Four Sunrises

by J C Maynard

  Tallius leaned forward. “Have you told anyone about this?”

  The innkeeper laughed. “No, ‘cause I figured I’d make some pretty good money if you paid me to keep yourselves-” he whispered “secret.”

  “We don’t trust you to keep it secret.” said Calleneck. He looked at Tallius and nodded. He turned back to the innkeeper. “We’re sorry about this.” he said. In a fraction of a second, Calleneck and Tallius sent crimson and sapphire flames into his abdomen. The innkeeper fell off his chair and onto the ground. Calleneck and Tallius walked over and felt his pulse. Calleneck nodded, “Dead.”

  The two of them quickly picked up the innkeeper and slid him out the open window into the cold river below. Climbing out the window, they headed back to the entrance through the rainy night.

  As they trudged back through the puddles, Tallius stopped Calleneck in a city square, with tall shops on all sides. “Look at that over there.” said Tallius, pointing to a wall beside them where a large poster hung.

  All able-bodied persons ages sixteen to thirty,

  report to town hall for inspection and draft processing.

  ~From fjords to mountaintops,

  the land of Cerebria reigns strong, just, and wise.~

  Tallius put his hand on the wet poster. “We need to take this back to Seirnkov for Madrick and Borius to see.”

  Calleneck looked around the square. It was too late in the night for anybody to be out and about, and the misty rain covered them. He nodded. “Do it quickly.”

  Tallius tore the poster down and stuffed it in his coat. The two silently made their way through the rainy, dark city and back into the underground Network.

  ~Late Night, September 24th

  On their way back through the deep tunnels of the Network, they rounded a stalagmite covered corner and jumped back, surprised to see another figure up ahead. As they lit up the tunnel with sapphire and crimson light, the narrow face of Selenora Everrose appeared.

  “Oh hello Ms. Everrose,” said Tallius, “you scared us quite a bit.” Tallius dimmed his sapphire flame.

  Selenora nodded. “And you scared me. Sorry about that.”

  Calleneck raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing this deep in the Network? We’re over an hour away from the Nexus.”

  “Oh,” said Selenora, looking around them at the stalactites, “Just doing some exploring . . . President Nebelle had me looking at some of these tunnels in case he wanted to use them for food transportation.”

  Calleneck nodded, but inside he felt something strange. That should have been his job. There’s something she’s hiding.

  Tallius sensed it too, but smiled. “Well I guess we’ll see you around.”

  Selenora nodded. “Of course.”

  With that strange encounter, Calleneck and Tallius continued through the cold and dark tunnels toward the Nexus.

  ◆◆◆

  ~Late Night, September 24th

  In the Nexus, Lillia Hane’s eyes shot open when she heard a knock on her dormitory door. The room was pitch black and cold. Another quiet knock sounded. She looked over at Dalah Bernoil who lay fast asleep. The knock sounded again and her heart began to race. She stepped onto the cold floor and cautiously moved toward the door with a small white flame in her hand. She crept past Dalah and slowly opened the door to the main tunnels. Tallius Tooble stood before her with a big smile and gave her a hug with arms wrapped completely around her.

  Lillia shut the door and whispered to Tallius in the candle lit hallway, “You’re back! Great Mother, you scared me. How was it?”

  Tallius brushed a strand of hair out of her face. “It went fine, I’m just glad to be back.” Tallius looked around. “Will Dalah notice if I take you on a little walk?”

  Lillia looked back at her door and then back to Tallius. “Not at all.”

  Tallius smiled and took her hand, leading her down a series of increasingly crooked tunnels. Tallius held a little blue flame out in front of them, and Lillia a white one to help guide the way.

  “Where are we going?” Lillia whispered.

  “You’ll see in a bit.” said Tallius. “Cal and I found it on our way back from Ontraug.”

  After fifteen or so minutes of walking, Tallius stopped and put an arm around Lillia. He extinguished the little blue flame, plunging them into pitch black darkness.

  Lillia could tell they were in some sort of cavern and she pressed herself close to Tallius. “Where are we? What are you-”

  “Shhh.” hushed Tallius. “Just let your eyes adjust.”

  Slowly, a thousand little lights began to appear in strings hanging from the ceiling. Lillia gasped as she began to see it. The faint light of uncountable bioluminescent cave bugs dotted the cavern like the spectacular night sky.

  Lillia smiled and hugged Tallius close for a while, admiring the galaxy of life, twinkling in millions of little blue and white lights. After a while, they quietly headed back to the Nexus, guided by their own little blue and white flames.

  ◆◆◆

  ~Afternoon, September 25th

  Qerru-Mai shook a roll of parchment in her hand as her chocolate eyes pierced into Senator Nollard. “You sir,” she said, “look me in the eye and tell me that it has nothing to do with Benja.”

  Sir Nollard leaned back in his office chair. “Miss An’Drui, I really don’t think it does; just because —”

  “I can’t believe this!” Qerru-Mai through her hands up.

  “The amount of —”

  “No, you of all people. Why aren’t you on my side about this?”

  Sir Nollard put his face in his hands. “Because, Miss An’Drui, there aren’t any sides.”

  “Sixteen missing files from our Library in a month, Senator, sixteen. Benja is pretty much the only one with access to them. That doesn’t worry you in the slightest?”

  Senator Nollard shook his head. “It’s trivial, it really is. For the love of the Great Mother, just ask Benja.”

  “Why would I ask Benja if he’s the one I suspect?”

  “Then ask Whittingale.” said Nollard. “He’s been trailing Benja. He’s also concerned about your mother and Ombern, ‘thinks they're after something’.”

  “And for some reason you haven’t thought to tell me?”

  “Didn’t have time.” said Nollard.

  “You spent an hour yesterday meeting with Lord Shellingdrane about how much of his land out east should be used to grow corn!”

  “Miss AnDrui —”

  “You’re worried about corn and not stolen classified information?! You know what, I will talk to Whittingale.” Qerru-Mai stormed out of the room.

  Nollard called from his office, “It’s trivial, Miss An’Drui!” He shook his head and looked out his window.

  “Fillian!” Qerru-Mai ran across the golden treed courtyard to the prince. “Are you busy?” she asked.

  Fillian shook his head. “Not at the moment.”

  “I was wondering if you knew anything about those files that are missing from the Library?”

  “No, why?”

  She threw her hands up. “Nobody does! Sixteen files are gone. Something’s off, and I think Benja is up to something — possibly my mother and Ombern too.”

  “Well you heard about the incident a few nights ago?” said Fillian. “Some people think that Benja tried to poison my parents. But Benja said there was a Cerebrian in the Palace that could’ve done it.”

  “Do you know where Sir Whittingale is?” she asked.

  Fillian shook his head. “No, but the last time I saw him, he wanted you to start working on a case way out in Abendale.”

  “In Abendale?”

  “For Abendale. Apparently there were some soldiers of ours who broke into a cellar of wine the night before they were scheduled to be moved to the front lines in Endlebarr.”

  “And how is this my concern?” she asked.

  “They’re our troops.”

  “And I’m supposed to do something about this?”

>   “Exactly.” he said.

  “What does he want me to do?”

  “Probably write strongly worded letters to the soldiers.”

  “Thanks, that’s a real help.”

  “No problem.” Fillian smiled.

  “I’ll be talking to you about these missing files during the Parusean Ambassador’s dinner tonight. Until then, keep an eye out for Whittingale.”

  Fillian raised a hand as she was about to leave. “Wait.” Fillian looked around. “I haven’t been on the lookout for Whittingale, but I have for Prophet Ombern and —”

  Qerru-Mai leaned in. “And who?”

  Fillian frowned. “And your mother . . . they’re up to something. I’ve seen them sneaking around in the corridors beneath the Palace. Do you know something I don’t?”

  Qerru-Mai shook her head.

  As she left, Fillian shouted after her, “You’re too stressed, Miss An’Drui. Go shoot some targets or something to take your mind off it.

  Qerru-Mai sighed and rounded the corner in search of anyone with answers. Fillian had only left her with more questions than she started off with.

  ◆◆◆

  Panting, Benja rushed into his room, locked the door and pulled out a piece of paper with a single scribbled word on it. Lighting a candle, he held the paper over it, ready to burn it. But just as the edge began to brown, he jerked his hand back and stared at it before deciding to hide it under his mattress.

  Everrose

  Chapter Sixteen

  ~Night, September 25th

  A knock sounded on Madrick Nebelle’s door. “What is it?” he called without taking his eyes off the papers at his desk. Candles with silver flames provided light for the head of the Evertauri to read reports from his spies. The goblin-made door opened, and Raelynn Nebelle slipped into the room. Madrick saw his daughter in the corner of his eye but did not look up. “You abandoned your post.”

  Raelynn stood there uncomfortably. “Thanks for the warm welcome.”

  Madrick set down his papers and looked up at Raelynn. “We are months away from our final assaults on Xandria, and you leave. As my daughter, you have an obligation to help lead this cause.”

  “I was trying to find anything I could about mother,” said Raelynn. “Just because you’ve given up trying to find her doesn't mean I have to . . . You obviously have more important things on your mind.”

  “You can’t understand what family means.” said Madrick.

  Raelynn folded her arms. “And you do? Shonnar took care of me as a child while you were running the Evertauri and — and mentoring Selenora instead of me.” Madrick stared at her without expression. Expecting a retort, Raelynn waited . . . but there was no response. “Father, is Shonnar out today? I haven’t seen him.”

  The silver flames of the candles in the room dimmed. “I didn’t write you because I didn’t think you’d come back.”

  Raelynn stepped back. “What do you mean?”

  There was a long pause. “Your brother is dead.” said Madrick.

  “Wh — what?? Raelynn stuttered and crossed her arms.

  “It was a failed mission and he did what he was supposed to do.” The candles flickered back.

  Raelynn’s heart pounded and a frog formed in her throat; her eyes glazed over with a film of tears. “How long ago?” she said, barely speaking and trying to keep her composure.

  “Almost a month.”

  Tears started to drip down Raelynn’s red cheeks. “You didn’t tell me.” Raelynn burst into tears and stormed out of Madrick’s room.

  ◆◆◆

  Leaving her dormitory and wiping her remaining tears from her face, Raelynn’s eyebrows furrowed and she walked through the ancient goblin tunnels until coming upon the study in which Calleneck worked. She went by the open door and saw Calleneck looking down at a piece of parchment. “Cal?” she said.

  Calleneck’s head automatically jerked up, and his face drained of color for a brief moment. “You’re back Raelynn. Nice to see you after so long.”

  Raelynn shook her head. “You knew, and you didn’t write me. Everyone knew the whole time my brother was dead and no one sent a letter.”

  Calleneck stood still; he had nothing to say. “Even if I wrote you, I had no way of knowing what mailbox to address it to. Please forgive me.”

  Before she exited the study, she shook her head. “What if you were in my place?”

  ◆◆◆

  After his daughter had long gone, Madrick grabbed a key and unlocked a drawer from his desk. Inside it, a small white flower glowed. Madrick found a needle on his desk and pricked his finger, drawing blood. He reached forward and touched the flower; instantly, the blood disappeared as an electric shock ran through him. If you’re still with us, where are you? he thought to himself.

  Madrick jumped as Mordvitch knocked on his door. “Yes? Ah, Mordvitch; good to see you after these last few weeks. But the reports I’ve been receiving from you don’t appear to be favorable to our cause.”

  “I am aware, sir.” said Mordvitch. “As part of her political Council, I suspect the Queen has been recruiting more and more from the Sister Cities, not as much from Gienn, but heavily from Ontraug and Roshk. My guess is that she will soon start diverting supplies to Port Dellock.”

  “She already has. Grennkovff just returned from the fjords; he confirmed that supply operations are in full effect in Port Dellock. The Cerebrian army is backing off in Endlebarr, and there have been more recruitments to their navy.”

  “How do we know?”

  “Bernoil and Tooble went to Ontraug, they brought back this poster that hung in a square.” Madrick pulled a flyer out from a cabinet that read:

  All able bodied persons ages sixteen to thirty,

  report to town hall for inspection and draft processing.

  ~From fjords to mountaintops,

  the land of Cerebria reigns strong, just, and wise.~

  Mordvitch pointed to the bottom corner of the paper, “Sila Morya, the seal of the navy.”

  Madrick nodded and traced his finger along the edges. “I want you to disclose the information you told me last time to Miss Everrose.”

  Mordvitch raised an eyebrow. “May I ask why?”

  The silver flames of the candles flickered out and blazed again with the thoughts of Madrick as he slid his fingers on the edge of the parchment. “She’s growing wise and she’s becoming instrumental in our operations. Half of our successes in the past month are a result of her efforts.”

  “This is not because she is a second daughter to you?”

  Madrick eyed the drawer with the glowing flower. “Raelynn is my only . . .”

  “I’ll talk to Miss Everrose.” said Mordvitch as he walked out.

  Madrick looked down at his healed finger, and once again to the drawer with the glowing flower. A tear formed in his eye and quickly wiped it away.

  ◆◆◆

  Mordvitch moved a curled hair out of his face as he walked through the hallway. The yellow, ever-burning torches of the goblin tunnels flickered a dark violet as Mordvitch passed, just as they turned silver when Madrick wandered. Although it was always night below Seirnkov, the corridors of the Nexus were cold and quiet. Mordvitch spun around when someone whispered his name. Looking back, the corridor was empty. He continued to walk forward. A whisper like a long hiss slipped over the stone, “Mordvitch!” He stopped again. Nobody in sight.

  Slightly disturbed, Mordvitch kept walking to the center of the Nexus. A dark man with dreadlocks passed him with an occasional green spark shooting out from his foot. “Grennkovff.”

  “Ah, Sir Mordvitch,” said Grennkovff, stopping, “glad to see you back for a visit. Fine work you’re doing.” The torches on the sides of the hallway fought to flicker between violet and green, following the two’s thoughts. The torches reflected a tension between them that was not obvious through their speech or body language.

  “Thank you. Do you know where I could speak to Miss Everrose?”

>   “Selenora is in a private study; would you like me to walk you there?”

  “Yes, please;” said Mordvitch, “in fact, while we walk, I wish to speak with you about your findings on your trip to Port Dellock.”

  “Of course, sir.” Grennkovff led Mordvitch down a corridor and across a bridge which stretched across a deep chasm. “The armory there in the city has a regular resupply day, with . . .”

  Grennkovff knocked on Selenora’s door and entered with Mordvitch. The girl sat behind a desk, reading a book with focused eyes. Her skin was pale, like she hadn’t been to the surface since she last saw Mordvitch. “Yes?” she said.

  Mordvitch slipped a piece of paper onto her book. “I need a briefing with you on the latest findings in the castle.”

  “By the request of whom?”

  “President Nebelle.”

  Selenora nodded, turning to the tall man. “Grennkovff, please leave us, but return here after Sir Mordvitch has gone; I wish to speak with you.” Grennkovff gave a slight bow and exited the room.

  Mordvitch looked back at the door. “Powerful men respect you, Miss Everrose.”

  “And women. And you understand as well what virtues pull those into your influence.”

  “Wisdom.” said Mordvitch. “I’ve seen it with the Queen.”

  “And you . . . Sir, the briefing.” The torches in the room flickered between violet and crimson.

  “President Nebelle has asked me to tell you about section four of the September file given to me by the Queen. The paper on your book includes a summary. It confirms that the highest members of the Queen’s Guard have been sent to Roshk.”