The UnFolding Collection Three

by S. K. Randolph

  Anada filled him in.

  He frowned. “Sure wish I could go with her.”

  Teva joined them. “I do, too, but not for this, Sagus. Kieel is our best bet. I’ll help him enter the building where the Mocendi are in hiding. Hopefully, he can find out how many of them there are.”

  “It would help to know if they have any more Reach ampules, too. Probably impossible…” Sagus shrugged.

  “We’ll do our best.” Teva addressed Kieel. “I’ll shift. You ride on my back. Make yourself as small as possible.” To Jordett she said, “Anything else you can think of?”

  “Whatever you can discover. Don’t put yourselves at risk. Understood, Kieel?”

  The Nyti squared his shoulders. “I am always circumspect, Major.”

  Teva shifted. Kieel mounted the dove’s back and wrapped an arm around her neck. In his other hand, he clutched his walking stick.

  Jordett watched them grow smaller and smaller. “You’d better be circumspect, my friend.”

  Kieel refrained from looking down. He had never thought of himself as afraid of heights, but sitting at the top of a tall tree was a very different thing from soaring above a city. The dove swooped to a rooftop. Kieel lifted off its back and hovered to one side. Teva appeared, frowning.

  “We’ve been detected. At least I have, so listen carefully. The Mocendi are hiding in the upper most apartment. I’ll take you that far and cause a disturbance. When they come out, you slip inside. If I can’t come back to get you, follow the path of the sun for seven blocks. Jordett is on the left. You’ll recognize the building. Be careful, Kieel. This is not a game. These men are not above torture to obtain what they want. Keep your thoughts blank, find out what you can, and get out at the first opportunity. I have enclosed you in an illusion of invisibility. If they sense it, it will dissolve so stay out of sight.”

  She pulled open a door and jogged down steps that ended at a long hallway. “There are two apartments. You want the one on the right. Ready?”

  “Be careful, my lady.” He shot to the top of the doorframe.

  She slammed the roof top door. Leaving it flung wide, she pounded up the stairs. The apartment door flew open. Two men sprinted down the hall and into the stairwell.

  Kieel fluttered to the top of the apartment door and peered inside. Two Mocendi sat across the luxurious, blue room, their attention trained on the hallway. Afraid to move, he waited. Jogging footsteps pounded down the stairs. The men reappeared one behind the other.

  “I’m telling you someone shifted up there,” the taller of the two growled over his shoulder. He shoved the door further open and strode into the room.

  The second man followed. “You’re just looking for trouble, Thorlu. No one could have made it through the wards we put up.”

  Kieel shot to the top of a cornice and squatted low as the door clicked shut. The men gathered around the table, talking in low voices. They were a disparate bunch—tall and short, old and young. The man called Thorlu, the tallest, was good looking, well-dressed, and in his middle cycles. His companion was dumpy, short, and younger than the others. The two remaining men, older and more weathered, listened with frustration etched in deep lines around their eyes and mouths.

  “If our presence has been discovered, we need to move faster.” The Mocendi at the far end of the table pushed his chair back and paced to a window. “I want control of the Five Towers by turning’s end. Once we are installed there and the city is ours, we’ll reopen the portal the Guardian closed when she arrived in Myrrh.” He returned to his seat. A wicked smile lit his face. “Almiralyn’s domain will be ours for the taking.”

  The blood in Kieel’s veins turned to ice at the thought of the Mocendi League in control of his home. Clutching his walking stick with shaking hands, he began to explore the apartment.

  At first, he thought his search might be futile. The last sleeping space, however, produced several things of interest. On one end of a chest of drawers, a black lacquer box sat beside its lid. Three small vials, one empty and two containing an amorphous, gray-black vapor, glistened in the dark purple interior. Kieel studied the box. Can The MasTer see me? He shot higher, gripped his walking stick tighter, and hovered a moment longer before diving down for a closer look at the opposite end of the dresser.

  Beneath a black cloth something round—something that emanated evil like the sun emanated warmth—tickled his curiosity. He landed on the back of a chair across the room and stared.

  “Come.”

  The soft word in his mind urged him forward. Fear shivered through his small body. Ignoring it, he fluttered to the dresser, propped his walking stick against the mirror, and dropped to hands and knees. Revulsion hit him like a tidal wave. He sat back on his heels. Jordett’s last statement echoed through his mind: “Don’t put yourself at risk.”

  “There is nothing to fear. It cannot harm you.” The caressing words erased Jordett’s. Lifting the corner of the cloth, he peeked, saw a vague reflection of his face on the surface of a smoky crystal ball, smelled the odor of burned flesh, and whizzed into the air, his heart pounding so hard he couldn’t think. Struggling to keep himself airborne, he pumped terror-weakened wings until he landed, breathless and shaking, on the top of a wardrobe as far away from the chest of drawers as possible.

  Numbed fingers plucked at his chest. “Control yourself, Kieel,” he scolded. “If you get caught, you will disappoint yourself and everyone else.”

  Straining to keep his mind blank and his eyes away from the ball, he stared down at the box with the vials. Wish I could take you with me. Can’t, so what?

  The door flew open and the youngest man strode into the room. Intense, dark eyes searched floor to ceiling. A frown of annoyance replace his initial expression of eager expectation. Pivoting on his heels, he marched into the main room. “Nothing. I felt certain—”

  “We told you that you’re imagining things.” The voice held a strong note of impatience. “Now, sit down and let’s finish our plans.”

  A chair creaked. The discussion resumed. Kieel let out a breath, flew to the box with the ampules, and lifted one in hands he forced to be steady. Working with efficient speed, he hid it on the top of the wardrobe. He rolled the second one under the dresser. As much as he wanted to smash the crystal ball, he gave it a wide berth, grabbed his walking stick, and returned to the main room.

  Hidden behind a large vase of fake, blue flowers, he settled down to eavesdrop.

  Almiralyn’s heart thrummed an exuberant song. She grabbed Sparrow’s hand and pulled her into the Reading Room.

  “He’s alive! Corvus! Thanks to Emit for this gift.” Giggling like a young girl, she hugged Sparrow, stepped back, and grinned. “I have been so afraid of losing him—that he would never know how much he means to me.” Happiness danced through her entire being. “I wish he were here. At least I know he’s back.”

  Elae entered from the research level, her brow wrinkled in consternation. She hurried toward them, started to say something, hesitated, and smiled at Almiralyn.

  “You look happy, Mira.” Realization brightened her eyes. She grinned. “Corvus? Is he alright?”

  “He is. I’m so relieved, but you look worried.”

  Elae held out a scroll. “I think you should see this. I can read some of it, but my TreBlayan is sketchy at best.”

  Almiralyn carried it to an alcove, sat down, and carefully unrolled it. Aware only of the information it contained, she barely noticed Sparrow and Elae join her at the table or the arrival of Wilith, Merrilea, and Zugo.

  An unknown word brought her up short. Frowning, she read ahead. Its meaning continued to mystify her. She reread the confusing paragraph. Ah. Ginori equals origin . As she continued to read, the room faded. A vision took its place.

  On the apex of a huge mound of earth rising high above a dark and barren landscape, the glowing form of a woman raised her voice in a glorious song of creation. As the final note diminished, she knelt, kissed the ground, and faded from
sight. Life stirred. The soft green of new plant growth pushed up through the rich soil. Flowers burst into bloom, covering the mound with color. Saplings sprouted around it and shot upward. Birds took flight. Creatures crawled up the sides of the mound, eyes aglow, tongues licking the air. The sounds of creeks and streams, waterfalls, and oceans infused the air. Wind sang through the branches of full grown trees, and all life celebrated birth.

  Almiralyn continued to read. Time raced forward. The planet of TreBlaya at the outer edge of the Inner Universe flourished until a rag-tag band of strangers arrived from beyond the DéCussate. Again the text blurred and images flooded her mind.

  A towering, black-cloaked form now stood atop the Mound of Ginori. As the setting sun colored the horizon fiery gold, scrambling figures pushed their way into the gaping mouth of an underground cave at its base. When the last had disappeared, the figure raised clenched fists and started to chant. The mound began to shake; the ground to quake. Blackened fingers uncurled. Acid rain surged from their tips, soaking the landscape and destroying everything in its path. Rancid fumes poisoned the air. The scent of burning flesh wafted over the land.

  A deep laugh mingled with the screams of the dying. The figure shifted. A massive bird of prey took flight. Feathers the color of evergreen pressed against the smoldering air. Amber eyes glowed in a mask of red. A wicked beak opened in a screech that toppled the mound to a pile of rubble. Circling wide, it landed near a blazing pit. A small figure materialized, tucked a braid beneath its cloak, and grew to its former size, looming above the land like a demonic fiend. With a final laugh it vanished in a cloud of smoke.

  Almiralyn’s throat burned as her lungs filled with fresh air. She blinked and brought her gaze to the faces of those who stared at her.

  “Merrilea, Wilith, Zugo, I didn’t know you had joined us.”

  Zugo pointed at the scroll. “We want to know what it says, too. Besides, it’s time for a break.” He grinned. “And a snack.”

  Wilith laughed. “You sound like Torgin.” Sobering, he indicated the scroll. “Could you read it, Almiralyn?”

  “It is, in part, the creation myth of TreBlaya.” She fought a lingering sense of dislocation and struggled to describe what she had seen.

  Elae touched her arm. “Are you alright?”

  “Just feeling disoriented.” She gave herself a mental shake to cleanse her thoughts of what she had seen and focused back in the present. “What is of importance to us is the final section, which states that the planet would be reborn in fire and that DosWah would become its master.” She shared the second part of her vision.

  When she finished, shock seemed to hold everyone silent.

  Finally, Sparrow raised a troubled gaze. “The figure in your vision… Was it The Mas—” She shivered.

  “I believe, from what I have read and what you have already discovered, that it was indeed The MasTer.”

  Wilith frowned. “Does that mean The MasTer is DosWah?”

  Almiralyn shook her head. “No.”

  “What is DosWah?” Sparrow asked.

  “DosWah is the shadow side of nature.” Almiralyn smoothed the curled end of the scroll. “In order to restore balance and abundance to TreBlaya and its solar system, Trilemma—that which integrates DosWah into wholeness—must be re-established.”

  Merrilea frowned. “Does that mean we must rid the Inner Universe of DosWah?”

  Wilith cleared his throat. “My research suggests that ridding the Inner Universe of DosWah is not the goal. Light without shadow or vice versa creates imbalance. Light comes from darkness. From the midst of light, darkness appears. It is not destroying DosWah that is important. It is maintaining a level of balance that allows the Universe to thrive that is vital.” He grew thoughtful. “In order to defeat The MasTer and restore balance, do we personally have to fight him?”

  Almiralyn picked up the scroll, reread a section, rolled it up, and set it on the table. “We don’t. What we must to do is remove as many resources as we can from The MasTer’s reach. We have to find Renn Whalend before the Mocendi do. We must protect the children at all costs, as well as Evolsefil, Efillaeh, the Stone of Remembering, and the Compass of Ostradio. Others will fight the final fight.”

  “Is this part of The Unfolding?” Zugo swiveled in his chair and looked at her.

  Almiralyn arched her brows. “We will only know the answer to that as The Unfolding continues.”

  Sparrow tugged at a stray curl. “I’m still not sure I understand what exactly The Unfolding is.”

  Almiralyn smiled at Elae. “Would you like to explain?”

  “I can try.” After a short pause, she began.

  “We have been taught that The Unfolding is a revelatory time when one’s weaknesses are magnified and one’s strengths are tested. It is the time when talents are revealed and developed out of necessity. If one is unable to withstand the testing of one’s strengths—if weakness becomes the ruling factor in a life—that life is at risk. The goal is Individual Trilemma, which is only achieved by weathering life’s challenges, successes, and failures with awareness and courage. This is true of all living creatures and of universes, galaxies, solar systems, and planets.”

  Wilith rubbed his forehead. “Then The Unfolding is ongoing?”

  Almiralyn explained. “It is cyclical. A time of testing or unfolding is followed by a time of evolving or perhaps a better description—a time when the lessons of The Unfolding Cycle are absorbed and integration is achieved.”

  Elae smiled. “And then the cycle begins again.”

  The group sat in a thoughtful silence. A priestess arrived with food. Almiralyn couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten. The rush of energy flowing through her body left her smiling to herself. When everyone had finished, she explained what they had discovered from the fountain, where Ira and Brie were, and that Corvus’ life had been reclaimed. “I think it is now time to discover how Torgin, Esán, and Desirol are doing.”

  “And Renn? Pleased can we check on Renn?” Wilith asked.

  “Of course. One thing before we enter Veersuni. Zugo, you must never be alone with the fountain.”

  The young DeoNyte looked confuse. “I thought I was doing a good job.”

  “It’s not about the job you’re doing. Reader is concerned for your safety. It would never do to have the Mocendi get their hands on you.”

  Zugo shot her an incredulous look. “Through the fountain?”

  Elae linked her arm through his. “If Reader is concerned, Zugo, it should tell you that you are important to the outcome of all that is happening.”

  “Well…ah…I guess I understand.” He brightened. “Let’s go see what’s up.”

  Everyone gathered around the fountain. Almiralyn looked from one to the other. “If anything feels strange or threatening, you are to remove yourselves from Veersuni. Do not linger. Understood?”

  Four heads bobbed.

  Almiralyn snapped her fingers. The water cleared.

  Cherubic features ravaged by rage filled the bowl. The Astican’s roar flooded Veersuni.

  24

  Master’s Reach

  DerTah

  Y aro pressed vulture wings against the heat of the desert sky, his warrior’s heart torn between the battle he left behind and the gladness he felt at the opportunity to find Torgin. Had he known for certain his heart-brother was safe, the idea of being ordered to leave would have brought much shame. The fact that he knew danger lurked around every turn and that Torgin waded through the midst of it erased any guilt he may have felt. Besides, the Largeen Joram had assigned him the task of protecting his son.

  The outbuildings of Shu Chenaro came into sight. He swooped over the barn and the raptor center and landed near the arena. Striding to the gate, he arrived in time to see Allynae blur and reappear several feet closer to Stebben. Smiling at his friend’s look of astonishment, he strode forward.

  Allynae grinned. “Welcome, Yaro. I am learning to teleport and having a small success.
What’s happening?”

  Stebben called out, “Stand here beside me, Yaro. Let’s give Alli a dual reason to teleport to my side.”

  Yaro touched hand to heart. “It will be a pleasure to assist with your lesson, brother of Almiralyn.” He greeted Stebben in the ways of ReTaw au Qa and noted the fatigue hanging around him like a cloud. “How can I help?”

  “Stand here beside me, Allynae,” Stebben instructed. “Yaro will share his news when you have joined us. Picture yourself here. Concentrate.”

  Allynae closed his eyes, blurred into faint ribbons of color, and materialized in front of them. His eyes flew open. He looked back to where he had been. “I did it!” A delighted guffaw bounced off the walls of the arena.

  Stebben draped an arm over his shoulders. “Now, you can take the three of us to the sitting room.”

  “Oh, come now, Stebben. I can’t teleport that far on my own, let alone with passengers, right Yaro?”

  “I have confidence that you can do this thing.” Yaro linked his arm through Allynae’s.

  Stebben grinned. “Picture the room and take us there.”

  Allynae felt his companions willing him to succeed. I have to do this . He shut his eyes and pictured Wolloh’s study. A deep breath. A silent go. Neither of his friends made a sound. He cracked one eye open, then cast a suspicious look at his teacher. “Did you help me do this?” He waved at the study, where they stood in exactly the spot he had envisioned they would be.

  “I did not, my friend. That would not have helped you. It would have refueled your doubt. Now, do you believe you have the talent?”

  Allynae dropped into Wolloh’s chair. “I do.” He stroked the soft leather. “I do indeed.” He smiled at Stebben. “Thank you for your patience. And now, Yaro, do you have any news that Gerolyn might have forgotten?”

  Yaro switched his tail to one side and sat on the edge of a chair. “It is unlikely that Gerolyn AsTar would forget anything, but I will share what I know.”