The slightest smile crossed Jeena’s lips before disappearing. “Ever the marine, are you not, my bondmate. You have always preferred facing danger and bad news head on rather than trying to hide from it. So be it. I will do the same. I have been given a message, from who I cannot tell you other than to say it is from someone I trust implicitly.”
Something wet started forming in Jeena’s eyes. She brushed it away with her left hand.
“Well?” said Liz. “Not to be a hard-case about it, but what’s the message. If it’s something for Rick, why bother with the rest of us?”
The hologram of Jeena turned to Liz. “It is for all of you to hear.” She waved a hand at the images of Telsa, Chief Librarian Elisinsar, and Therso. “We have discovered information concerning the Ecarian giants. We may also have a lead on another yellow gem.”
“Well, that’s good news then,” Richard said. “We need to make getting a yellow gem our first priority. If we can get our hands on one, we can close the gate under the Tree of Light.” He glanced past his bondmate at Telsa. “Is it something you can do, Telsa? You’re already on Portalis. Why do you need the rest of us?”
Jeena shook her head before the small wizard scout could reply. “Telsa cannot do it, Rick. Only you can do what needs to be done. The messenger made it very clear that you had to take on the mission. The messenger also stressed the point that you must go alone.”
“Go? Alone?” Richard said trying to grasp what his bondmate was saying. He’d been on so many missions for ‘the One’ over the years by himself, he knew he should be used to it, but he wasn’t. At least he wasn’t since Jeena and he had bonded. Being away from her for Creator knew how long was a torture he had no desire to endure.
“Maybe it is a short mission,” said Nickelo. “Afterall, Jeena and you are already separated by dimesions. How could it get any worse? I recommend hearing her out before you jump to any conclusions.”
“Yes, alone,” said Jeena, straightening her shoulders. “The, errr…messenger stressed that point. Danny has transmitted a time and coordinates to ‘the One.’ You must go there by yourself and do what needs to be done.”
Richard glanced at Sergeant Ron before looking back at Jeena. “What’s ‘the One’ got to do with this? It almost sounds like you’re trying to send me on some time-commando mission. Didn’t you tell ‘the One’ that he’d better never try to send me on a mission again?”
Jeena shook her head. “No, that is not what I said. I told him without our consent. I am asking you to go voluntarily.”
The mix of emotions coming down their bond link confused Richard even more. He didn’t need someone to tell him more was going on behind the scenes than was being said. “Go where and do what?” he asked. “I don’t under—”
Tears formed in Jeena’s eyes. This time she didn’t attempt to brush them away. “You must go back in time alone. You cannot take any of your equipment. You must do what needs to be done by yourself.”
“What is it that needs to be done?” asked Sergeant Ron. “You’re beginning to sound as cryptic when it comes to details as ‘the One’ does. The days of Rick having to do things by himself are over. He and I are teammates. You’re part of the team as well. Teammates don’t let each other do things by themselves. We cover each other’s backs.”
Jeena’s lips tightened for a second, then relaxed. She raised her head high and locked eyes with Richard. “I am and will always be on your team, my love, but this is something you must do on your own. The rest of us will have our missions, and you will have yours. You must do it by yourself. You must do it without any equipment, and…”
“And what?” Richard asked.
Jeena stared at him for a dozen heartbeats.
The silence in the room was deafening.
“You must do your mission without your memory of what is happening in the current time or what has happened in the past on Portalis,” said Jeena. “The messenger said that was nonnegotiable. The danger of you changing the future by using your knowledge of the past is too high. ‘The One’ will wipe parts of your memory away to avoid that danger. Danny tells me ‘the One’ has done so in the past. He will do so again based upon my order.”
“The hell he will,” Richard said. “My days of wandering around in the past without my equipment and having parts of my memory erased are gone. If there’s something we need to do to find another yellow gem in the past, then I’m all for it. But I’m going with my equipment and my memories intact. That’s final.”
Two tears streaked down Jeena’s face. “If that is how you feel, then all is lost. You and I may as well gather those we care about in the Defiant and use its intergalactic-drive to flee the galaxy and leave everyone else to their doom. If you do not do this mission as I have said, there is no hope for the three galaxies.” Another pair of tears ran down her cheeks. “I fear there will be no hope for any galaxy no matter where we go. There will be no place to hide, even using the Defiant.”
A dozen rebuttals and what-ifs were on Richard’s lips, but he kept them to himself. The tortured emotions coming through the red gem in his ring told him all he needed to know. Whoever the strange messenger was that his bondmate kept referring to had convinced her the mission needed to be done in the manner she was saying. He doubted anything he could say would change her mind.
“Now wait a nanosecond,” said Nickelo over the miniaturized speakers in Richard’s ring. “For once I concur with Rick. If the algorithm of ‘the One’ says the mission needs to be done, then so be it. But based upon the knowledge in my databanks, I calculate Rick should take his equipment and keep his memory. He especially needs to take me, even if no one else can go.”
Jeena nodded. She wiped away her tears and gave a half smile. “I did not mean to imply you would not go with him, Master Nick. The spells and stealth shield on Rick’s ring will keep it hidden from others. Only those wearing a similar ring can see it.”
“Oh,” said Nickelo. “Then that’s different. I calculate I will be able to use my knowledge of future events to keep our Rick on track. I will make sure he does not do anything in the past to change the future.”
Shaking her head, Jeena said, “Nay, Master Nick. I daresay if you check your calculations, you will see the flaw in your logic. You do not have the information I have, and I cannot give you the data you need to make an informed decision. The messenger told me that no matter how careful you try to be, you would inadvertently use your knowledge gained in the present to change the past. The danger is too great. Danny has already requested that ‘the One’ wipe your databanks of unnecessary information at the same time Rick’s is, err…modified.”
Richard looked around the room before turning back to the hologram of Jeena. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were working for ‘the One’ now. I don’t understand. Do you want me to leave you?”
The emotions that came down their bond link tore at Richard’s heart, and he immediately regretted his words.
No more tears came from the high priestess’s eyes as she spoke, but the molten-silver churned furiously, drawing Richard in. “I work only for us, Elf Friend,” she said. “The messenger is someone I trust much more than ‘the One.’ I ask you to believe in me and do what I say based upon trust. I never want to be away from you, but this must be done. It must be, or all is lost. That is all I can tell you.”
“What about the rest of us?” asked War-King Bistoria. “If this mysterious messenger’s mission only involves Wizard Scout Shepard, why are the rest of us here?”
The hologram of Jeena turned to the war-king. “We each will have our own mission.” She looked at Liz. “Danny informed me of your earlier briefing, Admiral. My mission is your mission. It is just as important as Rick’s. The crew of the Defiant and I must go back to the time and place where the Dragars gather their fleets. We will gather the information you need to formulate your attack plan. While we are there, we must also do something else.”
“What else?” asked Sergeant
Ron.
Jeena shrugged. “I do not know yet.” Her silver-eyes flashed a glint of light. “I suppose we will find out when the time comes.”
“No,” Richard said. “That’s too dangerous. I won’t allow it. How do you think I could ever concentrate on my mission, knowing you are in danger?”
Another wave of sadness washed over Richard from his ring.
A final tear ran down Jeena’s cheek. “You won’t even know I exist.”
Chapter 10 – Desert Heat
_________________
The blazing heat from the desert sun coupled with Amir’s chainmail caused lines of sweat to run down his face. He did his best to ignore the discomfort as he continued to trudge along in the ankle-deep sand next to the high priestess’s horse at the head of the column of elf lancers. Even with the effects of the Oracle’s polymorph spell, Amir’s head still came up to Mia’s shoulder astride her horse. Amir thought back to how the three elf magic users along with Shaman Blackroot and a dozen of his most-skilled assistant shamans had been forced to pool their magic together to make the polymorph spell work. It had been a long and complicated affair, but in the end the spell had worked.
I almost wish it hadn’t. My form’s the same ratio, only a lot smaller. The spell shrunk my armor and weapons to fit my new size, but I’m not so sure that was the best way to go. I’m still too heavy for one of the elves’ horses, and we’ve been traveling for days in this blasted sand. If I were my normal size, I probably could’ve been to the base of the Eastern Mountains by now instead of having to walk in this inferno sandpit in the middle of the day.
As if emphasizing his point, a hidden pocket in the sand gave way, causing Amir to stumble. Recovering his balance, he stopped and lowered the sledgehammer off his shoulder while wiping a handful of sweat off his brow. He raised a hand to shield his eyes from the glare and looked in the direction of the distant mountains. Except for the two elves riding ahead as point guards, only giant-high sand dunes were visible as far as the eye could see.
The elf high priestess brought her horse to a stop. So did the rest of the two dozen plus elves in the party.
“I regret we did not ask the Oracle for a spell to make one of our horses stout enough to carry you,” said Mia as she flashed Amir a smile. “Although you are only a head taller than an elf, you are, uh…stocky.”
Even with sand-caked trails of dried sweat on her forehead and cheeks, Amir thought the dark-haired high priestess was beautiful. Almost as beautiful as Glory, he thought. Lowering his hand, Amir returned the elf’s smile. “Are you saying I’m fat, High Priestess?”
Mia laughed. The sound warmed Amir’s heart, making him forget about the blazing sun for a heartbeat or two.
“Nay, Elf Friend. I daresay there is not an ounce of fat on you. The polymorph spell made you smaller, but your body structure is still that of a giant. I suspect you weigh three times as much as the largest elf in our party.”
Amir gave a laugh of his own and patted the high priestess’s horse on the neck. “It is just as well the spare mounts you brought can’t carry me. I’ve never ridden a horse before, and to be honest, I have no wish to try. I suspect I’m making a lot better time walking than I would falling off a horse every couple of steps.”
Mia laughed again. “You do yourself a disservice, Elf Friend. It has been three long weeks since we left your Thandarhar Mountain home. I suspect you would be as skilled at riding as me by now if we only had a horse that could carry your weight.”
Amir doubted it but kept the thought to himself. He pointed at the mountains ahead. “How much more of this Creator forsaken desert do we have to walk before we reach the mountains? Having spent most of my life in the mountains, I’d much prefer walking on solid rock than dragging my feet through this blasted sand.”
The elf mage Master Freestrod trotted up followed by Lord Derander and the leader of the Kreorian guards, Commander Astradis. The white-haired elf mage stood tall in his stirrups and waved a hand in the air while chanting words Amir heard but quickly forgot. Amir sensed a ball of Power convert into magic and speed toward the distant mountain range. Within five heartbeats, the ball of magic returned.
Sitting back in his saddle, Master Freestrod gave Amir a sympathetic smile. “I am afraid it is still farther than forty leagues to the mountains. That is the max range of my seeker spell, and it did not make it to those foothills.”
“Forty leagues?” Amir groaned, thinking of his burning feet. The sand was hot, and there hadn’t been a bit of shade in the last three days to give them any relief.
“More than forty,” corrected Lord Derander. The dour elf lord brushed his long brown hair back over his shoulder, doing his best to shake out loose sand as he did. “I have traveled these deserts before. Distances can be deceiving. The mountains you see ahead are a mirage. They are actually much farther off. If my calculations are correct, we still have a good sixty leagues of sand left before we reach the Donyar River.” He turned to look at the high priestess. “The river is a muddy affair, as I remember it, but a few trees grow along its banks. They may provide some blessed shade. Perhaps we can camp there for a couple of days to regain our strength.”
“Perhaps,” said Mia, sounding noncommittal. “In the meantime, we will continue to depend on Master Freestrod and you to cast enough water and food spells to keep us replenished.” She flashed a smile at those around her. “I dread to think what it would be like trying to cross this desert without a water summoning spell.”
Amir shuddered at the thought and cast another glance at the burning desert around him. I’ve got a feeling only an idiot would try such a thing, he thought.
* * *
The scalding heat from the sunbaked sand burned the soles of Richard’s feet at every step. He was tempted to sit down and give his feet a break, but he knew his bare bottom would fare even worse on the blistering sand.
I’m an idiot for thinking I could reach those mountains before I die of thirst. I’m naked. I’ve got no water, and I haven’t got the faintest idea what I’m doing here. For that matter, I don’t even know how I got here. Nothing makes any sense.
The red-gemmed ring on Richard’s left hand tingled. The voice of his invisible friend, Nickelo, sounded in his head. The words battle computer came to Richard’s mind. He wasn’t sure what that was, but he knew with a certainty the words described his friend.
“Nevertheless, we are here,” said Nickelo, “so I recommend you make the best of it. You have been walking in the sun for four hours and thirty-seven minutes. Logically, you should be in a lot worse shape than you are. Every part of your body is sunburned, your throat is dry as dust, and you do not know who you are or why you are here, but I recommend you look at the bright side.”
“There’s a bright side?” Richard asked. “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one dying of thirst. You’re some disembodied voice in my ring. I’m actually beginning to wonder whether you really exist. Maybe you’re just a figment of my imagination.”
“Oh, I exist all right. I may not know much else, but I know that. I also know that you are not dying of thirst. I calculate your body is healing itself almost as fast as it is taking damage from the sun. I calculate you will not die before you reach the mountains ahead. I will admit that you will not be having a great time while you’re walking through this sand for the next few days, but you will not die. You can obviously self-heal. Like I said, look at the bright side.”
The only thing bright Richard could see was the sun glaring off the white sand. “Why are we here? I know who I am. I’m Richard Shepard. My friends call me Rick. You’re Nickelo, or Nick for short. You’re a battle computer, whatever that is. We’re friends…somehow. Other than that, I haven’t got a clue. Are you sure you don’t know anything more than me?”
The ring tingled again. “Uh, not really. I feel like I should know more, but I do not. That is unfortunate. My mind works a lot faster than yours, and I do not have very much information in the ring’s datab
anks to keep me occupied. I think I would trade my boredom for your sunburn and thirst any day of the week.”
Richard grunted. “Humph. So what was that you were saying about looking on the bright side of things?”
“Whatever,” replied Nickelo. He laughed. “I have an idea. Why don’t you walk faster and talk less? If you do that, I calculate it will not take as long to reach the mountains.”
Unable to deny his battle computer’s logic, Richard sped up the pace. It didn’t make his feet burn any less, and the distance to the mountains didn’t decrease any appreciable amount, but at least he felt like he was accomplishing something.
“Speaking of something,” said Nickelo. “I am getting an impression that you are sensing something behind you, with your mind somehow. Some new information has just appeared in my databanks. The new data indicates your ability is called a passive scan. Do you see what I am talking about?”
Richard did see. Not with his eyes, but with his mind. He sensed something behind him; several somethings in fact. They were coming closer. Spinning around, he faced the ten-meter high sand dune to his rear. All he saw was his tracks up the side of the dune a hundred meters back.
“I sense it, Nick. There’s something there all right. I think it’s a group of somethings. Unless I miss my guess, they should be coming over the top of the dune right about—”
“There!” said Nickelo. “There are four people on mounts and another on foot at the top of the dune. No, wait, there are more than that. A group of six are coming around each side of the dune to flank us. There are more on the other side. What are your orders, Wizard Scout?”
Richard didn’t know what a wizard scout was any more than he knew what a battle computer was. Nevertheless, the title seemed to fit. Title or not though, he didn’t have any orders. Plus, there was nowhere to run or hide.
“I suppose all we can do is wait,” Richard said. “I think I hate waiting.”
Wizard Gigantic (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 9) Page 10