In Creation's Heart

by Jason Hamilton

  When they parted, Jak’s cheeks radiated, and it wasn’t just because Seph now put out a much stronger warmth than a normal person. “I like that,” she said abruptly.

  “Oh yeah?” said Seph with a sly grin. “I can keep going if you want.”

  “Hm, I wouldn’t say no to that,” said Jak, grinning back.

  A while later they lay in bed, Jak’s eyes facing upward at the stone ceiling, and Seph all but purring next to her. He was different now, more confident, and she liked that about his new changes. Hopefully that wasn’t the only part of his personality that had changed.

  Regardless, his newfound abilities as a dragon shifter were invaluable. The dragon had almost defeated Cain once, long before Seph had merged with the beast. Perhaps now they could stand a chance against him. But before they could do that, they would have to find the demon king.

  “We’ll need to go back soon,” said Jak.

  Seph turned on his side till he was facing her. “I know. I’m assuming I’m invited again?”

  She smiled. “I mean, I guess we could use you.”

  They grinned, and he kissed her lightly, his hot breath running over her face and neck.

  She held Seph’s face in her hand, her expression sobering. “We have to find Cain.”

  “I’m happy to help,” Seph said immediately. “If anyone can stand up to him, I can.”

  “I know, and that’s what scares me,” Jak admitted. “Before now, the dragon was the only one who came close to killing Cain, but you remember what happened?”

  “What?”

  “Cain won. And he eventually dominated the dragon.”

  “Not for long,” said Seph. “I was able to snap him out of it, remember. And I get the feeling that, mentally at least, possibly physically, we’re a lot stronger together, him and I.”

  “I thought you said you were the same now, not two people?”

  “Well, I am. I’m just trying to make the process a little easier to understand.”

  “In any case, I don’t want you to take on Cain alone. I want to be there.”

  “I can agree to that. But I can cover as much or maybe more ground than you can. Let me help you find him. I’d be the worst at recruiting.”

  Jak laughed softly, picturing the chaos that would ensue if common village folk saw Seph’s transformation into a dragon. “You’re right, best if you leave that to me and the others.”

  “When do you want to set out?” he asked after a brief pause.

  “In a few days. I have some more preparations to make before we go.”

  “Your little project in the caves?”

  Jak nodded, “and handing out the extra brands.”

  “Any luck handling those who want to force the Brandless?”

  Jak shrugged. “I honestly haven’t encountered very many. Most seem mildly upset by it, but not in a way that could become a problem.”

  “Good,” Seph shifted position again so he was lying on his back. “The last thing I want to encourage is their right to choose such things.”

  Jak agreed, though she was troubled. She let herself listen to Seph’s breathing for a few moments before saying more. “You know, at some point someone is going to have to make those decisions.”

  “What decisions?”

  “Well things like that, like who gets the right to choices in certain things, especially if the choices could be dangerous.”

  “I hardly think refusing to take a brand counts as…”

  “I mean more problematic things. There’s the obvious like punishing crimes like murder or theft. But what about more gray areas?”

  “Like taking a brand?”

  “Well maybe, though I agree with you on that. But…” she thought about it for a second. “We know education is important, right? I was lucky I had a knowledgeable father, but not everyone is so lucky. Do we force people to get an education just because we know it’s good for them? And what if they don’t want it. Is that dangerous? And then there’s everything from selecting teachers to deciding what should or shouldn’t be taught. I mean, who can we trust to make the right decisions on those things?”

  Seph turned to face her again and put one hand to her face. It emanated warmth that seemed to fill her. “We’ll figure all of that out later. Right now, you’re in charge, and therefore you make those decisions.”

  “But I’m hardly qualified to…”

  “So in the future you find others who are more qualified, and let them decide. Seek out the experts. Like the council you already formed.”

  Jak let that sink in. Seph was right in part. The council had already been a great help to her leadership. She was hardly good enough to guide all these people on her own.

  “I guess you’re right,” she said, calming down a little. She nuzzled her nose in his chest. “You’re always right.”

  He laughed softly. “Wouldn’t that be nice.”

  7

  Jak spent the next few days continuing her somewhat monotonous work. She spent most of the day giving out brands, though the demand was starting to die down. Most of those who wanted a brand had one, and many had three or four. They only had maybe a thousand more brands to give out before they reached the end of their quota. That only left the Brandless, which meant Jak and Naem’s work would soon be over, at least among those of their camp.

  When she wasn’t branding the people of their camp, Jak spent the rest of her time either with Seph or working on her little side project, which she continued to keep secret from everyone who didn’t need to know. Even the council only understood the basics of what she was doing.

  But after four more days of work, she knew she had had enough. The unending strain of branding hour after hour was getting to her. She needed to do something else, especially knowing that Cain was still out there somewhere. For all she knew, he could have made his move on Earth by now. And if anyone remained alive, it was her duty to find them, and save them from the demon king’s influence.

  And so, after a final night of sleep, she spent the next day gathering as many as were willing to help in her efforts on Earth. Mostly she sought for the Sky Fae, who could move quickly and made excellent scouts. She would need them to cover the most ground, and possibly locate Cain’s whereabouts as well.

  Secondly, she was joined by about a hundred of the previously branded soldiers, under Skellig’s command. The general was also going with her to help establish a military presence back on Earth. If they were to defeat Cain, they would need an army, and just about everyone preferred to take the fight to Earth, rather than risk this beautiful new world they had colonized.

  Lastly, Seph, Viona, and a few more of the Shadow Elves agreed to come. Li and two more Nature Fae also came, though Li said most of them would be needed on Illadar, to keep cultivating the planet. Jak agreed.

  Once Jak knew who all was coming, she helped them prepare, and by the next morning, they were all ready to depart.

  “I still don’t see why I can’t go,” said Naem as Jak strapped on her travel armor. She didn’t need it for protection anymore, but there was still something comforting about the tight-fitting leather and cloak.

  “I told you, you’re needed here to finish branding anyone who’s left,” Jak shot back.

  “But I know people there. People I recruited already who couldn’t come immediately, or who saw me recruiting.”

  “I’m sure we’ll find them,” said Jak.

  Naem scowled at her. “I liked you better when you were less composed.”

  “That’s very backwards of you.”

  “You see? That’s what I’m talking about. The old you would have had nothing to say to that, you would have sputtered for a while, and I would have just come with you like I said I would.”

  Jak leveled her eyes at him. “Well then it’s a good thing that’s not what’s happening, isn’t it?”

  Naem shook his head at the ground, but Jak detected a faint smile. When he looked back up he said, “Be careful out there.”
>
  “We will,” said Seph, coming up behind Jak and placing one hand on her shoulder.

  Naem exchanged a slight nod with the dragon shifter before returning to the camp.

  Jak turned to see the large team she had recruited. Almost a hundred and fifty all together, mostly made up of branded humans and Sky Fae, though there were others as well. She strode forward to pick up the staff that lay against the nearest tree. It gleamed in the morning light, the Pillar of Space, a bright white stave with black runes running up and down its length.

  Holding the Pillar and facing the army, she felt the need for a speech, yet in that moment nothing came to her. They all knew what they were facing, and what was at stake. They all knew that if they encountered Cain, they could even lose their lives.

  “Are you ready?” was all she said.

  A wave of nods and straightening spines were her response. She took a moment to catch the eye of Skellig, who smiled and inclined her head with all the rest. Jak returned the gesture.

  Turning away from them, with Seph at her side, she called on the Pillar of Space and activated its magic. The others gathered together so each of them were touching each other, which would make it easier for Jak to transport them all together. Jak closed her eyes, readying herself for the slight strain that was about to come.

  Seph put his hand on her shoulder, indicating that the rest of them were ready.

  Without opening her eyes, she used the Pillar of Space and bridged the gap between worlds, folding space until she and all who were connected to her emerged on the other side.

  She opened her eyes, swaying slightly.

  If it weren’t for the fact that it was nighttime on this part of Earth, or that the environment looked completely different, she wouldn’t have thought she had traveled a mile, to say nothing of traveling between planets.

  They were in Riverbrook, or rather the plains alongside her hometown. It was often where she appeared when traveling back to Earth, probably due to her connection with the place. But as a horrifying stench reached her nostrils, she realized she’d rather be anywhere else.

  The smell wafted over the plains, rising from the rotting corpses of several thousand demons, killed by her own hand several months earlier. The mutilated humans smelled bad enough when alive, but when dead their putrid flesh became a haven for flies and maggots. Even though the demons had died a long time ago now, and the corpses were nothing but rotting bones and rags, the odor had not fully dissipated yet. Jak wondered if it ever would.

  Thankfully, they weren’t too close to the scene of the battle. Instead, she had brought them closer to the river. Skellig met her eyes, connected to all of her soldiers. Sky Fae were flying above, their small bodies and agile forms easily darting around those of the humans.

  Skellig spoke first, holding her nose like many of the others chose to do, “I had no idea it would be this bad after so long.”

  “The effects of bloodshed and carnage are not easily forgotten,” said Jak with her lips pressed. She had been responsible for the deaths of all those demons. And even though they attacked her people, and were nothing but mindless slaves to Cain’s will, she couldn’t help but feel some responsibility for their fate. If only they had had the manpower at the time to bury all of them.

  Shaking her head to break herself out of her trance, Jak got down to business. “This is only a temporary stop. I wanted a more familiar place to bridge the gap between worlds. But now that we’re here, I can take each of you wherever you’d like to go. Perchel, I think you and the Sky Fae should split up to cover as much ground as possible. If you divide everyone into groups of three or four, I can send you to key areas around the nation. Your primary goals are to search for signs of Cain or his demons, as well as recruitment of any who wish to join us on Illadar.”

  “Do you think people will listen to us?” Perchel replied from where he hovered about a foot above their heads.

  Jak inclined her head. “Given what is essentially an economic collapse in both Skyecliff and Tradehall, I’m sure many will be feeling the effects, even in the small villages. And the Sky Fae are a little more…” she searched for a good word, “divine in appearance. I have a feeling many will see your arrival as a sign. And I will visit each group periodically if there is any trouble.”

  Perchel rose a little higher. “We are ready upon your command.”

  Jak acknowledged him with a slight nod before turning to Skellig. “I think you should go to Foothold.”

  Skellig blinked at her. She hadn’t discussed this with the major yet. “I had thought about visiting the stronghold.”

  “There may still be Watchers there for all I know. And it’s the last major fortress left in the kingdom that hasn’t been overrun by Cain and his demons, at least last I checked.”

  Skellig appeared to agree. “So you think it could be vulnerable to attack.”

  Jak nodded. “Assuming Cain intends to overthrow the nation’s military power entirely. He already left Skyecliff and Tradehall in ruins. And it seems like as good a place as any to establish a military presence.”

  The corners of Skellig’s lips turned down slightly, and she adjusted her weight on her feet. “I don’t know. The place is defensible, but there never was the best escape route out of there.”

  “We have no need of an escape route with this,” said Jak, raising the Pillar in her hands.

  That seemed to satisfy Skellig. “Very well. I’ll take my men to Foothold and the surrounding area.”

  “Very good,” said Jak. She grimaced at her own formal tone. When had she become so...stiff. Maybe it had something to do with all the soldiers who were watching. She didn’t want to let them see her less rational side. “I’ll follow you through at first to make sure there’s no immediate danger.”

  Without waiting for a reply, she turned to Seph who stood next to her. He had said nothing since arriving. “Are you coming with me?”

  Seph grimaced slightly. “Now that I’m here, I believe there is something I must do. I may be gone for a little while, but I can promise to meet you in Foothold eventually.”

  Jak tilted her head. “What is it you need to do?”

  “I’m still unsure, but I have a hunch. Best not to mention it yet, but it could be important.”

  Jak grabbed his shoulders, trying to put as much affection into the gesture as she could without alienating the soldiers. “I trust you. Do what you need to do.”

  Seph flashed that smile of his at her. “Thank you, my love. You might want to stand back a bit.”

  “Give Seph some room,” Jak raised her voice at the others.

  The others obeyed, giving Seph a wide berth. Then with a final smile at Jak, Seph’s body began to change. Like before, it started with his arms and legs, which elongated and bulged with muscles until they were the proper size. His body grew as well, and his face lengthened into the long snout of the dragon. Two wings burst from his back, and soon they were facing the fully-sized dragon.

  Jak watched as it leapt into the air and flew away north. The rest of the group seemed suspended as they also watched him go.

  Finally, Jak turned back to Perchel and asked, “Are the Sky Fae ready?”

  “We await your command,” said Perchel with a nod and a flutter.

  Jak cracked an appreciative smile, “Then I won’t keep you waiting.”

  She walked to each of the groups of Sky Fae that had formed, and placed a hand on each of them before calling once again on the power of her Pillar of Eternity. She sent them to Skyecliff, Tradehall, the north borders, and other key areas along the mountain range. Jak faced Perchel one last time. “Stay out of trouble. I’ll visit each location shortly to see if there’s anything to report. If you don’t hear from me, head to Foothold.”

  “I will,” said Perchel, before Jak rested a hand on his shoulder and sent him and two of his comrades away. When that was done, she faced Skellig. “I’m ready to take the rest of us to Foothold now.”

  Skellig nodded.
“We are also ready.”

  “Then gather together,” said Jak. They all obliged, placing hands on each other’s shoulders as Jak readied herself. Together, they left Jak’s hometown and arrived in the next breath near a large tower, surrounded by a stone wall and moat, the fortress of Foothold.

  In a sense, Jak had just mirrored her first journey following the death of her father. Back then she had left Riverbrook and eventually ended up at Foothold, where she had her first taste of a true battle. And here she was again, leading more troops. What would her father say if he could see her now?

  Jak scanned the area. It was quiet, but she thought she could see smoke coming from the chimney of a nearby farmhouse. There were people here, and she could make out no sign of any danger.

  She breathed in a breath of fresh air. Yes, this place was in far better shape than the plains of Riverbrook that they had just left. Skellig and the others would be safe for the moment.

  Skellig stepped beside her. “No sign of trouble.” It was a statement not a question.

  Jak nodded. “I’ll leave you all here for now, but I’ll be back soon.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’m checking on Skyecliff first, to see what has happened to the Royal Priest and Queen Telma, or any other stragglers left in the city.”

  “Very well,” Skellig took a step forward, towards the fortress. “We will see who is left in Foothold and take command if possible. Should there be any problems…” she looked at Jak for guidance.

  “I’ll be back soon,” Jak confirmed. “But each of your men and women have multiple brands. I’m sure you’ll be able to handle yourselves until I return.”

  “It’s not just about their physical prowess.” Skellig clarified, pulling closer to speak to Jak in a lower tone. “You inspire them, and others too. If the people of Foothold don’t accept me, they will remember you.”

  Jak put an arm on Skellig’s shoulder appreciatively, though she had to reach upward to do so, as Jak was a lot shorter than the woman. Even though she literally looked up to Skellig, who would have thought that Skellig would figuratively look up to her? “I’ll be there soon,” she confirmed. “Just try to keep anyone from causing any messes.”