“You three are the embodiment of all that we strive for: Brave, compassionate, and mighty.” Nolala nodded her head to Tru. “While you’ve aided in going against my word, you have more than earned my forgiveness for staking your entire life on that which you deemed a worthy cause. Just as you are doing now. You have grown into a fine woman, Tru.”
Turning violet eyes from Tru’s smiling face, Nolala addressed Tes. “Many of the faces still with us are here through your guidance and protection. Very few equal your strength and experience, Tes. It’s a shame to see you go, but I know everyone will be in good care in your presence.”
Tes nodded her head once in response and gave a subdued, proud smile.
Lastly, Nolala set her eyes on Nuna and said nothing for several beats. She wrapped her daughter in her arms and ran her fingers through her dark hair.
“I pray Yetzirah will see you through this,” Nolala murmured sweetly into her ear. “You’re destined for great things. When my time comes, I can’t see anyone more fit to watch over our people. A sentiment mirrored by everyone here. I love you, Nuna, with every fiber of my being.”
Nuna’s eyes glimmered, but she kept a stiff upper lip. “I love you, too, Mother.”
The pair finally pulled away from each other, which was when Luppa stepped forward and murmured a soft prayer to each woman. When that concluded, she did the same for the girls and me.
“May Yetzirah keep your light bright and proud,” the priestess announced.
She, Sanvi, Nolala, and all the other lamia gather around us, held a hand over their faces, and nodded their heads to us once.
“It’s the highest form of respect among lamia,” Sanvi answered before I could ask. “You all emit the light we try to embody, so we have to shield our eyes from your radiance.”
She gave me another lingering look before pulling me into another hug. I did my best to try to crush her, but it was like trying to crush a concrete column.
“I hate how I can’t help you all,” Sanvi said as she pulled away. “Tes leads her excursion team because she’s capable; you’re in good company.” She looked down at her wrapped arm and frowned.
Smiling warmly, I reached into shirt and got my tags out. After undoing the short ball chain, I held out my spare. Sanvi looked down at my hand, then looked back at me with a blank look.
“Take it,” I said while taking her hand. “A keepsake. I know you probably can’t read it, but it says my name: Oliver Lawe. That tag is me. You have no idea how much you’ve helped me, so I want you to have it, Sanvi.”
Dangling the tag from its chain in front of her eyes, Sanvi gave one of the purest smiles of joy I’ve ever had the grace of seeing.
“I’ll cherish it forever,” she beamed.
“I know you will,” I said with a chuckle. “And take care of my other things, too,” I added while pointing to my rucksacks. “Gotta travel light. I’ll be sure to come back for them.”
Her smile grew even wider. Sanvi leaned down and planted a tender kiss on my lips.
“I’ll see you soon,” Sanvi affirmed in a heated whisper in my ear.
I turned around to take in all the faces and gave a thankful look, then blew out a breath before setting my eyes to Nuna. She gave a tight smile and nodded.
The crowd parted to make a path to one of the doorways that led to the tunnel pass we were going to use. Turning my back on everyone took a lot of effort, but the longer we stayed, the harder it would be to go. Cinching my teeth, I maintained pace with Meriel and Fell at my sides, and followed after Nuna, Tes, and Tru.
As we walked down the barren stone corridor, I said, “Thank you.”
The lamia ahead looked over their shoulders, and I could see the girls glancing at me through my peripherals.
“It is we who should be thanking you, Oliver,” Nuna said as she looked forward again.
Meriel and I only made it this far because of you,” Fell said, the elf nodding in agreement.
“I slipped into a bad place, and each of you helped me crawl out of it.” Looking up in thought, I recalled how much the rage for the Null made me push others away and bury everything else. “You all just helped me realize that a monster only cares about killing, but a human cares about protecting.” My gaze wandered the lamia’s scales, and the abnormal ears on the girls. I shook my head. “Well… you get what I mean.”
The women snickered as they trudged on. While they enjoyed the light-hearted moment, I took a moment to look back on everything, and I couldn’t imagine where I would’ve ended up had I kept that singular purpose hatred. And I may never get rid of that anger; it was like that one ember that continues to burn in the fireplace underneath all the ash.
Fell and Meriel aren’t that different from me concerning their duty. Depending on the perspective, we can be seen as good, bad, or be caught up in that ambiguous gray area where nothing’s ever pretty. Whatever business with my world had with this grand alliance of other worlds was beyond them, and as much as I’d like to understand the details, I only had room for one goal: Survive with everyone and see to it that the Isusi can go on.
Home’s gone. I wasn’t there to protect my family, and I couldn’t keep my brothers and sisters in arms alive. The weight of that will never go away. All that I can try to do was learn to bear it.
The only boon of salvation I’ve had in this twisted world has been the girls and the Isusi. They’re the only good in my life worth protecting; the only thing worth sacrificing myself for.
Perhaps that what Judge wanted me to figure out before he went off to the great gig in the sky. No matter how hard and crushing the world can get, the answer will always be in me which way. And when that answer comes to light, there will always be a future— a life to be had. He came to his final truth in the final moments, and through him, me, Fell, and Meriel survived.
And now, we hope to gamble our lives for the lives of others.
The lamia up ahead made a turn in the corridor and went down the hall. In the wall between two rooms was an ornately carved entranceway. This was the emergency path I’ve been told of in the past. The network of tunnels we had to follow was through there.
Nuna turned halfway and looked my way, her hand resting and squeezing the handle of the machete she choose to fight with.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
Giving the girls a glance, I gave myself a quick pat-down. Judge’s Bible was tucked safely in my cargo pocket, and my cigar case secure in my chest. Pulling the bolt barrier back halfway on my M4 to spot the round, I met Nuna’s eyes.
“Never been more ready in my entire life.”
Chapter 25
The journey through the tunnels to the southern foot of the mountains was quick. Too quick. Whistling wind rushed from the tight rabbit hole we gradually worked down. I was mounted on Nuna, and as we neared the way out, the smell of fresh hair replaced the earthy scent of stone.
It was pitch-black up ahead. Nuna moved slower and slower, eventually coming to a stop to what must’ve been perhaps twenty feet from the exit if the draft was anything to go by. As I held my breath and tightened my hold to her sides, she listened for enemies. After a crushing spell of silence, she inched her way forward until she carefully pushed a small rock out of the way. Then we were free from the confines of the mountain and were out in the crisp air of the night.
We were at the rocky foothill of the southern mountain range, and the dense forest was ahead of us. Elesrora’s green-tinged moon was at half-quarter. Staring out into near-darkness played on my nerves, but nothing stirred or made a peep in the immediate area.
Thinking back to the map, we were right on the edge of their guesstimation of the Null spread. Even if ninety percent of Corruptions and Children of the Null should be miles away in the north, that would mean around one hundred thousand monsters were lurking around in the direction we were heading.
However, they should be spread over fifty-ish square miles. There was nothing to be conquered south, and all the act
ion was going on in the opposite direction. Compounded with the Marker falling, most of the heat should be in the valley.
Keyword being should.
Nuna rested her hand on my shoulder. The others were all out, and the rock covering the tunnel was back in place. Drawing in a silent breath through my nose, I nodded to Nuna. She adjusted her bow across her back, then lowered her red demon mask over her face. I mounted her snake half, wrapping my arms tight around her middle. Meriel did the same with Tru and Tes. All of us set, the sprint to Chaparral kicked off.
The first thirty minutes under the scant and sickening effluence of glow of the moon around the foothills was torture. All the twisted tree branches looked like incoming claws, and the large shadows of boulders kept me thinking that something waited ahead for an ambush. But as time wore on, were cleared a few miles without incident.
Though our lamia mounts weren’t going all out, they move three times faster than any of us would have accomplished on two legs. I was able to move with damn near a hundred pounds of shit on my back, but clearing the distance without resting would've been impossible. At least not without taking breaks.
Maybe it was a combination of their lifestyle and biology, but lamia were impressive specimens. The first-hand experience of their stamina was obvious when they carted the girls and me through miles of tunnels without hardly losing their breath. Not to mention, they were able to zip over the ground with nothing more than a brushing whisper of their scales gliding over grass and leaves.
Progress slowed once we neared the opening of the valley that separated the two great mountains.
Nuna’s stomach muscles contracted under my arms as she slowed and listened. We moved about a half-mile wide so we kept to our straight most course, but if we were to run into any trouble, it would be near here. There were only two ways into the zigzagging cleft between the great landforms. There was a wide opening somewhere north, and then there was the one on our end.
Like my early trek through the forest, then wasn’t a single peep from any nocturnal wildlife. Wind light stirred the branches in the tree canopies overhead. But as I strained my ears and held my breath, I could just barely make out the distance roars and shrill shrieks echoing down the valley. They sounded like hideously morphed coyote cries I’d often hear over the warm summers in Illinois.
The sound made my mouth go dry, but there were a good distance away.
Nuna gave a silent signal, then set off deeper into the forest, sending us further into Null territory.
The tension formed knots in my stomach the size of bowling balls, and my head pounded along with my racing heart as we moved. But, very gradually, the sickness in my stomach lessened the same time as the distant roars lessened in volume. Before long, Nuna resumed the expedient pace and led us on through the woods.
We were prepared for any scrapes in our journey. But if anything close to a horde came, running was the only way. Should the Bridge be no good under that circumstance, then we’d recreating the Alamo and out strong.
Keeping track of time quickly became impossible with the nerves. Sickness had passed, but the tension in my body never left. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling, but a necessary one. Ever since I left the states and stepped foot into the desert, tension hummed inside of me like an engine of self-preservation. Just like before, things were out there looking to kill me, to kill us. Fear was a nasty thing, but it served as a shot of pure adrenaline that kept my senses sharp and ready.
Maybe two or three hours since we left the tunnel, but it was obvious we were deep in the badlands. The trees further west varied, but the sycamore lookalikes with white bark filled out most of the forest. Every tree passed by in a blur was pitch-black and dead, almost as if a flashfire charred them. All the leaves had fallen away from the treetops, the naked branches like black cracks in front of the ill moon.
Anything living dies near them. Can’t get more evil than that.
Our pace went along for a good amount of time until everyone came to a screeching halt at the sound of a very faint click. Before we ventured out, Nuna gave a quick rundown to the girls and me of the small signals and sounds the Isusi used when sound was a concern. In this case, a light click of the tongued meant we weren’t alone.
The girls and I dismounted and huddled close, while the lamia each faced a different direction and got their bows out with arrows knocked in less than a heartbeat. I shouldered my rifle and aimed out into the darkness between trees, but my weapon was a last resort. Even with the trees dampening the sound, a gunshot could still carry a mile or two.
In a voice softer than the steps of a mouse, Fell whispered, “Heard movement, there.” She pointed somewhere off to the side where Tru was facing.
Tes and Tru adjusted toward the direction in question, Nuna and Meriel kept a vigilant watch on the rear, and I tried to fill in the gaps as Fell cupped her hands around her ears, trying to zero in on the disturbance.
Her ears flicking madly, Fell said in a strained whisper, “They’re coming.”
Night hadn’t hindered visibility too much. If anything, the lack of leaves allowed more of the moonlight to illuminate about twenty yards out in the immediate area. I still couldn’t see or hear anything where Tes and Tru had their arrows trained. Even so, the women pulled further back on their bows, the strings groaning from the stored energy.
Ten seconds later, the sound of sticks snapping and leaves crunching could be heard as a few hostiles barrel toward us with vicious abandon. At my first sight of a Corruption, Tes and Tru let loose their arrows with a thwish. Then did it three more times in rapid succession.
I just heard the begging of a few roars, but they ended in choked hisses, followed by the several thumps. Relaxing the death grip around my rifle, I stared at the limp form of the Corruption I saw racing through the trees, and after a quick search, I saw two more corpses a few trees over.
All reaming still as statues, we listened. Rather, Fell listened. She did a slow turn, meticulously listening in for any disturbances. She stood a little straighter as the tension dwindled. All seemed well until she snapped her head back toward the direction of where the Corruptions came from.
I was expecting to see panic, but under the moon’s viridescent glow, all I saw was confusion on her features. Then her head snapped skyward. At the same time, I heard branches snapping and a screech like nails on a chalkboard.
A Corruption pounced right in the middle of our huddle, practically right on top of me. Something struck my collar bone, and then I tumbled out of our spot and down a slight slope. I rolled a few feet before arresting the fall. Face to face with some hideous humanoid vulture creature, I swung my rifle up. Belatedly thinking about the noise, I stopped myself from pulling the trigger.
Before I could panic, a tendril of water wrapped around the creature's neck, the thing uttering a choked squawk. Meriel slid in low and from the side, one of her daggers slashing right through the monster’s taloned leg. Moving gracefully like flowing water, she stabbed on either side its ribcage, then did a big swipe at the neck just as Fell’s water tendril retracted.
The elf was at my side as soon as the Corruption dropped dead. Blowing out a breath of relief, I looked to my shoulder. Three six-inch-long gashed ran from the neckline of my body armor just down to the center of my chest. Three-quarters of my vest strap had been, but it looked like I didn’t suffer a scratch.
“I’m good, Meriel,” I whispered while getting to my feet.
She rose with me, giving a blank look and her mouth opening, but with no sound coming out.
“What?” I asked. “Is there a scratch on my face?”
“Neot, neot, neot,” Meriel repeated, her sterling eyes wide.
At the sound of her bizarre tone, a shock ran down my spine and my hand immediately pressed to my neck. The Oratum Stone was gone.
“Son of a bitch, son of a bitch,” I groused in a fretful whisper as I dropped to the ground and began frantically searching through the dead leaves. If we can’t c
ommunicate, then everything just got harder.
Nuna halted my search b forcefully yanking me up. From the sound of several approaching roars, it was time to run. Cutting my losses, I got situated on Nuna’s back, then we raced away from the murderous cries.
Nuna was really throttling it now. Squinting against the wind that stung my eyes, I looked back to make sure the others were following. Trees were racing past us in a constant blur. Lamia looked to be about thirteen feet long; ten feet of that was nothing but scaled muscle.
It was hard to tell if the Corruptions were hot on our tails from the black abyss behind us, but elation overcame the threat of our pursuers.
The winding turns and sudden shifts ended when Nuna swiftly descended a hill and brought us onto a packed dirt road. This road connected several of the small villages situated around the mountains; the academy was near.
I could feel Nuna’s heart pounding against her ribcage from the strain, but she knew our goal was near, so she pushed on.
Progress came to an abrupt halt when a purple light launched from the darkness ahead. Nuna threw herself aside at the last second, but the mad change in direction was enough to throw me off her back. I didn’t fall far, and Nuna was quick to drag me behind a wide tree beside the road.
Bring my rifle around, I peeked around the tree and saw a burning crater in the middle of the road, unnatural purple flames illuminating the area in a mauve hue. Nothing stood at treeline where the weird fireball originated from, but I knew it meant only one thing: A Caster.
My safety came off with a click. This was the emergency that called for the use of my rifle.
The others must have taken cover since they couldn’t be seen. From my meager knowledge, Casters could use magic and were able to herd Corruptions like the monstrous sheep they were. If we stayed pinned down, we were screwed.
Patting Nuna’s back, I pointed to her, then pointed straight down. Not waiting for acknowledgment, I stepped from behind the tree and yelled.
Heart of the Resonant- the Soldier's Tale Page 33