by Kyle West
“How many have gathered there?” I asked.
“Besides the people who live in the land itself, several thousand refugees have come from all parts of the Wild, including the north, which has become depopulated and practically inhabitable.”
These words were a huge blow to Isa, who was now shedding tears. “I don’t suppose you have any news about my parents?”
“I’m afraid not,” Pallos said, his voice grave. “There are numerous refugee camps, mostly in and around Haven. It’s possible that they have come to Kalear, but I haven’t heard any word.”
Fiona put her arm around Isa, who had started sobbing uncontrollably.
“We’ll find them, Isa,” I said. “Your parents have means, and they probably escaped early.”
She wiped her face, and nodded. “Maybe. It’s just the not knowing that’s the worst.”
“We will learn more in time,” Fiona said.
“It’s a terrible situation,” Pallos said. “Refugees stream south in an unending tide. Mist overruns the Northern Forest, and is quickly overtaking Laston, the most northerly of the Annajen’s cities. Crawlers and dragons prowl the unending fog. Untold thousands have died trying to escape the Mindless . . . mostly the poor who don’t have the means to escape. Northold is no more; no word has come from there in well over two months, and the city’s leadership is in exile at Laston. The only place the Samalites can run are Annajen lands. Isaru has commanded they be given food and lodging, and the men are conscripted to bolster Isaru’s forces.”
Pallos’ words were so dark that I could scarcely speak, much less think.
“The bad news doesn’t end there, I’m afraid,” Pallos continued. “Isaru claims that he is Elekim Reborn . . . that Annara’s Prophecy had it all wrong and was a mistranslation. As proof of his identity, he offers the Mindless swarm, saying that they are the Elder Dragons returned, that the dragons must follow him and obey his every command. As you know, the return of the Elders was part of the Prophecy as well – a sure sign that the Second Darkness was coming soon. Even if there are holes in the story, people are afraid to go against him. Rumor has it that he is preparing an assault on Colonia. There is rhetoric of purging the Holy City and retaking it for the glory of Elekim. If Isaru takes the city, it will cement his legitimacy, as it is commonly known that the lost prophecy speaks to the retaking of Colonia by Elekai forces.”
“What about the Seekers?” I asked, feeling sick to my stomach. “What do they think of all this?”
“They have not spoken either way,” Pallos said. “But by necessity, they will soon have to declare for him as well. The pressure he places on the Sanctum must be immense. We think it’s only a matter of time before the Sanctum declares for Isaru as Elekim Reborn . . . a declaration that, no doubt, is being helped along by Elder Haris, who is Isaru’s very outspoken advocate.”
“Curse that man,” Fiona said. She looked at me. “I heard what you said about him, when the Clerics were healing you. I wasn’t sure of it then, but I am now. He’s working for Isaru. He has to be.”
I shook my head. All this information was so overwhelming. I didn’t know where to begin. “My parents are safe, truly safe. Right?”
“They’re safe and sound,” Pallos reassured. “Both have been instrumental in organizing the Stronghold. That’s what we’ve been calling the castle at Kalear. There is enough food for everyone who comes, and they are working with the Makai to bring even more food.”
“What about my uncle, King Arius?” Fiona asked. “Does he stand with us, too?”
“He is being . . . diplomatic,” Pallos said. “Most of our supplies actually come from him, which means he is no friend to Isaru, even if he hasn’t openly said as much. Though Isaru’s army is powerful, and while he controls the richest lands in the Wild along with an army of dragons, he still lacks allies. For that reason, he hasn’t provoked the Makai. In truth, he’s probably hoping for a truce so he can focus on capturing Colonia.”
I could see the logic of that. Pallos had thought about this for months, while all this information was still new to me.
“Though it’s been almost three months since the Hyperfold, the war in the Wild has yet to begin in earnest,” Pallos said. “There have been no battles here yet. While Isaru still outnumbers your people – your army, if you will – people follow him more out of fear than a belief in his cause. That is an advantage you have. Those who are joining you do so because they believe in your cause. It is being whispering that you are truly the return of Annara into the world.”
“But I haven’t even revealed myself yet,” I said.
“I suppose you’ve told enough people by now that rumors have had time to spread and take root. People are beginning to believe, and if the dragons are any indication, people know, deep down, that times are changing. They are looking for a leader. Isaru’s claims don’t make sense. With his father’s murder at your alleged hands, it seems all too convenient for Isaru, who inherited Haven’s throne because of the king’s death. If you were to suddenly appear and give your side of the story, I have no doubt that more people would join your cause.”
I felt a moment of doubt. All of this was moving much faster than I could keep up with.
“How are things going in the east?” I asked. “Any word from Prince Nabea and Elder Tellor?”
“I’ve visited several times,” Pallos said. “When I left them, Tellor and Nabea were returning from a war against the Kingdom of Tenise, in which they were victorious. Tenise declared itself in alliance to Isaru, as have many other Eastern Kingdoms who fear his dragons. Only Savannah and Atlantea declared themselves in opposition to Isaru, for the obvious reason that they had suffered at his hands. Isaru justifies his attack on them by saying they supported you . . . that you are an agent of the Radaskim.”
“How can anyone believe that?” Shara asked.
“Many are forced to,” Pallos said. “Or at least to give lip service to what Isaru says.”
“This is all Shal’s doing,” I said. “Isaru is a puppet who might still be saved. Let’s not forget that.”
“What do we do, then?” Isa asked. “If the Hyperfold is his weak point, then how do we attack it?”
“I’m afraid that will be impossible,” Pallos said. “Every time I’ve flown close, there have been numerous dragons guarding the entrance.”
“The Nameless One only told us how to defeat it,” I said. “He never said it would be easy.” I paused to collect my thoughts as the others looked at me. “We have to hold on. Survive. Isandru entered the Hyperfold again, using the pathway I created. No doubt that closed as soon as he entered. We must hold on long enough for him to destroy the Hyperfold, or to at least weaken it.”
“We don’t know Elder Isandru’s fate,” Fiona said. “He could be alive, or dead, or . . . worse.”
“How could he ever hope to stand alone?” Isa asked. “There were six of us against Shal last time, and it wasn’t enough.”
I didn’t know how to answer. I just remembered what I saw – the Elder Prophet, with tears in his eyes as he held his dead sister in his arms, his moment of decision, even as Isaru fought against us like a madman. Isandru told us to flee while he took care of the rest.
“Perhaps he knows a way that none of us do,” I said. “We just need to learn more. If we learn more, we’ll be able to do more.”
Even as I said it, though, the answer didn’t feel satisfying. That meant that in the meantime, there was nothing we could do to help him. If he took too long, we’d all be dead by the time he was done. As long as the Hyperfold existed, as long as it grew in power, then the more impossible the fight became.
“Survive,” Shara said, testing the word.
I nodded. “What other choice do we have? If I knew another way, I would take it. We must wait things out and see what we discover. We were gone for three months. The world is a different place, now.”
“There must be something we can do to help him,” Isa said. “Perhaps if we
return and try again. . .”
“A suicide mission,” Shara said. “But I’m not against it if it’s the only way.”
“As I said,” Pallos said, “Isaru has already planned for that. He will never make the mistake of leaving the crater undefended again.”
“We were close, Pallos,” I said. “So very close.”
Were we, though? I was questioning that statement myself. The Nameless One had told us to find the key – that our combined strength would be able to turn the Hyperfold off. But what had transpired in the Hyperfold was the opposite of that. Was it a betrayal, or were we just missing something? I had fought Shal, and Isaru briefly. My blade would have cut Shal’s head clean off, if not for Isaru.
Nowhere had we found any sort of key, metaphorical or literal.
“We’re doing it wrong,” I said. “I’m sure of it. Maybe Isandru will figure it out.”
“That’s it, then?” Fiona asked. “We’re just going to leave him in there alone to figure it out all by himself?”
“I don’t like that answer either, Fiona,” I said. “I want to help if there’s a way. But what is that way?”
“You said it yourself,” Fiona said. “Mia spoke to you from the Hyperfold originally, did she not? Perhaps Isandru will do the same.”
That was a good point. Though Mia was gone, Isandru was still alive . . . in a way. If it was anything like Mia, he might communicate with us, even if it was only through dreams.
“We both have the Gift of Prophecy,” I said. “We must listen for him. Perhaps the key is there.”
No one mentioned the other possibility – that Isandru was dead and all of this was pointless. We couldn’t believe that unless the evidence pointed that way.
Until then, we hoped.
Four hundred years ago, Anna and her friends had headed to Ragnarok Crater expecting never to return. By some miracle, most of them had survived that, going on to found the Elekai people that still lived today.
Just thinking of Anna reminded me of her presence, of how she was watching me, even now. What did she think of all this?
For now, however, she chose to remain silent.
“This is far from over,” I said. “The Xenofold still exists. The Xenofold still fights. The key to the Hyperfold’s destruction is inside, somewhere. Whether that’s a physical key, or it’s metaphorical, it is there. We will find it or die trying.” I looked at Fiona. “And we’ll find a way to help Isandru. We will. The Xenofold hasn’t given up on us yet, and neither has Isandru. Therefore, we won’t give up on them.”
CHAPTER FOUR
AFTER OUR MEETING, PALLOS AND I walked to the flight deck, where he went straight for the captain’s seat out of habit. It was only after halfway sitting down that he remembered himself, and instead opted for the copilot’s seat. I pretended not to notice.
After lifting off, I flew Odin south across the Red Wild, heading for the Stronghold, the coordinates of which were fresh in the ship’s navigation computer. We flew in silence, only talking about the details of the flight job, but from time to time, I caught him glancing over at me, as if he wanted to say something.
“Something on your mind, Pallos?”
He cleared his throat awkwardly. “It’s . . . nothing. I can hardly believe you’re still alive.”
“Everyone thinks we’re dead, I imagine.”
“Many do,” he admitted. “Your parents are still hopeful, though.”
My parents. It would be good to see them. My mother would be worried sick, and my father would be as well, though he’d do a better job of hiding it.
We lapsed into silence. I couldn’t help but feel troubled as we passed over the foggy landscape. While battling Shal in the Hyperfold, the mist had spread across the surface completely unchecked. The fog didn’t dissipate until we crossed the Red Mountains and flew over a small, walled town built on both sides of the Colorado River. The town still seemed to be standing.
Fiona, Isa, and Shara came up front at this point, and gazed out the windshield. Fiona informed us that the city below was most likely Laston. Small buildings, huts, and tents spilled outside the bounds of the stone wall itself, filled with the refugees that fled the Northern Wild.
“It’s the Mindless Wars all over again,” Isa said.
“Try the Second Darkness,” Shara said. “Can’t we just admit that it’s upon us now?”
It was hard to argue against her point. The north had always been untamed, but now it was all but uninhabitable. How many thousands had already died, even as Isaru caused more destruction? I could see how the instability would give him even more power. People would overlook the shaky reasons for his ascension if they feared for their lives.
As powerful as Isaru was, however, we had a few things going for us. One, we had escaped the Hyperfold and Ragnarok Crater, which was not something he wanted. And two, Isandru himself was in that Hyperfold, hopefully finding a way to destroy it.
Practically all the land we passed over was occupied by our enemies. Laston and its environs were informally a part of Annajen holdings, but had always enjoyed a significant deal of local autonomy; from what I had read, most of their decisions were decided by a mayor and council, like Northold. It wouldn’t be until we passed the Colorado and reached the southern half of the Xenoplain that we would be in lands that were still contested. Beyond the Xenoplain itself were the lands of the Makai.
“How much further?” Shara asked.
“About two hours’ flight,” Pallos said.
That was when I began to wonder. Pallos had been outside my eye for almost three months. He was loyal to Shen before any of us – after all, his role here was that of diplomat of the Shen Collective. Even though he professed to be a diplomat, I knew the line between that and spy was rather shaky. Certainly, he’d given us no cause to think he was going to betray us, but it was hard to trust anyone whose loyalties were divided.
“Can I have a moment alone with Pallos, please? It shouldn’t be long.”
The girls shared a look, but departed the flight deck without question, leaving me alone with him. Pilot, engineer, diplomat, spy. What other identities could Pallos be hiding?
It was silent for a moment; silent, because I was trying to decide how to broach the subject.
Thankfully, however, Pallos beat me to it.
“Yes, I’ve spoken with Shen since you’ve been gone,” he said. “But not in the way you might think.”
I nodded. “Go on.”
“I made him aware of your entry to the Hyperfold. There was nothing he could do to save you.”
“You spoke with him yourself?”
Pallos nodded gravely. “A rare honor, though I cannot say I was happy about it. I was hoping he would know a way to get you out.”
“What all did you talk about?”
Pallos shrugged. “He spoke much, but said little. I concluded that it was not for me to know. He was worried about Elder Isandru and Mia just as much as you.” Pallos frowned. “He never said why; I didn’t ask. I can only conclude that their role in stopping the Hyperfold was important . . . perhaps, even, that it would be impossible to do it without them.”
“Mia died,” I said. I felt sorrow at the words, and my powerlessness in saving her. “No. She was murdered.”
“But Isandru still lives,” Pallos insisted. “So long as he lives, perhaps there’s still hope.”
“The Nameless One was clear that it would take us all to defeat Shal and destroy the Hyperfold,” I said. “Isandru is alone.”
“Perhaps you were able to weaken him enough for Elder Isandru to finish the job,” Pallos said. “From what you’ve told me, Shal was destroying his entire creation just to get to you. Isandru went in soon enough after that to take advantage.”
That was a good point. Shal had done something similar on our first trip into the Hyperfold. We had been able to escape – just barely – although Isaru had been possessed by Shal while exiting. We were warned by Shal himself that entering the Hyperfold
was not something to be attempted by the weak. Though Isaru was by no means weak, in comparison to Shal and the Hyperfold, he was easy prey. When we had exited the Hyperfold this time, there was no in between place, allowing everyone to escape directly into the real world.
We hadn’t been powerful enough to do that last time. If we had been, so much would be different now.
“What else did you tell Shen?”
Pallos shrugged. “Nothing of consequence. But I’d rather talk about you for the moment.” Pallos looked at me, his eyes considering. “You’ve let me know very little of the important things yourself; I would argue my transparency has been greater than yours.” Before I could respond, he pressed on. “Don’t think I missed that long meeting you held with everyone outside the Hyperfold. I watched, but couldn’t make out a word from inside the ship. Undoubtedly, it had something to do with me . . . or perhaps you were revealing something the Nameless One told you that you didn’t want me to know.” Pallos looked at me neutrally. “I’m not going to ask you what it was, but after my audience with Shen, I have a pretty good idea.”
“What did he tell you?”
Pallos smiled. “You want me to reveal my secret, while keeping yours to yourself. How about a trade?”
I almost growled, but kept myself in check. “Well, what do you think we were talking about?”