Ruin & Reliance
Page 52
“We are your colleagues taking your suggestions, Perikles. We are not your subordinates obeying your orders. We discuss our plans, share our concerns, and work to come to an agreement,” Nikon said.
“My plan was carefully devised. If it is strictly adhered to, and only if it is, we will have success,” Perikles said.
“The Jeshirinko soldiers will do as I have telepathically commanded their leaders to direct them, which was according to your plan, Perikles. However, our success depends partly on their skill of execution. Still, if they fail, they are the ones who will suffer the fatalities,” Klemens said.
“We are so close to the battle zone that we are still at risk of enduring personal losses, whether or not we can be seen. I am not confident in our safety in this location. My delay was with good reason. It is only reluctantly that I agreed to go ahead,” Nikon said.
“If we follow my plan, in its entirety, there is almost certainly nothing to fear. We have made good use of our powers and resources and the various crystals I designed and molded were tested thoroughly before being positioned,” Perikles said.
“There is no room for doubt within you, Perikles. I sense that you have complete confidence in your abilities,” Klemens said.
“Why shouldn’t I? My experience and innate potential, along with potions of Kazofen Ocean waters purified through the virtuous cycle, formed those crystals. This ship is cloaked by the crystals I altered so as to produce a light wraparound effect. The sound of our approach was dampened by another crystal of my design. Your telepathic control of our enemies is extended over a great distance using telepathic relay crystals I molded. Finally, the constructor assembled a solid attack bridge with the proper visual displacement, using more crystals I crafted,” Perikles said.
“No one is without error, Perikles. You have never carried out a plan exactly like this before, so it is not proven before it is completed. Your plan must succeed fully before I have such confidence. Until then, I reserve some room for doubt,” Nikon said.
“I have planned for many contingencies, so as to minimize losses of any useful resource. Consider this: even though the Jeshirinko soldiers are not in the direct employ of the central bank, I anticipate seeing the majority of them survive as well as completing the objective, so that we can use them again,” Perikles said.
“So long as we do not suffer personal losses, I agree that would prove the viability of this plan. Despite my doubts and misgivings, I am reasonable, and I can be convinced by strong evidence,” Nikon said.
“Even if the plan works, it can’t be used too often, or countermeasures will be developed. You both know that. A telepath will detect your intentions to use an old strategy, and the enemy leadership will make preparations against it,” Klemens said.
“Yes, but I also know that if it does work once – and that still remains to be seen, but if it does work – then it can work more than once, until those countermeasures are developed. We are far ahead of our enemies,” Nikon said.
“Because of me,” Perikles said.
“Every time I see you work, you amaze me,” Fotini said, smiling with admiration and love toward Perikles.
Perikles just looked at her, saw the stupid smile and said nothing.
Klemens probed Perikles’ thoughts and realized just how little he respected Fotini as a person. “Your colleagues appreciate you. Be grateful for that, Perikles,” he said.
“Just appreciate the fact that I’m committed to the cause,” Perikles said.
Klemens probed Perikles’ thoughts further and realized that his cause was finding Xiomara and winning her love.
“The greatest cause of all is serving the central bank,” Klemens said.
“Indeed it is,” Nikon said.
“The greatest chance of success is through following my carefully designed plan,” Perikles said.
“I’m glad you’re with us, Perikles,” Fotini said.
~~~
On board the Azure Solar Acolyte, Nehexalor said: “I can’t hear the ships: if they’re anywhere close to us, they’re not moving. But I do hear the soldiers. I can count their footsteps. There are one hundred fifteen thousand (115000) men marching across a bridge. They’re coming right at us!”
“What bridge? Where?” Duchess Uliana asked.
“If you hear them marching, that means a bridge has to be there, even if we can’t see it,” Blazer Luken said.
“If he hears it, then that proves the attack is real! I’m convinced now,” Blazer Endrit said.
“Then do something, Blazer Endrit! All of you!” Duchess Uliana said.
“I can’t see them. Where do I hit? I need to see a target to send fire at it!” Blazer Darakizar said.
“Just point the way and I’ll send fire at it!” Blazer Luken said.
“Show us where the enemy is, Nehexalor! We need to hit them!” Duchess Uliana said.
“Leave that to me!” Nehexalor said. He drank anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean from his vial and was energized again with the powers of music and song. He began to sing, projecting his voice precisely toward the unseen invading army:
The sky’s nine kings illuminate all nations.
Their power is far greater, giving light to all your days.
Kneel before their flames! Bring your tributes and oblations!
Do not challenge their dominion! Do not give other kings your praise!
Do you think that you can overcome their fire?
Do you not trust in the kingdom of the sky?
Do you think that you can build a greater empire?
Do you not know that you will fail with every try?
(Refrain)
I dare you to walk along this road to ruin!
The flames will consume you before you reach the end.
With every step, you bring your own undoing.
Your bones they will scorch! Your flesh they will rend!
The suns have given guidance, so you could journey so far.
The warmth that you feel comes only from their flames.
Give thanks for all your days! Worship every blue star!
Do not challenge their wisdom! Do not exalt your own names!
Do you think that you can keep away the night?
Do you not trust in the kingdom of the sky?
Do you think that you can prosper by your own might?
Do you not know that you will fail with every try?
(Refrain)
The enemies conquered by illusion, storm and song.
They built their false kingdoms out of deception and decay.
Believe that the blue suns are true! See that they are strong!
Do not challenge their truth! Do not trust your own way!
Do you think that you can subjugate each land?
Do you not trust in the kingdom of the sky?
Do you think that you can conquer and command?
Do you not know that you will fail with every try?
(Refrain)
The attack bridge began to vibrate and burst into flames under the power of the music. A web of fracture lines spread rapidly across its crystal structure. The bridge crumbled and then shattered completely by the end of the song. As the attack bridge broke apart, its illusory appearance failed, and its crystal ruins could be seen clearly, along with the marching soldiers who had fallen into the Lujladia Ocean waters below. All of the troops were drowning and many were also burned by the fire.
“I see the fallen soldiers now! Set their warriors ablaze! Kill them all by fire!” Duchess Uliana said.
Blazer Endrit, Blazer Luken and Blazer Darakizar all used their powers to ignite streams of water and create fireballs, burning the soldiers to ash before they could drown.
~~~
On board the Greatest Future, Nikon yelled: “Klemens! Order a full retreat! Fotini! Reverse course!”
Klemens telepathically ordered General Tiglath and Admiral Erisinni to retreat.
Fotini steered the Greatest Future southward
and sailed it at full speed away from the site of the battle, heading southward across the Lujladia Ocean.
~~~
General Tiglath returned to the wheelhouse of the Coherent and found Admiral Erisinni already steering the ship to retreat. Lieutenant Skender and Lieutenant Delfina followed him there.
“We can launch another attack, at another time,” Admiral Erisinni said.
“We lost too many soldiers, Admiral. Another attack will not be a simple matter,” General Tiglath said.
“We have our orders to retreat,” Admiral Erisinni said.
“I know,” General Tiglath said.
Lieutenant Skender concentrated and telepathically transmitted the retreat order to the other captains. “I’ve already relayed the retreat order to the other ships in the fleet,” he said.
“I was able to record everything,” Lieutenant Delfina said.
“Did you learn anything of use, Lieutenant Delfina?” General Tiglath asked.
“I recorded the song that destroyed the bridge. I have all the lyrics and the melody,” Lieutenant Delfina said.
“What are we supposed to do with that, Lieutenant?” Admiral Erisinni asked.
“It’s a weapon that worked. That makes it valuable,” General Tiglath said.
~~~
On board the Coherent, under the cover of darkness, Arisha waited for her telepathic orders from Klemens, who would get the orders from Nikon. The forty-one (41) year old woman had seventeen (17) years of experience working for the central bank, so she knew their tendency to dispose of loose ends and dangerously compromised resources. She fully expected that Admiral Erisinni and General Tiglath would both be targeted for assassination, if only because they knew too much. Had they succeeded, they might be treated slightly better, only to be assassinated later. Until she received the kill orders, however, she could do nothing. Perhaps, she thought, Nikon or Perikles still had a use for the Jeshirinko commanding officers. Arisha drank anew of the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean from her vial to be energized with the power of darkness and used it to maintain her cover.
~~~
On board the Azure Solar Acolyte, Xiomara yelled: “Find their ships! Burn them too!”
“I give the orders here! Not you!” Duchess Uliana said.
“I hear their ships, five (5) miles away. They’re retreating,” Nehexalor said.
“Are they worth following?” Blazer Endrit asked.
“If you don’t sink their ships, they’ll regroup and attack again!” Xiomara said.
“I think we scared them for now with our superior power. We killed their soldiers, destroyed their bridge and ruined their plans,” Duchess Uliana said.
“Don’t get too confident, Duchess Uliana. You can’t rely on battle songs and fireballs to win the entire war if you only fight part of it. You saw with your own eyes that everything I told you was true. And I’m telling you, with absolute certainty, that they’ll be back. The central bank does not ever surrender,” Xiomara said.
“I believe you, girl. You've earned a measure of my confidence. But we’ll be ready next time, even more ready than we were this time. We’re going to have to assemble our very own large fleet of warships, and prepare even more destructive power. This is not the time for us to launch a direct attack on a large scale. You yourself warned us against that,” Duchess Uliana said.
CHAPTER 31: Approach to Enemies and Profits
From the spirit world, Lavakara watched the battle between the Jeshirinko military and the sun worshippers in Nataloridivu. The simple act of betrayal by the woman, Xiomara, revealed the invasion and denied him the opportunity to witness a battle wherein he might have found a new warrior body to possess from among the one hundred fifteen thousand (115000) soldiers deployed. He arrived too late to kill her and prevent the disclosure, so he decided to wait and see how the opponents handled the conflict and the loss of their stealth and surprise advantage.
Lavakara was disappointed that the attack bridge crumbled so quickly and easily. The fact that it had been so well concealed was neutralized by Xiomara’s tipoff, but that should not have compromised its material strength. Now, he seriously doubted the power of the constructor as a weapon of warfare, despite the earlier promise of its potential. However, he found the singer, Nehexalor, to be a formidable opponent by virtue of his voice. For a moment, he considered possessing the man and using his body – along with its Pirovalen waterbinding – to test it in battle against other warriors. Music, however, had other limitations, and he dismissed the notion.
He had heard enough battle songs throughout more than twelve (12) millennia and knew all too well what they could not achieve, as well as what they could accomplish. Songs had the power to enchant or to end enchantments, to inform or to deceive, to heal or to cause pain and damage. All of these powers had a wide radius of effect, and they were difficult to target precisely. Lujladia-drinking archers could aim carefully and Nabavodel-drinking swordfighters could slash quickly yet selectively. Even Gradaken-drinking assassins using venoms and poisons could strike their enemies more accurately, relying on deception to deliver their attack.
Lavakara was firmly convinced that it was unwise to kill nonwarriors, however, because society needed them to function. The farmers feed the warriors, so the farmers must live. The crystal benders and blacksmiths forge the swords and daggers used by the warriors, so they must live. The shipbuilders assemble the fleets of ships to transport the warriors, so they must live. Powerful music could all too easily kill thousands or millions of useful artisans and laborers, with the Sail to Me song being the worst example he had ever witnessed. He knew the report – the testimony in Emeth that Taesa sang that song while under the influence of someone who possessed hypnotic powers. Had the girl been intentionally singing, her concentration might have made the results even worse. This, he concluded, was the strongest reason to not use music in battle.
While pondering the results of the battle and the most suitable warrior for his next possession, he noticed footsteps on the sandy shores moving rapidly toward the hallowed hill. He followed them to the hilltop and entered the eighteen (18) sided polygonal steel-framed blue sapphire temple through the cuts made into its structure by unseen blades.
Lavakara continued following the footsteps and watched as the interior walls of the temple were similarly slashed and sliced and several crystals were picked up from inside of a topaz cabinet within a small room. Unseen hands slowly turned the crystals as if they were being examined until a particular gem was selected and then made to vanish. Judging by the tactics of the intrusion, he had suspicions of whom he was dealing with, but he could not be certain. His vantage point from within the spirit world allowed him to look past illusions, so false light powers generated by those who drank the Lujladia waters could not conceal the truth from him. However, the cover of the deep darkness, created by those who drank the Ikkith Tar waters, was nearly impenetrable. When the intruders exited the temple, Lavakara followed their footsteps to the shore where they boarded a seventy-eight (78) foot long ship having two (2) pairs of pivoting, double-masted sails. He boarded the ship along with them, and the vessel sailed eastward across the Lujladia Ocean.
~~~
The Yield Adjuster Twenty-Seven was docked along the eastern shore of Haza’Kedro’Maral Island in the Pirovalen Ocean. Three hundred forty-one (341) dockworkers carried crates filled with precious gems onto the vessel, which measured eleven hundred eighty (1180) feet in length, and required ten (10) pairs of pivoting, double-masted sails. Twenty-two (22) boarding ramps – positioned in between the twenty-three (23) port-side cannons – facilitated rapid loading.
Inside the wheelhouse, Captain Nicomedes drank anew of the waters of the Kazofen Ocean from his vial to be energized with the power to manipulate crystal and stone. He walked out onto deck and interrupted the crew and dockworkers, ordering them to stop and open the crates, seemingly at random. He inspected the contents by looking into the low-level structure of some of the gems to
know for certain what was being delivered. He compared the crystals to what was listed on the manifest and satisfied himself that the cargo was probably intact, based on that sample.
The fifty-eight (58) year old captain was experienced enough to check the low-level structures of gems quickly, and to count the crystals accurately in order to verify the manifest of any given crate. However, he didn’t care to sample more than twenty (20) crates, no matter how many there were in total. For this particular mission, he counted seven hundred fifteen (715) containers, all apparently identical in size. He suspected, but was not planning on confirming, that the crates were all filled like the first, which contained twenty-nine thousand seven hundred ninety-one (29791) of the variable gems. Nicomedes needed to deliver them promptly, before they expanded, because the value of these crystals was in their carefully controlled supply, which the central bank pre-calculated in order to regulate the precious gems markets, along with every other market for which they served as currency.
Captain Nicomedes waited until the loading of the ship was complete – with all the crates placed into the cargo hold – and the dockworkers had exited the vessel. After that, he walked across the deck and went to a particular cabin. He unlocked and opened the door and went inside, then closed and locked the door behind him. He knelt down beside the bed and kissed the woman sleeping there on the lips. He looked at her wrinkled skin – she was sixty-one (61), yet still beautiful to him, after sailing together for twenty-six (26) years – and then he kissed her again. Her eyes opened and she smiled.
“Sunniva, are you ready?” Captain Nicomedes asked.
“Yes,” the woman – Sunniva – said and she pulled back her covers and opened her robes to reveal herself. Captain Nicomedes was about to say that he was asking about work but then told himself that he was ahead of schedule. He removed his own clothes and lay down with Sunniva. He entered her intimately and they pleasured each other until fulfillment, forgetting for a few passionate moments any responsibility. They dressed themselves and then held each other. “You came for work, I know. But we can’t forget us,” she said.