by P. G. Thomas
Residual, Book Three
The Gray-Matter Chronicles
By P. G. Thomas
Written and Published by P.G. Thomas
Copyright 2016 P.G. Thomas
Dedicated to
The first responders and members of the armed services
who go when called to do the impossible.
First Draft Editing by Two Tree Editing, Inc.
Cover Art by Paul Santana, e-mail: [email protected]
You can follow me on twitter: @PGTtheauthor
You can contact me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/The-Matter-Chronicles-886040318206439/
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination. Any reference to historical persons, fictional characters (print, movies, or television), actual products, musical groups, song titles, or anything similar are used fictitiously, to add an element of realism to this story. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental
I would like to extend specialthanks to my beta readers:Sheila Saldanha, Peets Dem, Bob Cortese, Barbara Black, Donald Noyce, and Steve the forklift driver
This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only, and it may not be re-sold or given away.
A note to the readers: the old-fashioned coordinator ‘for’, has been replaced with ‘as’, which also has the classification of a subordinator. Too many times, ‘for’ fails to coordinate the clauses correctly, resulting in extremely long or incorrectly punctuated sentences. Having found numerous references stating this practice has ‘generally been replaced in modern English,’ I have also adopted it. However, there are times when it does revert back to being a marker for dependent clauses, but I have reserved those instances to the beginning of a sentence, attempting to decrease the effects of this transition. With so few words/clauses identified as ‘dependent marker words,’ removing ‘as’ completely from this role increases the frequency of the remaining, making them appear overused. Other than that, I have also done my best to minimize the appearance of ‘as.’
Books Written by P.G. Thomas
The Anti-Matter Chronicles
Book 1: Tranquil Fury [~280 pages, 106,000 words]
Book 2: Sky Elf [~307 pages, 112,000 words]
Book 3: Blood Bond [~353 pages, 132,000 words]
The Gray-Matter Chronicles
Book 1: Revenge [~270 pages, 109,000 words]
Book 2: Reset [~297 pages, 110,000 words]
Book 3: Residual [~400 pages, 150, 000 words]
Original Version
For a number of reasons, it was necessary to remove the original version, which contained the unique elf and dwarf speech patterns. If you were reading it in Kindle Unlimited, desiring to continue, please contact me on Facebook (listed above) or by email ([email protected]), and I will republish that version separately.
Index
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5
Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10
Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15
Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20
Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25
Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30
Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33
Prologue
In book 2, Reset, Lauren with her triplet daughters had been enjoying a day in the park. Eight hours later, sitting handcuffed to a table at the police station, there was one question that she could not answer: the location of her children. Once released into John’s custody, he arranged a meeting with her family at his office, including her husband Ryan, her twin brother Logan, and their friend Eric. As Lauren tried to explain the events, two interruptions added to the confusion. While the first was a detective named Steve, who had a warrant for her arrest, the second being a violent storm. The lights flickered, went out, and when the darkness was banished, that which was—was no more.
When they scanned the strange room where they stood, on one side they saw the stroller absent of the triplets, and on the other, Gayne, the reluctant teacher who had helped teach John magic. Several hours before, Lauren had wondered how they could get back to the magical lands of Calicon, and now here, she felt sure that he would also have her daughters. However, that feeling ended abruptly, much like their arrival in this strange world had begun.
Retreating to Gayne’s house to plan, he offered magic to help travel the lands. Lauren reluctantly agreed, hoping they would be able to encourage old friends to join them on this new odyssey. At Ironhouse, with more than friendly dwarves waiting to help them, they began to both understand the threat of the invading trollmares and the determination of the dwarves. While they did help, it was not as expected, and once again, six protected the Earth Mother. A quick visit to the once covered forest only added to the increasing mysteries, resulting in them making a hasty retreat—through a magic portal to Alron.
Even though the threats were unable to follow them, there was no need, as the frightful invasion had already arrived in the west. This time, those who had fled the Newlands had warned Alron, and it had listened, making the necessary preparations so that it could defend itself. They reunited with old friends, including the Bastards that Logan had first taught, learned of what had happened in their absence, and once again, the Unchosen walked the streets of Alron. Realizing that only in the Bright Coast would they find answers, when they went to invite Zack to go with them, but the spirit of what Korg had brought to Alron so long ago still lingered. Attacked on three sides, outnumbered, predictions of defeat soon filled the hearts of those who manned the walls and lived in the town. Then, once again, legends stood with the nations of elf, dwarf, and midlander, but when John realized that moral support would be insufficient, he sent Gayne back to Ironhouse. Lauren, having recognized the same, asked an Earth Guard to do what none thought any would ever do, again.
However, it was after the attack when new horrors were birthed, as with all eyes focusing on the threats beyond the walls, it allowed unseen dangers to lurk inside. With answers continuing to elude the small group, which acted like a magnet for questions, soon the stampede of the unknown threatened to trample them all. Even in this backwater eddy of hope, new and more dangerous mysteries continued to crawl out of the darkest shadows. Nonetheless, they were searching for three small defenseless children last seen in the Bright Coast: not more questions. Even though Zack declined the request to help, his children Sam and Hope understood the need, pleading with their father to let them go in his place. With some reluctance, Ryan accepted the terms offered by Zack, and then the expanding group headed back.
Then, in a land filled with surprises so amazing, it yielded the greatest two yet, including the promise of hope. Old friends bestowed new gifts, and once again, Lauren held a staff. In addition, the dwarven metals borrowed from Ironhouse received new life. Logan already had his tattoos back, and while Ryan waited for his magic to return, John’s first cloak recharged in Alron. Standing in Gayne’s house, they made plans, having some early success, but it ended where the Darkpaye immigrants’ control of the Bright Coast began.
With a divided focus, Ryan searched for the triplets, as Lauren searched for ways to rebirth the majesty of Mother, but it was not the absence of success each day that began to defeat them: it was the constant obstacles that hindered their progress. A vote to segregate the Bright Coast, the peculiar arrest of the new Earth Daughters, the despair of the people, and in the back of John
’s mind: the disturbing words of Father from Ironhouse.
Having been in Calicon for a month, for the better part of two weeks, the frustration of searching for the triplets had slowly been eroding the fuse of Ryan’s anger. Growing shorter each day, one night the magic found it, and the enchanted rage was back. Even though the first reboot was short in duration, all could empathize, feeling the strain in different ways. While they all knew it would get worse before getting better, each desperately wished they could find some clue of the missing daughters. Then, in a land tainted with so many mysteries, one wish answered their prayers, gifting them both the vision they sought and a forewarning of what waited.
Chapter 1
When this day begun, they had gone to visit the prospective Earth Daughters, yet the original plan had been to search for the missing triplets. After a quick visit, the carriages went looking for a place to open a portal, but instead, they found a large gathering of Calicon citizens. Fearing an announcement about the segregation vote, they decided they should view the current spectacle, seeing if it would have any impact on either their lives or the missing babies. Hearing Gayne exclaim magic, they saw a conjured screen appear above the makeshift stage, which had both a black tent and a caged trollmare on it. Next, a man wearing a black sash across his body, having a smaller one across his lower face, announced his name: Zymse Darpac. When he spoke, silence was the response from the crowd, but those in the carriages experienced different emotions when he held up one of the triplets.
Looking at the gathered mass, Zymse smiled behind his black veil. “Yes, you heard me correctly, as I will now place my own daughter into that cage with that beast. Though, let me assure you that she will be safe, as I said, this is a natural magic, which will not harm any.”
[Emotional conflict. Insufficient acquisitions. Emergency override. Shut down.] When Ryan’s eyes closed, as he slumped against the far side of the carriage, with all eyes focused on the stage none realized what had happened.
Recognizing the baby’s pink bonnet, even though a million thoughts raced through Eric’s mind, with only one child present he realized any actions could endanger the other two. Seeing the anguished look on Lauren’s face and the unconscious Ryan, when the words from the stage pulled his gaze back to Lauren, he saw the anger in her eyes, as her hands twisted on the gnarled staff. Pulling the Guardian from the seat beside her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder, he smacked her wrists with his other hand. “Drop the staff.”
She looked at him with an increased wrath.
“Drop the staff,” then added in a calm voice, “Think about the other two. If they’re all here, then so are we.” As it fell to the carriage floor, she turned her gaze back to the stage.
One of the Darkpaye men raised the smoking brazier lid, exposing the hot coals inside. From it, Zymse withdrew a long metal rod with the end glowing orange. Turning to the baby, he pushed the brand into its shoulder, causing small wisps of smoke to rise, and the tiny child giggled with joy. Zymse accepted the babe from the maiden who held it, “See, like I told you, it is unharmed.” Then he turned to the crowd, “If I were to brand any other, having them enter the cage, some might think it a trick, but there is no way she can protect herself against such a terrifying beast.” Walking towards the barred enclosure, he pulled off the bonnet, holding the naked branded baby up to the crowd, before placing it inside the cage.
The confined resident was a six-legged, bear-like trollmare, covered in scales, with bony outcroppings growing out of its spine. When it saw the new opportunity, even though it took several steps forward, it turned back instantly, moving to the back of the cage. With its fear of the innocent baby being so great, it tried to chew through the metal bars, breaking its teeth in doing so.
In the other carriage, Steve, seeing Logan beginning to rub his feather tattoos, tapped John’s shoulder.
Shaking his head, John kicked Logan’s shin, “Let’s wait to see what Lauren and Ryan do first.”
Zymse looked out over the hushed crowd, “She will be fine, so worry not. Also, during my research into this forgotten natural magic, I found other cures.” The regally dressed Darkpaye girl walked out escorting a young midlander lad, his clothes torn and dirty, his body malnourished, and his face expressionless. “An infliction named Midnight Sun—while I have no idea who would do this, they profit from the youth and others who are void of hope. I wondered if there was a natural way to cure those inflicted with this despair.” After the young girl had ripped the dirty shirtsleeve from the barely conscious youth, Zymse picked up a second brand, pushed it against the exposed shoulder, causing smoke to float up from the fresh red injury.
The youth never screamed out, instead, dropped to his knees, shaking his head. Looking up to Zymse, in a clear, coherent voice he asked, “What happened?”
“You have been healed.”
Grabbing the leg of Zymse, the youth began thanking him as he cried.
Two Darkpaye men walked out, helping the youth to his feet, and off the stage. Then the young girl walked to the cage, exposed the brand on her shoulder, and opening the door, she entered to pick up the child. While the beast’s natural instincts wanted to attack her, because its fear of the brand was so great, it clawed at the wood under the cage in hopes of tunneling free.
When she closed the gate, Zymse scanned the shocked crowd. “Now that my demonstration is complete, I cannot let this beast go free since it would only terrorize the lands.” From the tent, four lads dressed in black walked out, who then encircled the caged beast.
*******
From the carriage roof, Panry, pointing to the babe, looked at Jasmine. “That is my Earth Mother.” He gave his head a shake, “It is no right. She is not complete? Mother, I also sense.”
Jasmine, scanning the crowd, had little concern with his observations. “Mine is close, as I sense her, but I do not see her. Mother’s presence must be a sign.”
*******
On the stage, the four lads dressed in black looked at the trollmare, raised their arms, and in unison spoke, “Burn!” After the black fire had exploded from their hands, gifting the terrible beast a fiery escape from its metal confinement, its form was forever altered into a pile of dark ashes. Sitting in the carriages, all jaws dropped, eyes opened wider, as dozens of mixed emotions flooded their senses.
Logan blinked, “Bastards?”
Lauren, overcome with disbelief at what she had seen, turned to Ryan. Perplexed to see him unconscious, when she looked to Eric, he was unable to find the words she wanted to hear.
They all watched in shock, as the man named Zymse Darpac made his final announcement. “Within four days, I will be opening the New Age Academy of Insight. There you can learn more about this natural magic, receiving protection from those terrible beasts, be cured of Midnight Sun, and much more.” Walking over to the black tent, the other players on the stage followed him and all entered. At the same time, the men who had raised the trollmare onto the stage, retrieved the now empty cage.
Eric was still holding Lauren tight, “If we see all three, we can act so just remain calm.”
“Magic, a portal spell just opened. They are gone,” advised Gayne.
Mirtza, sitting on the bench of the smaller carriage, also heard the last spell, wishing that he was now back on his parent’s pig farm.
*******
Panry looked at Jasmine, “My Earth Mother is gone? I do not sense her anymore, but Mother is still close.”
The female Earth Guard captain scanned the crowd, “Mine is still near.”
*******
The image of seeing one of the triplets branded, hearing another call themselves her father, the trollmare, and the Bastards, caused those inside the carriages to remain silent, as they were unable to process all of their thoughts. Lauren scanned the faces of Eric and Gayne, seeing only the mirrored shock that had overwhelmed her. Even the Granite Guardians, so detached from everything had looks of astonishment on their faces. Then she saw the two piles of
clothes. Where’re Sam and Hope?
“Moth Flame?”
Lauren turned to the carriage window, “Panry?”
The Granite Guardian, standing beside the carriage window, quickly raised his metal blade to the elf throat.
Pushing her disbelief and the threatening blade aside, Lauren stared at the old face that resurrected new hope. “Stop that. He’s a friend.” Wanting to make sure the image that now filled her vision was real, she reached out caressing his cheek. When she felt her Earth Guard protector, she smiled, “I heard Mother sent you to look for me.”
Panry shook his head, “She did not send me, as I look for another.”
“You’re searching for my daughter?”
He blinked, “Your what?”
From above, they heard a female elf voice. “Move, mine is close, and I need to find her before she leaves.”
“Calm down, Ironweed. She shall not leave without you.”
Having extracted his first cloak from the satchel that carried it, when John heard the commotion outside, he donned it. Stepping out of the carriage, Logan, Steve, and Mirtza had followed him to find out what was happening, being curious why Lauren or Ryan had not reacted.
“Hello, Panry.”
“Earth Mother, Bastard, Mirtza?” Then he jumped down from the side of the carriage.
Starting to climb down, when Jasmine saw Lauren, she smiled, as it was the image that Mother had sent her, “Earth Mother, we need to get you to safety.”
“Stop calling me that.”
Jasmine looked at John, “Who are you?”
Panry looked at Steve, “Who is he?”
Jasmine felt the metal blade at her throat, “Who does he be?”
“Stop. Stop, everybody stop! What the hell’s going on?” Standing to get out of the carriage, which twelve armed elves now surrounded, Lauren looked at the Guardians. “Stay inside, they’re—just stay inside.” Once outside, she turned to Panry, “What the hell’s happening?”