As the girls got closer to the vast expanse of buildings, they noticed a large procession of uniformed people, some carrying banners and flags. The torches amongst the parade whipped savagely in the prairie wind, sending long plumes of smoke into the starlit sky.
“What do you suppose that’s all about?” Cateran asked.
“I’m not sure,” Vexyna replied. “We’d better be careful.”
“Yes,” agreed Phantasmine. “It would be best if we kept a low profile.”
Guarding themselves in shadows aided in their approach to Dilbu. The hoppers shuffled through the short grass of the field beside the road, following the girls, who were now on foot.
A closer look at the gathering of people revealed gleaming red standards billowing almost straight out to the east.
“That’s a red flag if ever I saw one,” Cateran mused.
“Din?” Vexyna questioned.
“Nice of her to advertise,” commented Phantasmine.
“What do we do now?” Cateran asked.
Vexyna replied, “We find out what’s going on.”
“Right,” said Cateran. “That’s my department.” She struck her ‘ain’t I somethin’’ pose with thumbs in front straps of coveralls.
“Be careful,” Phantasmine needlessly advised.
“I always am,” Cateran replied. “I’ll meet you back here in a little while.” She slipped the backpack off her shoulders and placed it on the ground. After some short stretches, she took off swiftly towards Dilbu.
Vexyna found a rock to prop the backpack against and sat down on the ground. She rested her back against the backpack-padded rock and looked into the distance in the direction Cateran had gone. “I hope Cateran is as good as she thinks she is.”
“Do you doubt her abilities?” Phantasmine asked.
“No,” replied Vexyna. “I guess not. When she snuck into my village, no one saw her but me. Even then, I couldn’t keep her in one spot. Cateran is quite agile.”
“We shall wait and see,” said Phantasmine.
“How long do you think we should wait?”
Phantasmine pointed to the sky. “That is Oberon’s Star,” she said, directing Vexyna’s attention to a spot in the heavens to the left of her position. “Sufficient time for Cateran to complete her reconnaissance mission will have elapsed when it has traveled to the point where it is directly over Dilbu.”
Flipping through her mother’s diary helped Vexyna pass the time. Her eyes flitted across the pages. ‘Day six: It was bitterly cold today, as it always is at this time of year on the coast. I got caught in a downpour without anything to protect me. Luckily, I was saved by a dashing young man named Lanton. He’s tall and lean and ever so nice. The way our eyes met, I’m sure it was love at first sight. I must see him again’. Out loud, Vexyna said, “So my parents met because of a storm. I didn’t know that. Father had never mentioned it. Then again, I never bothered to ask.”
Skimming the pages of the handwritten tome, Vexyna came across many entries with missing words, paragraphs, and even whole pages. Then she remembered her grandmother’s candlestick. She could only read those missing words under the light from that candlestick.
Removing the candlestick from her cloak, Vexyna sat staring at it. Slowly, she rolled it over in her hands. A remembrance of the voice from the candle came to her. Lighting it might not be such a wise idea without knowing exactly what might happen, she thought. I’d like to know more about this artifact.
Drawing closer, Phantasmine queried, “How did you come to be in possession of such an object?”
“This?” Vexyna held up the candlestick. “My grandmother left it for me.”
“It bears the ancient markings of Nogard,” observed Phantasmine. “This proves your connection to the lineage of that noble house.”
“Can you tell me anything about this?” Vexyna asked, indicating the candlestick.
“All I can tell you is that it is a ceremonial candle crafted in Nogard.”
“What sort of ceremony?”
“I do not know. I do not possess knowledge of such things.”
“These are strange markings. Can you decipher them?”
“The language is very old and the message is also encrypted. Translation of the symbols would prove futile due to the coded nature of the words.”
“Too bad,” Vexyna lamented. She went back to rifling through the diary’s pages.
Time passed. Vexyna grew restless. She had put the diary back inside her cloak and was now eating a roll.
“Cateran should have returned by now,” Phantasmine stated. “Oberon’s star is at the designated spot in the heavens.”
Vexyna looked up over Dilbu to find Oberon’s star. “You’re right,” she replied. “We need to find her.”
“Agreed.” Phantasmine nodded. “Let us be careful.”
“That’s a given,” Vexyna said, rolling her eyes. “I just hope Din isn’t using the Purple Fog. That would put us at a distinct disadvantage.”
The two crept closer to Dilbu. At the edge of town, they stopped to consider their next move.
“How much of an area can you scan?” Vexyna asked Phantasmine.
“That would depend upon the depth of scanning required,” Phantasmine answered. “I can scan up to a radius of three meters around you.”
Vexyna reminded herself to be extra cautious around the pocket containing Phantasmine's crystal. “There appears to be a long table set out,” Vexyna observed. “I cannot make out too much. We are still too far away.”
“Some of the ores used in the manufacturing in this area may prove useful as amplifiers,” Phantasmine told Vexyna. “If that is so, I might be able to scan a greater distance and area.” She paused a moment. “A superficial scan of the area one hundred meters in front of our current position does reveal a long table. Rows of two-meter-high torches illuminate the carpeted walkway leading to the table. An assortment of food stuffs have been placed along the table. It is approximately ten meters long and is draped in a jade green cotton cloth accented with red and gold trim.”
“Go amplification,” Vexyna said in an amazed tone. “What else can you make out?”
“Large wooden seats are interspersed with smaller metal ones. Many place settings have been laid out. At the head of the table is a small set of stairs. A canopy rests over the platform seated at the top of the stairs. The canopy, platform and stairs are all red. Flags flying on either side of the stairs belong to the Red Empress.”
“So it is Din,” Vexyna commented. “What is she up to now?”
“I am uncertain of that. Worthy of note is the cage to the left of Din’s platform. Cateran is being held inside.”
“How many people are surrounding the cage?”
“Two guards stand on either side of the cage. Two more stand on either side of Din’s platform.”
“Are there any other people in the area? Around the table, perhaps?”
“No. The two sets of guards appear to be the only people other than Cateran.”
“Let’s go then.” Vexyna started to march boldly toward the long table.
Wait, Phantasmine screamed inside Vexyna’s head. Where are you going?
Four ordinary guards don’t pose any threat, Vexyna thought back. It’s time you learned a little about me.
By this time, the guards had noticed the two girls coming towards them. They did not leave their posts.
The guards by Din’s platform were closest, so Vexyna reached them first. She marched bravely up to them and prepared to remove her glasses.
One of the guards grabbed her wrist and prevented her from revealing her eyes.
“Hey,” Vexyna started to say while attempting to loosen the guard’s grip.
The guard held firm to Vexyna’s wrist. The other looked as though he was prepared for anything Phantasmine might try to do.
“No threat, you say?” Phantasmine asked sarcastically.
“Why did you prevent me from removing my glasses?” Vexyna asked the guar
d.
The guard stood silently holding Vexyna’s wrist. A voice from the top of the platform rang out, “Because rumor has it your eyes hold the power to steal men’s souls. None of my men will allow you to go around naked-eyed.”
The Red Empress appeared at the top of the stairs. She was resplendent in reds and greens as usual. Red velvet clung tightly to her ample body, her curves further accentuated by the brilliant green lining of her high-collared cape. Her satin shoes shimmered in the firelight, as did her long, finely manicured nails. “Krajav told me you were extra special,” hissed Din as she glided down the stairs.
Phantasmine screamed and clutched at her head. Involuntarily, she dropped to her knees. Din’s mind is filled with a horrible black void of evil. She gasped her thoughts to Vexyna. I do not know if I can penetrate far enough to affect her with my illusions.
The guard moved in to check on Phantasmine and make sure she didn’t try anything. This blocked Din’s view of what was going on.
You can affect me, Vexyna carried on the thought conversation. I like to think I am strong-minded.
Nogard blood courses through your veins, Phantasmine replied. It is natural your mind accepts my input. Subconsciously, you know no harm can come from your interaction with me. You are a willing subject.
I’d never thought about it before, but, you’re right. I’ve always seemed to know who I could trust and who I should avoid.
The purity in your Nogard blood seeks out the purity in others, Phantasmine revealed. In time, you will learn more about your heritage. Now we must concentrate on the task at hand. The guards can experience my presence, but Din cannot.
That could work to our advantage.
It would if I could affect real changes to matter. We are at too great a distance from the other crystals for me to perform more than minor illusions. Wait. Phantasmine paused. Yes, I have found an opening. Din is now able to experience my presence.
“Well, well,” Din chattered. “Who’s your little friend? Then again, who are you?” The Red Empress drummed her long fingernails against her thin chin as she stopped in front of Phantasmine. A cocked eyebrow hovered above an inquisitive deep sapphire-blue eye. Her eyes complimented the blackness of her hair and the red of her wardrobe.
Phantasmine looked up from where she was kneeling, but remained silent.
Vexyna regarded Din with a blank look.
Din approached Vexyna. “Let’s see what all the fuss is about, shall we?” Din removed Vexyna’s glasses and stood back to look into her eyes. Stretching her arms out in front of herself, Din held Vexyna at arm’s length. “N-n-n-n-n,” was all she could say. Briskly, she snapped Vexyna’s glasses back on her nose.
Turning away, Din said, “You are trouble. I know who you are now. I am tired now.” She walked up the stairs to her throne and sat upon it. “Bring me the one with the white hair.” She motioned towards Phantasmine.
One of the guards took hold of Phantasmine and led her up the stairs. He stood beside her in front of Din.
Din reached out her finely manicured hand to grasp Phantasmine by the throat. Din flung her free hand back and immediately snapped it forward toward Phantasmine’s face. All she got was a palmful of air. “What kind of trickery is this?” The Red Empress was not amused. “How are you able to do that?”
Din happened to glance at the cage holding Cateran. The enclosure was empty. “Guards!” Din screamed. “Search the area. The prisoner has escaped! Open the cage and check for signs of exit.”
His jaw dropped, and his hand opened automatically, when the guard who had been holding Vexyna saw there was suddenly nothing to hold. The guards scurried about to carry out their duties.
Then Din noticed that even Phantasmine had disappeared. Din was beside herself. “You won’t get away with this!” In frustration, she grabbed the nearest guard and sank her nails into his flesh. The guard gasped and gurgled. Before long, his skin had lost its color. He fell to the ground motionless. “You will bow to my plans or perish.”
Meanwhile, the three girls were making their way back to the spot they had left the hoppers.
“Once I found the right minerals to align with, I was able to amplify my harmonic output and thus was able to affect the necessary changes in our opponents’ minds.”
“Picking the lock on the cage was no problem,” Cateran said. “I just didn’t know how I was going to get past those guards and the crazy red lady.”
“Din certainly turned out to be something else,” Vexyna commented. “Emphasis on ‘something’.”
“The Red Empress is a ruiner of men,” Phantasmine informed them. “Do you recall my query as to your recollection of a tale concerning a woman who would take men away from their families and drain them of life?”
“Yes,” replied Cateran. “Is Din one of those women?”
“I believe so,” answered Phantasmine. “If she is, she should be the only one. Legend states there can be only one Langsuyar. Each successive daughter takes the mother’s place on the Throne of Life to feed demons from the Coffer of Essence.”
“Are these women able to leave the throne to wander about and collect more men?”
“Not according to legend,” Phantasmine admitted. “Once a woman has assumed the title of Langsuyar, she is bound to sit upon the Throne of Life to provide energy for the re-emergence of the dark god, Dacreel.”
“Dacreel?” Cateran and Vexyna asked in unison.
“Dacreel was said to be one of two mighty gods at the beginning of creation.”
“Yes,” interrupted Vexyna. “Everyone on Antasta knows the tale. The two gods, Dacreel and Dazartan, fought a duel over their philosophical differences.”
“Dazartan was the good one, right?” Cateran wanted to clarify.
“Indeed,” replied Phantasmine. “Dazartan argued his immense powers came from a source outside himself and he was merely a conduit for that source. Dacreel, on the other hand, believed he, himself, generated the vast reserves of power he was able to wield.”
“The argument got out of hand and they ended up battling high in the sky,” Vexyna continued the tale.
“Their final acts were bold feats of powerful magic,” Phantasmine picked up the story. “Realizing the battle could rage indefinitely, the two combatants attempted to neutralize each other. Dazartan caused Dacreel to fall to the ground so hard he split the single continent into four and a few odd islands. After the dust settled, all that remained of Dacreel was his essence. This essence embedded itself in the consciousness of the humanoids inhabiting the planet. It made them more intelligent and more ambitious. Dazartan did not escape unscathed. Dacreel managed to magically shrink Dazartan and seal him in a neurzon crystal so his mind would be put to sleep.”
“Great story,” commented Cateran. “Wasn’t there more to the tale?”
“There is,” said Phantasmine, “and it concerns Nogard.”
Vexyna’s ears perked up. “What about Nogard?”
“According to legend, the crystal containing Dazartan was closely guarded deep within a chamber somewhere within Nogard. Being as close to the crystal as they were, the people of Nogard inherited some of the powers of Dazartan. So great was Dazartan’s power that it emanated from the crystal to spread across the land and sea, imbuing the living beings of the world with a higher intelligence and sense of purpose. However, the beings of this world originally sprang from the fall of Dacreel. This has caused much internal conflict amongst the people since that time.”
“Born of the darkness, saved by the light?” Vexyna mused. “The dark god Dacreel fell to the ground to create the continents and its peoples. The god of light, Dazartan, gave people their consciousness and intelligence. He endowed us with our self-awareness.”
“Some would argue the act of becoming self-aware was the original sin,” Phantasmine commented. “Therefore, Dazartan could be considered evil.”
“I suppose,” Vexyna said thoughtfully. “Then again, it could be self-awareness came to the inh
abitants of this planet through the blending with Dacreel, and it was Dazartan who gave us our morality.”
“Why is it evil or wrong to know one is alive?” Cateran interjected.
“It has to do with a loss of innocence,” replied Phantasmine.
“Like children growing up?” Cateran asked.
“Sort of like that, yes.
“So, adults are evil,” Cateran concluded.
“I didn’t say that,” Phantasmine rebutted. “What I said was…”
Vexyna interrupted them. “The philosophical debate will have to wait. We need to plan our next move.”
“If Raj managed to get to Ninim and place that order, it should be ready for shipping from somewhere around here,” Phantasmine stated.
“What did you manage to find out before you were captured?” Vexyna asked Cateran. “How did you get captured?”
“Her Redness was in Dilbu with a whole bunch of men at a feast,” Cateran informed them. “They were talking about the effective use of the transports in Dilbu.”
“That would explain the banquet table,” Vexyna mused. Then something dawned on her. “You didn’t get caught going after some food, did you?”
Cateran looked sheepishly at the ground and kicked a bit of dirt.
“You did! Didn’t you?”
“Yes,” Cateran quietly admitted. “It all looked so good. And it was. I guess I just got greedy.”
“Food of that nature could only have been for Din’s men and not for Din herself,” Phantasmine said. “Din should not be able to digest regular food because of what she is.”
“Weird is what she is,” Vexyna put in. “Your ability to render us invisible will come in handy when we try to board the transport,” she said, looking at Phantasmine. “If only we knew which transport and where.”
“The name of the transport is the Mocolom,” Cateran reported. “It’s docked in Section Four of Bay Fifty-one.”
“Why didn’t you tell us this before?” asked Vexyna.
“I was going to tell you before, but then you started asking about other things,” Cateran replied.
“Do you know where Bay Fifty-one is located?” Phantasmine inquired.
“Yes,” answered Cateran. “It’s on the east side of the complex. A route across the scaffolding and through the duct system will get us close to the Mocolom.”
“Good,” said Vexyna. “Let’s get going.”
The trio made their made back to Dilbu. Along the way, they munched on some fruit and rolls.
Covering her mouth with the back of her hand, Vexyna gave a great yawn. The sun crept up through the last mists of night as starlight faded in the ever-spreading blue of morning.
Shadows thickened as the girls approached one of the complexes. “These structures are made of a dense alloy,” Phantasmine observed. “Unless there is a quantity of the minerals required for crystal amplification inside the building, I will be unable to manifest any illusions.”
“We won’t be invisible inside the complex?” Vexyna asked.
“We will not,” Phantasmine said.
“That’s okay,” chirped Cateran with a smile. “I already know a good route. Follow me.”
Cateran led the way through one complex and then another. They took the low road through one, then climbed high into the scaffolding above another. The scaffolding led to an air duct that acted like a metal slide. Sliding down the long, smooth metal duct was slightly unnerving. When they landed at the bottom, Cateran motioned for them to move to the right. Popping a grate provided a doorway into Bay Fifty-one.
Bay Fifty-one of the Dilbu complex was much like all the rest. It was a massive metal structure with two enormous doors at either end. Ladders and scaffolding adorned the walls of the building. The designation of sections was done by means of colored lines painted on the metal floor. The center of each section was encircled by white floor lines, and within these white lines were large metal hatchways that could be opened to provide repair access to the ship or another means of loading cargo or personnel. The freighters for each section were parked overtop of these hatchways.
“Now comes the tricky part,” Cateran whispered. “We’re in Section One. We need to get to Section Four.”
“Any chance of invisibility?” Vexyna asked Phantasmine.
“None,” Phantasmine answered.
They surveyed the area to make note of personnel and their positions in relation to the entryway of the freighter. There did not appear to be many people around Section One of Bay Fifty-one. A couple of men sauntered about sipping from mugs of some sort of beverage while looking at notes on a clipboard.
Vexyna’s keen olfactory sense caught a whiff of the aroma emanating from the two men’s mugs. It was unmistakably coffee. Vexyna had tried coffee once when she was much younger. The taste was too bitter for her liking, but she enjoyed the smell. It reminded her of falling asleep at dawn while her father was getting up.
Father, she thought. I wonder how he is doing. Vexyna thought about the other villagers and her mind rested on Trulo. Closing her eyes, she saw his dashing smile, heard his laugh and wished with all her heart for him to be alive and well.
A light grew inside Vexyna until it enshrouded her entire body. The light did not stop growing in size or intensity until it was half a meter around Vexyna. When it was blindingly bright, it left Vexyna by shooting straight through the ceiling.
That created some attention among the personnel of Bay Fifty-one.
Cateran had her hand on Vexyna’s shoulder. Vexyna wobbled where she stood.
“Are you okay?” Cateran asked. “What was that just now?”
“I don’t know,” Vexyna replied. She was quickly coming around. “We’d better move.”
Direct line of sight between the girls and the Dilbu personnel was cut off by the rear of the freighter the girls were hiding behind. As the girls moved along, they kept themselves to the walls away from the doors. Quickly and carefully, they crept through the building until they managed to work their way to Section Four and the freighter Mocolom.
The Mocolom looked much like the rest of the transports in Bay Fifty-one. It had the same gleaming silver metal hull. It was roughly the same size and shape as the others. Fifty meters in diameter would cover its rounded central core. The giant silver ball sat on a gray rubbery skirt. Large twin fin-like air foils on top sprouted from the flat ring surrounding the spherical central core. A huge loop situated between the fins was tilted so that it was facing under and away from the ship. Within the loop were two enormous blades.
The girls moved cautiously around the rear edge of the Mocolom. They noticed an entranceway with only one person standing outside. This person departed within seconds, so the girls swiftly made their way toward the door. This exposed them to most of Section Four. It also exposed them to a group of five men.
The leader of the men was familiar to Vexyna. His red tunic was spotless and his hair was as blond as ever. This was the one who had commanded the destruction of her village.
Vexyna stood glaring at the blond man. The men were surprised to see the girls, and approached them.
It was Phantasmine who spoke first when she addressed the blond soldier. Her image had taken on a look of disbelief. “Span? Is that you? Is it possible the cryonic experiment worked? What has become of you?”
The blond man regarded Phantasmine blankly. “Span? What sort of a name is that?” he asked. “Don’t blither, woman. Just explain your business here.”
“You do not recognize me?” Phantasmine queried.
“I have never seen you before in my life,” the man shot back.
The visage of Phantasmine looked downcast as she brought her hands up to her face. I know him, she thought to Vexyna. He was part of a group of Illusians who were experimenting with various processes of freezing and reviving living tissue.
Sounds creepy, Vexyna thought back. What happened?
I do not know. The facility they were using was on a small island off th
e coast of this continent. He left for the facility, but did not return. After he left, I never heard from him again.
How well do you know him?
He was to be my husband.
A look of shock washed over Vexyna’s face.
“What’s up?” Cateran asked. She looked back and forth between Vexyna and Phantasmine.
“After all these years,” Phantasmine softly uttered, “it is no wonder your fleshly memory has faded.” Her lips trembled as she looked back up at the man.
“State your purpose here,” the blond demanded.
“Shipping inspectors,” Cateran cut in, much to the amazement of the other two girls. “We’re here to inspect the cargo before it gets shipped out.”
“Shouldn’t you be wearing badges or uniforms or something to show you are shipping inspectors?” the blond asked.
Cateran didn’t miss a beat. “Why? Everybody around here knows everybody else, pretty much. We all know what each other do.” Then she turned the tables on the man. “But I’ve never seen you around here before. What’s your business here?”
The blond was momentarily taken aback by Cateran’s sudden question. “That is classified information with regards to Her Imperial Highness the Empress Din,” he shot back.
“Imperial business? From which kingdom?” Cateran continued her questioning. She was in her element. “I didn’t receive any word about it? Did any of you?” She turned to look in turn at Vexyna and Phantasmine. She faced the man when she asked, “Where are your papers? If you’re conducting business here, you must have shipping orders.”
“Emissaries of Empress Din need no papers,” stated the man proudly. He surveyed the girls, then asked, “Where are your clipboards with the check sheets for inspection? How will you mark an accurate report of your inspection? Will you just remember everything you see?” It was the blond’s turn to go on the offensive. One of his subordinates leaned in to speak with him in hushed tones. Surprise appeared on the blond’s face as he listened to his officer.
The girls glanced quickly at each other. Together, they nodded and said, “Run!”
They started to sprint across the empty bay of Section Three when Vexyna tripped on a stray protrusion from the metal floor. She lost several of the contents of her cloak when she landed with extreme force. The smashing of her cloak against the unyielding floor resulted in a loud shattering sound. Phantasmine was nowhere to be seen as Vexyna shook the shards of crystal from her cloak.
“No!” Vexyna cried. “Oh, Phanta, I’m so sorry.”
“Grieve later,” said Cateran while helping Vexyna to her feet. “We have to get out of here. Follow me. Are you any good at climbing?”
Vexyna nodded slowly.
“Good. Let’s go,” said Cateran. She prompted Vexyna to move and the two took off at a sprint again.
Chapter 9: Flight of the Mocolom