NovaForge

  As he moved, disabling Samuel’s amassed horde, he felt the bishop weakening. Samuel did not attempt to control his mind, either that or Bayne simply was not susceptible to the ability. Bayne had believed himself strong enough to withstand any mental attack, at least with his essence’s help, but the complete lack of Samuel defending himself either with his mind or his army left a chill over the boy’s skin.

  As the suns ascended high in the sky Bayne neared the citadel. Its stone façade rose in a spired horn from the earth, towering upward out of rusted, dilapidated structures surrounding it. The great lava sea stretched as far as the eye could see behind.

  Bayne turned, looking out at the thousands of men littering the battlefield, all disabled.

  Sunlight glinted off something nearby, blinding his eyes, and he turned toward the light. There, loosely gripped by a well-shielded soldier’s hand, was an intricate, beautiful sword. It was pure, without blemish, and Bayne wanted to own it.

  He reached down, blocking the sunlight that shimmered from its form as he moved and stopped for a moment before hefting it. Then he removed the man’s calloused hands from the pure blade and hefted it strongly before him.

  Chapter 35

  As the two suns rose in the sky earlier that day…

  Wind whipped over Samuel’s body as he stood, weary-eyed, on the balcony attached to his chamber. The sky was crisp red. His body ached deeply, worse than ever before. Do you deceive me, essence? he thought, looking to his arms. The scorch lines had deepened to gashes in his flesh in recent days and he felt as if his body were decomposing. Have I not told you that if you harm me I will destroy you as well?

  You do not control me. I possess you. There was an eagerness in the thing’s voice as it spoke to him.

  Enough. Samuel pushed his hatred for the essence to the back of his mind. He could feel the presence of the other essences and their hosts approaching, sense the boy coming near. You dare face me? He grinned, gripping the balcony’s rail. You are great, yes, but once you are under my control you will become my greatest warrior. You think to use your abilities on me, but my range is greater. I will take you first. At least the essence was wise in advising me to wait and stay my hand until you neared.

  Samuel closed his eyes, focusing on the boy, searching the youth’s consciousness for his entrance to it. It took only a mere moment to find an unprotected, barely used portion of the boy’s consciousness. With a surge of energy gripping his skull, Samuel grasped for the boy…

  …and found nothing.

  What is wrong? He opened his eyes. A part of his abilities was now gone, he could sense it. Essence, what is happening?

  Silence. The usually taunting thing was now devoid of response.

  Samuel could sense the boy nearing the range of his men. He sent a mental command for the first hundred men to attack him.

  His army did not move. His possession of them was still firm, the connection strong, but he had no further command over their advancing will.

  Sudden pain in the back of his skull sent shards of light through his vision. He gripped tighter on the rail as the feeling of fire clutched his spine. His possession of hundreds of his men had been ripped from him.

  Chapter 36

  As Bayne neared the citadel

  Wind rushed against Ivanus’s face, stinging him as the dragon soared far above the citadel, so high up that nothing couldn’t make out anything below. It had been hours since they first took to the air and Carcos had hacked over the side several times out of nausea.

  Soon, it has to be soon, Ivanus thought as his own stomach churned. Orpheus had calmed his speed, but that did little of them now as they circled in the sky. Ivanus focused in his thoughts, deep within his sight. For a good while now he had only been able to get glimpses of the future, both below and around him. Increasing pain swelled in his head. It worried him. What does that mean? he wondered. What is blocking me?

  “Has he reached the citadel? Is Samuel unconscious?” Riad shouted over the deafening high elevation wind.

  One moment Ivanus saw Bayne a good distance back from the citadel, walking steadily. The next moment he saw the boy standing next to the structure surrounded by fallen men. His mind glimpsed moments and not spacial-time. “He should fell Samuel’s entire army soon!” he shouted back.

  “And Samuel?”

  Ivanus reached his mind inside the citadel, searching for Samuel. All there was was darkness. “He is shrouded from my mind! But if Bayne has been allowed to reach the citadel and do such damage, then surely Samuel is disabled!”

  “Is the risk worth taking?” Carcos asked, coughing on a burst of wind.

  “We cannot allow Bayne to be harmed, not after he has gotten us so near to the Dark Bishop! If we are to die here, or have our minds controlled, then let that be our fate!”

  “Then downward?” Orpheus’s deep voice reverberated through the wind.

  Ivanus watched Riad place a hand on the beast’s neck. “Yes, my fellow, dive!”

  Instantly the dragon’s wings angled and they thrust through the air, downward, downward, surging in a burst near the earth and leveling in a wide circle around the citadel’s spire. Sand and clumps of earth burst up from the ground as the bodies of men below them rolled and turned from the force.

  Ivanus’s stomach thrust up in his chest.

  “Where is he? Where is Bayne?” Riad’s shout echoed distantly in Ivanus’s ringing ears.

  Ivanus’s mind, his sight at least, was blank. “I can see nothing!” he shouted back. The visual of the hundreds of unconscious men beneath them struck him.

  “It makes no matter! We need to head to the spire’s top!” Riad’s mechanics illuminated and adjusted as he shouted.

  The dragon obliged, his notched wings pulsing downward soaring them up, and then halting in a hover beyond a balcony near the great citadel’s peak.

  This is as far as I go, the dragon spoke in their minds. I would allow Shaun Dune to accompany you, but should you need a quick escape I am your only hope. I will await you nearby. If you call out, then I will set the citadel ablaze. The great beast lowered its head, aligning it with the balcony’s rail so that they could enter. Its wings beat steadily at its sides.

  “Follow me,” Riad spoke, waving at them and then standing. He walked with his arms outstretched and two electricity guns at the ready to blast.

  Ivanus was in awe while watching the borg walk over the dragon’s neck and across the beast’s skull before leaping onto the balcony with ease.

  “Come on!” Riad shouted while continuing to aim his weapons inwards the structure.

  Andral hesitated, frozen, for a good moment before Carcos prodded him to stand. “You’ve come this far. Would you rather stay with the dragon? He has not tasted meat for years.”

  This seemed to work as Andral shakily stood, almost tumbling off the beast more than once as his footing slipped and the dragon would compensate his movements to give the boy more support. “I can’t… I can’t go any further!” he shouted back, kneeling to grab Orpheus’s neck. Just as he did, Carcos fully stood and the boy lost his grip, tumbling over the side, clasping on to a stray scale and screaming in a high-pitched tone for help.

  “If you had just continued to walk…” Carcos ran full tilt up the beast’s neck, kneeling down and grabbing the boy’s arm harshly before pulling him up once more. “Come, let me carry you then. You would be dead already without us.”

  As Carcos leapt with Andral in his arms to the balcony Ivanus stood. He could still see nothing in his sight and it worried him more and more. Will my death come now, here, as I fall from the dragon, or does something more sinister await to take my life beyond these walls. Fate is fate, he concluded, steadying himself the best he could while walking toward Orpheus’s cranium. As he reached it he looked down. The world dropped away and all he could see close by were the massive serpent’s eyes looking hauntingly up at him.

  Up and down the beast moved, and as Ivanus leapt from his head O
rpheus pulsed backwards from the tower.

  “No turning back now,” Carcos smirked as Riad handed both he and Ivanus guns.

  Ivanus held the cold metal in his hand. What would he do if he had to fire it? Ever since arriving in this time he had possessed the ability given to him by the essence. It allowed him to see how he would manipulate a weapon and in effect allow him to master a weapon even though he knew little of its actual use. Would that be enough now, that knowledge he had weaned, now that he had no sight?

  Riad was already in what appeared to be a worshiping room off the balcony as Ivanus joined his side, closely followed by Carcos and Andral. The only noise they heard was the wind as it beat the tower walls. An altar was built along one wall of the room. Its base was cracked and dust gathered thickly over a stack of… were those books? Ivanus had not seen books since before the meteor came. “Wait?” he whispered to Riad, halting his progress. He went to the stack and picked up one of the heavy tomes. He grappled for it with his nubbed hand, dust falling from it before stuffing it beneath his cloak. Samuel was a Bishop once, he was reminded as he looked around. How could he have changed so greatly? Surely he was corrupt before the essence found him. And yet… and yet he keeps these books. Is a part of his heart still good?

  “You should leave that,” Riad spoke. “It will prove awkward and will hinder you. You could always take one when we leave if you still desire.”

  “No,” Ivanus spoke, holding his spare hand to it beneath his garb. “We may not return this way, or we may die.”

  “And if you die, what good is it to you then?” Riad smirked. “Come, I need you close so that we can quickly communicate. Where is he? Can you see Samuel?”

  Ivanus neared Riad, bracing his gun before him as they walked into the shadowed hallway. There were unused ledges dug in grooves in the wall.

  “Nothing, my sight is blank.”

  “Then use your hearing.” Riad’s cybernetics glowed as he inspected a bath area nearby, returning with no insight. “This is the uppermost level. If he is not here, then he must be nearby.”

  A flash of light and pain struck Ivanus inside his iris and he braced against a wall as Carcos passed him, eying him as he went. He put a hand on Ivanus’s shoulder but Ivanus stood straight and used a glance to motion the man forward.

  They continued a short distance, moving in shrouded sunlight until they heard raspy breathing and the sound of something scratching against the ground. An old voice came to their hearing. “No. No, you were to protect me. You are a part of me.” A hacking cough came and then a thud.

  Surely that is not Samuel? Ivanus walked forward, quickly following Raid and the others into a large, open chamber. The gun shook in his hand. As they burst in Riad immediately went to a man in a long red robe, crumpled on the ground. The man’s body was contorted and taut with scorch marks covering him. His eyes were bloodshot and he shook violently.

  “He is not unconscious, but Bayne’s ability must have somehow triggered this,” Riad spoke, taking a swath of the bishop’s hair in his hand and yanking the man’s head upward. The barrel of Riad’s gun ignited with light as the borg thrust it against Samuel’s skull.

  Blood and spittle drooled from the man’s cracked mouth. His eyes looked hollowly at Riad. “You do not know. They will have you. They will have us all.” His eyes quaked. “Lord, forgive me, if you exist.” His voice was barely audible.

  Ivanus walked forward.

  As he did, Samuel’s eyes gained life and looked to him. Fear struck his features. “How can it be you? Ivanus? I saw your death.”

  Riad looked to Ivanus and then yanked the bishop’s hair hard. “You will not distract us. It’s time for you to pay.”

  How could he know me? Ivanus held his gun firm before him, and then looked with Riad as the sound of feet hitting heavily on stone came from the nearby descending stairwell. He turned, ready to fire, but was relieved when Bayne burst into sight hefting a large sword.

  The boy breathed heavily. “Wait. I need to speak with him.” He wiped sweat from his brow and approached Samuel, their eyes locked.

  “No,” Samuel spat, his temples pulsing hard. “It wants him. Can’t you see it?”

  Bayne drove his sword through Samuel’s heart, blood spewing forth from the attack as the bishop screamed.

  An ethereal orb, the essence which had bonded to Samuel, rose up from his body as Bayne withdrew his sword and Samuel thumped lifelessly down. With desire in his eyes Bayne reached forth, touching the orb and allowing its light to weave over his body and bond a marking in his palm.

  Pain seared Ivanus’s mind and darkness consumed him as he blinked from time, no longer there.

  *

  Andral walked to his brother, kneeling and kissing his hand. “Is it done?” he asked. He had spoken with his brother much is the past days about this moment, always uncertain it would come to fruition.

  “Look at them.” Bayne smiled, the bloodstained sword limp in his hand.

  As Andral stood and turned he saw the glazed-over look in both Riad and Carcos’s eyes.

  “They are under my control.” Bayne walked to the borg, touching his cold cybernetic hand. “You taught me to only follow what I desire, Riad. Now all people will do as I bid.”

  “Why do you allow me to be free?” Andral asked.

  Bayne gently laid the sword on the ground. “You are my brother. You know the depths of me. Besides, someone needs to watch the others bow.”

  Chapter 37

  Ivanus’s stomach ached, his chest burning as out of nothing he felt solid ground beneath him. He tumbled, bracing himself with his hands on cold rock floor. Darkness swelled.

  No, not now.

  Bile rose in his throat.

  Where am I? He clutched Riad’s gun tight, the edges of its handle forming indents in his hand. He also noted the book he had taken still in his garb. Is Samuel defeated? Have I time-jumped again? Chanting voices echoed in a nearby hall and an herbal scent filled the air. This cannot be the citadel.

  He stood slowly, his head pounding as he began to see figures moving around him in his sight. They were blurry and indefinite.

  Daylight streamed through a nearby doorway and Ivanus walked toward it, moving into a hall where bouquets of flowers sat on ledges in vases. He stopped, touching a yellow flower’s petals and breathing in its aroma before following the light onward.

  “Lord, almighty. Lord, protector. Lord, creator.” The chanting grew louder as he walked. “Forgiver of sins and knower of all things. Praise to you for the fruits we eat. Praise to you for the blessings of our lives.”

  The voices speaking in unison warmed him, reverberating and lulling him in a way.

  “Lord, almighty. Lord, protector. Lord, creator. Forgiver of sins and knower of all things. Praise to you for the fruits we eat. Praise to you for the blessings of our lives.”

  Where am I? When am I? He looked around the corner.

  Three men in red robes kneeled at an altar. Their hands were braced in prayer and their heads bowed low. Another man who was also robed in red kneeled at the altar closer by. His robe had white, interweaving designs on it. Behind them was a balcony. Pure sunlight shone through its opening and Ivanus could see a vast blue ocean and green mountains through it. There were boats and rafts with men on them on the water.

  I am in the citadel. He stumbled, scuffing the ground as he moved and causing the chanting men to be silent.

  The man who had kneeled separately from the others stood, walking to him. “How did you get here? This tower is sealed off from city folk.”

  “I…” Ivanus stepped backward, concealing his weapon within his clothes.

  A far younger Samuel held out his hand. The branding of an essence was in the flesh of his arm.

  “However you arrived here, you are welcome to pray with us.  The Lord has brought you to us and we will share our food, faith and what peace the Lord gives us with you.”

  Chapter 38

  The moon was ful
l in the night sky, a glowing ring illuminating around it and draping Solaris in crisp white light.

  Julieth lay outside Gest’s walls, in the forest of trees beyond them, relaxing and watching the stars sprinkling the sky in the distance. Nearby children laughed, chasing each other beneath the trees’ veranda. Small fires also pocked the desert beyond the trees as groups of men and women gathered, telling stories and sharing ideas while enjoying fresh fruit that had been provided to them. A makeshift city had begun to form outside Gest’s walls. Once the people of Gest realized there was an infinite supply of food and water they became less leery of the strangers journeying across the desert daily in search of the city’s life giving nourishment.

  “You can’t catch me!” a girl with long hair shouted as she ran past, giggling as a boy chased her.

  Bayne. Julieth was suddenly reminded of the youth. She thought much about him and Ivanus in recent days. Where are you now? Will I see you again? The way Bayne spoke before they left had scarred her heart. What I would give to know you are safe…

  Pow! Pow! Pow! Vibrant lights suddenly exploded overhead and the people inside and outside of the city cheered. A group that had arrived the day before had manipulated metallic powder stored in Gest to create decorative balls that could be launched and explode in the sky.

  Look what man can create when we are not solely focused on survival. It is beautiful to see the greatness that is possible. She stood, extending her wings. Wind buffeted against them, rippling and lifting her off the ground. She spiraled into the sky, enjoying the air currents curving over her form before beating her wings and hovering above the earth in the moonlight. Looking at the fires on the land and the lake’s rippling water warmed her.

  Look at them, they are free and safe. We cannot remain safe, though. Solaris must be set free from this darkness Samuel has cast upon it, set free from him and the essences. Kaskal must be told what is here and be healed. Something swift caught her eye in the desert beyond the city, distant from everything else. It ran on all fours, a shadow darting back and forth much faster than any being she had seen before. No. Julieth dove quickly, pulsing through sheets of wind as she struck out toward the thing. Her heart beat fast. She was unarmed.