After the Dark

by Spencer Labbe

  At long last, the line of men dwindled and finally, it was his turn to duck through the opening that led to the outside. Pil took in a deep breath and glanced at Felicity and Dirk for support. Felicity smiled confidently and nodded to him; Dirk was looking ahead at the open door with apprehension, bouncing from one foot to the other in a jumpy sort of way. Pil breathed out slowly and then ducked under the low ridge of the hidden door and continued off into the darkness.

  He emerged into a darkened world of green. Everywhere there was life. Giant trees such as he had never seen before littered the floor around him and his fellow Exidite. Pil looked up at the sky. It was sprinkled with purple stars blinking lazily down at him, and right in the center of everything the largest and brightest circle Pil had ever seen. It had a deep haze of purple light emanating out from it. The moon thought Pil. The name came to him distantly from a chapter in Beings of Haven. It was more beautiful than he could ever have imagined; just the sight of it nearly brought tears to his eyes.

  Stunned, Pil moved away from the grass-covered trap door and over towards the huddle of Exidite. One by one, he watched as Felicity, Dirk, and finally Sandy emerged. Each one looked shocked as they took in their surroundings; even the air they breathed was cleaner and warmer, somehow even more full of life.

  The Entri waited, smiling dazedly together as the mass of Exidite scouts continued to pour out, eventually forming three smaller groups that lined up in formation. As Todd emerged, he motioned them over to stand next to him in the formation on the far right. The men were all turned away from the trap door, facing Tiberius. To Pil’s dismay, Brixton, Pheonix, and Raven soon entered the grassy field and walked immediately over towards the squadron Pil had just joined. As he caught sight of Pil, Brixton sniggered sinisterly before strolling around to stand on the other side of the formation.

  Tiberius had a serious sort of look on his face which immediately transformed him from the genial, red-faced, pudgy man who had led them on a very brief tour; into a strong Captain of the Exidite. Before speaking, he waited for the rest of his men to seal up the trapdoor and join the formation.

  “Well, you all know the mission today. We march north towards the Chasm of Agora.” A deep silence filled the grassy space of soldiers, and Tiberius went on, ignoring their reaction. “Mid-day we will make camp and send out the initial scouts. I’ll lead a squadron to scout out the Chasm, while Scouts B, led by Dot, and C, led by Zane, will spread out around the area to keep a lookout. It does us no good to waste time; we have to meet back here by purple or risk getting caught in the Afterdark.” Tiberius paused and took a deep breath, letting his Captain’s façade fade slightly. “Listen, men, I know the Chasm is not where we want to be heading, but today is the day we show what the Scouts are made of! Just remember, we are the mound’s survival; in a world of darkness, we are their light. Be valiant. Embody the best of your Elfin courage, and we will all make it back before Afterdark comes. Now, move out!”

  It was a very good speech. Immediately the Elfins turned from a hesitant group of men into a daring army without fear of death or harm. The Exidite immediately tore off into the brush of the dense forest. Though the Exidite could only see by the light of the moon, for their Elfin eyes it was more than enough. Pil marveled at the way the Exidite around him picked their way silently through the forest. They traversed the tricky landscape with apparent ease, moving at a steady speed.

  Pil and his small group of friends had enough of a hard time just keeping up. The landscape blurred into spots of dark green as Pil wove in and around the growth. It was a very strange feeling to be among the Exidite. Pil’s heart leapt as the sway of the commotion overtook him. He began to think of Peach and Pa’ back home. He could hardly wait to describe the world they lived beneath. This is what he had been wishing for: he was a part of them, the brave Exidite, on a mission for the whole of Westleton — just like his mom had been — just like he had always wanted.

  The miles crept away quickly, nettles and branches barely slowing them. The speech from Tiberius had propelled them along the path quickly. They were as one pushing through the thick trees and brush without fear of monsters or dark chasms, for what in all of Haven could possibly harm them?

  It wasn’t until what must have been mid-day that the bold emotion gave way to fatigue and hunger. The troop began to slow, urged on only by the shadow of Tiberius and his hushed shouts of ‘come now.’ He moved very quickly for his size, but after a few hours the whispers of ‘just a bit more,’ began fading into huffs of exhaustion.

  Even Tiberius’s cheerful motivation eventually ebbed away, and it appeared they were all at their breaking point, sweating, and panting heavily. The brush became harder and harder to push through, and Pil now felt the scratches from marching through a thick forest for so long. After all, nimble as they were, even Elfin feet gave way after several long hours of careful picking.

  “Halt!” came the sudden command from ahead as they pushed through into a clearing of flat grass. The Exidite stopped immediately, catching their breaths.

  “We’ll set up here, boys. It’s a pack point.”

  The men immediately began roaming about the clearing, combing the grassy floor as though looking for something tiny. And, sure enough, one by one the Exidite began to pull large tufts of grass up from the floor by green strings to reveal several trap doors just like the one they had arrived from. They pulled out bags full of supplies; there was food and cloth as well as weapons and armor.

  The men immediately went to work, handing the packages around, hanging up sections of green-dyed cloth around the clearing, and starting a fire with a small pitched tent in front of it. Pil watched as the men lay bags of food and weapons in front of the small tent. He for one was starving. He hurried over to grab food as the Exidite poured in to retrieve their weapons and equipment. Pil scanned the bags quickly. There were multiple bags full of bread, and several bags full of small water orbs. He looked at these curiously, he had never seen Drops before; they were balls of water covered in a thin bubbly film about the size of his palm, and they were generally upper Mid-town products. He grabbed enough for him and his friends and hurried back.

  “This is all they got,” said Pil as he passed around the meager meal.

  They ate in silence, taking a cue from Sandy and Felicity who each bit a small hole in the film of their Drop’s, slurping up the water inside. Pil watched as the Exidite grabbed their weapons first, and then lined up for the food. Todd was one of the first to the food pile; it seemed he didn’t have need of a weapon, Pil caught Todd’s eye and waved him over to their small group.

  “Found the food all right, then?” asked Todd as he sat down next to Pil.

  “Yeah — are there many places like this in Lungala?” asked Pil.

  “A fair few. We call ’em pack points. Set them up in random locations around the forest — only top Exidite know exactly where. It’s as good a way as any of getting supplies. We use them when we’re in a hurry, though, like now. Or if we run out of our own gear.”

  “What is the Chasm of Agora, anyway? What’s Harlem thinking — making us go out only a day before it’s light?” asked Felicity casually around a bite of bread.

  Todd considered them for a moment. “Don’t know what he’s thinking, honestly; but I can say he wants very much to find out what’s been controlling all them Bahbeqs. And I don’t doubt that’s the main reason we’re out here, to be honest — the Chasm has been avoided for a long time, ever since the Exidite first mission, as a matter of fact. It’s well known that Merry Berries grow there, see? A particularly large amount as it is, and it was a large target for the Exidite right from the start. But as the original Exidite got nearer to the Chasm, they felt it — a cold deep down to their bones that radiated from deep within the Chasm.” He paused to look at the effect his words had created. Sandy had stopped eating mid-bite. “But I dunno about all of that; I’ve been around the thing a bunch, not too close as a rule, but I have yet to feel any such
chill.”

  “But why go near it at all if it has a dark presence? The first Exidite were known to have keen senses and more magic; shouldn’t we heed their warning?” asked Pil.

  “Yeah, I don’t fancy going in there. Especially not so close to Afterdark,” said Dirk uncomfortably.

  “Now, now, don’t reckon it will be too bad. We only avoid the Chasm — no one’s ever been reported hurt or seen around there. But the Captain and I — I mean to say Harlem, Tiberius, and I — we play a bit of Spot every now and again; anyway, he talks to Tiberius and I hear things… things that are probably best kept secret. Mind, they are careful not to let anything too important slip, but don’t go running your mouths.” He looked around at them sternly. They nodded their assent hurriedly, deeply interested.

  “Well, you see,” whispered Todd. “It seems Harlem’s under the impression that there is a traitor in the Exidite.” Todd looked quickly around to make sure they weren’t being overheard.

  Pil blanched. A traitor, how could that be? The Exidite were the best of the best… weren’t they? Who would go against the mound? But then even as he thought that his mind turned to Brixton Bells. He was a nasty enough Elfin to be sure, and if they let him in… well, who knows who else could have gotten in?

  Felicity seemed to be thinking along the same lines as Pil as she whispered suddenly, very concerned, “what about that Baer Bells? I mean, he doesn’t look too friendly to me… and Brixton is the worst there is.”

  “Is he now?” said Todd, thinking intently. “Might be Baer, but I doubt it. The Captains of the squads all have Harlem’s complete trust. Not to say he isn’t known to be harsh, but it is a thought…”

  Sandy was practically shaking, his food long forgotten, and a stricken expression was playing across his face. Pil wasn’t all that comfortable either with the thought of a traitor in their midst. Todd smiled at them all warmly.

  “Ouch!” exclaimed Pil, slapping at his thigh. He removed his hand to see a red raised bump. “Something bit me.”

  “That’ll happen,” smiled Todd quickly. “Got bit three times already today; bugs in Lungala are a real nuisance.”

  “Oh yeah! I got bit almost the minute we started marching,” said Felicity.

  “I’m fine,” admitted Sandy, glancing around nervously.

  “It’s not poisonous, is it?” asked Dirk, rubbing a red bump on his arm.

  “No — I’m still here, aren’t I?” laughed Todd. “Funny, all this dark talk, and here you three sit more worried about the bugs!”

  “No, I’m worried about that too,” Dirk confided. “But, I mean, have things really been so bad lately? I haven’t heard of any incidents since…well…” Dirk trailed off, giving Pil a nervous glance.

  “I mean, we’ve had a bit of trouble here and there… but nothing too bad — Harlem’s getting a bit paranoid if you ask me,” said Todd with a reassuring smile.

  Pil nodded. That was a possibility. It was probably a very difficult job, running such an important and large army. Anyone would feel the pressure eventually. But he would have to be on his guard for this mission, to be sure. And perhaps his plans for Brixton would have to wait.

  Suddenly a man sat next to Todd, clapping him on the shoulder as he did. “Not scaring the Entri, are yah, Todd?” he asked with a smile.

  Todd laughed. “Only a little, Dot, not so much as your face does, I’m sure.”

  It was only a joke, but it was quite near the mark. The moment Pil had caught sight of the man’s face, he started. It was scarred and lined like a weathered rock, mirroring his light-grey hair and eyes.

  “This is Dot,” Todd introduced, gesturing to the man, “Lieutenant of the Scouts and Tiberius’s second hand.”

  Dot laughed loudly. “May have been here longer, but you’re the one who’s close with old Tiberius.”

  “I am rather fond of our dear Captain,” Todd admitted, “however bad of a Spot player he is…”

  Dot laughed again. “Don’t say that too loudly, he’ll be out — ” but a loud cry cut him off.

  “Sorry,” said Sandy, rubbing his leg. “Got bitten.”

  Dot smiled. “That happens a lot — ” he began before another cry cut him off.

  "MEN! Roundup," came the sudden command from the tent as Tiberius came striding out along with two important looking men Pil had never seen before.

  Dot smiled and winked at them all knowingly. As the Exidite scrambled to stand at attention Pil saw Brixton for the first time since they had begun their march. He was retreating quickly from the spot where the bag of weapons lay, looking very pleased with himself. His lackeys were nowhere to be seen. Pil’s eyes narrowed.

  Todd led the way towards the third squadron of men as they poured into their formation. Pil kept his eyes trained on Brixton all the way to the other side of their formation. Pheonix and Raven had appeared out of nowhere at his side as he fell in line. Brixton glanced suddenly over, as though someone had called his name, and he caught Pil’s eye. Brixton smiled slowly.

  “I’ve been going over the plan with Dot and Zane. As I said earlier, we head out immediately. It’s already dim red.” Tiberius held up a small see-stone that glowed scarlet across the grass. “That means we have very little time left to us. B and C march west and east, respectively. You are to spread out and form colonies to scout out the sections of the forest around the Chasm. Squad A, usually led by Todd…” Pil looked up at Todd in shock; Todd glanced back carefully, the hint of a smile playing on his lips. “…will, follow me down to the location where the magic was spotted. From there we will send out three colonies to come out to the edge of the forest. If the coast is clear, I will lead the remaining group to the edge, where they will wait as backup; as the first colony, led by me, clears the Chasm itself. When we are done, I will give the signal to return to this location...” Tiberius paused, and his voice lowered. “If the signal is not given by dark red, the remaining squads are to retreat back to Westleton. Do I make myself plain?” The men looked about, sharing glances. Pil looked at Todd, whose face was grim and set. Was this normal procedure? Pil wondered. Abandoning one’s comrades didn’t seem right, but what could he do?

  “I said do I make myself plain?” asked Tiberius again harshly.

  “Yes, sir!” his men answered back.

  “Good. Now move!” The column immediately went into action. The two squadrons to Pil’s left broke off in separate directions, while Pil’s group broke off into a third group and hurried after Tiberius, who had turned and marched straight ahead into the forest alone.

  The men were refreshed and ready for another march, but there was a sense of dread in the air; it seemed to Pil as though time were moving excruciatingly slow. Todd for his part had moved to the head of the group, keeping up a steady pace. For a long time, they marched silently through Lungala, heading for the clearing that held magic. Pil’s mind was fully awake. He had so many questions; so much had happened in such a short amount of time. As time wore on he couldn’t contain himself at the back of the slowly marching men. He moved up quickly to stand next to Todd. He fell into place alongside him; the other men gave him sidelong looks but seemed too preoccupied picking their way through the thick forest.

  “You’re a Lieutenant?” Pil accused Todd quietly.

  Todd looked down and smiled. “Yeah, did I not mention that? It’s no big deal, really, just means I have to do more work!”

  Pil smiled and nodded. “Well, I’m pleased I met you, Lieutenant Todd.”

  Todd smiled back. The spot where magic had been spotted took marginally less time to reach than it had taken to get to the pack point. But with every step Pil’s sense of apprehension rose, his heart hammering faster and faster. When at last they finally slowed down, he was on full alert. By the look of it, all the Exidite were preparing themselves for the worst; some were even going so far as to pull out their weapons. Todd looked to Pil as though he was concentrating very hard on something, though Pil thought he seemed to be a lot less wa
ry than the rest. Tiberius gave the order for the men to move into the clearing, leading the way quietly and more swiftly than his appearance suggested.

  The clearing was empty. The Exidite men stood at attention as Tiberius called Dot, Zane, and Todd out to search for clues. They returned a moment later, looking defeated.

  “Nothing here,” announced Tiberius. “To be honest, I expected as much. The rest of you boys have a lie-in. Todd and I will choose a few to inspect different points of the ridge. Todd…”

  “Right,” Todd said, addressing his squadron. “Well, I think we should send out my two groups first and then the rest as a follow-up to make sure our reports are accurate so — I will need Pil, Sandy, Felicity, Dirk, Brixton, Pheonix, and Raven up front, please.”

  9

  Lost

  Pil looked around, surprised, before heading to the front of the group to stand in front of Todd. He smiled down at them all.

  “You seven will have a group of three and a group of four. Sandy, join Brixton, Pheonix, and Raven. Pil, you will lead Felicity and Dirk to the edge. Brixton, you will lead your group.” He looked at them kindly. Pil’s face must have reflected the intense anxiety going on in his mind because he gave him a quick and reassuring smile.

  “You only need to go as far as the edge of the forest and look out towards Agora Ridge. Make sure the way is clear for the rest of us and then head back. Brixton and his group will walk north to the edge; Pil and his group will walk northeast. Move out, then.”