A World of Secrets (The Firewall Trilogy)

by James Maxwell

  Selena saw Milton look her way again. She wondered how he felt, what he was thinking.

  Then she heard a voice.

  The machine stole you from me. Milton’s voice spoke inside her head. But now you’re back, and we can solve this together.

  Selena felt color come to her cheeks. She knew he was trying, but she wasn’t yet ready to forgive him.

  “So what’s our plan?” Vance asked.

  Selena realized she needed to shape events. She spoke firmly. “We’ll need to split up if we want to talk to the bax and the skalen before the sandstorms come. It makes sense.” She avoided looking at Milton. “I’ll go with Taimin and Ruth.”

  Milton didn’t look happy. “But, Selena. I can help you—”

  “I should go with Milton and Lars,” Taimin interrupted. He gave Selena a wry smile. “We might as well put the slowest people together. The peaks are a little closer, so we’ll go and talk to the skalen. Selena, Ruth, and Vance, you can go to the hills. Any arguments?”

  Taimin looked at each face in turn. Milton’s face was sad, but he didn’t protest any further.

  “We’ll leave as soon as we can.” Taimin turned to Milton. “Do you have anything we can offer in trade?”

  “Some old leather and firehound horn. I can’t think of anything else.”

  “How about I slaughter a few of your lizards?” Lars asked. “We can salt the meat.”

  “Milton?” Taimin raised an eyebrow.

  The mystic gave a reluctant nod. “If it helps us find what we’re looking for.”

  “Thank you,” Taimin said to Milton. He swept his gaze across the group. “Remember, our plan is to attempt trade and get whatever information we can, nothing more.”

  “And if we find a way in?” Milton asked. “If we can destroy the machine?” He stared directly at Selena. “Because of that thing, I lost the chance to watch my daughter grow. I lost my wife. I can only speak for myself, but if I do find an entrance, I won’t wait for anyone.”

  17

  A strengthening wind, low and dry, skittered across the sands, carrying the finer grains through the air. Taimin stopped to sip some water and grimaced as bits of grit stung his eyes and skin. He squinted at the peaks, which were now much larger. The three formations, made of brown rock, thrust their jagged tips into the sky. A long ridge obscured their bases, but Leeska had mentioned caves.

  Milton was nearby, and Taimin glanced at him when the ground rumbled. It wasn’t the first time, and Milton, who was obviously used to it, didn’t react at all.

  “Taimin.” Lars’s voice rose over the wind. “You have to see this.”

  The skinner stood at the top of a knoll covered in small stones. Returning his flask to his hip, Taimin called to Milton and headed toward Lars. Gravel rolled beneath his feet as he climbed.

  When he reached Lars, Taimin gazed down the hill’s other side. His eyes widened.

  He was looking at the biggest portion of the machine he had seen yet.

  The vast swathe of dull gray filled a broad valley between two hills. Sand had spilled onto the flat surface at the edges and a few grains were littered across it, blown over by the wind.

  The vibrations beneath Taimin’s feet grew stronger and the rumbling sound became louder. The sound reached a crescendo.

  All of a sudden, a split appeared in the smooth surface. Taimin was sure it had been solid, without any seam or break. But now there was a square panel sliding open to reveal darkness. He watched as the window into the machine’s heart revealed itself. The hole was too small for anyone but a child to enter.

  Milton spoke at Taimin’s side. “Keep watching,” he said. “This is going to be one of the fast ones.”

  The ground continued to rumble. Then, without warning, a powerful hiss made Taimin want to clap his hands over his ears. A blast of air shot out of the opening. Smoke and steam, tinged red, rushed vertically into the sky. Even from where Taimin was standing, a wave of heat punched into his face. A final puff of smoke finished it off. The panel snapped closed.

  Lars let out a breath. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said.

  The red sun hovered above the desert. The golden sun continued its passage across the sky, which displayed more blue than it had near Milton’s homestead. If Taimin turned, however, he didn’t have to squint to make out the firewall. The strip of pink sky clung ominously to the horizon.

  As the three peaks grew in Taimin’s vision, he knew it was time to discuss plans. “We shouldn’t reveal what we’re looking for unless we all agree,” he said, glancing at his two companions while he walked. “We should keep things simple to begin with.”

  Lars nodded. “Makes sense.”

  “I’ll follow your lead,” Milton said. “I don’t know much about skalen.”

  “We’ve met a few in our time,” Taimin said with a sidelong look at Lars. He returned to Milton. “At any rate, they might be friendly, but when we first meet them we need to be cautious. It’s best if we initially discuss trade.”

  Milton nodded. “Understood.” He paused. “I need to get the sand out of my boots.” He nodded toward the peaks. “Keep going. I’ll catch up.”

  “We can wait—” Taimin began.

  “Not with sandstorms coming,” Milton said. “Go on.”

  Taimin raised an eyebrow at Lars, who shrugged. As Taimin and Lars left Milton behind, Taimin couldn’t help but remember what Selena had told him. Her father had been with her when she fell into a vent, like the one they saw earlier. She was only four years old. If anyone was to blame, it was Milton.

  He understood why there was a bitter taste to what could have been a joyful reunion. At the same time, he hoped Milton and Selena would be able to start afresh.

  Looking over his shoulder, where Milton was pulling his boots back on, Lars muttered, “I’m not sure if I like him.”

  Taimin gave the skinner a dry smile. “You don’t like anyone.” He took a sip of water from his flask. “You should make an effort. He’s Selena’s father.”

  “What’s that got to do with anything?” Lars grunted. “Just because someone is a mother or father doesn’t mean I have to like them. The rains know my own father was someone I couldn’t wait to get away from.”

  “What has Milton done to you?”

  “Nothing.” Lars paused. “But how do you lose your own child?”

  Taimin spoke softly. “I have no doubt that he’s spent every moment since then filled with regret.”

  Taimin couldn’t help but think about his own upbringing. Before they were taken from him, his parents had shown him nothing but love, and Abi had raised him as best she could. But perhaps all parents made mistakes, some of them with dire consequences.

  “You’re right,” Taimin said. “He lost his wife and daughter. The way I see it, there’s nothing worse that can happen to a man. Selena is the one who has to work through this.” Seeing Milton catching up, he glanced at Lars. “Try to make an effort.”

  “What now?” Milton asked.

  The three men stood on a ridge, an escarpment that encircled a large, wide basin. The bowl-shaped gully contained all three of the tall rock formations, but despite the fact that they each cast a long shadow, they weren’t equal in size. The largest was twice the height of the others, with a sharp point like the tip of a blade. Its companion nearby, the next in size, had a jagged top that looked like it had sheared off at some time in the past, leaving a cluster of boulders near its base. The third rock formation was the smallest, with a shape like a man holding his knees as he huddled against the steep wall of the basin.

  Every one of the three peaks had a cave mouth at its base.

  The cave at the bottom of the highest peak was wide but narrowed toward its top, giving it a sharp, triangular shape that matched the tall summit. The next peak had a wider, square entrance at ground level. The last peak, close to the opposite wall, displayed an entrance that was easily the smallest of the trio, little more than a narrow gash. The size of t
he openings said nothing about what might lie beyond them.

  Taimin scanned the rest of the basin. A few dozen cactuses had confusingly manlike shapes, but so far, he couldn’t see any movement. “Let’s approach,” he said. “Keep your hands visible.”

  He led the way, heading to a place where the descent was easier. He took his time and made careful side steps, and although pain was always with him, as gravel tumbled down the slope he managed to keep his footing. Casting frequent glances at the caves, he wondered when the skalen would show themselves, and tried to figure out which of the three openings they might come out of.

  As Taimin reached the bottom, followed closely by Lars and Milton, the nature of the daylight changed, becoming low and red. With Dex’s golden light rapidly fading, it was Lux’s turn to bathe the land, creating a false night, a time when brightness was gone but darkness was yet to come.

  Taimin walked with caution through the grove of cactuses. He continued to look one way and then another, and made sure to keep his hands visible, well away from the hilt of the steel sword he wore at his waist. Lars was wise enough to do the same thing, and Milton, as he had been when they met, was unarmed.

  First one, then another skalen exited the largest of the three peaks.

  In appearance they were much the same as the skalen in the mine. They walked with graceful movements as the crimson sun burnished their diamond-patterned skin. Both males and females wore cloth tunics, leather belts, and tight trousers tucked into boots that covered their calves. Feathers sprouted from their crowns and their flat faces appeared somewhat expressionless. There was one difference, however, from the skalen that Taimin had last encountered. These skalen were all armed and carried javelins poised above their shoulders.

  Taimin and Lars exchanged glances. Disconcertingly, the dozen warriors were already fanning out to envelop the three humans. Their tilted eyes looked hostile. The tip of every javelin glowed green with destructive aurelium.

  As Taimin waited, his heart began to beat faster. He rested his gaze on one skalen, tall for her kind, who he assumed was the leader, given her neckpiece of glossy silver metal and the way the others flanked her.

  The tall leader lifted her chin and stood with legs apart. Unlike her warriors, she didn’t carry a javelin; instead, she bore a dagger in a sheath at her waist. She had a proud, imperious air, and gold-flecked eyes that glinted red when they caught the rays of the crimson sun. Her nostrils flared and then her mouth parted to flash bright white, pointed teeth. Taimin noticed tiny shards of aurelium on her necklace; no mystic would be able to enter this skalen’s mind.

  “You are in our territory, humans.” The leader’s voice trailed off with a hiss. Her followers had almost encircled the three men. “Keep moving and we will let you live.”

  Taimin’s mouth was dry. “We are travelers,” he said, keeping his expression earnest. “We were recently hosted by another clan. They told us you might be willing to trade as we pass through.”

  The leader tilted her head. “You have metal?”

  Taimin glanced at Lars and then shook his head. “No,” he said. “We have meat, firehound horn—”

  “We want none of those things,” the leader snapped. “And as I can plainly see, you do have metal. I have noted the weapon by your side.” Near the hilt, Taimin’s leather scabbard didn’t quite cover the blade. His sword was clearly made of steel.

  Taimin looked down at his waist, then again at the tall leader. The sword had once belonged to Galen, the commander of Zorn’s city guard. Not only was steel both rare and valuable; he had nothing to replace it. “I’m sorry,” he said tightly. “It is not available for trade.”

  The leader’s eyes narrowed. “Then we want nothing from you. Move on.”

  Milton looked like he was about to say something, but his mouth snapped shut when Lars cast him a swift look.

  “Please.” Taimin softened his tone. “At least see what we have.”

  Lars indicated that he wanted to slip his pack off his back. The leader gave a sharp nod, and Lars displayed his open pack. “We have lizard meat, bone powder, leather, firehound horn . . .”

  As Lars named his goods the skalen leader’s expression was inscrutable. She turned away to confer in low tones with her companions before returning her attention to the three humans. “We can give you a small amount of aurelium, but it will not be more than a few scraps. What we want is metal.”

  Taimin reminded himself of the true purpose of their visit. They needed information, and the caves were promising. “Understood. However, we have been traveling for a long time. Can we talk away from the heat?”

  The tall skalen murmured to some of her warriors once more. Then her haughty expression firmed. Taimin’s heart sank.

  “I have changed my mind. You must leave.”

  Taimin clenched his jaw. Meanwhile Lars waited until he had Taimin’s attention and then looked pointedly at Taimin’s sword.

  “Fine,” Taimin said. Moving slowly, watching the skalen leader in front of him, he lifted the hilt of his sword to display the naked steel. “I will consider my sword for trade, but I promise you it will be a hard bargain.”

  The skalen leader’s expression shifted quickly. Now she appeared pleased. “Excellent. My name is Kash. I am clan leader. I agree it will be more pleasant inside.”

  As with the mine in the mountain, the cave’s entrance was elaborately carved. Taimin walked through, turning his head to stare in all directions. The cavern’s interior was far larger than he had expected. Vast and irregular, it had multiple alcoves, separated into spaces with different purposes.

  Once inside, Taimin rubbed the skin on his arms. Something else reminded him of the mine. Sheltered by thick rock on all sides, the cavern’s interior made him wish for warmer clothing.

  Aware that he might have entered a dangerous situation, he continued to cautiously look everywhere without making it obvious. The cavern was shaped like a rough pyramid, with a towering ceiling at its highest point. It was hard not to notice the proliferation of aurelium lamps. Clay bowls filled with glowing shards occupied niches and rested on tables and benches, spreading green light throughout each area. Remembering all the times Taimin had seen Lars create fire, he supposed that with their fondness for aurelium, it made sense for skalen to seek out cool places.

  Like a smaller version of the living quarters in the mountain, functional nooks made use of the natural ripples in the rock. He saw a big fire pit in its own section, a short distance from the entrance. A circle of cushions surrounded the pit, which was unlit and untended. A huge leather hood above it would capture smoke.

  As Taimin followed the clan leader, he glanced toward another alcove containing cloth stretched on frames. Meat hung on hooks in farther sections. A rack of javelins stood at the back of the cavern, near a cloth curtain that trailed from the ceiling to cover the entrance to more quarters beyond. Taimin was immediately curious about what the skalen might be hiding there.

  Kash noticed his attention. “You are welcome in our residence, but stay away from the nest.” She flashed her sharp white teeth. “I am warning you for your own good. Our young are precious to us. I will say no more.”

  Taimin looked askance at the curtain. He didn’t understand much about skalen society, but he knew when he was being issued with a strong caution.

  The most surprising thing about the cavern—or residence as Kash had called it—was the lack of aurelium veins in the walls. Skalen were supposed to live in mines, trading aurelium with the other races. Kash’s clan was clearly wealthy and had to have exchanged goods with others; the cavern’s furnishings couldn’t have all been fashioned by this one small group. Woven carpets lined the stone floor, decorated ceramics rested on tables and against the walls, leather goods were in abundance, and the scent of incense perfumed the air.

  “Please,” Kash said, indicating a small circle of cushions. “Sit.”

  Taimin noted the movements of the skalen warriors as he settled himself
along with Lars and Milton. Kash’s manner may have become much friendlier, but as she sat down, four guards stood nearby with javelins in hand.

  “May I inspect the sword?” Kash asked as she leaned forward.

  Taimin reluctantly drew his sword and handed it over. As Kash inspected it, running her fingers along the blade and testing its weight, Taimin’s fingers itched, eager to snatch his sword back. He forced himself to think about what it was they were trying to achieve.

  His first task had been to establish contact. The skalen living here would be familiar with the surrounding area. He would ask about the machine—Kash would know about the strange rumblings and hisses—and about whether anyone had ever found a way inside.

  Taimin opened his mouth. “Clan leader.”

  “Yes?” Kash looked up.

  “We saw something strange in the desert. Something buried under the sand. Something big . . .”

  Kash cut him off by raising a hand. “We never go into the desert. It is a dangerous place. Some of my hunters entered long ago and never returned. Since then, we have a rule to avoid it completely. You would be well advised to stay away.”

  Taimin exchanged glances with Lars. He wanted to press, but his instincts told him to hold his tongue. When they first arrived, Kash had been far from friendly. She had wanted them gone. She may have simply been protecting her territory, but it might be something more. And there was a mystery here: where did these skalen get their wealth? Water, Taimin could understand; they must have a local source. But this was an inhospitable place, on the edge of a barren desert. Taimin knew how to hunt and guessed that meat would be far from plentiful. The cactuses growing in the gully would provide food, water, tinder, and fiber for weaving, but there were only a few dozen.

  Taimin leaned to whisper in Lars’s ear. “Draw it out.”

  He then looked back at the entrance. Lux had finally set, bringing about true night. The cavern’s triangular mouth revealed darkness outside.

  “I’m just going to look at the stars for a moment,” Taimin said to Kash. “We have a long journey ahead of us. I need to take a bearing while it’s dark.”