Heart of the Ocean

by Jason A. Gilbert

  "I will, Father," Laila answered, pulling herself out of the chair slowly, propping herself up with her staff.

  Alain nodded. He hesitated for a moment, watching his daughter and Connor slowly rise. Then, motioning to the two younger Consuls, he disappeared out into the hallway.

  "Care to join me?" Laila asked, smiling awkwardly, trying to make light of the situation.

  "Aye," Connor nodded, falling in step next to her as she left the office.

  They made their way through the hallways of the Consulate, walking the same path Casus, or Nuriel, had taken before their confrontation in the Hall. Within a few minutes, they were in the older part of the Consulate, making their way through the dank halls to the holding cells. Connor took the lead as they made their way below; he had come down with Icarus when they had first brought the prisoner to the cells. In a few turns, they came to the cell that the Aurai was in.

  Icarus sat on the floor in front of the cell. His legs were crossed in front of him and a look of concentration was on his face. Laila's gaze moved over to the Aurai. The creature held the same position that Icarus did, legs crossed. She could not tell if it had the same level of concentration, however, as this one's face was as difficult to read as the emissary’s had been months ago. Laila coughed lightly to indicate her presence. Icarus’s concentration immediately broke, and he turned toward her.

  "Good. They found you," he said, then, turning back to the elemental. "Wyndam, you asked for the Magusari, and here she is."

  Laila felt a little surprise at Icarus's introduction, but she knew that the Aurai's knowledge of what was happening in the world far outstripped their own. It probably should not surprise her that he had known of her.

  "Greetings, Magusari," Wydnam said, its airy voice drifting oddly through the stone hall. The creature studied her for a moment longer and then spoke again. "So young. I did not realize."

  Laila stepped forward, closer to the bars of the cell. "Why?" It was the only word she could manage as her emotions began to assert themselves.

  Wyndam tilted his head to the side slightly. "Why?"

  "Why did you do this? Why attack us? What purpose did it serve? People died. A lot of people, and yours too. Too many. All for what?" As the questions poured out of her, Laila's voice continued to rise. Her grip on her staff tightened. She could feel the Earth rising up at her anger. She caught herself, taking a deep breath. She needed to be in control of her emotions.

  The elemental seemed to nod slightly, acknowledging her questions. "There had to be a response for the death of our emissary," Wyndam said softly.

  "The death of...? That was not our doing. Nuriel did that. I tried to stop him!"

  "Yet, you did not. And one our own died. Was not Nuriel being treated as one of your own Consuls?"

  "Yes, he was. But...we didn't know about his true nature," Laila stuttered.

  "Nonetheless, he was here, with your people. Even helping your leader. And when one of my people came to address your Consulate peacefully, he was obliterated. There had to be repercussions."

  "But you failed. Your people retreated."

  "Indeed. Our purpose today was not one of conquest."

  "It was an exploratory attack," Connor interjected. "You were testing us. Seeing what Terus was capable of."

  Wyndam did not say anything, but his silence spoke for him.

  "So, there will be more attacks?" Laila asked.

  "You have been warned of war by many sources. Your people have been too arrogant to acknowledge that there are powers in this world beyond your own. But perhaps..."

  "Perhaps what?" Laila pressed.

  "You say that you are no longer in league with Nuriel?"

  "No."

  "Yet you wish to stop him?"

  Laila felt a surge of apprehension. "Yes," she said, hesitantly.

  Wyndam looked down for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "There may be a way."

  Laila did not say anything. She watched the elemental silently.

  A way for what? she thought. After the devastation of the Aurai attack, she did not know that she could trust anything the elemental said. But...

  "There may be a way where both our purposes can be served," Wyndam continued.

  "And how is that?" Icarus finally interjected.

  "I have seen your power," Wyndam said, looking at Laila. "There were some that doubted that the Magusari had returned. That the Seed would ever manifest itself again. But, I saw what you did. You are no simple Magus." He paused for a moment and glanced at her staff. "Is that from the Mountain?"

  Laila could not help the widening of her eyes as she looked between Wyndam and her staff. She nodded slowly.

  "Then you have at least passed one of your trials," he continued thoughtfully. "Your mastery of Earth made that apparent. You know of the others?"

  Laila hesitated. "The others?"

  "Trials?" asked Wyndam.

  Glancing back at Icarus, Laila saw the look of concentration on his face. He was focused on what Wyndam was saying. Laila turned back to the elemental. "I do..."

  "There is one that may help us both. It would be another step on your path as Magusari, and it would give you the power to defeat Nuriel."

  Laila waited.

  "What could give her that power?" Connor said.

  Wyndam's pale eyes did not leave Laila as he responded. "What is the counterpoint to Fire?"

  "Water," Laila said.

  The elemental nodded. "The Aurai know the structure of the elements intimately. We have not forgotten our history, or the history of the other elements. They are the foundation that this world is built upon. How your people can live in this world and not understand that is beyond us..." He trailed off for a moment, shaking his head. "You seek the Sacred Waters. I can lead you to them."

  "The Sacred Waters?" Icarus said, stepping closer to the cell.

  "Do you not even know of them, Magus?" asked Wyndam. "How sad is it that even you have forgotten?"

  Icarus looked like he was going to say something. His shoulders tightened and he took a few deep breaths. But the moment passed and he lowered his head in thought.

  "What are the Sacred Waters?" asked Laila.

  "The same as the Mountain, a focal point of one of the elements of our world. It is there that the power and, you could say, the consciousness of the element resides. You must have felt something on the Mountain when you received that." He pointed toward Laila's staff.

  She thought back to her time on Mount Obrussa. The stone opening up to her, sustaining her, and, in a way, speaking to her of the wrong that had manifested itself in the world.

  "And where are they?" Laila continued, shaking herself of the memory.

  "I will tell you, and help lead you there, but I must be given my freedom. I will help you find the Sacred Waters, but once I do, I require that I may return to my people."

  Laila did not respond immediately. She had been searching for her next step. Here it was, right in front of her. But the step was being presented by an enemy. A creature that had brought violence and death to her friends and family. And to Terus. Then her memory on Mount Obrussa came back again. The wrong she’d felt in the heart of the stone there rang out in her mind again. Here was Wyndham, offering to lead her not only to another step on her path, but to a place that could give her the power to defeat Nuriel, the apparent source of the wrong she had felt.

  "Very well," she said.

  "Laila," Icarus said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "What about your father? He won't—"

  "I know. I'll explain it. And if he doesn't understand, we will find a way. Do you really think I should give up this chance? Can you lead me there? Do you know where I'm supposed to go next?" Laila snapped.

  Icarus took his hand away as though she had struck him. "As you wish, Magusari."

  "Don't do that," Laila began.

  "No, you are right..." He left unsaid the fear of deception they were both feeling.

  Laila turned back to Wyndam
. "You will be given your freedom, but not until we find these Waters. And, if you betray us, you will be returned here, to this cell, if not worse."

  For the first time the corners of Wyndam's mouth lifted, just slightly. "If I betray you, Magusari, you will not have a chance to capture me again."

  Laila held the elemental's gaze, calling on her power to ease the fear from her eyes. "But," Wyndam said, the danger in his own eyes fading away, "I will not. I give you my word that I will lead you to the Sacred Waters in exchange for my freedom."

  Laila watched the creature for a moment longer and then nodded her head once and spun on her heel.

  Now, she just had to explain this to her father.

  Nine

  Leaving Terus

  "No, absolutely not!" Alain said, sitting behind his desk.

  "But, Father..." Laila continued.

  "You saw what happened, Laila. You were out there. Do you really think that, even if I wanted to, I could let you take that creature with you? Even if the Consulate would allow it, which is incredibly doubtful, we are meant to answer to the people. I'm sure rumors have already spread about our mysterious prisoner. There will be open outrage!"

  "More so than when Torin was Consulari? He used the Guardians as his pawns," Laila snapped.

  "Yes, Laila, more so," Alain responded. "Especially now after we just exiled Torin for his manipulations. How do you think people would respond if I let you take our only prisoner after the Aurai's attack? Do you think they'd respond well to a Magus dictating what we did with our prisoners?"

  "But—" Laila cut herself off. Her father had never referred to her as a Magus before. The words struck her more deeply than they had from anyone else. Even her father was starting to see her as an outsider.

  She straightened in front of the desk, taking a couple of deep breaths, trying to keep the emotions at bay. Her eyes burned, but she kept her face calm.

  "Very well, Consul," Laila said.

  "Laila-sa, don't—"

  "No." Laila cut him off. "I understand. I am still leaving, and Icarus will be coming with me. You'll need to find someone else to watch your prisoner."

  She turned and left the office. Connor was waiting outside. He fell into step next to her without a word. He had been close enough that he would have heard the exchange. They made their way out of the Consulate, out into the chaos that was the city center. The Guardians were still making their way around the space, clearing what they could of the ruined stalls and carts and removing the bodies. A few of the merchants were there, surveying the damage. As Laila and Connor made their way through the debris, a voice called out.

  "Laila!" They turned and saw Dio a block or so away. He was standing over a ruined cart. The wheels were snapped off at the axle, and the rest was in three large pieces, as though something heavy had landed on it.

  Laila gripped her staff. She knew she was going to have to say goodbye to Dio, and she did not know when she would be back. He had been her friend for so long.

  But, she thought, I have to. He's not the only one that I have to leave behind. I have to harden myself to it. Even my father...

  Her thoughts trailed off with the recollection of her father's words. Laila watched Dio approach. He was covered in dust and dirt and his tunic had a tear down one side, but otherwise he looked unhurt.

  "What happened? Are you all right? Do you know what's going on?" The questions spilled out of Dio's mouth uncontrollably. "Of course you know... Did they get to the Consulate? Is your father safe? I can't believe what I saw—"

  "Dio..." Laila said softly, trying to cut through her friend’s frantic speech.

  He stopped, catching his breath. "Sorry."

  "It's fine, Dio. I'm glad to see you safe." She stepped forward hesitantly. She had put up a wall around her emotions while leaving the Consulate, trying to keep them from overcoming her. But seeing her friend in such a frenzy, and knowing that someone in her hometown did not judge her for what she was, became too much to handle. She stepped toward her old friend and reached out.

  He stepped toward her in response, a little awkwardly at first, but he caught her in his own arms. She gripped him tightly. His shoulders were tense at first, unsure of how to respond to her, but he slowly relaxed and returned her embrace.

  "I... Are you...?" Dio stuttered.

  "I'm all right," she finally said. "I’m just glad you're safe. I didn't know."

  Dio nodded. Reluctantly, he pushed her back away from him, studying her weary face. "I didn't actually see much of what happened. Just some strange people moving down the street. They didn't seem interested in me. I watched one of them from my shop. Before I could do anything else, he came at me. Knocked me into the shop, broke a bunch of my pots, and left me covered in dirt and clay on the floor." He looked around at the remnants that were strewn about the city center. "Though I guess it could have been a lot worse."

  Laila gathered herself and stepped back from her friend. She caught a glimpse of Connor from the corner of her eye and could see his uncomfortable stance. He was looking around the city center, trying to look engaged with something else, but he kept glancing back at her and Dio. Seeing his discomfort, she reached out and put a hand on his arm to draw his attention back.

  "I'm glad we're all safe," she said.

  The two young men nodded.

  "So, what happened?" Dio asked again.

  "It's a long story. Let's head back home. I'll tell you on the way. I have something that I might need your help with anyways," Laila said, finally back in control of her emotions.

  Connor had a knowing look in his eyes, but Dio raised his eyebrow at her. She smiled, trying to display confidence, and turned, heading back toward home.

  "You know what you're talking about, right?" asked Dio.

  They sat in the main room of Laila's house. She had explained her plan to them. It was simple, but Dio was right. The fallout would be great.

  "I know you're leaving and that it doesn't matter to you. Which is why, I guess, it's good I'm going to come with you," he said nonchalantly.

  Laila looked up quickly. "What?"

  "I'm coming with you. Now that I've seen what those creatures are capable of, I want to help. You're not the only one who can feel protective of their home," he shrugged. "I always wanted to be a Guardian anyways."

  "Dio, this isn't some random jaunt into the plains. This is dangerous, and I can't ask you to do that. I don't really like that Connor and Icarus are involved in this. But they've been there from the start. It's...it's too dangerous. I can't—"

  He cut her off before she could finish. "Good thing you're not asking then, isn't it? Look, I know that it's not going to be easy. But, there's not a lot here for me. My family’s gone. You know that. I've done nothing but make pots and work in the city center since my Test three years ago. I want to see more of the world. And if it means I can help you in the process, all's the better. I can't stay here now. Not after what I've seen."

  Though Laila wanted to protest further, she had to admit that there was a part of her that wanted him to come. Dio would bring a degree of familiarity to her journey. As much as she had come to know Connor and Icarus over the last few months, she still felt distant from them. Part of that was because of how they viewed her. But Dio did not see her that way. He had known her since she was a child. They had been friends for years.

  "Still..." she began, half-heartedly.

  "No. You're not going to talk me out of this. And if I'm going to help with this plan of yours, it'll probably be better for me to leave Terus anyways. I don't think I could stay after this." He smiled.

  Laila nodded. She knew she was asking too much of her friend, but this needed to be done.

  "We'll leave tonight. Connor, you should head to the docks. Find us a ship," Laila said.

  "I'm coming with you," he protested.

  "No, not this time. I need you at the docks. We're going to have to leave quickly."

  Laila could see that Connor wanted to
protest further, but he let it drop. He knew by now not to argue with her when it came to their actions in Terus.

  The Consulate was eerily quiet in the evening. After the mayhem of the afternoon, many of the Consuls had returned home to their families. Those that remained were the ones that did not have families or those highly placed, like Laila's father.

  Laila pulled the hood of her cloak tighter around her face, feeling exposed without the comfort of her staff, but its presence would be too much of a giveaway. She wore the robes of a Consul, as did Dio, but she was far more worried about being recognized than Dio. She had grown up coming in and out of the Consulate. As they moved past the Hall, they noticed a few other Consuls huddled near the bottom of the large amphitheater. One of them glanced up as the two of them passed, but he quickly returned to his conversation. Two young Consuls were of little concern after a day like today. Laila saw Dio gawk at the hole in the dome of the Hall. She grabbed his arm and pulled him along behind her. They had to move quickly if this was going to work.

  Once past the Hall, they weaved through the side corridors meant to keep Consuls running errands away from the more important traffic throughout the main hallways. Laila felt a tinge of remembrance as they passed down the halls, thinking back to when she had passed this way on her way to confront Torin. So much had changed since then. At that point she had thought she was working to expose Torin and stop his warmongering. But then she had faced Nuriel. Her arm ached slightly at that memory, burning slightly.

  Within a few moments, they’d reached the entrance to the cells beneath the Consulate. The cells had had no purpose up until Icarus’s appearance. Now they were being used far too frequently for Laila's taste. Two Guardians stood at the entrance. Laila took a deep breath and let Dio take the lead as they approached. They had expected this. Now it was up to Dio. She kept her face hidden in the shadows of her cloak as they drew closer to the Guardians.

  "Can I help you, Consul?" one of the Guardians said. Dio straightened his shoulders—a little too much, Laila thought.