* * *
The dark of WacxGonn trees with their low-hanging evergreen boughs gave Darla little solace. She darted along the path, flitting in and out of their protective shadows. The gown, so effective in dazzling Ishtar, acted like a beacon every time the woman stepped into the moonlit night.
Searching eyes could be anywhere now. There had been no time for Darla to gather her flight suit and weapons. She was sure they, along with all the vision gadgets, were long since discovered. Legion would not be pleased to have someone messing with his ‘special toy’. The woman was beginning to regret not waiting for the remainder of the mission team, but what else could she have done? If they had failed to make contact with the child this night, the entire mission would be in jeopardy.
Darla pulled the communicator from a hidden pocket in her dress. A series of tiny blue lights flashed to life in rapid succession only to fade, one after the other. Again they would flash, searching for an incoming signal. Still nothing... ‘They should at least be here by now. What’s taking them…?’
There was good reason for Darla to worry. This was a strange and curious world she found herself wandering alone in. Long years before, Euroaquilo, her mentor and intimate companion, had journeyed with the woman into this place. His warnings, recalled, did not bring comfort. ‘This is a world that defies all known laws. It’s quirky, doing as it pleases, and biding no intruder’s commands. You would do well not to wander here alone.’
Euroaquilo had informed Darla of some of the known and imagined history of this place, most still a dark mystery to even the oldest and wisest of her kind. It had been said that time and space matter little here. Sojourners navigated it by linking up complex mathematical coordinates with existing star system charts, adding in galactic rotational calculations and then, as Euroaquilo said, ‘would mix in a little gut feeling’ and there was their destination.
Her successful and timely arrival had been no small miracle. She managed the rendezvous point at Eden’s Gate after losing two bandits intent on her interception. After waiting several hours for her contacts, she had ventured through the jump portal, trusting to her own ability in finding the single portal stream out of millions that would deliver her to this one location.
She arrived in time by chance, she thought, to make the two league’s distance from the ship to the city and then still have time to change into the gown and set up the vision gadgets. Although never actually leaving this Middle Realm and transferring into the land of humans, often called by her people the ‘Second’ or ‘Lower Realm’, by using the vision machines and her very limited mental abilities, the girl successfully completed the mission, maybe not as good as Gabrielle, but damn good, anyway!
The crisp snap of a twig alerted Darla to possible danger. She slunk back further away from the trail, under the trees. It could have been one of many things causing that disturbance. Her heart raced with fearful anticipation.
Attempting to calm her jitters, she contemplated the possibilities. After all, there was a menagerie of huge beasts in this land. One might very well be tracking her, more out of curiosity than ill intent. Then there were the ‘People of the Mist’, one of the names given the mysterious race who existed long before her kind were born.
The accounts of these people were both mythical and intriguing. They were referred to as ‘Spirit Walkers’, ‘Guardians’, ‘Cherubs’, ‘Blazing Wings’, to name a few. Darla had always liked the term ‘HootinSmokers’, a name given them by some of the most ancient of her race who claimed to have actually seen them. The wild antics of those storytellers had caused her, as a little girl, to roll in laughter as their tales were acted out.
Legends told that when Darla’s kind began growing in number, the People of the Mist withdrew into the hidden lands of this Middle Realm, becoming little more than ghostly shadows on moonlit nights. It was said that they slept in silence until their Master would wake them to glory in the last trumpet call. Well, that was one of the stories she had been told when a little child. The woman hoped the intruder might well be either of these two things.
A shudder ran down her spine, as she thought of Euroaquilo’s warning given her so long ago. 'It is also a very dangerous place since the Rebellion. Every debased, vile creature frequents these haunts, making it necessary to never travel here alone.'
After the Rebellion, war had broken out in the Middle Realm. Although its expanse appeared limitless and much of it was still unexplored, key locations had been fought over for many centuries. In fact, this was where the major part of the wars had been fought up to this night. Darla was no stranger to these wars. She was a hardened veteran, having fought in all three Megiddo Wars, the Persian Debacle, the MedoGrecian Crusade and the Maccabean Decade. But she had been one in a crowd of countless thousands then. Tonight she was alone and naked, bereft of weapon or comrade.
Listening to the continuing night noises and detecting no other unusual sounds, Darla decided to chance a run for her ship. Considering the gown to be a hindrance, she kneeled down to unlace her sandals, quietly removing them. With a grunt, she stood and began pulling the dress over her head.
“Got’ya!”
Darla spun around and dropped into a crouch, her arms and head still wrapped up in the gown. She was preparing to be assailed by hands intent on her capture. Legion would be most pleased with such a prize and could be counted on to give a rich reward to the person delivering her.
‘Cr-a-ack!’ Whoever wielded the club had no intention of taking his trophy alive. The blow caught Darla just below her right eye, lifting her off her feet and sending her sprawling, face down, onto the pathway.
A rough hand yanked Darla over onto her back a she groaned in pain. Another person pulled off the gown and exclaimed, “She ain’t dead, Yulackk! You must be losin’ your touch.” Yulackk bent close to examine the damage his attack had done. Darla’s eye was little more than bloody pulp, her upper jaw crushed and her nose split, but she was still very much alive.
He glanced at Darla’s upper arm and noticed its awkward angle. “The bitch’s arm got in the way. Ain’t my fault!” He laughed, “Did a number on it, though...”
The second man stepped closer. “Get outta the way, Yulackk, I want to get a look at who we have.”
“She’s just a bitch, Gihon, some worthless little nobody.” Yulackk grinned. “I was right when I said we’d get the same for her dead or alive.”
“Outta the way, you!” Gihon demanded. “I’ll decide if it’s a nobody bitch or not.”
Yulackk grumbled, wanting to finish her off so he could get back to more important matters. Gihon motioned him away, saying to wait. He knelt down on one knee, straddling one of Darla’s legs, and leaned in close to her face to get a better look in the dim light.
Giggles and laughter filled the night air. Two women came jogging up the trail. When they got near, one of them called out asking if the men had found the intruder. Gihon ignored the woman’s question. He scrutinized Darla’s face, but could not identify it with anyone he knew.
Just as he was about to reveal his findings, a hand flew up to his ear. Gihon screamed in pain as Darla dug her nails in and began tearing it off while driving her knee hard into his groin. Yulackk jumped forward shouting, kicking Darla in the side of her head. Knocked senseless by the blow, the woman’s body went limp. Gihon rolled on to his side, groaning in pain.
“Has our lord Gihon’s tool been broken?” One of the women teased. The second woman derogatorily accused, “How does a chieftain in Legion’s house explain his being bested by a man without balls?” Both of them erupted in chiding laughter. They went on with their insults until Gihon, still clutching his groin, rolled onto his knees and, swearing and cursing, ordered them to shut up. He finally sat back on his haunches and lifted his kilt, glaring at the women. “You watch and see what my tool can do… and wish you hadn’t. For when I’m done with this,” He pointed at Darla.
“I’m going to do the same with you two!”
With that, Gihon began to work up his manhood by brutalizing Darla with his hands, after which he started to violently rape her. “How do you like it now, you miserable piece of dog shit?! You could have made it easy on yourself and died quickly, but no, you wanted to make me the fool. I’ll show you who’s the fool! You’ll soon wish you were already dead!” He dug his nails into Darla’s breasts, angrily tearing at them.
Darla cried out in agony. It only made Gihon more sadistic. He bit and chewed at the woman’s face. He tore off her earlobe, chomped it into tiny pieces and spit it into her face. “Pray to Mother, you ugly shit worm. Maybe she’ll let you die!”
Darla turned her head to the side and coughed out blood and broken teeth. She could make no reply.
Gihon laughed. “See! The Mother of harlots cares not for her children…” He released his passion in one heaving outburst and then fell on Darla’s chest. As he panted, he ridiculed her, snidely whispering in her ear, “Or is it just you…you worthless dung meat!”
After catching his breath, Gihon sat back on his knees, viewing with pleasure the results of his labors. He rested his bloodied hands on Darla’s legs, nodding his head. “You’re a delight to behold, nearly as beautiful as that tramp, Michael, was that day outside the palace. My artwork is nearly complete.” With that, he motioned to Yulackk. “Smash in its skull!”
Yulackk grinned. “I won’t hav’ta do it twice…” He swung his cudgel high over his head in one graceful move that transferred his body’s power into the weapon.
Gihon stared at Darla’s broken face, waiting to see Yulackk smash it to nothing. “Do it good, you! I want a big splatter!”
‘Sh…ur…rr flu…unk!’
Yulackk yipped like a startled dog as the club fell from his hands.
“What the…?!” Gihon looked in time to see Yulackk grab his face and stumble backward, a glistening black jillson bolt sticking from his face just below his nose.
‘Sh…ur…rr flu…unk!’ A second arrow slammed into Yulackk’s mouth, punching its way up through his skull and protruding out the back of his head until its waxy tail feathers disappeared into the man’s face. Yulackk let out a gasp as he spun around and fell, face down, in the dirt.
“Beetle dung!” A woman in a silver-metallic flight suit came running out from the shadow of the trees, drawing forth a long double-edged battle sword as she advanced, its green, ghostly flame identifying it as a fearsome derker blade.
“Gabrielle!” Gihon quailed as he threw his hands up over his face.
Gabrielle halted beside Darla’s bleeding body. She lifted her sword high, shouting, “Master’s whore-maiden! Be off into damnation!”
With a grunt, Gabrielle swung the weapon down and across, cleaving Gihon’s head and hands from his body. Blood squirted into the air as the lifeless corpse slowly keeled over, falling to the ground.
A woman screeched, “NasiSair! NasiSair!” (meaning ‘Prince of the Warlocks’). She and the other woman ran off, screaming, into the night.
The whooshing sound of several more jillson bolts followed them into the darkness, at least one finding its mark. There was a cry followed by a crashing thud of a body hitting the ground. The other woman continued fleeing, all the time sounding the alarm, “NasiSair! NasiSair!”
Tossing her sword aside, Gabrielle dropped down next to Darla and began searching for signs of life, gently resting her hand on the woman’s chest, relieved to feel a weak heartbeat. The girl still lived, but for how long? Gabrielle tenderly cradled Darla’s head in her hands and wept. “Oh, my child, my child… Forgive me! Oh, please, please forgive me!”
Sound of hurrying footsteps echoed in the darkness, the night air soon filled with groans of dismay and lament. Gabrielle was inconsolable. Her tears ran in rivers, mixing with the blood on Darla’s face. “I’m sorry, Mother, I’m so, so sorry! My soul instead of hers, I promised you! I promised…promised!” She looked up at the sky and wailed, “I have murdered your little daughter! Forgive me, please, Mother, please!”
Gabrielle paid no heed to the hustle of the others in her troop as they secured the area. One voice sounded above the others, giving orders and directions. “Periste, you and Chisamore stash these bodies. Planetee, take the others and set up a perimeter. Sirion, stay with Gabrielle.”
Planetee motioned to the others her orders. In moments they had faded into the darkness. Before doing the same, she asked, “Michael…er’…Mihai, what of the woman? If she’s alive, do you want to take her prisoner?”
Mihai shook her head. “We will take no prisoners, understand?”
Planetee acknowledged and departed. Mihai turned her attention to Gabrielle and Darla. Periste and Chisamore were just returning from disposing of Gihon’s body, having very unceremoniously tossed his head and hands into a thicket. They then grabbed hold of Yulackk and dragged him into the shadows. Mihai tried to ignore the hacking sounds and curses coming from that direction.
Sirion mentioned it, though. “Periste can be mighty expressive when you get her temper up. They’ll have to bag him to bury him after she’s done!”
“That’s enough, Sirion… please!” Mihai softly scolded. “Help us with Darla and forget the night.”
Gabrielle had stopped her open weeping. Through subdued, heaving sobs, she was choking out a healing song. The woman was the oldest of all the daughters in the First Realm. It was said her powers of healing were second to none and that she had been known to restore life to those whose breath had long left them. Tonight this wizard worked her magic in order to prevent Darla’s breath from passing away.
Mihai leaned over Gabrielle, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. “Honey, please, our child will live. I promise you. She will be delivered home safely into Mother’s arms.”
Darla groaned and moved her head. Mihai squeezed Gabrielle’s shoulder. “See! Already your cure is having an effect! She will survive, I promise you. With your help, our daughter will pass through this fire.”
Gabrielle continued her healing songs, all the while caressing Darla’s injuries with her fingers. In time, she and Mihai could see a positive response to what she was doing. Gradually, the girl regained consciousness.
Suddenly a hand shot up and gripped Gabrielle’s arm and Darla’s undamaged eye opened. She struggled in an attempt to communicate, rolling her head from side to side while pulling on Gabrielle’s flight suit. Gabrielle held Darla’s head in her hands and softly whispered, “It’s alright, my lovely one… it’s alright. We’ll have you out of here shortly. The fleet’s not far away. Don’t fret, you’ll be fine.”
Darla violently shook her head, crying out in pain from doing so. She struggled to speak, but only coughed out blood and more broken teeth. Mihai reached down and touched the girl’s shoulder, trying to reassure her. “You’re safe, Darling, you’re safe. No one’s going to hurt you anymore.” Mihai’s intended encouragement only frustrated the situation. Darla began to thrash about, forcing Gabrielle to restrain her. “This is no good!” Gabrielle moaned. “If this continues, she’ll damage herself even more.”
“Is there something you have to tell us?” Sirion asked Darla, catching her eye as she did. Darla quieted and painfully nodded her head. After several failed attempts to communicate, the girl’s face being so broken she could not move her mouth, she let out a cry and tears started.
Mihai pondered in thought a moment. She finally leaned close and whispered in Gabrielle’s ear. “Don’t you have the power to share with her in a waking dream?” Gabrielle frowned, whispering back, “I have not attempted such a thing with someone in this condition. Her brain is badly bruised, and she’s hemorrhaging. Besides, the waking dream is most often shared between bonded lovers - men and women - if you know what I mean.”
Mihai was at a loss for ideas. She felt a waking dream was their only hope. “You must try something! Ou
r girl is nearly beside herself with a desire to speak. I’m afraid she will die from anxiety should we fail her at this moment.”
“Do you understand?!” Gabrielle asked in fearful concern, still whispering. “A waking dream requires intense concentration on the part of both parties. I’m afraid that it will kill the child for me to do such a thing.” Darla squeezed Gabrielle’s arm. She had overheard the conversation and was revealing her willingness to take such a risk. Gabrielle argued awhile with Mihai and Sirion, but to no avail. She finally surrendered to their persuasion.
“I’ll try not to hurt you, Darling,” Gabrielle sadly crooned to Darla, “but it’s very dangerous.” Darla indicated her willingness. Placing her hands on each side of Darla’s head, Gabrielle bent over until her forehead was touching Darla’s. She stared into Darla’s face and began to hum an enchanting tune. Darla attempted the same. Gradually, the two women sank into a harmonic trance, becoming oblivious to their surroundings.
It was only a matter of seconds, but for Darla and Gabrielle it was an endless encounter. The two drifted in worlds of time and space, sifting through the thoughts and memories of many ages of men. Gabrielle struggled to focus her concentration on the issues of the moment. Darla, on the other hand, drifted in and out of consciousness, flitting from one dimension of thought into another.
With herculean effort, Gabrielle managed to break away. Pushing herself up, she let out a cry. “I have tried! I have tried! I am sick and my world spins with senseless riddles of confusion.” She dropped her head from exhaustion. “Give me a moment to sort things out.” The sickness rapidly passed and, as Gabrielle caught her breath while mulling over the visions in her head, she explained what happened. “A waking dream is casual, something used by romancing lovers as they flirt from afar. It was designed to transmit emotions and feelings, to increase passion and desire in the lovers’ hearts.”
A shudder ran down Gabrielle’s spine. She shook her head. “I have never searched for other than feelings before. Hard… very hard to find words… and meaning. Give me… some time to think.” She leaned forward, resting her weight on her hands, drooping her head.
People came and went in the camp, bringing Mihai information and seeking instructions. Tzidohn and Depais were approaching as Gabrielle revealed what she had learned. She sat on her knees, head up and hands on her legs. “Darla’s already made contact with the girl, but she took license with the way the encounter was orchestrated.”
Gabrielle’s tone sent shivers of foreboding across Mihai’s shoulders and down her arms. In a halting voice, she asked, “What did our child do?”
“Darla was to give Ishtar a vision and offer her a way out. Whether she understood the proper use of the machinery, I’m not sure. She transferred material from this realm directly into the Second Realm, something that was only to be done if Ishtar chose to depart the prison.”
Mihai asked, “So what…” Gabrielle cut Mihai off.
“She produced a real gown for the girl, and left it remain with her and she filled the prison cell with fresh straw. When the guards discover it in the morning, well, I don’t know how it will change matters.” Gabrielle raised a hand, shaking a finger. “But that’s not the worst! Funneling her own mental powers through the vision machine, Darla cured the girl of the damage delivered her body earlier this night, giving the girl’s flesh a glowing vitality uncommon in humans. During this process, Darla linked her mind with Ishtar’s and then she promised to be with the girl to assist her this coming day.”
Mihai finally asked her question. “So what are we supposed to do now? It sounds to me that Darla’s attempt at helping the girl may well add to her woes. The governor is a tyrant, having little respect or concern for anyone other than himself. I had hoped that Ishtar’s beaten condition would lead the man to have pity on her. Now he will likely obsess over her beauty, seeking some way to take her for himself.” Frowning, Mihai added, “If my worst fears are realized, Ishtar will not survive this test without being linked to one of our minds.”
Gabrielle agreed. “And Darla has already made that link. Unless one of us can accomplish the same task, Ishtar will not receive that needed support.”
“But the spirit will be there.” Sirion answered. “She won’t be completely alone.”
“True, true…” Mihai replied, agreeing, turning to Gabrielle. “But from what you’ve learned, we now are dealing with a woman having near perfect beauty. How will the wolves of her world react to such a thing? Indeed! Could a good man keep his honor around her if given control over her soul?”
She looked back at Sirion and moaned. “The girl’s test was certainly great to begin with. Now it may well be impossible for her to survive it alone, even with all our spirit. Indeed, I think the only way she will succeed is to do something that will make herself ugly in the eyes of her oppressors.”
Mihai gripped Gabrielle’s arm and spoke with urgency. “We must make contact with the girl ourselves and link our minds with hers!”
“It’s too late now.” Tzidohn stepped closer. He pointed into the distance. “The element of surprise is gone. That’s what we came to tell you. Gihon and his clowns were not here by accident. They were part of a much bigger hunting party. What our little sister has done did not go unnoticed. Legion has his scouts out searching for the intruder or intruders. The size of the search parties makes me think he feels there are many opponents.” He looked over his shoulder. “The door of opportunity is now closed. We would have to fight our way through at least a company of enemy hosts to get to her. There are only ten of us here, besides Darla.” He looked at Gabrielle, “Even with your strength, I doubt any of us would survive such a battle.”
Gabrielle slowly lowered her head in defeat. “We have lost. There is nothing we can do now.” Darla would not be counted out so quickly. She began to thrash, pointing toward her head. Gabrielle was apprehensive, but surrendered to Darla’s demands. She again began a waking dream with her. This time it seemed easier and less exhausting, a connection having already been made. Gabrielle soon struggled to sit up.
After a moment’s rest, she told the others what Darla requested. “Our child wants us to take her to the hanging cliffs, a promontory some distance from here. She believes with my help she will be able to communicate with Ishtar from there.”
“Why there?” Sirion asked. “Why not here? What’s the difference?”
Interrupting, Mihai answered, “The promontory has a strong energy field, helpful when using mind communication. Plus, the place is mathematically the nearest location to the prison and governor’s palace, making the possibility for a mind link more successful.”
“Not only that,” Depais added, “they know, or soon will know where we are. We were unsuccessful at stopping that screaming meemie. She’s sure to bring Legion down on us. We need to be on the move, and soon!”
Mihai added, “Then we’ll have to make haste. Depais, you and Tzidohn help with Darla. I’ll…”
Gabrielle cut Mihai off. “I’m not moving this child, ‘less it’s back to our ship. She’s half dead, and I’m not going to risk her life on a fool’s hope.”
Sirion piped up. “It was a fool’s hope that sent Darla here alone. We didn’t consider any breakdowns on our end, so never gave her directions should we fail to arrive. I believe she wants to finish her assignment, no matter the cost…”
“You tend your duties, little one!” Gabrielle snapped. “I’ve been given charge of Darla… promised Mother. I will not suffer her loss on a futile whim!”
Sirion countered. “It’s Darla’s wish. She has the ri…”
“That’s enough, now!” Mihai snorted. “This is not the time to…”
“I’m taking her back to the ship! And that’s final!” Gabrielle leaned over Darla and began another healing song.
Sirion muttered on about their dilemma and what they should have done. Gabrie
lle sat up, scowling, anger growing in her voice. “It might have been better if you had stayed behind, little one. I thought you might learn something here, on your first sojourn into this valley of darkness. I regret our breakdown.” She moaned aloud, “Why, oh why this day?! Why did our engines have to fail on this most important day?!”
Mihai glared at Sirion, her stare telling the woman to remain silent. She then rested a hand on Gabrielle’s shoulder. “Honey, there’s no need to make the decision at this moment.” She looked up and asked Tzidohn, “How much time do you think we have before Legion arrives?” He raised his head as if smelling the breeze. “Oh, I think we’re safe with an hour, maybe a little more.”
Depais offered to return to the ship and get some medical supplies. Mihai watched as the woman and Tzidohn disappeared into the night then looked into the sky. “We have two hours or so before daybreak. Sirion, go get Periste then meet me on the trail. We’ll scout on ahead to see what’s up.”
Sirion hurried away and Mihai turned to Gabrielle. “It’ll be alright, Honey. Mother wouldn’t have approved this mission if she didn’t believe in our success. You do your magic for now. We’ll see what comes of it.”
Gabrielle returned to her healing songs. Mihai met up with Sirion and Periste, and hurried out of the camp. The moon sank behind the hills, filling the surrounding world with blackness. Soon the only sound to be heard was the quiet tune of a healer desperately working her magic.