A World of Secrets (The Firewall Trilogy)

by James Maxwell

  Taimin sensed that another attack would come when the giant shifted his grip on his spear. Farther from the walls there was more darkness. The rumbles from the deep shaft became louder, and Taimin knew that he was getting close to the void at his back.

  The giant attacked.

  Taimin had been expecting it, but this time the giant feinted, and Taimin moved the wrong way. The spear flew at his face and he had no choice but to attempt a desperate block. His arms told him that he couldn’t withstand the pressure. He would relax his wrists and dive to the ground, and then . . .

  The giant gave a complicated twist of his spear. Taimin cried out. He could no longer hold on to his sword and felt the hilt yanked out of his hands.

  There was nothing he could do as his sword sailed through the air. The weapon tumbled over and over. The sword fell into the void, gone forever. Taimin was now defenseless.

  The giant gave a cry of triumph. As he hefted his spear, his red eyes narrowed.

  Seeing that her companion was preparing to execute a killing blow, the female stepped forward, anticipating the end.

  Taimin had fought with all of his skill. But his enemy was victorious. Death was coming. Now he would never know the truth.

  The moving walkway came to a halt. Selena took in the scene immediately. She saw Taimin’s sword ripped from his hands. The monster with the curling horns raised his spear, about to end Taimin’s life. Taimin was a long way away, near a deep black hole in the floor. Even if Selena sprinted, she would never get there fast enough.

  She didn’t allow herself time to think as she reached down and ripped the grapple from her waist. She swung the weapon above her head. All of her practice on the journey came back to her as her arm moved with strong circles. The tall giant glanced her way. The sight of her whirling the leather cord made him hesitate for the slightest instant.

  Selena’s arm came down.

  The leather cord, weighted with stones, flashed through the air. With a sharp crack the grapple smashed into the giant’s torso. Individual strands curled around his body. He gave a grunt of surprise and reeled.

  Taimin launched into action and charged. The monster was already teetering. Taimin crashed into the giant’s chest, making him throw back his head.

  On the very edge of the void, the giant struggled to regain his balance. With his spear held high, he looked down at the cord wrapped around his body. He had a choice: discard his spear and untangle himself, or take a last chance at finishing his enemy.

  The giant continued to teeter as he lifted his spear above his shoulder. With a harsh cry, he threw the weapon with force.

  Selena gasped as Taimin dodged to the side. The spear whistled past him and clattered to the ground, losing speed to slide along the smooth gray floor.

  The tall giant roared. He waved his arms and searched in vain for something to hold on to. But the grapple had tangled his legs. He slipped and tumbled backward.

  In an instant he was gone.

  The female with the short horns gave a cry. Ignoring Selena and Taimin, she rushed toward the hole in the floor. Taimin raced to the long spear. Picking it up, he ran to Selena and grabbed her hand to pull her back into the corridor.

  Selena took a final look back. She gasped.

  It wasn’t over yet.

  She saw the female, on her chest as she leaned down into the void. The bigger giant’s hand gripped the edge of the hole. Selena glanced at Taimin. She knew from his expression that he had seen it too.

  Taimin slammed his hand against the blinking blue arrow.

  The walkway began to move.

  34

  The walls of the corridor swept by with dizzying speed.

  Wind rushed past Taimin’s ears and stung his eyes. It was impossible to run. All he could do was focus on keeping his footing as he gripped the long spear.

  Aurelium swirled in the air and spread green filaments across the walls, although as they traveled more patches of gray appeared. Angular white symbols flashed past, too fast to make out any detail. The frigid air was cold as it entered Taimin’s heaving chest. All he could think about was escaping the remorseless monster trying to end his life. It felt like the corridor would go on forever. Already he had been traveling for a long time. Surely they must reach the end soon?

  He frequently glanced back toward the machine’s heart, but the solid green glow farther down the corridor was too bright to see any detail. He couldn’t forget his fight. His enemy was still alive.

  Then, as he watched over his shoulder, his eyes widened.

  Now that there was more gray than green, he saw two dark, distinct shapes silhouetted as they blocked the surrounding light. He stared harder, and then the walkway began to slow.

  The silhouettes became figures. Both were tall, appropriately sized against the wide, high-ceilinged corridor. One was larger than the other, with spirals on either side of its head. The two figures were distant, but Taimin’s hunter would never give up his pursuit.

  Taimin’s gaze shot to Selena. Her face was pale as she stared in the same direction.

  The walkway continued to slow, and then abruptly stopped.

  The corridor had ended. Somehow part of the floor had the ability to move, and now Taimin and Selena were on solid ground, while behind them the two creatures continued to approach at speed.

  All of a sudden, Taimin stopped.

  Thoughts whirled through his mind. Rather than run, he turned to face the corridor. He glanced at the long spear in his hands.

  He now had the only weapon. His enemy would seek him out until one of them was dead.

  He had come all this way, and had discovered the very heart of the machine that powered the firewall. If he faced his fear, and ended this now, he still had an opportunity to accomplish what he came here to do.

  “Taimin! We have to go!”

  Taimin shook his head. “He’s going to keep coming. This isn’t going to stop until he’s dead.” He hefted the spear. “I have the only weapon. I can end this.” He nodded toward the way out. “You should go.”

  “No,” she said. “I’m not leaving you.”

  Taimin didn’t know what he could say to change her mind. His enemy would soon reach the end of the corridor. If Selena was going to go, she needed to go now. It was him the giant wanted.

  He put as much strength into his voice as he could. “Selena,” he said. “This isn’t the time. You have to get out of here. Now!”

  He turned away from her. Readying his weapon, he focused his attention on the long corridor that led to the machine’s heart.

  Selena moved to stand beside him.

  35

  Vance’s jaw was clenched tightly. Veins throbbed in his neck. He knew that if he spoke a wrong word, blood would be spilled.

  The younger skalen warriors flanked Neesal, who gripped Ruth tightly and held his javelin against her face. Meanwhile the older members of the clan surrounded Kash. The clan leader’s authority appeared to be draining away with every passing moment.

  Vance watched Kash, who was clearly thinking. What was of more value, humans who were dead or alive? Should she send Vance to follow in Selena’s footsteps and flush the intruders out of her precious machine? Or should she allow Neesal and his friends to kill them?

  Vance spoke directly to Kash. “There is another way,” he said. “We can work together. We will even fight alongside you.” When Kash didn’t respond, Vance took a step toward Ruth. He narrowed his eyes at the young warrior holding the javelin. “Whatever happens, I want you to know that if you harm her, I will kill you.” He glanced meaningfully at his sword.

  “The human has a point,” said the oldest skalen in the group. “Our lives are more valuable than all the aurelium in the world. If those creatures return, we may need help.”

  Vance watched as Lars climbed slowly to his feet. The big skinner’s crown was still smeared with blood. Lars took a deep breath and wobbled. He put a hand on the axe at his belt, but he was in no position to fight.r />
  Neesal snorted. “What use are they?” He scowled at Kash. “You are too timid, Clan Leader. We can strike them all dead in an instant.” He nodded at his friends. “Come. We do not need permission.”

  Vance tensed. If Neesal’s arm moved, he would do everything in his power to save Ruth. As he prepared himself, he wondered why Ruth was trying to get his attention. Ruth continued to shift her eyes and make small movements of her head.

  Vance turned. As his gaze traveled upward, to the wall of the basin, he blinked. His mouth dropped open.

  “Make another move and my friends will kill you all.” As he focused on Neesal, Vance now put steel into his voice.

  “Friends?” Neesal sneered. “What friends?”

  “Those friends.” Vance lifted an arm to point.

  Dozens of bax stood above the wide basin, marked out by the setting sun. Vance saw familiar figures among them: Den, Bagrat, and the fat-bellied bax leading them. Gorax lifted his arm to wave his warriors forward.

  “Gorax,” Kash muttered. She exchanged glances with Neesal. “And he has brought all of Gravel Range with him.”

  “Gorax is a friend,” Vance said loudly. He nodded toward Ruth. “I suggest you let her go. Now.”

  Kash hesitated. She watched the newcomers. Clad in leathers, carrying clubs, axes, and swords, the sturdy bax were bigger and stronger than the slender skalen, and easily outnumbered her small group. “Do it,” she snapped. “Let her go.”

  Neesal scowled but released Ruth. She glared at him as she shoved her way free.

  Lars shaded his eyes from the afternoon sun. “Made some friends, did you?” He glanced at Vance.

  “We did,” Vance replied.

  “What do we do, Clan Leader?” Neesal asked.

  Kash released a hiss of displeasure. “It appears our secret is no longer ours to keep.” She alternated her attention between the newcomers and the mouth of the nearby cave. “We watch. We wait.”

  36

  Taimin hefted the spear. Despite its length, it was lighter than it looked. From the end of the wide corridor, he watched the two tall figures get closer and larger. He reminded himself that he had an advantage.

  Even so, the giant with the curling horns made a formidable opponent. And then there was Selena, who stood just a few feet away. As Taimin gave himself some space to maneuver his weapon, he glanced at her. She was watching the glowing corridor with a determined look on her face. Frequent puffs of air misted from her lips as her chest rose and fell.

  Taimin focused on the larger of the two approaching figures. Soon he saw his enemy’s flat face and the angular ridges below his brow. The giant’s clawed hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. Rage filled his crimson eyes.

  Taimin could now make out the giant’s mouth, parted to reveal rows of sharp teeth. The tall creature thumped his fist on his chest and roared, his bellow so loud it overwhelmed Taimin’s thudding heartbeat. Soon the monster would be within range of Taimin’s spear, if he chose to throw it. But to do so would be madness. He had to keep hold of his only weapon.

  Taimin braced himself. As he readied his spear, he inspected the end of his weapon. The blade was no doubt made of razor-sharp steel, like the sword that had vanished into the void.

  Taimin glanced again at Selena. He was surprised that when she spoke, her voice was steady.

  “Look at the blade,” she said.

  He followed her gaze. The aurelium swimming in the air had clustered to the blade, in the same way that it had clung to his sword.

  She continued, “Remember when I was afraid, in the mine?”

  Taimin tried to focus his thoughts. “I remember,” he said.

  As he faced the corridor that led to the heart of the machine, and the two figures grew to dominate his vision, Taimin gripped the spear tightly. Soon the fight would begin.

  “You organized a demonstration,” Selena said.

  When he realized what she was trying to tell him, he drew in a sharp breath.

  He repositioned the spear. He wrapped his hand around the metal blade, heedless of the sharp edge. The steel was cold. He imagined he could feel the aurelium beneath his grip, twitching, alive, as it felt the warmth of his body.

  Selena reached out and laid her palm over his. Her other hand followed. The combination generated heat. The metal in Taimin’s grip no longer felt cold.

  Time slowed as the two giants neared. The leathery skin on the taller giant’s face reflected the green light. His smaller companion waited at his side, metal box in her hands, ready to heal him if Taimin couldn’t manage a swift killing blow.

  Taimin looked at the wall.

  His gaze rested on a clump of aurelium, a wide patch with green sparks dancing around it. In moments the walkway would end, and the two giants would pass it. The tall giant would be the closest of the pair.

  “Now,” Selena breathed.

  Taimin and Selena both removed their hands.

  The giant’s red eyes glared. “Taimin . . .” he growled.

  Taimin raised the spear. He tensed and then threw.

  He launched the weapon with all of his strength, using the muscles in his back as well as his arm. The spear shot through the air. The patch of aurelium on the wall by the monster’s head was big.

  The giant’s eyes registered surprise. But then his expression changed to triumph when the point of the spear crashed into the wall. Taimin had lost his only weapon. His throw had done nothing. The air was simply too cold.

  The spear clattered to the ground. The giant bent to pick it up.

  Taimin saw the hint of something red on the wall.

  Too fast for the eye to follow, the spark became a flame, and the flame engulfed the entire section of aurelium. With a sound like tearing paper the flame burst into a cloud. Tiny mites of aurelium sizzled in the air. The green glow on the wall shifted to a brilliant red. As the burst of flame engulfed the tall giant’s body, he bellowed with terrible pain. A wave of heat punched into Taimin’s face.

  It was only the beginning.

  Despite the growing flame, the giant grabbed his smaller companion and threw her forward. Already fire was traveling along the corridor, heading with incredible speed to the machine’s center. Each patch of green burst into red and ignited the next. The flames would soon reach the area where the gray walls could barely be seen beneath the aurelium.

  In an instant the entire corridor was on fire. The flames didn’t just travel in one direction, they caught onto anywhere aurelium was nearby. Multiple blasts moved from wall to wall. A growing rumble became louder and louder. The air became sucked down the length of the passage.

  The ceiling rippled with flame. Intense heat poured from all directions.

  Taimin and Selena ran.

  “Kash? Where is Kash?” Gorax demanded.

  He still had a wide belly and spots on his scalp, but with his warriors around him, he now looked far more intimidating.

  “Warden,” Kash said. “I am here.” Her lips parted in an expression somewhere between smile and snarl.

  “These humans are friends, Clan Leader,” Gorax said flatly.

  “This is our land—” Kash began.

  Gorax silenced her with a swift motion of his hand. Up close, the difference in size between bax and skalen was pronounced. Gorax scanned the area, taking in the scene, and then turned to Vance. “So I take it you found what you were looking for?”

  “Inside that cave is a path into the machine,” Vance said.

  Lars nodded toward the skalen. “They’ve known about it for a long time.”

  “We only use the cavern,” Kash said with a look of irritation.

  Gorax pondered the nearby cave. “And you still believe the machine powers the firewall?”

  Vance nodded. “We do.”

  Kash’s voice was exasperated. “How could that be—?”

  Gorax silenced her for a second time. “Some secrets should not be kept. There is a mystery here, and the answers lie not only with the hu
mans and their city, Zorn—but also you skalen and this machine under the desert.”

  “What mystery?” Kash asked with a frown.

  It was Ruth who answered. “What is this world? Why are we here?”

  Gorax scanned the area. “Selena . . . Where is she?”

  “She’s inside,” Ruth said. “She needs our help.”

  “Then let us do what we can,” Gorax said. He bellowed. “Warriors! Assemble!”

  Vance was watching the cave when it happened.

  A loud detonation came from somewhere ahead, somewhere deep. The accompanying roar was deafening. A series of blasts thundered one after the other. A growing crackle sounded like a raging fire.

  The ground began to shake.

  Vance exchanged glances with Ruth. All of the color had drained from her face. He looked to Lars, who was warily backing away from the place they had been about to enter. Gorax thrust out his arms to bring his warriors to a halt.

  As the rumbling grew louder, Kash’s head jerked to the side as she stared in the opposite direction. “The younglings . . .” she whispered. She let out a breath of relief as several skalen poured out of the larger cavern with little ones in their arms.

  Another boom came from the direction of the nearby opening.

  “Selena . . .” Ruth said. Vance could only return her expression of horror.

  Explosions followed one after the other. Vance couldn’t escape the feeling that the entire world below his feet was breaking.

  “By the rains . . .” a gruff voice breathed from behind him.

  Vance whirled to see a trull and a mantorean. The trull turned her round eyes on him. With her muscular frame and scars, it initially took him a moment to realize she was a female. She was also someone he would normally run from at first sight, but now she was just as stunned as he was. The mantorean was also a female, unclothed except for her belt and bow. Her antennae shivered with fear and agitation.