by Terry Reid
“No! It was not like that.” replied a low voice, who Terry recognised immediately as Micca’s. “She and her friends did.”
Terry could see Micca and Rilario a short distance from the camp, standing under a small tree.
“A credit to the crown as always Micca?” she shouted. The two men looked in her direction. Terry could make out Micca’s nervous expression despite the poor light.
Getting up she walked over to them. “You must be Lord Rilario.”
He gave a slight, if impromptu bow as she approached. “Yes, I am. And you are Her Royal...”
She cut him off, “Everyone just calls me Terry.”
Rilario was a little surprised by the remark. “You must forgive my appearance.” He added.
“You’re fine, you’ve been tied up and beaten no one expects you to look your best.”
He gave a slight smile, unsure of what to say next. “Yes, like you say...”
“And just so you know, the Kamari we killed attacked us first.” She glared at Micca, who lowered his gaze. “It was self-defence.”
“You still killed them.” Micca mumbled.
“And what would you have done?” she asked, raising her voice.
Rilario held up a hand in supplication. “Please, this is not the place.” He said. Seeing he had their undivided attention he continued, “I hate to say it but the men who held me were operating outside their remit. I was an officer for nearly twenty years and I trained the Kamari,” he shook his head, “They were acting in a way they should not have. If they were my men I would have had them all court marshalled.”
Terry looked him up and down. He was in a right state. “How long did they keep you down there?” she asked
He nodded the pain evident in his expression. “I think it was two days...I’m not sure.” He looked away glumly, remembering. “They kept hitting me. It’s hard to recall.”
“Do you think you’ll be able to walk?” Terry asked, changing the subject.
He looked back to her, nodding. “Yes, I think so. I am a little stiff and a little sore but I should manage.” He glanced around.
Reading his expression Terry said, “We’re about forty miles north of Newport.”
He hesitated. “Forgive me for asking...”
“We’re not taking you back to Marrich and we’re not turning you in. It’s up to you where you go from here I only wanted to talk to you.”
“About Edward?”
She nodded. “It’s definitely him?”
“Yes.” He replied. There was sadness in his eyes. “You will want to know about him? The last I heard he had killed several people and forced his way through a portal to Earth.”
“Ladre?” Terry asked.
A fleeting look of surprise passed over him. “When I think about it, it would make sense that you know him. You and your uncle seem to be well connected.”
Micca scratched his ear. “Maybe we should take a seat?”
Terry shrugged but Rilario seemed keen. They headed back to the burned out campfire.
With Connor and Darius up, the five gathered in a circle around the cinders to discuss the matter at hand.
“Where shall I begin?” Lord Rilario asked, looking around each of them.
“Can you tell us when you first met Edward?” Terry asked.
Rilario nodded. “Certainly, it was about eight months ago. But it wasn’t until he tried to kill me that I realised who he was.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
He sighed, his gaze growing distant. “The first time I met him he looked completely different and was using a false name. He came to me expressing an interest in becoming a junior politician,” he shook his head, “My previous two apprentices had both died a few months before that in an accident. At the time I said no, I was in no condition to take on any new ones so soon after what had happened.”
Micca inclined his head. “We think Edward may have been responsible.”
“Yes...” Rilario nodded, lost in thought. “But I will keep a long story short as it upsets me to talk about it too much. He persisted and eventually I said yes.” He looked around them all. “I spent many days with him, teaching him the basics, which is normal when you take on a new junior for the first six months. Now that I think about it I spent too much time with him. I don’t know what it was, but he was very persuasive at getting me to stay with him, even when it was getting late.”
“He does that to gain control of people.” Connor added. He and Terry exchanged a knowing look.
Rilario nodded. “Yes, I know.” He said regretfully. “But one day, I tripped and fell down the stairs, hitting my head off the steps.” He tapped the back of his head absently where he had struck it. “Two of my aides had seen me fall and came to help.” His gaze met Terry’s. “And so did he.” He shook his head. “I don’t know what it was but from then on I could see him as he really was. The blow must have snapped be out of his trance or something. Without thinking I said his name. I thought he was going to kill us all but instead he ran.” He looked at Terry again, confusion in his good eye. “I’ve never seen him again. Four weeks later a unit of Kamari turned up at my door with a warrant for my arrest, accusing me of killing the Duke of Naris’s daughter.”
“What happened to you?”
“They locked me up and questioned me.” He looked at Micca. “That is when I met Micca. He too had been arrested and was being kept in the same prison.”
Terry glared at him. The Alchemist lowered his gaze, shifting nervously.
“He was in the cell next to mine, so as you can imagine we spent a long time talking. Two weeks later Micca broke out and he took me with him.”
“And what were you in for?” Terry asked, her focus falling squarely on the outcast Alchemist.
Micca looked at her with pleading eyes. He shook his head. “Please...” he begged.
“Tell me.”
Micca hesitated, the tears coming unbidden. “I raped someone...a Pyrovite.”
Terry stood, drawing her blades.
“Terry! No! Terry!” Connor yelled, grabbing her by the arm and. Terry stopped and glared back at him. “Let go of me.” She warned coldly.
Connor let go and stepped back. He knew she would kill him in a heartbeat. “Please don’t do this.” He begged.
“And why not?” she asked, turning to face him.
“Because we have enough going on right now, don’t stoop to his level.”
Terry turned her attention back to Micca, then back to Connor. For a long moment he thought she would kill him. She flexed her wrists and the blades retracted.
Rilario stood. “I do not condone Micca’s actions but the fact of the matter is I may have been executed long before now if he had not freed me. His help since has also ensured the safety of my entire family.”
Terry fixed him with a deadly gaze. “That’s doesn’t make it okay.”
“You killed people yourself yesterday my lady, people who had families despite their actions.” Rilario pointed out.
“Don’t you dare compare me to him. He raped someone for no good reason at all. We killed those guards to save you.” She jabbed a finger at him. “Chances are they would have killed us on the spot if we had surrendered.” She looked at Micca. “What did that Pyrovite ever do to you?”
Micca swallowed hard. “I was in bloodlust...I could not stop myself...she was the only one around.”
Terry laughed - a humourless, cynical bark. “That’s not an excuse! It is never an excuse!”
Tears streamed unbidden down Micca’s face. “I am sorry...I am so, so, sorry.”
Terry shook her head, her stomach turning with revulsion. “So what were your plans then Rilario? You stick up for him and he sticks up for you until the heat dies down?”
The disgraced lord’s jowls quivered as he shook his blotchy, bruised head. “No, it was not like that. He was going to escort me to the temporal gateway that Ladre had. Then we were both going to go our separate way
s. But it never happened, because Ladre stopped using it a while ago. I don’t know why.”
“That would have been you seeing him.” Connor said quietly, looking to Terry. “Edward must have framed Rilario after the mind control he had on him snapped.”
Terry turned to him, nodding, her face still etched with rage. She looked back round at the two outcasts. “Why infiltrate the Senate by brainwashing a minister when you could start a civil war by framing one?”
The two men remained silent, partially silhouetted in long shadows cast by the rising sun.
Connor looked at Rilario. “Do you know any reason why Edward did not try to kill you when you realised who he was?”
“I don’t know. I thought he was going too. I always heard he killed anyone who got in his way.”
Connor and Terry exchanged puzzled glances but said nothing. Connor folded his arms. “That is true, that is weird. But is there anymore you can tell us about him? What he said to you?”
Rilario shook his head. “No, most of it was just politics. That’s all we ever really discussed.”
“Before coming to Marrich did he tell you where he had been staying?”
“His documents said that he was from Naro, but they must have been forged. I’ve never taken on an apprentice without checking their background first.”
“Then no-one really does know where he’s been all these years.” Terry said impatiently. “We’re done here, let’s go.” Turning she stormed away.
“Wait...but you said you would defend him...”
She stopped and turned to face him. “That was before I realised he was in league with someone like you.” She pointed a finger at him. “And if I ever see either of you again I’ll kill you.” That said Terrifallo left on her long way home.
“Terry! Terry!” Connor shouted running after her.
Darius stared at the men for a long moment, unsure what to do. Finally though, with great reluctance, he turned and hurried after Connor and Terry.
******
“Where are you going?” Connor asked, struggling to keep up.
“Marrich, where do you think?” She replied bluntly, striding quickly across the open plains. The sun was now hanging half over the horizon, causing long shadows to run behind them on spindly legs as they went.
Connor fell in step with her. “I don’t know if that is a good idea after what happened yesterday. The Senate may find out that we killed those Kamari before we get back to the city.”
“I doubt it, not unless the Kamari want to draw attention to the fact that they caught Lord Rilario and didn’t let them know.”
“You don’t know that. The person who gave them their orders might try covering their tracks. No minister from the Senate would ever go to that cellar to see for themselves. The Kamari are self-regulating, this whole thing could easily be swept under the rug.”
She stopped and turned to him. “What are they going to do, arrest us? They’ll arrest us anyway as soon as we step into the city for running off in the first place.”
Connor sighed, deflating. He suddenly looked very tired. “Thanks for dragging me into this by the way, now my own country will be chasing me like I’m a criminal.”
Terry scoffed. “Now who doesn’t know what he’s talking about? They’re not going to know who killed those men in the cellar, there weren’t any witnesses! And I don’t think Micca or Rilario will be telling anyone about what happened anytime soon!” she exclaimed.
He jabbed a finger at her. “We still ran away without telling anyone! I could go to prison for that!”
“You worry too much. You’ve got my father’s protection remember?”
He frowned. “That doesn’t make me feel any better.”
“Well tough, it’s all you’re getting...it’s not like I can offer you anything better anyway.” She noticed Darius trailing behind them. “Are you okay?” she asked.
Darius looked away. “Yeah, I’m fine, thanks...”
She looked at Connor, who shrugged.
“He must think I’m going to eat him.” She whispered as they carried on.
“I think he’s more likely still shaken after what happened yesterday.”
Terry glanced back at the shell-shocked man for a moment but looked ahead again when she spoke. “Why is he still following us anyway? None of this has anything to do with him anymore.”
Connor shrugged. “I don’t know. But he’s not causing any harm, is he?”
He had her there. “No not really.” She agreed, staring off into the distant horizon. “He’s actually ok, even if he is a bit spineless.”
Connor smiled, digging his hands into his pockets. The morning sun may have been above the horizon now but it was still chilly. “Never let anyone off lightly do you?”
Terry regarded him suspiciously for a moment then smiled. “Of course not.”
They walked on in silence for a few minutes. “There’s no way we’re going to get back to Marrich on foot.”
“I would carry you two but I’m too exhausted. I think that’s why I changed back during the night, to save energy.” She shrugged. “I don’t know it’s never happened before.”
Connor stared at her thoughtfully. “That is weird.”
It was her turn to shrug. “Hopefully we won’t need to walk that far anyway. Our two days are up. Dad and Lyle should be coming for us now.”
“I don’t know if I’m looking forward to it or not. On one hand I’d appreciate the lift but on the other I don’t want to see your dad if he’s pissed off again.”
******
The Prime Minister ran into Fallo’s quarters, a small unit of guards hurrying in behind him. One of the captain’s, who was already there, turned to him, his expression grim. The reason why he had been summoned did not need to be explained - the twenty foot wide hole in the floor said everything.
******
Darius crawled his way to Connor and Terry. The three of them had taken refuge under a bramble bush, which lay beneath the shade of a tall tree; moments before they had been running for their lives. Three giant, winged beasts circled overhead; their calls piercing the sky.
The Manbur were large birds that lived in the wilds of the Southlands. Although rare and easily frightened by large groups of people, they did not fear lone travellers or small groups, especially when they numbered two or more. The Manbur were as beautiful as they were deadly. They looked reminiscent of the golden eagles that resided in northern Scotland - only far larger in size and with a white chest and indigo beaks. An adult’s wingspan reached thirty feet and the birds weighed more than three hundred pounds. They had been notorious for the deaths of countless travellers over the ages.
While a primeval Alchemist could easily fight one or two off in close quarters, the Manbur could easily pick one off if there was a flock of them. They had been known to surround Alchemists, some acting as distraction, while two of three would sneak behind and carry them off to great heights before letting go. Gravity did the rest.
Terry was certain that had it been a better day she could have fought off all three of the Manbur circling above due to the superior strength and size she possessed over her brethren. But this was not one of those better days. She was tired and she was hungry. And in the time it would have taken her to transform she would have broken cover and the blood-thirsty birds would have attacked; possibly inflicting fatal wounds.
“Shit!” swore Darius, as he reached Connor’s side, his heart pounding. “They’re everywhere!”
“You okay?” asked Terry.
“No...” He fidgeted, pulling his sleeve free from the snaring grasp of the brambles, only to have it catch on another knot of barbs.
Terry rolled her eyes.
Connor peered skyward through a gap in the brambles. One Manbur circled above the tree, out of sight, though its shadow still pressed through the green leaves. “They’ll lose interest eventually.”
“Or they’ll come back with their friends.” Darius muttered. The thought
terrified him.
Connor shook his head, as best he could in the sharp embrace of the brambles. “Nah, Manburs only usually travel in pairs or groups of three.”
“How do you know?”
“I saw it on a documentary once.”
Darius clucked, incredulous. “What? That doesn’t mean you’re right!”
Terry knew they travelled in far larger numbers sometimes but decided it best to keep the knowledge to herself. “Have you ever tried Manbur?” She asked, before anyone had the chance to inquire her thoughts on numbers.
Darius stared at her blankly. “No. Have you?”
“Terry’s eaten most things, just ignore her, she’s trying to wind you up.”
But Darius’s curiosity was piqued. “What does it taste like?”
“Chicken.”
Darius looked up as another winged shadow sped overhead. “Can’t you kill them?”
She shook her head as she peered through the brambles. “They would attack me while I changed.”
Connor shuffled about, the thorns stabbing into every inch of his body. “It’s funny, your next meal is right there but it’s trying to eat us.”
She furrowed her brow. “That’s not funny.”
He shrugged. “It’s true.”
Terry sighed. She gazed up at the shaft of blue sky which was barely visible between the tall grass and the leaves.
“Well...” Connor mused loudly, “While we are here we may as well discuss how we are going to deal with Edward.”
“We talked about that earlier.” Terry reminded him, squinting through the gaps in the brambles.
“Yeah but we still don’t know where he has been hiding all these years.”
“You can guess as much as you want, it won’t give you an answer.”
Darius shifted about where he lay. “Forgive me for asking, but I wasn’t there. How did you kill him all those years ago? I mean, how did you get rid of him...sort of...”
Connor and Terry looked at one another, unsure of who should tell the story. Eventually it was Connor who decided to take the plunge once Terry looked away. “There is only two ways you can stop a Phantom.” He shuffled about on his front, trying to get comfy. “One way is to trap them in the body they are possessing. The only problem with that is when the body dies they escape. The other way is to destabilise them with an electro-magnetic pulse.”