“The Three may have been banished, but they were still very much alive and spent every moment working against their bonds. Without the soul flies they were denied their most valuable resource; however, they had already amassed a sizeable population of Underkin, which made for a potent substitute. Their strength continues to grow to this day.”
Ka Reine fell silent, indulging in her pipe as the memories of ages swam in her eyes. The crowd waited in quiet patience as the minutes dragged on. Her head sank to her chest and she appeared to have stopped breathing. Cole wondered if she had perhaps fallen asleep, and they would have to wait in respectful repose for her to wake up.
Eventually Ka Reine stirred, pulling her head up towards the sky and releasing a cloud of smoke. She continued as if nothing had happened. “I tell you this not just as an old woman’s lament of the past; this tale is also a warning. War is creeping for your door, and when it comes calling it may not wear the face of an honest enemy. It may present itself as a deceitful ally or perhaps some sinister part of your very own souls. The Three are ever changing and evolve their arts in ways we cannot possibly comprehend. To be blunt, we are weaker than we were before the banishing, and they have only grown stronger. The Unbound, they had the right idea. These old eyes of mine have seen it first-hand. To limit yourself to a single way of thinking is a death-sentence gilded with pride.”
Ka Reine looked around the amphitheater, taking several minutes to plant her eyes on every spectator. Cole suspected her ancient gaze lingered on him a little longer than the others. Satisfied, Ka Reine up-ended her pipe and tapped it on the floor of the stage, emptying the ashes. Storing the pipe back up her sleeve, she brought her rickety body back to its feet.
“Keep your fires warm, your waters flowing, and your skies clear.” Without another word, Ka Reine hobbled off the stage.
Slowly, people began stirring and talking again as they made their way out of the theater. Habbad remained sitting, his face locked in a vacant stare as if his entire world had been turned upside-down.
Cole attempted to break him from his reverie. “I had no idea The Sill was so important. And to think we’re in worse shape than the last time. Kind of makes me wonder if we should bother trying so hard when we’re the only ones on the planet willing to learn all three schools.” Cole leaned back, stretching out on his pillow. “What do you want to do next? I know I’m starving after all that.”
Habbad was slow to wake from his daydream. “So much has been revealed to me. I need some time to think on Ka Reine’s words. Thank you for bringing me here, but I would like to return to the room now.”
Cole wasn’t quite ready to turn in yet, but he understood. Habbad’s whole life had been a lie. He had lost his entire family and had his world shaken. Thinking of Habbad’s losses reminded Cole of his own. “All right, let’s head back then.”
“I’ll take myself back. I know the way,” Habbad said, standing up.
“Are you sure?” Cole asked, secretly glad for the excuse to stay a bit longer.
Habbad nodded without hesitation. “Quite. I need some time alone.”
“I’ll see you later then,” Cole replied, thinking on a few places he had yet to visit.
Chapter 21
Warrior
“Where the hell is Master Chiron? My mind is about as relaxed as it’s going to get. I’ll fall asleep if he takes any longer.” Storn rose from the circle, rubbing his back. “Why don’t we get started on our own? Someone attack me.”
“Storn, for once in your life why don’t you sit down and try some patience.” Sitra chucked a rock at Storn, which he caught in midair with the power of his Wisdom alone. Since Deekus’s death, Storn had taken a greater interest in the other schools.
Valen rose from the circle as well. “Storn is right. Chiron has never been this late. Something is amiss, or else he would have at least sent a message to me.”
While Cole was inclined to disagree with Valen out of sheer spite, he was admittedly waiting for a chance to stretch his cramping legs. The rest of the group rose as well. They started an exercise that Chiron would normally have them do on their own. They picked an object, which this time happened to be Cole’s dagger, and took turns changing one physical property while the rest of the group guessed what the change was. Cole was limited to a few simple alterations which no one had any trouble guessing, such as weight and temperature.
Habbad surprised the group by winning a round. When the dagger made its way back to him he hefted it with a triumphant look. “The dagger is a cycle older than it was before we started the game,” Habbad confessed, passing it to Eliza.
“How clever!” Eliza gushed. “Very subtle of you, Habbad. I never would have guessed, even if I had a whole cycle to myself.”
Storn kicked a clump of grass. “Cheater! There’s no way to prove it. The little rat’s probably making it up. I couldn’t sense a damn thing different about the knife.”
“That is because you did not look at it properly,” Lileth interjected. “None of us did. Well done, Habbad.”
Habbad wore a look of unrestrained pride, but otherwise did not respond. Cole knew he was not actually proud of his work, rather he was pleased that he had fooled the Dark Ones. They were the cattle for once.
“If you’re all through messing with my things, I think our master is finally here.” Cole reached out with tenuous strands of Wisdom and levitated the dagger slowly towards himself. The dagger wobbled and plopped into the grass at his feet. Fortunately everyone was looking the other way as he bent down and picked up his weapon, which was now older, sharper, duller, and shocking shade of pink. He knew he had an arduous project ahead, trying to restore it to its original state.
“Whind? Good morning, honored elder. Are you here in Master Chiron’s stead?” Valen greeted the gatekeeper with a solemn bow.
Whind returned Valen’s greeting with one of his own, spreading his arms as a few leaves fell from his torso. His robes seemed crafted from the surrounding flora, giving him the appearance of a walking tree. “Greetings Valen and company. I come bearing a message from your masters, and it is thus; all future lessons have been cancelled indefinitely. Return to your barracks, pack your things, and await further instructions.” Whind turned his head towards Cole and Habbad: “Except for you two. You will accompany me, now.”
“Right now?” Cole asked, casting Habbad a sideways glance. He couldn’t help but feel as though he were in some kind of trouble.
“Right now,” Whind repeated.
Cole and Habbad followed Whind away from the group. Feeling eyes on his back, Cole glanced over his shoulder and saw Lileth, concern lining her face. Habbad looked as if he could not care less as to how the day proceeded.
“Where are we going?” Cole asked, trotting to keep up.
“To speak to your masters,” Whind replied, locking his hands behind his back as he walked.
Worry gripping him, Cole asked, “About what? Did we do something wrong?”
“I believe not,” Whind said in a voice as slow and indifferent as a tree swaying in a gentle breeze. “They merely wish to speak with you.”
While he was not entirely relieved, Cole’s anxiety lifted considerably. He was sure he himself hadn’t done anything wrong, but he couldn’t speak for Habbad, who’d rubbed everyone the wrong way since his arrival. Still, the events were significant. Never before had a lesson been cancelled, and never had one of the elders asked for him specifically.
They followed Whind to the center of The Sill, an area Cole was only vaguely aware of thanks to the cypher, a knot of apprehension growing in his stomach all the while. Goran’s thoughts suddenly pressed on his own. Cole’s vision flashed with a snapshot of Goran descending quickly from a tree, intent on joining him and Habbad. He impressed upon the mirak to stay where he was. This was likely not to be a good time to have a giant furry bodyguard snorting over his shoulder. He knew Goran received his message, but wasn’t sure if he would comply. He followed Goran’s thoughts
back up the tree, where he trailed after them from The Sill’s canopy.
They arrived at a wide, seamless door at the base of the fattest tree Cole had ever seen. It looked too wide to have been made entirely by nature’s whims. Two silent figures wearing midnight-plum robes stood sentinel at the entrance, giving no notice to them other than a quick glance at Whind.
Whind stopped before the door, stabbing his shimmering hand into the center. He twisted his wrist and the door rippled like a puddle. “Please, follow me.”
Cole pushed himself through the door, which felt considerably thicker than any liquid stone door he had gone through before. He took three awkward steps before emerging on the other side, slightly out of breath. The air was much colder inside. He and Habbad followed Whind up a set of stairs that climbed up the wall of the tree. Bowls of flames lined the walls, somehow leaving the wood unharmed as the tongues of fire lapped about. The stairs were not designed for anyone shorter than the Aenerians, and Cole quickly fell behind. He noticed Habbad had no trouble keeping up as he shot himself from step to step with bursts of Wisdom. Catching on, Cole summoned magic to aid him along.
They arrived at the top, pushing their way through another thick door. On the other side they found Alvani, Chiron, Roth, and Ka Reine sitting around a table in the center of a room with no roof. Dim constellations of the house of Allias watched over the congregation as thick clouds began to roll in over The Sill. A warm breeze poured over the walls, carrying a fragrant scent of flowers. Looking for the source of the delightful smell, Cole jumped, noticing a pair of massive yellow eyes looking down from directly above the door. Alvani’s winged friend Gale chirped as he took in the new arrivals before resuming the preening of his wings.
They followed Whind towards the elders, Roth’s booming voice echoing throughout the room as he argued with a face inside a large glass jar set upon the table.
“You have our demands,” said the sneering face in the jar. “What you do with them is up to you. We have been patient with your eccentricities up until now, but our tolerance wanes. The Three press upon all of the Dark Side. It would not be in the best interest of The Sill to fight this war on two fronts.”
“Threats from cowards are akin to a toothless bite. Be gone, snake.” Roth slammed a bladed fist on the table, rattling the jar as the liquid inside evaporated into the open ceiling. “The Celestial Council has grown as bold as they have stale. That they would even dare challenge us at a time like this shows their weakness. I could cripple them myself if I had the time.”
“They will likely not attack us outright, though I’m sure they could cause no end to our troubles.” Chiron brought his spindly fingers together in a heap on the table. “All things considered, it is a tad foolhardy for them to conspire against The Sill. They too can ill afford a war on two fronts.”
Alvani shook her head, her tone both tired and pleading. “It shouldn’t have to come to this. We are all on the same side. We all have just as much to lose to The Three’s hordes. A compromise must be made.”
“A compromise? Bah!” Ka Reine blew a gust of smoke from her lips, tapping her pipe on the table. “You were but a child during the last war, Alvi. You wouldn’t recall the bureaucratic swindling that cost us lives and time. I’m with Rothael on this one. The Celestial Council can go chew bark. We’ll tend to the hordes and pull their pompous heads out of the fire when the times comes. Should the Council follow through on their threats then they won’t have long to regret it.”
Alvani deflated slightly. “You are right of course, oldest one. Even I forget that my school is not the only one that matters. Though it pains my soul to see the suffering of others, catering to the Council’s strictures will likely cause greater suffering for us all.”
A silence fell over the table as Alvani’s words hung in the air. Roth broke himself from a daydream and brought his eyes down upon Cole and Habbad. “Come forward, we’ve business with the two of you. We’ll take them from here, Whind. Go back to your gate.”
Whind gave the table an expressionless nod before disappearing through the door. Chiron opened his mouth to speak, but twisted and stared curiously at a thumping, crunching noise coming from outside the tree. Cole winced as Goran landed with a crash, leaving deep gouges in the polished hard wood.
“I suppose your mirak is welcome to join the discussion,” Chiron said as he regarded Goran, who sauntered over to Cole’s side. Chiron returned his eyes to Cole and Habbad. “We have summoned you to discuss your futures. As I told both of you, you are each free to do as you please. No one will have hold over you, though some factions seem to think they do. The war moves apace and The Sill can no longer sit idle. We are activating all of our forces and will soon bring the full measure of our efforts against The Three. As of this very moment, the two of you are no longer students. You are soldiers of your own fortunes. You are of course still in the infancy of your training, and considerations must be made. I hold true to my word when I told you that you could leave whenever you please, and after I’ve had my say, you may very well do so. That being said I will also hold true to everything else I said.” Chiron’s eye lingered on Habbad. “The end of Allias’s house is nearly upon us, which means that the Devotion in Costas will take place shortly. Your unit will disrupt the ceremony before The Three can use the tower to further swell their strength.” Chiron’s tone shifted as Habbad’s uncomfortable demeanor became the loudest thing in the room. “I see a question burning in your eyes, young Habbad. Please, put words to it.”
“What of the Underkin?” Habbad said. “What will happen to them? Every child has grown up thinking you are all demons, and they will fight you to the death. Will you strike them down just because they are in your way?”
“You have much pain in your heart, young one.” Alvani’s voice was soft and soothing. “Sheath your worry. Violence is not the only tool in our arsenal. If you devoted a bit more of your efforts to the school of Passion you would understand this.”
Habbad twitched as though shaking off a retort. “I have spent enough time among you all to know you can be trusted. You say you won’t hurt my people. I will hold you to it, Dark Ones.”
Roth interrupted with derisive laughter. “You couldn’t hold us if you tried, whelp. Chiron wanted to do you the kindness of giving you options. Either stay with your unit and join the assault on Costas, or we’ll reassign you to supporting roles where you’ll be safe and remain untested. This is how we see it. If you have a better idea then spit it out. Time is burning.”
Cole knew his own choice already. Panic tickled him as he imagined Lexy strapped to the outside of the tower. While there was breath in his lungs he would do whatever he could to save her from such a grisly fate. He looked over at Habbad, who appeared more ambiguous with his intentions. A flicker of distant light caught Cole’s eye. He looked skyward to see the heralds of the impending storm falling from the clouds above. He watched the droplets of rain curve away from the opening, as though it was shielded by an invisible umbrella.
“Events move swiftly young ones, we need your answers,” Alvani said as lightning streaked across the sky.
Thunder rattled Cole’s teeth. He took a deep breath. “I will go with my unit to Costas.”
Alvani gave him a sad nod before turning to Habbad. “And you?”
Habbad brought his stony gaze up to the table. It amazed Cole that even though he was only knee-high to the Aenerians, he wasn’t intimidated in the slightest by their size or powers. “I will also remain with the unit. I may be of some use in Costas.”
“You trust us not to eat your kin?” Roth sneered, licking his teeth. “Believe me whelp, there is no challenge or honor in conquering your kind. In war there will always be collateral casualties, but your kin will be safe, from us at least. Most of them won’t even know we’re there. As long as they don’t cause us too much trouble, and you don’t flip a turncoat on us, there should be no need to interact with them.”
Habbad regarded Roth for a moment,
his eyes calculating as they darted about the room. Cole knew he was figuring out different ways to kill Roth given every resource he had in front of him. After coming to a decision, his wrinkled face relaxed. “As I said, I will hold you to your word. I will remain with the unit and go to Costas.”
Roth leaned back in his chair, indifference pooling in his features.
“It’s settled then,” said Chiron, slapping a hand down on the table. “Please return to your barracks and pack your things. You have the rest of the day to collect any provisions you may need for your journey. Please, go now.”
Cole fiddled with the straps on his cloth armor. “Master Chiron?”
“What is it Cole?” Chiron shuffled a stack of papers on the table, stuffing them into a fat, dusty book.
“What about Goran? Can he come with us?” Cole asked. At the sound of his name, Goran stood and strutted in front of the table, as though displaying himself as a show horse.
Chiron surveyed Goran for a moment. “From what I’ve heard, this mirak is horrifying in battle. I don’t think it possible to separate you two, seeing as he recently crossed a good portion of Aeneria just to be at your side. I think he would make an excellent addition to the unit. What say you, Rothael? Alvani?”
“I’ve rolled with the mirak a few times. He’s deadly enough. Physically he’d be the strongest fighter in the unit, as long as the human can keep him from chasing rodents up trees.” From his seat, Roth gave Goran a playful punch in the ribs as he trotted by.
Alvani looked from Goran to Cole with open admiration. Gale hopped from his perch with a gust of feathers and landed behind her, resting his feline head on her shoulder. Alvani inclined her head and offered, “Speaking for the arts of Passion, I can only see the benefits of Goran joining the unit. Such a bond is rare and not to be wasted. As Cole learns and grows, so will Goran. The opposite of course is just as relevant. I am interested to see how these two will evolve in the coming months.” She gave Cole a seated bow of affirmation. “Goran will stay with you. You must go now, however. The three of you must ready yourselves for the journey ahead.”
Saving The Dark Side: Book 1: The Devotion Page 36