by Terry Reid
The tears fell from his eyes, cutting trails through his dust covered cheeks. “I don’t know...”
She nodded slightly, her expression sombre. “That’s because you’re not alive Edward. You’re only a memory, a ghost, nothing more.” She shook her head again. “And I’m sorry for that, I really am. But it’s time to let go.”
He stared up at her through his bleary eyes and for the first time she had known him he looked truly afraid. “I’m scared...” he whimpered.
“Don’t be. It’ll be fine, I promise.”
The light from his eyes began to fade and his gaze grew distant. “The others...I tried to wake the others...” And slowly, ever so slowly he lay his head down and shut his eyes. Then he was still.
The device in Rufus’s hand bleeped and he glanced at the screen. The readings were flat. He looked at Terry, questioningly.
She slowly stood, withdrawing her blade. Then she turned to look at him, her expression sad.
Trepidation filled Rufus. He did not want to believe what he had witnessed for fear it was another trick by the Phantom, but finally he gave in and asked, “Is he really gone?”
She looked at the body that lay before her. “Yeah, he’s gone.” She said quietly.
“How?”
“I’ll explain later, if that’s ok with you. We still have a lot of work to do.”
Despite his desperation to know, he resisted pushing the issue. She was right. The city was a mess, thousands had died and there was no government. The first thing they needed to do was restore order to the crippled capital.
Fallo squeaked and rubbed his head against Terry’s back. She stumbled forward. Turning, she smiled. He dipped his head again and closed his eyes as she hugged him, pressing the side of her face against his. They stood like that for a long minute then parted. With silent consent, Fallo leant forward and dropped onto all eight. Extending his right arm, Terry clambered up.
“Rufus.” She said, leaning forward and extending her hand. Fallo remained still, his gaze drifting silently to the Acara.
Rufus hesitated, unsure whether it was safe to approach. Terry smiled. “Come on, you just helped kill one of the most dangerous men in the world, he’s not going to bite you.”
His eyes widened but he did not speak. Rufus was more than certain one bite from Fallo would kill him if he took the notion, so her comment came as little assurance. Deciding he trusted the heir to the Alchemist Empire, he took her hand and she helped him up onto the King’s back. Standing, Fallo took one last look at Edward’s prone form. He sniffed at it, snorted and stomped off.
*****
Lyle held a cup up to Faye’s mouth. She drank slowly, grateful for the water. “Thank you.” She said quietly, managing a faint smile. Setting it on the wooden stool next to her pallet he offered her the painkillers one of the medics had handed to him. She shook her head.
“You must be feeling better if you don’t want any more of these. They’re not even strong enough to soothe a cut to the thumb.” He said, discarding them on the table.
She smiled again, Lyle’s humour distracting her for a moment from the trauma of having nearly died a few short hours before. “My back still hurts quite a bit. No amount of painkillers or water will make it better any faster.”
“We’re the same. Some parts of us our probes and nanos can’t fix because they’re too complicated. Terry was very lucky today.” He had told her about how he, Connor and Rufus had found the princess and how her father had saved her knot.
A sharp knot formed in Faye’s stomach but she said nothing. She looked away for a second, unable to gaze him in the eye. Lyle did not notice; he was looking the other way as four medics sprinted past their tent, carrying a stretched between them.
Lyle did not know how many casualties there were, but he guessed thousands by the uncountable number of tents he encountered when he and Connor arrived with Faye. They were almost attacked when they first arrived. It wasn’t until Connor had shouted to the Kamari that they stood down. Little word had reached the medical pavilion about the attack; it was no doubt one of many scattered throughout the city. Even fewer words had reached the citizens; most believed the Alchemists had invaded. Only a handful of officials and doctors knew what had really transpired. Once he had returned to his human form, Lyle had spent the best part of an hour under armed guard explaining to two of the handful of military leaders who he was and what was going on. The two men seemed dubious of his tale throughout; it was only by chance when one of the minister’s apprentices was passing that he was handed a reprieve. The young man, who had escaped the attack on the parliament, recognised him. It was his insistence that quelled the doubts of the two colonels and they had let the old general on his way; but with a guard in tow.
They remained outside the tent even now, wary that his presence may still be some sort of trick.
“They have been away a long time, what if something has happened?” Faye asked.
Lyle looked back at her. “Nothing has happened. There fine, I’m sure. I saw Edward; there was no way he was getting back up, not with Fallo about anyway.”
“Then where are they?”
That he could not answer. He shook his head slightly. “I don’t know, but they’ll be back, don’t worry about it.”
As if she had heard him, Terry pushed back the flaps of the tent and walked in, flanked by Connor and Rufus.
“Look who I found.” Connor said wearing a big grin from ear to ear.
“Terry.” Lyle threw his arms around the princess, lifting her off the ground for a moment. “Where’s your father?” he asked.
“Speaking to the Prime Minister and what’s left of the cabinet.”
Lyle’s brow rose. “About what?”
She sighed. “What do you think? We just killed Edward and saved Marrich from our own dead. I agree with him that they owe us, but I don’t agree with his timing to demand my exile be rescinded.”
His eyes widened. “Edward’s dead?”
She nodded.
He suddenly appeared sceptical. “For good this time?”
“For good.”
A smile slowly crept across his lips.
“What?”
“Sorry, I know this isn’t the best timing either but something just occurred to me...”
“What?”
“For someone who has been exiled you do seem to spend a lot of time here these days.”
Terry stared at him, her face an unreadable mask. He thought she would scold him. Then a smile flicked across her lips and her eyes brightened. “That is true.” She looked to Faye. A shadow of terror ran across the water elemental’s face. Then it was gone. None of the others seemed to notice.
She made to sit up but Terry raised a hand and said, “Hey, careful. Where do you think you’re going?”
Faye peered at her warily, but sat back. Her gaze softened again as she looked about her friends, who were all watching back. “Sorry, I was just trying to get comfy.” She lied, her gaze fixing Terry again.
The princess deliberately kept her distance. She wasn’t sure how Faye would react if she drew too close. It was not like she could run anywhere, anyway, not in her condition.
“How are you feeling?” Terry asked.
If the question surprised Faye, she did not show it. “Better, thank you. But I was saying to your uncle, it will be a while before my back is better though, I’ve got quite a few bruises.” She brushed her cheek delicately; a deep swollen gash now ran from ear to nose where it had been struck by the cold lash of the chain.
“You’re lucky you weren’t paralysed.” Lyle added.
“Can you walk?” Rufus asked, taking her hand in his. “If I have too, but it’s quite painful standing and moving.”
“I’m relieved to hear that, I feared the worst when I saw you among the rubble.”
She smiled. “It would have been far worse if Lyle had not got me here so fast.”
Connor folded his arms. “Not to be rude or anything
but I just want to be put out of my misery...”
“You want to know how we killed Edward?” Terry asked, turning to him.
He nodded. Feeling guilty for asking, he looked to the others for their approval. “Sorry guys, is that ok?”
Faye smiled. “Its fine, I want to know too.” She turned her attention to the young Alchemist.
Terry hesitated, not sure where to begin. She looked around all their faces. They watched her attentively. Finally she said, “Edward died because I told him what he was.” The comment only drew confused looks.
“What?” Connor asked.
She sighed. “I’m sorry Connor, I’ll start again. It’s just not easy to explain.”
“Then I will.” Rufus offered. “Terry worked out what the Phantoms were.” He looked around the faces of his friends. “For generations every race that has walked this world has lived in fear of them. No one knew where they came from.” His gaze returned to Terry. “But Terry worked it out.”
“Then what are they?” Faye asked, desperate to know.
“They’re ghosts, or rather, a combination of lost and troubled spirits. Yet what gives them strength is our fear. They draw off it and that is what sustains them.”
Faye shook her head. “I don’t think I understand.
“I know it is difficult to understand but there is power in our emotions. Most ghosts are just echoes of people who died under traumatic circumstances and as a result a piece of them has become imprinted on the world. They go to the same places and do the same thing over and over again, like a recording. That is what most ghosts are.” Rufus explained. “But Phantoms, they are ones that have taken form and gained free thought, leaching off our fears and our strongest emotions. It is something scholars have speculated for years but have never proven.” His gaze returned to Terry once more. “Until today.”
All eyes were on her now. “I was the one who brought Edward back, though it was purely accidental. We must have not killed him properly the first time we did and I think a small part of him survived somehow.”
Connor furrowed his brow. “Then how exactly did he come back?”
She nodded at Rufus. “It’s like he said, Phantoms feed off fear and emotions. Remember a few weeks ago when I told you about how I missed what we used to get up to all those years ago?”
He nodded.
“Well...” she sighed. “I think my longing for that brought him back somehow.”
“I still don’t understand.” Connor admitted.
Rufus inclined his head. “The Alchemists are all part of a hive mind Connor. Even though it is usually inactive, they still always have a degree of telepathy about them.” His large, round, blue eyes regarded the princess, as they sparkled in the afternoon light. “I think when Edward attacked Terry nine years ago and damaged her mind a bit of him got stuck in there as well. That combined with Terry’s recent reminiscence and the emotion attached to those memories acted like a trigger and brought him back.”
“But not fully.” Terry added. “That is why he accused me of killing his wife and why he could not remember her. It’s like I said, it was only a part of him that came back.”
The others gazed at her for the longest time.
“I still don’t get it.” Connor said.
Terry rolled her eyes.
Connor, Faye and Lyle had many questions after that and even once they had received their answers they still seemed baffled. None of them had ever heard such a tale like it. The conversation was only finally broken up when a courier appeared; the King required the general’s presence. Not long after Lyle’s departure, Rufus headed off to help the doctors with their aid. The Acara was a man of many talents. He was not a qualified physician in the books of The Southlands stringent academic system. Rufus may not have held any qualifications their nation recognised, but he was trained nonetheless. Shortly afterwards Terry sent Connor to fetch some more water for Faye.
When they were alone, the water elemental sat up a little. She fixed the Alchemist with her icy blue eyes. “Are you going to kill me?” she asked. If she was frightened, she did not show it.
Terry looked at her for the longest time. A silent eternity seemed to pass between them. Finally she spoke, “No.” Approaching the bed she lowered her voice. “But don’t you ever do anything like that again. You nearly got yourself killed.”
Faye lowered her gaze. “I know I’m sorry.” Her voice was brittle. Large teary eyes looked back at Terry. “I was just so angry...I’m sorry...” she sobbed, crying into her hands.
Terry didn’t say anything. She let Faye cry her tears. When finally she had calmed down she said, “I understand. He killed Darius.”
Faye wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye and nodded.
Then Terry’s gaze hardened. “And if you ever do anything like that again I’ll kill you.”
“I didn’t mean for you to get hurt so badly Terry, honestly, I am so sorry! I’m sorry!” The tears began to flow again. “I did it without thinking! I only wanted to knock you out!”
Terry showed no sympathy. She stood up straight next to the bed. “You nearly killed me.”
“I’m sorry...”
“And if my father knew, he would kill you.” She jabbed a finger at her. “You’re just fucking lucky I have not said anything.”
Faye continued to blub, almost hysterically. “Are you going too?”
“No. You lied to us about the war between my father and the south just so you could run back here away from Darius, the man you claimed to hate. Now you’re crying over him. Then you do this.” She straightened. “I can’t trust you anymore. So I’ll make this absolutely clear. You do anything as so much as lie to me again and I will kill you.” And then she left, leaving the broken woman to her howling sobs.
******
Terry found her father nearly half an hour after she had left Faye; or more he found her. She strode past a narrow path between two of the tents where he was walking – missing him completely despite how close he was.
“Daughter.” He said. She quickly turned round, looking surprised.
“Dad.” She walked back to him. “Where did you come from?”
He looked back down the path from which he had emerged. “Well, I certainly was not hiding if that is what you mean.” His eyebrow rose. “You must have been very preoccupied not to have heard or smelt me, what’s on your mind?”
She looked about the ramshackle campsite as if it needed explaining. “Just everything.” She shrugged, desperate not to tell him the truth.
“I see.” He said, carrying on. “Walk with me.” It was a polite invitation, not a command.
Terry fell in by his side. “What are you doing here? I thought you were talking to the Prime Minister.”
“I was. But it did not take as long as I thought.”
“I wonder why...”
“If you’re going to be clever I won’t tell you what he said.” He threatened as he stopped and faced her.
She shrugged. “Does it make any difference that you talked to him? You said you didn’t care about their laws and if I came home I would be welcomed. You also threatened to declare war on them.”
“I don’t care about their laws and I don’t particularly care about them.” He said as two medics ran past carrying a maimed man on a stretcher. He was missing the lower half of his right leg, the stump soaking his bandages crimson. Fallo paid no heed.
“But I know you care. That is why I went and spoke to the Prime Minister.”
Terry rolled her eyes. “I didn’t want you to go and speak to him again, not after what’s just happened!”
He ignored her outburst. “Your exile is over.”
Terry seemed to freeze in place. She blinked at him, dumbstruck. “What?”
He smiled. “He’s re-peeled your exile. The Southlands will not stand in your way as successor to my throne.”
Terry shook her head, still unable to take it all in. “Oh my god...”
Fallo wrap
ped him arms around her, burying his head against hers. “Come home.” He whispered. A warm tear fell from the corner of her eye, striking the blood soaked grass.
Chapter 24
Colony
Fallo sank to the floor. He sniffed and shook his head, struggling to keep his heavy eyelids open. But he was glad to be home, despite his exhaustion. They had travelled almost without stop for the last four days and he had only managed to snatch a few hours of sleep in that time.
He yawned, unfolding his large fangs and serrated mandibles. His mouth shut with a solid snap. Licking his teeth, he shuffled into a comfortable position and lowered his head to the floor. It darted up again as the large doors to his chambers creaked open.
He tipped his head to one side, curious. Behind Terry trailed several councillors babbling over one another, each desperately seeking her attention. Fallo’s antennae twitched at the loud rabble. Terry slammed the doors behind her.
Fallo growled with amusement as he laid his head down once more to rest. His large amber eyes watched Terry as she made her way toward him. She yawned and stretched, throwing her arms up into the air as she approached. Then, without word when she was close enough, Fallo lifted his head and scooped her up into his arms. With her cuddled against his chest, he shuffled and lay back down, curling into a ball.
Terry pressed her head against the warm metal plate that guarded his chest. She could hear the slow, steady, pulse of his heart and feel the gradual rise and fall of his mighty lungs. Their gentle rhythms were hypnotic and soon, she found herself drifting off to sleep.
Fallo stayed awake for some time afterwards, guarding his daughter jealously. The events of the last few weeks, the last few days especially, had made him even more protective of his only surviving child. Only after several quiet minutes had slipped past did he grow sure that they would not be disturbed. Then finally, he shut his eyes and slipped off into a deep slumber.
A fidgeting insect woke the King. His eyelids felt heavy as he opened them. Stretching his neck they closed again as he yawned; the embers from the brazier in the centre of the cave painting them a frightening crimson as if they were drenched in blood. Fallo looked down to see what the problem was. Terry remained curled up in his arms. She had grown still since he had moved. Dismissing it, he settled back down again to sleep.