Coil of Worlds

Are you well? Chion’s voice elicited a sob from Lara before she could control it. She hadn’t told her parents goodbye.

She sat up and swiped her face, surprised to find her face free of tears. She noticed Skye and Eiren were still asleep. Lara met Chion’s worried gaze. I’m all right. I was with my parents last night. I went home for the first time since coming here. We were so tired last night we forgot to store the coil a distance away from where we slept.

Ah, he said, then paused, searching for something to say. Did you not enjoy your time with your parents? You have been melancholy this last week.

She leaned against him, rolling her head back and forth against his white coat. I did. I needed to see them. Like you said, I’ve been homesick, but I think my parents needed to see me even more. Chion, she began before having to stop and swallow down her guilt. Chion, they’ve both aged in such a short time. My mother left her job until I was found. I’ve caused them a considerable amount of worry. When the police found the Malirran in the building, and they didn’t find any other clues, they thought I was dead.

I have heard the loss of a child is incomparable to any other. I imagine seeing you alleviated much of their worry and grief. Did you tell them the truth? Did you tell them about our bond, our quest?

Yes, my father is now determined to find Aradun. As for you, Skye, and Eiren, of course I did. They didn’t believe me at first. Why would they? Even I have problems believing I’m here at times, so of course they’d doubt the truth. But the longer I talked, the less skeptical they became. My father believes me, though my mother has her doubts. Lara shook her head, tightening her grip on the paka. The way I left, vanishing into thin air, is probably enough for her to believe me now. Chion, I didn’t get to say goodbye. I left without saying goodbye.

They sat there while she dealt with her emotions, his purring through their link helping her slowly relax. At last he said, My Lady, I am certain they understand. If you vanished as you said, how could they not? He sighed. As much as I wish otherwise, it is time for us to continue on our way.

“Yeah, you’re right. They know I’m alive now, which is ten times better than the alternative.”

Lara climbed to her feet and walked over to shake Skye awake. Her mother’s words came back to her, and she stumbled. Perhaps her denial was exactly what it was, denial. She needed to think about how she truly felt about the warrior, and then decide whether she wanted to broach the topic with him. She shuddered at the potential fallout. What if he didn’t feel the same way? Their friendship could suffer. The dangers they faced required all four of them to trust each other with their lives.

When Skye offered her food, Lara said, “I already ate.” Seeing both Skye and Eiren’s confusion, she explained, “I spent the night with my parents on Earth.”

Skye stopped mid-chew and said around his food, “You did? I thought we were careful to sleep away from the coil.”

“Not last night. We forgot. I’m glad that I was the only one transported though. It would have made for an awkward introduction at my parents’ house.”

Eiren coughed, choking on her food. Skye repeated, “Eiren says she thought you looked different this morning. She now realizes your boots are a different color.

Lara lifted her foot to show Chion. “These fit me better than the other shoes. They’re better made, more expensive. What’s more, they will last longer, especially since we walk so much.”

Brushing the bread crumbs off his fingers, Skye urged, “We should leave. I am looking forward to a bed for once.”

Both Lara and Eiren jumped to their feet at the thought of sleeping in a comfortable bed. “Do you think we can reach the training school tonight?”

If we push ourselves, we might reach the school tomorrow afternoon, Chion replied. There is a small village not a full day’s travel from here. Let’s hope the villagers have a place for us to sleep.

Lara shouldered her pack and ambled over to Skye’s side, offering him her arm. Although they were no longer in the tomb, Skye was judicious in his use of magic, afraid it would lead to another brain bleed.

“I am looking forward to seeing the sun. I tire of my inability to see underground.”

“My vision is fine, and I’m looking forward to seeing sunlight, so I can only imagine how you feel.”

He snorted. “Eiren’s curiosity about the school is what keeps her going.”

They walked for a while without saying anything further. Eventually Lara shared what was on her mind. “I wish we’d found more information regarding the coil and the prophetess. I feel like we’re blundering our way through, and I’m scared that it won’t be enough to fight against the Malirrans.”

“If we don’t figure out how to form the Lan’Ai bond, we’ll be hard pressed to defeat them. Instead of training both you and Eiren on how to defend yourselves against the Malirrans, we’ve focused on searching for clues. It might not have been the right choice.” His jaw clenched in determination. “Once we reach the Tal’Ai school, I plan to work with you on your weapon training.”

She groaned, her body trembling with the coming torture she’d receive. Skye was not a gentle teacher, though she couldn’t think of anyone she trusted more to train her.

“God’s teeth, I’m not that bad. Besides, you have greatly improved since the first time you held a sword.” His compliment tingled her senses. He had never given any indication of her progress, choosing instead to instruct her on all the ways she did a move incorrectly.

“Hm, have you given any thought to what you’ll do if we actually survive the coming war?”

“You mean, what our plans are once we defeat the Malirrans?” he asked, fingering his sword hilt.

“Yes, have you thought about the future? You and I both know you’ll never be able to live in Kureto. Where will you live? What will you do?”

“When we first met, Eiren and I discussed the possibility of traveling. Since then, we haven’t thought that far ahead. The Malirran invasion takes our considerable attention. I have found that if I try to predict outcomes too far ahead, I only succeed in disappointing myself. Why worry about a future that may never materialize?”

Lara frowned. The idea of Skye leaving Kureto made her stomach churn. She’d miss them if they left. But what were her plans? What if all four of them traveled the world together? Wouldn’t she return to Earth if given the chance? Her instant aversion to the idea made it unbearable. The two choices, and her desires, conflicted with each other. Could she leave her parents if she had to make a choice? What about her bond with Chion?

She didn’t know, and the not knowing unsettled her.

Skye was right. She couldn’t worry about the future, especially when they didn’t know what would happen thirty minutes from now.

¤¤¤

A goblet in his hand, Lukar brooded, staring at the walled city in the distance. It was the day before the two moons waned, and already the darkness was pervasive. The sliver of the smaller moon didn’t provide enough light for the men to see by, so fires burned throughout the camp. The moans of the injured and dying echoed from the western edge of the camp, making him twitch with need. Expecting an answer to his missive from the King of Pyran, Lukar had eaten earlier than usual.

One of his commanders had waved a white flag after the night’s attack, and his men retreated to the safety of the camp. Not understanding Lukar’s plan was in full effect, his men thought they’d disgraced their king. He didn’t share his strategy for the simple reason word of his true intent might, somehow, reach Gharra’s defenders. Regret filled him as he took in the hunched shoulders and bowed heads of his army, but secrecy was key. They would learn different tomorrow.

Except his enemy’s king was taking his sweet time. Lukar wondered whether it was indecision that kept the king busy.

A deep clang rose from the main gate, and he smiled. At last, one way or the other, this kingdom was his. Anticipation curled in his stomach, and he handed his cup over to the hovering servant. He paced the ground before his tent, scattering the guards and servants in every direction. Periodically, Lukar looked up, measuring the shrinking distance between Colm and him.

The koti’s pace heralded his approach, and Lukar waited impatiently for the man to drop from the animal’s back.

“Follow me.” He swirled around and strode inside, knowing his war council was on his heels.

When everyone was inside and around the large table, Lukar held out his hand for the scroll. Everyone held their breath as he unrolled it and skimmed the contents. When he was done, Lukar threw it down on the table for the others to read, his eyes glittering with triumph.

The other king had taken the bait. Ragnar accepted Lukar’s request for a treaty where they’d form an alliance against their enemies. The bait? His first condition required Pyran to help him conquer Kureto. The purist king had produced his own conditions for the alliance, but they were inconsequential, easy enough to overthrow.

For everyone’s benefit, Duxon read the scroll aloud, and soon every man smirked, sensing victory at their fingertips.

Lukar leaned forward, waving at the map in its entirety. “Now our work begins.” Turning to Alux, he ordered, “Light the fires as soon as the sun begins to set. Keep them burning until midnight. Our ships must arrive at the exact time we meet the king.”

“Yes, My King. I’ve also given strict orders for the fires to stay hidden from Gharra’s walls.”

“Perfect. We can’t afford for Pyran to grow suspicious of our true intentions. They must believe at all times they’ve defeated us.”

A commander who rarely spoke asked, “What about Pyran’s condition that only three men shall accompany you to the signing of the treaty?”

Lukar looked into the eyes of each of his commanders and war advisors. As much as he disliked giving their enemy the perception of defeat, it couldn’t be helped. The king and his council must meet him on neutral ground. His voice powerful in its confidence, Lukar said, “The day four of us can’t defeat our enemy is the day we hang up our swords.”

The tent filled to bursting with his men’s war cries. Their hunger for laying waste to Pyran rivaled his own. When they quieted, he ordered, “Let the men rest tonight and tomorrow morning. The Pyrannis will think nothing of our forces standing at attention while I meet with the king and his men. Tomorrow morning, spread the word to our men, but ensure their silence. They need to be prepared for one last attack on the gates. I’ll signal under cover of the tent once the deed is done.”

Duxon warned, “The moment the defenders learn of your deception you will be vulnerable to attack.”

“He’s right, My King. Before giving the signal, the men with you will need to form a barricade.”

Lukar nodded his head in thought. “It is one of the few weak points in our strategy. If this king brings as many men with him as I expect, we can use the dead as the barricade against the wall’s offense.”

“I’m more concerned with the large stones from the catapults.” Alux admitted, his worry evident in the way he rubbed his beard.

“Until Gharra is certain their king is dead, they’ll hesitate to attack the tent,” Lukar countered.

“The army will simply have to draw the wall’s defenders’ attention away from you,” Duxon said calmly. “Who do you wish to join you?”

Glancing around the room, Lukar saw their determination to win the battle tomorrow. “For the men’s sake, I will leave those that have been leading the east and west gate in the same position.” He received a nod from each of the four commanders. “As for the main gate, Colm and Alux will lead the charge. Once I give the signal, sound the horns for those at the west and east gate. The rest of us will wait in the tent until the front lines have passed. At that point we’ll join the battle. The west gate almost fell again last night.”

Lukar pointed to the gate on the map. “For this reason, I’m counting on you to break through. We only have a short window of time to use their surprise to our advantage. We must make it count.” Grunts met his command.

Lukar reached over to bring the small blocks representing the ships to the ports into position. “The men on the ships have their orders, but I want there to be no doubt in any of our minds. The ships will dock at the port, using our subterfuge for the farce of a treaty to their advantage. While we deal with the king and his men, those waiting at sea will use the mounted ballistae to shoot the grappling hooks onto the battlements. From there, they’ll climb the walls surrounding the castle using the lines. Their success is contingent on whether they can scale the walls without warning those within the castle or the guards along the curtain wall standing between the castle and the city. Our success depends on our ability to seize control of the curtain. There, we’ll wedge the Pyranni warriors between the two walls, squeezing them in the middle. If we don’t succeed, we’ll have a bloody battle on our hand despite the death of their king.”