by JD Cole
“The War Council seemed to think that, too. What’s your rationale for that?” Derek asked.
“The castle has never come under attack. Ever. No one even jokes about attacking the Goblin King directly. Ever. No one has ever stolen anything from Gedaschen. Ever. And certainly, never has any non-Shadowlander willingly strolled right into Gedaschen like we’re about to. Not. Ever.”
“So we’re betting everything on overconfidence?”
“No, she’s right,” Kassak said. “It might seem arrogant and foolish of them, but this region has earned its reputation for terror. People just do not have the courage to try what we’re about to. The thought would never even occur to anyone. I admit, even being allied with Paladins, I’m terrified.”
“I’m with the kid,” Nim said, with Graon nodding.
“I have to agree,” Lumina said. “I will be surprised if we encounter resistance immediately behind the waygate. The Goblin King and his subjects certainly take the obvious security precautions, but I cannot imagine them being concerned about intruders.”
“Well, if that’s the consensus, I’ll trust you guys,” Derek said.
“And if noise isn’t an issue,” Julian chimed in, “we can handle any guards outside the gate pretty easily. But how do we make sure there aren’t goblins or wards in the area that might detect us when we land?”
“If there are wards,” Taryn said, “I can detect them and navigate us around them.”
“Flashback,” the Hood looked at the feralman, “You should be able safely recon the area around this waygate, right?”
Samantha took a moment to look at everyone, a bit of hesitancy on her face. Then she tapped one of several pouches that dotted her BCR uniform. “I have little capsules attached to my uniform, call them magic if you like. If you break them open and release the pheromones they contain into an area, I’ll see and hear everything going on there.”
“That’s kinda’ cheating a bit,” Jezrimeli grinned at her. “I like it!”
“So we don’t even have to land,” the Hood said, “we just have to drop one of those capsules on the field and you can tell us what’s there?”
“Yeah,” Samantha confirmed. “It’s not exactly seeing and hearing, it’s more of an awareness, but it’s a very detailed awareness.”
“If I used a spell that creates breeze, would that help you see a larger area?” Taryn asked.
“Not too strong of a breeze,” Samantha said. “I’m not quite sure how concentrated my pheromones need to be, but a breeze to move it all around like a cloud… can you do something like that?”
“I believe so,” he smiled. He seemed to have a unique smile just for her, but she wondered if that wasn’t her imagination.
“The Ripwinger also has heat sensors we can use to scout around the waygate,” Lumina added. “I believe we are well-prepared.”
How exactly does a waygate work, anyway?” Derek asked.
“Waygates are located throughout the realm,” Graon answered. “They connect to each other via ether enchantment. You visit one gate, feed a tiny bit of ether magic to the rune that represents the gate you want to connect to, then walk through. It’s an instant travel method developed by the sprites and built for everyone’s benefit; it doesn’t require any powerful magic to use. But the Goblin King destroyed all of the waygates in the Borderlands and the Shadowlands.” He looked at Jezrimeli.
“Yeah,” the zerivade continued, “but he still needs to move his own people around quickly —the Shadowlands is a big place, right?— so he created his own hidden waygates to replace the ones the sprites built. The one we’re going to is the only one I know of, but there’s got to be others.”
Julian lifted his chin at her. “And how did you come across it, if I might ask?”
“Your friends have already heard the tale,” she nodded at Lumina, “but I don’t mind telling it again.” The zerivade spent the next quarter hour of the flight describing the months she spent tracking a wolf that had killed one of her friends during a quest for riches. The wolf had joined up with an army of irenaks heading back to Gedaschen, and this was how she’d discovered the waygate. The wolf she’d targeted, unfortunately, had escaped to the castle. She didn’t even know his name, and so had found it impossible to continue the hunt.
“Not to get off-topic,” Derek said, “but when the concept of an Unnamed was explained to me, they made it sound like you weren’t particularly dependable people.”
Jezrimeli scowled. “That’s what you get for listening to a stuck-up sprite. Look, my parents are quiffs, I’ve always known that, okay? But after tasting the sprites’ justice,” she spat the word, “the royals guaranteed I’d grow up to reject their ways. I have more honor than all of Windham combined.”
Derek raised his hands. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. Just wanted to point out I’m happy what I was led to assume was completely wrong.”
Jezrimeli shrugged an acknowledgment.
Julian cricked his neck. “Getting back on-topic, you are sure the waygate has a path to the castle?”
“Unless the giant Leyskano rune that says ‘Gedaschen’ is just a decoration, yeah.”
“I meant no disrespect,” Julian scratched at his blonde hair. The Hood had obviously plucked a raw nerve. “And I’m sorry about your friend.”
“He was an obnoxious, smelly pashryk,” Jezrimeli said. “But he was as brave and loyal as comrades gets. It burns me that I haven’t avenged him yet. Anyway, I’ve been wondering, your rank is ‘Fourth-Mark’? What does that mean?”
“Nothing as splendid as ‘zerivade’, I can assure you. New recruits begin their military service with six ‘marks’ against them. The Sixth mark is inexperience. Recruits who were previously hunters skip this mark and begin at the Fifth, which is being untrained. As a Fourth-Mark, I am ‘untested’. I have not been in any actual battles, which is true of most Paladins.”
“You are an army without combat-veterans?” Jezrimeli frowned.
“I have been tested by you,” Julian reminded her. “I am a fair representation of our non-veterans.”
The zerivade shrugged and nodded, conceding the point. “Yeah, you can fight, I have to admit that. So, you’re about to clear that fourth mark against you with this rescue, what’s next?”
“The Third mark against me is that I lack leadership experience. Only by planning and leading several successful operations can I advance to become a commander, a Second-Mark.”
Jezrimeli, as well as the other team members, was leaning forward, listening with rapt interest. “And then?” Jezrimeli prompted.
“There has never been a First-Mark, because the Second mark against a Paladin is that he or she has never won a war. We’re actually hoping no one ever has to reach the rank of First-Mark. Time will tell, I suppose.”
“If there’s no First-Mark… don’t you need some kind of big-chief, a top general or something?”
“Yes, we have a Supreme Commander but he is a Second-Mark, voted into command by the other Second-Marks and approved by the Dominion.”
“Okay, I’m dying to know what the last mark against you is,” Samantha said.
“That, I believe… is something to be saved for another day,” Julian said.
“Aww, come on!” Derek protested along with the others’ disapproving groans. “You suck!”
~ ~ ~ ~
As soon as the Dragons stepped through the ethergate in front of one of the royal libraries, rushing footsteps could be heard. A sprite in scholars’ robes, joined by another dressed more casually, rounded a corner and slowed their gate upon spying them. After closing the last few steps, they stopped and knelt, bowing. Christian stared in shock at the alien-looking sprites, and his jaw dropped when he looked out the window at alien beauty of the Faery Realm.
“Your Excellencies!” Yennis greeted, his voice trembling with equal parts joy, apprehension, and fear. “Welcome, welcome! To what do we owe this honor?”
“I am Zaiyensa,” she an
nounced, crossing her arms in a commanding pose, her sharp designer suit somehow not seeming out of place even here. “I am looking for two humans, Kimberly Greenfield and Erica Kunali’i. They are here, yes?”
“Yes, yes, My Lady!” Yennis stood and eagerly gestured her to follow. “They visit here every day, wanting to learn more about Dragons… I presume the two of you?” he looked back at Devon and Christian while leading them into the library.
“Erica’s my wife,” Christian said. “She’s really here?”
“Indeed,” Yennis said. “She will be pleased to see you!”
“I’ll be pleased to see her!” he managed a smile through his shock, taking in the sight of the sprites’ rich, ornate library.
“We provided them access to jojen plates so that they can read any of our enchanted volumes,” Yennis explained while taking them up a wide spiral staircase.
“Many of the books here were transcribed by mages,” Zaiyensa explained. “Whenever possible, they write with jojen spells so that everyone can use the library. It involves the reader laying an enchanted metal plate on the page, which copies the text into an approximation of the reader’s language. It doesn’t perform exact translations, so scholars still need to learn the language of the volumes they study. But laymen can get a rough idea of what the text is saying with the plate.”
“That sounds like it could get heavy,” Christian said.
Zaiyensa chuckled. “No, you only use one plate. It rewrites itself each time you place it on a new page.”
“Etch-A-Sketch,” Devon said.
They continued further, between several rows of huge bookshelves. Finally, they reached a modest study area adorned with comfortable seating and tables. Kim was at a table talking to a schoolmarm-looking ellh. Erica lounged on a rich looking chair with a huge tome in her lap, a large cup of some steaming beverage sitting on a small table next to her. Christian stopped at the sight of his wife, staring and not quite believing. Then she looked up and time froze as their eyes met.
“Chris?” Slowly, Erica stood, putting the tome on the seat.
At that moment, Kim noticed them, too. “Devon!” The redhead bounced from her seat and ran into Devon’s arms. “Where were you, you big dummy?”
Erica cupped her mouth as tears welled, then she and her husband ran and crashed into each other’s embrace. “You finally came back to me!” she sobbed.
“Yeah, yeah, babe! I have no idea what’s going on, but I don’t even care right now!”
Zaiyensa walked back out into the library proper, looking over the endless rows of books.
“What took you so long?” Kim asked her Dragon. “I was worried sick!”
“Long story,” Devon smiled, then kissed her hard. “But we got him back!” He turned and gestured to his brother, holding Kim tightly in his other arm. “Kim, this is my big brother, Christian.”
“Nice to meet you!” Kim beamed, offering her hand. “I knew Devon could find you!”
“You just said you was worried!” Devon looked down at her as Christian shook her hand.
“Nevermind what I said, I’m bragging on you now!”
“You get used to them,” Erica smiled at Christian, holding his head and kissing on him like she was trying to make up for their lost time. She managed a quick moment to glance at her brother-in-law. “Thank you, Devon!”
“Ehh, minor,” he shrugged.
Christian pulled away just enough to look down at his wife’s belly. “Erica, you-?”
“Yup,” Devon said, “she’s fat!”
“Stop it!” Kim slapped him roughly on his shoulder.
Erica laughed. “Yeah Chris… you’re gonna be a daddy!”
~
Christian was on top of the world. He and Erica were catching up outside the library now, holding each other at an open window overlooking the realm from their mountain vantage point. Christian’s hand couldn’t be pried from Erica’s belly, even if he weren’t a Dragon. Devon and Kim were still in the reading room, cuddled together on a sofa with Zaiyensa seated across from them in a richly furnished chair.
“So, Krin’s in big trouble?” Kim asked.
“Possibly,” Zaiyensa answered. “When the elders call, Devon will need to come back to testify with T’rsing and I as witnesses.”
“Wait, you have to go back?” Kim looked at Devon.
“Yeah, but shouldn’t take that long.” He looked at Zaiyensa. “Right?”
“I shouldn’t think so. You haven’t known Krin very long, so if you know something particularly valuable, we should be able to determine what it is fairly quickly.”
“Devon’s not in any kind of trouble, right? There’s no danger to him with your laws and stuff?”
“No,” Zaiyensa shook her head. “But he does need to learn what our laws are. There are not many, but we take them very seriously.”
“Okay, well, if you don’t have to leave right now,” she turned in Devon’s arm, “you should probably know Kelli needs your help.”
“Why? What’s wrong?” he asked.
“That Goblin King monster attacked everyone here while you were gone! He put Kelli in some kind of coma, and kidnapped her dad.”
“What?” Devon shot up straight on the sofa. “When was this? What is a Goblin King?”
“Right after me and Erica got here.”
Zaiyensa closed her eyes and concentrated. The library around them disappeared, and a shi’un of the Goblin King’s attack replayed around them. It only lasted for a second in the real world, and the scene faded back to the library when it ended. Zaiyensa shook her head with sadness at what she’d just exposed Devon to. Again.
“What the heck was that?” Devon demanded, standing up. “Why did that Dragon attack Kelli?”
Zaiyensa also stood. “Devon, you must remain calm.”
“Calm?” he shouted. “You saw what that guy did, killing all those sprites and trying to stab Kelli?” He looked at Kim. “Where is Kel?”
“She’s in the guest rooms we stayed in before-”
Devon started to march for the exit, but Zaiyensa grabbed his arm. “May I speak with you privately, Devon?”
“Why? I gotta go!”
The world spun around him, and he dropped to his hands and knees fighting a sudden, searing migraine. Looking around, he realized Zaiyensa had pulled him into Strenovia. She was sitting nearby, gripping her head like she was also in pain. Devon stood, but it was several moments before Zaiyensa joined him, and her legs wobbled for a moment as Devon helped her up.
“I usually do that with runes,” she said. “But I needed you to calm down.”
“Why did you bring me back here?”
“To calm. You. Down.”
“Okay, I’m calm.”
“No, you are not. People you care about are suffering, but you have not grasped the situation.”
“And what is the situation?”
“Your friends are at war. If you plan to intervene-”
“Aw, crap, you better not tell me I cannot save Kelli and her dad! That’s BS!”
“I am telling you to proceed carefully. There are things you must not do, Devon. You must not alter the outcome of wars, and you must not indebt rulers to yourself.”
“She’s Ben’s wife,” Devon said. “It’s nothing to do with debt, I’m helping my family!”
“The elders may not see it that way. I am not saying there’s nothing you can do. But you need to use your head! Do not make the mistake of being ruled by your emotions, that is the road to becoming the very kind of monster you’ve been railing against this whole adventure!”
Devon stood silently as the truth of what she said rolled over him like a tsunami. He had ridiculous god-like power at his command. How easy would it be to become a tyrant that made those soldiers or even the Goblin King look like kittens in comparison? He’d already surrendered to his rage once… it happened so quickly he hadn’t had the ability to even think it through before acting. Before murdering those soldiers.<
br />
“You’re right,” he took a deep breath. “You’re right. Thanks.” He looked around. “Time is weird in this place too? Can you take us back? I don’t want Kim to be stuck wondering where I was for another week.”
Zaiyensa studied him for several moments. “You are calm? Speak truthfully.”
“Yeah. Honest. I no like turn into one of those soldiers who murders and steals just because I can.”
She nodded. “Very well. And no, time passes here the same as it does on Earth. But I will take us back now. Thankfully, leaving Strenovia is much easier than getting here, my head is still splitting.”
“I didn’t think we had limits like that?”
“Like I’ve told you many times, you have much to learn.”
A wave of ink-like darkness enveloped them… and once more they were standing in the library’s reading room.
“Jeez, where’d you go?” Kim demanded, running back into the room from the hallway beyond.
“Sorry,” Devon started, but Zaiyensa held up her hand.
“My apologies, Ms. Greenfield. His emotions were understandably… riled. I pulled him away momentarily to calm him down.”
“Are you okay?” Kim asked Devon.
“I have lots of power now,” he said, looking at his hands. “I cannot just go do whatever I feel like every time I get excited or angry.”
“Unfortunately, many of our kind do exactly that,” Zaiyensa said. She looked at Kim. “Your lover has a kind, thoughtful heart. I’d like to help you keep him that way.”
“My lov-? Yeah, yeah, I definitely want my lover to stay just like he is.”
“Lover, huh?” Devon looked slyly at the redhead.
“Don’t forget you’re my lover,” she clamped both of her arms around one of his, lifting her chin at Zaiyensa. “She even said so.”
Devon shook his head clear. “Okay, I need to focus now, though. Let’s go see Kelli. I need to figure out how I can help her. Where’s that librarian guy?”
Yennis appeared from around the corner. “How may I be of service, Master Devon?” He’d clearly been hanging around to make himself available to his VIP guests.