Relief washed over Cole’s face. Even though he considered the rest of his unit reliable friends, having Goran by his side made diving into the unknown a much less daunting affair. Goran had been as resolute as Oberon’s constant presence. The mirak had been there for him since he’d first arrived. Even after he fell from the bridge and all was lost, Goran had spent every waking moment trying to return to him. Without words, Goran’s presence had always told him that everything was going to be fine in the end. Now that he had his furry friend back, he loathed the thought of being apart again. Eyes shining, he thanked Alvani and the rest of the elders before making for the door.
“Wait a moment, young ones,” Ka Reine’s regal voice halted Cole and Habbad in their tracks. “I’ll have a look at you before you depart. Might not see you again after this.”
Cole turned on the spot to see the ancient woman hobbling from her chair to meet them. The other elders looked to one another, exchanging silent messages of concern. Chiron flicked his hand, which seemed to have settled the matter as the three of them watched Ka Reine with mild interest.
“Don’t make me walk all the way around, these old bones don’t have many more steps left in them,” she snapped, her arms continually reaching for things to aid in her shuffling gait. “Goran, be a gentleman and come hither.”
To Cole’s surprise, Goran’s eyes and ears perked up as if he had picked up the scent of prey. He made a beeline for Ka Reine and stopped directly in front of her, resting on his knuckles. With a knobbly hand she grasped the brindle fur on Goran’s arm, holding him for support. With the other hand she touched and inspected every inch of Goran’s form. Crooked fingers pulled at his jowls, flicked each of his canines, caressed his eyelids and finally mussed his snowy mohawk. Even Cole wouldn’t have taken such liberties with his friend for fear of being bitten, or given Goran’s recent growth spurt, tossed from the tree.
“The finest specimen of a mirak these eyes have ever seen. Unusually solitary, but all the stronger for it.” She clapped Goran on his hulking arm. “May you find your mountain.”
Goran gave a jerking snort, blowing hot breath over Ka Reine’s face.
“All right Habbad, bring your angry little ass over. Hop up on the table so I don’t have to slouch.” Ka Reine hobbled a step to the table and rested a hand upon it. Habbad rushed to the table, jumping the height with a twist of Wisdom. The look on his face clearly showed his impatience to be done with the whole ordeal.
Ka Reine looked down her bent nose with her head tilted to the side, a hand on her hip. She waited a moment for Habbad to make eye contact. Eventually Habbad broke under the weight of her perception. She did not touch him as she had with Goran, though she seemed to not need her hands to see what she needed. Cole couldn’t see her face, but Habbad’s stony mask seemed to crack, breaking into profound anguish. With her gaze alone, she held him for a moment longer before letting out a sigh and running a hand along her jaw. Habbad’s eyes remained lost in a waking dream, lines of tears rolling over his wrinkles. Ka Reine leaned in and whispered something into his ear. Habbad nodded, unblinking.
“Off you go then.” Ka Reine jerked her head to the side, dismissing him.
Habbad dropped from the table, landing with a muffled thump on the polished wooden floor. Ka Reine looked to Cole expectantly. He shot a quick glance into Goran’s red eyes. The familiar ferocity of his gaze steadied Cole’s legs and relaxed the muscles in his shoulders. There was still a slight fluttering in his chest, but at least he no longer felt as if he might fall over as he walked over to the oldest Aenerian. He considered using Wisdom to jump up onto the table as Habbad did, but decided not to risk messing it up and looking a fool in front of everyone.
“I have seen many humans in my life, and I have to admit I don’t much care for your kind. Too greedy. Too easily swayed.” Her pipe slid out from the depths of her sleeve, already lit. She took a few quick puffs, clamping the stem between her teeth and beckoning him with both hands. “Get over here then.”
Cole stepped between her arms, the pleasant aroma of fruits and spices filling his nostrils. Her hands wrapped around his head, her thumbs under his eyes. She closed her own. Cole tried not to, but found himself taking in every detail of her aged face. She was old, no doubt, but she was still attractive in a handsome and intimidating way. When he came to her drooping eyelids, they snapped open, revealing glassy orbs that swirled with ever changing hues, like two miniature Oberons. Cole felt as if he were back in the river, floating upwards and onwards away from his body, away from the mundane. He was lost, falling into himself. Memories flew by, their ghosts calling to him. He settled just long enough to feel parts of himself emerge from his subconscious, curious as to who had intruded upon their homes so uninvited. Before he could identify or communicate with them, he drifted down another level. Some parts of himself he recognized, but others felt so foreign and strange that he recoiled in worry that they might do him harm. As he drifted and fell through the chambers and halls of his mind, He followed, watching and observing quietly. Cole wondered if He was just another part of himself, or something else entirely. Cole felt Ka Reine there with him as well. She poked and prodded each part that flew by, as if checking fruits at the market for bruises. She felt everything, was everything, sifting through thoughts and memories that even Cole didn’t understand. She didn’t seem to notice Him, even though He was right there beside her, standing over her shoulder. When she was through, she pulled herself out, dragging Cole’s conscious self with her. They rose to the surface and just before they breached the veil to the corporeal, He grabbed them both, holding them fast with an iron grip. For the first time, Cole looked into His eyes, taking in every detail. Cole didn’t bother struggling; he knew there was no release until He allowed it. Ka Reine on the other hand fought like a wolf caught in a snare. Cole felt a painful throbbing throughout his mind with the force of her thrashing. He released Cole, pushing him beyond the veil while pulling Ka Reine into a tight embrace.
Cole opened his eyes, unable to move. Ka Reine’s eyes flashed rapidly through every color. She wasn’t breathing and the pipe had fallen from her teeth, smoldering on the floor. Suddenly she took a breath and the swirling colors faded from her glassy orbs. Cole then felt weight return to his body as he resumed full control of it. He knew he was fine, but he was unsure if Ka Reine had escaped unharmed.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I am fine, child.” She blinked slowly and picked her pipe up off the floor. “More than fine. That little exchange explains quite a bit as a matter of fact.”
“What does that explain?” Cole dropped his voice to just under a whisper, noticing the others staring at him with looks of supreme interest. “Who the hell is He? He’s been in there as long as I can remember.”
Ka Reine re-lit her pipe and took another pull, blowing white smoke up into the rain. “You are thoroughly you, my dear Cole. It is not my place to show you who you are, not a single part. My heart weeps for your losses, though it also leaps at your arrival on our planet. You will play no small role in coming events, of that I am sure.”
Cole scowled. He was getting tired of the vague answers and secrets. He wanted to know more, but he was confident that the ancient Aenerian would reveal nothing she didn’t want to. “May we leave now? We have packing to do.”
Ka Reine nodded, sucking on the inside of her cheek. Cole lowered himself from the table and followed Habbad and Goran through the door to brave the deluge outside.
Chapter 22
Rise and Enter
“Did you accept?” Lileth asked in a brittle tone.
“Yes, we both did,” Cole replied as he and Habbad approached the base of their apartment. Butterflies took flight in his chest as her expression changed from concern to elation.
Lileth’s hands relaxed as she uncrossed her arms. “Good. You are a part of this unit after all. Both of you.”
Cole and Habbad jumped down from Goran’s back. Cole scanned the empty bar
racks grounds. Darkened windows peered back from the tree apartments. “Where are the others?”
“They are packing and saying their goodbyes. You should hurry and do the same. We leave within the hour. Gather your things and meet us outside the Lurkwood Gate.” Her raven hair whipped over her shoulder as she ran off.
He knew it was probably nothing, but Cole was glad she had waited for him. The way her eyes lit up at the sight of him played through his mind as he walked up the ramp to their apartment.
“You have feelings for that one,” Habbad interjected, breaking Cole from his daydream. “I see the way your gaze lingers and your thoughts wander. I may not be as adept as you with the arts of Passion, but even I can see it plain as starlight. You have emotional ties to that female.”
“You can call her Lileth you know. And so what if I do? Is that a crime here?” Cole thrust himself through their liquid stone door before Habbad could respond.
“We are going to war, Cole,” Habbad stated, popping through the door. “The Dark Ones say our mission won’t involve combat, but I’m certain we will once again be fighting for our lives. Your mind ought to be on the task at hand, not swooning over someone who isn’t even the same species as you.”
Cole turned around and made sure Habbad’s eyes were locked on his before responding, “Right now the most important thing to me is saving Lexy. You do remember Lexy don’t you? Your sister?”
Habbad deflated, dropping his gaze.
“I care about your sister, just like I care about you. Since I’ve been at The Sill I’ve started caring about other people as well. I can’t help how I feel about Lileth, but I promise nothing is going to interfere with us saving Lexy.” Cole threw open his closet and began tossing things onto his bed.
“I am scared, Cole.” Habbad said in a weak voice.
“Yeah me too,” Cole replied in a harsh tone as he shoved clothes into his bag. “We only made it here by dumb luck. If we met another Corpulant or Domina there’s no way we’d be alive today. And let’s not forget the spell-casting giants. Our enemies have those too.”
Habbad rubbed the back of his neck. “That is not the reason I am scared. I feel something that I have not felt in a long time.” His eyes met Cole’s once more. “I feel hope.”
“Why the hell are you afraid of hope?” Cole asked.
“The last time I felt hope, Kreed used it against me. I hoped he would give my parents a swift death. Sensing my hope, he did not. Then I hoped he would kill Lexy. Sensing my hope, he did not. Then I hoped he would never let me out of that box. He took my hope and turned it on me. I feel it now, blooming like a little flower. Your confidence has planted a seed of hope within me. I will go with you to Costas and I will try to save Lexy.” Habbad’s face and voice became flat. “If we fail and she suffers the tower… I will never forgive you.”
Cole deflated this time, but he held onto Habbad’s eyes. “Then we had better save her. You’re the last person on this planet I would want for an enemy. You might not be the biggest, but you are definitely the most dangerous.” Cole gave a weak smile, intending to lighten the mood, though the words were true. There was something about Habbad that seemed more deadly than even Roth.
They finished packing and made for the Lurkwood Gate, full rucksacks bouncing heavy over their shoulders. Anxiety fluttered in Cole’s chest as Habbad’s demeanor hardened back to his stony determination.
“New bloods! Welcome to the war!” Storn shouted as they emerged from the Lurkwood Gate. “Couldn’t resist the chance to spill the blood of our enemies?”
Sitra punched Storn with a clawed hand, drawing blood from his side. “Spill your own blood, meat brain! Storn the thorn indeed.”
“What was that for?” Storn gasped, holding a shining pink hand over his fresh wound. Blood ran back into the center of the wound as the skin knitted back together.
“Think about where we are going, and then think about who you are talking to.” Sitra jabbed at him again.
“All right, all right!” Storn said as he dodged her punches. “I know we’re not to hurt the Underkin, but if we happen upon a few Domina along the way…” His hands elongated into munisica and he swiped at a nearby boulder, scooping out a clean hunk of granite.
“I am of the same mind as you, brother.” The light of the Gratia stones lit Eliza’s short spiked hair, making it look like a torch. Her munisica were a good measure larger than Cole had ever seen them, the shroud now covering a portion of her forearms. “I would have pity for our enemies, but I find the Rage comforting. And the Wisdom within me tells me that creatures such as the Domina deserve no pity. They are a blight upon our land, and must be cleansed along with The Three. I thirst for their blood as well.”
Eliza’s change of behavior was alarming, but understandable. If not for the Domina, Chiron would have been present when Deekus made for the omnistones. Eliza had spent every moment of her free time at Deekus’s tree, meditating and contributing to his gratia stone. Cole had visited her once, but she was aloof and gave only a word or two in response.
“It’s good to see a follower of Passion take up arms. I’m sure you will be just as skilled a fighter as a lover,” Valen said. “This is what we are here for. We mustn’t get too attached to one school or another.”
“We also must not attach ourselves to old prejudices.” Lileth carved into Valen with a glare. The others muttered in agreement. Valen’s snide comments and harsh treatment of Cole and Habbad had been blatant from their first days. When Valen’s cold indifference made it clear he wasn’t about to respond, Lileth took a step closer to him. “We are on the brink of our first real mission. Let us be open with each other.”
“I agree,” Sitra said, crossing her arms.
Storn and Eliza nodded their approval, while Goran rolled onto his back and promptly fell asleep.
Valen glowered at everyone. “I have been open to all of you since the inception of this unit. I know not what you accuse me of, but I will hear it.” Venom lined his words, daring anyone to challenge his morality.
Lileth stood a little taller. “Since Cole’s arrival I have seen a change in you, Valen the wise. You have spurned both him and Habbad at every turn. I know what happened in the tree on Cole’s first day, and I also know of your family history with the Underkin and Sorronis. You have suffered much and my own heart weeps for you, but know this; should you again cause undue harm to a member of this unit, you will suffer me.”
An awkward silence fell between them as Valen’s stony face crumbled into shameful resignation. Seeing the disgrace in Valen’s face reminded Cole of when he was ganged up on by a group of bullies in school. While there were many parts of him that despised Valen, he couldn’t help but feel a modicum of pity for him.
“I know I’m the weakest one in the unit,” Cole started, his own cheeks flushing as he felt everyone’s eyes upon him, “but I’m here for you too. You can count on me to play my part in the mission, and if I see you in trouble I’ll do everything I can to help. And I’m not completely helpless anymore, I’ve got some muscle now.” He slapped Goran on his round belly, who gave an amenable snore. “As long as there’s food to keep him awake that is.”
After searching the ground for the words, Valen looked Cole square in the eye. “I never thought I’d be taught a lesson in Wisdom by an Underkin. Thank you, Cole. Your assistance will be most welcome. You as well, Habbad.”
Habbad inspected Valen for a second. “Your approval is not necessary. I will contribute to the unit regardless.”
Cole knew that was as close to a peace treaty as Habbad was likely to offer. Nevertheless, Valen seemed satisfied.
Sitra thankfully interrupted the awkward silence that clung to the air. “Hurry up and get your hugs and kisses in now because our ride is here.” She leapt and ran up the side of the nearest tree, chopping her way up into the canopy.
Without hesitation the rest of the group unsheathed their munisica and followed her, leaving Cole with Habbad and Goran.
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“I still don’t quite have the hang of this,” Cole said, flexing his fingers. He brought his mind back to the bog angel, remembering the awful taste of its slime in his mouth. His neck prickled as Rage clicked into its rightful place. His fingers and toes creaked with satisfying pain as they transformed into jagged black claws. He allowed himself a few seconds to admire their savage beauty, proud of his new weapons. They were not nearly as impressive as the first time, but they would get him up the tree. The magic roused Goran, who rolled upright, eyes wide and nostrils flaring.
Habbad watched Cole’s struggle, unimpressed. “Helpful, but unnecessary.” His face relaxed as he drew upon his Wisdom and shot up alongside the tree, unaided by physical means.
Goran snorted, twitching in response to Cole’s Rage. There was controlled fire in his red eyes.
“Try to keep up, eh?” Cole said, scratching Goran’s chin before leaping up the side of the tree. Rage fueled his muscles as his munisica hammered into the tree bark. After the lesson with the bog angel, he’d spent a portion of every evening working on his control of the new magic, astounded by the power and dexterity it provided. Even with his rucksack weighed down with his new boots and a week’s worth of provisions, he scaled the tree with ease, jumping from branch to branch without the aid of Wisdom. As fast as he was, he was still much slower than the rest of the group, and Goran certainly didn’t have any trouble keeping up.
Cole arrived at the top of the tree, landing roughly on a platform someone had persuaded the upper branches to grow into. He marveled at the display the stars had put on for them. The local starscape was littered with comets, visible even with Oberon’s blaring luminance. Something was wrong, however. A good portion of the sky was blacked out, seemingly missing. Cole searched the void, eyes darting. He jumped as a keening whale’s moan pierced the night. The void swam closer to them, revealing a gargantuan whale adorned with shining gems along its eyes and fins. The whale cried again, beautiful and sad. On its back standing erect in the moonlight, was Roth.
Saving The Dark Side: Book 1: The Devotion Page 37