Chaos Trapped

by Eric T Knight

  “You are stronger than I thought,” he said in his strange accent, “but unfortunately for you, no power is a match for chaos, not even Stone.” He held up one hand. Purple flames appeared there, hovering above his palm.

  “Also unfortunate for you, Lowellin decided some time ago that there was no longer any reason to keep you alive.” The flames grew higher. “It is time for you to die.”

  Fen fought desperately to master the pain and call Stone power to him, but his thoughts were scattered, and the web of chaos power was acting as a dampener, interfering with his connection to the Stone. The sorcerer smiled. The flames spilled off his hand and landed on Fen. New waves of agony flared as they fed on him.

  Then, through the flames, Fen saw Barik stand up behind the sorcerer. He looked ghastly, his skin white from blood loss, the wound in his side a gaping mess of bone and muscle. From his belt he pulled his dagger…

  And drove it into the sorcerer’s back.

  The sorcerer howled in pain and spun. With a flick of his fingers he shot a thick bolt of chaos power into Barik, sending him flying a dozen paces. Barik fell on his back and lay at an odd angle.

  The sorcerer turned back to Fen. “Not enough,” he said. The blade slid out of his back and clattered to the floor, the wound closing up behind it.

  But Barik had bought Fen the time he needed. He fought through the pain and the blackness and managed to free one hand. He placed his palm on the stone floor…

  The Stone answered.

  The floor beneath the sorcerer split open suddenly. The man’s eyes went wide, and he flung out his arms. He managed to catch one side of the crack and keep from falling all the way in. His head and one arm were still out of the crack, and he swung his other arm up, fingers scrabbling desperately, trying to find a hold to pull himself free.

  “Die,” Fen said.

  The crack slammed shut, pulverizing the sorcerer’s body and killing him instantly. His head slumped to the floor, his eyes staring sightlessly.

  With his death, the web of chaos energy holding Fen dissipated. He rolled onto his side, then staggered to his feet and hobbled over to where Barik lay. Blood was pooling around the man. More came from his mouth.

  Fen fell to his knees beside him. He rolled Barik onto his back and propped his head up.

  “It’s okay,” he said. “You’re going to be okay. Take life from me. Take as much as you need and heal yourself.”

  Barik’s eyes moved to his. Slowly. he shook his head. He tried weakly to push Fen away.

  “No,” he said, his voice a whisper. “Never…never again.”

  “Just one more time,” Fen begged, tears in his eyes. “You can stop after that.”

  “I can’t. I won’t ever be able to stop. You don’t know what it’s like. The hunger…it only grows stronger and stronger. In time I would be like one of them. Better this way.” His eyes started to close.

  “You can’t die,” Fen said, cradling his head on his lap. “Your people need you.”

  The eyes opened again. “Not anymore. I have broken their trust. My time is ended.” He reached up with one hand and touched Fen’s cheek.

  “You have been…a son to me. The man I hoped my son would become. You’ve made me proud.”

  His eyes closed for good. Fen laid his head on Barik’s chest and tears flowed.

  Time was suspended as Fen wept for the second father he’d lost. How long it was he didn’t know, but his grief was interrupted suddenly by the sound of a loud crack.

  Fen looked up. It sounded like the noise came from near the center of the cavern.

  Another crack, and then a whole section of stone floor blew up and outwards, shards of rock raining across the cavern.

  The pool of purple light lay exposed. Small waves rippled across its surface as Fen lowered Barik’s head and slowly stood.

  The waves grew larger and choppier. Now it was like a storm was brewing under the surface. Fen began backing away, at the same time reaching into the stone all around him. Stone power answered, but not fast enough.

  A thick, clawed hand emerged from the pool. Another hand followed and then the head. Alien eyes fixed on Fen.

  The Devourers had arrived.

  Chapter Fifteen: Aislin

  Treylen woke up from a deep slumber and knew instantly that something was wrong. He lay there on his sleeping mat listening to the waves crash against the shore and knew that this was no ordinary storm. He was closely tuned into the sea. If a storm was approaching, he would have known it. The sea had been exceptionally calm the whole previous day, the sky a pure, cloudless blue.

  He listened deeper, and there it was. There was turbulence in Seaforce, the power that lay within all water. Something, or someone, was causing that turbulence.

  He rose and dressed in the darkness. He didn’t bother with shoes or a coat. The night was warm, and when he stepped outside, the sand underfoot still retained the heat of the day.

  He made his way down the beach, his feet easily finding the path in the darkness, the path he had trod for so many years. The beach was a white strip extending to the horizon. Waves rose up from the dark face of the sea, one after another, and crashed hard onto the sand before hissing and withdrawing. There was no wind. The night air was calm.

  He walked until the waves were breaking around his ankles and then stood there, his eyes closed, his senses extended out into the sea. Waiting. Listening.

  He realized quickly that the turbulence was caused by Aislin, and he frowned. What was she doing out in the sea at night? He hadn’t seen her since the day the zhoulin attacked and tried to kidnap her. She’d been kept at the Tender estate where armed soldiers guarded her day and night, trying to keep her safe. Since then workers had gone every day to the cave at the base of the cliffs, climbing the stairs to work on enlarging the entrance to the chamber where the artifact was kept.

  Had Aislin gone to look at the artifact for some reason? But why go at night? And how had she slipped away from her mother and her guards?

  He felt Aislin drawing closer, and he stepped back from the water’s edge. A few seconds later her head emerged from the water, a dozen paces out. Beyond her, just for a moment, he saw twin dorsal fins and knew that the zhoulin had accompanied her, though now the creature was returning to the deeps.

  The water around Aislin seethed with a multitude of other, lesser sea creatures, sharks and dolphins and rays and fish of every description. The water boiled with them as they swam madly around her, agitated by something they didn’t understand. As Aislin reached the shore and walked out of the water, he heard the sound of hundreds of pincers clacking and saw that thousands of crabs of all sizes were spread out around her, waving their claws in the air.

  “What happened?” he asked her.

  She looked at him. The darkness hid her face from his sight, but he knew her well enough to know that she had no expression on her face right then.

  “Nothing.” She turned her face away and started to walk by him, but he took hold of her arm. When he did, the clacking increased in volume, and the crabs swarmed around him. Several climbed onto his feet.

  “Let me go,” she said.

  “Tell me what happened. What were you doing out there? How did you get out there without me noticing?”

  “He tried to make me get the key for him.”

  Treylen blinked at her, confused. “Who? One of the Lementh’koy?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t think so. He didn’t look like one of them. He didn’t tell me his name.”

  “What did he look like? Why did he want the key?”

  “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I want to go home and go to sleep.”

  Treylen wanted to press her further. Something important had just happened. But she had withdrawn into herself, where she was remote and inaccessible. Pushing her now would only force her deeper inside.

  He let go of her arm. “I’ll come with you.”

  “I don’t want you to. I don’t want anyon
e around me anymore.”

  “Okay. I’m not coming with you.” He turned away and went to his hut, leaving her staring after him. Inside the hut he found his shoes and drew them on quickly. When he got back outside, she was walking by on the path that led to the front gates of Qarath. He fell in behind her.

  She turned. He could feel her glaring at him. “I told you I don’t want you coming with me.”

  “I’m not,” he said. “But there is something I must speak to your mother about.”

  She crossed her small arms and looked up at him. “You’re not being true. Why would you go talk to Netra at night?”

  He noticed her use of Netra’s name, rather than calling her Mama, and wondered at it.

  “It’s important,” he said. He stepped around her and continued on the path. “I don’t have time to stand here and talk about it.”

  After a few steps, he heard her resume walking. The path led along the banks of the Cron River. The water in the river roiled and splashed over its banks, churned by Aislin’s passing.

  Clearly, whatever had happened had deeply upset her. Frightened, she’d retreated to the only haven she knew, inside, back to where there were no feelings. But she couldn’t completely suppress her feelings, which was why the water and the sea creatures were responding so strongly to her. They were expressing what she was trying so hard to keep hidden.

  He wondered who it was who’d stolen her away and tried to get her to retrieve the key for him. It wasn’t the Lementh’koy. Could it be one of the Devourers? But they were still trapped in the Abyss. And what was it the key to? Before this he’d only heard it referred to as an artifact. Now it seemed that it was a key.

  The gates to the city were closed, but Treylen banged on them until a peephole was opened. A young guard looked out. He had a weak chin and a long nose. Treylen recognized him. He’d seen him working the gates many times in the last few years. He searched his memory for a name.

  “Zaine, is it?”

  The young guard nodded, but he didn’t look any friendlier.

  “We need to get in,” Treylen said.

  “I’m not allowed to open the gates before dawn. Come back then.” The peephole started to close.

  “Wait, Zaine,” Treylen said. “Aislin is with me. Her mother will be worried about her.”

  The young man frowned. “Aislin?”

  “Open the gate,” Aislin said irritably, stepping out from behind Treylen. “I’m tired of standing here.”

  Zaine’s eyes widened. “It is you.”

  “Who else would it be?”

  “Hold on a moment.”

  Zaine gave an order. There were rattling sounds, and then one gate swung open. Zaine stepped out, holding up a lantern and peering at Aislin. “How did you get out of the city?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” she said crossly. “Let me in.”

  “What are you doing outside the city at night?” he asked her. She scowled at him. He turned a suspicious look on Treylen, who shrugged and held out his hands.

  “I’m sure they’re searching for her,” Treylen said. “I need to get her to the Tender estate quickly.”

  Tired of waiting, Aislin pushed past Zaine and marched through the gate. Treylen raised an eyebrow at Zaine, who shook his head and stepped aside to let Treylen pass.

  “Damned peculiar,” he said to Treylen. “I’ll have to report this.”

  “I don’t think that will be a problem,” Treylen said. “Look.”

  There was the sound of hooves on cobblestones, rapidly drawing closer. A score or more people on horseback were hurrying toward them. Several carried torches, illuminating weapons and armor. At their lead was a big man who could be none other than Macht Rome himself. He was wearing a red cloak and his black, bushy hair stuck out in all directions. On one side of him rode his chief advisor, Chancellor Quyloc. On the other side was Netra.

  They closed the distance quickly. “Guards! Open the gates!” Rome yelled. “Hurry!”

  But right then Netra’s eyes fell on the small form of her daughter, and she cried out, “Aislin!” Her horse was still moving when she threw herself down off it and swept Aislin up into her arms.

  The rest of the riders came to a halt at an order from their macht, and Rome and Quyloc dismounted.

  “What happened?” Rome asked Treylen. “Where did you find her?”

  “She found me, actually. She came out of the sea.”

  “What was she doing out there?” Quyloc asked. He was wearing a green cloak over a white shirt and cotton breeches. His gaze was intense, missing nothing.

  “Someone tried to get her to fetch the key for him. But that’s all I know. She won’t say more.”

  “What key?” Rome asked.

  Right then there was an indignant sound from Aislin, and she squirmed so much that Netra had to let her go. “Really, Netra,” Aislin grumbled. “That was enough, don’t you think?”

  Netra looked down at her, confused, then at Treylen, who shrugged. Netra crouched down in front of Aislin. “What happened?”

  “I showed him that he should leave me alone. He tried to make me get the key for him, but I called Gaz, and she bit his face.” She had a dark look on her face. She spoke calmly, as if it was nothing, but Treylen could sense that underneath the surface her emotions were in turmoil.

  “Who is ‘he’?” Netra asked. “Who took you?”

  “He didn’t say, except that you would know him.” Aislin glanced at Rome and Quyloc. “You too.” Her voice was oddly inflectionless. She sounded like she was repeating something she’d memorized.

  Quyloc had a curious look on his face. He turned to Netra. “You said when you came looking for us that she was pulled into a shadow?” She nodded. He looked at Rome. “It has to be Lowellin.”

  “But Netra said he was devoured by the ingerlings.”

  “Somehow he survived.”

  Rome frowned. “But how? Those things eat gods.” He forestalled Quyloc’s next words with a wave of his hand. “Yeah, yeah, I know. Shapers, not gods. But some very powerful ones, from what I understood.”

  “There is no one else who travels through shadows like Lowellin does,” Quyloc said. “And Aislin said he knows us.”

  “So Lowellin is working for the Devourers now?” Rome asked.

  “I don’t know.” Quyloc turned to Aislin, but before he could ask her a question, she spoke.

  “He said once he gets the key for the Devourers, they will give him this world.” She sounded irritated, like someone who’s had to explain something obvious to a slow audience. “Are we almost done here? I want to go to sleep now.”

  Quyloc started to speak, but Rome cut him off. “It can wait, Quyloc. She’s been through a lot. You can ask her in the morning.”

  Quyloc started to argue, then subsided. “I suggest that she stay in the palace tonight. I want to take this up again early in the morning.”

  “I agree,” Rome said. To Netra he said, “We’ll send for anything you need from your home. I’d feel better having you close.”

  “It’s okay,” Netra said. She’d taken hold of Aislin’s hand while they were talking, and Treylen could see the child twisting, trying to pull away. She picked up Aislin and set her on the saddle. Before Netra could climb on herself, Aislin moved, sliding off the seat and positioning herself behind it.

  “What are you doing?” Netra said.

  “I don’t need to ride in front of you,” Aislin replied. “I’m not a baby. I can hold on by myself.”

  Netra mounted. Treylen noticed that Aislin held onto the saddle itself, rather than taking hold of her mother. Netra looked down at him. “Thank you, Treylen.”

  “I didn’t really do anything. She was already heading this way. I don’t think I could have stopped her if I tried.”

  “Nevertheless. Will you come to the palace in the morning? I want to talk with you.”

  Treylen had an idea he knew what she wanted to talk about. He patted her leg. “Of course. I
’ll come as early as I can.”

  “You could come right now,” Rome said. “There’s more rooms in that place than bedbugs in a two-bit tavern. You can have your pick.”

  Treylen almost said no—he didn’t really like being indoors that much and being that far from the sea made it worse—but he caught Aislin looking at him. She turned away as soon as she realized he’d seen her.

  “All right.” One of the soldiers dismounted and handed his horse’s reins to Treylen. Treylen looked at the animal suspiciously. He’d only been on a horse once before, and it hadn’t ended well. Not for him anyway. The horse turned its head and seemed to be studying him as well. “Are we going to have a problem?” he asked the animal.

  Netra twitched her reins and moved her horse to where she could lay one hand on Treylen’s mount’s forehead. Faintly, Treylen felt a sort of wave of calmness flow outwards from her. “She’ll be fine,” Netra said. “Trust me.”

  Treylen mounted with only a little help from the displaced soldier, and soon they were riding toward the castle.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Tell me everything that happened,” Quyloc said. It was the next morning, shortly after dawn, and the six of them—Rome, Netra, Treylen, Aislin and Cara, the FirstMother—were gathered in the map room in the palace.

  Aislin was sitting on a chair, her legs dangling, too short for her feet to reach the floor. Quyloc was standing over her. She glanced up at him, then her eyes slid to the door. Her hands tightened on the sides of the chair. Treylen knew she was close to bolting and realized he needed to do something.

  “Take your time,” Treylen said gently, motioning Quyloc to move back. He was practically looming over the child. “There’s no hurry.”

  Quyloc scowled at Treylen but moved back. Treylen looked meaningfully at an empty chair, and after a moment Quyloc sat down.

  “Do you want some water, Aislin?” Netra asked. Aislin didn’t reply or look at her. She was looking down at the floor.

  Minutes passed in silence broken only by someone shifting in their chair. Finally, Aislin spoke, her voice very small.