Children of the Prime Box Set

by T. C. Edge

Yet as we continue past the town, heading again for the pinewoods to the west, I can't help but centre my mind on the odious Collector Ceres. I'd all but felt sorry for him for how I'd acted before, enough to make me pardon his past offences. But this...

  I cannot forgive this.

  And with the subtlest sparks of fire zipping between my fingers, we speed towards the woods, and my grandmother's cabin hidden within.

  "You really ought to have a sentry on duty," my grandmother says as she stamps through the door of her cabin, catching those within off-guard. "What exactly did I teach you? If I was an Olympian assassin come here to kill you, you'd all be dead already."

  "With all due respect, Alberta," Judith says, sitting on the sofa with a cup of coffee in her hand, "if you were an Olympian assassin, having a sentry on guard wouldn't change a thing."

  "Fair point," says grandma, stepping forwards and looking around. Behind her, Jude and I follow, my parents left back in the jeep. This isn't meant to be a lengthy stop. "Ah, Grace," she says, spotting Jude's auntie in the kitchen. "How did you get on last night?"

  "Fine. Yes, fine, Alberta," Grace says. "I slept OK, given the circumstances."

  "Good. And, where are the others?" grandma asks.

  I can count only Judith and Edgar still in attendance. The other three - Bryan, Keith, and Penelope - appear to be absent.

  "They left already," Judith says. "Were up at the crack of dawn. It's a longer way for them to return to their lands. Not so far for Edgar and I to go to ours."

  "No, of course," grandma says. "I was hoping to catch them, but you'll have to do."

  "Charming," says Judith. "What is it you want to talk about?"

  "Just something we saw," grandma says. "It might be worth us all keeping an eye out for."

  "And that is?" asks Edgar, sitting cross-legged in an armchair.

  "There's something going on with our people," my grandmother explains. "It seems that they're being gathered up all across the Fringe now. We witnessed soldiers come to collect the Fringers at the faith re-alignment camp. There may be thousands being taken."

  "Taken where?" Edgar asks.

  "Olympus," grandma says. "I want us all to look out for this when we return to our homelands. It's clearly a new development, just sent down from the top. Taking food and supplies is one thing, but our own people?" She shakes her head. "We have to be prepared to defend them."

  Judith nods and stands to her feet. "We will, Alberta," she says, determined. "If we're committed to staying and seeing this out, then it's up to us to do what we can to see that our people are safe. We cannot rely on this coalition army to provide support."

  "No, we cannot," grandma says. She looks to me. "They won't have the numbers."

  It's posed as a question. I step in accordingly. "Probably not," I confirm. "And they'll have bigger concerns. They're good people, but they can't afford to worry too much about the people of the Fringe when they're planning and staging a siege."

  My grandmother nods. "Return to your lands as soon as you can," she says. "That means you too, Edgar. Tell your people what we've told you. It's quite possible that they'll have seen the same thing over the last day or so."

  "And you?" Edgar asks. "What will you do now. Can I take it your mission was a success?"

  I see Grace looking on interestedly at that.

  "It was," grandma says. "Amber's parents are safe. We managed to extract several dozen more Fringers as well. We will be returning to Hunter's Station immediately where we'll await you and your people. We'll have safety in numbers, and will be close enough to the fort occupied by the coalition forces to have protection should we need it. The sooner we can gather, the better. Bring as many as you can."

  "It sounds like things have escalated, Alberta," Judith says. "Are you certain it isn't wise to leave now, while we can? If Fringers are being taken, then perhaps we should revert to our original plan."

  "It's too early for us to understand clearly what's going on," my grandmother responds. "We will proceed with the current plan. If we have to move south, Hunter's Station is as good a staging point as any."

  Judith nods. "OK," she says. "I shan't delay any longer. Edgar, come along, let's get moving."

  Edgar, somewhat begrudgingly - he did look very comfortable in that armchair - stands to his ageing feet and follows behind Judith as they prepare to leave. Grace moves over and joins Jude's side, our own little group moving off too.

  We step out into the mid-morning air, the sun filtering down pleasantly through the trees. With the birds chirping and insects buzzing, you'd be forgiven for forgetting we're at war.

  "We hope to reach Hunter's Station by this evening," my grandmother says, just before Judith and Edgar set off. "Bring every person who can bear arms, and every weapon you can find. There seems to be no need for secrecy anymore. We need to be clear with everyone that we're fighting for their, for all of our, rights. Those who refuse to join..." she stops, considering her words. "May find themselves condemned. There's little we can do for those who won't help themselves."

  Those words are the final ones uttered by my grandmother before we split up and go our separate ways. Not long later, grandma, Jude, Grace, and I are returning to the jeep.

  "It's going to be a tighter squeeze in the back now," grandma says as she arrives. She looks to my father, standing outside with my mother. "Richard, you'd best ride up front with Jude. We'll need the smallest of us in the rear."

  I shake my head, looking on, and knowing how long the ride is back to Hunter's Station and the fort. "We should have brought a bigger jeep," I say.

  "We didn't have a choice," grandma replies. "They were hardly going to provide anything larger if we didn't need the space."

  I sigh as I step inside, finding myself stuck in the middle between Grace on my right, and my mother, and grandmother to my right. It's not quite as bad as I thought. A little tight, but nothing major.

  Still, seven or so hours of this...

  With the car laden down with people, we begin the journey back east.

  150

  "Maybe...maybe we should go back," my mother says, tucked up against one window in the back seat of the jeep. "It isn't safe out here. We should go back to the lake..."

  "It wouldn't be safe there either, Madeline," my father responds from the passenger seat in the front. "We have Amber and my mother with us. We couldn't hope for better protection."

  "But, the soldiers...they wouldn't bother coming to the lake," mother goes on, clearly finding it hard being drawn so far from home. "Why would they bother. There's hardly anyone there..."

  "Madeline," father says, a little more forcefully. "We're not going back now, OK? We'll be among thousands of Fringers soon enough. We won't find anywhere safer then."

  She nods, nervously, and falls silent, though that trepidation remains clear in her eyes. It's understandable, given what we've seen. A couple of towns we've passed have clearly shown signs of more damage than when we ventured this way a couple of days ago. The lands that were previously raided for supplies and provisions are now being raided for people as well.

  It's served to slow us down as we've ventured on through the late morning and early afternoon, stopping a couple of times where we feel we might be able to help. The goalposts have changed now, the rules of the game shifting. On the way, we'd been seeking to avoid conflict where possible, not engaging if food stocks were all that were being taken. Now, things are different. We must, we know, protect the people if we can. We must tell them to venture towards Hunter's Station where they can be better defended.

  To that end, I've begun to see a few wagons and carts mobilising at the towns we've passed. We're too fast for them to keep up, of course, but they've been visible in the distance occasionally. Hundreds will no doubt be following us now, often lead by those who know of my grandmother and the Liberation League.

  The rallying cry is out now, spreading from town to town.

  Hunter's Station is ground zero. Head ther
e you'll be safe.

  Up ahead now, I begin to see the telltale signs of another smoking town. It appears a little larger than those we've seen before. A nice place, no doubt, for the Olympian soldiers to pay a visit.

  "Head there, Jude," I say, as soon as I see it. "There could still be soldiers around."

  Again, I feel my mother shift nervously to my side as Jude begins to change direction. "Soldiers," she says. "S-shouldn't we avoid them?"

  I look to my grandmother. We both know that's a hard question to answer. We'd certainly fancy ourselves against a reasonable force, but can never be entirely sure just who we'd run into.

  "Get a little closer and let's see," grandma says.

  We drive on a bit, the town clearing through the dusty haze ahead. I get the sense of movement there, of activity towards the outskirts. My father, in the front seat, is keen-eyed as he spots it too.

  "There are carriages," he says. "And people. People being forced on board."

  "Fringers," Jude adds. "They're being taken."

  I lean forwards, peering through the faint fog. "Do you see soldiers?"

  "Yes," my father says. "Many of them. Dozens at least."

  "There are a few Titans there," Jude says, helping fill in the gaps. I strain my eyes and can see them too. "Should I stop. They'll see us at any moment."

  "They probably have already," grandma says. "Stop the vehicle, Jude."

  He does so, and does so quickly, the jeep grinding to a sudden halt on the barren terrain. Here, the lands are fairly craggy, several large fissures scarring the earth. Ahead, a bridge crosses one, providing the only easy path ahead if we're to venture further towards the town.

  "Turn around, Jude," Grace says, growing panicky. "If they've seen us, they'll come for us, won't they? We need to get out of here."

  "We do," my grandmother says calmly. "This is too much for us to handle right now. There's nothing we can do for them."

  "But...grandma," I say, staring at her. "We don't know that. We can take them..."

  "Pick your battles, Amber," she says. "This one is too risky. We'll only get more Fringers killed if we attack those soldiers." She looks ahead to Jude. "Jude, get us out of here. We'll track backwards and find another way."

  He does so, the wheels spinning as they grind in the dirt and kick the car back into gear. We lurch off quickly, as I turn around and look through the back window. I sense that we've been spotted now, a number of soldiers stopping and looking our way. They look on but don't move, perhaps realising we're not worth the trouble.

  Then, suddenly, I see a swirling swarm of dust lift up among them, a small tornado forming from nothing. The soldiers step backwards as the swirling vortex begins advancing towards us. My mother, also watching, gasps and yelps, calling out wildly for Jude to speed up. All eyes but his turn back now to watch as the churning tornado flows our way.

  My heart thumps as I watch on. And within the golden whirlwind, I see the silhouette of a figure. A figure...flying.

  "Gailen," I whisper, staring out as he comes. "That can only be Herald Gailen..."

  "Herald?" says Grace beside me, her voice quivering. She looks over in terror. "That's a Herald!"

  "Stop the car, Jude," I say. "Stop the car. I have to get out."

  "Stop?" calls my mother wildly. "What do you mean, stop!"

  "He'll catch us whatever we do," I tell them. "Let me out, and I'll hold him off." I turn to Jude. "Do it. Now!"

  He glances at my grandmother. I see her nod. The car lurches once more to a halt, and I quickly open the door and clamber over Grace. "Go," I call, standing outside. "Go now. I'll catch up."

  I slam the door shut at that, and hear another slam on the other side. As the car rushes off once more, I see my grandmother standing out there beside me.

  "I'm not going to let you die alone, Amber," she says. "We're in this together now, remember."

  I smile as I look at her. "Oh, we won't be dying, grandma," I say.

  And turning my eyes forward, I wait for Herald Gailen to arrive.

  The swirling vortex reduces as it nears, changing its shape, altering its angle. As the air dissipates, I see the darkened figure of Herald Gailen drop, landing gracefully on his feet in a perfect dismount.

  Beside me, my grandmother draws up a shield of fire, her body draped in a flaming dress. Yet my own armour remains dark, no fire flowing through my blood. I take a step forwards and look into Gailen's eyes, staring at me curiously as he stands his ground.

  "I don't want to fight, Herald Gailen," I say. "I just want to talk."

  His eyes narrow further. It's an odd thing to say, perhaps, to a man who cannot speak. He remains guarded in his posture, ready to unleash himself if he must. His eyes flicker upon me and my grandmother, that Farsight gaze of his swiftly analysing us, his sharp mind trying to decipher our intentions.

  I don't move or speak again for a moment, though hold a relaxed posture of my own, showing him we're no threat. I wonder, as I look at him, whether we'd stand a chance if he attacked us, unrestrained? It's hard to know.

  A few long moments pass, a standoff taking hold. Then, gradually, he begins to alter his position, standing a little straighter, arms by his sides. He takes a short step towards me, and I do the same. And then, slowly, that untrusting glare turns into a mild smile.

  I smile back at the mute but mighty Herald, a man I came to like during my time within the Olympian camp. I saw him as someone similar to Perses - a man committed to a cause, his mind warped by the Prime, yet good, honest, and pure underneath. If we could turn him, he'd make a fine ally in this struggle. But that isn't something to concern me right now.

  It is, in fact, ground on which I need to tread very, very carefully indeed.

  He nods at me slowly, as if inviting me to speak. His eyes shift again to my grandmother briefly, as if questioning who she is. Though, I sense, he knows already.

  "Is Brie safe?" I ask. It's the first thing that comes to mind.

  His eyes lift briefly, and then he nods. Yes, those expressive eyes of his say. She is safe and well.

  "Why are the Fringers being gathered, Gailen?" I ask him. "You know these are my people. You know I'm going to defend them."

  He nods. He knows. And then, as if to answer the first question, he shakes his head. Whether he doesn't know, or won't tell me, I can't tell. Either way, I won't - I can't - get a proper answer from him.

  I take a different route. Yes or no answers, he can give. I need to ask more binary questions.

  "Are they being taken to Olympus for their own safety?" I ask. "To protect them from the invaders?"

  I can see that he wants to nod, wants to convince me, perhaps, that this is for their own good. I know, of course, that it isn't. From all I've seen, that would never add up. In the end, he merely stares back at me, giving no answer at all.

  "That's a no," I say to him. I lift a smile. "Your eyes are too honest, Gailen."

  He turns them away briefly, seeming almost abashed by the comment.

  When he looks back at me, I hit him with another question.

  "Is my sister OK?"

  My heart falls into a steady, nervous throb as I read the answer on his face. His eyes tighten into a slight frown. He knows about Lilly, of course. If she were a target of Kovas, he would probably know that too.

  This time, however, his head dips into a nod. I find myself trusting his answer, and let out a slight sigh of relief.

  "She's still with Lady Felina?" I ask.

  He nods again.

  "And Kovas won't hurt her?"

  He stares at me, giving no answer.

  "Don't let him, Gailen," I say. My words take on the note of a plead. "She has nothing to do with this."

  He gently nods again. It helps, a little, even if I know he has little power to stop Kovas, should he seek revenge on me.

  "Thank you," I whisper. "I always saw you as a friend. It's a shame we find ourselves on opposite sides now."

  He nods again, his eyes earne
st. I can see he can understand my predicament, understand the position I'm in. He won't know the full extent of my involvement with the invading army, of course. He may merely think I'm here for my people, and nothing else, moving around the Fringe trying to protect them. In essence, my duty has become little more than that. And it's something, I know, he understands and respects.

  I look at him again, really look at him, trying to figure him out. Something in me wants to tell him more, tell him of our purpose. To reveal that Perses has joined our side as well, and that Elian has too. That those he called brothers upon the hill have turned their backs on the Prime, and are now committed to seeing them gone.

  But, I can't say any of that. If I reveal it, it might trigger something in him, something violent and dangerous that we cannot contain. It is a risk I cannot take. To reveal our true intention - even if he already knows it, deep down - will put us all in danger. To vocalise it could very well see us to the grave.

  "An army is coming, Gailen," I say, selecting my words carefully. "You know that, don't you?"

  He looks at me and nods.

  "No one wants innocent people to die," I go on. "You will see the citizens protected, won't you? When it comes to it, you'll make sure they're safe?"

  Again, he nods. The regular people of Olympus, no doubt, will have places where they can hole up and hide when the siege begins. Though my concerns lie more with the Fringers, I remain steadfast in my desire to see all non-combatants out of the fight.

  "Thank you," I say. "It's such a shame it's come to this."

  Again, and for a final time, he nods. Then, as his eyes flick off to the distance behind me, noting that the jeep has stopped a way off, he begins spinning his hand and raising a whirlwind once more, disappearing into the shroud. His shadow lifts within the cyclone, drawn back up into the raging, rushing air. Then, just as I think he might continue on after the jeep, he turns and flies off towards the town, returning to his soldiers away in the far distance.

  I let out a breath of air as he disappears, my grandmother stepping towards me.