Darkness Falling: Soldiers and Slaves (6 page)

Petor Garinsith.

It wasn’t a decision to be made lightly. Swearing allegiance to no one but himself, Garinsith was not someone the Ka Harn wanted to invite back into his domain. The girl was a far greater threat than any of them had imagined. What was worse, Harn did not believed she had successfully deceived them all. Xander must have known her talent in one way or another and helped her in hiding it for his own desires.

The Emperor had not been wrong to doubt his son’s capabilities to stop her. The helicopter in which Xander traveled was equipped with a camera. The prince was not observant enough to take notice, but Ka Harn watched Impyra escape their grasp for the third time in a single day. When the truck melted from view and did not return, the Emperor knew that they were outmatched. It wasn't easy to admit that.

Harn paced his office as he awaited the prince's return from the field. This was why the manipulation of energy was forbidden. It was why thousands of men, woman, and children were put to death without hesitation. A single energy user was stronger than an army. The risk of allowing them to walk freely within the Empire was too great.

Enforcers were the last remnants of a civilization of energy users, but they were closely monitored. Their bloodlines had been diluted and their loyalty tested from early childhood to serve the Empire. Those who were too strong or rebellious were destroyed. 
It had been a long time since any young Enforcers had to be put down. The morning's rebellion was a great disappointment.

There was much to be considered.

Garinsith had once been a powerful ally and adviser to Ka Harn's father, Ka Elta. When his father had died suspiciously, Harn had no choice but to take action against the most likely suspect, stripping Garinsith of his foothold in the Imperial arena. The thought of allowing him to return to Sa’Toret-Ekar was aggravating. However; should the girl attempt to join the rumored rebellion it could be the start of a true war. Worse still, if somehow Garinsith recruited the girl himself the results would be catastrophic.

Despite his doubts, he knew it was better to ally with the old man than to risk having him as a true enemy.

A message notification flashed at the corner of the computer screen. Harn pushed it to bring up the face of the pilot from the helicopter.

“Your Majesty,” the Enforcer said, bowing his head. “We have returned. Xander is headed toward your office.”

“Very well,” Harn sighed. The Enforcer's face disappeared as he cut the call off.

Resolved, he dialed the number last associated with Garinsith.

When the call was answered a grizzled old voice came across the line. “This is quite a surprise. The mighty Emperor calls upon the evil sorcerer for help.” His sarcastic laugh mixed with static. “You have a problem and you need me to fix it.”

Harn set his jaw. Of course the old man would know, he always knew without being told

“Garinsith, if you know why I'm calling then you know I'm willing to allow you to cross the border into Sa'Toret-Ekar. Make haste, if you will.”

“Indeed we shall,” Garinsith said cheerfully. “I have waited for this day for a long time, Harn. I promised your father that I would not meddle in your affairs and allow you to make your own way.”

“Yes, I remember.” the Emperor wasn’t interested in being lectured.

The elevator doors slid open to reveal the prince in a foul mood.

There was a pause on the line, broken only by the static. “Expect us tomorrow around noon.” The line was disconnected.

“Who was that?” Xander demanded.

“No one you know, son. This task is beyond all of us and I've called for assistance.” He stood from his desk, clasping his hands behind his back.

Xander took long strides across the room, his head slightly bowed and his eyes burning with fire. “I can handle this situation on my own.”

“You've done admirably so far,” the Emperor snapped. “Destroying part of a town and failing to hit a moving target are all reasons to continue following your lead.” Harn growled. “The reality is that the girl is too powerful. That,” he nodded to the computer, “was an expert in the field of forbidden energy usage.”

“Impyra's life is mine by rights,” Xander spit. “You're going to regret this.”

“Don't you dare to threaten me, boy. I am your Emperor!”

Xander smirked in response. Spinning on a heel and returned to the elevator.

Harn let him go. Sinking back into his chair he rubbed his eyes. Garinsith's words were unsettling. He would not be traveling alone. As a young man the sorcerer, as he named himself, often traveled with an assistant. Perhaps it was that person that Petor indicated by saying we and us. Bringing up the promise to Ka Elta that he would not meddle in his son's rule was aggravating; reminding Harn that the only reason he'd stayed away was because he chose to, and not because he had been exiled.

It was too late. The invitation was made. Even if he canceled it he doubted Garinsith would comply. It was only midday and Ka Harn felt as if his Empire was slipping away beneath his fingers.

* * *

The wind was howling from the east, seeping through the cracks in the old walls. Winifred looked up from the patient she was tending, a tingle running down her spine. Her eyes darted to the high window. The shift in energy was one she knew well despite it having been many years since she last felt it.

Wini quickly finished what she was doing. Grabbing her shawl from the back of her chair she rushed outside, allowing the full force of the gale to engulf her. Silver hair escaped her long braid as she turned to face the coming storm.

Petor. He was letting her know that he was coming, arrogant as ever.

Wini pursed her lips, her silver eyes firm with resolve. Perhaps she had chosen a different path, but it was one that she was proud of traveling. It was obvious that her cousin still held a grudge. Why else would he use the power of the storm to inform her of his arrival?

Winifred did not wish to put the innocent in danger. Returning to the interior of her hospital she let out a heavy sigh. There were so many sick and injured, she could not hope to bring them all with her. Besides, it was her presence that would draw the old fool. Once she was gone he would be uninterested in her hospital.

Calling her volunteers together she sat on her chair to reveal her plan.

“The day I have prepared you for has come,” she said solemnly. “You may make your own choices, stay and tend those in need, or travel with me on my journey. The orphans will have a better life where I am going, as we've discussed. Anyone else is free to choose. If you wish to send your children you may, and know you are welcome to come as well.”

The volunteers exchanged glances. Perhaps they thought her exodus was the ramblings of an old woman. Then again, many of them had been at her knee since they were children. Life within the Empire grew worse with each passing day. It was better to place hope in someone they trusted rather than a system they did not.

“Where are we going?” Mikal asked, always the first to speak up.

She was heartened that he had already volunteered through his question.

“South,” Wini answered plainly, “To Na'Effilan Forest, the place where I was born.” She stood slowly. “We must prepare, and leave at dawn.”

“The city is barricaded,” Alta, one of the younger women, said nervously. “How will we get passed the Enforcers?”

“Do not worry, I have a way. All will be well.” She knew they wouldn't understand, and until the time was upon them she didn't want to reveal too much.

Although Brosen had been able to avoid leading the Enforcers to the Hospital of Mercy, she did not want to risk her children and volunteers lives with her secrets. If the Hospital was raided, all they could say was that Wini was a kindly old woman and nothing more.

Wini took her leave of them to be alone in her chamber. Over the years she had placed many wards around the place. They would be enough to keep the Imperials away. Petor would be another matter all together. Pulling an old wooden box from under her bed she carefully lifted the lid. Inside were six small globes which glowed with inner power. Lifting each one in turn to check for flaws, Wini was satisfied that her treasures had survived the ages.

Carrying the box by a small handle at the top, she went back out into the wind. Searching along the northern wall she found what she was looking for; a crack in the building that was large enough to hold one of the stones. Once it was in place she moved to the west wall, and all around the building finding places to hide the globes. When it was done she returned to her room. She placed the fifth globe on the floor beneath her feet. The sixth she held above her head until it began to hover on its own. Releasing it she watched as it floated up to rest against the ceiling.

Raising her hands to shoulder height, she felt the swirl of energy that pulsed through Rau'Tesche-Awn. She had chosen this place for a reason; it was here that energy converged, and although the strength had waned with the life of the city, it was still strong enough for her purpose.

“Let it be,” she said in a firm voice. “By the Light surrounding, by the Tides and Air, I stand to defend.”

The globes flared into life, spinning slow at first but quickly gaining speed.

“No malice shall enter here.” She commanded.

Forcing the energy outward, it was enough that she was nearly lifted from the ground. In a flash of light and a crackle of thunder the small spheres were absorbed into the building itself. For a moment the glow of energy emanated from the walls before they returned to their usual mundane appearance.

Lowering her arms, Wini sighed, feeling like the old woman she was. It would have to do. Petor wouldn't care about the sick and dying. If he came here he would see she had gone, but the stones would offer some measure of protection against his fiendish plots. That was all that mattered.

CHAPTER SIX

Impyra slowly opened her eyes.

Her arms and legs ached from laying on the cold and rigid floor. There was a window across from her and she could see the sky was ablaze in pink and orange and red. Sunset already, the whole day was gone. Her mind awoke faster than her body, spinning to bring her into this new place. The last thing she remembered was trying to make the truck disappear so that they could escape. It seemed as if she had succeeded.

Sitting up, her head swam in protest, but she shook it off and forced herself to stretch. As her hand hit the light streaming in she saw her skin color was gone. Gasping, she pulled her arms in and bowed her head, letting her long hair fall over her face like a curtain of crystal.

“You're awake,” she heard Sheyra say from somewhere behind her, but she didn't turn to look. “I was really starting to worry.”

“I'll be fine,” Impyra spoke quickly, uneasy in knowing that they had seen her this way.

The young woman sat down beside her and offered her a small pouch. “I hope you don't mind, I found it in your bag. I had two pieces.”

Taking the bag in a jerky motion, Impyra looked inside to see short strips of dried meat.

“It was a gift,” she said. “I don't mind.”

She took a piece for herself and practically inhaled it. Her body absorbed the energy and she had another piece.

Below the window a darkness began to detach itself from the shadows. Impyra jumped until she realized it was Brosen, also waking up. He sat up and stretched, blinking the sleep from his eyes. When he saw she was sitting up his face flooded with relief.

“This means you're going to live, I hope,” he said.

“For now, yeah,” she nodded. “Hungry?”

He walked over and took the bag before sitting across from the two women.

“Before we move on from here you're going to have to answer a few questions,” he said, examining the piece of meat he'd pulled from the pouch.

“Fine,” she said.

She knew it had been coming, but it didn't make it any easier.

“What happened to your skin and hair,” Sheyra spoke first, her eyes tracing the line of Impyra's head in amazement.

“I'm different,” she began, not really sure how to explain when she didn't have solid answers. “This is what I really look like.”

“Your eyes, they have no color, not even pupils. Are you blind?” She could tell Sheyra wanted to touch her hair but didn't dare.

“No, I'm not blind. Watch.”

She took a deep breath brushing her hair away from her face she blinked. Once and her eyes were gray, again and they were blue as the sky, then green, hazel, amber, and finally dark brown. Again she blinked and they were purple, then pink, then yellow.

“I can change them, whenever I want.”

She settled on her usual favorite; a dark green.

“Are you feeling up for that?” Brosen asked.

Was he actually worried or just wanting her to stay conscious for his questions? She couldn't tell.

“I'm fine. It doesn't take much effort to change my appearance. When I use too much energy it all fades away.”

She ran her hands over her hair, which she made copper red this time, then her skin darkened to a soft tan.

“How?” Sheyra asked, her eyes wide.