“Right, and all the elves on Aurora should be allies. But I remember someone saying that the Ardak king had enslaved elves to work for him. That means we can’t trust that all portals are ours.”
Kiersten stepped through the portal and made a new one, beckoning them to follow her. They emerged in the basement at Garthurian and hurried over to the device. Lielle knelt on the floor and pressed the buttons so the device would rise.
Zordan stood in front of the device, holding up the pendant. “There doesn’t seem to be a place to insert the pendant . . . I don’t see how they would work together.” He passed it to Kiersten.
“It’s strange. Look at this extra circle in the center.”
“What does the symbol mean?”
“It’s the symbol for spirit magic,” Kiersten said.
Zordan took the pendant back, rubbing his forehead. “These four circles are set out as the four corners of a square.”
“Wait a minute.” Lielle looked at the pendant again. “Those aren’t just the magical affiliations of the locations. If you view Aurora from the sky or on a map, those would be the actual locations.”
Zordan started, examining the pendant again. “So, if those four are actual locations . . . why wouldn’t this one in the center also be an actual location?”
When he pointed at the circle in the center, the hairs on the back of Lielle’s neck stood up. “It is. I can feel it.” She knew it with complete certainty. “Zordan, you have found the key.”
Zordan examined the pendant again, then went to the wall of the basement facing south, examining it. “Yes, but how will we find the location? Can you feel around with your magic? There has to be some way to get there from here.”
“Why?”
“It’s just a feeling,” Zordan answered, inspecting the wall. “I think the connecting lines are passageways.”
“I’ve checked this whole room a dozen times,” Kiersten said as she walked along the wall. “I felt nothing.”
“What about checking while you’ve activated the crystal?” Lielle asked.
“Good idea.” Kiersten stood in front of the crystal, aiming one hand at the crystal and the other at the wall. Sure enough, a panel of rock disappeared. “Oh gods. Zordan, can you call the others? We’ve got to get to the center as quickly as possible.”
Zordan nodded and went silent as he called the other cyborgs over the frequency. “They’re coming. Do you think we could just portal there?”
Lielle shook her head. “Since it’s underground, we have no way of knowing where it is. Even if we portal to the surface above it, we have no way of getting down there.”
Portals began appearing, and within minutes, Tordan, Roihan, Durstin, and Mordjan were there, along with their mates.
“We think we’ve found the key,” Zordan informed them, holding up the pendant and pointing to the circle in the center of the diagram.
Their expressions changed from grim to cautious optimism.
“What is it?” Tordan asked, his gray eyes intense.
“I believe from the diagram on this pendant that there is a device in the center that controls the outside four devices. It lies equidistant between Garthurian and Renwyn on the north and south, and the Crystal Cave and Cave of Knowledge on the east and west. We need to get there as quickly as possible so we can activate all five devices at once.”
“Do we know what this device will do?” Durstin asked.
“Not yet,” Zordan admitted. “But I hope it’s some kind of defense system.”
“How do we get to the center?” Tordan asked.
“I believe it’s through that opening.” Zordan pointed at the far wall.
“Where the hell did that come from?” Durstin asked.
Kiersten shrugged. “I have no idea. It just appeared when I focused my magic on the crystal and the wall in that direction.”
“So we can assume that there’s a way in from Renwyn and the other places, as well?” Tordan asked.
“I believe so,” Kiersten said, “and we need to get Aielle back there. I think we’ll need the strongest elves we have for each type of magic in the associated locations. I’ll be at Garthurian, Ithyll will be at the Crystal Cave, Aielle will be at Renwyn, Merryth will be at the Cave of Knowledge.”
“Who do you have with the strongest spirit magic?” Zordan’s eyes flashed between them.
Kiersten’s golden gaze went straight to Lielle. “Geeeroo may not be able to channel that much power.”
Lielle swallowed, the implication clear. “Then it would probably be me.”
Chapter Forty-One
Zordan
“W
e need to get as many warriors as we can to the center of this thing as quickly as possible,” Zordan’s voice was rough, commanding.
“But if we withdraw troops, the Ardaks will know something is amiss. They might even try to follow,” Mordjan said.
Zordan thought for a moment. “All right, then we need to pull as many troops as we can without alerting them.”
“Why don’t we send whoever we can spare from here while there’s a lull, and I’ll find our passage and send more troops up from Renwyn?” Tordan suggested.
“As far as fighting, it might take them some time to notice the troops are missing because of the shield. Besides, we still have the Ardak ships, which we haven’t even used yet,” Durstin said.
“Right. Someone has to stay behind and direct the fighting. Tristin is waiting for the signal to attack.” Zordan looked to Durstin.
“I’ll do it,” Durstin offered. “It’s my job to defend Garthurian, anyway.”
Zordan looked at the connecting lines on the pendant. “What is our best guess about how long it will take us to get there?”
“Simban has hiked from Renwyn to Garthurian. He said it took about two days going north, but just over a day going south,” Tordan answered.
“That’s due to the elevation change?”
“Yes, it’s pretty steep so it was almost twice as long to hike uphill.”
“That means hiking halfway should take about twelve hours,” Zordan mused. “We’ll need supplies and something to light the way.”
“We’re on it,” Kiersten replied. She and Lielle disappeared into a portal.
“I’m worried that the Ardaks are going to find out about this,” Tordan said. “Especially if their general had this pendant. Somehow, they always seem to know more than we think they do.”
To Zordan’s chagrin, Mordjan nodded. “I agree. We need to take as many teams of elves and cyborgs as we can and hope the shield can defend the rest until we start this device.”
“Durstin, why don’t you start sending down whoever you can spare? If they arrive after we’ve set out, Kiersten can direct them.”
Durstin nodded and disappeared into a portal with one of the other elves.
Tordan nodded at Aielle. “If you don’t need us, we’ll go back to Renwyn, find the tunnel from our end, and start sending people to the center.” He lowered his voice. “Whatever you do, be careful, brother. Don’t underestimate the Ardaks. Always expect ambush or expect them to be right behind you.”
“Hell, with that energy weapon, they could probably drill right through the surface,” Mordjan offered.
Zordan felt dread in the pit of his stomach. “I hadn’t even thought of that.”
“Always the voice of hope.” Tordan shook his head wryly, then clasped Mordjan’s arm. “Good luck.”
Aielle opened a portal, and they disappeared.
Zordan, Mordjan, Fayelle, and Roihan were the only ones left.
“Do you want to stay here with Aria?” Zordan asked Roihan.
The other cyborg shook his head. “We’ve agreed that she’ll stay and help the wounded, and I’ll go.”
Mordjan went to the tunnel, examining the opening and taking a few steps inside. “This is going to be a tight fit with the exoarmor. We’d better hope the tunnel doesn’t narrow back in there.”
“If we
need to, we can take the armor off. I don’t really want to wear my helmet the whole time, anyway,” Roihan replied.
The next time a portal opened, Kiersten stepped through followed by Lielle and several other elves. They began to stack water containers and sacks filled with food next to the other equipment. Zordan took one of everything, and the others followed.
Satisfied with their preparations, Zordan surveyed them. “Are we ready?”
At their nods of assent, he started into the tunnel. Lielle followed, then Mordjan and Fayelle, and Roihan.
“I’ll send the others as soon as they arrive,” Kiersten called after them.
Her words echoed off the tunnel walls, but they had started almost at a jog so Zordan barely heard them over the pounding of their footsteps. He prayed to the god of battle that they would make it to the fifth device before the Ardak king showed up.
Chapter Forty-Two
Lielle
Zordan kept them going at a brisk pace, somewhere between a jog and a walk. The floor and walls of the tunnel were smooth and almost perfectly cut through the rock, and their crystal lights lit the tunnel well enough to see ahead. The cyborgs were tireless, their footsteps pounding on the rock floors in a steady rhythm. There were no other sounds than their steps and the steady puffs of their breaths.
The cave was cool, almost cold, and it kept the sweat from building as they crossed the ground at a grueling pace.
“Are you all right?” Zordan asked over his shoulder.
“Yes, I’m fine. How are you?”
“We’re all fine,” he grunted. “We can talk over the frequency.”
Right. “Have you all been having a conversation this entire time?” she asked curiously.
“If you call directing a war having a conversation,” Mordjan replied from behind her, “then yes.”
Of course they were. While they were relatively safe, heading through the earth toward the device, everyone else was waiting for the next attack. “What’s going on up there?”
“Yes, you might do us the courtesy of keeping us informed.” Fayelle’s voice was dry.
Zordan stopped and turned back to them, rubbing his forehead. “You’re right, I apologize. It’s just that things are happening so fast. Tristin took his ship out of the atmosphere to scout the skies about the time we started. He witnessed the king’s ship approaching, and monitored it as it landed. The Ardaks appear to be assembling for another attack on Garthurian, and some ships are scouting the sky over Renwyn. They’ve dropped explosive devices on the shield at Renwyn, which broke through the shield for a moment in those areas, so they are evacuating all but the warriors into the tunnels belowground.” Zordan turned away and resumed his pace. “As for us, we’re going to stop when we reach what we believe is the halfway point and take some food and water.”
“Why don’t we wait until the two-thirds mark?”
Zordan glanced back at her in surprise, almost missing a step.
“I know.” She smiled grimly. “I even shocked myself by the suggestion. But I know I’ll be slower after food, and I’d rather get most of it out of the way first.”
“She’s right,” Fayelle seconded. “We have a good rhythm. Let’s keep pushing as far as we can before we stop.”
He stopped and turned back to her. “All right.”
So they continued on, exchanging small comments once in a while, but for the most part, silence reigned. Lielle watched Zordan as he ran, his steps light for so heavy a male, especially wearing the exoarmor.
She marveled at the changes in him since she’d seen him in her visions. He’d gone from the brash, arrogant male who ruled over all he saw, to a general who was one of many, working with them all in an attempt to survive. Not many males could have evolved in that way.
There was much about him to admire, much she’d grown to love.
Love.
For the first time, she hoped she could stay in the mortal realm if they won. The thought shocked her, but if that was the only way to be with him, she would keep this mortal form for as long as she could.
Thinking ahead, though, she didn’t know how long that would be. The device was sure to take quite a bit of magic to activate, and as much as she wanted to, the look on Zordan’s face hadn’t given her much hope that she would survive it.
Chapter Forty-Three
Zordan
“The Ardaks have lined up their ships just out of sight of Garthurian. I think they’re going to hit you with the beams all at once, Durstin,” Tristin’s voice was loud and clear over the frequency.
“We’ll deploy the tornadoes as soon as they’re within range,” Durstin replied.
“Damn, I think they’ve seen me. Exiting the area.”
“Tristin, why don’t you deploy ships to get behind them, then pin them with the tornadoes so you can take them out?” Zordan suggested.
“Will do,” Tristin replied tersely.
“Scout ships over the Crystal Cave again,” Valdjan broke in. “This is the second run. I wouldn’t be surprised if they try to land on the third.”
“Wait to send the tornadoes until the last moment. I’d even let one or two ships land and see if they can find anything.” Zordan said. “Right now, they don’t know anyone is there. Using magic will only let them know there’s something to hide. Have we moved the assets?”
“We’re at the halfway point,” Valdjan responded.
“Good. When you’re done, just get out of there and forget about fighting. Let the Ardaks think they were on the wrong path. You and Ithyll can portal straight into the smaller cave with the device when we need to.”
“We don’t have too many warriors left to fight with,” Valdjan replied. “I sent most of the merpeople through the corridor toward you as soon as we found it.”
“If these Ardaks are as smart as I think they are, we’ll probably need those warriors when we reach the device at the center,” Zordan replied.
“Ardak scout ships over Renwyn,” Tordan’s voice was crystal clear. “And I sent half my warriors up toward the device as well.”
“Damn. I was hoping they would ignore you in favor of the Crystal Cave. Were you able to plant explosives in the tunnels?”
“Yes, and we’re almost finished with evacuation. We’ll head down and blow the tunnels once they breach the shield.”
Zordan cursed the Ardaks for their ability to fly. At this rate, they might run out of defense systems and have the Ardaks chasing them down the tunnels toward the device. He prayed that there was an actual device in the center or it would be a bloodbath. Hell, it might still be a bloodbath. If the device was a huge shield, there was no telling that a device would take out Ardaks already inside it.
“Hey, we need to slow down. Lielle is starting to fall behind,” Mordjan said. “Even Fayelle is having difficulty at this pace.”
“Damn.” As the battle had heated up he’d unconsciously quickened his pace. He rubbed his forehead and slowed, turning back toward them. “We’re almost at the halfway point. Why don’t we take a break for food and water?”
“Only the halfway point?” Lielle asked, her expression crestfallen.
“Yes. I think we should carry the elves from here on out,” Mordjan suggested. As Fayelle opened her mouth to protest, he shot her a look. “Who is going to perform the spirit magic or heal us if you two are exhausted? We were built for this. Let us be the muscle.”
“That is the most efficient strategy,” Zordan agreed, shooting him a grateful look as the two females opened their packs for food and water.
“Fuck!” Tordan’s voice came through suddenly. “The scout ships banded together and attacked Renwyn! Our shields are down! Ardak ships are landing. Retreat to the tunnels!”
Zordan couldn’t hear the fighting, but he knew exactly what it looked like from the first battle at Garthurian.
“Simban! What are you doing here?” Tordan’s voice was a shout.
“Helping you—what does it look like?” Simban’s grunt
echoed in Zordan’s ears.
Silence prevailed for several minutes. Zordan, Mordjan, and Roihan all looked at each other, trying to choke down the bread. None of them was hungry.
“There’s too many of them, and hundreds more are landing every minute.” Zordan recognized the voice as Chihon’s. “We have to blow the tunnels to save everyone inside.”
“The warriors need more time to evacuate,” Simban countered. “We can’t blow them yet.”
“Besides, someone has to stay here with Aielle to activate the device.” Tordan’s voice was heavy.
There was silence for several moments.
“Blow the tunnels.”
“Sir?”
“I said blow them, dammit. Get everyone to safety. We’re staying here. We have Aielle and Irielle for portals. Any other survivors will be sent down the tunnel toward the fifth device.”
“Fuck.”
Lielle and Fayelle both turned inquiring eyes on Mordjan.
“Damn.” He winced. “Sorry I said that out loud.”
“Why did you say it?” Fayelle crossed her arms.
“Renwyn has fallen. Most were evacuated to the underground tunnels so they’re safe, but Tordan and Simban are staying behind, trying to rescue survivors.”
Fayelle’s eyes grew bright and she nodded, taking a vicious bite of elven bread. Lielle looked much the same, simply staring at the bread.
“Take a few more bites,” Zordan urged. “You need to keep up your strength. And every second counts at this point.”
Chapter Forty-Four
Lielle
As soon as they’d finished eating, Zordan knelt so Lielle could climb onto his back. For a moment, she just stood there, unsure what to do.
“Climb on like this.” Fayelle demonstrated, climbing onto Mordjan’s back with practiced ease. Once seated, she smiled down at Lielle. “This is not our first mission. And the armor was built with things like this in mind.”
Lielle followed the same technique, finding the armor smooth and the seated position more comfortable than she would have expected.
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