by Unknown
“Okay,” Kyle called out. The door opened promptly, and Jenkins gestured for Kyle to follow him into the main room of Kalibar's suite, where he'd eaten with Kalibar the night before. They left the suite, traveling down the hall to the riser at the end. It dropped them rapidly downward, stopping rather abruptly at the 32nd floor. This, Kyle realized as he followed Jenkins down another hallway, was the same floor Erasmus's office had been on. He walked past the carvings of former Grand Runics and Grand Weavers on either wall, striding past Erasmus's door and reaching a large door at the end of the hallway. Jenkins opened this, stepping through, and Kyle followed the butler into the room beyond. Kyle's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat.
It was, in a word, huge.
The room was three stories high, and before him stood a long row of shelves going almost all the way to the top. Each shelf was filled to the brim with books, small trinkets, and gemstones of every color and shape. On either side of the room's entrance were long desks with white-robed men and women standing behind them. Two men in black armor stepped in front of Kyle and Jenkins, barring their way forward.
“His Excellency former Grand Weaver Kalibar requests this boy's presence,” Jenkins stated crisply. One of the guards turned about, disappearing behind one of the shelves, while the other remained. Some thirty seconds later, the guard returned, nodding at Kyle.
“I'll take him,” the guard stated. Jenkins bowed, then turned and left. Kyle followed the black-armored guard into the huge room, walking between two of the massive bookshelves. Beyond these were more rows of shelves, and beyond those, even more. The guard led Kyle rightward at one of the gaps between rows, and then up a large spiral staircase. They reached the second floor, which was a balcony of sorts. There were bookshelves here too, although much shorter than the ones below, and there were rows of rectangular wooden tables as well. The guard led Kyle past these to a closed door. The guard knocked on the door, and it opened, revealing a small conference room with a table in the center, around which Kalibar, Erasmus, and even Darius were sitting. Darius looked, as usual, dreadfully bored.
“Ah, there you are Kyle,” Kalibar greeted as Kyle stopped before them. Kalibar patted the seat of the chair next to him. “Come, sit down with us.”
“Morning,” Kyle mumbled. He sat down, scratching his head idly. Then he realized that his hair was askew...he'd forgotten to brush it! He patted his hair down, feeling his cheeks turn warm, and withered into his chair.
“Don't worry about your hair,” Erasmus said with a mischievous grin, his blue eyes twinkling. “Enjoy it while you can,” he added, running a hand over his bald head.
“Here,” Kalibar stated, pushing a plate filled with bread and slices of cheese at Kyle. Kyle realized that there were similar plates – all empty – in front of each of the men. Kyle mouthed a silent “thank you,” nibbling on some bread.
“We were just talking about you,” Erasmus stated jovially, smirking at Kyle's suddenly suspicious expression. “Oh, nothing too terrible,” the old Runic added. “We were just brainstorming some theories as to how you might have gotten here.”
“That's right,” Kalibar agreed. “That's why we met here, at the Archives.” Kyle stared at the massive bookshelves beyond the balcony.
“Wait,” Kyle said, “...this is the Archives?”
“Right you are,” Erasmus confirmed. “Finest collection of runic artifacts and books ever assembled!” Then he paused. “Well, except for the Ancients,” he admitted. “They had a far better collection.”
“I told Erasmus about Urth,” Kalibar explained. “I remembered reading a book here about ten years ago,” he added. “About teleportation. Erasmus found it for me.” Kalibar pointed at a book before him, which was open, a bookmark between its pages.
“Poppycock,” Erasmus retorted. “Renval was as mad as his father before him.”
“Perhaps,” Kalibar replied. “But he was damned brilliant.”
“So was his father,” Erasmus countered.
Kyle stared at both of them, utterly confused. It must have shown.
“Back in Ancient times,” Kalibar began, “...a few years before the Ancient Empire fell, a Runic scholar and inventor called Renval became enormously popular. He is said to have created floating cities in the sky, among other ingenious inventions.”
“Renval's father,” Erasmus piped in, “...was just as brilliant, but he wasted his life with mad ravings about other planets and teleportation.”
“Right,” Kalibar agreed. “Publicly, Renval denounced his father's delusions. But after the Empire fell, Renval's journals were discovered in the Citadel on Meros.”
“Showing that he was just as mad as his father,” Erasmus concluded dismissively.
“Perhaps,” Kalibar stated.
“Wait,” Kyle interrupted. “What's Meros?”
“An island west of here,” Kalibar answered. “The island I talked about earlier, where almost all of the Ancient artifacts in these Archives were discovered. Renval's journals were found in the ruins of an ancient city there.”
“Following in his father's footsteps, no doubt,” Erasmus muttered. “Wasting his life chasing tall tales.”
“Renval was just as interested in teleportation and astronomy as his father,” Kalibar continued, ignoring Erasmus. “But unlike his father, Renval's journals claim that he actually succeeded in creating a remarkable invention.”
“What invention?” Kyle asked.
“A teleportation device,” Kalibar answered. Erasmus rolled his eyes, but Kalibar ignored him. “According to his journals, Renval's device actually worked...and he used it to travel all over the world.”
“What a load of crap,” Erasmus grumbled.
“Probably,” Kalibar agreed. “But he was a formidable inventor, and absolutely brilliant.” He sighed. “In any case, Renval's journal ends with his writing about using the teleportation device to travel much, much farther.” He turned to Kyle then. “Another planet.”
Kyle's eyes widened.
“Wait, what?” he blurted.
“The last entry in Renval's diary,” Kalibar stated, flipping a page, “...says this:”
“Unexpected complication re: travel at massive distances. Time contraction/expansion problematic. All test subjects died. Multistep travel may prevent. Will calibrate and test.”
“What does that mean?” Kyle asked. Erasmus shrugged.
“Who the hell knows?” he replied. “The device was never found, because it ever existed in the first place. And most of Renval's notes have been lost to time.”
“Great,” Kyle mumbled.
“The device may have existed,” Kalibar countered, ignoring Erasmus's sour expression. “Renval mentioned something in his journals...something I didn't read until today.”
“And what's that?” Erasmus asked.
“He had an apprentice,” Kalibar explained. “A young man who later became – if you believe the histories – the greatest Runic in recorded history.”
Erasmus's face brightened, and the portly Runic leaned over the table, his white beard spilling onto the wooden surface.
“Ampir!” he exclaimed. Kalibar nodded.
“Exactly.”
“Ampir?” Kyle asked. The name sounded awfully familiar, but for some reason he couldn't quite place it.
“He was Renval's apprentice,” Erasmus agreed, ignoring Kyle's question. “But only for two years...and Ampir was just a kid at the time,” he added. “No offense,” he stated, glancing at Kyle.
“Correct,” Kalibar stated. “But Renval's journals suggest that Ampir helped him with the teleportation device...and that they worked together long after Ampir's apprenticeship.”
“Damn,” Erasmus swore. “If Ampir worked with Renval for that long, the bastards might've actually made the thing after all!”
“He was really that good?” Kyle asked.
“Ampir was so good,” Erasmus answered, “...that he could win wars just by showing up on the b
attlefield. Countries would surrender at the mere sight of him.”
“Wait,” Kyle interjected. “I thought he was a Runic, not a Weaver.”
“He was a Runic,” Erasmus confirmed. “A Battle-Runic, in fact...one of the few that has ever lived.” His blue eyes twinkled. “He created his own armor from scratch, making himself the most powerful weapon the Ancients had ever seen. His armor was said to have been so advanced – even for the Ancients – that no one could even understand how it worked, much less defeat it!”
“Indeed,” Kalibar agreed. “Legend has it that rival countries placed bounties on Ampir's head. One offered as much as a hundred times Ampir's weight in diamonds to whoever killed him and brought them his armor to study.” Erasmus nodded.
“There isn't a single source that questions Ampir's ability,” he stated authoritatively. “He was the greatest Runic – perhaps the greatest wielder of magic – the world has ever known!”
“History tends to exaggerate when it comes to heroes and villains,” Kalibar countered. “Unless you're forgetting how the 'greatest Runic' abandoned his people, allowing millions to die...and setting humanity back thousands of years.” Erasmus sat back in his chair, crossing his arms and glaring at Kalibar.
“There's no proof of that,” he retorted. Kalibar raised an eyebrow.
“Do you honestly think the Ancients would have lost to Sabin if Ampir had defended them?”
“Why would he have betrayed them?” Erasmus countered testily. “He spent his entire life defending the Empire!”
“Perhaps Ampir was in league with Sabin all along, and defected to join him in destroying the Empire.”
“Oh, don't even mention that hare-brained theory,” Erasmus snorted. “Everyone knows Sabin hated Ampir! Ampir had always been the better Runic, and Sabin...”
“How can we know?” Kalibar interrupted. “How can anyone know what really happened two thousand years ago?”
“History tends to exaggerate when it comes to heroes and villains,” Erasmus reminded him.
“Granted,” Kalibar admitted rather grudgingly.
“But wait,” Kyle interjected. Both men turned to him. “So what?”
“Hmm?” Erasmus asked.
“The teleportation device is gone now,” Kyle reminded them.
“True,” Kalibar agreed. “But such technology might explain how you got here...if you really do come from another world.”
“That's a big 'if,'” Erasmus piped in.
“If we entertain the idea,” Kalibar stated, “...then perhaps someone managed to recreate Renval's teleportation device, or something like it, to bring you here.”
“But why?” Kyle pressed. “Why would anyone bring me here?”
“I don't know,” Kalibar admitted. “It could have something to do with that ring of yours. You say that there is no magic on your world, which – if it's true – means that your ring must have originally come from this world.”
“It most certainly did,” Erasmus concurred. “It has all of the qualities of the period it was made in, even if it is uncommonly advanced. The style of the runes, the metals used, the way the crystals were cut...it dates unerringly back to the Ancient times, right before the Empire was destroyed.”
“Wait, what?” Kyle asked.
“Your ring is two thousand years old,” Kalibar explained. “And it was made by the Ancients. So if you come from another world, then that means someone must have sent the ring there...and then brought it back here, with you.”
“What if the ring were the teleportation device?” Erasmus proposed. Kalibar turned to him, arching an eyebrow. “Well, why not?” Erasmus asked.
“It's an idea,” Kalibar admitted. He leaned back in his chair, tapping his chin with one finger. “This is all assuming that Kyle was teleported here from another world.”
“How else can you explain that device you showed me earlier?” Erasmus asked. Kyle frowned, turning a questioning eye to Kalibar, who reached into his pants pocket.
“He's talking about this,” Kalibar said, pulling something out of his pocket and placing it on the table. It was, Kyle realized, his watch...the survival watch he'd gotten for his birthday. He'd completely forgotten about it.
“How did you...?” Kyle stammered.
“I took it from your wrist when you were first brought to my house,” Kalibar confessed.
“Remarkable device,” Erasmus stated, picking it up and staring at it. “Never seen anything like it. No magic at all...yet it glows when I press this button!” He pressed a button on the side of the watch, and the display began to glow green. Erasmus leaned forward, his blue eyes twinkling at Kyle from below bushy white eyebrows. “Tell us...what does it do?”
“It uh...tells time,” Kyle answered. “It's a watch.”
“A timepiece?” Erasmus asked. “Is that what these symbols represent? Numbers?” Kyle nodded. Of course Kalibar and Erasmus wouldn't be able to understand Earth numbers or letters...just as he himself hadn't been able to read the signs when they'd ridden through Stridon.
“Fascinating,” Erasmus murmured, seemingly in a trance while he stared at the watch. After a long moment, he tore his gaze away from the gadget, handing it over to Kyle.
“No, you can have it,” Kyle said. Erasmus paused, glancing at Kalibar, then back at Kyle.
“You're sure?”
“It's the least I can do,” Kyle insisted. Erasmus nodded, placing the watch in his pants pocket.
“Thank you Kyle,” the former Grand Runic said. He broke out into a grin, elbowing Kalibar in the side. “Damn if the last few years of our lives aren't going to be the most interesting! Imagine...other worlds, strange technology...teleportation...”
“I knew you wouldn't be able to resist,” Kalibar said with a grin of his own. “But first thing's first...we need to figure out what Kyle's ring can do.”
“I agree,” Erasmus replied. “And I plan on losing a great deal of sleep doing just that,” he added zestfully, his blue eyes twinkling. “I tell you, this whole business makes me feel like a young man again!”
“One last adventure,” Kalibar murmured. He got a faraway look in his eyes for a moment, and Erasmus cleared his throat.
“Yes, well then,” the portly Runic said. “I'd love to stay and chat, but I do have some work to do.”
“Of course,” Kalibar replied. Erasmus stood up, and Kalibar joined him. The two men hugged, then separated.
“Dinner tonight?” Erasmus asked. Kalibar nodded.
“Of course.”
“See you then, old friend,” Erasmus said. He nodded at Kyle. “And thanks for the timepiece,” he added. Then he turned about, leaving the room. Kalibar sighed, stretching his arms out, then turning to face Kyle.
“Let's go back to my suite,” he stated, gesturing for Kyle to stand. Kyle did so, as did Darius. Kalibar grabbed two books from the tabletop, then made his way to the door. Darius followed close behind, and Kyle fell in line behind the bodyguard. They exited the room, making their way down the spiral staircase, then out of the Archives. They strode down the long hallway toward the riser, staying to the right as a line of people passed them on the left, going in the opposite direction. Suddenly Kalibar stopped short, making Kyle nearly bump into Darius from behind.
“What...” Kyle began, but Kalibar held up one hand. Kyle's teeth clicked shut, and he followed Kalibar's gaze, spotting a man approaching them...a tall, well-built man wearing a black cloak. He had short black hair and a thin black mustache, and strode down the hall with an unmistakable air of confidence, his black cloak rippling behind him. Two guards flanked him, their boots clicking sharply on the granite floor. The man spotted Kalibar and slowed, stopping a few feet in front of him.
“Your Excellency,” he greeted, giving Kalibar a short bow.
“Councilman,” Kalibar replied, giving a curt nod in return.
“I heard of your return,” the Councilman stated, glancing at Kyle and Darius, then returning his gaze to Kalibar. “It'
s been too long since we've had the pleasure of your company.”
“Yes, well,” Kalibar replied. “...I've found retirement to be preferable to politics.”
“Is that so,” the Councilman stated. He glanced down at Kyle, then Kalibar. “What brings you to Stridon?”
“Just visiting some old friends,” Kalibar answered.
“I see,” the Councilman replied. “I can't imagine what it must be like to live in a town like Bellingham after being in Stridon for so long,” he added. He gave a tight smile. “I'd be bored to death there.”
“I've found the politics here to be far more deadly than boredom,” Kalibar countered. The Councilman considered this, then nodded.
“Touché,” he conceded. “One has to be careful during election season.”
“Very careful,” Kalibar agreed. The Councilman paused, then glanced down at Kyle, as if noticing him for the first time.
“And who is this?” he asked. Kyle looked up at Kalibar, who put an arm around Kyle's shoulders.
“One of Master Owen's new students,” Kalibar answered. “A distant relative.”
“Ah,” the Councilman stated, reaching out with one hand. Kyle extended his own; the Councilman shook it, his grip firm but not painfully so. “Always a pleasure to meet an up-and-coming Weaver.”
“Thanks,” Kyle mumbled, feeling rather awkward. The Councilman let go of Kyle's hand, turning to Darius. “And who is this?” Darius stared back at the man, saying nothing. Seconds passed, the Councilman's smile becoming strained.
“That's Darius, my bodyguard,” Kalibar answered. He reached over and patted Darius on one metallic shoulder-plate. “We've been keeping you awfully busy recently, haven't we Darius?”
“Nothing I can't handle,” Darius replied, his unnerving blue eyes still locked on the Councilman's. The Councilman lowered his hand, his smile fading. He turned back to face Kalibar.
“Are you staying long?” he inquired.
“Not likely,” Kalibar answered. “I've no interest in the circus of the elections.”
“A shame,” the Councilman replied. “A lot of people would love for you to run for a second term.”