Meanwhile...
Davin Anul sat within the broken stone circle at the heart of the Valley of Mystery. He was ringed by the three Sisters, each hovering a few inches above the ground while they communed with him via the Panopticrown. Wearing the Crown, looking through its Eye, he could see the third eye in the center of each of their foreheads clearly. They were attempting to guide him in the use of his powers, to aid him in looking deeper than the surface events his Crown would show him. But something was wrong. Even with their guidance and support, Davin could only see the flow of time, but could still not decipher its hidden causes and meanings. He kept returning to the events between the Worlds, when Kel Vega was saved by the destruction of an entire alternate Amorlia. He could see the varied alternate futures and history, seeing one collapse, its winged Kel Vega merging with his wingless one. How this happened, for what reason, he still could not see. Sweat streamed down his face as his whole body quivered. He could feel a pounding in his ears. He tasted blood. Everything went black. He woke much later in the cave. Kai, looking drawn, leaned over him with her Chalice. She placed it against his lips and bade him to drink. He did so, and immediately the throbbing in his head subsided. He felt strong enough to sit up and look around. "The Sisters brought you," Kai said, her voice a low pleasant hum. "You were in a very bad way. It is fortunate for you that my own meditations are complete. I would have been unable to tend to you had I still been in communion with Anya." Davin smiled in thanks, then stood slowly. There was a brief dizziness, which subsided. "She has told you all there is to tell, then?" he asked, walking to a low bench against the wall and sitting down. "Aye," Kai nodded. "I know my place in the world and among my fellow Adepts. I have made my sacrifice for my new powers." "Sacrifice?" Davin raised an eyebrow. "As you did not know me before, you wouldn't realize that my physique has been considerably diminished. This is no mere physical change. Through fasting and meditation," she explained, "I have traded my considerable strength away for even greater powers of healing. I bring life with my touch now." Her eyes looked haunted as her voice dropped to a whisper. "For I have dealt enough death." "I am happy for you," Davin said, lightly touching his head. The Crown was not there. "I fear I am some time away from a similar accomplishment." "Perhaps not," Kai said, reaching into her voluminous robes. From a hidden pocket, she drew forth a small bottle filled with an amber liquid. She held it out to him. Davin took it, studying it with some interest. "What is this?" "During the recent conflict," Kai said, settling herself back on the floor of the cave, "I was injured and brought to Faery, where those injuries could be treated. They were severe, leaving me near death, but I was fed the Fruit from the Tree of Life and I recovered completely. I was also granted eternal life, and the ability to heal myself from any injury or sickness." Davin nodded. He knew this. "While in Faery," Kai went on, "I was given another Fruit, this one from the Tree of Knowledge. I carried it back with me and kept it safe through many battles. It was during my time in this cave that I finally found reason to eat some of it. While I fasted, I subsisted on naught but water from my Chalice and small bites from the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. It helped me make contact with Anya's spirit, as well as aiding my understanding of her teachings. When I came out of my trance yesterday, I made this." She pointed to the bottle he still held. "I used the last of the Fruit along with water from my Chalice. Drink it when next you meditate upon the Eye. You should find it," she smiled, "enlightening." Davin smiled back, nodding his thanks.
***
Mandhe stood before the towering marble statue of Qi Drego, the centerpiece of the grand Temple of the Qi Messa. "Messa" was a word from the First Language meaning "savior" or "liberator". The Pacha survivors had begun calling Qi that soon after the great battle that ended the last Age. She'd resisted the title while she still lived, but once she died, the Pachas, as they'd come to be called, lobbied hard to have her body buried on the site of the old palace in the heart of what was once the Land that bore their name. The palace was torn down and an elaborate mausoleum was built in its place, complete with statue and beautiful gardens. As the years passed, more and more people began making pilgrimages to the Temple, often leaving food or flowers or some precious item at the foot of the statue to honor their savior. Looking down, Mandhe saw several such offerings clustered around the statue's base. It was nearing twilight. The last rays of the setting sun tinged Qi's statue in gold and the surrounding gardens were deserted. Mandhe was alone, and she knelt before the statue, removing her hat and pacing it on the ground. She looked up into the serene stone eyes of the legendary Gunfighter. "I don't know what to do," she whispered, tears running down her cheeks. "It's gotten so I can't even draw the Gun without killing someone, increasingly one who doesn't deserve it." She opened her arms, beseeching the impassive statue. "Why was I given such a gift, only to have it turn so bad?" A voice from behind her made her spin around, her hand reaching for the Gun instinctively. "Your Totem was fine until you got your hands on it," Qi Drego said, stepping from behind a tall stone pillar. She drew a gun that was a mirror of Mandhe's own, pointing it at the young woman still on her knees. The Gunfighter pulled the hammer back and scowled. "What have you done to it, you horrible little girl?"
Assemble
Kel Vega sped across the sky, all sound leaving his ears with a loud boom as he increased his speed even more. He'd been on the move for days, constantly flying from one city, town or village to the next. All the places on his route were along the border with the Wild Lands, and all were coming under increasing attacks from creatures long believed contained. They'd kept him busy. So busy, he'd been unable to visit the Valley, unable to check on the new arrivals or make another attempt to speak to his love. It seemed all he did these days was battle one monster after another, with an hour or two for rest in between. He flew now toward Terminus, which was the farthest south any of these creatures had ventured. They grew bold, and with good reason. Only Kel was there to stop them, and it was clear he was insufficient to the task. Of course you are, the voice taunted him, why would you believe otherwise? Insufficient little Champion. Hardly the equal of your father, yet you strive with futile effort to match his legend. "That's enough out of you, Umbra," Kel growled. "I've no time for this nonsense today." The voice continued unabated, as though Kel had not spoken. It was always thus. The small remnant of Queen Umbra's spirit still inhabiting the Sword would jabber incessantly in his mind, day in and day out, night after night, every minute of every hour. He feared he would soon go mad. Did you truly think he was proud of you? the grating voice cut a ragged gouge across his mind. No, Kel. You were always a disappointment. Kael simply did the best he could with what he got. Then the laughter. Always the constant cackling laughter. But he couldn't just throw the sword away. No, he'd tried that twice. But it would always come back. The last time he found it through the torso of a young woman. It had somehow pinned her to a stone wall. No, he had to keep it. Others would be hurt if he tried to throw it away. And you don't really need any help hurting others, do you Kel? "SHUT UP!" He focused on the mission, forcing the voice and his rising madness from his mind. The mission. He was headed for the town of Terminus. Once an isolated rail platform, end of one of the Porthenge lines, Terminus was now a growing town. That growth was fueled by tourism. During the Spring, Autumn and Summer months, people from all over Amorlia traveled to Terminus for what was billed as the Time of Changes Experience. There they could live in an idealized version of life during the time of Kel's parents. There was no broadnet access, no aircars and no skyrail. Just a train leading to the town and horse-drawn carriages in the streets. Visitors could watch reenactments of all the legendary battles, children could have the triple moon of Artemis Vega painted on their faces and for a fee, the adventurous among them could be led through the winding paths of Greatwood Park by young actors dressed in elaborate reproductions of Hunt garb. The paths they trod were ancient, dating from well before the fire that ravaged the Great Wood. The trees that had grown up around
the paths, however, were barely a century old. This forest was tame, and the people seemed to prefer it that way. It was becoming a great deal wilder, however, as Kel discovered on his approach. Twin golem stomped toward the town, crushing trees beneath their massive stone feet. He'd fought a few golem by this point, but none as fully grown as these. And never more than one at a time. He hefted the Sword and dove down into the fray. There were innocents about. Though this mission seemed suicidal, he had little choice but to hurl himself in the path of danger. Yes, kill yourself, Kel, the laughing voice suggested. You know you'll do more for them in death than you ever could in life. Die now and you'll be remembered as a somewhat competent hero, which you know is the best legacy you can hope for. Because you know the longer you're alive, the greater the chance you're just going to ruin everything. "Shut up," he muttered, "I am warning you right now to-" He was silenced by the great stone wall that was a golem's fist. The force of the impact sent him sailing back, no longer in control of his own flight. Just as he felt he was getting his head back together, he was kicked by the other golem high into the air. He spun end-over- end, tumbling toward the ground when he was plucked out of the sky by the sharp talons of a dragon. A dragon! Kel desperately tried to clear his head. He'd heard Mar and Mandhe had run afoul of such a creature, but he'd hoped the rest might still be sealed in their valley in the far northern territory of the Wild Lands, where the cold air would chill their reptilian blood and make them sleep. Unfortunately, this one was very much awake. Kel heard its massive intake of breath and looked down in time to see the dragon unleash a great stream of flame on both Terminus and the young trees of Greatwood Park. He struggled against the dragon's grip but was held fast. His head pounded and every part of him ached. He was dimly aware of laughter coming from the sword, but was soon distracted by the dragon hurling him over to the golem, one of which caught him in its massive hand, slamming him full-force into the ground. He screamed as he felt his left wing snap. Clawing the earth, he struggled to pull free of the monster's grip. Blood dripped down into his eyes as blackness crept in from the edges of his vision. The last thing he saw before it took him was the dragon's flame spiraling down in a tight column toward a figure on the ground. Whomever it was had just saved the lives he'd come to protect. His last thought was one of bitter gratitude. Umbra was right. He messed everything up. At least there was someone around to clean up after him...
***
He woke later in the cave. His head was on Kai's lap and she smiled as she fed him small sips of water from her Chalice. His left wing ached, but felt whole. Strength began to return to him and Umbra's laughter seemed very far away. "Beloved," Kai whispered, tears in her eyes. She set the Chalice down next to her and stroked his face. "A-am I?" he asked in a hoarse whisper. "Am I still?" "Always darling," she cooed, holding him close and rocking slowly. He let himself be lulled to sleep by her comforting presence and sweet voice. "Always..."
***
Kel stood in the stone circle at the center of the Valley of Mystery. Davin, Kai and Jena stood with him. Jena held her hand out, and a tiny figure made of flame stood on her palm. It looked vaguely like Sar. "So, she found you and trained you in the use of your powers?" Kel asked, intrigued. Jena closed her hand and the figure disappeared. "Well, it wasn't so much training as giving me a sense of control over them," she explained. "She said once I had the control, everything else would just come with practice. Then she dropped me in the middle of Greatwood Park and told me to stop the dragon." She smiled a little at this. Kel chuckled. "Sounds like when my father taught me to fly," he said. "He brought me to the top of the tallest tower in the palace and threw me off." His face turned serious. "Thank you, by the way," he said. "If you hadn't done what you did..." Jena waved him off. "It was my pleasure. To be honest, I wasn't even sure it would work." "What happened after I passed out?" Kel asked. "Well," Jena said, "I had all this flame from the dragon and nowhere to put it. Then I remembered something I'd heard once about the golem, about what they're made of." She shrugged. "I set fire to their wooden pieces, which caused the rest of them to fall apart. The dragon tried to ignite the trees again, but I just kept throwing its fire back at it. Eventually it flew away." "To where?" "It didn't say," Jena smirked. "Funny," Kel remarked dryly. "We're going to have to track it down, you know." He turned to Davin. "How about you? Do you have a handle on how the Crown works? Can you use it to find the dragon?" Davin nodded. "Thanks to Kai and her incredibly helpful elixir, which was delicious, by the way," he smiled at her and she smiled back, "I can see more of what I want to see as well as knowing more about what I'm seeing. So, yes. Give me a little time and I'll find your dragon for you." "Good," Kel said with a nod of his own. "Find the dragon, then Jena and I will go after it." He turned to Jena. "I assume since you were able to bring me here, that you have Sar's teleportation abilities?" "To an extent," Jena admitted. "I can make the doorways, but they'll only move us from place to place in this world. I can't create doorways to the Otherworld just yet." "That's fine," Kel assured her with a smile. "We've no need to go there yet. Will you be able to take direction from Davin?" "I should," Jena said, "if he's able to give me enough details." "I can put the location directly into your mind," Davin offered. "Would that help?" Jena nodded. "That would be perfect," she said. "Okay," Kel said, rubbing his hands together. "Davin, start looking for the dragon. Jena, get some rest. We'll need to leave immediately once Davin finds it." Jena nodded and walked off toward the hut she'd been provided. Kai kissed Kel lightly on the cheek. "I should get back to the cave," she said. "If there are injuries after this little adventure you're planning, I want to be ready." "Good thinking," Kel said with a smile, kissing her back. "I'll come see you before we leave." Kai walked off toward the cave and Kel looked over at Davin, who had not left. "Something on your mind?" "Yes," Davin answered. "I know why that alternate reality was destroyed to save you." Kel crossed his arms across his chest. "Go on," he said. "The first thing you need to understand," Davin began, "is the concept of the multiverse." "I remember you mentioning it when we spoke of this last," Kel said. "There are multiple versions of Amorlia, like the one those horrid shadow creatures came from." "Yes," Davin said, "but there's a bit more to it than that. The multiverse is actually comprised of an infinite number of universes, separated by vibrational frequencies, that can be broken down into two distinct types: parallels and alternates." "What's the difference?" Kel asked. "This Amorlia," Davin explained, "the one we live on, is a parallel. It is what's known as a Root World. It was the first version of Amorlia created and our universe runs parallel along the dimensional axis to other Root Worlds. Now," he continued, "each Root has the potential to grow alternates of itself out of the main universe like branches of a tree. Understand?" "Yes?" Kel said, confused. "Let me put it this way," Davin said. "For every path taken, by a person or a civilization, there is another path not taken. Each time a path is chosen, an alternate universe is created in which the other path was chosen instead. It branches off the Root World and creates its own unique timeline." "Okay..." "The thing is," Davin went on, "these alternates aren't as stable as the Root. They aren't as... real, for want of a better word. And, if the integrity of the Root is threatened, its alternates will be collapsed back into it in order to preserve it." He pointed at Kel. "Your lack of wings and imminent demise were threats to the integrity of this Root World. In order to preserve our universe, an alternate was collapsed and merged into this one." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "What I still don't know is how this all fits into the larger picture, this greater threat I sense approaching us. I feel as though an intelligence is behind your rebirth, but I can't identify it. I would say it's some sort of god, but..." "But there aren't any gods any more," Kel nodded. Then he said, "I did encounter an intelligence during my time within the Spark," he offered. "It didn't seem like one of the gods. In fact, it identified itself as the Spark." Davin's eyes widened. "The Spark is intelligent?" "So it would seem," Kel said, "but I think it can choose not to be, if
that makes sense." "The scary thing is, that actually does," Davin said with a smile, turning to go. "One more thing," Kel said, causing Davin to turn. "When you get the chance..." Davin smiled. "Find Mandhe?" Kel grinned. "She's very handy in a crisis," he said. "Besides," he grew more serious, "I don't like the idea of her facing what she's going through alone. I want to help her if we can."
Amorlia: Age of Wonder Page 16