Saving The Dark Side Book 2: The Harbingers

by Joseph Paradis

  Upon the unit’s entrance into the chamber, the man at the desk did a double-take before casting his surprise into a vicious scowl. His eyebrows were so faint that it was hard to tell if he had any at all. He shook his head, as if shooing a fly. “You have not been summoned. Begone from here, you will know when we are ready.”

  Without breaking stride, Chiron continued down the steps. “Good morning Arcturus. I do apologize for our early arrival. Please, continue your deliberations. We’ll just park ourselves here until our appointment starts, which should be in…” Chiron pulled a timepiece from the depths of his cloak, “One minute.”

  Chiron walked to the center of the room, standing between Arcturus and the Council. He waved a hand over the empty space, pouring jade light into the floor. Six polished chairs rose from the dark stone in a neat row. Chiron took a seat near the middle, and the rest of the unit fell in around him. Cole slid into the comfy chair. The battle-stench of his armor wafted up his nose, stinging his eyes.

  Arcturus flushed the shade of rare meat. He spoke in a voice layered with open contempt: “Did you not hear my words? You have not been summoned! The Celestial Council and I are engaged at the moment. You will wait down in the embassies until our business has concluded. You will be summoned when we are ready for your trial.”

  Chiron folded his hands in his lap. “While I do relish the thought of exploring the luxuries of our embassy waiting rooms, I’m afraid I cannot afford to idle. We are at war you see, and even as I sit here our enemies maneuver against and amongst us. I’m afraid I’ll have to hold you to our original commitment. The last correspondence I received from your office indicated that our appointment would take place at this time, so here we are.”

  Arcturus smirked, his thin eyebrow vanishing in the wrinkles of his forehead. “The affairs within this room change rapidly, a concept you would be familiar with if you spent more time in the capital, and less time stirring up trouble with the Light Side.”

  “Oh I’m intimately aware of the goings-on of these chambers, Arcturus,” Chiron replied in a polite tone. “And if my memory serves correctly, the Speaker’s primary function is to speak for the Celestial Council, not to act for them. Why don’t you ask your colleagues if we should honor my appointment? I must insist that this is one of those ‘now or never’ scenarios, however. My time is valuable and finite, a fact I’m sure the Council can sympathize with.”

  Arcturus brought his thumb and forefinger to his brow, pinching and twisting the wire-thin strip of hair as he measured Chiron.

  “Oh start the trial already,” said a woman’s voice from behind them. “We can discuss the finer points of information trafficking later. I want to hear Chiron’s account of the war.”

  Murmurs echoed in agreement around the woman.

  Looking as if he had just swallowed a mouthful of dirt, Arcturus pushed a stack of papers off his desk, the papers vanishing in little cracks and flashes of green light. “Very well then, we will start the trial. We are of course not as prepared as we ought to be. The accusations are fairly straightforward, however…” His voice trailed off as he swirled his fingers over his desk, conjuring several stacks of paper as well as a few thick wood-bound books. “Where is the rest of your delegation?” he asked, thumbing through a few pages. “There were three of you, one each Alvani and Roth?”

  “My companions are a tad busy at the moment. I believe you received my letter in regards to the recent activities in Morthain?” Chiron asked.

  “Yes, I have it here somewhere,” Arcturus mumbled, flicking an emerald spark at a stack of paper. A fat envelope shot out into his waiting fingers. He waved his hand lazily as the contents of the envelope shot out, displaying themselves in the air around him. “A fine tale of a Colossus attack. Quite the engaging read. My nephew has taken to writing little stories as well, though his are a little more plausible. This one is almost as good as your epic battle in Costas. That one had a Colossus too did it not? You ought to change the monsters in your fables now and then, lest the reader lose interest.” Arcturus swished his hand once more and the floating papers vanished in several fizzing cracks.

  Cole’s confusion was quickly replaced with rising fury. With each heartbeat his fingers and toes elongated. A firm hand on his forearm stopped his munisica from flaring.

  Eliza’s voice rang clear in his mind: “Find your center and stay there! Remember what Alvani showed you.”

  Cole swallowed, silently thanking her before retreating to his stone room. He poured the water over himself, keeping just enough of his focus in the Council chamber. Thankfully no one had noticed.

  “While my reports deserve a proper accounting, I’d prefer we commence with the trial if you don’t mind,” Chiron replied, polite as ever. “I alone shall represent The Sill.”

  “And what of your…troupe? What are they here for?” Arcturus looked at the unit as if they were something that had wandered in from a swamp.

  “The Sill is under investigation for our actions in Costas. So here I have done you the service of bringing five eye-witnesses. Their accounts will reflect my reports,” Chiron said, motioning to the unit.

  “How generous of you.” Arcturus’s lips curved into a tight sneer. “Your witnesses will be examined by our impartial jury, should we deem it necessary.”

  Keeping himself rooted in his center, Cole watched as Arcturus raised his arm, extending a finger towards the ceiling. All around him, Cole saw the twenty-one arms of the Celestial Council do the same. Sharp beams of green light raced to the boulder in the ceiling, filling the chamber with an eye-jiggling hum. The buzzing faded after the beams vanished, though the shard in the ceiling remained a swirling display of every shade of green.

  Arcturus stood, clasping his hands behind his back. The Speaker’s face fell slack and his voice suddenly became a blank monotone. “The Celestial Council is gathered within these hallowed walls to see without filter so that we pass judgment without prejudice. May the words uttered here carry not deceit nor lies, for the Celestial Council will hear only the truth. Under Oberon’s light we thrive, by Varka’s sacrifice we survive.”

  The last sentence was repeated by the entire council. Cole stiffened in his chair. He would definitely not be telling anyone about his soul’s tagalong.

  “The trial is now commenced,” Arcturus said, taking his seat. His voice lost all trace of venom, instead taking on a blank tone of indifference. “The Sill shall now be judged for its actions in Costas. Who here shall speak on behalf of the accused?”

  Chiron rose to his feet. “I shall speak for The Sill. The actions taken in Costas were direct orders from me. I accept all charges.”

  Cole felt a fluttering of relief among his calm. Did this mean he was off the hook? Maybe they had forgotten all about him.

  Arcturus nodded. “Let the records state that Wisdom Walker Chiron has identified himself as the accused, and he alone assumes the burden of proving relief from guilt of the following cha-”

  “He’s not alone!” thundered a familiar voice.

  Roth appeared at the top of the stairs, leaning heavily on Alvani. He looked as if he could fall over at any moment. There were sunken purple blotches on his unarmored skin, and he sounded as if he hadn’t slept in weeks.

  Roth stepped forward, limping down the stairs as Alvani struggled to keep him upright. An involuntary twitch tugged his lip with every step. “Sorry Chiron. Couldn’t let you take all the credit. Your cowardly hide wasn’t even in Costas at the time.”

  “Master Roth, your appearance is most welcome.” Chiron swept across the room and grasped Roth’s other arm.

  Cole had never seen Roth accept help from anyone, and judging by the worried faces around the room, no one else had either.

  Arcturus’s face twisted as his voice resumed its usual tone of disgust. “It is most unwelcome, actually! This is a complete violation of procedure! What’s the point in posting a guard at the private entrance if…” His face slackened once more as the Council’s m
agic spoke through him. “The Celestial Council recognizes Bonebreaker Roth and Heartseeker Alvani. Do you wish to represent The Sill in regards to the incident at Costas?”

  “I do,” Alvani said, helping Roth into a chair that Chiron had just conjured from the stone.

  A growl rose and fell from Roth’s bared teeth as he sat down. “You damned well better not leave me out.”

  Arcturus gave a single nod, staring over all their heads. “Very well then. Roth, Alvani, and Chiron, you have identified yourselves as the accused, and assume the burden of relieving The Sill from guilt of the following charges: Treason, fraudulent waste of Council resources, violation of customs procedures, the murders of thirty-eight Dark Side civilians and over two hundred Light Side civilians, and inciting war.”

  Cole could feel the blood draining from his face. Chiron however looked as though he had expected nothing less. Alvani seemed to not be listening as she fed a steady stream of rosy light into Roth’s wounds. The Bonebreaker’s eyes were half open and distant. Cole chanced a glimpse at the rest of the unit, who all looked as pale as he felt.

  The Speaker pulled a tube of paper from the stack in front of him; the tube leapt from his hand and unrolled itself. He ran a finger along the text near the top of the sheet, highlighting the words in blazing script as he read aloud, “The Celestial Council shall now make its case for the greater good of the Dark Side. The accused, after repeated warnings from the Council, initiated official military operations against the sovereignty of Costas. These actions caused irreparable harm to the relations between the Light Side and the Dark Side. Such aggression will no doubt invite further hostilities from both. Reports indicate over two hundred civilian casualties as well as thirty-eight warriors of The Sill, most of whom were students. The Celestial Council has classified these casualties as murder. Furthermore, a baileen was taken across international borders and used to transport unregistered gratia stones and military assets. Baileens and gratia stones are regulated resources which require Council approval before use, and as with all assets of value, must clear customs before transport across international borders.”

  Arcturus crossed out a few lines of the scroll. His face was still blank and his voice not his own. The Speaker took a moment to gaze openly at each of them. Cole averted his eyes, trying his best to be invisible in his filthy armor.

  “With the recent destruction of Aeneria’s barrier, the Celestial Council has worked tirelessly to ensure the mistakes of the past will not be repeated today. In our eyes, the actions of The Sill have been rash and unfitting for the peaceful aims of the Dark Side. The banishing occurred nigh on thirty cycles ago, and the fires of war have long burned to ashes. There have been no hostilities whatsoever from our neighbors on the Light Side, nor has there been any indication that they intended to cast the first stone. The only act of aggression has come from The Sill. You have ignited the fires of war with no regard for the countless souls who will perish in your quest for revenge.”

  Arcturus vanished the scrolls with a quick jab of Wisdom from his hand. His empty eyes fell in their direction. “As previously stated, we find The Sill guilty of treason, fraudulent waste of Council resources, violation of customs procedures, the murders of thirty-eight Dark Side civilians and over two hundred Light Side civilians, and inciting war. Rothael Bonebreaker, Alvani Heartseeker, and Wisdom Walker Chiron, you may now speak on behalf of the accused and attempt to defend yourselves in this open forum.”

  Alvani rose first, leaning Roth into Chiron’s arms. “It saddens my heart when I think of the suffering that has yet to come. Evil is at your borders whether you choose to see it or not. The Celestial Council is the most influential force on all of the Dark Side. You have the power to stanch this suffering before it is too late. Please, open your minds and your hearts. Join us join in our efforts against The Three.”

  Arcturus’s face lit with amusement as his usual sneer returned. “Is that all?”

  “It is,” Alvani replied, holding her chin a little higher.

  “Not much of a defense, but your words are your own,” he said. “Who is next? Make your case so we can move this along.”

  Roth stirred, shrugging off Chiron’s arms.

  “Master Roth!” Sitra gasped.

  Placing one clawed foot in front of the other, Roth approached Arcturus’s desk. Cole winced as Roth’s mottled, half-healed wounds stretched and ripped. Gobs of clotted blood smacked to the floor, uncorking a fresh crimson flow.

  Arcturus raised a palm. “I assure you, I can hear you perfectly well from where you are. There’s no need to come close enough for me to smell you.”

  Roth ignored him, limping his way to Arcturus’s raised desk. Without word or warning, Roth planted a foot and speared a bladed hand into the white-marble desk, sending chips and sparks flying in every direction. Before the debris had touched the ground, Roth heaved, sending the desk whistling to the chamber wall, where it cracked neatly in half.

  Cole flinched, covering his face. By instinct alone he drew his munisica, opening his eyes to see Roth standing over Arcturus. Roth shuddered in pain, speckling the Speaker’s pristine white robes with fresh blood from his cuts.

  Arcturus fell back in his chair, falling backwards and scuttling away. He raised his hand as emerald sparks fizzled and sputtered from his palm. He shook the failed spell from his hand and tried another, but to no avail. Eyes darting about the chamber, he cried aloud, “Chiron! Chiron, restrain your dog!”

  Chiron did not reply. He remained in his chair, tapping his fingers in quick patterns in his lap as though listening to music.

  Munisica aching for action, Cole rose to his feet, unsure of what to do. The rest of the unit rose as well, turning towards the Council with claws and magic at the ready. Without taking his eyes off Arcturus, Chiron shook his head ever so slightly, indicating that they should stand down. No one moved a muscle.

  Arcturus cried out again, “Someone, do something! Any of you, this man is about to murder me! Debaiti, Callum, Haphalus, help me!”

  A woman from the Council table replied with a voice that almost sounded amused, “We cannot aid you, Arcturus. Alvani Heartseeker blocks our Wisdom.”

  Cole moved his head slightly, stealing a quick glance at Alvani. Her face was set in relaxed calm, though her eyes blazed with cold fury.

  Roth prowled after Arcturus as he scooted back against the wall, his eyes wide and searching. Roth bent low until his face was an inch from Arcturus’s nose. He spoke with a voice of rolling thunder: “You Speak to me now, Speaker.”

  “But…but how? My Wisdom…” Arcturus whined as another spell fizzled in his hands. His eyes darted to Chiron, begging for assistance.

  “Don’t you fucking look at him. Look at me.” Roth’s voice was slow and deliberate, as if he tasted every word before engulfing Arcturus with fire of his tongue. “I have not passed through fields of death and shit to trade quips with you, coward. If I wanted your lip I’d pull it off your face, and if I wanted you dead there’s not a soul in this room who could stop me.” Roth jerked his arm forward, sinking two claws on either side of the Speaker’s neck and into the wall. “Chiron and I were among the few who voted your ancestors on to that throne, and we’re the only two who can knock you off. There’s no rule or regulation that can save you from us. Don’t forget where you came from, and don’t forget what we are.”

  With a practiced motion, Roth flicked a single claw to Arcturus’s arm, snapping the long bone with a muffled crack. The Bonebreaker had left his mark.

  “Now get up and do your job.” Roth pulled his claws from the wall and turned, dropping down from the dais and shaking the entire chamber as his munisica collided with the floor.

  Arcturus’s face was as white as the unsoiled parts of his robes. Cole couldn’t help but stifle a laugh, seeing the Speaker scramble to his feet, utterly disheveled and intimidated. If Cole’s own arms hadn’t been broken by Roth so many times, he might have felt bad for the Speaker. Even so, Cole admired
how Arcturus had kept face, letting no grain of agony betray him as his arm dangled uselessly at his side.

  Roth turned away from Arcturus and stood to his full height, speaking directly to the Celestial Council: “I, Rothael Bonebreaker will now make my case. It’s easy to decide what’s best for others when you’re not the one who has to bleed for those choices. I’ve led every echelon of military force from simple strike teams to entire divisions. Throughout my service I’ve worked with the good and the sour, both above and below me. I’ve treated them all the same so long as they pulled their weight. I voted each of you into those cushioned chairs with hopes that you might make a scrap of difference in this second coming of The Three. It’s been nearly thirty cycles, but I have not forgotten what it’s like to bleed with the ones I lead.” The Bonebreaker pointed a jagged claw at each council member, splattering his red life across their perfectly white chamber. “When was the last time you bled for your people?”

  The Council stiffened in their seats, as if to show that they were not all that comfy. Cole felt his Rage yearning for an outlet, but in the quiet of his center he could hear his Wisdom calling, telling him that Rage was not the answer. He poured more water over his molten ire until he could hear his Passion as well, showing him the open Fear in the faces of the Council members. In the quiet of his center, Cole could hear strange echoes of emotional clamor bouncing throughout the chamber. There was a general sense of unease, an anticipation of impending doom coupled with tones of revulsion. Louder than all were the keening screeches of Arcturus’s Fear and shame. Cole attuned himself to it, both disgusted and intrigued. It may have been his imagination, but Cole felt as if he could draw out the Speaker’s Fear. He could amplify it. Feed on it. It would be all too easy, instinctual even. The feeling reminded him of when he last tasted Decreath at the Devotion, only now he could bring that unbridled Fear upon another.