by Casey Eanes
The party drove until the sun began to set, pulling only miles away from the Lottian border. The swerving, unmarked paths of Preost served as poor roads to drive a jeep, but Adley had been persistent. Kull busied himself by gathering firewood as Adley inspected the jeep’s suspension and tires. Wael, in turn, led Cyric out to the edge of the forest to allow their captive a chance to relieve himself. Rot stood next to his master, his mammoth head nearly reaching Wael’s waist. Cyric would not dare run away from the monk’s beast if he valued his life.
Kull took out a knife and skillfully harvested kindling from the fallen sticks and logs he gathered. Soon enough, he nurtured a small flame that danced into a full fire. Wael carefully locked Cyric to the back of the jeep with a short, strong chain and set Rot as the hunter’s guard. Adley rubbed her hands with an oily rag, satisfied with her inspection, and sat down near the fire.
Glancing at Wael, she nodded toward the bounty hunter. “What are we going to do with him?”
Wael stared into the flames, weary from the long travel. “We will keep him with us until we see an opportune moment to part ways. It is better to keep him with us. Cyric is not often denied his quarry, and we have denied it from him twice. I doubt he would suffer a third defeat, and his tactics will be more severe. Better to keep him where we can keep an eye on him.”
Adley nodded, but Kull could tell that Cyric made her uneasy. It was like choosing to share space with a tiger. Eventually, it would mean the end of you.
Kull brought to his lips a canteen of cool water, then shared it with Adley and Wael both. “Is there any food to eat?”
Adley shook her head, but Wael stood up.
“Yes, come. Let’s see what Aleph has provided us tonight.”
Kull glanced at Adley and flashed a quick smile as they both stood and followed the monk off a small forest trail. No more than ten feet off the path, Kull spied the Mastermonk bending down beneath a patch of ferns.
Wael laughed and called for them both.
Kull and Adley bounded behind the monk, who pulled up a massive white mushroom, freckled with pink spores. The mushroom’s cap could have easily covered Kull’s face.
“Yes, this will do us fine. You all are in for a treat!”
Adley’s nose twitched back, her face worried. “Aleph above, what is that, Wael?”
Wael chuckled, his smile wide. “Adley, this is called a Woodman’s Feast, and trust me...you will enjoy it.”
“So, it’s safe?” Adley asked, still not convinced.
“Yes, and incredibly filling. Come on, you two, let’s go back. It’s time to eat.”
The Woodman’s Feast proved to be delicious. Smoking large slices of the giant mushroom over the fire created a meal that tasted to Kull like buttery beef and filled him completely. The three companions lay near the fire, savoring the last few flanks of the massive mushroom.
Adley smiled, her eyes dancing in the firelight. “Thank you, Wael. I admit, it at least beats not eating.”
Kull laughed and Wael joined in. For a moment it was as if all was right in the world. As the fire burned down, Wael glanced at Kull, his eyes full of deep thought. The Mastermonk spoke, his voice low. “Adley, forgive me, but I must take Kull deeper into the woods to begin his training.”
Adley nodded, her face calm. “I understand. Don’t worry, I’ll keep a good eye on Cyric until you return. Just know that I’m not keeping watch all night.”
“We will be back soon, Adley,” Kull said, his assumption confirmed by the small nod Wael gave him.
With that the two stood, and Kull followed Wael further into the darkness of the thick forest.
Wael wasted no time. Kull sat in what Wael called the lotus position and tuned himself to the low hum that the Mastermonk chanted in the night air. Inexplicably, Kull joined, matching the hum with one of his own, and he felt his body slide away, as if his essence was blown through the cool night breeze.
“Go deep, Kull, and seek out the answers to the questions you bear. Know that I am right beside you. Be brave, and ask…”
The pressure had become a familiar sensation. As the weight of consciousness lifted from Kull’s shoulders, the pressure of his internal mind pressed in on his chest, compressing and slowing his breathing. The once unsettling sensation was quickly becoming welcoming as Kull realized he was moving closer to a new space, a new level of awareness—closer to sensations he had felt all the time in Mir. As Kull thought on Mir and his time with Aleph on the mountain, the ground quaked beneath him. Tremors continued to grow until a quiet voice, Wael’s voice, whispered through the space. “Focus.”
His voice was gentle and the single word slowed the shaking until it came to a halt and Kull pressed his focus inward again, trying to clear his thoughts; even those as pleasant as his time with Aleph. Darkness swept in on him like a warm blanket, enveloping Kull’s presence and muffling any sound of the outside world. Kull exhaled a deep breath, and as he did a light flickered in the distance, a speck of silver light dancing on the horizon like a solitary candle.
Kull pressed for the light and extended his hand to touch it. As soon as the light glinted against his skin, the sounds of war erupted around Kull. Screams, explosions, engines, and gunfire all rang out. The maelstrom of noise assaulted Kull, and he envisioned himself again in the pit, digging in bones and surrounded by slaughtered Baggers. He was fighting to free himself from the Dominion guards, and the Baggers he had met, Duncan and Granma, lay lifeless on the ground, their empty eyes staring up at him as blood pooled from their gaping mouths.
“No!” Kull stammered as he fought to focus, shaking his head as if he could rattle the vision free. The sounds muffled and slipped away but were quickly replaced with new visions of morels and men clashing against one another as a voice called out to the crowd. The booming echo was familiar and it paralyzed Kull where he stood. He could feel the hot breath of Ma’et, the serpent, beating down upon his neck. Kull screamed and the vision dissipated, leaving Kull rocking on his knees on the forest floor.
“I am here,” Wael’s voice greeted him. “What did you see?”
Kull shook his head and crumpled back against a tree stump.
“I don’t...I don’t know, Wael. I saw pieces of my past but everything was wrong. Everyone was…dead.”
Wael’s eyes grew dim and he softly nodded before laying his hand on Kull’s shoulder. “We will try again, Kull. I believe someone seeks to discourage our efforts.”
Adley spent the next morning tinkering with the jeep, cursing over the front steering rack. She pushed herself out from under the vehicle and paced the forest floor, speaking to herself. “Thought I had everything squared up last night thinking it was the suspension, but I apparently warped the steering rack. Don’t have any way to fix it, but maybe I can try to bend out this push rod. Make things bearable until we get where we need to be.”
“Quit messing with my jeep, girl! The old thing is fine. Just shut up and drive it.” Cyric’s voice startled Adley, causing her to jump.
“I thought I had gagged you, Cyric.” Adley’s gaze was sharp as she turned back to the jeep, wiping a greasy hand against her forehead.
“You did, but I got tired of sitting around watching you screw up my ride. Now, if we are gonna get anywhere I advise you to quit tinkering and let’s roll. That thing will drive fine, if you know how to actually drive.”
Adley lifted her fist to strike, but instead hurled the socket wrench in her hand into the back of the jeep. She removed the oily bandana from around her scalp and tied a knot in it, before wrapping it around Cyric’s jaw, gagging him once again.
“There, much better.” Adley turned and called for Wael and Kull. “I’ll have it ready in about thirty minutes. Just going to make a few last adjustments and we will be ready to move out. I don’t think we’re far.”
Night set in quickly, but the terrain had become more passable, allowing the group to make quick passage. Once the terrain opened into fields they all knew they were close
to the border of Preost and Lotte, and it wouldn’t be long until all movement would have to be under the cover of night. Wael ordered one last stop, and they set up camp in a small outcropping of trees that offered a bit of cover from the vast flatness of the plains.
“Adley, my dear. Kull and I have some more training to do. If you don’t mind, please excuse us. We will not venture far.” Wael let out a sharp whistle and Rot trotted to Cyric’s side, sitting next to the bounty hunter as he let out a low growl.
“I’ll be fine.” Adley waved the two on. “I’m going to check over our weapons and supplies to make sure we are ready before pushing into Lotte. Take your time.”
“Thanks, Adley.” Kull smiled and followed behind Wael. “We couldn’t have gotten this far without you. Not much longer and we’ll be back home.”
Kull followed Wael out into the fields surrounding their camp. The skies were clear with a multitude of stars burning brightly overhead. The moon was a sharp crescent, crisp against the night sky as it hovered above. Something about the skies brought Aleph back into Kull’s mind. The tapestry of stars was similar to that of the ancient names scrawled against Aleph’s skin. They were in runes that he did not recognize, and the stars, even in all their splendor, didn’t seem to share the same luster as the patterns Aleph bore.
Kull and Wael sat quietly and Kull took in a deep breath, trying to clear his mind of any expectation for what he might encounter.
Kull’s eyes flew open. A void of darkness surrounded him on all sides. He stood, allowing his senses to adjust to the new environment, straining to recognize where he was. His hands flew across his body to ensure he was still present. He could feel his chest, and the Key he wore on his neck glowed silently in the dark. A smell—a noxious, offensive odor—hit his nostrils. Blood...and worse. An explosion of gunfire and artillery hit his ears, and fear slammed into him like a railcar. Yet all he could see was the small glow of the Key underneath his shirt, pressed close to his chest. He spun around as the smell and the explosions of war crescendoed around him, enveloping him like a dark, oppressive cloak. He opened his mouth to scream, but no sound would come out amid the rattling gunfire, booming tanks, and the perfume of death that filled the darkness. Kull then spied a small prick of light rising over the horizon. The wavering beam slowly grew, its light illuminating the strange space for an instant.
A thunderclap of sound erupted over the plain, and the light exploded with a sudden flash. There, standing before Kull, were three monstrous beaked beasts. Kull’s eyes danced over their obsidian skin, and he felt each of their four pairs of eyes narrow on him. His mind flashed back to Mir and the mountainous path that he had journeyed beyond the Sea. Where Aleph lived. The beasts stared at him with no affection, rustling their backs, displaying hackles of sharp, black quills. Kull could not contain his shaking fears.
Their names. Kull forced his voice to croak out in the darkness and held out his hand with the sign of peace. “Kala, Ido, Amser…”
They blinked at him with each of their multiple eyes. Then they approached him, their rolling growls morphing into a soft, cooing purr, which reminded Kull simultaneously of both doves and cats. They flanked him, rubbing their soft black bodies against him as if he were a long-lost friend.
“You have quite a wonderful memory, Kull. To know my guardians’ names is to tame them.”
The voice.
Kull turned and saw him. Aleph stood, his figure dressed in plain gray robes. His dark hair was tied back, and he walked closer to Kull, his face wearing a smile.
Kull bowed his head, suddenly realizing that the sounds and smells of war had all but vanished.
“Where are we, Aleph? Why am I here?”
Aleph’s silver eyes glanced around the darkness. “We are outside of time. There is something you must see.”
Aleph led Kull through the dark path, where nothing could be seen except for Aleph’s gray robe, its reflection now shining like the moonlight.
Kull did his best to pry through the darkness, but it was useless. Then, suddenly, he could see something ahead. The path, if you could call it that, led out into a great plain. On opposing sides were two great armies.
Aleph allowed Kull to catch up to him. Kull could not take his eyes off what was before him.
“What are they?” Kull asked. “Where is this?”
Aleph glanced at Kull, his face grim. “Do you not recognize it, Keybearer? This is Candor, and the battle of Candor is before us.”
Kull stood dumbfounded. The opposing armies stood at odds with one another, but they remained frozen in space and time. Each soldier’s figure could easily be seen, but their features and distinguishing details were...faded, blurred. For the first time, Kull realized that this place, this version of Candor, was completely devoid of color. In the middle of the battlefield stood a massive obelisk of obsidian.
“This does not look right to me,” Kull whispered, his mind swimming in confusion.
“Look closer, Kull. This is Candor...at least a version that few can see.”
Kull’s eyes narrowed as he grasped for what was familiar about the scene. I know this. I….
He looked down and his heart hit his throat. Large, perfectly square pieces of dirt lined up against one another; black, white, black, white.
“Chess. This is a game. This battle is a game?”
Aleph strode into the middle of the battlefield, and Kull followed, trying to grasp the meaning of the vision. The battalions stood still, frozen in their black and white boxes. Kull strained to make the figures out. On one side he could see a collection of Lottian and Dominion soldiers, rushing into the fray, their eyes locked on the other side.
Pawns. These are the pawns.
Kull pressed forward, walking past the line of soldiers to the flanks he knew that would exist behind him. His mind spun, straining to remember the game his father had taught him before their lives were wracked with his mother’s sickness.
Pawns. The first line of defense.
“Towers, then Guardsmen...then Monks.”
His eyes fell over the pieces that were represented by men he did not recognize, whose faces he could not recognize.
“Then the King and Queen.”
His eyes turned to the spot where he knew the pieces would stand and his breath froze in his lungs. There was the frozen image of Queen Aleigha of Lotte, her eyes distant and vacant. Beside her in the king’s place stood Seam Panderean, his face twisted with violent rage, and his arm morphed into the shape of a giant scythe.
“No...no...no…” Kull could not find the words as his eyes fell over his old foe. He is alive.
Kull’s head snapped back to the battlefield’s center, and he ran toward Aleph. “How can he live, Aleph?” A memory, a flash. Grift, chest painted with deep crimson.
I love you, Kull. I love you, boy…
Kull threw the memory out of his mind as he filled with rage. “How could you let him live! How could you?!”
Aleph stared at Kull, and for a moment Kull felt a pang of fear. His head bowed, and he scrambled for the words. “I...I am—”
“Seam does not live, Kull. He has been lost to me for many years, and I do not know who he is. He has long been trapped behind the prison of his own mind...his own desires. These twisted desires have been granted to him fully as he has sought after them.” Aleph laid a heavy hand on his young pupil.
“Your father, however,” a smile broke on Aleph face, “is very well-known to me. Now, quiet your heart and look…”
Kull did not have words, but his eyes fell on the opposing army that faced Seam’s forces. The pawns that constituted the front line were a horrid mob of morels, their faces strained in unheard shrieks, baring their long claws. Behind them in the King’s place stood Isphet, his face filled with a cruel smile, his eyes like red embers. Next to him stood the female Serub with black eyes that he did not recognize.
Kull’s mind swirled as he rushed to find answers. “So, Seam is going to fight Isphet? Is th
is what you’ve brought me here to tell me? So now he is my ally?”
Aleph sighed. “Seam has become the very thing he sought to control; the very thing he sought to subdue.”
“But he is fighting against our enemy. He is trying to destroy Isphet.” Kull threw his hand back toward Seam’s position. “I can see this, but…”
Aleph stared at Kull.
“But it isn’t right, is it? It can’t be…”
The battlefield shook, and the cosmic chess pieces roared with life. Kull turned to see the opposing sides rushing for one another, toward him. The pawns of morels and soldiers crashed in on each other like opposing tidal waves, as Kull strained to push himself away from the fray. He searched for Aleph, but he was gone, swallowed in the swarm of warring chaos.
“Aleph, help!”
Another explosion, and Kull saw thirty jagged mountains erupt from the earth at the battlefield’s borders. They were sharp ivory peaks, their summits laced with red rivers.
Not rivers. Blood.
Not mountains. Teeth.
The ground gave way and pulled the warring armies into a collapsing funnel of earth that gave way to something else. The stench of salt and stagnant water filled Kull’s nostrils.
Oh, no. Oh, no.
The earth gave way to water, and the water was cold, as cold as death. The Sea. The Sea of Souls.
The white mountain teeth were swallowing around them all, but none of the soldiers could see what was happening.
They were being swallowed alive by a serpent as large as the horizon.
Ma’et.
The beast’s laughter exploded in Kull’s mind, and he screamed. He felt his throat tighten as the cold rushing water plunged over him, baptizing him in the dark and deadly flood.