by Bob Blink
Her eyes moved to the empty pod off to her side. That’s where Nyk was supposed to be, but the pod was mysteriously empty. It had been empty from the very first time she had regained awareness, almost a thousand years ago. Where had he gone, and when? Equally important, how had he escaped? They were supposed to have been freed at the proper time together, all eight of them. That would have allowed them to return to the world as its masters. She and Nyk would have been the Superiors. Such was reflected in the position of their pods, which were set above those of the other six. She could see each of the other locations if she strained. She had done so many times over the years, checking first to see if she was the only one left trapped, and later to see the condition of the others. All of the others in their small group were still here. Smmt and Nldt were clearly dead. Kytra didn’t know what had happened to them, but the condition of their bodies left no doubt of the reality. It made her uncomfortable to be locked in place so close to their remains, but like most things, she had no control over the fact. Most important, Hyndl and Tryll appeared to be sound, although they were still in the deep sleep. Never had she seen any indication that they had ever been awake, even briefly as she had been at first. They were her closest allies, and they would support her against whatever Nyk was doing, if only she could get them awake and they could jointly free themselves from the constraints of the crystal chamber. The remaining pair would be more likely to support Nyk, and that made her wonder why they were still here.
Kytra was certain that Nyk had betrayed her, all of them it seemed, after his promises they would defeat the sorcerers that opposed their rule. The altercation had not gone as he had predicted. The sorcerers were far less capable than those like herself, but they had learned far more than could have been expected, and worse, they had somehow gained the support of a great many Brryn. The Brryn, those like herself with the lavender hair – a distinguishing characteristic that developed as one’s power matured, were the true masters of magic. As they matured they came into powers that the lesser sorcerers could never hope to duplicate. Long had there been disagreement as to how their superior magic should be used. Some, like herself and Nyk, had realized they were meant to rule over all others. That was their right. Apparently the sentiment hadn’t been shared by as many of her fellow Brryn as she had expected. The resulting war had nearly broken the world, the Blight spreading far beyond the planned borders. When they had surveyed the damage after the conflict, they had come to believe the whole of the northern continent would be consumed, allowing only a small portion of the population to survive, and then as primitives. Nyk had foreseen as much, and hence they had created this special chamber, a place that sidestepped the passing centuries where they could wait out their already extremely extended lives without aging until the effects of the Blight receded. It had been located in the southern jungles, a fierce and primitive land, protected from the Blight by the Great Mountains, but populated only by savages. By now the Blight should have collapsed, and the land should have begun to restore itself, but from what she knew of the outside world, that hadn’t happened. Much was not as Nyk had predicted. Either that, or he had lied.
Clearly the untrustworthy traitor had other plans. Plans unshared and entirely of his own. She had seen enough to know he had been free for a very long time. The magical beasts that had until recently roamed the Blight were clearly of his doing. The same was true of the minders for the beasts. He had experimented with such creations even before the thought of a war with the sorcerers. Whatever he had been up to by creating the creatures, he’d had sufficient time to have released herself and the other Brryn if that was his intention. Instead, the years had flowed by, and never had he returned to even check on them. He obviously had elected to rule alone, and to leave the rest of them trapped in the chamber, perhaps forever. Perhaps only until the day he might need them. He probably didn’t even know that she was partially freed. That she was awake at all appeared to be some fluke of the magic that was meant to contain her. She wondered briefly what he might do if he knew. Maybe she was wrong, and he would be delighted. They had been close once, or so she thought. Her actions in the outside world were a risk. If he were out there watching, he would almost certainly notice her touch upon those who she imposed her will. But what choice was there? She certainly couldn’t just wait here doing nothing. The very fact that he hadn’t returned, made her wonder of late if something had happened to him. Perhaps he no longer lived. That he was allowing the sorcerers to gain a foothold made her wonder.
By the Powers, she wished to be freed. While the confinement kept her from aging, and using a special form of magic removed any needs for food or drink to sustain her, she wished to escape and be free to move about the world. To do so, the pod would have to release her entirely. So long as a single finger was held in by the magic it contained, she was bound to the unusual structure. Over the long years, she had gradually felt the restrictions lessening. At first, she had been awake for very short periods, only to fall back under the influence of the magic for decades at a time. Then she remained awake for a glass or two, with periods of sleep that lasted months, not decades. Over the past years, she had been awake for days at a time, with only short periods where she was pressed back under. It was amazing how she could function for extended periods without becoming tired.
But, just as she had no control over when the pod would claim her consciousness, she also had limited use of her magic. Only when she was freed would she be herself once again. Until then, she had to work through those she could manipulate. She amused herself with destroying those who would almost certainly resist her when she was freed. The sorcerers had been more of a problem than expected before, and she had no desire to see them grown in number and ability while she was trapped here. One day she would be freed, and on that day she would rule the world. Perhaps Nyk had a sound plan after all. She wouldn’t mind being the supreme and only ruler of this world.
To that end she used what tools were available to her. The sorcerers shouldn’t have existed, but they did. Fortunately, their powers were limited. They could be controlled and turned to her wishes, just as the so-called Baldari. They were easier. Like herself, their ability to communicate mentally made them easy subjects. Nyk had once wondered why the Baldari and the Brryn had such abilities, but not the rest of the population. She didn’t want to believe there was some genetic connection in the distant past. The Baldari were expendable. There were many of them, and they fought well. The sorcerers, both those who called themselves Casters, and those who were known as wizards, would be used to aid her attacks. She now knew that would allow her forces to move freely around the occupied lands. Each time she claimed one of the sorcerers with the ability to make the portals, she gained access to new places. Hopefully those captured in today’s raids would allow her more freedom within the western lands. The long journey she had been forced to send the one called Shym on simply to learn the way to the ocean village, wouldn’t have to be repeated again.
There was a dark side to recent events, she admitted. The sorcerers were now aware of her. It was all due to the white haired woman. She knew of her type. There had been those like her among the sorcerers in the past, and they had always been trouble. She could see Kytra from here in the pod. She sensed that Kytra was behind the Baldari attacks, and also that she was gaining strength. As yet the white-haired one didn’t know where this place was, but even so she saw too much. Kytra could sense the woman was growing in ability. It was becoming more difficult to know when she was watching. As yet Kytra didn’t know where the woman lived, but once she learned, she would send whatever forces were required to kill her. It wouldn’t do to be watched, especially once she was free. Anyone who could watch, would be able to know where she was at any time. Of course, if she could capture the woman, make her subject to her will, Kytra could use those powers to spy on others. She would have to consider which would be for the best.
Another worrisome problem had just come to her attention. The l
atest Baldari warriors impressed to her will came from the northern limits of the Baldari lands. Her Baldari leader had caught snatches of loose thoughts that hinted of foreigners making their way into the jungles from the north. The sorcerers were searching, whether it was for her or the homelands of the Baldari didn’t matter. It was unacceptable. She would have to take action to stop further efforts along that line. She would have to move in a way that wouldn’t reveal herself.
She felt herself starting to fade. Angrily she hissed, and quickly planted instructions in the minds of those returning from the attack. The sorcerers they had captured were to be cared for, but kept from escaping until she was ready for them. She knew it wouldn’t be long, but disliked the interruption. Too much was happening for her to be delayed. There was nothing she could do. The chamber that had kept her alive and unchanged for millennia, also held her trapped. It was subtly shifted from the reality of her world. That shift was what moved her outside the influence of the passing years, but it also restricted her in ways she hated.
Chapter 28
From atop the same hillside where the invaders had arrived earlier in the day, Daim stared at the still burning wreckage of what used to be the prosperous port city of Roin. He shook his head unhappily. This was the result of magic used in the worst way. It was the reason those without the gift had turned against magic and those who practiced it so often in the past. He had hoped to never see such a sight. In his own time, it would have been unthinkable. But now, such abuses were clearly upon them, and unless a means of finding and bringing those responsible under control was found, there would be more places like Roin. He shuddered to think of how many.
“The Three Kingdoms are no longer safe,” someone said off to his side.
Daim said nothing. It hadn’t been safe since this began. He wondered why it had taken as long as it had for the madness to reach here.
“Why Roin?” Jeen asked thoughtfully. “This is the third time the Baldari have attempted an attack on the port city. This time it appears they finally accomplished their goal.”
“Which was what?” Ash’urn broke in. “Do we have any idea what was so important for them. It seems to me that the only thing achieved here was wanton destruction and killing. They lost a number of their warriors, and succeeded in burning the city to the ground, but little else.”
Daim shifted uncomfortably. “I wonder,” he said slowly. “In my time there were tales of a time lost to history. It was said that the most powerful of the gifted in those ancient times had a mighty fortress on the southwestern shores of the Great Sea. Searches were made, of course, but nothing was ever found. Roin would qualify as such a place. Could there have once been such a fortress here? Are the Baldari seeking something that has long been lost?”
“What are you trying to say?” Ash’urn asked. “That the Baldari have some knowledge of the distant past?”
“Probably not the Baldari. It is more likely those who are behind them. I have thought about the magic we are seeing. Where did it come from and where have these people been to suddenly appear and begin to cause such destruction?”
“You believe they have somehow come from the distant past?” Jeen asked, seeing where Daim was heading.
“The chamber that Mitty describes must have some special purpose. The people are in it to protect them from something. Maybe they are awakening from a special means they used to preserve themselves from a time long ago, possibly before the Ruins existed.”
“How could that be?” Jeen said.
Daim shrugged. “I found a way to preserve myself, at least my thoughts and memories and send them across thousands of years. If the magic was so much more advanced in those distant times, perhaps some knew of a means to accomplish such a feat.”
“What would their purpose be?” Ash’urn asked.
“Perhaps to finish a war that had been started back then. Maybe the woman in Mitty’s visions is one of those who fought the war that caused the Ruins, and is still searching to be certain none related to her enemies survived.”
“If what you fear is true, they might be impossible to stop,” Jeen said. “Our abilities with magic may be childish for them.”
Daim nodded. “At the moment it appears whoever drives the Baldari is forced to function through others. They use the Baldari as fighters, and now Casters and wizards to perform what magic they can. That suggests a limitation in their ability. Mitty claims the woman appears trapped, and the others are still inactive. We might have a chance if we can locate this woman and deal with her before she frees herself, or is able to awaken the others to assist her.”
“If that happens?” Jeen asked.
“If that happens, I fear all is lost,” Daim said wearily.
“Mitty claims one of the pods is vacant,” Ash’urn reminded him.
“Perhaps that is the person behind this,” Daim agreed. “Let us hope that is the case. If the abilities once freed are no greater than we have seen, then we have hope.”
Daim looked around at the small group of wizards who stood with him. “Rigo is still in Sedfair with Mitty?” he asked.
Ash’urn, who had come from there just the previous evening nodded. “I talked with him just the other day. Do you wish him to come here?”
“I want him informed. Before long, we need to bring everyone together and consider how to proceed. Nycoh too. I haven’t seen her for a few days. Is she in Sedfair as well?”
Ash’urn shook his head. “I stayed at her home while I was there. She was not around. I had assumed she was here.”
“See if someone can find her. She is important to our discussions. We also must try and understand how she had gained her recent powers and whether the ability can be passed. I also hope she soon finds a way to duplicate the protective barrier we have seen that rebel Caster display.”
“I’d guess she is at the Repository,” Ash’urn said. “She expressed her hopes for the place to me after her own look at the place. I’ll check.”
“I’ll go and see Rigo,” Jeen said. “Queen Mos’pera wishes to speak with Mitty anyway.”
Daim nodded and stepped forward so he could better survey the city below. The death tolls had been less than they might have been. With the delay in alerting the Outpost to the attack, the Baldari and the puppet Casters had been free to do as they wished. Fortunately their intent had not been to kill as many as possible, and while the city would be a total loss, most of the inhabitants would survive. The death toll was not small, but more had been wounded than killed. The injured were being relocated to other villages by Outpost wizards where they would be treated.
“They captured almost a dozen of our people,” Daim said softly. “I would expect we will see them again serving the force that controls our enemies.”
“Perhaps that was the motivation for the attack?” someone suggested.
“There are other places wizards could be found,” Daim said. “They were taken because they were here. I’m certain it was clearly one of the goals, but a secondary one.”
“One thing is certain,” Ash’urn said. “If they had any restrictions making a Bypass to locations in the Three Kingdoms, something we have wondered about, having a force of our wizards under their control will remove that limitation. They will be able to use our people to take them wherever they wish to go. Nowhere will be safe.”
“The Outpost,” Jeen said suddenly, thinking of the attacks in Nals at the Guild.
“That too,” Daim agreed. He had already considered the possibility. “The Outpost will be a tough one for them to take, unless they can open their Bypass inside the facility. Thus far, it has seemed the captured Casters, and we’ll have to hope the same holds for wizards, have been unable to create a Bypass into one of the areas where they have been blocked. If they have to approach from the outside, we outnumber them, and the very stone of the mountains was strengthened by the strongest magic known in my time. Whether that will be enough to make the walls strong enough to resist some of the magic being
leveled against us remains to be seen.”
“We need something to use against them,” Ash’urn noted.
“That means we need to discover where they are located for one thing,” Daim said. “Given they appear to be trapped in place, we might be able to use that against them. Hopefully Burke or the Sedfair team will have better luck soon. The only other hope I see at the moment is something in the repository that can help us resist the attacks.”
“You are not afraid that the enemy will simply capture Burke and his team if they get too close?” Jeen asked.
“We must inform them of what has happened here,” Daim agreed. “They need to be alert to the possibility, but what choice do we have? We cannot simply sit back and hope the problem goes away. Burke and his team are at grave risk, but it is a risk that must be borne.”
Chapter 29
The mountains up in the north where she sat were surprisingly beautiful. It wasn’t often Nycoh took the time to enjoy such things, but today she found the tall, closely spaced trees that bordered the small lake where she had stopped for her private contemplation particularly inviting. The sky was a light clear blue, without a single cloud, and just the faintest breeze worked its way between the trees to carry the fresh scent of the wild flowers that grew in the small patches of grass where the trees failed to block the sunlight. There was barely a ripple in the mirrored surface of the lake, and by now even the birds had become comfortable with her presence. Instead of screeching warnings, they had settled down to gentle chirping as she leaned back and contemplated the tall mountains in the distance.
Rigo had spent his teen years not too far from where she was. That’s how she had first found this spot. She’d been visiting his village, to see where he had grown up to try and learn more about his background. That had been years ago, but she recalled he had told her about his escape over the mountains, and she had used her magic to explore the distant mountains. One of the spots was this one. It was especially difficult to reach without using a Bypass, and hence had seldom been disturbed by others. Several times she had come here to be alone. After the past couple of days, she had felt the need for solitude.
