“Yes, but you are not Dusty,” was the old man’s response. “Dusty would not stand up to Phoenix. If Phoenix asked, Dusty would agree to it.”
The old man paced back and forth for some time. He seemed troubled by something; his normal cool, calm, and controlled exterior was somewhat shaken. Returning to the map, he marked the last known location of the Shadow Fox. “Computer, using the known operational specifications of the Shadow Fox, what is the ETA to the system I labeled as the table system?”
The holographic map twisted and refocused around a single point. A red line appeared that connected the last known position of the Shadow Fox with the table system, and the computer said, “The Shadow Fox should arrive at its destination tomorrow.”
“Make sure that system is watched closely. If Dusty is on the Shadow Fox we will only have a tiny window of opportunity to see them coming out of the jump,” said the old man.
“We already have magi in the system, watching,” said the steel-eyed man.
“They had better be alert. Once they clear the jump, the Shadow Fox will not be findable until Dusty lets it be found.”
“They are watching,” said the steel-eyed man. “What if the Shadow Fox finds nothing there?”
“The table is still there, and that will be enough for them to continue to trust messages from me. However, I am certain that table is a clue,” he said.
“I don’t understand why we don’t check it ourselves. We don’t need them,” said the steel-eyed man.
“We need them to draw out whoever the new players are. That way the attention is on them, and we can make our move when we are ready,” said the old man. “Now, go and ensure our magi are in place and we don’t miss the Shadow Fox.”
Chapter Forty
It had been three months since we left the Nevermore II and headed off to chase down a lead given by the magus who, until now, I was sure was a sorcerer. “Spectra, how long until we jump?”
“By the time we slip around this system it will be well into tomorrow,” she said.
“Rocky, this should be a fairly safe section of our trip. Reduce the manpower to a skeleton crew and make sure everyone gets some rest, just in case the old man has any surprises for us tomorrow,” I said. I remembered that Master Shadow did that just before fights; it seemed like a good idea, so I decided to copy it.
“Yes, Master Dusty,” said Rocky.
“Spectra, it’s almost time for our session with Lythiran. Why don’t we head down a bit early and see how Phoenix is doing?” I asked.
“Sure!” she said.
It had been a tense couple of months with Phoenix. The forced diet and exercise left him very short-tempered and generally grouchy. As a result, we had been avoiding him as much as possible, but I needed him ready for our arrival at the planet. I had no idea what we would be facing.
Once we got to the training rooms, I looked in the windows and saw Phoenix working with Lythiran on staff drills. He was not what anyone would call thin, but was definitely leaner than I had ever known him to be.
I watched his training quietly and was impressed. He was obviously exhausted, but still pushed himself hard. When he first started training, he could go no more than a minute without stopping to rest. Now he was able to last significantly longer without breaks, and Shea had been singing praises about his vital signs improving. The only problem was that his powers had not returned.
“We should go in,” said Spectra.
“Yeah,” I said reluctantly and led the way.
“Hey, guys, you're a bit early,” said Phoenix.
“Yeah. Tomorrow we make our final jump, so I’m putting the ship on rest duty until then,” I said.
“Good idea,” said Phoenix. “I just wish I could be helpful tomorrow.”
“Phoenix, don't be so silly!” said Spectra. “We will need you on the bridge tomorrow!”
I needed his help, but I wasn’t sure I wanted him on the bridge. However, I certainly couldn’t turn him away after that comment. “I take it there has been no change?”
“Yeah, I’m still a cripple,” he said.
“Nonsense,” said Lythiran. “You are ten times the man you were when we first met.”
“More like a tenth,” he said as he tapped his stomach.
Lythiran smiled and said, “True, true, but you have been confronted by a major challenge and are meeting it head-on. Master, you should be proud of how far you have come.”
“But I have so far yet to go!” he said.
“Shea, any indication yet if Phoenix’s treatment is working?” I sent privately.
“Maybe so, Master, or you might be right on the cusp. The only way to know is to keep pushing forward. You are doing so well!” said Lythiran.
“I am sure it is working, but I have no proof,” she sent back.
“Any idea when we will see any improvement in his powers?” I asked.
“It should have happened by now, so all I can say is: any day now. I don’t know what is stopping him,” she said.
“Phoenix, when was the last time you tried your powers?” I asked as I shared privately with Spectra what Shea had sent.
“Oh, I don’t know. It’s been a while. What’s the point?” he asked.
“Phoenix, you should try right now,” said Spectra.
Ever since that day in sickbay when we learned about Phoenix’s condition, she had taken a more protective and encouraging stance with him. It was as if she saw him now as her baby brother or something like that.
“Why bother? I’m doomed to be a mundane,” he said.
“Master Phoenix, you’ll never be a mundane. Try your powers. Do something small to begin with, perhaps just pick up that towel over there with your mind,” said Lythiran. We had filled Lythiran in completely on Phoenix’s condition, and he seemed to understand better than I would have guessed, given that he was just a mundane.
“Phoenix, our magic is based at least in part on willpower, so that means if you don’t think you can, you won't. Know that you can, and focus on the fact that you are better. It’s time for that diehard, jolly spirit of yours to return,” said Spectra.
He looked at her and lit up. Then he turned and said, “You’re right. Towel! Yeah, you! Look at me when I’m talking to you! Don’t even think of any backtalk around me, you sniveling coward! Get over here!” in a commanding voice. I don’t know who was the most shocked when the towel leapt off the floor and hit him square in the face. He fell back in surprise, and everyone got a good laugh out of it.
“Wow! I did it!” said Phoenix.
“Try again; this time with a bit more control, Master,” said Lythiran, always the teacher.
Suddenly, without warning, the towel leapt from his hands and flew at Lythiran, who easily caught it.
“Shea! He did it!” I sent.
“Did what?” she asked.
“Threw the towel!” I sent and followed that with my memory of what I saw.
“On my way!” she sent back.
Once Shea got there she asked him to do it again, which he did. But this time he really struggled with it.
“Excellent! Based on the reports from the time Shadow regained his powers, you will have to work with and exercise them just as you did with your physical body. Go back to your beginner books and start doing the exercises. I expect you’ll fly through them and be back in action in no time,” she said.
I looked over at Spectra, and I saw something in her expression that I recognized. “Spectra, what did you do?” I sent privately.
“I helped him along a little,” she sent back.
“So he doesn’t really have his powers back?” I asked.
“I only helped the first two times. The third was all him. He needed to believe he could before he could,” she sent.
I looked back over at him as he struggled mightily but managed to hold the towel up in the air. Shea was cautioning him to take it slowly, but he was too giddy with exci
tement to listen. She eventually took the towel from him and escorted him off.
“You can’t let him know. He has to believe he has his powers back for them to come back fully,” she said.
“How long have you known?” I asked.
“I didn’t. I took a chance, and it paid off,” she said.
I wanted to be mad at her for taking that chance and tricking Phoenix, but there was no way I could stay mad long when she looked at me with those big green eyes of hers. Her tail twitched a little, and she had the best smile. I stood there basking in her glow for a bit.
“Masters, are you ready for your lesson?” asked Lythiran, breaking the moment.
Chapter Forty-One
After jumping into the system, it took another day to fly to the planet in question. We spent the whole time using our passive scans to see if there was anyone waiting for us. I was still sure that the old man was leading us to our doom.
“Master Dusty, we are in orbit now. The site that we were asked to check out should be directly below us,” said Rocky.
“It doesn’t look very impressive,” said Phoenix. “I see no signs of animal life or technology of any kind. The planet is basically one big vegetable garden.”
It had been two days since he’d started to get his powers back, and he was rapidly working through the beginner books. He wanted to jump to more advanced spells, but Shea talked him out of it. She was worried that if he pushed too hard he might overdo it and lose his powers again.
“Great. Have my team meet me in the shuttle.” Originally I had wanted to fly the Shadow Fox down to check it out, but Rocky convinced me it would be better to send a small team first. That way, if there was any trouble, there was someone that could come and rescue us.
Spectra and I met up with Cymeion and Darkstone in the shuttle bay. “Okay, everyone, I have no idea what we will find down there. Considering the source of the information, I am fully expecting a trap of some kind, so everyone needs to stay alert.”
“Yes, Master,” they said as everyone boarded the shuttlecraft. The flight down was uneventful, and we were able to find a large enough clearing near the target coordinates to land the shuttle safely. We cut a path through the thick vegetation between the shuttle and the target coordinates until we came across a clearing.
In the center of the clearing was a table that was very ornate. It was covered in a multitude of strange and bizarre carvings. Each of its six legs portrayed a different beast holding the table on its back. Seven massive thrones sat around it, and a pool of viscous silver fluid occupied the major part of the circular table.
The chairs were empty, and nothing living was anywhere near the table. No bugs crawled on to it, and the ground underneath it was bare and lifeless. It was as if all living things were avoiding it. There was a chill in the air that felt distinctly unnatural, and I got the impression that we were being watched.
“This is not good,” I said.
“Dusty, can you see it? That table is glowing with spiritual energy,” said Spectra.
I was not yet used to my new spells and still had a hard time noticing auras, but now that Spectra had pointed it out, I could see it. “But that would mean the table is alive.”
“Alive is too strong a word, but there is definitely something odd about this … ” she started to say, but was interrupted by a loud cackle.
As one, our heads snapped to look in the direction of the sound, and we saw the form of a man floating in the air, wearing long, flowing dark robes. It cackled again and said, “Fresh blood! It will be a feast!” and then lowered its hands and cast some kind of mage bolts at us.
Darkstone, Cymeion, and I dove for cover, but Spectra stood her ground and blocked the bolts with her staff. As I jumped to my feet I sent, “Spread out! Don't let him target us all at once!”
Darkstone broke to the left and cast ice bolts up at whatever that thing was. Cymeion broke to the right and cast lightning bolts at the creature. I slowly moved back, hoping to buy myself enough room to cast some of my more powerful spells.
The creature blocked the incoming spells and cackled mightily. It then raised its hands up in the air and chanted. As it did this skeletons came out of the ground and began to march towards us.
“Keep him distracted,” sent Spectra.
“Darkstone, cast Ice Storm into the army of skeletons. Cymeion, cover him while he casts,” I sent. Then I looked up at the creature that was still summoning skeletons and cast my new Spirit Bolt spell right at it. It was not ready for the speed and ferocity of the spirit bolts, which hit it square in the chest. It screamed in pain as the bolts hit, and that scream filled me with such dread that I almost threw down my staff and ran to the shuttle, but somehow I held on.
I saw that Darkstone and Cymeion were wavering so I sent, “Keep casting! We have hurt it!” and then cast another set of spirit bolts, which pounded into it again.
The creature was so overtaken by pain it completely missed Spectra leaping into the air behind it. Once she was at its level she swung her staff and hit the creature hard on the side of its head. There was a loud CRACK as the staff made contact, and the creature fell from the sky. Not wanting to risk missing an opportunity, I cast another set of spirit bolts as it fell.
The skeletons continued to attack us but became more and more disorganized. I cast my spiritual equivalent to Ice Storm into the flank of the skeleton army while Darkstone cast another ice storm. Together we made quick work of the skeletons.
I rushed to where Spectra was standing over the corpse of the creature we had fought and she said, “I think it was once human.”
“Sure does not look like much now,” I said.
“Yes, and it’s much too old,” she said.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Whatever this was, it predates the existence of magic in our realm by a long stretch. Too long,” she said.
“Then it must be Korshalemian,” said Darkstone as he walked up.
“No, its aura clearly marks it as being from our realm,” said Spectra.
“But how could that be?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” she said. She pulled out one of her scanners and swept it over the corpse. “I need to get these readings back to the Shadow Fox and see if we can make any sense out of them.”
I looked over the field of battle and saw that what was left of the skeletons was slowly dissolving away. “Those skeletons did not go away when he died.”
“Yeah, so it looks like the summoned stay on after the master is killed now. That is potentially very bad news,” said Cymeion.
“What about the table?” asked Darkstone.
Spectra moved over to it and swept her scanner across it also. “I have no idea what this is, but I wouldn’t suggest touching it.”
Chapter Forty-Two
“Let’s head back …” I began, but a chill down my spine stopped me short. I turned and saw the creature beginning to stand back up.
“Mage bolts! NOW!” I called out as I started sending my bolts towards the creature as fast as I could. The others joined in and the creature screamed and writhed in pain as more and more bolts pounded it.
“We can’t keep this up for long. It’s pulling power from the table. We need to get out of here!” sent Spectra.
“Get ready to run to the shuttle,” I sent back to everyone. I stopped casting my bolts and instead erected a force wall around the creature. “Run!”
We quickly made it back down the path we had cut and boarded the shuttle. “Cymeion, get us airborne. Darkstone, call for help!” I sent.
“We need to draw that creature away from that table. It’s drawing life from it,” sent Spectra.
I felt the shuttle leap into the air as Cymeion punched the controls. All at once I heard a wild cackle and saw Darkstone fly out of his seat and slam into a wall. Somehow the creature was on the shuttle with us!
I turned to face it and saw that Spectra was already
casting. I moved in front of her to shield her until her spell was ready. Then I saw a gate open behind the creature, and Spectra pushed past me and slammed her shoulder into it, sending both of them tumbling through the gate.
I quickly dove after them as the gate closed, just barely making it through. On the other side I rolled to my feet and spun towards the sound of a fight. Spectra was fighting against the creature, who had acquired a staff at some point. Back and forth they fought, both with great speed and ferocity.
I slowly and quietly moved up behind the creature. I knew I had only one chance, and I needed to make it a good one. I was not sure where we were, but I could feel power flowing into me and I was getting stronger as I moved.
Soon I was right behind the creature. I quietly raised my staff and then, with all the speed and strength I could muster, I brought it down at a sharp angle, hoping to hit the base of the neck and break it. Somehow the creature knew what I was up to because it spun out of the way, causing me to overcommit my strike and fly forward. Remembering my training from Lythiran, I tucked in my shoulder and kicked back hard with my leg. My foot connected with something hard, which gave me enough force to come out of the roll on my feet, facing the creature.
The creature was different now. It seemed more real. Its robes were a solid, deep black, so black that it seemed like light fell into them and never escaped. Its hood was a deep, forest green, which cast a shadow over its face, partially hiding it. As I felt power flowing into me I realized it too was growing stronger here.
“Where are we?” I asked.
“The Spirit Realm,” she sent. “It cannot match me here,” she said aloud.
My kick must have connected, as it had fallen back and was turning towards us. As it spun it cast mage bolts at us. I was able to block the ones flying at me with my staff, but now the creature had the initiative in the fight. Lythiran taught me that most often it is the person who presses the attack who wins the fight. If you are caught on the defensive, you need to change that at the first opportunity.
Resurgence of Ancient Darkness Page 15
