“I’ll remember that next time you’re the one that’s tied up,” Remi muttered.
“So where are we headed?” Alicia asked, clutching her fur coat.
“Cimmerian,” General Bosen replied. “I don’t think my men are too eager to fight right now anyways.”
“I’ll go back to my troops and tell them what happened,” Ingrid replied. “I’ll meet you all on the road.”
“Mm-hmm,” Remi said as she watched the old woman head back into the deep of the forest. She didn’t have a bodyguard accompanying her.
***
“When we first arrive,” General Bosen explained as they crossed the bridge, “Remi and Pedro need to go in alone. It’s the only way to secure your safety. I can’t have one of the Sorcerers or the Dragon there. People recognize those two especially.”
“While we’re escorted by Cimmerian forces?” Pedro asked.
“Exactly.”
“We’ll be okay,” Remi said, patting him on the shoulder.
“I know,” Pedro laughed. “I was more worried about them should a fight break out.”
“We’ll talk to one of the Kings,” Bosen said. “Hopefully he’ll be in a listening mood.”
“One of the Kings? There are more than one?”
“Each King is in charge of a region. We don’t one as there is already enough contention on the streets.”
“Sounds counterproductive. Wouldn’t having only one ruler be easier?”
“You would think so, but the people are able to travel and set up home where they please. This makes it easier for the rulers to entice more citizens into their regions, and the people can decide what philosophies and practices they would like to live under. It’s separate, but it is equal in some ways.”
“And this King we’re about to meet,” Remi said. “What’s he like?”
“A little eccentric, but fair. I trust him with my life.”
“Okay, then.”
The Cimmerian army finished crossing the bridge and headed into a canyon with two colossal red walls on both sides. Remi, Bosen and Pedro took up the rear as Bosen said it was important that the army get back to their families as soon as possible, and that they did. As soon as they reached the outskirts of the first city, the army parted ways, running off in full sprint toward their respective homes.
Remi barely noticed. She was in awe over the changes in Cimmerian since she had been there last.
The ground was no longer sand the color of rust. Instead, there were patches of grass, and the sand wasn’t as prominent. There were flowers sitting in pots on the little windowsills of the clay houses, and the citizens of Cimmerian had begun to paint their walls with various berries and fruits. Being that they were used to starving, when crops and plants began to grow, they found out that they had more than they could devour. New ways to utilize the surplus was created, and a sense of newfound culture was born.
“A taste of Paragon, isn’t it?” Bosen chuckled.
“The atmosphere’s changed things so drastically.”
“I’m hoping that it continues to get better, and at some point, balance out. I don’t know for sure, but I like to think that it won’t go bad for the three worlds in the end. Paragon might have to deal with a little less. Cimmerian, funny enough, will have to get used to more, and Terra won’t change too much. At least, that’s what I’d like to think.”
“That would be nice,” Remi said. “And I wish Ember was here to hear that.”
“What’s her deal anyways? Is she really an ally?”
“For as long as she sees herself as one,” Remi sighed. “She’ll be okay for now, but once we take down a couple more Sorcerers, I would get the rope ready.”
“Already looking forward to that,” Pedro said. He had been so quiet that Remi had forgotten he was there.
“Right this way,” Bosen said as he took a sudden turn to the left, skipping the entrance to the city altogether. “The King’s fortress is kind of in the outskirts.”
They followed along as Remi was still in awe over the changes in Cimmerian, but all of that went away once they arrived at their destination. Surrounded by sand and baking under the golden sun was a massive set of stairs that extended up into the sky. They were strangely familiar.
“We’ve been here before,” Pedro said, and Remi could only nod.
“King Samuel is at the top. Don’t let his formidable presence fool you. He has a heart of gold.”
Pedro squint his eyes as he stared up the stairs. “He’s also a Sorcerer.”
“What?” Bosen shouted. “Our King?”
“I told you that you’ve been infiltrated,” Pedro said. “And that the situation might be worse than you expected.”
“So do we even bother?”
“It’s a risk,” Remi sighed. “But you never know. He might be an ally. We won’t know until we see what’s he’s like.”
“You saw what the last one did,” Bosen said, his voice trembling. “Why would I want to provoke him? He might start killing everyone in Cimmerian.”
“This isn’t about being afraid,” Remi said. “It’s about doing the right thing.”
“Easy for you to say, hermana,” Pedro laughed. “You don’t have as much to lose as the rest of us.”
Remi gave him a strange look. What was he talking about? Weren’t they all weapons and therefore, none of them actually had family and friends to speak of? Or did he have people he called family like Alicia did?
“The thing is, you’re the one that’s alone. Perhaps you should go up and see what’s up?”
“I will,” Remi said boldly. Though she preferred company, she didn’t hesitate to take on her role. Being alone, and finding inner strength in spite of it—this was what she was designed to do. But at the same time, she couldn’t help feeling that her willingness to persevere would always be there.
When the mission was over, the world was saved, and the Sorcerers weren’t in the picture, who would she have? Kace was gone. Her friends were only there for her because they were weapons too. It’s not like they were a family. It’s not like they really needed her on an emotional basis. Why did her world have to end after she saved everyone? Isn’t that what kept people going? Their loved ones?
But she didn’t have any…so what did she have to look forward to?
“I’ll go,” she choked up as she began climbing up the stairs three by three. She didn’t want them to see the tears streaming down her face. She would stay strong, because that was what they expected of her.
It’s what the whole world expected of her.
Chapter 53 – The King
He met her at the top of the stairs with his arms crossed and his piercing blue eyes staring into her soul. A warm smile greeted her as his massive arms were barely crossed over his chest. His broad shoulders were overshadowed only by the majestic robe that was draped over them, adorned with gems that radiated under the unforgiving sun. His skin looked young, but his face was old. It was a strange paradox, and yet, it caused an aura to emanate from him that spoke of both understanding and wisdom, youth and vitality.
They had not yet exchanged a word, and already she felt like she had found a friend.
The feeling made her want to throw up.
For she knew what he really was, and that his intentions were more than likely not as noble as his presence suggested.
“Welcome,” he said to her as she was only a few yards away from him. She cleared her throat and wiped away some sweat from her brow. The stairs had been more taxing than she thought.
“Hello,” she said. “I’m Remi. And you must be King Samuel.”
“I am,” he laughed heartily. “So you’ve heard of me. Good things I hope.”
“Nothing bad,” she admitted, taking one step closer to him. “But one thing that was disconcerting.”
“Do tell.”
“I heard that you were a Sorcerer.”
His warm gaze did not waver. “Yes, I am,” he admitted. “I’m sure the Blade to
ld you about me. I swear that’s him, though my eyesight isn’t what it used to be, with me being on Terra all these years. Ah, Remi! Weren’t you in Cimmerian not too many months ago? Fighting…Ember, I believe. I would have said hello, but I can’t fight worth a damn anymore.”
Remi wasn’t sure what to say.
“Anyways, come on up. We’ll rest inside where there’s shade. I’ll send a couple servants to fetch your friends. There’s a lot to talk about, and I would rather do it away from prying eyes.”
“The other Sorcerers?” she asked as she followed him to the top of the steps.
“Unfortunately, yes,” he said. The entrance was a rectangle that extended down a long hall with the pyramid like fortress. Torches hung along the sides and handfuls of sand dropped down from the ceiling periodically. King Samuel proceeded on down the hall and Remi reluctantly followed, wiping the sand out of her hair as it fell upon it.
“We’re trying to fix the leaks,” he said, noticing her movements. “The change in atmosphere has helped though. Less sandstorms. Would you like anything to drink?”
“No, thank you,” she replied, rubbing her fingers along the walls. “Is it all made of stone?”
“Pretty much. Though the design was not easy to come up with. You should talk to my architects sometime.”
“Have you always been in Cimmerian?”
“Longer than I can remember. Even before the Great Collision.”
“Why?” she asked. Though he was supposed to be her enemy, she felt at ease around him.
“Because I love the people,” he said as they reached the end of the hall. “And I wanted to see how they interacted with their environment up close.”
“But wouldn’t that have an adverse effect on your body? With the whole…time situation.”
“You have been busy,” he chuckled. “For you to know our greatest strength and weakness…but to answer your question, yes, it does cause me to age quite a bit faster than I was used to. But I’m okay with that. Sometimes I think that I would be better off dead. Then I wouldn’t have to deal with the squabble outside. But then I think of my subjects, and I know how much they would miss me. Not to mention that I have no real control over who would take over once I abdicated the throne.”
“So you’re really just here to watch the people?”
“It’s beautiful,” he said as they reached a small room. It was furnished with plush couches, chairs and a large, purple, fur carpet covered the floor. “Please, have a seat.”
Remi took one of the lone chairs and the King stretched out over a couch as he looked up and watched the hanging chandelier rock back and forth. A light gust of wind was keeping it swinging but Remi couldn’t identify the source.
“It feels lonely in here,” she said.
“Sometimes,” he said. “Being King and especially a Sorcerer in disguise gets lonely, but I’ve learned to deal with my lot in life. I am here for greatness, and saying that doesn’t mean I’m an arrogant bastard. It’s just the truth, and there are pros and cons to that. For one thing, I am never bored, and I have a sense of purpose and destiny that many people spend their whole lives seeking, but on the flip side, I have few people that I can call close family or friends.”
“I see,” Remi said, folding her hands in her lap. “So…what is your purpose now?”
“I want the three worlds to be what they were, before the Great Collision. My colleagues believe that it’s too late, and they’re all scrambling around trying to figure out a way to become the supreme ruler. But, things were great before, and I don’t understand why they can’t be great again. It’s not like a whole lot has changed besides the atmosphere.”
“Even if you could turn back time, wouldn’t your subjects be unhappy with the changes? You have a lot more food and resources now.”
“Part of the reason our values and culture has been so rich is because we had to seek out the positive in dire circumstances. If Cimmerian turns into Paragon, then the people will eventually become fat, lazy, and judgmental to the rest of the world. I don’t want that for them. But you said, ‘turn back time,’ when that’s not what I’m proposing. All we need is the help of the Delilah. They are the ones that built the last machines.”
“But they don’t have a machine like that anymore, and it would need someone to power it.”
“I’ve heard word that the Delilah are working on a solution to the worlds’ problems, and I want to help, but that will be difficult under current ties.”
“They don’t trust you.”
“Why would they? We are all at war with each other, and they have often fancied themselves the police of Terra. They have the same attitudes of the Sorcerers in some ways. I don’t blame them for this way of thinking, but I hope that whatever grand plans they have up their sleeves, it is for the good of all. Whether it’s restoring the barriers between the three worlds or manipulating time in some way, I want to make sure that it’s for the best of everyone and not just themselves. And the last thing I want is for the Sorcerers to get their hands on anything they have created. I promise you, Remi, they will destroy this world before they allow anything to survive that could jeopardize their existence.”
“And so…you want me to get the Delilah to hear you out? Is that what you’re asking of me?”
“You have this uncanny ability to get others to follow you. I don’t know if it’s a power or not, but I can’t deny that it’s there with all the stories I’ve heard about you. I would love your help. I know you have no reason to trust me, especially considering what I am, but I ask for you take a leap of faith with me.”
“I will,” Remi decided, and much to King Samuel’s surprise.
“Why’s that?”
“Because we can’t win alone. We need other Sorcerers to combat the others, and if you’ve spent this much time in Cimmerian, and the people respect you that highly, you can’t be all that bad. I’ll take the chance, because at some point, we have to start trusting each other, even if that trust is placed in a Sorcerer.”
“Speaking of trust,” King Samuel said, clearing his throat. “My general will ensure that you are given all the supplies you need on the journey as well as be your personal servant. While I will be accompanying you, I’ll need to keep my senses sharp for incoming threats. I can answer any questions you may have, but I won’t be able to assist you in any other way. That’s where my personal servant will come in. She will act as your bodyguard.”
“Um…okay,” Remi said, raising an eyebrow. Why would she need a servant?
“You may come out now,” King Samuel replied, and Remi took a deep breath before she turned around.
Right into the familiar face of her once best friend.
“Damn,” Remi muttered under her breath. “Really?”
“Hey,” Olivia said, giving her a short wave. “Looks like we’ll be working together again.”
“You going to betray me this time.”
Olivia gave her a wink. “No promises.”
***
Pedro and General Bosen were shocked to see King Samuel descend the stairs with Remi at his side, as if the two of them had been talking amongst the clouds. But after reviewing their conversation, and explaining that the Delilah were the key, they were on board.
“How are you?” Olivia asked as they cross the bridge to meet up with Ember, Alicia, and the few Delilah Ingrid had brought with her.
Remi wasn’t sure how to respond. “Okay, I guess. How about you?”
“Pretty good,” Olivia nodded. “I became the right hand man of King Samuel. A great honor to be sure, but…I had no idea he was would be so passive about things. I thought everyone in Cimmerian were pretty ambitious.”
“Serves you right,” Remi muttered.
“I had no idea he was a Sorcerer though,” Olivia said. “That’s insane.”
“Ugh. Can we cut the small talk?” Remi groaned. “It’s annoying.”
“Fine,” Olivia scowled. “What do you want to talk about? Rehas
h old stuff?”
“No,” Remi replied. “I want to talk about the future. You know that I can’t trust you, right?”
“I don’t blame you, but seriously, I’m in a good position now, and I’m not going to ruin that. King Samuel is not what I expected, but there’s still room for advancement. I’m happy.”
“Until a Sorcerer gives you an offer you can’t refuse.”
“Oh, I didn’t think of that,” Olivia smiled with a gleam in her eye. “Now you’ve got my mind racing.”
“You make me sick,” Remi groaned. “Just keep your distance, will you?”
“Fair enough,” she said, throwing up her hands in surrender. “But if I have to intervene, I will. I’ve got a job to do.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Remi said, waving her along. “Just go.”
She sighed and turned her attention to the front where Samuel and Ember were in the middle of a deep conversation. The two were Sorcerers, and yet, they had hardly spoken to one another over the years. Remi could only imagine what they were talking about.
“Hey,” Remi said, coming between them and interrupting the conversation. “What are you talking about?” She heard Alicia giggle from the back of the procession. She and Pedro were taking up the rear while Ingrid was engaged in conversation with Bosen. The rest of the Delilah were as silent as leaves.
“I was picking Ember’s mind,” Samuel replied. “Seeing where her head’s at.”
“And?”
“I’m right here,” Ember muttered. “You can ask me directly.”
“We were discussing the fate of the three worlds,” Samuel said. “And how the atmosphere is changing the environment. While it is possible that balance will be achieved, it is just as likely that chaos will ensue. The notion has been bothering me because we’re not sure what we would do in such a scenario. We have the islands, but they could hardly sustain large quantities of people. Even we have to travel to Terra for food and supplies, and if it’s not there…well, you get the picture.”
“You would bring people to your islands?”
“If necessary. Only a couple of the Sorcerers would actually be interested in seeing the end of the world. But we’re hoping to find the right solutions soon.”
The Complete Seven Sorcerers Trilogy Page 50