Saving The Dark Side Book 2: The Harbingers

by Joseph Paradis

  Eliza nodded and resumed her place next to Goran, stroking his white mohawk. Goran sniffed the wind and scanned the mountains with tense, jerky motions. Cole sensed an odd primal urge in his mind. Something about the mountains drew Goran’s every thought, as if the jagged peaks called his name. Cole impressed the importance of not jumping overboard, reminding Goran that he was no longer a little mirak, and couldn’t swim with his dense new body. Goran whined, gripping the edge of the railing with his curved claws. Cole did his best to soothe the mirak through the link, but his pining drowned out all other thought.

  A man shouldered his way to the front of the crew. It was the same man who’d had his rifle stolen by Sitra. “I’ve a couple words fer the feisty one before ya go flyin off.”

  Sitra cocked her head and crossed her arms, casting the man a shrewd look. Cole knew she was still sick, but her stubbornness would never let it show. He could hear her stomach squeal and gurgle from a few paces away.

  “And what might that be?” she called out to the man, teeth and munisica bared.

  “Fiddledust and Riker’s Root,” he grunted. “They’re both a-plenty in the foothills of the Fangshards. Boil ‘em up in a tea and you’ll be rid o’ yer bubble gut.”

  Sitra’s clawed hand dropped to her stomach, which sounded like it was trying to escape. “That it?” she asked, her voice shaking slightly.

  “Jus’ the one more thing, darlin.” He grinned, raising one eyebrow. “Our quarrel’s not settled.”

  “I know,” Sitra said. She reached behind her back and drew the man’s stolen rifle. With a deft stroke, she heaved the weapon like a javelin towards the man, who caught it with both hands, stumbling back into his fellows. Before the man could say another word she took flight. The rest of the unit fell in behind her.

  The flight to the shore was brief. Goran usually loathed being in the air, but as the unit carried them with their collective threads of Wisdom he remained still and tense. Cole had had a difficult time connecting with his friend ever since they came within sight of the spiky ridge. Despite Cole’s prodding, Goran ignored everything that was not the Fangshard Mountains. Not even the temptation of food could shake him.

  Lileth held Cole tight to her body as her jade wings carried them both towards the shore. Cole wished the flight was longer, withdrawing reluctantly from her embrace as their bare feet splashed into the sandy beach.

  “Goran!” Valen cried.

  Upon landing, Goran tore into the woodline, sniffing, licking, and climbing everything on his way. The force of his charge had snapped their chains of Wisdom, giving everyone a jarring mental shock.

  “He’ll be fine, I’ve still got my link with him,” Cole said, rubbing his head. “He’s really excited about the mountains. No idea why though. Might have been cooped up too long on the ship.”

  Cole widened and bolstered his bond to Goran. The mirak’s thoughts spilled over into Cole’s, making his nostrils flare and heart quicken. Goran felt more like a wild animal than he ever had. Anchoring his focus on the beach, Cole stretched the limits of his Passion and forced a rule upon Goran. Though he yearned to climb the peaks, Goran could go no farther up the foothills of the Fangshards, limiting his reckless wandering to a half mile from the unit. Cole experimented with the leash, giving it a good tug. Goran leapt from the top of a tree and stormed closer until the snapping of branches and enthusiastic snorts were within earshot. Guilt bubbled up in Cole, but for all he knew the Fangshards might hold dangers too great for even a giant mirak. It seemed like only yesterday that Cole was half naked, rescuing Goran from the tendrils of those giant grubs.

  “Is Goran well?” Lileth asked as her eyes followed Goran’s crashing. “I’ve never seen him in such a state.”

  “Neither have I,” Cole said. “He’s definitely out of his mind, but I can keep him close while we make our way through the pass.” Cole winced involuntarily. Through the link he felt Goran tearing into some poor creature. “It’s probably better if he’s not around people right now.”

  “As long as he can keep up with us,” Valen said, folding his wings and drawing his munisica. “I intend for us to run through the pass without pause.”

  “Once we get going I’ll give him a good tug,” Cole replied.

  “Then let us be off.” Valen turned heel and bolted at a steady trot towards the pass.

  Cole drew his munisica and followed, though he kept his Rage throttled to the minimum. Cole sprinted up alongside Lileth, admiring how bits of her hair had become bladed, an achievement that she was perhaps not yet aware of. Cole had difficulty keeping up with his unit, but he needed to control his Rage for the safety of the unit, including Goran. The more Cole delved into the Rage, the weaker his Passion-bond to Goran was. Try as he might, he could do nothing to quell the primal urges of his friend. They had only been running for ten minutes when Goran stopped to savage another creature. The wanton killing bothered Cole on a deep level, as Goran had merely discarded his first kill and not eaten any of it. Cole’s disappointment went unnoticed through his mental leash. Cole swallowed back guilty vomit as he gave Goran another pull, causing him to abandon yet another kill. Hopefully the scavengers of the mountains could make use of the corpses.

  The beach-sand hardened into a path lined with granite blocks, each embellished with glowing veins of amber. The craftsmanship stood out in stark contrast against the verdant overgrowth that spilled down from the valley walls. The mountains had swallowed nearly all the horizon, leaving only a thin strip of the starry sky and part of Oberon above them. Cole felt a tickling of claustrophobia within the pass. The stale, hot air and steep slopes were an unwelcome change compared to the endless skies and steady breeze of the White Sands. Cole tugged at his link to Goran, who climbed ever higher away from them.

  Valen slowed to a cautious jog, signaling for them to do the same. “Something is ahead of us. The trail is far too quiet.”

  Cole sharpened his eyes and ears as much as his Wisdom would allow. He sensed nothing.

  Crouching low, Sitra sniffed the air. “I don’t feel it. Liza, do your Passion-thing.”

  “It’s called listening,” Eliza said, her voice barely audible. “If you were more diligent in the arts of Passion, the spell would not elude you so. Feeling the life force of other beings can be useful in battle too, you know.”

  Sitra ignored her, inching forward like a stalking cat. Eliza closed her eyes and raised her chin, spreading her arms wide. Cole felt her consciousness pass over his like a steady breeze.

  Eliza’s thoughts hummed into Cole’s: “Pay attention. You ought to learn this aspect of Passion as well.”

  Cole pushed back at her mind: “I’d love to, but right now it’s all I can do to keep Goran from running off without tripping over my own feet. I can’t be in three places at once.”

  “I’m not asking you to. Do not try to sing every song. Just listen to the music,” she replied.

  Cole shrugged at her suggestion. While he was eager to learn everything he could about magic, now was certainly not the time to experiment. Though he withdrew from their link, he could still feel her mind vibrating and tingling in his skull. Curiosity nudged one of his own thoughts loose, dipping ever so slightly into the thin stream of their link. He was immediately overwhelmed by the flow of information, and he severed the thought. He would have to try again when he wasn’t so taxed.

  Eliza spoke without opening her eyes: “There is a spell hanging over the pass. It’s keeping the wildlife away. Everything is indeed quiet…” She gasped, eyes snapping wide. “There are people here, just ahead on the trail. They’re…massive. Powerful.” Her voice dropped to a low whisper hiss as the color drained from her face. “They know I’m listening.”

  “Should we turn back?” Lileth asked, crouching with Sitra.

  “It’s no use.” Eliza’s eyes went to the sky as a shadow moved over Oberon. “They are upon us!”

  “Scatter!” Valen hissed, darting up into the sloping forest.


  Eliza’s apprehension fed into Cole, and through him into Goran. In the mirak’s eyes, Cole saw trees bending and branches snapping as Goran shot towards them like an arrow. Cole slackened the leash, focusing his efforts instead on bending the shadows around him, bathing him in potent darkness. He had never used such Wisdom before, but his urge to hide was so powerful that his instincts made it so. He huddled in between a tree and the slope of the valley, unable to see his own hand in front of his face. He looked around, but there was no sign of the others.

  “Eliza, is everyone invisible?” he asked.

  “Quiet your mind. She can hear you,” Eliza replied.

  Cole loosened his ties to both links and tried emptying his mind as Chiron had taught him. Chilled Fear bubbled up from his legs as he felt the concussing thud-thud of massive wings. Cole covered his eyes as debris buffeted him. The ground shook beneath him as a creature the size of a bus landed on the pavement, claws scraping over the stone slabs. Holding on to his shadows like a blanket, Cole peeked down through the leaves.

  Oberon’s rainbow glow revealed Alvani hopping down from her winged steed, Gale. She strode towards Cole with a warm smile upon her face.

  Chapter 12

  Oberon City

  “Shed your shadows and join me, Warriors of The Sill,” Alvani called out to the unit, though she kept her eyes on Cole.

  Cole waited for the others to move first. Eliza appeared from thin air next to Gale, stroking under the beast’s feline jaw. The creature had a feline head as large as Roth’s whole body, with wispy ears and a velvety snout. The rest of its body was more avian with golden plumage, black eagle’s claws, and wings as big as an aeroplane’s. Cole dismissed his spells and approached Alvani as the rest of the unit reappeared.

  “It’s good to see you too, Gale,” Eliza cooed as Gale rubbed his head against her. Gale’s head was larger than the whole of her body.

  “Master Alvani!” Valen said with a little bow. “Your appearance is most welcome…and unexpected. How did you know where to find us?”

  Alvani kept her eyes on Cole. “Roth and I agreed to link our minds with Passion before you left on your mission. He kept me informed of everything you have been through since leaving The Sill, though he has been silent of late. Unfortunately, the Celestial Council has been less than proactive about the information I relay. Apparently, five Colossi loose in the White Sands is of no concern to them. The fact that any of you made it out alive is a miracle.” She gave Cole a meaningful look before addressing the rest of the group. “Roth also told me of your struggle in Costas. If his account is accurate, Decreath has taken the one called Kreed as Harbinger. Grotton and Sorronis will likely be seeking their Harbingers as well, which will put their forces in full stride while we remain as segregated as ever. Dark tides creep ever closer. My heart weeps for what we will lose, and what we have already lost. Habbad and Storn…I hoped Roth was wrong.”

  No one answered. Cole tore his mind from the rooftop where the scene of Storn’s death painted itself on the back of his eyelids. He looked around and saw defeated, distant looks on the others. He locked eyes with Lileth, pulling her out of her reverie. She gave him a small, warm smile.

  “Storn represented some of the best parts of the unit,” Lileth said, her voice trembling slightly. “We will do our best to take up his standards of strength and loyalty. Habbad…deserved better. I mourn for them both.”

  Alvani spread her arms. “Take comfort in the embrace of the ones you still have. Festering grief will undermine the very foundations of your mind and allow Sorronis to seep through the cracks. The death of a friend is a burden no one should bear alone. Rejoice and be refreshed.”

  Rosy motes of light poured from her hands, swirling around her as if caught in a strong wind. Behind her, Gale pointed his snout to the sky and chirped a loud song that echoed throughout the valley.

  An oppressive weight that Cole had only just noticed came free from his mind and body. He felt as though he’d woken from a perfect night’s sleep to a reality even better than his dreams. The rosy diodes spun faster. He laughed, filled to the brim with giddy euphoria. Alvani’s Passion rushed through him, bolstering him with the unshakable fact that she loved and truly cared for him. Looking around, he saw the rest of the unit similarly affected, all wearing looks of supreme relaxation and elation.

  “You have suffered much,” Alvani said to the group. “Let my gift keep your fires burning bright in these dark times.”

  “Thanks, Master Alvani,” Sitra sighed, stretching her arms overhead with a satisfied moan. “I feel like I could run around the world right now.”

  “Let’s start with a little sprint to Oberon City, shall we?” Alvani said, jumping up and throwing a leg over Gale’s saddle. “Cole, would you mind riding with me for a bit? I have words for you alone.”

  “Of course.” Cole pulled himself up, sliding into a seat behind his Master. His legs trembled with nerves. “Can you tell Gale to take it easy? I don’t like-”

  Cole’s voice plummeted to his stomach as Gale lunged into the sky. He wrapped his arms around Alvani’s middle, latching onto her robes. He leaned his forehead against her back, afraid to see how high they were. Judging by the stars in his periphery, they were already near the peaks of the mountains. Cole felt Gale level out as his flapping ceased to a steady glide. The air around him shifted as a quiet breeze replaced the rushing wind.

  “Relax Cole,” Alvani said, gently pulling his hands free. “Gale has you now.”

  Cole unclenched his fingers and buried them in the fluffy feathers behind him. Alvani turned around to face him in the saddle. The air was unusually calm. Upon opening his eyes Cole recognized the glittery sheen of a spell encircling them, keeping the wind at bay.

  “Has Roth told you why you are headed to Oberon City?” she asked, leaning towards him.

  Cole shook his head. “He didn’t tell me anything, just that the council wanted us all there. The others said they overheard something about a trial. It sounded like I was in trouble.”

  “I’m afraid the truth is much more worrisome,” she said, gripping Cole’s shoulder. “I’m sorry Cole, but we have kept you in the dark on some matters. Trust me when I say that it was for your own safety. I cannot tell you everything now, but I will tell you what I can. Chiron has sworn me to secrecy, but he may tell you more. The council has indeed called for a trial. They seek recompense for the destruction of the barrier, as well as answers for the return of the soul flies and how you are able to Travel. The Sill is also being called into question for our actions in Costas, as the mission was not vetted by the Council. During the trial I advise you not to divulge your mastery of Rage, your bond with Goran, or your ability to Travel out-of-turn. The Council already knows a great deal about you. If they knew the whole truth then you would no doubt be dragged into their politics with no choice in the matter. Your life would no longer be your own.”

  Cole felt his voice rising with ire. “And what exactly is the truth? What are you not telling me?”

  “I’m sorry Cole, I can tell you no more. Chiron has bound my tongue. I assure you he will explain it himself when you get to the capital.”

  “More secrets,” Cole said bitterly. “Well I guess I’ll just have to take whatever you’ll give me. I Hate this you know, I feel like a dog begging for scraps every time someone hints at what’s going on, like I’m not tough enough to know the truth. I may not be as old as any of you, but on Terra I’m not a child. I can handle it, so don’t worry about protecting my fragile little mind.”

  Cole finished his rant, leaving thick silence between them. For a moment Alvani’s only response was a look of prolific sympathy and patience, which left Cole’s ears burning with shame.

  Alvani waited for Cole to look at her before replying, “If I could, I would take your burdens from you, Cole. But I cannot. While my talents allow me to feel the pain that you feel, I cannot understand what it means to live your life. You must live it yourself.”

&nb
sp; Cole dropped his gaze and played with the feathers on Gale’s back. “I’m sorry, Master Alvani.”

  “Do not apologize for how you feel. Your feelings are the truth as your soul sees it, and one should never apologize for the truth. What you do with that truth is what matters in the end. Your anger has its place. Decide if this is the right one for it.”

  Cole dropped his gaze and ran his fingers through Gale’s feathers. “I never thought of it as a choice.”

  “You won’t have a choice so long as you give your emotions free reign, especially if you’re not aware of them rushing up in the first place. Self-awareness is not for the lazy of mind, and a lazy mind is a playground for The Three. If you make a habit of allowing your emotions to govern you, then you leave yourself open to Hunger, Fear, Despair, and Hatred. Have you been clearing your mind as Chiron taught you?”

  Cole rubbed the back of his neck. “Honesty I never really understood the whole meditating thing. It calmed me down pretty good back at The Sill, but I haven’t been practicing. Our mission in Costas took a lot out of me.”

  “Before you return to the ground, we will clear your mind properly. It is best for you to learn the process on your own, but events are unfolding faster than we can prepare for them. Do not forget what I am about to teach you.”

  “I won’t,” Cole said looking her in the eye.

  Alvani’s tone shifted from its usual soothing song to one of robotic indifference. “Close your eyes and slow your breathing. Hold your breath just long enough, then exhale just slow enough. You must not be happy or sad. You must not be frustrated or satisfied. You must let go of it all. You are a blank slate.”

  Cole felt himself slipping into something of a day-dream. Alvani’s words no longer sounded as if they came from her mouth, but within his own consciousness.

  “Do not force thoughts or emotions from your mind, that is impossible. You must loosen your hold on them. Only when they are ready will they fly from you as sand in the breeze.”