by D N Meinster
“But those revolutionaries couldn’t accept change. The old ways were more worthy of preserving than the land. They call themselves the only real Streamers left, but by resisting, they’ve proven they were never Streamers.”
For the first time, Rikki understood why so many Streamers joined Kahar. There was a logic to his ideas that fit this kingdom and its people. She wondered if they hadn’t encountered loyalists first if they would’ve wound up hunting the Revolutionaries, at least until they met the man they called king.
“Your plan makes sense for Terrastream,” Rikki stated. “It only has one drawback.”
Doren gazed into her eyes. She gave the slightest nod before winking.
“You.”
Doren pushed the club from his neck and spun in place, shifting out of the keep.
With her boyfriend safe, she had no qualms about bringing the entire room down. She pierced the floor with the bottom of her staff, sending cracks out from the point of impact. They spread across the ground, up the walls, through the ceiling, and even into what was left of the golems.
Before Kahar could order his mages to stop what was in motion, she blasted him in the chest with a green fireball, which sent him crashing back into what was left of his men.
Rikki stayed long enough to ensure the ceiling would collapse. When the first chunks fell, she shifted away, spending her last second there looking at M’dalla and hoping she’d be intact when they returned.
Chapter Thirty-One
Out of the Keep
When Aros’ beam failed to do little more than scorch the stone walls of the post bird’s prison, he concluded that Loraya’s plan was the only way they’d be able to escape. Nevertheless, it was so risky and so reckless that he didn’t submit to it until there were multiple whams against the rickety door that led straight to them.
“They’re here!” Loraya alerted him.
Aros ceased firing on the walls and aimed his arm at the door.
“Get ready,” she said, shuffling the post bird into position.
“This is such a bad idea,” Aros whined as the hinges of the door began to splinter.
“Just keep that arm steady,” she replied.
When the door finally broke from its frame and collapsed inward, Aros lowered five fingers onto the firing mechanism. The massive white beam left his armor and filled the doorway.
Loraya whistled and the post bird spread its magnificent wings across the room before hopping into the air. Its steady flapping kept it in place while Loraya ran to the exit. “Come on!”
Aros let up his attack and followed the post bird as it took off through the doorway. It soared near the ceiling before diving down the now-deserted staircase, stopping only when it reached the shut doorway below.
Loraya and Aros caught up to it and readied their weapons.
“You know what to do,” Loraya said as she counted the remaining arrows in her quiver.
“I still don’t understand how it works,” Aros replied, both clawblades in hand.
“Just do it and come back here fast as you can,” Loraya said, nocking an arrow.
Aros took a deep breath before swinging the door open. The corridor was filled with watchers, and they all seemed to spot him at once.
Loraya sent an arrow into the crowd, and Aros rammed his shoulder into the nearest grouping. Aros jumped on top of the pile of fallen men and beat back the assault of clubs and spears as they came at him.
He spent time blocking and pushing back before Loraya was able to take out a handful of them from a distance.
Aros sliced through the hands of an unsuspecting watcher as he pushed through the hall. Dents and scratches multiplied in the golden armor as more came at him from every angle. He used both blades to block a wooden club and kicked out at an oncoming watcher. His foot got caught in a crevasse on the rock armor and he wound up toppling them both.
A watcher carrying a boulder approached him, but when he raised it over his head, Loraya shot an arrow into his neck. The boulder wound up crushing his own head.
Aros got back up and impaled the nearest watchers that were only draped in animal hide. He left his clawblades in their chests as he fired his Bellish weapon to help clear the way forward.
After retrieving his blades, he rushed through the open path before the throng once again filled the empty space.
For all his skills with a blade, there were too many to be precise. His face was getting scratched up along with his armor as he wildly jabbed outward at his opponents. Eventually, he aimed higher, cutting cheeks and even eyeballs as he swung. There were guttural screams and angry howls as he made his way through.
Finally, he reached his target. Aros kicked a pair of watchers back through the door and he entered the room after them.
Barrels of prop power were everywhere, and he thought back to what Loraya had told him. Either of his weapons should work to ignite it.
Aros crossed his blades and pushed back on the line of watchers trying to enter after him. His feet began sliding backward along the floor as they piled on in front of him. There was no way to keep them all out.
He swiftly moved to the side and the entire assembly fell face first and crashed onto the floor. Aros returned both weapons to his back and let loose the beam from his arm. Smoke rose up from the barrel as soon as it hit, and narrow white flame followed.
Aros charged out of the room, and, as soon as they realized what he’d done, the rest of the watchers followed.
It was anarchy in the halls as they all fled from their current positions. No one bothered to molest Aros as he ran back to Loraya. He didn’t need to look back to see if he’d been successful, as he could feel the heat on his neck moments before he heard the barrels blow.
As soon as Aros was back with Loraya and the post bird, she slammed the door shut and planted an arrow in a watcher that had made it past her.
Aros climbed the stairs and took out the watchers that were left with relative ease. Before he made it back to the landing, the entire keep shook with a violent quake. Wherever King Kahar was, he would know that his prop powder stores just exploded.
Only minutes had passed before Loraya said, “Time to go.”
“Is it safe out there?” Aros asked as she opened the door. The entire corridor had disappeared behind a heavy smog.
“He’ll know where to go,” she replied, patting the post bird.
Aros couldn’t necessarily dispute her claim, though he had some reservations.
“Ready?”
Aros nodded.
Loraya’s whistle sent the post bird airborne. As he flapped in place, she grabbed hold of his right talon.
Aros copied her, grabbing the left talon.
“You might want to hold your breath,” Loraya suggested before puckering her lips. After one long whistle, the post bird darted into the smoke and beat its wings as it climbed higher.
Aros kept his eyes closed as he felt himself rise through the air. He could feel a tremendous amount of heat and ash as they flew through the remnants of the explosion. The longer he held his breath, the more his lungs burned within his chest. His stomach turned and his head started to ache.
“You can open your eyes,” Loraya said with a slight giggle.
Aros saw his new surroundings before he let himself breathe. Below was the rapidly shrinking Valiant Keep, a pillar of smoke rising visibly amongst the dots of light. Above were the stars, radiant and twinkling in the night sky.
Loraya seemed as enchanted with the view as Aros. She couldn’t keep her head still as she gazed around, taking in the moonlit environment while they soared ever higher.
Once Aros had caught his breath, he said, “We can’t go far.”
Loraya glanced at him, her eyes radiant in the starlight. “We won’t leave your friends behind.” She let out a slightly lower whistle and the post bird started to dive.
As they got closer to Valiant Keep, Aros’ mouth went agape as he saw what was waiting for them. In front of the ke
ep, thousands of Streamers had apparently gathered. “You see them, right?”
“Yes, Aros, I see. I don’t think they’re there to support the Revolutionaries, either.”
The post bird got close enough to the top of the keep so they could both drop off him without harm. Once free of them, he took off back into the mountains.
Loraya used her last arrow to take out the nearest watcher.
Aros withdrew the arrow from the body before taking it back to her.
As she took hold of the arrow, their fingers touched.
“You know, I never thought we were wrong. Every revolt, every sacrifice, had been worth it because we were doing it for Terrastream.” She looked out as the massive population below. “But what if we were?”
Aros took hold of her hand as they stared out at the masses waiting below.
“I don’t know if he’s dead,” Rikki stated as she stared into Oblivion. “But I want him to be.”
Doren sidled up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “We have to go back.”
Rikki gave him a look that suggested she had no desire to return to Valiant Keep.
“For Aros and the Lettes,” Doren reminded her. He could understand her trepidation, but they were not going to leave their friends behind.
Rikki nodded. “And M’dalla.” If not for her, she would never return to that throne room. She hadn’t stayed to watch it collapse. She hadn’t stayed to watch Kahar die. Believing that she’d succeeded would’ve been enough.
“And the Key,” Doren added. They still had no clues as to where in the keep it might be.
“You were right, you know?” Rikki murmured. “I should have never tried to take him on alone.”
Doren was so taken aback that he didn’t know how to respond. “That’s — that’s — that’s in the past.”
“I was a prisoner for nineteen years, yet I never felt so helpless, so violated.” Her eyes teared up.
Doren took her in his arms. “If he’s not dead, he will be soon,” he promised her.
Rikki squirmed from Doren’s embrace and wiped her eyes. “I started to think I was Amelia; that I could get away with doing things like that.”
“You’re the most powerful person I know,” Doren replied.
“I lost to Kahar, to Yim, to Hatswick. So that’s clearly a lie.”
“Not a lie,” Doren insisted. “You beat Hatswick in Kytheras. And I saw you bring the keep down on Kahar and Yim. Just because you’re the most powerful doesn’t mean you always win. Amelia lost and spent ten years in exile on the Twilight Islands, remember?”
Rikki tilted her head as she considered his words, her magenta hair falling across her face.
When Doren reached her, he brushed the hairs from her face before planting a kiss on her.
Rikki dropped her head onto his shoulder. “I love you.”
Doren smiled and nestled his head against hers. They stood there for a while before Doren remembered that they still had friends back at the keep.
“We should go.”
Rikki backed away and primed her staff. “Where do you think they are?”
Doren thought for a moment. “Knowing Aros, he’s wandered into some far corner of the keep.”
Rikki grinned. “Yeah, either there or he’s ended up on top of it somehow.”
They both looked at each other like those were the exact places they needed to check for him.
“I’ll check the inside,” Doren stated, knowing she wouldn’t want to go back within those walls.
“No, I can do it,” Rikki asserted as her grip on the staff tightened.
Doren nodded. “Bring them back here if you find them.”
“And where will you be if you do?”
“We’ll be awaiting atop the keep for you,” Doren replied.
“Then I’ll be quick,” she said, giving him a wink before she began to fade.
Doren watched her shift away before he dug his foot into the grass and spun in place. When he’d completed the rotation, he was in a completely different location.
He was instantly spotted by a watcher, and he grabbed his shield and held it out in front just in time for the incoming arrow to crash into it.
Doren tossed his shield toward the watcher’s stomach, but it bounced off his rock armor. Doren caught the disk and rolled into his legs. As the watcher stumbled, Doren whacked his shield into the back of his head.
Free of an immediate opponent, Doren flipped his shield onto his back and glanced around at his surroundings. Aros and the Lettes weren’t within his sight, but that didn’t mean they weren’t up there. The keep was long and uneven, leaving plenty of spots he’d have to shift to examine.
Before he spun, Doren looked out to the front of Valiant Keep. He nearly choked on his own spit as he gazed upon what appeared to be the entire populace of Terrastream. There were as many people camped out in that field as he’d seen in Treatis Square on the day of Celebration or in Faunli when the armies of Kuwain and Luewen clashed.
There didn’t seem to be much commotion amongst the Streamers. They all seemed to be waiting amongst the campfires, filling time by chatting or eating. He could even see children mixed in with the assembly, which made the sight slightly less intimidating.
Why were they out there? Had Kahar survived and ordered them outside? Or were they there because the King was dead?
If anyone would know, it would be a fellow Streamer. He had to find his friends and allies.
Doren spun in place and shifted to another side of the keep. There were two waiting for him when he arrived, and he readied his shield to engage them. But neither individual noticed him.
As his eyes adjusted, he lowered his weapon. Whether by his will or the Goddesses, he’d found Aros and Loraya. And it was good that he did, as they seemed to be entranced by the Streamers outside the keep and ignorant of his arrival. He snorted as he realized they were holding hands.
Both of their heads finally turned toward him. Aros’ eyes lit up as bright as the nearby torches. “Doren!” He let go of Loraya and ran over to embrace him.
Doren wasn’t expecting such a warm greeting, and it took a moment until he returned the gesture. “It’s only been some hours.”
“Still,” Aros said as he drew back. “Where’s Rikki?”
“Searching the keep for you,” Doren replied as he gave a nod to Loraya. He searched for her brother but didn’t see him in the vicinity. “Where’s Yayne?”
Loraya turned away as Aros began to tear up. His friend explained what they’d been through, how they’d lost him, and how they’d escaped.
Doren felt a tinge of jealousy that he didn’t get to see the post bird, but he didn’t mention it. “I’m sorry,” was all he managed to say.
In barely a day, Loraya had lost her entire family. He and Aros had both lost loved ones, but he wasn’t sure either of them could truly understand what she was going through. They’d both had someone left. She had no one.
“Is Kahar dead?” Loraya said, facing him to reveal the tears that had dribbled down her cheeks.
Doren grimaced. “I’m not sure.” He went over what had happened in the throne room and how Rikki had brought the ceiling down on him.
“If he’s dead, we have to get his body and show it to them.” She waved her arm toward the assemblage of Streamers.
“Do you know why they’re out there?” Doren asked, his gaze falling upon them once more.
“Because Kahar wanted to show us, to show me, that we were wrong.”
“You weren’t wrong,” Rikki said, fading into existence between them.
Everyone collectively jumped back and nearly fell over. Aros even let out an audible yelp.
“Sorry to startle you,” Rikki said with a giggle. She looked them over before noting, “We’re missing one.”
Aros promptly caught Rikki up to speed on Yayne’s demise and the newly formed hole in Valiant Keep.
Rikki mouth hung open, but she didn’t say a word. Instead, she w
alked over to Loraya and wrapped her arms around her.
Doren caught Aros’ eye before they both went back to staring at the two women.
“You weren’t wrong,” Rikki reiterated as she stepped back toward her friends. “Even if everyone out there is convinced Kahar was a good and righteous king, it only makes them fools. To turn a blind eye to cruelty and ignorance simply because they thought they might get something out of it doesn’t make them right. It makes them as bad as that abhorrent being who occupied the throne. You resisted, you revolted, not in futility but for a just cause. Because you weren’t willing to sacrifice Terrastream for some illusion of greatness. I’m proud to be on your side and not theirs. I’m proud to be a Revolutionary.”
This time, it was Loraya that hugged Rikki. “Thank you.”
“Is Kahar dead?” Doren asked.
Rikki looked upon the sea of his followers. “I don’t know.” She’d intentionally avoided the area as she searched the keep. But she figured someone had given those Streamers orders to wait out there. “I’d bet against it.”
“Then we can’t leave,” Loraya said.
“We can’t,” Rikki repeated after her.
“Why not?” Aros asked, his eyes bouncing between the two of them.
Loraya merely pointed to the main entrance of the keep.
They all turned and watched as two captive mages crawled outside on all fours. Their leashes were held by one man who didn’t seem injured even though an entire room had collapsed on him.
King Kahar was only accompanied by those two mages, which Rikki assumed meant that the others in the throne room were irrevocably dead and buried. She wouldn’t have to see Yim’s naked body ever again. That in itself was a relief.
Loraya already had her last arrow loaded up in her bow. “I can get him.”
Rikki placed her staff in front of Loraya’s weapon. “Not with those two protecting him.”
Loraya looked like she might fire anyway, but she eventually lowered her bow. “What do we do then?”