by Frank Morin
“Well done, everyone. I think it’s ready!” Hamish proclaimed loudly to enthusiastic cheers.
Dierk sighed with relief and added, “Go get some dinner and a good night’s sleep everyone. We’ll celebrate properly tomorrow.”
Hamish clapped hands with each person as they left, thanking them for their hard work. Jean stood close beside him, and he kept getting distracted just wanting to look at her. Her thick, blond hair had come unbraided, and wisps of it seemed to caress her cheeks and throat.
“Stop dawdling. I’m hungry,” Jean said after the last of the team left the large workspace and he finally got to simply stare at her.
Hamish wrapped an arm around her shoulder as they headed out through the cold twilight toward the inn across town. Connor and Verena were waiting for them outside, holding hands. They too looked tired, but happy. Hamish had seen little of Connor in recent days, and not enough of Verena once final testing commenced.
Verena had spent most of her time supporting and assisting, well, everyone. She seemed to be involved in everything, lifting spirits and helping drive projects forward. And of course she spent every bit of extra time flying in her new Swift. Hamish was starting to fear that if Verena was ever asked to choose between her new Swift or Connor, she’d leave him in a heartbeat.
Connor spent the bulk of his time practicing with Kilian. It sounded like that second threshold made life complicated. Some of what Connor tried to explain challenged some of Hamish’s basic beliefs about how affinity stones worked. When they found more time, they needed to dig into some of that weirdness and see if there were deeper truths to Builder powers too. They might be able to unlock even more potential from affinity stones, and that was worth embracing a little weirdness.
Verena greeted them with enthusiastic hugs, and Connor gestured them toward the entrance. “We already ordered a meal. Should be ready.”
Hamish and Jean led the way into the inn, with Connor and Verena on their heels. A wave of golden light and heavy warmth embraced them inside the huge common room. Hamish breathed deep the smell of meat pies and fresh-baked bread.
Although it was late, the inn was packed with people, and they all turned, as if they’d been waiting. Liesa and Evert, their innkeeper aprons somehow still spotless white, raised wooden tankards high and shouted the new cheer they’d invented that week.
“For Faulenrost and Builder glory!”
Everyone raised glasses and tankards and shouted the cheer, shaking the inn with the thunderous noise. Jean flushed. She still seemed surprised by the attention. She’d confessed she’d love more quiet time to simply focus on research.
Hamish doubted she’d get much peace. Too many people knew how brilliant she was.
He raised a hand, and calm slowly settled over the crowd. “Thank you all for your help. We could not have succeeded without you all.”
Another round of loud cheering.
Connor added, “We have to leave tomorrow.”
That surprised Hamish. He glanced over as a somber hush settled over the crowd. Connor said softly, “I’ll explain while we eat.”
Plump Liesa cried, “You’ll trounce those Obrioner Petralists, you will!”
That elicited another loud cheer, and Hamish grinned at their enthusiasm. “Many of you helped build the tools we’ll use. Faulenrost is going to battle with us, and it’s your hard work that will turn the tide in our favor.”
The crowd cheered louder than ever as the four of them headed for the back dining room. Many of the locals rose to shake their hands and wish him and Connor luck, although they seemed more eager to speak with Jean and Verena, both of whom were town favorites.
The table was already heaped with the inn’s best food, and a roaring fire in the hearth warmed the room to sleepy levels.
“How did the testing go today?” Verena asked as they took their seats.
“We’re not ready,” Jean said, her voice nervous.
Hamish said, “Maybe not entirely, but enough of it works that I won’t be facing Harley unarmed.”
He loved his personal battle suit, but he’d need the Juggernaut to hope to survive even a little while against Harley.
Verena said, “It’s incredible. I can still hardly believe how much you’ve accomplished.”
“It was a group effort. New Schwinkendorf might become the official Builder compound, but Faulenrost is the heart of the Juggernaut.”
Connor said, “I’m glad it’s ready. We received word from Ivor today. Harley is close. That’s why we need to leave tomorrow morning.”
“I still can’t imagine how she moved nearly thirty thousand troops all the way from Crann to Merkland through the dead of winter so fast,” Verena said.
Connor said, “Probably used wagon loads of tertiary stones. I’m glad I don’t know how many soldiers died on that march.”
They all served themselves large portions of roasted pork, beef medallions in a delicious dark sauce, bratwurst, dijon-dill chicken, and sauerkraut. Hamish sighed with bliss as he polished off his first plate and returned for more.
After sating his initial hunger he said, “Jean, you and Verena will need to keep everyone focused. If things go badly, Altkalen will need all the help you can send. If things go well, it means we’ll be facing the queen next, and we’ll need all the help we can get.”
Facing Harley was truly terrifying, even with his Juggernaut armor, but he trusted Connor and Kilian, as well as the rest of the team already in Merkland. They had survived other long odds.
He hoped their luck held out.
Verena leaned back in her chair, her food only half gone and said, “I’m coming to Merkland.”
Connor tried to object, but choked on a piece of ham he’d been about to swallow. Hamish beat him on the back while he coughed and asked, “What’s wrong with you, Verena? Usually your timing is better. You can’t make an announcement like that when people are eating. It’s dangerous.”
Jean said, “Well, I’m glad you said it because I’m coming too.”
The thought of Jean in danger killed Hamish’s appetite and he sighed. “I’m so disappointed. Couldn’t you wait until after dessert?”
Connor recovered from his coughing fit. “Verena, we talked about this. You’re not ready.”
“I wasn’t ready five days ago, but I am now. I’ve got the new Swift and I plan to tow a full windrider full of extra mechanicals.” She met his gaze firmly. “We’re a team, Connor, and I’m coming with you.”
Verena was deadly enough that Hamish wasn’t really all that worried for her. Jean was another story. “Why do you have to come too?”
“I know the Juggernaut better than anyone. It’s still so new, we barely got all the pieces fitted together. If something goes wrong, I can help you troubleshoot it.”
“If something goes wrong, I doubt Harley will give me time to troubleshoot anything.”
Her expression turned stubborn and although he tried several more times to discourage her, in his heart he knew she’d never change her mind.
Finally, Verena grew exasperated with the argument. “Stop it, Hamish. We’re going, and that’s that.”
The door opened and Mattias stepped through. “And I’m coming too.”
Connor started to rise, but Hamish pulled him back down. If he and Mattias started fighting, they’d wreck any chance of getting the feast going again. Besides, there weren’t any good windows in the room.
Verena looked as surprised as the rest of them. “Mattias, what are you doing here?”
He approached and faced her, pointedly ignoring Connor. “I figured you’d do something foolish, although honestly I suspected Connor would encourage your lunacy.”
“We don’t need you,” Connor said coldly.
Mattias dropped into a chair across the table from him. “We both know that’s a lie. You’re undermanned, facing the queen’s strongest Petralist. You need all the help you can get.”
Mattias looked far too calm. Had he hatched a plot wi
th Verena’s grumpy father to try persuading Verena to dump Connor?
“Did you bring any of your troops?” Verena asked, again composed.
He shook his head. “Taking anyone else would have triggered a blizzard of questions and delays. I just slipped aboard the daily windrider. Good thing too.”
When both Verena and Connor started to protest again, he held up a hand to forestall them. “I’m not here to make trouble for you, Verena. You made your choice, and I’ll honor it. I still think you’ll change your mind, and I’m willing to wait until you do, but I’m here only to make sure you return home safely. The only way to stop me is to return to Altkalen with me.”
“I can think of other ways,” Connor said softly, angry gaze locked on Mattias.
Hamish said, “Mattias, you’re ridiculous, but you’re right. We do need the help.” They could deal with any underhanded ploys after they survived Merkland.
Connor looked at him like he’d betrayed his trust, but Hamish shrugged. “You can’t stop the girls, and you know it. Mattias is experienced working with the Crushers and we can use another good Allcarver.”
Jean squeezed his hand in thanks. He might not be able to stop her, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t spend the entire trip down to Merkland trying to think of the best way to keep her safe during the fighting.
Verena said, “I don’t need your protection, Mattias, but I’m glad you’re coming to help.”
Connor looked like he’d taken a long swig of sour milk, but still managed to say, “Thanks for your help.”
Jean ordered in another plate and insisted that Mattias join them for the rest of the feast. She was always thinking clever thoughts like that. It was a lot harder to remain angry with someone while enjoying a huge meal together, and they couldn’t afford any hesitation when facing Harley.
As they resumed eating, Hamish noticed Connor seemed a bit preoccupied. He’d only eaten half of one of Liesa’s famous walnut strudels and stared down at his plate with a frown. Definitely not natural, but he wasn’t glaring at Mattias either.
“What’s wrong?” he asked quietly.
“Oh, nothing,” Connor said, shaking himself out of his reverie.
Hamish chuckled. “Something’s eating you, Connor because you’re not eating your dessert.”
“It’s just, today in our training, Kilian taught me another of those really strange new affinity powers. It’s one of the ones that seems tuned to the green power source.”
“That’s the new one, the more powerful, but unstable one, right?” Verena asked.
“What are you talking about?” Mattias asked.
Connor hesitated then said, “I’ll explain later. You taught me quartzite so I’ll share what I’ve learned about the second threshold when we have a little more time. There are a couple of new abilities I can access through limestone.”
That kind of mature response was no doubt inspired by the strudel. Desserts of that caliber lifted everyone to a higher state of being.
Mattias looked eager to hear more as Connor continued. “This effect is really strange.”
“Stranger than mirage?” Jean asked.
Connor chuckled. “Most Solas have a complex. They think their power is kind of lame, but limestone is really amazing and really scary, honestly. It’s possible, although extremely difficult and time consuming, to focus light into a super-compressed beam that can slice through just about anything except for mirrors. I haven’t mastered that one yet, and I’m not sure how useful it would be in a fight with how long it takes to prepare.”
Mattias hung on every word. “I’ve studied every scrap of information we have in the king’s own library in Edderitz about ascended powers, but I’ve never heard about that.”
“Few know about it. Kilian said a lot of these secrets were jealously guarded by his parents.”
Verena said, “I wonder if we could tap something like that with a quickened stone?”
That would be amazing. Hamish eagerly said, “We’ll have to practice. But you said there was another effect that’s even stranger?”
Connor nodded. “Limestone focused internally.”
“Doesn’t that just make your teeth glow?” Verena asked.
Mattias shook his head. “The glow effect is just internalizing the external generation of light, like swallowing an invisible lamp. I never knew limestone had an internal effect.”
Connor said, “It’s completely opposite.”
Hamish frowned. “Limestone produces light. So that effect creates darkness?”
“Darkness to every sense. It’s complete sensory deprivation. Kilian demonstrated it on me for a couple seconds.” Connor shivered.
Jean and Verena exchanged uneasy glances, but Hamish said, “Wow. Try it on me.”
Jean asked, “Are you serious? Why would you want to experience that?”
“It didn’t hurt Connor. I want to feel what he means, see if I get the same effect.”
“It’s not pleasant,” Connor warned.
“Neither was smelling the mega-stench, but that was a life-altering experience. Maybe this will be too.”
Verena grimaced. “I still can’t believe you took off your mask.”
“You’re just jealous you weren’t brave enough to do it too.”
“Not hardly.”
When Connor still hesitated, Hamish held up another of the walnut strudels. “I just don’t believe you could really block me from tasting this amazing dessert.” He popped it into his mouth and savored the explosion of deliciousness.
Mattias said, “I want to experience it too.” He looked resolute, as if willing to fight over the point.
Connor couldn’t resist an opportunity like that. He made no outward move, but all of a sudden the taste in Hamish’s mouth faded away to nothing. The rest of the strudel in his hand faded from his sense of touch. Then he couldn’t feel the chair he sat in, then lost all feeling entirely. It was like his skin fell asleep.
Complete blackness dropped over his vision. His sense of smell snuffed out as if he had never smelled sweetbreads fresh from the oven in his entire life. All sounds ceased to exist, and Hamish felt like he’d dropped into the deepest, blackest abyss, except he could not see or hear or feel or taste any aspect of that abyss. It was beyond black, beyond quiet, beyond empty. He was locked completely and utterly alone, with no sensory input whatsoever.
It was so fascinating.
He figured most people would begin to panic almost immediately. It was pretty disturbing if he let himself think about it. He tried screaming, but made no sound. He could still hear himself think, though.
So he tried imagining the smell of fresh sweetbreads, the feel of Jean’s hand in his, and the incomparable experience of kissing her beautiful mouth. The memories felt weaker somehow, like pale shadows of what they should be, but they still existed. Whatever Connor was doing could steal away his external senses, but it could not rob him of his mind.
Only the queen could do that.
Then all of his senses came rushing back, and all Hamish could do was exult in the explosion of taste in his mouth, as if that pastry had been concentrating its flavor until he could enjoy it again. The colors of the room seemed brighter than ever before, and Jean’s voice sounded like the pure singing of angels as she leaned closer and asked, “Are you all right?”
He grinned. “Ask me again.”
She smiled and the curve of her full lips mesmerized him, as did the sculpted perfection of her features. She looked more beautiful than ever. The sight of her took his breath away.
Across the table, Mattias suddenly pitched backward, arms flailing out wide, his teeth erupting with blinding brilliance. He shouted a long, wordless cry, overbalanced his chair, and toppled with a crash.
Verena rushed around the table. “Are you all right?”
She helped the shaking Mattias to his feet and righted his chair. He glanced at Connor, shuttered his glowing teeth, and shivered. “I didn’t think you could really do that
to me, not while I was tapping limestone.”
“I tried to warn you,” Connor said apologetically.
Hamish said, “Next time I need to test it with a power stone in hand to see if I can still reach it.”
“Next time?” Jean asked.
“Of course. I’m fine. In fact, we should do that at least once a week.”
Mattias shook his head. “Once was enough for me.”
Verena asked, “Why would you want to go through that again? I was trapped in my mind too, and I never want to experience that again.”
Hamish shrugged. “It just seems that everything is more vibrant and beautiful now that I’ve experienced what it would be like without it. Especially you, Jean.”
For that, she gave him a spectacular kiss that took his breath away again.
74
Some Moments Need More Happy-Thought Thinking Food
Merkland glittered in the bright morning sunlight, snow and ice reflecting the light like millions of diamonds scattered across the snow. Connor admired the beautiful river valley as they flew in over the township, toward the majestic city on the bluff on the other side of the river.
No doubt word was quickly spreading of their approach. They made a strange procession, even for Builders. Verena, Hamish, and Dierk each flew a long windrider, piled so high with mechanicals and supplies that there was barely room for the pilots on their high benches. It was a wonder they managed to lift off at all, and if not for a steady tailwind, they might never have made it to Merkland before exhausting the thruster blocks.
A second string of windriders floated behind each of them, tethered to the first and just as heavily loaded with equipment. In Hamish’s case, his trailing windrider was an oversized model and all it carried was his enormous Juggernaut armor.
Trailing behind that enormous wagon came the Hawk, with Jean at the controls and Connor perched on the front row beside her. Jean wasn’t doing much flying, although she had used her keystone to adjust the thrusters so they floated out wide and slightly above the obstructing view of the Juggernaut. Verena’s new Swift floated tethered behind her trailing windrider.
Kilian rode in the second row, feet up on the seat to Jean’s right, munching on a sugar-coated strudel he’d pilfered from one of the high-piled boxes of provisions that packed the rest of the craft. Aifric and Mattias shared the second row with him. They passed the time discussing strategies for the upcoming fight and exploring ways Aifric could use her Mhortair affinities to support them. And of course, they did their best to consume as much of the food stores as possible.