by Jeremy Dwyer
Tikva began concentrating and calling on powers of spirits so as to use them as weapons. Several spirits entered the large room and began terrifying the people, but these same spirits disappeared a moment later when Tikva lost his concentration because his head came away from his shoulders by the strike of a curved blade from the darkness.
Roscoe was hidden in the darkness, looking to kill Elder Chief Wayra, but found himself exposed to light – extended by someone from somewhere, though he did not have time to determine the source – and then his own head was severed.
Counselor Daciana thought only of Garland, not wishing the young woman to be harmed or disrespected, so she locked onto the thoughts of Porter and watched him move about. She didn’t have the power to control him – not every telepath had that level of power – but she saw that he was moving away in fear of the battle, and putting distance between him and the girl.
When Porter extended his powers of light to create a blinding flash and escape, a curved blade extended from the darkness and struck him dead as well.
Counselor Daciana sensed this when Porter’s thoughts suddenly ended, and she felt relief. She instinctively hugged Garland and said: “You’re safe. He’s gone now. Gone for good.”
~~~
Kassia and Daley saw the old man shouting and saw the decapitations, but didn’t know the story behind it.
“Bad timing on our part. Not today, I guess,” Daley said.
“Bad timing is the story of our lives,” Kassia said.
“Disappearing time, again,” Daley said. He drank anew of the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean from his vial and was energized. Then, he exerted the powers of darkness over himself and then extended them over Kassia and they left the building.
~~~
Counselor Daciana stayed with Garland in the Elder Chief’s office and said: “We shouldn’t have come. I’m so sorry. I didn’t find out what they were planning until too late, and I wasn’t able to stop them.”
“We should go back to the bank. Won’t we be safe there?” Garland said.
“No. No we won’t. This was Lux’s plan – killing to get control. We can’t go back to him. He’s no better than King Xander. They’re both filled with lies and greed and hatred,” Counselor Daciana said.
“You mean he told them to kill the Elder Chief?” Garland asked, surprised and truly afraid.
“Yes. They were going to kill us, too, if we ran. I tried to be convincing – and get them to agree to a deal – so that there wouldn’t be any violence. I can’t control people’s thoughts: I can only read them,” Counselor Daciana said.
“Where do we go?” Garland asked.
“You can hide in these mountains. You won’t be alone, but you’ll have to learn a new way,” Elder Chief Wayra said as he returned to his office.
“Hide how? Where?” Counselor Daciana asked.
“You know the truth, now. The danger is everywhere. There is no sense in being afraid. You need to choose what’s right, and have honest dealings. If the truth finds a home in you, fear will not, and you will find a home out there. Leave now, and leave your old ways behind,” Elder Chief Wayra said.
“You’re right. We’ll go,” Counselor Daciana said.
“What do you mean?” Garland asked, afraid.
“We’ll be alright. Don’t worry. I think I know what he means,” Counselor Daciana said. She did know what he meant – there were a great many people hiding in these mountains, waiting for the proper time, at which they would act against this king. While she couldn’t control thoughts at all, she was among the very best at reading them, even the hidden ones, and this old man was no exception.
Counselor Daciana and Garland left the Elder Chief’s office and found that the many traders and merchants had resumed their dealings, and that the commotion had ended. They then exited the Gemcutter’s Land Exchange building altogether and walked along the mountain trail.
“Where are we going? I don’t’ even know what to do,” Garland asked.
“I sense something – someone – around here. I know where to go. We’ll be safe,” Counselor Daciana said.
“What do you sense? Who?” Garland asked.
“Yeah, who do you sense?” a man asked.
Garland spun around, with a look of terror on her face and obvious fear in her voice and asked: “Who’s there?”
Out of the darkness, a middle-aged man appeared and, next to him, appeared a woman of similar age.
“I sense a man named Daley, a woman named Kassia, both of whom are on the run, and who staged their own deaths because they were targeted for assassination after discovering land banking fraud. I sense that Kassia had three (3) sisters, one (1) of whom died, and she lost contact with the others. Kassia, you also have reason to believe that the Temple of Mev’Kna was deliberately destroyed to discredit the architect and bring this independent bank to ruin for supposed poor design. However, you’re just the nearest people,” Counselor Daciana said.
“That’s a nice introduction,” Daley said, with an irritated smile, and not sure what to do after his cover was blown.
“I am Daciana, former counselor of the central bank on Haza’Kedro’Maral Island,” Daciana said.
“I am Garland, former financial analyst of that same central bank,” Garland said.
“If we’re the nearest people, who else do you sense?” Kassia asked.
“Hundreds more – and they’re here, waiting for the right time, to go against this king. And I think the number is far larger than that,” Daciana said.
“This is too much – all at once. I thought we could trust the banks. As long as the numbers worked, everything was good,” Garland said.
“Life isn’t that simple, kid,” Daley said.
“We have to find a new way to do good – a true way,” Daciana said.
“We have to find our way around in this darkness,” Garland said.
“We’re doing that now – I just follow the thoughts of the people around us,” Daciana said.
“I can only work with what I see. I can follow you, but that’s it. The only things I ever studied were numbers, sets and functions,” Garland said.
“There’s more to life than math. You’re not used to being on the wrong end of the banking cartel, but we are,” Daley said.
“Still, math is important. In fact, I think I could use your help, Garland. Don’t feel like you have nothing to contribute. But we’ve got a fight ahead of us. We’re going to have to use everything we’ve got – all the powers of all the ocean waters – to deal with it,” Kassia said.
“This king wants to take over the world, and he’s got almost half of it now,” Daley said.
“No. Just about a third. Thanks to my sister’s help,” Kassia said.
“You’re really sure it’s her?” Daciana asked, having read Kassia’s thoughts earlier.
“I got one decent look at her. I’m pretty sure that Aura was the woman who was singing,” Kassia said.
“Wait! Your sister works for the king? This is getting too ridiculous to believe!” Garland said.
“Look, I don’t want to believe it, either. But Aura was always dangerous – and so was my other sister, Rivka. We had another sister – Lyssa,” Kassia said.
“She was beautiful,” Daley said.
“Yes, but that’s not the important part. She was my sister. And besides, you’re mine, remember? You’re such a guy,” Kassia said.
Kassia then continued, saying: “Lyssa was quite attractive, and she enjoyed the attention of all the boys. Aura and Rivka were jealous of her because they weren’t so well endowed with good looks, and they lost out to Lyssa. I’m almost certain that they killed her – I know that the death was from crixalethicis – but I never let on that I suspected them. It was just one more reason I had to disappear,” Kassia said.
“That’s so horrible! I can’t even believe that someone could kill their own sibling,” Garland said.
“It’s a pain I have to accept – if i
t’s true, and it probably is,” Kassia said.
“Life is pain,” Daley said.
“And uncertain,” Daciana said.
“I know about pain and uncertainty. I just try to forget them,” Garland said.
Daciana read her thoughts and knew what she meant, but let the woman tell her own story.
“What do you mean?” Daley asked.
“I had a younger brother and he was very smart – he drank the Medathero waters, like me – but he died of cancer when he was thirteen (13) and I was fourteen (14). There was nothing my parents or I could do – we were just scared, and sad, and angry. Life had no more certainty so I just studied as much as I could and math gave me something like certainty. I never even had time for a personal relationship – the men either thought I was too serious or not attractive enough – so math was all that I had, and I just made it my whole life, working long hours for the banks. Things were quiet and safe for a while, and life was mostly fine. Now, the world’s dangerous all over again, and it seems to get worse all the time: there was the inferno, the tempest, the dark skies and now this king,” Garland said.
“Sorry to hear it. I do agree with the ‘getting worse all the time’ assessment,” Daley said.
“So do I,” Kassia said.
“Let’s meet with the others, I suppose. I’m sure they have their own struggles, and maybe we can help,” Daciana said.
“You seem to be handling this pretty well. Aren’t you out of a job now, working for the bank like you did?” Kassia asked of Daciana.
“I was a counselor, which means that I had to assess whether a borrower was an acceptable risk for the bank. They lied to me in ways – and about things – that are best not thought about, but I can’t forget them, either. I’ve gotten so used to people trying to deceive me – and the horrible truths they held onto – that they rarely surprise me anymore,” Daciana said.
“Like you said, let’s go meet the others,” Daley said.
The small group then walked along the mountain trails, under the twilight sky, guided by Daciana’s telepathic probing of the thoughts of the people in the distance. Still, however, they had to be careful of the ground directly in front of them, so as not to lose their balance, as the light given by the mostly darkened suns above was weak.
After a grueling three (3) hours of this slow trek in the mountains, they were met by a crowd of several dozen people. Among them was a very handsome young man. Daciana probed his thoughts and knew that he was aligned with those they sought. She felt that she was being probed as well – by someone else around her – though she did not shield her thoughts.
The handsome young man approached them and said: “I am Matoskah from Ihalik, witness to horrors at the hands of King Xander. Each of you, it seems, are on the run from someone, or something.”
CHAPTER 37: Harvesting the Waters of the Great Oceans
Captain Mendis’Kanto’Petarin looked through the cargo shuttle’s view screen and saw the calm ocean just fifty (50) feet below. He did not know which body of water that this was; however, he did know how to figure out where he was.
“Second Lieutenant, we’re going to perform a complete survey of the planet, first, mapping its topography, before the resource acquisition,” Captain Mendis’Kanto’Petarin said.
“Yes, captain, sir. I will program the surface survey module for a spherical scan,” Second Lieutenant Vy’Jaden’Rokano said. He started tapping on various parts of the main control panel of the cargo shuttle and programmed the ship to do a spiral sweep around the planet and map its surface features, include solid and liquid, as well as any elevation differences.
The cargo shuttle was now fully controlled by the surface survey program – unless given a command to override that program – and it increased its elevation to fifteen thousand (15000) feet to give a better view. After this, it traversed the sky, systematically scanning the planet known as Thalariveth that was below them, creating a detailed map as it went.
~~~
On the ground, in a different location, Commander Doriv’Natix and his company made their slow transit on the riverboat heading upstream. They found themselves in a cave and it led out to a shore at the edge of a mountain.
“Secure the perimeter,” Commander Doriv’Natix ordered.
Eight (8) of his scouts fanned out, each throwing a small metal sphere into the air and the spheres began moving about, scanning the area and looking for its edges, taking pictures as they went.
One (1) of the scouts who stayed with the commander held a small tablet and a message on its screen indicated that it was receiving data. Within minutes, an image formed, indicating that they were on a small island, which was dotted with numerous stone sculptures and what seemed to be sailing ships that were heavily damaged.
The scout said: “Commander, we have an initial map of this landmass. There are no signs of life on this island, but the scan is too rough to be sure.”
Then, the scout handed the tablet to Commander Doriv’Natix who looked at it, then looked to another scout and asked: “Are there any active radio frequencies here?”
Another scout held out a device that had thirty (30) antennae protruding from it and a small tablet in the middle. The screen on that tablet showed no activity and the scout said: “No, commander. Only noise…lots of noise, typical frequencies, but high intensity.”
“High intensity? How high?” Commander Doriv’Natix asked.
“We may have difficulty contacting the cargo shuttle,” the scout said.
“Try. Now,” Commander Doriv’Natix said.
Another scout then took a small handheld device and tapped several parts of its screen and said: “Shuttle two nine seven (297), this is company seventeen fifty-four (1754). Do you copy?”
~~~
On board the cargo shuttle, a voice came over the communication device, saying: “Shuttle two nine seven (297), this is company seventeen fifty four (1754). Do you copy?”
“Respond, second lieutenant,” Captain Mendis’Kanto’Petarin said.
“This is Second Lieutenant Vy’Jaden’Rokano on shuttle two nine seven (297). We are presently conducting a survey of the planet,” he said.
~~~
On the surface of Thalariveth, Commander Doriv’Natix waited for his scout to give a report.
“I’m not receiving a response, commander,” the scout said.
“They may be performing a spiral scan of the planet’s surface. Their path will put them out of reach until they orbit back around,” another scout said.
“Attempt to make contact again, every ten (10) minutes,” Commander Doriv’Natix said.
~~~
On board the cargo shuttle, Second Lieutenant Vy’Jaden’Rokano said: “They’re not acknowledging receipt of our status, Captain.”
“According to protocol, they’ll try again every ten (10) minutes. Our orbital path is probably putting us out of reach. Monitor the solar intensity for fluctuations in output. I will monitor the survey results,” Captain Mendis’Kanto’Petarin said.
Second Lieutenant Vy’Jaden’Rokano touched other parts of the cargo shuttle’s control panel, programming it to scan the dimly lit suns above them. The suns appeared to be in a state of partial eclipse judging by their light reduction, but something was amiss, and he began adding other instrumentation to measure various statistics about them.
Captain Mendis’Kanto’Petarin studied the results of the survey as they came in, gathering an understanding of the geology of the land. The oceans were all separated by either a narrow isthmus or a continental landmass. The oceans were dotted with islands, and there were signs of moving ships – sailing ships, which occasionally rose in elevation somewhat, though he did not know why. He then looked over at the second lieutenant and saw him frantically programming the instruments on a different part of the cargo shuttle’s control panel.
“What is it, Second Lieutenant? Something is outside of expected operational parameters?” Captain Mendis’Kanto’Petarin
asked.
“There are seventy (70) suns – nine (9) blue, twenty-four (24) yellow and thirty-seven (37) red – but they are partially eclipsed. However, I don’t detect any gravitational influence of another body that could account for this eclipse. There don’t appear to be moons to obscure the suns,” Second Lieutenant Vy’Jaden’Rokano said.
Captain Mendis’Kanto’Petarin searched for answers, ignoring the first notion that came to mind, because it was unfathomably bad. “Is there any sign of an increase in solar intensity? Any sign at all, Second Lieutenant?” he asked.
Second Lieutenant Vy’Jaden’Rokano looked at the instruments for several minutes, scanning earlier data and looking for any sign of an upward trend in the small dataset. He panicked when he saw one (1) change and then calmed himself, saying: “No. No sign at all, captain. It’s steady – steady, per sun. The intensity remains the same within each solar body. As the cargo shuttle transits between them, we experience slight changes – increases and decreases – according to the relative sizes of the suns, but the suns themselves are not changing.”
“We need to complete this survey, acquire the ocean waters and move out quickly. We can do these alternately, and start by taking the waters from the northern hemisphere,” Captain Mendis’Kanto’Petarin said.
Second Lieutenant Vy’Jaden’Rokano looked at him and saw that something was clearly wrong – something had scared the captain – but he didn’t dare ask.
“Just do it. Suspend the survey program, to be resumed later. Reduce our altitude to twenty-five (25) feet above sea level and begin the liquid loading process. Twenty-thousand (20000) gallons of each, that’s our goal and our limit,” Captain Mendis’Kanto’Petarin said.
Second Lieutenant Vy’Jaden’Rokano programmed the cargo shuttle to lower its altitude in one (1) of the oceans of the northern hemisphere and then hover. After this, he left his chair, flipped a switch and a mechanism opened up a panel in the cargo hold and began lowering one (1) of the loading tubes down to sea level. The other end of the tube was connected to one (1) of twenty-two (22) large cylindrical tanks that were each thirty-eight (38) feet long and twenty-eight (28) feet in diameter, lying on their sides and mounted with various supporting braces to the walls of the cargo bay. Each had a volume of twenty-three thousand three hundred ninety-eight (23398) gallons. The second lieutenant activated a pump that began siphoning water into the tank until it was filled to twenty thousand (20000) gallons and then stopped it after an hour.