by Marcus Sloss
I... but... awww. I was a little heartbroken. I imagined how much good six ogre hearts could do and my murder thoughts took over. She was not wrong though. I inhaled a deep and nodded my acceptance and defeat. I had a full agenda already today.
I checked my gear before I left. I was in full combat armor, with short sword and shield. My purse was on my end table. I looked around for Deb but the little monox was nowhere to be seen. Even the wolves were missing, probably still sleeping. I did have my fish stringer though and some bait in the form of mystery meat.
I was ready. I left the barrier with the tingling feeling and Wina launched into the air to scout. I decided not to grumble and walked down the creek toward the river. I did not want to linger out here with the increased activity. Wina would warn me if something approached but no point in taking too long on my task. I picked up a slow run and arrived to the river’s edge quickly.
I checked the first line I had set. It was still and calm. That changed as soon as I pulled on it. These lines had five hooks on them and getting the entire catch in was a struggle. There were four fat ratfish that I landed on the shore. They flopped around loudly and I was doing my best to dispatch them quickly.
“Excuse me.” A voice said from behind me. It was clear and concise, spoken with an odd accent. I figured one of Una's men was behind me and kept working. I wondered why Wina had not said anything.
“Excuse me, I come wearing the white for a talk. Do you accept my term of truce for negotiation?” The voice said.
Okay, clearly not one of Una's men. They had the drop on me, well enough to kill me if they had wanted. So I was decided to stay calm and keep stabbing at the constantly flopping ratfish.
“I agree to your terms. I am Gryff, Earl of Fernlan. Well met stranger,” I said.
“Great, peaceful talks may commence. I am Virtue, Shaman Master of the planet you humans call Vin. I have heard word of you from the Emperor. You slew one of my chieftains. I paid handsomely to get that crown back. More than a hundred thousand crowns. Failure does not suit me or those who serve me, hence the battles that rage north of here. Oh, make sure that griffin does not warn the others when she sees me.”
“Of course, I have heard of the battles to the north. Always good to get the best leader for the job right. You do not fear the griffins?” I asked testing if he knew of the fire magic. As we talked I moved to the next fish line, still keeping my back to the shaman. I figured if he was not going to kill me least I could do is keep getting the fish for the village. Three fish this line.
“The accords protect all the Horde from those savage beasts. I swear if they were never here I would not have to talk to that stupid Emperor of yours. Which brings me to my point. You have caused me great trouble Gryff. Less so about the Horde you have killed. And more about the power you have stolen from your Emperor Salvoni and his son King Devon. Getting the griffins to rebel has left them lame as leaders. I wanted to come in person to congratulate you. You have destroyed my plans and solidified the griffin and human relationship. King Horus will be the new person in charge soon, and he will not truce talk to me. This is, in essence, my goodbye to the winning side for now.” Virtue said.
I gilled the three ratfish on the stringer sensing the shaman was done with his talk. I had very little to say, maybe a few questions. I decided to face him and when I did the unexpected happened.
The shaman shouted in surprise when he saw my face. I raised my empty hands knowing how strict contract magic was. I was confused but wanted to be clear I posed no threat.
The shaman carried a glass staff six feet long. A black catalyst swam in the top half and a white catalyst danced with sparks in the bottom. His robes were white, clean, and fancy with frills and curls. Besides his sunken golden eyes and green skin he looked human. He raised a shaking unsteady arm and pointed at me.
“I had you killed on Earth, not even a year ago. How is this possible? It could only mean... No, she would not have, but... The griffins... Could it be, yes it must be? We must retreat... Yes surrender here and strike elsewhere... Or we can bring more... The contracts will forbid it though.”
The shaman paced back and forth. Lost in his own thoughts while I stood there and tried hard to remember everything he was muttering. I wish I had a pen and paper, wait I did have my map and pen. I started to note take and got most of it down when I saw he had stopped and was staring at me. I guess I could speak now.
“I died on Earth, like the mother planet of humanity Earth, or on dirt?” I asked.
“You have no memories, do you? I know this about you as you were the general that frustrated my forces so defiantly for two years. Your father died in a mining accident, your mother killed herself when she was young. You never gave up on becoming something better than your mother though. You strove to be an Olympic athlete. In 2779 you did blood work for the events. That blood work got the attention of that vile mastermind Empress. That frustrating woman caused our invasions of human planets endless trouble.” The shaman grumbled and kicked the dirt.
If I had died then was that a clone? Were we both clones? Was my body still alive, or was this all part of an elaborate simulation?
“I have to say I am not buying your story. Humanity could drop bombs, laser your troops, and close every portal you ever opened. The Horde are weak compared to humans.” I said planning to continue but he interrupted with a cackle of a laugh.
“You are delusional, they really did send you here with a fresh mind. Let me guess the last thing you remember is the 2779 death race in which you died. Well here is a news flash, it is 2792. Muarta is an old god of ours, so old he predates this universe and transversed to this cosmos billions of years ago. I tell you this because you think your fancy electric ships and high tech weapons are superior to the Horde. Do not feel bad, many species rationalize that as technology advances it protects them more from potential enemies. Muarta is a god against technology. He is one of our founding gods. Muarta is one of the six who created our rules and bound them with contracts. We do not invade planets from massive starships. We gather enough electrons to open portals. Muarta can dial into any planet's core and open a gateway to the planet's surface with enough power. There is never a need to travel any other way. Every planet that orbits a sun, in what you humans call the goldilocks zone, we send a small portal to. We send a test goblin and if the goblin comes back we can colonize it. If the goblin does not come back we send a few orcs, then a few ogres. We send enough for some to return in case they meet hostile life forms at the portal. We always end up learning if we can inhabit it or not.” Virtue said as if everything he was telling me was a fact.
I sighed and thought this over. Thirteen years had passed, that made some sense given my older look here on Vin. The Horde did use portals so it could work that way. My best option was to let him finish.
“Have you heard of nullifier magic?” The shaman asked outstretching his hands.
“I have, it was in a conversation with a friend,” I said not wanting to give away anything to this creature. The fact was I knew very little about it.
“Yes, well let me tell you more. We have a spell, it comes directly from Muarta, and feeds him. He is the spell creator, we shamans are his catalyst, and the intake of all electrons is the execution of the spell. Did you understand what I said?” He asked.
“It is a bit vague but I think I got it. You have an ancient god that comes from a different universe. This god uses the shamans of the Horde as a catalyst to steal electrons. This spell turns every piece of equipment that runs on electricity off?” I asked.
If that were true the effects it would have on an advanced human world would be catastrophic. I remembered my time on Swan, I had devices everywhere that ran off electricity. I struggled to find much that relied on old technology like propellants or gas. Sure there were some items in museums but everything had been converted to energy efficiency centuries earlier.
“Correct, it steals and shuts down all electric devices and stor
age containers. The first world we found with humans was called Essex. It was a tech world and had very few actual humans on it. It was almost fully digital, a haven for escaped, rescued, and born artificial intelligences. This was how we learned of your master, the Empress. With one spell we wiped out every defense. Every electron in the atmosphere of that world was stolen. Any satellites, spaceports, and spacecraft that tried to beam communications down were pinpointed and targeted. The spell is not instant but nearly as fast as light. With distance, it makes it much harder to disable electrical use. Needless to say, anything close to the planet had its electrons stolen and fed to Muarta. The gracious god that he is used those electrons to funnel more portals to more habitable planets.
“It took us a while to find humanity's hub of stars. The Horde councils and upper echelons were excited at the prospect of a worthy foe. New Spain was the first human dominated planet that we found in 2785. Once we had your cluster of stars down it was quick work opening the portals and launching our war. We found your species wanting. Do you know what a human who is trained, domesticated, and dependent on electricity does when it is stripped from them? Hint, it is not fighting valiantly. Most commit suicide when the realization that they have to fend for themselves hits as reality. Those that might want to take up arms realize the modern weapons no longer function. They tried desperately to recreate your propellant weapons of the past. You have seen my caravans marching south, by the millions, some by the tens of millions. They do not allow time for our enemies to build anew. Especially when a species so dependent on technology finds itself without it.”
I listened and could see some valid points the shaman was making but I did not still believe everything he was saying. I was not sure what it would take to accept his words as truth.
“Is there a way you can prove any of this?” I asked running my hands through my hair in frustration that maybe this shaman was telling the truth.
“I can but I would have to portal jump us to a distant planet. It will be fine and the agreement we made will protect you the entire time.” Virtue said.
I weighed my options and decided I would go with him. I had to know.
“Lead the way,” I said.
The shaman opened a portal the size of a human and I ducked into it. The moment I entered there was blackness...
CHAPTER 15
My vision returned and I stood on a blue planet. Not blue as in water, but blue as in the starlight of a blue giant. We marched over loose gravel that crunched loudly. In front of us, a simple pre-fabricated building waited. The rivets and bindings gave away the door. Virtue place a palm on a box that scanned his hand.
A hiss and a beep and the door parted. I edged into the space uncertain of what we were walking into. An old man slumped behind a desk, asleep with a tablet playing a video quietly. I noticed it was a news broadcast and aptly paid attention.
“The war has dragged on for well over a decade. A stagnated engagement that has altered the course of human history. Tonight, we unfortunately report that those remaining on Alpha Prime have surrendered.” The reporter said sadly. Had I gotten lucky and arrived right at a recap or was this playing for me.
Virtue interrupted any chance for me to hear more when he banged the table with his staff.
“Huh,” The old man realized he had visitors and melted the tablet into the desk. “Oh. I will get her.” He reached behind his ear and pressed a button I barely noticed.
I was curious as to what would happen next. I was not disappointed in my surprise as his body morphed. It was hard to explain what I saw, but it was best described as a skin flip, one atom at a time. He burst into a trillion little specks but it was a controlled contained explosion. Then as the atoms rotated he reformed into her. Sara, Empress, Madame Mastermind, the Seducer. It had been less than a month since I had seen her last, but her human body had aged ten plus years.
She wore the same tight, form fitting deep blue spacesuit. The zipper was lowered to allow her busty rockets to be exposed the perfect amount. Her gray steely eyes pierced into mine with more than shock, outright astonishment.
“How can this be?” Sara exclaimed. She raced to hug me but Virtue thrust a hand out to stop her.
“The fact that you exist still surprises me, Madame,” the shaman said angrily as he furrowed his hairy brow. “The contract for us forfeiting Earth was very clear. No clone of Gryff, by you or any member of your Empire or they would forfeit both lives. It cost us a great deal to have him assassinated, and more to lose Earth. I am wondering how you outplayed our deal.”
I paced and absorbed the conversation.
“I also would like to know. Alas, somehow he is here. When you awoke did you do so covered in dust?” Sara asked as she tapped on her chin. The woman was a legend for her intellect so I guess she asked a very specific question I could answer.
“Yes, a light covering. I am not in a simulation, am I? I am a clone... My real body?”
“No, this is real, and your original body died on Earth. You were betrayed by an old training coach from Swan. A bone knife across your throat and then through your eye. I still torture the traitor in my hidden dungeons.” She said and then turned to face Virtue. “Okay, well, it was not me or the combined Empire of humanity and A.I. I rule. I am sorry I cannot help you further. As I see you are wearing white, I know my Gryff is safe. Last question, what was the last thing you asked me?”
I pondered this one and realized she called me her Gryff. A lot had happened, oh right I wanted a signing bonus... Sex. I thought that over. If she raced to hug me here, which meant the other Gryff probably was friendly with her, if not intimate. What had she said earlier in that meeting? Her new body reminded her of lust... She erased it. We had sex and she scrubbed it from my memory. I knew it was odd that as things heated up between us, everything suddenly went black.
“Are you figuring it out? It is okay, you will get there with time, and all young minds are prone to doing irrational things.” Sara leaned over the table and flashed me some cleavage. I think I got the hint.
We had sex, the young mind would be a child. A child that was probably as enhanced and brilliant as her mother. If that was true then where were they, and how were they not part of the Empire their mother ruled? Did I have a son or a daughter? Had they had cloned me? Not on Vin, but where, and how did I get there? Or did she lie and the Earth Gryff was a clone? So many more questions raced through my head. I went to start asking but was halted.
The seductress stood tall taking away my view of her lush assets and waved a finger at me.
“Say no more Gryff. I wonder Virtue, if you and the councils would be willing to bargain with me to have some private time?”
“I have allowed too much, I hoped this Gryff would slip and provide us with vital information. He seems as cunning at the last one at holding his tongue. Your time here is complete. I hope you believe me now. Until later Empress.” Virtue conjured up a portal and dragged me with him.
∞∞∞
I shook my head in an effort to clear my vision, portal travel was disorientating. All around me the noises of battle ensued. Screams of pain were drowned out by an earsplitting roar. Virtue retreated into me as he evaded a thrown boulder. The Fearless Company was battling six ogres in the location where I had disappeared.
“Wait Gryff, we are under the white color of truce. You and I cannot intercede until you are to safety. There are rules to prevent ambushes after meetings. I must guide you to the barrier and let you cross it before we can part ways. That or portal us elsewhere to safety.”
I wanted to argue. I needed to help my troops. The wagon mounted ballista spewed bolts against the spread out ogres. I made the wisest choice I could think of. I ran as fast and as determined as I could to Fernlan. I sprinted and pumped my legs with every ounce of my being. Fernlan was not very far from the river. I glanced back and spotted Virtue levitating over the ground while meditating on his spell. The speed at which he moved was impressive but I was focused
on running as fast as I could. The moment I felt the tingle of the barrier he flashed away.
Nate and the Frontier Knights were mounted on warhorses in full battle armor. They all talked to me at once. I ignored them and yanked Donnie off his mount. He stood there mute in anger at my actions.
“My lord, they would have seen you and should be retreating now. It would be prudent to wait!” Nate shouted down at me, desperate to get my attention.
I wanted to ignore him but I could not. My blood surged through my veins as I leaped into the saddle. I did not know how many survived still as they battled their way back. The brief glimpses I had gotten of the ogres were daunting. They were twenty feet tall, making the one I had killed before seem tiny. Every step they took while they fought shook the ground. Seven hells, I could see the rocks dance in the dirt this far away.
Fearless company materialized into view in a full sprint through the pines. The noise that followed them was frightening. Three ogres chased the tiny humans with snarled faces full of rage, clubs raised waiting to strike. Their tiny ears must not feel the pain of how loud their roars were. Lazra shot an arrow behind the trailing ogre and I heard a screech of pain. Four ogres.
The men were barely faster than the monsters that hunted them. The only thing that allowed the four humans to stay ahead of their pursuers was the fact that the ogres had to explode through pines to keep up. We yelled as loud as we could for them to hurry.