by Jason Parker
Tyval pointed a wrinkled bony finger at Wexworth. “We’ll expect to see your first status report in exactly one week. I expect considerable progress by then. I’ll instruct the city guard to conduct a cursory search for Belene. Given her ability, I do not expect she has remained in the vicinity. You may go now, Wexworth.”
“Of course, my lords, and thank you,” Wexworth said with a gracious smile and a sweeping bow.
He hurried to exit the chamber before one of the lords changed his mind and called him back. As he reached the oak doors the guards glared at him then stepped aside, neglecting their customary duty of opening and holding the doors for exiting guests. Wexworth ignored the slight and quickly slid through the doors.
He turned down the corridor toward the central hall of the castle. He was anxious to return to his lab and wove his way along the most direct route. He passed a few people along the way, mostly servants. He curtly nodded and hurried by as they offered greetings.
The meeting with the Triumvirate had gone poorly, however it could have been worse. True, he had to deliver excruciating status reports and be wary of surprise inspections, but he escaped being assigned an auditor which would have been disastrous. Lord Vergilus had interceded on his behalf and managed to deflect some of the other lords’ wrath. Wexworth was certain Lord Vergilus would exact a steep price in return for his assistance.
Wexworth reached the central hall and stared briefly at the brass and copper fountain in the center. The fountain was originally a simple water wheel that Wexworth reengineered with gears and spring mounted arms to create a spectacle of mechanical and aquatic motion. He smiled briefly then walked briskly past it toward the entrance to the castle’s west wing which housed the science center.
Wexworth rushed into the main lab and headed toward his office. Jurg was testing the edge of a knife with his thumb. “How’d it go, boss?” he asked.
“Not now, Jurg!” Wexworth yelled as he stepped into his office and slammed the door behind him.
“Aaaaahhh!” he exclaimed as his hands flew in air. Lord Vergilus was sitting behind the desk with his feet propped up.
“Hu-how did you get here before me?” Wexworth stammered.
Vergilus laced his fingers and rocked in the chair. “I grew up in this castle. I know all its secrets.”
He slid his feet off the desk knocking a stack of papers to the floor. Wexworth cringed, “My sincerest apologies for not updating you on the Belene situation sooner, my lord. It’s been quite eventful since my return from Delon.”
“Relax,” Vergilus said as he pushed himself up from the chair. He walked around the desk and draped his arm around Wexworth’s shoulders. “You and I, we’re partners, right?”
Wexworth nodded and smiled weakly.
Vergilus dug his fingers into Wexworth’s collarbone. “You put me in a difficult position today. You embarrassed me in front of my fellow lords. You were a bad partner. You’re not going to be a bad partner again, are you?”
“No, my lord,” Wexworth squeaked.
“Good,” Vergilus patted him on the shoulder and removed his arm. “Now, I’ll give you advanced warning of any surprise inspections and I’ll keep the other lords placated. In return, you’re going to get that portal device finished…and soon.”
Wexworth winced as he rotated his shoulder. “Yes, my lord. Thank you, my lord.” He wondered how soon “soon” was.
Vergilus returned to Wexworth’s chair behind the desk and plopped down. “So, tell me all the details you omitted in the audience chamber. I need to know everything.”
Wexworth bent to collect the papers Vergilus had knocked to the floor and placed them on the desk. He sighed, “Belene became a vile wretch. She resisted me at every opportunity and caused all manner of trouble. She opened portals all over the lab and reached through to grab scalpels and other objects she could use as weapons. She opened portals to areas near the ceiling and placed them right in front of my lab technicians as they walked. Unable to stop in time, they would travel through and crash to the ground. She even tried to drop one on me! I had no choice but to blindfold her and bind her hands.”
Vergilus nodded, “Understandable given the circumstances. You couldn’t have her injuring your people or destroying your lab.”
Wexworth studied his boots. “Well, there is one more thing.”
“Yes?” Vergilus asked as he raised his eyebrows.
“The girl made me so angry,” Wexworth said, clenching his fists, “I had Jurg flog her…on several occasions.”
Vergilus waved a hand a chuckled. “I really don’t care what you did to Belene. She was merely a means to an end. Despite what I said to the other lords, I never intended to reward her when your work with her was done. I planned to quietly dispose of her.”
Wexworth looked up as relief flooded through him. “So, you’re not angry?” he asked timidly.
“Only about her escape,” Vergilus responded. “You’re certain you have no further need for her?”
Wexworth shook his head. “No my lord, I’m certain there is nothing more I could learn from her.”
“Good,” Vergilus said with a nod. “Tyval is convinced Belene has used her ability to leave Corava. I disagree. She’s street trash and knows nothing of the world outside of Corava. She has no place else to go. The City Guard will find her and we’ll tie up that loose end.”
“Now then,” he continued, “you said rats have passed through your portal device without suffering ill effects until becoming stuck in the nothingness on the other side. Do you believe people could also safely pass through?”
“Oh, I’m certain of it,” Wexworth replied as he folded his arms. “The idiot lab assistant responsible for Belene’s escape seemed a suitable test subject. After Jurg kicked him through the portal, he thrashed around in the void for a few minutes, then became still and eventually drifted out of sight. Same as the rats.”
Vergilus leaned back in the chair and laced his hands behind his head. “Excellent. You must show me a demonstration.”
Wexworth pulled at his goatee. “Unfortunately the device is currently inoperable. A new control panel is being installed. This is a step toward configuring the portal to create gateways to real locations rather than the void.”
Vergilus stood and approached Wexworth. He placed his hands on Wexworth’s shoulders and stared directly at him. Fire blazed in his light brown eyes. Wexworth shuddered and felt his stomach drop.
“I’ll give you time to perfect the portal device,” Vergilus said with slow, precise enunciation, “but there are limits to my patience.”
He released Wexworth and walked past him out of the office. Wexworth massaged the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger and hoped for a miracle.
CHAPTER 14
Captain Tanach Raemus, more commonly known as Blaze, stared at Whitestorm in the dimness of morning’s first rays fighting against thick clouds. The exotic ranger with white-blonde hair and bronze brown skin pointedly ignored him. She looked extremely out of place in her long navy bustle skirt and tan blouse. He shook his head slightly as he scanned the train yard adjacent to the Corava train station. He saw an eight car cargo train that looked to be undergoing final preparations. He wanted to be traveling before the rain started.
“Wait here,” he said and tugged at the collar of his gray dress shirt as he walked across the yard toward the cargo train. He heard his two other traveling companions, fellow soldiers in the Unified Army, Lieutenant Tari Vechkov and Corporal Reneac Liaman utter a quiet, “Yes, sir.” Whitestorm said nothing.
“Excuse me, I’m looking to book passage to Egenton on your train for myself and three others,” Blaze said to the back of the balding brown haired train master who was inspecting one of the cars.
“This look like a passenger train to ya? Go find the ticket office,” he responded without turning around.
Blaze looked to both sides. There were a couple of workers loading crates a few cars down to his right. “I have money,” he said qu
ietly.
“Then go buy a ticket,” the train master said with agitation.
Blaze gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. “Please.”
The train master spun around and his eyes widened as he looked up at Blaze. “Whoa, you’re a big one, ain’t ya?”
Blaze stood six feet eight inches tall with an imposing, muscular frame. He was surprised Lord Tyval appointed him to lead a covert mission through Egenton and Marn and into Whitestorm’s native Northern Territory. Without attracting attention, he and his small team were to investigate her claim of an infection that turned people into mindless savages. Blaze was an unusual choice for a stealth operation.
Blaze cleared his throat. “My business requires discretion. I can make it worth your while if my associates and I can ride on your train Egenton.”
The train master looked him up and down. “You don’t look like a businessman. Anyway, they’d charge 15 coppers each for a seat on a passenger train. So that’s 60 total for the four of ya or three silvers if ya rather. Since you’re causin’ inconvenience, I’m gonna have to ask for nine silvers.”
“Fine,” Blaze muttered and pulled out a pouch from his black waistcoat. He counted out nine silver coins and handed them to the man.
The train master’s eyes sparkled as he quickly snatched the coins. “Nope, you ain’t a businessman,” he chuckled.
Blaze glared at him. “Just clear a spot for us and be ready to go in five minutes.”
“It ain’t gonna be comfortable,” the train master said. Blaze ignored him and walked back to his companions.
***
The train master was true to his word. Their accommodations were indeed uncomfortable. Four makeshift benches sandwiched between stacks of crates with a couple of incandium lanterns. Reneac groaned.
Blaze shot him a glance. “Suck it up and go to sleep.” He looked toward the women. “You, too. Try to get some rest.”
Despite the hardness of the benches they were able to lean against the crates, find a small measure of comfort and eventually drift off to sleep.
***
Blaze stirred as the train slowed. There were no windows in their car so he guessed they were approaching Lyraton, the only station between Corava and Egenton.
The train pulled to a stop and a few minutes later there was a rap on the car door. The door slid open before they could respond. The train master looked at them with a wry grin.
“Hope yer enjoyin’ yer deluxe accommodations,” he said. “I got to switch out the last two cars. If ya need the restroom, the train station’s that way,” he continued, pointing over his shoulder. “We’ll be leavin’ in 20 minutes. If ya ain’t back, I ain’t waitin’.”
Blaze leaned toward him. “Leave without us and this will be the last cargo run you make.”
The train master looked at his feet, muttered something under his breath and shuffled off.
“Ok,” Blaze said as he rolled the kinks out of his shoulders, “we’ll go to the restroom one at a time. Whitestorm, you go first.”
She stood, stretched and exited the train car without speaking. Blaze rubbed his temples as he watched the fringe of her skirt stir up dust in the train yard.
“Reneac, you go when she comes back.” He turned to Tari. “Let’s step outside. I’d like to have a word.”
They stepped out of the car and walked to the back of it. They were traveling in the fourth car. Blaze looked down the line and saw workers decoupling the two end cars as a switch engine chugged down the track to move them.
“So what did you want to talk about?” Tari asked.
Blaze studied her. She was slender and athletic with light brown hair pulled into an elegant bun. She wore a long brown skirt with a rose blouse of a similar style to Whitestorm’s. Tari was the only one of their group who was successfully pulling off their business masquerade.
She waved a hand in front of his face. “Blaze? You’re day dreaming.”
“Sorry, I was just thinking,” he said as he scratched his neck. “When we get back from this mission I’m considering resigning from the Unified Army and going back to the Southern Outpost. I only went to Corava to spend time with my father during his final days, but he’s been gone for months now.” Blaze shrugged. “Nothing happens in the Army.”
“I get it,” Tari nodded. “I’m the girl who grew up in agricultural Tarkania with parents who ran a barber shop and hair salon. It doesn’t get much more boring than that, but the Army is a close second and I’ve only been in it for a year. It’s definitely a change from the constant excitement and danger at the Outpost.”
“Yes!” Blaze exclaimed. “This assignment is about the most interesting thing I’ve been part of in the two years since I joined the Army, and I probably shouldn’t even be leading it.”
Tari laughed. “My captain, the staid Hollis Lyding was pissed. Soldiers joked about how the big oaf is running a stealth operation while the petite priss runs training exercises.”
“Oaf? Who the hell’s calling me an oaf?” Blaze demanded.
Tari stood on her tiptoes and poked him in the chest. “Relax, big guy. Everyone knows you can squash them with one finger. It’s an innocent exaggeration.”
“Yeah, sorry,” Blaze said. He noticed Whitestorm returning to their car. Reneac emerged a few seconds later. He started to salute, but then cringed and dropped his hand, Blaze groaned. They were doing a poor job of pretending not to be soldiers.
Blaze returned his gaze to Tari. “I imagine Hollis wasn’t thrilled when I asked to borrow you for this mission.”
“Uh, yeah,” Tari said with a smile, “that’s an understatement. Her face was so red when she told me I thought her head was going to explode, but she knew there was nothing she could do about it. You’re Lord Tyval’s favorite since you saved his life.”
He nodded in agreement and looked toward the end of the train. The switch engine was pulling the two cars away.
“I’m sure you didn’t win any popularity points with your own lieutenants when you bypassed them in favor of me, someone not even in your command,” Tari continued, “and then rounded out the group with one of your lower ranking, least experienced enlisted men.”
“Screw them,” Blaze said, curling his lip. “They’re soft. I’ve known you since the first day of recruit boot camp at the Outpost. I trust you, and Reneac is a skilled soldier with a lot of potential. I can count on him.”
“You just like him because he’s little Blaze,” she teased. “You’ve got the same dark blonde hair, the same military cut hair style, the same color eyes.”
Blaze rolled his steel blue eyes. “Yes, yes, and aside from that we look nothing alike.”
“Well, you are about twice his size,” Tari conceded, “and your features are rugged and handsome. His are boyish and smooth.”
She looked past him. “Speaking of Reneac, he’s back.”
Blaze knitted his fingers. “Before you go relieve yourself, I have a question. If I do leave the Army and go back to the Outpost, will you go with me?”
Tari sighed and looked up into his eyes. “I’m not even sure what we are anymore. I’m a strategist. You’re a physical juggernaut. Our skills mesh well. We’ve been friends. We’ve been lovers and then friends again. What are we now, friends with benefits?” She shook her head. “I don’t know, Blaze. I love you, but I’m not sure I want to follow you again.”
Her hand trailed down his arm as she walked past. He bit his lip and watched her walk toward the station.
“Hey, giant businessman.”
Blaze turned toward the voice of the train master. He waved from the end of the train. “My two new cars are just about coupled. Gonna leave in five minutes.”
Blaze nodded in acknowledgement and trailed after Tari.
***
As the train rumbled out of the Lyraton train yard, Reneac settled down on his bench and was soon snoring. Blaze glanced at Tari. She didn’t return his gaze and pulled a stack of military briefings from her duff
le and began leafing through them. .
He shifted his attention to Whitestorm who stared at her hands. Based on her story of events in the Northern Territory, she was crazy, an imaginative liar, or simply telling the truth. He wasn't sure which he preferred.
“Whitestorm,” Blaze said.
She glanced up and looked at him. Expressionless.
He frowned at her. “I don’t think you’ve said anything since we left Corava.”
“What would you like me to say?” she asked in a monotone.
Blaze didn’t like the lifelessness in her voice. Her growing despondency was a concern. There was sure to come a time when the team would need her and right now she appeared thoroughly undependable.
“Let’s review the plan one more time,” he said.
“I am quite clear on the plan, most of it was mine” she replied in the same monotone.
It was a fair statement. Her knowledge and experience with the topography of the northern lands was vital to the success of their mission. It was a chore extracting information from her, but eventually she offered input to help map their course and explained the lay of the land.
Blaze’s anger flared. This mission was really hers and she seemed to have no interest. He pounded his fist on a crate, cracking the wood. “Listen bitch, this entire operation is for your benefit. Act like you care. Act like you’re a member of this team or just lose yourself somewhere in Egenton.”
“For my benefit?” Whitestorm asked, as she turned toward him, her eyes bright with vehemence.
“For three months,” she continued, the volume of her voice rising, “I have literally begged the Triumvirate to take action, but they have done nothing except sit on their thrones and debate if my account of events is true or just the delusion of a crazy woman.”
Strangely, Whitestorm's anger quelled Blaze's own rather than further igniting it. Maybe it was the shock of finally getting a response out of her—any kind of response.
Tari looked up from her briefings and began to open her mouth.
“That's not entirely true,” he replied before she could speak. “They did authorize a civilian mission.”