Residual: The Gray-Matter Chronicles Book 3 (The Matter Chronicles 6)

by P. G. Thomas

  “You said Mother was stirring?”

  “Even though she fights against her slumber unjust, wake she does not. I have answered two of your questions, so now extend me the same courtesy and answer mine.”

  “We need Sister’s help,” replied Lauren.

  John quickly pulled his focus back to Tranquil, blurting out, “If she’s not here, don’t put us to sleep.” He pointed to the Earth Guards and Granite Guardians. “What happened to them?”

  “The presence of elf and dwarf, uninvited, has not been felt in the First Forest for countless ages. Should they tell others of what they see or hear, consequences it could have. Thus, I have suspended their life essence, and their memories will be altered, so of this trip, no thoughts will remain. Of Sister, what do you need?”

  “Zymse is the source of evil in Calicon,” replied John, “He’s captured a hundred Bastards, threatening to kill eighty, in hopes of converting twenty to serve him. We need her help to rescue them.”

  “Since she is tending to the forests at present, a message I will send her. How can she help?”

  “We need to do something about the Bastards,” began Lauren. “If we rescue them, Zymse will know that we’re acting against him, and if we don’t, most will die, except for the ones we fight. We need a way to disguise their rescue. Can you help?”

  “Your staff should—” Tranquil gazed upon the stub in Lauren’s hand. “Child, what have you done?”

  “I heard your brother call me the Child God, but I did what you asked, and from what you said, I caught Mother’s attention. In the coming days, she’ll receive more, as I’ve created a plant to feed the children. When their starvation ends, Mother will receive an abundance of praise, so like you said, ‘what’ isn’t important.”

  Tranquil blinked her eyes in astonishment, “The power that I gave you, and now…that? When released from the First Forest, how far will I feel your influence this time?”

  “Only in the Bright Coast,” Lauren replied, glaring at Tranquil. “Tell Mother I was a bad girl, and to send me home with my daughters. Look, I’m not here so you can scold me, but I did come for help. I need a new staff, so I can make a sinkhole to swallow the prison after we free them.”

  “That is not permissible.” Fury stepped out from behind a tree, “Sufficient magic you still hold.”

  Lauren held up the short staff, her voice angrily reflecting her diminishing patience, “If I don’t get another, then I’m saving this for my daughters. Then Mother, Sister, and you two can deal with all of the Bastards, including Zymse. Since you made me wait this long, I can wait a little longer, but if Zymse tries to do something, I will not stand before him with my hands empty.”

  “Her magic would always answer you,” replied Fury, “and a crutch you do not need, only belief in yourself. Just like your final Earth Bond at the great battle.”

  “While her magic may answer me, I like the thought of using her power. Now, can you help?”

  Fury shook his head, “If what you have said is true, Mother will wake soon. Since you have done like we asked, shortly, your daughters Mother will find, so you only have to wait until then.”

  “I don’t do that very well,” replied Lauren, “NOW LEAVE US ALONE!”

  Tranquil looked where her brother once stood. An Earth Bond with so much power, the First Forest must magnify her gift. Maybe next time, his words he will choose more wisely, but perhaps he was right, and her confidence I just need to encourage.

  “If Zymse turns those Bastards, he could wipe out the Bright Coast,” advised Lauren. “Zack already heard him say he has killed all of the Earth Mothers and Earth Guards. If Mother fails to wake in time, and Sister arrives too late to strip the Bastards of their powers—”

  “She cannot,” interrupted Tranquil. “Her gift is like yours, which only in death expires.”

  “You should really consider changing that rule,” began John," Is there any way you can help us?”

  “While I agree with your assessment, Unchosen, I am hesitant to gift Earth Mother a similar staff. Now aware of what is possible, she may become even more creative in her deployment with it. Thus, many fears for both the Bright Coast and her daughters I now harbor. However, the threat of the one called Zymse growing stronger may cause unwanted ripples to form in the future, and about his acknowledgment of actions against Mother, I agree with you both, a price he should pay.”

  “Is that a yes or a no?” asked Lauren.

  “Wait here for a second,” replied Tranquil, and before either could ask why, she both vanished and reappeared. “A sinkhole I do not have, but this may help.” Then she held up an oblong stone three inches in length. “In ages past, Mother received pleas for help from an elfin village in a mountain valley. When something deep in the ground startled the mountains, they trembled with great terror, resulting in fears that collapse they might. When Mother arrived, she reached into the depths, trapping the anger in stones like these.”

  John imagined the words the wispy god spoke, “An earthquake?”

  Examining his thoughts, Tranquil nodded, handing the stone to Lauren, “Once the Bastards are free, bury this so that it points down, and when a safe distance away, call to it. The ground will shake with great force, causing the structure of stones to collapse. Should they seek encouragement, you are Earth Mother so call to her magic.”

  “Won’t there be other damage?” asked John.

  “If you should bury the stone on its side, great would the destruction be, but upright, you will both minimize the event and damage. Even though I have not been to the Bright Coast in years, the force you now hold in your hands will result in more than just damage, as those that live there are like sheep in a pen, too many with too little room. Those closest to where the power is unleashed may also be damaged or worse.”

  “I don’t want to hurt anybody,” Lauren said, realizing that the guards who tortured the Bastards would be more than just hurt. “Well, not unless they deserve it.”

  “Unchosen, in your mind form an image of the Bright Coast to show me this building.” After he had done, Tranquil continued, “The anger in the stone will be unable to pass south of the river, but disrupt what few fish that call it home it will. I am sorry, but that is the only help I can provide. You should leave now, so I can better explain to my brother what he does not understand.” Then she vanished.

  “Which way shall we go, Earth Mother?” asked Jasmine.

  Lauren looked at the small stone in her hand. Not what I was hoping for. “I guess we’re going home.”

  Pulling off the bracelet, John dropped the amulet through, watched the portal form, “I’ll see you in a few hours because I’m going to Ironhouse.” When he was the only one standing, as the echoes of the battling rams sounded in the distance, he dropped a stone through the bracelet, walking through the new portal into the Ironhouse Mine.

  *******

  Steve walked out into the quiet house, finding Zack sitting on the patio, “I have a mission for you.”

  “Dude, you’re out of this world. A mission?”

  “Yeah, I know, and I would love to get back to it. Zymse had a strange property that looked deserted. After he had gone to the ‘animal shelter’ yesterday, he showed up at it, staying for an hour. When the first sun came up this morning, it looks like somebody has burned it down, which seems odd to me.”

  “Been living here twelve years, Dude. Define odd?”

  “Look, just do me a favor, go and have a look at it.”

  *******

  When John stepped into the Ironhouse stables, it was not the quiet place he was used to. All of the pens were filled with war ponies, which dwarves were busy dressing in assorted armors: leather, mithril chain, and plate. In the past, the unnatural arrival caused the dwarves to pick up pitchforks or shovels to use like weapons, but this day battle axes and war hammers reflected the torchlight. Repositioning in front of John, the Earth Guards, leaving their swords sheathed, watched the dwarves. Looking over their
heads, he called out, “I am John Ironhouse. Take me to Fodu, the Master Armorer.”

  One dwarf stepped forward, “Spy you are. Our prisoner now.”

  “If you do that, I’ll strip your mine of all precious metals! Either take me to Fodu or bring him to me.” When none stirred, John upped the ante. “If somebody doesn’t go, your beards will all be on the floor. GO GET HIM NOW!”

  The one dwarf who seemed to be in charge pointed to a second, who then ran out the back. John, followed by his Earth Guards, walked over to a pile of straw. It had taken almost an hour before Fodu arrived, who quickly escorted him up to the guest quarters, warning him to remain quiet and to keep his eyes down. Although John tried, he could not. Seeing metal-clad dwarves running in all directions, they passed by armories where they were distributing weapons, hearing commands preparing fighters echoing from every room.

  Once in the guest hall, John looked at Fodu, “Is it really this bad?”

  “This is the darkest day for Ironhouse. Our Granite Peace Bor wants to break, but Aaro argues we should not.”

  “Why?”

  Opening the terrace door, they walked out into the stormy night where lightning and thunder displayed their majesty in the dark skies, as Fodu pointed to the east.

  Holding his hand over his eyes to shield the rain, in the distance, John could see hundreds of fires burning brightly, protected from the wet anger that fell from the skies. He screamed over the rain, wind, and thunder, “What the hell’s going on?”

  “With their peace broken, they wait for Ironhouse.”

  “Wait for what?”

  “Our granite to break.”

  “WHY?”

  “They want a fair battle, but they will not wait. If we do not break our granite, we cannot defend or attack, and they will slaughter us. War on our doorsteps waits but both brothers argue!”

  “Why are they doing this?”

  “They think Ironhouse wants to rule all dwarf. That we want to sit on the Morning Throne.”

  “Damn it all,” John glanced up to the top of the mountain, “Where’s my cloak?”

  “When the clans arrived three days past, I pulled it down, securing it to my room. It is not safe for you here. Soon Bor and Aaro will both know, so we should get your cloak, and then you must leave.”

  After John had followed the Master Armorer to his room, Fodu pulled the heavy cloak out from under his bed. He wrapped it over his arm, pulled off the bracelet, and looked at Fodu, “Isn’t there a way to stop this madness?”

  Fodu smiled, “Tell Eric he should return the armor and sword both.”

  When the portal opened in Gayne’s living room, John stepped through it. He immediately went looking for Eric, finding him on the patio, “I need to talk to you, now!” Then he quickly explained what he had seen and heard, adding Fodu’s cryptic invitation.

  As Eric went upstairs, Zack headed into the study. “Dude, I don’t know what it was, but it reeked of death.”

  “Kid, what do you mean?”

  “Seriously, ever smelled death?”

  “More types than you can imagine, but give me some details.”

  “The fire inside that stone building was not natural but intense. Stone blocks had heat fractures in them, the roof had caved in, cells had melted bars, and the floor was completely burnt.”

  “Cells?”

  “You heard me, Dude. They had a full occupancy before they lit up the vacancy sign. Since the place didn’t have closets, they hid their skeletons under the floor. After skulking around in that ash pile for twenty minutes, I’ve no idea on how many rested there, but it had to be dozens. The only thing I found was this.” Then he held out a large, dense object covered in ashes.

  Wiping off the black exterior, Steve exposed a bright metal underneath, “What is it?”

  “Mithril, Dude.”

  “What the hell would Zymse be doing with mithril and killing? Why go to the extremes of burning the place down?”

  “He must have finished whatever he was working on.” Then Zack left the room.

  *******

  With a cloak of invisibility tightly secured around him, Panry had been waiting for over an hour outside the front entrance of Zymse’s fortress. When he saw the ornate carriage heading in his direction, he moved closer to the road edge, and when it stopped, he stepped up on the ornamental bumper. Crossing the bridge over the dry moat, on the west side he saw a large beam mounted seven feet high, supported by logs, and a strange shudder of fear momentarily embraced him. Riding on the back until it stopped, jumping off, and controlling his breathing, he followed Zymse to where a guard held the house door open.

  Watching Zymse inspect the servants and slaves, he slowly made his way to the stairs, continuing to the upper levels. At all three landings, no exits were present to permit him access to the desired rooms. Checking silently for secret doors, he only found solid walls, and returning to the ground floor, he observed the staff completing their assigned tasks. Following one into the kitchen, he only saw normal activities performed, and once back in the front room, seeing a maid head up to the upper levels, seizing his opportunity, he dashed after her. With her almost at the top, he silently bounded up the stairs, and when she approached the first landing, an opening in the wall appeared, but cresting the landing, it was gone. For another hour, he continued to chase after various members of the house staff, even waiting on the landings for one to arrive or exit the strange magical portals, but each time, they would close even faster than they appeared. It was late at night when he climbed the stairs to the outer wall, jumped down to the dry moat, and headed back to the Earth Guards, who watched from the high roof across the street.

  *******

  When Eric stepped through the portal, the anger of the dwarves was quite obvious at the arrival of a second unexpected guest. This time they never reacted, as the torchlight danced across the black metal armor birthed in the ancient dwarf forge, and in his hand, he held the massive sword upright, as electricity sparked across the deeply cut runes. “I’m returning the borrowed metals. Please, advise the Master Weapon Smith and his brothers and bring beer, the good stuff.” When the door to the room opened, where they had named Eric the Champion, he was prepared for the arguments of Aaro and Bor, but while unsure of Fen’s position, he knew that Fodu had summoned him.

  “Eric,” began Aaro, “you do not belong here.”

  “Battle orphan and adoption. Are there words carved that say it can be undone?”

  The four brothers stood in silence.

  Fodu held back his smile, “Only in shame can we remove the name.”

  “Have I shamed Ironhouse?”

  As Bor looked to the ground, Fen and Fodu stared at Aaro, who broke the silence, “You are not dwarf. Return what you borrowed, and then leave as matters large occupy our thoughts.”

  “Does Ironhouse lend metals forged by dwarf to those who are not?”

  Bor’s deep voice exploded in the small room, sounding like an oversized blasting charge in an undersized tunnel, “DWARF YOU ARE NOT!”

  “Dwarf armor I wear. Dwarf sword I hold. I AM DWARF!” declared Eric.

  Bor’s voice detonated again, “DWARF YOU ARE NOT!”

  Eric’s anger flared back, “WHY?”

  “You have grown large, and the armor is tight. So tight it now constricts blood flow to your ears,” replied Bor, “YOU ARE NOT DWARF!”

  “If I can prove I am dwarf, will you let me help?”

  Fodu’s face remained blank, “How would you do this?”

  “Tradition. Get me granite, two pieces.”

  When Eric had the desired objects, he had Fodu show him the path to the top of the mountain. With the armor reflecting the anger in the skies, the demi-mortal sword was strapped to his back, and with his increased strength gifted by Fury, he headed up the steep, treacherous path carved out by Ironhouse in the ages past. It took him hours to crest the peak, and once there, he laid the thick piece of granite on the mountain. From the top, he
could see the hundreds of fires, protected from the elements, of the dwarven army staged in the valley below. Unsheathing the dwarf-forged steel, he watched the wet metal reflect the lightning exploding in the distance.

  “It’s been a long time since you’ve been up here.” He raised it to the sky, “FATHER’S RAGE, HEAR ME! Father gave the dwarves the runes of power engraved on this sword, the runes of war, but I need different now, RUNES OF PEACE.” Lightning began to move towards Eric. “Fury gifted me your service, and YOU WILL DO AS I COMMAND! Dwarf symbols I do not know, but you do. This night, we’re going to carve my Granite Peace, IN SILENCE!” Thrusting the sword into the mountain, he picked up the piece of granite, holding it above his head. “WITH YOUR ANGER, CARVE MY PEACE!” Even though lightning rained down on him, no thunder exploded on the mountaintop. In the valley, the dwarven army watched the silent show, failing to understand the ominous warning they now witnessed. When the first sun kissed the distant horizon, Eric entered the mine, waiting for the Ironhouse brothers.

  Upon seeing the rock, Fodu examined it closely, being amazed at the finely crafted runes. “It is Granite Peace. The dwarf symbols are old, but they are no other language. He is dwarf!”

  Fen nodded in agreement, “Only dwarf would know such words. He is dwarf. HE IS IRONHOUSE, BROTHER!”

  “It’s settled, so where’s your granite?” asked Eric.

  Bor, opening the door, allowed two dwarves to enter, who struggled to carry in the second piece of carved rock.

  Eric looked at the bottom of the dwarven symbols, pointed to one, and looked at Aaro, “Your mark?” When the dwarf nodded, he picked up both, “I’ll deliver the messages of Ironhouse. Should they break my peace and make it by me, protect your clan brothers.”

  “There are too many,” advised Bor. “We never expected an opposition this great, and they block our few allies. I doubt we can defeat such a force.”

  “Brother, if they’re foolish enough to break my peace, few if any will be left.” He then headed down to the lower levels, walking out the stable doors with the once death hungry sword sheathed across his back, and under each arm, two large pieces of granite. Advancing on the dwarven clans staged in the valley, he stopped fifty feet in front of them. Dropping one piece of granite, with both hands, he slammed the second into the saturated soil, so that it stood upright. “I bring granite word from Ironhouse. The Throne of the Morning King, they have no interest in.” From the horde of dwarves in front, he heard jeers and insults, but the common theme was of lies. Picking up the second piece of granite, he slammed it into the ground, “Many of you know me. Some even may have seen me fight the Darkpaye army that invaded these lands. All have seen the great play, so you know what I am capable of doing, so this is your only warning.” His voice, much like the storm, was gaining intensity. “I am Ironhouse, this is my clan! I’ll protect it, but being dwarf, I know the importance of tradition!” Hearing the laughter from some, who thought it might be a hoax, he continued. “On the mountaintop last night, I carved my own Granite Peace. If you want to fight Ironhouse, then break it and get by me! If you can do that, they’ll break theirs, and this valley will fill with dwarf blood!”