by T. C. Edge
She was born for battle, for war. I train hard with her, helping her to see deeper into the Void. She reminds me hugely of Link, a darkness inside her that's been born from terrible experiences. But one she can harness for good, unleash when the time comes. She is already becoming a formidable weapon.
It's several days after visiting the Master about Link's release that I finally decide to go and see him. As she always does, Ellie suggests I accompany her. Up until now, I've declined. I suspect that she expects such a reaction by now, so when I say 'yes', she looks positively bemused.
“Really?”
“Sure. I'd like to see him.”
“Why the change?” she asks, curious.
“Because I'm finally thinking straight. And I'd like to see my friend.”
She smiles and hugs me, the fierce training instructor melting away, reforming once more into the shy, innocent girl we picked up in Lignum.
“Great. He'd love to see you.”
Ellie leading the way, we walk for a time through the mountain, taking paths through the darkness that I haven't yet trod. As expected, the isolation cells stretch far back, deep down into the farthest reaches cut into the rock. The lights fixed to the passage walls grow further apart as we go, long stretches of dimness set before us between them. Eventually, nothing but black can be seen ahead.
Ellie pulls a torch from her backpack and flicks it on.
“There's no more light down here this far,” she says, casting the bright beam ahead and illuminating the dark rock walls. “It's not much further though.”
We continue on until we reach a tight opening that leads into a larger cave. We squeeze through and, inside, see a guard sitting on a rickety wooden stool with a book in his hands and a candle on a small table by his side. He raises his hands to shield his eyes as Ellie shines the light on him.
“Ellie, is that you?” he asks, squinting. “Turn that light away, would you!”
Ellie casts the light down onto the floor, laying a general glow over the cave. I look ahead to see a room not dissimilar to the catacombs, with portions of rocks cut out of the walls to create small alcoves, covered in bars. I see several of them along one side, stretching towards the back wall twenty or so metres away.
“Sorry, Frank. This is Cyra...”
“Oh yes, I know who this is,” says the guard. He walks towards me and takes my hand, shaking it hard. “It's a pleasure to meet you, Cyra. I hear you can do some wonderful things.”
“Frank is a bit of a Watcher groupie,” remarks Ellie. “At least, those who can see into the Void. He doesn't care for me particularly, do you Frank?”
“Not at all,” says Frank with a slight chuckle.
“So I guess that's why you're here guarding Link then?” I ask.
“Oh yes, I volunteered. I thought he might talk more, though. He...well, he doesn't really say much. At least, not to me,” he says, looking at Ellie.
“Where is he?” I ask, looking toward the cells.
“At the end. He may be sleeping, kinda hard not to down here in the darkness. It makes you awful drowsy.”
“Thanks, Frank, we'll wake him if so,” says Ellie. “Get back to your book. It looks riveting.”
Frank retreats and retakes his little stool, leaving Ellie and I to wander down the short passage towards the farthest cell.
It gets darker as we approach, the light of Frank's candle hardly offering any reprieve from the gloom. Without Ellie's torch, it must be like hell being here, day in day out, in nigh on pitch black. It reminds me very much of Tartarus, of the damp, claustrophobic cells down there in the deep recesses of the sea prison.
We reach the end, and Ellie shines her torch to the earth, casting a glow on the surrounding area. I look inside the cell and note how small it is. Hardly any space to wander around and stretch your legs. Only a small bed, too small for a man of Link's size to lie comfortably on, and a low basin presumably used as a toilet in the corner.
Against the back wall, the silhouette of a large frame sits, staring out with dark eyes.
“Link,” says Ellie softly. “I've brought someone to see you.”
For a moment, Link doesn't move. Then, slowly, he stands to his full height and steps forward into the light. His face, scarred and pale, appears to have grown more gaunt in the days he's spent here. There's a small smile on his face. It's for Ellie. He looks at her and reaches forward through the bars. She does the same, squeezing into a hug. Then he kisses her tenderly, without speaking, and pulls back.
He looks at me.
“Cyra. It's...good to see you. How are you?”
“I'm OK, Link...I'm doing well.”
“Good. That's good. Ellie's been keeping me up to date with things. I'm sorry I wasn't there for Theo's funeral.”
I shake my head briskly, partly to prevent the thought of Theo's death from settling in my mind once more.
“It's not your fault. You shouldn't be in here, Link. It's ridiculous. I spoke to the Master to try to get you out...”
“You what?!” cuts in Ellie. “When was this? Why didn't you say anything?”
“Well, it was the same result, so I guess I didn't see the point. We know he doesn't trust you yet Link, but Aeneas was there, and he knows the Master better than anyone. He says he'll come round eventually...”
“Well, by then it might be too late,” says Ellie. “We need Link out now.”
“Ellie, it's OK, we've been over this a million times already. There's nothing we can do.” He turns back to me. “Thank you, Cyra, for speaking up for me. I appreciate it after everything I did.” He ducks his head slightly in shame. “If it wasn't for me, maybe Theo would still be alive.”
“Don't speak like that...” says Ellie.
“It's true. I helped capture you all on Tartarus. I can't escape that.”
“You were only under orders, Link,” I say. “I don't blame you for what happened. Knight has a way of deceiving people. I know that as well as anyone.”
His eyes lift back up.
“Thank you, Cyra. I'm beginning to see exactly what Knight is, what Eden is. I've...seen things.”
Ellie looks at me, frowning, before turning back to Link.
“What have you seen?” she asks.
“Murder,” he says, his voice dark. “Slaughter. Eden soldiers killing innocent people under orders. I know now that I was on the wrong side. I was confused for a while, conflicted. Not any more. I see it every night down here. Death, terrible atrocities. My mind is clear now.”
“Knight has a way of clouding things,” I say. “It can be hard to see through his lies until his influence is taken away.”
Link nods, then raises his eyes to Ellie.
“Would you mind giving me a minute alone with Cyra,” he says.
She looks slightly confused, but doesn't question it. She leans in and kisses him again, glances at me, and then disappears off toward the flickering candle at the other end of the cave, leaving the torch in my hand, still aimed at the floor.
Link watches her go, then lowers his voice to barely a whisper.
“I've seen more, Cyra. I've heard rumours that the city is going to attack the Eden army.”
I nod.
“I've seen it,” he says. “You don't stand a chance.”
“Why? What have you seen?”
“Death,” he says, grimacing. “It's all I see down here in the darkness. Death. The battle won't last long. Eden will destroy you.”
“We have no choice,” I say. “We have to try.”
“I know you do. And I know how you feel about it all.” He looks back across the cave. Ellie's sweet voice filters towards us as she talks with Frank. “I don't want her to know. She'll only worry. Please, protect her when the time comes.”
“I'll do everything I can, I swear it. She still believes we can win, you know.”
He nods slowly.
“I know.”
“What else do you know?” I ask. “From your time with Ajax. How m
any Watchers does he command?”
“I...I don't know that. He never told me. But there aren't many, not ones that can see into the Void as well as us and your father, Cyra.”
“And Athena,” I add in.
“Yes, Ellie told me about her.”
“She reminds me of you, Link. She's strong, hard headed. She's someone that Eden can't possibly know about. Nor the abilities of my father. We have some trump cards. And...and you.”
“I'm locked in here. There's nothing I can do.”
I think for a moment, spare a glance back at Frank, and lower my voice yet further.
“When the time comes,” I say quietly, “maybe I'll make sure that you can protect Ellie yourself.”
A mischievous smile rises up on his face.
“I'd like nothing more,” he whispers.
I take a step back, and let my voice rise up again. Enough so that Ellie hears me.
“It was great seeing you Link,” I say. “I will see you again very soon.” Then I lower my voice again, only for him. “Keep searching your visions,” I whisper. “I'll be back soon.”
He smiles as I turn and begin walking toward the others. Ellie frowns at me.
“Going already?”
“I think you need some time alone with your boyfriend, El. You don't want me lingering around.” I turn down to Frank. “Nice meeting you Frank. Are you always on guard here?”
“More or less, unless I'm sleeping.”
“Great. Well, I'll be back to talk to Link some more soon, if that's OK?”
He shrugs.
“Not my call, but Ellie comes down daily so why not you.” He stands from his stool, beaming, and approaches me, before taking my hand and shaking it once more. “Such a pleasure to meet you, Cyra,” he says. “A real honour.”
“Thank you, Frank,” I say, politely slipping my hand from his. I turn to Ellie. “See you back at the room,” I say with a wink.
And as she returns to Link, and Frank returns to his book, I return to the main chamber, a plan forming in my mind.
6 - An Offer From Eden
Several more days pass without official word coming of the attack. On several separate occasions I find Drake, Markus, and Stein wandering through the city doing their duties, and take the opportunity to quiz them on when we might march from the city.
Each fail to give me a specific answer for their own reasons. Markus, like us, appears to be too busy training soldiers out on the plateau and preparing for battle, rather than attending the war councils.
Stein, typically enigmatic, offers a series of winks and suggestions without any definitive answer, turning the conversation as he always does to how me and my friends are doing. I take the opportunity to ask about the Master's current thoughts on Link, and get an ambiguous reply.
Drake is, as always, a little more candid. He tells me that things are being put into motion – hardly the greatest revelation given that anyone in the city can see that for themselves – and that any attack is 'imminent' and most likely to occur before the week is out.
As always, however, he makes sure to stress to me the importance of keeping all of this to myself.
“I know you'll tell Jackson and Ellie and Athena, but try to end any gossip there.”
“Dad, the whole city is gossiping about it already. There's really no point in trying to hide things. You haven't told me anything I don't already know.”
I'm right, of course. The cogs are turning faster now, and all the people are waiting for is a specific date. Tomorrow, the next day, a week from now. We all just want to know when our lives are going to be put on the line. From the whispers I hear, most people's fears are that they will suddenly be called up one day, with no time to say proper goodbyes to their families and loves ones. It's a fair expectation to be given at least a little time to prepare.
“They will,” Drake tells me. “They'll get a day or two at least. But everyone needs to be on standby. Everyone needs to get used to the thought that the coming days may well be the final ones of their lives.”
They do know it. You can see it in their eyes, hear it in their quiet conversations and debates. Down in the training cave, the talk is relentless, the questions coming at us from all angles every hour of the day.
“Will the battle be soon?”
“How many days do we have left?”
“Do we have any chance of winning?”
I deflect the questions like a pro, mirroring the responses I myself am given from the likes of Drake and Stein. When asked whether we can win, I turn to Ellie and Jackson for inspiration, and answer with a firm: “yes, we can win!”
And each time, I see the fear fade a touch from worried eyes. I see heads nod and bodies firm up and tighten with confidence. My word, and the word of Ellie and Jackson and even Athena, appears to carry a great deal of weight. And suddenly, I realise that I have another power, one that goes beyond my abilities as a Watcher; the power to influence, to inspire, and to breed courage among those whose minds are filled with dread.
It might just be my greatest power of all.
The same day I seek out my father to ask him about the impending battle, he appears out of the blue at the training cave. It's an unexpected appearance, and one that sets my pulse racing.
Is it time? Has he come with news?
I leave Athena to one side and quickly move towards him. His eyes flash around the cave, ignoring me, and settle on the opposite end of the chamber. I follow his gaze and find that he's looking at Jackson.
“Dad, what's going on?” I ask.
By his side, Leeta stands. Over the last couple of weeks since escaping from Eden, she's taken to acting as Drake's aid, carrying out all manner of administrative duties on his behalf around the city. Despite being from Eden, she isn't considered a threat, unlike Link, and has quickly been assimilated into the city's dynamics.
She gives me a quick hug, having not seen me beyond a glance across the main chamber since Theo's funeral. My eyes, however, are still on my father, who continues to look over at Jackson.
“Dad!” I say again as Leeta releases me. “What's happening? Why are you here?”
He continues to ignore me, instead waving his hand to get Jackson's attention. Having done so successfully, Jackson quickly jogs over. Ellie, noticing the gathering at the cave entrance, does the same.
“We need you up top, Jackson,” says Drake.
“Why?” comes Jack's reply.
Finally, he deigns to look at me, before addressing us all.
“There's a small party of Eden soldiers approaching, our scouts have reported.”
“An attack?” asks Ellie.
“No, we don't think so. The force is too small. It appears to be a negotiation party.”
“What do you need me for, sir?” asks Jackson.
“You trained on the wall. You may know some of the soldiers. Come with me.”
Jackson nods as Drake turns and begins walking back up the passage, Leeta by his side. I look at Ellie.
“I'm not missing this,” I say.
Athena appears behind us.
“Cyra, what's going on?”
“Hold the fort, will you Athena. We'll be back shortly.”
“Why? Is something serious going down?”
“I'm not sure yet. Just...stay here and do some combat drills, OK. We won't be long.”
Athena, thankfully, has learned to be a little more compliant. She hangs back as Ellie and I begin marching off after Drake, Leeta, and Jackson, quickly catching up with them and mimicking their brisk pace. We join the back of a hurried conversation.
“You think they're going to offer terms?” asks Jackson.
“Perhaps,” answers Drake.
“Well they haven't come all the way up here for the fresh mountain air,” I say from behind.
Drake slows his pace enough to look around.
“Cyra, Ellie, you're not needed.”
“We don't care. We're coming whether you like it or not.”<
br />
Drake shakes his head. He's clearly not in the mood to argue.
“Well, whatever terms they offer won't be to our benefit, we can be sure of that,” says Drake, quickening the pace. “We have to be careful. This could be nothing but a ruse.”
Soon, we're emerging up into the main chamber and pacing through the heavy crowd. The people seem to have sensed something going on, a murmuring filling the giant rocky hall. A force of soldiers, now maintaining a constant vigil around the interior and exterior of the city, keep people at bay as they attempt to leak out onto the plateau.
The crowd notice us coming, and make a generous opening for us to pass through. Soon we reach the openings to the plateau and are being ushered outside by the attending guards. There, standing in a little group, I spot the Master, Stein, Generals Richter and Sharpe, and Professor Lane. Our youthful group, aside of course from my middle aged father and Leeta, join the gathering of old warhorses.
“We only required Jackson,” remarks the Master, eyeing Ellie and me.
“Excuse me, but I think we've earned our place here,” I respond sharply. “We've been left out of things enough as it is.”
“Cyra, calm yourself,” says Stein in his usual manner. His voice, as always, commands obedience. “We have no time for such bickering.”
“So, what's the latest?” asks Drake.
“The party is approaching in two vehicles. They will be here shortly,” says Stein.
“The vehicles are military,” cuts in General Sharpe, responsible for the armoured portion of our meagre army. “But they are nothing but transports and have no attached weaponry. We think they are here to negotiate.”
“It could be a distraction?” questions Drake
“No,” says General Richter, the leader of the rebel infantry. “My scouts have reported no other action in the valley. They have come to talk and nothing more.”
“Talk about what?” I ask. “They want to kill us all, don't they. Down to the last child.”
My words cause the group to fall into silence. We are all aware of Knight's designs for us.
Ahead, a soldier up on the wall above the gate shouts.
“They've reached the tunnel gate. Do we let them through?”
The Master begins walking towards the main gate of the city. The rest of us follow behind him.
