Warriors of the Way-Pentalogy

by Orlando A. Sanchez

  “Is dead. Snow has them now.”

  “That won’t be much easier than dealing with Wei.”

  “I know. Wei said something to her about the Samadhi. We have to tell him.”

  “He said never to contact him. I don’t think this a good…”

  “This can undo everything. He has to know,” said Monique. “Send a message.”

  “Do you think she knows?”

  “No, I think she is just going by her instincts. She is a liability now.”

  “She put down the Harbinger. This won’t be easy,” said Rory.

  “She had help. When you go out to bring down Meja, take her with you. Make sure she doesn’t return. I’m sure taking down a dangerous rogue will have its casualties.”

  TWENTY-NINE

  THE SOUTH WATCH was bustling with activity. Many of the structures that had been damaged were being reconstructed and repaired. The central obelisk thrummed with power as several Watch monitors worked on the defenses surrounding it. A circle of glyphs surrounded the obelisk. Around the glyphs were a series of semicircular walls also covered in symbols. Around the walls, twenty armed guards stood at the ready. At regular intervals Rah Ven were sent to be stationed on the outer perimeter, reinforcing the armed guards.

  The Keeper sat on a bench and viewed the added security with concern.

  “Will this really stop another attack?” he said.

  Rin, who was close by overseeing the reconstruction, turned to the Keeper.

  “This is one of the only known points of access to the Records. The others are lost or too difficult to gain entry to. It is a necessary precaution.”

  “That was not my question,” said the Keeper with a smile.

  Rin put down his clipboard and sat next to the Keeper.

  “Yes, no, I don’t know. The glyphs were from the ancient texts and designed to stop any unwanted intrusion. The glyphic walls are shaped to obstruct the flow of chi. The elite guards are armed with the weapons of power from the vault. The Rah Ven are the first or last line of defense depending on where the attack originates. The glyphs also route every portal formed on the plane to the obelisk. We now control the only exit and entry point to the plane.”

  “Circumstances relevant to the Rah Ven have changed. They must be informed and I must remain here,” said the Keeper.

  “The Rah Ven? Shouldn’t we send one of their own? The security here requires that I…”

  “We have guests. Tell your security not to attack,” said the Keeper.

  A portal formed near the obelisk, The Rah Ven camouflaged and disappeared from sight. The guards readied their weapons and took defensive positions. Each of the monitors working on the central defenses manifested their weapons.

  The Keeper stood and leaned on his staff a moment before heading to the obelisk with Rin in tow.

  “Keeper, it would be safer…”

  “This is no threat. Are the rooms in order? I have a feeling we may be getting a few visitors today.”

  “Keeper?”

  “Rin, this is a sincere gesture, really. If the Harbinger or Roman were to attack, these defenses would slow them down, but not stop them. It wouldn’t stop the one coming through now. My message to the Rah Ven is near the circle. Please take it to them now, time is against us. I will attend to the guests.”

  “Yes, Keeper,” said Rin as he headed off into the Watch.

  At the center of the obelisk Sylk and Mara came through the portal. Sylk looked around and realized he was in the center of the Watch grounds surrounded by armed monitors and not approaching the Watch from the desert.

  “This is new,” said Mara as she looked around.

  “Indeed. It would seem the Watch is readying their security earlier than expected,” said Sylk.

  The Keeper entered the circle and greeted them both.

  “Welcome, Karashihan, I did not expect to see you so soon.”

  Sylk and Mara bowed.

  “It would seem events are conspiring to have my presence here, if only for a short time,” said Sylk. “Is Grawl available? I need to speak with him.”

  “He is on the outer wall, as is his custom. He is looking to take his last walk into the desert. I think he is waiting for you.”

  “I will need to travel to the Akashic Records. How soon will that be possible?”

  “Three days until the time of alignment. In the meantime we have much to discuss,” said the Keeper. “Your rooms are ready. Please go eat and rest. We will speak soon.”

  Sylk turned and began to head towards the Watch, but hesitating, he stopped and looked at the Keeper.

  “Did you know about Dante?”

  “His ability to wield the First’s weapon and still maintain his sanity was a strong indicator of his lineage. The real question is not if I knew, but why didn’t you?

  “If you will excuse me, I have some matters to attend to. Rin will attend to anything you need and then we will meet. Grawl is on the southern side if you wish to speak to him before the evening.”

  The Keeper disappeared, leaving them alone.

  “That is always unsettling,” said Mara.

  Sylk nodded and walked on in silence.

  “I will meet you at the rooms. I would like to speak to Grawl first.”

  “Yes, master,” said Mara as she headed to the keep.

  Sylk approached the southern side of the Watch and opened his awareness.

  “There is no need for that here, Alpha. We are not enemies.”

  Grawl stood in human form along the south wall of the Watch. He looked out into the desert as the sun began to set. Its light transformed the landscape into an orange sea of sand.

  “Greetings, old one,” said Sylk, bowing.

  Grawl bowed and looked back over the wall.

  “How are things with the pack, Alpha?”

  “I would say your plan is being executed flawlessly,” said Sylk.

  “”What do you mean? What plan?”

  “Luna will be an excellent Alpha.”

  Grawl nodded. “She has been made second?”

  Sylk nodded. “The healer is part of this as well?”

  “She is the only one outside of you that knows of my motives.”

  “I had my suspicions. She can be quite convincing.”

  “Grandmother can be a force of nature. She is a powerful ally and a ruthless enemy,” said Grawl.

  “I spoke with Mariko, the leader of the Mikai. They will put a stop to the abductions.”

  “The shadow men have stopped attacking my people. I am in your debt,” said Grawl.

  “What now? Am I supposed to die?” said Sylk with a smile.

  Grawl laughed. “No, Karashihan. Your part in this plan is done. Now that Luna is second I only need to visit my plane once more before my last walk. I will pass leadership to her and then I can rest.”

  Sylk took off the fang pendant and held it out to Grawl.

  “No, you keep it. You are still a friend of the pack. Thank you for everything you have done. You have ensured the safety and future of my people.”

  Sylk put the pendant on and looked out into the desert alongside Grawl.

  “It has been my honor, old one.”

  “Grawl, call me Grawl, in the manner of friends. It is something I have not experienced in a long time.”

  Sylk felt the energy buildup before the wave hit. Grawl, sensing it as well, transformed to canine form. That act saved Sylk’s life.

  “It’s coming from the center of the …” said Sylk.

  Grawl took the brunt of the blast broadside, shielding Sylk. The blast rocked the wall and sent them both over and into the desert sand below.

  **********

  Master Phoenix looked out over the last city of the Rah Ven and smiled.

  Soon this city will be a memory, ground to dust and obliterated. I will destroy every Rah Ven in every plane. First the South Watch: a thousand Gyrevex should take care of it. Tonight I destroy this city and all the vermin in it. Nothing and no
one can stand before me now. I am unstoppable and all will kneel before me, even Wheel. Especially Wheel.

  THIRTY

  “IT DOESN’T WORK, Samir. I did it exactly as you showed me.”

  “What do you mean it doesn’t work? Is your chi broken? How can it not work?” said Kal.

  “Try it again, warrior. Perhaps you are missing a gesture or are doing it incorrectly,” said Samir.

  I redid the gestures that would open the portal to the South Watch. Golden light surrounded my hands. Once I infused the gestures with chi and thought of the South Watch nothing happened. No portal.

  “We must get to the Watch. There is another way but it is dangerous. Every Watch is connected to its polar opposite to facilitate a form of rapid transit from one to another. If we can access the North Watch we can then travel to the South.”

  “I almost hate to ask. Why is this dangerous?” I said.

  “The North Watch?” asked Kal, turning to Samir. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I am certain,” said Samir.

  “This just keeps getting better,” she said.

  “Tell me,” I said.

  “The North Watch is thought to have been destroyed or captured,” explained Samir.

  He was hesitating, trying to read my reaction. I motioned him to continue. I knew it was going to be bad. May as well get it over with.

  “No one has heard from it in over a century. Several attempts were made to re-establish contact. No one ever returned. Many brave warriors disappeared.”

  “And this is the Watch you want to go to? Are you insane?” I asked.

  “There is only one known access point to the Akashic Records, and that is from the South Watch. The obelisk is keyed to the Records. I know of no other way to get there,” said Samir. “If either of you know of a different method of entry to the Records, please share it now.”

  Kal and I both remained silent.

  “As I was saying, the North Watch is our best chance. Warrior, please come here.”

  I stepped close to him and he placed a hand on my head. Images flooded my mind.

  “That should suffice to create a portal there,” he said.

  I ran through the gestures and infused them with chi. Golden trails followed my hand movements. At the last gesture I let the images Samir gave me flood my mind’s eye and a portal formed before us.

  “Are you ready?” I said.

  Samir and Kal nodded. Kal had daggers in both hands. Samir held a staff. I unsheathed my sword and led the way through. The world became white and a sense of vertigo hit me. It was stronger than any portal I have been through.

  We came through on the other side. We were in a courtyard of some kind. The Watch looked identical in construction to the South Watch. The only difference being that this one was in a state of neglect. I looked around and found that we stood in a tré. It hummed under us. Parts of the circle were cracked and overrun with weeds.

  The first thing I noticed was the absolute silence of the Watch. Nothing stirred. It felt like the Watch had been frozen in time. Foliage covered everything. Many of the stone walkways were cracked with roots running through them. This Watch had no obelisk in the center of the garden.

  “Kal, can you hear anything?”

  “Let me check.”

  She stood still and listened. After a few minutes she shook her head.

  “Nothing. If there is someone here they are too far away or too quiet.”

  “Samir, where do we need to go?”

  “The connecting circle is in the lower level of the Watch. It was placed there to make it easily defensible or, in case of a compromised Watch, it could be sealed off.”

  “Great, a creepy dead Watch and we need to go into the basement. There is nothing that could go wrong with that scenario,” said Kal.

  “No choice, we’re here, let’s get it done,” I said.

  Behind us, footsteps approached. We turned as one, weapons ready. An elderly woman appeared around a corner. I lowered my sword slightly. Kal kept her daggers in a defensive position and looked ready to leap any moment.

  “Could it be?” said Samir.

  “Could it be what? Is she a threat?” said Kal.

  Samir, using his staff as a walking stick, approached the old woman. She appeared to be blind but turned in Samir’s direction as he got closer.

  “Who’s there?” said the old woman.

  “My name is Samir. I am a syllabist. Are you the Keeper of this Watch?”

  “Yes, I am. What are you doing here? It’s too dangerous!” she hissed.

  She cocked her head, listening to a sound only she could hear.

  “We must use the Watch circles. We need to get to the South Watch. Why are you blind?” said Samir.

  “The circles haven’t been used in years. He severed the connection. He blinded me and then trapped my essence. This is but a small part of who I am. You must leave now before he returns,” she said.

  “We must travel to the South Watch. Can you help us restore the circles?” said Samir.

  “I don’t know. He would know and then he would destroy another part of me.”

  “Please,” Kal pleaded. “Please, we need to get there.”

  I didn’t think Keepers could be hurt or harmed, but it made sense. Destroying the Watch would be the same as destroying the Keeper’s body. The Keeper began rubbing her hands together and looking to the sides.

  “Very well, yes, yes. We must move with haste. Follow me. Do not use any ability. This Watch is dormant. Any use of chi will alert his watchers.”

  “Did you say watchers?” said Kal, alarmed.

  We stopped walking and looked around.

  Images of the creatures came to mind, relentless beings of immense power. A shiver ran down my spine. I didn’t want to see them again.

  “Not those watchers. These are not the plane guardians.”

  We let out a collective sigh of relief.

  “These watchers are smaller versions of those. They react to the use of energy. As long as no chi is used you should be fine. Come, come, follow me,” she said as she led us to the Watch.

  We looked at each other uneasily. Any kind of watcher was bad news. Who could have smaller versions of the most powerful being in the planes as his personal security force?

  I didn’t want to stick around to find out.

  We approached the massive doors of the Watch and she waited a moment. For a few seconds nothing happened but then the doors began to open.

  “Hurry, you must hurry. They will sense you in time,” said the Keeper. We headed down large stairs to another smaller level.

  “Through here, the circles are at the end of this corridor.”

  The temperature inside the Watch was bordering on freezing. I could actually see my breath on each exhalation. Frost formed on some of the walls.

  “Why is it so cold?” I said.

  “Because the Watch is dormant, maintaining an ambient temperature that would be comfortable for you is not possible. We must hurry, the watchers will arrive soon,” said the Keeper.

  “I thought they only detect chi use?” said Kal.

  “They are designed to react to any use of chi, but they will sense your chi over time. It will take them longer to react to your presence if you do not use your ability.”

  “So they know we are here?” I asked, liking this idea less by the second.

  “They will be aware of a shift in the chi level of the Watch. My dormant state allows for the slightest fluctuation to be observed and detected. Think of it like a human body. A small cut will get one kind of response. A large wound another. Right now you are a small cut, an itch easily ignored. Once we restore the circles, you will be a large wound requiring immediate attention.”

  “That sounds comforting,” said Samir.

  “My apologies, it was not my intention to disturb you. Only to provide a context for you to better understand the situation at hand.”

  “Thank you. I think it’s clear now,” I
said.

  She led us down the corridor to a large door. I recognized some of the symbols. I saw owls in flight and a crescent moon.

  “This was meant for the monitors as a way for them to get from one Watch to the other,” I said.

  The Keeper placed her hand on the door and the owls began to circle around the moon.

  “It has begun. The watchers will be on their way. Quickly, inside.”

  We entered the room and she closed the door behind us. The same symbols were on this side of the door. She placed her hand on the door and the owls returned to their original configuration. The room itself was covered in dust. It was once what appeared to be a comfortable lounge. Seating areas were placed in between large bookcases. Almost every surface was wood. It reminded me of a train station waiting area. In the center was a circle about ten feet across. I sensed no energy coming from it.

  “That door will not keep them out for long. I can establish the connection and then I will be gone for a short time. The expenditure of energy will not allow me to maintain this state. Which one of you will open the portal?”

  “He will,” said Samir pointing at me.

  “Very well, you must stand here. When you sense that the connection is established you must create the portal from inside the circle. Not before then. Do you understand? Your portal must coincide with the activation of the circles.”

  “How long will it take for the connection to form?

  “Three minutes from the moment I begin to the actual connection.”

  “These watchers. Can they be killed or destroyed?”

  The Keeper nodded. “Yes. They are difficult to dispatch but they are not immortal.”

  “How many can we expect?” I said.

  “The last group that attempted to use chi here faced five of them.”

  “How large was that group?” said Kal.

  “It is irrelevant. We must do this. There is no other way,” said Samir.

  “I need to know what my odds are,” said Kal.

  “The other group was twenty strong. Mostly monitors. None survived,” said the Keeper.

  “Thank you,” said Kal as she laid out her weapons on the floor in front of her.

  “Are you ready?” said the Keeper.