He frowned. He looked down at himself. “Do I look different?”
“It’s not your appearance, I can feel you way over here. Force is just radiating from you.”
“That is a great deal of magic,” Ziedra said floating over to him. She was dressed in the Kriar armor like the rest of them, the tight fitting clothing making her voluptuous proportions more than obvious. One thing was different though. The magic savant’s hair had gone from obsidian black to gray.
He blinked. “Lady Zee, your hair! What happened?”
Ziedra sighed. She pulled a few strands of hair around to look at them. “Gaea happened. The magic she’s been having me do is too much even for this body. Moving her host body out of range of the genemar, setting the tracers and such, it’s magic like you wouldn’t believe. I’ve learned so much. The biggest thing I’ve learned unfortunately is that while Marna did a great job designing bodies for the rest of you, for the highest level magic it’s still not so good. Little by little I’m getting myself adapted, but until then…” She pushed out her lower lip and blew up a strand of gray hair.
“You’re not in any danger are you?” he said, concerned.
Ziedra looked to Wren and then back to him. “These bodies are tough, and they heal fast. I’ll be okay, Brother. Thank you for your concern though.”
Wren walked over, eyeing the sword in his hand. He looked down, the thing felt so light he almost forgot it was there. He met her glowing blue eyes.
The Kel’varan raised her gaze to Megan. “An ascendant with a shaladen? Koass is really starting to take this serious. He’s starting to hand out shaladens like candy.”
Megan fluttered her wings. “Hardly candy, Wren.” She cast her gaze to the weapon in Bannor’s hand. “You are right though. He very much feels the threat of the genemar, especially with Gaea here.”
Wren stepped close and looked up at him. “So, how do you feel?”
“I—” His brow furrowed. “I don’t think I can describe it. I think I’ll at least find some way to be useful.”
“Don’t kid yourself, Bannor. I’ve seen your instincts pull us through as often as your powers have.” She thumped him on the shoulder. “Don’t know if you’ve noticed my friend, but you’ve earned more than a little respect hereabouts.”
“Bannor,” Ziedra said. “Seeing you fly over that table to protect Daena tells me everything I needed to know about you. I know you would have done that for any of us. That kind of courage makes a lot possible.”
Seeing the unabashed admiration in the lady mage’s expression he felt himself color. To change the subject he focused on Megan. “Milady, would it be possible to show me how to change this weapon’s form like the others do?”
Megan smiled. “Of course. The first time you do it will be a little difficult, but it gets easier with repetition.” She held the arm out with Sharonsheen on it. Her eyes flashed. The band melted and snapped into the shape of the powerful shaladen with crackle of magic.
Bannor looked at Xersis. A pattern? What she described was the sigil he saw with the garmtur. He relaxed to see the way he did with the garmtur. The lines and threads of the universe overlapped themselves in his vision. The power of the shaladen had restored his nola sight! It wasn’t at full strength, but his sight had returned! He looked down into the shaladen. How could a piece of metal have the sigil pattern of something alive? He pushed down into the complex structure and found the pattern just as Megan described. It wasn’t a sword or a hunk of metal, it was actually a creature! He blinked. Living metal. It wasn’t something simple either. Golden helixes spun and danced around a complex filigree of green and red threads. He sighed at its beautiful symmetry. He impressed that symbol in his mind, feeling the blade resonate through his body; such incredible power.
He visualized the sword becoming like one of his axes. With a sizzle of otherworldly magic and a whirl of golden sparks, it flowed into the new shape and solidified.
Megan blinked. “Oh my, Bannor, so quickly—that is excellent!”
He stared at the blade, feeling its power resonate in his chest like a second heart. He visualized Xersis back into its original form, then changed it to bow. After that, a large kite shield, and then down to an arm band wrapped around his wrist. The weapon flowed through each change, each time responding more quickly and more naturally. The feel of it was intoxicating. He stared at the band on his wrist feeling overwhelmed by the accomplishment and the fact that something so staggeringly potent served him. Its potential was limitless!
Megan put Sharonsheen back on her wrist and stared at him. The woman blinked at him. “Bannor that was amazing.” She thumped him on the shoulder. “Most excellently done!”
He stared at the beautiful valkyrie, face hot from her praise but also from feeling a part of himself he thought gone forever. The shaladen had made him whole again. He felt heat streak down his face. His chest suddenly so tight he could barely breathe.
“Bannor?” Megan tilted her head, brow furrowing. “What is it?”
He shook his head. He hugged her. “Thank you,” he mumbled. “Thank you so much.”
The valkyrie stiffened for a moment in his arms and relaxed. “Ah.” She patted him on the back. “You’re welcome my new brother. I just hope you are still thanking me when this nightmare is over.”
He pushed back after a moment, embarrassed by that show of emotion. “I hope so too.”
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* * *
Chapter Eleven
I saw that shaladen in Bannor’s hand
and just shuddered. He was scary enough
with the powers of a savant, and terrifying
with abilities of an ascendant. Sure, he
didn’t have all of his nola powers, but I was
as certain as my next breath that he would
redefine what it meant to be a shaladen
wielder…
—Liandra “Wren” Kergatha,
2nd Princess of Cosmodarus
Bannor rubbed the band of the shaladen on his arm. He felt the warmth of all his new brothers and sisters as well as feeling the presences of all his of nola-wielding relatives here in the citadel. He felt the dark gloom that had been weighing him down start to melt away. Until this instant, he hadn’t realized how profoundly being cut off from them had affected him.
Sarai remarked in the back of his head.
He felt his face flush bright red. He couldn’t do anything now without Sarai knowing it! That was a downside he hadn’t seen coming. It was bad enough when only she had the shaladen. It never occurred to him when they both had one she would be looking over his shoulder every instant.
Bannor felt a bunch of thoughts pinging back and forth as that statement seemed to wash over the group. Apparently, Corim must be very good with his or it wouldn’t have caused so much surprise.
He might be good with the shaladen, but he obviously had a lot to learn.
Megan shook her head and said aloud. “My but she is touchy. Must be the baby starting to make her moody.” She sighed. “I was the same way.”
“How many children do you have, Milady?”
The gold-haired valkyrie brightened, obviously the subject of her children was a matter of tremendous pride. “Two daughters—R
alani and Silvia. Ralani was my team-mate in the great game last summer. We didn’t win but we placed well, I was quite proud of her.”
“You played in the Great Game?” Wren asked. “You didn’t play the time I was in it.”
Megan shook her head. “No. I rarely have time for such sport. She couldn’t find a partner. She wanted to play with you, but nobody knew what had happened to you.”
“Yes, we were all in quite a stew around then,” Wren acknowledged. “I get asked to play in the Game once or twice a moon. It’s just too rough for me.”
“They still replay your game,” Megan said. “You were quite spectacular.”
“I was scared to death,” Wren laughed and shook her head. “That makes you run really fast.”
“You should play now,” Ziedra said with a giggle. “It would be their turn to run away…”
Wren grinned. “Hey, now it might be fun to bully them a little…” She looked down at herself. “That is the problem with this body. It is really sturdy and moderately fast, but it’s about as flexible as a scale bark tree. I’m so damn heavy…”
“You have to learn to shift your mass is all,” Daena said with a shrug. “Then you have the best of everything.”
The blonde ascendant pressed her lips to a line. “Well, if I keep this body that long, I’ll beg a little instruction from you.”
“You think you’ll give it up?” Daena said.
Wren blew out her cheeks and looked down at herself. She rubbed her hard stomach and looked at her hands. She was a goddess and looked it. “This is fine for fighting armies of Baronians and evil Kriar.” She shook her head. “When that’s over, what do I need it for? It’s just a big temptation and potential for me to hurt somebody.”
The younger woman frowned and held out her hands. “It’s not like I needed a body this strong to go to parties and study! I’m stuck though… I don’t have a choice.”
Wren raised an eyebrow. “Oh, come on, think now. The T’Evagdurans have Wysteri. You can put that first-one body in stasis, pair your tao-form down to the minimum and avatar in a mortal body.”
“I—” Daena stopped. “I could do that.”
“Don’t know why you would,” Ziedra remarked. “But you could. Me, I’m keeping mine… or at least one like it.” She leaned her head to one side. “If Wren gives up hers, that means I get to rescue her for the rest of her life.” She rubbed her hands together. “Won’t that be grand?”
“Marvelous,” Wren murmured with a roll of her eyes.
“So, anyways Daena,” Ziedra said. “You don’t have to be alone. You’ll have me around.”
Daena stared at Ziedra, perhaps testing to see if she was teasing or serious. She seemed to determine she was serious. She smiled and nodded. “Good.”
“Wren just doesn’t get the little juicy parts of being an ascendant. My husband worships at the altar of this body, it doesn’t get old, it doesn’t get sick, it doesn’t get fat…” She frowned. “At least I hope it doesn’t.” She looked around. “Does it look like I’ve put on any weight?”
“Your head is swelled, does that count?” Wren responded with a sniff.
Ziedra put hands on broad hips. “No. You don’t have to be grouchy just because I don’t choose the same path as you. I indulged a lot when I was younger, and everybody looked after me. Now, I have a chance to be able to protect others. Is that so bad?”
“Not when you explain it that way. I just think the risk is too big.”
“What risk? You think I’m going to go crazy?”
Wren sighed. “I don’t know. I know one thing for certain, you don’t need that much power to flirt with your husband and make babies—even do magic. Before that body, you could already do some scary stuff.”
“It has nothing to do with need, Wren,” they heard Gaea’s echoing voice say from the entry. “It’s her birthright.”
The green mother had both Senalloy and Azir with her. Both were dressed in the close-fitting Kriar battle raiment. The armor was so light and comfortable after it was configured, it was hard to imagine not wearing it in a situation where you thought there might be combat. Bannor didn’t know where Senalloy acquired her suit, but it wasn’t hard to guess with all the Kriar that came and went here in Kul’Amaron now.
In fact, the Kriar seargas were making regular delivery runs from Homeworld now. Because the immorts ate so much, it became necessary for the Kriar military to start bringing food in through a gate to allay the suspicions of the elf nobles watching the citadel. A few of the mecha who had recently joined the T’Evagduran family as retainers were talked into learning to cook. The resulting meals were quite spectacular because Kriar mecha simply never did anything half way. Gaea had been in heaven. The problem had been prying her away from the dinner table.
Gaea’s jewel-like eyes fixed on him, and her attention went to the band on his arm. “Ah, I thought I had felt a change in you my son. Koass decided to be generous with you after all.”
“You knew about this?”
“Well, let us just say I speculated aloud in the Advocate’s hearing.” She looked back to Azir who seemed to be trying to hide behind her. Being male and having a rather formidable physique, he wasn’t having much success. Wren was glaring at him not saying anything.
Senalloy looked back at him, shrugged and strode into the chamber. She looked around and focused on Bannor. “Is Sarai still upset with you? I would have sworn that would have blown over by now.”
Bannor shrugged. “She swears she wasn’t mad.”
“I wasn’t,” Sarai growled, appearing in the doorway. “I apologize for being short. I guess I didn’t have enough sleep last night.”
She glanced at Azir as she walked past him. The savant of light appeared reticent to enter the room and brace his little sister. Bannor understood the man’s reticence, even if technically he hadn’t done anything wrong. Wren could daunt anybody. It wasn’t just Wren though. All the women were looking at him. It must have been that tirade of Wren’s this morning. Being the only male in the room he felt some sympathy.
Azir seemed to steel himself. He rubbed his arms. “Is it me, or is it cold in here?”
Wren sniffed and looked away.
Her brother rolled his eyes and strode over to the council table and collapsed into one of the chairs. He put his feet up on the table and leaned back with his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. “Damn, from the stares you’d think I was out murdering people or something.”
“We’re fighting a damn war,” Wren growled. “At least you could take it seriously!”
“Sis, what part am I not taking seriously? I’ve had your back in every fight since we started this thing.”
Wren growled. “You know what I’m talking about.”
“I’m doing shifts with everyone else. Are you trying to pick issue with what I do when I’m not fighting?”
“You know I am.”
“Well, I think you should mind your own business. Do I pester you about who you keep company with?”
Bannor came and put a hand on the table. “Ummm, it’s not my business but do either of you think this is the place or time for this discussion?”
Azir waved his hand. “Matter is closed as far as I’m concerned.” He glanced over his shoulder toward Wren. “My sister the guilder wants to judge me? Get real. I don’t care if you can kick my arse.”
Wren scowled at him. “Don’t think I won’t kick your arse. I left the guild.”
He shrugged. “Won’t prove nothing.”
“Children,” Gaea said with a hard tone, the sharpest Bannor had heard yet. “That is enough. Wren, you will cut your brother some slack. Azir, you will exercise a bit more restraint.”
Azir’s chin came down to his chest and his arms and legs dangled loose over the chair. He sighed and mumbled. “Oh, frell me.”
“What did you say?” Gaea snapped, hands on hips.
The man let out a heavy breath and gritted his teeth. “Yes, Mother.”
“What!?”
Gaea turned on her. “Did you raise your voice to me?”
Wren winced and took a step back.
The green mother sniffed. “Fight when you have something serious to fight about. This jealousy is unbecoming. I expect better from you—no, I expect the best from you. If the responsibility of being leader is too heavy a burden for you, I can always give it to Zee or Bannor.”
Wren straightened like she had been slapped. “Jealousy!?”
Gaea folded her arms and stared at her.
The blonde ascendant’s hands clenched and her jaw worked.
Bannor swallowed, feeling a need to defuse the situation. Wren was mad. The most angry he’d seen her in quite a while. He raised a finger. “Uh—”
She focused her glare on him, eyes narrowing, daring him to say anything.
Sarai put fists on hips. “Oh, stop it. And don’t glare at Gaea for calling it what it is. You’re a fine one to lecture Azir about taking the fight seriously. He’s doing his job. That is what is important. Get your head in the war. You can squabble about dating habits later—much later.”
Azir was leaned back in the chair silently whistling, trying to be casual but Bannor could see the man’s face was red. He sure didn’t want this spectacle.
Wren stared at Sarai. If there was anyone the blonde savant could not stare down, it was his wife-to-be. Wren respected her too much.
She straightened up and folded her arms. “Fine,” she growled. “Let’s do this thing.” Visibly swallowing her emotions she focused back on Gaea. “Where do we go, and what do we do?”
Gaea raised her chin. “I am hoping this will be simple. You enter the same way you did last time. Go through the creation lab to the nexus shaft. There is an access to Starholme’s core at the bottom. There used to be artifices for carrying people up and down but they’re disabled and I have no idea how to make them function. Zee will have to fly you all down.” She drew a breath. “From there my knowledge is fuzzy. I know there is a pressure door with a sixteen part pass phrase on it.”
Reality's Plaything 5: The Infinity Annihilator Page 16
