Ravia closed her eyes for a moment and then nodded her head.
“The connection is gone,” she answered, her eyes still closed. “It feels like our exile. Are we trapped?”
The Keeper approached them. His staff glowed as he walked slowly in their direction. Behind the Keeper stood three Rah Ven.
“What have you done?” said Tetra.
“What needed to be done,” answered the Keeper. “You will remain here until the Solus protocol runs its course.”
“You dare deny me?” asked Tetra. “Do you know who I am? What I am?” Tetra began undoing his garments. Beside him, Ravia did the same. The Keeper remained still as they disrobed. He raised his staff and held it horizontally across his body.
“I do,” said the Keeper. “You are Tetra of the Kriyas. You are beings of great power, capable of siphoning chi from any living thing.”
“Where is the bonded one?” asked Tetra. “If you give her to me, I may let you live.”
“She is no longer here. Why do you seek her?” asked the Keeper. “She has done you no harm.”
Tetra’s skin glistened as he tried to absorb the energy in the plane. His red eyes focused past the group in front of him. Down below the surface, he could see the entanglement of chi. He did not feel her presence.
“You speak truth, old one,” said Tetra. “I will speak the same. I seek her master, Sylk, of the line of Iman. He is the one who stole my vengeance.”
“How did he accomplish this?” asked the Keeper.
“Enough talk,” said Tetra through clenched teeth. He placed the palms of his hands together and the air around him became lifeless. Behind the Keeper, the Rah Ven transformed into canine form.
Tetra lunged forward at the Keeper. Ravia smiled and walked slowly to the Rah Ven. The Keeper held his staff before him as Tetra swung a chi-enhanced fist. Tetra hit a barrier and was sent flying back. Ravia turned with a look of surprise on her face.
“Impossible,” whispered Tetra as he got to his feet. “You are using chi. I can feel it. How can you repel me?”
The Keeper leaned on his staff and looked at Tetra.
“I was old when you were still being formed, Kriya,” said the Keeper. “The Solus protocol reverses the flow of energy in the plane. If you were to siphon this energy, it would undo you. Aside from that, this Watch is the first Watch.”
“It is you who will be undone,” said Tetra through clenched teeth. He closed his eyes for a moment and then advanced.
“This is futile, Kriya,” said the Keeper.
“You will not trap us here, old one,” said Tetra. “We still have time.”
Ravia, do not engage the Rah Ven. I will create a rift. We must leave this place before it is too late.
But they taste delicious. I can feel their life.
This protocol is not complete. He is trying to delay us. We must leave now.
Tetra traced a glyph and tore a hole in the fabric of the plane. A ragged portal formed behind him. Now, Ravia! Tetra stepped back to the edge of the portal.
Ravia ran for the portal. The Keeper sent a blast of energy that caught her and brought her to the ground, immobilizing her.
I will return for you.
Tetra, no! Do not leave me!
They will not harm you.
“You will not stop me, Keeper,” said Tetra as he stepped in front of the portal.
The Keeper pointed his staff at Tetra and sent a blast of energy at him. Tetra crossed his arms and absorbed the blast. The impact sent him back and through the portal.
“Go after him,” said the Keeper to the Rah Ven. “He will be incapacitated for several hours after absorbing that attack. Bring him back here before the protocol is complete.”
Two of the Rah Ven bounded through the portal and disappeared. The Keeper looked down at the immobile but conscious form of Ravia. Her eyes flashed in anger and defiance.
“You are merely a blunt instrument in this war,” he said, looking down at Ravia. He turned to the Rah Ven beside him. “Bring her. We will make sure she can cause no harm.”
The Rah Ven transformed back to human form, lifted Ravia off the ground, and followed the Keeper.
FOURTEEN
SOMETHING IS WRONG. Raja has never demonstrated personal interest in the past, thought Samir.
“The text on the foci,” said Samir, “who possesses it now?”
“If I give you that information, I will be placing your life and the lives of your companions in considerable danger,” said Raja. “Are you certain you wish to know?”
“Yes. Considering the alternative, we need that information.”
“Very well. The last person to possess the book of the foci was the bearer of the second focus, Wu Wei,” answered Raja after a pause.
How is this knowledge dangerous? thought Samir.
“Where is Wu Wei now?”
“I cannot say,” said Raja. “I am a repository of knowledge. I am not omniscient.”
“Understood,” said Samir. “What can you tell me about the third focus? What are its properties?”
“Its known properties are allowing the wielders of the weapon to time-skip and wave-dance,” replied Raja with some hesitation. “The purpose of the third focus is to act as a check and balance to the first.”
What isn’t he telling me? Why is he pausing? It’s as if he is struggling to give me the information.
“Why are you reluctant to share this information?”
Raja looked at Samir and fixed him with a serious stare. He stepped back and assessed Samir, looking at him entirely.
“This line of questioning is not pertinent to learning about the focus and can prove detrimental to your wellbeing,” said Raja. “Please center your questions on the foci.”
Samir took a step back and hesitated. “Is there a ritual regarding the third focus?” asked Samir.
“Yes, the ritual consists of three parts,” answered Raja.
“Can you elaborate on the three parts?”
“Certainly,” began Raja. “The first part consists of the initial binding. The wielder must demonstrate compatibility and possess the power sufficient to wield the focus.”
“Did Dante meet this criterion?”
“Yes, he did.”
“Please go on,” said Samir.
“The second phase of the ritual consists of a trial of ability,” continued Raja. “The wielder must defeat an embodiment of the focus.”
Is Dante strong enough to do this? “What is your assessment of Dante in this regard?” asked Samir.
“It is in this phase that most have perished,” answered Raja. “At his current level of power and ability, the probability of Dante joining those who have been killed by the focus is quite high.”
“And the third phase?”
“The third phase of the ritual is the most dangerous of the three,” said Raja. “It requires the wielder to assimilate the focus and let its energy intertwine with their chi. This is the final bond and unlocks the properties of the focus.”
“That sounds permanent,” said Samir. “Can it be undone?”
“Not while the wielder of the focus is alive,” said Raja. “Once bonded, every focus stays with its wielder for the duration of the life of the wielder.”
“How did Dante survive being separated from the staff?” asked Samir. “He should be dead now.”
“Agreed,” replied Raja. “I don’t know how he survived the removal of the first focus. My assumption would be that he had help. An outside force assisted or protected him while the extraction took place. Regardless of the method, it is quite impressive that he is alive.”
“I have one more question,” said Samir.
Raja nodded and waited for Samir to continue.
“Who is Master Wheel?”
Raja’s expression darkened as he shifted his position into a fighting stance and drew a sword from his cane. Samir stepped back.
“That is the wrong question,” said Raja as he advanced.
FIFTEEN
WHEEL SAT IN the circle with his eyes closed, his body held in a meditative pose. His folded robe sat neatly to one side of the circle. Shoulder-length black hair cascaded around his face. The muscles of his body rippled with anticipation. Everything had proceeded as he had expected.
He felt their presence close in but remained motionless. He controlled his breath and waited. The intermittent candlelight illuminated his exposed torso and revealed the multitude of circular designs across his back and chest. In the center of his chest, several circles intersected and combined to form a circular design comprised of many smaller circles. Each of the circles on his body contained a glyph that pulsed faintly with power.
He sensed the tension in the arm, the draw on the string and its release. The disturbance of air caused him to shift his head slightly to the left. An arrow, on a silent trajectory of death, missed his eye by several inches. He kept his breath low and centered, connected to the circle and the earth beneath it.
Turning his head to the right, he avoided another arrow as it flew through his hair. He brought his right hand up suddenly and caught the one that had been heading for his chest. He placed that arrow across his lap. Thank you for the weapon. Eyes still closed, he waited. Five figures holding short swords approached the circle from every direction. They were covered from head to toe in black wraps, leaving only their eyes exposed, resembling the Mikai. The glyphs on his body flared to life, each one giving off a deep violet glow. He grabbed the arrow in his lap and snapped the shaft with one hand.
Throwing himself flat on his back, he caused two of the attackers to miss their lunges. He shifted and rolled to the side as they quickly reversed the direction of the blades and stabbed downward, burying the tips of their swords in the hard stone of the circle. He grabbed the closest attacker and jabbed the arrowhead into his neck twice in rapid succession. He left the arrow in his neck as he slid to the side and under another blade swipe. Behind him, he sensed intention and rotated his body just out of the way of a rear-sword strike. He brought his hand across in a crushing knife-hand blow and broke the rear attacker’s larynx, which released the attacker’s blade into Wheel’s waiting hand.
Wheel, now armed with a sword, stood in the center of the circle. Turning his body to the side, he presented a profile to the remaining attackers as he slowly turned. His eyes were open now.
Three on the inside, five outside, he thought. He crouched low, assuming a defensive stance.
He sensed them all. The remaining three with the blades were the inner circle. The five farther back with the arrows were the outer circle. He smiled to himself. A wheel within a wheel, perfect. He leaped straight up several feet and avoided the two arrows that buried themselves where he had been crouched. With a gesture, he manifested two daggers, too small to deal with the swordsmen but perfect for throwing. Landing again in a crouch, he threw them in the direction the arrows had come from. Each found their mark as he sensed two of the bowmen drop to the ground.
His glyphs shifted from violet to black as the swordsmen attacked. In unison they lunged, and he dropped down and landed flat on his stomach to avoid the attack. A triad attack, how quaint and pointless. Immediately he sprang up and slashed and removed the leg of the attacker in front of him. He continued the arc and slashed down. He buried his sword in the neck of the attacker on his right. Letting go of the sword, he rotated out of the thrust from the attacker on the left. He grabbed the swordsman as he missed and twisted him in front of his body to receive three arrows meant for him.
He advanced on the bowmen, manifesting daggers as he closed the distance. Two of the bowmen missed. He could sense their fear. The third, however, was calm. He fired his arrow and caused Wheel to shift direction. The arrow cut a groove in Wheel’s cheek as it grazed him. This one has promise. Wheel released the daggers and dropped the two bowmen to the side. The last bowman had fired two more arrows in that space of time. Wheel slipped to one side and then shifted his body sideways to avoid the incoming arrows. It was at that moment that the last arrow buried itself in his shoulder. A masked third arrow, excellent.
He pulled the arrow out of his shoulder and faced the bowman.
“What is your name?” asked Wheel.
The bowman placed the bow on the floor and knelt on one knee.
“My name is Kono, my lord,” a female voice answered. “My life is yours.”
A woman? This is interesting…despite the mandate of no females in my guard, here she stands. “You managed to mask that you were female,” said Wheel. “Reveal yourself and show me.”
Kono nodded and undid her wraps, showing her face. Short, black hair spiked up. Her face was soft but angular with a strong jaw line and high cheekbones. She centered herself and focused her breath, allowing her chi to flow. After a few moments, she refocused the energy and Wheel narrowed his eyes and smiled.
“I understand,” said Wheel, looking at her. “You made a subtle shift in your chi signature. The rest is all in my perception— clever.”
“It is more a suggestion than a transformation, my lord,” said Kono, wrapping her face again.
A portal formed and a figure approached Wheel from the other end of the room. Dressed in a long blue robe with circle designs covering it, the figure bowed when he drew close.
“I have news,” said the robed figure. “From the Lotus and the Watch.”
Wheel turned to the figure. “Before any of that, have him prepped and ready,” he said, looking back at Kono. “He managed to land several strikes today.”
The robed figure opened his eyes in surprise, but remained silent.
“Yes, sir,” said the figure scrutinizing the black-wrapped figure before him.
“Don’t look so surprised,” said Wheel. “It has been known to happen.”
“Yes, sir,” answered the robed figure. “Shall I have him join the White Lotus?”
“Yes, make sure they know what he did today,” answered Wheel as he gave him the arrow that pierced his shoulder. “He managed to mask this” —he handed the robed figure the arrow that had pierced his arm—“and the fact that she is female.”
Wheel looked at Kono and nodded. She took a measured breath and let her chi flow naturally.
The robed figure gave a sharp intake of breath. “I see,” he said. “She will make an interesting addition to the White Lotus.”
“Yes, she is quite talented. Talent that I can use. Have the rest of these bodies removed and meet me in the main chambers.”
Wheel walked away, putting on his robe before he resumed his place in the circle of reflection in the center of the room.
“Come with me,” said the robed figure to Kono. The robed figure opened another portal, leaving Wheel alone after they had exited.
Wheel sat in the circle and closed his eyes once again.
I think it’s time you and I spoke, Lucius.
SIXTEEN
“I THOUGHT RAJA couldn’t lie,” I said. “I thought he was an entity without a personality. An embodiment of the Akashic Records. Is he even human?”
“He clearly can. Lies of omission are still lies,” answered Sylk. “If he was ever human, it was long ago. This only complicates things further. I didn’t think it was possible to influence him, but everything is pointing in that direction.”
“Who could do this?” I asked.
“Just as important as who is how,” said Sylk. “The Akashic Records are a repository of knowledge. If knowledge is power, the Records are an immeasurable source of power.”
“Are we facing someone with that much power?” I said, not wanting to hear the answer.
“Unfortunately, we must be,” he said. “Lucius, with Maelstrom, could wield the kind of power that could affect the Records. He may not be the only one.” A Samadhi can also wield this kind of power, if he is strong and old enough.
“We need to get to the North Watch,” I said. “I need to complete this ritual.”
Sylk walked around the destroyed circle
of reflection. He examined the some of the glyphs, stopping to crouch down and look at them.
“I don’t know how to get to the North Watch,” he said while brushing off one of the glyphs. “I do know someone who might.”
“I have the glyphs to the North Watch,” I said.
“Show me,” he said.
I traced the glyphs I remembered and let him examine them as their after-image floated in the air before us.
“These glyphs…are questionable at best,” he said. “I would rather not end up lost on some plane. You have been learning to glyph from Samir?”
I nodded.
“You need more practice,” he said. “I do know someone who can get us access to the North Watch.”
“Who?” I asked.
“He is the clan leader of the Mikai,” said Sylk. “One of my old teachers, Master Zanshi.”
“The Mikai?” I asked. “Can we trust him?”
“With our lives,” he said, looking at me. “He is one of the few I still trust. He will know how to get to the North Watch, or know someone who can.”
He stopped by one of the glyphs and motioned me over. I drew close to him. Crouching down he pointed at the symbol.
“Do you recognize this symbol?” he asked.
I looked at it. It appeared to be an inverted letter Y with a horizontal line through the upper part.
“No, is it important?” I asked.
“Alone, it doesn’t stand out, but taken in context of this circle, it is significant,” he answered. “Here in this circle it is newer than the others around it. See, look here.” He gestured to where the symbol joined the other glyphs surrounding the circle. “It was placed here deliberately to undo the ritual.”
“What does it mean and why is it around this circle?”
“Both good questions, but I can only answer the first,” he said. “This symbol alone represents transformation, ascendancy. Here, however, it sits next to other symbols that change the meaning somewhat. I’m certain Samir would be better at this.”
“Samir isn’t here,” I said. “Your interpretation will have to be enough.”
He began tracing glyphs in the air.
Warriors of the Way-Pentalogy Page 60