Coil of Worlds

The addition of the two pakas had the Pyranni warriors shrinking back. Though small, Eiren was every bit as fierce as Chion in her silent snarl, her tail whipping back and forth in anger. Her claws were unsheathed, sharper than most knives.

One man yelped when he stepped back into one of the sputtering fires. With his magic, Skye knew when the man jumped to the other side. The warriors’ superstitious beliefs concerning the pakas helped their cause.

Knowing the Pyrannis were once again defeated, Skye ordered his friends out of the cell. With brutal precision, Chion crushed the neck of the rash man still fighting Lara, allowing the woman to exit the chamber first. There was a gasp from both the Kurites and Pyrannis when Lara traveled through the barrier unassisted. Growling low in his throat, Chion followed Lara into the outer chamber. Skye felt like doing the same. The fight ended altogether too soon; his blood boiled with excess energy.

Eiren retreated, step by slow step, until she stood guard beside him, watching the men with wary eyes. His loneliness vanished with her close presence.

Eiren.

My Lord, let us leave this place. It is unfit for one such as you.

Once he was on the other side of the invisible door, a man called out from inside. Without turning around, his Tal’Ai power told him it was the Pyranni who stood next to the far wall, holding himself up on his knees. “You turn against the God and Goddess, accepting the heinous magic of their Gods?”

Shaking his head at the waste of lives, Skye replied in a strong voice, “That is where you are wrong. Both kingdoms worship the same God and Goddess. It is Pyran who has shunned the blessings the Goddess once gave us.”

Do you truly believe that, asked Eiren, cutting through the thick silence that met his statement.

Still panting from the fight, he lowered himself onto the balls of his feet to meet her gold eyes with his blue ones. After staring at her gentle, feline face, he nodded in answer.

Skye smirked right before he sprang for her, encasing her in a bruising hug. He felt a twinge in his injured shoulder, but he refused to let go when she nuzzled his neck and face. Happy purrs thrummed through their bond. The vibration tore through the strange visual like it was delicate silult. The knowledge of everyone’s position within the corridor dissipated. The sudden shift made him momentarily sensory deprived.

Touching her, he noticed Eiren was in good health, better than he expected. Toned muscles shaped her shoulders. Skye commented aloud, uncaring if anyone overheard, “You look good.”

I missed you. It has been too long.

Through their bond, she shared with him the remembered feelings of loneliness and emptiness as their separation lengthened from days into weeks. After Lara’s admission, he knew every one of his companions had felt the separation. He scratched just below her right ear, and Eiren sank to the ground. He chuckled at the bliss radiating from her.

I did as well, but we are together now.

He heard the approaching footsteps of a number of people, but in the darkness couldn’t place the people in the hallway. Conscious of his vulnerability without the strange vision, he centered himself once more and slid back into the other world. His eyes saw the pitch black, but his other vision gave him the location of every person in the hallway.

He also became aware of people hidden behind other doors along the hall. Their lean physiques meant the cells didn’t only house Pyranni warriors. The more curious prisoners listened at the doors, while others rested in the far corners of their tiny cells.

He scanned the gathering crowd for danger. Although his magic didn’t translate expressions, Skye knew the onlookers took in the scene of two outsiders touching pakas with enthusiasm. Feeling as if he was on display, Skye gave Eiren one last scratch before straightening from his crouch.

When his companions all faced the crowd, showing a unified front, a stooped, elderly woman wearing the gown of her office gave them a low bow. Her scratchy voice echoed in the hallway, “I see you and the small one were not mistaken in your bond, young pakas.”

From the way the elder faced him, Skye knew she was taking his measure.

“The High Council was right to grant you asylum.” She pointed a finger at his chest. “Everyone in this room heard you speak out against your own beliefs. For one so young, you have gained a wisdom that proves your true character.” She gave him another bow. “I have lived a long life. Many years ago, I gave up hope for peace to ever cover both Kurite and Pyranni lands. Your words give an old woman hope, so I thank you. I pray the God and Goddess will bless you with as many years as I have had.”

Unused to receiving the goodwill of Kurites, the woman’s graciousness left him speechless.

He felt Eiren’s pride when she whispered, You don’t understand what you have done. You have singlehandedly earned Areth’s trust in you. Cimma’s wisdom rules Areth. The Council follows where she leads, trusting to her years of experience as a councilor.

Discomfited, Skye mentally shrugged. I only spoke what I’ve recently learned is the truth.

Every individual in this room and the prisoners’ chamber heard your conviction. No one doubts your truthfulness. I am glad. Only two councilors were available to meet with us. Chion wasn’t able to convince them of our Tal’Ai bond. As Lara and you were not mentioned in the letter from Etheme, Chion was hard pressed to gain their sympathy. As sailors would say, you have turned the tide.

Straightening to her full stature, Cimma took on a more officious demeanor as she turned to regard Chion. “You, sire, will have your request fulfilled. I’ll enlist my people to assist your search in whatever means you require. I am most curious about the symbols engraved above your brow, if you can forgive an old woman’s interest. Please be aware, though, the Malirran threat is on everyone’s mind and all of Areth is nervous.”

Chion replied, As I have stated already, we hope the information we seek will help in the coming fight with Malirra. Unfortunately, only time will tell us if this is correct.

Someone bellowed a distance down the hall, “If you are not a guard of these cells, you’ll be gone by the time I count to five. Onlookers will not be tolerated.”

Skye observed the rapid emptying of the corridor with his new vision. A tall, faceless warrior walked toward them in the space created. Cimma’s amusement was obvious by the tolerant chuckle that bounced off the walls. Whoever the warrior was, the way he wielded his authority made him someone of high rank.

Skye asked, Who is he?

In his mind’s eye, he saw Eiren sit down and cock her head to the side. I don’t know. I haven’t met this man before, though I doubt he is a councilor.

When the man was certain every person had left the vicinity of the guardroom, he approached their group.

“Commander Ader,” Cimma said in mild rebuke, “I’m happy to see you finally decided to join us.”

Ader snorted, then explained, “I was checking the guards stationed along the wall.” He paused, checking them over, taking in their bloody and ripped clothing. Skye remembered he still wore the clothes from Earth. “I assume the Pyranni warrior and the girl are the intruders my guards captured earlier.”

Skye heard Lara murmur, “Did he just call me a girl?” Eiren sniggered through their link, secure in the knowledge no one would hear her except him. Skye’s own mouth twitched.

Chion asked, Do you typically allow your prisoners to fight amongst themselves?

“No,” Ader growled. “In fact, we recently had to deal with a similar outbreak of violence earlier this month.” He stalked over to the two guards standing several doors down. The commander snarled at the man on the right, “You, find your replacement.” Ader grabbed a hold of the other man’s shirt and dragged him back to where they stood. The first man ran past them and disappeared down the long hallway.

When the commander started to speak, Skye interrupted with a slight bow of respect, “If you don’t mind, let’s move the discussion farther down. The Pyrannis don’t need to hear our conversation.”

Cimma’s frail arm reached out, snatching Skye’s arm as her new walking aid. Cimma’s attendant had run away with the others. It surprised him she would choose him over the others, but he slowed his pace to match hers. After moving a distance away from the Pyranni cell, the old councilor stopped and patted his arm.

“Now,” she said, “let us speak. Someone tell me what happened.”

For the first time, Lara spoke up. “Skye and I were thrown in with the other prisoners a semi-short while ago. He,” she waved toward him, “talked with Hente, their leader. After being up for so many hours, both Skye and I were exhausted. I fell asleep first. When I did, I lost hold of my magical shield.” She looked at Skye and added, “Thank God I did. Otherwise, we would have had no warning of their attack. They bided their time, waiting for us to lower our guard. Two men attacked me; I felt their lust before they did. They planned to rape me.”

“She badly injured the first two attackers,” Skye took up the story when she shivered. “I killed the first one that fell down, and she killed the other. When they realized I wouldn’t let them take her, more attacked us.”

The commander said, his tone laden with dubious belief, “You both look uninjured. I counted the men lying dead on the floor inside the room. For you both to take on so many and live, you must be great warriors.” He looked down at Lara. Skye understood without having to see the man’s expression. The man doubted her ability to fight. She was shorter than any Kurite or Pyranni the commander had seen.

Smiling slyly, Skye informed him, “The woman is more than she seems. Even I would hesitate to fight her in the midst of a battle.”

Ader turned his head to look at him. “You, a Pyranni, would fight your own people for this woman? There were six men dead.”

“I can only attest to killing three men. I cannot claim Pyran as my home. I’ve been cast out by my fellow warriors.” He nodded at his companions. “These three are the ones I know and now call friend. Since crossing paths with them, I’ve seen unimaginable things. So yes, I’ll fight Pyranni and Kurite people alike to protect those I trust.”

When the commander would have continued his questioning, Cimma spoke up. “Commander Ader, I assure you that questioning this man and woman will be for naught. I’ve heard the beginnings of their tale, and I readily admit I am bewildered by the workings of the Goddess. Although their eye color protests otherwise, they are bound to Chion and Eiren as Tal’Ai.”

Cimma’s head bobbed up and down, taking in Lara’s and Skye’s bloody clothes. “I speculate the fight was more balanced than the evidence would have you believe, Commander. Never forget Tal’Ai magic is a great leveler in its own way.”

Not able to keep quiet, Skye asked the commander, “The men grow mad. You and I both know they won’t last much longer in the dark. The battle took place weeks ago. Why haven’t they been traded for your own people?”

The man sighed. “You’ve no right to ask me this question, but I admit your situation is unique. I sent a request to your king. I haven’t heard a reply. Pyran was recently beset by Malirran warriors.”

This was not news for any of them, but Skye understood what the man was insinuating. “And you believe King Ragnar and his court has forgotten the men because of the new threat.”

With an astuteness that showed her many years as a political player, Cimma said, “The men are mere pawns in this war. Pyran cannot afford to retrieve its warriors.”

If King Ragnar didn’t trade for his people soon, the warriors would complete their transition to full insanity. The men Lara and he killed were better off than the ones left behind to suffer their slide into madness. Going mad had its own brand of insanity intertwined. A man knew he was losing his grip on reality, but was unable to escape the coming doom. By the time Pyran fought off the invaders, the men would be past saving. It all depended on whether the king remembered the Pyranni warriors afterward. Skye’s intuition told him Pyran was just beginning a new war against the Malirrans.

Cimma advised, “Young warrior, let Commander Ader concern himself with the Pyranni captives and this guard. If you would lend me your strength, I’ll show the four of you to your rooms for the length of your stay.”

“Wait,” Lara cried, “we need our weapons and my bag. I don’t see it. I must have my bag.”

My Lady, what is important about this bag? Can you not seek another?

Skye replied, “No, the bag is unimportant. It is the item in the bag we need.” He thrust himself into the guard’s space, demanding, “Tell me where the bag is. Who took it?”

A croak escaped the guard before he could steady his nerves. “Iage…Iage took it.”

“I know who he is. I’ll retrieve it as soon as I have reprimanded this man,” offered the commander.

Lara rejected the man’s offer, jerking her head left and right. “Skye is right. The purse is not important. It is the coil. We must find the coil before it is lost or broken. Trust me when I say we have to find the coil.”

Eiren whispered, What is this coil’s importance?

It is how Lara travels from her world to here. It shouldn’t have traveled with us when we came back, except it did. She can’t lose it, or she’ll never return to her home world.

You traveled to her planet? She growled before declaring, We will have time later for my curiosity. I’ll find this coil for her. Ask Lara and Commander Ader to describe the man and where I can find him. I’ll do this while you regain possession of your weapons. I will not have you without protection.

A short description of Iage and directions were given to Eiren, and she was gone. Skye followed her with his magic until she passed through a veil. There was a limit to his sight after all.

Looking for reassurance, Lara asked him, “She’ll find the coil?”

“I have full confidence in Eiren’s abilities,” said Skye.

Chion added, My Lady, recall the story I told you concerning Eiren’s escape and entry into the cell where we were held.

Silent up to now, Cimma asked, “This coil. It is somehow linked to the markings each of you display?”

“It is, Councilor,” Skye answered. “Eiren charged me to retrieve all of our weapons that were confiscated.”

Ader said, “Your weapons I can easily retrieve. If my men followed their orders, any confiscated weapons are stored in the weapons hold. Follow me.”

Skye held out his arm to the councilor and they strode down the corridor, the commander berating the guard the entire way. The man was a quivering, miserable mess by the time they stopped in front of the weapons hold.

Once the familiar weight of the sword was at his side, Skye felt more complete. While he slid his knives into the back of his trousers, Cimma asked, “Has the Tal’Ai bond given you the ability to see in Kureto?”

“No, I can’t see in the dark.”

You are walking through this tunnel without assistance. This is a new ability, young Skye, admonished Chion.

Not knowing exactly what his newfound magical ability was, he answered with some hesitation, “I haven’t gained the ability to see in the dark. It is not a simple change in eyesight. I believe it’s a part of my magic. During the fight, I learned how to shift my vision. If I keep my focus, I can see everyone and everything around me.”

The councilor remarked, “I have never heard of such an ability. It’ll be interesting to discover what all your ability entails.”

At least Skye knew he could wield magic. Now that he thought about it, he’d used it once before during a skirmish. Etheme had promised him he held in his grasp a great deal of power, but Skye didn’t think the ability to shift his vision was a powerful magic. Perhaps there was more to his blessing than seeing in the dark. Skye paused, not daring to breathe.

A blessing.

His life’s course, his entire belief system had changed. What was once viewed as a curse, he now considered a blessing. He tried to identify the specific incident that changed him.

No single incident came to mind. Skye had experienced, in a rather short period of time, more than any man could imagine. It was possible his beliefs had changed during his weeks at the training school, listening to the history of Kureto—and its ancient relationship with Pyran. It was possible that while on Earth, the constant sight of incredible creations, which Lara described as nonmagical, had induced him to rethink his entire upbringing.

Perhaps it was all of his combined experiences that led to the shift. Skye wasn’t certain; he might never know the actual turning point. Skye was positive, however, that Eiren was going to be elated when he told her.