by TR Cameron
He laughed. “Get me a transmitter, and I’ll see what I can do.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ruby closed her locker, having changed into the black base layer of her uniform, each part of the process calming her mind a little more. The stone floor was cold on her bare feet. She pulled her sword from its sheath and left the carrier behind as well, taking the naked blade into her meditation space. She bolted the door, then called up the warding magic of the golden outer ring, which activated with a shimmer and a hum that was more sensed than heard.
The world quieted as it always did when the protection rose as if it had banished the invisible pressures working upon her. She let her arms hang at her sides and closed her eyes, focusing her mind inward, taking all the extraneous thoughts and concerns and packing them away for the moment. Even though she’d explicitly designed this chamber to deal with the Atlantean inside her, she had found it useful for any situation that required deep concentration.
She’d never used it for anything other than meditation before, so today’s experiment was something new. She extended the blade and turned in a circle, noting precisely how far it could extend outward to avoid crossing the ward. As long as I don’t lunge, I’ll be fine. Upward was no problem, assuming she didn’t stretch too far in that direction. Part of her training guidelines with Keshalla had always been adapting her style to the surrounding conditions, so this wouldn’t be an unfamiliar task. Plus, it would allow her to practice moves that she might not otherwise do in a more wide-open space.
She opened her eyes, keeping them soft and defocused. An imagined opponent appeared before her, holding a sword similar to hers but longer and slightly more curved to fit their greater height. For some reason, her virtual opponents were almost always taller than she was. A therapist would probably have fun with that. She pushed the thought away and raised the dull side of her blade to her forehead in a salute that her rival immediately copied.
She stepped slowly back, concentrating on each part of the motion, ensuring her form was perfect. Simultaneously, she began to build her magic reserves, readying power for use. It would make only a small time difference in employing it but might add intensity to her attacks. Optimization is what practice is all about.
What followed next was more an intricate ballet than it was combat. She moved as slowly as she was capable of, feeling the interplay of each muscle as she brought her sword up to intercept an imagined downward strike at the perfect angle. As the blades clashed in her mind, she shifted her weight to perform a riposte, sliding her weapon along the other blade and twisting it so the edge pointed in the right direction. Her fictional opponent was skilled and leaned back far enough to let her sword pass in front of him.
She repositioned her feet in perfect balance to address his next attack. The practice went on like that, ultra-slow-motion, a complete focus on muscles and movement until suddenly she slipped into the inner space occupied by the duo of entities inside her weapon. She was fully aware of her body continuing to move but realized she had somehow segmented a part of her mind to achieve this commune.
Shalia, the female inhabitant of her artifact weapon, smiled. “You are becoming far more adept at partitioning your focus without sacrificing anything. Well done.”
Instead of Ruby’s preferred location, they were in the other woman’s, with waves lapping off to her left and warm sand sneaking in between her toes. The sun felt lovely. She grinned and replied, “I guess I have one thing to thank the Atlantean bastard in my head for, anyway.”
Tyrsh, the male inhabitant, commented, “Splintering your mind is a key element to proper use of the sword. If you are in contact with us while you fight, we will be better able to help you, rather than trying to push our way into your consciousness in times of stress.”
Logical. “How did you get into the sword, anyway?” She’d often wondered. Shalia replied, “It defeated us, and instead of dissipating or heading into whatever lies beyond this world, somehow we wound up here.”
“The same for both of you?”
Tyrsh confirmed it. “Yes, the same.”
Ruby frowned, thinking that being sucked inside involuntarily didn’t sound like a very fine gig. “Did it get both of you at the same time? I mean, in the same battle?”
Shalia replied, “Definitely not. I have been here far longer. Surely you can sense that in my comparative maturity.”
Her companion—Sword mate? Roommate?—gave the other woman a plastic smile and enthused sarcastically, “Love you too, darling.” Shalia laughed.
Imagine being trapped for eternity with someone you didn’t choose. Ruby shuddered. “Is there a way for me to cast spells through the sword or absorb them with it?” She congratulated herself for finally remembering to ask.
Shalia shook her head. “No, such things are not possible.”
Tyrsh contradicted her. “I’m afraid that, as usual, you’re incorrect. Maybe in the ancient times you come from that was true, but it’s possible with appropriate training. She’s already begun it by learning to separate parts of her mind.” The two argued back and forth about it until he finally shrugged. “Clearly, it was after your time. But it’s entirely possible.”
A new voice joined the conversation. “It definitely is.” A vertical tear appeared in midair, and the Atlantean representing the Rhazdon artifact in her arm stepped through it, looking for all the world like he was walking down a flight of invisible stairs until his feet hit the sand. “If it is your wish, I can help you along the path to achieving it.”
Ruby crossed her arms and frowned at him. “Out of the goodness of your heart, I presume?”
He laughed, his striking features and heavy black braids a marked comparison to the suddenly plain-looking inhabitants of her sword. They were beautiful and handsome, respectively, but the Atlantean was downright stunning. Evil is always seductive, so they say. “Of course not. The more power you gain, the better it will be for me when you finally realize a partnership between us is your destiny.”
Shalia shook her head. “You know you can’t trust him. Even his ulterior motives have ulterior motives behind them.”
Ruby laughed. “It’s turtles all the way down. I get it. But, truth be told, as long as I’m stuck with the damn artifact, I should try to make the best of it.” She shifted her attention back to the Atlantean. “How can I be confident this isn’t an effort to manipulate me?”
He shrugged. “Remember, this is your place. Well, at the moment, yours influenced by them, but ultimately your mind controls all here. If you would find it reassuring, there is absolutely no reason they cannot be present for any teaching and training we undertake together.”
Ruby turned to the inhabitants of her sword. “I don’t understand the rules of this place particularly well. Do you have any power over him?”
They both shook their heads, and Tyrsh replied, “As he says, all the power here is yours. We can all make suggestions, attempt to influence you in ways both obvious and less so, but ultimately unless you allow it, we cannot subvert your will.”
Ruby frowned. “Unless I allow it?”
Shalia nodded. “In the past, when paired with a weaker fighter, the wielder has chosen to permit us to rise and inhabit their body during combat. It has allowed some to survive when they otherwise would not have.”
“You didn’t mention this to me why?”
Tyrsh laughed. “Any number of reasons. First, your personality is not the type to take kindly to the idea of losing control. Second, you are entirely adequate as a fighter, which means our occasional advice is enough unless you wish to have a deeper integration. Finally, once he joined us,” he gestured at the Atlantean, “it didn’t make sense to do anything that might weaken your mental barriers.”
She nodded. “Good thinking, but I prefer to make my own choices. In the future, if such options exist, tell me.” They bowed their heads in assent, looking chagrined. She turned her gaze on the smiling Atlantean. “And you, gleeful boy, don’t get e
xcited. I trust them about thirty million times more than I trust you. Explain to me how I need to change to use my sword that way.”
He replied, “Currently you think of the sword as a tool, a weapon to be wielded. This is, of course, completely logical and normal. However, if you want to use it to channel power, it will need to become a part of you. Surely you’ve noticed that wizards are rarely without their wands, even if they’re not using them at the moment. It’s more than the need to have it at hand if they wish to use magic. The constant bond is essential to using it as a repository and tool for your magic. You will need to become as close to your sword as a wizard or witch is to their wand.”
She frowned. “Why isn’t that the case with my magic dagger?”
He shrugged. “Different magic went into its creation, so it operates by different rules. By definition, if you can use it for that purpose, it doesn’t require the same sort of bond you would need for your sword.”
“How do you know so much about this?”
“I am fundamentally magic. Unlike the other two, who were beings who transitioned into an object, my very nature straddles the physical and magical world. As such, I have knowledge and insights that others lack.”
Ruby scowled at his arrogant tone. “Well, if you weren’t a total power-hungry douchebag, that would make you a pretty valuable resource for magic research. Of course, I can’t trust you, so that’s out.”
He shrugged. “You will feel about me how you will feel, but the truth is you can trust me to the degree that our objectives are aligned. We both wish to increase your power, so rest assured I will always be on your side to reach that goal.”
Tyrsh laughed. “Plus, you’ll always look for an opportunity to take her over.”
The Atlantean inclined his head toward the other man. “It is my nature.”
Ruby said, “Okay, I’ll think about it, now go away.” He obliged, vanishing. She asked, “Is he truly gone?”
Shalia replied, “He is.”
“Thank goodness. There’s one more thing I need to talk to you about. I’ve chosen a name for the sword, and I wanted to be sure you approved. I chose it because of a few different things, but primarily because I think of you both as benevolent spirits within the weapon, and my family’s casino happens to be named Spirits.”
Tyrsh drawled, “Let me guess. The sword’s name is Spirit.”
Ruby laughed. “No, I’m not that uncreative. The sword’s name is Eidolon.”
Shalia repeated the name as if testing it out and smiled. “Clever and elegant. I love it.”
Tyrsh nodded. “Completely acceptable.”
Ruby grinned. “Eidolon it is, then.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ruby finished putting on her makeup, tossed her brushes back in their jar, and arranged her hair in Harley Quinn-style ponytails. Demetrius had promised to take her out on a date some time before. He’d sprung on her at the last minute that today was the day they were going out to lunch together. It hadn’t left her a lot of time to get ready, but then again, she wasn’t all that high maintenance in the first place.
She pulled a sundress over her head, made sure it settled properly and slipped on a pair of strappy sandals that wrapped around her ankle. The dress was pale blue with darker designs, the footwear a light leather somewhere between sand-colored and tan. Her shield pendant was on display, and she slid on the cuffs that created magical shields when struck together.
She descended the stairs from the attic and made her way to his room. The door opened before she could knock. He wore a preppy-looking outfit of a collared shirt and cargo shorts with sandals and looked fantastic. She told him so, and he grinned and replied, “You’re far too kind. Our ride’s outside. Let’s go.”
Their conveyance turned out to be an autonomous vehicle, and Ruby hid her scowl at the sight of it. She made a mental note to call Prex since she’d forgotten to do so and get the transmission device. If he doesn’t have it anymore, maybe we’ll jack another car and take it. They rode to a place in the southeast of the city, one of the original neighborhoods from before the casinos, full of tall, narrow buildings and street-level shops with colorful awnings.
The car dropped them off in front of an otherwise undistinguished house, and he led the way to a basement door. He pushed it open and held it for her, and Ruby was surprised to see a restaurant inside, especially since there were no markings on the exterior to indicate it was there. Four-top linoleum tables and beat-up chairs filled the main area, with a counter blocking access to the back. The walls were cracking but painted a joyful shade of yellow. It was immediately homey, as if they’d walked into someone’s dining room.
A dark-skinned man, probably in his sixties with a bald head and a white goatee, grinned at their arrival from his position behind the counter beside an old cash register. “Sit anywhere. I’ll be over with menus in a minute.” Demetrius led her to a table and pulled out a chair for her. She laughed and sat, then he tucked it in and took his.
Ruby teased, “You’re such a gentleman, at least when people are watching. This place is a surprise. How did you know it was here?”
He leaned back with a smile and spread his arms wide. “This is my old neighborhood. Everyone who lives here knows where to get the best barbecue.”
She licked her lips. “I thought that was what I smelled, and I’m glad to hear it’s true. But I can’t imagine how a place this small stays in business.”
He shrugged. “Well, I’m not a restauranteur myself, but I do know the owners spend most of their time running a food truck. This is mainly to keep their hand in when the county fair season is past, or on weekends without gigs, or whatever. Doesn’t change the fact that it’s some of the most amazing barbecue you’ll find anywhere.”
The man came back with menus and grinned down at Ruby. “I can tell this is your first time here. Not too impressive, I know.”
She shook her head. “On the contrary, this place is great. I don’t think I need to look at a menu. I’ll trust you to choose for me.”
Their server laughed and said, “Now that is a smart decision. Same for you, boy?”
Demetrius didn’t seem to mind the familiarity. Probably he knows the owners since they’re from the neighborhood. “Perfect. Make it so.”
The other man rolled his eyes. “Jean-Luc Picard, you’re not.” Her boyfriend laughed at his back as he departed.
Ruby asked, “Are the insults free, or do they charge extra?”
Her date shook his head with a smile. “Everyone gets treated like family, which is to say that they pull no punches.” Their conversation stilled as a couple more people came in and took tables.
Demetrius exchanged nods with them, and Ruby asked, “So, do you know everyone here, or what?”
“I’ve spent a decent amount of time in this restaurant. I’m a big fan of barbecue. So, I’ve gotten to meet most of the regulars. In this place, pretty much everyone is a regular. You either know about it and love it, or you’re completely unaware. It’s rare that someone new walks in off the street.”
Ruby chuckled. “Yeah, the complete lack of signage or indication that a restaurant exists here would do that.”
“Right?”
“So, is everything okay? Your gigs are going well, that sort of thing?” It occurred to her that she hadn’t spent much time with him recently, given how caught up she was in other responsibilities. Yeah, you have the makings of a great girlfriend, Ruby. Probably invited you out to break up with you.
He nodded. “Some of the work I’ve done for you has taught me things I can use with other clients, so that’s all to the good. Plus, some of the other casinos we made contact with have thrown a little work my way. Low-level stuff, obviously. They don’t want me in their systems. Still, it all adds up to a decent business.”
“Is it what you want to do?”
He nodded. “It’s exactly what I want to do. Using my magic and my brain together makes me happier than any other job I’ve had
. I mean, it’s still work. I have no desire to fill all my waking hours with it. Man cannot live on work alone. Sometimes video games are needed, too.”
She chuckled. “Or occasional dates, right?”
“Very occasionally,” he responded dryly. When she flinched, he laughed. “I’m only screwing with you, Ruby. We both do what we can, and we’re both busy people. We don’t have to be in a rush.”
Food arrived a moment later, an empty plate for each of them and three family-style plates set in the middle of the table. The server said, “Just realized I didn’t give you my name. I’m Dutch. Anyway, what we’ve got here are some ribs, some pulled pork, some pulled chicken, some baked beans, cornbread, a little fresh bread out of the oven, some corn, and if you’re still hungry afterward, there’s some strawberry shortcake in the back.”
The smells were heaven, and the food tasted equally good when they dug in. While they ate, they didn’t talk about much besides great meals they’d eaten, how this barbecue stacked up against others, and so on. By the time they finished, Ruby was well and truly stuffed. She told Dutch, “I’ll have to take a rain check on the strawberry shortcake.”
The man nodded. “Does that mean you’ll come back around sometime?”
Ruby smiled up at him. “Definitely, assuming I can get this big lug to take me out on another date.”
Dutch grinned at Demetrius. “Your mother raised you better than that, boy.”
It clicked in her head an instant before Demetrius said, “Lay off, Dad. So, what do you think?”
An older woman, similar to her husband except the gray hair was on her scalp rather than her face, wandered up beside him. “From what Dutch said, she’s wonderful. Hi dear, I’m Claire.”
Ruby replied, “I’ve heard so much about you both, except apparently your names and what you do.” She kicked Demetrius under the table, and his yelp earned a laugh from both of his parents. “It’s very nice to meet you.”