The UnFolding Collection Three

by S. K. Randolph

  Stee straightened and tossed a thick braid over his shoulder. “Someday you must teach me.”

  Both the Sentinel and Paisley walked him to the tower entrance.

  “When The Unfolding is complete, I, the protector of Myrrh, will teach you. Until then, may the gods of ReTaw au Qa protect you.”

  Stee touched his heart, bowed, and caught Paisley’s eye. “You take care of each other. And keep Evolsefil safe. I’ll return when I have news.”

  He shifted form and flew above the canopy. His arrival back at the portal coincided with Tesilend and his men. The time was at hand. Jeet had already flown through the gateway. Tension built in the small clearing. Action was better than waiting. But action brought with it the possibility of death.

  Kieel fluttered to the Major’s side. Jordett held the loading dock door ajar. Kieel shot through the opening. A quick inspection showed nothing of concern.

  “All clear, Major.”

  Jordett jogged along the dock to the next door. Keeping to the shadows, Kieel kept pace, his eyes scanning and his ears straining to hear anything alarming. The door was locked. A RiaVan glided into a parking space. Two men jumped out and climbed the ramp. The driver unlocked the door and nodded Jordett through. It locked behind them with a soft clunk.

  Immersed in conversation, the men hurried ahead and disappeared into an office. The Major took a right at the next corridor and followed a green line on the floor until they stood opposite an exit. Kieel slipped into his pocket hiding place. The major straightened his cap and smoothed his uniform jacket. Taking a breath, he stepped into the open, strolled out the exit into the receding light of late turning, and walked away from the healing center.

  Kieel peeked from the pocket, still unable to take in the enormity of the buildings and the river-wide streets. Jordett paused at the corner. A soft feminine voice directed, “Please cross. Stay within the dotted lines.” On the far side, he took the first pass-through he came to and jogged to the next avenue. In the shadows near the RiaTrain entrance, Majeska waited, her eyes half closed and her tail twitching.

  Kieel’s heart sank. That twitching tail was a warning. Of what, he had no idea. He hoped he’d never find out.

  Jordett eyed Majeska, grateful for the warning but frustrated that he couldn’t use the RiaTrain. He had to get off the street, and he had to find a place to hole up until it was time to meet Anada and Sagus.

  The ghost-like shape of Almiralyn’s cat trotted across the avenue and along a side street. Keeping her in sight, Jordett strolled along the pristine walkway. He passed no one. Not even a PPP RiaTransport glided by. Another empty block, and Majeska paused. A quick look back and she trotted down the steps to the RiaTrain.

  Jordett jogged after her and stepped through the official PPP gate to the platform. A sweeping gaze confirmed that the station, like the streets, was empty. No patrollers were in evidence. He sank onto a bench and tried not to fidget.

  An up-city train whished to a stop. Four patrollers exited and closed in around him.

  “You’ll need to come with us, Major.”

  A patroller slipped detention bands on his wrists; another marched him onto the empty train.

  “Hold onto the data pole, Major.”

  When he didn’t move, the patroller grabbed his hands and pressed them around the clear pole. His presence on the train was now common knowledge. Every PPP patroller in the city would know within moments were he was.

  Buzzers alerted travelers to the imminent departure of the train. A patroller stuck a hand in front of the closure beam. The others marched Jordett onto the platform. Behind them, the door whispered shut, and the RiaTrain whistled away up the tunnel.

  Across the platform, a deserted down-city train pulled in. Jordett felt a slight nudge and stepped onboard.

  He gave his captors a sidelong glance. None of them had touched the clear data poles lining the center of the previous train. Again, they ignored the rule drilled into every Idronattian’s head from early childhood. For the protection and safety of the people, The Plan dictates that you must touch the date poles on all RiaTrains. While one patrolman blocked the surveillance lens at their end of the car, the others maneuvered him around the poles to one of two seats on the train that the lens only partially covered. The patroller waited for him to sit and took up a position in front of him.

  Although Jordett’s mind was racing, he kept his thoughts to himself. Recording devices would pick up any conversation. He scanned the length of the car. Emptiness was all that met the eye—emptiness and one small gray shadow crouching in the corner beneath a seat.

  Zugo curled up on a bench near the fountain in Veersuni and perused the pages of a book on the planet of DerTah. Just because Almiralyn wouldn’t allow him to join his friends didn’t mean he shouldn’t know about it. Besides, he was curious. My friends are seeing other planets. Sure wish I were with them.

  He squirmed, furrowed his brow, and frowned. A flash of surprise smoothed his forehead. I’m jealous . His brows snapped together. I’m feeling trapped . He flipped a page and stared at a sketch of a Fire ConDra hovering above rolling dunes. My friends are seeing different creatures . A loud, heaving sign floated into Veersuni. I’ve lived my entire life in the depths of the Dojanack Caverns.

  Although DeoNytes were discouraged from venturing beyond the boundaries of Meos, rescuing Esán from Seyes Nomed and becoming a part of the fight to save Almiralyn and Myrrh had taken him into other sections of the cavern and eventually into the outer world. I loved being in the Outside. I loved space and sun and tall grass . The memory of wind in his fur made him smile.

  He read more about the Desert of Fera Finnero. The information didn’t excite him, but the pictures did. Wonder what it feels like to walk on sand or climb a dune? Sure wish I could see an oasis like Eissua . The next chapter described the Province of Trinuge. Pictures of the ocean and rain forests intrigued him. He turned the page and began to read about the Tinga Forest. My friends are there. I understood why the desert would be dangerous for me but the Tinga? The sketch of a cat twice the height of a DeoNyte gave him second thoughts. He began to read the description of the ludoc cat.

  Almost as though a breeze blew in Veersuni, the fur on his back stirred. He glanced around the sanctuary. Something was different. Anticipation—expectation— His gaze flew to the fountain. Elcaro’s eye was silent. The alabaster woman on the fountain’s rim gazed at empty palms. The water’s surface gleamed silky smooth in the light from the huge stained glass window covering one full side of the room.

  “Zugo?”

  Instinct kept him quiet. He set the book aside, listening intently.

  “Zugo.” The high-pitched, scratchy voice, ignited a desire to see what the fountain portrayed.

  “I won’t harm you.” A series of crackling sounds followed, a short silence, and then, “I can answer your questions about other worlds.” Crackle. Snap. “I can show you things beyond your wildest imagination.” A smothered cough. An enticing silence. “Come to the fountain, young Zugo. Let me see your face.”

  Zugo gripped his citrine and took a small step. One peek won’t hurt . Another step showed him a cloaked figure framed in the rounded white rim of the bowl. Elcaro’s Eye zoomed in. Folds of black fell over half-hidden features.

  Zugo fought to step back. Paralysis held him rigid. His eyes rounded in disbelief. Fear prickled over the black skin beneath his fur.

  “Closer, Zugo. I cannot see—” The black folds thrashed one way, and then the other. The image wavered and began to fade from the edges inward as though it were being sucked toward the bottom of the fountain. The last thing Zugo saw were thin, dry lips trying to form a word. A gurgling gasp choked into silence. The water swirled. Zugo collapsed to his knees.

  A flash of light at the door to Veersuni, an exclamation of concern, and Almiralyn was kneeling beside him. “Are you alright?” She helped him to his feet and guided him to a bench. “What happened?”

  Zugo’s brain scrambled to
remember.

  “I’m right here, Zugo. You’re safe. Can you walk?”

  He nodded. She put an arm around him and led him from the sanctuary into the Reading Room. Wilith and Elae started forward. A quick shake of her head kept them at the far end of the room. She eased him onto a small sofa and rubbed his cold fingers.

  Grateful for the warmth of her hands, for her presence, to be out of Veersuni, he cleared his throat and let out a long, soft breath. “I was reading about DerTah. The sanctuary grew quiet. My instincts told me to stay back. Something called me forward. Curiosity made me want to peek.”

  Almiralyn pressed his fingers tighter. “I need to know what you saw.”

  He squeezed his eyes shut. “It was mostly hidden in the folds of black.” He frowned. “Maybe a hood.” His eyes opened and found hers. “A pink tongue, colorless lips—perhaps small teeth. The face itself—hazy—weird. I don’t know if it was Human, or what made it fade. Was it you?”

  “No. I believe the VarTerel came to your aid. Zugo, this is very important. Did you see red eyes?”

  He shook his head. “Its eyes were covered by the black folds. What was it? Almiralyn?”

  “Let’s join Wilith and Elae. I’m sure you could use some food, and we can all discuss what happened. I think you should hear what they have discovered as well.”

  His fear melted way. His stomach grumbled. “I could use a meal.”

  Almiralyn smiled. “I thought you might.”

  They joined Wilith and Elae.

  “I think food first, and then talk.” Almiralyn motioned Zugo to a seat.

  He took it gratefully, heaped a plate high, and dug in. He wanted to hear what they had discovered, and he could tell they were anxious to hear his story. The thought of the strange image in the fountain almost ruined his appetite. Almost.

  14

  Master’s Reach

  DerTah

  V ygel Vintrusie crouched beneath his cape in the shack near the Cliffs of Tymine. Rain beat on the battered roof. Howling wind blew through every crack and cranny. His cloak and a warded shield kept him dry. He was cold and hungry, tired and frustrated. If The MasTer had given him just a fraction longer—

  A pain shot through his temple. An apology jumped to his lips. He cleared his mind and began a mental search of the cliff side. I wonder if I should try the doors again… The pelting rain kept him still. Whoever had interfered would probably be close at hand. He focused. Where are you, lovely lady?

  His mental probe left him clueless. The beginnings of anger flickered. He piled a few small twigs together, held out his hands, and imagined his fury becoming a small fire. Tiny flames licked at his palms. He stared into the blue-orange light. A dim place came into focus. The inside of a boat rose like a phantom. A grim nod of the head brought him to his feet. She’s in a boat. But where? There’s nothing near here but steep cliffs and pounding water .

  Wind shook the shack. The rickety door flew open. Rain pelted in. He found a large stone and wedged it closed. Shivering in the damp cold, he returned to his corner.

  I can do nothing until the storm breaks. Then, Renn Whalend, I will find you.

  The wind and rain crooned a lullaby—mesmerizing—hypnotizing— His eyelids grew heavy. A veil enshrouded his mind. He felt himself falling deeper and deeper and deeper.

  Pitch black surrounded him. The smell of sulfur made him gag. Scabrous hands tore at his throat. Blistering fingers stripped the skin from his face. His screams echoed back at him, slapping his torn cheeks like a flattened palm. Hideous, featureless creatures flitted through his line of vision. Crackling laughter, silenced by a series of angry clicks, beat his mind to shreds.

  “Do I sense a lack of loyalty?” Sparks spit and sputtered.

  Panic froze Vintrusie’s thoughts.

  Rasp, crackle. “The correct answer will save you much pain.”

  He pushed words through swollen lips. “I am loyal only and always to you, my master.”

  A charred, black hand grabbed his throat. “Never forget who owns you, Vygel Vintrusie.” The hand squeezed a moment longer then withdrew.

  Cough, gurgle. “The VarTerel is abroad.” Slurp, crackle. “Bring me the woman and the Oracle Stone. Then I want the young people, the two with potential. They are our link to the past. If he finds them first, you will be punished.” Crackle. Snap. Crackle.

  Vintrusie felt himself falling into the blackened pit of TreBlaya—the pit of no return, the place of unending death.

  His eyes flew open. He touched his cheek. Smooth . He scrambled to his feet, kicked the rock aside, and threw open the door. Rain beat against him, soaked him from head to foot, cooled the fire in his gut. I must prove my loyalty or die trying.

  Bent against the wind, he made his way to the cliff’s edge. The thunder of crashing water, the flash of lightning, and rain pelting down made him wish he were anywhere else. He scolded himself for his lack of discipline and hoped The MasTer had turned his attention elsewhere.

  Without warning, he found himself standing in front of an inn, no longer dripping wet. “A change of plans…” The MasTer’s voice filled his mind. “Nissasa’s ineptitude is about to lose us what we have gained. Take him back to the desert front. Once the battle has been won, bring him to me along with the Oracle Stone. Then you may continue your other errands.”

  The voice faded. Vintrusie entered the Esccery Inn and glowered down at the man behind the desk. “I am looking for a friend. I understand he is staying here.”

  The man started to speak, looked confused, and turned the register for him to read. Vintrusie ran a finger down the list of signatures and stopped at Nissasa’s scribble. “Which room?”

  “Guest Suite One. Down that corridor.”

  Vintrusie whipped around, the folds of his DiMensioner’s cape swirling around him, and strode toward the hallway.

  Henrietta savored soaring over Fera Finnero in her dune hawk form. How I love the exhilaration of wings against wind, of cool air caressing my feathers, of the freedom of flight! Nothing matched the sight of the sun setting from high above the planet or DerTah’s saffron moon sending rays of light into the sky along the horizon. It was a good time to fly unseen. She kept her personal wards up and impermeable. The fewer who knew she was abroad the better.

  The men had joined Lorsedi at the front in preparation for lowering the shields. They would be busy for a while. It was time she began her search for Corvus. Her first stop—Eissua. She hoped WoNa might be of assistance.

  Her furtive search of Nissasa’s camp had confirmed his absence and with it that of the Oracle Stone. Once Corvus was found, she would find the stone and return it to WoNa. Until then she could only hope that Nissasa would come to his senses and quit unraveling the crystal web.

  Below her the desert transitioned from flat, dry plains to rolling dunes that rose taller and taller the further she traveled. In the distance, the top of a palm tree broke the horizon line. Eissua grew closer with each wing stroke.

  The shriek of a Fire ConDra crackled through the silence. Not far ahead, it soared from behind a blood-red dune, its wings flaming, its tongue lashing the air. Sparks showered around her. She landed, shaped her Human form, and removed her spectacles and a small, teal-blue vial from her pocket. With her spectacles in place, she shaded her eyes with a hand and followed the creature’s descent. Another shriek shook the desert. More sparks showered around her. Still, she watched. Fiery talons reached toward her. Wing wind buffeted the sands, tore at her hair, plastered her blouse to her body. Still, she waited. Sweat beaded her forehead. She planted her feet more firmly and held up the vial. “ConDra’s Fire,” she chanted. “Semalf Erutamini!”

  The Fire ConDra diminished in size. Tiny claws touched the lip of the vile. Vapor shaped a miniature ConDra. A sucking sound whispered over the dunes. The vapor vanished from talons to tail to flaming breast, from wings to blazing beak until nothing remained but a faint glow in the corked teal vial.

  Henri held up her prize and s
miled. “You never know when you’ll have need of a Fire ConDra.” She returned her spectacles and the vial to a pocket, shifted to a dune hawk, and resumed her flight toward Eissua.

  When she crested the final dune and the glistening water of the oasis came into view, she was more than ready to land. As her Human feet touched the sand, she smoothed her wind-blown hair into place and waited. A young girl sprinted to a stop in front of her.

  “WoNadahem Mardree welcomes you to Eissua. I’m Nichi. I’ll take you to her.”

  Henri smiled. “A pleasure to meet you, Nichi.”

  They walked along the edge of the lake to an entrance in a rocky outcropping, where a waterfall cascaded and a tall, slender woman waited. Her strange eyes gleamed, one saffron yellow, the other glacier blue. Auburn hair streaked with the dark blue of mourning wreathed around her head as though it were alive. On her shoulder a small snake flicked its tongue out and in and out and in.

  Nichi stopped several feet from the entrance. “I leave you here.”

  “Thank you, Nichi.” Henri continued forward and clasped WoNa’s outstretched hand. “It has been a long time, dear friend.”

  The Atrilaasu Oracle smiled. “It has indeed. Come.”

  They made themselves comfortable in WoNa’s small cave and talked the way old friends do—as though they had seen each other yesterday—not like they had lived on different planets for many sun cycles. Finally, Henri directed the conversation toward her purpose.

  “Nomed believes that Corvus may have been taken to the Toelachoc Mountains. I must go there.”

  WoNa’s snake slithered down her arm and onto her palm. It coiled its tail, stretched its length high, and blinked tiny eyes. “It is telling you that I am going with you.”

  Henri held out her hand. “I know.” The snake slipped onto it and flicked its tongue over her palm. “You realize how dangerous it will be for you to leave Eissua?”