by Mason Dakota
“It’s just a honeymoon, Griffon. We don’t need it to be happy together anyway,” said Alison.
“I didn’t wish for you guys to be disturbed. We had this all under control, nothing we couldn’t handle,” I said. It was a lie, but an honest and well-meaning one.
“Forgive me if I don’t believe you. I mean we’ve only been gone for less than a day and already you’ve run into your father, been infected with the virus, and as I heard coming over here you are now a fugitive on the run from the Emperor. Yeah, you’ve definitely got the situation under control,” Chamberlain said.
Technically he was right. Things had gotten out of control since the wedding, but it wasn’t entirely my fault! Then again, this sort of thing does tend to happen when I stick my nose into other people’s business.
I may need to work on that.
“And…Alexandra kidnapped Evelyn…by order of the Emperor…to draw Shaman into a trap…because the Emperor wants Gabriel and thinks him to be Shaman. The Emperor is a nice guy though, all about Noble superiority and how Outcasts are beneath him and appears to be in league with my father. It’s been a really strange day.”
“…W—what?” asked Chamberlain.
“Evelyn’s been taken!” Alison gasped.
I moved farther into the room and claimed one of the chairs. Its cold metal felt fantastic on my burning flesh. I grabbed a rag off the table and used it to wipe my sweaty forehead. I had developed a bit of a fever. Only then did I realize that I hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
“Could I please get something to eat? Something light,” I asked. Alison slipped away from Chamberlain’s arm as quickly as a mouse and went to the back of the hideout to get something from the ice box and cabinets. We waited quietly until she returned with a glass of water and some peanut butter crackers. The whole time I avoided Chamberlain and Gabriel’s eyes, fearing their disdain.
I started on the crackers, eating them slowly and cautiously out of fear that I might throw them all up again. I hated being sick. I think everyone else did as well. Thomas remained as distant from me as he could, covering his mouth with a rag. Even Chamberlain hesitated to draw close to me. His blood was a mixture of Noble and Outcast; there was no telling what the virus might do to him. I didn’t blame them for their reactions.
“Walk us through the details since we last saw you,” said Gabriel, like he was tired of waiting. I sensed the fear and concern in his voice.
I straightened up and said, “I got arrested and met Adam Rythe. The Emperor already knows about the virus, and I suspect already has a cure. Why he hasn’t distributed it was never explained. But my father was there. The two had some sort of deal in place.”
“That could explain how your father got access to the virus and could modify it to inject you,” Michael said.
“And how he remained hidden from Nebula for twenty years,” said Chamberlain.
“The Emperor accused me of creating and distributing the virus. He wants me hanged. Instead my father gave me a pill to help me survive a little longer and a key to my handcuffs so I could escape,” I said.
“But why would he do that?” Alison asked.
“Because he wants Griffon to spread the virus more. Griffon can’t do that if he’s locked up in a cell awaiting execution,” said Gabriel.
I nodded in agreement. Gabriel rubbed his chin. He was deep in thought. I saw something unfolding in his eyes. He was up to something and he didn’t look pleased. In fact he looked sad and discomforted by whatever troubled his mind.
“I guess that makes things more difficult for us. We can’t go after your father without making ourselves enemies to the throne. If we don’t, however, your father gets away with genocide. Meanwhile, he’s using you to spread the virus more. It’s a lose-lose situation no matter what we do,” said Thomas.
And maybe I’ve already spread it to you.
“You’re right,” I agreed solemnly.
“And then there’s Evelyn,” said Chamberlain, bringing me back to that horror I needed to face.
“We’ve got to save her,” Alison shouted.
Chamberlain wrapped his massive arm around Alison’s shoulders and said, “We will. We will.” I wished his words were as comforting for me as they seemed to be for Alison.
“And Alexandra took her to get to you?” asked Michael.
Instead of answering, I turned to look back again at Gabriel. His eyes were down. Once more I got the feeling I was missing something. I wanted to ask Gabriel why Adam so desperately wanted him. There was so much I wanted to ask Gabriel, and the more I thought about it the more my rage built—thinking him responsible for everything. As if maybe he created the mess and I was responsible for cleaning it up.
“What are we going to do?” Thomas asked.
“We are going save her is what we are going to do,” replied Chamberlain. He propped on a cane, but I swear he looked ready to charge into battle. We all did. Even Thomas. Evelyn was one of us.
Gabriel crushed some of that spirit. “Tomorrow morning is the United Noble Convention. A perfect place for Richard to unleash a massive payload of the virus. Griffon being a carrier is merely a small back-up plan in case things go wrong. We need to prepare and figure out how to stop him. Focusing on rescuing Evelyn puts an entire species at risk and we must ask ourselves if we are prepared to accept that risk. We could be exposed, arrested, or more likely killed. Meanwhile, your father will be unhindered in his plot and millions will die. I care for Evelyn too, Griffon—very much— but are you ready to accept that risk? And if so, do you honestly believe you can do this in your condition? You can barely stand up as it is.”
Something flickered behind his eyes as if he had just moved a pawn forward on the board and my next decision would determine the future of the game. He was hiding something, I felt it in my bones. Despite his secrecy, his logic was sound. Alexandra’s actions and my response threatened far too much. Even victory, as hopeless as that might be, might prove far too fatal for us and the world.
Could I live with the death of an entire species on my hands?
Sure, the blame fell not fully upon me. My father was at fault yet if I know of a situation and can possibly stop it, but choose not to, doesn’t that make me guilty as well?
“So save Evelyn…or save the world.” I said.
“If Evelyn is your world, then there’s no question which you choose,” said Chamberlain.
I wasn’t sure exactly how I felt about Evelyn. Strong emotion and attachment were buried in me and slowly bubbling back to the surface trying to break free. Even if I hated her, she had still risked her life to save mine. A gentleman doesn’t let that go.
But is she worth risking the fate of the world over?
Fifty-Eight
“I’m going after Evelyn,” I said.
“And I’m coming with you,” said Chamberlain.
What a sight this will be, a giant on a cane and a victim of a plague facing off against an army. Wonder how long this fight will last?
“Thanks, Chamberlain, but maybe you should sit this one out…in your current condition. I’m sure you’ll be there to charge in with me in the next crisis,” I said with a smile.
He looked down at his cane and nodded. At least he smiled about it.
Am I really in a better condition to do this than him?
I looked around at everyone else and said, “When I first came here tonight, I wanted each of you to join me to save Evelyn, but Gabriel’s right; there are bigger threats out there we must stop. The Justicars are dead and the NPFC are against us. I don’t trust the Emperor to stop my father. That leaves only us to do what must be done. My responsibility lies in saving Evelyn. It will take all of you to do the rest. I’m only going to slow you down. I need you to finish the mess Gabriel and I started. Please stop my father no matter what it takes.”
Everyone was speechless. I did just choose a girl over the security and future of a species, but Thomas surprised me yet again by his response.
“No, bos
s. I’m not letting you go alone on this. I’m with you even if it means death.” Once again I was touched by his carefully chosen words, humbly putting himself below me—an Outcast. I didn’t deserve such loyalty from anyone, especially not from a Noble. It made me feel oddly guilty for how I treated Erikson and most other Nobles.
I shook my head and said, “No, Thomas. I need you to stop my father.”
Thomas argued, “Griffon, I’m not going to let you walk into Alexandra’s lair alone. The others can track down your father, let me be your muscle. After we save Evelyn, we’ll join them. And if we fail…then where you die I’ll die, too. No matter what, you won’t be alone. Where you go I go.”
I struggled to grasp all of that was happening and all that was said. A Noble was refusing to do anything short of laying down his life for mine. I was used to that from Chamberlain. It had always been sort of his thing to save me in my time of need. To get such loyalty and friendship from a Noble felt foreign and unnatural.
“I…can’t accept that. Honestly, I don’t deserve it. If you join me then you will probably die. Even if you live, you’ll probably be arrested and imprisoned. They’ll send you to the Grimway!”
“Then you’ll just come and save me. That’s what we do, right? We save each other,” he said.
I sighed and tried a different angle, “You have so much more to live for, and so much more that you can do. Alexandra has an army on her side. We can’t hope to overcome that.”
“Why are you so determined to do this if you have no faith of succeeding?” Thomas asked.
I opened my mouth, but Alison, always observant of my inner turmoil, said, “Because he plans to sacrifice himself for her. He intends to trade places with Evelyn.”
“Griffon, no! She will kill you,” said Michael.
“Or hand you over to the Emperor who will kill you,” said Thomas.
Only Gabriel and Chamberlain gave no disapproval for the exchange of one life for another.
“Nobody will die for something that is my responsibility to fix. Evelyn was taken because of me and under the watch of Lorre, so Lorre and I will make it right,” I said.
“So Jeremiah Lorre gets to accompany you but not Thomas?” asked Chamberlain.
“Look…I can’t live with myself if one of you gets hurt or injured or killed because of me. I can barely live with myself now seeing Chamberlain’s condition.”
“I made my choice, Griffon, and I would happily do it again for you. Stop blaming yourself for what happened to me. You can’t do it all by yourself. You can’t keep shutting us out. We are a family and you need us just as we need you,” said Chamberlain.
Silence stretched across the room until I finally turned to Thomas and said, “You know what this means don’t you? If we fail, and we likely will, we jeopardize stopping my father. The others could use your skills and talents. You’re not just setting your life on the line. You’re risking your entire species’ existence. Is that really a risk you’re willing to take?”
Thomas looked around the room at each of our faces as he judiciously chose his words.
“Six months ago we met, and I’ll be honest. I didn’t much like you, and I know you felt the same way. But things changed. You brought me into this family of yours. You accepted me—not because I was a Noble but because I was a human being. You gave me a purpose and showed me I could make a difference. I can’t repay you enough for that. Now I don’t know Evelyn, but I can tell she’s family to this group, and that means she’s family to me, too. We put this family first before ourselves. Even if that means I’ll die trying to save her, I’m going with you to save our family and there’s nothing you can do to change my mind.”
“There’s no greater act of love than that of dying for a friend. Anyone of us would take the bullet for you, Griffon,” said Gabriel as he patted my shoulder.
And right then I knew what I had to do. I think I suspected it for a while. Something in my life needed to change. Something was no longer right since Ziavir came to town. I was Shaman, someone I always dreamed of being as a kid, but not the Shaman I was supposed to be. I had lost that honor. I had broken my vows to the mask. And a part of me knew that, knew my days were numbered as Shaman.
And here before me I saw who really deserved the mask.
It was time I gave my mantle over to Thomas. It was time he became Shaman.
Fifty-Nine
I rested my elbows on the table and rubbed my eyes to wipe away developing tears. I didn’t want anyone to see them. Gathering what little strength remained in me, I whispered, “Can you please bring me my mask?”
Alison, without hesitation, moved away from Chamberlain yet again and retrieved one of my Shaman masks from a shelf in the corner. “Bring me two of them please,” I said. Alison looked back at me questionably as she grabbed another one. Gabriel looked at me with his eyebrows raised. He knew where this was going. I think he approved.
Alison brought me the two masks and set them before me. Only one very slight difference separated them. One was the mask I wore six months ago when I went after Ziavir. I could tell because the cut he had made with his cane sword had been re-stitched with white thread to make it look like there was a white scar across the eye. I traced the white scar with the tip of my finger as I thought deeply about my decision. I was lucky Ziavir hadn’t struck an inch lower or I would be missing an eye. Instead I had a thin scar over my left eyebrow to impress the ladies.
I took the nicer mask in my hands and offered it up to Thomas. “Take it. It’s yours now. Congratulations, you’re the new Shaman.”
“Wait. What? No. I can’t take that,” said Thomas. He stood the farthest distance away from me in the room, but I think he somehow managed to back up.
“Take it. I’m not asking,” I said. The confused Thomas looked around at the others like he wanted them to instruct him. He looked to Gabriel and Chamberlain. They both nodded.
He cautiously shuffled forward and reached out to take the mask, but hesitated and looked at me—not to see me but to see the effects of the virus upon my flesh. “If you’re afraid of getting the virus, you best get over it. You’re guaranteed to get it now if you’re going into hell with me.” I smiled and felt my lips crack open.
Slowly and cautiously as if approaching a bomb, Thomas reached out and took the mask. He stared at it in his hands and asked, “Why?”
“Even if a miracle happens tonight and we both save Evelyn and later stop my father, I’ll still be dead by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. This virus is going to kill me no matter what. What can’t be stopped and must go on is Shaman. Just as Gabriel passed the responsibility to me I am now passing it to you.”
“But why me? Why not Chamberlain or someone else?”
“Chamberlain is still recovering. Plus he’s a married man now. This responsibility is not meant for the married kind. Your enemies will look for any weaknesses they can exploit and a spouse is a target. Michael is just not cut out for the job. No offense, Michael.”
“Oh, none taken, Griffon. I don’t want that job,” said Michael rather too quickly for my comfort.
“See,” I said, waving my hand toward Michael, “You’re the best man for the job. I may die, but Shaman must live. People need him even if they don’t want him. I could have done my work without the mask and the Shaman identity, but that would have encouraged no one. People need a symbol of hope. You may find your own reasons to wear the mask, but for the people it’s a sign of hope. It’s more than protecting your identity and those you love. It’s about teaching people that they can rise above their circumstances, take action, and inspire others. This way Shaman can do what you cannot do. I will die. You may be killed. The legend of Shaman cannot end. It must go on as the light to the city.”
Thomas swallowed and looked down at the mask. He stared for a while into the eyes of the mask. Finally he looked back up and I saw the pride glow in his face. He nodded and said, “I’ll do it.”
“Gabriel, would you do the h
onors?” I asked Gabriel.
With eyes of admiration, Gabriel asked, “Do you vow to hold up that which is right and always be ready to stand at the defense of those that are weak whether they be Noble or Outcast?”
Thomas straightened up and took a deep breath before confidently stating, “Yes.”
“Do you vow to never settle for the evil of this world, but to give your life in battle against it?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Do you vow to bring hope to the hopeless no matter the cost to yourself?”
“I do.”
“Then as the first Shaman I hereby name you Chicago’s new Shaman,” finished Gabriel.
Alison and Michael, with keen sense of timing, applauded as Chamberlain stuck two of his fingers in his mouth and made a high pitch whistle. It was a bit awkward coming from such a small crowd in such tiny quarters, but the feeling is what counted. By his astounded expression and apparent struggle to grasp reality, I understood better than anyone how Thomas felt at this moment.
I had the mantle for only a year and look at all the damage I did. What will Thomas accomplish?
“I won’t let you down,” he said. I knew he meant it.
“I know you won’t,” I said. I eyed my own mask and asked, “I believe the challenges before us requires the work of two Shamans. Will that be all right…Shaman?”
Thomas smiled and I watched proudly as he slipped on his own Shaman mask. Part of me felt sad to see it because I knew what it meant for me. But it was a good thing. Thomas will be a better Shaman than me.
The new Shaman before me tilted his head and said, “I don’t know old man. Do you think you can keep up?”
I laughed. “Don’t let this all start going to your head or I’ll knock you down a size.”
I stood slowly, using the table to brace me as my vision swirled from pain. I may have been twenty-nine years old, but I felt much older. It honestly made me question if I could do the work. For all I knew I could be holding Thomas back. I had to follow through. Evelyn’s life hung in the balance.