Lenora creased her brow. “What are the Bomar?”
“Human…like you. But not like you. They cannot feel the touch of solas in their hearts. They are fire and smoke. Ash and blood.”
“As best we can understand, Maliel’s people are at war with the Bomar,” Zara said.
“Yes,” he said, emphatically. “They make war on us. Drive us from our homes. Slaughter us for sport.”
“That’s terrible,” said Lenora. “But if they have no mana, can’t you fight back?”
“Solas is a spirit for bringing life, not death.”
“They have no aggressive magic,” said Zara. “They have no concept of how to use it for defense.”
“I am truly sorry about all this,” Drake said. “And forgive me if I sound insensitive. But you said he could be our way of defeating Salazar. How does any of this help?”
Reaching into her pocket, Zara pulled out Drake’s P37 and across the table. “Perhaps it’s best if I show you.” She took Maliel’s hand she said, “He has to see for himself.”
Maliel nodded. “As you wish.” He stood up and backed away a few paces.
Drake took his weapon and examined it carefully. It appeared unaltered.
“Shoot him,” Zara instructed.
Drake sat straight up. “What? I’m not shooting him.”
She grinned. “Trust me. Just do it.”
He looked to Lenora, who was appeared to be just as confused and unsure.
“You cannot harm me,” assured Maliel.
After nearly a minute of consideration, Drake stepped away from the table and channeled a small amount of mana into the chamber. “Are you sure about this?”
“Absolutely,” Zara replied.
Without giving himself time to think on it any longer, Drake aimed at Maliel’s leg and fired. He staggered back a pace, a hole burned into his robe. But otherwise, he seemed completely unhurt.
“That is all?” he taunted. “Zara said your weapon was powerful.”
Drake knew the shot would not be lethal, but it should have at least put him to the floor. He readied a more powerful shot, this time aiming it at his chest. “You asked for it,” he muttered.
The sizzle of mana cut through the air, sending Maliel sprawling onto his back. Smoke rose from where the shot struck.
Both Drake and Lenora rushed to his side. Drake could only look in slack-jawed astonishment. Though like before the robe was burned away, there was not so much as a blemish on Maliel’s flesh.
“Is that the extent of your weapon’s strength?” he groaned, clutching at the point of impact. He was hurt, but not severely.
“That shot should have killed you,” Drake told him, still not believing his eyes. “Are you using some sort of ward or cloak?”
“No, he is not,” Zara said. “His people are just highly resistant to mana. You could charge your weapon fully and it still might not kill him.”
Drake and Lenora helped Maliel to his feet.
“Thank you,” he said. “But I am fine. There is no need for concern.”
Drake gazed at his weapon, then back to Maliel, still struggling to accept what had just happened. Zara gestured for them to sit.
“I think I understand,” said Drake, placing his weapon on the table in front of him. “With that kind of power, nothing could stop them. But there is only one of you, right?”
“In Vale, yes,” Zara affirmed. “But outside, there are thousands just like him.”
“So you intend to enlist them to our cause?” asked Lenora.
“That is my hope. And Maliel has agreed to speak to them on our behalf.”
“Forgive me for asking,” Drake chipped in, turning to Maliel. “But why would your people be interested in helping us?”
“As things are, they would not,” he replied. “They are being chased by our enemies. Our numbers dwindle.”
“So what do you plan to do?” Lenora asked Zara.
“The Nelwyn have no offensive magic,” she said. “But that is not because they cannot wield it. They simply don’t know how to. We can give them that ability. Or more to the point, you can, Your Highness.”
“Me? You want me to teach them how to fight?”
“We are strong,” said Maliel, his tone prideful. “Teach us to use fire and storm. Give us what we need to save ourselves from the Bomar.”
“I’m not that sort of mage,” she protested. “I work mostly with healing magic. Bane is much better suited to this kind of thing than I am.”
Zara nodded. “Yes, we are well aware of his powers. But given the fact that you are currently being hunted by Salazar and he is not, where better for you to hide than beyond the barrier? And the task should not be a difficult one, even for a healing mage. I’m sure you were also taught how to protect yourself. All you need to do is pass that knowledge on to the Nelwyn. They will develop quickly from there.”
“Please,” said Maliel. “Help us, and I promise I will bring my kin to cleanse your world for you. We can save each other.”
“And what am I supposed to do?” asked Drake. “If you think I’m staying behind…”
“I wouldn’t send our only hope without protection,” Zara told him. “And being that you killed the only mage we had among us, the job is yours.”
He looked to Lenora. “What do you want to do?”
She drew a long breath. “If his people can stop my brother, then I see no other choice.”
Her agreement produced a sigh of gratitude from Maliel. “Thank you,” he said.
“You do realize what this will mean,” Drake said. “If we succeed in destroying the power station, all mana will cease to flow. Vale will be plunged into darkness.”
“There is a solution to that,” said Zara, “one we have been working on for many years. Though thanks to you, we’ve suffered quite a setback to our research.”
Drake nodded. “The vex crystals. One of your people thought I was there to steal them. I really am sorry for what happened. I hope you know that.”
His apology was ignored. “We’ve been working on ways to stabilize them. In fact, that entire facility was run on mana from vex crystals.”
“Could that be what runs the power station?” mused Lenora, more to herself than to Zara.
“It’s possible. But if so, then the high mages must have found a way of projecting the mana many times further then we can. For now, we can only build small stations capable of providing power to an area of just a few hundred square yards. It would take years for us to complete enough of those to cover all of Vale.”
Drake looked at her closely. “You think you can find the knowledge you need in Troi, don’t you?”
“That is our hope, yes.”
He furrowed his brow. “And if you don’t?”
“Then Vale will be no worse off than it is now. And at least the land will be able to heal. What would be better – spending a few years in the dark, but with enough food for everyone? Or letting the people die?” She set her jaw, her eyes burning with resolve. “No. This farce must end. It may take time. But we will make things better…for all of us.”
The thought of Troi being cast into darkness disturbed Drake greatly. The city had been a beacon of hope to him his entire life. And though he now knew that everything it stood for was one massive lie, he still could not help the way he felt.
“When would you want us to leave?” asked Lenora.
“Right away,” Zara told her. “Every moment we wait, Salazar is moving closer to his objective.”
“And what about Samuel?”
“He has to make his own choice. We won’t force him to help us.”
Of course he’ll want to help you, thought Drake. How could anyone not want to after discovering what Salazar intended?
“I’m sure he’ll make the right decision,” said Lenora.
“I hope you’re right.” She touched Maliel’s hand. “You should get rested. It’s almost time.”
Maliel rose and said farewell then returne
d to his room. His expression was difficult to read. It was so very different – inhuman. But Drake thought he noticed a sign of relief in his peculiarly shaped eyes.
Zara led them back to the chambers where they had bathed and changed, telling them that they would be departing just before dawn. Until then, two men would be placed outside the door to keep any vengeance-minded people away from Drake.
He was still reeling over the number of people who had perished during Salazar’s rescue. But he had to put that out of his mind for now. Protecting Lenora must be his only focus.
Something the Nelwyn had said was troubling him. He’d described the Bomar as human. If that were so, was it even right for them to be doing this? Then again, how did he know Maliel was telling the truth about anything?
“You don’t,” he muttered while lying down on his bunk. “And it doesn’t matter.”
What mattered was defeating Salazar. If there was a possibility that the Nelwyn might be willing to help, they had to try.
Lenora seemed to believe what Maliel had said. As for himself, he would just have to trust her instincts.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Salazar threw open the door to his bedchamber. He could still feel the weight of the ceremonial crown on his brow and the loathsome touch of the Grand Mage on his cheeks. Her voice continued to ring in his head, calling out the words of ascension for the assembled nobles and high mages to hear. He could still see the smirks on some of their faces, as well as the looks of suspicion. They knew – or they suspected – what he had done.
As fast as he could, he stripped off the cumbersome clothes he’d been compelled to wear and flung them into the corner. He needed to wash off the stink of the day.
You are king now.
The voice was kindly and filled with pride. So unlike his father’s.
“I know,” he responded. “But they think I’m a pretender. They don’t respect me.”
What does it matter? You are king. And soon you shall be the savior of Vale. Let them laugh and scheme. In time, they will beg you for forgiveness.
He crossed over to his desk and retrieved the crystal from a drawer. It felt warm to the touch...soothing. “But I’m not ready. The hellspawn are still growing. What if we are discovered?”
By whom? No one can stop us. You are strong and wise. You will shepherd the people into a new age. One of plenty and prosperity.
He pressed the crystal to his breast. “Thank you. Where all others are against me, you are my only ally.”
Salazar could feel its power seeping into him. Each day he became stronger and more powerful. But this crystal was nearly spent. He needed more if his true ambition was to be realized. And when the high mages finally understood, he would laugh at the fools while crushing them to dust.
Then you will be loved by all.
Placing the crystal back inside the desk, he made his way to the shower. Though it was still early, as the hot water washed away the invisible layer of filth he imagined the day had laid upon him, he felt fatigue setting in. All business could wait. He would sleep first.
While donning his silk nightshirt, he noticed the painting of his father hanging on the wall near a tall bookcase. The eyes were staring at him accusingly, as if watching his every move. Salazar stood in front of it for a time, lips curled into a snarl.
“This is all your fault,” he growled. “You knew what they were doing. You let me believe that you were helpless to change things. But that was a lie. Wasn’t it?”
He waited, as if expecting the image to respond. Unwanted memories flooded in: memories of his father walking with him in their garden; telling him stories of the ancients; teaching him magic; holding him in his arms when he was afraid, wakened by nightmares.
“No!” he shouted. “You won’t trick me. You won’t make me weak like you.”
A knock at the door snapped him into the moment. Grabbing hold of the painting, he jerked it from the wall and quickly shoved it underneath his bed. Only then did he push the mana pad on his nightstand. The door clacked open to reveal a royal guard still dressed in his full ceremonial uniform.
The guard bowed low. “Forgive the intrusion, Your Majesty. There is a young girl here to see you. She bears your seal.”
Salazar realized that he was perspiring. He dabbed his brow with his sleeve and smoothed down his shirt. “Yes, of course. Show her in.”
The guard bowed again and then ushered a young girl inside. She was wearing the blue and white uniform of the university. Her hair was tied into a topknot, kept in place by two white pins, and she was holding a leather book in one hand.
Salazar smiled broadly. “Linx! I am so happy to see you.”
She did not smile in return. “I did what you asked, Your Majesty.”
He felt an overwhelming sense of relief. “I knew I could count on you.” He gestured over to a small table near a window overlooking a private garden. “Please sit.”
Linx hesitated for a second before complying. “How long have you known?” she asked, sliding the book across the table.
Salazar cocked his head. “Known what, my dear?”
“About the power station. About the high mages.”
“That all depends.” Salazar’s eyes drifted to the book. “What is it you know?”
“I know a vex crystal when I see one,” she replied coldly. “That’s what really powers Vale. Not the high mages.”
Salazar took the book and opened it cautiously. Nestling inside a small recess was what he had been yearning for. His desire to touch it was unbearable. What Linx had said only seconds before faded from memory.
“Your Majesty?”
He blinked hard and closed the book.
“Yes…the high mages. Well, Linx, things aren’t quite as simple as you might think. While it is true that the vex crystals provide the mana, it’s the high mages who know how to stabilize the crystals. They’re the only ones who know how the station works…for now.”
He could see that there was more than just the power station troubling her. He had taken a great risk in sending her there during the coronation, but she was the only person he could trust to complete the task. A thought then occurred.
“You didn’t touch the crystal, did you?”
“No.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good. It would be very dangerous for someone like you, with no magical abilities.” He regarded her for a long moment. “You have something to say?”
“Yes, I do.” She met Salazar’s gaze. “Is it true what they’re saying about Drake?”
Salazar leaned back in his chair and lowered his eyes. “Can I trust you, Linx? I mean, really trust you?”
“You know you can,” she answered. “I broke into the power station for you, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did. And you have no idea how grateful I am. However, there are things happening that you could not possibly fathom. And I need people I can trust by my side.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“No, it doesn’t,” he agreed. “Are you sure you want to know the answer?”
“If you’re asking me if I would still be loyal to you if I discovered that Drake is innocent, then the answer is yes. Look, my life before was nothing but stealing, running, and trying not to starve to death. Much as I like Drake, it was you who brought me here to Troi. It is you I owe the most to. So you can trust me or not; tell me or not. It won’t change a thing.”
Salazar smiled. “You are a unique individual, Linx. I feel fortunate to know you. Of all those around me, I trust you the most. For that reason, I am going to share something with you, something only a handful of people know. But you must understand, once you have been told, there can be no turning back. Your fate will inescapably be bound to mine. So I will ask you one more time: Do you want to know the answers? All of them?”
Linx’s expression hardened. It was clear that she would not be dissuaded. After a long moment of stone silence, she nodded. “Tell me.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
It took three days to reach the point in the barrier where they could cross over, during which time Drake’s apprehension continued to build. Maliel had gone over with them a rough estimate of the path they would need to take, but as it had been two years, he was not entirely sure of his accuracy.
The way the Nelwyn had described the outer world was wholly unbelievable to Drake. He could still see ruined land as clearly as the day he’d stepped onto its barren soil, with not so much as a dried twig lying upon the ground; still smell the odor of ash; still feel the complete lack of any moisture in the air.
Bane had nearly become violent when first being told that they were to be separated. This was exacerbated by the fact he was not allowed to know where they would be going or what their mission was. It took Lenora more than an hour of talking to him before he calmed down. In the end, he reluctantly accepted the situation and vowed to be ready to strike by the time they returned.
Maliel told them of how his people had first met the Bomar.
“They claimed to come to us in peace,” he began. “They said they only wanted to trade with us – machines in exchange for food, cloth, jewelry, and other things we make. Our artisans are quite skilled, and our fields are rich with bounty. Though we had very little use for what they offered, we could see their need. They were starving. Without solas, their fields withered. The only thing they had was their industry, and even this had polluted their rivers and lakes.
“At first they appeared grateful and eager to be friends. Then the winter came. We did our best to help them, but their need was far greater than our resources could bear. When we could give no more, they simply took what they wanted instead. When we protested, that was when the killing began. Since then they have spread like a disease, driving us farther and farther from our homes. Now we have almost nowhere else to retreat. Our backs are pressed against the mountains, and now it is we who are dying of hunger and thirst.”
Maliel was almost in tears by the end.
Lenora placed a hand on his shoulder. “We will do what we can.”
The Vale: Behind The Vale Page 27
