Echoes in the Dark

by Robin D. Owens

  “It will take enormous skill and Power to return fast to pick us up before we die, especially if we are in the cold sea.” She glanced at the deck where the volarans stared at her. They understood better. She actually thought her own feelings were closer to theirs than any of the humans. “The volarans cannot help everyone.” Many of them wouldn’t survive or would be hurt, too. That caused an ache in her heart. “All our hope for our futures depend upon you.” She cleared her throat, looked to the group to the right. “Who will stay to save us?”

  With lowered gazes people moved from the group at her right back to the proud lines.

  Jean lifted his head, the silver streaks of Power had widened. “We will Power the rescue Ship.”

  Raine inclined her head. “Merci.”

  Then her knees began to tremble and she went down to the cabin to change.

  When she returned to the deck a few minutes later, Alexa coughed, wrapped her arms around Raine. “Good job.” A shuddering breath came from her. “I only hope I can do as well with my St. Crispin’s Day speech.”

  “What?”

  “You know, ‘rally to the cause,’ ‘go, team, go!’”

  Raine hadn’t thought of that, but she supposed that inside she’d anticipated such a speech, and from Alexa. The smaller woman stepped back, and though her face was calm, her eyes were a little wild. “I’ve made them before. I haven’t worked so hard on a piece of writing since my law journal days. Marian’s been helping. This speech has to be perfect.”

  “No,” Raine said, and touched Alexa’s breastbone. “It only needs to come from your heart, and you have plenty of heart.”

  Alexa blinked. “Thanks.” She inhaled. “Well, you showed me how it’s really done.” With a nod she walked away.

  Raine watched her in wonder. She had given advice to Alexa. And Alexa hadn’t seemed to think that was unusual or strange.

  Raine was one of them. She’d known that, known they had accepted her as one of them since the moment they’d learned of her existence. Had always treated her as an equal, a person with her own skill set. But she, herself, hadn’t truly accepted that she was equal to them. She hadn’t been Summoned by the Marshalls in a proper ceremony, hadn’t been welcomed, hadn’t immediately meshed with the portion of Lladranan society that she’d been sent to integrate into a whole, wasn’t from Colorado like the rest of them. Something tight inside her hadn’t accepted that she was equal, now that loosened and she knew. She would hold up her part in this undertaking, would provide her own unique Song when they did that dreadful spell.

  Faucon was there before her, bowing deep, lifting her hand to his lips, eyes warm. “Well done, beloved.”

  She wanted to fling herself into his arms. Instead she smiled at him, feeling a little light-headed, and said, “Thanks.”

  And the morning progressed, quietly, efficiently.

  Intensely.

  Calli stepped to the middle of the deck and once again everyone quieted.

  “I have a secret to reveal. Something that will reduce our casualties.” She gestured to her volaran and the winged horse trotted forward.

  Then, as they watched, it disappeared.

  “This is a volaran’s ultimate defense,” Calli said. “They can, and will, carry us to the shores invisibly. They can even fight so, but it takes enormous Power. Use it well.”

  Calli turned to Alexa, whose expression was floored surprise. Calli smiled sweetly. “Your turn, Alexa.” Calli settled herself, ready to listen.

  Alexa cleared her throat. “Ayes. Well.” Then she glanced at the tall black mountain in the distance and her face hardened. She lifted her chin, set her hand on her jade baton. Then she cut the top of the sheath away.

  A shiver went up Raine’s spine. No action could have been clearer that Alexa meant to fight, with all she had, all she was. To the end, using all the Power she could from the Jade Baton of Honor that she’d won.

  Her speech was wonderful. She started out slow and low, so people had to strain to hear, then the cadence picked up and so did her volume until she was shouting and punching the air and everyone else was cheering.

  Then Raine went up to Jean and handed him the small guidance gems…a formal turning over of the Captaincy. He glanced at the island and his jaw clenched, then he gazed down at her, most of his usual optimism gone in savvy awareness.

  She said, “I need you here. Sail to where it’s safe and…when it’s all over…come back and pick up the survivors.”

  He nodded shortly, bowed in a sharp, military fashion. “I won’t fail.”

  “Of course not.” Standing on tiptoe, she kissed his cheek. “You are an excellent Captain, I’m glad you’re with us.”

  He ducked his head. “Thank you.” Then he mentally yelled, Come about, and the Ship turned to present her broadside to the island, better for the volarans to take off in waves.

  The battle was beginning.

  44

  Alexa shifted nervously from foot to foot while Calli double-checked all the volarans’ tack and mental states.

  Then Alexa blew out a breath. “Since the volarans have that nifty little trick of invisibility, we should go with the first wave.”

  They all looked at her.

  “We’re pretty sure the dreeths will come from the top of the mountain.”

  “Ayes,” Jaquar said. “All the reports indicate that.”

  “They don’t know it’s going to be today.” Alexa showed her teeth. “No one would expect a force of this size to make it in under a month, let alone under the three weeks of the exploratory team. They weren’t aware of us then, either.” She gestured to the Ship, which a volaran had stated “did not look there,” when it flew to the southern shore for that purpose.

  Alexa shifted her shoulders. “If the Master and Dark fall, the horrors will not be directed. Those in Lladrana can find them, clean them up. Hold the line, build a new border. The sooner we get in and do the spell, the less loss of life.”

  “So we go with the first wave.” Bastien nodded.

  Raine gestured to Madam Lucienne, who came over. “You’ve been watching Bastien as he counts down the waves of our army?”

  “Ayes,” the woman said.

  “We’re going first,” Alexa said. She sent a glance around their little circle but no one protested.

  Madam rubbed her hands, “Good idea.” She nodded to Bastien. “I’ll count down and release the teams as practiced.”

  Bastien took her hand and kissed her fingers. “Merci.”

  She nodded, went to her post, squared her shoulders.

  Calli said, “Ready?”

  They all replied, “Ready.”

  Raine grabbed Faucon and kissed him hard. “I love you.” Then she set the earbuds in her ears and turned up the volume. Once they were committed, she’d be all right.

  She hoped. The beat of the volume was the same as her portion of the Song and she muttered it in her head.

  “Mount!” Bastien barked.

  They did, and she felt better on Blossom, even stronger when Enerin sat on her shoulder, dug in her little war hawk claws.

  Communication by mind, Exotique link only from now on, Bastien ordered.

  They nodded.

  Got the gong?

  Calli and Marrec, Marian and Jaquar held up the soon-to-be invisible ropes.

  Bastien looked at Alexa.

  She nodded.

  Here we go! she ordered and they all rose together, and when they were at the top of the mast everyone winked out around Raine.

  She set her teeth and didn’t look down as she trusted to Blossom that they all moved together. It felt as if she were a disembodied spirit floating toward the island. The speed of the volarans was significantly slower when they were invisible. She could feel the draining of Blossom’s and her own Power. She wished she’d known about this sooner, so she could have prepared herself. This was good for the volarans, this was excellent, but the time it took to cover the distance aggravated her nerves.r />
  They were nearing the shore when she heard Madam Lucienne’s mental shout of First wave, go!

  Wings whirred beneath the Exotiques as the other volarans flew toward the island with their burdens of sailors, Chevaliers, the Marshall team, two medicas, Bossgond and another Circlet. As they hit the beach, their invisibility disappeared and they engaged the horrors milling around the mountain.

  They gave war cries and Sang Jikata’s battle Song.

  Noise from the battle rose and Raine looked down.

  Ella was the first to die.

  Ledge outside the Dark’s Nest

  Raine and Blossom bobbled the ledge landing, had to withdraw.

  Steady, Raine—Alexa’s voice was sharp.

  Raine pressed her lips together, separated her grief from the rest of her mind, reassured Blossom. Definitely not the time for a volaran to panic. Blossom and she approached the ledge to land again, settled on all fours this time.

  The women had all dismounted and were visible in their dark dreeth hide. The men were lined up—the seven-man bobsled team of Koz, Bastien, Luthan, Marrec, Faucon, Jaquar and Sevair—and their sled looked sturdy and efficient.

  Raine ignored the tears running down her face, at least her eyes weren’t continuing to well and blind her, and slid from Blossom. For one last moment of normality, she buried her face in Blossom’s neck and drank in her scent and hugged her tight.

  See you later, Blossom said.

  One last squeeze, then Raine stepped away, lifted her chin, straightened her shoulders. Fly safe to the Ship.

  I will.

  Blossom lifted her wings, Raine could see the hazy outline of them and touched Blossom again, sending her a little more energy until they faded. Go.

  With an almost silent whir of wings, the volarans were gone. Marian and Calli were holding the saucer on the ledge, a third of it was protruding over space. Raine gulped, went over and took her place in the lineup. Alexa and Bri would be at the front, Raine and Jikata in the middle, Marian and Calli in the back. At least that’s how it was supposed to work. Raine prayed they wouldn’t go spinning around. Going one direction—down a steep slope, and there was snow—was enough.

  Ready? Alexa’s eyes were compassionate and a little haunted. She, too, would lose friends today, had lost friends for the two years.

  Anger spurted through Raine. Ella should have lived a long and full life. I want this DONE.

  So do we all, said Calli, inclining her head.

  Air spell initiated, Marian said, and the front of the saucer rose, steadied, as if it sat fully on the ledge.

  Alexa and Bri climbed on, curled their hands in the thick woven edge that had been placed around the gong’s rim.

  Raine met Jikata’s eyes and they settled in, legs stretched around Bri and Alexa. Raine felt the gong-saucer rock a little as Marian and Calli got on. Soon Marian’s legs were snug around Raine’s hips and the buzz of the Exotiques all in physical contact comforted her.

  On, “go,” Alexa said.

  There was a little peck on Raine’s cheek and she saw Enerin hovering near.

  Sinafinal, Tuckerinal and I will be with you until it is time to take the gong, Enerin said.

  Merci.

  Alexa sucked in a breath, but shouted mentally, Ready, set, go!

  Marian released the spell holding the front of the sled. They dropped and were off.

  They zoomed down the mountain.

  Rock on the left! Alexa yelled to Bri, who was steering.

  I see it, I see it. Lean right, Bri shouted back

  Raine leaned right.

  Path is to the left, Marian reminded coolly.

  Course, Raine corrected, recalled she was supposed to be projecting it to everyone’s mind. Enerin gave her an overview, she picked out their position and set it on a green line.

  Doing well! Alexa gave a shriek of wild laughter.

  Raine opened her mouth and some snow flew into it and tears ran down her face, thrills from the ride and the others’ excitement, sadness from Ella’s death and the sound of distant battle. That was as close to laughter that she could get.

  The men ranged themselves on the bobsled silently. Koz would drive, Jaquar would keep the course and help with air or weather magic, and the rest of them would give ballast and Power.

  Faucon wanted to be with Raine. Whose idea was it to separate the men and the women?

  Amee’s.

  Female planet. One of the men, Luthan, should have spoken to her.

  Everyone on? Koz asked. He sat in the front of the sled that hung in midair, anticipation gleamed in his eyes. He was looking forward to this battle, having been forbidden Chevalier status by the medicas due to a head injury.

  Bastien slid in behind him, slightly shorter than the other men, but he’d never driven a sled, and Faucon wasn’t going to trust his life to Bastien’s wild magic.

  Luthan came next since they all figured it would be best if the brothers were together. Marrec took his seat, Faucon followed, and Sevair, the one with the most sheer muscle, stood ready to jump in after he shoved off.

  Set? asked Sevair calmly, though there was an undercurrent in his Song that the men shared, they wanted to be close to their women.

  Go when you’re ready, Jaquar said. An image of the course came to Faucon’s mind with the sled motionless and poised.

  The sled surged forward and Faucon caught his breath as they were airborne, then hit the ground and bounced twice then shot down the mountain. This was nothing like a volaran ride. He began to pray.

  Outside, down the mountain of the Dark’s Nest

  Jikata Sang, her voice quavery. Better get over that, soon.

  Since the wind whipped the sound of her words away, she didn’t think she was alerting any of the dreeths that appeared in view.

  Marian had inserted a cushion of air between the gong and the rock or snow and that made the ride smoother, faster than Jikata’d anticipated, more dangerous.

  They were going too fast for the dreeths to catch them, weren’t they?

  So Jikata Sang out her fear, little limbering exercises before stepping onto a stage, some Song she knew from her childhood, but couldn’t put a name to in her fear.

  Hearts thumping fast and in unison, they leaned to the left or shifted to the right. Hit a bump and went flying, landed with a skiff of snow, gliding long and smooth.

  Lava tube ahead, Marian said with tension in her voice. Leave the saucer guidance to me. I’ll be using Air Power.

  “Yeah!” Alexa yelled.

  Jikata averted her face so as not to see the dreeths shrieking above them, circling, trying to get a bead on them. She brought up an image of all she loved, Luthan, these women who’d welcomed and helped her, Ishi, her parents…

  Then they were slowing, circling a hole into the mountain.

  Slowing! A dreeth cried and swooped.

  A huge bird attacked it. Bri’s roc companion.

  The hole swallowed them. Jikata’s heart jumped again, her stomach tightened.

  Showtime.

  They plunged into the Dark and the odor was foul. The mountain itself seemed to grumble at being a lair for the Dark, the Master, the horrors. Plummeting down an old tunnel made by lava, Jikata felt the Dark. Knew the others did, too. More, she heard its life force. Not a Song at all, something more like a huge, inimical hissing, low continuous thrumming of hatred for all life. Stirring…waking? It touched all of them in dreams more than awake because it was asleep and torpid? A terrible thought that they hadn’t known this, hadn’t experienced the full might of its waking power.

  Luthan hung onto his brother, who was coping with this part of the action so much better than he.

  Jaquar was skimming Power from all of them to push the sled along, gain on the ladies in the saucer ahead.

  Women flying down a mountainside on a gong.

  Inconceivable, except that it was happening.

  Luthan’s entire life had changed the moment one Exotique came and did in
conceivable things.

  Coming to the hole. Hang on tight, I’ll have to raise and angle the sled, Jaquar said.

  Luthan knew he’d hate that more.

  Then it was happening with a terrible wrenching in his gut and they disappeared into darkness and the familiar sound of battle was lost and he was lost.

  Until he heard the purity of Jikata’s Song.

  He opened his eyes and saw a sliver of red light ahead, the large upper cavern. And the glint of the saucer-gong. Close, so close. They could protect the women.

  Especially since he heard the sound of the Dark awakening.

  They shot through the opening to the large chamber, saw Alexa pointing and shouting, “There! Across, across, across. Fly this thing, guys!” The saucer, the gong, stayed up even as Luthan felt their own sled lose momentum in the middle of the air, angle toward the bottom of the cavern.

  Lift! Bastien commanded, but they were unused to flying on a sled instead of volarans. Luthan raised his voice in a flying spell, Sevair Sang a spell for lifting massive blocks.

  The women glided through the room, spinning, laughing nervously, then went into the passage and vanished.

  The sled began to tumble.

  Stop! Jaquar commanded.

  Luthan snapped his mouth shut. So did the other men. The sound of their clashing notes echoed and died.

  I am a weather mage. Jaquar’s mental tone was acid. A Circlet of Air. You will leave this task to me.

  Everyone quieted. The sled righted itself, spun slowly as if in a slight wind. Settled onto a course toward the opening the women and the gong had disappeared into.

  Then a dreeth shot into the cavern from another entrance, followed by masses of horrors from several other holes. Some monsters fell to their deaths, screaming. The cavern was filled with awful noise again.

  Singing Chamber inside the Dark’s Nest

  Jikata gasped as the gong shot into the lower chamber, tilted and left them falling. With Song and swears, Marian slowed their descent. It was a short drop, no more than twelve feet, but at the rate they’d been going…

  The feycoocus swooped down and took the gong away, darting back into the tube. The chamber was like the Cavern of Prophecy with crystals on all the walls and the domed ceiling, in the same colorful patterns.