Spectra's Gambit

by Vincent Trigili

  Dusty pulled a ring out of a pocket in his armor and handed it to me. “This ring can focus telepathy over great distances to a specific target. This one is paired with me. When you are ready, use it as a channel to contact me telepathically, and it should find me wherever I am.”

  I slipped it on my finger and said, “Take care of Saraphym for me.”

  Master Spectra put her hand on my arm, over the material that Saraphym had tied on, and looked directly into my eyes. “Picture her butterfly form in your mind; cement that memory where nothing can touch it. You will be tempted to forget yourself here, but remember her and use that as your anchor home. Nothing here can ever match her beauty in your mind’s eye; remember that.”

  “Thanks,” I said. I turned away from them, wanting to get this done and return to the real world as soon as I could. “Farewell, and good luck!” I called out and leapt into the air. I expanded myself into my native form and rose quickly into the sky, such as it was. I banked around them once and then headed off in the direction Spectra had indicated. Thankfully my race’s perfect sense of direction and memory functioned just as well there as it did in the real world.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Light, please, if you will it, let me help Spectra even though she is so far away. I am so worried about her and the path she is on. I know she is not yet one of your children, but please let me help her, I prayed silently to myself as I tended my plants. I knew she was the focal point of a large change that was on the horizon, and I was scared for her. She was out there somewhere, far out of my reach, and I desperately wished I was with her and Dusty. I knew if I was there I could help them, but she wanted so much to do this alone.

  “Hey, Shea!” came Spectra’s voice.

  I spun just in time for her to run up and hug me. I wanted to kick myself; somehow I’d missed her arrival, but how? I should have sensed Nemesis long before he arrived. “Spectra! I am sorry, I did not know Nemesis had returned.”

  “Oh, we haven’t; I just stopped in after dropping off Greymere in the Spirit Realm.”

  Light, thank you for this opportunity. Please grant me wisdom and insight, I prayed silently and then said, “Wait, why?”

  “Well, I missed you, and we need more illuminescence potions also,” she said.

  “Oh, I have plenty more; and I have greatly missed you, too, but why is Greymere in the Spirit Realm?” I asked. I pulled out a case of the potions and placed them on my desk.

  “Oh, Shea, I don’t know anymore,” said Spectra as she curled up in one of my cozy chairs.

  Her whole demeanor changed as she climbed into the chair. She was not her normal, confident self anymore and instead seemed tired, maybe even defeated. I knew I needed to let her talk and that answers would come with time. I slipped around her and closed the door to my office so we would not be disturbed. “I’m here. What’s wrong?”

  “It’s Saraphym and Greymere,” she said. “They are both butterflies and I don’t know what to do about it.”

  I smiled at that. While their shape was vaguely like that of a butterfly, none of the reports of their activities made me think of the gentle, harmless insects that float from flower to flower. Their bodies were fairly flat and had wing-like structures, but that is where the similarity ended. Somehow the butterfly moniker had stuck, regardless. “I think we will need to come up with a better name than ‘butterflies,’ but what is the issue?”

  “Well, we were on a space station following a lead on the Cathratinairian case when the station’s crew triggered the self-destruct mechanism. I didn’t have a lot of time to think; I just reacted. I brought her to the Spirit Realm, and we almost lost her.”

  I pulled my chair close to her so that we were almost touching and asked, “Is she all right?”

  “Yeah,” she said. “Dusty and I rushed her back through a gate to Nemesis, but she was sorely shaken. She doesn’t have a good grip on her identity, not since Greymere turned her world upside down, but the speed at which she started to fall to the Spirit Realm was frightening; mere seconds.”

  Thank the Light! I thought to myself. I hated that realm, and as hard as I tried I could not relate to her need to spend time there. “Sounds like you did the best you could at the time. Did Greymere have the same problem?”

  “No, he was as stable as I am there,” she said. That was very interesting, and I wanted to know more but she continued before I could ask. “You see, I think they are natives of that realm. Their butterfly form is almost purely spirit.”

  “They are not,” I said.

  “No? But they are more spirit than physical when they go into butterfly mode.”

  “Yes,” I said. “I have been doing some research into their origins and I think they may be natives of the weave.”

  “The weave?” she asked.

  “Yes. Think how much like spellweavers they are,” I said.

  “You know, that is a good point,” she said. “And since the Spirit Realm is also part of the weave, that would explain why they can move about there just as well as here. They are simply moving in the weave!”

  She jumped out of her seat and hugged me. “Shea, you are a genius!”

  Thank you, Light, for that insight, I prayed silently and then said, “Oh, no, not really. Sometimes the Light grants me insight, that is all.”

  “Sure,” she said and playfully thumped my shoulder. “We’ll go with that.”

  I chuckled a bit. It was wonderful to see her interacting with me like this again. When she had refused to take me with them, I’d grown worried that she might have grown jealous of Dusty and myself. “What is the problem, then?”

  She started pacing back and forth while she talked. Her tail was dancing a bit behind her, and I wondered if she were even conscious of it. “Well, Saraphym has to be able to work in the Spirit Realm. It is critical for her training that she overcomes her attraction to that place, because it’s the reason why so many spiritualists have failed in the past and become necromancers; but if I cannot even risk her being there for a second, how am I going to teach her to fight it?”

  This was very good. She was seeking advice from me, advice on how to stay good in the light of all the evil inherent in their gifts. I could not have been happier than I was right then. “Perhaps she fell so fast because she feeds on energy and there is so much of it there.”

  “Maybe that is it,” said Spectra.

  “And you mentioned that her personal identity was recently shaken?” I asked.

  “Oh, big-time. I mean, she thought she was a human daughter of human parents until Greymere came along and destroyed her world; in a very good way, mind you, but it still.”

  I remembered how smitten Saraphym had been with him. She had come to me practically in tears over how much she adored him. “How is their relationship holding up?”

  “Beyond great. He even took her on a date out of the ship and they flew around together out there for hours on end. She is going to be a bit of a mess while he’s gone,” she said.

  “There is your anchor, then,” I said.

  “Of course!” she said. “That is the same thing I told Greymere when he left. If she can focus on him, that will give her a reason to fight the draw of the realm! I don’t care what you say, you really are a genius!”

  After another prayer of thanks I asked, “So why did you leave Greymere there?”

  “Oh, that was Nanny’s fault,” she said.

  “How so?” I asked.

  She explained how Nanny had asked Greymere to deliver a message for her. “So right now he is heading back to her tribe with a message that I should be carrying for her.”

  “Then why aren’t you?” I asked.

  “No one understands duty and responsibility better than Nanny. She has cared for me and protected me my entire life, through thick and thin; even when I did not want it, especially then. She didn’t ask me because I have a duty to the Cathratinairians right now and to my students,” s
he said.

  “I see. Do you think he will be all right?” I asked.

  “Oh, definitely. He was solid in his identity when he left us, and I implanted a suggestion into his spirit before he left, just to be sure,” she said.

  “Oh?” I asked.

  “I know it’s probably against some goofy wizard rule, but it is harmless and could save him,” she said.

  I thought I knew what she meant, and I was sure it was indeed against the rules and one of the reasons wizards generally disliked spiritualists, but now was not the time to bring that up. “You feel responsible for him?”

  “Of course I do! He is one of my people now,” she said.

  “But you are confident he will be fine?” I asked.

  “Yes. Even if not, Dusty gave him a communication ring which will allow us to track him down if he gets in trouble,” she said. “In truth, it should be a pretty easy trip for him.”

  “But what about all the citizens of that realm?” I asked.

  “Oh, the natives will see him as one of their own. The others would kill him on sight, but he has military and covert operations training going back decades. I expect he will slip through unnoticed and, once he finds Nanny’s tribe, they will protect him until I can fetch him back.”

  “It sounds like you have everything worked out,” I said.

  “Yes! Oh, thank you, Shea! I always feel so much better after our talks. You are a very special friend,” she said.

  “I am always here for you, Spectra, no matter what,” I said.

  “I know,” she said softly. “I know.”

  “Now, how did you use up all those illuminescence potions I gave you?” I asked.

  “We didn’t. It turns out the butterflies can drink them for nourishment, so Nanny sent our entire supply with Greymere,” she said.

  “Oh, that was very wise of her. That way he won’t be tempted to tap the Spirit Realm and be trapped. Will he be there long enough to need all of them?” I asked.

  “No, I wouldn’t think … oh, she’s good,” said Spectra.

  “Who?” I asked.

  She looked at me with a big grin. “She knew I would have to come to you if we ran out. Clever, isn’t she!”

  “Nanny?” I asked.

  “She knew! She knew I needed you!” she said.

  I grinned too as I caught on. Nanny knew Spectra needed to talk to me, and knew that a direct suggestion would fail, so instead she arranged for them to run out of the one thing only I could provide. “I knew I liked her for a reason. Here, take this case. I make more every morning. And please stay in touch.”

  “Thanks, Shea!” she said, and then with another quick hug she was gone.

  “Oh, Light, please bless them, protect them and help them find you,” I prayed as she vanished.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  It had been several days since we’d left Greymere in the Spirit Realm. Spectra’s spirits had been high ever since her visit to Shea. Unfortunately, Saraphym’s spirits were low and there was nothing we could do to cheer her up. Spectra insisted she just needed some time to adjust, and I hoped she was right.

  “Master Shadow should be here soon,” I said.

  Spectra and Nanny were busy organizing a dinner for our guest, while Jade, Kymberly and Saraphym were on the bridge going over simulations with Nemesis for docking with a station. After Master Shadow departed, we would make our last jump and rendezvous with the trade hub as Greymere had suggested.

  “Any idea what he wants?” asked Spectra.

  “No, he insists it is just a social visit,” I said.

  “Then why are you so worried?” asked Nanny.

  “Master Shadow is my direct superior,” I explained.

  “But he was your friend long before that, wasn’t he?” asked Nanny.

  “Sort of …” I agreed.

  “And you have maintained your friendship all this time?” she continued.

  “Well, yeah … ” I admitted.

  “Then relax! Be glad your friends are the kind who can cross time and space to see you!” she said.

  I threw my hands up in defeat. I knew Nanny was right, but still a surprise visit from your immediate superior was never something to take lightly. “Spectra, is the marker set for him to hone in on?”

  “Yes, he should have no problem finding us,” she said.

  “Good. I guess we just wait, then,” I said.

  “You could, but I would rather you greeted me,” came Master Shadow’s voice as he appeared in the room with us.

  “Master Shadow! Allow me to introduce Nanny,” I said.

  “Ah, yes. Master Kellyn told me many complimentary things about you,” he said and bowed before her. “Thank you for taking care of my family out here.”

  “Now, now; no bowing before me,” said Nanny. “I should be bowing before you, your majesty! Dusty, you did not tell me you report directly to the crown prince!”

  “Prince?” laughed Master Shadow. “Hardly.”

  “Master, I think she has it nailed. You are next in the line of succession,” I said.

  “Yes, but … ” he started.

  “Master, just accept it,” chided Spectra.

  When greetings had been exchanged and everyone was seated and food served, Master Shadow said, “I come bearing news from home.”

  He told us how Phoenix was still doing well on his new diet and had taken command of the second fleet of the Dragon Guard. The covert ops division I had left behind was doing well and was currently on maneuvers outside the kingdom. He told us about the comings and goings of our realm for most of the meal, and we let him in on some of our successes and the people we had met out here.

  At the end of the meal he said, “Oh, yes, I have one more piece of news. Nothing big; I probably should not even bother mentioning it, but Master Kellyn has informed us that Flame will be having twins in about eight months.”

  “What?” both Spectra and I exclaimed.

  He was grinning from ear to ear. “Yes, that was my reaction also.”

  “Wow!” said Spectra. “Master, that is wonderful! No wonder you wanted to come out here in person and tell us!”

  “Yes, it was a shame I could not bring Flame here as well, but it is too far for me to gate as yet,” he said.

  “As far as I know, only Grandmaster Vydor can gate this far,” said Spectra.

  Nanny was all excited to hear about the children and started grilling Master Shadow for details. He said, “I have only just found out, but I wanted my family to know right away. I can send more details as we learn them.”

  “We will definitely be there for the birth! Anything Master Flame needs, just ask!” said Spectra.

  “Thank you. I really hope you will be. I want everyone there for the celebration of their birth. We have some time yet; Master Kellyn is pretty sure of the date, but …” he started.

  “If the Empress gives a date, they will be born on that date,” cut in Nanny.

  “Sorry, Nanny, no disrespect intended. This is all so new to me,” said Master Shadow.

  Nanny smiled. “Oh, you’re just like every other new father. You might be able to bend reality to your will, but toss a pregnant wife your way and you fall apart.”

  He sighed and said, “She will be the second most powerful wizard in the realm to go through this. There are lots of stories …”

  “Hush!” said Nanny. “The Empress said they would be fine, did she not?”

  “Well, yes, many times,” he agreed.

  “Then they will be fine. Relax and enjoy these last few months of rest. You will need them soon!” she said.

  He smiled. “Very well, I take your point: trust Master Kellyn and relax.”

  “Exactly. Now, would you like more coffee?” asked Nanny.

  “Yes, please,” he said. “Is Greymere about? I would like to meet him.”

  “No, Master,” I said. “He is out on special assignment and we don’t
expect him back for a few weeks.”

  “Ah, that is a pity. I read all the reports and he sounds like a very interesting person,” he said. “Perhaps next time.”

  “You and he may have something in common, actually,” said Spectra.

  “Oh? How so?” he asked.

  “Master, Shea thinks he is a native of the weave,” she said. “He can absorb and reflect energy very much like you, and he can sense energy in the same way.”

  “Now, that makes him even more interesting than I thought,” he said. “But in all the time I have spent in the weave I have never seen another living creature.”

  “Master, the weave is indescribably immense,” said Spectra. “Every realm that exists fits inside it, and it flows through all of them. I would think, even if there were billions upon billions of life forms in the weave, you could spend your whole life there and not see a single other one.”

  “The High Priestess is right,” said Nanny. “Spectra, that odd characteristic you have been puzzling over in their auras is the signature of one born in the weave.”

  “You knew?” asked Spectra.

  “Of course. Don’t you remember who taught you to read?” she chided.

  “I will treasure this moment for years to come,” said Master Shadow.

  “What moment?” I asked.

  “Spectra being shown up,” he said with a chuckle.

  I am not sure how, but he managed to dodge the bread roll that was whipped towards his head at high speed, and it just made him laugh the more. We talked for a while longer, and then it was time for him to leave.

  “Thank you for allowing me to visit,” he said. “We have all missed you.”

  “Master, we have missed our family back home also, but they are depending on us out here and this is where we need to be right now,” I said.

  “Yes, I agree, but we can come to visit and perhaps you can return home briefly from time to time. Flame would love to see you both and I know you can both Spirit Walk back.”

  “We will try,” said Spectra. “But at the moment, we are racing a fleet to a station it plans to destroy so that we can steal its database before it erases the evidence we need.”