Bannor felt her stroking his hair. He blinked, realizing that she had withdrawn her mind and that he’d lost some moments. She caressed his cheek, bent and kissed him on the forehead. “My son, what was done to you can definitely be healed.” She focused dark jewel-like eyes on him. “I am sorry, but I cannot heal it now. Your core essence needs more time to recover. If I replaced your template now, it would be like a house with a poor foundation—shaky and unstable.”
He swallowed and nodded. “I understand. How long?”
“That is difficult to say, not less than a scoreday or so.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. He pushed himself to his feet, wobbling for a second until Gaea steadied him. “I was dreading you might say summers…”
The goddess smiled up at him. “I have every confidence that you will heal quickly because you are needed.”
“At least there is some good news in all of this,” Sarai said, coming and putting an arm around his waist. She looked to her mother. “What do you want to do? Do you want to risk going after Uncle Bertrand without a defense?”
“We need to move quickly,” Kalindinai said. “The genemar was probably being held in reserve as a surprise tactic. Now that it has been revealed they will be maneuvering to act before we can formulate an effective strategy. I believe the attack on Daena was most likely a payoff, a gesture of good faith before some other plan was put in motion. When Bannor interfered, it must have been too great a temptation. Being able to see their armor, trace their warriors, and defeat the dreadnoughts, he was a serious obstacle to them. Given some of the accounts from Homeworld, I imagine Wren will be their next target.”
“They won’t be able to get the jikartandak near her,” Daena said. “She can keep her nola defenses up in her sleep now.”
“If they hit her with the genemar, it will disrupt her nola and they can kill her body.” Kalindinai turned to look around the room. “I’m beginning to wonder if this place wouldn’t be better for storing those bodies.” She glanced to the rainbow eyed mecha. “Octavia?”
The mecha pursed her lips. “The defenses are no more secure than the ghost vault. However, they can be put in transform chambers with image locks on them. It would reduce the amount of damage to the host should their avatar get hit with the genemar.”
“Octavia, I know I have no sway with you. Could you be persuaded to accomplish that?”
The mecha bowed. “We are all working for a common good. The Daergons mean to destroy the peace and safety that counsel Solaris provides for us. This is a small matter.”
“Thank you,” Kalindinai said with a nod. “I will request Wysteri assist you, she will get any additional assistance she needs from the subnet.” She turned to Janai. “Please open the vault for her.”
“Yes, Mother,” Janai said with a bow. She came and patted Bannor on the shoulder, then she and Daena accompanied Octavia out of the room.
“Ryelle,” Kalindinai said. “I want you to make sure Gaea has everything she needs to make an effective defense. That is your one and only task.”
The eldest princess bowed to Kalindinai. “Yes, Mother.”
Gaea raised an eyebrow. She bowed to Kalindinai. “I am honored that you entrust your daughter to me.”
“Your children have served and protected me on many occasions. It is only fitting I return the favor.”
The green mother held out a hand to Ryelle. “Come, you know your way about. I have a few things we need to do.”
Ryelle came over and kissed her father on the cheek and hugged her mother, she nodded to Bannor and Sarai, then exited with Gaea.
“What do we do now?” Sarai asked.
Kalindinai gritted her teeth. “We swallow our pride and ask Aarlen for help. With luck, the shaladens can be adapted to our need.”
Bannor stared at the Queen. “Matradomma, what do you want me to do?”
The Queen narrowed glowing amber eyes. “I have changed my mind, you will accompany us.”
“I will?”
“You will indeed. However, you will not go as yourself. If the Daergons are there and they see you, they may attempt to finish what they started. I need to think yet who it will be.”
“I will focus on buying us more time,” the King said. “Bertrand has raised a ruckus since his run-in with Ryelle. People are beginning to get suspicious. I will send out some agents to scout out any unusual activity both around the citadel and his estate.”
“All right,” Kalindinai said. “I guess we know what we’re doing. Bannor, you and Sarai be ready to leave in a quarter bell. I will go talk to—Aarlen.”
“Matradomma, may I make a suggestion?” Bannor said.
“What’s that?”
“Talk to Corim first. The fellow is a walking bookshelf. I don’t know how, but he knows most of what Aarlen knows. If he doesn’t, he can help you persuade her.”
“That boy? What kind of sway does he have over her?”
Bannor shrugged. “I don’t know the history of it, just what I saw with the garmtur. Also, I suspect that Senalloy and Luthice might also help you.”
The Queen nodded. “Good suggestions, I will act on them. I must be off. I will meet you in the council chambers at ten bells.” Sarai bowed and so did he. Kalindinai turned to her husband, walked over and kissed him with uncharacteristic passion. “I will be careful, you do the same. I will stay in contact.”
The Queen disappeared in a flash of blue light and a clap of air.
The King studied the spot where his wife had been, frowned and shook his head. “Sometimes she takes too much on herself.” He sighed. “You two better hurry, you don’t have much time.”
Sarai nodded and took his hand.
As they headed off, he could only wonder where this path would lead. Garmtur or not, he sensed a lot of conflict and pain in their immediate future…
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* * *
Chapter Eight
I love my brother, but somewhere along
the path he crossed the line from racial
pride to race hatred. To be honest, his
derisive bigotry toward anything not elven
was, to me, nothing more than an
eccentricity. Then I met the Kergatha family
and grew to like and respect Euriel and
Vanidaar. My brother’s dismissive attitude
irritated me. Then came Bannor. The classic
noble bumpkin, simple, ignorant, loyal and
trustworthy—totally devoted to my daughter
who loved him fiercely. He showed me so
much heart and passion, I simply had to
accept him. However, in my brother’s eyes,
his favorite niece suddenly became a
familial mistake—a perverted travesty that
should be rectified. It became a rift between
us that I feared would become
irreconcilable. I never imagined that fear
would be realized so powerfully…
—Kalindinai T’Evagduran,
Queen of Malan
For Bannor, there really wasn’t much to do except wait. Sarai dressed for an audience with her uncle, but they both knew it was a formality only—she wore the thin Kriar carapace molded to her body by Dulcere underneath her clothing. He felt her frustration, and saw it in the jerky motions of her hands as she tied and looped her hair in court fashion, then powdered her face. The grim expression she wore as she applied the makeup was one that suited going to a funeral. Sadly, in all likelihood, that’s how this visit would go.
Sarai closed her eyes and focused. The shaladen sword raised in her hand sparkled, shortened, and in a flare of light became a broad thick golden bracelet with a large crimson jewel. She clamped the item on her arm and let out a breath.
Since Bannor was to go disguised, but didn’t yet know what that disguise was, he had simply put on the battle armor he’d been wearing before the attack. It made him a bit woozy to think that his other body had
died while wearing it. Then again, if he had blocked with the super-resilient armor instead of his naked hand, perhaps the result might have been different.
Sarai studied her face in the mirror for a moment before rising and turning to look up at him. No matter how angry she might be, this couldn’t be a comfortable situation. She had known her uncle for hundreds of summers. He didn’t know if there was love there, but there probably had at least been respect and regard. To have her mother and family betrayed like this would have to hurt. How could it not? If Sarai was feeling it, how must it be for Kalindinai? She had known her elder brother for more than two millennia.
They walked together to the council chamber. Kalindinai had not yet arrived. Millicent and Kylie were sitting at the conference table, discussing something as they entered. The two valkyries looked over at their entrance and waved to them.
“Good afternoon, Millicent, Kylie,” Bannor said, bowing to them.
Millicent pushed her large glasses up on her nose and peered up at him through the lenses. “You are looking rather well for a dead man.”
“I’ve felt worse, that’s true,” he said with nod. “I have to give credit to the amazing healers we’ve had of late.”
“Yez,” Kylie said in her thick accent. “Zey do miraculous work. I have felt it myself. How are you, Sarai? That must have scared you.”
Sarai sniffed and her jaw worked. “It did indeed. Now, I am just angry.”
“I am hearing a rumor that perhaps you know who sent the assassin?”
“Yes,” Sarai acknowledged. “But I am not at liberty to discuss their identity. When Mother gets here, we’re going to confront the person.”
“Only za three of you?” Kylie said. “Is zat wise?”
“No, but that’s the way Mother wants it. Fortunately, we have the shaladens now, so if we get in serious trouble we can summon more aid.”
“This is not related to the Baronians then?” Millicent asked.
“No, this is a more recent development. Someone who we think has decided to collude with them.”
Millicent nodded. “I know it’s not appropriate for us to appear to prosper on your family’s misfortunes but Kylie and I were just discussing how our sisters have enjoyed their duties here. They like the people, and your parents in particular. The change of scenery has been welcome as well.”
“I’m fairly certain that Mother and Father have conveyed this, but the Chosen rescued us. The defense would not have been possible without you and it will be difficult to repay your efforts on our behalf. I only wish that elven sentiments were not what they are to outsiders. I count both you and Kylie as friends, and I respect those that serve under you.”
Millicent nodded. “Worry not overmuch about repayment. Our free time is leisure bought with some challenging battle. There is little more we could ask. Even the food is good.”
“I’m glad the Chosen are not chafing at this,” Sarai said with a nod.
“Hardly,” Millicent answered with a grin. The click of hard boots in the corridor made her look over her shoulder. “It would appear your mother is here. I wish your battle well. If you have need of us, you have only to call.” She put a hand to her chest and bowed her head.
“My thanks, Millicent,” Sarai said. “Kylie.”
“Thank you both,” Bannor added.
Both valkyries nodded to him.
They turned and walked to greet Kalindinai. The Queen was dressed in black and red, and she carried the silver staff of state. Her angular face was set and the expression in her amber eyes flinty. Her dark hair was coifed tight to her head and fixed with gold pins bearing the griffon symbol of the T’Evagduran family. What must be her shaladen was clamped on her arm the way Sarai’s was.
Seeing her serious demeanor, Bannor bowed. “Matradomma.”
She nodded to him.
“Mother,” Sarai said in greeting.
“I have come from speaking with Aarlen,” she said in a dark tone. “She would not share with me the secret of warding against skharvarren but she did loan me a device.” She reached up and touched a thick silver necklace around her neck, the metal set with what looked like glowing sapphires. “Bannor, my thanks for your advice, approaching Corim first made this possible. If not for him, I fear I would not have been able to persuade this from her.”
“I was simply trying to be useful, Matradomma,” he answered.
“You were successful as usual,” she responded. She stared up at him. “As I said earlier, if you go as yourself, it will probably provoke an attack. I will disguise you as guard captain Eidon. As long as you stay physically in contact with myself or Sarai, no-one should be able to see through the deception.” She drew a breath. “Are you prepared?”
It wasn’t as if he had a choice. If he wanted to be around to protect Sarai and her Mother he had to go along with the plan. He nodded.
The elf queen touched the band on her arm, closed her eyes and tilted her head up for a moment. Sparks whirled around her body. She opened her amber eyes and a rainbow of light spun out of the shaladen and around him. He felt a strange tingle as magic flowed around and through him. His heart speeded and he was forced to catch his breath. He felt himself shrinking, his limbs growing lighter. His scalp itched and the Kriar armor shimmered and changed color.
In the length of a short breath the transformation was complete. He felt different—it was as if his whole body had slowed down. The room looked different. Objects had a different shine to them. A few long strands of translucent hair fell across his eyes. He reached up to move it away with a gloved hand. He was wearing the regalia of a guard-captain elite now.
“This feels strange,” he said, surprised to hear his voice sounding so high pitched.
“It is a good thing you learned to speak elven,” the Queen said. “However, the Dykreeni accent would give you away if you spoke at any length. So, if you must answer, keep it short.”
He nodded. He turned to Sarai and blinked at her. He frowned realizing he had to look up at her now.
“Just my luck, I get to be somebody short.”
“You’re not short—for an elf.” She smiled. “Not only are the T’Evagdurans a noble family, we’re a tall family too.” She looked down at his side. “Mother, what do we do about his axes? Nobody in the guard uses anything like them.”
“My brother wouldn’t know a knife from a polearm,” Kalindinai responded with a frown. “Just the same, shoulder sling the holders and pull the cloak over them. We’ll get you a standard issue sword for appearances.”
Bannor did as suggested, back slinging his axe cradles and tying them down. It would be cumbersome if he had to get them out quickly, but the illusion might be important.
They took their leave, checking in with the King, and Sarai’s sisters prior to leaving. He frowned. Even smallish Janai looked him in the eye. Daena towered over him like a scalebark tree. It was good thing he wouldn’t be like this long.
“You should make him stay this size,” Janai remarked to Sarai in passing. She touched the point of his ear which made him flinch. “He should get proper ears too. Human ears are boring.”
He rolled his eyes.
They left directly from the main audience chamber. Kalindinai touched the shaladen and chanted an incantation. As she spoke the words, green and blue motes of light began to dip and spin around them with greater and greater speed. Air whipped their hair and clothing and a deep humming vibrato rattled his bones. The Queen ended the spell with a sharp slash upward with her arm.
A cold hand seemed to clamp down on them and drag them into a star-speckled darkness. His guts twisted as they seemed to fall through a void, their bodies compressed down to a pinpoint. In a flash and a crack of air, a new landscape flared into view.
Night insects chirped and water gurgled inside a cordon of giant scalebark trees that formed the perimeter of the Valharesh estate outer compound. Triatus, the crimson moon burned high in the cloud-scudded ebony sky seeming to peer down at them like
some gigantic demon’s eye. Pernithius, the harvest moon had just risen above the horizon, casting a pale glow on the undersides of the clouds and silhouetting the nearby hillsides.
Bannor rubbed his arms. It seemed unseasonably cold, and his breath made plumes in the night air. Though it was dark, he didn’t have any difficulty making out the details of the area. Platinum wind chimes hung from the many boughs, stirring listlessly in the calm. Water from a half dozen sources poured down rocky concourses and into three large ornate cisterns. Stone steps carved from a single massive boulder led up to the mansion proper.
The Valharesh estate blended with the trees as most elf dwellings did. The glossy wooden walls rose in sweeping curves, rays of flickering light shined into the night sky through round windows, across open terraces, and delicate balconies. The whole place gleamed with elf magic, as was fitting for a noble house of elves.
Kalindinai stared around, amber eyes narrow and brow furrowed. Her taut body echoed the tension evident in her expression. Letting out a breath she strode across the yard, and up the steps.
Keeping a hand on Sarai’s wrist, they both followed. Bannor glanced to Sarai who looked back at him. She was probably feeling the same strangeness. They were here to possibly indict an elf for treason. Kalindinai had brought a whole contingent of guards simply to question suspects. Now, they were almost certain of the culprit, and it was just the three of them. Granted, Sarai and Kalindinai had the shaladens now, but still they weren’t a police force.
The Queen rang the bell at the doorway. The elegantly crafted metal made an echoing ring that resonated throughout the courtyard. Kalindinai pulled the black rod from her belt and tapped it on her shoulder as they waited. It was perhaps thirty beats before the massive valve was unbolted and swung open by a tiny flaxen-haired elf maid dressed in a dark blue surcoat emblazoned with the five-talon Valharesh coat-of-arms.
Reality's Plaything 5: The Infinity Annihilator Page 10