David nodded absentmindedly, his neck craned so he could stare at the grim sight of the throng of people melting into the strange building.
Anthea
Sol
“The cellar? Your big secret’s an old bottle of wine?” Despite her teasing tone, Satori’s voice betrayed a combination of surprise and bemusement.
Sol ignored her. The door at the end of the narrow staircase creaked as she opened it. They stepped through into a dark room smelling of oregano and mouth-watering spices. She flicked a switch and pale lights lit up to show hanging meats curing in the cool, humid room. Stacks of shelves filled with boxes of all sizes covered both sides of the narrow room. She marched to the far end of the corridor-like space and the smell of sour milk hit her as she went past heads of cheese hanging from the ceiling.
“You wanted to share the family recipe for cheese?” Satori joked.
Sol made her way to a brick wall, ignoring her. “You have to promise me.”
Satori made an impatient move with her hand, rolling her eyes theatrically. “Yeah, yeah, I know. I won’t tell a soul what I see here today.” She pointed at a piece of cured meat. “Which, apparently, is the secret Walker family recipe to bacon.”
Despite herself, Sol tapped her foot. I hope she’s only joking because she feels nervous, and not because she isn’t taking this seriously. She gave Satori a scolding look. “If you’re not—”
“Sol?” a woman’s voice said, interrupting her.
They both spun around to see a frail woman walk down the stairs, leaning against the tight walls to steady herself.
Mother? Sol chastised herself for her surprise. Of course. Nothing goes on around here without her knowing about it. She cleared her throat. “Mother. What are you doing down here?”
The woman pushed to the side a large piece of salt-encrusted meat hanging from a hook and approached them. She fixed her eyes on Sol. Worry lines creased her face. Most of them had appeared after losing her son, but a few were new. “Just wanted to make sure you know what you’re doing.”
Sol’s jaw tightened. “I trust Satori.”
“She’s not a Walker,” the older woman said softly, never taking her eyes off her daughter’s.
“Who else can it be?” Sol asked. “If Saul were alive…” Her voice faltered. She hated this, hated how she, the strongest woman in Anthea, couldn’t even speak his name without her eyes welling up and her voice breaking.
As if reading her mind, Satori took her hand and squeezed it gently. Gratitude filled Sol and she gave her a feeble smile.
“Sol has made it very clear, Mrs. Walker. I promise, this is a secret I’ll never speak of. Not now, not ever.”
“The temptation to do so will be great,” the older woman said, finally acknowledging Satori’s presence. “Especially if what my daughter fears comes to pass. You’re young. A lifetime of keeping such a secret…”
“You’re right,” Satori said after drawing a breath. “I’m young. But I know what it means to have one’s trust betrayed. What happens when someone you care about breaks their promise.”
It was Sol’s turn to grip Satori’s hand. She squeezed it back in appreciation.
Sol’s mother studied the young woman. “I understand,” she said in the end in a gentle voice. “But you must also understand. If certain people find out about this, they’ll stop at nothing to get their hands on it.”
“I don’t even know what it is,” Satori blurted out. “But you have my word.”
“Very well. I shouldn’t keep you, then.” The older woman turned around and left, pausing just for a moment to cast a worried look at the wall behind them. Shaking her head and muttering something unintelligible, she made her way back upstairs.
“That was weird,” Satori said after making sure the woman was out of earshot.
“As a child, I always wondered how she knew everything that went on in the house,” Sol said. “I later found out that Richard has put cameras in most of the rooms.”
Satori’s eyes flew open. “Richard Walker? The founder of Anthea?” Her face turned beat red. “Wait, even the bedrooms?”
Sol laughed. “Don’t worry, I like my privacy. I’ve disabled the ones you need to worry about.” Mirth left her face as her gaze traced the wall and caught on a discreet lens, hidden among the rough stonework that surrounded the bricks. “Not this one, though.”
It’s now or never. She bit her lip and placed her hands on two discolored bricks. Putting her weight behind it, she pushed. After a few seconds, a click was heard and part of the wall slid backward, then to the side. Stale air hit them.
Lights flickered on. Satori let out a gasp at the sight of an alcove with a gossamer suit hanging behind a thick glass. It had the color of bronze, but turned iridescent as their gaze caressed it. From the cowl-like helmet to the smooth leggings, it spoke of unique craftsmanship.
Satori placed an awed hand on the glass. “What is it?”
“Richard left my family some artifacts before dying. He built this suit from the skin of the ship that brought us here. No sword or arrow can penetrate it.”
Satori tried to slide the glass case open. “Can I touch it?”
Sol tapped the glass. “It looks fragile, but this is as impenetrable as the battle suit.” Sol pushed a finger into a small indentation. A soft whirr was heard.
“What is that?”
“DNA scanner. Only a member of our family can open the case.” With a pneumatic hiss, the glass separated in two and crawled upward. “You can now touch it.”
Satori’s lips parted. She looked beautiful, her eyes wide and sparkling, her slender fingers trembling against the iridescent fabric. Telling her is the right choice, Sol reassured herself.
Satori pushed it against her body, as if trying it on. The suit flowed with her every move, like made from silk. “I can wear it under my uniform. No one will know.” Her eyes darkened. She pushed the suit away. “But I can’t accept.”
Sol’s eyebrows flew upward. “Excuse me?”
“Richard built it to protect his family, and he was right.” Satori hung the suit back inside the alcove. “Sol, you’re a politician. I’m a soldier. I know how to fight, but you don’t. That’s why you need it more than I do. Put it on and never take it off.”
A laugh broke from Sol’s chest and echoed loudly in the small space.
“What’s so funny?” Satori asked, pouting.
Sol pressed a hand to her mouth to stifle the giggles. “You’re right, I am a politician. Which means that I’ll be safe on a hill somewhere watching the battle, whereas you’ll be in the thick of it.” She took Satori’s hands in hers. “So, who needs it more?”
Satori pursed her lips. “Fine. Maybe I’ll wear it. But only if you promise to stay on your hill at all times.”
Sol kissed her lightly on the lips. “I promise.”
Satori broke the kiss, a frown on her face. “Wait, if this is all the suit did, it wouldn’t be such a big secret. There’s more.”
Sol chuckled and fought the desire to kiss her again. “Yes, there’s more. It will dissipate most energy weapons. And it comes with this.” She pushed aside a black box covered in fine mesh and reached into the case to pull out a short tube. A curved handle with a trigger was the only thing interrupting the sleek surface. A black spiral cable connected one end to a fuel cell in the back of the suit, while a lens covered the other end. “Richard wanted to keep our family safe, but abhorred killing. So, he built this weapon.”
Satori took it in her hand and turned it to stare down the shaft.
“Don’t!” Sol pried it away.
“What?”
Sol handed it back, making sure Satori was holding it from the shaft. “It’s a laser. It emits a light so intense that it will blind anyone within range.”
Satori turned the laser’s barrel downward. “Is it permanent?”
“Depends on the range. At this range, most likely.”
“Wow.” Satori ran her fingers alo
ng the weapon. Her thumb stopped along a switch. “Safety?”
Sol smiled. Satori looked mesmerized by the weapon, like a kid inside a candy store. “Safety.” She took the weapon and placed it back into the case. “Satori, this is very important. Anyone wearing this suit will be one of the most powerful warriors on Pearseus. We can’t risk it falling in the wrong hands. It’s best if no one knows who you are when you use it.”
Satori’s brow creased. “Why do you worry so much? No one else knows about it, right?”
Sol pushed a button and the glass case crawled down again until it shut with a clang. “Wrong. Rumors about it are a bit of an urban legend around here. At times of trouble, people remember the old tale of the magic battle suit. Altman searched for it in the City Hall.”
Satori’s jaw dropped. “That’s why he occupied it?”
“I think ambition had more to do with that. Still, my family had started a rumor it was hidden there, and we know that he looked for it at the time.”
Satori leaned against the wall, lost in thought. Her face darkened. “We could have saved Ephia with this.”
Please don’t go there. “Perhaps,” Sol said cautiously. “Or, your father could have delivered it to Altman. Or the Capital might have captured it.”
Satori’s head snapped in Sol’s direction, a flash of fury in her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, then shut it again. Her whole body deflated even as her fists tightened into balls. “You’re right.”
Sol placed a hand on her shoulder and took her in her arms. “It’s not your fault.”
“Isn’t it?” Satori’s muffled voice asked, her mouth buried in Sol’s shoulder. She pushed her away after a few moments. “So, why did you show this to me? Why today?”
“First of all, I needed you to know what’s at stake here. If Altman wins and finds this, no one can stop him.”
“He won’t win.”
A bitter smile cracked Sol’s lips. “He has the advantage. More troops—and more veterans. They’ve already fought two major wars. We’ve only fought other Democracies. The Capital has yet to lose a war. That gives them confidence. All the training in the world can’t make up for that.”
“That makes them cocky,” Satori countered. “Our soldiers fight for our homes. His troops fight for his vanity. Not the same.” She lifted her hand to stop Sol from speaking. “Also, we have the home advantage. We know the terrain. Can use it against him.”
“Only if we know where he’ll land.” Sol let out a troubled sigh. “There are just two places where he can land. But we don’t have enough men to cover them both. We need to narrow it down.”
“Is that why you sent Gella to the Capital?”
Pride swelled in Sol’s chest. No wonder I love her. Not much escapes her. “Partly, yes. It would also be nice to know which units will be landing. Perhaps we can sway some of them. The Jonians, for instance.”
Doubt crossed Satori’s eyes. “Or they’ll double-cross us.”
“Perhaps,” Sol agreed. “That’s why we also need the suit and the laser.”
Satori seemed lost in thought for a long moment. “Fine. So, what will you have me do?”
“Depends on what we face. For example, you can use it if our lines break to push them back before they gain an advantage.”
Satori scrunched her mouth and tapped her lips in thought. “I guess I’ll have to decide on the spot, then.”
“Yes. I’ll be back on my hill, remember?” She forced a smile on her lips to hide her worry. “There’s no way I can micromanage the battle. That’s why I needed someone I can trust.”
Satori gave her a lopsided smile and caressed the glass. “And I won’t let you down. I promise.”
The Marshes
David
A sweet young girl, her golden hair tied in a long braid, opened the door. She could be no older than fourteen. David’s eye caught on the lamp in her hand. It cast a warm, welcoming glow, but no fire danced inside.
“Is your father in?” the guard asked in a kind voice.
The girl shook her head.
“I’ll fill him in later, then,” the guard said, scratching his beard. “In the meantime, I have two guests for you.”
The girl stepped aside to let them in. The house smelled of piping hot, comforting food. Boys’ laughter came from the back rooms, then a woman shushed them and it swiftly turned into muffled giggles.
David untied his bag from the saddle. “What about our horses?” He hoisted the heavy bag around his shoulder.
The guard took the reins from their hands. “I’ll take care of them. They’ll be waiting here in the morn.” He swung around and disappeared into the night without waiting for their goodbyes.
“Father will be here shortly,” the girl said. She led them through a short corridor. If she had any fear of the two strangers, she did not show it.
David inhaled the mouth-watering smell of stew as he followed the girl up a creaking stairway. His stomach growled.
“You sound hungry,” the girl said.
His cheeks flushed. “No, it’s all right.”
“Would you like to join Father later for dinner?”
“I would,” Cyrus said.
David nodded, too tired for words. The girl opened a door into a clean, plain room. Wooden beams decorated the ceiling. Laced curtains covered the windows, hiding the closed shutters. A spacious bed and a nightstand were the only furniture, along with a wooden chair in front of a fireplace. Someone had prepared the wood inside, so it only needed a spark.
The girl drew a piece of flint and a knife from her pocket and leaned over. Moments later, the dry wood had turned into a roaring fire. “This is your room. Your friend will sleep in the next room. I’ll call you when we’re ready.” She gave them a shy smile. “If you need anything, I’ll be downstairs.”
“I think I’ll like it here,” Cyrus said, his eyes fixed on the soft bed. “Can’t even remember the last time I slept in such a fine room.” He followed the girl as she showed him into a room farther down the corridor.
David waited until she had closed the door behind her. His fingers untied his leggings, then he grabbed the heel of his boot. Thunk. One leather boot hit the floor. He removed the second one with more care. He took both boots and placed them next to the fireplace. A gust of wind sent a backdraft of smoke into the room. He scrunched his nose and pushed the burning logs farther back into the hearth before dragging a chair next to the fire. He draped it with his dripping coat, hoping all raindrops would be gone by morning, then sat down. Leaning his chair onto its rear legs, he let the fire warm his numb toes. His mind drifted to Gella. Wonder what she’s doing right now? Memories of their time together filled his head. Then, an unbidden thought. Will she be happy to see me, or has she found another?
His chair crashed forward onto all four legs. He headed to the bed, which consisted of a straw mattress and a feather pillow. He patted it down, enjoying the unexpected luxury. The coverings were hard, which he welcomed. That way, the straw would not pinch his skin.
With a loud sigh, he slumped on the bed. The rain had picked up force and was now tapping against the window. The soothing sound lulled him to sleep. Gella would love this strange village, caught in time. Perhaps someday I can show her.
He shut his eyes, then something jolted him from his slumber. He stared into the darkness for a moment, trying to remember where he was. Did I fall asleep? The fire had been reduced to glowing embers. How long have I been sleeping? Outside, thunder rumbled. A gust of wind sent the branches of a tree to tap against the window. Is this what woke me up?
He rubbed sleep and questions from his eyes, then made his way to the fireplace using what little light remained from the fire and stoked the coals. A brief flame shot up. He blew into it, then placed a few twigs into the fireplace. As soon as they lit up, he threw in some wood. Within moments, the flames had spread. He yawned and stretched, when a soft knock on the door startled him.
He opened the heavy wooden door.
The girl from before smiled at him. “You must have been very tired. I’ve been knocking for five minutes.”
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “Didn’t hear you.”
“Dinner’s served. Your friend is already downstairs. Would you like to join us, or would you rather rest some more?”
The mouth-watering smell of stew was overpowering in the corridor. His belly rumbled, yet his legs still felt numb and leaden. He struggled between sleep and food. “I’ll join you,” he said after a brief pause and stretched his arms. “What time is it?”
“Close to midnight.” Seeing the questioning look on his face, she gave him a sweet smile. “We don’t usually eat at this time, but you two look like you can’t wait until the morn.”
He mumbled his agreement, his belly now growling, and followed the girl down the stairs and into a spacious dining room. The soft light from half a dozen oil-less lamps hanging from the ceiling bathed everything in orange hues and sent shadows to chase each other on the walls. Sounds of kitchen utensils came from an adjacent room. A large cylindrical stove made out of what looked like an ancient fuel tank warmed the room. Dozens of carved wooden animals decorated endless shelves. Outside, a tree branch tapped the window, demanding their attention, but nothing could penetrate the serenity of Father Jeb’s household.
Two older women emerged from a wide doorway. They rubbed their hands on white aprons and smiled at him as he made his way to a long table. A tall man with a long, salt-and-pepper beard was sitting next to Cyrus. He wore a plain black suit with a white shirt tucked underneath. He stood up to welcome David.
“I’m Father Jebediah, but everyone calls me Jeb.” His rough hands shook David’s in a firm, yet pleasant way.
David studied his long, kindly face, and immediately decided he liked him. Despite the dark bags under them, his sparkling blue eyes spoke of a trustworthy, intelligent man.
“Please sit down,” Jeb said and motioned David to sit beside him.
Pearseus Bundle: The Complete Pearseus Sci-fi/Fantasy Series Page 94