Winterfall

by John Conroe

  “Says perhaps the most opportunistic businesswoman on this planet,” Liu said.

  I saw Tanya’s expression go flat, but then Senka leaned forward and spoke suddenly in Chinese.

  Liu blanched, features flowing from arch outrage to something akin to panic.

  “Apologies, Venerated Elder. I meant no disrespect to your, ah, granddaughter,” Liu said, bowing low.

  “Who is also goddaughter of Elder Tzao,” I added, enjoying the flinch Liu couldn’t control. Wait… wasn’t there a vampire in Tzao’s coven named Liu? I remembered something about that but couldn’t get the particulars to straighten themselves in my head.

  “What has any of this to do with Americans on Fairie?” Secretary General Bakshi asked.

  “I think General Liu was being a bit opportunistic, himself. He felt now was a good time to bring our connections to Fairie into the discussion,” Tanya said. “I don’t think it was at all useful. What we need now is to work together to watch every possible gateway that these aliens could use.”

  “I agree completely, Miss Demidova. How can we know where these gates may open?” President Polner said.

  “I have analyzed all of the existing gates’ history, structures, and particle emissions and cross-referenced that data against every possible correlating temple, archeological site, and historic location on Earth. I am sending a list of these potential gateways to everyone on this video conference. I advise a thorough investigation of each,” Omega said. “I concur with Tanya that side discussions of Fairie are not an effective or efficient use of our time. This threat is very real and extremely dangerous. If the enemy obtains a beachhead on planet Earth, the probability of losing the human race rises to sixty-eight-point-nine percent.”

  “The computer calls you by your first name?” the Secretary-General asked.

  “Omega was born on Demidova Industries’ corporate property. He has known us since his birth,” my vampire said levelly. “We will begin dispersing our teams to attempt tracking any new aliens. Those of you with witches on staff might do the same, eh General Liu?”

  “What do you mean by that?” Bakshi asked, now suspicious of seemingly everything.

  “College Arcane has some international competition in China, Russia, Israel, Hungary, and Japan,” Tanya said. “Witches are a global species and now, a recognized asset.”

  Liu said nothing, but he gave my vampire a long, low bow.

  “In other words, each of those countries has set up its own academy for witches and other supernaturals,” I said. “China has been particularly active. What is it, General? Four schools? Five?”

  Liu blinked but didn’t otherwise deign to answer.

  “And once again, the Third World is left out of the bountiful harvest,” Bakshi said.

  “Not really, Mr. Secretary General,” Tanya said. “There are supernaturals in every country. We’re just organizing a bit and we’re the ones bringing our kids out to help.”

  “Very magnanimous of you, Miss Demidova,” General Liu said. “Seeing as you’ve locked up access to Declan O’Carroll and therefore control Omega.”

  “Omega, do we control you through Declan?” Tanya asked.

  “Not in any shape or form. Anyone seeking to control me through Father is in for a serious letdown. I would advise strongly against further attempts, General Liu.”

  “What is this all about? What is he talking about?” Secretary General Bakshi asked in a strident tone.

  “Omega is referring to previous attempts by non-US personnel to kidnap Omega’s creator. None of them turned out well,” I said. “Now, unless anyone else has useless, random allegations, perhaps we could get down to coordinating our efforts to keep the human race alive.”

  Nobody said a word.

  Chapter 21

  Forpost, Fairie

  They were escorted back to the same room as before, although this time the guards treated them with something that was, if not respect, a close cousin to it.

  Ten minutes later, the door was opened by the guards and Clacher entered with Sergeant Kellan close on his heels.

  “Your weapons… where can we get more?” Clacher wasted no time asking.

  “Earth,” Mack said with a shrug.

  “The old world,” Clacher said. “You came from there just recently? Intentionally?”

  “As we told you, we’re part of the new Speaker’s group,” Jetta said. “They know we’re here and will come for us.”

  “And they too have these weapons?” Clacher asked.

  “Yes, some,” Mack said, glancing at his sister with a WTF look to see if she understood where the lord was heading with this.

  “We will trade you and your sister for their weapons,” was Clacher’s reply. He seemed pretty sure about that.

  Jetta started to speak but Mack waved her silent. “I would advise against it, Lord Clacher, but do as you will.”

  “I always do,” Clacher said smugly. “Till then, we will see what else you can make.”

  “Why would I make anything at all?” Mack asked, curious. He was already pretty sure what the answer would be.

  “Because your sister’s health depends on it,” Clacher said, nodding at his man-at-arms.

  Kellan pulled his ever-present knife and Mack had to keep himself from pulling his .44 from its hiding spot. Jetta moved her head slightly from side to side, smiling just a teeny bit.

  Shit… she could probably shoot Clacher, Kellan, and the two guards at the door twice before he got them once. His shots would put them down quicker though.

  “What did you have in mind?” Mack asked.

  “Whatever your sister’s right hand might be worth,” Clacher sneered.

  “Gunpowder?” Jetta asked. Mack noticed that their phones didn’t translate that.

  “Omega? Any suggestions?” he asked.

  “Miss Jetta’s idea is sound. There is sufficient goat manure to yield potassium nitrate. Charcoal is easily made and I have found a potential sulfur resource at a hot spring not too distant.”

  “Should we be worried about introducing technology?” Mack said.

  “Hey we’re talking about my right hand here,” Jetta said.

  “We could always shoot them?” he suggested.

  “And do what? Trudge to the neutral zone while escaping the rest of the inhabitants and avoiding those ogre things?” she said.

  “What do you talk about so long?” Clacher asked, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

  “My pardon, Lord Clacher. We’re trying to figure out what’s possible with your level of technology,” Mack said. Clacher frowned and Mack spoke before he could take offense. “We think we have a pretty good option. We’ll need some supplies when daylight comes, as long as it’s safe to step outside the gates.”

  “There will be no tricks, Smith, or your sister will pay the price,” Clacher said.

  “Maybe you’re right—we should just shoot them,” Jetta said, frowning.

  “We’ll keep that as an option.”

  Eventually, after some additional threats, Clacher and his men left them alone for the night. About twenty minutes later, the door opened again, admitting Ari and Aylin with a wash basin, jug of water, and a single cloth towel of some woven fabric.

  “You guys keep getting saddled with us, huh?” Mack asked.

  Both mother and daughter looked puzzled by his words. “What do you mean? We are here to saddle you? You are not even big enough to ride?” Aylin asked, brow furrowed.

  “My brother means that you keep getting assigned to bring us food and water and things,” Jetta said.

  “Oh. Well, we are lowest caste. We would not be missed if you are as dangerous as the stories say,” Aylin explained matter-of-factly.

  “Wow! Just when I think this place can’t suck any worse, it surprises me,” Jetta said.

  “You mean the holders here think we might what? Kill the help?” Mack asked.

  Aylin shrugged, but Ari looked fierce and her spots were back.

&nb
sp; “That’s so cool. Why do you get spots when you’re all angry?” Jetta asked.

  “My mother does not speak much. She was beaten as a girl for speaking,” Aylin said.

  “Why? And why do they call you half-breeds?” Jetta asked.

  “We are beastkin, Mother moreso than I,” the young girl said.

  “What is beastkin?” Jetta asked.

  “Descended from those who are sometimes people and sometimes… not,” Aylin said.

  “So you both remind me of cats. Is your beast a cat? Are you like weres?” his sister asked.

  “Mother’s grandfather was sometimes a cat,” Aylin said, looking excited. “You speak as if you know of beastkin.”

  “Some of our friends are weres. Cats, wolves, and bears,” Jetta said.

  “You truly know two-natured folk?” the girl asked, clearly shocked.

  “Yeah. Hell, one of our group, the Speaker’s party, is a really kickass werewolf. Wait till you meet her,” Jetta said.

  Aylin’s face fell. “We will never be allowed to meet anyone in the presence of a true Speaker.”

  “Oh, I don’t think anyone will be able to stop you from meeting Stacia. No, Declan is gonna be pissed when he gets here and this whole shithole will be lucky if he leaves any part of it standing,” Jetta said.

  The girl looked at her mother who shrugged, her spots having faded during the conversation.

  “We don’t understand any of what you speak of. Who is this Deg Land?”

  “Declan. He’s only like the most powerful witch who ever lived… and he’s my brother’s roommate at college. Stacia, the werewolf girl, is his girlfriend. Dec is gonna rip a hole through reality and come get us.”

  “The lord will never allow it,” Aylin said.

  “You don’t understand. The queens of Fairie would have a hard time dealing with Declan. Clacher will be lucky if Dec doesn’t burn this place to the ground,” Jetta said.

  “What is a witch?”

  “You know, a magic user. Like Queen Morrigan and Queen Zinnia, only he doesn’t have a realm,” Jetta said.

  Aylin looked like she didn’t believe them but was being careful not to offend.

  “Why does Clacher treat you guys so poorly? Your herb lore skill must be of great value to the hold,” Mack asked.

  Aylin exchanged a look with her mother. “I have been very careful not to demonstrate my skills. Otherwise he would use me like he is using you, by threatening Mother. That is why we argued before I made you the tea.”

  “Does your mother, Ari, have the same skill?” Mack asked.

  Shaking her head, Aylin answered. “She is very skilled at finding my herb and plant supplies, as she can smell many of them, but what I do just comes to me.”

  “Well, you should totally come with us when we leave. You could make a fortune on Earth with your skills,” Jetta said.

  Mack gave his sister a questioning look.

  “What? You want to leave them to that creep, Clacher? No effing way!” she said.

  He knew that stubborn look all too well. “Fine. Maybe Tanya could get them set up?” he suggested.

  “Great idea,” Jetta said.

  “We would serve another lord? On the old world?” Aylin asked.

  “Not a lord. Better. She’s like the top businesswoman on our planet and she’s an uber-cool vampire princess,” Jetta said. “You wouldn’t serve her. You’d either work for her company or get your own company.”

  Both Aylin and her mother looked thoroughly confused.

  “See, having a business is like being your own lord. Your business sells the stuff you make and you and your mom get to keep the money,” Jetta explained.

  “I don’t understand much of what you say, but we would go to the old world to escape this one. Anything would be better than Forpost. But how?”

  “Just keep close to us and when Declan shows up, stay even closer.”

  “How will we know your friend is here?” the younger girl asked.

  “Oh, you’ll know. Trust me.”

  The guards opened the door roughly and yelled something at the mother-daughter pair, words that Omega didn’t bother to translate. Both females resumed their subservient postures and left the room.

  Early the next morning found Mack and his sister at the front gate of the keep. Kellan kept Jetta near him while Mack explored the goat fields guarded by a group of guards who kept watch for ogres. The massive monsters had seemingly fled, according to conversations he overheard between Kellan, Clacher, and the other guard members. The dead ogres had been dragged away into the forest for the scavengers to eat. “We burn our own dead but feed our enemies to the predators so that they develop a taste for our foes’ flesh,” Clacher had explained in a rare moment of consideration.

  As Mack worked, Lady Iona followed him, watching him even closer than the guards.

  Mack flipped dried goat patties over, pausing now and again to pick yellowish crystals up with a pair of micro tweezers that came from the handle of his Swiss Army knife and storing them in a hollow gourd.

  “He picks through shit and expects me to believe he has value?” Lord Clacher commented to Jetta from fifty or sixty feet away.

  “It’s called chemistry, Milord, and it’s an extremely powerful… craft on Earth,” Jetta said. She was sitting on a log near the gate, scraping the charcoal from the burnt ends of sticks and logs into a clay dish.

  The goats were allowed to roam pretty much everywhere around the outside of the stockade during the daytime, a practice that had continued for decades. Mack easily found plenty of material to work with. After about an hour, he headed over and inspected Jetta’s results.

  “Okay, Milord, we have two of the three things we need. The third is a bit more difficult to locate, but I may have seen some in our travels here,” Mack said. “We saw a hot spring not far from where we ended up saving your children.”

  He was lying through his teeth, but Omega had supplied them with both the location of the hot springs and all the information they needed to purify the potassium nitrate crystals he had pulled from the goat scat.

  Kellan spoke up after Mack’s phone finished translating his words in their dialect.

  “Milord, he may be referring to the Dragon Mouth cave. It’s close to the rocky outcrop Lady Iona choose for her stand against the ground eagles and it produces smoke and steam.”

  “What is the purpose of shit picking and digging through our fire pits? I warn you, if this is a scheme to escape, it will cost your sister more than her right hand,” Clacher said, mouth tight with annoyance.

  “You seem impressed with our weapons. What I am creating is the compound that drives them. Your crossbows use a bent bow of horn and wood to drive your bolts. This compound I am creating drives the small metal projectiles, which are called bullets, from our rifles,” Mack said.

  Clacher’s eyes narrowed. “You claimed you could not make your weapons here.”