with what was being done from the others. It meant that everyone from Earth was bowing politely, and the Forten with brown hair and eyes did too, followed after a bit by everyone else.

  It was clear that the mechanical people and most of the Forten were annoyed by the strange gesture. Lyone stood first, getting everyone else too, and stepped forward.

  "This isn't a group of our leaders, since we came in at the wrong location for that to happen quickly. These people are the highest local leaders from the nearest ship world. Seven. From my people we have LYS Seven." The man stepped toward the others, looking up at the tall men. Actually, he had to glance well upward toward Sara.

  "I greet you, for my people." Then he smiled a bit, and stepped backward again.

  Without hesitation, since it was clear that Lyone didn't know the name, the brown haired woman moved forward and bowed.

  "I don't think I'm known here? I'm Leslie Camp. Local leader of the Forten."

  Alphonse bowed back, getting everyone to do the same.

  Then one of the Ysidril, staring at the floor, moved in the same fashion, bowing low.

  "I'm called Hess. We, the Ysidril, rule as a collective body, but I have your language best. Are we not introducing everyone?"

  Lyone winced, but Leslie smiled and shook her head. It wasn't an unkind thing.

  "Honestly, I don't think we should. These new people represent a possible alliance, but also a potential threat. Best we leaders take the brunt of their ire, if it comes. Three deaths will be forgiven more easily than ten. We all knew when we came here today that death might be our reward."

  Alphonse looked a bit worried for a moment, but Tor smiled and bowed again.

  "Because, when meeting new and different beings you can't understand how they might respond? The way they say hello could be, I don't know, ripping off your arms or something along those lines?" He watched Leslie, who spread her hands slightly at the words.

  "A bit like that. You don't do that, do you?"

  "Not at all. We do have food. I think we can all eat it? I'm Tor, by the way, and this man is Prince Alphonse Cordes. He's the emissary to your people from Noram, on Earth. Sam Builder is their Ancient, and Sara is here representing Mars, being the Ancient of the Martian Circle."

  Each one was indicated as they were announced, and Lyone smiled a bit, and then gestured to Tor himself.

  "This one is Torrance Baker. The Ancient of Vagus. That's... Really, it's the designation of the power behind the rulers of each land. So we have about a quarter of their ruling structure right here. Tor is the one that used his magic to fight the Adversaries that attacked. Did you receive the report on that yet? I don't think the hyper relay..."

  There was a dead silence in the room, and finally Hess spoke, he, or she if that was the case, seeming stilted now.

  "There was a battle against the darkness, and a being lived to tell of it?"

  Lenn nodded, and waved toward Dare for some reason.

  "Tor is a great wizard, which means maker of powerful magics. He worked out a way to bend time, that allowed him and Captain Dareg to take the battle to the enemy directly. Then others came to aid them. Over half of the original combatants died, to take out two of the enemy. Thankfully the Captain here had the presence of mind to write down what had happened before it faded completely. We have that written account. I have a copy with me. Let me..." He dug into his bag, and retrieved a focus stone tablet. Then he passed it to Leslie.

  After a few moments, about three minutes, with her people reading over her shoulder, the thing was passed to the mechanical people, who did th
e same. One of them toward the back shook his head. He looked older, and like he should have been in charge, based on that.

  "Is this verifiable?"

  Lyone winced, and glared at the fellow a bit.

  "I was there to see the aftermath. Within seconds of it happening. So was Brice. Tor and Dareg nearly died. As it stood, Dare was nearly a month healing and is still feeling the effects of it all. We shouldn't doubt their word." There was nothing sinister in what she was saying, but it was clear she was trying to get people not to give offense.

  Which was a good plan. It was annoying being called a liar, even if Dareg kind of understood what was happening. It was certain that these people had rarely, if ever, won against the darkness, as they called their enemy. So looking at him, or even the very handsome Tor, it was easiest for them to simply think they were telling tales to make themselves look good, rather than that something new and different had taken place.

  Alphonse bowed to the collected people there.

  "Most of our magic didn't work at all against these beings. The men, if they were that, were fitting in seamlessly, until one of them was called out. He should have simply accepted any punishment that he might have had for it, since we didn't know he was, well, what he was, until he started fighting. Given their powers escaping justice would have worked as well. Then, they probably expected to win, and walk from the room anyway, so I guess I can see that as a plan. The other one, Bill, as we knew him, had won a position as a squire, and could have used that to walk into the halls of power, if that event hadn't taken place. So we won more than once that way. At grave cost. I lost three friends in that battle."

  Tor looked sad, and so did the others there. The Ysidril bowed as one. It wasn't the wrong move, really. They weren't perfect at it, but the prince did it back, along with the others.

  "Thank you. Now, I understand that we have a demonstration of magic for you and some gifts? Food as well." He gestured with a closed hand toward the table where things were arrayed. No one moved however.

  That one hadn't been planned out at all. They had the things, but no way to demonstrate them, or indicate that it was all good and wholesome as far as the refreshments went.

  "Brice, would it be all right if you did that part? So that everyone knows none of these are weapons, or meant to do harm?"

  The small, youthful seeming machine just moved toward the side of the table with all the white ceramic bowls on them.

  "The magic of Earth is most often placed on objects to carry it around. Amulets, and small carried devices, unless the thing is meant to be more permanent. For instance they can carry large amounts of liquid water through the air, while inside a gravity well, in an interesting manner. The solid component of those systems are a bit bigger, I hear."

  Picking up one of the bowls, this one with several pink glowing lines on the outside, he tapped it without warning.

  "You have to want to turn it on." The thing began to glow then, brightly, like the sun. The light came into being about a foot from the bowl itself, and Brice chuckled as he turned it off. "Now I have spots in front of my eyes! If left on it will run, at that level, until the field fails in about..." He glanced at Sam Builder, who stepped in and touched the side of the thing.

  "This one, in particular? I think it should be good for ten years or so. That's pretty good work, actually. Dareg made these last night." He didn't go on, but Sara did, smiling a little.

  "Most lights like that, would be on metal plates and last three to five years. The greater the skill and power of the one making the copy, the longer it can last. Do the soap next. Then the plates. I always enjoy those."

  Brice had to be guided to the right one, but the people were suitably impressed when things started to appear. It was harder to show off the earth moving devices there, or the water pumps, but no one seemed too upset. Then without asking, since it was the plan, Brice handed the dishes out to everyone so they could try it themselves. That part was interesting, since all of them, machine, alien or Forten, had no real problems working the magical devices.

  That had been a bit of a worry for him, particularly with the Ysidril.

  Before anyone could ask any questions, Brice moved to the wall, where there was an inset box-like hole. Touching the glowing sigils next to it, he created a few more dishes. There was more variety this time, and he started with soup, that came with a bowl and ended with a dish that looked like glistening yams.

  "This kind of device takes water, rocks, dust even, and turns it into food on command. It doesn't even take energy to use. There's no reactor core on this vessel. It's all made of magic. Everything." He looked a bit awed then, and so did the people watching. Except the Ysidril, who looked around and then made a strange sound that was a bit like a squeak and a hiss combined.

  It was creepy, but didn't seem angry or anything somehow.

  Hess touched Dareg on the arm, gently.

  "You can make such things? The food creation devices?"

  "Not yet. I'm just learning how and those are really hard to do. Like the jump ships are. We only have a small handful of people that can make either of them."

  That got Hess to close his eyes, still holding Dareg by the arm. Suddenly it opened them, and stared at its hand, removed it quickly and stepped back.

  "Forgive me! I mean no invasion of your person." The tone carried fear then. Not at seeing new magics that probably didn't make sense, but forgetting itself and touching him had caused it to a great degree.

  So Dareg bowed.

  "There was no invasion." Then he looked over at Tor, and the still active handheld.

  "We should pass out the communications devices. They'll let you talk to people on Earth, or the Moon. Other places as well. Timon? You're on Harmony right now?"

  There was a bit of a stir then when Tor's hand started speaking. Not because they didn't understand the idea, but due to the claim of distance.

  "For the moment. In about ten hours I'm going to Austra. Go figure, they expect their Revered One to actually work. Or, more to the point, they have things they need help with, and haven't mentioned that I move my lazy behind at all, but it still needs to be done. Don't sit on the food devices though." There was no hint of rebuke in the words, just a sense of a person trying to get things underway.

  Dareg rolled his eyes, and then smiled.

  "We have a few thousand food units ready to go. They're much larger than the ones here, and don't make the same variety of food, but working full time they can feed about ten, maybe twenty, thousand people. Tor and Timon have agreed to make enough for all your people, but it will take them a while, since they have their jobs to see to as well. A few months?" He looked at Tor, who shrugged back.

  It was a big thing that made his black tunic shift, showing some muscle underneath it.

  "Call it six months? We can go a bit faster, if you need it? We won't let our friends, even new ones, starve or suffer from lack, if we can help it." Then he moved to the bag behind him, and started pulling focus stone items.

  "I brought a hundred handhelds. We should break into groups and play with those for a bit?"

  Dareg smiled, and moved in, grabbing a few of them, then moving back to his people. The scaled Ysidril. The others were all right, but it was clear that these people were the nice ones.

  "These can only contact other handhelds in their own system. Once we set these up... here, I'll do one for you Hess? Let's see..." It took a few seconds to get that into place, and then Dare moved in shoulder to shoulder with the being. It had several thick arms and went still when he did it, but didn't move away or act like Dareg was trying to get the thing into bed. A hint of cinnamon scented warm breath came from its mouth. That was a bit moist, but only like a horse or donkey might have been. "Let's see... Here, I know, let's get in touch with Queen Tiera?" It was probably mid-night on the Moon, but of the people he could have aliens simply get in touch with, who wouldn't freak out on seeing them, she was probably near the top of the list.

&
nbsp; Passing the unit over, he let the being use its own thick finger to tab the name.

  After a few moments Tiera appeared on the screen. She looked at Hess, and jumped a bit, then smiled.

  "Hello?"

  Dare stuck his head into the shot, nearly lying it on one of the Ysidril's lower arms to be seen.

  "Queen Tiera, of the Moon, this noble being is Hess, of the Ysidril. They don't really have leaders, I guess? So Hess has volunteered to work with us, so we won't frighten the rest of the Ysidril, being abrupt and annoying like we are." He smiled and shook his head. "Those are my words, not theirs. They are most polite. So are the other groups here. I've been going around being pushy and highly undiplomatic and no one has beaten me yet, or anything. I'm supposed to go and pick up some food units that Timon has? Can I bring Hess and his friends along? Any of the others that want to come too? Oh... Do you have a jump ship they can have? Hess, I mean? I'm sure they'll want to study them." If they just shared, then it would be harder for these beings to feel they were hiding things from them.

  Tiera bowed toward his just enough for it to be real.

  "I can spare a few. They don't have weapons, being the new Timon build. Like yours? You'll be responsible for teaching them how to use them?"

  Dareg got what she was doing, and sighed.

  "Sure. I have a lot to do, but we need to be here for our friends. Even if it does mean I end up not getting to sleep for half a year. I can do it."

  Tiera grinned at him, and then bowed toward Hess. It was a subtle thing, but the being bent awkwardly in return.

  "Ambassador Hess. Would you be available for a visit soon? Not today, perhaps, but we can send Prince Dareg to bring you here, or some other location? I know that everyone will want to meet with you. All of you."

  The being opened its mouth, laughing.

  "I would be most pleased to do such. So would all here, I'm certain. I... Did not know that Captain Dareg was a prince. Alphonse is a prince... That means... Ruler?"

  That got a conversation going about what prince, and princess meant, then King, Queen and some other titles. Tiera spoke for a bit, but Hess seemed to be picking it all up with very little correction being needed. It was a bit hard to tell, given the differences. One of the mechanical people managed to slide near them, holding her own handheld out.