As Winter Spawns

by Jason Hamilton

  “What did you expect?” said Jak.

  “Well, I thought you were going to talk about those portals that keep popping up. We had some Sky Fae report of several more instances nearby. The demons that fell out of those portals haven’t reached us yet, but we’ll need to be ready.”

  Jak blinked. She had all but forgotten about the portals. She had been too caught up in trying to save everyone from the elements that any other concerns fell by the wayside. But in a way, it was the more important concern, if not the most immediate.

  “Very well, I had an idea about that a while back, before my fight with Vander. We can talk about it, assuming the rest of you are willing to try linking with Bretton and the other Ice Fae?”

  Yewin nodded, “I think I speak on behalf of all the Fae that we are willing to do so. Perhaps we could even set up a regular time for it. We might not be able to change the weather overnight after all.”

  The others nodded, so Jak continued. “I’m excited to see what becomes of it. In any case, concerning the portals, the last time they appeared, Bretton managed to hold one open for a limited time using his Fae magic. Unfortunately, it allowed more demons to come through, but I’m wondering if we couldn’t do the same to send people back.”

  That got a lot of interested looks. But Skellig looked troubled. “We’ve talked about this before, Jak,” she said. “Surely if you came to the other side, you’d run into a horde of demons, and Cain himself. You’d have no chance against them with no brands.”

  “So we get past them unseen.” said Jak, and looked pointedly at Viona.

  The Shadow Elf started as she realized that all eyes had turned to her. “Oh no, you can’t expect one of us to go?” she said. “After everything we’ve done to the rest of you?”

  “That was mostly Vander’s doing,” said Yewin, rubbing his chin. “But it could work. You have the ability to disguise others who are not Shadow Elves, correct?”

  “Well yes, but not more than one or two others. And it takes a great deal of concentration. But beyond that, we’re in disarray right now. I could barely afford to send one of the others, let alone myself.”

  “You’re the one I trust most, right now,” said Jak, keeping her gaze fixed on the elf. “And perhaps the others would see it as a sign that we don’t hold any ill will against you. That we’re willing to continue to work together to meet our goals. Besides, Karlona dispatched several Shadow Elves as spies back on Earth, and they’re still there. We could use this as an opportunity to retrieve them.”

  Viona met her eyes, and took a disparaging breath. “Well, I suppose it could be possible to hide you from the eyes of Cain and the demons once we’re on the other side. I could cover no more than two, so unless you want to take more Shadow Elves with you…”

  “We wouldn’t have the time for that,” said Bretton. “My estimation is that we could only keep the portal open for a few seconds, just enough time for a small handful to get through.”

  “I still don’t like it,” said Skellig. “Even if you made it to the other side, and managed to avoid getting caught by Cain, what would you do there?”

  Jak had several answers prepared for this question. “Well, the first and foremost goal would be to retake the Pillars of Eternity, which would ultimately stop Cain from opening the portals here.”

  “Not an easy task,” said Skellig, folding her arms.

  “No, which is why we may need help. Naem is still there, and he’s likely been recruiting more and more people this whole time. He might not even know we left.”

  “If he’s still alive,” said Skellig. “With us out of the way, and the Pillars of Eternity in his possession, who’s to say Cain hasn’t already laid waste to the entire planet by now?” Jak almost scowled. Leave it to Skellig to find the worst case scenarios.

  “He won’t destroy everything. I know him. He wants something left to command, to rule. But maybe you’re right, and maybe Naem won’t be waiting for us when we get back. If that’s the case then we’ll pick up where he left off, form a rebellion against Cain until we can take back what we lost.”

  Skellig didn’t say anything that time, but her face was still dark.

  “Look at it this way,” said Jak. “If we stay here and do nothing, Cain will eventually gain complete control over the Pillars and we won’t stand a chance. The increase in demons here shows that he’s getting closer to his goal. If there is any possibility, even the slightest, that we can stop that from happening, we have to take it.”

  That was all Skellig needed. She pressed her lips together and nodded. “I suppose you’re right. But there’s a lot we simply cannot plan for, seeing as we have no idea where you will end up, or what Cain has been doing this whole time.”

  “I agree,” said Jak. “Which is just another reason why only a few of us should go. A large force will have little advantage. With myself and Viona, that would mean no more than one additional person should come with us.

  “I’ll go,” said Li immediately.

  Jak glanced at the woman and hesitated. The eastern leader’s illness had not worsened over the past few days, but it had also not improved. Her skin was a pale greenish color, and she leaned against Amelia’s wagon for support. But her eyes were made of steel.

  “I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Li.” said Bretton. It should probably be one of the Fae, or at least someone with a powerful brand.

  “From everything I’ve heard, brands will do little against Cain,” said Li. “And if there is to be rebelling, I want to be in the center of it. No one understands rebels and fighting against tyrants like I do.” Her voice was strong, contrasting starkly with her appearance.

  Jak almost hid her smile. “Li, I think you’re right. Your experience with the eastern rebellions will matter more than something like a combat brand. Are you sure you’re up to the trip? You don’t look well.”

  “I am well enough,” said Li, standing straight. “This illness is not like that which plagues the others. It has lasted long but I am still capable. I would be honored to accompany you.”

  “Then I will not say no,” Jak exchanged a nod with the woman. “Assuming no one else has any objections?”

  “I don’t suppose you want me to come as well?” said Seph from where he stood next to her. She swallowed as his gray eyes met hers. He was her husband, and if they could pull this off, she would be leaving him. Was that fair?

  Wisely, the others remained quiet, only watching as Jak and Seph exchanged glances.

  “Seph, I…” she began.

  “It’s okay, Jak,” he said, putting out a hand. “I understand that my strengths are to comfort and inspire. I’m needed here, to put the rest of us back together again, to heal. I’m not a rebel leader,” he waved a hand at Li, “or a cunning Fae,” he waved his other hand at Viona. “And I’m not you, Jak.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said, simply. It seemed she was saying that a lot lately, but she didn’t know what else to say. Her marriage to Seph had given her the strength she needed to pull through her fight with Vander, to keep herself from giving into despair. What did it mean now that she was going to leave him so soon?

  “Don’t be,” he replied. “I fully support the plan.”

  Jak blinked at him. Well he could at least show a small amount of concern for her.

  “That still leaves the question,” said Mosaial, his slow, southern accent easing the tension generated by Jak and Seph’s exchange. “We don’t know when or where these portals will appear. How do we find one to use as a way back to Earth?”

  “It may take some time,” said Jak. “Viona, Li, and I will have to be ready to go at any moment. It’s likely that they will revisit us again soon.”

  “So we wait?” said Yewin.

  Jak nodded, “we wait.”

  23

  They spent a bit more time discussing the particulars, but it wasn’t long before Jak dismissed the council. Only Seph remained after everyone else returned to their duties. Jak met his
eyes. “Would you like to take a walk for a bit?”

  He smiled, though there was a hint of sadness in it. “I’d like that.”

  They left the camp, heading along the mountains to the west. Jak gently slipped her hand in his as they walked. Not far away there was a cliff face that provided a small measure of protection against the snow, enough so it was mostly dry at the base. It was the most private place she could think of, assuming no scouts were hurrying past.

  “Seph, I hope you don’t think that I’m abandoning you,” she said after a minute or so of walking in the snow. “Getting married to you was the best decision I’ve ever made, and I don’t regret it at all. You give me new life.”

  She looked sidelong at her husband, who gazed back. He was smiling. “I don’t think that, Jak.”

  “You don’t seem very worried about what might happen to me.”

  He took a deep breath. “Jak, of course I’m worried. But I also agreed to this the moment I agreed to marry you. We do not live in peaceful times, and I think both of us are destined for great things. But in a way, that is comforting.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “Well, I do not know where our lives will take us. We might both die in the fight for the Fae and for Illadar, you’ve certainly come close to it. But on the other hand, we’ve made it this far, and I can’t help but think that if our destiny is to help people, we can’t exactly do that when we’re dead.”

  Jak thought that through. “I don’t know, Seph. There was a moment when Vander was hitting me, that I realized my life could still count for something even after I was dead.”

  “But then you didn’t die, did you?” he pointed out. “And why was that? What kept you going?”

  She turned her head to look at him. “You did.”

  “See? As long as we hold out for others, our destinies are clear.”

  “But I would have died had Girwirt not saved me.”

  He shook his head, “You’re not giving yourself enough credit. After all, why would Girwirt step in like that if he didn’t believe in you as well?”

  “You sound confident.”

  “Perhaps. I don’t feel that way all the time, though. Only when I think it through. To be honest, I worry about the future as much as any man. I worry about Cain, about what could happen to you if you went back to Earth. Like I worried when Vander was pummeling you to death. It doesn’t ever go away.”

  She wrapped one arm around his waist as they walked. “I’m sorry to put you through all of that.”

  “I appreciate that, but you’re forgetting something,” he grinned at her, and she felt her face flush at the look in his eyes.

  “What’s that?”

  “You make it all worth it. All the times I worry about you, it’s only because I’ve come to care. And I wouldn’t care, if I didn’t love you with all my heart.”

  They were approaching the foothills. Jak could see the dark rock at its base where the snow hadn’t touched. Even though they were still walking, she placed her head on his shoulder. “Thank you for loving me, Seph.”

  “And thank you for loving me. When you finally make it back to Earth, let that be what brings you back safely.”

  Jak nodded, simply enjoying his presence as they made it to the cliff. There they sat on a small, rocky ledge. She simply let him hold her, enjoying the warmth of his body pressed against hers.

  “I will come back, Seph. I promise.”

  “I know,” Seph kissed her gently on the lips. She responded by grabbing him by the back of the head and kissing him hard, harder than she had ever kissed him before. It was a kiss of passion, a promise that she would not abandon him, that she would come back if for no other reason than to be with him again.

  She continued to kiss him long into the night, the warmth of their bodies making up for the cooling temperatures. Her love for Seph boiled over, and she saw stars. It was a feeling not unlike what she had felt when creating Illadar. It was the power of the love they shared, the power of creation, the power of eternity. Finally, they could enjoy a little privacy together as husband and wife.

  Over the next two days, Jak, Li, and Viona prepared what weapons and belongings they needed, and the Fae had begun practicing regular links. They claimed it was working, though Jak couldn’t really see much of a result, other than the fact that the wind had picked up a bit. But that could mean anything.

  Regardless, it was a way for her to help the Fae feel valued. Vander would likely have looked on it as yet another exploitation of their skills, but Jak saw it more as a celebration. It was bringing out the best in each of them, and together they were learning more about the world they inhabited, and their own abilities.

  The only downside to their preparations was the fact that Jak had to be near Viona and Li at all times, which meant that she and Seph never got another private moment together. But they couldn’t afford the time it would take to rally everyone together once the portals appeared. They had to stay close.

  Regardless of their lack of privacy, Seph remained with her at all times, never wanting to leave her alone for an instant, knowing that she could disappear at a moment’s notice. And Jak loved him for it.

  They spent most of their time talking, and making plans for their future. They talked about things that had seemed silly just days ago, such as the number of kids they wanted, or the house they would build. None of that would be possible, of course, until their current crisis was dealt with, but Seph had a way of inspiring hope, especially when it came to life on Illadar.

  When the portals finally came again, they were ready for them. No less than four days after Jak had discussed the plan with the council, she woke to shouts coming from nearby.

  Instantly she was awake, and on her feet. Seph blinked his eyes as he awoke, but quickly followed Jak once he realized what was happening.

  “Portals!” Bretton yelled. “The portals are opening just to the east side of camp.”

  Li and Viona were awake and beside Jak in a heartbeat, carrying the packs they had prepared earlier. Jak grabbed her own, and with a tilt of her head at Li and Viona, she began running to the east side of camp. She spared a glance for Seph, who joined them but lagged several steps behind.

  She quickly caught sight of Bretton, who was waving them forward at the edge of the camp. He pointed and Jak could see the strange purple energy coming off the portals in the moonlight.

  “If we hurry, we can make it in time.” said Bretton, falling into step with them as they approached.

  “We’re ready,” said Li, though she was breathing hard from the exertion. Had Jak made the wrong decision to allow her to come? She was sick after all. But then again, a sick person was likely better off on Earth, than here on Illadar.

  They continued running, all five of them while others gathered to watch them go. Soon, they had passed up all the onlookers and Jak could see the portals far more clearly. One or two dark shapes against the snow suggested there were already demons that had dropped through the portals, or at least parts of them. But they didn’t have time to worry about them right now.

  As soon as they were close enough, Bretton extended his hands. Jak’s face protested as the air grew chill. The Ice Fae’s magic shot from his arms until it connected with the nearest portal to open in front of them.

  The portal froze in mid air, just large enough for one person to climb through at a time.

  “Go!” Bretton screamed at them. His gray face was pinched with effort, and his white hair flew about his neck with the wind. But he was standing strong, holding the portal open for them.

  “Hold my hand!” said Viona, extending both for Jak and Li to grab hold of. They did so.

  Jak took one last look back, to see Seph standing next to Bretton, his face a mask of concern, but also something of encouragement. He smiled and nodded. Jak nodded back. She would see him again. If she had to pry the Pillars of Eternity off of Cain’s dead corpse, she would see that man again.

  In a flash, she felt the
magic of the Shadow Elf wash over her. Glancing down at her hand, she saw nothing but air. She couldn’t see Viona or Li either, though she knew they were there. Viona’s hand still held hers, tightly.

  “Hold it as long as you can, Bretton!” she yelled, before pulling on Viona’s hand, moving directly for the portal.

  She reached it and stepped through, pulling her companions after her.

  Epilogue

  Naem ran down the ruined passage that had once been mainstreet in Skyecliff. There was nothing left of it now, not since Cain and his demons had reduced it to rubble. Now only the Royal Palace remained intact, and he had no idea what was going on in there. It was nothing short of impossible how Skyecliff had fallen so fast. Many, or at least those who were still alive, speculated that the queen had even let it happen. Naem didn’t speculate.

  But right now, none of that mattered. Right now, he was running for his life.

  No less than fifty demons were on his heel, some of them close enough to take a few swipes at his feet as he ran. Grace was a wonderful brand in combat and situations like these, but it also did not grant him any additional speed. What he wouldn’t give for that Pillar of Eternity he had used back on the plains near Riverbrook. That had been an experience like none other.

  But Jak needed that, so he would have to make do.

  He jabbed his spear blindly behind him, and was rewarded with a satisfying yelp as the spear tip slashed at a demon. But he had to keep running. If he didn’t lead this pack far enough away, they would double back and kill the refugees he had found on the south side of the city.

  He ducked around a corner and nearly collided with Geram, a fellow Watcher who had listened to Naem and stayed behind after Skyecliff had been decimated. They had stayed to get as many survivors out as they could. Naem threw his arms up in front of him but only just managed to avoid a collision. But the damage had been done. He turned and swung his spear down, just in time to stop a demon from biting into his leg. The rest of the demons crowded around, barely slowing their momentum as they rounded the same corner.