by Devan Skyles
Desmond, meanwhile, stood with his hand over the vat, grasping the vial. He looked darkly at the workers by the wall.
“You all think you can extort me into doing your bidding by keeping my baby sister, a CHILD, locked in a dungeon, and somehow, I wouldn’t make you suffer for it?”
The foreman sneered at him. “I’m acting on direct orders from the General himself. If you’ve got grievances, they’re with him, not us. But you’re never going to get away with this. As soon as he hears what you’ve done today, he’ll hunt you and that precious little girl down and drag you both right back here.”
Desmond shrugged his shoulders. “Well, in that case, I guess I’d better just ensure he never hears about it, shouldn’t I?”
He gritted his teeth angrily, raising the vial high into the air, and threw it down into the vat.
“NO!” the foreman shouted, jumping forward to stop him, but it was too late.
A cloud of thick, black vapor exploded from the vat and billowed out into the room. Desmond screamed as the vapor engulfed his hand, burning his flesh. He ran from the room as the workers panicked and scrambled for their lives.
Breaching the doorway, Desmond launched himself into the air and flew away, just as the black vapor pillowed out of every door and window in the building.
He soon caught up with the others, who were spiraling down toward a line of people below. When they settled on the ground, it was clear that the people in line were waiting to be permitted entrance to a threshold within a large sandstone arch. Two guards stood by the arch, checking people in and out of the threshold.
The group landed and strolled inconspicuously to the back of the line, where they stood, pretending not to know each other. Leroy’s wingless figure drew many alarmed gawks and stares.
“Okay guys,” Rhydian whispered, avoiding any kind of eye contact. “Here’s the plan. Taya and Auram, you take care of the guards, the rest of us will collect the timekeepers. Leroy, how many do you think we’ll need to collapse the gateway?”
“At least five,” he replied.
“Okay then, I think we’re ready.”
Ellie and her father embraced each other warmly, both their eyes filling with tears.
“I love you, Dad,” she said.
“I love you, too, my little angel. I’m so proud of you. Your mother would be, too.”
“I’ll come and find you,” she sobbed. “I promise.”
Leroy nodded, a smile on his face, and grabbed the nearest man’s timekeeper right out of his hand.
“Excuse me, filthy, sovereigner!” the man exclaimed. “That’s mine! Maybe you’re not accustomed to our ways, but here in the northern colonies, we still have manners!”
Rhydian walked up to the next person in line and snatched his timekeeper off his neck, winding it as soon as it was in his possession. Desmond and Kora did the same while Auram and Taya flew over and to the arch and picked a fight with the guards. An angry uproar arose amongst the people as chaos ensued.
Soon, Leroy had seven wound timekeepers dangling from his fist and he was running headlong for the threshold. Auram and Taya had wrestled the guards to the ground by the time he crossed through the archway and disappeared. Moments later, a bright blue light erupted from the threshold and the sandstone arch exploded into rubble. Everyone hit the ground in panic as rocks and dust rained down upon them.
Taking advantage of the chaos, the six comrades took flight. They flew long and hard, leaving the Sandstone Spires far behind them before word could spread and they had soldiers on their heels. They flew as fast as they could, not slowing down until they reached the Border City again. This was an even grander sight in the daylight, where the sheer enormity of the structure was clearly visible.
Ellie hadn’t spoken at all since saying goodbye to her father. She’d just gotten him back, and now she didn’t know when they’d meet again.
“You’ll see him again soon,” Rhydian comforted, “I promise.”
She smiled weakly at him and then stared down at the ground below.
“So, now what are we going to do?” said Auram. “We just sent the only hope we had of stopping the rift through a portal to the other side. He was the whole reason we made this flight.”
“We’re just going to have to fight Corvus,” Rhydian said simply.
“I’m sorry,” said Desmond, “did you just say what I think you did? Fight Corvus? The leader of the entire Ilimíri Fleet, that Corvus?”
“It’s the only choice we have.”
“It’s suicide!”
“You know, I can’t believe I’m actually saying this,” said Auram, “but Desmond is right. Corvus has been planning this for the last twenty years. If you think he’s not going to have half the Fleet there guarding them while they perform the rift, you’re out of your mind.”
“We’ll help you fight,” Kora volunteered.
“No, we won’t!” Desmond exclaimed. “I’m getting you as far away from that fight as possible!”
“Desmond, we should help,” she persisted. “It’s the right thing to do.”
“Right now, the right thing to do is keep you safe. You’re just a child. You’re not going to help these idiots start a war!”
Kora fell silent then, hanging her head.
“Auram, what about your followers back at the city?” Rhydian asked. “Would they fight with us?”
“Probably,” he replied, “but I only have maybe a hundred people. We need an army!”
Rhydian flapped ahead, setting a quicker pace. “I think I have an idea where we can find one of those.”
A Father’s Legacy
A strong tailwind quickened their flight back across the desert. They were flying almost due south this time, towards the Monolith City, and would not have to fly over the treacherous, stormy Grimwood. This allowed them to make better time, the Monolith City appearing on the horizon late that afternoon like a stone giant rising up from the plains, the sun setting behind it.
“When we get there, I want to join your fight,” Kora told Auram quietly enough that her brother could not overhear.
“I think you might be a bit young to fight in a war, Kora,” he replied. “Besides, I don’t think your brother would allow it.”
“He’s not my boss,” she returned. “He doesn’t make my choices for me. I haven’t even seen him for the last two years. He doesn’t actually care about me.”
Auram took a deep breath and sighed. He couldn’t believe what he was about to say.
“You know, as much as I dislike Desmond, he seems to have made a lot of sacrifices and put himself in a lot of danger to make sure you were safe. That’s not the kind of thing someone does for someone they don’t care about.”
“Maybe,” she conceded, “but he doesn’t actually care about doing what’s right. He did those things because he promised our parents he’d take care of me. The rest of the time he just does what he has to do to survive.”
“Well, maybe you’re right kid,” Auram said. “What do I know?”
“So, can I be one of your soldiers?” she asked. “I can fight. The guards in the tower had to keep me locked up a lot because I would fight them so much. I even broke one of their noses once!”
“That’s great, kid, but I think you’d better wait until you’re older.”
Kora rolled her eyes and trailed off behind the group.
When at last they approached the city, the sun was nearly down, and everyone was exhausted from flying for two straight days.
“Okay Auram,” Rhydian said, “this is it. You rally your followers and meet us where we discussed. Get some rest tonight, and we’ll see you on the battlefield tomorrow, brother.”
“Be safe,” Auram replied.
With that, Rhydian and Ellie flew past the city and out over the canyon, while the rest of them snuck into town through the tunnel at the back of the city.
Auram and Taya walked briskly through the hall, followed closely by Desmond and Kora.
�
��Is it really smart sneaking into the Fleet barracks?” Desmond whispered.
“It’s the most secretive way into the city,” Auram replied.
“Besides, most of the troops are on assignment right now,” Taya added. “Corvus will be getting ready to attack the other side. He’ll want as many troops as he can muster for that.”
They were right. The barracks complex was practically a ghost town. Just when they were thinking they might get through unnoticed, four armored soldiers walked around the corner in front of them. They tried turning around and hoping they hadn’t already been recognized, but one of the men called after them.
“Hey you!” the soldier yelled. “Stop where you are!”
They tried to run, but two of the soldiers had already taken to the air and had surrounded them. The soldiers drew their weapons.
“Yeah, I thought that was you,” the soldier said, coming up and looking at Auram. “You’re the fugitive, the one who’s been spreading all those ridiculous rumors! You’re all under arrest!”
“Wait!” Desmond exclaimed. “My sister and I were just walking this way. We’re not with these traitors!”
Kora gave her brother a horrified look of incredulity and stepped away from him, standing beside Auram. She shook her head in disbelief and turned to the guard.
“I am!” she announced.
“Kora, no! What are you doing?” Desmond pleaded.
The soldiers converged on them as Auram and Taya drew their weapons to fight. They crossed blades and fought vigorously in the dim light of the courtyard. Taya struck down one of the men and exchanged blows with another. Kora shoved hard against another, pulling a dagger from the man’s belt to fight with.
One of the soldiers, realizing the fight was going badly for them, raised a crossbow and fired at Taya. The arrow narrowly missed Taya’s neck, but whizzed by and buried itself deep in Kora’s chest. A horrified look appeared on her face as she looked down at the projectile protruding from her body. She fell back against the wall and slid to the ground.
“KORA!” Desmond shouted in horror, running and dropping to his knees at his sister’s side. He lifted her off the ground, but her lifeless body hung limp in his arms. He trembled violently with fury as hot tears flooded his eyes. He clenched his teeth and looked up in rage at the soldier who’d fired the arrow, who now was backing away, appalled by his own actions.
Desmond leaped into the air, hollering in rage. He drew his sword and as he flew and came down hard on the man, burying his sword to the hilt in his body. In his fury, he wrenched the weapon from the man’s body and ran him through again. He pulled it out yet again and swung it in a dramatic circle, decapitating the man. He looked down at the corps at his feet, his whole body trembling, his hands covered with blood.
When he turned around the fight was already over, and Auram and Taya were looking at him in stunned silence. He let his bloody sword drop to the stony ground noisily and walked slowly up to Auram.
“I— I’m so sorry,” Auram said. “There was nothing I could do.”
Desmond shoved Auram back as hard as he could and screamed, “This is YOUR doing!”
Auram didn’t fight back. He just stood there, stunned and speechless.
“You and your ideas of valor and revolution and heroics are what got her killed! YOU got her killed! YOU! If I ever see your face again, I swear I’ll kill you, Auram!”
He shoved past Auram and tenderly scooped up Kora’s body, cradling her in his arms. Without another word, he walked back down the hall and left the city, leaving Auram and Taya dumbstruck in the bloody courtyard.
Rhydian and Ellie flew out towards the clearing where lay Belator’s camp and soared down through the trees to the familiar waterfall. Many of the Grimalkin looked up in alarm as they landed in the field before the Chieftain Lord’s throne. Ellie looked around, intimidated by the many fearsome creatures surrounding them.
“Chieftain Lord Belator!” Rhydian called up to the throne. “Forgive my intrusion, sir, but I have something urgent I need to discuss with you.”
Two Grimalkin females rushed in to bar his path as he walked toward the throne.
“Let our friend through,” came the pale giant’s voice as he sat up and looked at Rhydian in the dwindling twilight. “What is so urgent, young Eaglehide?”
“The man who betrayed my father is waging war on the other side tomorrow. I came in hopes that you would assist us in opposing him.”
Belator rose from his great throne and leaped to the ground before Rhydian. “We would be honored to fight beside the great Eaglehide again, but you must understand, mustering an army in a matter of hours is no easy feat. I have warriors spread across many fronts that cannot be abandoned. I wish that we could have discussed this sooner.”
“I wouldn’t come to you if I had any other choice. We tried to rally our people against him, but we had too little time, and our numbers are still too few.”
“And if we help you, how will our union benefit my people?”
“I will do as my father did: I will fight for your right to return to your motherland.”
Belator smiled. “It seems we have an agreement.”
Rhydian was overwhelmed with relief, he wasn’t sure what he expected, but he thought he’d have to work harder to convince the king.
“You honor your father’s legacy, Rhydian. Now, will you honor mine by rallying my warriors to your cause?” He gestured to his throne.
“Me?” he asked, nervously.
“It is your right and privilege, being the one to unite our two peoples, to also be the one to call them to arms.”
Rhydian looked to Ellie, who smiled at him encouragingly. He then climbed the gnarled, mangled roots to the top of Belator’s throne and stood before the crowd which had gathered. He wasn’t sure what to say, so he started with the facts.
“Your Chieftain Lord and I have just come to an arrangement. I have a small band of rebels that have agreed to fight against the tyrant who opposed the treaty you once established with my father, the man you know as Eaglehide. Now we have a unique opportunity to fight back against the tyranny of the man who betrayed you and my father twenty years ago, and who continues to oppress you to this day. And in doing so, we will have a chance to defend the lives and freedom of those who live across the thresholds.
“So now I come to you, bearing the spirit of my father to fulfill his legacy, to finish what he started. Join us in our cause, and I will fight with you as my father did! Join with us, and I will never stop fighting beside you until I can one day lead you back to your forefathers’ home of Rim’Ithra!”
One of the Grimalkin roared his approval, followed by another and another, until soon the entire camp was alive with enthusiastic uproar. Belator joined in with his own roar, which sounded above all the rest.
The entire camp was teeming with activity the next morning as the Grimalkin prepared for combat. Blades were being sharpened, warriors practiced their swordplay, and weapons were being handed out to anyone not already armed.
Rhydian and Ellie woke up sore but refreshed. After their long flight, they had slept so soundly that a thunderstorm couldn’t have woken them.
“Good morning, beautiful,” Rhydian said, opening his eyes and seeing Ellie lying beside him.
“Morning,” she replied with a smile. “You ready for today?”
“I hope so. I’ve never fought in a war before.”
“It’ll be a first for me, too,” she replied.
Rhydian sat up. “Ellie, I can’t let you go to combat with me. It’s not safe.”
“And I can’t let you go to combat without me,” she replied, sitting up as well.
“Look, El, I—”
She stopped him with a finger to his lips, then kissed him and said, “You won’t be able to talk me out of it, Rhyd, so stop trying. I’m going with you.”
Defeated, he nodded. “Then I need you to stay close to me the whole time, okay? I mean it.”
“I wouldn’
t have it any other way,” she said.
She maneuvered closer to Rhydian, and as she did, her dad’s revolver fell from her waistband where she’d been carrying it since she crossed the threshold.
Rhydian looked down at the weapon. “You brought that with you? You know it won’t work here, right?”
She shrugged her shoulders and tucked it away beneath her clothes again. “It belonged to my dad. I didn’t have the heart to get rid of it.”
Rhydian understood, instinctively reaching for his father’s timekeeper, which of course wasn’t there.
“Besides,” she continued, “Maybe now I can give it back to him. You know, when I see him again.”
They roamed the camp, fascinated by the Grimalkin’s fervor for battle. Everyone seemed enthused and energized. They eventually came upon Blackmane, the big male that had captured Rhydian and Auram weeks earlier. He was busy running a sharpening stone up the edges of two identical weapons. They appeared to be swords, the forward edges slanting forward in the signature Grimalkin style, but near the end, the blade split into broad, twin blades, both curving forward into cruel, razor-sharp hooks.
“These are exquisitely built!” Rhydian said, admiring the sophisticated workmanship.
“They are the Rims’gristii,” Said Blackmane. “In your tongue, the King’s claws. They belonged to my grandsire.”
Rhydian was puzzled. “The Grimalkin have another language?”
“We did once,” he said, setting down the stone and swinging his twin weapons in an impressive flourish with both hands, teeth bared ferociously.
“There you are,” said Belator, walking toward them. “We have things to discuss.”
“Of course,” Rhydian answered. “What is it?”
“My hunters and huntresses will be ready to move out within the hour, at which point, we will make the climb up the north canyon wall and march west along the cliffs toward your stone city. I’ve sent word to our brothers and sisters of the Grimwood faction and they will be joining us along the way. At this point, we will be ready to rendezvous with your troops at the banks of the river. How many of your warriors will be joining the fight?”