“Commander!” came a bellow from the deck. Tiber heard the call, but was lost in his own moment. The sun glinted off of his sword and his heart pounded with a furious rhythm.
“Are you ready to see your land again, Mr. Floyd?”
“Commander!” came the call again. Tiber was still too wrapped up in his own moment to notice, but when Ben turned attention to the call, Tiber’s daze was broken. Tiber scanned the deck for the voice and when he found it, he responded.
“Mr. Juanto, what is it?”
The man pointed with a large, dark finger that looked more like an iron harpoon. “White Titan!!” the man cried and then all sound was vacuumed from the world.
Tiber turned slowly to the sea and upon the horizon loomed the giant. A wall of water came like a whisper that threatened to destroy existence. The frothing maw of a beast so monumental, it could only have been birthed by the infinite power that was the sea.
“Below deck!!” yelled Tiber. “Below deck!!”
Thousands of men scrambled to find shelter as the mammoth wave screamed closer and closer to the shoreline. Ben looked at Tiber with a terror that asked for reassurance, but Tiber had none to give. He had seen large waves before. He had seen destructive waves brought on by storms, waves that pounded Sanctum relentlessly for days on end. Tiber Allahnder had seen waves called White Titans that had swept men so far to sea that they were never found again. This wave was larger by two than any he had ever seen.
“Run for your life!” Tiber screamed to Ben, leaving all possible reassurances withered and dying.
Color ran from Ben Floyd’s face and he stumbled as he began to move toward the crowd of soldiers trying desperately to get below deck. Tiber caught him under the arm, dropping his sword to clang upon the wooden deck of The Breaker’s Crest. The two men rushed forward but quickly found themselves behind a mass of men so large, it rendered their escape useless. There was no way that everyone would get below deck before the massive wave crashed against the ship. Tiber Allahnder looked at Ben with a pained gaze that betrayed hopelessness and apology. This wave would destroy, it would annihilate. It was possible that getting below deck may not be enough to save them from danger anyway. Fate had dealt a crushing and terminal blow.
“I am sorry,” said Tiber.
Ben couldn’t respond.
The men stood terrified as the massive wall of water approached one hundred yards from the ships. It seemed as if it closed in upon them in the blink of an eye, and Ben and Tiber closed their eyes, bracing for impact, bracing for death.
Yet, the final blow never came.
A lifetime seemed to pass, as slowly and with great trepidation, Ben Floyd opened his eyes unto a miracle that made his heart glow. Before the ship, stood a wall of water and the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. A woman that somehow, impossibly, looked like a sister, an ancient power that Ben Floyd had been sworn to protect. Ben’s head swam and he walked forward, toward the woman who floated in front of the wall of water like a beautiful painting upon a wall.
Soldiers continued to cower and bend as Ben walked forward. The woman smiled at him as he approached. Tiber Allahnder silently reached a hand toward Ben, yet never dared to move forward from where he crouched in terror.
“You are one of them, aren’t you?” asked Ben.
The woman smiled. “That would depend upon many things.”
“You’re a spirit. You’re a daughter of the Earth and Sun. You are, I can tell.”
“Only one who had seen my sisters would be so confident. To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?”
“My name is Ben Floyd. I have met some of your sisters.”
“Ahh,” breathed the woman. “I am familiar with your name. Mine is Tallulah. I have been sent to help your quest.”
“Haha!” Ben laughed like a fool. “Tiber! Tiber! Come here, everything is fine!”
Tiber Allahnder walked forward slowly as if he were in a dream he expected to fall apart with each and every step.
“Ben,” he gasped. “What… what is this?”
Tallulah answered for Ben. “I am Tallulah, spirit of the oceans deep, daughter of the Earth and Sun. My sisters and I have come to aid your quest. Tell your men to come forward, all of them, every last one. There will be no need for rowing.”
“All of them?” asked Tiber in regard to his men.
“All of them?” asked Ben in regard to the daughters.
And as the question escaped their lips, the show began to take form. The gigantic wave that Tallulah had come forth upon sunk to the sea and reemerged as a small swell, stretching to the horizon like a road to Ephanlarea. The soldiers watched on in amazement, their shields and swords hung at their sides.
As they looked on, a large owl flew in with speed unparalleled and exploded over the water like a thousand points of light. The owl became a woman, and the woman began to blow upon the swell of water, freezing it and creating a solid path. Nivalia added her strength to her sister, Tallulah’s, and the miracle continued.
Across the crystal waters, flew four spirits of the Earth and Sun. Harena, Dendrata, Aella and Amber came forth upon the wind. The Felaquan men stood entranced as the women floated around the ships, trailing light all around each vessel. The men stumbled and steadied themselves and their ships suddenly rose into the air. Salty water dripped from the bows of every boat and the men continued their reverie.
Ben Floyd looked at Tiber Allahnder and the two men could not explain what was happening. The sun shone bright in the warm, Felaquan waters and a flash of mystic luminance brought the jungle spirit between the two men, before their minds could right their cognitive ships.
“RECONCILE!” shouted the spirit woman in celebration. Selva spun in a veil of magic as she celebrated the gathering of her sisters. “There will be peace over these lands. We will nurture it and give it a parade across these waters.”
“Selva!” exclaimed Ben. “Did you do this? Did you bring your sisters here to take us across the waters?”
“I had a small role in this, Ben Floyd. However, they deserve greater credit.” Selva pointed a finger over the shoulder of Ben Floyd and he spun to see Annie and Tomas descending from the sky upon the back of a giant eagle.
“TOMAS!!” yelled Ben and ran for his brother as the eagle landed upon the deck of The Breaker’s Crest. Tomas slid off of Andor’s back and met his brother in the most sincere embrace either of them had ever given the other.
“I thought you were lost,” said Tomas with tears in his eyes. “But I never gave up hope.”
“Neither did I,” said Ben with a smile. “There is so much we have to talk about, Tomas. I don’t even know where to begin.”
“There is much we have to tell you as well,” said Tomas with sullen eyes. “Not all news is good. Things have gotten very bad.”
“Then the faster we get to Ephanlarea, the better,” said Ben.
“You can talk along the way,” said Selva, interrupting the brothers. “For now, I would find a place to steady yourselves.”
Selva flew into the air and motioned toward her sisters, and then fifty Felaquan ships lurched forward in the air. The daughters of the Earth and Sun guided them upon their way and the Floyds couldn’t tell if the world sparkled from sun and water or from magic, or if it was all really the same thing. Ben and Tomas smiled at each other, knowing how far they had come and how far they had yet to go, but knowing that it would be easier to bear now that they had each other.
“You’ll tell your sons that I was hero, won’t you, Tomas?”
“No,” said Tomas, jabbing an elbow at his brother. “You can tell them yourself.”
Chapter 25: Fate of the Worm
Densa stood before the waterfall, the eagle feather held tightly in his hand. A scowl had permanently drawn itself over his mouth and he sniffed the air like a predator, once, violently, completely. Slowly he opened his hand and allowed the feather to fall from his open palm. It floated softly to the crystal pool below and sat upon t
he water like a cloud in the sky.
“We need to talk,” Densa said simply. Earth did not hesitate to reply.
“I thought we had come to a decision. Is there some confusion?”
“Yes,” said Densa, “there is.” Densa folded his arms and tilted his head on its side as if trying to gain a different perspective on the falls. As if by changing his line of sight he might see through them. “I have been thinking… about our discussion. Certain things do not make sense to me.”
“Oh,” said Earth with a tone that betrayed subtle sarcasm.
“If I would trigger this prophecy by meeting with the Tyrant, how is it that I have not triggered the prophecy already? I have met the Tyrant in battle. Evercloud and I have been in his presence together multiple times. In the White Mountains, when I didn’t know myself. Again, in the ruins of the farm in Hammlin, as I had just regained my memory, we were together. Tenturo and I also entered into battle with the Tyrant upon the moon. It would seem this prophecy works when it wishes to and when it doesn’t wish to… well…”
“What is the question you truly mean to ask, Densa?”
“This prophecy is a farce. It means little to nothing. So why was it given? And what does the Skyfather really want? He could take my life, the Tyrant’s life; he could take everyone’s life right now if he wished. What is really going on here?”
“You are right,” said the Earth simply. “He could take the life of all, at this very moment, if he chose to.”
“Then what does he wait for? Your arguments? Is that all that keeps me here where I stand?”
“I do not argue for your life, Densa. I have already bartered for your existence and won you that gift long ago.”
Densa’s eyes widened, in shock. “Then what is it? What is this game? Why have we sent Evercloud and Riverpaw to play with the Tyrant? What are we waiting for?”
“Nothing,” muttered the Earth. “He waits for nothing. You wish for the truth, Densa? You will not want to hear it. I never wanted to hear it. I never wanted to know the darkness festering within the core of the Skyfather, that abyss beneath his infernal crust. It’s nothing, Densa. He wishes for nothing. He breeds chaos.”
“What do you mean, nothing? He breeds chaos? You speak in terms that make no sense.”
“But there it is, nonetheless, Densa. There it is, staring at you from empty eye sockets. It is evil in its deepest and most pure form. Tell me, what does the evil child do once he catches the frog? When he has realized that there is no more game in the hunt? When he knows his power over the tiny creature is complete? What does the evil, little child do? He plays… he tortures… he devalues what he has in his grasp to entertain himself, staring at it as it writhes like a worm upon the fisherman’s hook. He does this because he can. No reason, no purpose, it is done simply because it can be done.”
“What are you telling me?” asked Densa. “What are you saying?”
“You are the frog, Densa. You are the worm, all of you. You are all worms dangling upon his hook. He has no purpose other than to watch you dangle.”
“The prophecy?”
“A game. A lie. Whatever you wish it to be. He throws you into the fire, laughs, grows bored, leaves, returns to do it all again. It has nothing to do with you. It has nothing to do with the Tyrant. It has nothing to do with anything.”
“Chaos,” muttered Densa as he stared into the falls blankly. “And you play this game with him?”
“Unwillingly,” said the Earth in sadness. “Don’t fool yourself, Densa. I may be his prize, but he grew tired of me long ago. I am a worm to him, no different than you. I wanted you to leave, to go far away. That’s the only way I can truly save you. I know I lied to you, but it was for your own good.”
Densa lowered himself down to sit upon the bank of the crystal pool and wondered at his curse they called hope. He laid his hand against his head and he sat. Earth stayed quiet and Densa had no words to fill the emptiness of that silence. He wondered about the prophecy, the four gifts the Skyfather had given, he thought about the Tyrant, and Evercloud, he thought about Iolana. Did Iolana know? Did Iolana ever have to face the chaos and meaninglessness of existence? He hoped she did not. He hoped she never knew. He thought back to the moment he held her in his arms as they floated far above the earth. He thought of their kiss and he wondered.
“The world looks for the light and in return they are given meaninglessness. They look for good and they are rewarded with apathy, chaos and the void of nothing. Iolana finds within me darkness… darkness and love. I have promised to reward her with my all. I won’t settle for this truth of the Skyfather. I will not run away and damn others.”
“My dear, dear, Densa,” uttered Mother Earth with a deep and profound sadness. “You have no choice. Do you think that I do? He is the Skyfather.”
Densa turned as strange sounds crept into his consciousness. Softly padding across the ground came the steps and smiles of two bears. They ignored Densa and waded into the crystal pool. The bears stared at each other as if nothing else in the world existed.
“Who are you?” asked Densa. The bears turned around while in the water.
“My name is Whiteclaw,” said the first bear.
“I am Autumnbreeze,” said the second.
“I have heard of you,” said Densa in confusion. “You are the father and mother of Riverpaw, are you not?”
“We are,” replied the bears, smiling.
“How do you come to be here? How is it possible for you to be here?”
“We are no longer a part of the world in which you live,” said Autumnbreeze.
“Are you…dead?” asked Densa.
The two bears looked at each other, smiled and shrugged. “We do not know what we are.”
“But your son, he lives, he fights on for you.”
“And when he is done giving to this world, he will join us,” said Whiteclaw. “We have given what we can to this world, and soon, we will walk through the falls.”
“If you see Riverpaw again,” added Autumnbreeze. “Tell him we love him, we always will, and we will always be with him.”
“But you can’t be with him,” said Densa. “You are dead.”
“We will always be with him,” said Autumnbreeze. “Just as she is always with you.”
Densa’s jaw was agape as he thought of Iolana. You are still with me, he thought. You will always be with me. One day we will walk through those falls together, but there are still things I must do.
The peaceful sound of the falls was interrupted by sounds of hollow thuds that seemed to come from all around. Densa broke from his reverie and swiveled his head back and forth, trying to see from where the noise was coming. As much as he tried though, there was nothing to see and he was left with unanswered questions.
“What is that noise?” he found himself wondering aloud.
“Metal,” answered Mother Earth. “Tools of the first man. He is a tyrant true to the name he’s been given. As I said, Densa, I am but a worm, no different from the rest.”
“No,” said Densa. “I will not be a worm, writhing and helpless. I will not bow to this fate.”
“You have no choice,” repeated Mother Earth.
“I do. Send me to these tools of the Tyrant.”
“It does not matter, Densa.”
“Send me to them!”
“I didn’t want you to ever know,” said Earth and suddenly, the falls began to glow bright with light. A flash of light blinded Densa’s eyes, and when it was gone, he found himself back at the bottom of the dusty crater where he had lost his love. He spun around to see hundreds of metal men, pounding and chipping away at the rock, burrowing down into the earth.
They mean to dig into her core, thought Densa.
He didn’t understand why the Tyrant made these men dig and chip away as they did, but he didn’t need to understand to know that he needed to stop them. He felt the fire that burned within him and he let it flow through him like a rushing river. My darkness,
he thought. My power. I will blot out the light of the sun.
Densa clenched his fists and he went black with rage. His muscles rippled and he bellowed like a wild animal. The men of metal stopped and watched as the ancient being roared at them. The last thing the men of metal would ever see was the son of the moon as his eyes went red.
A black wave of energy erupted from Densa like the creation of a great sea. The hollow metal tools were swept up, rising upon the tide of their destruction, and then dropped back to the hard rock in the blink of an eye. Densa wasted no time in his assault; many of the men never regained their footing before being blasted into a million tiny pieces. Densa’s destruction of each shining figure was total and complete. His fists swung against the men with ferocious speed, dashing and denting their frames, busting and bending their joints, his endurance was infinite, his rage was suffocating.
Twenty men fell before him, then fifty. The energy of life faded from them, evaporating into the air like steam from a kettle. The light of cognizance was washed away from them as one washes their hands in a stream.
“Where is he?!” roared Densa as he laid waste to the first hundred men. No answer came from the lumbering masses of bolts and hinges as they barreled down upon him. Densa’s attack had come as a shock to the mining force; their minds were tuned to one specific goal and they would not deviate without severe provocation. But this assault had been severe in a most definite way. Their actions were being hindered, and the threat must be terminated. All attention was now turned to Densa, and his answer to this iron defense would devastate the Tyrant’s plan, whatever it might be. As the army bared down upon Densa, intent on a kill, they could have never known how completely useless their attack would be, they could have never known the futility of every move they made to salvage their scrapped forms. Their minds were pointed, focused and ignorant of who and what they faced.
Everflame: The Complete Series Page 91