by Kyle West
“All of this is crazy,” Shara said. “How can one travel to another world?”
That was a question even I didn’t have a sure answer for. “I know that our Xenofold is connected to the Xenofolds of other worlds, through the Xenomatrix. I don’t know much about that, but I know it’s a place that exists. The Xenofold will turn us into thoughts and memories of ourselves, and in that way, recreate us on another world. That’s my guess.”
Everyone was quiet as they considered this. The very idea was hard to imagine. But I knew it was possible. After all, Tiamat himself had considered the possibility of transferring his own consciousness, along with the consciousness of other dragons, across time and space.
The one thing I knew was that it wasn’t going to be easy, and might very well end up in our deaths. In fact, if it worked out the way I was imagining it, we might die the minute we became thoughts and memories.
But I was still committed. All of us were, for better or for worse.
“So,” Pallos said, “Are all of you sure about this?”
Heads nodded slowly all around. We all looked at each other, our expressions a strange mixture of determination and fear.
“There’s only one choice,” I said. “And we just made it.”
Pallos nodded. “Then I’ll take you to Ragnarok Crater. When I come back, I’ll resume control of the air forces and make sure the army makes it safely to the Caverns.”
“Thank you, Pallos,” I said.
He gave a nod of acknowledgement. “It’s nothing compared to what all of you are going to do. But I’m glad to be of service.”
“Perhaps we should get some sleep,” Fiona said, stifling a yawn. “We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
It was the best idea I’d heard all night.
Chapter 52
The leaders of the various armies all met the next day outside Odin. The snow had stopped, revealing a sunny sky that didn’t provide much warmth to the frigid land below.
From the Eastern forces came Prince Nabea, with Ret and Samal and Elder Tellor in his retinue, along with some high-ranking officers and other nobility from his levies. Representing the Elekai and Colonian forces were Lord Harrow, Captain Dailyn of the Dragonguard, along with Seekers Deanna, Aela, and Amalia, who I was glad to see survived both battles. The Plainsmen were represented by their Council of Chiefs, with Victor standing at the fore, arms crossed and chest bare, despite the cold, though he did have a fur thrown over his shoulders. Many people and soldiers gathered outside the circle to watch the proceedings.
The only person not present, who needed to be, was General Tertullian of the Novans.
I leaned over to Elder Tellor. “Are you sure he’s been summoned?”
“Yes, and he replied that he would be here,” he said, irritably.
The crowd grew as the sun rose higher. Just another hour and it would already be beginning its descent toward the western mountains.
Just when I was about to lose patience and go off looking for him, the blare of horns filled the air in a triumphant trilling. Soon, the blood red banners with the eagle and snake of the Novan Empire became visible over the crowd, accompanied by the sound of horses’ hooves. The crowd parted to reveal several steel-armored, red-caped men, at the fore of which was General Tertullian, with his brown, weathered face, white temples, and a thick wolf fur thrown over his shoulders.
He dismounted his black steed and handed the reins to a waiting squire, and strode forward to take his place in the council, flanked on his either side by officers wearing open face steel helmets bearing tall red plumes.
Now that all were here, some fifty people, I saw that conversation with so many would be difficult, and with the outer crowds talking, it would be almost impossible to hear anyone without yelling.
I leaned over to Elder Tellor. “We need the armies outside the circle to disband if we’re to get anything done here.”
He nodded his agreement and sent his officers to direct his own soldiers to vacate the area. Following his example, the others began doing the same. The Plains People took the longest to leave, Victor almost getting into a fight with another man who felt he should have a seat at the council.
In the end, however, they dispersed as well, until all those who were left were the ones who had been invited in the first place.
I stepped forward to begin. “We’re here to talk about next steps so that all of us are on the same page.”
I looked toward Victor and the chiefs, realizing that many of them wouldn’t understand Espan. But there was already someone there, standing in front of all of them and translating.
“We did well defeating the Radaskim yesterday,” I said. “But that is only a small portion of their army. Another swarm is besieging Mongar and will break through at any moment. If that army catches us here on the Plains, as weakened as we are, we aren’t going to survive for much longer.”
One of the Plains People chiefs began shouting in English. “We do not run! We’ll destroy them here, just as we did the last one. Numbers don’t matter.”
Several of the other chiefs cheered at this. I decided to ignore them; such foolishness didn’t deserve a response. “We need more defensible terrain than this. I know these plains are your home, but the coming swarm is so large that it cannot be surrounded. It’ll be the one doing the surrounding. Anyone who fought the Battle of Haven knows what we’re up against.”
“What are you proposing?” General Tertullian called, from the south side of the circle.
Everyone looked at the Novan general, probably because this was their first time to get a good look at him. His expression was stern, his gaze piercing.
“A withdrawal of all of our forces north, to Ragnarok Crater,” I said. “The key to victory against Odium lies in protecting the Sea of Creation from him. If he reaches the Sea before we can use it to stop him, then he’ll be able to turn the Xenofold against us.”
All were quiet as they considered my words. I didn’t even know if half these men fully knew what the Xenofold was, or why it deserved protecting.
To my surprise, Tertullian showed that I had underestimated him. “This Sea of Creation is the source of your power, no? And it is in danger of being destroyed?”
“It is the source of our power,” I said. “It is currently greatly weakened, and vulnerable to assault by an entity as powerful as Odium. If he reaches it, he’ll essentially be able to take full control of the Xenofold and use it against us. If we allow him to do this, all Elekai who share a connection to the Xenofold, in one way or another, will fall under his influence.”
“His influence?” Nabea asked. “As in, we’ll be controlled by him, as if we were one of his monsters?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. It’s possible. The point is, it will be disastrous if we allow him to get there. We need to get to Ragnarok Crater, to shore up the entrance to the Caverns of Creation.”
“We know the way to the Crater,” Victor said, through his translator. “But inside the Crater, we know nothing.”
“The dragons will know the rest of the way,” I responded. “Inside the Caverns, we can gather enough food to last for months, if we’re including everything we currently have with the army. Ragnarok Crater has lots of natural food. Crops still grow wild, and the forests are rife with game and forage. It won’t last forever, but perhaps long enough for me to use the Sea of Creation to deal the final blow to Odium.”
“And how exactly is that supposed to work?” General Tertullian asked.
The truth was, I didn’t know, but I was reluctant to say that in front of everyone. “Defending the caves will force Odium to attack into a chokepoint. The Caverns are huge, but the entrance itself is relatively small. Our men can hold the line, if there are plenty of reserves to switch out when the front ranks tire. The air space is also limited, but still great enough for our dragons to maneuver around while not getting surrounded. There, we can hold for much longer than we can on the open plains.”
“The journey will be long,” Nabea said. “But I’m for the plan. Our victory here was due to chance and the fact that all our armies merged at the same time, entrapping the crawlers. Even with our combined strength, we probably can’t contest the Radaskim here on the plains long-term. Especially if the weather turns for the worse.”
“I could turn my legions for home here,” Tertullian said. “I came north only to ensure that I wouldn’t be ambushed in the rear. Nothing stands between my legions and the borders of Nova now.”
“Yes, you could do that,” I said. “But your forces could be the difference between holding the Caverns or losing them. If we lose the Caverns, then fleeing today will only buy you a few more months of life, at best. Your legions will have to fight, regardless of the outcome. At least now, you can fight with allies rather than alone.”
“Unless you win victory without my help,” Tertullian said.
“Tertullian, the prospects are slim even with your help,” I said.
“If we are to die, why not die in the comfort of my home country?” he asked. “Maybe none of you have that choice, but my men and I still do.”
“You southerners are cowards,” Victor said, spitting. “Your men were barely scratched in the battle. If you flee, my men will hunt you down like the dogs you are.”
The interpreter translated the words nervously, softening the speech somewhat. Even if it was softened, Tertullian’s reaction was indignant. “If it weren’t for me, you’d be food in the crawlers’ bellies. I must do what is best for my soldiers. Many are hungry, they are not equipped for this weather, and none of them will understand the reason for this senseless march north. How can you convince a southern man of the importance of things like the Xenofold, something which is nothing more than a legend to him?”
“We are grateful for your help in the battle,” I said. “But you didn’t single-handedly save us, as you seem to think. Without the Easterners, we would have lost. Without the Plains People, we would have lost. And without the Elekai or the Elder Dragons, we would be lost. We’re a team, Tertullian. This war goes beyond nationalities. This is about survival. If any one of us backs out, it’s doom for the rest.”
“And the march to Nova is much further than it is to the Crater,” Elder Tellor said. “We could all be in the Crater, safe and warm, inside two weeks if the weather is good.”
“Not safe,” Tertullian said.
“If you go home, Odium will attack you anyway,” I said. “I doubt your men could outpace his crawlers over hundreds of miles of plains.”
“We can,” Tertullian said. “If Mongar holds long enough.”
“I wouldn’t bet on that,” I said.
I thought about the city, and the men left behind to hold it. In the end, they were the ones getting the worst part of the deal, though the city leaders had encouraged any who had the means to leave and seek refuge in the Eastern Kingdoms. Few had answered that call.
“Ultimately, it’s your choice, Tertullian,” I continued. “Perhaps you don’t believe anything I’m saying about Odium and the Xenofold. Maybe you think that if he wins, you can protect yourself by returning to Nova. I’m here to tell you that you’d just be delaying the inevitable. If your men come with us, they’ll have food, and whatever warm clothing we can share. You’ll have none of those things if you go south.”
“My chief priority is preserving the lives of my men,” Tertullian said. “The only question is whether I decide to believe in this Xenofold, and whether I feel it’s worth dying for.”
“And while you’re asking that question,” Tellor said, “Odium gets closer and closer to breaking through Mongar, where many brave men are bound to die in its defense. All of us have thrown in our lot with Elekim, and all of us must stick together in the coming days.”
“The weather is getting better today,” I said. “We should be using whatever time we have to head north to the Crater.” I looked at Tertullian. “I suggest you and your legions join us. Do you want it to be said that you fled the final fight for the world, to bear the stain of cowardice for the rest of your days? Are Novans really as weak as that?”
“We are not weak,” Tertullian said. “But I will not commit myself to a lost cause.”
“I’m not going to let you leave, General Tertullian,” I said. “If I did, I wouldn’t be doing my job.”
“How, pray tell, will you do that? With force, as your . . . barbarian friend seems to suggest?”
The interpreter didn’t even bother to translate that, and only did so at Victor’s insistence. I decided to continue speaking before things got even nastier between them.
“We don’t use words like that to describe an ally,” I said. “The one you call barbarian has shown more courage than you ever will, Tertullian.” Before he could respond, I continued. “I’m trying to get it through your thick skull that fleeing is not in your best interest. Your men are tired and weak. Many will die of exposure and starvation on the march south. Just because you’re going south doesn’t mean it’ll get much warmer, especially on these plains. Ragnarok Crater is far closer, and if you join us, you’ll get to share our food and supplies. You’ll also have our protection. Maybe you’re betting that Odium will completely ignore you while going after us instead. You might be right. But then again, he might see it as an opportunity to destroy you and your legions easily, while you’re isolated.”
General Tertullian listened to me, not seeming to have a response. Was it because he knew I was right, or sheer stubbornness?
“Either way, I’m casting the die,” Tertullian said. “At least going south there is a chance that some of my men survive. Going north, there will be no such chance.”
“You’re wrong,” I said.
“How could you be so foolish?” Nabea asked, his anger barely controlled. “All of us are committed to the Sea of Creation’s defense. Any of us could back out now and jeopardize all we’ve worked for. My men marched hundreds of miles from their homes over many weeks. Just as you did yours. We have both shed blood on the battlefield, and now when the time comes to defend the world for good, you would abandon us?”
All looked to Tertullian for his answer.
“I don’t know any of you,” he said. “I came north to conquer the Red Wild, before being betrayed by him.” He pointed at Isaru. “I’ve since been told that this alliance was based on a falsehood, that Isaru’s mind was warped by Odium. An affliction that has been miraculously cured. I’m expected to believe a great many things that are simply impossible in my mind. I must take this on faith. Surely, you see the difficulty in this?”
“Do you believe in the monsters we just fought here?” I asked. “Are those real enough for you? Do you think they came from this world?”
“I don’t know where they came from,” Tertullian said. “You claimed they landed near Dragonspire. Perhaps they are only interested in destroying the Elekai.”
“You’re a fool if you believe that,” I said. “Even if there was a chance of that . . .”
“That’s exactly my point,” Tertullian interrupted. “I’m being asked to commit my forces to a suicide mission, on nothing more than blind faith. Do you see the problem?”
“The only problem I see is the one beyond the mountains, that will be here any day. That swarm is stronger than the one we just defeated, and if we’re here when they come, we’re all dead.”
“Then go to your Crater,” Tertullian said. “My armies will be turning south. Today.”
I was so angry I could hardly speak, much less think. I couldn’t believe there could be someone so selfish, so cowardly, and so stupid.
“Maybe you think we’re marching to our graves,” I said. “So be it. You’re marching to yours as well.”
“I wish you well in your war,” Tertullian said. “I truly do. But it is not my war.”
“I hope that your men aren’t slaughtered on your march south,” I said. “You’re right that their lives are in your hands. Have a thought for them, Tertul
lian. And have a thought for us as well. I hope you’ll think of us, our food, and our warm caves while your men are dying of cold by the thousands.”
It was a cruel thing to say, but I was so angry I didn’t care. I wanted Tertullian to know that he was the one to kill his men, in one way or another. But it did no good, and the Novan general took that as his cue to leave, mounting his horse along with his officers, and riding back.
At that point, members of the council began to talk amongst each other, no doubt with their own plans and ideas of how to sway the Novan general, or perhaps, how to punish him. I just stared in the direction Tertullian went, feeling as if hope was leaving, too.
Elder Tellor cleared his throat as he stood beside me. “I’ve never known the Novans to help anyone but themselves. You shouldn’t blame yourself.”
“How can someone be so foolish? So wrong?”
“He doesn’t understand our war, or the root causes of it,” Tellor said. “The monsters and the dragons he can understand well enough, but even those he has long been taught are products of the Elekai. Given that Nova has always seen the Elekai as enemies, is it any surprise that he would be wary of helping us?”
“But surely for the sake of his own self-preservation . . .”
“I think we have to accept that we aren’t going to have his help,” Tellor said. “We must make do with what we have. There’s enough time left to start our journey north and make a few miles before dark. My suggestion is we do so immediately. I have no doubt Tertullian will be doing the same for his troops.”
I nodded, still not completely accepting what had just occurred. I stepped forward, and soon, everyone’s attention was back on me.
“General Tertullian has made his choice,” I said. “But we still need to make ours. There isn’t any more time to waste here, and we’ve wasted enough of it already. It’s time we started moving north. We can at least make a few miles before nightfall.”
It was only when the council was disbanded that I realized, in my emotion, I had neglected to tell them the most important thing of all: that my friends and I would not be joining them on the journey north. I opened my mouth to once again get their attention but found that the words wouldn’t come. It felt wrong to say, for some reason. I closed my lips, wondering at what had just happened. Why did I feel like this?