A Clash of Demons

by Aleks Canard

  Only as Altayr’s gaze fixated on the mirror’s detail was its superb craftsmanship revealed. Golden pearlescent accents swam asymmetrically in the black metal. Its surface was so polished it really was like a mirror, even without having a portal activated. Altayr stood in front of it, nearly losing himself in the reflection.

  ‘Astounding, isn’t it?’ Faedra said, her face appearing next to Altayr’s.

  ‘The workmanship is almost zirean, though I can’t be sure if I’m biased to think that because of the runes or not. And if it is zirean, then how did it end up on Drion, with no records of it ever being on Xardiassant?’

  Faedra smiled. Altayr was cute when he was excited over magical artefacts. Not at all his stuffy, serious self which had only become more obdurate as the years passed. Research and discovery still thrilled him like new toys did children.

  Then there was Faedra’s influence. He’d been much younger during their involvement. And some parts of his young personality shone through, like going home after long periods away.

  ‘There are two possibilities of course,’ Altayr continued, ‘ancient zirean mages found ways to traverse the stars with magic and ended up on Drion by chance. The other possibility is that this mirror was dragon crafted, and the runes were added later as a method of directing their magic.’

  ‘Interesting theories.’

  ‘What’ve you learned since it came into your possession?’

  ‘Little.’

  ‘A lack of interest or time?’

  ‘For what I want with the mirrors, I think I’ll need both of them. There’s no point in studying it now while it’s separate from its other half.’

  Altayr’s thoughts, which were running away with multitudes of different theories, were brought to a halt by Faedra’s words.

  ‘You think the mirrors will take you to the land of the dead, don’t you?’

  ‘Upon death, people must go somewhere. I see no reason that the mirrors can’t take me wherever that is.’

  ‘Why? This can’t only be about your parents since you don’t even know if they’re dead, or your final wish could accidentally be fulfilled, giving Gauthier ownership of your soul.’

  ‘Discovering where death leads would be invaluable to necromancy. And how often have you heard people say they would give anything to spend but one more day with their loved ones? I would become the richest person in the galaxy.’

  ‘You could also become a shade. Advanced dealings with the dead seldom end the way people hope. Your father was lucky to survive all he did.’

  ‘And because of that, his grimoires are still the galaxy’s definitive tomes on the subject. Even scientists use copies of them to better understand how to prolong life.’

  ‘I’m aware. I’ve read them.’

  ‘You must learn to stop worrying about me. I’m surprised it didn’t drive that machina friend of yours to madness. She seems rather churlish, even for your tastes.’

  Altayr ignored that. ‘Since we’re waiting, might I try my hand at examining the mirror? Erresa’s files were sealed from me, but I snuck a look at their contents several times during my younger years. I know what I’m doing, in theory.’

  ‘I’m tired of your theoretic talk, Altayr. I’d prefer it if you stimulated me in other ways while we waited for that boorish machina to return with my mirror.’

  Altayr was about to protest when Faedra waved her hand over her clothes, making them disappear. She was completely naked. He turned to face her. She’d know something was wrong if he didn’t make a move.

  He supposed there were worse ways to maintain cover.

  5

  Into The Heart

  Cyfae’galyn was one of the most breathtaking sights Trix of Zilvia had ever seen.

  Trees in the dryads’ capital city grew differently to the rest of Xifaw. They curved around each other to create archways. Bridges lined with blossoming flowers spanned rivers which were sourced from the Fynoed Mountains.

  Fairies flew in tales — their collective noun — that lit the skies. Homes were built into the trees. They appeared to be candlelit. Trix knew that wasn’t possible. Dryads despised fire. Well, Arnums did.

  Huge faces looked down on Trix as she walked through the city. They were more defined than any in Aefonryr. Some trees only had one visible face. From their expressions you might’ve thought they were asleep. In truth, they didn’t need to open their eyes because they saw through the fairies.

  Raeyeleth led Trix to a causeway that was colonnaded by evenly spaced Arnums. The machina hid her astonishment when she saw that the tiles she was walking on were solid mithril.

  ‘Did you build this?’

  ‘Not I, nor any of us had a hand in crafting these great cities.’

  ‘Have the Arnums ever told you who did?’

  ‘It’s not important.’

  ‘Don’t you want to know?’

  ‘The part of me that was once zirean may have had a desire.’

  ‘What was your name before you became Raeyeleth?’

  ‘I don’t recall. I have always been, and will always be Raeyeleth, Aefonryr’s guardian.’

  An amalgamation of trees emitting soft green light lay at the causeway’s end. In some instances, the trees came together in classic zirean architecture. Geometrically intertwining in a way that seemed haphazard at glance, and artisanal the longer one stared.

  However, this set of trees looked rather like a palace.

  ‘Dryads must have lived here before you. What happened to them?’

  ‘Arnums sometimes whisper of a great tragedy. A war that raged for centuries until none were left.’

  ‘And where does the mirror come into this?’

  ‘It is not my place to ask questions. Nor is it yours.’

  ‘Whose place is it then?’

  ‘The Hanoryaeds, those who speak directly with the Arnums. They make decisions which govern us all.’

  ‘How are they chosen?’

  ‘They have always been.’

  ‘Will they object to me taking the mirror?’

  ‘The Arnums have already decided you will be able to take the mirror. They are Xifaw’s highest authority.’

  Trix ceased asking questions. They were upon he palace walls. A drawbridge lowered by vines extended over a lagoon. Dryads swam in the water which glimmered like a nebula.

  None of them paid any attention to Trix.

  ‘For the first outsider to set foot in your city, people don’t seem all that surprised at my presence.’

  ‘Fairies delivered news of your arrival in advance. It was necessary to avoid your death. This deep into the forest, intruders aren’t afforded a warning.’

  Raeyeleth quickened her steps as she entered the palace. The floor was still covered in mosaicked mithril tiles. Chandeliers hovered in the air. Magic light orbs flickered, casting a warm glow throughout the hallways.

  The dryad led Trix to a guarded entrance down a helix flight of stairs, across another hallway, then through a set of double doors. Two dryads with braided hair parted when they saw Raeyeleth.

  ‘The fairies again?’

  ‘They have more uses than alerting us to intruders,’ Raey said.

  Inside the doorway was another corridor lined with archways. They were veiled with different coloured flowers. Raeyeleth walked for one that was shrouded with black petals.

  Raeyeleth stepped inside. Trix followed her. The second Uldarian mirror was the room’s only feature. It looked identical to the Conclave’s, save for the runes.

  Trix couldn’t understand what it said. She lifted it. The mirror wasn’t heavy, but she wouldn’t be able to run with it. And the border was a long way from Cyfae’galyn. Then again, maybe she could take a shortcut along the river’s edge. It had to lead into the mountains. Then she could take the pass to Felix’s cabin. She doubted it’d still be there, but taking the pass would allow her to avoid seeing Myven for long enough to contact Altayr. Hopefully he’d sent her a message. She needed to know Faedra
’s wishes.

  With any luck, Trix could use the forest crossroads she and Felix walked nearly every morning to send Gauthier to another dimension.

  ‘What do the runes say?’

  ‘Your tongue is cruder than ours, but the best way to translate it would be: Beginnings and endings are no different.’

  ‘Whoever made these had an interesting sense of humour.’

  ‘Wisdom may often be confused with joking by those who do not understand.’

  ‘Do you know anything about this mirror at all?’

  ‘Only that it existed before we did. And who made it.’

  ‘Tell me, Raeyeleth. Anything that might help me defeat Gauthier could be useful.’

  Raeyeleth smiled knowingly. Didn’t speak. Trix saw that asking would be fruitless. This was no different to when she had been a student. It seemed that despite her experience, Raeyeleth still had much to teach her.

  ‘I doubt even Maldrodyn knows who forged them. If I didn’t know your penchant for insatiable curiosity, I would think that you’re stalling here to avoid facing him.’

  Trix hoisted the mirror off the ground. Propped it on her shoulder. ‘Then let’s leave. We have a long walk back to the border.’

  ‘I will not be venturing back with you, Gwyrlaeth.’

  ‘Trusting me to find the way myself?’

  ‘You will be shot should you come within range of Aefonryr. Though I know you shan’t be returning that way. I saw your eyes follow the river north-west, towards the Fynoed Mountains. You’re correct in thinking that the river leads to the mountain passes of which you’re familiar.’

  ‘Then I’ll take my leave.’

  ‘No need to say farewell here. Are we not headed to the same exit?’

  Trix gestured for Raeyeleth to go first, repositioning the mirror on her shoulder. She could feel energy pulse through it. Maybe it was already communicating with its pair. Her medallion vibrated a couple of times before falling still. That didn’t mean much. Trix guessed Cyfae’galyn was drenched in magic more than anywhere else in Xifaw. How wrong she was.

  The women walked side by side to the palace drawbridge. Breeze blew from the south. For some inexplicable reason, Trix thought she heard dragons growling. Now was not the time to investigate. Everything was too precarious. Besides, should she best Gauthier, she could return at any time.

  ‘Here is where we part ways, Gwyrlaeth.’

  ‘Farewell, Raeyeleth. Am I to assume that being granted total clemency will allow me to return to Aefonryr?’

  ‘That is not my call to make. May the Arnums smile upon you, Gwyrlaeth, for Maldrodyn will not.’

  Trix could no sooner respond than Raey fled into the trees. Her bare feet made no sound on the mithril tiles. Trix shuddered to think what X-Ore Corp would do if they found this place. In some instances, it was better to leave things alone. Especially when they were beautiful. Though that was life’s great secret. Its ultimate truth. There was only beauty. You only needed to remember.

  The machina crossed the drawbridge. Diverged from the mithril tiles, onto the lush grass that blanketed both riverbanks. She picked up her pace to a run, or as close to one as possible.

  She had no idea how far she was from the mountains.

  The sky turned to dusk.

  6

  You would be forgiven for thinking that the sky was in kissing distance when standing on the Fynoed Mountains.

  Mair Ultima’s Luna Wolf Mountain Range stretched far higher than the Fynoeds. But it was Xifaw that made them seem taller, somehow bigger than everything else. Treetops swayed next to knife ridges and plateaus. The trees blended together when viewed from the mountains’ southernmost face. Appearing to be rolling hills that crested and broke like waves.

  The sky seemed closer still on mornings when mist covered the canopy like an unimpeachable snow blanket.

  Trix marvelled at the sight while she stood at the mountain pass entrance. She’d often run the crags in the early morning. They were a passable replacement for Aethelwulf’s Trial. As a result, she knew the mountains well. For that same reason, she was grateful to have not crossed paths with any gryphons that nested atop high peaks.

  She’d seen a dryad riding one bareback as she’d travelled up river. Clearly Coën Vesemir and Fiona Calanthe had been mistaken when they said that gryphons could not be tamed. They probably hadn’t taken magic into account.

  ‘I’m glad to be out of there,’ Sif said.

  Trix had nearly forgotten Sif was with her.

  ‘Didn’t like the dryads?’

  ‘I was shut off most of the time. I put myself into sleep mode to avoid the constant rebooting attempts. I hate magic.’

  ‘I can leave you on the ship next time.’

  ‘How about asking those Arnums to give me a free pass instead? From what I did see, almost every piece of flora in that forest was unidentified.’

  ‘Never took you for a botanist.’

  ‘Learning is what every AI likes best, though after spending so much time with you I don’t mind a little thrill seeking. And I dare say that I’m better at reading a combat situation than your average, store-bought companion.’

  Sif was right. The “desire” to learn was programmed into every AI, even from the very first, true artificial intelligence, which was called Artificial Logistic Analysis Nexus, also known as A.L.A.N.

  ALAN had been named after the father of computing, Alan Turing, an English mathematician who singlehandedly created a previously non-existent branch of science when he worked as a codebreaker during the second world war. There had not been another war of that scale on Earth in close to a thousand years.

  All current generations of Earthen based AIs still used Alan’s source code — even Sif — which had been created centuries ago. Artificial intelligence technology was better on Earth than any other planet. As anyone who had ever met Garth Roche could attest, humans had a hard-on for playing god more so than nearly any other race in the Milky Way. Or perhaps they were only the most curious. Or, maybe, just maybe, it was by design.

  ‘I would hope so.’

  ‘You have no unread— sorry, one just came in. From Altayr. He says that he’s waiting for you at the Elemental Crossroads.’

  ‘I don’t know where those are.’

  ‘He’s geo-tagged his position. Looks like the crossroads that are visible from Felix’s cabin.’

  Elemental Crossroads, Trix thought. Huh, who knew?

  ‘Call Valentine.’

  Sif dialled the Red Queen. The author picked up on the first ring.

  ‘Trix, what’s the news? Did those dryads give you any trouble?’

  ‘Let’s save the story fodder for another time. I have it.’

  ‘Yes, that’s what I like to hear. Do you need air support?’

  ‘Bring yourself into orbit, but don’t enter the atmosphere. Altayr’s here.’

  ‘You don’t think he’s been converted to Faedra’s cause, do you?’

  ‘It’s hard to say.’

  ‘Watch yourself out there, Trix.’

  ‘Will do. And Valentine?’

  ‘Aye, beautiful?’

  ‘Thanks for sticking around. This isn’t over yet.’

  ‘Thank Serena. She’s the one who makes me behave.’

  Valentine ended the transmission. Trix continued hauling the mirror through the mountain pass. Night was in full effect when she emerged opposite the plateau where Felix’s cabin used to lie. It was still there. The bridge spanning the chasm wasn’t. If Trix had to guess, she would’ve assumed it had been torched.

  Memories bade her to look at the ruined cabin. A place that had been her home longer than anywhere else. Unless you counted the Fox.

  ‘Another time. When the dust settles, after fire is doused and ice is thawed. Home is where people will gather once more. Stories shall be told, drinks will be poured. Merriment will reign while woe is shown the door...’

  ‘I would congratulate you on your poetic prowess if those wor
ds were actually your own,’ said Sif.

  ‘Don’t you dare tell Valentine I recited poetry aloud. Or that I know any besides the poems he forces upon me. I’d never hear the end of it.’

  ‘Then by your own omission I’m alright to tell Yvach?’

  Trix rolled her eyes. She looked ahead, to Blor’daeyn’s luminous towers that rose from the horizon. To the darkness that was the Quenpoe Desert. Then there was Agius’ beacon which swept the sky in lofty arcs. It’d been some adventure since Trix had sat with her parents, feet hanging over the plateau’s edge, admiring all Zilvia had on offer.

  The machina decided to gamble. She called Altayr. Would have to make it fast. Myven would be growing anxious. It’d been hours since Trix had entered Xifaw. He’d call her at any second.

  Altayr answered. ‘Trix, Faedra summoned Gauthier. I know her wishes. I also met him.’

  ‘I’ve had the pleasure as well.’

  ‘Where are you?’

  ‘On the mountains south of your position.’

  ‘One moment.’

  The communication severed. A portal appeared to Trix’s left. Altayr emerged. His eyes went straight to the mirror.

  ‘You have it.’

  ‘And all it took was a visit from Gauthier to convince the dryads to hand it over.’

  ‘I think Gauthier knew that would happen.’

  ‘My thoughts exactly. I’m guessing one of Faedra’s wishes pertains to the mirrors.’

  Altayr nodded. Trix continued.

  ‘Gauthier can’t grab them himself. So he’s playing everyone, making sure Faedra’s wishes come true. How come you’re here?’

  ‘I convinced Faedra to let me wait for you on Zilvia. She thinks that we had a minor falling out, and that I’m going to doublecross you for the mirror.’

  ‘What’re Faedra’s wishes?’

  ‘That Gauthier is freed from his bonds, Faedra obtains both the mirrors, and that both her parents are raised from the dead.’

  ‘Faedra’s no fool. She gave Gauthier an impossible wish so he couldn’t claim her soul. Smart.’

  ‘He only agreed to that wish after she promised to wish for his freedom.’

  Trix’s brow furrowed. ‘Sounds like he drives a hard bargain. Though I’m failing to see how he’ll ascertain his freedom.’