Fighter

by Isaac Hooke

  Finally he began to see the creatures that dominated this realm as the dragons passed over the occasional herds on the plains below. The beasts composing those herds all had a similar appearance… they reminded him of elephants with long necks and iridescent skin, mostly, though some species had longer, stilt-like legs. Most of them were spooked into a gallop when they spotted Malem and the dragons, even though he kept his party flying relatively high.

  Malem sensed all of the creatures on the plains below. Some were weak-willed, others strong-willed. He Broke a few of the former, just to confirm that he could, and released them. The drain varied from negligible, to tiring, with the slots used ranging from one to four.

  The herds continued to run away when the dragons passed overhead, at least until the Metals came across a particular large variant of the species, these ones towering across the plains, vaguely reminding him of the stilt walkers that had served Denfidal. These bigger specimens remained in place when the dragons approached, and tilted their long necks to gaze at him curiously.

  You know, a lot of these creatures have long necks, Brita said. But I don’t understand it. You don’t need long necks to graze. And they’re not grazing, as far as I can tell. And there are no trees for miles around. Instead they stand there, snapping at the empty air, it looks like.

  I think they’re eating insects, Wendolin said. If you look closely, you can see they exist in stratified layers in the air below. We’re above the topmost layer.

  Thankfully! Gwen said. I hate mosquitoes.

  Yes, well, the ones in the higher layers are about the size of birds, as far as I can tell, Wendolin said.

  Yuck! came Gwen’s response. But I guess that explains the long necks on these guys.

  After a while, they did fly over a copse. The trees were normal, at least, like in the valley he had seen before, if a little larger than average. There were some more of the long necked creatures lined up on the branches, but they seemed to be ferreting out the birds—or insects—that existed in those boughs, rather than munching on the actual leaves.

  The companions came across a smaller race that loitered outside silvery, hut-shaped dwellings on the plain. They were vaguely humanoid in shape, as Grendel had promised, and seemed to have long muzzles, though he couldn’t be entirely sure at this distance. He thought they were gazing up at the dragons crossing the sky, but otherwise didn’t show any signs of fear.

  Those look like potential Trabeculae candidates, Malem said. Big beetles…

  They fit the bill, Wendolin said. Except their exoskeletons are iridescent, not black. And those dwellings look like they’re made of silver, not mud and saliva.

  Malem glanced at Sylfi. Ask Grendel if they are Trabeculae.

  The chromium dragon lifted her head over one shoulder and spoke to Grendel. The light mage, seated behind Timlir between the dragon’s wings, gazed down, then yelled some response Malem could not hear.

  She says no. Sylfi twisted her head forward once more. Guess we keep flying.

  Guess so, he agreed.

  They continued advancing along those plains, encountering no airborne resistance. He did discern flocks of large, birdlike creatures in the distance to the left and right, but they stayed well away from the pegasus and the dragons.

  And then he spotted a glittering tower of gold in the distance.

  Well, lookee here, Gwen said. What do you think that is?

  Might as well investigate, Malem said. I’m sure the Metals could all use a rest anyway. Lantos certainly could.

  He turned Lantos toward the golden tower, and the companions made their way toward the landmark.

  Shortly, they were flying past one of the biggest buildings Malem had ever seen. Cylindrical in shape, flat-roofed, and made entirely of gold, it was literally the home of a giant.

  I estimate that tower contains at least fifty or sixty stories, Wendolin sent.

  Could be a Paragon’s home, Gwen said.

  Could be, Malem agreed. Let’s land on the rooftop. There’s room enough for all you dragons. Plus, if I’m not mistaken, there’s an opening of some kind we can use for entry.

  Remember the warning Grendel gave, Wendolin said. Not all Paragons are friendly.

  Noted, Malem told her.

  They approached the tower’s rooftop. The “doorway” Malem had seen was huge, able to fit all three dragons at the same time. Within, he spotted large steps leading down. Each one was the height of a house.

  Guess we won’t be walking inside… Gwen said.

  No, Malem said. We fly.

  And so Malem led them down those spiraling stairs on the back of Lantos. The Metals remained in dragon form, flapping beside him, seeming like birds in relation to the size of those stairs.

  Why do I feel like a fly hitching a ride on the back of an eagle or something? Gwen said.

  The stairs wound around the outer wall, while in the center of the tower, the space was open, giving a view of the next flight below.

  Malem flew off the edge of the stairs, and headed straight for the stone floor below. As he neared the bottom, he saw large furniture decorating the place—benches, carpets, tapestries. All of it ostensibly designed for a giant.

  Different rooms branched outward from the chamber. One of them seemed to be a bedroom, another an observation room, replete with telescope at the window.

  A giant humanoid of pure light sat in front of that telescope. It had an egg-shaped head, stilt-like arms and legs, and iridescent globes where breasts would be.

  It turned from the window to face Malem and the dragons.

  “I’ve watched your approach for a while now,” the creature said in a kind, feminine voice. “Welcome. I am Iridaceae.”

  It was a Paragon.

  21

  Unlike the Paragons Malem had seen in his world, the glow from Iridaceae didn’t hurt his eyes. Probably some property of this realm, a part of his mind noted.

  The other part couldn’t still the sudden rapid beating of his heart.

  “Hello,” Malem called, circling to land Lantos just outside the room where the Paragon resided. The dragons landed beside him.

  Iridaceae stood up and gazed down upon him. “Why have you come to the Light Realm? Is your world unbalanced?”

  “No, but yours is,” Malem said.

  The Paragon cocked her head. “How so?”

  “Darkness has invaded it,” Malem said. “A Balor has come.”

  “A Balor?” Iridaceae said. “Impossible. They cannot pass through the seals into our realm.”

  “Yeah, well, Banvil has found a way,” Malem said. “He came via a human vessel. He used a ring known as The Luminsol.”

  “The Luminsol,” Iridaceae said. “I have heard of this ring. Though I thought it lost an age ago.” She paused. “If the Balor indeed came inside a human vessel, then it is true, the demon could have entered with this ring. But tell me, when did Banvil arrive?”

  “A few days ago,” Malem said.

  “I must alert the others,” Iridaceae said. She made some sort of gesture with her hands, and then a globe of light floated from her palms. It darted from the window, and passed from view outside.

  “It’s done?” Malem asked.

  Iridaceae nodded that glowing head. “They will be alerted.”

  “Do you know why Banvil has come here?” Malem said.

  “I have an inkling,” the Paragon said.

  “Is it to hide from the other Balors?” Malem asked. “And recoup its strength?”

  “I don’t believe so,” Iridaceae said. “As the Balor grows in power, it would soon exceed the capacity of its human vessel, and would have to abandon it. When that happens, the closest Paragons would sense the demon, and hunt it down. No, I believe Banvil came here for a far more nefarious reason.”

  Malem waited for the Paragon to explain, and when she did not, he said: “And that reason is?”

  But in answer, she said: “You should not be here.”

  “We’re hunting
the Balor,” Malem said. “We mean to bring him back.”

  “No you’re not, and you won’t,” Iridaceae said. “The Light Realm is not for your kind. It is a dangerous place for creatures such as yourselves. You have survived thus far only out of luck alone. But that will change, very quickly. You’re not safe on the ground, or in the air. You are dwarfed by most entities here, least of all Paragons. If you stay, trust me, you will die.”

  The way she said that latter word, die—a screeching, irritating sound—caused Lantos to snort uncomfortably.

  It’s okay, boy, he sent.

  “Well, I’d certainly love to return,” Malem said. “However, we have no way to get back. The portal we took was one way.”

  “I can open a doorway for you,” she said. “Here…”

  “Well, that was easy,” Xaxia commented softly.

  “Wait,” Malem told the Paragon. “I never told you we’d take this doorway if you opened it.”

  Iridaceae paused. “I already told you, you can’t stay. Especially not unsupervised.”

  “Then supervise us,” Malem said.

  “When you say it like that,” Gwen said, “you make it sound like we’re a couple of unruly kids in a classroom.”

  “Come with us,” Malem pressed the Paragon. “Let us hunt Banvil together.”

  He wanted to ensure the Paragons didn’t kill Goldenthall, and thus Banvil. He needed the Balor to stay alive, if he wanted to maintain his powers.

  “Sadly, I cannot,” Iridaceae said.

  “But you need me,” Malem said. “You see, I’m bound to this Balor. I can Break it.”

  Iridaceae cocked her head. “You are the Breaker Malem that Corinne spoke of?”

  “That would be me,” Malem said.

  “Why didn’t you say so?” the Paragon told him. “Yes, of course, then you must journey with me. Has the demon tried to assert control over your mind, yet?”

  “Once,” Malem said. “Which is what kicked off our journey in the first place.”

  “It will try again,” Iridaceae said. “And soon, especially if it grows in power. There is a magic talisman you can wear, an amulet that will protect you from the demon’s control, no matter how powerful Banvil becomes.”

  Malem nodded. “That sounds exactly like what I need. I believe I had such an item before, given to me by an undead king. However, I lost it in battle—it shattered when Vorgon assailed me with too much Darkness.”

  “There is another in this realm,” Iridaceae said. “I will tell Corinne to bring it to me.”

  She made that familiar gesture, and another light globe left her palms and floated out the window before vanishing from view.

  “When will she arrive?” Malem asked.

  “I can’t say,” Iridaceae replied. “An hour. A day. She will meet us on the march.”

  “She can track you like that?” Gwen said.

  “Of course,” the Paragon said. “Now listen carefully, once the talisman is in your possession, you must wear it at all times. It must touch your skin constantly. When you fight. When you bathe. When you make love. If ever you take it off, you will become the demon’s. Especially when Banvil grows in power.”

  Malem considered this. “When I wore the amulet the undead king gave me, it rested on my armor.”

  “It would have still protected you from attacks by external Darkness,” the Paragon said. “Preventing a Balor from tracking you, or striking you with its evil power. But it would not have saved you from attacks from within.”

  That made sense, given Malem’s experiences against Vorgon.

  “I understand,” he said. “So. You were saying you would join us. I guess that means we’ll need to find a Trabeculae to hunt Goldenthall… unless you have another way to sense the demon inside him.”

  “Until the Balor grows stronger, no, I cannot,” Iridaceae said. “We will need a Trabeculae. There is a tribe not far to the south of here, if I’m not mistaken.”

  “South…” Malem prodded Lantos forward, until he could see the sun through the large window behind her; he used it orient himself, and then pointed at the wall to his right. “Is south that way?”

  “It is,” she said.

  “We flew here from that direction,” Malem said. “We didn’t see this tribe.”

  The Paragon frowned. “Are you certain?”

  “Yes,” Malem said. “Well, there were a few iridescent beings lounging outside silver huts, and further south, some—”

  “That is them,” the Paragon said.

  “The iridescent beings?” he pressed.

  She nodded.

  Malem glanced at Grendel. “I thought you said that wasn’t them?”

  Grendel looked down sheepishly. “They look different than I remember. They were never iridescent like that, and the huts they made were black, not silver.”

  “In your realm, their coloration is different,” the Paragon said. “Darker.”

  “Oh,” Grendel said. “That explains it.”

  “I can’t believe we passed right over them, thanks to you,” Xaxia said. “We could have been out there for days, weeks even, ignoring other Tribeca or whatever tribes like that, just because you got their colors confused.”

  “I’m sorry,” Grendel said. “I couldn’t… it was my fault. I take full responsibility.”

  “Like that means anything,” Xaxia told her. “The Breaker isn’t going to punish you.” She glanced at him hopefully. “Or are you?”

  “It was a mistake any of us could have made,” Malem said. “And it doesn’t matter now anyway. We’ve only lost a few hours. We head south, seek out these Trabeculae.”

  Xaxia folded her arms. “And she won’t be punished, like I said.”

  “I’m sure you’ll find a suitable way to punish her on your own,” Gwen commented.

  “I’m sure I will,” Xaxia said, scowling at Gwen, and Grendel.

  A few minutes later, the lot of them were heading back the way they had come upon the plains. The dragons, and Lantos, flew at shoulder level with Iridaceae, who easily kept pace as she advanced at a brisk walk.

  It wasn’t long until the Trabeculae tribe appeared in the distance once more. They loitered outside their silvery huts, but this time stood up when they saw the Paragon approaching.

  Iridaceae stopped half a mile from the perimeter of the camp. “It’s better to let them approach. Otherwise, if we come any closer, it could be interpreted as an act of aggression. If you land, it will be easier to converse with them.”

  Malem and the others descended. This was the first time they had passed through the stratified layers of bugs Wendolin had speculated the plains creatures fed upon—the Paragon’s rooftop had been well above it. Malem was forced to swat away the insects, some of which were as big as birds.

  Yuck! Gwen sent. Just ate a huge bug!

  I’ve been eating them all the way down, Weyanna said. Willingly.

  Gross! Gwen returned.

  Hey, good source of protein, Weyanna said.

  The insects became smaller as the party closed with the ground, ceasing entirely a couple of yards above the surface. The dragons let down their riders, while Malem dismounted Lantos. The upper parts of the Metals lay within the insect swarms, but their scales seemed to protect them from any irritation. He did see Sylfi and the other two occasionally flick an ear when an insect bothered them, and sometimes they snapped at something with their jaws, but for the most part, they seemed unaffected.

  “It looks like the insects don’t descend less than two yards from the ground,” Xaxia said, coming to his side.

  “They actually do descend, if there is suitable prey,” Iridaceae said. “Also, your bodies are incompatible with the blood suckers of this realm.”

  “Here’s to incompatibility.” Gwen raised an imaginary mug in toast. “But you know, it’s a good thing we didn’t bring Mauritania with us. She’s too damn tall… her head would be permanently stuck in that layer.”

  “What about the dragons?�
�� Xaxia said.

  “Yeah, that can’t be fun for them,” Gwen said.

  “They could always transform back into humans,” Aurora added. “Besides, less imposing that way.”

  “No,” Malem said. “That won’t be necessary, I think. Given we have a Paragon with us. The epitome of imposing…”

  A small contingent of three Trabeculae approached from the camp. They looked almost like men at first, but as they got closer, he could definitely see they were more insect-like. While they had two arms and two legs, a torso, and a head, they were covered in an iridescent exoskeleton. On their backs were small, folded prehensile wings, the translucent edges visible on either side of their torsos. Their mouths were mandibles, with a large proboscis in the center. Their eyes protruded from either side of the head, and were insectile—spherical in shape, and covered in many smaller, dome-like lenses that were packed together on the surface. Two antennae resided above each eye, long, drooping things that skimmed the ground in front of each Trabeculae.

  The smaller insects overhead left the three Trabeculae alone, just as they did most of Malem’s party.

  The trio stopped about twenty yards in front of Malem and the Paragon. They gazed up, and one of them, whom Malem assumed was the leader, stepped forward. It wore a small cord necklace strung with a row of sharp teeth, a necklace that the others did not have. In fact, that was the only clothing the entity wore.

  When the Trabeculae spoke, its words were obviously meant for Iridaceae, as a series of screeches and clicks emerged from its mandibles.

  The Paragon replied with: “Speak the Common of the realm of men, for the sake of my companions. If you have not forgotten it.”

  The lead Trabeculae glanced at Malem, and its antennae folded backward before continuing. “We have not forgotten.” It gazed up at the Paragon once more. “I am Jephestaus, chieftain of the Long Maw. Why do you encroach, Seeker of Balance?”

  “Darkness has entered our realm in the form of a Balor,” Iridaceae said. “We need your help to find it.”

  “A Balor?” Jephestaus said. “You can detect the Darkness of a Balor just as easily as we.”