The Cornerstone (31 page)

It all made sense, he had to confess:

A series of Earths in parallel universes.

The same world, but different.

He could imagine a stone-age civilisation being overrun by Morodai’s bunch of maniacs thousands of years ago, or Falion’s people coming across a more advanced society in the Middle Ages.

He guessed that by the time Symon Carvallen had made contact with our version of Earth, we were far too set in our ways to believe in stuff like magic, or books that could open doorways to other worlds.

The revelation threw the Chapter Lands in sharper focus as well.

He could now get a grip on how large they were and how much power each Chapter House wielded.

Garrowain had said there were several hundred million people in the Chapter Lands – most of who could not read or write – and Max thought this was just as well. Millions of people with the ability to Wordcraft sat on Earth’s proverbrial doorstep would be dangerous.

And never mind all that… what if the nations of his planet - stocked to the eyeballs with all manner of horrifying weaponry - discovered these parallel worlds and had designs on them?

Max decided that if he did wade his way successfully through this mess, he’d have a lengthy conversation with Merelie and Garrowain – and try to persuade them that the link to his world should be closed forever. He didn’t want to be the cause of inter-dimensional warfare, and convincing them that The Cornerstone should be closed once and for all was the best way to prevent it.

Borne broke his train of thought as he ordered them to stop. They’d reached the lobby leading to Jacob’s study.

‘We’re nearly there and I don’t trust this fat fool to get us in without giving us away. So do we plan what we intend to do, or just jump in and take our chances?’

Max would have leapt at the second option, but fortunately wiser heads prevailed.

- 11 -

When given the onerous task of guarding a door, there are several survival mechanisms that can be employed to ensure boredom doesn’t turn your brain to soup.

Daydreaming is a favourite - if you’re unlucky enough to be on your own.

Subjects of the daydream should be as distracting as possible. If you’re a man, boobs are always a popular choice, and if you’re a woman, shoes usually have much the same effect.

You might even enjoy boobs and shoes at the same time, if you’ve adopted an alternative lifestyle.

If you’re lucky enough to have a companion, you have a whole plethora of entertaining options to choose from when whiling away the hours between shift changes.

You might share a witty and somewhat exaggerated anecdote about your last romantic conquest or shoe shopping trip.

You might discuss important philosophical topics, such as the nature of existence - or what a bunch of lying toe rags politicians are.

If you’re a bit hard up for good anecdotes, or lacking somewhat in the intellect department, a good game of I-Spy is recommended by bored guards across the multi-verse.

The two unfortunates outside the door to Jacob Carvallen’s study are engaged in a game right now.

It’s a tense one.

Mumford - on the left - is leading four rounds to Terski’s three.

Both are part of Lucas Morodai’s personal bodyguard and could probably kill you just by looking at you, if they so desired. Neither has had an original thought in their lives and couldn’t comment on the nature of existence if you dangled them over a pit of exploding scorpions and threatened to cut the rope.

They do play a mean game of I-Spy though.

It’s Terski’s turn and he’s determined to pick something hard to fox his colleague and draw the game level.

‘C’ for ceiling is too easy, as is ‘S’ for sandwich - Mumford’s, a half eaten ham and lettuce one.

Then there was ‘H’ for helmet, which was quite cunning, Terski thought.

Another option then presented itself for consideration:

‘F’ for fat man flying down the corridor, screaming his head off.

Borne and Elijah were up and running the minute Max sent Draveli cannon-balling into the two guards.

The luckless Mumford and Terski were suitably stunned by the ballistic Chapter Lord and made short work of by the two Armas, who could kill you without even bothering to look.

By the time the rest made it to the study door, it was being unlocked by someone inside, no doubt wanting to know what all the fuss was about.

This wasn’t the wisest move as the fuss was two angry soldiers, backed up by an over-enthusiastic teenager with newly discovered magic powers.

Two more Chapter Guards were helped into unconsciousness by Borne and Elijah, while Max took care of a single Morodai Wordsmith - introducing him to a nearby wall at some speed, in what was fast becoming his favourite manoeuvre.

‘That was easy,’ said Borne.

‘Obviously not expecting much opposition,’ Elijah rumbled. ‘Morodai is over confident and that could be to our advantage.’

Merelie let out a cry of joy and ran over to where her mother and father were tied to their chairs, still very much alive.

‘Merelie!’ her father said, with relief.

Jacob Carvallen looked drawn and pale, but happy to see his daughter. Halia looked as tired as her husband, but she too smiled as Merelie threw her arms around her.

Elijah and Borne cut their bonds, while Max and Imelda tidied up the fresh selection of limp bodies, piling them safely in one corner.

Osgood Draveli also lay dribbling by the door, out for the count again. If he survived this, he’d be so covered in bruises he’d resemble a ripe plum if stripped naked.

Max tried his level best to remove that particular image from his head as he kicked a guard’s helmet under a chair. He turned round to see Imelda frowning at Jacob Carvallen. He remembered the nature of their relationship and decided this could be an interesting conversation.

‘Emerelda,’ Jacob said with no trace of emotion.

‘Jacob,’ she replied at sub-zero temperature.

Silence followed.

…and followed a bit more.

‘There’s nothing like a warm family reunion is there?’ Max noted.

 ‘The last time I saw you,’ Jacob said to him, ‘you were slung over Borne’s shoulder and being sent back to Earth.’ He looked at his daughter. ‘I assume this didn’t occur?’

Merelie began to answer, but Max interrupted.

‘I did go back as it happens, but had a think about it and decided to come back here and face extreme danger to save you and your entire civilisation.’

‘Indeed?’ The Chapter Lord clearly didn’t believe a word of it.

‘He’s telling the truth, Jacob,’ Imelda sighed. ‘Merelie was right about Max. The Cornerstone showed him how to use Wordcraft and since then he’s been more insufferable than ever. But he is telling the truth, you owe him your freedom.’

‘Er… he owes us
all
his freedom,’ Max objected, not wanting to take all the credit.

‘And we’re very grateful,’ said Halia, touching her wrists, which had been rubbed raw by the rope. ‘Morodai was beginning to make some unpleasant threats.’

‘Such as?’ Elijah said, his eyes narrowing.

‘He threatened to kill Halia if I didn’t allow him the full use of our Cornerstone,’ Jacob supplied. ‘He knows that to conquer Mr Bloom’s world he needs its co-operation.’

‘Conquer my world? Why?’

‘Resources, Mr Bloom. Your people made into slaves and your technology bent to his purpose. You’d provide many meals for his Dwellers as well, I’d imagine.’

‘Oh, spectacular,’ Max said. ‘I’d best be doing something about that, then.’

‘
We
will Max,’ Merelie said. ‘If you help save us, we’ll do the same for you… won’t we father?’

‘Agreed. But right now, I fail to see how either can be accomplished.’

‘Garrowain thinks the Morodai Cornerstone can be used to suck back the Dwellers infesting our world,’ Imelda said, ‘the same way it brought them here in the first place.’

‘It’s possible, I suppose,’ he conceded. He then noticed that Garrowain was missing. ‘Where is my head custodian?’

‘Injured, sir,’ Elijah spoke up. ‘A void creature reached through The Cornerstone in an attempt to kill him. Max here prevented it. We left him guarding the Library.’

Jacob looked at Max again. ‘You’re proving more useful that I thought you would, boy.’

Max was getting really sick of being called boy all the time.

‘Thanks,’ he said and counted to ten in his head, trying to keep cool.

Imelda, knowing the danger signs, changed the subject. ‘If we’re going to make this plan work, we need to find Morodai. Where is he Jacob?  

‘Close by. He lurks in the Great Hall, commanding his minions. When he’s bored, he likes to come up here and threaten us.’

‘See?’ said Max. ‘Nobody likes a good gloat more than your main villain.’

‘So he could appear any second then?’ Merelie said, standing close to her mother.

‘Potentially,’ her father said. ‘The last I heard he was dealing with some resistance near Tamera Falls. I don’t know how long that will take.’

‘If he’s busy, we can take him by surprise,’ Borne suggested, getting an approving nod from Elijah.

‘It’s the best plan of attack,’ he said. ‘Surprise is our main advantage… along with Max of course.’

‘Is there no way we can do this without risking ourselves?’ Halia objected. ‘There’s been too much killing already. Can’t Lucas be reasoned with?’

‘The time has passed for negotiations,’ Jacob told her, a bleak look on his face.

‘Couldn’t agree more,’ said Max, raising his fists.

Imelda tutted.

‘What? Merelie’s mum and dad are ok, so what’s stopping us from getting in there and having a proper go at him?’ Max said and shook a fist in melodramatic fashion.

‘What do think, gentlemen?’ Jacob asked Borne and Elijah.

‘The opportunity to nip this situation in the bud is tempting,’ Elijah offered.

‘Time to take the house back,’ Borne agreed.

‘Very well… Halia and Merelie, you will stay here,’ Jacob commanded his wife and daughter. They both protested vigorously. ‘I will not have you in harm’s way!’ he told them. ‘The stakes are too high already without risking my family again. You’ll stay hidden here, with the door barricaded.’

Max gave Merelie a sympathetic look, knowing how much she’d hate to be kept out of the fight.

‘Now,’ the Chapter Lord continued, ‘does anyone have a suggestion on how we get in front of Lucas without confrontation beforehand?’

Max gave dribbly Draveli a speculative look.

‘If a plan ain’t broke… ‘

- 12 -

Lucas Morodai listened to his chief Chapter Guard Selroy relaying information about the rebels in Tamera Falls with increasing impatience.

What should have been a simple sweep and clear of Carvallen’s remaining forces had become a troublesome side conflict. One that even the Dwellers seemed unable to quell.

The Carvallen people had provided more resistance than the other Chapter folk.

Falion and Wellhome’s citizens had given up the fight once they knew the Chapter House was taken, but this lot seemed determined to fight on until there was no-one left standing.

Which there wouldn’t be, if Lucas Morodai had his way.

Other than these pockets of resistance, the plan to conquer the Chapter Lands had gone more or less without a hitch. He’d lost men for sure, but his Dweller allies had proved their usefulness time and time again, making short work of those standing in his way.

He looked forward to setting them loose on the other versions of Earth he now had at his disposal – including that fat idiot Draveli’s.

Osgood had come to the end of his usefulness.

Morodai would let the Dwellers have him soon. He might even watch while they ate his mind, just for the fun of it.

This pleasant daydream was ruined by the sibilant hiss of the Dweller who now occupied Bethan Falion’s slim frame. ‘You should allow more of my kind through the gateway, Lucas. They could overturn these insects at the Falls and secure complete victory for us.’ It languished in one of the chairs at the Carvallen centre table, eyes flicking over to the Morodai Cornerstone, sat within its master’s reach.

‘I don’t think so, my friend,’ Lucas replied, looking over a dispatch from southern Carvallen. ‘It won’t take my forces long to overwhelm what’s left of their resistance.’

The thing inside Falion hissed in disapproval.

‘Calm yourself,’ Morodai said, resting his hand on the golden Cornerstone book, its metallic cover reflecting the light that struck it from the wide skylight above. ‘Once this is resolved, I will open the gateway again and unleash more of you on the other worlds. You can have your fill of humans then.’ He gave a thin smile. ‘Never think me a fool, though. I won’t allow too many of you into the Chapter Lands. I don’t trust you
that
much.’

The dweller let out a rasping cackle. ‘Your wisdom does you credit, my Lord.’

‘As does your cunning, my friend.’ He turned back to the Chapter Guard. ‘Return to the Falls and impress upon the army there that if they don’t secure the place within twenty four hours, I will allow the Dwellers a free meal. Do I make myself
clear
?’

‘Perfectly, my Lord,’ Selroy replied, knowing which side his bread was buttered. He snapped off a salute, turned and marched out, wishing he’d chosen that career in dentistry like his father had told him to.

- 13 -

The large doors at the rear of the hall banged open and another Morodai Chapter Guard came clanking over to where Lucas sat, brewing up some unpleasant things to do to Halia Carvallen if Jacob didn’t start co-operating.

‘What do want?’ he asked the guard.

‘Chapter Lord Draveli wishes to see you, my Lord.’

‘Why?’

‘He has successfully taken Merelie Carvallen hostage, my Lord. She must have put up a real fight. He’s black and blue.’

‘Aah… good! Send him in, please.’

The Chapter Guard clanked back to the door.

A few second later, Osgood Draveli entered, followed by two Chapter Guards, Jacob Carvallen, a tall woman in a strange looking grey suit and a young man dressed in even odder attire.