Void Wielder 2 Legacy of Chaos (3 page)

CHAPTER 4

The first rays of the sun made their presence known as Falcon set the last rock atop K’ran’s grave. He knew of no better final resting place than behind the cabin. It was where he had lived his final years, after all.

“Do you want to say something, Falcon?” Faith asked.

Falcon looked up at her. “No, I said more than enough already. Let’s just take a few minutes of silence to honor him.”

“Whatever you want,” said Aya. Both girls took a spot by Falcon’s side, taking his hands in theirs. The three of them stood there holding hands and facing the ground.

“Perhaps I could say some words,” came a soft voice.

Falcon turned. An old man with a large hump on his back stood in silence. His robe was pure black, a far cry from the usual bright colored robes he wore.  “Grandmaster Zoen, what are you doing here?”

“Did you already forget? K’ran was a good friend of mine.”

“Yes, of course. How could I have forgotten?”

Zoen trudged in front of the grave. “I sensed Shal-Volcseck’s presence and came as soon as I could. Unfortunately, I’m not as fast as I once was. I see that I’m too late.”

Falcon nodded, aware that Zoen spoke the truth. The old grandmaster relied on a cane to walk, and even with it he moved at a snail’s pace. He was old, very old. Falcon recalled his friend, Chonsey, once telling him that Grandmaster Zoen had been alive during the same time the Golden Wielder had been. If that were true, that would make Grandmaster Zoen over a hundred years old. He certainly looked like it.

With trembling hands Zoen set a jade colored ring on top of the rock that adorned the grave. “Old friend, I now return to you that which you gave me long ago.” A tear trickled to the ground. “I met K’ran a lifetime ago. He came to me a brash young man looking to make a name for himself.” There was a serene sadness in the old man’s words as he spoke. “I still recall what he told me when he asked me to take him as a student. ‘I will grow up to be one of the greatest wielders in Va’siel, you’ll see.’”

This was news to Falcon. He had no idea that Grandmaster Zoen had once been K’ran’s mentor, or that K’ran had been so brash in his younger days. The K’ran Falcon knew never cared for fame or wealth. He wondered what other things he didn’t know about his old master.

“K’ran did become one the greatest wielders in Va’siel, but not only because of his physical strength,” Grandmaster Zoen continued. “No, his greatest power derived from his gentle heart and his willingness to always put others before him. We shall always remember him like this.” Grandmaster Zoen’s gaze met Falcon’s. “I take comfort in the thought that his teachings and legacy will now live through you, Falcon. When in doubt, look back at his tutelage.”

Falcon nodded, but inside he wondered if he could really be as kind as K’ran had been. Even now all he could think about was Volcseck and his many crimes: the murder of his mother and father, his many attacks on Asturia, his obsessive quest to kill Faith, and now the death of his master.

Yes, Volcseck was all Falcon could think of. And next time they met, he was determined to make him pay.

Once they had paid their respects, they took a seat on a set of tree stumps in the front yard. Falcon just couldn’t bring himself to go inside the cabin. Too many memories dwelled inside those walls.

“Sir,” said Faith. “You don’t know me, but I’m here to see you.”

“Me?” said the grandmaster.

“My name is Faith Hemstath.”

“Hemstath. I know that name. You wouldn’t happen to be Seth’s and Nara’s daughter?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“How is your father? We have not spoken in many years.”

“Thanks to the Rohads you sent…” she motioned toward Falcon and Aya. “My father’s village and its people are safe. However, there is another urgent matter that he was hoping you could help with.”

Zoen’s features changed to those of curiosity. “Yes?”

“It’s my element. Volcseck wishes to take my emblem to complete his collection.”

Zoen rubbed his white, bushy goatee. “K’ran and I discussed this at length many times. Such a thing has never been done. I fear that doing so could bring forth catastrophic results.”

“Like what?” asked Falcon slowly.

“I suspect that Volcseck will be able to create an attack that will end life in Va’siel as we know it.”

The girls gasped.

“But why?” asked Falcon.

“I can’t say. Only he holds the answer to that question.”

Faith stood before Zoen. “Then I hope that you are the answer my dad wished for. My father can no longer suppress my powers, but perhaps you could.”

“I can try, but holy is a strange element. It won’t be as easy to block its energy.” He extended his hand to her. “Come closer, please.”

Faith took a few slow steps forward. She got on her knees and closed her eyes.

The grandmaster reached out with shaky hands. His right hand rested on Faith’s forehead.

“What is he doing?” asked Falcon.

Aya lifted her shoulders. “Just watch. You’ll see.”

“Do re mi sa lu ke tore,” chanted the grandmaster. A small ghostly creature forced itself out of Zoen’s head. It had the head of a squirrel, but the body of a slug.

Falcon stumbled back, unable to believe his eyes. “What is that?”

“It’s a mental memory,” said Aya knowingly. “Seriously, Falcon, you should read more books.”

“Books? I rarely waste time with those. They take away from my training.”

“Books give knowledge.” Aya pointed at the squirrel-like creature that had made its way down from the grandmaster’s head. Since it had no legs, it slithered across his arm. “Those hide your energy. They come in very handy in stealth missions where the enemy has energy readers.”

Falcon bobbed his head, finally understanding. “So they suck your energy.”

“No. The one’s that suck your energy are the memory leeches. You wouldn’t want to use a leech on yourself because it would only drain you before a mission.”

Maybe I should read more books.
He gritted his teeth with anxiety as the ghostly creature struggled into Faith’s head. It squealed loudly as it jerked his small body back and forth. A second later, it broke through. His head was the first to disappear, and then its whole body was gone.

Zoen opened her eyes. “It is done.”

“Is that it?” asked Falcon as the grandmaster removed his hand from Faith’s forehead. “That was creepy enough, but is that all that it takes to keep Volcseck from sensing her?”

“Yes, that’s it.” The grandmaster gazed at the holy wielder. “Faith’s abilities are exceptionally strong. It proved somewhat difficult, but her holy energy readings are now fully hidden.”

Difficult?
Falcon mused.
He just placed his hand on her head for a few seconds. If that’s difficult for him, what does he consider easy?

“
Thanks, Grandmaster Zoen,” said Faith. “I appreciate your kindness.”

“There is no need for titles, dear. Falcon and Aya are Rohad mercenaries at the academy. They are obliged to refer to me formally. You, on the other hand, are not confined by those obligations. All my friends simply refer to me as Zoen.”

Faith cheeks turned a bright red. “Okay. Thank you, Zoen, sir.”

Falcon and Aya eyed each other. In all their years at Rohad, they had never heard Zoen allow refer to Zoen without his entire title.

“Don’t thank me just yet, Faith. This energy blockade won’t last forever. It will wear out in time.”

“How much time?” asked Aya.

Grandmaster Zoen scratched his overly wrinkled cheeks. “That’s difficult to assess. I’ve never dealt with holy energy before, and I can sense Faith’s powers growing substantially.” He pushed his cane hard on the ground as he struggled to his feet. “What I do know is that eventually even I will not be able to hide your energy.”

Faith nodded slowly. “That is fine Grandmast…I mean, Zoen.”

Zoen turned his attention to Falcon and Aya. “Now to other matters. You were given a two-week mission to Asturia, but you stayed much longer than that. Professor Kraimaster informed me that he went to collect you and bring you back when the contract was over, but unlike Sheridan, you two refused to return.”

Aya answered. “We had to stay behind. The Suteckh Empire was the one attacking Asturia, not bandits. We then discovered that they were plotting to conquer the capital city of Sandoria.” She took a breath. “If Sandoria were to fall that would put all the small villages between there and Ladria in danger, including Falcon’s home village of Asturia.”

“Falcon’s home village?” asked Grandmaster Zoen, puzzled.

“Yes, sir. Falcon was born in Asturia but later moved to Ladria. The traumatizing events he suffered made him forget all about his time there, but with the help of Mayor Seth, Falcon regained most of his memories of his childhood.”

“Hmmm, I see,” said Zoen, rubbing his goatee as he usually did.

Falcon stood. “The Suteckh are planning an invasion on all the capital cities of Va’siel. If Sandoria had fallen, Ladria would have been next on their list. We couldn’t let that happen. That’s why we did not return with Professor Kraimaster. I know that my actions will have consequences, and I’m willing to face them. But please forgive Aya. I was in charge of the mission. I made the choice to stay, so I should be held responsible for—”

“No sir,” interrupted Aya. “I stayed by my own accord. I should be held responsible as well. We are all responsible for own actions, right?”

Falcon shot a look of disapproval at Aya. Why did she always have to be like this? She drove him mad sometimes.

“While I admire your devotion to one another,” said K’ran in a low voice. “There won’t be any punishment for anyone today.”

“What do you mean, sir?” asked a puzzled Falcon.

“Mister Calhoun told me what happened, and now so did you. I will speak to the Rohad council in your behalf.”

Falcon was confused. “So if you knew what had happened, why were you interrogating us just now?”

“To see if Mr. Calhoun had been telling the truth. He seemed awfully sorry for leaving you two behind. In his despair he could easily have lied to me. I’m glad to see that that wasn’t the case.”

“Thank you,” said Falcon and Aya in unison.

As the old grandmaster opened the wooden gate to head back to Ladria, he turned back to Falcon. “I suppose what Mr. Calhoun told me about mister Keen is also correct?”

“Yes,” answered Falcon with sadness in his voice. Lao had been like his brother for half of his life. They had done everything together, and now he was gone. “Lao was to infiltrate the Suteckh army and report back on their movements. But instead he joined them, and even led us into a trap. Many Asturian soldiers died because of his betrayal.” Falcon calmed his shaky voice. “Afterwards he tried to kidnap the emperor of Sandoria. I defeated him, but I couldn’t bring myself to kill him. I let him go. He was later found dead in a nearby cave. Someone murdered him.”

Grandmaster Zoen sighed as he trudged back to Ladria. “That’s unfortunate. He was a good young man.”

Falcon’s mind flashed back to the day he had met Lao, to the many jokes they’d played on unsuspecting professors, to the many sparring sessions they’d had.

“Yes he was,” whispered Falcon to himself. “Before he lost himself with the illusion of power, he truly was.”

CHAPTER 5

It was mid-day when they reached Ladria.

Falcon stared at thick city gates. They looked indestructible, but he knew better. It would take more than thick metal walls to keep the Suteckh out of Ladria. Much more.

“Wow, the walls are as big as those from Sandoria,” said Faith.

“Except the walls from Sandoria are made of rock, and these are made out of metal alloy,” Aya pointed out. She turned to Falcon. “So, what’s the plan?”

“We go back to the academy and await our next mission, but first we must warn Emperor Romus of the Suteckh Empire’s threat.”

“Sounds like a plan to me.”

The three of them walked past the large gates and directly into the city’s flea market. Stand after stand stood beside each other. The vendors waved their hands around and displayed their goods. Their shouts intermingled, creating a frenzied symphony of voices.

“Fish, get your fresh fish here!”

“Water, fresh spring water. Only two gold coins per mug!”

“Spring water is a thing of the past. Come and revel as you taste mineral-enhanced water from the east.”

“Got an itch? Scratchy skin? Get rid of it with Xandi’s lotions.”

“Step forward and experience smooth silk dresses!” yelled a long man with an even longer thin mustache. A group of long-dressed woman with fans in their hands stood before his stall. “They come all the way from Yangshao and need a home in your closet.”

“Wielders, come get your emblems shined here. Don’t be caught in a battle with a worn-out emblem. I personally guarantee you won’t be sorry with the results. You three there,” a vendor with a generous-sized belly said as he stood directly in their path. “I can see from the double dragon insignia in your collar that you are Rohads. You must also be wielders.” He glanced at Aya. “Step over to my stall, young lady. I’ll make that emblem look as good as new.”

“Thank you, but I’m fine.”

“Nonsense.” The vendor looked down at the backside of Aya’s glove, where all wielders carried their emblem. “Oh, a blue emblem, you must be a water wielder. But the color is so faded. Your poor emblem looks almost black, as if it belonged to a dark wielder. After I polish it, everyone will know that it’s a water emblem. It will only take but a second.”

“No, seriously, sir. I’m fine,” Aya mumbled.

“Well,” Falcon said, as they walked away a few steps, “he certainly gets points for trying. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a vendor be so insistant.”

“I’m still hungry,” Falcon heard a voice whimper.

He looked back. A small girl had come out from behind the vendor’s stall. She had dark eyes and wild, untamed hair. “Um, papa. I’m still hungry. That piece of meat you got me was so small. Could I have some more?”

A look of shame registered on the vendor’s red face. “It’s been a slow day, honey. As soon as I make some money I’ll get you some food.” Disappointed, the little girl went back down to her spot behind the stall.

Aya turned and moved back toward the stall.

“What are you doing?” asked Falcon.

Aya set her right hand over the counter. “On second thought, my emblem could use a polish.”

The man’s eyes lit up. “You won’t regret it.” He took out a bottle of lotion in and poured it on the emblem. He then took out a cloth and wiped the emblem with it. “This is a lapis lazuli cloth. Many other cleaners use the much cheaper aqua cloths, but I only use the best for
my
customers.”

“That’s right,” the girl added, pride in her voice. “My dad is the best in all of Ladria.
No
, in all of Va’siel.”

Falcon stared in awe at the emblem. It shined brightly. The blue marble looked almost moving, like real water.

“How about you, young man? Your void emblem could use some polishing too.”

Falcon stared at his grey emblem. The vendor was right. His emblem hadn’t been polished in years.

“Of course he would like to get his emblem polished,” answered Aya. “Isn’t that right, Falcon?”

“Yes, of course.” He set his hand on the stall and the man went to work. A minute later his emblem was as good as new.

Falcon was surprised to see Faith put her hand forward. Her emblem looked as if it had been barely been crafted. There wasn’t a single speck of dust on it.

“A white emblem?” The vendor stared at Faith, mouth gaping.

The girl dashed forward. “Wow, a holy wielder. Papa, you said that holy wielders were extinct. Remember?”

“Did I hear you say holy wielder?” asked a man who passed by. He scampered toward them.

“Impossible!” cried a woman.

Soon there was a crowd around the stall, all straining to catch a glimpse of Faith.

“Don’t disturb my customers,” ordered the vendor. “Away with you lot, or I’ll call the guards.”

The crowd of people stepped back from Faith, though most of them still gazed at her form a distance.

Aya and Falcon eyed each other with interest.

“We should have perhaps kept the fact that she’s a holy wielder hidden,” said Aya.

“Yes,” Falcon agreed. “We don’t need the extra attention.”

“Sorry about that,” apologized the vendor. His mouth was still open more than normal. “I…I never thought this could be possible. For a holy wielder to be born in such a cruel world is impossible.”

“Obviously not,” said Falcon, growing a bit impatient.

The man shook his head. “Sorry. Lulu. Pass me my special bag.”

Lulu crouched and disappeared under the stall. There was a loud series of crashing and slamming sounds. Moments later the girl came up with a dusty, brown bag. She carefully set it on the wood table.

“Special?” remarked Falcon. “It sure doesn’t look like it.”

“That’s because it has never been used.” The vendor reached inside and ever so carefully took out a yellow cloth. “My father passed this down to me. He spent his entire life hoping to use it. He died never fulfilling his wish.”

With trembling fingers, he reached for Faith’s hand. He set the wipe down on her emblem and began to wipe. “This is a celestial wipe. Legend has it that it’s not even from this world. My father said that it came from another planet known as Elsire.”

“
Aha
,” mumbled Falcon in disbelief. “I’m sure it did.”

Lulu’s eyes glistened as she watched in awe. “Just you wait until Mom hears about this, papa. She’s going to go crazy. And you’ll be the envy of every other polisher in Va’siel.”

The vendor nodded as he wiped in a circular motion. He then took a step back. “Done.”

“How much do we owe you?” Faith asked, admiring her pristine emblem.

“Nothing,” said the vendor. “It was an honor to serve you.”

“Nonsense.” Faith placed ten gold coins in front of the man.

Aya reached into her pouch and set another ten. “And don’t you dare give it back.”

“I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”

They waved their goodbye and continued down the road.

Falcon couldn’t help but notice the small crowd that had gathered behind them. He felt out of place. Usually when people followed him it was to whisper snide remarks behind his back. Even though it had been over five years ago, people had not forgotten the night his brother murdered the Ladrian council. But seeing Faith had apparently made the crowd forget all about him.

He ignored them as he continued down the lively road. Ladies in waiting marched behind noblewomen, white-clad priests chanted gospels as they moved through the crowd, ragged children scampered in between horses and through people’s legs playing games of tag, and vendors and buyers haggled over prices.   

Falcon cursed under his breath as someone stepped on his foot. That was the fifth time in the last minute. As he looked for the culprit, a man bumped him from behind. He gritted his teeth in anger.
Fools.

Aya and Faith, on the other hand, didn’t seem to mind the walk. They leisurely moved around people and waited for people to pass. After what seemed like an eternity, they reached the palace gates.

“May I help you?” asked the stoic guard. Behind him stood the grand palace of Ladria. Its walls were made of pure black marble. Dozens of cloth tapestries embroidered with the insignias of noble families hung from its walls.

“Yes,” said Falcon. “We seek an audience with Emperor Romus.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No we don’t, but we were—”

“No one will be granted an audience with Emperor Romus without an appointment.”

Falcon frowned. “Fine then. I would like to make an appointment.”

“I’m afraid you can’t do that.”

“And why is that?”

“You have no family insignia on the back of your Rohad uniform. All Rohad mercenaries display their family crests with pride. The fact that you do not means you are Falcon Hyatt. Your brother is the traitor, Albert. Do you actually think our most serene Emperor Romus would agree to meet with you?”

Falcon clenched his teeth. “My brother is
not
a traitor.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” apologized the guard in a sarcastic tone. “I suppose your brother wasn’t the one who marched into the chambers of the Ladria council and murdered the council members in cold blood. He must have felt very brave, killing elderly men.”

Falcon clenched his fist, ready to wipe the smug smile of the guard’s face.

Aya stepped in front of Falcon. “Excuse me, sir. I’m Aya Na—”

The guard held his hand up. “I really don’t care who you are. Anyone associated with this
traitor
is obviously a demented fool.”

Aya took a breath. “Like I was saying, I’m Aya Nakatomi.”

“
Oh
.” The guard’s smug grin disappeared, replaced by a look of nervousness. He eyes wandered to the pouncing lion insignia on her chest “Oh, it is you, Miss Nakatomi. Please excuse me, I had no idea.”

Aya waved her hand. “Forget about that. What do I have to do to see the emperor?”

“Any daughter of an esteemed council member can schedule an audience with the emperor.”

“How long will it take?”

“If you sign up now, you can expect an audience in fifty, maybe forty, days’ time.”

Aya raised her eyebrow. “Forty days! Are you serious?”

“Forty days is more than generous, Miss Nakatomi. Why, if your parents weren’t council members your waiting time would be at least two hundred days.”

“That’s nice to know,” said Falcon sarcastically. “C’mon Aya. We’re wasting our time here.”

Defeated, the three of them scrambled away.

“I could ask my parents to speak to the emperor,” offered Aya. “They can see him within at a days notice, but I doubt they will. They’re already unpopular enough with the nobles because of the tax cuts they passed. Going up to the emperor with just our word and no hard proof will be foolish in their eyes.”

“That’s fine,” said Falcon. “If you ask your father for this favor, he will totally lose it.” He was well aware that Aya’s father did not approve of her friendship with him.

“Don’t say that. My father can be difficult and stubborn at times, but he likes you.”

“It didn’t seem that way when he kicked me out of the party your family threw,” said Falcon, shooting Aya a look of disbelief.

Aya’s face turned red. “Like I said, my father can be stubborn, but he also respects people who fight to change their destiny like he did. In fact, last time we spoke he actually sounded somewhat impressed that you managed to graduate from Rohad.”

“That’s nice,” said Falcon, his voice dripped with mock amusement. “Instead of being a total idiot in his eyes, I’m only a minor idiot. Good to know. All you nobles are the same, always looking down on us.”

Aya stopped moving and stared back at him with a pained look in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Aya. It’s just that I’ve been through so much lately. I didn’t mean what I said.”

“That’s all right. You have a right to be being angry with us. It was we nobles who shunned you and K’ran for years, right? And now he’s dead. And then you try to see the emperor and you can’t because you are not a noble. I get it, Falcon. You have every right to be angry.”

“No Aya, that’s not what I meant.”

“It’s fine, Falcon,” she said thickly. “I know exactly what you meant.” She turned and trudged toward her home, which was located in the richest part of the city. “I’m going to have a word with my father. I’ll see you later.”

“Would you like me to accompany you?” said Faith.

“Thank you, Faith. But I have to speak to my father alone.”

Faith nodded. “Very well. I understand.”

Still red-faced, Aya turned and disappeared into the crowd.

“Aya, don’t go,” Falcon pleaded desperately.

“She can’t hear you,” Faith said. “And even if she could, I don’t think she would come back.”

“Why am I so stupid?” cursed Falcon.

“Don’t beat yourself up too much, Falcon. The chaos element inside of you drives you to say and do things that you wouldn’t normally do, especially in difficult times. Aya knows that.”