World of Darkness - [Time of Judgment 02] - The Last Battle

by Bill Bridges (epub)

  “I’m not sure what it is. That’s the problem. I’ve been kept out of the loop, a last-minute invite to the party. You need me to deliver the rogue tribes, those who will never fall in with an old country agenda, but who might be willing to follow me, ‘cause I don’t exactly fit the stereotype. But I’m just supposed to plug these forces into the grid and stand beside the throne, being outvoted by my partners. And that’s what’ll happen, too. You know it. My style won’t mesh with yours or Konietzko’s, so I’ll be the odd man out, overruled and out of luck. ”

  Tvarivich fumed, her eyes slanting. She crossed her arms over her chest. “You are being cynical. We are not tyrants. Of course you will have an equal voice. Do you think we are stupid? If we spurn you, we lose the support of the tribes under your banner. I did not invite you here to insult you, Albrecht, but to win you to a great and noble cause. "

  “Okay, I grant that maybe I am being cynical and quick to see the bad rather than the good. It would be nice to have a central command structure. We are at war, after all. But dropping this on me like this, when it’s already been decided, is not the best tactic to win over a rogue, you gotta admit. ”

  Tvarivich smiled. “True. I see that now. I am too used to others giving in to my will. I believed our plan was too good to pass up, and that you would jump at it regardless of hurt feelings. I apologize. Yes, you heard me, but you will not hear it many times from me. ”

  “Well, that takes the cake. I can’t go away mad with a rare apology from Queen Tamara Tvarivich; they’re collector’s items. Look, Tamara, I gotta think this over.

  It’s a major new step, not just for me, but for anybody who’d fall in behind me. ”

  “Of course, " Tvarivich said, coming closer and placing her hand on Albrecht’s shoulder. "I do not mean to rush you. You may stay as long as you wish. Enjoy the caern. Perhaps it will speak to you and deliver you wisdom helpful for your choice. The ancestors come here and whisper on the winds, as does mighty Falcon himself. Perhaps he will come to you and ease your burden with advice. ”

  “Yeah, maybe he’ll do that. He’s done it before. Thanks, and I’ll stay a bit. I do want to see the caern. However, about that answer. I can’t give it without first going home and getting the lay of the land there. A lot of folks are depending on me to do right by them, and they’ve given me that trust because I don’t abuse it. I’ve got to ask them what they want. ”

  “What they want should be to follow a valiant leader wherever he goes. ”

  “That’s old style. In America, we do it new style: democracy. No, that doesn’t mean they get to vote on everything I say. It means I don’t abuse my power by forcing them to make major changes without consulting them first. ”

  “Ah. I think I understand. Again, I apologize for not involving you. We are not much used to Western style democracy here. We follow our leaders and trust them. ”

  “Where I’m from, trust needs to be earned. It’s not awarded by fate or birth, no matter how much our tribe doesn’t like that. ”

  Tvarivich grimaced and looked away. “You speak as if I have not earned trust, but only seized it like a bauble. ”

  “Whoa, not what I meant at all, ” Albrecht said, palms up. “I’m just saying, the new world’s a lot more independent. People make up their own minds about whether to follow a leader. My position gets me heard, but it doesn’t guarantee the other tribes will lay their lives down for me. ”

  Tvarivich nodded, and smiled again. “Then stay and think it over. Come to me with any questions. Ask anything you like of my people. I will instruct them to answer you with complete candor. I want you by my side, Albrecht, not as a pawn or bringer of armies, but as a friend. I will need your vote against Konietzko more than he will seek mine against you. ”

  Albrecht nodded. Tvarivich left the circle and walked back along the lake toward the grotto beneath the waterfall. Albrecht stood still for a while, thinking. He looked up into the trees, at the majestic mountains, searching the sky. He didn’t see what he was looking for, so he dropped his gaze and began to leave the circle.

  A black wolf stepped from behind a standing stone, blocking his way.

  “Nightmane? ” he said. “How long have you been here? ”

  Nightmane’s four-legged form grew until she stood on two human legs. She stepped aside so as not to impede his way. “I arrived before you did, following a train of spirits who wished to show me the circle. ”

  “So, what’s your advice? You heard her. Should I join up or stay out? ”

  Nightmane shrugged. “Only you can answer that question for yourself. ”

  “Boy, you’re a lot of help. ” Albrecht scowled and walked past her; she followed just behind him.

  "I am a seer, not a politician. You must ask yourself what are the consequences for accepting and what are they for refusing. ”

  “Yeah, I know, ” Albrecht said, grinding his right fist into his left palm. “Being left out of such a power trio could be pretty harsh, but playing drums to their lead guitar and vocals might be just as frustrating. Besides, I’m not even sure a central command is what we need. I want it myself sometimes, but that might be the part of me talking that wants everything to always behave the way I want it to. The world doesn’t work like that. ”

  “The world is changing, my king. The spirits whisper of it. Old alliances are shifting and new nations are on the rise. You must decide for yourself what your role will be. ”

  Albrecht turned to look at her. “Yeah, I know. I got a big decision to make, and it ain’t easy. If you know of any spirits here that can, well, chime in with their two cents, ask them to do so. Okay? ”

  “I will spread the word. ” Nightmane tilted her head in a slight bow.

  Albrecht had reached the spot where Lord Byeli and Erik waited patiently for him. He walked around in a slow circle, taking in the view. The river rushed passed him down the gentle slope of the valley, rumbled down another waterfall, and then disappeared into the mountains. Forests covered most of the valley floor. To Albrecht, it seemed truly primeval and pristine.

  “Well, I guess we’d better step over to the physical world, ” he said. “There’s probably a meet-and-greet from the sept waiting for us. ”

  “My lord? ” Byeli cocked his head. "I could not hear what you and the queen talked about, but you seem concerned. Is there anything I can help with? ”

  “Aw, let’s put that heavy shit aside for now and meet some tribemates. ” Byeli frowned. “Later, Byeli, ” Albrecht said. “I’ll explain it all later. ”

  Byeli’s eyebrows rose, but he nodded, accepting Albrecht’s offer. Albrecht stared into the lake water, watching it clamor around the banks, channeled into the rushing river, white foam cresting the tops of the short-lived waves. The moonlight sparkled across its surface like silver dust. He reached out his spirit, felt for the physical world, and readied himself to step across the velvet curtain.

  A crack of thunder shattered his concentration.

  He shot a glance upwards, at the topmost branches of the mighty fir tree, and saw the tail end of the lightning bolt and the frantic flames it ignited.

  “Holy shit! ” he yelled.

  “No! ” Nightmane cried, frozen in shock. Other exclamations erupted all around them, the screeching of birds, the roars of animals and the shushing rush of the trees themselves, spirits reacting in anger to the attack on their sacred center.

  “What the hell just happened? ” Albrecht said, his gaze darting between Byeli and Nightmane. Byeli stood with his mouth agape, incredulous at the enormity of the blast. As he watched, a giant branch wreathed in flames fell, tumbling through the vast sky to crash on the ground.

  “Snap out of it! " Albrecht yelled.

  “Something terrible in the Aetherial Realm! ” Nightmane said. “Something in the heavens has attacked the caern. ”

  “What? A Wyrm creature? Where is it? ”

  “Not a mere creature—an Incarna. ”

  Albrecht stared
upwards, searching the starry heavens. He could see no sign of the attacker—no spirits of any kind, but then he didn’t really know what to look for.

  “It is gone, ” Nightmane said. “It was not an assault. It was an omen. A sign of dread days to come. We are not safe here. We are not safe anywhere.... ”

  Garou began to appear, stepping across the Gauntlet from the physical world to the spiritual realm, growling and angry, searching for the enemy who dared strike their home. The first ones across were obviously shamans, clad in robes, thick coats or their natural fur, all painted with pictograms representing spiritual alliances. They were quickly followed by warriors in battle form, claws ready and jaws gnashing, their snouts sniffing for the presence of the Wyrm.

  Nightmane barked to them, telling them that the threat had gone. It had only been a warning, an omen in the heavens of ill times to come. The shamans gathered about her, growling among themselves, occasionally calling out to various nearby spirits, who answered in the strange spirit tongue like distant, barely heard music to Albrecht’s ears.

  Albrecht saw Tvarivich, still dripping wet from the waterfall, join them, demanding answers in Russian. Some of the shamans answered her, and a small argument began, with some pointing to the top of the wounded tree and others gesturing to the caern as a whole.

  Albrecht sauntered over, about to inquire what the hell was going on, when a falcon swept overhead.

  Tvarivich's head snapped up to stare at it, and her ear cocked to catch its cries. She heard something Albrecht couldn’t, some important communique, and then immediately disappeared, leaping across the Gauntlet into the physical world.

  “This can’t be good, ” Albrecht yelled back to Byeli and Erik, and vaulted himself across the Gauntlet. He was made for fighting, bom under the full moon. He was never as good at world-hopping as a crescent moon, so his journey was far from instantaneous. The Gauntlet felt like rubber for him, and he pushed against its resistance, slowly bending it out of shape, tearing a hole through which he could pass. By the time he appeared in the physical world, Tvarivich was already across the river and standing in the ritual circle, a shimmering, silver portal of light floating in the air before her.

  Down the tunnel of light revealed by the moon bridge, Albrecht could see a man running toward Tvarivich. As he got closer, Albrecht could discern his features: long, black hair, a black, billowing cloak and gray shirt and pants. An insignia painted in blood glistened on his chest—the cross-hatched claw marks of the Shadow Lords tribe.

  He leapt from the open moon bridge and landed on his knees, bowing before Tvarivich, breathing heavily— he had obviously run long and far. The shimmering light vanished behind him, leaving only night. Albrecht blinked to adjust his eyes and entered the circle, standing behind and to the right of Tvarivich.

  The man had caught his breath and began to speak in Russian, but Tvarivich interrupted him. “English. Or Garou. Our guest must also hear this. ” She gestured toward Albrecht, and the man raised his eyebrows. He bowed his head to Albrecht and returned his attention to the Queen, speaking English with a Balkan accent, not Russian.

  “Queen Tvarivich, my lord the Margrave Konietzko sends his greetings and apologies at the dire news I am to convey. He bids me warn of the terrible happenings in Europe. The Wyrm moves against us on many fronts. Its assaults are terrible and random. It has caught many septs by surprise. So many creatures... they come from places unknown. ”

  Tvarivich shot Albrecht a worried look and then glanced at the smoking heights of the fir tree. She placed her hand on the messenger’s shoulder. “Stand, brave Garou. Give me your name, and you shall have water and food as you deliver your tidings. ”

  The man stood, nodding. "I am Yorgi Firedancer, Ragabash of the Smoking Tower Sept in Budapest. The first attack came three days ago, in Poland. A nest of banes who many thought had been defeated long ago. This was followed by a horde of creatures who appeared in the Balkans, fomori who ate everything that moved. Then, in Germany, a nexus crawler. Many died defeating it. ”

  “Who is behind these attacks? ” Tvarivich said. She motioned over an old woman who carried a tray of food. Yorgi eagerly ate the berries and slices of raw meat.

  “They come all at once, " he said, juice dribbling down his cheeks. He slurped a cup of water and handed it back to the old woman, bowing briefly to her. “These enemies, they are not related. They simply appear and attack, with no plan other than destruction. The Margrave sent messengers to all septs, warning of further attacks. The first messenger sent here did not return.

  The Margrave also sent war parties into the Umbra, searching for answers. They returned with rescued spirits, who screamed of terrible happenings across the realms, from deep in the Umbra. They speak of monsters unleashed from ancient chains, as if all unbound at once. These things roam freely, drawn to the Earth and Gaia’s flesh, seeking to defile it. "

  Tvarivich looked at Albrecht, a stricken look on her face. Albrecht stepped forward and looked Yorgi in the eye.

  “Is there any clue at all about some central force behind this? ” Albrecht said. “Some asshole who might be freeing these banes? ” •

  “Yes. The fomori in the Balkans did not die without divulging certain secrets. They came from the Scar, the dread realm of the Umbra lost to corruption. The spirits likewise speak of the Scar, and say that all the creatures’ trails through the airts lead back to that pit. ” “Holy Gaia, ” Albrecht said, teeth grinding. “The Scar’s spitting out monsters like there’s no tomorrow. Just what we need. ”

  “Don’t you see? ” Yorgi said. “That is what the Margrave says: ‘There is no tomorrow. ’ The time is upon us. Now is when we must all rise together, to form an army so mighty even the Wyrm will quake. We must march upon the Scar, and there defeat the Wyrm’s forces before they can corrupt Gaia. "

  “Now hold on, ” Albrecht said, shaking his head. “That’s jumping the gun. Just because a Wyrm realm is mass-distributing creatures doesn’t mean the end is nigh. ” "I am not so sure, Albrecht, ” Tvarivich said. “The heavens have spoken, striking the heart of my caern. Why now? Why are all these horrors coming from one place? ”

  “That’s only conjecture, ” Albrecht said. “It could be unrelated. They could be coming from all over. ” “Even worse! It could be the first wave of a greater assault. We dare not fail to respond to this threat. ”

  “My lady, ” Yorgi said, dropping to one knee, head bowed. “The Margrave requests that you join his army, bringing as many troops as you can spare. He will march upon the Scar and destroy all remnant of the enemy. He asks: Will you fight by his side, and help to lead the troops? "

  Tvarivich said nothing. She took a deep breath, her eyes closed, and appeared to utter a silent prayer. When she opened her eyes, she stared at Albrecht with a steely resolve. “Will you join us, King Albrecht? The moment is here. I had hoped we would have years to build our world alliance, but the Wyrm has sniffed us out and made the first move. It knows that, should we join as one, it cannot stand before us. It moves to destroy us while we are scattered. Come with us, Albrecht. Lead the army in the Final Battle, shoulder to shoulder with the Margrave and I. ”

  “Wait, wait, ” Albrecht said, pinching his brow with his hand. “This is coming too quick and fast. The Wynn’s never acted this quickly and with this kind of organization before. Believe me, I’ve fought the Defiler Wyrm’s servants, and they’re unified all right, but they’re subtle, no way given to loosing rampaging monsters. That’s more the Beast of War’s style, and I can’t believe it could ally troops to this degree. ”

  “To doubt is to risk destruction, ” Tvarivich said, opening her arms wide, incredulous. “Do you think the Margrave lies V

  “No! Hell no, I didn’t say that. I’m just saying that this isn’t necessarily it—the Big One. It sounds pretty bad, and even worth fighting with an army, but I don’t think we should draw defenders from all over to follow it to the Scar—that might be what it wants. Defenseless cae
rns, taken down by a vicious rearguard that slips in as soon as we all charge off into the Umbra. That’d be your Apocalypse, Tvarivich. ”

  Tvarivich cooled, nodding. “Yes, there is wisdom in what you say. I shall not draw all my soldiers from the caern. But I will fight this battle. Even if it is not the last, we must show our strength, demonstrate to the others what we can achieve when led by united rulers. This is the moment we’ve needed—the clarion call to bring the other tribes to us. ”

  Albrecht shook his head. “It’s too easy. It’s gotta be a trap of some kind. Don’t you see, luring you and Konietzko away from Earth? It’s perfect. And if you add me into the bargain, what then? If we fall, there’s no one left to unite anything. Even if we survive, that still leaves us far from home. No, Tvarivich, the final battle won’t be fought in the Umbra—it’ll be here, in the place the Wyrm most hungers for... on Gaia’s green soil. ”

  Tvarivich nodded slowly, sadness in her eyes. "I wish it were true, Albrecht. ” Tvarivich sighed. “But I do not think so. If I had been as cautious as you during the long night of the Hag’s rule, we would never have freed the Mother Country. We must be bold, and thrust ourselves into the heart of our enemy’s lair. If we slay its heart, we kill its limbs. I will march with Konietzko, and destroy our enemy where it breeds. I would be proud to have you with me, but I do not condemn you if you decide otherwise. ”

  Albrecht looked into Tvarivich’s eyes. “I can’t, Tamara. As much as I’d like to fight beside you, I have to go home. If these creatures are roaming the Umbra and popping up all over Europe, Gaia knows what’s happening back in the States. I'm needed there. If things are calm—and I sure as hell hope so—I’ll gather an army and meet you in the Scar. It can’t hurt to have two fronts, right r Tvarivich smiled. “I hope to see you there. It is a good plan. Your fresh forces might well aid us in our greatest need. ”

  Albrecht clasped her hand and she reached out and pulled him to her, in a great, grasping Russian hug. She then released him and turned to address the Garou who had been gathering at the edge of the circle. “Call everyone in! Prepare for war! I leave with thirty soldiers before tomorrow’s moon! "