“Watch the sky,” Lileth said, her voice seemingly magnified in his blindness.
One by one, little specks of light appeared in the void, forming an entirely new starscape across the ebony blanket above them. Oberon woke above them, shining with newborn rainbow hues.
“Welcome to the house of Allias,” Lileth said, tossing her crystal lens over the edge where it fell to pieces, clinking down the branches below.
For a moment they held each other with their eyes. Cole suddenly felt not so alone. Perhaps him being here was not the worst thing that could happen. Cole felt other urges as he swam through Lileth’s eyes. He placed a hand over hers.
“Lileth…I-” Cole flinched in fright as if someone had slammed a door, though he was certain there was no sound. Lileth reacted as well, though not as severely as he.
“Lileth, Cole, please come to the Lurkwood Gate as soon as you can.”
If Cole hadn’t been already accustomed to Chiron’s presence in his mind, he would have thought he was going insane. The sensation was still unsettling, however.
“We are on our way now, Master Chiron,” Lileth said aloud. “What might we expect to find at the gates of Lurkwood?”
Chiron’s voice echoed in their minds: “There is someone here who is very interested in seeing our newest initiate. I must beg some haste from both of you. Our guest is most irascible at the moment.”
An abrupt emptiness filled Cole’s mind as Chiron left it. His sense of self filled the void like a waterfall pouring into a teacup.
“Goran!” Cole cried out before closing his eyes, his face strained as he focused his Passion. “It’s definitely him, he’s real close.” Cole paused, concern washing over his face. “Why would Chiron get involved with this? Goran’s just a little guy, only about knee-high to me. He can be fierce for sure, but I don’t see why an elder would find him interesting.”
“There’s only one way to find out,” Lileth said, tightening the bands on her dress.
“Follow me!” Cole said as he readied to drop down to the ramp below. He couldn’t wait to see his friend again.
“Chiron’s message was urgent. We will fly there instead.” Jade wings sparked from her shoulders as the wind kicked up about them.
“Right.” Cole turned his back to her, lifting his arms. Nothing made him feel more like a child than being carried like one.
Lileth’s grip was gentle yet unyielding. Without warning she planted a foot on the railing, launching the two of them into open air. Cole’s stomach lurched up into his chest as they dropped several feet before wind filled Lileth’s wings. The Arts District was soon far behind as they darted under and over the branches of passing trees. Though Oberon and the stars had reignited, the lights from The Sill’s gratia stones had not, and that left the ground below bathed in shadow. Sooner than Cole expected, they alighted in a whirlwind of dried leaves and dirt. They were at the Lurkwood Gate, the same one Cole had first entered with Roth. The tunnel was already open. Chiron strode barefoot towards them, an ambient white light illuminating the ground about him.
“Haste indeed. If the both of you would follow me.” Chiron’s voice had no trace of its usual polite cheer. Worry blossomed in Cole’s thoughts.
They walked with purpose, guided through the dark tunnel by Chiron’s light, empty gratia stones gleaming as they passed. Cole had to jog to keep up, but he didn’t care. He checked his bond with Goran, ensuring he was okay. Goran was close, and to Cole’s relief merely felt bored.
They emerged from the tunnel to find a train of wagons lined up towards the gate. Sourceless light ran down the trail, illuminating the entire area. A dozen Aenerians bustled in a group near the middle of the convoy. Cole looked down the line. There was no sign of Goran.
“Your arrival is most welcome human, or should I call you Underkin?” Whind’s form melted from the nearest tree. He knew Cole’s secret as well, it seemed. “As I have been told, your friend has given the caravan endless trouble since placed in their custody. They have restrained him both physically and magically, so that he does not bring harm upon himself or others.”
“What are you talking about?” Cole scoffed. “He doesn’t need restraining! He’s tiny. And I’m pretty sure he was doing just fine on his own.” Cole pushed past Whind, ignoring his rebuttal.
He ran down the line to where most of the Aenerians were gathered. They laughed at him as he drew near, joking at his size.
“Get out of my way,” Cole barked, elbowing them in the knees.
The Aenerians laughed even harder, though a few moved just enough to let him through. Cole squeezed his way close to the nearest wagon. Sitting in a cage plain as Oberon, was Habbad.
Chapter 19
Angels and Burdens
“Habbad!” Cole jumped up into the wagon, both hands wrapped around the bars of his friend’s cage. He found Habbad sitting cross-legged with his feet bound to his hands. “Are you ok? We’ll get you out of there in a second,” Cole said, his mouth pushed between the bars.
“Oh no we won’t! And he can’t hear you anyway,” said a stout man from the crowd. His sleeves were rolled up over hairy forearms and he wore a black eye patch. He looked thoroughly travel-worn. “That one’s been nothing but trouble since your sentries dumped him in our laps. Gave me this,” he said, jabbing a thumb towards his eye patch, “and that was after we restrained him for attacking Wendel.” He gestured to a chubby boy sporting a thick crown of bandages. “We’ve blinded his eyes and plugged his ears, but every time we relax some, the mongoose wriggles out of our bonds. Don’t matter if we tie him up with magic or with steel. Which one of your lot is taking him? I warn you, you close an eye and he turns to a flaming weasel.”
“I’ll take him, he’s my friend,” Cole explained, hopping down from the wagon. “He’ll listen to me I promise, just let him out of there.”
“Not a chance, Underkin. You’ll forgive me if I’m a little less trusting of your kind than I was before this push. Be gone now before I take it out of your hide.” He shooed Cole away, hollering back towards the Lurkwood Gate. “Oi! Who’s taking the rat? And if you got a healer in your bunch send him our way!”
“How can I assist?” Chiron seemed to appear from thin air, rolling up his own sleeves. “Your eye, sir? And the boy’s head I assume?”
“Master Chiron.” The man shrank with a stumbling bow. “No-no, please. Trivialities such as ours are not worthy of your attentions. We’ll find a healer inside, please don’t trouble yourself.”
“To help another is a privilege, not a burden,” Chiron said, cupping his hand over the man’s wounded eye. “No trouble at all my good man.”
“Thank you! The honor…Wait till my kids hear about this.” The man ripped off the eye patch, blinking and grinning. He looked as if he wanted to say more, but Chiron was already ministering to Wendel’s injury.
“Chiron, can you tell them to release Habbad?” Cole interrupted. He ignored the offended looks of the group about him. In Cole’s opinion their injuries were less than minor. He himself received much worse during Roth’s lessons.
“You may release the Underkin,” Chiron addressed the group as he finished with the boy’s hand.
The stout man gripped Habbad’s cage, shaking it violently and startling Habbad. “It may be wiser to leave well enough alone. Maybe place him inside a proper jail before you undo the magic at least-” The man faltered as Chiron gave him a gentle, yet expectant look, “-but I’m no man of Wisdom so what would I know. Glendail, remove your trickeries from the Underkin.”
A tired, aged woman stepped into the light. She shut her eyes and tickled her glowing fingers through the air as though playing a piano. Hands dimming, she opened her eyes, appearing wide awake and years younger. “It is done.”
Habbad opened his eyes with steady caution. His face was equal parts Fear and ferocity. Recognition flashed when he found Cole.
“Habbad it’s me!” Cole jumped back up onto the wagon, yanking at the bars. “You�
�re safe now, it’s okay.”
Habbad squinted at his jailers, but otherwise didn’t say a word.
The stout man climbed atop the wagon, rocking it back and forth with his girth. “All right you little blighter, I’m going to let you out. Your friends assure me you won’t be any trouble. Our orders were to get you here safe, which we’ve done. The contract’s complete. Now, if you so much as make a queer look my way I’ll break those nimble little hands of yours. And I’ll still get paid,” he added in a deadly cheerful voice.
Habbad remained quiet as the lock snapped open and the cage unfolded around him. Apparently he didn’t need help with bonds as he twisted his hands, unraveling the cords before throwing them aside.
“Good for you then,” the man spat, kicking the rest of the cage flat and knocking it to the deck of the wagon with a clang. “Off you get. May you stub your toes on every rock from here to the Light Side.”
Habbad jumped off the side of the wagon, his wrappings tattered and torn, exposing parts of his skin. He was shorter than Cole remembered. “Goran is in the wagon behind me,” he said to Cole, jerking his head over his shoulder.
“If you’re talking about the mirak, he’s ours. Caught him fair and right we did. Biggest one I’ve ever seen.” The stout man hopped down from the wagon, his rotund belly dancing from the impact. “He’ll be worth a fortune.”
“He let himself get caught, you lumbering simpleton,” Habbad snapped. “He’s only in there because he wants to be.”
“In where?” Cole asked while running to the next wagon. “Goran!”
There was a loud snort and the wagon rocked. Cole backed away a few paces. In the dim light he saw another cage, much larger than Habbad’s. The wagon rocked again and Cole made out a pair of red eyes in the shadows between the bars.
“I told you he’s ours.” The man stepped forth, illuminating the wagon with a gratia stone lantern.
Thick leathery paws reached from the inside of the cage, wrapping their black claws around the bars. Cole covered his ears as the metal screeched and squealed, snapping and breaking apart. The cage splintered apart with a hammering report. A massive, brindle-patterned form erupted from the wagon, landing with a thud that nearly buckled Cole’s knees.
Goran was enormous. Once fierce but somewhat adorable because of his size, he now carried the wild majesty of a tiger mixed with rolling muscles of a gorilla. On all fours he was two feet taller than Cole, but there was no mistaking those sweeping, saber canines or his tufted white mohawk. Roth-sized muscles flexed under his brindle fur, which had receded into his shoulders and forearms, giving way to a stone-like armor. The stout man ran back behind the wagon, reappearing with a bladed pike.
“I don’t think that stick will be necessary, or very effective,” Chiron said as he approached, illuminating the whole with a flick of his hand. “We will work out the details later, but I will personally pay for the mirak, or as he should be called, Goran.”
The man looked from Goran to Chiron several times before relaxing his stance, though he still held onto the pike. “Of course, Wisdom Walker.”
Goran ignored everyone else and stared unblinkingly into Cole’s eyes. Hulking shoulders bulged as he sauntered close to Cole. He leaned down until their noses touched, Goran snorting hot breath over Cole’s face.
“So you’re a mirak huh? I always thought you were some kind of weasel,” Cole laughed as he waved Goran’s breath from his face. “Ugh, smells like you’ve been mowing on fish again.”
“Coo-cha.” Goran’s voice rumbled like falling boulders. He nudged his velvety nose into Cole’s, pushing him back a step.
“It’s good to see you again too, Bud.” He knew Goran had changed somehow, though he hadn’t expected to find his friend transformed into a ginormous monster. Still, Cole was happy to be reunited. He leaned around and inspected the remnants of Goran’s cage, which was covered in mounds of peeled fruits and animal bone. Cole smacked Goran on the arm. “I see why you stayed in the cage. All the food you can eat and you don’t even have to hunt for it.”
Goran nudged him again and grunted, “Coo Cha.”
Chiron clapped his hands together and addressed the caravan’s leader, “Well then, it looks like everything is in order, with your payment still outstanding of course. The day is late and there are soft beds to be filled. Might I tempt your outfit to stay for a while? We’ve only just begun to celebrate the arrival of Allias.”
Using his pike as a walking stick, the stout man came out from behind the wagon. “Please, Master Chiron. Take no offense but my men and I would rather set up camp along the beach. We’ve had enough dealings with The Sill to know that we’re better off as far away from it as possible.”
“No offense taken, my dear man. You’ll be wanting your payment now then?” Chiron asked politely.
“The day is late like you said. No need to trouble yourself now. We can square up tomorrow,” the man said to the ground.
“Nonsense.” Chiron looked down the line of wagons. “Are the omnistones at the head of your carriages acceptable?”
“That’s what they’re there for,” he said, pulling a blanket off the front of the carriage Goran had just vacated. “This one will be just fine, thank you.”
Whipping his brick wall cape around his back, Chiron raised a glowing hand. A blinding emerald light grew from each omnistone until the air was thick with energy. The entire caravan erupted with cries of disbelief and gratitude.
“You are most generous, Wisdom Walker!” the man exclaimed.
“That should cover the damage to your cage as well,” Chiron said, dropping his hand. “Thank you for delivering our friends safely to our doors. Now, if you’ll excuse us.”
Chiron walked back towards the Lurkwood Gate. Cole jogged after him with Goran in tow. Habbad trailed reluctantly, scowling at everyone. Both Lileth and Whind stared wide-eyed at Goran’s imposing size. Cole stopped before the dark tunnel, noticing that Habbad had stopped several paces behind.
“What’s up?” Cole asked in a gentle tone. He didn’t like the look on Habbad’s face.
“I’m not going in there,” Habbad said.
“Why not? This place is great. The Dark Ones are not the monsters they’ve been made out to be. They’ve been nothing but great to me since I arrived. Lileth here saved my life twice.” The rest of their group stopped now, watching the two of them with reserved interest.
“Well that’s funny, because the Dark Ones have been nothing but terrible to me since my capture, in case you couldn’t tell by my accommodations on the wagon.” Habbad pointed over his shoulder.
“You shouldn’t have fought them, they were only trying to help. They were under orders to bring you here where it’s safe.” Cole could see his words had no effect. “Habbad, this place is amazing. They can teach you all about magic, not just Wisdom but Rage and Passion too. You’ll get your own bed and regular meals, and I’ve only just started exploring the rest of the city. There’s the markets, the Arts District, the dancing gardens. It’s the only place I ever felt safe in since coming to this planet. Not everyone is trying to kill you out here, you know.”
“And what do they want in return? They extend a sweetened hand of friendship, but there must be a cost. I’ll hear it before I enter that gate.” Habbad’s expression darkened. “I’ll not be used or made a fool.”
“Well, I’m a student here now, and when my unit is ready I’ll be a member of the military,” Cole said, pride bolstering him. “The dark side aren’t working for The Three, they are united against them. We’re learning how to fight them and their minions.”
Habbad crossed his arms. “What if I don’t like how I’m being used? What if I’m assigned to attack a village of Underkin because they’re perceived as a resource or merely in the way? My entire race has been taught since birth that the Dark Ones are the true demons of this world. Surely these Dark Ones will face my kind sooner or later now that the barrier is down. If I disagree with their tactics would
they simply let me pack up my bags and return home?”
Cole struggled to find the words. Habbad made a good point. Chiron stepped forward, hands open. The size difference between Habbad and Chiron was astounding. Habbad only came up to Cole’s belly button, and Cole was equally small compared with Chiron.
Chiron squatted low, his cape a carpet of mossy dirt running down his back, merging seamlessly with the ground. “Hello Habbad. My name is Chiron.” His voice was kind, but held no hint of tolerance for disrespect. “You stand at the gate of The Sill, an independent city I am proud to call my home. Every person within these walls is of utmost importance to me, and should you enter I would count you as one of them. But before I allow you to enter, we will come to an understanding. I will tell you no lies, nor lay any traps for you to later fall into, but I expect an equal level of honesty from you. Does this sound reasonable to you thus far?”
“Make your case, Dark One.” Even though Chiron was crouched as low as he could, Habbad had to crane his neck up in order to maintain eye contact.
“Firstly, I apologize for the rough treatment you received during your travels here. Had I not been so preoccupied with the Domina I would have retrieved you myself. Given the circumstances this caravan was the best we could do to ensure your safe delivery to us.”
“I needed no retrieval or saving,” Habbad spat. “I was forcibly taken and held without my consent. Where I’m from we call that kidnapping.”
Chiron donned a pensive look as he brought the tips of his fingers together. “By the trouble you caused the convoy, I can surmise you are resourceful and have some skill with Wisdom. However, I assure you, had you escaped both our sentries and a division of Domina, you would have fallen victim to the wild beasts or environment sooner or later. This is not the Light Side you are accustomed to. We have dangers across our lands that even our most experienced warriors must pay heed to. Your skills, however formidable, would not have been enough to save you from a painful death. That is why I had you brought here with all haste. Now that you are here and safe, we will go over your options.”
Saving The Dark Side: Book 1: The Devotion Page 32