by Lee M Eason
***
Ballan led the contingent of ten of Amar’s most powerful Adepts and a force of fifty heavily armed men in four newly build Imperial sky ships. They had flown to Aurt to add what other evidence they could to Mia Sara’s findings and from there, traced Naicarn’s steps to the Ildran border. Several of the Adepts had subsequently found routes into the country. At Ballan’s instructions they had followed his trail with some difficulty, eventually finding some evidence that he had stopped at Ippur and possibly its library and records repository. The trail had headed north and then back into the mountains at the very tip of Amaria’s north-eastern border. From here on their search would lead them and their ships into Coth. Only the certainty that they were closing on him convinced them to attempt the journey over The North Amarian Mountains. The decision proved to be a costly one, reinforcing the long held belief that the mountain range, which stretched the full length of the continent, was impassable. It had taken them days to find a possible way through but even this route meant climbing the ships to dangerous altitudes. Centuries ago one route alone, far to the west of their position, had been discovered through the mountains. Known as The Marauders’ Way it offered a path through the range fraught with treacherous thermals and eddies. The jagged base of the pass was littered with the wrecks of many ships and few now attempted a journey through its sheers walls. The vast range divided the continent. The countries of the north and south had developed quite independently of each other. Initial attempts in the dim history of the continent to trade or communicate had been met with suspicion by the north and then with open hostility. As the centuries had past merchants or envoys sent north had never returned. Interest in the north dwindled and was replaced with myths and tales of the barbarous north and its people. Only three of the ships survived the crossing into Coth, themselves badly damaged and suffering the loss of crew. Their progress was halted until repairs could be made, a danger in itself as it was believed the north regularly patrolled its border with the south and anyone lucky, or rather unlucky, enough to survive the journey was dispatched without question. However, they were able to affect repairs and resume their search with no sight of patrols of any nature. It was a testament to the skills of the group that they had been able to resume the search and trace one man’s journey over such a huge area. Ballan was supremely confident of their ability to find Naicarn and eagerly anticipated that final encounter. He was equally confident of their ability to capture the rogue Adept. This was to be his final mistake.
That morning the ships flew very low over The Plain of Coth, in order to track Naicarn’s trail more easily. They were on high alert and if discovered by the Cothican military would have two threats to contend with. The sky was an even grey and it was clear the first snow was on its way, all the more reason to capture Naicarn and return before winter closed in and left them stranded in a hostile country.
Too late the Adepts become aware of a massive pooling of field energy. They had no time to react. A lance of directed energy suddenly tore through the first ship cleaving its hull. Its bulk shattered and with a baleful wail from its timbers it fell. On impact its sides crumpled, wood ruptured and shattered, killing all on board.
A second but far less powerful blow hit the next ship aft. Its manoeuvring fins were shredded and it became unstable. Listing heavily, it began losing height. This ship carried the bulk of the contingent’s armed force, those that could, clung in desperation to the deck as others fell screaming to their death. The ship began to turn out of control as the ice wind caught its flailing sails. The hull brushed against tree tops, dipping alarmingly before striking the ground. The vessel shuddered as its own momentum forced it forward, gouging a ragged trench. A wave swept through the slender hull causing it to buckle and split along its length.
The third ship attempted to escape and began to alter course in a wide but cumbersome arc. The captain bawled and yelled commands at a stunned crew, while archers rained arrows on any area that could be considered a hiding place. Still in shock Ballan and eight other Adepts attempted to locate the source of the attack but they were not to be given the chance. Three Children appeared on deck in a blinding flash of light intended to stun and confuse.
In the ensuing chaos The Children immediately headed for the biggest threats and attacked the Adepts. Three were killed before they even had chance to pick themselves up. In desperation Ballan headed to the fore deck in order to give himself vital seconds to focus his will. One of The Children followed him. Leaping on all fours it resembled a huge feline standing six feet at the shoulder. It launched itself at him but Ballan was able to deflect it with an equally powerful blow of energy. The Child crashed into the main mast but quickly recovered as Ballan worked to defend himself.
Another Adept from The Clave of Changers had enough time to transform and descended on the second Child savagely ripping and tearing at its armoured hide. The two fought brutally, crashing against crates. Armed men were unable to help for fear of striking the Adept. Some were crushed as the two creatures thrashed and struggled. The fight raged around the deck, scattering equipment. The beasts lunged and tore at each other trying to sink teeth into the other’s throat. They reared on hind legs, claws ripping and tearing, teeth bared, guttural roars and snarls drowning the chaotic sounds elsewhere. The fight was savage and protracted but eventually the smaller Adept, weakened from loss of blood, began to tire.
The words of a speaker kept the third Child aloft and two armed men nervously stood guard while she concentrated. Aware they were one of the last pockets of resistance she spoke quickly, the words a blur moving the Child towards the edge. It thrashed its jagged sword wildly, cursing as it was heaved through the air. Deep in concentration she prepared to lift it over the rail and send it plunging but an unseen blow shattered the vertebra in her neck. The Child hit the deck, quickly recovering to attack the soldiers. The fight was short lived.
Naicarn didn’t stop to check the speaker’s body. All of the Adepts were now dead bar Ballan, he had made it quite clear that he was to be left. He paused momentarily to appraise the situation. The deck was still, bodies were scattered amongst crates and broken barrels, blood coloured everything. Below deck he could hear one of the other Children finishing the last of the crew, the desperate shouts of the men seemed distant and detached. The third Child cleaned its sword on the clothing of a fallen man and checking Naicarn no longer needed it left to join the others. The ship had followed its wide arc but now, unmanned, was beginning to drift towards the hills of the Lont border.
Battered and sweating Ballan had been able to keep the first Child at bay and managed to inflict several injures that now drained it. The two stood, eyes fixed, tensely waiting for the other’s next move. Ballan may even have been able to kill the creature and help the remaining men but Naicarn reached out, invisibly sweeping him up off the deck and into the air. Ballan struggled looking at the Child in confusion. Slowly it began to crouch, lips curling back over sharp teeth as it prepared to pounce. Ballan writhed desperately trying to break free and focus his will but to his horror he found he could do neither. His movements faltered as Naicarn stepped into view. The Child saw its chance and made to leap.
“No,” Naicarn snapped striking it with his will. The blow sent it rolling across the deck into an unconscious heap. Naicarn watched as the realisation of what was about to happen drained through Ballan’s face and body. His struggling stopped and he hung there, his breath coming in short gasps as the storm approached.
Exhaustion fogged his mind and accepting his fate Ballan found a strange inner peace. He found himself thinking of Amar and the view from his study. A view he’d loved, one that never failed to bring him peace. He thought of the elegant towers and beautiful buildings, of the sun adding its golden glow to the burnished domes, of the vast river Am sparkling in the light. He closed his eyes surrendering himself to the view one last time.
The ship was silent as it slowly sunk through the leaden air. Debris swirled with
snow in great eddies, caught in an icy wind that rolled and billowed the sails. Naicarn’s face was a mask as he let the body fall and turned away. There was no exaltation, no satisfaction. Nothing. He would now progress unhindered, move north and continue the quest. With those thoughts the whispers receded.
***
The day brought a leaden sky and a biting wind that whipped at the falling snow so that at times it was horizontal and at others lapsed into disarray. Kellim subconsciously braced himself against each gust. He stood staring down through the mountains and blizzard towards the distant Plain of Coth. He sensed Maga’s presence before he heard her steady footsteps crunching through the snow.
She came to stand beside him. “They are too distant. You could not have reached them in time and would have been too exhausted to help.” She watched with concern as Kellim struggled with his feelings. The wind tugged fiercely at both of them. “He has fashioned himself a staff,” she could see Kellim tense.
“Is he able to use it?” he asked
“Yes, as we speak a sky ship falls to the ground.”
Kellim turned to look at her
Maga smiled gently at him. “You have decided your next step.”
Kellim nodded slowly. “Yes. To be in three places at once,” he spoke with irony knowing full well Maga understood his meaning.
“They will all give their best.”
“Of that I’ve no doubt,” Kellim replied a note of regret in his voice. “But I must sit on my hands now and wait the winter out. That will be hard.”
“Then perhaps you can occupy them with this,” she uncovered a metal staff, its length exactly matching his own height. She held it out at arm’s length, her hand on a narrow carved wooden band that encompassed it. Kellim stared at it, reaching out he faltered and looked at his own hand, the wind tugged at it sharply.
“Does the wind know something we don’t?” he asked. “Is this unwise, these hands were a lot younger the last time I held it,” Kellim was still staring at the rod. Finally, he took hold of it, the wooden band moving to meet his grip. “It seems heavier,” he said testing its weight. The long rod vibrated in his hand, reaffirming the link and the snow was instantly diverted around them.”
“It knows its owner,” she smiled sensing its awakening and the change in the field around Kellim. “You have never truly been content to glide on the lesser currents.”
Chapter 12
“They’re all dead!” Kara was stunned. “That’s a bit over the top isn’t it?” She lowered herself onto the windowsill still wondering if she’d heard Carrick right.
Carrick closed the door behind him. “They lost contact with Ballan two weeks ago, after he’d set course over The North Amarian Mountains. Up until then they’d managed to keep up some form of regular contact.”
“So how has this news reached Amar?” Gwen asked.
“It was brought via a sky ship they’d sent to find out what was going on. It couldn’t get over the mountains but returned carrying word from Kellim. He managed to contact the Master Conveyer on board” Carrick related the remaining details. When he’d finished they sat for some time struggling with the implications of what they now knew.
“So he’s strong enough to direct raw field energy.” The idea was shocking. Gwen stood up looking at her brother. “That’s something no one has been able to do since The Field’s Cap. None of us can do that or at least not to any useful degree.” She thought again. “I wonder if Kellim could. We’re going to need someone who can match Naicarn.”
“Kellim’s always played his cards pretty close to his chest on that front. I really don’t know and we can’t rely on his being able to,” Carrick shrugged looking at Gwen.
“This lot,” Kara gestured referring to the Amar Order, “are up against it. That’s a big chunk of their Adepts wiped out and The Ildran Order has always been heavy with talent.”
Gwen was still looking at Carrick. “Still no news from home?”
Carrick shook his head. “You know the air space above Ildra, is a no go area and if the rumours are true that Segat’s found a way of bringing down sky ships…”
“We’re stuffed,” Kara finished.
“Yep.”
Gwen sat down on the arm of Carrick’s chair. “I’d be a lot happier if we knew what was happening in Naddier. Just to know everything’s ok and that Lewen, Jenna and Aaron are safe.” The other two nodded. “No news and all this waiting. I can’t sit around here doing nothing.”
Carrick exhaled heavily puffing out his cheeks. “Well, we’ve got three choices. One, stay here and watch the border along with the rest of Amaria. Segat will need to consolidate his position in the west before making another move but sooner or later he’s going to head this way. Two, head north and see if we can track down Kellim. And yes I know that would be like looking for a needle in a hay stack but at least we’d be doing something. And three, try to find a way through occupied territory to get back to Naddier.” Carrick looked at the timepiece on the wall and got up. “I’ll leave that lot with you. I’m off to get ready. Let me know what you think,” he said glibly. “See you in an hour, the memorial service starts at two.” With that he pecked Gwen on the cheek and winked at Kara as he left.
“There is a fourth choice,” Kara added deviously.
“Oh, yes,” Gwen responded her eyes narrowing.
Kara smoothed down her dress and folded her hands neatly. “We could always stay and wind Mia Sara up some more!”
***
The transportation platforms stood in a little used courtyard of The Adept’s Buildings in Naddier. Jenna and Aaron had been to see them for no other reason than they’d been part of a lesson. The platforms had once been at the heart of every city’s communication and travel networks, allowing almost instantaneous transport of people and goods. In order to work they required unlimited use of the field. Since The Field’s Cap had been put in place this energy had been greatly restricted and made the platforms unworkable. Across the continent many platforms had fallen into disrepair however, the then Head of the Naddier Order had been adamant that at least one of the city’s platforms should be maintained and over the years this custom had been continued. Durnin kept up the tradition considering it important to preserve links to the past. The stonework had been maintained, the rules governing their safe use had been taught and The Clave of Speakers had replenished the form fields that carried each platform’s unique identification and marker signals. In the decades of continuous peace, since the war, it had never been considered that the platforms, so carefully maintained, could provide direct and unmonitored access to the centre of the Order.
Feathery flakes of snow fell undisturbed through the midnight air, slowly covering everything beneath them. They settled on the platform’s surface until a large figure appeared. They swirled as it quickly moved to the shadows. Then everything was still again and they continued their unhurried fall, covering the platforms and hiding the footprints.
Jenna watched the first flakes as they tumbled from the clouds and sat endlessly fascinated by their movements. Despite the cold she had the window open, wondering at the silence the snow had brought with it. Everything was muffled, softened and so incredibly still, so peaceful. It was as if time had slowed and she was watching seconds stretched out into minutes as the flakes drifted towards the ground. She sent clouds of her breath into them to see what effect it would have and tried to catch flakes on the tips of her fingers. As the midnight hour passed the flakes got bigger and the ground began to disappear beneath a white blanket. She’d only stirred and closed the window when Lewen woke and complained about the cold. With a last lingering look she fixed the image in her head and climbed into bed, snuggling against him.
The frantic knocking at the door woke Jenna and Lewen with a start. Lewen leapt out of bed, grabbing his trousers and stumbled to the door as Aaron threw it open.
“Get dressed,” he ordered urgently, catching his breath.
“What’s going on?”
Lewen asked, quickly pulling on the rest of his clothes.
Aaron turned to check the stairs behind him before stepping into the room. “Something’s got into the buildings.”
“Something!” Jenna said scrambling to dress, alarmed by her brother’s expression.
“They think it’s one of The Panids’ Children. It’s caused a huge amount of damage.” They looked at him incredulously. “It’s killed several people! Two of the Clave Heads are attempting to stop it.”
Now dressed, Lewen was looking for something he could use as a weapon. He’d left his sword in his own rooms. He settled on two of the fire irons. “Where are we headed?” he asked checking the view from the window, now aware of approaching shouts and movement below in the snow.
They quickly made their way down the stairs from Jenna’s room and stepped out into the chaos. The few Adepts, who weren’t away from Naddier, were herding terrified students and other staff out of the main entrance. Suddenly two enormous explosions cracked the air. There were screams and calls of dismay, some ducked while others clutched at each other, desperately looking to locate their source. For long seconds everyone faltered not sure what had just happened or what to do next. It became clear that the detonations had actually come from the main academy buildings. A second set of explosions shook the ground and lit the night as a vast balloon of flame boiled into the sky. For an instant the snow became orange, streaked with flinching shadows.