“No,” Jace said.
“Then he probably survived,” Elegance said. “I’ve thought him dead several times over the years. Still, this is inconvenient and distressing. I need some time.”
“Can we just—” Cole began.
“Children,” Elegance said in a harder tone. “Heed me. I need some time.”
“Come on,” Mira said, herding them out of the room into a different parlor. Renni had brought them to Elegance, and she remained with them. Cole plopped down on an armchair. Jace looked disgruntled, pacing in silence.
“What about Violet?” Mira asked.
“She didn’t make it back,” Cole said. “The wayport closed before she came through. We don’t know what happened to her.”
“That’s terrible,” Mira said.
“And it leaves us without a way to get around,” Jace said. “What if our rings signal us to go greet Ramarro?”
“I’m sure Elegance will have solutions,” Mira said.
“If she ever speaks to us again,” Jace grumbled.
“The Host is sympathetic to your cause,” Renni said. “I expect he will assist as needed.”
“What do we do now?” Cole asked. “How do we make the most of our time?”
“Maybe we sleep,” Mira said. “At least for a few hours. Don’t you want to be fresh if we have to go fight a torivor?”
Mentioning sleep somehow gave Cole permission to notice how tired he felt. His eyes were irritated, and his throat was getting sore. When he closed his eyes experimentally, he did not want to open them. “I could sleep right now,” he said.
“Not yet,” Elegance said, entering the room.
Cole forced his eyes open. She looked refreshed.
“What do we do if you get the signal to fight Ramarro?” Elegance asked.
“We need a way to the Far North Cache,” Mira said.
“Ethel will take you,” Elegance said. “You may go, Renni.”
The guard exited.
“Will Ethel know how to get around at the cache?” Cole asked. “Lorenzo Debray showed Violet some secrets.”
“She won’t know how to access the established conduits,” Elegance said.
“We can jump the fence,” Jace said.
“Will you be joining us?” Mira asked Elegance.
“What would I do?” Elegance asked.
“The Perennial Serpent could be there,” Mira said.
Elegance clenched her jaw. “You see the irony that the distortion of my power may have killed my husband.”
“You have to stop it if you can,” Mira said.
Elegance glanced at Cole and Jace. “Miracle, Brogan was the fighter. He was the protector. How am I supposed to succeed where he failed?”
“All of your younger sisters have done it,” Mira said. “You stand and fight.”
Elegance looked at Cole and Jace again. “Perhaps you could give us a moment?”
“No, they’re part of this,” Mira said.
Elegance flushed a little. “My power is gone. Completely gone. I’m not much use in a fight. How am I supposed to help? What if I just get in the way?”
“Are you sure your power is gone?” Cole asked. “Your sisters all started regaining some of their power as it left your father.”
“I’m aware,” Elegance said. “I have not had that experience.”
“Mind if I check?” Cole asked. “I’ve had some practice helping with powers.”
Mira nodded encouragingly.
“Very well,” Elegance said, holding out a hand. “But don’t scoff. I was once quite capable.”
Cole took her hand and was mildly surprised to discover how empty she felt inside. Emptier than anyone he had ever examined.
“Is it that bad?” Elegance asked.
Cole realized his concern was showing on his face. “Give me a second,” he said, composing his expression. Exerting his power and searching hard, he found a dead spot at her center, like a spent lump of charcoal, the inert residue of previous power. “You feel burned out.”
“I’m not surprised,” Elegance said. “It haunts me.”
“Can I try something?” Cole asked.
Mira gave a reassuring nod.
“I suppose,” Elegance said.
Cole began pouring his power into the inert spot. At first it felt like shooting sparks at a dead piece of coal. No fuel remained to burn. As he maintained the pressure, the inert spot began to grow warm.
“I feel something,” Elegance reported, startled.
In the place that had been dead, Cole could now feel a faint glow of power that was not his own. Seizing that glow, Cole increased the intensity of his delivery, pushing with all he had, and the glow flared into a blaze.
Cole released her hand and staggered back. He encountered a sofa and sat down hard.
Elegance looked astonished. “I feel it,” she whispered. “I feel my power.”
“It was so dim,” Cole said. “I don’t think our powers can ever be fully taken. Not completely. But you were about as close to losing yours as it gets.”
“Do you think you can open a wayport now?” Mira asked.
“I . . . I think so,” Elegance said. “It has been so long, but I can see again. See far off.”
“Open a wayport,” Mira urged.
“It will leave me unable to open another if we need it,” Elegance said.
“Not with Cole around,” Mira said.
Elegance looked to Cole.
“It should be fine,” Cole said. “When I woke up people’s power in the echolands, it didn’t go out again. We won’t know unless you try.”
Two wayports appeared on opposite sides of the room.
Elegance smiled faintly. “A waste of energy. This only goes from here to there.”
The wayports vanished.
“I’m still connected to you,” Cole said, feeding her more power.
Elegance raised her eyebrows. “That is amazing. I feel like I could do it again.”
“You could,” Cole said. “Violet opened wayport after wayport with me helping. Just a little while ago she opened three at the same time.”
“No,” Elegance said.
“She did,” Cole assured her. “And she was using them as shields against the Perennial Serpent.”
“If you have an unlimited power supply, why not?” Elegance said. “It must be taxing for you, Cole?”
“Not too bad,” he said.
“Have you found limits?” Elegance asked.
“I feel strained sometimes,” Cole said. “It takes concentration. But I haven’t really found limits. I think I’m getting stronger.”
“Everyone needs rest,” Mira said. “You should sleep, Cole. We all should.”
“Of course,” Elegance said. “You must be exhausted. I’ll have Ethel prepare beds for you.”
* * *
“Good morning,” Mira said brightly, startling Cole out of his sleep. He winced as she pulled the curtains aside, and sunlight streamed into the previously gloomy bedroom. Remembering his circumstances, Cole glanced at his ring and felt relieved to see no signal.
“It’s bright out,” Cole said. “I didn’t mean to sleep so long.”
“I wanted you to sleep as long as possible,” Mira replied. “The Host is waiting at breakfast with the current Grand Shaper of Creon, Kezlyn Vedor.”
“The Grand Shaper?” Cole exclaimed, rolling out of bed. “Why didn’t you get me?”
“She just arrived,” Mira said. “And I am getting you.” She walked out of the room.
Despite receiving pajamas, Cole had slept in his clothes, so he only had to put on his socks and shoes. He had considered keeping his shoes on as well, in case the ring had awoken him with a call to action.
Cole wondered if today would be the day. Maybe Kendo had erred on the side of caution. Maybe Ramarro would not make an appearance until tomorrow.
In a way, it would be nice to have it over with. Suspense could be terrible.
But mor
e time to prepare would also be nice.
Unless the only preparation was worrying.
The prospect of meeting a new Grand Shaper gave him hope. In the past, Grand Shapers had played key roles in their victories.
Cole found Jace waiting with Mira outside the door. They escorted him to a large dining room, where Elegance sat with the Host and a woman in plain Wayminder robes. Cole would have guessed the woman was around fifty, with pleasant features and her hair shaved down to short bristles.
They all stood when the kids entered.
“Cole,” Elegance said. “You know the Host. May I introduce Kezlyn Vedor, Grand Shaper of Creon.”
And then his ring vibrated. Looking down, Cole found it glowing. Mira’s ring glowed as well. And Jace’s.
“It’s time,” Cole said.
“The torivor?” Kezlyn asked.
“Ramarro,” Cole said. “We have to go to the Far North Cache. He’ll be free any minute. We have to stop him.”
A wayport appeared beside Cole as Kezlyn stood. Jace grabbed a muffin and bit into it. Cole figured it wasn’t a bad idea and grabbed one too.
“How long do we have?” Kezlyn asked.
“I’m not sure,” Cole said.
Elegance walked calmly to the wayport. She turned to face the Host. “Will you be joining us?”
The Host offered a faltering smile. “My post is here, protecting this stronghold.” He gestured at Kezlyn. “You are in good hands.”
Cole stepped through the wayport. The air was chilly. Jace, Mira, Elegance, and finally Kezlyn joined him.
They stood just outside a tall metal fence topped with spikes. Beyond the fence, assembled curiosities vied for attention, including slot machines, a Viking longship, a cheap swing set, a wooden lifeguard tower, a pool table, a grass hut, a motor home, a row of trash cans, and a large marble statue. Patches of snow clung to the ground, and frost whitened some surfaces, though enough warmth was creeping into the day that Cole thought it might burn off before long.
“No rampaging monster yet,” Jace said, looking around.
“Can you take us inside?” Mira asked.
“It’s heavily shielded,” Kezlyn said. “I’m sure there are established conduits, but it would take time to feel them out.”
“Cole,” Jace said.
Cole touched Jace’s golden rope and Mira’s Jumping Sword.
“I can help the others over,” Jace said.
“Let me try something,” Cole said, stepping beside Elegance. “Grab hold of me.”
“You’re littler than I am,” Elegance said.
“Just try,” Cole insisted. She put her hands on his shoulders. Cole concentrated on his connection to the Jumping Sword. With his free hand on her wrist, he found his connection to Elegance’s power. Then he tied the Jumping Sword into her as well as himself. He held out the sword. “Away!”
He could feel that the sword required extra energy, so he pushed more power into the weapon as he sprang forward. Elegance rose with him over the fence. He did a little sword-assisted hop as he landed to offset the impact.
“How’d you do that?” Mira shouted.
“He’s got skills,” Jace said as he deposited Kezlyn over the fence using his rope.
Mira jumped the fence with her sword. Jace launched himself over with the rope.
A rumble came from deeper within the cache. The ground vibrated.
“I don’t see Lorenzo,” Mira said.
“I don’t see anybody,” Jace added.
“If he still has the pendant, he’ll end up here,” Cole said.
“Not Lorenzo Debray?” Kezlyn asked.
“Yeah,” Cole said. “He’s helping us.”
A more serious quake shook the ground, the rumbling becoming thunderous. Again, judging from the sound, the epicenter was farther into the cache. The tremor subsided.
“Hurry,” Cole said, running toward the heart of the noise.
“What are we going to do when Ramarro comes?” Kezlyn asked.
“Fight him,” Cole said.
“How?” Kezlyn pursued.
“With all we have,” Cole said.
Lesser rumbles came and went. The ground trembled.
“We don’t generally run toward these kinds of sounds,” Jace observed. “Should we hurry?”
Cole gave a nod and drew his Jumping Sword. “Catch up,” he said. Then he pointed it forward and shouted, “Away!”
He bounded through the air, then issued the command again when he landed, then again. Up and down he soared, with Mira just behind him to one side and Jace on the other. The cache was cluttered with diverse items large and small, but it was also orderly, with lanes dividing the collection into a grid. Leaping along the lane, Cole focused on reaching the rumbling, only vaguely aware that he was passing an assortment of refrigerators from different eras, or a roller coaster, or an Asian temple, or a putting green, or an Easter Island moai.
Before long Cole reached an open square. The pendant floated at the center, the sphere glowing an intense white. He stopped jumping forward, and so did the others.
“Where is Lorenzo?” Cole asked, studying the empty area. “Wasn’t he supposed to be getting a bunch of Grand Shapers?”
“Where is anybody?” Jace asked.
With a brilliant flash and a thunderous roar, the pendant shattered. Cole staggered as the ground shook. Returning his gaze to the center of the square, Cole found they were no longer alone.
CHAPTER
26
RELEASE
A figure stood in the center of the square.
Scary tall.
At least eight feet.
An albino man with long white hair and a lean, powerful physique. A mirthless smile revealed a mouth full of serrated teeth, and his eyes were a blue so pale they were nearly transparent. His lavish robe hung open over a bare chest. Soft moccasins sheathed his feet. He held up a hand, his long fingernails flashing like mirrors.
“Hello, Ramarro,” Cole said. The torivor looked different from how Cole had ever seen him.
“Cole,” Ramarro answered, his penetrating voice audible to the ears but also somehow piercing directly into the mind. “Of course you are here. And two of your friends. And two I don’t know coming along so slowly.” He gnashed his teeth, and suddenly Elegance and Kezlyn stood near Cole. “The Grand Shaper, Kezlyn Vedor. Not even an old one. The incumbent. And Elegance, the eldest princess. This is it? Have you come to surrender?”
“We’re here to stop you,” Cole said.
“I don’t like your weapons,” Ramarro said, waving a hand. The Jumping Swords and the golden rope turned to dust. “This is insulting. And embarrassing.”
The Perennial Serpent appeared off to one side of the square. Beside the huge snake stood a man in a black, cowled robe. He threw back his hood, revealing himself as Owandell. “Welcome, master.”
“Owandell,” Ramarro said. “You brought a pet. You are otherwise alone?”
“I am here to learn your will,” Owandell said.
“You are here unaccompanied in hopes of becoming my mouthpiece,” Ramarro said. “Clumsy and presumptuous. But you can be molded.”
A wayport appeared on the other side of the square. Lorenzo Debray emerged with a pair of other Wayminders.
“Finally,” Ramarro said. “A few of the old guard. But where is Kendo? Ah, he departed at last. A final gesture of cowardice. Very well.” He took a deep breath. “I was held captive for a long time. Uncomfortably long—and I’m eternal. Certain types of suspense do not exist in eternity. Well, as was inevitable, your prisons have failed; your chains have broken; your walls have crumbled. Is this to be a fight or a conversation? Who among you is ready to unconditionally surrender?”
“We hope to reason together,” Lorenzo said.
Ramarro’s smile vanished. “Reason? Now? Where was reason when I was banished to your afterlife? While I was incarcerated, we might have reasoned. A little. To pass the time. Now all that matters is what I
want, and who will bow to me.”
“We will not bow,” Lorenzo said.
“We won’t either,” Cole added.
“It’s too foolish to be admirable,” Ramarro said. “Your hearts are only beating because I allow it. I am exercising extreme patience. I am aware that as pathetic as you are, most others are even worse.”
Cole wondered if he could somehow get close enough to touch him.
Ramarro’s smile returned. “Cole, you wish to confront me directly? None have ever so dared.” He motioned for him to approach. “I see your friends believe you may be able to stop me. Shall we lay the matter to rest? By all means, come forward.”
“Let me take care of this pretender,” Owandell said.
“Are you capable of defeating this child?” Ramarro asked.
Owandell paused. “With your help I—”
Ramarro shook his head. “With my sponsorship anyone here could rule the Outskirts unchallenged for a million years. I am not asking what you can do with my help.”
Owandell bowed low. “Please afford me the opportunity to dispatch this foe.”
“You princesses remember Owandell,” Ramarro said. “Was he this courageous when he stripped your powers?”
“We were chained up,” Mira said. “And he had a lot of guards.”
“Elegance,” Ramarro said. “I believe you and certain elements within this serpent were once acquainted.”
“I feel it,” Elegance said.
Cole realized that without the weapons, his power was connected to nothing outside himself. He took a step toward Elegance.
“No, Cole, come to me,” Ramarro said.
Cole faced Ramarro. If the torivor was willing, did this mean he had no chance? Was the torivor playing mind games, trying to disrupt his confidence? Was it possible that Ramarro was underestimating him?
He started walking toward Ramarro.
“Your power is interesting, Cole,” Ramarro said. “Given the chance to mature and develop it, none here but me would be able to threaten you.”
Cole wondered if this would be the end of his life. It seemed probable.
“You interrupted my triumphant return,” Ramarro said. “I had worked my way free and you delayed me. Few could have accomplished it. Such a cheap, cruel trick. The Void was a clever prison. Imperfect, but clever. Dwelling in the midst of nothingness, locked within a repeating moment. Only I could have escaped it. I have half a mind to put you inside as your reward. Let you hover in an endless stasis as your sanity unravels across the eons.”