Reality's Plaything 5: The Infinity Annihilator

by Will Greenway

  “Nothing. Now that the wedding is over, I thought they might want to get out. I was just asking if they wanted me to arrange to have them shown around.”

  He eyed Vera. “And?”

  “I only wished to speak with your parents,” she said with total innocence. He knew Vera. There was no way it was ‘only’ that. Sen and Vera together—they had worked together a lot recently. Whatever their real reason, they had their cover stories so as not to scare his parents.

  “Su’ko says you’re a very good student,” his Mother said with a smile.

  Bannor rubbed the back of his head and forced a smile. “I suppose.” He swallowed and looked to his Father. The man had never been reticent to speak before. “Father, are we going to be able to talk?”

  Kheldar drew a breath. He studied the table for a long while. Kiranna put a hand on top of his. “Bannor, we will talk. We should set a time…”

  He folded his arms. “What about now?”

  His father’s eyes widened. “Here? It’s…”

  Bannor looked around. “Father, I know where I am.”

  Senalloy rose from her chair and came over to him. She leaned in close and put and hand on his shoulder. “Are you sure about this?” she whispered.

  He nodded.

  The Baronian lady sighed.

  “It’s your wedding night,” his father protested. “We can’t talk about this, not in front of these ladies…”

  He put a hand on Senalloy’s shoulder and then looked to Vera. “There’s nothing so private about me that Sen or Su’Ko can’t hear it. We’ve faced death so many times…” His voice trailed off.

  “Son, I don’t know if I’m ready,” Kheldar said. “For summers I’ve thought about what I would say if I ever saw you again. I still don’t think I’ve found the words…”

  Bannor walked over and leaned on the chair at their table. He checked the crowd, making sure they hadn’t attracted any extra attention.

  “Father, you should just forget about finding words and just listen to mine. When we parted company, you had the last word. Those words have eaten at me for more than a decade—and you know what? I’m tired of it. You can hear what I have to say, or I can turn my back right now,” he pointed back to the dance floor. “And you never have to talk to me again.”

  “Bannor!” his mother gasped. “Please.”

  “Brother,” Ravan grabbed his shoulder. “We just…”

  “Both of you, hush, this is between me and Father.” He kept his eyes on Kheldar. There was still some fire left in his eyes even after all this time. “What’ll it be?”

  “Son,” his father dragged a hand through his thinning hair. “I don’t know why you have to make this a confrontation. I wanted to come to you…”

  “No you didn’t,” he growled. “If you did, you wouldn’t have sent Olin to look for me. No, you’ve known where I was all along. The time was never the right one because if you were ever going to admit you were wrong it would be on your terms. How did you always say it—? ‘My house, my rules.’ Now we’re here,” he gestured to the massive hall. “Tonight, one night only, this is my house. This time it’s my rules.”

  Vera pushed to a stand. The way she moved, she was not relaxed and her hands were fists. The little woman spoke in dark rasp. “You will lower your voice. These are your birth parents. Do not make the mistake of tearing a new wound while mending an old one.”

  He swallowed. Feeling some of the heat in his chest subside. He let out a breath and bowed his head. “Yes, Mistress.”

  Vera stepped back and folded her arms.

  His mother and father stared at Vera, no doubt surprised at the power she had over him.

  Over his shock, Kheldar focused back on him. “Son, I—”

  “Kheldar-san needs to stop talking,” Vera said, interrupting him. “He needs to listen.”

  “Will you do that, Father?” Bannor asked. “Listen?”

  He gave a weak nod. His mother, Kiranna put a hand on top of his.

  “It’s going to hurt, but I’m going to answer a question,” Bannor told them. “It’s something that thrashed around in me until I was almost hollow. Twelve summers ago, you asked me a question. You asked me why I lived and Ramm died.” His mother sucked a breath and his father straightened. “I was too young to answer that—too hurt. I have an answer now. He died because of me, because I protected him. Ramm died from lack of focus and, you’ll hate me for saying it, from a lack of courage. Ramm knew what consequences were, but never once took responsibility for his actions. For summers I hoped—he never woke up—never took responsibility.”

  “When the press-gang came for us, Ramm had to be responsible for himself. That didn’t stop me from trying. I ate dirt, I licked boots and pissed blood just so I could stay in the same company with him.”

  He sighed, feeling the bitterness still cold in his veins. “Father, he never listened to a single damn thing he was told. He was so lucky—he should have died long before he did. His luck just ran out. We were supposed to be on perimeter when the northland army came over the hill. Ramm was frelling with corpses, taking trophies instead of watching for enemies. That’s how he got shot. Doing something stupid, just like at home, not thinking about the consequences. Even when the enemy encampment was just over the hill. I pulled him out of there, but the northies were already on the move.” He felt his face grow hot and the tears well in his eyes. “I carried his whining crying arse a league because he wouldn’t carry himself. We got over-run and we both got hit. I carried him—” He choked. “Carried him two leagues more, coughing blood and tearing myself up. He was so heavy—so damn heavy. I’d carried him for summers and I—just didn’t have the—have the strength anymore.” He scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I spent a couple of seasons slogging through swamps, fighting rock to rock, and hill to hill. The whole time feeling it was my fault he died—that I somehow could have done more.” He sniffed and rubbed at his eyes. “The sad irony, Father, was I did too much. I tried to carry us both and it got him killed.”

  Bannor let out a breath. “That’s it. I apologize for confronting you with it, on a day that’s supposed to be a celebration. I needed to get on my life, and that has been…” He shook his head. “I’m sorry.”

  Khendar sat in his chair, shoulders rounded down. “Son, you don’t have to apologize… Y-you needed to s-s-say it.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “And I, damn it, I—needed to h-hear it.”

  “I think we need to change direction here,” Senalloy said, looking between him and his parents. “Mistakes were made—things were said. I’ve known Bannor a while, I know this for sure—he loved his brother.” She looked to Kheldar. “And he loved you. Whatever went on back then was really broken. You both know it now. Dredging up more won’t help. What better time than now to just start over.”

  Senalloy glanced to Vera who still had her arms folded but had her head tilted. “I know we can’t completely forget somebody who has been lost. However, finding fault, assigning blame—” She hit Bannor in the shoulder. “Even if it’s to yourself, is not productive.” The giant Baronian lady straightened up. She hooked both hands over Bannor’s shoulder and leaned toward Kheldar and his wife. “Here’s something you might not realize about your son. Bannor is the most responsible man I have ever met. In fact, he’s too responsible. He takes responsibility for dren he can’t control.”

  “Sen,” he rocked his head. “Don’t…”

  “Shush,” she flicked his ear. “This guy would spit blood before letting somebody down or breaking a promise. All of us know it—it makes his wife crazy. He is stupid dedicated.” She paused and wiped at her eye. “But it’s why we care about him—why we have his back.” She stepped back and rubbed her hands. “So, let’s move along shall we? The dance floor awaits and I haven’t taken my turn with mister married!”

  His parents were staring at her, and looking at him. After a long moment his father said, “Bannor?”

  “Father, you don’t nee
d to apologize. Let’s do like Sen says, move on.”

  “Can you do that, Son?”

  He looked down. He caught a glimpse of something flashing in his direction and straightened up. Through a break in the crowd he saw Sarai waving to him and coming their way.

  He sighed. Life was too short. Literally… given what they had witnessed on Homeworld. They needed to make these the best summers of their lives. He would never do that dragging decade-old bitterness with him.

  Bannor looked at his father. “Grab Mother, I’m going to teach you two to dance…”

  (To be continued in the Wren Kergatha series: Gaea’s Blood and then in the Shaladen Chronicles: Who Mourns the Creator.)

  Return to Contents

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  Glossary of Terms

  — A —

  Aesir — (also Aesirian) The name given to the Lords of Asgard. There are two clans in Gladshiem consisting of pantheon lords and their issue. There are the more well-known Aesir, and their often rival brothers the Vanir.

  Alostar, Damay — Eldest of the Kel’Varans and reputed to be the most powerful. Damay fought many epic battles against Mandrimin (c.f.) the Ta’arthak Nola (savant of matter) in her time. About 6000 years ago she fell to Aarlen Frielos in a duel of magic, she was approximately 2900 summers old at the time. It is unknown exactly how or why, but Aarlen trapped Damay’s tao essence in an amulet of shael-dal metal. It is surmised that the amulet was an experiment to create a magical item fueled by the essence of a savant. Apparently, the item was never completed. In 1091 N.I.S., Wren Kergatha came into possession of the amulet. She later resurrected Damay by rejoining her tao with a suitable body.

  See Also: ascendant, Frielos, Aarlen, Kergatha, Liandra {Wren} Idun-daughter, magic

  Alpha — Alpha is the name given to the entity, which procreated life in the body of Gaea and is thus the progenitor of the elder races that diversified to become the various forms of life throughout Eternity. Many scholars speculate that Alpha and Gaea are merely metaphors for the burgeoning of life. Others cite differently quoting texts that indicate that both Alpha and Gaea were actual creatures that pre-dated all other forms of intelligent life. The Alphaforce is the spark said to be carried by savants. This spark is sometimes referred to as a ‘tao’.

  See Also: ascendant, Eternity

  alphas — Alphas (plural) is general reference to creatures that possess a ‘tao’ and have the potential to merge with their ‘beta’ match. All savants are considered ‘alphas’ while the pantheon lords are considered ‘betas’. It is theorized that each living alpha savant has a corresponding beta who is their reciprocal.

  See Also: ascendant, betas

  Arabella — Bard hailing from Corwin, renowned through Sharikaar. Many of the epics of the Ring Realms are translations written by this red-headed lady bard. The number of adaptations attributed to Arabella seem excessive considering her relatively young age (around 50). While most famous for her ability with instruments, song, and pen—Arabella has a notorious history. She was associated with some of the more nefarious thieves guilds in Sharikaar, and purportedly involved in many kinds of violent mayhem.

  Arabella was renowned for her temper, and was involved several known public duels that resulted in the death of her opponents. Certain sources cite that they find it unusual that in more than half of these fatalities, the slaying blow appeared to be inflicted from behind.

  A number of reliable witnesses claim that Arabella is currently no longer among the living. With a town full of onlookers, a red haired bard, purportedly Arabella, was accused, tried, and hung for murder in northern Ivaneth. The credence of this report is in doubt however, because new songs and written materials with Arabella’s distinctive flair have since appeared. Whether they are actually the work of Arabella, or simply the works of another bard publishing under her name is unknown.

  See Also: Corwin, Ivaneth, Tunespinner, Arabella

  archmage — A term to classify the highest order of magely skills. When a magic-user attains archmage status they are said to be “master” mages and can utilize all common schools of magick.

  See Also: magic

  Ariok, Dominique Kalan — Daughter of Gabriella Sarn Ariok and Sarok Ariok. Like her mother Dominique was turned to vampirism to survive in the Silissian campaign against the servants of Kali. Dominique was trained from birth to be a warrior specializing in the destruction of the minions of Kali. She is a renowned blademaster and with her extended lifespan, she turned to magic and became a loremage as well. Unlike her mother, Dominique was not a willing vampire, she was forced into it by her mother. Centuries later when this condition was a removed, it remains a point of friction between them. (Ah, the drama of having an evil dragon-draining vampire for a mother!) As a result, Dominique was always closer to her father, who as one might imagine was no angel either if he took a vampire as his wife.

  Through a complicated series of events, Dominique attempted to free her mother after she had been captured by Dorian and Cassandra, and the evil purified from her. Not knowing what had been done to her mother, Dominique was quite surprised when her mother turned on her and assisted in her capture. Dominique too was turned from the darkness, and the vampirism that had been forced on her reversed. Many cycles later through a gradual campaign of persuasion, Dominique has slowly become friends with members of the Felspar clan. Though no-longer a vampire, she is still a ‘vamp’, and characterized by her smooth and lascivious dialogue, it goes without saying that she still likes whips and chains… but that’s another story.

  For a number of cycles, Dominique and Tal Falor were an “item” and both did a tour of duty in the Shael Dal where the lady began to like the role of the hero. She and Tal split up on friendly terms in 1087 N.I.S. Dominique’s exemplary contributions to the Protectorate were significant enough that she was asked to continue being a contributing member.

  It was through her involvement with the protectorate that Dominique came into contact with the Kriar high counsel Marna Solaris. She and the Kriar became fast friends in the wake of her recent separation from Tal. Later, she and the Kriar lady became lovers. They eventually married when Marna underwent renewal. (Kriar periodically change sexual identity—so Marna took on the identity of Marn—a male Kriar). Dominique has one child by Marna which she foathra’d when Marna was still female, a boy named Celaesh.

  Dominique has been teaching the Kriar matriarch magic, in return she has been learning Kriar warp-science and gate control. The woman’s already formidable mastery of magic intertwined with Kriar super-technology make her one of the most dangerous creatures in the Ring Realms.

  See Also: Ariok, Gabriella Sarn, dragon, Eternity, eternals, Ishtarvariku, Dorian Degaba, Kriar, magic

  Ariok, Gabriella Sarn — The Dragon Queen of Silissia. This great elder’s true name (Drakka’Tah) is known only to a few. Gabriella was born sometime during the infancy of the Silissian old world, approximately 14,000 cycles ago. She was the sole survivor when the Kali cult over-ran her village and staked out her family. Swearing vengeance, she undertook a campaign against the followers of the death goddess that lasted close to five millennia.

  Early in her history, Gabriella turned to vampirism to get the strength and lifespan to continue her vendetta. Gabriella is known as the Dragon Queen because unlike typical vampires who feed on humans, her targets were typically dragons both for the amount of blood and their power. It is unknown how she gained the power to prey on dragons in such a fashion, but it surmised she gained this ability (curse?) from one of the three orbs of dragonkind.

  In her later years, Gabriella had the misfortune of crossing some of the Band of the Crescent Moon. After a number of clashes, the elder was eventually captured by the combined efforts of Dorian Degaba and Cassandra Kel’Ishtauri. With the power of grand magicks, Gabriella was turned from darkness to serve the light. Regardless of her new ‘outlook’, Gabriella is uneasy ally of House Felspar and the regime of Isis. After her ‘conversion’ Gabriella sh
ared a close bond with Dorian, and two are fast allies. Dorian, along with her daughters Cassin and Annawen, serve as Gabriella’s magical apprentices.

  Gabriella has four living daughters: Dominique, Gabrin, Sabella, Sarokirin. Her only son, Sarok, died in a conflict against her. Before her capture and conversion, Gabriella acted occasionally as an agent for Aarlen Frielos. Gabriella plays a significant roll in the story of Savant’s Blood.

  See Also: dragon, Frielos, Aarlen, Isis, Ishtarvariku, Dorian Degaba

  arminwen — Elvish. Respectful way to address a princess when your caste and rank are inferior.

  See Also: elvish

  ascendant — Term coined by Bannor Starfist to describe savants who have access to their full immortal powers. “Ascending” can take place in one of three ways. The first (and intended) way is when a savant alpha joins with the pantheon lord who is their beta body. Daena Sheento joins with Hella to become the first ascendant in ‘Neath Odin’s Eye. As an ascendant she had the physical potential of a pantheon lord coupled with the mastery of a universal force.

  The second way ascendance can take place are when a savant uses their tao-form or astral-body to overlap a creature with immort characteristics. Wren Kergatha did this with both Desiray Illkaren Felspar and with her mother Euriel Kergatha. In the events of Gaea’s Legacy, several savants do this with bodies created expressly for this purpose by Marna Solaris.

  The third and last way a savant can ascend is by having their original physical body modified to take on immort characteristics. This happens to Bannor during the course of Gaea’s Legacy after his tao-inhabited body created by Marna is destroyed and his original body is heavily damaged.

  Ascendants gain power over time and with experience. Daena, though her body was technically inferior to those possessed by the created ascendants was more powerful because her tao was in complete synchronis with her body.