by B. T. Narro
The beast broke the link and stomped down, but the moment it had frozen gave the Analyte mage time to dart away. It did not matter, though, as the beast slashed its claw across the man’s back. The mage flew like a doll off the precipice behind them. KRenn knew the Analyte’s life was over; KRenn must fear for his own now. He would not perish today. He had a grandchild who would soon be born, while KRenn’s own son still needed guidance. He was not ready to be a father.
KRenn linked the two front legs of the beast again, holding the Artistry together with all his strength. The mammoth creature fell forward. He dove to avoid being crushed as the beast rolled past him. KRenn held the link tightly as he drew his sword and rushed the fallen beast.
The creature squirmed, slow in motion but with enough power to move mountains. It broke KRenn’s link, then swept its clawed foot across the ground to bat him away. He stabbed the blade of his sword into the beast’s foot as it smacked him, then held onto his sword for his life as he was picked up off the ground.
KRenn made another link while holding onto his hilt, now high above the creature. He fixed the two front legs to one another. He expected the creature to howl in pain as it twisted awkwardly, but it uttered no sound.
KRenn fell hard beside the flailing beast. A sharp pain went through his knee. He pulled his sword free as he rose and looked for anywhere he could stick it that would do more damage to this giant monster. Unfortunately, the creature’s neck and head were too high to reach.
He needed another way to defeat it. Keeping the creature’s limbs attached, KRenn ran toward the rift to give himself some distance. He locked his mind around the Esitry that made up this creature and began ripping it in all directions.
Or he tried.
There was something different about this Esitry, though. It had a will of its own and would not obey KRenn.
The monster stood upright on its hind legs and spread its front legs apart with monstrous strength. KRenn could not hold the Artistry together. It snapped, and the creature lumbered toward him.
With nowhere else to go, he could only flee into the blue rift behind him. He sprinted for it as he made a cocoon of Artistry to envelop his entire body. No one had ever entered a rift and lived for long after, but he would have to worry about that later, for a claw was about to slam down on top of him.
He dove into the rift.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
The rest of the trip to the Analyte capital felt even longer than the preceding half. Andar figured it was because he and his brother had discovered the truth about Maddox. Now that the old man was the king and not a friendly Ascendant who had much to teach Andar and Leo, the trip was boring.
Mavrim stayed away from Andar and his brother. It was maddening, because Andar had so many questions for the king. How much coin did he have? How many troops were there in total? What was his relationship with the Analyte king these days? Most importantly, why was no one arrested for the murder of Rolan Kipper? Was anyone even investigated?
Andar didn’t need to ask Mavrim if he really meant what he’d said in their tent. Andar supposed he believed the old man, that he did wish to work with the rebels rather than continue to hunt them down. It was the only reason Andar could think of to explain Mavrim’s actions over the recent years.
Was he really their strongest ally, though? Having an ally at all was a notion Andar still couldn’t get used to, for he didn’t really have enemies. Not yet, at least. He figured that would all change soon.
The wide road they took for miles led straight to the Analyte palace. It was magnificent in size and design, but the sight of it brought out snickers from some of the higher ranking army men. Some of them wondered why they had not yet conquered the Analytes if their castle was just a palace with no fortifications. It was built on a hill, at least, Andar thought. But these men were right. There were no walls to keep people out. There were no parapets to shield archers. The towers were thick but short, with decorative roofs that seemed as if they would not hold if struck by a large boulder.
The palace itself was even close to the Analyte capital, just a few miles away. Rebels to the crown could easily build a formidable army within the capital and take the palace in a day. And yet, no rebellions had taken place here.
They brought their horses and other animals right up through the palace entrance, which was just a gate with a large opening. Andar saw his first Analytes then, armored men wearing steel helmets. He didn’t get a glimpse of anyone’s hair until he saw a man he deemed to be the king.
Dasfis was much older than Andar’s father, but he didn’t seem frail like Mavrim. He was built with wide shoulders and a thick chest that could not be hidden by his loose robe of white. His hair was dark violet and just long enough for the king to comb it over the sides of his scalp, not too unlike the style Andar chose for himself.
There was a commotion as all the arriving troops made their way across the garden just outside the palace. It was a large area but clearly not designed for so many moving parts. Chaos ensued as everyone tried to figure out where to bring their horse or prepare their tent.
“I’ll be right back.” Andar handed off his horse to his brother and hurried ahead.
He knew the commander of the army walked at the front. Andar had not yet told Leo, but the more Andar heard about the commander, the more likely it seemed that he was the one who’d killed Rolan. He always bathed in private, ensuring no one had even a glimpse of him disrobing. Andar wanted a look at the back of his leg, where the murderer had been cut deeply. There should still be a scar.
Andar caught up and watched as men tried to get their scared horses under control close to the commander, but he offered no help. Andar wondered if he might find a way to trip the man so that his pants came up, but no ideas that were sure to work came to mind.
It was madness for a while in the large garden, but eventually order came and Andar found his brother and the other trainees again. He helped them set up their tents, a bit disappointed that they would not stay in the palace, but there probably wasn’t room for everyone, even as large as it was. There were thousands of troops here, most of them foot soldiers, not mages.
Andar explored around the garden. It was gated, with a large awning from the palace that provided shade. There was only one spigot for water, but Andar later found a well, too. He didn’t know how long he would have to wait here before they went to destroy the rift. He looked forward to seeing such a beastly rift, and ever since he’d left Jatn, he hated spending idle hours in one place if he was not in the company of an interesting woman.
He eventually noticed Jarrel Marks, the army commander, entering the palace with his usual entourage of six or so followers.
Andar saw his opportunity and hurried around the palace until there was no one nearby. It was a difficult climb up to the window on the second story, but at least the window itself was open because of the hot climate. Andar maneuvered his way in.
He didn’t notice much about the room he’d climbed into, just that it was empty. Besides subtle oddities to the furniture, it was just like any other room. He walked out to find himself in a hallway where he stopped to listen for voices. The commander always spoke loudly, as if his voice was more important than others. Andar could faintly hear him from here.
He followed the sound, passing by a woman who stopped to stare. She said something in Analyse as Andar passed by.
“Sorry, I don’t speak Analyse,” he said as he rushed forward. Hopefully she would not get him in trouble.
He heard the commander better as he ventured on, so he was going the right way. The hallway was long and curved. It did not allow him sight ahead.
He saw another woman, this one strikingly beautiful. She wore a long dress adorned with intricate symbols Andar did not recognize. He panicked as he realized she might be of some importance, though he showed her an expression that said he belonged in this palace.
“Excuse me,” she said in common tongue, stopping in front of him. “W
ho are you, soldier?”
His uniform told anyone familiar with the army that he was a mage in training. Hopefully she didn’t know that.
“I’m performing a duty to check for traps, madam. I need to get by you right now.”
He was surprised when she walked backward to keep in front of him. “Wait a moment, soldier.” With just a faint accent, she sounded more akin to a rich Jatn woman than a foreigner. “There are no traps here.”
“If you don’t mind, madam, I need to determine that for myself.”
He started around her and was glad when she did not put herself in front of him again.
“You seem a little too young for such a role,” she told him with suspicion.
At least she did not stop him. He wanted to look back to take in her beauty now that his initial shock had passed, but he knew he shouldn’t. He supposedly was here to check for traps and needed to go about his business quickly.
His instinct overpowered him and he looked back. She was already staring at him and did not become shy when their gazes met. Her hair was thick and lustrous, almost unnatural in its vibrant color of deep violet. She had large, knowing eyes with dark lashes that made the blue in her irises shine. Her features made her appear curious in nature, with full lips, rose in color, which opened partially as if to object further to Andar’s task.
She would no doubt bring him trouble. It was too late to be truthful now, though. He could only hope their paths would not cross again, though that idea made his eyes refuse to look away in case it really was the last time he saw her.
Someone yelled out something in Analyse in front of him. He turned and nearly collided with another woman. Andar apologized as he stepped around her.
He looked back one last time to see that the expression of the beautiful Analyte had changed. She had her arms folded as she glared.
He nearly fell down the first step of the stairway ahead of him.
“Skyfire and ash, she was pretty,” he muttered to himself, almost forgetting his need to find out where the commander would be staying and bathing. Andar just needed one glimpse at the man’s leg. It shouldn’t be this hard.
He made his way down the stairs quickly, worried the Analyte woman would come to her senses and follow him. Or worse, she might send guards after him. He sped up and down the stairs until he came to an opening where he hopped over a small barrier and hid in a crevice between decorative pillars. Though Andar could see nothing but the pillars around him, he could hear the commander.
“I require better accommodations, sire. It’s the only way I can focus.”
“Don’t you want to be with your troops and officers?” asked an older man with an accent. Andar figured he was Dasfis, the king. His voice was strained, as if he was already upset with the commander but was trying not to let out his anger.
“My officers need to be with me, yes, but within your palace.”
“But we don’t have room for all your soldiers,” said the king. He transitioned into Analyse. A different man responded in the same language before the king spoke again. “We will bring everything you require to our gardens.”
“That will not do, your highness. I apologize, but I cannot plan accordingly without a room indoors, and a bath here as well.”
“Fine,” Dasfis answered curtly. “You will be provided with what you request. Now let us discuss tactics for the destruction of the rift.”
“I look forward to that, sire, but it was a long trip from Jatn. I prefer to bathe and rest in my quarters first.”
The king spoke in Analyse again, but this time he did not receive a response.
“You will be taken to your quarters now,” Dasfis said.
“And my officers?”
“It will take the rest of the day to prepare their rooms. They will be fetched before nightfall.”
“Go tell the rest,” said the commander, most likely to one of his officers.
Andar left his hiding place and went down the rest of the stairs. He came to a large open room where he located the commander ahead and started following him. Andar tried not to look too suspicious as he spied, but there were many people walking about on this ground level floor. Fortunately, none paid much attention. He peered around corners, staying far behind, and eventually followed the commander and an Analyte until the commander was shown to his quarters. Andar memorized the spot, then took his time to remember the route on his way out of the palace.
He didn’t know when he would be able to come back, but it likely had to be soon. The army probably wouldn’t dwell here for long before leaving to destroy the rift.
He went back to his tent and found his brother there napping. He did not want to worry Leo, who would try to talk him out of this, so he did not bring it up.
Later, they were fed a strange meat for supper, but it didn’t take long for Andar to get used to its chewy texture, and he soon found himself enjoying it. Nightfall came, and he slept about as well as he had the rest of the nights since meeting his father and finding out the king was among them—not very well.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
The next day, Andar was called into the palace with his brother, their trainer, and about twenty other men and women Andar had not met yet. Apparently the Analyte king wanted to meet the strongest Ascendants and summoners, though no one among their group knew why. They were brought into an open room with a dais on the other end. A lavish throne was positioned at the center of the dais, between gold and white pillars fancily decorated. A few of the others marveled aloud at the wondrous sight, but Andar was too used to the opulence of the training grounds to be affected much anymore by this sort of thing. However, the gold stripes around the pillars soon took his focus. He didn’t know what it was about that metal that drew his gaze no matter how many times he’d seen it.
“The king is rich, big surprise,” he muttered to his brother as he tried to ignore the glistening gold.
Leo chuckled.
The king entered and took his place on the dais. Next to him were most likely his son and his daughter…the beautiful Analyte who Andar had encountered in the palace yesterday. She was covered with layers of robes this time, but that did not stop many people from commenting to each other about how beautiful she was.
“Gods,” even Leo muttered. He looked at Andar with shock. “Too beautiful for you to even say something?” He laughed but then stopped abruptly as Andar started to move. “Where are you going?”
“I can’t be seen by her.” Andar headed toward the back.
“What did you do?” Leo asked, but Andar didn’t have time to stay near the front to explain. She would catch him if he didn’t hide himself.
“Welcome mages,” announced the king.
“Excuse me,” Andar whispered to everyone nearby, pushing his way through until he was at the back. He was too tall, dammit, his handsome face sticking out like a prized peach among these dirty soldiers. He shouldn’t have shaved this morning so he might’ve blended in a bit better.
The king continued, “It was my wish to meet the strongest mages who are here to help us finally destroy Jaktius Perl. I’m glad you are here.”
“And we are happy to be here,” said the commander. “We look forward to destroying that rift!” He said it as if expecting his men to cheer, but only a few officers added a note of enthusiasm.
The king said something to his son, whose already serious expression became more severe. The princess, however, studied the mages as if curious about each of them. Whenever her gaze drifted toward Andar, he lowered his head to hide.
The only thing Andar had heard about the princess was that her name was Siki. She looked to be close to Andar in age. She could’ve already told people about a young man claiming to look for traps in the palace, but without finding out his name or seeing him here now, he might never be caught.
There was no one else here, besides Leo, who wore the same trainee uniform for mages. Damn, I should’ve made Leo come back here with me.
At least An
dar and Leo looked different enough from each other that Siki shouldn’t mistake Leo for him. But she could still bring about problems if she brought up Leo’s uniform and asked about the other young man.
He missed some of the conversation as he panicked. The king requested, “I would like to hear why each of you is here.”
“Sire,” answered the commander with some confusion in his tone. “All were told to come by King Mavrim Orello.”
“I realize that, Jarrel. I would like to hear everyone’s own answer, though.”
“May I ask why, sire?”
“Because it is important to me.” The Analyte ruler spoke as though this would be the last time he would answer Jarrel. His friendly demeanor gone, the king glanced across the group of mages. He pointed. “You seem to be the youngest here. How old are you?”
“Me, sire?” It was Leo’s voice.
“Yes.”
“I’m fourteen.”
He was actually thirteen, but he would be fourteen in just a few days.
Skyfire and ash, where am I supposed to find a gift for him out here? Did the Analytes even use the same coin as humans? Andar would have to worry about that later. He saw the princess looking around again, so he ducked.
“Tell me about yourself,” Dasfis requested.
“Uh…I’m,” Leo stammered. “I’m Leo Litxer…forgive me, I’m nervous about speaking in front of people.”
The crowd chuckled, as did the king. Leo always managed to be cute even when he didn’t try. It was one of many reasons some of the older girls they’d met in the capital had shown interest in him before realizing he was not yet fourteen. Andar tried to be cute sometimes, but usually he would ruin it with a vulgar joke.
“It’s fine,” said the king. “Tell me how you heard about Jaktius Perl.”
“From my trainer, Farns.” Leo pointed at the older mage near the front.