Compartmentalize the pain. Separate yourself from it. Focus your chi and summon your weapon, Owl’s familiar voice said.
Owl? No response. Now I’m hearing voices. Great. I had to try it. This was the strongest I was going to get. Without the prism my strength would degenerate to where I was before, slowly wasting away.
I centered myself again and began to focus my chi. The pain rushed up immediately. I took the pain and put it aside. I mentally stacked each wave of pain in a box and put that box somewhere else. The waves were coming harder and faster, rocking my body. The symbols on the bands glowed bright silver.
Vessel, what have you done? Maelstrom.
I never thought I would be glad to hear that voice in my head.
I have suppressors on and they inhibit my ability to access you. Even now. I need you to manifest fully, I said in my thoughts.
You do not know what you ask. A full manifestation can kill you. And while I may be amenable to that as a solution it would not benefit me in this place. It would mean surrendering your free will.
I could feel my body giving way to the pain. The glowing symbols were so intense I could feel them burning into my skin. My body began to convulse and I could feel my chi slipping away.
Do it. Do it now. I won’t have another opportunity. You will be trapped here with me for as long as I live, I said as I felt my chi slip away. Too late. The symbols on the bands did not diminish in intensity.
“What the hell?” I said as the bands began to crack.
I smelled cooking flesh and was instantly hungry and horrified at the same time. It was the smell of my arms being branded by the symbols. Along the cracks I could see crimson lines of energy form. I held my arms away from my body and as far away from my face as possible. The lines grew brighter and brighter until the bands shattered, sending shards in every direction. For a second I thought I had lost both my arms below the elbows. I couldn’t feel anything. When I looked I saw the symbols from the bands burned into the skin. The next moment I felt myself recede but not completely.
I will take your offer at another time. For now I will assist you in exiting this place, said Maelstrom.
The weapon didn’t manifest in my presence, but I could feel the power coursing through me. Was it the symbols on my arms? I would have to investigate that later, but for now I needed to prepare. They would be bringing manar and I would be ready.
THIRTY-TWO
THE HEALER’S HOME was surrounded by Rah Ven, some in canine form. The growling grew worse by the second.
“Send them out, grandmother,” said one of the Rah Ven in front of the mob.
The healer opened her door with force and stared down the mob.
“I will not. You are welcome to come in and try to remove them,” she said.
“How could you heal two-legged scum? They are the ones that steal our young and enslave them!” said another from the crowd.
The healer gave the speaker a hard stare. “You dare speak to me with that tone of voice? I wiped your bottom before you were off your mother’s teat.
“Who speaks for this group? Or are you just a bunch of stray dogs too afraid to face me and would rather bark from the shadows?” she said.
One of the Rah Ven stepped forward from out of the mob. He was taller than the rest. His muscular body, covered in scars, rippled as he walked. His long brown hair was cut short, the opposite of most Rah Ven that wore their hair long. His yellow eyes shone with malice as he locked stares with the healer.
“I speak for this group, old one,” said the muscular Rah Ven.
“Of course you do, Cane, I should have seen your hand in this,” said the healer.
Behind the healer, Sylk stepped into view.
“There he is!” yelled someone from the crowd. “Give him to us. We will have justice for our young!” said another.
“He is my guest,” said the healer.
“He has no right to be here,” said Cane.
Behind the healer, Sylk raised his left hand showing it to the crowd. A murmur raced through the Rah Ven.
“He has a blood scar?” said a voice.
“How can he have a blood scar? It must be a trick,” came another voice.
Cane narrowed his eyes at the scar. The healer smiled at him. Then Cane smiled back.
“I invoke the rite of acceptance,” said Cane.
The healer frowned. “He is a friend of the pack. The rite holds no merit. His status has been established, by Grawl,” she said as she pulled out the pendant holding Grawl’s mark.
There was more whispering among the crowd. Cane raised his hand to calm them down.
“Is Grawl here? Can he confirm this? The rite still holds. I invoke it as a member of the pack and as Rah Ven. He must accept it. You know the alternative,” said Cane.
The crowd began murmuring as they grew uneasy. Sylk could see the unease on many of their faces. They did not want to challenge a blood scar and the mark of Grawl. However many of the faces were twisted by their hatred. They wanted revenge for the ones they had lost to the Mikai.
“We accept the rite. He needs time to prepare. We will meet in one hour at the appointed place,” said the healer and slammed the door.
“Curse Grawl, and curse this pack,” she said under her breath.
“Why curse Grawl?” said Sylk.
She drew close to Sylk as she spoke. “Because he left this pack without a successor. Cane has been trying to take control of it ever since he came of age and I fear today he may have found the opportunity he was looking for.”
“What is this rite?” Sylk was not as familiar with Rah Ven culture as he would have liked to be in that moment.
“Since you bear a blood scar and wear Grawl’s mark, it makes you a candidate for pack leader. The rite determines if the pack will accept your membership into the pack. It also establishes where you fall in its hierarchy.”
“Where do I fall now?” said Sylk.
“Right now you are seen as a threat. If the rite is not completed they will attack as a group. And be within their right to do so,” she added.
“Does everyone in my group have to pass this rite?”
She looked away. “No, you act for the group. If you succeed they will be safe.”
“If I fail?” said Sylk.
He knew where this was headed. He realized that Grawl had maneuvered him into this position—first, by securing his promise to deal with the Mikai and then by giving him the pendant. The old pack leader knew what would be set in motion the moment Sylk set foot in the Rah Ven plane.
“The rite of acceptance is a fight,” she said. “Victory can be determined in several ways. It can be first blood, concession, or death. The challenger picks the method.”
“If I succeed, the pack will leave us alone?”
“Yes, but if you fail your group shares your fate. Cane always picks death.”
THIRTY-THREE
THE TIME PASSED as I sat and evaluated where my strength was. Maelstrom would not manifest, even though I tried several times to bring it forth. However, I felt stronger than I ever had. The glyphs on my arms were red and angry but healed. I managed to pick up most of the prism parts and hid them in my shirt. My chi flowed and I was able to sense everything around me. It was a lot of nothing.
Focusing my chi, I summoned small orbs to float around me. I practiced sending them off into the walls until I could penetrate the stone.
Getting out of the cell was my priority, but I had a larger problem. Could I return to the group? Who could I trust? Were they just using me as Monique said? I had no way of proving it. Monique had every reason to lie. Her words were suspect at best. I still needed Samir to master the words of power. But why did Meja want me to use my inner sight? How many times did she suggest I was better off dead? It seemed I was better off alone. If Monique was telling the truth, I was alone and the group was dead, except for Sylk, Mara and Kal. At least if I was on my own I wouldn’t be vulnerable to anyone manipulating or using me.
I wouldn’t be hurt again. That would have to wait. First I needed to get out of this cell. If I could find Devin maybe he would have some answers. It seemed like hours had passed before I felt the surge of energy that signaled a portal was opening. I didn’t shield my eyes from the glare as that would have shown the bands were missing.
I sat with my back to the portal. The shadow of the figure loomed over and passed me as he drew closer to bring me my manar. I moved to the shadows, shuffling as I usually did when the pain had control of my body. They considered me a minimal threat and never sent more than one monitor at a time. I could understand the reasoning. Before the bands had come off, I was a minimal threat. I could barely stand, much less put up a fight. With the bands off, I would be a real threat. I had created several orbs as I felt the time for manar approach. I kept them in the shadows as the portal emerged.
“Time for your meal,” said the figure. He took several steps toward me and then stopped. “Wait a minute, that can’t be right—”
Readers— that’s how they knew my state. By reading my aura and intentions they knew I was harmless. He must have picked up on the change in my chi level right away. I didn’t give him time to react and sent the orbs at him with a thought. I didn’t kill him, even though every cell in my body wanted to destroy those who had put me in this place. He was most likely given a shift to attend to the ‘prisoner’. It was Monique I wanted.
The cup of manar fell to the floor and shattered. He followed as the orbs pummeled him senseless. I took his robes and put them over my own clothes. The hood cast my face in shadow. As long as I didn’t speak to anyone, I should be able to pass for a monitor. Unless I ran into another reader.
“It’s not right, it’s perfect,” I said as I stepped into the portal.
THIRTY-FOUR
HAVE YOU EVER faced a Rah Ven in battle before?” said the healer.
Sylk shook his head. “I have never had the occasion to fight Rah Ven. It is not something I would have attempted alone.”
“Smart man,” said the healer. “We Rah Ven are ferocious fighters. Our ability to camouflage makes it nearly impossible to see us and the ability we have to skip time makes it almost impossible to hit us.”
“Are there any rules to this fight?” said Sylk.
“He must not shift to canine form because you are not Rah Ven. No time skipping or camouflage. You cannot use any special ability outside of your wits or natural ability with the weapon of choice. You will decide the weapon,” said the healer.
“I am trained in many weapons.”
“Pick the one you are most comfortable with,” said the healer.
“What if he is skilled with it as well? Shouldn’t I pick something that puts him at a disadvantage?”
“It doesn’t matter what you pick, he won’t follow the rules. As soon as he feels threatened he will shift to canine form. You must defeat him as a canine. Once he shifts you can use whatever you know, but you must beat the Rah Ven,” she said.
“What are my chances?” said Sylk.
“Not bad. The blood scar will give you the strength and reflexes you need if you don’t fight for too long. The important piece is the pendant. As long as you stay close to him, Grawl’s pendant will stop the camouflage and time skip.”
“How close?”
“In the circle of claws,” she said as she drew close to Sylk. When she was close enough to touch him with an outstretched finger, she stopped.
“This close,” she said.
“Close enough to kill,” he said.
“Close enough to die.
“None of your group may interfere or you will unleash the mob and we may all be lost.” She said these words looking at Mara and Kal.
“I don’t like this, Master,” said Mara. “Can’t you just make a portal so we can leave?”
“We are not leaving them behind,” said Kal, her arms crossed and her jaw set.
Mara shot her a dark look and turned back to Sylk, pleading with her eyes.
“We can come back for them, after things calm down,” said Mara “Please don’t do this.”
“Your master cannot leave. He has given his word and his blood. Bonds that cannot be broken,” said the healer.
“They are right,” said Sylk, looking at Mara. “I must do this or we put everything in jeopardy.”
“What if you fall?”
“Then it wouldn’t matter anyway. I will do my best not to fall before Cane,” said Sylk.
He turned to the healer. “Any last words of wisdom?”
“I’ll not be at the ritual. Someone has to watch the flow of blood to your sick ones. No one but me can do it proper. If Cane finds himself on the losing end of things he may send some of his pack mates to visit your friends. It’s not beneath him,” said the healer as she looked at Kal and Mara. “Your friends and I will be here to greet them good and proper if they come.”
“Thank you,” said Sylk.
“Don’t thank me. I do this because of the blood scar. A lone wolf is a dead wolf. You heed me?” said the healer.
“I understand. I’ll be on my own when things get deadly,” said Sylk. It would not be the first time.
She nodded and pulled him close.
“Dead never saved anyone. When it’s kill or be killed make sure you be the one doing the killing. No hesitation—hesitation is weakness to the Rah Ven. Be swift and be certain,” she said as she opened the door and led him to the meeting place of the Rah Ven.
THIRTY-FIVE
I DIDN’T RECOGNIZE where I was at first. Everything was dim and it took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the lighting. It looked familiar, the way most dojos will look after you have been in enough of them. Then it hit me. I was in the nexus dojo, where all this began. I was in the home of the warriors, monitors and Black Lotus. Things just went from bad to nightmarish. I pulled the hood a little lower over my face and looked around. It appeared I was in some kind of supply room and kitchen. Surrounded by food, my stomach grumbled.
I grabbed a large piece of bread, and some assorted meats.
“Hungry, huh? Yeah, that poor bastard can’t eat any of that,” said a voice. “If you ask me it’s criminal what they are doing to him. You can’t live on manar for long, no matter how powerful it is.”
I froze.
Keeping the voice behind me, I nodded. I couldn’t let anyone realize I had escaped—not until I was ready. I didn’t know my way around this dojo well enough to navigate the miles of passageways alone. I backed up a few steps as I summoned orbs in front of me. They were small, the size of marbles. I packed them with enough chi to make them solid but not deadly. I wanted to avoid any senseless death. My killing would be precise and surgical. The Black Lotus and specifically Monique were my targets.
I turned to face the speaker. He was one of the kitchen staff. I could tell from the white uniform and the food stains across his chest.
“Sorry,” I said. My voice sounded odd. It had that strange dissonance when Maelstrom took over, but I felt in complete control. The glyphs must have something to do it. He startled and began to get closer.
“Hey, are you okay? You don’t sound so good. Did he do something to you? Should I call the boss? She said to report anything strange. I’m gonna call her,” he said as he was reaching for something just out of my field of vision.
I raised my hand, signaling I was okay and sent the orbs at him. They each had a small percussive force. Enough to stun but not enough to do major harm. The first one caught him by surprise and sent him off balance. I used two more to knock him out and caught him before he hit the ground. There was a pantry area in the back and I put him in there. Hopefully he would remain out of sight long enough for me to get out of this place. As I turned to leave the pantry I saw the glowing red light. He had flipped a switch before I put him down.
Shit, that can’t be good. I looked for the exit and was walking toward it when I saw the figures heading my way. There were three of them. They were dressed like monitors b
ut only two of them approached. I guessed the third for a reader since he was the one who spoke first.
“There he is. Stop him or Monique will have our heads,” said the third.
I created more orbs and flung them at the two who were approaching. These men worked for or with Monique, which meant all bets were off. I made the orbs dense but non percussive. It was the equivalent of getting shot with a twelve-gauge shotgun at point-blank range. They both went flying back past the third, dead before hitting the floor. I wanted the third one alive. Grabbing a large knife from the counter, I walked over to the reader.
“You’re a reader, aren’t you,” I said.
He nodded.
“Good. You are going to get me out of this place. If you do this I promise you won’t die like these two,” I said.
“No, I can’t. Monique will kill me if I help you,” he said and started to step back.
“I can do much worse than Monique, trust me,” I said, my voice sounding alien to my ears.
“You don’t understand,” he said as he turned and ran. I sent several orbs after him slamming him into the wall. He fell to the floor unconscious.
I stood in the kitchen with two bodies on the floor and a large knife in my hand. This didn’t look good. I put the knife in one of the robe pockets and left the kitchen through the same door they had come in. She had a real hold over those who worked for her. The readers would be able to find me if they were in proximity. I needed to steer clear of everyone. As I walked down the passageway I noticed how deserted the areas were. The hallway I was in led to a larger junction, connecting to three more hallways. I had no way of knowing which hallway to pick. I was about to take the middle one when I saw the figure walking toward me.
“I don’t know how you got out, traitor, but you are going back,” he said as he drew a sword.
I sent orbs flying at him and he deflected all of them with a wave of his hand. This was no ordinary monitor. It was a member of the Black Lotus. I would recognize that clothing anywhere.
Warriors of the Way-Pentalogy Page 32