Haunt & Havoc

by Jeremy Dwyer

  “Are there equations to describe it?” Taesa asked.

  “Yes, but they have variables for both geometry and light and water purity and mineral purity. It gets very complex,” Emerond said.

  “Good enough to get through the storm is all we care about,” Brant said.

  Emerond then continued his crystal bending work, gradually rotating the diamond and creating a different angle at different points along its shape.

  Judith captured all of this, as well, and was able to better render the drawing of the diamond as Emerond molded it, even though her drawn angles were not as accurate as they should have been. As a result, it would take the eye of an experienced crystal bender to correct for the defects. Still, it was an improvement over Judith’s prior drawing, which was on the facing page in her book.

  Emerond finished the job, and Judith followed along, mouthing “Thank you” to Emerond at the end.

  Judith carefully considered what she had seen and learned from the diamond bending action she had just watched unfold. At this, she realized that this man was acting as the kind of friend she had always wanted and needed – one who was patient and willing to take the time to share knowledge, rather than resisting by hiding or giving partial or misleading information, or just being impatient. He genuinely had respect and it touched her young-old heart. Being a Chronicler did not mean that she ceased to be a person, or ceased to have weaknesses and sensitivities. The protection she received was to her physical safety, but not to her emotional core. Her drawing skills – and even her intelligence – had been insulted on more than one (1) occasion.

  “That’s two (2) new diamonds. Time to light them up…and heat them up,” Zoe said. At this, she drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean in her vial and was energized. She used the power the waters gave to generate light and project it into the pair of crystals until they stored the energy to their limit. Then, she handed one (1) to Brant and kept one (1) for herself.

  “Off we go,” Zoe said.

  “We’ll try to be quick,” Brant said.

  ~~~

  Zoe and Brant left the dark and strangely curved building and went out into the storm, which was weaker than before. The charged diamonds that each of them carried radiated heat, thereby protecting them from the bitter cold, which was only slightly less intense than before.

  “The storm’s almost over,” Brant said.

  “Don’t count on it,” Zoe said.

  “What do you mean?” Brant asked.

  “It’s a tug of war. Light and dark go back and forth. Remember: the Ikkith Tar Ocean is to the east, and the Lujladia Ocean is to the west. The tides rise and fall, and the light and dark move, and that will move the heat and cold. That means the storm will move. If it’s weak here, it’s strong somewhere else. Give it time, and the storm will get strong again,” Zoe said.

  “Give me some hope,” Brant said.

  “I’m not going to lie to you. Let’s get to port, and see what can be seen,” Zoe said.

  Zoe and Brant trekked for over two (2) hours through the snow-covered land, and made their way out to the port on the west coast of the Wandering of Shadows. They arrived at the port, near where the land bridge met the northwest corner of the continent of Revod. There, they could see the sky, and it was like dusk, but not the same.

  “It’s almost night time. We’ll wait here until the morning and keep looking farther,” Brant said.

  “It isn’t night. At night time, the stars just move around a bit. Something’s blocking the light of the suns,” Zoe said.

  “Then the Blazer told us the truth,” Brant said, referring to Blazer Endrit.

  “At least it was true that there’s darkness. That doesn’t mean the luminaries cause it,” Zoe said.

  “Do we go back and tell them?” Brant asked.

  “Let’s go in to town, first, and find out what’s happening. Don’t say anything, or tell anyone why we’re here. We just want to buy food, and listen carefully,” Zoe said.

  “Let’s hope the food here is better than all the wild animals we had to hunt down the last five (5) months,” Brant said.

  “It wasn’t all that bad. And it wasn’t safe to show our faces – in case somebody could trace us back to her,” Zoe said.

  “You think it’s safe now?” Brant asked.

  “No. But I have confidence,” Zoe said.

  “That makes me feel better…I think,” Brant said.

  “I mean confidence that the world keeps getting worse. Maybe they have bigger problems to keep them busy,” Zoe said, gesturing toward the sky. Because of the power of the Lujladia Ocean waters she drank, she was able to produce a light of her own to guide them on their journey to arrive at the port, so her hands still glowed as she gestured.

  “Never mind what I said about feeling better,” Brant said.

  Brant and Zoe wandered through town, purchasing bread and salted meat and fruits and vegetables, drawing from the platinum coins they had been paid. Zoe had a mind to keep track of everything they spent except for what they ate themselves and charge it back to Emerond. This was supposed to be their payment for protection service, and they were spending it to feed the people they were protecting. Per the laws, she couldn’t charge the Chronicler – even though the woman could and did eat as much as anyone else – but Emerond could pay for her. After all, he wasn’t exactly poor.

  Zoe sometimes felt like she was being used as a charity – to help this poor person or that poor person – because her whole life was fighting and rescuing and looking out for the weak. Who looked out for her? She drew a blank on that question. It wasn’t Brant – he had muscle, even speed – but she had to look out for him so he didn’t walk into a trap, and she had to count the money to make sure it didn’t go too quickly.

  As Brant and Zoe traveled through the port town, they overheard sailors and captains describing the difficulties of travel. They listened to one captain – a white-bearded man in his late fifties or early sixties complaining about the state of affairs in the world – while they were standing at an outside food market with hundreds of tables covered with various bowls of nuts, fruits, grains, meats, corn and other foods.

  The old captain said: “No one can steer by the stars – it’s like the sky is dead, or about to be. We don’t know what’s up there…some kind of death spirit that eats the suns. Navigation is real slow – anyone who tries to hear the stars just feels pain, and screams for hours, and passes out. Now, everybody has to do the math, with the angles, the old way, and a lot of them just ain’t that smart.”

  “It’s so dark – all over the place – it’s easy to get lost anywhere, not just here,” another man said as he brought a basket of fruit and placed it on a table.

  “And there’s some new king, down in Ihalik. He took over everything there, and killed a few, I hear,” a woman said, carving up some meats and placing them on dishes and in bowls on the market tables in front of her.

  Hearing this, Brant just looked at Zoe, who looked back at him and thought that smart was more useful than strong or fast. She needed somebody smart to get her out of this mess, but there was nowhere to go, because it sounded as if things were just worse everywhere else. Why some girl – no, not just some girl, but the girl with a death mark on her that most people probably heard about – had to go get pregnant in the middle of all this havoc was beyond her.

  Zoe then stopped herself before she spouted out a few angry words. The meat looked good, so she counted – me, Brant, Emerond, Taesa, Caroline, Judith…and the baby, because mom eats for two (2). Zoe then asked the woman: “How much for seven (7) bowls – salted, to last?”

  “Big party? Four (4) coins,” the woman said.

  “Yeah. Baby’s coming,” Zoe said and handed over four (4) platinum coins to the woman – thinking this was expensive, although the bowls were each two (2) months’ worth of food, if they ate sparingly.

  “Help me out here,” Zoe said.

  Brant opened up a backpack that he
was carrying and started loading it up, but he could only hold three (3) of the large bowls in it. He held two (2) more in his hands.

  Zoe took held the last two (2) in her own hands and realized that it was going to be a difficult trip back.

  “No. This isn’t the way to do it,” Zoe said.

  “What is?” Brant asked.

  “We need to get a room,” Zoe said.

  Zoe and Brant then made their way to a local inn and rented a room for six (6) nights, paying two (2) platinum coins for that, and left the food in it and locked the door.

  “We’ve got to move fast, and get them all here, before the storm moves in to where they are. This port town is out of the storm’s path, so we can wait here,” Zoe said.

  Brant and Zoe then made their way back, as quickly as they had come, and the diamonds that Emerond had given them were still radiating their warmth.

  When they arrived at the strangely curved, dark building, Zoe said: “The dark skies are real, and they’re everywhere. No one can navigate by the stars anymore.”

  “We bought some food,” Brant said.

  “Good to know there’s food. Not good news about the navigation, though,” Emerond said.

  Judith was recording all that was said into her book, and waiting for even more details. And a good meal sounded like a fine idea, too.

  “We’ve rented a room in a port town for a few nights, and left the food there. We’ll pay for some extra nights, until we decide where to go next. It just keeps on getting more expensive,” Zoe said.

  “I’ll reimburse you for all of it,” Emerond said.

  “Yeah. You will. Including for her,” Zoe said, looking toward Judith.

  “You’re covered. Don’t worry,” Emerond said, looking to Judith.

  “What about Taesa? How are we going to keep her from being recognized?” Caroline asked.

  “Walk between us, head down, and mouth shut. You look different now that you’re pregnant, so there’s a chance no one’s going to spot you right away,” Zoe said.

  “I’m only four (4) months. You’re saying that I look big already?” Taesa asked, half-insulted.

  “No. Don’t get me wrong: eight (8) months would be bigger, and better…except for the part where you’re walking in the snow, tired, ready to go at any time,” Zoe said.

  “I agree. You’re still on your feet now, but it’s obvious that you’re expecting, and you weren’t when everyone was angry at you,” Caroline said.

  “They’re still angry…don’t doubt it,” Zoe said.

  “It’s better if you don’t present yourself as the girl they’re looking for. Every difference is an advantage,” Emerond said.

  “Right. Now, let’s move, before the storm decides to roll back in,” Zoe said.

  “It’s still cold out there, right?” Emerond asked.

  “Yeah. Let’s be quick this time. No time to teach,” Zoe said.

  Emerond drank anew of the waters of the Kazofen Ocean from his vial and he was energized. He then took four (4) new uncut diamonds from his collection and cut them to the same specifications, so that they would store the heat.

  Zoe drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from her vial and she was energized. She generated light onto the diamonds and charged them, and they began to give off their heat. She handed them to Taesa, Caroline, Emerond and Judith.

  “Now, are we ready?” Zoe asked.

  “We’re ready,” Emerond said.

  “Something’s bothering you. Talk to me,” Caroline said, noticing how snappy Zoe had become. She was always a bit tough, but it was now very pronounced.

  “Something? Try everything,” Zoe said.

  At this, the group left the dark and strangely curved building and made their way in the cold over the snow-covered terrain. The diamonds – including the earlier crystals Zoe and Brant had carried – were effective at radiating enough heat to make for a tolerable journey, although the walk through the snow was still an effort.

  After three (3) hours – which was longer than before, because Taesa had to be helped – they arrived at the port town and took up the rented room.

  ~~~

  Inside the great city wall suddenly built around the interior of Baradaxa, the millions of people already living there went about their work, and they heard much of what was going on through rumors. They learned that the wall had been built by Sebastian to protect them from the dangers of storms, and whatever the cause of the darkness was, and any other difficulties imaginable or otherwise. They would be safe, they heard, and should go about farming and every other kind of work. Most of them could not even see the wall, despite the fact that it surrounded them, because of the sheer length of it, at three hundred fifty (350) miles on each of its six (6) sides.

  Within those walls, Ryan and Liora had already taken up residence in a small, finely-built home made of wood and stone. Ryan had purchased the home – and a small plot of arable land around it – by obtaining a loan against profits from his farming work and her crystal bending work, which she still did to cut rough gems for local markets.

  It was on a day of working the land – planting corn in one area, peppers in another – that Ryan learned of the wall, though he was far from it. At the end of the day, he went into their home and started to tell Liora about the wall.

  “I heard something interesting, Liora,” Ryan said to her, while seated on a comfortable chair, resting his back, which ached from the tiring farming work. He was used to a different kind of heavy labor at sea, so he figured that he would just have to learn to adjust.

  “Ryan. Wait. I have something to tell you,” Liora said.

  “What is it?” Ryan asked.

  “I’m pregnant!” Liora said.

  “How far along are you?” Ryan asked, surprised.

  “Three (3) months. Are you happy?” Liora asked, hoping that his surprise gave way to joy.

  “Yes. Yes I am. I’m home, with you…and with you,” Ryan said, putting his hand on her belly.

  “What did you want to tell me?” Liora asked.

  “We’re safe…from the things out there, from the storms, from the troubles. There’s a wall between us and all that,” Ryan said.

  Liora just hugged him, not knowing that he literally meant a physical wall, and that the wall was gigantic.

  ~~~

  On Haza’Kedro’Maral Island in the Pirovalen Ocean, Duchess Uliana paid close attention to the construction of the Temple of the Sky’s Nine (9) Kings, and was frustrated with its slow progress, even though it was actually on schedule and she knew it.

  She paid occasional attention to the progress of another development – that of the child within her. Uliana was four (4) months pregnant due to her relations with the male servant prior to coming here.

  Duchess Uliana had high hopes for the completion of the temple, and she had the worst of intentions for the child, planning to sacrifice him – or her – to the suns as a way to offer her thanks for the authority she was granted over this island and the financial powers which were centered on it. The sacrifice was to consecrate the temple and would bring greater blessings, according to what she believed.

  When she had come from Nataloridivu, she brought with her the singer, Nehexalor, and she kept him secured in one (1) of the buildings, awaiting her command.

  While Uliana waited in her private office in the Trading Center One building, she sent one (1) of her servants to bring Nehexalor to her. When he arrived, she said: “I am with child, four (4) months along. When I deliver, the newborn will become a burnt offering to the blue suns. I want you prepare ritual music, so that the sacrificial ceremony can be proper and acceptable,” Uliana said.

  “I will begin preparations. Will the temple be ready by then?” Nehexalor asked.

  “Yes, or many will die, and there will be burnt offerings in far greater number,” Duchess Uliana said.

  “I understand, my lady,” Nehexalor said.

  “Be on your way, and be ready with the prope
r song. You have more than sufficient time to prepare,” Duchess Uliana said.

  Nehexalor then returned to the small building in which he had been given residence, and which was guarded by other servants employed by Duchess Uliana.

  Nehexalor drank anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean and was energized. He began preparing melodies and harmonies, and the lyrics came to him for powerful songs. He would not need them for another five (5) months, but it was wise to prepare well in advance.

  ~~~

  Amaltheia traveled along with Seleukos and Erikkos, and they made their way by hired transport over the Dead Waters Ocean from Athekriptole Island to Mezkarilith Island. From there, they booked passage to the Crypt Trail land bridge. Once there, they searched until they found the place indicated by the sign they had discovered on Athekriptole Island. The place was a mausoleum in the middle of a swamp. The powers of light – given to Seleukos when he drank of the Lujladia Ocean waters from his vial – enabled them to make good progress despite the darkness in the skies.

  After entering the mausoleum, they found it abandoned, yet beautiful.

  “This is a magnificent structure. Awe-inspiring architecture,” Amaltheia said.

  “With exquisite surroundings, no less,” Erikkos said.

  “There are rotting remnants of sacrifices: broken bones with the aroma of ripped flesh and spilled blood,” Seleukos said.

  “This is a powerful place, steeped in tradition. I can feel it,” Amaltheia said.

  “I wonder what was learned here, during the rituals,” Erikkos said.

  “A ritual can accomplish any number of different things. We will have to ask our fellow Explorers when we meet,” Seleukos said.

  “Travel – as well as finding further signs – will be quicker with your light. Perhaps our meeting will be soon, if we are attentive,” Erikkos said.

  “Love will be better without your light. Give me darkness, and then give me your flesh, that I may devour you in this place, steeped in its mystery,” Amaltheia said.

  Seleukos eased his powers of light and Amaltheia took him in passion, drawing his seed vigorously, bringing both of them to ecstasy.