Darkness Falling: Soldiers and Slaves (25 page)

Dawn was not announced by the sun breaching the horizon and shining through the trees. Above them the sky slowly brightened, but the sun remained hidden. Warmth was a distant memory.

He was reminded of the warmth of her skin, the smell of her hair.

The nearer they drew to her position to the more difficult it became for Xander to fight against his rage. The Seeker began to hum softly, vibrating in its hilt in anticipation. Xander leaned forward as if he could will the EOV to move faster. Eyes wide and unblinking he watched the road without seeing it.

Death.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

In the gray darkness of dawn, Impyra felt herself tugged awake by the soft whispering of Viynoofen. She stretched and yawned and turned her head to find breakfast had been left for them; hot oatmeal and dried berries.

“If the priest is a tree, why does he eat food?” Brosen asked but didn’t hesitate to eat.

Impyra tried not to laugh, happy to see her friend back into his usual state of mind.

“Clearly this place was made for people, so it only makes sense that there would be food.”

When they finished eating they took their leave of the great tree. Impyra paused in the doorway to take one last look at the people in the murals. If they were like her, did that mean she wasn’t the only one? Maybe her mother’s people lived somewhere in the Far Lands. Or maybe they had all been killed by the Empire. She hoped answers were somewhere to be found.

“It’s colder today,” Brosen said, strapping the bag to the bike. “It’s probably good we didn’t try to sleep out here.”

“Oh, I learned something new,” Impyra said smiling.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath; warm light began to glow around her. Brosen stepped back, eyes wide.

“Won’t that tire you out?” he asked.

“If I do it continuously, but it will help even in short bursts.”

“Yeah, just be careful. I don’t want you passing out, especially if we run into trouble.”

“I will,” she agreed fully with his sentiment.

“Let’s go.”

Not far from where the forest's guardian grew, the road began to make a steeper incline into the mountains, turning more northward. Impyra tried to remember the map Virikoor had shown them. Once they entered the mountains it would not be far to Doonrok's Fall. They were nearly there and excitement was starting to well in her chest.

The road narrowed, with the steep incline of the mountain to their left and a sharp drop off to their right. Impyra stared down at the snow covered pine trees until she felt dizzy, forcing her to look away. She was glad that the motorcycle was steady on its track, showing no signs of struggle. She would hate to tumble down the hill from such a height.

The sun was climbing to the mid-day point when they began to descend once more, soon finding themselves within a canyon that slowly widened into a small valley. Looking forward over Brosen’s shoulder, Impyra spotted a purple shimmer peeking over the trees in the northwest. A familiar sensation flowed through the forest. If she didn't know better she would have thought they were near a Tower and its shell of Field Energy. Virikoor’s map had shown that there wasn’t an Imperial city nearby.

The road led them to the western wall of the valley, and Impyra kept glancing upward to catch sight of the strange purple light. She became aware of the sound of rushing water and the wall of the valley broke away. A steep cliff fell away to their left, and the basin of land below was capped by a huge dome of energy. Water burst out from the snow, tumbling down into an unseen lake at the bottom. Impyra realized they had been following a river without knowing.

“Do you see that?”  Brosen asked, pointing at the energy dome.

“Yeah,” she wondered why anyone would put such a thing in the middle of the wilderness.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know, it feels like Field Energy but different,” she wasn’t sure how to explain.

“Renenook is full of strange things.”

Impyra frowned. “Not strange, just different. Maybe this is more like how the world was before the Empire.”

Brosen turned his head, looking around. “Look, there’s a bridge. Virikoor said we would cross a bridge and we would find the way into the Far Lands near a waterfall.”

She looked away from the dome to see the tops of stone pillars reaching up through the snow. The drifts here were deeper than in the lowlands. It was getting harder for the motorcycle to maneuver. Impyra closed her eyes to help lighten them just enough to ease their crossing. Once they were on the other side Brosen stopped the engine completely.  

“The road down must be around here somewhere,” he said.

The snow made everything look the same. She could see no sign of the path they were supposed to be taking. Turning to look into the forest for clues she noticed a large mound in the snow. She stared at it for a few moments before realizing the shape of it was of a car.

“Is that a vehicle?” She asked, patting Brosen on the shoulder.

Brosen turned, but didn't answer. Instead, he stood up, taking the White Energy gun with him. Impyra followed, reaching out with her energy. The power of the shield dominated the area, but there was something else in the air as well, something disturbing and angry. It ran through her, colder than the very air she breathed.

“Be careful,” he said as they approached the buried vehicle.

Reaching out a hand, he ran it across where the driver side window should be. A cascade of snow fell to the ground with a thump. They both jumped back as the black metal door was revealed. It was an EOV. Brosen lifted the gun to his shoulder. Impyra leaned in close to peer inside.

Two men sat in their seats, skin ashen and eyes frozen shut.

“Oh,” she gasped, pulling away.

“What?”

“I think they're dead.”

He moved in closer to look. Lowering the gun to his side he sighed, hanging his head. “They must have predicted we’d come this way.”

“Why did they only send one vehicle?”

Impyra scanned the forest; realizing that there were more mounds among the trees. All of them sat facing the road, waiting for the moment that would come too late. She felt an odd mixture of relief and sorrow. It was not her desire to see anyone hurt or killed, even at the cost of her freedom.

“I'm glad we didn't try to sleep outside,” Brosen acknowledged quietly.

Another wave of angry energy washed over her, nearly knocking her from her feet. Impyra felt the hair on her neck stand as she struggled against the dizziness. She reached out a hand to steady herself against the EOV.  

“What's wrong?” Brosen asked.

“I don't know,” Impyra shook her head. “It feels like something is coming.”

Brosen glanced around. “We should get out of here.”

Impyra didn't need to be told twice. She began the slow trudge back to the motorcycle. It was difficult to keep her balance. She felt as if something were attempting to suck all of her energy away. Brosen took her arm, helping her to navigate, concern filling his eyes. They reached the motorcycle. Impyra leaned against it, panting as if she'd run a great distance up hill. Brosen lifted his head staring into the forest to the northeast. He frowned.

“Do you hear that?” he whispered.

Impyra felt her heart skip a beat. There was a low, persistent roar of an engine and it was growing closer. Raising her eyes, she saw a massive EOV barreling through the trees, throwing snow snow out in front of it like a ship cutting through waves in the ocean.

“Run,” Brosen said. “Go now, run.”

Impyra pushed herself away from the motorcycle, scrambling back toward the bridge. It felt as if every step drained her of her strength. The EOV thundered toward them. Brosen jumped out of the way as it plowed over the motorcycle.

The passenger door swung open before the vehicle could stop. A dark figure dropped out, crouching low in the snow. Impyra glanced back as he stood, drawing a long silver sword from his belt. Angry energy radiated from him, an aura so strong she could nearly see the darkness of his rage.

“Impyra, stop!”

Her skin crawled at the sound of the voice.

Xander.

More people began to exit the EOV; Enforcers and soldiers she did not recognize. She couldn't see Brosen anywhere. The soldiers began to fan out, White Energy guns ready.

Impyra reached the pillar at the edge of the bridge and used it to leverage herself up onto the snow. Xander was walking toward her as if he was lighter than air.

“Brosen, come of your own free will and you'll be given a fair trial!” One of the soldiers shouted.

Brosen appeared around the side of the EOV, somehow running in the deep drifts. Was she the only one having difficulty? One of the soldiers broke away from the group; a woman. She sprinted across the top of the snow as if it were solid ground.

“Look out!” Impyra shouted.

The woman chasing Brosen leapt through the air, higher than any regular person could hope to achieve. Brosen turned to block her, raising his arms as she crashed into him, forcing him to the ground. The snow flew around them as he tried to push her off. The other soldiers began to converge on their location.  

“Brosen!” Impyra yelled.

“Worried about your little boyfriend, are you?” Xander asked. “Don't worry; soon he'll be dead, too. Just like you.”

“Get away from me, Xander,” she said firmly. “Let us go and you'll never hear from us again.”

Xander stopped, stunned by her words, cocking his head to the side. Something was wrong with his eyes. They were too dark, too menacing.

“Let you go?” he began to laugh. “Let you go? But I've only just found you.”

 “I'm warning you,” Impyra wouldn't be easily intimidated. “Stay back.”

“Ungrateful wretch,” Xander spit, raising his sword and increasing his speed.

Impyra drew energy in from the air around her, raising her hands before her she called forth a ball of energy in each palm. Although she'd never tested her new skill as a weapon, she had confidence in her abilities. Memories of the ferocity of the White Energy gun filled her mind.

Xander grinned, shaking his head slowly from side to side. “No tricks this time, my love.”

He began to run toward her. Impyra swiped the air first with her left hand, then her right, releasing the energy. The orbs flew forward, building power as they went.

Xander lifted his blade defensively across his body. Her orbs were absorbed into the sword, leaving the prince without a scratch.

Impyra frowned. Lifting her hands again she realized a thin silver thread extended from each of her palms toward the blade. Xander skidded to a halt, shivering as if in ecstasy.

“Yes,” he hissed, licking his lips.  

He raised the sword.

Fatigued but unwilling to give up, she raised her hands again, forming a single orb between them. Pushing both hands palm outward she let it fly. Xander didn't attempt to block the blast. It hit him square in the chest, but dissipated harmlessly.

He grinned.

Impyra looked down to see a silver thread from her own heart now connected to the sword. She could feel her life force draining away through it.

“Again!” Xander shouted. “More!”

“Impyra!”

She looked to the side to see Brosen struggling to free himself from the woman, but he was surrounded. The Enforcers had their White Energy guns trained on him, and the other soldiers stood ready to pounce.

“Stop looking at him!”
 Xander snarled.

He swung the blade. Impyra felt her energy ripping from her body. She screamed.

“You belong to me! I saved you! I protected you! This is how you repay me?” He swung the sword the other way.

“Stop!” she screamed, falling to her knees.

He cut upward with the blade, lifting back onto her feet.

“You sit when I tell you to sit!”

Impyra knew she had to fight against it. The world was growing dim. There must be a way to be released from the sword's cursed grasp. Behind her, the massive shield pulsated. There was one way out. She forced herself to move backward.

“Xander! Stop! Don't kill her now!” A strange old man was hurrying forward.

“
Of course
 I'm going to kill her! That was the plan!”

“Lay flat on the ground or we'll be forced to fire!” an Enforcer was yelling at Brosen.

“Get away from me!” Brosen shouted back. “Impyra!”

She could hear the waterfall behind her. The dome of energy was warm and inviting, lending her strength.

“Not this time,” Xander said.

“Stop, Xander! You’re a fool!” the old man shouted.

Lowering the blade point first he rushed at her. It was now or never. Darkness was filling the edges of her vision. Only Xander and the oncoming death he carried were in full focus. She waited, her thoughts fogging over.

I did this once; I can do it again.

Before the blade could pierce her coat she used the last of her strength to create a small shield around her abdomen. The impact of metal, energy, and the mimicry of Field Energy was enough send her flying backward. She released her hold on the shield as the sword sucked hungrily at her energy, drawing her strength as she tumbled backward over the cliff.

Swallowed by the warm embrace of the strange shield she smiled weakly before Xander’s face disappeared in a haze of rushing water.

* * *

“Impyra!”

Feeling the energy rise up through the earth, Brosen forced himself upward. A spray of snow exploded around him as the strange woman was thrown from his back. The two Enforcers were knocked from their feet while the other strange soldiers jumped back in surprise. Brosen felt the rage carry him across the snow.