“No, I’m saying the danger is minimal. We are never completely safe. Especially if they have an order to deliver us to someone,” said Sylk.
“Warrior, is that why you are nervous?” said Samir.
I shook my head. It was a feeling I couldn’t pinpoint. It was the same feeling you get when the hairs on your neck stand on end and you turn around to find someone staring at you.
“No, I keep feeling another person here with us. I know it sounds crazy but it feels like we’re being shadowed,” I said.
Kal materialized her daggers. Samir released his staff and gripped it defensively. Sylk stood absolutely still. I could tell he was opening his senses to examine the area.
“I sense nothing,” he said. “This does not mean Dante is wrong. Stay alert.”
We walked down another corridor. As we turned the corner, three Sherfym blocked our way. They stood in front of a large door covered in glyphs.
“It is a dimensional passageway. It can take us to any plane we request,” whispered Samir.
“Greetings, Karashihan, to what do owe the honor of your presence here?” said the female in the center.
They were dressed in leather pants with a white top. The speaker had a long scar down one side of her face. Her pants had a gold stripe running down each leg. I was surprised at how similar they were to the watchers of the North Watch. The only difference was their shorter stature.
Could they be the same species? I wonder if they are some offshoot of the Watchers of the planes. She looks familiar.
They each had rods attached to their sides. The tips of the rods pulsed a dull red. Then it came back to me. Auric flails. A better description would have been rods of immense pain that leave you helpless. Her hand rested loosely near the flail attached to her leg. The smell of lavender filled the air, followed by the sound of bubbles popping. Three more Sherfym appeared behind us.
Sylk bowed low and kept his hands in front of him.
“Greetings, Mia. The honor is mine.”
Mia—she was the one assigned to keep me tied down until Roman came to collect me. She didn’t have a scar then.
She looked at me and recognition briefly crossed her eyes.
“What is your purpose here?” she asked, her tone cold as she looked at me.
Sylk looked between the two of us.
“Is there an order out on him?” said Sylk, looking at me.
“His order was fulfilled. The Sherfym were compensated. However his escape was facilitated by another. Restitution was demanded and I was given this,” she said.
She pointed to the scar on her face. Then she opened her top and showed us another scar that ran down the center of her chest to her navel.
“There are more I shall not reveal,” she said, closing her top.
I remained silent. There were no words I could say that would undo what she had gone through.
I’m so sorry, Mia. The last thing I wanted was you to be hurt because of me.
“Save your apologies and state your business,” she said, turning to Sylk.
Telepaths—they are telepaths.
“We seek passage to the Akashic Records. Our normal means of travel is currently inaccessible,” said Sylk.
“Passage for all five?” she said.
“Yes, for the entire group,” said Sylk, before anyone could speak.
Five? There are only four of us.
“What payment do you offer?” said Mia.
“What payment do you require? I have the accepted gold.”
“No, I will not accept gold. I want something from him.”
She was pointing at me.
I could see Sylk wasn’t happy where the conversation was going.
“I am sure I can provide…” started Sylk.
“These are the terms. Accept them or decline and leave our stronghold. While you can,” she said.
“May we have a moment to discuss?”
“You have exactly three minutes,” she said, fingering the handle of her flail.
Sylk walked over to me. Samir and Kal drew close. We stepped around the corner and into the next corridor from the Sherfym to speak.
“Keep calm,” said Sylk in a low tone. “Strong emotions make your thoughts easier to read. They have limited telepathic ability with non-Sherfym.”
“What does she want from me?” I said.
“We can find another way to the Records. It’s incredibly dangerous but possible,” said Sylk.
“Can you guarantee we will all make it using this alternate way?”
“It is not without its risks.”
“Sylk, will we all make it there? Simple yes or no,” I said.
“I can’t say yes with certainty,” he answered. “The path is through the mirror. We will have to contend with watchers, the real ones, in addition to other threats. We would be going through a null plane.”
Samir visibly blanched and said something in a language I couldn’t understand.
“That sounds bad,” I said.
“It is impossible!” hissed Samir. “No living thing can travel the null planes.”
“It is possible. I have done it,” said Sylk.
“Can we all make it through this ‘null plane’?” I asked.
“I have never taken more than one with me, but the theory is sound. I should be able to transport you all through.”
His tone said it all. He didn’t think it was possible.
“But you can’t guarantee we will all make it, correct?” I said.
“It is no light thing to accept a request from a Sherfym. There is no plane where you can hide from them. Whatever it is you agree to you must uphold. Or forfeit your life.”
“I understand. I’m not going to risk all your lives if we can use their passageway. Let’s head back. Our time is almost up,” I said.
We walked back in silence. Mia was waiting for us with flail in hand.
“Your decision?” she said.
“We accept your terms. What payment do you require from him?” said Sylk.
“You may use our passageway. In return I will be compensated one favor from the warrior,” she said. “At the time of my choosing.”
It wasn’t the words but the smile that followed that turned my blood to ice. It was Sylk’s turn to go pale.
“Dante, are you certain—” began Sylk.
“I accept your terms. When can we use your passageway?” I said.
“It is available to you now,” she said.
The Sherfym moved aside, allowing us access to the door behind them. Sylk stepped close to the door and pressed on several of the glyphs. They flared with a white light as he pressed on them in sequence. Before pressing the last one he looked back at us.
“This will happen rather quickly. Do not delay entering the passageway.”
The three of us nodded and he pressed the last glyph. The entire door flared white and then opened.
“I will see you soon, warrior,” said Mia.
Sylk stepped through and we followed.
THIRTY-FIVE
KENJI ARRIVED IN the Rah Ven plane and found stillness. He opened his senses and caught his breath.
That is a large amount of Gyrevex. More than I have ever sensed in my life.
The next moment he found a dagger blade across his neck, forcing him to remain motionless.
“Who are you and how did you get here?” said a female voice behind him.
“I find it somewhat difficult to speak with the threat of a blade at my throat,” he said.
“Find a way around the difficulty, or die.”
Honesty is always the best policy. Besides, she is good enough to sneak up on me without my sensing her. I would like to know who this warrior is.
“My name is Kenji. I am in the service of Aurora Iman and I am here looking for a warrior. His name is Dante.”
The blade was lowered.
“Turn around, slow,” said the female.
Kenji turned around and gazed upon the woman th
at had almost ended his existence.
“My name is Meja. I know Dante, but he isn’t here. What do you need with him?”
“He is currently my responsibility. I must return to Aurora and he must be with me when I do so. He is fallen and he may be in danger. I was able to track him here,” said Kenji.
“Fallen? What do you mean, fallen?”
They stepped off the circle and moved into the trees surrounding the area.
“He has been seared. He no longer has access to his chi. Without that access he is vulnerable to attack.”
“You can track across planes? Do you know of the Sherfym?” she said.
“I do, but what do they have to do with Dante?”
“That’s where he is. If you want him, that’s where we need to go.”
“Getting there is another matter entirely. That plane is disconnected from any other. I would need the specific glyphs to open a portal there,” said Kenji. “Wait, ‘we’?”
“Yes, ‘we’. You aren’t getting close to Dante without me and I know where to find him, but first I have to deal with this situation here.”
“You plan on taking on an army of Gyrevex singlehandedly?” said Kenji with a smile. “I like a challenge, but that seems more like suicide.”
“No, not alone. I have you two with me and we are going for the Samadhi that controls them.”
“Two? I don’t see anyone else,” said Kenji looking around.
“You can come out now, Noga. I know you are there,” said Meja.
Kenji looked at her. For a moment nothing happened.
“Who is Noga? Is this some spirit you pray to? Not a bad idea if you are facing that army,” said Kenji as he stood to leave. “Thank you for the assistance in pointing me in the right direction. I will return to Aurora. I am certain she can gain access to the Sherfym.”
Meja just stared of into the distance.
“Noga, I know you are there. Did Luna send you?”
Noga appeared next to Meja. Kenji took a step back and raised his staff. He looked at Noga carefully and then lowered his staff.
“Rah Ven Guard—no wonder I didn’t sense you. That I understand.”
He squinted at Meja. “You, on the other hand are perplexing.”
“As I was saying. We are going for the Samadhi that controls the Gyrevex.”
“And you consider that easier than the Gyrevex army? Whoever he is, he must wield a breathtaking amount of power,” said Kenji.
“He’s right, ma’am. To control that many of the creatures is impossible. He is too strong,” said Noga.
“Exactly. No one can control that many Gyrevex. Not even a Samadhi. This means he is using something else to control them. Weapons of power would work.”
“They would, but he would need a vast amount to control an army that size. Unless…” said Kenji.
“Unless he has the scythes. If he can form the Reapers, he can control them and they would control the army.”
“Cut the head of the snake and the body withers. If he has called forth the Reapers he is mad or on his way. The three of us cannot stop a Samadhi of this caliber,” said Kenji.
“We have no choice. If we don’t stop him, the Gyrevex will spread to every plane. Right now they are after Rah Ven. What happens when the Rah Ven are wiped out?”
“We kill him now and save my people,” said Noga.
“Or die in the process. Do you have a plan?” said Kenji.
“Simple. You two attract the Gyrevex while I deal with the Samadhi,” said Meja.
“Oh, that’s all? Well, this should be a short attack.”
Meja moved to the circle and began to trace glyphs in the air.
“Right now this plane is empty of Rah Ven, except you, Noga. I’m going to use a duplicating chi to make it seem like the city is populated. I can only start it. You must sustain it, Kenji.”
“It will give the appearance of Rah Ven in the city. Ingenious,” said Kenji.
“It will only appear to create Rah Ven but they will all have Noga’s energy signature. This should be enough to draw them in since they are after Rah Ven. Noga, you must project your life force into the circle. Kenji, my glyphs will amplify her force. It won’t fill the city but it should be enough.”
“My life force. How long will I have?” said Noga.
“I should be able to locate and take out the Samadhi in plenty of time to get you off the circle. He will have to control the Reapers while they chase down your signature. The strain should be enormous on him,” said Meja. “I’ll get in close and eliminate him. That should shut down the Reapers and the Gyrevex in a cascade effect.”
“This could actually work. Very well, warrior, let us begin,” said Kenji.
He sat some distance from the circle. Meja finished tracing her symbols. Once done she nodded to Kenji, who began performing the same glyphs while Noga sat in the circle and projected her essence downward.
The effect was immediate. In the distance a roar could be heard. Thousands of Gyrevex advanced on the city. Kenji looked at Meja. His hands were a blur as he traced glyphs in the air.
“How long? How long do we have before her essence drains in to the circle and she dies?” said Kenji.
Sweat was pouring down his face but he refused to wipe his brow for fear of breaking the glyph pattern.
“Not long enough. When you sense she is close, stop the glyphs,” said Meja.
“But that means you will be in the middle of the Gyrevex. They will focus on the nearest energy signature, yours.”
“I know. I’m hoping the fact I’m not Rah Ven will buy me some time. She wouldn’t have agreed if I told her. I’m sure Luna sent her here with some nonsense of keeping me safe.”
Meja formed a portal.
“I understand. Good luck, warrior. I will keep going for as long as I can without jeopardizing her life.”
Meja entered the portal and vanished from sight.
She reappeared several miles away near the center of the Gyrevex camp. She sensed the Samadhi’s presence almost immediately. It was a beacon of energy in the center of the camp.
He’s close. I have never felt this much power in one person. Too late to stop now.
She masked her chi and ran to the center. Seated in lotus position, Master Phoenix cocked his head to one side. Meja stepped inside the tent. Master Phoenix turned his head in her direction, his eyes still closed.
“Did you really think you were going to sneak up on me?” he said, opening his eyes. The whites of his eyes had become black, giving the impression of looking into two pits of night.
He raised a hand and sent a blast of energy in her direction. She manifested her sword. A sphere of blue energy surrounded her. The blast crashed against the sphere and began to break through it.
“Who sent you? Wheel? I knew he would try something like this. Unfortunately for you I was expecting an attack,” he said.
Meja drove her sword into the ground and began a series of glyphs. Blue lines of energy began to weave their way across the ground, heading for Master Phoenix.
“A skein? Impressive. At least he sent me a challenge. Not much of one, but this should help me pass the time. Tell me, how did you attract my army? This plane is empty, unless you have help. Of course. Someone is being a distraction—clever.”
He placed his hands together and traced a series of glyphs in the air. Orange lines formed in the ground and broke through the skein Meja had created. The orange lines weaved their way toward her. The blast had dissolved half of her sphere.
I underestimated him. He is blasting me and sending a skein at me while controlling the Reapers. He is too strong.
“About now you are realizing your mistake. Oh, and I saw through your ruse. I only sent a fraction of my army. The main force is being readied to be dispatched to every plane, even as you die here. Goodbye, assassin.”
He turned his back on her and headed for the tent entrance.
The orange lines converged on Meja and crashed into a
silver sphere. Phoenix turned in time to see a silver-coated Rah Ven absorb the impact of the blast.
“Noga! No,” said Meja.
Noga collapsed to the ground. “Kill him. Save my people,” she said.
Meja jumped at Phoenix. He manifested a flaming sword and parried her downward slash. She thrust and he sidestepped, causing her to miss by a fraction of an inch. Tears coursed down her cheek.
“You mourn that dog? You are pathetic. They are worthless and deserve extinction. Just like those who would help them.”
He slashed upward and rotated, switching hands mid-slash. He changed direction and thrust. Meja stepped back to avoid the slash but didn’t see the hand switch. Too late, she realized the feint. Instead of burying itself in her chest his sword went high and to the side. Noga had transformed to canine form and had bitten down on Phoenix’s leg. He turned, enraged.
“You dare to touch me!” he screamed as he stabbed downward into Noga.
In that moment Meja slashed across and removed his head.
His body crumpled to the ground, His head rolled to the side of the tent, laughing. She stopped it with her foot.
“Foolish girl. You think you have stopped me? My army continues forward without me. They will destroy everything Wheel desires.”
She looked outside the tent and saw the Gyrevex disintegrating. Energy flooded the plane in a massive burst as the Gyrevex disappeared.
“Your army is nothing without you. Who is Wheel?” said Meja.
Phoenix began laughing again.
“I fused the scythes. I fused the scythes. Nothing will stop them now, nothing.”
“What did you do? Where are the scythes?”
“My Reapers will bring destruction to everything. First the Rah Ven and then the Order. Finally Wheel himself will feel their blades and know that I brought about his destruction,” said Phoenix.
Flames surrounded his head and body. Meja lifted her foot quickly. She grabbed Noga, who had reverted back to human form, and ran out of the tent. The flames burst into the air and consumed the tent and everything around it, leaving nothing but ash.
Moments later, Kenji arrived.
“Once they started disintegrating I came here,” he said.
Meja was kneeling next to Noga.
“Please take me to the circle. I would like it to end there.”
Warriors of the Way-Pentalogy Page 53