“Don’t have much of a choice,” he said weakly. “But yes, yes, I’m fine.”
“Where are we heading first?” Harlan asked and Olivia reached behind her to dig through her back pocket. When she was done rummaging, she lifted her hand and produced a red shard in the shape of a diamond. Remi stared at it in awe.
“Is that ours?” she asked.
“Yep,” Olivia said, raising her arm high for everyone to see. After Orson and his guards took most of the sword, they left me with this. Just enough to light the way.”
“You know that it works?”
“Tried it many times,” she said with a smile. “All you have to do is know what to ask. In this case, I’m asking the shard for the whereabouts of its owner. I want to know whose genetic make-up is intertwined within it. I want to know where that person is.”
As if listening the entire time, a beam of light suddenly shot out from the center of the shard, piercing through the ceiling of the shop and reaching out into the sky. Remi ducked under the beam and excitedly threw open the door. She gasped in awe as she saw the beam extend out past Virga and toward the sky.
“That’s where he is,” she breathed, then she turned back toward the others. “Or she! Either way, that’s what I’m looking for. Right now, there is someone out there that was created just as I was.”
“I hope that I’m not blinding them every time I use this,” Olivia laughed as she turned her attention toward the shard. “I’m done,” she whispered, and the beam faded into the air.
“I wonder how close Cimmerian is to finding them,” Ian said.
Remi took a deep breath and clenched her new fists. It didn’t matter what Cimmerian was doing. Even if they took the other weapons as prisoners, she would free them all.
“Excuse me,” a guard said from their right. Remi moved out of the doorway so that he could come inside. Eckard was right behind him. “Close that door,” the guard said once they were all inside. Harlan obeyed the order.
“Where’s Orson?” Olivia asked and the guard cleared his throat.
“He has other business to attend to, and there is nothing left to discuss. He has sent me to make the delivery on his behalf.”
“That was quick,” she said, eyeing the brown knapsack closed shut in his hand.
“We’ve been keeping tabs on all of you, and we received word that Remi was in good health. We knew that your departure wouldn’t be long so I was instructed to nest nearby with a small militia for protection.”
“Keeping tabs?” Ian snickered. “What does the King and his officials care about us?”
“Should you succeed,” the guard stated, “it will matter greatly. Particularly if you are able to persuade the weapons to join us in the war.”
“Speaking of which,” Remi said. “What’s being done about the Sage Academy? That was a blatant attack by Cimmerian, and an aggressive one at that.”
“We have no proof that it was Cimmerian. From our understanding, what was primarily used were of Delilah origins. We’re re-evaluating our treaty with them at this moment.”
“But the troops were wearing Cimmerian armor.”
“We are not ready to begin the fighting. That is a last resort. Something that you shouldn’t worry yourself about.”
“And the Sage Academy itself?”
“If we were able to reach any of the high-ranking Sages, we would have an answer for you, but that is not the case. Besides the students that were there that day, there is no one to be found.”
“How can that be?”
“Reports tell us that they’ve gone on their own type of journey, and without the King’s blessing I might add.”
“Something it sounds like I have?”
“Yes,” he said, opening the knapsack and presenting it to Remi. “For all intents and purposes, these are now yours. A shard from each of the non-human Sorcerer weapons stashed in our armory. We couldn’t salvage much, but they work just like the shard Olivia was able to retrieve from the enemy. Though we haven’t locked down the locations to where the shards lead, we suspect they will all guide you to your intended destination.”
Remi didn’t say a word. She passed out a shard to each of them. Each one depicting a potential ally in the battles to come. Remi kept two in her hand.
“Let’s see what these do,” she said, and they all extended their shards high.
“Ask them out loud or internally,” Olivia said, “but remember that you do have to ask.”
Beams of light suddenly shot out from each of the pieces, all going off in different directions. Remi looked down at her chest and noticed that the blue shard that was in Ian’s hand landed on her. The beam didn’t go through her. It stopped right there.
“Looks like they work,” Ian replied. Remi blushed. She couldn’t deny that seeing the beam of light illuminate over her made her feel special. It was like she had a grand purpose that surpassed the others. At least, that’s what she hoped. The truth was probably a lot more sinister and disappointing—that she was a tool, used and discarded as required. She was done being that.
“Let me see that one,” Remi asked, holding her hand out to Ian. Ian threw the shard into her hand and suddenly, she was no longer standing before her friends.
She was surrounded by darkness.
And she felt like she was being watched. She heard someone clicking their teeth behind her and she turned around to identify the source. There was no one there. Nervously, she tried waiting until her eyes adjusted to her surroundings but they didn’t. In fact, the darkness seemed like it was getting worse, as if it was climbing up her clothes and crawling along her face, up to her eyes and then seeping deep inside.
She grit her teeth as she felt the darkness pouring into her, so slow and thick it felt like honey to the touch. She nearly screamed but her mouth felt like it was glued shut. Her hands relaxed and her fingers hung loosely. She didn’t want to be there anymore but she didn’t know how to escape. She could feel herself—
“Remi?” Ian asked. Remi’s eyes went wide as the light flooded into her pupils. She covered her eyes and rubbed them vigorously. “Are you okay?”
“Something happened to me when I touched that,” she said. She squinted one of her eyes and saw that Ian had taken back the shard.
“What was it?” Olivia asked. Remi looked at each of them and noticed that the guard was taking mental notes.
“I don’t know. It…it…I can’t explain it. I was covered by darkness, and it felt like someone was watching me.”
“Had a vision?” Harlan asked, taking out his notebook and pen. “Good or bad?”
“She said she was covered in darkness,” Ian retorted. “Which do you think it was?”
“I don’t know, darkness isn’t always bad. It’s quite cozy when you’re under your blankets at night. Could never sleep with the light on.”
“This isn’t that,” Remi said, already forgetting what she experienced, as if it had all been a nightmare.
“Do you want to try again?” Olivia asked but Remi shook her head.
“I’m okay for now,” she said. “But I will later. I just…I’ll need someone to watch over me when I do it.”
“It might be a clue to one of the Sorcerers…possibly, your Sorcerer.”
“Mine?”
“Weren’t each of the weapons created by one of the Sorcerers? The vision might have been about him or her.”
Remi felt even less like messing with the shard now. If that was her Sorcerer, then she didn’t expect the future to be a smooth and happy one. It felt like the darkness was trying to reclaim her, as if she was property that had run away and she needed to be rebranded.
“We can talk about it later,” Milo said, walking out of the shop with his grey suitcase in hand. Remi hadn’t even noticed when he left the group. “We should be on our way.”
“Right,” Remi said, clearing her throat. “Um…which way should we go first?”
“Well,” Olivia said. “I have a suggestion.”<
br />
“Sure.”
“We should go with the red shard, since that’s the one we know works for sure.” She turned to the guard. “Not saying that your master is a liar, but at least we know this one has been tested without outside influence.”
“I understand,” the guard said with a stoic face. “And if there is nothing else, I will be on my way.”
“You are relieved,” Olivia said and he did an about-face and left them. Remi sighed and stared at the red shard.
“Where’s that one headed?”
“Terra,” Olivia said. “But based on the beams of light, it’s not too far from Paragon. It seemed like the farther away one of the weapons were, the thinner the beam of light. Did you notice how the beam connected to you was so big that you started glowing?”
“I did,” she admitted, blushing a little.
“To Terra it is,” Ian replied.
“I’m sure it won’t be as easy as we think,” Olivia said. “How are we supposed to know that this isn’t some crazy trap?”
“We’ll ask around,” Remi said. The group fell silent.
“Uh,” Milo spoke up, “I thought this was supposed to be a stealthy kind of mission.”
“Not my style.”
“So you actually want the Sorcerers to know that we’re looking for them and their weapons?”
“I do.”
“But why?” he whined. “I don’t get it.”
“Because…then they’ll know that we’re serious about our mission. And I’m willing to bet that they’ll talk to us first before thinking of destroying us.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Because we’re the only ones looking for them. We’re the only ones not afraid, and they’ll want to know why.”
“Speak for yourself,” Ian replied. “Harlan’s peeing on himself right now.”
“I am not,” he declared though everyone glanced at his crotch momentarily for confirmation. Harlan started blushing and he closed his eyes in embarrassment.
“Alright, let’s stop wasting time,” Olivia said. “Everyone got what we need? Because it’s time to head out.”
“Wait!” a high-pitched noise rang throughout the air. Milo winced as he saw his sister running out of the shop and heading straight for him. She nearly tackled him to the cobblestone street as she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed tight.
She began talking excitedly in his ear, telling him about all the things she was going to miss about him and how she’ll do her best to keep the shop from burning down. At first, Milo was visibly annoyed. The deadpan expression on his face said it all. But as she continued to speak, it began to soften, and after a minute had gone by, he found his arms wrapping around her waist, hugging her back.
Arianna let go of him and he did the same, but the distance between them didn’t grow. She continued to chatter on, talking about nothing in particular. But Milo let it go, and since he was willing to listen, no one in the group interrupted.
She went on for ten minutes, talking about the new inventions she would create, what kits she had packed in his suitcase, what the humidity was doing to her hair and what she would do if another shop sprouted up in Virga that competed with theirs. She talked about everything and nothing, but he didn’t say a word.
And when she was done, he still didn’t respond.
He simply smiled, leaned forward, and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
She beamed in delight, jumped up slightly and then rushed back into the shop, closing the door behind her. Milo took a deep breath and then began heading toward Virga’s gates. Ian chuckled to himself and punched Milo playfully in the shoulder.
“Aw, that was cute. I’m surprised you didn’t yell at her and tell her to go away.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Well, you know, because she’s annoying.”
“Crazy annoying,” he laughed. “But, you know, she’s also my sister. And sometimes to show her that I care…it means keeping my mouth shut and letting hers yap on.”
Chapter 32 – Travels
There was no opposition to them leaving Paragon, and it wasn’t surprising considering few knew who they were. If anyone did, they would jeer and laugh, wondering what a band of misfits were doing inquiring about the Sorcerers. It was foolish, and at best, a waste of time.
A young Sage, a warrior, a tailor, a mechanic, a farmer, and whatever Remi was supposed to be. This was the hope of Paragon. This was what the King was staking his land’s future on, and the notion was as ridiculous as the mission itself.
But Remi didn’t care.
She was no longer alone.
And with that, came a whole new host of responsibilities.
For now, if she did find a hostile human weapon or one of the Sorcerers, there were lives under her care that weren’t her own. And how was she going to protect them? How was she going to ensure that they didn’t get captured like Kace had been? If one of them died, how was she going to convince the rest to keep moving forward?
They all had their reasons for being there, and it wasn’t necessarily because of Remi. Milo wanted to get away, Ian wanted to pursue new ventures and forage for new materials. Harlan was looking for someone. Eckard would go wherever Olivia went, and Olivia herself? Why, she was the most unreliable of them all, for as soon as she got the opportunity, Remi was sure she would leave for greener pastures. But yet, she knew that she could get a lot further with her close by. She was a traitor, but she was also a valuable ally, and that both calmed and scared her.
She wondered if the Sorcerers would offer Olivia something in exchange for Remi. It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility.
“Has the beam gotten larger?” Harlan asked. Remi lifted her head to see Olivia at the front of the group, raising the red shard high over her head.
“Can’t you see it from back there?” she snapped.
“No,” Harlan retorted. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have asked.”
“We should stop for food soon,” Ian laughed. “Everyone’s getting grumpy.”
“It has been twelve hours,” Milo yawned. “And I feel like my arm is going to pop out of its socket.”
“No one said you had to put a corpse in that suitcase.”
“Yeah, but it keeps me company,” Milo said, sticking his tongue out.
“You guys are getting weird again,” Harlan stated as Olivia let her arm down.
“Let’s stop,” she said. “It’s not like we’re going to reach our destination tonight.”
“You sure here is good?” Milo asked. “In the middle of a dense forest at night?”
“It’s fine here,” Ian said. “Not many nocturnal beasts. You’ll get bit up by bugs though. I would keep your face covered as much as possible.”
“Great,” Milo said, throwing his suitcase down. “I knew I should have packed a tent.”
“I’ll start a fire,” Harlan said. “Anyone want to help me gather some wood?”
“I will,” Eckard said. Olivia raised an eyebrow as she watched her boy toy walk off.
“Well, that’s surprising,” Olivia said, sitting down in the crunchy grass. She fidgeted in her seat, rubbing her butt against some dirt and twigs.
“What?” Remi laughed, sitting down beside her. “It’s weird to see that your little man has a brain?”
“Yeah, I guess it is,” Olivia laughed. “Usually he would ask me first if he could go.”
“He’s growing up.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“So…how long do you think it will take for us to get there?”
“I don’t even know where there is,” Olivia said, picking up a twig and throwing it in front of her. “And I would be shocked if it ends up being this easy. A simple marker. Trust me, we’ll come up against something terrible.”
“Like the Langorans?”
“No one’s scared of them, though I’m sure they’re around.”
Remi let the tip of her eidolon stick out of her shoulder a
nd she scanned the area. “Nah. They’re nowhere close.”
“You know that thing you do looks absolutely disgusting?”
“Not as bad as seeing Eckard’s naked self running around.”
“You got me there…hey, what’s the deal with you and Ian?”
“Ian?” she asked, glancing up and seeing Ian looking right at her. He had been picking up some berries nearby when he heard his name. They stared at each awkwardly for a few seconds and then he went back to foraging, pretending as if he wasn’t listening.
“Well, that was awkward,” Remi whispered.
Olivia chortled. “It’s not going to get any better with you talking so low.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
“I don’t know. Just answer the question.”
“What question?”
“What’s the deal with you and berry picker over there?”
“We’re friends,” Remi replied and Olivia slapped a hand on her forehead.
“You know he likes you, right?”
“Yeah…but what does that have to do with anything?”
“You’re not going to try him out and see where it leads?”
“Try him out? Ew. You make it sound he’s a pair of pants.”
“Listen, you’re inexperienced. You might want to see what a relationship with him is like. Even if it doesn’t work out, you’ll have some memories under your belt, and then you’ll have a better idea of what you’d want in the future.”
“I don’t know. I mean, breaking it off with Kace was bad enough.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. You broke it off with Kace? When?”
“When I left Paragon that day.”
“You’ve got more balls than I thought.”
“Um…thanks I guess?”
“I’m just surprised.”
“What about you?” Remi asked. “You and Eckard. Isn’t he the first and only boyfriend you’ve ever had? What about you playing the field?”
“Oh I have,” she said, her voice getting lower.
“While you’ve been with Eckard?” Remi asked in shock.
“No,” she said solemnly. “Back in our hometown.”
“Oh,” Remi said. She turned away from Olivia and stared at the dirt at her feet. “You know that kind of stuff doesn’t define you, right?”
The Complete Seven Sorcerers Trilogy Page 31
