Center of the Universe (Only the Inevitable Book 1)

by N E Riggs

  After breakfast Niam cleaned up, and David gathered the laundry – an easy task, since one device could wash, dry, and iron. It just had to be filled and turned on. That done, he hurried to join the others in the gymnasium.

  Conal and Bellon were arguing about the merits of swords versus lances, and Anur and Niam giggled about some television show. David smiled as he watched them. They were all younger than him and better than him, but they’d welcomed him in a way that even Brigid hadn’t. They were more than training partners or fellow acolytes now. They were friends. He hoped they felt the same way about him.

  Anur finally caught the way he was looking at them and laughed. “What, you like Worlds of Danger too?” she asked, referring to the show she and Niam had been geeking out over.

  “Never seen it,” David said. Well, he might have caught a few seconds of it while channel surfing, but he rarely watched Bantonan television for long. It had been amusing at first, but now it just made him miss Earth, since nothing was the same. Even the sports on Bantong were crap: he’d seen rugby, cricket, lacrosse, polo and lots of bizarre games he couldn’t follow. “I’m just happy.”

  “That’s new,” Conal said.

  David glanced down at the floor. “Do I seem depressed to you?” He’d been miserable since coming to Bantong.

  “More in shock, but sometimes depressed, yeah.” Conal reached over and slapped him on the shoulder. “Prophesied heroes aren’t allowed to be depressed, you know. At least, not all the time.”

  “I’ll try to be perkier,” David promised. “People get happy when they’re in Narnia.” The others looked blank at that, and David had to laugh. He then choked the rest of his laugh back as Scatha entered. She raised an eyebrow. “Um, good morning?” he said.

  “This is no time for chit-chat. Start running, Kemp,” she said coldly.

  David stood there for a long moment; the only thing he was able to think was last night. He remembered the way she moved, the way she smelled, the small, mysterious smile she’d worn. He’d known, he’d just known, that last night would change nothing, but the way she spoke to him still hurt.

  “Go!” Scatha snarled, voice even harsher than usual. He saluted quickly before running off, forcing himself to smile. He didn’t want the other acolytes to know what had happened between him and Scatha.

  As he ran, he couldn’t help but mull things over, again and again, as if extra repetition might force them to make sense. He was glad that Scatha wasn’t interested in a relationship. Most men would give an arm and a leg to be in his position: a gorgeous woman who wanted to have sex with him without all the nonsense of being in a relationship. Maybe David would have been satisfied with that, if he had the option for something more. But Cethon had commanded him not to fall in love, and part of him knew he dared not disobey her. He should be happy, that even if he couldn’t have love he could still have intimacy. It wasn’t enough, and he’d known it wouldn’t be. Everything he’d told himself was just him trying to convince himself it would be enough.

  He finished the ten-mile run and only then realized that he’d finished seconds behind Conal and Anur and that he wasn’t panting for breath for once. “Making progress,” Conal said.

  “Yeah, I guess so,” David said, still blinking and looking around, wondering how he’d managed that. He wondered if a person really could improve in such a short period of time. Maybe it was the gift of strength, finally beginning to exert itself.

  After running through forms a few times, Scatha had them practice fighting. David was paired off against Niam, while Conal and Anur fought. Scatha took Bellon on personally.

  Niam fought more slowly than she usually did, so David could keep up with her. It didn’t do much good. Ever at the same speed, Niam was so much more skilled that David could only get a hit in when she let him.

  “Oh,” Anur said. Niam and David stopped to look. Conal and Anur stared too as Bellon and Scatha fought. Scatha whirled, her long red hair whipping about with the speed of her movements. Her strikes were fast, powerful, and precise. And Bellon was keeping up with her. He dodged kicks, redirected punches, his movements nearly as fast as Scatha’s. He wasn’t able to avoid every attack, and he grunted when Scatha punched him hard on the left arm. He didn’t attack either; he was too busy defending himself.

  Eventually, Scatha threw him down to the mats. But she was panting hard. David whistled softly. He’d been so caught up in his own progress he hadn’t noticed that the other acolytes were getting better too. He wondered anew at Bellon’s skill. In a week, he could already hold out this well against Scatha. What would he look like at the end of the three months of training? And what would David himself look like? He couldn’t imagine that he could ever put on a display like that, but for the first time he thought he could become something amazing.

  He watched the other acolytes closely that day and saw they were improving. Niam had gotten ever faster and could shoot with her eyes closed. Anur made it through the obstacle course in under two minutes, never once faltering. Conal and Bellon sword fought later, and Bellon didn’t even get close to getting a hit on Conal. Anur joined the sword fighting too, turning it into a three way battle that David could barely follow.

  For himself, he practiced shooting left-handed, as Cumon had told him to, and was content when he managed to consistently hit the target.

  Days passed, quicker than David could imagine. Each day they ran further and faster, soon wearing fifty pound backpacks. They lifted heavier weights, stretched their limbs further. They shot longer, faster, more accurately. The fights got more involved, more serious. The obstacle course became longer and harder and they had less time to make it through. They spent more time with their weapon specialists, learning more intricate skills.

  David continued to lag behind the others, but he told himself that he was improving too. He was at least as good as the others had been at the beginning of the training. He finished reading through The Guide.

  In the evenings, he and the other acolytes trained together. After the third day, Niam brought out her com pad and had it play music while they practiced. David liked having music, even if he didn’t recognize any of the songs. A month or so in, a very pretty song started to play on Niam’s com pad, and all the other acolytes just froze. A haunting alto sang the words, “Have faith,” when Anur gave Niam a look as if she’d just killed and eaten babies, and Niam ran faster than David had ever seen to shut the song off. After that, they practiced in silence.

  Most nights, Scatha came to him. They rarely talked. David wondered if he should try, but Scatha never seemed interested in conversation. One time she had him run through some forms with Bramira. Her eyes gleamed that night, and after showing off David got to do things he’d never done before. But even that night they didn’t talk. Maybe it didn’t matter. When the training period was over, David would probably never see Scatha again. He tried not to feel depressed by the thought.

  Almost before he knew it, two and a half months of training had passed, and they were nearly ready to become Sword Priests.

  At the end of training one day, Scatha had the acolytes assemble before her. “Tomorrow morning, you will be leaving for world 7841, called Earth,” she said. David perked up at the name even though the number wasn’t right. “A gateway will appear just after nine. Another gateway will appear on world 7841 two days and seven hours later, fifty miles away from the first gateway. The five of you will cover those fifty miles with no outside help in that time. Pack your bags tonight. It is autumn there, so dress appropriately. Include plenty of water and rations. And bring your weapons. World 7841 has many dangerous creatures. You have permission to change your agitators to kill mode if you are attacked. Report here at eight tomorrow for final instructions.”

  “Yes, ma’am!” they shouted. Scatha nodded and left the gymnasium.

  “Off world!” Anur said, doing a little dance. “I’ve never been anywhere but Bantonan worlds! How exciting!” She grabbed Niam’s hands and pulled
her into her dance.

  Niam laughed, dipping Anur low. “We’re almost Sword Priests. We really might make it!”

  Bellon made a fist. “I wonder what manner of creatures can be found on this world?”

  “Whatever they are, we’ll be ready for them,” Conal said, puffing out his chest.

  David looked between them, the only one who wasn’t excited. “But what if we don’t make it to the second gateway in time?” he asked. Already he could see himself left behind on this new world, this Earth that wasn’t his. He shivered and wished he was back home.

  “We’ll make it. Fifty miles isn’t that far,” Conal said. “Now come on. We should start packing.” He turned and headed off into his room. The others quickly followed. David stood there for a moment longer, shoulders slumped. Finally, he trudged back to his room and starting packing. His hands shook as he folded a shirt into his bag. Despite Conal’s confidence, he couldn’t stop imagining himself lost and trapped on yet another world. Only this one probably didn’t have Lost Priests to settled him in or Passion Priests to predict when a new gateway might send him home. He closed his eyes and wondered if he could get out of the trip.

  He was still slowly packing an hour later when Scatha entered his room. She didn’t knock first; she never did. She raised an eyebrow at the pile of stuff on his bed. “Still not ready?”

  “Yeah,” he said. He glanced sideways at Scatha. She was his teacher, his superior officer, so maybe he shouldn’t say anything. But she was also his lover and who else could he tell? “I’m afraid,” he said softly.

  She frowned. “The creatures on 7841 aren’t that dangerous. We wouldn’t send you lot there alone if they were.”

  “I’m not scared of dying,” he said, not looking at her. “I’m scared of being lost. Being trapped on Bantong is bad enough. What if I’m trapped on another world?” More quietly, he added, “What if I can never get home?” What if he never saw John again? His gut twisted at the thought. He’d been so busy these last few months that he had little time to think about home. He missed it, more and more every day. Sometimes he thought he didn’t even need to go home, he just wanted a way to talk to John, let him know he was alive and well, know that John was too. As it was, they were both cut off and worried, and that wasn’t fair.

  If he was lost on 7841, would any of the people on Bantong miss him? Brigid had never tried to contact him. Then again, he hadn’t tried to call her either. She could probably find out how he was doing, since she was a Lost Priest. He liked to think his fellow acolytes would miss him. He could imagine Conal yelling that they needed to go back to 7841 to look for him, Anur refusing to even leave 7841 without him, Niam tearing up over him, and Bellon saying that his loss proved he couldn’t be some prophesied hero but searching for him anyway.

  Scatha he couldn’t predict. She liked him – he thought she liked him – but he didn’t think she’d go out of her way for him. If she went to 7841 looking for him, it would be because it was her duty as his Vicar.

  “We don’t leave people behind,” Scatha said. “You know that.”

  He nodded. It was one thing she said every day. Sword Priests worked together, fought together, and, if need be, died together. They wouldn’t abandon him, not by choice.

  “And you’re still worried,” Scatha said after he remained quiet. She snorted. “After everything you’ve seen, everything you’ve learned, all the friends you’ve made, you still don’t trust us.” He whirled around to protest, but the look of disgust on her face froze his tongue. “Travelers shouldn’t become priests. Chirn should have never passed you, regardless of Bramira.”

  He stiffened. “Does this mean you aren’t going to pass me?” There were less than two weeks remaining of training. Scatha had described the battery of tests they’d go through to become Brothers and Sisters. She and a few other Vicars would grade them, and, if they did well enough, they’d take their second vows and become full priests.

  “You’re unlikely to pass anyway, with your skills. Better to fail then to pass and die in a few months.” A brief, bitter look flickered across her face. Then her lip curled up. “Added with this, and it’ll take a miracle. You should just go home.”

  “If I could, I would!” he snapped, jumping to his feet.

  “Oh, you poor, trapped traveler. How my heart aches for you, forced to become a priest, the most honored profession on Bantong.”

  He quivered, both hands clenched tight at his sides. “I’m not here by choice. But while I’m here, I will do just as good a job as any native, be just as true to my vows. You can’t fail me just because I miss my home!”

  Scatha crossed her arms over her chest, her scowl even fiercer. “The fact that you think you can keep your vows only while you’re here proves how unworthy you really are. If I tell the other examiners that, they’ll fail you in an instant. Finish packing. Tomorrow will be a long day.” She left his room without a backwards glance.

  David grunted, barely keeping himself from shouting. He threw himself down on the bed and pressed his knuckles to his forehead. Everything he’d done, everything he’d tried to become, and, just because he missed his home, he still wasn’t good enough. Well, in a few months he would be home, and he wouldn’t miss Bantong at all.

  10

  The First New World

  David and the other acolytes stood in the receiving room in Valal, waiting for the gateway to open. A map of 7841 lay in his pocket, with the finish clearly marked. Scatha stood before them, hands on hips. “Remember to stick together and help each other out. The gateway opens at exactly 6:13 the day after tomorrow. It will only stay open for eight minutes, so don’t be late. Set up a watch at night. May Aeons watch over you and keep you safe.” She held up three fingers on each hand.

  The acolytes gave the same gesture back — David moments behind the others, as always. Scatha stepped aside. A moment later, a bluish gateway snapped into place. Beyond it, David could see a hilly area with many trees. Bellon stepped through without hesitation. Anur walked through next, then Conal, then Niam. David paused for a moment, wanting to look at Scatha one last time. Then he frowned, set his jaw, and walked through the gateway.

  He took a slow, deep breath when he reached the other side. Fallen leaves crackled under his feet, and birdsong filled the air. Puffy white clouds drifted lazily across the sky. It was a beautiful day, maybe fifty degrees. He could see no animals besides the birds, no people, no sign of any civilization. But it was nice. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.

  “Right,” Bellon said, pulling out his map and compass. “We need to head due north. Which should be... that way,” he said, pointing to his left. “Isha, you take point. Keep your agitators out and ready to go.”

  The others nodded. Anur stepped out in front, leading the way. Her footsteps were silent as she moved through the forest. She’d hunted a lot in her youth, she’d said, and David could tell she felt comfortable here. The others followed her, less quietly. David paused, looking back at the gateway one last time. Then he too headed north, trying not to look as scared as he felt.

  The journey started pleasantly enough. They moved slowly, constantly on alert. There were no signs of dangerous creatures, and David calmed down somewhat. Anur found a narrow game trail which meandered mostly north, so they were able to move quickly. After an hour, they had to go a mile out of their way to ford a stream, but the trees were less dense on the other side, and they could finally head straight north.

  David watched the rolling hills and forests that surrounded him. He wondered if this was what Earth – his Earth – looked like. He really didn’t know. He was a born and bred city kid. He and his parents had traveled some, mostly to other cities in the northeast. Once he went camping with John. David’s clearest memory of those times were long car rides past endless farms and tiny, picturesque villages. This was completely different from that, all wild and untamed. There were probably very few places like this left on his Earth.

  Which was sad, he supposed
, but he preferred cable TV and running water and a cool car to nature any day. He wondered if Bantong had areas like this. There was still so much about Bantong he didn’t know. He’d not yet been outside of Pardis, except during his first few minutes on the planet. He’d barely stepped outside the gymnasiums of Kumarkan and Valal.

  It might be nice to see more of Bantong, before he went back home. He hoped he’d have a chance to see it. Since he was stuck, he should try to enjoy his stay. That was what he’d decided.

  It was about two hours after arriving when Anur suddenly stopped, holding up a hand. Everyone else stopped too, and Anur and Bellon raised their agitators immediately. David, Conal, and Niam quickly readied their weapons as well. David’s followed Anur’s gaze and finally saw it: there was a break in the trees to the east and a large plain. Down on the plain he could make out black shapes.

  Some sort of animals, wandering about lazily. Big ones too, from what little he could tell from this distance. “Do they know we’re here?” Bellon asked softly.

  Anur shook her head. “Not yet, I think. The wind’s in the wrong direction.”

  “Then we keep going. Vikor, Garna, Kemp, keep an eye on them,” Bellon said. David, Conal, and Niam nodded.

  They continued, but at a faster pace. Every other step, David glanced down towards the animals. Every time, he was convinced they were looking up the ridge towards them, but the animals had made no threatening movements. They lazed quietly. Like lions, his brain supplied, as if he needed to be more nervous.

  Conal hissed suddenly. David whirled to look again towards the animals. They were standing up now. He couldn’t tell from this distance if the animals were looking in their direction. “They caught our scent,” Conal said.

  “Run,” Bellon said, his grip tightening on his agitator. “But stick together.”

  They broke into a jog. As if on cue, a long, loud howl sounded from the plain. David swallowed hard, and the acolytes ran faster. Another howl sounded, much closer. David looked over his shoulder and saw the animals had already gotten close enough for him to make out details. They looked like dogs, if the biggest and meanest dogs David had ever seen. They were at least the size of great danes and looked a bit like pit bulls.