Knights of the Inner Rim (Beyond the Outer Rim Book 0)

by Reiter

  Each friend represents a world in us, a world possible not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.

  Anais Nin

  (Rims Time: XI-4804.27)

  With three students toweling off as they jogged, they made their way, along with Boris, to the Receiving Chamber. Kethgeegan rubbed his left temple, remembering the last time he had been in the room. They entered the room to see that most of the furniture had been removed with exception of a long table and three chairs that had been positioned on the side of the room opposite of the portal but facing it. Kurshigg stood beside the portal, staff in hand, and Jorkethian looked up, quickly coming to frown at the youths.

  “Why are you dressed like that?” he asked, carrying a fourth chair toward the table.

  “Your summons was worded in such a way that an immediate response seemed appropriate,” Valian explained.

  “Yes, it might have something to do with the part that said ‘come now’, I think,” Kethgeegan added.

  “I see,” the Elder KnighT said before returning his attention to the last chair. It was placed at the very end, leaving the original three more toward the middle of the table. “Kursh.”

  The Delman Armiger stared at the young people and stamped his staff to the floor. Gray stones, matching the look of the ones in the floor, came up in columns, surrounding the three bodies for a moment. When the stones fell back into the floor, each of them was wearing more formal attire.

  “Much better,” Ulreejun remarked. “I will need each of you to take a seat. You are about to interview retainers. Kursh.”

  Another stamp of the staff, and the table was changed in the same way their clothes had been. On the far end, opposite of the chair Jorkethian was standing behind, a large tray appeared. On that tray stood a large clay pitcher and three large cups. In front of each of the three chairs was a data-pad.

  “Thank you,” Ulreejun said, giving a closed-eye nod of his head.

  “My pleasure,” Kurshigg replied, sounding excited. “Now, let’s see these worms squirm!”

  “Please have a seat,” Jorkethian directed, ignoring the commentary of the Delman Armiger.

  Valian led the way, but all three were soon seated; Boris took his place on the table in front of Kethgeegan. Kurshigg lifted his staff but the Elder KnighT lifted his hand, causing him to stop.

  “First, you will need simple retainers,” Ulreejun relayed. “Good strong backs to do the manual labor. It’s best to recruit those who are eager to become KnighTs themselves.”

  “Thank you, Master,” Valian answered. “... but I cannot say that I agree.”

  “Oh?” the man said, only slightly surprised by the response. “And why is that?”

  “Because I would be ideal for that, and I was not looking to become a KnighT.”

  “One day you will have to let that go,” the Elder KnighT noted.

  “Perhaps, Master, but this will not be the day it happens. We’re not here to let go – we’re here to grab on and add to our number. Thank you for the service, Praeceptor.”

  “I must admit, I was not expecting that attitude,” Jorkethian thought. “And ever since his visitation with the Sacred Empress, I can no longer read his surface thoughts. I do not know if his tone is heartfelt or if he is testing me.

  “Then he is a colleague, isn’t he, Ulreejun?” the Elder KnighT considered. “Perhaps you should act accordingly.

  “You are most welcome, Phytos,” Jorkethian nodded. “Let us proceed.” The Elder KnighT signaled the Delman to open the portal.

  The first person to step through did so with little coordination and he also found it difficult to speak clearly without giving each sentence at least two fumbled efforts. Annodia had just asked the man what his name was when Valian dismissed him. He then suggested that he might want to attend his next such interview sober and prepared.

  The next two candidates were not much better. They were sober, but they were either too old or any hopes they held to attain physical perfection had been sidelined by a craving for food and sloth. After the third man was dismissed, Valian got up from the table. As he started to make his way around it, the other two were out of their seats, Kethgeegan deciding to put his hand down on the table and hurdle it. When he came away from the table, Boris was making his way up his arm.

  Valian walked without hesitation, stepping through the portal.

  When both Annodia and Kethgeegan were gone as well, the Delman could no longer keep the smile from his face. He chuckled, looking over at Ulreejun who was smiling, leaning back in his chair, and rubbing his chin.

  “Yes, Kursh, and he did so without an unkind word to his Praeceptor or his retainers.”

  “Is that what you were testing?”

  “Among other things. If he is able to maintain his calm demeanor upon his return, set the portal to the correct warehouse and let them know that the interviews will begin a little earlier than we predicted.”

  “Which is why you told them to be ready to go early,” Kurshigg added.

  “It is indeed!”

  “This has to be a test,” Annodia whispered to her friends as the three of them walked through the lines of waiting people.

  “Does Jorkethian think we’re this desperate?!” Kethgeegan said softly.

  “There’s more to what we’re doing than judging the worth of a body,” Valian said, coming to a stop. He then backed up a step and turned to his left. He excused himself as he cut through the lines.

  “Ahh, that time I saw him,” Kethgeegan said, changing his angle of approach.

  “Her... and I don’t think she’s supposed to be here,” Valian remarked.

  “You should pick me!” one man claimed. “I am the best man in the room!”

  “Excuse me,” Annodia said to Valian, turning to face the talking man. She was a bit surprised when she looked at him. Her eyes slowly rose until they finally reached his face. “Well, you’re certainly the tallest man in the room.”

  “I am the best man here!” the man boasted, lacking a measure of vigor to his voice. It was as if he had learned what to say, but did not know how to say it. “I’m even... even better than you!”

  “Really?!” Annodia asked, putting her hands on her hips. She frowned up at the large man until her eyes started batting quickly. She was reminded of a conversation she had had with Gwendolyn, who seemed to possess a masterful understanding of men. Annodia kept from smiling. Her face twisted and she started crying. “You hurt my feelings!”

  In an instant, the harsh exterior of the near-giant cracked and he looked as if he was about to cry himself. “No, no, no, noooo! Kayjoe sorry!” He started to approach, but an outcry of anguish and frustration kept him from completing the action.

  “Dammit, Kayjoe!” a man whined as he came out from his hiding place behind Annodia. “How many times do I have to tell you that’s not how you do it?!”

  “And just how is it supposed to be done?” Annodia asked, turning to face the man who spoke.

  “Look, brown pie, we’re not here to talk to you,” the man replied as he walked around her. “We’re here to talk to the man in charge.”

  “I see,” Annodia replied, looking over at Valian. “Well, he’s right over there. Why don’t we head over in that direction and wait for him to finish what he’s doing?”

  The slight man looked over at Valian who did seem to be focused on another matter. He then looked up Kayjoe and nodded in agreement. “Yeah, sure. We can do that.”

  Annodia nodded. “I don’t suppose I can get your name while we’re waiting, can I?”

  “Let’s just leave it at Larry for the moment,” the man replied.

  Valian was moving quickly, slowly gaining on the elusive female. “You’re running out of room, my friend,” Valian said as he approached the corner of the large warehouse. “No one is going to hurt you. We’re just a little curious as to-

  “Her eyes,” he thought, finally getting a glimpse of the woman’s face. His mind
was able to freeze the moment before it shifted to the next captured frame... and then the next... he followed her eyes. They were not fearful, they were tracking movement and position. “She isn’t running, she’s leading us! She’s baiting us!”

  Valian lifted his hand and caught the edge of the bag that was being lowered for his head. His back-kick struck the knee of the man who was holding the bag. He then pulled forward on the bag before sending his elbow back into the face. His attacker was stunned and Valian spun around, taking hold of the man, putting him into a shoulder throw. The man toppled over him, colliding with another man who was rushing him. That was two, but Valian had detected four.

  A third man came rushing up with a powering stun-stick. He was blindsided by a flying drop kick, and Valian snorted a laugh.

  “Keth’s fallen in love with that move,” he thought, stepping back out of the arc of a swung powered baton.

  His attacker dealt with the miss, sending his body into a spin and coming around low with the weapon. He was three-quarters through the maneuver when Valian’s raised boot stopped the progress of his arm. The stun-stick dropped to the floor, followed by the man who had been holding it. Valian’s downward punch had robbed him of consciousness.

  “And now for the bait,” Valian said, picking up the stun-stick and hurling it toward the corner. Her diving backflip was timed perfectly, and the stun-stick passed harmlessly over her body. Bringing her feet around to the floor, the woman was not ready for the stick to return after hitting the wall. Her body shuddered before falling. “Are you almost finished over there?”

  “Nearly,” Kethgeegan huffed before landing a spinning kick to the face of two separate men. The first was knocked out, the second was aggravated and he growled, lunging at Kethgeegan who caught both of the man’s wrists and fell back, lifting his foot. The man landed hard on his back and groaned in pain as Kethgeegan kicked up to his feet. He looked around and put eyes on each of his three opponents. He then looked up at Valian and nodded. “Yeah, I think I’m done. What gives?”

  “I’m not sure,” Valian shared. “... but the most immediate explanation points to Jorkethian.”

  “They are with him!” a voice shouted from above. Valian looked up to see that there were at least another dozen people in the rafters of the warehouse. However, they were not dressed as commoners. They were wearing armour and they were well armed. “Take them!”

  “No!” Ulreejun cried out as he came through the portal. He too was dressed for combat, and was once again holding Brick. “If you seek Jorkethian, know that I am here!

  “Valian, take your people back to the castle!” the Elder KnighT directed. “This is my issue and mine alone to press.”

  “Kethgeegan, get the girl,” Valian commanded as he took a stance for combat. “Annodia, hold the portal!”

  “I told you to leave, boy!” Jorkethian boomed.

  “I will not abandon my Master,” Valian returned.

  “Fire!” one of the attackers commanded.

  “Assist me, Brick!” Jorkethian said, holding up his cane. A wall of energy formed between the floor and the people in the rafters. Energy beams and projectiles hammered against it. The people under the shield started running for the exits. “It isn’t abandonment if you are moving to safety, Valian.”

  “Yes, Master,” Valian said, rushing over to Kethgeegan to help him carry the unconscious girl.

  “I’ve got her,” Kethgeegan stated. “I just need a path!”

  “Then stay on my heels,” Valian ordered before turning to face the direction they needed to go. “One side!” he cried as he lunged forward.

  “Damn!” Kethgeegan thought in awe of the voice coming out of Valian. “I almost dropped her to move to one side myself!”

  “It would seem that Bruntelior has yet to give up the chase,” Ulreejun thought. “Yet once again he sends lackeys instead of himself. Tell me, Brick, what stories will we send them back with on this occasion?”

  “Only the most auspicious will serve, Ulreejun,” the cane responded.

  “Then I will follow your lead,” Ulreejun whispered. He closed his eyes, lowered his cane, and flipped his grip of it. The head of the cane was now facing the ground. Jorkethian brought his feet together, his right arm crossed under his left. The stone at the top of the cane was suddenly moved to the center of a round shield and the cane shifted to the form of a sword. “Excellent choices!”

  “Shall we air-stride, my friend?” Brick inquired.

  “Why not?!”

  “You two might want to step through if you still want to speak to the man in charge,” Annodia warned as she took her position next to the portal entrance.

  “Hey, I don’t run from a fight,” the man called Larry boasted. “And neither does the big man here.”

  “Fine, you can take up that issue with those guns once that shield comes down.”

  “Right through here, eh?” Larry asked as he stepped into the portal. Kayjoe was quick to follow, a smile of wonder on his face as he moved. The moment they were away Annodia noticed the edge of a shield jut out from the portal. She took it, a smile forming on her face. “Thank you, Kursh!” Annodia put the shield on her arm and rushed to meet Valian and Kethgeegan. She stopped running the moment she saw Jorkethian ascend up through the fading shield he had created. She pointed at the man, and all three students stopped to watch their Praeceptor perform.

  A soft white light shone from the stone in the center of the shield. The same kind of light also glowed from the soles of Jorkethian’s boots as he ran toward his attackers. The first swing of his sword removed the firing end of an energy rifle as a projectile ricocheted off the shield. Jorkethian kicked the weaponless man, and his body took on the same glow as his body streaked back into a wall. The collision was terrific and the man was at the very least unconscious, but more likely dead.

  A series of sword swings, shield swings, and flying kicks moved through the ranks of the people attacking the Elder Knight. Jorkethian returned to the ground amidst a slight precipitation of bodies and weapon parts. Fanfaring Brick, it soon returned to being a cane and the shield faded from sight.

  “Is that the man I cut with paper?” Kethgeegan whispered.

  “Yes, that is the man who let you cut him with paper,” Annodia added. “As good as your throws might have been, folded paper travels a little slower than projectiles and light.”

  “Let’s make sure we are not in his way,” Valian said, moving his people into the portal.

  “Well, that was a bit of an unexpected surprise,” Ulreejun said, returning to the room. “But it seems you were able to make something out of it.”

  “Two possible recruits and a prisoner,” Valian said. Kurshigg tapped his staff to the ground and the unconscious female was fettered and carried off out of the chamber. “Thank you, Kurshigg.”

  “And my thanks again,” Annodia said, taking the shield and handing it over to the Delman. His staff took the shield and it was soon gone from sight.

  “You are welcome, but it wasn’t my idea to send it,” Kurshigg admitted. “The castle likes you... it likes the lot of you, and it wanted to help.”

  “Then I thank the castle,” Annodia replied. “Is there a name the castle prefers?”

  “Yes,” Kurshigg began before Jorkethian stepped forward.

  “You can address it as ‘Castle’,” he explained. “It will know when you are speaking to it.”

  Valian kept his eyes from squinting as he took note of the irregular tone and word choice in his Praeceptor’s response.

  Annodia maintained her smile as she looked toward one of the walls. She bowed her head and thanked the castle for its assistance. She then backed up a step as there seemed to be a reaction. A fist-sized ball of sky-blue light appeared in the center of the room. It grew brighter as it slowly grew larger.

  “You have to like the way the castle says, ‘you’re welcome’,” Kethgeegan whispered.

  “I get the feeling that’s not the castle,”
Valian returned. “But we’ll take our lead from our Praeceptor.”

  “That is one smart boy,” Ulreejun thought, looking at the sphere of light. He was not at all surprised to see a woman’s face appear in the center. Her skin was flawless and appeared to be made of alabaster. Sapphire blue eyes looked around the room; a glowing green gemstone hung between her silvery eyebrows. “And it would appear Bruntelior has finally gotten the knack of attacking on multiple fronts.”

  “Ulreejun!” she said. “Where have you been?!”

  “Marquise Worlengarde,” Jorkethian said, bowing toward the sphere. “As always, it is a delight. Is that your new morning face? Most ravishing, dearest lady.” Jorkethian stood up straight and took one step toward the projected face. “Forgive my absence, I was tending to a personal matter.”

  “And have been for some time in dealing with it, Sir KnighT,” the woman replied, taking a moment to look around the room. “And who do you have there with you? There is a woman there. Well... a female, at the very least.”

  “My name is Annodia Gabbanior and-”

  “And she is my retainer,” Valian blurted out, speaking over Annodia, cutting glaring eyes at her. “One who often has to be reminded of her place.

  “Allow me to introduce myself,” Valian continued, stepping forward in an almost graceful dancing manner. “My name is Valian Styrke, Ward of the great house of Jhormynn.” Valian’s bow was slow and deep. Annodia and Kethgeegan bowed as well before all three came up at the same time.

  “Jhormynn?” Marquise Worlengarde repeated. “Do we know of that house?” the projected image of the woman’s face leaned to her left as she was listening to something. “The Inner Rim Empire? Ulreejun, have you been wasting your legendary skills in that wretched place again? I should be very much done with you, Sir KnighT... but I find myself hopelessly bound to you, silly man. I shall expect you directly.” The face and the ball of light faded away at the same time.

  Moving quickly to touch Valian’s arm, Annodia made eye contact. “That was foolish of me... especially after you told us to follow Jorkethian’s lead.”