Shadow Seed

by Jose Rodriguez

CHAPTER SEVEN

  “I think that's enough for today,” Leon said, opening the door to let Chris and Delia out.

  “Bye, see ya later!” Chris hollered, as he ran out.

  “Later,” Sara said.

  Delia looked back nervously at Sara. As the door began to close, she quickly turned and darted past Leon, running up to Sara. “Can I be a Ranger?”

  “Delia!” Leon said, flustered.

  Sara was speechless. Somewhere between the time she'd eaten the fish and told her story of how she arrived in Vesuvia, Delia had become fascinated with her.

  “Sure, why not?” Sara finally answered.

  Delia jumped back delighted.

  Sara winked. “When you get older, come see me when you're ready.”

  Leon grinned. “Hey, Delia, I dare you to ask your parents that.”

  “Don't be mean,” Sara laughed. “Okay, Delia, I'll see you later.”

  “Bye,” Delia said, running outside.

  Leon closed the door. “Kids…”

  Sara relaxed back on the couch. “I was kind of wondering why you don't have one.”

  Leon sat next to Sara, leaning back to rest his head and closing his eyes.

  “You don't like them, do you?” Sara asked.

  “I like kids,” Leon said. “It's just...I don't know. I never had a desire for them, I guess.”

  “So you don't plan on having any?” Sara asked.

  “I'm not saying it won't happen,” Leon answered, “I'd be lying if I said I never thought of what it'd be like.”

  Sara leaned in slightly. “Girlfriends?”

  “I've had a few, but...” Leon said.

  “But what?” Sara asked straightening up.

  Leon opened his eyes, looking at Sara. “You know silly things. Like my lineage. Never fails. It always gets in the way, with the parents at least, a lot of old fashioned statues.”

  “That's a problem with humans too, sometimes,” Sara said. “I can only imagine what that means for a Vesuvian.”

  Leon closed his eyes again. “Well, it's the least of my problems.”

  Sara stretched her arms and legs before standing. “Let's go to the promenade. We've got a few hours before I have to report back to New Haven.”

  Leon was not nearly as physically tired as he was mentally, all from dealing with the Vesuvian children. He got up lazily, holding his hand out for Sara to lead the way.

  The short stroll through Leon's yard took them to a street packed with people coming in and out of stores. The only way Sara could tell what they sold was by an advertisement or a display in the window. Many of them sold clothing or trinkets, but one that caught her eye was selling goblets.

  “Let's check those out!” Sara said.

  Made from clay, wood, glass or metal, there was a wide selection to choose from. Some were plainer than others, but the nice ones were elaborately enameled and jeweled.

  Sara picked one up made of wood. It had a red tinge and was carved to look like a person holding a large bowl across his back.

  The shopkeeper moved around the counter, closer to his valuable customers. “Our soldiers are a great part of the good life we live today.”

  “I like the symbolism,” Sara said, placing the goblet down.

  “Check this out,” Leon said, handing over a gaudy one that was all black, shiny and decorated with onyx stones.

  Sara was amazed at the craftsmanship. “Now, this looks expensive!”

  “Not really,” the shopkeeper said. “That one in your hand there is just a regular chalice. The one you were just holding was enchanted by a Remian elder. A sip from that goblet and you'll have the speed and strength of ten men.”

  “Doesn't have to be blood either,” Leon added. “It can be anything from alcohol to water.”

  Sara looked around, imagining what many of goblets were capable of. “I didn't know you could do that.”

  Leon picked another goblet up. “Only a handful of these do anything. It takes a very powerful Vesuvian a lot of time. That's why they're pretty expensive.”

  “Guess I better start saving my money.” Sara said.

  The shopkeeper laughed.

  “Maybe I’ll start a collection,” Leon said. “Let’s go see what else is going on.”

  Leaving the shop, Leon and Sara went two blocks down the street where a small crowd of people watched a man painting on a large canvas.

  The landscape painting was at nighttime with two cliffs opposite each other, overlooking a valley filled with trees.

  Sara was hit with a sense of déjà vu. “Why do I get the impression that's a perfect image of a real place?”

  “It's just outside Vesuvia,” Leon said.

  The painter examined his work for a moment before drawing a vague depiction of a man standing at the edge of one cliff, and of a woman at the other. With that, he turned and bowed to polite applause from the crowd.

  Suddenly, every Vesuvian stopped talking and froze in place.

  Sara was bemused. “What is it? What's wrong?”

  Leon answered in a trance. “Pelasgians. The northeast. There's a portal.”

  “Here, now?” Sara asked.

  As quickly as it happened, Leon snapped back to reality with the rest. “Sorry about that. I have to go.”

  Sara followed Leon. “That's some trick you got there.”

  “It was the Kanara,” Leon said. He stopped a Remian soldier passing by. “Hey, I need a favor. Please watch her until I get back.”

  “Get lost!” the Remian said.

  Sara felt the same. “Forget that! I'm coming with.”

  “No,” Leon said. “I'm not taking any chances. Stay here. I'll be right back for you.”

  Before Sara could argue, Leon was gone. With his Vesuvian speed, he reached the outskirts of the city in no time.

  There were several Turin and Liro gathered at one end of the street staring down a group of Pelasgians opposite them.

  “Leon,” Marus called. “You're just in time.”

  “What are we up against?” Leon asked.

  Marus looked down the street. “It's rather odd. There's a few dozen just beyond the lookout. The portal closed a second ago, so it doesn't look like a major attack. Could be a probe, but that's suicide. Too bad for them.”

  Leon unsheathed his sword. “I'll hold the line here if you want to blindside them.”

  “I wouldn't have it any other way,” Marus said. All at once, he and his Turin melded with the earth.

  Throughout the city, the streets were quickly becoming deserted.

  Sara wondered around trying to find her way back to Leon's house. “This is ridiculous.”

  A man covered from head to toe in a robe approached from behind. “You must be Sara.” he said.

  Sara turned, a bit startled. “You Turin really need to lighten up.”

  “Leon sent for you,” the man said. “Please, come with me.”

  “Good,” Sara said, following along. “I don't know why Leon is so protective. He knows I can handle myself.”

  At the outskirts of the city, a Minotaur riled up the Pelasgians with a loud roar and sent them charging down the street.

  Leon and the Liros calmly waited.

  When the Pelasgians were about halfway, the Turin burst from the ground swinging short swords and staffs tipped with sharp metal.

  Many Pelasgians were cut down before they could react. The air was quickly filled with spurts of blood and limbs.

  Leon and the Liros ran in to join the fray.

  Sara was growing anxious. “Can't we take one of those towers? The war is gonna be over by the time we get there.”

  From across the street, a Doran woman noticed Sara with the stranger and knew something was wrong. “Hey, human, who is that?”

  Sara stopped with some confusion. When the stranger tried to grab her, she punched him in the face, knocking his hood back and revealing a man with no hair whatsoever and skin that was white as snow with red patches.

  Anoth
er Vesuvian in the street instantly knew what the man was. “A Koiga!”

  Before Sara could do anything else, the Koiga threw a sleeping powder at her face that instantly put her out.

  Hoisting Sara over his shoulder, the Koiga took off running.

  Vesuvians gave chase when they realized what was happening.

  But the Koiga was impossible to catch. He repeatedly teleported several yards down the street as he ran, covering a lot of distance within seconds.

  Even a Remian had trouble keeping up.

  Leon and Marus had made short work of the Pelasgians.

  The ground was littered with bodies.

  “That was a little too easy,” Marus said, before noticing that Leon was in the middle of receiving a telepathic message from the Kanara.

  “The Koiga took Sara,” Leon said as he came to. Looking at the dead Pelasgians, he realized, “This was a distraction.”

  Marus was perplexed. “Why would the Koiga help the Pelasgians?”

  “Never mind that,” Leon said. “Why would they take Sara?”

  “There's only one place they would take her.” Marus said.

  “I know!” Leon said walking towards the city.

  “Want help?” Marus asked.

  Leon looked back, waving a finger before running off in the blink of an eye.

  “No need to beg!” Marus said poking at a dead Pelasgian with his staff. The sound of another portal opening got his attention, and he didn't have to look to know it was a big one.