SunRider: Book 1 (The SunRider Saga)

by Hohmann, Rafael

  When Finn got to Kazma and Mal’Bal’s attack, to his surprise, Salt didn’t look shocked. The sailor sighed, rubbing his face slowly.

  “Aye, there were rumors about an army from the South moving its way across Lenova. We were also made aware of its leader, a Star-Child Full-suit.”

  So Finn had been right. Mal’Bal was powerful. “Why have you not done anything against him?” he asked, trying to not let anger creep into his voice.

  “Don’t overestimate us, Finn.” Salt sighed. “Many of us are only now adjusting to our powers—to learn control over ourselves. Many have no fighting experience whatsoever. As a group, we could take down a few Half-suits, Accessories, perhaps even Exceptions—but a Full-suit leading an entire army? That’s something that takes preparation. Think on it: what if we had already attempted to engage Mal’Bal? Ye spoke of him fighting yer group without even using his ability. He tore ye apart. He has necromancy, a body made of gold, followers that would die rather than face his wrath. If he killed our men, took our bracers and gave them to his own people, where would we be? Where would he be?”

  “But Kazma…” Finn started.

  A look of terrible pain came over Salt. The man leaned over and stared at the ground. “I have failed my land.” He spoke the words quietly. “I put the Coalition above Lenova.”

  They went quiet for a long time, listening to the creaking of the timber walls.

  “I’m surprised a former slave is going against Mal’Bal.” Salt spoke up.

  Finn narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”

  “Many slaves have joined Mal’Bal’s cult as revenge against what Lenova has done to them. All they have known from the land is misery.”

  Finn shook his head. “It’s not Lenova itself, but evil men that do the enslaving.”

  Salt shrugged. “In Mal’Bal’s perspective, he must see that we are the evil and he is the light. Many former slaves see it that way as well.”

  Finn stopped, unable to find a clear answer to Salt’s comment. “It’s…” he began, “it’s more complex than that. I can’t explain it, but everyone in the world believes themselves the good guy. That’s just how we are. I’m certain no one believes themselves wrong and then relishes in the fact.”

  Salt leaned in. “So…are ye a good guy?”

  Finn shrugged. “I hope so, but I can’t control the way others might see my decisions. What I mean to say…” Finn stopped. This topic was heavy. It was making his head hurt. “I must be set in my belief that I’m good, because to stand up to the stubbornness of those who do true evil, I have to have an iron will. I can’t let myself doubt the choices I make. I can’t afford to. I’m good because I’m a reflection of the choices I make, not just because I say I am.”

  Salt pulled back, and suddenly Finn felt as if he’d been tested. “That’s a very wise answer.” Salt whispered.

  “But no matter what other slaves might choose or think, we can’t let Mal’Bal destroy Lenova.” Finn spoke, his conviction quivering in his throat. Salt nodded. “We’ll face him, but there’s still much to prepare. Will ye help me Finn? Will yer friends stand with ye and help as well?”

  “If it means getting back at Mal’Bal and saving Lenova, then yes.” Finn replied.

  “Then we must train. All of us.” Salt spoke, his voice resonating with determination. “We’ve been given word Mal’Bal has paused his campaign. We don’t know why, but we’ll take advantage of it like a sailor with fair wind in his sails. And when Mal’Bal moves, so shall we: to war.”

  Finn’s heart beat quickly, responding to the dark words and the anticipation of a fight.

  “To war,” he responded, “and to a safe Lenova.”

  There was a knock on the door and one of the twins opened it. Standing at the passage was the bespectacled Star-Child with the power to heal through animal sacrifice. He greeted Salt and Finn with a curt nod.

  “Sir, there is a complication with one of the patients—the younger boy. It’s urgent.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY:

  Distant and Alone

  —It is a common misconception to believe that shape-shifters are born the way they are. In fact, shape-shifting is a randomly occurring genetic disease so rare, that never in recorded history has there ever been more than three alive at one time. The disease is said to first show symptoms of existing at the age of twelve. Some of the symptoms include are: an allergic reaction to metal and leather, the eye’s pigmentation lightens and darkens as the sun rises and sets, and the absolute incapability to sing any song, as the vocal cords tend to loosen and tighten, giving the victim an ever-changing voice pitch.—

  -Excerpt from Strange Lenovan Facts of Flight and Fancy, page 52

  Finn and Salt were escorted out of the underground chamber. Behind them, the two twins closed the door and followed their movements with unblinking eyes. The Star-Child healer led them outside and brought them to a small cabin near the edge of Jakitta. He stopped at the doorway, his face grave.

  “He’s still not awake. He won’t be for a while. It took close to every animal in Jakitta to bring him back.” He looked to Finn. “Your horses are alive, but I’ve given them to the twins as replacement. Their steeds were old and I used them as sacrifice.” Finn was shocked. So much death for one person. It was a barbaric power that made Finn question the true purpose of the bracers, but it was also a testament to Salt’s integrity—a steep payment for one whom Salt had never met before. The healer continued. “The girl will be alright. She had difficulties as well. She’s not…whole, but will awaken within a few days.”

  “Well, what’s this complication you speak of with the boy, Petreamus?” Salt asked.

  The Star-Child, Petreamus, opened the cabin door and led them inside.

  The cabin was warm and a nice change to the chill weather. A small fire cracked in a hearth. Dried herbs hung over the flames and gave off strange smells that calmed and relaxed the muscle. Laying in a bed near the fire was a form: Goblin. Finn hurried to his side and knelt. A blanket covered his friend all the way to his chin. Goblin’s face, no longer a healthy brown color, was pale and seemed drained of blood. His breathing was labored and without pattern, yet he looked better than he had the night before out in the rain.

  Petreamus lowered the boy’s blanket. A lump entered Finn’s throat. Goblin’s chest was healed, blood no longer coated his body. In the center, in the middle of his ribcage, a green nub jutted out. The gem shard, heart of the wooden golem, hadn’t been removed.

  “No matter what I did or how I used my power, I couldn’t pull it out without killing him. Whatever it’s doing, it is a part of him now. Feel his skin.”

  Finn put his hand on Goblin’s chest. Near the nub it was tough and hard, like rubbing a stone. He moved his hand over toward Goblin’s shoulder. His skin was soft there. Whatever had transpired radiated from his chest and came to a slow halt.

  “Ye spoke of a golem, controlled by Mal’Bal.” Salt commented. “Its heart—is that it?”

  “Part of it.” Finn replied, worried for his friend.

  “There’s something magical about this.” Salt contemplated. “Perhaps Mal’Bal stabbed him on purpose, not with the intent to kill?”

  To Finn’s surprise, Petreamus nodded. “I believe so. This type of wound should’ve killed him, but when he was brought to me, it was as if his body was in a state of hibernation—awaiting healing.”

  Salt sighed and folded his arms, a stern look reflecting in his eyes. “What has the evil Star-Child done?”

  The question was an open-ended one, left lingering in the air. Finn’s mind raced, thinking of the golden man, of the golem, and of the heart. Of Star-Children powers. He recalled Nozgull’s control over gems.

  “Perhaps…” Finn began. Salt and the healer turned to face him. “I know what Mal’Bal’s power is.”

  “Well, spill it.” Salt coaxed.

  “Mal’Bal controls an army of golems. They follow his commands mindlessly. The wooden golem died when its ge
m heart shattered. What if Mal’Bal can imbue life into gems and create the beasts?”

  Salt was silent for a long time. He sighed and faced Petreamus. “Gather two Star-Children. Assign them to guard this cabin. Inform me at once when the boy wakes. He’s not to leave this building or leave yer sight. If anything unusual happens, ye let me know immediately. As far as we’re all concerned, this boy is under probation.”

  “Wait!” Finn shouted. “Are you saying you mean to keep Goblin prisoner in here?”

  “Yes.” Salt confirmed, his voice hard. “We have to maintain security.”

  “He’s my best friend! He’s not some monster! He’s not going to turn into a golem!”

  Salt motioned for the door, indicating Finn should leave. “Use yer common sense boy! I know ye have it! Mal’Bal’s clearly done something to Goblin, whether intentionally or not! We can’t take a risk he’ll awaken and try to slaughter us all, infect us with some strange disease, or spy for the Star-Child!”

  “He wouldn’t do that!” Finn argued, refusing to budge from beside Goblin’s bed.

  “Can ye be sure?” Salt asked, calm but serious. “Look Finn, I know a Star-Child with the ability to detect ownership over items—useful for sensing poisons and tracing assassination attempts. Perhaps she can tell us whether the shard piercing yer friend’s chest belong solely to him or to Mal’Bal. We’ll be able to know its intentions: whether it’s a freak accident or not. Either way, ye need to leave the cabin.”

  “Then go get her! I’ll stay here until then!”

  “No.” Salt spoke, unmoving. “She’s not here, I have her off scouting for new Star-Children. She won’t be due ‘til three weeks’ time.”

  Finn licked his lips, suddenly angry at Salt. “We came here as free men, and we’ll be treated as such.”

  Salt grabbed Finn’s shoulders and pushed him firmly to the door. “And if I leave him free? Surely the other Star-Children will hear of his condition. The guards and the lockdown are as much for our safety as it is for his! Do ye want to find his mangled corpse in the middle of Jakitta? Until we trace the ownership of the shard, ye are banned from this cabin.”

  “What!” Finn shouted. His anger for Salt doubled, if not for the fact the man was speaking sense. Finn knew his stubbornness and friendship were blinding him. But one stern look from Salt quieted him. If Finn acted out, he could be kicked from the Coalition.

  “Alright.” he submitted with a sigh, freeing himself from Salt’s grip and leaving the room. Outside, Finn folded his arms and watched his breath turn to mist. Salt came and stood beside him.

  “Ye have a great opportunity Finn. There are nearly a hundred Star-Children here. Ye haven’t activated yer bracer yet. This is an ideal place and time to learn how to do so. Speak to the others and watch them. Perhaps that’ll give ye clues to yer own potential. Attempt to focus on yerself while here. Yer friends will all be fine. Goblin will be fine.”

  “And what will you do?” Finn inquired.

  Salt ran a finger down the scar marking his face. “I’ll do all I can to learn of Mal’Bal. Where he came from. Who he is. Perhaps plead with the king to work with us, instead of against us. Ye will not be seeing much of me.”

  Finn was startled. “And who will I train under? I want to learn to fight.”

  Salt laughed. “We are a group of equals, Finn. I may be the head of the Coalition, but I am far from a superior to any of ye. My only job is to guide. We train each other—everyone going around and passing along their skills and craft. I’ve seen it grow and unify many of us into a unit.”

  “And where will I be staying?” Finn asked the Coalition leader.

  “In the same cabin ye awoke in. We have plenty of homes. The locals were slaughtered by three rogue Star-Children, leaving behind many empty rooms. The twins, myself, and a few others took care of them and established base here. It’s how I got m’scar. Jakitta’s a reminder of what we could become if we were to submit to our powers.”

  Finn shifted uncomfortably.

  “Let it remind ye as well, Finn,” Salt spoke gravely before turning away and walking off into the mist, again rubbing at the pink line on his face. “that we walk a fine line between heroes and demons.”

  Finn didn’t see much of anyone in his first day at Jakitta. Salt was the last one to speak to him, leaving him to fend for himself. Instead of wandering around, Finn returned to his cabin where he ate his small meal and slept the rest of the day away. The following morning, he awoke to see Altin wandering the village with two Star-Children. He ignored Finn, brooding and whispering with wild-looking men. His feelings hurt, Finn followed them from a distance, watching as they made their way to a large field. There Finn bore witness to the majority of the Coalition. Scores of bracer-wielding forms fought each other with a variety of weapons, hand-to-hand combat skills, and powers.

  Near one corner, a large crowd had gathered with shouts of excitement. Finn stopped following Altin and veered to see what the others were watching. Making his way into the crowd—drawing cold stares from many—Finn walked to the edge of a wide pit. It was the same pit Finn had seen the day before, hearing strange noises come from it. The hole was perhaps ten meters deep and at the bottom, two people fought.

  A man and woman, both with bracers activated, rolled on the ground, punching at each other with ferocity. The spectators shook their fists, shouting words of encouragement and advice to whichever Star-Child they were rooting for.

  “Rush her Cion! Crack open her chest!”

  “Antina, jab at his eyes! He can’t hit what he can’t see!”

  The two fighters separated, panting and snarling. They walked in circles along the edges of the pit, facing each other with hunched backs. The woman, Antina—whose suit covered her arms—fake-dodged. The man stumbled and snarled. The crowd jeered and laughed. The man, his suit forming pauldrons melded into a yoke-collar behind his neck, bashed his fists together, lowered his head like a goat, and dashed forward. His body was a blur, moving at inhuman speed. The woman dove to the side, but the man grazed her, and she launched sideways, bouncing along the dirt floor. It looked painful and the crowd groaned. The man smashed into the wall, causing the ground to shudder. He peeled himself away and shook his body to clear the dust from his skin. Finn watched in interest, wondering what their powers were.

  The woman got into a crawling position and stayed there, stunned and disoriented. The crowds yelled at her to get up. The man lowered his head again but the woman wasn’t facing him. She slowly pushing at her knees, huffing as she stood back up. The man tightened his body and launched forward, charging at her exposed back. With no chance of escape, she was hit dead-on, bent over the man’s yoke, and tossed into the air. She spun four times and slammed into the ground with a grunt. The crowd hissed. Was the battle over? The man hit into the wall of the pit again and pulled himself free, showering the ground with loose dirt. He turned and lowered his head. This time, Finn paid closer attention. Before each time the man—Cion—charged, there was a moment of hesitation: a build-up. The man had to suck-in energy before shooting forward, as if released from a bow.

  Cion’s chest expanded and his muscles tensed. Finn smiled, believing he now knew what the Star-Child’s ability was. The woman rolled over and raised a hand. Water droplets pulled themselves free from the ground around her, like upside-down rain forming into a glistening wiggling sphere. With a flick, it flew at the man’s face. The man stumbled back, spluttering and wiping at his eyes with thick fingers. When he pulled his hands away, another ball was formed and hit him. He howled and wiped again. The woman struggled to her feet, pain shaking her body.

  The man activated his power and charged blindly, missing the woman and slipping in the water. He bounced and skidded at high velocity into a wall, getting his shoulder armor stuck against a stone. The crowd cat-called and yelled even more. The woman smiled up to the people, waving like a celebrity. One Star-Child blew her a kiss and she launched water at him, dousing the crowd. Many la
ughed.

  Cion broke free, lowered his head, and roared forward. The woman was able to move away, but Cion stuck out an arm, clotheslining her. She went straight down, her head bouncing off the dirt. Yet to Finn’s surprise, she immediately got back up, her face masked by fury. When the man turned, she clawed her fingers and crouched. Cion charged.

  Antina raised her arms to the sky and thousands of water droplets rose from the dirt. She flattened her palms and the water froze, floating in place. Cion, unable to stop, ran into it. The unmoving water slashed his exposed skin, cutting furrows along his limbs. There was a flash of light—a gleam so bright Finn shielded his eyes. It was followed by a deep rumble. Thunder? Finn cleared his vision to see Cion standing rigid in the middle of the pit, shaking violently. Throughout all the thousands of water droplets, lines of light ran at incredible speed, forming a spiderweb of lightning that enveloped the Star-Child. Antina lowered her arms and the water dropped, the electricity disappearing. With it went Cion, crumbling to an unconscious heap and leaving the air with the smell of ozone.

  The crowd erupted into cheers and money exchanged hands. Star-Children brought out ropes, tying them to posts and climbing into the pit. They awakened Cion and helped both fighters up. When a drowsy Cion went forward to shake Antina’s hand, she raised her chin and turned away.

  Up close, it was easy to see that many members of the Coalition were barbaric—fierce. As often as they acted friendly, they also lashed out. It was as if they were part of another species—another race. Finn imagined them as wild animals, barely kept in check. He had a feeling if Salt hadn’t put forth great effort into bringing these people in, Lenova would have already been in ruins. If left to their own fates, or if led by another… Finn shuddered. But a few in the crowd held themselves in check, keeping calm and gazing out with half-lidded eyes—they were the ones with strong mental control.

  Now that the battle was over and the two contestants had left to tend to their injuries, many noticed Finn. Some nodded, yet many scowled, staring at him as if he were a nuisance. Finn backed off, feeling vulnerable and unwanted. He was as Goblin must have felt when he’d first came to the mining outpost: he needed someone to guide and help him out, yet the only person, Salt, was gone.