Then Garet came flying in from the side. With his sword, he killed two of the channelers before they even noticed him. The others turned toward the new threat, but just as they did, Gram came from the other side, dispatching another channeler with his blade. Now screams and shouts and footsteps came from all around. Tylen turned in a circle, spotting their pursuers closing in on them from every direction. There were sorcerers among them, standing calmly
Preparing to kill everyone trapped between them.
* * * * *
Rik was about to give up hope, but then he looked toward the castle gate and saw Markus there. Behind him were Nadia, Klint, and three people Rik didn't recognize.
A great whirlwind formed closer to the gate. It twisted its way through the line of guards who were preparing to kill Rik and the others, tossing them aside as if they were toys. Rik watched Markus with awe, realizing that his best friend had produced the whirlwind.
Then he felt a sudden sense of elation. Markus was alive.
"Rik, I can't believe it!" Markus shouted, racing toward him. "You're alive!"
"Of course I'm alive," Rik shouted back. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm really tough to kill."
"Shield me," Markus said. "I can handle these guards."
Rik had no idea where Markus's suddenly powerful magic had come from. Markus had always been the most powerful of them, but something had changed. No time to worry about it right now. They had a bunch of evil guards to kill.
With his staff in the air, Rik conjured a shield. He prayed it would protect everyone, but he focused most on protecting Markus. As Markus stood beneath the shield's protection, he focused his gaze on the guards in front of them. The ground quaked so much Rik could barely stay on his feet. Soon holes in the ground appeared beneath the guards.
The guards' eyes went wide for a moment before they fell into the new holes. But Markus's spell had been too strong. The ground was beginning to crumble all around them. Everyone had taken to scrambling away from the developing holes.
"I'm sorry," Markus said, racing across the trembling ground. "Didn't realize how powerful I was."
Tylen glared at him. "Of course you didn't."
Rik glanced around frantically. "Has anyone seen Eliza?"
"I'm over here!"
To Rik's amazement, she looked unharmed. Garet, Gram, and Farah were also alive, but there was no telling how long they'd remain that way. The two new people who'd arrived with Nadia lay on the ground nearby, probably dead.
Markus's quake had disturbed the ground under the guards that had encircled them. But now the ground was falling away, the holes closing in on them like the fire had closed in on Crayden all those months ago.
"Markus, you're the Restorer now!" shouted a man Rik didn't recognize. "You can stop this. Focus on it. I can't do it anymore."
"Right," Markus said, suddenly pale. His panicked gaze took in the ground falling away all around them. Rik prayed that it would stop, but it didn't seem to matter how hard Markus concentrated. The edge of the hole came closer and closer.
Rik glanced over that edge, seeing nothing but blackness below.
"Come on, Markus!" he shouted. "You can do it!" He had no idea why this was falling to Markus, or what the hell was happening at all, but it was a friend's duty to provide encouragement. Rik had fallen down on that duty before. Now he would not fail.
But it didn't matter how much Markus concentrated, twisting his face in pained expressions. The hole only grew larger and closer.
And then Rik saw the reason why.
Krinir stood just beyond the hole, his gaze focused on it.
"You bastard!" Rik shouted, and Krinir returned an evil smile. Ignoring him, Rik turned to Eliza. "You can take us back in time, can't you?"
"I'm trying, but it isn't working."
More and more of the ground crumbled away. The trembling was so strong Rik could barely stay on his feet. He glanced from person to person, and they all shared the same expression of wide-eyed terror. They were all going to die.
The ground fell away.
Chapter 42: The Floating Fortress
Nadia screamed as she fell into darkness, sure she was going to die. But then a great whirlwind formed beneath them. It lowered them slowly toward the ground below but was not tall enough to get them back to the surface.
She hit the ground with a gentle thud, the others beside her, looking dazed but otherwise unharmed. When she glanced up, the dark world above looked like a distant memory.
"What is that?" Rik asked.
Nadia glanced in the direction he was pointing to see some kind of giant structure adorned with crystals that filled the chamber with soft blue light. A faint hum came from the structure, and her skin prickled with the energy in the chamber.
The structure was larger than any building Nadia had ever seen. In this cavernous chamber below Crayden, it stretched farther than she could see. Those blue crystals glowed all along its length. Large protrusions jutted out from the structure, reminding her of the cannons she had seen on one of the ships on which they'd traveled.
These cannons, however, had more of the appearance of the plasma rifles from the New Earth Empire. In fact, the entire structure appeared as if it might belong to that place. It reminded her a bit of the Walker as well, and surely it would fire some kind of lasers or plasma or another kind of energy. It had to be fueled by both magic and technology.
The man who'd arrived with Markus strode toward the structure, shaking his head slowly. "I can't believe it. There were rumors that Krinir was building this, but I never thought they were true. This is astounding." He hesitated. "And terrifying."
Nadia stepped closer to him. "What is this thing?"
"It's the Floating Fortress. Back during the Great War, when I was fighting against Krinir, it was said that he was building a secret weapon that could bring him victory. My sources said he referred to it as the Floating Fortress. I always thought Krinir was bluffing, but apparently he was able to build it." He shook his head. "We shouldn't be here."
"You're Lionar, aren't you?" Nadia asked. Now that she'd come to that conclusion, she recalled his face from the recording Karin had shown them back in the New Earth Empire.
He smiled. "Guilty as charged."
"Why shouldn't we be here?" Garet asked.
Lionar faced them, his expression grave. "Because Rik has the Stone of Restoration in his pack. Did you ever wonder why Krinir wants all three stones? He needs them to power the Floating Fortress. As it is, it's just a giant structure, but once he has all three stones to power it, it will become a flying force of destruction unlike anything we've ever seen."
Rik looked pale in the soft blue light. "Then we should destroy the stone."
"The stone cannot be destroyed," Lionar said.
"Then we'll hide it somewhere," Eliza said.
Lionar sighed deeply. "That won't work either. Now that the stone has been removed from its hiding place, Krinir can see it in the Webs of Fate. Wherever we hide it, he will find it."
"Then what should we do?" Markus asked.
"I don't know," Lionar said.
Tylen took a few steps toward the massive fortress. "Waiting around here isn't going to accomplish anything. Krinir will find us, kill us, and take the stone."
Farah cast him a doubtful look. "Do you think we should enter the fortress?"
"What other choice do we have?"
Nadia was surprised to find herself agreeing with Tylen. She still hated him for how he'd treated her before, but she recognized a change in him. His arrogance did not seem quite as apparent, though that might be an act.
"I agree," she said. "We should enter the fortress."
Markus placed a hand on her shoulder. "You sure about that?"
"No, but Tylen's right. What choice do we have?"
Lionar pointed to their right. "There's an entrance over there."
They all stepped toward the entrance. Nadia's legs felt like lead, weighing down her movements,
but she ignored the feeling. Soon they reached a short ramp leading up into a dark opening. Taking deep breaths, Nadia joined the others and entered the fortress.
Inside, the fortress was much brighter. Electrical lights cost the same blue light upon everything inside, reminding her eerily of the New Earth Empire. On their left and right, robots stood motionlessly within small alcoves. Energy danced all around the robots, blue and green and utterly captivating. Nadia had to force herself not to watch.
Each step resounded in the large corridor. The robots were placed on each side of the corridor, every five feet or so. None of them moved or showed any indication that intruders had entered the fortress. But how long would that last?
Farther into the fortress, they found robots shaped more like spiders, reminding Nadia of the tunnels where she and Markus had fought the Defender. She shuddered to think that this place might hold something like the Defender. Surely if any place were going to have strong defenses, it would be Krinir's Floating Fortress.
But the fortress remained still and silent as they traveled into its depths. Tylen took the lead, telling them that he was following his intuition and that it had never led him wrong. Nadia didn't argue because she figured one direction was as good as another in this place.
Soon they came to a much more open chamber. Again, their surroundings were quiet, the silence grating on Nadia's nerves. Narrow walkways crisscrossed the chamber, and far below, there was a pulsing green light.
"Should we go down there?" Gram asked.
"It's too far down to get back up," Lionar said. "Let's continue the way we're going."
They crossed the long walkway before entering another corridor. The corridor twisted to their right, descending gradually, and shortly they reached a narrow spiral staircase. They followed it down, reaching the level of the pulsing green light.
The floor they crossed was more like a massive grate, beneath which there were giant machines, perhaps the engines that would power this fortress. Nadia and the others crossed the chamber, their steps echoing in the eerie silence, and soon they reached the location of the pulsing green light.
There was a computer screen against the nearby wall, and in front of that screen was a pedestal containing three circular slots. Two of them were filled.
"This is exactly where we don't want to be," Lionar said.
Rik retrieved the Stone of Restoration from his pack. "It would fit perfectly."
"Why would my intuition lead us here?" Tylen asked.
Nadia rounded on him. "Perhaps you're on Krinir's side."
"I may not have treated you as I should have, Nadia, but I can assure you I would never take Krinir's side. I would like to see the world remain intact."
"Of course," Nadia said. It had been foolish to think he might take Krinir's side. She didn't like Tylen, but he wasn't evil or insane.
"There must be a reason we're here," Farah said.
"Of course there is."
Nadia turned toward the voice, but she didn't have to. She already knew it was Krinir.
"Now if you would kindly place that stone in the slot," Krinir said.
Rik glared at him. "Do it yourself."
Nadia shot Rik a warning glance. This was not the time to antagonize Krinir, if ever there was such a time.
"I cannot do it myself," Krinir said. "For me to touch the Stone of Restoration would result in a contradiction. I am the Destroyer. Only the Restorer can place that stone inside the pedestal and make it function properly."
"This was all part of your plan," Rik said. "Everything has led us to this point, hasn't it?"
Krinir smiled. "Of course. Did you think I've kept you alive because of my sympathetic nature? Hardly. I have kept you alive because you are useful."
"But you'll kill us as soon as we do this," Markus said.
"Why would I do that?"
"Because we seek to defeat you," Nadia said.
Krinir laughed sharply. "Do you think I'm worried about what you can do? Hardly. You are nothing compared to me. Place that stone in the slot and I will let you live."
Markus stared at him defiantly. "I don't believe you, and I certainly don't trust you."
"Well, that's a shame." Krinir stood there for a moment, then launched lightning from both hands. One spell hit Farah. The other hit Gram. They didn't even have time to scream. In only a moment, the life left them, and they hit the ground limply.
"You bastard!" Tylen screamed. He rushed to Farah's side and kneeled beside her, placing a finger against her throat. With tears streaming down his face, he gave Krinir the most venomous look Nadia had ever seen.
In that moment, Nadia realized that Tylen truly had changed. He'd loved Farah, and now Krinir had taken her from him.
He charged toward Krinir, and Krinir launched another spell, but this time someone cast a shield, and the spell fizzled against it. Lionar stood at the front of the group, holding his hand up and creating the barrier that was protecting Tylen.
Krinir lowered his hand, and his spell died. Tylen still glared at him but decided not to charge again, taking shelter behind Lionar instead.
"Markus, you will place that stone in the slot," Krinir said. "If you don't, I will kill your companions one by one."
"Why me?" Markus asked.
"Because Lionar made you the Restorer." He chuckled softy. "Did you think such a tactic would escape me? If anything, you made my life much simpler." He turned toward Lionar and unleased a wave of pure darkness. It slammed against Lionar's shield. Lionar held strong for a while, but Nadia could see it in his eyes. The shield would not hold forever.
She didn't know what to do. If she attacked Krinir, she would only bring his wrath down upon her. But he was about to kill Lionar, and without Lionar, how could they hope to stand against Krinir?
Lionar's shield failed before she could think of anything. The darkness struck him in the chest. His expression twitched in pain and surprise, and then he fell still.
Krinir smiled down at Lionar's limp form. "You gave up your status as a god, you fool. What did you think would happen when you faced me?"
Everyone stood in stunned silence.
"Now, Markus," Krinir said, "do as I told you. It would be a shame to see anyone else die, wouldn't it?"
"You can't kill me," Markus said. "I won't let you destroy the world, even if it means all my friends have to die."
Nadia had tears in her eyes, remembering when she'd faced a similar choice. She knew now that Warrick had never intended for either of them to die, but the choice had felt real at the time, and she'd chosen to sacrifice Markus for her vengeance.
Now Markus would have to sacrifice her, but for something much greater.
"I can't kill you directly," Krinir said, "but I have plenty of servants that can do it. Don't be a fool, Markus. You can't survive if you disobey me."
Eliza stepped forward from where she'd been in the shadows. "You don't have to follow this path, Father." The last word sounded strained. "You can fight against your nature."
It was too late to save Krinir, but Nadia appreciated Eliza's effort. At this point, Nadia was looking for any way they could delay the inevitable. If they placed the Stone of Restoration in the slot, the Floating Fortress would unleash destruction like nothing the world had ever seen.
"I do not wish to fight against my nature," Krinir said. "I enjoy it." He paused for a breath. "And I will destroy the world whether or not you do as I'm telling you."
Nadia felt the sudden certainty that he was lying. For some reason, Krinir needed the stones to be united, needed the Floating Fortress. Without it, he would not be as strong. He would be vulnerable.
"Don't do it, Markus," she said.
Markus took a few steps away from the pedestal.
"Then you give me no choice," Krinir said. He pointed a finger at Nadia, and she closed her eyes, waiting for death to greet her.
Chapter 43: The Decision
Markus couldn't bear to watch as Krinir pointed a finger a
t Nadia, preparing to unleash the spell that would kill her. At first, it had been easy for Markus to say he wouldn't give in, but now that he saw Nadia's life in danger, he couldn't let her die.
"Stop!" Markus shouted. "I'll do it."
Nadia opened her eyes. "No, Markus, don't give in to him. I’m not worth it."
Markus blinked away tears. "I'm sorry, but I have to do it. I can't live without you, Nadia."
He ignored her continued protests and took a few steps toward the pedestal, his breath catching in his throat, his heart pounding. This was the point of no return. He had no idea what he was going to start now, but he had to do it.
After a deep breath, he reached the stone toward the circular indentation.
But then he hesitated.
"What are you doing?" Krinir demanded. "Place the stone there."
Markus's hands were trembling so fiercely he thought he'd drop the stone. He glanced at Krinir, then at Nadia. Her expression was brimming with anger.
"Nadia, I have to do it," he said. "It's going to happen one way or another. At least you'll have a chance to survive this way." He held back a sudden onslaught of tears. "Don't you understand? If we're going to lose anyway, I might as well get a little more time with you."
She nodded as if she finally understood his reasoning.
Markus took a few more deep breaths and placed the stone in the indentation. The fortress immediately vibrated with new energy, the force of it so powerful it nearly knocked Markus off his feet. The blue and green glow of the electrical lights grew stronger than ever. Strange whirring sounds came from all around, accompanied by clanking and groaning.
"Well done," Krinir said. "Now it's time for all of you to die."
"You bastard!" Markus shouted. "You said you wouldn't kill us."
Krinir chuckled. "Oh, don't worry. I'll abide by that promise. I said that I would not kill you. I never said anything about letting other entities do the job for me."
He pushed a button on a nearby console, and all the robots sprang to life. Some were shaped like spiders, others like wolves or bears or even humans. But they all had one thing on their minds: killing the intruders.
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