In Creation's Heart

by Jason Hamilton

  Jak’s rage bubbled up inside her. Just then, Cain vanished.

  “No!” she yelled and immediately activated the Pillar of Space. She intercepted Cain at the base of the tower, smashing into him as her Pillar guided her forward. Cain fell to the ground, though still maintained his grip on his own Pillar.

  “I told you, you would never hurt another soul!” she screamed, before calling on the Pillar of Space and winking them both out of Foothold and carrying them far away.

  In the second it took to call on the Pillar’s magic, she thought about where she could take Cain. She could transport him into the sun, or simply out into the void between worlds. Even with the brands and magics that Cain wielded, he wouldn’t last for long in such places. Eventually he would die, and Jak would be free to grab his Pillar and leave in no more than the time it took to snap your fingers.

  But in that moment, she felt the Pillar protest. No, it would not take Cain to a place that would kill him. That would be using its power for evil, as Cain was forcing the Pillar’s companion to do. Jak could not ask that of it.

  So instead, she called on the Pillar to take her far away. Immediately they sprang into existence over an ocean, this one on the other side of Earth, as far away as it was possible to go and still remain on the planet.

  Then she kicked out and let go of Cain.

  “I am immortal,” he yelled as he fell away from her. “You will never kill me. You only delay your inevitable death.”

  “If death is inevitable,” Jak responded. “Then one day it will come for you too.”

  On that parting note, she activated the Pillar’s magic again, sending her back where she came, just as Cain managed to use his Telekinesis to speed towards her. The last thing she heard was his scream as she disappeared from his view.

  She appeared immediately back at Foothold, hovering above the wall and staring back out towards the demons that lay beyond. They had stopped for now. It was likely their master could not control them directly from where he now stood. Though it was obvious he still held some control, and it wouldn’t take long for Cain to come back, especially with the Pillar of Time in tow. She could only hope that the Pillar would wear him out enough that his return would be slow.

  Turning, she scanned for Skellig. She found her on the front wall, standing next to Naem and a few other commanding officers. Jak flew down to meet them.

  “I’ve bought you a day at most,” she said as her feet touched the stone. “Though he will be back, and he won’t be as reckless to attack us outright like that again. He’ll be more careful.”

  “I’m grateful that you took him away for now,” said Skellig. “But you’re right, we can only expect him to learn from each mistake and get better and better until you or the rest of us cannot stop him.”

  “Which means we need to find a more permanent solution,” said Naem.

  “We’ve been working on that,” said Jak, thinking back to her little side project on Illadar.

  “Well we can’t just work on it anymore,” Naem continued. “Perhaps we should start by doubling our search for his base of operations. Everything seems to suggest he’s been hiding in the mountains somewhere. Possibly to the west.”

  Jak frowned. “When the demons took me that first time, they were east of here.”

  “Yes, but these demons all appeared from the west side. Perhaps the demons that took you would have turned that way eventually.”

  Skellig shook her head. “That would still not explain why the Shadow Elves never found such a place. They’ve explored every inch of these mountains, to the east and west.”

  “Cain is capable of magic we are only barely coming to understand,” said Jak, holding a hand up. “I’m sure illusions could be among them. Perhaps the Shadow Elves never got a glimpse of his hideout because he never wanted them to.”

  “But that means it could be anywhere?” said Skellig, frustrated. “I don’t see that as a viable strategy if all we have is twenty-four hours.”

  “No, I think Naem might be onto something,” said Jak. “Cain hinted that he had access to things, Relics of the ancestors, his parents. And I may have an idea on how to reach them.”

  11

  Jak could only wish further that she had the Pillar of Time as the hours melted away. It seemed the more you wanted time to move slower, the more it would speed up. Already three hours were gone and she had not even started her own search for Cain’s secret hideout. She’d spent most of that time consulting with Skellig, Naem, and some of the remaining Shadow Elves on the layout of the Hollow Peaks.

  But there simply wasn’t any more time to be had. She had to set out before Cain returned. Already it seemed the demons that lay not far from their walls were forming ranks again, likely guided by Cain’s mind as he drew even a little bit closer. Though they moved little, and they could only hope that Cain couldn’t concentrate on them long enough to get them to attack. Not yet anyway.

  Soon enough, she downed a small portion of meat and cheese, said a goodbye to Naem and Skellig, telling them what to say should Seph show up looking for her, and set off.

  By set off, that meant she used the Pillar of Space to transport her directly to the summit of one of the Hollow Peaks. It wasn’t the tallest nearby mountain, but it was centrally located, and seemed as good a place as any to start her search.

  Chill winds whipped at her clothing, but she hardly felt it thanks to her Toughness brands. Her shorter hair flowed around her face, and she closed her eyes and felt the harsh touch of cold air. The wind tasted of snow.

  Now came the moment of truth. Holding the Pillar of Eternity in front of her, she concentrated. The Pillar had a consciousness of sorts. She had only ever communicated with it directly when she’d first found the thing, on top of Mt. Knot. This mountain was not all that different, though not as tall. Perhaps that would help it speak to her again.

  I need your help, she thought, nearly speaking the words out loud. You know what Cain’s doing, perverting even your comrade to his will. He will do the same with all life should he get the chance.

  She listened, both inwardly and audibly. Yet she heard nothing.

  However.

  There was something there, almost a feeling or an intuition, similar to what she had felt in the split second before the staff had guided her and stopped Cain from killing an innocent person. It did have a will, and it was concerned. Perhaps even more concerned for the nature of its companion Pillar than she was.

  Yet even then, it did not speak. So why did it feel like it was reaching out.

  Jak turned around and opened her eyes in frustration. “Why can’t you just talk to me?” she said out loud. “None of this is very…”

  She paused. The feeling she’d had before, like the Pillar was reaching out to her. Suddenly it felt like it was reaching beyond her, or rather behind her.

  She turned back again. Yes, the feeling was still there, only now she faced in the direction the Pillar seemed to indicate.

  An idea dawned on her. Holding the Pillar out in front of her, she held her hand out flat, balancing the staff on her palm.

  Immediately, the staff began to turn.

  Jak laughed out loud, almost dropping the Pillar as its head pointed in the same direction it appeared to be reaching. The staff was pointing her the way!

  Jak tightened her grip on the staff and called its magic to her aid. In a flash, she had moved about a mile forward, straight in the direction the Pillar of Space had indicated.

  This time she felt the pull even stronger. They were closer now. Something was there, calling to the Pillar of Space. And not just calling it. Whatever it was, it shared some kind of kinship with the staff, almost in the same way that the two Pillars of Eternity felt bonded. Jak could feel the connection like that of a family member. Whatever lay ahead, it was calling the Pillar of Eternity home.

  She used the Pillar again, jumping another mile ahead of her, this time coming to rest slightly down a mountain ridge. This was closer,
but they weren’t there yet. Another magic-aided jump brought them to the next mountain. Whatever it was, it was close now. Jak could almost feel it radiating around her, feel the excitement build in the Pillar of Eternity itself.

  From what Jak could tell, they were heading west as Naem had predicted. Though it was hard to tell how far. She was sure they were still in the Hollow peaks though.

  She was close. She could feel it. Holding up the Pillar for another jump, she felt its eagerness as once again they moved closer to its kin.

  Jak blinked as the environment materialized around her. They were in a deep crag in the mountain, and it was nearly dark thanks to the pines and brush that filled the area and blocked out the light. Yet as her eyes adjusted, she saw something ahead in the rock face.

  A thin opening lay there, almost too small for a person to climb through, and most would not expect it to lead anywhere, thinking it was just another cut in the rock. But Jak knew better. Based on the feeling she was getting from the Pillar of Space, she knew that whatever she sought lay within the mountain, and this was almost certainly the entrance she was looking for.

  She had to turn sideways to enter. The walls of the crack were close, and while she managed to navigate the entrance well enough, she imagined it would have been hard for a larger person like Cain to squeeze through.

  Regardless, she forgot all about that as the Pillar of Space seemed to almost glow with anticipation. This was a place it knew, one it had not seen in millenia. And now it was coming back home.

  She continued pushing herself alongside the cleft in the wall until suddenly the wall dropped off, and she nearly stumbled as she lost her source of support.

  The place was dark, though after blinking a lot, a small glow in the distance became visible. This was a lot like being back in Mt. Harafast actually. Though the glow in the distance was a colder, bluer light, not the warm light of Mt. Harafast’s lava pool. Whatever it was, the staff wanted to go there. Well, she could oblige.

  She began stepping forward, feeling at the smooth rock beneath her feet. Usually a cave held a lot of obstacles, but she found the rock here to be incredibly smooth, as if someone had already cleared it of stalagmites and odd rocks. Using the staff for stability, she made her way closer to the strange light ahead. It was coming from around a corner. She was almost there, getting ready to round it…

  She nearly dropped the Pillar of Space as a view opened up before her.

  The light was coming from what looked like crystals. Very large crystals. Some of them rose from the bottom of the cavern, all the way to the top. And this was no small cavern. Its ceiling had to be several hundred feet above her head. What contrast considering the entrance to this place was so small. She could run at her top speed for minutes and not reach the other side of this place.

  She tiptoed forward, trying not to make any sound in case one of Cain’s demons was still here. Cain was likely still making his way back from where she had left him, and would be a few more hours yet. However, he might come back here first before attacking at Foothold again, so she had to be quick and careful.

  The Pillar of Space still compelled her forward. There were objects down there, something more than these enormous and beautiful crystals that framed the chamber. She had to get a better look.

  Moving forward, and slightly downward as the chamber opened up, she couldn’t help but stare upward at the spectacle above her. Who would have thought that a being as wretched as Cain could live in a place so full of natural beauty. At least she thought it was natural.

  “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

  Jak jumped and instinctively ignited a flame in one palm, whirling around to see who had spoken. But her face relaxed upon seeing him.

  “Marek,” she said, extinguishing her flames. “I was wondering when I would find you.”

  “You’re here earlier than I would have expected,” he said. “Though I had no doubt you would find it eventually.” His face was calm, and he didn’t seem the least bit troubled to see her. Well that was good. She hoped.

  “What is this place?” she asked.

  “This is the site of our ancestors’ first dwelling place. They came from the stars and crashed not far from here. They found this cave and it became their home for a long time.”

  “Our first ancestors, as in…”

  “Adam and Eve, the parents to Cain and many others, the first of our number here on Earth.”

  “That’s...that’s an incredible find,” Jak stared around again in wonder.

  Yet Marek only shrugged, as if it were a passing interest. “This is also where they developed and honed their magic, the reason for their banishment. They created the first brands here, and passed them down to their descendants. They also created the first Relics, including…”

  Jak held up the Pillar of Space in front of her. The runes seemed to pulse, reflecting the light of the crystals around it. Now it made sense why the staff was so attracted to this place. This was where it was born.

  But she couldn’t delay long in sightseeing. Turning to Marek with a more urgent look on her face, she said, “Marek. You have to help me. Is there anything here that can give me an advantage over Cain? He said he had technologies…”

  Marek smirked. “He says a lot of things.”

  Jak’s eagerness faltered. “But the Pillar, it’s attracted to something here, something more than just the location. There’s some kind of...Relics or technology here, I can feel it.”

  “What you feel is the ship. Come, I’ll show you.”

  He began walking forward, his form silhouetted in the cold light. Jak hesitated at first, but chose to follow. She was reasonably sure that Marek meant her no harm. For now at least. There was still something unsettling about him. He wasn’t completely the Marek she had grown up knowing. Something was different.

  “Marek,” she said as they walked. “Why don’t you come back with me?”

  He stayed silent for several steps before answering, “Why don’t you come with me?”

  “I’m not sure I understand.”

  “The two of us together could probably beat Cain, but he’s right about one thing. The Fae are dangerous. You’d be wiser to ally yourself with me than with them.”

  Jak’s eyebrows furrowed. “The Fae are peaceful.”

  “For now,” he said, still not looking back at her as he strode forward. “What happens when they decide they are superior to humans?”

  Jak was about to retort when she remembered Vander and his betrayal. No, she couldn’t guarantee that such a thing wouldn’t happen. It was possible. Even on Illadar, a place built on peace, she could imagine that such dissension would eventually come.

  “I think you’re missing the point,” said Jak. “I’m not allying myself with them because they are or are not dangerous. I’m allying myself with them because they are oppressed. Many would have died without help.”

  “And that makes it okay if they become a greater problem later?”

  “What comes later is their responsibility, and that of those who come after me. Right now, I am responsible for my own actions, and I will not allow them to suffer when I can do something about it.”

  Marek turned back to look at her, a slight smile on his lips. “Always the compassionate one.”

  “But you haven’t answered my question, Marek. Why do you stay here? We could protect you.”

  He snorted. “I would be no safer there than I am here. Besides, there is much to learn.”

  He waved a hand at a large shape in front of them. Jak had been too busy talking that she hadn’t even noticed where they were going. The shape was something like a large boulder, surrounded by more of the strange, glowing crystals. But there was something off about this boulder. It was too angular, too shiny, like it was mostly made of metal.

  “This is what Cain calls a ship,” said Marek.

  “Like one that sails on the ocean?” Jak asked, confused. It didn’t look at all like any of the ships she had seen in
Skyecliff. For one, it was too small. More along the lines of a large fisherman’s boat, but not a full ship.

  “This one sails between planets,” said Marek, his expression finally changing from his grim stoicism to awe. “Between stars.”

  Jak stared at the ship with newfound respect. So this was what brought her first ancestors to this planet. What kind of secrets could it hold? Surely this is what Cain had been talking about when he mentioned the assets at his disposal. But was the ship a weapon as well as a method of travel?

  Marek reached forward and placed his palm on some kind of panel. At his touch, a portion of the angular craft broke away from the rest of it, lifting up to reveal an opening. And all that from a simple touch? What kind of magic did this ship possess?

  Marek stooped to climb into the opening, turning and beckoning Jak to follow. She only hesitated a little bit. Sure, she would be somewhat vulnerable in such a confined space with Marek, but curiosity won out in the end.

  She stepped into the starship.

  12

  The insides were just as odd as the outside. Most of it was made of metal, including a grate of metal that she stood on. Giant cords that looked like rope, but were smooth and colorful covered the walls on all sides. Marek led her forward to the end of the ship, which she assumed was the front. The top portion was transparent like glass, though she had never seen glass curve like this before.

  “This is where you control it,” he said, pointing down at a series of small levers and buttons. Jak had never seen so many levers before in her life, and built so tiny.

  “Does any of this work?” she managed to ask, her mouth half open as she stared around the room.

  “Much of it does,” said Marek. “He’s been slowly restoring it over the years, trying to get it to the point where it can travel the stars again. He’s almost got it.”