ã€ŠObsidian Wasteland: The Dregsã€‹


 Polish- Halari

    Outside Stargazer¡¯s Quarry

    Fell winds whistled over the black crags, brushing Halari¡¯s shoulders as she lay prone in a shallow, gravelly divot. Slowly, with a measured practice repeated over almost twenty dark winters, she drew back the bolt mechanism on her rifle. Her eye, through the scope, never left the target.

    Her prey, a large bistag with twisting tangles of antlers crowning both heads, continued to gnaw at the low-growing shrubbery. Its right head scanned around the area, but its body was angled away from Halari¡¯s position, so it could not twist around and potentially catch the gleam of her scope.

    Halari breathed deep, steadying herself to pull the trigger. She put the thin crosshair directly where the beast¡¯s front thigh met the torso. A headshot would only prompt the other brain to flee, so a bullet to the heart was essential to a successful hunt.

    Just donnnn¡¯t move, Halari commanded the beast from afar, tightening her finger on the trigger. Just be still.

    A speck of dust, blown far by the winds of the wasteland, landed on her scope¡¯s forward lens, and blocked most of her view.

    ¡°Shit!¡± she hissed, rushing to grab a cleaning rag from her satchel and wipe the speck off. Halari reset her pose, bringing the rifle tight to her shoulder, and levelling her right eye to the optic¡­. just in time to see the ass end of her quarry disappear over the top of a slope.

    ¡°Betrayer¡¯s damnation!¡± she cursed, dropping her forehead to the cool, bare stone on which she was resting. Hours of tracking and perfect positioning ruined by a speck of godforsaken debris.

    Halari rose and brushed herself off, clouds of fine powder billowing off her leathers. She looped her rifle, a beautiful piece with a matte black stock and twisting chrome barrel, over her shoulder.

    Gravel crunched under the sole of her boots as she climbed out of her covered ditch into the open gray sky. She breathed in, letting the stress melt away into the stale breeze.

    Her wastecrawler, an oblong vehicle with two heavy duty tires and a small space for storage, idled a short distance away. She stowed her rifle on clamps at its rear before hopping onto the cracked leather seat.

    She hit the accelerator, finding comfort in the rumbling engine that soothed her irritation. After a moment¡¯s stall to charge, the crawler lurched forward a pace not much faster than a quick jog. They weren¡¯t quick vehicles by any means, more meant for short trips and hauling jobs, but their stocky chasses were near impossible to break on hazardous terrain.

    Can¡¯t wait to go home and get interrogated, Halari thought, rattling off the inevitable question and lectures she¡¯d get for being gone so long and coming back empty-handed. Why were you gone so long Halari? Where¡¯s your haul, Halari? Why don¡¯t you just go mine like the rest of the people your age?

    She huffed in irritation, blowing a rogue strand of her dark auburn and darker green hair out of her face, then took one hand off the crawler¡¯s steering bar to tighten up the loose tail she wore while hunting.

    Halari trawled along for another hour or so, skirting the edge of a gloomy grove full of thin, steel-grey trees. She peered as far as their black leaves allowed before their gloom choked out the light.

    I swear there¡¯s something in there. She squinted, trying and failing to catch any signs of life in the twisting dimness. Old Bear, crazy old geezerness aside, always swore that a beast of mud and flesh had chased him out of those deathly woods decades ago.

    She rolled on, hesitant to take her eyes off the trees. A small smudge appeared on the horizon a while later after, one that grew taller and taller the closer she drove.

    The obelisk stood a head taller than her. Its surface was engraved with lines of names of the people who built her home,.

    Halari rolled past it and stopped just a few feet before the edge. Below her now was the sheer cliff that kept her city hard to locate from prying eyes of the outside world.

    Stargazer¡¯s Quarry sprawled underneath her. Short, hardy buildings, some homes, some, the smelters and processers mostly, with large chimneys smoking, others with wide backyards for cultivation.

    They all formed a webbing ring around two large buildings, connected so that they resembled the shape of a peanut. The half nearer the cliff was two, maybe three stories and domed with a strange rectangular slot on its face, the other a plain rectangle.

    Halari squinted down into the town, spying her own family¡¯s home near the inner face of the cliffs, by the entrance of the mine.

    She grinned, almost smelling the stew her mother would be making out of the tams their neighbor grew, but felt a pang of irritated regret at the loss of the bistag, which would have been some nice, free protein for the meal.

    Would¡¯ve been nice to get more meat beyond our weekly stipend, she thought, getting the trawler moving again, this time the long curving road carved into the half-circle cliff face.

    Directly towards the Great Tanks.

    The great, ancient wonders upon which Stargazer¡¯s Quarry survived.

    Halari couldn¡¯t help but stare at them as she began her descent. Hundreds, maybe thousands of times viewing them never dulled her curiosity.

    The vast metallic cylinders had been set halfway into the cliff and stood almost as tall as the terrain itself. It did not take long for her to pass into their shadow with the sun at its setting angle.

    She didn¡¯t know how they worked, all she knew was that through a miraculous system of pipes they provided clean, running water to the people.

    Only the wondrous magic of the Old Flames keeps us alive, Halari thought bitterly as she rolled on. Left the dregs here but ¡°Hey! Here¡¯s some water so you can suffer for centuries hydrated!¡± Still, when she passed under the flat bottom of the first of the trio, she stalled the crawler, stood on its seat, and wrapped her knuckles twice on the metal.

    Just for good luck.

    At the bottom of the descending road, she turned hard into the path that would take her home.

    She waved to Analise and her husband as she passed their domicile. Their two young children, ever-so-thin like too many of the people these days, played with a ball in their small production yard.

    Halari passed other so familiar faces on the approach home. These were her people, she¡¯d grown and watch them grow her whole life.

    She took the branch left and within moments rolled right up to the front door. It opened as Halari cut the vehicle¡¯s engine and her sister Viria, golden and slate-blue hair shining dully in the gray sunlight.

    ¡°Pada¡¯s in a mood?¡± Halari asked, approaching with a tight grin.

    ¡°A shaft collapsed today,¡± Viria whispered, ¡°nobody dead, but a huge deposit of ore was blocked off. They won¡¯t be to clear it for weeks.¡±

    ¡°Evasion plan?¡±

    Viria grimaced. ¡°Haul?¡±

    ¡°Empty.¡± Halari shot a despaired glance to her storage space. ¡°Almost bagged a beautiful bistag though.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d suggest going right to your space,¡± Viria said. ¡°Mada¡¯s in the family kitchen, he¡¯s in his study.¡±

    ¡°And Davio¡¯s in your room?¡± Halari eyed her sister pointedly, bringing a blush to the young girl¡¯s fair cheeks.

    ¡°Maybe,¡± she said, not meeting Halari¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m trying to sneak him out.¡±

    ¡°Mmm.¡± Halari shook her head before brushing past Viria her sister with a pat on the shoulder.

    ¡°There¡¯s an assembly at the Center in a couple hours,¡± Viria said, bringing Halari to a pause. ¡°Bear and his little crew are gonna bring up releasing the emergency rations to the Melokide.¡±

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Halari turned, interest piqued now. ¡°The ones they swear don¡¯t exist in the bowels of their temple?¡±

    Viria rolled her eyes. ¡°Maybe I shouldn¡¯t¡¯ve told you. Are you gonna cause a scene?¡±

    ¡°Maybe,¡± Halari said with a wink before turning into house. She breezed into the den, doing her best to tip toe and not catch her mother¡¯s attention. Valeria was a woman of many talents, but her focus on cooking usually stole her spacial awareness.

    The family¡¯s den was a circle, like most dens in Stargazer¡¯s Quarry. Three of its wedges were rimmed with slot like rooms. Kitchen left, master bedroom middle, office and storage right.

    Halari drifted on the polished composite floor to the left hallway. Nobody quite knew what the buildings were made of, but it was hardy, and did not rust. Most likely a lost magic like the Tanks.

    Halari reached the door to her room and slid it open smoothly to slip inside. Closing it behind her, she immediately went to the desk across from her bedslot.

    She pulled her notebook and magnipen from the one drawer and flipped it open to the first blank sheet, thoughts racing. An assembly? Today? What could she say? What could she do?

    She scribbled some surface thoughts.

    Those Melokide priest bastards are hiding something in there, Halari pondered, writing furiously. What about the information that the quarry¡¯s conquering ancestors had found and shared to the public? What about records of the raving mad man shouting about a vault of riches?

    The Melokide shut down any information about what¡¯s in there. She wrote another note: ¡®Evidence?¡¯ All in the name of their mythical God Draconic.

    Halari tapped the pen on the surface of the desk. This was not her first assembly, but the Melokide were keeping a specific eye on her after that little stunt last year.

    ¡®Sneak in?¡¯ she wrote. It had been before. She shuddered, remembering the victim they had brought out, eyes charred over.

    ¡°I won¡¯t get caught,¡± she whispered, theories bouncing around in her head. She shook it to clear herself. Sneak in? Really? What a terrible idea.

    Halari stepped away from the desk and sat on her bed, sighing in comfort as she lay back. A quick nap would help figure what she needed to say.

    The depths of a crowd in Stargazer¡¯s Quarry always smelled like grease and oil. Or stone. Halari pushed her way to the front of the small army that lined up before the Center. The peanut-shaped edifice, a religious focal point for the Melokide, stood out for its unusual height.

    Halari stared up at the dome, waiting like everybody else for the front doors to open. She moved her gaze to the six metal statues that stood in an arc around the front.

    The Great Flames. The old gods that had left them.

    Abandoners, Halari thought, glaring at the one in front of her. It depicted a tall man standing straight and victorious. He held a long axe out and vertically, planted into the statue¡¯s base like a standard. A helmet with four jagged bolts of lightning striking out towards his back adorned his head, framing his stern, but proud face.

    Jomen, the Guiding Visionary. The Old Flame who allegedly took humanity¡¯s best to the stars over a millennia ago.

    Leaving people like Halari behind.

    She looked to the other five. Bayen, the Star Queen was first in line, then the legendary Kalia next, in between her parents. At Jomen¡¯s left stood Velali with her proud bearing and arrogant face. Standing hand in hand were the Twins Kelerel and Cheramin. Last, or almost last, the meek cast of Olibern, blood magicker and father of the strange beasts that roamed their dark lands.

    Halari made a note to herself to go and polish the eigth statue after the assembly. It was the only one where instead of resentment, pity beat in her heart at its visage.

    The Center¡¯s double doors swung open and a trio of men, one in violet clothes, the others in black, flowed out in a flurry of colors. Halari wrinkled her nose, smelling their pompous odor over the scent of the mines.

    The crowd hushed and Halari saw Old Bear, a man not acutally elderly, but wise in the face and with scars that looked like wrinkles, signal to his people to get ready.

    ¡°Greetings, people of the Quarry,¡± the man in purple said. Halari did not know his name, nobody did. The Melokides only showed sparingly. ¡°We bring divinations and new words from the Flames!¡±

    The first of Bear¡¯s hecklers interrupted them with a shout.

    ¡°Give us the foam!¡± the man demanded. ¡°We know you have more!¡±

    The Melokide faltered. ¡°L-like our last gracious meeting--¡ª¡±

    ¡°Our crops are dying!¡± another shouted. ¡°The bio-foam is losing its vitality!¡±

    ¡°P-please, good people¡­¡± the priest tried, but it was no use. The hecklers had lit the candle and others not among Bear¡¯s personal crew joined in with their own concerns. Halari smirked at the priest¡¯s blubbers, happy to see that false cockiness crack under stress.

    Such a piece of silkgrass, she mocked, folding her arms.

    ¡°We lost half of our buds this quarter!¡± a woman yelled. Halari looked over her shoulder. Was that Dina? She wasn¡¯t usually one to speak up, so the situation must be getting worse.

    One of the men in the black clothes moved his left hand under his robes and Halari tensed, knowing that the fun and loud games were at an end. The priest drew a boltshot from the folds of his garment.

    The sleek handgun was menacing, but only in visage. They¡¯d never shoot a citizen. Sure, they would maim and warn the people of the Quarry off, but murdering would ensure riot.

    The priest cocked the weapon and fired a round into the sky, a flash of purple following the shot.

    Halari rolled her eyes as what would have been a unified crowd of concerned citizens cowered like a puppy. There weren¡¯t many firearms in the Quarry and even less with Halari¡¯s ability to shoot.

    ¡°People of the Quarry¡­¡± the lead said, ¡°like our last assembly, we resent the idea that we are withholding valuable resources from you. We live like you, growing nutrition on dying biofoam. There is nothing in our humble abode which we could give you.¡±

    ¡°And the Vault?¡± Halari asked. The priest turned his eyes to her, the hint of a glare wrinkling the corners. ¡°You know, the one the man whose eyes you scorched off about before you drug him to a cell.¡±

    ¡°There is nothing of beneficial use in the Vault,¡± the Melokide said. ¡°We¡­ no longer deny its existence. We wouldn¡¯t dare insult your intelligence.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s in it, then?¡± Halari pressed, frustration rising. ¡°Why¡¯s it so secret?¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t know,¡± the leader pressed. ¡°We are trained from birth that it is never to be opened. My father taught it to me. I will teach it to my children.¡±

    Halari blinked in surprise. That was the most direct answer she had ever heard.

    ¡°What if it is full of necessities?¡± Bear huffed. ¡°You could have a trove of food and other supplies in there.¡±

    ¡°To open the Vault would be to insult the great saviors,¡± the Melokide asked. ¡°To insult the Great Dragon himself. We willnever open the Vault.¡±

    Halari snorted loudly enough to catch a real glare from the priest brandishing the boltshot. His manicured trigger finger tapped the trapezoid barrel.

    ¡°Since there is clearly no productive conversation to be had today,¡± the Melokide said with a flourishing wave of his hand, ¡°we will see you next month, delightful citizens of Quarry.¡± He and his small entourage turned on their heels and disappeared into the Center. The crowd dispersed slowly, disappointed, much like fog fading off in a sunrise.

    Halari lingered, eyes trailing to the back of the building. She walked around the whole Center to the back which looked out over the ruins. A single statue was placed here.

    Halari stepped up to the metallic cast of the Tyrannical Betrayer, pursing her lips at the grime that had accumulated from yesterday¡¯s black rain.

    She removed a cloth from the satchel at her hip and a canteen of purified water. Gently, she began to scrub.

    The Betrayer knelt in his depiction, and he had no face, just a masked helm from which six spines sprouted at the top like horns and a horizontal slot for his eyes. He slumped against his weapon, a long polearm like a mace.

    Halari cleaned the grime from his masked face, then down to the split. The Betrayer¡¯s statue was cleaved from left shoulder to almost right hip, reinforcing the legend that he had been defeated, killed by his brethren.

    She finished polishing after a few moments, then stepped back to admire her work.

    Such a sad look. She dabbed at another spot. Would you have left us, too? Despite his title, despite all the whispers and myths that the Melokide hinted at along with Jomen¡¯s writings, it was a question she always wondered. She peered into the helmet, trying to find some answers.

    ¡°Halari?¡± Viria¡¯s voice came from her shoulder, and she jumped.

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Halari made a startled noise. ¡°Where did you come from?¡±

    ¡°I was gonna walk home with you,¡± Viria said, a strange look on her soft features. ¡°Do you always clean the Betrayer¡¯s statue?¡±

    ¡°Nobody else does,¡± Halari explained, stowing the rag and water.

    ¡°Cause he¡¯s supposed to rot,¡± Viria declared. ¡°¡¯He who would ruined the world shall never know comfort again. He shall know only the dark of death and the cold of isolation.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Book of Jomens, chapter seven,¡± Halari said. ¡°You¡¯re really gonna quote that to me?¡±

    ¡°You could use a little religion,¡± Viria giggled. ¡°Instead of harassing the priests maybe a little worship to the saviors would do some good.¡±

    ¡°Our priests shouldn¡¯t be such wastesludge,¡± Halari sighed. ¡°That Vault needs to be opened.¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯re gonna do it?¡± Viria asked, actual fear in her bright silver eyes. ¡°Hala, that would be heresy. You¡¯re not actually try to do that right?¡±

    Halari wilted at her sister¡¯s concern.

    ¡°No,¡± she huffed. ¡°No, I won¡¯t do anything rash.¡± She eyed the Betrayer¡¯s defeated statue. Maybe.

 Chapter Two: Ignite- Halari

    Stargazer¡¯s Quarry

    Halari sighed down at the basket of ashbuds and tams sitting in front of the door to her home. She¡¯d almost tripped over the damn thing while leaving to take her crawler into the garage for some maintenance.

    ¡°Oooo those are Abevo¡¯s colors.¡± Viria whistled in appreciation. ¡°Looks like he really went all out.¡±

    ¡°He sure did,¡± Halari sighed. ¡°You want ¡®em?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Viria slapped her on the shoulder. ¡°You know what they for, right?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not getting dinner with him,¡± Halari said, pushing the basket of food into her sister¡¯s hands. ¡°He¡¯s a brute. Barely anything more than a hammer with a brain.¡±

    ¡°And one of the more talented smiths that the quarry has.¡± Viria scowled at her but picked one the plump tams from the basket and took a bite. ¡°Pada would be overjoyed if you married into that smithing crew.¡±

    Halari grunted and stepped outside. ¡°Find me somebody that actually can keep up outside and then we can talk.¡±

    Viria blew a raspberry and retreated into the house, basket of failed romantic fruits in hand. Halari crunched across the barren gravel path to her trawler, stretching some of her sleepy limbs awake.

    She patted the vehicle fondly before sidling into seat and kicking the ignition into gear. Its revved, revved again with a startling choking noise, then finally came to life like an old man rousing from a near-fatal nap.

    ¡°Come on now,¡± she whispered, pumping the brake pedal three times for good luck. ¡°Just get to the garage and I¡¯ll do the rest. We have big things to do today.¡±

    Finesse was the name of the game here. Halari touched, barely tickled the throttle until her ol¡¯ reliable finally inched forward across the dark path.

    The garage wasn¡¯t far away, just a couple of winding streets over. It was tucked into the side of a tam farm, the owners of which had enough space next to their chemical storage for mechanical equipment. So long as she kept it clean and brought back some organic scrap every once in a while, it was all hers.

    She pulled into the open space and closed the rolling door behind her. With a click on the panel under the steering bar, the front of the trawler hissed open.

    ¡°Alright what¡¯s wrong, sis?¡± Halari circled around and stooped over the guts of her machine. The glow from the Charge cycler was dim, but at forty five percent that was expected.

    What she didn¡¯t expect was the light corroding around the cycler¡¯s dispersion frame.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Halari groaned. It was almost the worst possible thing to happen, short of a full core-to-cycler forceful interruption. ¡°Good thing I got up early.¡±

    She grabbed the necessary materials from the shelves nearby, cringing inside at their loss. Months of scrounging, scrapping, and dismantling gone in a moment just because the chassis wanted to be a bitch.

    The rolling door ground open ten minutes later, as she tightened a joint up with a welding torch. The flame, a brilliant amethyst in hue, was steady, almost comforting.

    Halari didn¡¯t turn around to greet the intruder; the smell of miner¡¯s grease and metal was all too familiar.

    ¡°Tel,¡± she said, flicking the torch off and trading it for a grinder sheet, not even looking at her brother, ¡°aren¡¯t you supposed to be in the mines today?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with wanting to spend time with my little sister?¡± Telero stepped into the garage, she heard his mining gear clinking softly.

    Halari rolled her eyes under her welding mask. ¡°How long is the sermon?¡±

    Nothing for a moment, then a subdued: ¡°Not too long.¡±

    ¡°Viri told you she saw me cleaning the Betrayer¡¯s statue a few days ago, didn¡¯t she?¡± Halari turned to him, lifting the mask so he would hopefully see the annoyance on her face.

    She knew he wouldn¡¯t though, Telero was about as emotionally intelligent as a piece of coal.

    ¡°She mentioned it,¡± he said, smiling a little too broadly. ¡°I just want to make sure your soul is safe and sound, Hala. Is that so bad?¡±

    ¡°Get it over with,¡± she sighed. ¡°You¡¯ve got ¡®til I finish up this last frame.¡±

    ¡°So all day, then?¡± Tel said, winking at her. ¡°Fantastic.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck, sludgeball.¡± Halari smacked her mask down and flicked the torch back on. ¡°Go on, I know you¡¯ve been reciting it all day.¡±

    ¡°The Book of Jomen states¡­¡± Telero began speaking in full priest volume, and Halari immediately wondered how the torch would feel on her ears. ¡°that not only did the Tyranical Betrayer, the Burning Villain, the Perfect Deceiver, fail his mission to unite the world under the Great Dragon, he warped his charter into something¡­ insulting. Vile. So much so that his god draconic ordered the death of his once-favorite. A fallen Champion whom¡­!¡±

    This looks good enough. Halari scrutinized her weld as her brother carried on behind her. She couldn¡¯t really hear him over the torch, but he sure sounded passionate.

    She finished up her metalwork and began packing up her tools. The weld would hold for her trip today, but some gentler handling might be in order.

    ¡°¡­so, sweet, sweet Hala,¡± Telero finished, ¡°I must ask, why did you clean the statue?¡±

    ¡°Because it was dirty,¡± Halari said, shutting her tool cabinet and turning to him with a cheeky smile.

    Telero sagged. ¡°You didn¡¯t hear a word I said did you?¡±

    ¡°You sounded very devout,¡± Halari said, patting her brother on the arm. He was taller than her by a little over a head and almost a spitting image of their father, minus a difference in hair color. ¡°The Melokide would be moved by your speech.¡±

    ¡°You could at least try to show some respect.¡± Telero pinched the bridge of his nose.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got enough for both my soul, your soul, and Viri¡¯s.¡± Halari saddled onto the trawler and revved it up quickly. It sounded better, with an ignition roar that was more like a cough to clear the pipes. ¡°I feel pretty good about my chances.¡±

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    ¡°Where are you going exactly?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Out.¡± Halari hit the accelerated and rolled past him. ¡°I¡¯ll be back tonight, try to work on a better speech.¡±

    She passed out of the thin woods and into the first blocks of Atlara, the Ruined City. The buildings were relatively short, still looming with long shadows, but not like the leviathan towers further inside the wall.

    And they were absolutely nothing to gawk at when the Spire existed. Even miles away, Halari saw it scratching the black clouds.

    She stalled the trawler and grabbed her chip-chopper along with her rifle, looping both over her shoulders. This area was clearer than the rest, but the occasional mantile sometimes liked to wander a little far from their nests, especially if they heard an engine.

    ¡°One, two,¡± Halari counted the buildings, stopping in front of the fifth after the third intersection. She proudly looked on her previous efforts, just three months of breaking down doors had gotten her a little more than a tenth of the way from the black, rocky wastes to the wall. ¡°You¡¯re all mine today.¡±

    The building wasn¡¯t special, one-story and solid all around. No windows. She made out some letters on the dark plastic, like a ghost of a word.

    ¡°Piarmy?¡± Halari cocked her head and squinted. What that an ¡®H¡¯ or an ¡®I¡¯? ¡°Pharmy?¡± She shrugged, then stepped up to the door and placed her palm against its smooth surface.

    Most doors, old as they were, usually had a spot soft enough for the spike end of her chipchopper to pierce and get to work. Whatever material were made of took hours to actually breath through, so finding that spot was essential.

    And this door¡­ didn¡¯t have one. It actually felt stronger, more reinforced, like the surface was more of a shell for the normal door underneath.

    ¡°What¡¯re you hiding?¡± Halari mused to the portal. ¡°What¡¯s in there for me?¡± She tapped the spike of her tool to the metal, weighing her options.

    It might take the hours she normally spent getting into a standard door to just dent this one. She could charge the chipchopper and superheat the point, but if there ended up being nothing inside, that would be a whole Charged cell wasted.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be back,¡± she whispered to the Pharmy. Whatever that meant.

    The unlabeled, two-story building across the street was much more agreeable and her first strike with the chipchopper took a satisfying chunk out of the door. She got to work, keeping an ear out behind her for mantiles.

    They were sneaky fiends, and she¡¯d heard plenty of stories to always keep her hairs on end while in city limits. Old Bear said they¡¯d creep up, horrifically quiet despite their chitinous mass, only to let their bloodlust get the better of them and make them chitter before striking.

    ¡°¡®Duck and run,¡¯¡± Halari recited, cracking away at the door as she remembered Bear¡¯s croaky advice. ¡°¡®Cocky buggers will just stare at you if they miss. Like they can¡¯t believe it.¡¯¡±

    It took two hours to make a hole large enough for her arm to slip inside and fumble around for the rotating lock. She grinned at the click of success.

    The door slid open enough to get her fingers in the gap and she pulled it sideways. The inside was completely dark, but a quick click to her shoulder light brought some definition to the room.

    Like most of the buildings on this street, it was mostly empty. The floor was open, but the walls were lined with shelves. Halari flicked her eyes up to the ceiling, looking for bubbly patches plastered to corners. Mantile eggs meant a mother was nearby.

    She sighed a little in relief seeing nothing but dust webs and crept forward.

    ¡°Empty,¡± Halari whispered dejectedly, peeking into one of the strange cubical cubbies on the wall. ¡°Empty, empty, emp¡ª¡± Her light glinted off something on a shelf near her knees. She crouched and grabbed the item, a good-sized glass bottle filled with a clear liquid.

    ¡°¡®Drake Blood,¡¯¡± she read off the preserved label. ¡°Worshipping the Great Dragon doesn¡¯t have to be boring.¡± And in smaller print. ¡°¡®Also useful as a medical tonic in extreme cases.¡¯ Now that¡¯s gotta be worth something.¡± She tucked it into her satchel.

    It was the only thing worth finding in the building, minus some slips of silvery paper that appeared in a lot of other places she looted.

    Three buildings, two water bottles, and a white glare dipping under the horizon marked the end of her hunt for tradeable loot. Halari stepped out of her last search zone and stretched in the cool evening air.

    Her bag was full enough, she could definitely barter up with the right people for some goods, but there wasn¡¯t any big prize to be happy about.

    And definitely nothing to restart the tradelines with the people at Scrag Fort.

    Halari loaded up the trawler and just as she stepped on to rev her up, noise drifted across the breeze between blocks.

    Voices. They were faint, indecipherable, but unmistakable compared to the silence of the city.

    She froze for a moment, then immediately flicked off her shoulder light before stealing across the road towards the noise. Nobody was supposed to be out here and absolutely not near the night.

    Lights swung and flashed between the gaps of the buildings, just one street over. Halari crouched behind some rubble and held her breath as the group, four by the count of the beams.

    And one of those voices¡­

    She peered over the rubble to get as good a look as she could without being spotted. She figured copper hair in a black city stood out, so she found a gap the debris that gave her a vantage.

    That¡¯s¡­ the priest? Halari squinted at the Melokide leader, followed by his usual crew of two bodyguards, but there was another one she couldn¡¯t make out. What¡¯s he doing her¡ª

    One of the black-robed henchmen shifted, revealing their fourth member.

    Telero.

    Halari gasped, then slammed her hand over her mouth, praying that it wasn¡¯t too loud. The party paused and looked around, flashing their light over windows and into alleys. She barely managed to duck behind her cover before one light beam swung over the viewing space.

    ¡°Are we sure this area is clear, Kelot?¡± That was Tel¡¯s voice. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of some fiends that roam these ruins.¡±

    ¡°We are safe, initiate,¡± the head priest, Kelot, said. Halari¡¯s brows raised in surprise. Nobody at home knew the man¡¯s name; it was supposed to be a high honor to become so familiar with the Melokide. ¡°They made it clear that this street would be ready for our arrival.¡±

    Who are they talking about? Halari peeked again when the light moved off her spot. They set full rucksacks down on the street, then stood around them in a semicircle. One of the lesser priests aimed his light up and began waving it in a pattern.

    Like a beacon. Halari readied her rifle and chambered a round with the slowest bolting action she could manage. Something about this whole situation put her hairs on end.

    All was quiet for far too long. The white glare of the sun dropped under the horizon and the world went dark.

    Then, she heard them coming.

    At first she thought that mantiles were on the hunt. Gurgling, fluttering wheezes like the beats of  insect wings in a puddle whispered out from the darkness down the road where Halari picked out vague shapes approaching. They moved stiffly, like each step was an attempt to break free of deep mud.

    There were five of them. Each was tall, and the thick yellow wrappings they wore from head to toe made them look unnaturally large. She couldn¡¯t see their faces as they wore yellow masks under deep hoods, each one with a fat canister attached horizontally at the mouth.

    They staggered up to the pile of rucksacks in a cluster and said nothing.

    ¡°As agreed,¡± Kelot said, gesturing to the rucksacks. His voice trembled slightly addressing the outsiders. ¡°Please, take a look.¡±

    Halari had seen the man proud, even pompous, and especially condescending. But never scared.

    Who were these people?

    The tallest stranger knelt down and opened one of the sacks, then reached in. He pulled out a canister that Halari knew all too well. The sight of it filled her with heat, rage, and a desire to attack.

    Ashbuds. The canister was full of ashbuds.

    Judging by the size of the bags, Telero and his beloved priests were giving these strangers almost half a harvest¡¯s worth of food.

    ¡°One. Month,¡± the lead yellow man rasped. His voice sounded like his breath, ragged and soggy.

    ¡°Last time it was half a year,¡± Kelot protested. ¡°This is the same amount, I swear.¡±

    ¡°One. Month!¡± The strangers grew visibly agitated, shifting from foot to foot and twitching their fingers. ¡°Bring more!¡± Without another word, the leader grabbed a bag and walked away. His party followed suit, taking their bounty and retreating back into the night.

    ¡°Can we afford another month?¡± Telero asked. Halari could tell he was putting on a brave front, but she knew his voice well enough to hear his worry.

    ¡°All will be well, initiate,¡± Kelot said, folding his hands in that manner he did when speaking down to the people. ¡°Trust in the Great Dragon. Now come, let¡¯s return to the Quarry.¡±

    Halari watched them go, barely holding her anger. They really were stealing! They were paying those freaks off at the cost of the people!

    That¡¯s it! She needed to get back, start planning. Her words to Viria be damned, religion be damned, she needed to get into the Vault.

    She needed to help her people.

 Chapter Three: Necessity- Halari

    Halari held her breath, scissors quivering as she moved them closer to the berry¡¯s stem. The little black fruit was glossy, like a bead of tar or a drop of rain about to fall from a corner.

    Unlike those, however, these berries were a bit more terrifying. She breathed slow through her nose, chin tilted down towards her. No need for a stray drop of moisture to hit the berry and make this more difficult than it had to be.

    The little fruits, she called them dozerpops, were an effective sedative. She¡¯d seen a whole bistag topple over to sleep just seconds after eating one from the stem on a dry evening.

    She¡¯d also seen one blow a cute, little dust bunny¡¯s face off when it took a bite during a rainy afternoon. Through some reckless experiments, Halari discovered that applying pressure to a berry produced some light fizzling. Add water to the pressure and they exploded.

    Halari clipped a couple dozerpops off the main plant body and wrapped them in a dry rag, which she stashed in pocket at the side of her satchel. She rose, brushing herself off and stretching her sore legs.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get these home,¡± she muttered, patting her bag gently. She was not too far from the edge of this small grove and her waste crawler sat just outside the tree line.

    She turned and took one step, then froze at the sound of light, wet fluttering just behind her. Halari spun, rifle coming up with its barrel pointed deeper into the woods. She searched, breaths heaving, for a glimpse of yellow in the trees, some sign that those freaks were around. Hunting her.

    A large beetle, roughly the size of her fist, crawled around a nearby tree trunk into her view, then fluttered again, spraying its warning oil out in a fan.

    ¡°Oh my¡­¡± Halari relaxed with a deep sigh, lowering her gun. She glared at the beetle. ¡°Betrayer burn you, asshole. Scared the shit out of me.¡± It buzzed at her in return before fluttering off.

    In the two nights since the trade off, those golden figures and their haunting breaths had invaded her dreams, turning the best ones sour. She shivered, recalling last night¡¯s vision where she¡¯d just been riding on her trawler, content in the black wilds, before the engines failed with the noise of that fluttering wheeze. The ground turned yellow, horrible and sick, and she¡¯d sunk into it, all while the wind mimicked those freaks¡¯ breaths before she was swallowed in gold.

    Waking to a cold, soaked pillow and shaky arms was an equally unpleasant experience.

    Halari shook herself free of the nightmare and trekked back to her vehicle, but she made sure to shoot another nasty look over her shoulder to where she thought the beetle flew as she passed the tree line. Her trawler¡¯s engine thankfully roared, not wheezed, to life and she rolled off back to the Quarry on secure, unchanging black rock.

    She tried to avoid Telero, who was cleaning his mine tools in the front yard of their home. The sight of him brought an ich to her skin she couldn¡¯t scratch or salve, but he looked happy to see her, even waving her  with oily fingers.

    Please don¡¯t talk to me, she begged, not trusting herself to keep from snapping at him. Halari did her best not to scowl at the traitor, instead she forced a sharp nod before going inside and heading straight for her room.

    She put the dozerpop berries on her windowsill to dry off in the day¡¯s light, then plopped onto her bed and began to disassemble her rifle.

    Poor thing was dirty, especially the barrel and trigger mechanism, both of which had some powder buildup. She slid the bolt out completely and placed it on her bed, then began on the trigger assembly.

    Then somebody knocked on her door.

    Halari groaned. Only one person in the house knocked with two quick taps. Of course, he wanted to bother her today.

    ¡°Yes, Pada?¡± She turned her attention back to her gun as her father walked into the room.

    ¡°Well, good afternoon to you too,¡± Fedro said, snark matching hers. ¡°I heard that monster of yours roll in and realized that it¡¯s been a couple days since we¡¯ve had a good talk.¡±

    Fedro was a taller man, about the height of his eldest, and sharp in features, much like a good pickaxe in the mines. He sometimes, rarely really, joked how grateful he was that Halari inherited her mother¡¯s softer features. His recessive hair tone, which had once been a dark green like hers, was grayed, giving his dark blonde top a metallic sheen.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been busy, Pada,¡± Halari said, dabbing at a stubborn streak of grime on a part of her rifle. ¡°Viri told me about that shaft collapse.¡±

    ¡°Yeah that was a bad day,¡± Fedro grunted, then settled down on to her desk.

    Oh great dragon he actually wants to talk, Halari realized with a soft sigh.

    ¡°So¡­¡± Fedro said. ¡°Find anything interesting out there?¡±

    Halari almost gave him the usual ¡®cool rocks¡¯ or ¡®unusual stick,¡¯ but she caught herself and snapped her head up to look at him. She had found something interesting out there. But could she tell him?

    If I can¡¯t trust my own Pada, I can¡¯t trust anybody. Halari stared at her father, who was looking back with a mildy confused expression, probably caught off guard by the lack of her normal indifference.

    ¡°Can you close the door, please?¡± Halari asked, setting aside her gun parts. ¡°I need to tell you something.¡±

    Fedro, confusion becoming concern on his sharp face, obliged. Only when the latch clicked close, did Halari dare to speak and only in a low voice just above a whisper.

    ¡°It¡¯s about¡­ Tel,¡± she started. Fedro perked up and crossed his arms.

    ¡°I¡¯m listening,¡± he said.

    ¡°I was out in the city,¡± she said, ¡°and¡ª"

    ¡°Hala, I don¡¯t want to know about your little heretical excursions,¡± Fedro interrupted with a dismissing wave of his hand.

    ¡°I know I know I know,¡± Halari huffed, ¡°but please, just listen. It¡¯s important. Please.¡±

    Something in her must have softened him, because, not without a huffing sigh of reluctance, Fedro relented. ¡°Fine.¡±

    ¡°I was out in the city, looking for things to trade when the lines restart,¡± Halari explained. She was somewhat happy to get this out as keeping it in with no idea who to tell was grinding on her attitude. ¡°Just as I was about to leave, I heard voices, which I followed. Pada¡­¡± She leaned forward for emphasis, getting more animated with each breath. ¡°I saw the head priest and his followers. Tel was with them. They were making a delivery to some outsiders, giving our food to them. They¡¯ve been lying about everything.¡±

    She stopped to give her father a chance to register all of it. It was a big reveal, city-changing if it got into the right ears.           Fedro nodded slowly. Did he believe her? He was always so steady like the rock they mined.

    He spoke after a long moment. ¡°Have you told this to anyone else?¡±

    What? That was not the question she expected. She imagined he might be angry first at the accusation against her own family, but he looked¡­ uncomfortable more than anything.

    ¡°Nobody else,¡± Halari said. ¡°I thought about telling Old Bear, but now I¡¯m thinking it might be better coming from you.¡±

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    ¡°Don¡¯t mention this to anybody,¡± Fedro said, sterner than average. ¡°Ever, do you understand?¡±

    ¡°Wha¡­? But Pada, this is important,¡± Halari said. ¡°If it gets in the right hands, we can fi¡ª¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Fedro raised a rugged palm and cut her off. ¡°Nobody, are we clear? You¡¯ll cause more trouble than you end up fixing.¡±

    Halari lost her words. What was he thinking? This kind of leverage over the Melokide was invaluable, why shouldn¡¯t she tell everybody? Why did he look so worried?

    She saw the truth in his eyes, in that look of hope that she¡¯d let this one go¡­ and it made her blood boil.

    ¡°You knew, didn¡¯t you?¡± she asked, standing up from her bed with balled fists. ¡°You knew about this! They¡¯re giving away our¡ª"

    ¡°Keep your voice down,¡± Fedro said. ¡°Things are very delicate right now, and if you go around shouting about this, you¡¯ll make it worse.¡±

    There weren¡¯t any words for this. Halari felt like a live wire hovering a millimeter above a puddle, buzzing with malintent and anger.

    So I can¡¯t even trust Pada, she thought.

    ¡°Who knows?¡± she asked.

    ¡°All the major city leaders,¡± Fedro said. ¡°They made contact last year and to prevent panic or war¡­ we decided to play it close to the chest.¡±

    ¡°And they are?¡±

    Fedro sighed. ¡°They¡¯re from the north, east or west, we don¡¯t know. They demanded we give them food, or they¡¯d destroy us.¡±

    ¡°And you just what?¡± Halari spat. She didn¡¯t even look at him. ¡°Took them at word?¡±

    ¡°We didn¡¯t want to risk it,¡± Fedro said. ¡°We¡¯re not fighters anymore, we¡¯re miners. My granpada could¡¯ve handled this, but not me. Or you. So just hold this to yourself for now.¡±

    ¡°Pada,¡± Halari sighed, ¡°we need the foam that their using to pay off that blackmail.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not happening, Hala,¡± Fedro said firmly. ¡°Not until we figure something else out.¡± He stood, signaling that the conversation was over. ¡°Don¡¯t talk about this to anybody.¡±

    Halari scoffed and turned away from him, already arranging the next steps of her plan. Her resolve was harder now than just minutes before, like clay in an oven.

    Fedro walked out without another word.

    The dozerpops took twelve minutes to cook on a hot plate while wrapped in foil. Then, she ground them up in a small bowl and applied a singular drop of water to the powder, making paste. This little method she¡¯d figure out through some more reckless experiments that her whole family would¡¯ve chewed her out for. In all fairness, it had almost cost her a finger trying to figure out the correct amount of water to use.

    Halari applied the paste to a few darts. She usually used them and her sling to hunt smaller game, but today she pulled out the heavier duty projectiles with longer needles.

    Long enough to pierce several layers of clothing if needed.

    The gray was fading from charcoal to void when she slipped out in her darkest hunting outfit and circled around the back of home.

    I¡¯ll hug the cliff wall, she planned, heading for the rocky face, out of range of any nighttime workers.

    ¡°And where are you going?¡± a light voice whispered from the dark hugging the rear of the house. Viria flicked on her flashlight under her face, casting her soft features in strange shadows. ¡°Definitely not somewhere stupid, right?¡±

    ¡°How¡¯d you know?¡±

    Viria gave her the most poignant, ¡®are you for real¡¯ face Halari had ever seen on her sister.

    ¡°Are you going to get in my way?¡± Halari asked.

    Her sister scowled. ¡°Only if you don¡¯t let me come with you.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Halari said, shaking her head. ¡°My whole plan works on being alone and moving quickly.¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯ve gotta get Pada,¡± Viria said. They stared at each other for a quiet moment; only the sound of idle mining equipment and the ambient thrum of the Great Tanks filled the space between them.

    ¡°Just¡­¡± Halari thought fast. ¡°Just give me an hour. Then, call all the cavalry you want, wake the whole city if you want. Just let me fix this, please.¡±

    Viria¡¯s face scrunched up like it usually did when she thought about her breakfast decisions: ashbuds or older ashbuds.

    ¡°One hour, Hala,¡± she said after a minute. ¡°Then we are storming that damn place to get you back. And then I¡¯m letting Pada rip you a new one.¡±

    ¡°I better get moving then,¡± Halari whispered. She dashed off, protected by the dark of the cliff from poorly timed night owls and their keen eyes.

    The Center crept over the tops of the shorter buildings like an angry parent loomed over their child. Halari weaved between houses, slipped through yards, and even got close to the edge facing the Ruins of Atlara on her way to the rear end of the building.

    The Betrayer knelt before her, his polearm weapon pointing up to the exact spot where a well-placed climbing hook avoided the outside cameras. She¡¯d spotted this leaving the Betrayer¡¯s statue one day months ago and only for a moment fantasized the exact thing she was doing now.

    Rigghhhtt there. Halari tossed her four-prong hook and rope up to the corner, giving it a couple tugs to test its security. When it held, she knotted it around her waist and planted one foot on the wall.

    And began to climb.

    It was an easy ascent. The manufactured walls of the Center were nothing to some of the jagged cliff faces outside the Quarry, especially the ones she scaled sometimes to grab the occasional vulturix egg.

    She wasn¡¯t even panting when she crested the edge, and she sat down to pull it up. She drew her slender sling shot from its place on her belt and loaded up a dozer dart into the pad. She had five, but any guards more than that and low ammo would be the least of her worries.

    The Center¡¯s dome side had a large, open slot on its face. She knew that the man who first snuck into the place used this same method, but after their rather¡­ macabre display of his results, nobody in the Quarry helped them fortify.

    So, open it remained, only protected by reputation and fear. Halari crept around the circle, back to the metal of its lid, with slow, measured steps. She didn¡¯t commit to move without sliding her heel and checking.

    The opening faced the Quarry and was set into the dome with its bottom edge at about her hips. She¡¯d have to climb over it to get in.

    Halari peeked around the nearest edge of the slot and into the Center proper. It was an enclosed room, with one door leading into the next part of the building opposite the main gate. There was a large, cylindrical console of technology just below her that looked incomplete, as if some large object was supposed to fit into those grooves at the top of it. On the edges, there were more screens and buttons, most of which were inactive or idling with light purple screensavers.

    And there was just one guard.

    Who was already asleep at his post, snoring lightly with his head leaned back on the rest.

    Are you fucking kidding me? Halari gawked at either their complete stupidity or extreme hubris. Did they really think they had the people so cowed that their ¡°security¡± could sleep on the job?

    Then again, they did. Even her own father showed obeisance at their words, by the Betrayer, her brother worked for and worshipped them! Halari set her jaw and raised her slingshot, aiming at the careless guard¡¯s chest.

    She loosed and the dart flew¡­ right into the man¡¯s head rest at ear level. The guard twitched in his slumber, but didn¡¯t open his eyes.

    Holding a growl, Halari nocked another dart and aimed. It wasn¡¯t the most accurate tool, but she need its quiet and hard-to-notice ammunition. She lined up carefully, adjusting off her last miss and shot again.

    This dart struck square into his gut, and he jerked awake, looking around for whatever had stung him. The dozerpop¡¯s sedative took effect quickly. The guard¡¯s head dropped back on to the chair and his eyelids closed.

    Sucker. Halari hooked her rope onto the bottom lip of the slot, tossed her rope down, and swung her leg over.

    She was in.

    Her feet touched down softly with barely a tap onto the metal floor.

    Now where? She hadn¡¯t actually planned farther than this. Where would the Melokide hide the foam. The space only had the one other door besides the main gate. Maybe that way?

    She paced around the central console, spying a ruby red button glowing next an empty section of the console that looked suspiciously like a door.

    ¡°That¡¯s definitely a don¡¯t touch button,¡± Halari whispered. She flipped its safety lid and pressed it a few times.

    Nothing happened. Probably because of the little keyhole immediately next to it that she hadn¡¯t noticed in her haste. Halari sighed heavily and drifted over to the unconscious guard; the sedative was so effective that his snoring was gone.

    She rifled through his robes, finding his boltshot, which she stuffed into her belt, a half-eaten tam and grain bar, and a small loop of string attached to a fob which looked like it fit exactly into the hole.

    One turn of the inserted key later and the button began to blink. When she pressed it this time, that section of the console wall slid open, revealing a dimly lit compartment with a panel of buttons at the back.

    A lift. Halari hesitated at the threshold of the elevator. Wherever this went, when she came back up, things would not be the same. She¡¯d either be savior of the town or a new cautionary tale. I made it all this way. Can¡¯t turn back now.

    She stepped into the lift.

 Chapter Four: The Vault- Halari

    The button at the bottom of the panel had another keyhole identical to the one outside. So, obviously that was the floor she needed. Another flick and press closed the lift door behind her, trapping inside. It shuddered lightly as its descent began and a tiny light appeared at the top of the button panel, then began to fall at a slow, steady pace.

    She was going down. Far down.

    Halari panted as the lift rattled down into the world under the Center. She clenched her hands into fists to keep the trembling of her fingers from becoming into full out shaking, but that moved to her knees when it couldn¡¯t take her hands.

    What am I doing? She eyed the light as it carved its way down the line toward the circle at the bottom. ¡°This is crazy, Halari, this is absolutely insane,¡± she whispered to the empty box carrying into what very well could be Hell.

    The indicator light of her journey reached the last eighth of its path.

    She drew a light bar and her hunting knife just before the light hit the circle at the very bottom. In her sweating fingers, the fabric-wrapped hilt became damp and slick, but her white knuckles held the weapon secure in a death grip.

    The lift stopped with a whisper and a small jolt.

    And then the door opened.

    Halari snapped into an attacking stance, lightbar out in one hand out defensively, knife ready for a stab with its point to the entrance.

    Only darkness met her when the portal opened fully. She squinted her eyes into gloom. The lift¡¯s ambient light reflected off metal on both sides and a few inches of dark, metallic floor.

    Some kind of hallway, she realized, stepping out tentatively. With a series of clicks and snaps, lights overhead activated, revealing her surroundings in full. The passage walls were comprised of metal panels, large squares that rose from floor to ceiling and lead towards something hidden in shadow further down the walkway.

    The ones on her left were blank, perfectly reflective and without blemish. The panels on her right were carved with images of such intricacy and detail that only the Flames¡¯ old magicks could have crafted them.

    ¡°Wowww,¡± Halari whispered, stepping to the first, a full relief of a what appeared to be a magnificent city. Something right out of the old legends.

    Halari traced her eyes over the city, noting the humanoid figure who hovered between the top of the tallest tower and an ominous storm cloud. The shape of the building looked familiar¡­

    ¡°It¡¯s the Spire,¡± she whispered, lightly brushing the image with her fingertips. ¡°This has to be Atlara before the Departure.¡±

    She moved to the next panel. There appeared to be six of them in total before that darker part of the hallway. This one showed a tall humanoid standing before a throne, while five others with crown icons above them knelt before him. The throne itself was detailed with adornments and textures, but the people were featureless, barely more than outlines.

    The third showed a fight. The man from before, she assumed, stood over another man in full armor with his foot on the warrior¡¯s chest. His sword was raised high, and a bolt of lightning was carved behind him.

    The fourth was rather¡­ vague. Halari stopped in front of it and cocked her head as she studied the relief. The person stood with hands out while six objects hovered in an arc around him. She could make out a sword, but the others were just kind of jagged shapes.

    She moved to the fifth, which was another battle, but marcher large in scale. To the right, an army of men and large vehicles, some with strange, long noses protruding from the front, stood underneath an ominous cloud.

    The opposing army stood under a grand sun, and great beasts stood with the soldiers. Six figures stood in the cloud over the shrouded army, but only one rose above the other force.

    The last panel was placed by the door. It wasn¡¯t shrouded in darkness at all; the metal was so dark and irreflective that it gave the illusion of being unlit.

    Halari froze, fear returning as she studied the thick metal slab that could be nothing other than the lock of the Vault.

    Just a crank handle? She looped her lightbar around her neck so that it dangled like a necklace, then reached out with trembling fingers to the crank.

    The last image¡­ maybe it has a clue of what I¡¯m about to find. She looked to the panel.

    It didn¡¯t.

    Instead, set into a square cut out was a key. It was a large item with a straight, rectangular bitting. There was no hole in the crank, but she took the key anyways.

    Maybe it¡¯s to get out if you get locked in?

    She grabbed the handle of the crank latch. The metal  was cold under her fingers; its sharp sensation brought with it the reality of what she was doing.

    Go back. Turn away. Her fingers stayed on the handle and even started to pull. It¡¯s not like after millennia this thing¡¯ll even work anyways.

    The crank smoothly made an entire half-rotation without even a hint of decay or blockage.

    Damn. Halari began to crank. Mechanisms in the door clinked and clunked where they lay hidden in the wall and the heavy gate, unlatching and turning the massive tumblers that kept the door shut.

    Six full rotations was all it took.

    The door shifted as it was disconnected from its frame. Halari raised her knife and placed her palm on the cool metal, then pushed. It moved without a groan or grind and opened into another void.

    Air moved into the dark, sucked in like a vacuum.

    No lights flicked on this time, so Halari spun the dial on her bar, but it only showed more of the silent shadow. She took a step in.

    Her light showed no markings on the Vault¡¯s walls or floor¡­ until about three steps in where a curving groove in the floor stretched out.

    She crossed the line with a confused glance, making her way seven full steps into the structure. Then, her foot kicked something on the ground.

    A rock? Halari looked down and yelped as she locked gazes with a skull. She panickily twisted her lightbar¡¯s dial, casting even greater light into her surroundings.

    Her breath caught at the sight of a full set of bones, all black and charred as if set burned in the hottest furnace. Dread set into her skin; those empty eye sockets in the skull begged her to run.

    I did not come all this way for a tomb, she insisted, gritting her teeth and looking away from the morbid gaze. She only saw the one set as she moved further inside.

    It was so quiet that the rhythmic sound of her breath annoyed her. It was too heavy, terrified, so she breathed in and out like she did before pulling the trigger on a prize piece of game. It worked too. Her heart slowed, pumping a new dose of courage into her body and shaky legs.

    Until she heard something move in the dark. The sound of rattling metal shifting in front of her reduced the world to her lightbar and the area of danger.

    She froze, squinting into the direction of the noise, but seeing and hearing nothing else. Light glinted off something metallic on the floor nearby.

    Halari made her way over cautiously, eyes flicking in all directions as her danger sense went crazy. Each hair on her neck stood on end, trying their absolute best to crawl out of her skin.

    She found a cylinder of metal, like the top end of a stake planted in the ground, standing at about shin height. Attached to it was the first link of a massive chain that led into dark.

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    She moved past it, seeing the second one.

    Then the third.

    Then the fourth.

    Halari followed the immense links into the dark and felt terror rear its head in her belly.

    Go back. Her traitorous feet pulled her forward. Turn around, only death is at the end of this. Go¡ª The links led her on for a dozen or so numb paces until her lightbar revealed the shoe.

    It looked normal. Halari inched closer, eyes glued to the foot incase it moved. Her light crawled up to show the leg of black pants, then a belt.

    Halari steeled herself for another corpse as her light ascended past its silver buckle, but the illumination reflected off skin. Fair, healthy skin. Her jaw dropped as the man came into full view.

    Wrists manacled together at the end of the chain, the man sat with his back against the farthest wall of the Vault. His head slumped to the side as if asleep in the most comfortable position he could manage.

    Is he¡­? No. Halari watched his chest rise and fall in steady rhythm. She crouched down next to him, spotting her missing keyhole on the man¡¯s restraints.

    Halari poked him on the cheek. His hair, a dull golden color with a dead sheen, fluttered from a huge breath she had been holding and now exhaled. He looked young, no older than his mid-twenties.

    He did not stir.

    ¡°H-hey,¡± she said, poking the sleeping man again. A prisoner, she realized, chain and manacles clicking together in meaning. ¡°Hey, can you hear me?¡±

    She snapped her fingers by his nose and poked him harder on the cheek.

    The man¡¯s eyes slid open like a serpent¡¯s and fixed on her.

    Halari¡¯s fight or flight response shorted out like a bad engine circuit, like a pickaxe shattering its pointy end on a stubborn ore , and she tensed, coiling in terror. The man had eyes unlike any she¡¯d ever seen.

    The dull, unfocused, red and purple irises glued her to the spot, almost hypnotic in their effect, while his diamond-slitted pupils seemed to dive straight into her soul.

    When he did not move, Halari steadied herself with a couple short breaths that bordered on hyperventilation.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± she whispered, trying to speak in a disarming way. Like a dustbunny squeaked when it came face to face with a predator. ¡°Can you talk?¡± The man said nothing, just stared at her blankly.

    Great, all this way for just a man who isn¡¯t even lucid. The irritation trickled in past her fear and she sighed. Well, I¡¯m not leaving empty-handed. She drew the no-longer-mysterious key from her belt and put in the keyhole. Her eyes stayed on the man¡¯s as his stayed on hers.

    If he was excited to be finally free after who knows how long, she did not see it in his face. His expression did not change at all.

    After a half turn in the keyhole, the locking mechanism clicked and the chain connected to his shackles fell away, but the restraints on his wrists did not move.

    ¡°Maybe that¡¯s better, anyways,¡± Halari whispered. She stood and tugged on the manacles to draw the man up with her, but he didn¡¯t move. ¡°Come on now, work with me. I¡¯m trying to get you out of here.¡± She pulled harder, hoping he understood.

    The man, still blank faced, rose awkwardly, shifting his legs like he didn¡¯t remember how to move them in the best way to get up. He was taller than her, but not imposing, and his posture was that of a man who had not stood in a very long time.

    ¡°This way,¡± Halari said softly, pulling him with her towards the Vault door. He blinked, finally focusing on her, and for a moment she thought he was going to speak, but he said nothing.

    He followed her to the Vault door without a word, but when Halari crossed into the hallway, he stopped dead on the threshold and refused to move anymore.

    Halari yanked on the manacles uselessly; he did not budge, standing with much more weight than it looked like he actually had. Trying to pull him forward was like trying to pull a tree out of the rock.

    ¡°We¡¯re almost there,¡± Halari said. ¡°I promise, I¡¯m getting you out of here.¡± She forced herself to meet his eyes, steeling herself for his unnaturally serpentine pupils. He was scared, she saw it. She wondered if he even knew if this was real. ¡°Just another step.¡±

    The man stepped into the hallway, then blinked rapidly as its lights glared at him. He stared at them as if they were strange creatures while they walked towards the lift, then shifted his head to looked at the panel carvings.

    Halari stopped by the second one, curiosity gnawing to get some answers. She knew her time was running out, that even though her sister agreed to an hour, Viria might even be on the way now.  But she had to get something.

    ¡°Is this you?¡± She pointed to the carved man standing with his hands out to those kneeling before him. ¡°Are you this man?¡± She tapped the man on his chest, then pointed back to the image.

    Her companion said nothing, but his blank stare was changing, his look becoming more focused. Halari decided that comprehension, however, was definitely not in the building at the moment.

    ¡°Alright, come on then.¡± She pulled him into the lift, then hit the button for the top floor, checking her dart count while she did so. The guard might be waking up by the time their ride was there.

    Betrayer¡¯s damnation! How am I gonna get him out? She sized up the man, weighing her choices based on his lucidity. He looked strong, but was his mind there enough for him to know how to climb? And what about those manacles?

    He stared at her emptily while she thought, which didn¡¯t help her concentration. His weird eyes were more unnerving than an actual pitviper¡¯s petrifying gaze, especially when he seemed to not need to blink.

    ¡°Any ideas?¡± she asked, turning away from him. They were a few seconds from the top. ¡°And where I am going to put you? What a mess¡­¡±

    The lift stopped and opened into chaos.

    The main room of the Center was screaming. Red lights flared, casting a bloody hue into the whole room and emphasizing the bone-shivering screech of the sirens. Something outside thudded against the main gate of the building repeatedly, like a big fist slamming on the door.

    And there, just five or so steps from the entrance of the lift, Kelot stood, wide eyed and shaking with rage. He wasn¡¯t alone.

    Five of his goons, boltshots levelled at her and the man, stood behind him. The one she drugged had apparently found a new weapon, which he aimed right between her eyes, an malintent look in his own.

    ¡°YOU!¡± Kelot screamed, basically frothing at the mouth, ¡°You stupid girl! Do you know what you¡¯ve done! DO YOU know what you have unleashed! You¡¯ve destroyed us! You¡¯ve killed us all!¡±

    The thing outside thudded louder against the main gate, which shuddered and groaned against whatever force struck at it.

    ¡°Now hold on a sec¡ª¡± Halari tried, drawing her stolen boltshot.

    ¡°ENOUGH!¡± Kelot jerked his hand towards her. ¡°Open FIRE!!¡±

    Everything happened at once.

    The lesser priests did not hesitate and fired with violet bursts of light.

    The man beside her moved.

    And the main gate of the Center exploded.

    Halari screamed, moving her arms to protect herself from the molten shots of the Melokide. She closed her eyes and  braced herself for the sensation of their bullets ripping into her body; it wouldn¡¯t be a pretty death. She hoped Viri wouldn¡¯t be the one to find her dismantled by the rounds, wounds cauterized on impact of the superheated shots.

    The pain never came. She probably just hadn¡¯t felt it. She always heard death was painless, that a person never actually felt the moment when their body was torn apart.

    ¡°Hala!¡± somebody shouted.

    Was that Viria?

    ¡°Hala!¡± her sister shouted again. Halari opened her eyes. Viria stood at the gate¡­ and she really had brought the whole Quarry with her. Old Bear and her pada, Fedro, stood behind her with long guns aimed at the priests. Telero was even there with his pickaxe brandished like he was about to carve out a chunk of the priests¡¯ skulls. Dozens of other citizens piled up behind them, all shouting and waving tools.

    They had knocked the door open with a mining ram, something usually applied to impossibly stubborn chunks of bedrock surrounding an ore bed.

    All this wasn¡¯t the most incredible part, however.

    How was she not dead? Halari looked back towards Kelot and his crew, but her vision was blocked by the man. He stood in front of her, immovable.

    Impenetrable.

    There weren¡¯t any exit wounds on his body, which didn¡¯t make sense until she saw the boltshot ammunition scattered around his feet.

    ¡°How?¡± Halari gasped. The man looked over his shoulder at her. The blankness of his bearing was gone, replaced by something she thought might be determination.

    ¡°FIRE AGAIN!¡± Kelot screamed.

    ¡°DON¡¯T YOU DARE!¡± Fedro yelled over the clamor of his throng. ¡°Any of you so much as twitch, and the Quarry converts to atheism!¡±

    The lesser priests did hesitate this time. Kelot sputtered and spat, utterly torn between whatever terror ruled him and how much he valued his men.

    ¡°Halari,¡± Fedro called, waving with one hand while keeping her rifle trained on the Melokide. ¡°Move over to me, now.¡±

    Halari grabbed the man by the elbow and pulled him along. He moved with her quickly, almost taking the initiative to get to safety.

    Fedro and Old Bear shifted to cover her, shielding them with their bodies.

    ¡°FINE!¡± Kelot was enraged, face beet red against the blaring lights. ¡°Die as you will, you insolent fools! When everything begins to burn around you, just know our doors are LOCKED!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll just knock ¡®em down again,¡± Bear growled. He looked hungry for a kill, glaring down the iron sights of his firearm. ¡°Everybody back!¡±

    The crowd pulled out of the Center en masse, flowing out like water through a funnel. Viria found her first and threw herself around Halari in a full-body, vice of an embrace that almost cracked her ribs.

    ¡°I was gonna wait the hour,¡± she explained hurriedly, ¡°but the Center went crazy. Alarms everywhere, lights and everything. Figured that was a good enough signal if any.¡±

    ¡°Good idea,¡± Halari breathed, releasing the man¡¯s elbow to return the hug. Relief flooded her, more potent that the dark fear of the Vault. ¡°You really got the whole town too.¡±

    ¡°Pada got Bear,¡± Viria said with a giggle, ¡°and Bear got everybody.¡±

    ¡°Hala!¡± Fedro walked up and passed her rifle over, then wrapped his wiry arms around her in his own embrace. ¡°Idiot girl! What were you thinking? Thank the Flames you¡¯re ok! What the hell were you thinking!¡±

    ¡°Pada,¡± Halari said, pulling away. ¡°I know you have to yell at me, but right now, we need to get to my garage.¡±

    ¡°What is going on?¡± he asked. He looked sidelong at the manacled man, who hadn¡¯t moved or said anything through the whole retreat. ¡°I saw¡­ Halari, who is this?¡±

    ¡°I will explain everything,¡± Halari promised. She reached over and grabbed the man¡¯s restraints, preparing him to follow. ¡°At my garage. Now please, let¡¯s go.¡±

 Chapter Five: Light- C...l...n

    This wasn¡¯t how the dream usually went.

    It always began the same way; it was the only way he knew that he was sleeping. There was no light, no way to tell if his eyes really were open. There was no sound, except for the laughter.

    And the dream always started the same way.

    A hand, reaching out from the dark, that he could never reach. Words whispered to far away to hear, pleading, weeping, laughing, screaming. He stopped pulling on chains in an effort to reach them a handful of eternities ago.

    Or maybe just seconds. It was always just beyond the length of metal, fingers outstretched for him to take. It was always hovering over the skull, a direction he never looked.

    There was never any light, and he didn¡¯t dare make his own. He would see what he¡¯d done then, what he¡¯d done to the body, the bones. No, never make any light.

    He sat back onto the wall, uncoiling from his position of keeping his head between his knees. The cool metal was the only thing to give him any sense of spatial awareness; the manacles only bound him to the void, tried to drag him deeper into the abyss. He felt them pull sometimes, those hands grabbing at the links and trying to reel him, pull him down, suffocate in the darkness.

    That was the dream, and it always began the same way.

    And it never ended.

    Except for this moment, this infinitude was different than the rest of them. The dream began with a slot of light expanding sideways like a door opening.

    He closed his eyes against the glare. Don¡¯t look. Don¡¯t look at the light, it could only show him his wrongs. The bones, the skull was snarling at him in that light. Don¡¯t look, don¡¯t listen to the footsteps coming towards him.

    He knew who it was, he knew who was there to take him. He didn¡¯t open his eyes.

    She poked him in the cheek.

    This definitely wasn¡¯t how the dream began, but if he just didn¡¯t open his eyes, maybe it would restart the right way. He was either dead, finally out of Blessing, or his abyss-twisted mind was tormenting him.

    She poked him on the cheek and spoke a word he didn¡¯t know.

    If this was a new dream after all, perhaps it was best to see how it played out so he could prepare to witness it endlessly. At least his mind was giving him some variety in the madness, rather than the same nightmare. Maybe it would even give him a third hallucination if he was patient enough.

    He opened his eyes.

    It wasn¡¯t who he that it was. This woman¡¯s face was wrong, her look too intense.

    She spoke to him in words he didn¡¯t understand. His mind had forgotten his language apparently, yet another thing consumed by the dark. He didn¡¯t respond, curious to see how this dream went.

    It turned cruel. Of course.

    The woman unlocked his manacles from their chain and tried to pull him to his feet. Fine. If the dream wanted to do this, then he would cooperate, even if it later meant begging the dark to come back. Better the emptiness than the hope. After eons of failing to reach those hands, he knew that his mind only fed him hope to be cruel.

    He stood, a motion that proved no easy feat, seeing as how his legs and the floor had become one long ago, and let himself be pulled forward.

    Towards the light.

    No. He wanted to speak, to tell the woman to stop, to tell her that the light was the last place he wanted to be, but she just kept walking, pulling him with her. He kept his eyes on the woman. Looking away meant looking at the skull, which screamed at him to stop, to not leave it behind.

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Why was it yelling at him? They both knew he¡¯d back in a moment.

    The woman walked into the light without hesitating, but he froze at the seam of the abyss and the bright torment beyond.

    She spoke to him again; her voice was gentle, but insistent and her fingers pulled at him to follow.

    He took a step into the light.

    And it faded. His eyes and mind adjusted to the illumination in an instant, bringing a hallway into reality. It hadn¡¯t looked like this before, all manufactured and metallic. Before the dark, it had barely been more than dug out tunnel.

    He was impressed at how creative his madness was. Only a mind forged like his was capable of conjuring such detailed imagery from nothing. The carvings on his left were intricate.

    The woman stopped in front of one and pointed to it, then to him and spoke again. Was this the first sin she was going to torment him for?

    He looked at the woman, studying her. She was so genuine, and her expressions were so real, like she really was trying to get him to confess. And her skin, her fingers brushing his manacled wrist, felt real, warm.

    Is this really a dream? he wondered, following the woman into a smaller, well-lit room. They were the first words he¡¯d thought in a while.

    The woman pressed a small circle on a panel of metal and the small room jolted, whirring as it began to move upwards. Last time, going down, it wasn¡¯t as spacious; they¡¯d stood shoulder to shoulder in a tiny platform.

    She spoke again, seemingly asking him something in her language. That thought proved to him that his mind hadn¡¯t forgotten words at all and that she really was just speaking something else entirely.

    Was his madness so strong that it invented a whole new tongue?

    No¡­ he realized. No, what is this?  Something else was going on here. No dream had temperature, no vision let him feel the air around him, and no nightmare ever spoke to him directly.

    This was real.

    The elevator opened into hell. Lights were glaring and flashing, crimson and terrible. The world screeched at him because he was doing wrong. He wasn¡¯t supposed to be here, he was supposed to be in the dark.

    It was too much. It almost overloaded him, it should have overtaken his senses, but he saw the woman. She was scared. Scared of these men.

    She¡¯s not here to punish me, he realized. She wasn¡¯t some judging agent of the Great Dragon after all.

    She was his savior.

    She was taking him out of the dark. Away from the chain, the hands, the skull that he still heard screaming so far down below and begged him to come back.

    And she was terrified.

    He watched her shout to the men, one hand on his restraints, the other holding some sleek, black object. The men in robes looked angry, so he stepped in front of the woman to protect her. Their own sleek items, definitely weapons by the way they held them, exploded with bursts of violet light.

    Five somethings tapped against his chest. He glanced down, spotting little beads of metal at his feet.

    His Blessing still runs in my veins. He checked on the woman. She looked utterly awed and confused, but alive. Other people shouted from the side, these weren¡¯t in robes and only two held weapons.

    The woman grabbed his manacles and pulled him away quickly into throng of people. The skull in the dark stopped screaming, or at least was muffled once he stepped outside.

    It was nighttime, dark sky absolute, but lit by the buildings nearby. It looked like a whole town, but not one he remembered.

    The woman hugged another girl and a taller. They looked incredibly happy to see her, all smiles except for the older man, who looked like he was chastising his savior between hugs.

    She took him by the arm after peeling herself away and gestured urgently to her companions before pulling him along into the town. They walked past an array of statues, each grand and impressive in their craftmanship.

    That man¡­ he studied the tallest one with the long axe and a hate burned in his gut, flowed up his arm, then tingled at his fingers. It scoured through his veins and pressed out of his skin.

    Melokon¡¯s Fire sparked in his hand, crimson and purple arcs jolting between his fingertips. Nobody noticed in the chaos of the moment, but he felt its power in his core. It was still there, waiting for him to wake up and claim it once again.

    His savior and her friends weaved between the squat building of the town until they reached one with a wide, metallic rolling door.

    It ground up to show a room fool of tools he recognized and some that he didn¡¯t. There was a large empty spot in the middle, like something was supposed to be there. The woman paused at the entrance, then turned to her blonde companion and yelled something.

    The girl blushed and mumbled something but seemed to only frustrate his savior further, who huffed

    Family, he realized. Only sisters could talk to each other like that. They placed him at the back of the room, then closed the rolling door and surrounded him in a wide arc with his liberator across from him, back to entrance, and her sister to his right. The two men stood together on his left, eyeing him with no small degree of wariness.

    They started to talk to him, asking him question, judging by their tone. He really needed to learn the language, otherwise this whole ordeal would be a waste of time.

    This will only take a second. He took a step towards his savior and raised his manacled hands.

    Everybody panicked.

 Chapter Six: The Betrayer- Halari

    Halari¡¯s garage

    ¡°Viria.¡± Halari turned to her sister and gestured at the glaring empty space where her beloved vehicle usually rested. ¡°Where is my trawler?¡±

    ¡°Uhhh¡­I had to¡­ steal it,¡± Viria said, flushing. ¡°I used it to help rally the troops for your rescue.¡±

    ¡°So where is it??¡± Halari asked. The man looked between them, an amused glint in his eyes. She realized he might not be able to speak, but his presence of mind was definitely on the mend.

    ¡°It¡¯s parked near the Center, I swear,¡± Viria said with an energetic point towards the direction they came from. ¡°We left in a rush; I¡¯ll get it in the morning. Promise.¡±

    ¡°Ughhh,¡± Halari groaned. ¡°Fine¡­ Just, come in.¡± She pulled the man into the garage and guided him towards the back where he leaned against her worktable.

    ¡°Hala, do you want to explain who this is?¡± Telero asked, going to stand by the lockers with Fedro. ¡°Did you rescue a prisoner in the Center?¡±

    He¡¯s gonna be so mad, Halari thought, leaning back on the garage door. ¡°Not exactly, Tel. I¡­¡± She trailed off, trying to piece the words together. She¡¯d committed the greatest heresy to the Melokide; how exactly was she supposed to tell that to her family?

    They all looked at her expectantly. It was clear that there was no getting out of this one, and she could only hope that by the end they wouldn¡¯t disown her entirely.

    ¡°I might have¡­ infiltrated the Vault,¡± she said, then braced herself for the whiplash. ¡°He was inside.¡±

    Her family said nothing, but their reactions betrayed their concern. Telero immediately started rubbing his head like he did when he had fume headache from the gasses in the mines. Fedro groaned like a falling stone, and Viria released a small ¡°Oh.¡±

    ¡°I know you¡¯re probably upset,¡± Halari said quickly, ¡°but I really thought I¡¯d find something more like food or foam down there.¡±

    ¡°They don¡¯t have any foam, Hala!¡± Telero said. ¡°They speak truth!¡±

    ¡°Yeaahhhh right, Tel!¡± Halari snapped, facing her brother with balled fists. ¡°I only did it because you and your priests are giving our food to those freaks in the city!¡±

    Telero paled.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Halari spat, feeling a sense of satisfaction at his awkward guilt. ¡°You and your priests are nothing but sell outs.¡±

    ¡°Enough,¡± Fedro sighed, putting up a hand. ¡°Have you figured out who he is?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Halari said. The man was silent like usual but looked like he was coming back to reality with each passing second. Strangely enough, he looked exhausted, as if the short walk to the garage had drained him. ¡°But the Melokide freaked out when they saw him. They fired on us in a heartbeat.¡±

    ¡°Son,¡± Fedro called to the man and snapped his fingers, ¡°can you hear me? What¡¯s your name?¡±

    The man¡¯s eyes drifted over to her father, but otherwise he said nothing.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think he understands us,¡± Halari said. ¡°I tried talking to him on our way out, but he just gave me that same look.¡±

    ¡°Well, we need to get him back to the Va¡ª¡± Telero¡¯s words cut off when the man straightened up. Everyone went completely still, watching, on edge. The man took a step towards Halari and raised his manacled hands with one of them outstretched as if he meant to grab her.

    ¡°Whoa now,¡± Fedro said, raising himself up, ¡°don¡¯t do anything hasty.¡±

    The man took another step towards Halari, then another. His serpentine eyes fixed on her, piercing her through,  as he made his way closer.

    I¡¯m dead, Halari thought. Terror bolted down her spine and she pressed herself back into the garage, perception shrinking down to his palm as it grew larger and larger in her view.

    Telero didn¡¯t hesitate to lunge with his pickaxe, striking down with a harsh, practiced blow to the man¡¯s head. His tool, all of seventy years old, passed down through two generation, shattered on the man¡¯s skull.

    And still, the man walked forward as if nothing  happened. Only three steps now. Two. His palm blocked most of her vision as it started to close over his eyes.

    All this, everything she did, was about to get crushed under this man¡¯s hand. And why? She wondered then if the Melokide were right, or if they really had tried to protect her and the city.

    Fedro shouted, grabbing at the man¡¯s manacles and pulling, but he could not be stopped. Her father yanked uselessly, not even able to redirect the man¡¯s arms from their course. His feet even drug against himself when he lost purchase.

    He¡¯s gonna kill me. ¡°Please,¡± she whispered, mind racing for solutions, but her thoughts scattered like ants before an incoming boot. There was no way out. Her rifle was too far, set against the wall, and his hand¡­ No.

    It was too late.

    The man¡¯s palm closed over her eyes, middle finger and thumb pressed into her temples. Halari held her breath, waiting for that instant of pain when he crushed her skull like a bad tam.

    Instead, she felt a small shock in her mind, just a quick pulse of energy in her head. The man pulled his hands away and lowered them. Fedro was huffing from exertion, and Tel stared dumbly at his pick¡¯s broken haft and shattered chunks strewn about.

    The man looked at her, then spoke.

    ¡°Do you have¡­¡± His voice was raspy, probably from some abhorrent amount of time without using it. ¡°Any water?¡±

    ¡°W-what?¡± Halari asked. Her whole body shook so hard that the garage door rattled a bit against its frame.

    ¡°Water.¡± The man sagged, looking even more fatigued than before. ¡°Please.¡±

    ¡°V-Viri, there¡¯s a canteen in that locker behind you,¡± Halari said. ¡°Grab it, please.¡± Her sister, also shaken and pale, wobbled over and grabbed it from the locker.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get near him!¡± Telero shouted.

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to hurt you,¡± the man wheezed. He moved back over to his place at the worktable and slumped over. ¡°I just needed¡­ to learn your speech.¡±

    ¡°Give me the bottle,¡± Halari said, holding out her hand to her sister and trying a reassuring smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±

    Bottle in hand, Halari slowly approached the man.

    ¡°Hala, don¡¯t,¡± Tel hissed. He looked ready to attack again, even with only a broken piece of mining equipment.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Halari insisted. She offered the bottle to him. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±

    He looked at her confused. An odd look passed over his face, like he was trying to grab something deep in his mind that fought back and tried to slip away.

    ¡°Cal¡­? Cal-n¡­¡± he whispered, eyes widening as he fought for his own name against his mind. ¡°My name¡­ is¡­ Callan.¡± He took the bottle and chugged it, downing its entire contents in a second. ¡°Thank you.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I scared you,¡± he continued with words that protested at being spoken, like his very tongue was remembering how to move.  ¡°but I didn¡¯t know what you¡­were saying. I had to learn. You don¡¯t speak¡­ English like I know it.¡±

    ¡°You learned our language just from a touch?¡± Viria asked, stepping closer. Fedro held a handout for her to stop, but she weaved around him to stand next to Halari. ¡°That¡¯s not¡­¡±

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    ¡°Human,¡± Telero finished. ¡°You¡¯re not human. Are you?¡±

    Callan shook his head. ¡°Not for a long time.¡±

    Halari gasped when it clicked. His draconic eyes, his impervious stature, his inhuman ability all formed together in one fiery image of absolute truth.

    ¡°You¡¯re a Blessed Flame of Melokon,¡± she whispered in awe. ¡°That¡¯s it isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ am,¡± Callan said. All of them watched with bated breath as he raised his hands and conjured arcs of red and violet lightning in his palms. The sparks rolled between his fingers and snaked around his hands. Then it sputtered out and he sagged even further. ¡°Although I can¡¯t feel the Great Dragon nearby anymore.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s¡­ gone,¡± Halari said. When she blinked, spots danced in her eyes from the residual brightness of his lightning. ¡°They¡¯re all gone.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Callan asked, a new look of fear sunk into his features. ¡°What happened to them?¡±

    ¡°They left,¡± Halari explained. ¡°Centuries ago.¡±

    ¡°Centuries¡­¡± Callan looked numb, agonized by this information. Halari pitied him. He¡¯d been down there the whole time, soaking in that horrible darkness for hundreds of years.

    She pulled the key to his manacles out of her back pocket and made to unlock him from his binds, but Telero rushed forward in a dash and snatched it from her hands.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± she snapped, lunging for the key. Her brother backed away, keeping it out of reach.

    ¡°Protecting the Quarry,¡± he said. ¡°Think, Hala, think about it. He¡¯s the only Flame in the world, chained up and buried deep underground where nobody was supposed to find him. Think about what that means.¡±

    Telero glared at Callan with hate in his eyes beyond what Halari thought he was capable of feeling. Her brother was a loving man for all that he bugged her, yet this man before her exuded so much malice that she felt ashamed of having caused such a reaction.

    ¡°He¡¯s the Tyrannical Betrayer,¡± Telero spat, ¡°the Perfect Villain, the Tarnished King, the one who tried to destroy everyth¡ª¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s¡­ a lie!¡± Callan huffed, rising to his full height like a heavy wall being pulled into position. ¡°I did not¡­ betray anyone! I¡­ I was betrayed!¡±

    ¡°I will not see you released, demon,¡± Telero growled. ¡°You¡¯ll burn us to the ground.¡±

    Halari met Callan¡¯s eyes, looking for the truth. All she saw was pain, fear, and exhaustion. No malice, no hint of deception, just genuine frustration and fatigue. He begged her silently, terrified that she would side with her brother and keep him imprisoned.

    She made a choice.

    ¡°Tel,¡± she said, ¡°give me the key.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Telero barked, glancing towards the door. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell, Hala? He¡¯s already influencing your mind to his goals. All of Jomen¡¯s words warn of his power to deceive so perfectly it makes it sound like your idea.¡±

    ¡°I need you to trust me, Tel,¡± Halari held out a hand. ¡°I found him, I freed him, so I¡¯ll take responsibility.¡±

    ¡°BOY.¡± Callan¡¯s voice, suddenly strong and reverberating, buzzed the air. His words pulsed from his mouth in visible, violet-tinged waves that washed over her brother. ¡°GIVE HER THE KEY.¡±

    Her brother¡¯s arm moved automatically and dropped the key into her hand. Once it was hers, Telero screamed and backpedaled away in a terrified scramble to escape. ¡°See?¡± he yelled. ¡°Don¡¯t you see?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ sorry,¡± Callan whispered, tilting back on to the table like a half-cut tree, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. You¡¯re just being¡­ uncooperative. Please, just¡­ I¡¯m not here to hurt you.¡±

    Halari froze in indecision.

    Had she misjudged? Whatever that was¡­ it was terrifying. Telero¡¯s body hadn¡¯t even hesitated to do as ordered once the command was finished. Callan looked regretful, still pleaded with her voicelessly, but did she want to risk it? She believed he wouldn¡¯t hurt her, especially since she rescued him, but was her family safe?

    Her brother¡¯s voice unexpectedly sounded in her mind, repeating a line from the book of Jomens. She¡¯d never really paid attention that much, but he¡¯d caught her doing nothing that day and in this moment of choice, she was grateful he had.

    ¡®A Flame¡¯s word is absolute,¡¯ he recited. ¡®It burns itself into the very world and cannot be unspoken.¡¯

    ¡°I will unlock you,¡± Halari said, turning to face Callan and lowering the key to his manacles, ¡°but you will promise me to never harm me or my family again. Your word is binding, right?¡±

    He nodded. ¡°I swear, as the First Blessed of Melokon,¡± Callan said, locking his serpentine eyes to hers. They flashed at his words, like speaking them aloud to her really had done something inside him, and Halari knew that she was right. ¡°Please¡­¡±

    Halari inserted the key into the hole and twisted. There was a click, then the manacles fell way and clattered to the garage floor. Callan stared down at his arms for a long moment like he didn¡¯t believe they were actually gone, then slowly let his arms fall to his sides, and sighed deeply.

    ¡°Better?¡± Halari asked.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Callan groaned, ¡°thank you.¡±

    I really hope I didn¡¯t just destroy the Quarry, she thought. ¡°You need to stay here for a while, ok? Until things outside settle down.¡±

    ¡°I understand,¡± Callan said with a slow nod. He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a silver ring, which he fixed to his third finger on his right hand. It was a gorgeous piece of jewelry with fine details and a fire-red gem set into the top inside a dragon¡¯s mouth, the body of which seemed to make up the ring. ¡°I¡¯ll stay here until you say otherwise.¡±

    Must be a symbol of his status, Halari thought, eyeing the jewelry. What a specific finger to put that on¡­

    ¡°You¡¯ve really done it this time, Hala,¡± Telero said, shaking his head. He looked past her with haunted eyes, into something far away. ¡°When the Quarry crumbles, when all of us die, it¡¯ll be all your fault.¡±

    ¡°Oh choke on it and cough, Tel!¡± Halari shouted, whirling on her brother. ¡°At least I tried something! Instead of just giving our food away to those freaks!¡±

    ¡°Enough!¡± Fedro barked in his famous pada voice that quieted even the feistiest of tantrums when they were children. ¡°Tonight¡¯s been a lot, I know, but take a breath. We¡¯re not gonna blame each other¡­¡± He glared at his eldest. ¡°Or curse at each other.¡± He quieted Halari¡¯s protests with another harsh look. ¡®Now isn¡¯t the time,¡¯ it said.

    ¡°We need to figure out what to tell the people,¡± he continued. ¡°I have a feeli¡ª¡±

    As if summoned, somebody banged on the side door to the garage with a furious rhythm. Fedro held up a hand to signal they silence, then moved to the door himself.

    Halari held her breath. It had to be the Melokide come for their prisoner, right? No matter what they said, after their enthusiasm to kill there was no way they¡¯d let Callan go without a fight. She watched Fedro crack the door open and braced herself for a fight.

    ¡°Is it just you, Bear?¡± he asked. Halari exhaled in relief, but her reprieve was short lived. She heard some light grumbles from the big man and a gentle groan of exasperation from Fedro before he closed the door and rubbed the back of his head.

    ¡°They¡¯re here,¡± he said, turning back to them with worry creased onto his already rugged features, like a river deepening its home canyon. ¡°They want to talk to you, Hala.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡± Halari asked.

    ¡°The group that came to help,¡± Fedro sighed. ¡°The whole group. They want to know what happened.¡±

    ¡°Any chance they can wait ¡®til the morning?¡± she asked, a sudden wave of fatigue washing over her now that the adrenaline of Callan¡¯s misunderstood ¡°attack¡± was wearing off and the exertions of her infiltration were catching up.

    ¡°They¡¯re gonna need something now,¡± Fedro insisted, grimacing at her obvious discomfort. ¡°To put their minds at ease.¡±

    ¡°What do I even say?¡± she asked.

    Fedro shrugged and Viria shook her head. Telero didn¡¯t even look at her.

    ¡°Tell them¡­¡± Callan forced out, looking towards the door, ¡°whatever they need to hear.¡±

    What do they need to hear? Halari asked herself, stepping outside to face a large crowd that gathered around the front of her garage. She looked at the faces of her people, which were a gallery of confused, concerned, and downright terrified. They wanted to know why she did what she did, and what she said here would spread through the whole city, bringing either panic, or¡­

    Suddenly, she understood.

    Unfortunately, she understood.

    They¡¯re not ready, she decided, shame crawling into her skin as the realization settled in. Not yet.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± more than a few voices called. ¡°Tell us what happened.¡±

    Halari raised her hand, palm out and the people quieted, eager to hear what she wanted to say.

    ¡°It¡¯s true that I broke in to the Melokide Center,¡± she began in a raised voice.

    ¡°Why did you do it?¡± somebody asked. ¡°And did you find anything?¡±

    Halari grimaced. She wanted to bring it all to light; to tell them about the outsiders taking their food, to tell them about the treason of their priests. But her people weren¡¯t fighters. They were craftsmen, farmers, families who just wanted to feed their children, not fight a war.

    I¡¯ll find another way, she thought.

    ¡°I thought they were hiding some foam,¡± she said, averting her eyes to the ground. ¡°So I broke in to find it. They don¡¯t have any. What we have is what we got.¡±

    The crowd murmured amongst themselves, and worried looks increased. Halari felt bad about the lie of omission, but this had to be for the best, right? They deserved the truth, but she needed more options first beyond a half-lucid Blessed Flame.

    ¡°And the man in chains?¡± another voice asked. ¡°Who was he?¡±

    ¡°Uhhh¡­¡± Halari raced to make an answer. ¡°He¡¯s¡­¡±

    ¡°An outsider.¡± Fedro came up beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder to take the lead in the conversation. ¡°From the little bit we got out of him, he heard about the Vault and thought it was an easy burglary target. The Melokide caught him.¡±

    The throng of people murmured whispers of assent and belief.

    ¡°The Melokide promised no retaliation for tonight¡¯s events,¡± Fedro continued. ¡°So everybody go home. We¡¯re back to work in the morning!¡±

    He turned to her while the crowd dispersed and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m glad you understand.¡±

    ¡°I am going to tell them, pada,¡± Halari said. ¡°Just when we have something more to work with. But, I¡¯ll be another traitor for now.¡±

 Chapter Seven: Remember- Callan

    He¡¯d forgotten his own name.

    When his savior, Halari, he knew now, asked what his name was last night, he couldn¡¯t remember. The word had fought him like an anchor stuck in mud, deep and hard to unlodge from where it lay. It only came out with the greatest effort and an old memory.

    Callan could remember the color of the skull¡¯s hair as it burned.

    He remembered his hatred for the man depicted in the statue and those whose stood beside him.

    He remembered why he had pocketed his ring.

    But, when Halari had asked him for his own name, he¡¯d struggled to bring it to mind.

    How horribly ironic.

    Callan thumbed his ring and stared into the glittering depths of its set ruby, trying to find something in the cut that he didn¡¯t even the ability to identify. A face? Forgiveness?

    A light snore snapped him out of his ruminations.

    He glanced up, then smirked at the reminiscent sight of the father, Fedro, leaned back in his folding with his chin on his chest sleeping.

    He¡¯d volunteered to keep Callan company, although Callan expected it was more of a sentinel-type position against him, while Halari and her pleasant sibling went to rest.

    Her more unpleasant brother had been less than enthusiastic about leaving his father alone with the ¡®Storm Devil¡¯ through the night but was easily cowed by his father¡¯s insistence.

    Fedro snored again, harsh enough this time to wake himself up. He jerked in his chair and looked around, stilling when he saw that his charge still seated in the same place.

    ¡°Kinda surprised I woke up,¡± Fedro said, rotating his arms at the shoulder to get them loosed up. ¡°It¡¯s said that the Tyrant showed no mercy to weakness.¡±

    There was that word again: Tyrant. What exactly had James told them during the centuries? And where had they gone? So many questions, so much lost in the dark.

    ¡°Then those whose spoke of me are wrong,¡± Callan said. His voice was returned somewhat; the more he breathed more free air and engaged more of his mind, the more his regenerative abilities kicked in and healed unused muscles. ¡°And Halari did more than I expect she knows by binding me to my word.¡±

    ¡°My girl does tend to act first,¡± Fedro said, a small grin turning the corners of his mouth. ¡°It¡¯s always from a good place, even when it might end badly.¡±

    ¡°Such as releasing the ¡®Storm Devil¡¯ from his prison?¡± Callan asked. ¡°What does that mean exactly?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the fallen king of the storm,¡± Fedro said, ¡°according to our texts. And you¡¯re supposed to be dead.¡±

    They tried. ¡°Believe everything that you¡¯re told?¡± Callan asked.

    ¡°No idea what to think now,¡± Fedro grunted, rising and stretching out his legs. It seemed to be some kind of ritual for the older man, something he did for rough mornings. ¡°All I care about is my kids don¡¯t get hurt.¡±

    The garage door rolled up, groaning on its slides like a wounded beast. Halari and her sister rushed inside, the blonde going to hug her father while Halari came up to him with an odd-looking black ball in her hand.

    ¡°Here, breakfast,¡± she said, holding up the object to him. ¡°I figure you haven¡¯t in a long time.¡±

    He took it gingerly in his hands. The feeling of its skin was like rubbery silk and entirely alien to his fingers. It was also unnaturally smooth; his enhanced sense of touch felt almost no texture, even at the smallest level.

    ¡°What is this?¡± Callan asked, rolling the supposed consumable in front of its face and giving it a light squeeze. It gave like an orange or a rotten apple, but there was no stem that he saw, just a small patch of light gray skin on one side.

    ¡°It¡¯s called an ashbud,¡± Halari said. ¡°It¡¯s not going to hurt you, promise.¡±

    Callan took a big bite of the ashbud, then frowned. It tasted like some watered-down apple and the rind of a watermelon combined in a most unsatisfying way.

    And yet, it was the most fantastic thing he¡¯d ever tasted. His tongue woke up at the unsettling flavor and rejoiced in the presence of something that wasn¡¯t airless metal.

    He scarfed the rest of it down quickly.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Wow,¡± Halari muttered, brows raised, ¡°nobody¡¯s usually that enthusiastic about buds.¡±

    ¡°Do you have any more?¡± Callan asked. She lifted her other hand, presenting something that had to be some kind of tool or utility object. It was oblong, its shell white, and textured like sandpaper. ¡°This is edible?¡±

    ¡°You have to crack it open,¡± Halari explained, smirking at his reticence. ¡°And you can cook the shell in a stew. Tams belong everywhere.¡±

    He followed her suggestions and snapped the fruit in two, then scooped out its guts like a digging into a bowl of oatmeal. It tasted better than the ashbud, but its consistency was disturbingly rich for a type of fruit.

    Can¡¯t imagine how these taste together, Callan thought, grimacing inside as he finished the unpleasant gift.

    ¡°Where¡¯s your brother?¡± Fedro asked. ¡°I figured he would be here before you.¡±

    ¡°He took off when we got up this morning,¡± Viria said. ¡°Muttering about the Melokides and¡­¡± She pointedly eyed Callan, probably refraining from repeating whatever derogatory, religious insult her brother used.

    ¡°That boy,¡± Fedro sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll bet he¡¯s gone to the priests to report the situation. Look, I¡¯ve gotta go fill your mother in on everything, so I¡¯ll leave it to y¡¯all. Keep an eye out for Tel, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be around.¡± The man left through the open door and closed it behind him.

    ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Halari asked.

    ¡°Like I¡¯m at the end of a dream,¡± Callan said, polishing off the shelled fruit. ¡°At the part where I know I¡¯m about to wake up.¡±

    ¡°So¡­ better?¡± Viria asked.

    ¡°Somewhat.¡± Callan crushed the shell in a fist, then dumped the powdery crumbs into his mouth. Salty. ¡°I can speak normally at least.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ not really how you eat those,¡± Halari said, looking uneased but somewhat amused. Her sister looked like she wanted to hurl.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Callan said. ¡°Well, thank you anyways.¡±

    ¡°Are you really the Betrayer?¡± Viria blurted out.

    Callan sighed. ¡°I¡¯m not even sure what that means. Your dad told me a little bit, but it doesn¡¯t make much sense.¡±

    ¡°The Book of Jomens,¡± Viria said as if that explained everything. Halari sighed and shook her head.

    ¡°It¡¯s so bullshit,¡± she said. ¡°Viri, it lied about the Betrayer being dead, I mean, look¡­¡± She gestured wildly to Callan. ¡°Who knows what else wasn¡¯t true?¡±

    Callan stared at her blankly. ¡°What is this book?¡±

    ¡°Y¡¯know, the book King Jomen wrote while the Flames ruled the world,¡± she said. ¡°You wrote the first part together, it says so. I mean, assuming you are him.¡±

    That was also definitely a lie, seeing as the man she referred abhorred writing anything himself. ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Callan said. ¡°He and I never wrote anything.¡± Hatred boiled in his blood mentioning James, or ¡®Jomen¡¯ as these people knew him. That man never picked up a pencil to write anything of substance in his life, even before Coronation.

    The skull whispered to him from below, reminding him of the rest of the man¡¯s crimes. He had more than just lying about everything to be punished for.

    ¡°See!¡± Halari boasted, snapping Callan away from the voice of death. ¡°Viri, we¡¯ve got a live Blessed Flame here, I bet most of that book could be proven wrong.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ but it¡¯s¡­¡± The blonde slumped back on to the wall, looking entirely frayed. Callan felt bad for her, losing a sense of religion was like losing a limb. He sensed his own god, the Great Dragon Melokon, but he was far, far away from the world. ¡°But it¡¯s the word of the Visionary.¡±

    ¡°The Visionary,¡± Callan scoffed. ¡°Unbelievable.¡± He clenched his fist, anger boiling in his fingers. Purple sparks flicked between his knuckles, fueled by his irritation.

    ¡°Callan¡­¡± Halari approached him slowly, followed by a dense air of concern, even sorrow. ¡°I think you need to know that the world might not be how you remember it.¡±

    ¡°You said my kin left centuries ago,¡± Callan said, eyes narrowing. ¡°Just how much progress did I miss?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ the thing.¡± She grimaced and he suddenly felt cold, as if the Fires of Melokon had been sucked right out of his soul and whisked away, back into the dark. ¡°They didn¡¯t leave the world because it was good to move on, but because¡­¡± She trailed off.

    What did they do? he thought. Oh those fools, what did they do? ¡°Please, tell me,¡± Callan said. ¡°I have to know.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s unlivable,¡± Halari whispered. ¡°Except for some small areas.¡±

    Please no. Callan closed his eyes and breathed deep. ¡°Show me.¡±

    He stepped out under a gray sky, a perfectly, horribly, completely gray sky. The buildings around were stout, manufactured constructions that looked identical in design and material.

    Many of the yards were covered in a about an inch of a deep blue foam, or maybe gel was a better term. Those awful black fruits grew on it in big groups while the shelled fruits poked out like stalagmites in the floor of a cave.

    They weaved between buildings, her explaining certain parts of the town, talking about the biofoam, waving to some of the people she knew. Most of them didn¡¯t look at him, but some gave him a wary glance, perhaps remembering his exit from the Center.

    Everything was terrible. No flowers, no good food, no dirt even.

    ¡°¡­god, what did they do?¡± He asked after she explained the sky. It was all so terrible; the world was supposed to be so vibrant and now it was like a piece of coal left to cool in a dead furnace.

    ¡°Come on,¡± Halari said, guiding him somewhere else. ¡°Let¡¯s go see the Center. You can tell me the truth about those statues.¡±

    He finally got a hint of brightness on the way to their in the image of two children playing. How they found happiness under this dreary sky, he didn¡¯t know, but at least they were capable of joy.

    Past them, he caught sight of a tall building in the distance, one in a skyline of towers. They were destroyed, with whole segments missing, with whole chunks carved out of them so large.

    And yet, that skyline, it was¡­ familiar.

    NO! Terror bolted through him, and he walked toward the cliff in a daze. Halari was speaking but her words were far away, barely audible to his drowned mind.

    Callan froze at the drop off, eyes wide, body shaking. These ruins were familiar. He saw the Spire of Melokon standing alone, untouched by time and the cataclysm that surrounded it.

    These ruins were his home.

 Chapter Eight: Ruin and Renewal- Halari

    Halari didn¡¯t know what to make of Callan¡¯s face as they walked down the street. He took everything in with a look like he had found a hair in his stew.

    ¡°What are these?¡± he asked, gesturing to the biofoam beds nearby. Halari grimaced at the bed''s low output; many of the buds were small, much like most of the farming plots these days.

    ¡°Biofoam,¡± Halari said. ¡°We grow produce on it. Seed stock is running low this year and a lot of people are struggling to get anything substantial.¡±

    ¡°What about grass?¡± he asked. ¡°Soil?¡±

    ¡°Some grass grows outside the Quarry,¡± she said, feeling more and more guilty with every word. ¡°In patches and groves. But any soil is way too toxic to grow anything.¡±

    Callan sagged a bit. ¡°Flowers?¡± He looked at her desperately.

    ¡°Ummm¡­¡± Halari didn¡¯t know what to tell him. His expression said that flowers were a good thing from whatever time he was thinking of, but¡­ ¡°Some of them aren¡¯t poisonous.¡±

    Callan sighed and slumped, blatantly crestfallen.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Halari said. ¡°I don¡¯t know what kind of world you remember but it clearly isn¡¯t this.¡±

    ¡°I need to figure out what happened,¡± Callan said. ¡°Centuries of history. I missed so much.¡± He turned his eyes to the sky. ¡°It¡¯s gonna rain soon.¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡± Halari said, looking up. The sky was perfect, no black clouds on the canvas of grey. ¡°No it isn¡¯t. This is great weather.¡±

    ¡°But the sky is gray,¡± he said.

    ¡°It always look like that,¡± Halari said, cocking her head to the side. Was it supposed to be a different color? She tried to imagine the steadiness of the silver color above as anything else. Purple? ¡°What¡¯s it supposed to be?¡±

    Callan¡¯s expression fell deeply. He looked mournful, like a he had lost something important.

    ¡°Blue,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s supposed to be blue on sunny days. White clouds and a gentle breeze. This¡­ god, what did they do?¡±

    I gotta get him off this topic. ¡°Come on.¡± Halari put a hand on his shoulder to guide him away. ¡°Let¡¯s go see the Center, you can tell me the truth about those statues.¡±

    They weaved through the streets together and Halari let Callan set their speed. He seemed intent on taking everything in from the shapes of the buildings to the grain of the plaster.

    When they got nearer to the temple, he paused to watch a couple children play in their yard and finally lightened up  a little.

    ¡°Those are the Bellit twins,¡± Halari said, giggling when the boy pegged his sister in the face with the ball they were tossing about. ¡°They¡¯re sweet kids, even if some trinkets tends to disappear around the¡ª¡±

    Callan was no longer looking at the children. His eyes were staring beyond them. Past the temple. Past the cliff. To the ruins.

    ¡°Callan?¡± Halari tapped him lightly. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    He started walking towards the cliff as if in a trance, slow and haunted. The Ruins crept over the edge into view, each tower like the finger of a corpse digging its way out of a grave.

    He stopped a foot from the drop off and froze, body stiffening like a piece of frozen wood. Halari worried that he¡¯d shatter if she even breathed on him too hard.

    He¡¯s trembling. She didn¡¯t know what to do to help him, especially when he dropped to his knees, arms limp at his sides.

    ¡°Wh¡­ what is this place to you?¡± Callan asked hoarsely, a single tear trailing down his cheek.

    Her throat closed suddenly, and she wished that it didn¡¯t have to be her who told him. Still, he deserved to know, so she forced herself to speak. ¡°These are the ancient ruins of the city of Atara,¡± she choked out. ¡°Legends say it was destroyed during the Departure of the Flames.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± His voice was strangled, stuck between a sob and whisper. ¡°This is the city of Atlanta. This is my home.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Halari said. She felt tears in her own eyes, the utter grief on his face was the very image of tragedy. What was he seeing when he looked the ruins? What ghost was he weeping over?

    His tears streamed freely down his face, unstoppable now that the dam was cracked.

    I¡¯ve made the Tyrant cry. Halari forced her own eyes to dry and put a consoling hand on one of his shoulders as he shook. Deity or not, Tyrannical Betrayer or not, this was somebody who needed comfort. This was somebody who was feeling true grief.

    Callan silently wept on the cliff overlooking the carcass of his home and Halari stood with him in vigil. She didn¡¯t even fully know what he was mourning, but it felt right to help him, even if just to watch. They stood there for timeless minutes of mourning until Callan was simply unable to produce more tears.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t supposed to be like this,¡± Callan whispered after a few moments. ¡°This wasn¡¯t part of the plan.¡±

    ¡°The plan?¡± Halari asked.

    ¡°We were going to leave this world,¡± he said, ¡°when it was time. Build it up, make it right. Make it perfect.¡± Each sentence was a gasp, a choking plea to wake up from the nightmare he must think he was stuck in. ¡°So that when we left it behind, it would be something to look on with pride. A utopia for the center of our¡­ glory. Not a tomb for the people they forgot.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re not coming back are they?¡± Halari already knew the answer because it was the only one that made sense. They left a thousand years ago with a promise to return. They never did. ¡°Your brethren, the other Flames?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Callan said, rising on shaky legs. ¡°There was never a plan to come back once we left, and that after making sure that the world was perfect for people who wanted to stay.¡±

    ¡°So we¡¯re on our own,¡± Halari said. ¡°I think I always knew that somehow.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Callan turned to her, his grief hardening. Halari did her best not to shrink away from his serpentine eyes, the purple parts of which were glowing intensely. ¡°I am here now, and I will not leave you behind.¡±

    Halari nodded, looking at the promise in his gaze. This wasn¡¯t the Betrayer, that person didn¡¯t exist. And if he was, then he really was the perfect liar, because she only saw resolve and truth in his expression.

    ¡°I believe you,¡± she said, and she meant every word.

    Callan cast one more mournful look to the barren bones of his city before turning away and wiping his eyes dry. Halari wanted to say something, anything to ease the man¡¯s pain, but what possibly was there to recover from this?

    ¡°Is there anything else I should see?¡± he asked as they walked away. ¡°Preferably far away from this place.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s the mines,¡± she suggested. ¡°But I figure you don¡¯t want to go underground for a while, all things considered.¡±

    ¡°I suppose I can stand at the entrance and look inside,¡± he said. ¡°But you are right about that.¡±

    Halari nodded and led him away from the Atlanta skyline. The towers reached for them from far away, casting tall shadows behind them while they made their escape from its haunting and tragic visage. Callan was silent on the way to the mine entrance, face distant and shadowed by the ghost of despair.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    The entrance to the mine was a massive hole at the bottom of the cliff face that was braced with a trapezoidal frame and kept up with supporting struts placed at even intervals going deeper and deeper into the well-lit tunnel. Light bars were placed on the ceiling, spaced wider than the struts, but the tunnel was so deep into the rock that even the illumination was lost in the distance.

    ¡°What happens when you run out of lights?¡± Callan asked, voice still ragged from his despair. ¡°I imagine you only have so many of those.¡±

    ¡°Oh the miners ran out years ago,¡± Halari said, grimacing. ¡°Now they just take one with them into the darker parts. A bit dangerous, but the ore is too valuable to not mine.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the material?¡± Callan peered into the tunnel, but he didn¡¯t get any closer. ¡°Iron? Copper?"

    ¡°Here I¡¯ll show you,¡± Halari said, catching sight of one of her brother¡¯s crew coming out with a wheelbarrow loaded with the mine¡¯s bounty and a little extra. ¡°Hey, Jole! Over here!¡±

    Jole, her brother¡¯s right-hand man in the tunnels, waved back and redirected his course over to where they stood. He was a tough and lean man, like most miners, and just a couple years older than Telero himself. He was also adorned with an unkempt mustache below his flat, unruly mop of dark hair.

    ¡°Hey there, Halari,¡± he said with a voice like gravel falling on sand. ¡°You seen you¡¯re brother anywhere today? We got a stubborn patch of shield we need another hand with.¡±

    Halari gritted her teeth in an awkward smile, recalling the morning¡¯s rough and rumbly start. She and Viria had¡­ undersold Telero¡¯s mood upon coming out of his room during a quick breakfast. He hadn¡¯t muttered so much as barked to them about the end of the world and begging forgiveness of the priests before storming off in a mad rush to do whatever he¡¯d had in mind.

    ¡°He¡¯s¡­ busy,¡± Halari said. ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be around later.¡±

    ¡°Alright then,¡± Jole huffed, putting his hands on his hips. ¡°Well, we can¡¯t move on that vein without another pick.¡± He glanced at Callan, sizing him up with a twitch of his mustache. ¡°What about your friend here? This is him, right? The guy you came out of the Center with? He looks stron¡ª¡± Jole cut off and stared at Callan for a long second. Halari held back a chuckle, knowing that Jole finally saw her companion¡¯s inhuman stare. ¡°You got some weird-looking eyes, mister.¡±

    ¡°They were a gift,¡± Callan said without missing a beat. Jole nodded slowly like he understood, then continued on like nothing was amiss.

    ¡°You know how to mine?¡± he asked.

    ¡°What¡¯re you mining?¡± Callan stepped over to the wheelbarrow and looked inside, then grabbed a chunk of the off-white sediment off the top of the haul pile.

    ¡°Only the most valuable stuff in the world,¡± Jole explained, coming up beside Callan and sticking his whole arm into the transport. He came up with a nugget of silvery metal with lines like black webbing wrapping its surface. ¡°We call it deepsteel, since it¡¯s so damn deep into the earth. What you''re holding is its shell."

    ¡°We used it to make Charge cells and power a lot of tools,¡± Halari added. ¡°Those lights, some of our picks, vehicles, homes. It¡¯s¡­¡± She stopped talking, noticing Callan¡¯s expression.

    He stared peculiarly at the metal, then took it gently from Jole and rolled the nugget between his fingers.

    ¡°What is it?¡± She worried that she¡¯d upset him again, somehow, although the look on his face was not one of discomfort or that horrible grief from before.

    ¡°This was here?¡± Callan murmured. ¡°I thought we found it all.¡±

    What¡¯s he talking about? Halari wondered. Jole glanced at her, confused, but she shook her head, hoping he¡¯d take that to mean that she¡¯d explain later. ¡°Callan, what¡¯s going on?¡±

    Callan snapped out of his odd reverie and held the nugget up for them to see better. ¡°This¡­ is ultimium. Raw ultimium that I thought was all mined up.¡±

    ¡°Well, we¡¯ve got a huge deposit all inside this cliff here,¡± Jole said, waving to the looming face of black stone that they stood within. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s pretty much useless without a Charge. But we¡¯re hoping, praying, that when the Flames come back, they¡¯ll light it all up. We¡¯ll probably be the most powerful trade nation in the world then.¡±

    Halari¡¯s head and spirits fell at Jole¡¯s words, knowing what she knew now about their false promise. That was never going to happen, and they would soon run out of their last remaining power.

    Wait¡­ She snapped up and looked at Callan, right as he grinned slightly.

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Callan said, ¡°but I wouldn¡¯t hold out hope for them. However, I am here now to help.¡± He focused on the nugget of metal, staring into it intensely. Then, his eyes flashed.

    And the black lines of the metal lit up.

    Purple-crimson light flicked and flowed in the nuggets, casting its hues on their faces.

    By the Visionary¡­ Halari gaped at the power in Callan¡¯s fingers, awed by the display. This changed everything. I¡¯ve found it, I¡¯ve found what we need.

    ¡°Uhhh¡­¡± Jole looked completely out of sorts, stupefied gaze flicking between the metal chunk and Callan, who looked pleased with himself and escaped from the pit of tragedy he''d started to sink into. ¡°Ummm¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh shit!¡± Halari hissed softly. She snatched the Charged nugget from Callan¡¯s fingers and held it out to the miner. ¡°Uh, here, Jole, why don¡¯t you hold on this and, uh, don¡¯t mention it to¡­ well, anybody.¡±

    ¡°Uhhh¡­¡± Jole took the chunk and stared at it dumbly as if trying to convince himself that it was real. ¡°Uh, sure, I guess. But, Halari, uh, you are gonna¡­ explain things right?¡±

    ¡°Yes yes, I promise,¡± Halari said quickly, grabbing Callan by the elbow and pulling him away. ¡°Just, please, don¡¯t mention this to anybody yet. Take it as an order, I guess.¡±

    ¡°Y-you don¡ª¡±

    ¡°Ok-bye-Jole!¡± Halari dragged Callan away quickly, pulling him back towards the town. Only when they were out of sight of the mines did she stop and turn to him. ¡°Callan, nobody knows who you are. You can¡¯t do stuff like that yet.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Callan looked surprised. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell them?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a lot going on, right now,¡± Halari said rapidly in a hushed tone. ¡°You, food and power shortages, those freak invaders.¡±

    ¡°Invaders?¡± Callan asked. ¡°Is this place under attack?¡±

    ¡°Not to anybody outside the leadership and the Melokide,¡± she explained, that fresh shame of being one of those traitors rising up to her throat. She waved for him to follow her and began walking back to the garage,. ¡°Nobody else knows outside them. They¡¯ve been paying these outsiders off to prevent war. I found out by mistake.¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you fight?¡± Callan asked. ¡°The people here seem¡­ hardy.¡±

    ¡°But they¡¯re not fighters,¡± Halari said. ¡°They¡¯re good people who just want to live, and we don¡¯t even have the resources. So until we restart the trade lines, it¡¯s not a winning battle.¡±

    ¡°And you worry that the fear would destroy this place,¡± Callan finished, nodding. Did he understand? Or did he think her a baseless liar? ¡°I know it seems like omitting this from them might seem like a shameful idea, but you¡¯re right not to ruin the peace without an alternative, and now you¡¯ve just found another option. I will help, Halari, however I can.¡±

    That eased her roiling conscience a bit, and Halari felt a tad lighter as they walked back to the garage.

    It didn¡¯t last long.

    Two people stood at the garage, looking out into the street, waiting for them.

    One was Telero, who watched her and Callan approach with a stormy expression darker than any normal rain cloud. The other was Kelot, who looked decidedly less violent than the last time she¡¯d seen him while exiting the Vault. The priest even plastered on that shit-eating, condescending grin he loved to use as the gap between them closed.

    ¡°Dammit,¡± Halari groaned with a heavy eye roll. ¡°Callan, whatever that man says is total bullshit. Just¡­ be ready.¡±

    ¡°Was he there when you freed me?¡± Callan asked. ¡°It¡¯s all kind of a blur already.¡±

    Kelot shouted hello, giving her no chance to respond.

    ¡°Greetings, Great Flame of Melokon!¡± he said, waving gently with a white-robed hand. Each word he spouted was saturated with enough forced grandeur to make her stomach turn. ¡°I am truly honored to be in your presence!¡±

    Halari¡¯s eyes flipped backwards and looked into her brain when the man bowed deep enough that his nose almost touched the black stone of the street.

    ¡°Rise, priest,¡± Callan said. Kelot obeyed immediately, snapping up like a loosed tree that somebody had been holding down. ¡°You ordered your men to harm Halari, correct?¡±

    ¡°Ah, y-yes,¡± Kelot stammered, blushing under Callan¡¯s draconic glare.  ¡°That was¡­ an unfortunate misunderstanding that your humble servants feel just terrible about.¡±

    ¡°Misunderstanding?¡± Halari gawked at him. ¡°Your men shot at me like a firing squad!¡±

    ¡°Well, in our defense,¡± Kelot said with a shrug, ¡°we believed you had just released the greatest calamity in the world¡¯s history.¡±

    Callan¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    ¡°Which of course is clearly not the case,¡± the priest added with a panicked chortle. He cleared his throat, then continued. ¡°When initiate Telero here illuminated us on your less-than-wrathful disposition, I saw an opportunity to reach out and offer you the chance to reorient yourself to the world.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been given the tour,¡± Callan said, gesturing to Halari. ¡°She was quite thorough.¡±

    Kelot cleared his throat again and fiddled with his robes.

    This is kinda funny, Halari thought, relishing in the man¡¯s mewling.

    ¡°But can she provide you the past?¡± Kelot asked. ¡°Can she tell you everything you missed?¡±

    ¡°Can you?¡± Halari demanded. The priest barely looked at her before he responded.

    ¡°In four days, we will have a full presentation for you at at our Stellar Temple,¡± Kelot said, bowing slightly again. ¡°It would be an honor to have your audience and potentially save some good grace in your eyes.¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± Callan said. ¡°Impress me, priest.¡±

    ¡°At your command Great Flame,¡± Kelot said, bowing a third time like his life depended on the frequency of his displayed piety. Then he scurried off, mission complete.

    Halari looked to Telero, judging the way he stood, how his jaw was set. She knew her brother well enough to see he was bordering on enraged, something that was hard to ignite within him.

    ¡°Tel¡­¡± She reached for him to try for some kind of hug or comforting touch, but he pushed her hand away and stomped off, mining boots clomping on the stone below.

    ¡°I need to rest,¡± Callan said, sagging. ¡°Thank you for the tour, Halari. I appreciate everything.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± she said, staring after Tel. She needed to go after him, talk to him, try to unwind the coil tightening around his chest. ¡°I¡¯ll come back later with some dinner, if you want.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Callan said. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Halari grinned softly, then trotted off to find her brother. Telero only went one place when he was mad, she would definitely find him there.

 Interlude: Hooks- Telero

    Telero stared at the sketches, masterpieces of childhood and adolescent artworks, that he and Halari had carved into stone in this divot years ago. She hadn¡¯t visited this spot in a while, but he found it a place to go when things went awry.

    Shaft collapsed? Bring a meal here and unwind.

    Rachella breaking it off with him? Dangle his feet over the edge and watch the day fade away.

    The Visionary¡¯s greatest fear freed? He thought, tracing his fingers over one of child-Halari¡¯s barely decipherable chalk drawings of some beast she¡¯d imagined. Come admire some art.

    He had to give the Betrayer some credit; the monster did work fast. Barely even a day out of his prison and already he was weaving his influence into his sister while simultaneously bringing his mentor Kelot to heel in terror. Telero had went to him in an effort to persuade the Sect to strike while the Storm Devil was still weak, but only succeeded in prompting the man to find a chance to grovel.

    ¡°Cowards all,¡± he whispered. ¡°The Visionary preaches to conquer fear in the name of Melokon, but what do they do?¡±

    Quiet steps sounded behind him, approaching warily. Halari was soft-footed, but the stone gave away her arrival. Not many creatures could move across the ground completely silent, but when she was trying, his sister was one with the lands around them, undetectable and immersed. She wasn''t trying now of course, so her boots clomped on the stone as she moved closer.

    He turned to her, face stony to hide his worry. The Tyrant¡¯s hooks floated around her, closing in with every passing second that demon was free and breathing. How long would it take to for all of them to dig into his sweet sister?

    ¡°Hey, Tel,¡± Halari greeted. Her eyes held a dying ember of anger in them, having not quite forgiven him for his deception of the arrangement with the gildgrown, but that indignation was shrouded with a thin layer of familial concern. ¡°I know we¡¯ve got a lot to talk about, but are you ok?¡±

    He raised brow at her. ¡°Jomen the Guide¡¯s only terror is out and about, trading words with my family, and cowing the priests, so no.¡±

    ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem to be a threat,¡± Halari said, coming to stand beside him at the divot. She looked at the drawings they¡¯d made together and grinned. ¡°I remember these.¡±

    ¡°But you don¡¯t remember the Words of Jomen at all, do you?¡± Telero asked, crossing his arms. The relevant verses came to mind immediately, as well they should, seeing as how he spent most of his off time studying them, contemplating their meanings. ¡°Fall of the Chosen King, section three: ¡®He was perfect. The perfect ruler. He came to his people as their salvation, gathered them with warm words and warmer eyes, turned sour hearts sweet and burned away their fears. The Tyrant¡¯s iron grip dripped with honey.¡¯ Hala, nobody suspected a thing until it was far, far too late.¡±

    Stolen story; please report.

    ¡°It¡¯s all bull, Tel,¡± Halari said. ¡°All of it, Callan told me the truth.¡±

    ¡°What truth does the Deceiver speak?¡± Telero asked.

    ¡°They¡¯re not. Coming. Back,¡± Halari said, turning to face him now. That was one hook already latched on, deep enough it couldn¡¯t be removed. He saw that she believed it, even more since he knew she wanted to believe it. She''d never had the faith. ¡°They never were coming back.¡±

    ¡°He told you exactly what you wanted to hear," Telero said. ¡°I bet his tears really sold it, huh?¡± Halari cocked her head with a confused expression. ¡°Yeah, we caught his little display on the cameras.

    ¡°In any case,¡± he continued, ¡°that demon is going to ruin everything, and it will look like he¡¯s here to help at first. His salvation will be our doom.¡±

    Halari set her jaw much like he did; she didn¡¯t appreciate how much they were alike, even in smaller ways.

    ¡°So what?¡± she hissed, jamming a finger at his chest. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve noticed, but we¡¯re in a bit of a mess right. We need something, anything right now, so maybe I don¡¯t care if the hand holding us together is made of iron. Maybe we need that.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t wrong about that. The gildgrown taking their food were a danger, and a big one, but they could be dealt with. Reasoned with. ¡°The outsiders can be kept at bay,¡± he tried.

    ¡°Until we run out of food,¡± Halari said, shaking her head. They went quiet for a moment, trying to find some solace before the art of their childhood. ¡°How come you haven¡¯t told the town about Callan? If the Storm Devil is what you believe, why aren¡¯t you warning everybody?¡±

    ¡°His actual power will grow the more people revere him,¡± Telero said, recalling more passages of the Book of Jomens, ¡°so I will hold back the tide for as long as I can. You will not be the only who falls for his lies."

    ¡°Tel¡­¡± Halari looked at him, her anger replaced with genuine worry for his burden. He loved her for it, it was why he was going to dig those hooks out of her, no matter the cost. She was his sister, and it was his one true job to protect her. ¡°What if you¡¯re wrong?¡±

    ¡°Then, I¡¯ll let the Visionary judge me,¡± he said, making the gesture of reverence over his eyes, ¡°when he and his kin come back home.¡±

    ¡°Then, I¡¯ll do the same,¡± Halari said, ¡°after I use whatever I can, whoever I can, to save our home.¡± Intentions declared, she drifted off as the sun glare passed its zenith, shining at angle that fully lit up their little hole in the wall.

    Telero watched her go, then turned back to the stone canvas. He grabbed a little piece of chalk from the old box they kept in the divot and found an empty spot, then placed the chalk against it.

    In one smooth motion, he drew a new picture: a single, curved line with its arc facing the ground.

    A hook.

    Dig them out, Telero commanded himself. Dig them all out.

 Chapter Nine: Fusion- Callan

    The sky really didn¡¯t change. Callan frowned at it, waiting, searching for even the smallest hint of the lovely blue he remembered. But no, all that ever was over the course of three days was the unmoving silver like a gentle rain cloud that never actually broke.

    People walked by him sitting in front of the garage and barely gave him a passing  glance, probably attributing what they thought was vacant insanity to his rumored long imprisonment. He¡¯d spoken to a few of them, committing their names to his improving perfect memory and learning about how they contributed  to the community.

    They asked little of him in return; only a few mentioned his eyes, the rest were unnerved too much to really say anything.

    ¡®You can¡¯t save them either,¡¯ the skull in the dark whispered from the tomb below, ¡®they will all die like I did, Callan.¡¯

    ¡°Callan!¡± A hand appeared in his silver-saturated vision and snapped twice. Callan started back into the real world, looking downward to see Halari standing to his side with a concerned face. ¡°I was saying something to you, did you hear me?¡±

    ¡°No, I did not, sorry,¡± he said, standing. ¡°What were you saying?¡±

    Halari cocked her head to the side, a habit he noticed she did when she had some kind of question or concern. ¡°Where were you, just now?¡±

    ¡°Not here,¡± Callan said grimly. ¡°Some place a long time ago.¡±

    Halari nodded and frowned softly. She was a bit too early for dinner, which she usually brought along with some decent conversation. Talking grounded him, kept him in the real world, and quieted his deathly companion. Thankfully, Halari had a lot to say.

    ¡°Well, I was about to go foraging outside,¡± Halari said, nodding to the cliff rising above, ¡°and I get the sense you need to get out of here. Move around a bit. Wanna go?¡±

    ¡°Out there?¡± Callan eyed the landmark glumly. There most likely wasn¡¯t anything he couldn¡¯t handle in those wastes, but he didn¡¯t feel the need to see more ruins of his old home. ¡°Is there anything out there?¡±

    ¡°Not much,¡± Halari said, ¡°but my mada asked for a certain fruit which I brought home a while back, so I figured it was a good chance to get you more familiar with the territory.¡±

    ¡°How is she taking all of this?¡± Callan asked. ¡°Your father seemed to take all in stride.¡±

    ¡°Oh she¡¯s cooking more,¡± Halari said, tapping her chin. ¡°Which means she¡¯s nervous, but she¡¯s keeping it to herself like we asked. Speaking of which¡­¡± She pulled a small foil parcel and handed it to him. ¡°Figured you were sick of the ashbud diet.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Callan said, taking the parcel. He unwrapped it carefully and found something resembling a flatbread inside. It was filled with¡­ meat? Paste? A combination of both? ¡°It¡¯s¡­ what is it?¡±

    ¡°A protein mix,¡± Halari explained.

    I don¡¯t like that look in her eyes, Callan thought suspiciously. Still, he took a bite and chewed the strange sandwich.

    The meat paste was not good.

    He swallowed it, but his face must have committed treason, because Halari began to chuckle.

    ¡°Halari, I¡¯m beginning to think you find entertainment watching my reactions to your wasteland food,¡± Callan said, brows raised.

    She just smiled and shrugged.

    ¡°You ready to go right now?¡± she asked, evading his accusation. ¡°I wanna be able to get back by nightfall.¡±

    ¡°Lead the way,¡± he said.

    The wastes really were miserable, as he expected. When they drove above the threshold of the cliff¡¯s edge on Halari¡¯s monstrous vehicle, the world revealed itself him in full, onyx despair.

    When I named the Obsidian Empire, Callan remembered sadly, I didn¡¯t mean it literally. Oh, Great Melokon, we¡¯ve failed so much. ¡°It looks like Hell,¡± he whispered, thumbing his ring.

    ¡°It can be sometimes,¡± Halari said. She drove while he faced the rear behind her. ¡°But most of the times it¡¯s just quiet.¡±

    Halari steered them through rising outcrops that were jagged like the horrible maw of some monster, around tall crags standing like stakes in the stone, past ravines that fell deep into the earth.

    So dead, so bleak. Callan remembered this area being a dense forest. Where had all those trees gone? Where had all the life gone? He caught sight of some mote-like bug swarms swirling about in the far distance, moving like a tornado over an object he wasn¡¯t able to make out.

    ¡°What are those?¡± he asked, pointing. ¡°Some kind of insect?¡±

    Halari stalled her trawler, a truly beastly vehicle compared to the automobiles that he remembered, and followed his finger towards the horizon.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see anything,¡± she said, squinting.

    ¡°Oh, right,¡± Callan said. Only his eyes could pick something that small out at such a distance. ¡°They¡¯re small bugs, moving in a swirling formation above something.¡±

    ¡°Fleshflies,¡± Halari said, revving  the engine back up. ¡°Harmless if you¡¯re not dead or bleeding. That¡¯s when they¡¯ll strip you for parts. Probably feeding on some poor bistag or something.¡±

    ¡°Wonderful,¡± Callan groaned.

    They moved on past the swarm and drove for another ten minutes or so before Halari parked the trawler in a shallow ditch and hopped off.

    Callan followed suit and stretched while looking about the landscape. A grove of bone-thin trees, some with white trunks, others black, stood before them. The ground was different at least, a blend of gravelly not-soil and needle-like blade of grass.

    ¡°It would be hopeless to ask if there are any brown trees somewhere, right?¡± he asked.

    Halari scrunched her face, like the very idea of a brown tree was disturbing to her in some tragic way, and Callan¡¯s rock bottom heart fell a little more. ¡°No. Not here at least." They walked into the pale imitation of a forest, ducking the trees¡¯ stubby arms and weaving around thin trunks, all the while looking through the glassy underbrush for the fruit Halari needed. After a few minutes of hiking, they rested near the center of the grove which held a wide puddle of brackish water and a large boulder.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Callan stared into the pool, reflection faint in the lack of a real sun.

    ¡°Halari.¡± He turned to her, taking the woman¡¯s attention away from a dense bush she was scrounging through. ¡°Is it like this everywhere?¡±

    She grimaced and started sweeping her foot on the ground lightly. ¡°I think the land of the Scrag Fort to the east is different, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Not that much different,¡± Callan finished with a sigh. ¡°Is there¡­ anything redeeming about this world? I will help, but I need to know what I¡¯m working with.¡±

    Halari didn¡¯t respond for a moment, and he felt bad for any guilt she felt, but he¡¯d yet to see anything worth organizing outside of the people.

    Then, Halari bent down and picked something up off the gravelly surface.

    ¡°Here.¡± She walked over to him, standing close so he saw the object in her open palm.

    It was a rock. A pebble, really.

    ¡°I might be totally wrong, but did you even have rocks like this in the old world?¡± she asked, bringing the small stone closer. Callan looked at it harder and was surprised to find that she right. He wasn¡¯t much of rock scholar, but he¡¯d never seen one like it.

    The small stone was glossy in sheen and swirled with a miasma of colors inside. He saw a galaxy in its unpolished facets, more distinct than even the most perfect emerald of his old world.

    ¡°No, actually, I don¡¯t think so,¡± Callan said, taking it from her and studying it more.

    ¡°It was probably fused together with hundreds of other things when the world ended in fire,¡± Halari said. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t even exist under better conditions. Callan, I¡¯ll never say this world is better than the old one, but¡­ there is some kind of beauty here. The kind that only it can make.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t full convinced, but it was a start. ¡°I appreciate this, Halari,¡± Callan murmured, meeting her light, coppery eyes. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll try to start looking at this world as it is, instead of comparing it to how I remember.¡±

    ¡°Glad I could help.¡± She grinned softly, then turned back to her work in the bush.

    ¡®She¡¯s a pretty one,¡¯ the skull whispered in the back of his mind. ¡®Do you think her hair will burn the same color as mine did?¡¯

    ¡°Callan?¡± Halari said, eying him quizzically. He realized he¡¯d spaced out again and shook himself back into focus. ¡°Could you check around that boulder? I¡¯m getting nothing over here.¡±

    Callan nodded and pocketed the small stone before turning toward the large, silver boulder that rested by the brackish puddle. He crouched down under its faint shade and picked through the low shrubs for the target fruit.

    Glossy black, fist sized, he recalled her description. Ribbed arou¡ª That¡¯s odd. He touched an area around the boulder where the foliage was pressed flat, like something had walked on it. And the boulder itself didn¡¯t look right; its surface was made of¡ª

    ¡°callan,¡± Halari whispered. ¡°Callan!¡±

    He spun to see her pale and wide eyed, standing still a few feet away.

    ¡°You need to move away from that,¡± she hissed, waving her fingers frantically.

    ¡°It¡¯s just a rock, is it not?¡± he asked.

    As soon as the last word left his mouth, Callan heard the ¡®boulder¡¯ shift behind him, crunching the gravel as its bulk moved. He turned, not slowly, but carefully, and saw that the ¡®boulder¡¯ now stood on two legs and loomed above him.

    It was not a boulder.

    Oh Oliver, what were you thinking? Callan thought, staring up at the monster. The mad Flame had always been creative when it came to his bioengineering projects, but he must have been having a truly disturbed week when he dreamed up this fiend.

    The creature stood almost a full chest taller than him and twice as wide. It¡¯s face was something akin to a bear, but it had no fur. Instead, its corpse-hued skin was comprised of fine scales, which culminated at the top of its head in the mockery of a stout mohawk.

    The beast¡¯s arms were massive, shoulders especially, but with equally dense forearms.

    That mad fool actually invented a cave troll, Callan thought, his draconic eyes meeting the monster¡¯s own bloody red ones, which were set into pit-like sockets deep into its face.

    ¡°Callan,¡± Halari whispered,  ¡°don¡¯t move. Cragbeasts don¡¯t have good sight.¡±

    The cragbeast growled at him with the sound of an earthquake.

    ¡°I think we¡¯re past that,¡± Callan said.

    It swung, striking with one clawed, gnarled hand as if to gut him. Callan took the blow on his forearms, bringing both up in a boxer¡¯s stance to block the impact, which hit with the force a high-speed truck.

    Something¡¯s wrong, Callan thought as the strength of the blow slid him a few feet to the side on the gravelly ground. His block should have shattered the beast¡¯s hand.

    He ducked the next swing, then threw himself backwards to make distance and reached for the Stormspace, for his weapon within. His fingers pulled at the very world, tried to pierce through to the pocket of dark clouds and energy, but they didn¡¯t break through.

    They weren¡¯t strong enough. He wasn¡¯t strong enough.

    Callan felt it just out of reach, like static cling on his fingers, but it wasn¡¯t enough. And he had no more time. The cragbeast charged him, so he tried a different tactic and struck with Melokon¡¯s Fire. Its heat started in his heart, focused down into his arm, then built in his fingers.

    He unleashed it¡­ in one pathetic bolt of amethyst electricity which cracked through the air and left a faint odor of ozone in its wake.

    The arc still held enough power to throw the beat off balance when it tagged its massive shoulder, leaving a dark scorch mark on its scaled flesh and sending its feral advance wildly off course. It crashed into the line of trees, crushing a dozen or so.

    ¡°I need a shot at its throat!¡± Halari yelled, firing a shot with her rifle at the monster. Her bullet sparked off its forehead, the next one off its shoulder.

    Callan froze.

    I can¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t¡­ His mind whirled, ripped itself apart. No weapon, no power, what did he have left? Halari fought, uselessly shooting over and over, but Callan stopped in place.

    ¡®It¡¯s gonna crush her,¡¯ the skull whispered. ¡®It¡¯s gonna rip her limb from limb.¡¯

    In the name of the Dragon, dominate your fears. He rallied himself; his god would never forgive such weakness in this moment. Always fight. Callan leaped forward to the beast and punched its incoming arm. His force was greater, and the monster¡¯s blow was redirected backwards, spinning the beast to the side.

    He didn¡¯t have his weapon or the true fury of the Melokon¡¯s Fire, but he still had his raw, physical strength, and that was enough.

    Before it recovered, Callan sent a two-hit combo into its gut, doubling the monster over into a perfect position for an uppercut, which caught the beast on its chin and forced it reel back, roaring in pain and rage. He rolled under its legs and jumped, scaling the creature¡¯s back in a single bound. He stood on the monster¡¯s shoulders, then grabbed the top part of its broad maw and pulled. Its fangs dug into his palms but failed to pierce his skin, and he wrenched its head backwards while it flailed in a desperate attempt to pull him off.

    A shot rang out, whizzing past his waist, then another grazed his shin and glanced off. A third shot sounded and the beast jerked. Its arms dropped limp to its sides and, like a felled mountain, the cragbeast toppled face first to the ground. Callan stepped off of it just as it made impact and rolled with the momentum before standing to come face-to-face with a very pale, shaken Halari. They both stared at each other for a long moment, then Halari started to laugh, heaving massive gulps of air as she calmed down.

    ¡°Good shooting,¡± Callan said with a heavy sigh of relief, stooping over with his hands on his knees. Halari sat on the gravel, still giggling hysterically, enough to be infectious and get a good chuckle from him. ¡°How did you know where to shoot it?¡±

    ¡°Old¡­ Bear,¡± Halari said between gasps. ¡°He¡¯s the only¡­ one who¡¯s killed one of¡­ these. But that one was stuck in a pit. ¡± She breathed deep and composed herself. ¡°He said under the neck was the only soft tissue it had.¡±

    ¡°Now you¡¯ve got a better story,¡± Callan said, studying the fiend¡¯s carcass. ¡°What do we do this thing?¡±

    Halari stood back up on shaky legs and brushed herself off.  ¡°It¡¯s no fruit, but we¡¯ll just chain it to the trawler and go. Bear¡¯s son is a meat carver, he¡¯ll portion it out. Quarry¡¯ll be happy to get some protein portions for a while.¡±

    ¡°You can eat this monster?¡± Callan asked incredulously. The beast looked far too muscular to make into anything worthwhile. Then again, Halari and her people were used more unsavory foods, so a little extra gristle on their meat was most likely something they didn¡¯t care about.

    ¡°Oh yeah, mada¡¯s gonna make a good stew out of this,¡± Halari said with another giggle. ¡°Now, come on, help me get this thing tied to the trawler. I¡¯m betting you can carry it over after you fist fought it like that.¡±

    ¡°After you,¡± Callan said, grabbing one of the beast¡¯s massive wrists. He pulled the cragbeast¡¯s dead body through the ring of trees, flattening more than a few with its bulk.

    Halari looped a chain around and under its shoulders, then connected it to her vehicle. Slow and steady, they dragged their trophy back to the Quarry and away from the torn-up grove.

 Chapter Ten: Answers- Halari

    Halari waved to Asha Bellit and her family as she passed them on the way to her garage. There was a bit more respect in their eyes and postures, even some admiration to their calls of greeting. The twins mimicked their parents with same enthusiasm, although she figured that was more of a general happiness to see a friendly face.

    Word had spread fast through Stargazer¡¯s Quarry; it was hard to miss the carcass of a cragbeast being dragged through the streets while hitched to a trawler. She¡¯d spent the rest of the day recounting her experience and fending off questions.

    ¡®Lucky shot¡¯ and ¡®some good backup¡¯ were a couple of phrases she never wanted to say again, at least for a while. The people also began talking about Callan more. She¡¯d heard more than a few whispers, especially when he accidentally began to carry the massive beast into Bear¡¯s shop on his own.

    ¡°Halari!¡± Asha called, waving her over. ¡°Hold on a sec.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Halari asked, stepping up to their fence and giving the shorter twin a pat on the head. Asha was a young, lean woman, fair but pinkened from her longer times in the sun-glare for her lot farm. Her hair, a pale brown with violet streaks, was tied back in a utility knot.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to your garage right?¡± Asha asked, looking warily to the building. ¡°That¡­ man is in there. And uh, there¡¯s some weird noises and lights coming from inside.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s nothing,¡± Halari said quickly with a disarming grin. ¡°I¡¯ve been showing him how to weld.¡±

    ¡°With a red torch?¡± Asha pressed. ¡°And really loudly sometimes?¡±

    What the hell are you doing in there, Callan? Halari thought, grimacing. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ still getting the hang of it.¡±

    ¡°Halari,¡± Asha said softly. ¡°The cragbeast, your Vault raid, the rumors. What¡¯s really going on?¡±

    Halari sighed quietly. ¡°I can¡¯t explain right now, but soon, I think. Trust me, please.¡±

    Asha stared at her for an uncomfortably long moment. It was hard to really get anything by her due to her kids being a particularly mischievous duo, but she and Halari had always been on good terms. Would that hold now?

    ¡°It better be a damn good explanation,¡± Asha said with a light shake of her head.

    ¡°Bad word, mada!¡± the taller twin accused. ¡°Put a bud in the jar!¡±

    Halari giggled, then waved Asha goodbye and finished her trek to the garage. She leaned against the metal rolling door and listened. There was nothing for a moment, then a series of sharp crackles and other sounds of electricity going haywire, then harsh muttering and a loud thump.

    She rolled the door up and open to see Callan standing over her worktable, fists planted on its surface as if he¡¯d just struck it.

    ¡°You¡¯re not wrecking my garage, are you?¡± Halari asked, stepping inside and rolling the door shut behind her. ¡°I traded hard for this equipment.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got it contained,¡± Callan said, turning to her with a small, sad smirk. ¡°Only cosmetic damage, I swear.¡±

    She arched a brow at him. ¡°And what exactly are you doing that¡¯s making this cosmetic damage to my garage?¡±

    Callan held out both hands in front of him, palms facing each other, then stared at the empty space between them. Halari watched curiously as his eyes began to glow faintly, but steadily.

    ¡°Whoa!¡± she yelped, flinching back as the first couple arcs of crimson-purple lightning flicked from his fingertips to the center of the gap between his hands. ¡°What¡¯re you doing?¡±

    Callan said nothing, just focused on his task. The lightning sparked and flashed, hissed and crackled. And at the center, a small, dark mass began to form. Halari squinted at the shape.

    Is that a cloud? She took another step back. The storm cloud swirled as it grew like it was pinched at both vertical ends and stretched until Callan had a bar of stormy matter hovering between his palms. His lightning intensified, sparking more frequently, building a charge in the air that grew and grew, surrounding her and making her hair fray with static power.

    Then it imploded.

    With a burst of arcing sparks, the storming pillar at the center of his hands collapsed on itself and the red-amethyst lightning stopped shooting from his fingers.

    ¡°And that¡­¡± Callan said, deflating, ¡°is as much as I can get.¡±

    ¡°What was that?¡± Halari asked, stepping closer now that the tempest had died away.

    ¡°During the fight with the cragbeast,¡± Callan said, ¡°I tried to summon my weapon to fight. Only I couldn¡¯t. The Stormspace wouldn¡¯t open for me.¡± He slumped against the worktable.

    ¡°Stormspace?¡± Halari asked.

    ¡°A type of¡­ storage for the Flames,¡± Callan explained. ¡°Part of Melokon¡¯s being where we can put the icons of our power. My weapon, armor, and some other possessions are all trapped there because I¡¯m¡­¡± He grimaced and trailed off with an uncomfortable look in his serpentine eyes.

    ¡°You¡¯re what?¡± Halari pressed, coming to lean on the table beside him.

    He didn¡¯t look at her, instead he stared at some point far away, head cocked as if hearing something that only spoke to him.

    He¡¯s spacing out, Halari realized. She prepared herself to snap him out of his own mind again; it had been pretty easy to realize that without some kind of rope back to reality, Callan might fall back into the emotional void she¡¯d found him in. She raised one hand to shake him gently, but he came back just before she made contact.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been diminished, Halari,¡± he said, blinking back to her and the real world. ¡°You¡¯ve managed to unearth a broken demigod. I don¡¯t know how much help I¡¯ll actually be.¡±

    ¡°How did it happen?¡± she asked. ¡°Did you get hurt when they imprisoned you?"

    Callan shook his head. ¡°My abilities¡­ they¡¯re like a muscle I have to exercise. So centuries, millennia of disuse plus the power passively burning itself to keep me alive in that airless cage¡­ I¡¯ve atrophied. Badly.¡±

    ¡°Is there any way to fix the damage?¡± Halari asked, putting her hand on his shoulder anyways. No need for him to slide if she could help it.

    ¡°They might return to me over time,¡± Callan said, meeting her eyes. ¡°But without a massive intake of the Great Dragon''s power, I doubt I¡¯ll ever fully recover.¡±

    ¡°Well maybe the priests will know how to help,¡± Halari said. ¡°That¡¯s why I came to get you, actually. Their presentation is ready.¡±

    ¡°I doubt they can help,¡± Callan said, standing up straight. ¡°But it¡¯ll be good to catch up on what I missed. Oh, and just how much should I discomfort them for you?¡±

    ¡°As much as possible,¡± Halari said with a soft grin. The thought of them cowering just for the sake of groveling was already really funny. ¡°They deserve to get some of what they gave to us for years.¡±

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    Before the main gate of the Center, the Melokide priests stood primly at the foot of the steps, waiting like whipped little dogs for their lord to speak to them.

    Look at the little wasterats, Halari mused. Begging the smoghawk not to eat them. She tried not to take pleasure in seeing them so abashed after years of dealing with their pompous bullshit.

    She failed, letting a little smirk slip onto her mouth as she and Callan stopped before them. Even a couple steps below them, his presence towered over the priests.

    ¡°O G-great Flame,¡± Kelot greeted, bowing so low that Halari hoped his spine would snap. ¡°We w-welcome you to our grand temple.¡±

    Callan looked the building up and down. ¡°My prison¡­ was an observatory.¡±

    A what? Halari wondered, eyeing the structure as well.

    ¡°Y-yes, Great Flame.¡± The priest hurried to agree, and Halari¡¯s smirk was joined by an eye roll. ¡°This sacred site was built by the daughter of King Jomen and Queen Bayola as a way to study potential paths for the Departure.¡±

    Callan¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°James and Byeol¡­ had a kid?¡±

    Are those their real names? Halari recorded those to memory, pleased to already be off to such a fruitful start. In just a single question, she learned more than the entire Quarry had in a thousand years.

    ¡°My lord, please.¡± The priest clasped his hands together like he did when chastising a rowdy child during a public gathering. ¡°The true names of your brethren are a sensitive piece of legendary history¡­¡± His slithery eyes flicked to her. ¡°Not for the ears of some so¡­ mundane.¡±

    Callan stepped up to be level with the priest, who shrunk immediately. His black-robed goons flinched away as well.

    Halari restrained a giggle at their fear. It really was so sickly entertaining to watch them grovel.

    ¡°Do you have something for me?¡± Callan asked, staring intensely down at the lead priest. Those snakelike pupils of his were a bit menacing when he wanted them to be.

    ¡°Y-yes, Great Flame,¡± the priest said, waving towards the temple. ¡°Inside, we have a presentation of assorted historical events that deserve your scrutiny. If we could humbly petition you to leave your¡­¡± Again, he glanced at her. ¡°¡­aide outside we can begin.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Callan said. ¡°My liberator will be coming will be with me to see the truth about her history.¡±

    ¡°My lord, I have to protest!¡± The priest, in a move that Halari gave him credit for bravery, actually took on an indignant posture in front of his religion¡¯s Antagonist character. ¡°The last order of King James was that the history of the world be kept under the most dedicated guard.¡±

    ¡°You were ordered to lie,¡± Callan said, leaning forward, ¡°out of selfish fear of retribution.¡± He stepped closer and clasped his hands behind his back. ¡°And as the First Blessed of Melokon, I relinquish you of responsibility. Under my authority, I will decide what the people get to know.¡±

    Halari felt a thrill. She was going to get real answers about the past. Not religious bullshit or platitudes, or vague proverbs from the gods.

    Real history.

    The lead priest balked under Callan¡¯s weighted stare. ¡°Of course, Great Flame, of course. Please, you and your liberator honor us with your attention.¡±

    Callan turned to Halari. ¡°Are you ready to learn the truth about your world?¡±

    ¡°Hell yeah,¡± Halari said, walking up the steps. She patted the priest on the shoulder as she passed and gave him a shit-eating grin. He visibly grimaced, which made it all the more satisfying to her.

    The priests led them inside. Only Halari saw Callan eye the secret elevator to his prison. Only she saw him take a single shuffling step away from it as they went around.

    Five days of freedom isn¡¯t nearly enough to recover. Halari offered him a reassuring grin. ¡°You alright?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said softy, only so she could hear. ¡°Just¡­¡± He trailed off.

    ¡°I understand,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯ll never be trapped in there again.¡±

    Callan nodded but said nothing, eyes shadowed and distant.

    In the dark, she thought sadly. He was still in that dark hole where they left him for centuries. He wasn¡¯t seeing her, or the building interior. He was seeing the chain connecting him to hundreds of lifetimes in that tomb.

    ¡°Right this way, honored guests.¡± The lead priest pulled them into a larger room filled with a couple rows of chairs in front of a wide screen. ¡°Please, pick a seat for your comfort.¡±

    Halari sat next to Callan in the center of the array of chairs. They were cushioned and comfortable, allowing her to relax deeper than she could in her own bed.

    The lead priest walked towards the front to stand just under the large screen. He waved to somebody behind them, and thescreen lit up as blank white screen except for the black dragon icon of the Melokide sect.

    ¡°These records,¡± the lead priest began, ¡°are the sacred histories ordered by King James of the Southern Dominion to be protected by our sect for as long as the world stands.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Halari asked. ¡°Why can¡¯t you just tell us this stuff?¡±

    The priest just stared at her blankly.

    ¡°Answer her, priest.¡± Callan propped his head on his fist. He already looked bored from all this inconvenient religious politicking. ¡°I absolve you of your sins.¡±

    ¡°King James ordered it,¡± he said. ¡°It was his last order. He didn¡¯t tell the Sect why.¡±

    ¡°So that the people he abandoned wouldn¡¯t chase him,¡± Callan said. ¡°Keep the truth locked away, make the Flames out to be all-benign, and the people won¡¯t pursue them for revenge. He always was clever like that."

    ¡°Why not just destroy the histories?¡± That felt like the safest option to her. Just get rid of them all and never risk the people discovering it.

    ¡°So the Sect never forgets,¡± Kelot said, smiling proudly. ¡°Recorded history provides the foundation for truth. Each new member is shown the records so that they understand the exact mission and desires of the old Flames. Because of this, our principles and devotion have not deviated in two millennia.¡±

    ¡°Fantastic,¡± Halari sighed with an even heavier roll of her eyes. ¡°So you¡¯ve always been frustrating pricks.¡±

    Callan chuckled. ¡°Begin the presentation, priest.¡± He impatiently waved for him to get on with the show.

    ¡°We¡¯ll begin with right after your death¡ª or imprisonment,¡± Kelot began, lips pulled in an unpleasant grin. He snapped his fingers and the screen flipped to show a selection of newspaper headlines. All read something like ¡®Traitor King Defeated¡¯ or ¡®Tyrant Callan Brought Down.¡¯ ¡°King James began a series of misinformation to announce your death and took over the Northern Dominion. Due to overextension and potent dissidence, he quickly pulled out of the North. Leaderless and economically destroyed, the Dominion fell apart.¡±

    ¡°Wait.¡± Callan sat up and glared at the screen. ¡°James just up and pulled out of the North?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Kelot said flatly. ¡°For thirty years, it became a disorganized warzone which became a collection of warring city-states.¡±

    The screen flicked to an old map of the region and showed dots depicting centers of civilization. Halari spotted Atara, or Atlanta as Callan called it, near the bottom right corner just above the strangely inappropriate-looking landmass that extended downward.

    ¡°What¡¯s that thing?¡± Halari pointed to the area.

    ¡°Florida,¡± Callan said.

    That meant absolutely nothing to her.

    ¡°The Northern Dominion was saved,¡± Kelot continued, ¡°by the daughter of James, Queen Kalia.¡± Another screen, this time showing a beautiful woman standing before a cheering crowd. ¡°She collected the city-states under one flag¡­¡±

    Halari sat engrossed for the rest of the speech. It was long, but as the screen turned black, she felt completely satisfied.

    Enlightened.

    Enraged.

    The ruined sky? An after effect of hundreds of nuclear warheads during the Obsidian Empire¡¯s first, and last, Civil War. It started when the Twin Flames Cheramin and Kelerel tried to take over the whole planet, only relenting for an effort to fix their mistakes when it was already far, far too late.

    The Departure of the Flames? An emergency evacuation as the world began to die. There was even footage of the Visionary, James himself, giving the order to an unknown cameraman to keep the duties of the Sect true. He was not as glorious as the statues depicted, more of a pale, aquiline man with tired eyes.

    The people left behind? Halari ground her teeth at the revelation that King James really had taken the best, the richest, the brightest and left the rest behind to die in nuclear fire or radiation poisoning or live in the wastes that remained. She watched the selected peoples pile into massive skyboats straight from legend, which then took off, never to return.

    ¡°And those, Great Flame,¡± Kelon finished, dropping his third bottle of water into a waste bin, ¡°are the highlights of your absence.¡±

    Halari glanced at Callan, keeping her anger in check for his sake.

    He looked dead inside.

    He¡¯d went through a range of expressions through the presentation from despaired to downright horrified until landing on this empty, forsaken look.

    Is he hiding his wrath too? she wondered. For my sake? ¡°Callan?¡± She tapped him gently on the elbow. His empty eyes flicked to her and grew sad, as if she reminded him exactly how much been ruined. ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± he said, not looking away from her. ¡°It wasn¡¯t supposed to be like this. They did everything wrong.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said. ¡°This has gotta be painful to see.¡±

    They sat together in silence for a moment, Halari stewing with the context of her new world of truths, Callan looking like somebody just ran over his favorite pet with a trawler.

    ¡°We need to discuss what to tell your people,¡± Callan said.

    It¡¯s time, she realized. For everything. Despite it all, even Callan being diminished in power, Halari believed. He could make it right, he had to. All the people needed was a person to rally behind, to look up to who in the fights to come, and who better to do that than a returned Blessed Flame? They would need convincing of course, seeing as how they would think him the Villain...

    Halari nodded vigorously in agreement with Callan¡¯s words. ¡°I might have an idea.¡±

 Chapter Eleven: Announcement- Halari

    Halari heard them outside. The main body of her people were definitely crowded around the entrance, all talking, questioning, wondering why they were being summoned. She foresaw two possibilities with all the truths that were about to be unleashed: either they really would panic and burn the whole place down, thereby validating her betrayal, or they¡¯d see Callan as a real option to follow and come together so that they could protect their home, making her feel all the worse for lying to them.

    She desperately wanted to feel awful about it if it meant her people found some kind of hope.

    ¡°Remember,¡± Halari said, turning to Callan. He looked at ease facing public speaking, almost happy even, as if addressing a large crowd was something he¡¯d missed doing for centuries. He stood straighter; hands clasped behind his back with his chin slightly upward. Regal, almost. ¡°Old Bear is the one you need to convince. He¡¯s never taken an actual leadership chair, but he¡¯s widely considered the voice of the people. If he falls in line, most of the others will.¡±

    ¡°And he won¡¯t know about them?¡± Callan asked. ¡°The gildgrown?¡±

    Halari shivered at the word. Kelot had divulged that little secret when prompted, and now she knew that name of her enemy. Their enemy. The people needed two things: the truth and a way forward.

    ¡°He won¡¯t,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°And he¡¯ll probably be pissed at first. But if you can convince him that you are really here to help, the people will come.¡±

    ¡°And the other thing?¡± Callan asked, arching a brow at her. ¡°How do you think they¡¯ll take it¡±

    ¡°It should help,¡± Halari said with a light frown, ¡°but that¡¯s if they don¡¯t set the Temple on fire in revenge as soon as you tell them.¡± Callan chuckled softly at that, then turned back to the door.

    His regal posture fractured for a moment, just an instance of slouching before he recovered, and Halari saw a dash of worry in his expression.

    ¡°You ready?¡± Halari asked, moving towards the door. ¡°We don¡¯t have to do this today if you want to take some more time. It hasn¡¯t even been a week yet, so I get it if you need a few more days.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine,¡± Callan said, waving a hand in dismissal. ¡°If I want to regain my abilites, maybe the first step is getting back to my purpose.¡±

    ¡°Which is?¡± Halari asked.

    ¡°Leading,¡± Callan said. ¡°Gathering people together to fulfill the Great Mission of Melokon.¡±

    ¡°And what¡¯s that exactly?¡± Halari grew more curious about the man¡¯s actual motivations. What was his purpose here? The Book of Jomen told of how he came to think that free will was hindering his goals, but everything in that book seemed to  be a dirty pot of bullshit.

    So what¡¯s the actual truth? she wondered.

    ¡°I will tell you all about it later,¡± Callan said. He grinned tightly and nodded towards the main gate. ¡°But first¡­¡±

    She nodded and opened the door. ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡±

    A massive crowd of Stargazer citizens stood before the steps of the Temple, larger than she had seen in quite some time. At least not since the first time a food scare had come up last year.

    ¡°Betrayer¡¯s damnation,¡± she breathed, stunned by the insane attendance. Callan gave her a sidelong look and something between a frown and a smirk. ¡°Oh, sorry. Betrayer¡¯s¡­ salvation?¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t work either, I think,¡± Callan whispered, just smirking now. ¡°Now, after you.¡±

    Halari walked out onto landing of the front steps before the door, Callan following close behind her.

    The crowd hushed immediately, all murmurs and voices gone in an instant. They knew she was at the center of all this somehow, that her actions in the Vault had changed something, that every little whisper about the strange man with the inhuman eyes standing before them stemmed from the choices she made.

    Halari saw her sister standing with both of her parents and waved to them, trying her best to put on a reassuring smile for their sake. They waved back, looking more perplexed than worried, which made sense as she hadn¡¯t had a chance to clue them in to the contents of this gathering. Old Bear stood with his usual crew near the center of the crowd.

    She didn¡¯t spot Telero though.

    The crowd waited for her to speak. Some really waiting for the actual answers she had already promised them.

    ¡°Hey, everyone,¡± Halari said loudly. ¡°I know a lot has been going on the past few days and some of you have seen some¡­  weird things. Today, you¡¯ll get all the answers and then some, I promise!¡± She turned to Callan, who grinned softly and nodded that he was ok to take the lead. ¡°This is Callan, the man I found in the Melokide¡¯s Vault. He¡¯s here to help.¡±

    Callan stepped forward and faced her people, standing strong before their curiosity and scrutiny. For the first time since she¡¯d found him, Halari thought he looked entirely in the right place.

    ¡°People of the Quarry,¡± Callan began, voice strong and resonating over the crowd, ¡°I am Callan, former King of this once great Northern Dominion of the Obsidian Empire and the First Blessed Flame of Melokon.¡±

    Halari saw the words set in. The crowd began to mutter amongst themselves, some shaking their heads, others looking totally dismissive and unbelieving. Others, definitely the more pious individuals, made the connection and backed away in fear.

    ¡°Show us proof!¡± a voice called over the soft murmurs. Others joined in with his calls, demanding evidence to this boldest of claims. ¡°Have the Flames really returned?¡±

    Exactly as I hoped, Halari thought.

    Callan smiled, eyes glowing, then raised both of his hands out to his shoulders, palms facing the sky. He shot lightning into the silver sky, flashing the Quarry¡¯s people with red and violet illumination in bursts of electricity and crackles of discharge.

    The people shuffled away en masse and gawked the light show, stupefied into complete silence. Callan lowered his hands after a few seconds and spoke again, this time to a more enraptured crowd.

    ¡°Some you already know me,¡± he continued, ¡°according to the Book of your patron, the Visionary, as the Tyrannical Betrayer. A fallen ruler who was cast down when he turned against his people. I stand before you now, alive, to say that it is all false!¡±

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    Halari stifled a smirk at his dramatic pause at this part; it had been her idea, a way for her people to react as needed.

    ¡°Liar!¡± some called.

    ¡°Are you going to hurt us!¡± yelled others.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± came the loudest voice. No anger, no fear, just a need to be heard above the terrified clamor. Old Bear stepped through the throng of people easily as they moved aside for him, like sand being pushed aside by a dragging foot.

    The rest of the people quieted when Bear raised a hand. Halari smiled fondly at the big man. He might not be an official leader, but the respect he held in the eyes of the people was something she always admired.

    ¡°I am not here to hurt you,¡± Callan declared, staring down at Old Bear with an amicable, but firm expression. ¡°I want to give you what belongs to you if you¡¯ll let me. The Flames have not returned¡­ and they never will!¡±

    This caused the loudest uproar yet, bringing more accusations of lies and even some shouts calling of heresy. Callan took it all in with an easy air, not showing any sign of being disturbed nor worried.

    Halari found herself impressed by his resolve. She didn¡¯t know is she had the same spine for talking to a crowd that pushed against what they were hearing.

    ¡°As Halari said,¡± he continued, ¡°I am here to help! I am here to save this place, to guide you into the future you deserve and take you away from this hell in which you¡¯ve been deserted.¡±

    ¡°Do you have any proof?¡± Old Bear asked. Just like she thought he would. Bear was a man of material and proof and hard facts. Halari knew he definitely bought Callan was a Flame, but the rest, the horrible honesty about their world, he¡¯d need to see that for himself.

    Callan turned to her. ¡®Are you sure?¡¯ he asked with a glance. Halari gave him a small nod.

    ¡°By my authority,¡± Callan declared, ¡°the Melokide are opening their doors to you for the first time in what I¡¯ve been told is centuries, if ever. They will show you the truths that they showed me: the failures of my kin during my absence.¡± He lowered his head to Bear. ¡°All the evidence you need will be yours. Then, I will ask you to accept my help in your fights to come.¡±

    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Bear asked. ¡°What fights?¡±

    Callan looked back over the people. Halari tensed, worry gnawing at her heart.

    No, this is right, she assured herself. I will not be a liar anymore.

    ¡°Your home, this Quarry,¡± he said heavily, ¡°is under threat. The whispers you have spoken of the Melokide are true. They do have the biofoam that you seek.¡±

    This was the other thing they learned. Halari flushed, still embarrassed from Kelot pointing out that it wasn¡¯t their fault that she¡¯d just followed the big blinking lights and assumed she¡¯d find exactly what she wanted.

    ¡®You can¡¯t blame us for your lack of thoroughness,¡¯ he¡¯d said with a self-satisfied, shit-eating grin. She¡¯d wanted to shoot him. Then, the religious bastard had shown them the stores, canister on canister of foam surrounding a big bed of planted ashbud seed and she¡¯d wanted to hug him.

    Old Bear was not so inclined.

    ¡°What!¡± he bellowed, fists curling at his sides. Others followed suit at the proclamation, forgetting for a moment the unnatural situation they were already dealing with.

    Halari was wrong, these were the loudest cries of outrage yet.

    Callan raised a hand and waited for the crowd to die down. It took a moment, and a barking shout from Bear for them to shut up before their composure returned.

    ¡°They¡¯ve had the foam this whole time?¡± Bear pressed. ¡°Why did they keep it from us?¡±

    ¡°For the last year your Quarry has been under threat,¡± Callan explained to the people. That really shut them up. ¡°They are called the gildgrown. And they demanded tribute from your leaders, or they would bring ruin to your home. The priests have been using their stores to pay off this extortion and kept it hidden from you.  But now, it will be released for your crops.¡±

    The crowd¡¯s tone shifted from outrage into appreciation. This was a big step in getting their trust and beginning to remove the tarnish of his religious reputation.

    And manage their fear as well.

    ¡°Where do they come from?¡± somebody asked.

    ¡°We are not sure, but you will suffer them no longer,¡± Callan said. ¡°But you can¡¯t protect your home if you don¡¯t fight, and you cannot fight without food. All of the foam will be available to you once the presentation is complete.¡± He gestured to the Temple and stood to the side. ¡°All you need to do is walk in. There are no more words I can tell you to convince you.¡±

    Old Bear stared past him at the door and Halari was amazed to see that he looked scared. She¡¯d been excited, but it was stupid to bet that everybody might have a hunger for the past like she did.

    ¡°What will we see in there?¡± the big man asked.

    ¡°The waking moment of a nightmare,¡± Callan said. ¡°It will not be pleasant, but Halari and I will be waiting here for you when it is over. I will not leave you behind, I promise.¡±

    Bear turned to the people and gazed at them for a long moment, then, without another word, walked into the Center. Others followed him.

    Many others.

    ¡°Still no fires,¡± Halari said, a small corner of her mouth curling up. ¡°I think they¡¯re probably taking it pretty well.¡±

    ¡°Your plan was good,¡± Callan said. ¡°You¡¯re a natural leader, Halari. That will be a good skill to hone for the days to come.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ uh¡­¡± Her cheeks heated up like a welding torch at the compliment, and in that moment, she was very glad that he was staring down and fiddling with his ring instead of looking at her. ¡°Um, Old Bear, he¡¯s really more of the leader type. I just kind of make trouble.¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be helpful in the new order,¡± Callan said, now actually looking at her. ¡°But he¡¯s not at the center of this changing world.¡±

    His eyes are very intense, Halari thought. She tried not to blush further under his stare, which of course just made her face redden even more. If he saw, he didn¡¯t seem to care at least, so that was a comfort.

    ¡°Your people know what you did for them,¡± he continued. ¡°They know that you freed me, a demigod ruler from the past. They know that you acted when others wouldn¡¯t. Halari, they know that their changing world is because of you.¡±

    The weight of his words dropped on her like heavy rain.

    He¡¯s right, she realized, bones freezing in her muscles as the chill took effect. I put myself right into the whirlwind¡¯s eye.

    Callan grinned sadly, as if he knew the turmoil swirling in her head. ¡°So, they will come to you. They will come with concerns, they will come with their dreams and fears, with questions about the future.

    ¡°So, the real question is¡­¡± he fixed her with a pointed look. ¡°Can you handle the distinction? Can you handle being apart from them?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ think¡­¡± It was a lot, almost too much weight on her back. ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡±

    ¡°I think you can, for what it counts,¡± Callan said. ¡°Or you¡¯ll learn very fast.¡±

    ¡°Callan, I¡¯m don''t thi¡ª¡± Any protests or insecurities she wanted to voice were cut off when the main gate of the Temple groaned open. It had been about an hour since Bear and his large group of followers went inside; the others waited with them outside and chatted amongst themselves.

    Everybody stopped speaking when Old Bear stepped out into the open.

    I bet I looked about the same. Halari felt bad for the large man, but the look of empty wrath on his face said it all. He believed everything. The crowd following him looked about the same, haunted and forsaken. She watched sadly as Bear walked past her and faced the crowd.

    ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± he said gruffly, but loud enough for all to hear. ¡°All of it is true. There¡¯s a recording of¡­ of the Visionary himself. He abandoned us all.¡±

    Then, Bear turned back to Callan and Halari.

    And knelt.

    ¡°Great Flame,¡± he said, ¡°we are honored to have your guidance in these dark times.¡± Many of the others did the same and bowed their heads. Others went back to their families or friends and hugged them or prompted them to follow suit.

    ¡°DO NOT KNEEL BEFORE THIS DEVIL!¡± a loud voice yelled from the back of the crowd. Halari snapped her gaze up to find its source.

    Telero and a few of his friends she recognized pushed their way to the front of the crowd and settled in front of the rising Bear.

    Halari grimaced uncomfortably.

    Her brother looked pissed.

 Chapter Twelve: Faithful- Callan

    Steps of the Temple

    Callan groaned inside and sighed lightly as Halari¡¯s brother approached the landing of the Temple¡¯s steps. He wore a dark expression full of rage and hatred in his very steps. His friends, all looking similarly displeased, even agitated. They shuffled about watching their ringleader for what do, but it seemed at the moment they were just to provide Telero some support. He studied them closely, spying no weapons which was a relief.

    ¡°Stand up!¡± Telero called to his people, stomping up the steps and turning to them. ¡°Do not bow before this creature! Don¡¯t you know who he is? He is the Betrayer! He brings ruin to all!¡±

    ¡°Tel!¡± Halari hissed. ¡°What¡¯re you doing?¡±

    ¡°Trying to save our people,¡± Telero said firmly, hitting her with a glare. Callan grudgingly gave him credit for holding firm to his beliefs; it took a certain type of zealot to stand against his own family for his religion. ¡°If this can¡¯t be avoided like I wanted then at least I can stop it.¡±

    ¡°We know the truth, boy,¡± Bear said, not moving from his place on the ground. He looked at Telero with the sad eyes of a man that Callan knew believed what he had seen and now suffered a new reality that had turned the big man¡¯s understanding of the old world on its head. ¡°We know what the Old Flames really did.¡±

    ¡°From what?¡± Telero asked. ¡°The fiend¡¯s fabricated lies?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s video, son,¡± Fedro said, moving to the front of the crowd. Halari¡¯s father looked grim, but he nodded at Callan with a new kind of respect¡­ and hope. ¡°And I¡­ believe it. The Visionary abandoned us.¡±

    I will fix this, Callan thought. But first, he needed to get this settled. Telero stood with determination, unmoving on a solid foundation of resolve and piety. He felt annoyed at how fast dissidence revealed itself to him, but for now, it seemed to have only one loud voice.

    ¡°The Visionary is coming back!¡± Telero cried. He faced the crowd, lifting his head defiantly to their sounds of disagreement. ¡°All he asked is that you keep faith in his promise!¡±

    ¡°Listen to me,¡± Fedro stepped up to his eldest and put a hand on his shoulder. ¡°There was no promise.¡±

    Telero glared at his father with a new kind of venom and Callan tensed, readying to intervene if the boy let his religious faith get the better of his actions. Instead of lashing out, Telero shook off his father¡¯s hand and whirled on him.

    ¡°What kind poison have you put in their heads?¡± Telero asked. His own hand were balled into fist now, but Callan knew that the boy would sooner break his hands before actually hurting him at all.

    ¡°Truth from your own priests,¡± Callan said. ¡°No different than I was shown just hours ago.¡±

    Stolen novel; please report.

    ¡°Lies,¡± Telero growled. ¡°You had made it in advance, didn¡¯t you? Tell them.¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t even make sense, Tel,¡± Halari groaned. ¡°How could Callan even prepare a history he knew nothing about?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fabricated, all of it,¡± Telero said, throwing his hands up in the air.

    ¡°It was too much, Telero,¡± Old Bear said, standing. The people followed him up, probably getting tired of keeping their knees on the hard ground. ¡°All too real, too genuine. And from the Melokide themselves¡­ the Great Flame would¡¯ve needed weeks to make this.¡±

    Surrounded on all sides. Callan saw the moment Telero faltered. The young man¡¯s shoulders sagged just a bit for a quick moment before he flared back to indignation.

    ¡°He is the Tyrant!¡± Telero yelled to the people, face reddening. ¡°Isn¡¯t that enough!¡±

    ¡°We need help!¡± some people called back. ¡°We need foam! He¡¯s giving us food!¡±

    Callan decided it was time to play the trump card. He hadn¡¯t planned to use it to turn the people away from an opposing voice so much as fully bring them under his command, but if leading meant anything, it was being able to work with the circumstances.

    ¡°Food is not the only thing I can provide,¡± Callan said loudly, nodding to Halari. She handed him a single dead Cell from her pocket, which he held up for the entire crowd to see. This one was actually smithed into a shape so that the charge flowed to its poles. ¡°I have been informed that your tools, your vehicles, your very city is powered by these Flame Cells. I have also been informed that your stores have been depleting for years and that soon you will run out entirely.¡± He grinned softly. ¡°And I tell you now, you have nothing to fear.¡±

    He channeled Melokon¡¯s Fire, directing it from his heart and into the cell. Its black lines, swirling neatly up and down in parallel order, lit up violet-crimson as it filled to a complete charge.

    A collective gasp went up from the crowd.

    ¡°As the First Blessed Flame of Melokon,¡± Callan said, ¡°I can recharge all Flame Cells for total use in the Quarry as well as restarting trade with your neighbors.¡±

    He smiled inside at their wide eyes and enthusiastic whispers, glad to see something resembling eagerness and drive settle into each and every one of them. Telero was smart enough to realize that this was the end of his battle here, at least for now. He shook his head and rubbed at his temples, then stood before Callan and glared, but said nothing.

    ¡°I am going to save these people,¡± Callan said, fixing Telero. ¡°Do you really want to stop me?¡±

    ¡°I will!¡± The young man bared his teeth in a scowl, then turned on his heel and stormed off. Callan watched him round up his small crew of friends, then disappear somewhere in the city.

    ¡°What should we do, Great Flame?¡± Old Bear asked. Callan studied the man carefully. His large frame bore many old, faded scars along his shoulders and neck, but whatever for battle he used to have was more of a cold burn now.

    ¡°For now,¡± Callan said to the people, ¡°continue on as you would. For those who wish to fight for your home, you will be trained beginning in two days. For those who wish to see more outside of this Quarry and find more resources, Halari and I will be leading an expedition into the Ruins tomorrow. By my order, the desolated city is no longer sanctified. Volunteers are most welcome.¡±

    The people talked among themselves, some cheered, others clapped, and some¡­ Callan grimaced at the sight of a few citizens scowling at him and drifting away in the direction that Telero went. There weren¡¯t many thankfully, just a handful of loners.

    The skull in the darkness smiled at him. It remembered, even if he pretended not to. ¡®More traitors,¡¯ it whispered. ¡®How will you take care of them this time around? Maybe it¡¯s best if you ju¡ª¡±

    No! Callan banished the cold murmurs from his mind. ¡°Return home! Tell those who could not make it today that their world is changing. Then tomorrow, the Mission begins.¡±

 Chapter Thirteen: Shadows- Halari

    Halari was amazed.

    Her home was already feeling far more purposeful than it had in her whole life. The people moved, really moved while they worked instead of acting like they were automated workers just trying to get things done. She finally saw some spirit in their steps, in the way they gathered their harvests, in how they pushed loads of ore out of the mines.

    Callan moved fast getting the Quarry together. Within a couple days, there was a good group of volunteers for the militia he¡¯d talked about. He also made good on his promise to distribute the Melokide¡¯s stores of foam and all the major lots looked renewed. Even some of the smaller yards had a few new inches of fresh foam, bringing bigger buds to the harvest more frequently.

    It wasn¡¯t all good things though. Telero moved quickly as well, and he¡¯d gathered about twelve people to stand on street corners and preach the words of the Visionary. Most people ignored them as they worked.

    Halari walked through the streets towards the Temple; Callan had commandeered a room in the building, but she knew he wouldn¡¯t be there. She turned a corner and spotted him standing before the gates, talking with a couple members of his infant Council.

    Norio, his Administrator of Trade, a thin man with a disproportionately wide gut nodded along with Callan¡¯s words while Old Bear, newly appointed as the Defense Chief, stood stoically at his side.

    ¡°Excuse me, miss Halari,¡± a soft voice called for her to her left. Halari turned, immediately flushing at the use of such a formal title. This wasn¡¯t the first time she¡¯d heard it in the past week, and it seemed like the more she insisted, the more people kept at it. The young woman calling to her looked mildly concerned, but not worried, which was a relief.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Elizzia?¡± Halari asked, trying her best at a warm smile. ¡°And it¡¯s really just Halari, please.¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­¡± Elizia smiled awkwardly, and Halari huffed softly, seeing that her plea landed on clogged up ears. ¡°Halari, miss, I had a question about the militia.¡±

    ¡°You want to join up?¡± Halari asked eagerly. The budding army was kind of an all-boys club at the moment, and she desperately wanted somebody to train with who didn¡¯t treat her like a window they might break. This even after a few of them had seen her pull a Cragbeast carcass into town. ¡°We¡¯re looking for some more people who want to learn how to shoot once we get more guns.¡±

    ¡°Oh no, I can¡¯t stand the sight of blood,¡± Elizzia said, shaking her head. ¡°My brother Dalvo wants to join up. And I just¡­¡± She frowned. ¡°Are they going to fight like¡­ soon? He¡¯s kinda short, not really what I think a fighter would look like, so I¡¯m worried.¡±

    What to tell her? Halari wondered. She drew herself up to a more confident pose, remembering something Callan said about people finding comfort in posture. It was ridiculous to her, but it hadn¡¯t hurt to try in the last few days. We¡¯re definitely going to fight, but do I want to freak her out? What did Callan call it¡­ directed vagueness?

    ¡°I think¡­¡± Halari quirked her head to the side while she formed the words. ¡°I think Callan wants to focus on training first. I don¡¯t think we¡¯re gonna fight so much as a dustbunny any time soon.¡±

    Elizzia giggled, then relaxed. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Dal¡¯s got a good heart, but I can¡¯t imagine him throwing somebody around.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯ll be in good hands,¡± Halari said, waving the woman farewell. Elizzia went back to work in her field, plucking an encouragingly big ashbud off the foam and tossing it into a pail.

    Halari made her way to the Temple, and Norio¡¯s high-energy voice quickly came into earshot. She knew the man to be a clever, even devious businessman that could even get some discounts out of Bear¡¯s stubborn ass.

    ¡°My lord,¡± he said, gesturing grandly, ¡°when negotiating with the people of the Scrag Fort, strength is the best commodity. I simply recommend that you reveal your holiness, and they will throw whatever you ask at your feet.¡±

    ¡°A world is brought together through give-take,¡± Callan said with a small smirk, clearly finding the merchant amusing. He grinned at Halari as she took a spot standing next to him. ¡°I¡¯ll not give them the fear of god and take everything in return. We¡¯ll start with a case or two of recharged Cells. Have you made contact yet, anyways?¡±

    ¡°The steps have been taken,¡± Norio said with an enthusiastic nod. ¡°Now all we can do is wait.¡±

    ¡°Very well,¡± Callan said. ¡°And Bear, how are the entry road defenses coming?¡±

    ¡°Good enough,¡± Bear growled amicably. ¡°The gate¡¯s coming along quick, but that¡¯s about all we can do right now without more firepower.¡±

    ¡°Which we¡¯ll have soon hopefully,¡± Norio assured, patting his old friend on the shoulder.

    ¡°Good work both,¡± Callan said. A young man approached with a case of twenty cells in his hands. ¡°You are dismissed. We¡¯ll talk again tomorrow.¡± The two administrators walked off with Norio already trying to swindle something out of the larger man.

    ¡°You ready?¡± Callan asked her, taking the case from the courier. ¡°I was thinking we get some lunch, then head out.¡±

    ¡°Works for me, I¡¯m starving,¡± Halari said, watching intently as Callan opened the case up and held it up in one hand. He blasted the cells with a shower of red-amethyst lightning, leaving each of the Cells glowing with power.

    ¡°How many is that now?¡± Halari asked.

    ¡°Three cases,¡± Callan said. He handed it back to the courier for delivery to a new, organized Storage section of the town. ¡°By next week I want to double how much I can charge in a day without straining myself.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve already got enough to trade at least,¡± Halari said. ¡°Hopefully the Fort will talk to us, maybe we could sweeten the deal somehow?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s something I hope to find today,¡± Callan said, ¡°but it¡¯s a good idea. You¡¯re really thinking like a leader.¡±

    ¡°Pffft,¡± Halari chuckled awkwardly. ¡°I can barely think of a way to tell a woman that her brother¡¯s gonna be fine in the militia, even with that ¡®directed vagueness¡¯ thing you mentioned. It feels really close to lying. What do I do with that?¡±

    ¡°It always will feel that way when you speak,¡± Callan said. ¡°What matters is your intent. If it is actually to lie, then it is one, if not, you¡¯re just trying to help.¡±

    Halari nodded, sort of understanding. It still felt sort of dirty, but he had a point. There hadn¡¯t been an ounce of ill intent when she talked to Elizzia, but was that enough?

    Callan took her by the shoulder and smiled lightly. ¡°Is it my turn to snap you out of your own head?¡±

    ¡°Ha-ha.¡± Halari rolled her eyes but didn¡¯t try to remove Callan¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s just a lot to think about. You were right that the people would ask me things. I¡¯ve talked to more of them this week than I have in the last three months.¡±

    ¡°If you think on it too much, the doubts will eat you alive,¡± Callan said softly. ¡°Heart and soul. The Great Dragon admires decision, which is how I¡¯ve always been able to function.¡±

    ¡°So have faith in what I choose to do?¡± Halari asked.

    ¡°Doubt is the king-killer,¡± Callan said, eyes growing  distant. ¡°Doubt and poorly placed trust.¡±

    Deep scars, Halari thought, frowning. The worst kind that you can¡¯t see. ¡°You can trust me, you know?¡±

    Callan grinned warmly, and somewhat sadly, at her, which she returned. ¡°Come on,¡± he said, ¡°we have somewhere to be.¡±

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    At the edge of the Ruins, Halari and Callan stood a short distance from their volunteers. There were only four of them, and, besides Viria, they all looked mortified of the very shadow of the towers. Her sister gazed up at the city with wonder, definitely happy to be away from the farm lot she worked in.

    ¡°They look nervous,¡± she whispered, eying her new teammates. Recruits. Callan put me in charge of this specifically.

    ¡°They¡¯re about to commit heresy,¡± Callan whispered back. ¡°Think you can show them how it¡¯s done correctly?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ll each have their own Blessed Flame by the end of the day,¡± Halari said with light laugh. Callan gave her a strange, somewhat amused, look and she blanched. I DID NOT just say that. ¡°I mean uh¡­ not to mean that you... uh¡­ Yeah, hey, everybody are y¡¯all ready?¡± She escaped with a sudden turn to the four.

    Viria beamed her answer and nodded frantically. The other three just murmured assent, still warily studying the city¡¯s skyline of Atlanta.

    ¡°This place can be pretty dangerous,¡± Halari continued, ¡°so just keep your eyes open and stay together.¡±

    ¡°Expedition recruits!¡± Callan stepped up beside her. Was he standing closer than usual? The four straightened up, ¡°While in the city limits, you will obey Halari¡¯s orders to the letter. Understood?¡±

    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    ¡°Yes Great Flame!¡± they said as one.

    ¡°Good,¡± Callan said. ¡°Where to first, Captain?¡±

    Now that I think about it¡­ Halari smiled as an idea popped into her head. She wanted to take them all somewhere safe enough to get familiar with the streets, but she remembered a certain building that might have good stuff locked away inside. Plus, with her trawler as the only main method of mobile storage, they couldn¡¯t carry much.

    ¡°Come with me,¡± she said. Halari led them a few blocks inside the city and towards the street where she first saw the gildgrown.

    ¡°Where we going, Hala?¡± Viria asked from her side. ¡°Can we see something weird?¡±

    Halari giggled. ¡°What do you think is out here?¡± She shot her sister a questioning look. ¡°Besides mantiles, the only weird things are deep into the city.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Viria¡¯s face fell. ¡°That¡¯s a lot more boring than I expected. What¡¯d you find so interesting out here all these years?¡±

    ¡°It just¡­¡± Halari looked around at the stout buildings that defined the architecture of this area. ¡°It¡¯s hard to explain. It was just sitting here, a whole world next to our little town, and I got kind of tired just staring at it.¡±

    ¡°Hm,¡± Viria chirped. ¡°Knowing you, I guess that makes sense.¡±

    ¡°Why did you want to come out here?¡± Halari asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ve always been curious,¡± Viria explained with a shrug, ¡°but now I don¡¯t fear the Visionary damning my soul to the Burning Abyss for eternity.¡±

    Halari rolled her eyes and laughed. She guided the group through the streets and stopped them just past the last building she¡¯d gotten to that night.

    ¡°Y¡¯all get to work on these doors with your picks,¡± Halari commanded after showing them how to find a soft spot in the doors. ¡°And keep one eye over your shoulder. There shouldn¡¯t be a mantile around, but just stay aware.¡±

    That¡¯ll keep em busy. ¡°I need your help with something,¡± she said to Callan, beckoning him to follow. He arched a brow at her but said nothing more and walked with her back down the street. ¡°I need you to get into this building.¡±

    The impenetrable Piarmy stood over her, its strengthened door mocking her with its black sheen.

    ¡°A pharmacy?¡± Callan asked. His dragon eyes, ever intense, narrowed while scrutinizing the faded letters. ¡°I suppose they might have some preserved medicine in here.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s a ¡®pharmacy?¡¯¡± Halari asked, glaring at the building.

    ¡°In your language I think it¡¯s ¡®healer house,¡¯¡± Callan translated. ¡°Why can¡¯t you get in?¡±

    ¡°The stupid door is reinforced.¡± She stepped up to the metal and rapped its surface with her knuckles. ¡°My pick couldn¡¯t get through, but I watched you fist fight a Cragbeast, so¡ª¡±

    Callan sparked his lightning around his fist, reared his arm back, and punched through the door with the sound of a thunderous explosion and rending metal. Then, he fit his fingers into the new hole and ripped the door open from its middle seam.

    ¡°Just like that,¡± Halari said, feeling both stunned and a little annoyed by how easy he got this stupid building to spill its guts. She clicked her shoulder light on and stepped inside, eagerly swaying it from side to side over shelves and counters.

    Halari smiled.

    A couple hours later, she strapped a full two rucksacks of little black bottles and bottles containing gels that even Callan didn¡¯t know about to her trawler. They were definitely all medicine though, judging by the labels that he read off.

    ¡°This is a good haul,¡± Halari said to the group. Each of their much smaller ATVs were loaded up with personal bags and stocked trunks. ¡°It won¡¯t always be this good, but it¡¯s a great start. We can definitely go home happy.¡± The recruits whooped softly, then hopped on their vehicles.

    ¡°Ready to go back?¡± she asked. Callan said nothing but stared at something in the distance. ¡°What do you see?¡±

    ¡°I think that might be what I¡¯m looking for,¡± he said. ¡°Recruits, with us.¡±

    The building he found was one she¡¯d seen before a few months back and was absolutely worthless. It was shaped distinctly with a round entrance foyer and a wide, curved main body. She¡¯d found a lot of silvery slips of paper in the containers she could infiltrate, but nothing of actual value.

    And last time, it definitely hadn¡¯t been covered in¡­

    ¡°Everybody down now!¡± she hissed, crouching behind a partly-shattered sidewalk guard. Her recruits dropped like stones onto their bellies instantly and stared at her with wide eyes. Only Callan remained standing, looking around for whatever danger she¡¯d seen. Halari reached up and pulled him down by the forearm.

    ¡°What is it?¡± he asked, not even bothering to lower his voice. She urgently put a finger to her lips, then pointed to the building, particularly the dark, purple-spotted splotches on its metal surface.

    ¡°See those?¡± she whispered. ¡°Mantile eggs. It¡¯s probably nearby.¡±

    ¡°Hala, what¡¯s going on?¡± Viria asked. ¡°Should we run?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a mantile nearby,¡± Halari whispered. ¡°Everybody move back to the vehicles, quick and quiet.¡±

    ¡°I need to get into that building,¡± Callan said, standing. ¡°The Quarry needs what¡¯s inside.¡± He walked forward confidently and Halari cursed his surety in his body. He was invincible, fine, but she and the others not so much. This wasn¡¯t some logical beast he probably remembered from the old world; it was a bloodthirsty demon that only thought of how much blood it could spill. If one of those creatures targeted the group of warm bodies instead of the lone figure, it would kill them all.

    Halari hung back, watching the shadows around the building for signs of movement. And she kept an ear out, listening for the sound of fluttering.

    Callan crossed the street quickly, just daring to be attacked or ambushed. Halari squinted, swearing that she something move in the leftward alley shadow.

    Then that shadow detached itself from the wall and turned, raising its massive pincers out from under its cloak-like wings.

    The mantile¡¯s bulbous black head swiveled independently of its torso and its dark, multifaceted amethyst eyes flexed as they fixed on Callan. It stood a head taller than him, shorter than the Cragbeast by a wide margin, but no less threatening with is black, glossy carapace and scythe-shaped pincers. Halari knew that the top halves of its appendages were razor sharp and easily able to shear through most material.

    Oh damnation¡­ Halari gestured for her recruits to stay low. They looked paralyzed anyways, each shaking with terror at the sight of a living nightmare chittering excitedly just a few feet away. She rose, slowly bolting a round into her rifle and sighting her aim to its head.

    Damn bug won¡¯t stop moving. She tried to keep her scope on its eyes, but the mantile was building to its bloodlust, becoming more and more agitated with each passing second.

    Callan sparked his lightning in his fingers, standing off with the monster. They stared at each other for a long moment, then the mantile chittered out a sound like a hysterical child and lunged, swinging a pincer out in a reaping motion for Callan¡¯s neck. Halari fired at the same moment and her shot went behind it to glance off the building¡¯s surface.

    The world flashed purple and red as Callan struck with his power. His burst of electricity struck the beast on its pincer with a crackling explosion, then dissipated.

    Wha¡ª Halari gawked. The mantile stood completely unfazed after the blast. Even the Cragbeast had been stunned by the lightning, but this nightmare¡­ Was it even more dangerous than she thought? Callan looked confused too, but only for a moment before striking with another bloody-violet arc, this time aiming for the monster¡¯s body.

    Halari watched with terror as his power dispersed on the surface of the mantile¡¯s chest carapace and was redirected down towards its legs before scorching the stone of the road.

    Now, Callan looked concerned. The mantile didn¡¯t give him another chance to strike and attacked with a flurry of short cuts. Callan took the blows on his forearms, which remained intact against the edged onslaught, but was pressed back by the fury of his enemy.

    She chambered another bullet and fired again. The shot struck true on the glossy carapace guarding its right wing, but it ricocheted off and gouged a hole in the sidewalk barrier where her sister was hiding.

    Can¡¯t risk a stray, Halari thought. She had no other options. What can I do? The mantile brought both pincers down on Callan, perhaps trying to amputate both his arms at the shoulders, all the while screeching chitters that sounded both deranged and overjoyed. He caught the appendages on their arms just under the blades and held them over his head, locking the mantile and himself together in a reverse tug of war for leverage.

    Acting on total, horrified instinct, she dropped her gun and drew her hunting knife, then dove towards the back of the insect, rolling as she hit the ground to put herself under its oblong abdomen. She looked around frantically for a soft spot like the Cragbeast, but even the abdomen was armored in carapace. There had to be somewhere, anywhere¡­

    There! Halari stabbed her knife into the slot of a wrist-thick leg joint then ripped the blade to the side. It tore the wiry tendons messily but failed to sever the leg. Its light purple blood spurted out in a gush.

    The mantile screeched in pain, then spun, dragging Callan with it as it whirled to find the source of its agony. Halari rolled again, then rose to a crouch and prepared to go for another leg.

    She was just in time for the beast to spin again in its panic and slam the club of its abdomen into her side. She went flying and smacked hard into the sidewalk guard before landing roughly on the street.

    The world blacked away for a moment on impact before returning to focus somewhat off kilter.

    ¡°Hala!¡± Viria abandoned her cover and ran over to her. ¡°You¡¯re bleeding! Thiemo, get the bandages!¡±

    ¡°Hide!¡± Halari pushed her off, sat up and tried to stand, only to fall back into her sister¡¯s arms with a groan. Her head hurt, but she felt the need to fight, to help Callan kill this thing that would rip her friends apart.

    I have¡­ to move¡­ she stood shakily and looked to the battle for an opening. She¡¯d help even if it killed her.

    Callan, still holding the mantile¡¯s pincers, glared up at the beast, draconic eyes burning with a determined anger that Halari had yet to see. He jumped and planted both feet on its carapace, then pushed off¡­

    Still holding the pincers.

    Purple blood exploded from its thorax as its arms tore free. Callan flipped backwards, landing perfectly on his feet, and crossed the arm weapons in an ¡®X¡¯ shape before springing forward.

    He pulled the scythe-like blades together just as they wrapped around the mantile¡¯s neck, sending a spray of blood out to both sides in a wide shower.

    The mantile¡¯s head toppled to the ground like a rotten fruit falling from a tree and its body dropped onto its abdomen when its legs gave out. It slowly collapsed to the side and came to a fluttering rest before going completely still.

    Thank¡­ the visionary¡­ Halari¡¯s legs also went weak, so she sat on the road and let a trembling Viria dab at the cut on her forehead.

    Callan tossed the arms away and rushed over to kneel before her. That anger she¡¯d seen melted into worry. ¡°Are you alright? Halari, talk to me.¡±

    ¡°Hit my head a bit,¡± she mumbled, grinning to hopefully put him at ease. He looked so worried, was that really for her? ¡°Just gonna sit here for a second.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll come back for this building,¡± Callan said, helping her to her feet. Was he gonna carry her? Maybe she wouldn¡¯t mind that; her legs felt like rubber. ¡°Right now, we¡¯re getting you back.¡±

    ¡°Sounds good,¡± Halari mumbled. ¡°And Callan¡­¡± She looked over to the mantile¡¯s carcass. ¡°We¡¯re not taking that back to eat.¡± She winked at him, or maybe passed out for a second; she couldn¡¯t really tell.

    In any case, Callan did grin then and shook his head, then helped her home.

 Chapter Fourteen: Contact

    Callan stared down at the bill of Dragon¡¯s Silver in his fingers, turning the paper slip over and over as he listened. On one side was a silhouette of himself; he guessed James hadn¡¯t bothered with the expense to rebrand the currency, plus it was vague enough to not really matter. He barely remembered posing for the artist on the balcony of his tower overlooking his home anyways.

    The other side was blank except for the dragon¡¯s head emblazoned on the paper¡¯s shiny surface. It held the denomination of this particular bill in its open maw: one.

    Callan turned the bill over in his hands and let the cold words of the dead seep into his mind.

    ¡®Such a small thing,¡¯ the skull said in a chilled whisper, ¡®Such a small thing to almost get Halari killed over. That girl¡¯s going to die, Callan. She¡¯s going to die because you can¡¯t let go of your home.¡¯ It giggled in his head and its mocking laughter echoed in the darkness. ¡®What were you after, anyways? A system from your dead empire? A relic that nobody cares about? You¡¯re going to kill that girl. She trusts you like I did to keep me safe, and you¡¯re going to ki¡ª¡¯

    A knock at roused him from the void. Callan pocketed the Dragon¡¯s Silver and opened the door to the small office room he¡¯d commandeered from the Melokide Sect.

    Halari smiled at him from outside and the skull¡¯s cackling choked off. It tended to do that around the woman, as if terrified of her presence. And for that alone, Callan very much enjoyed being around her, even if there was some genuine shame tracing his spine at the moment.

    ¡°Can I come in?¡± she asked, stepping past him without waiting for his response.

    ¡°As you wish,¡± Callan said, closing the door behind her. ¡°How¡¯s your head?¡±

    ¡°Fantastic, those meds we got from the pharmacy worked like magic,¡± Halari said, lightly knocking her knuckles against her forehead. ¡°And I hope you don¡¯t mind, but they said I could find you in here. Why¡¯d you lock yourself up?¡±

    ¡°Just needed a moment,¡± Callan said. He moved to stand by his new desk, an ugly thing that resembled an old hospital operating table.

    ¡°So you could soak in whatever stupid guilt you¡¯re feeling?¡± she asked, fixing him with a knowing look.

    Callan blinked in surprise. ¡°How¡¯d you kn¡ª?¡±

    ¡°Oh come on, Callan,¡± she said, ¡°you wouldn¡¯t even look me in the eyes yesterday when you came to check on me.¡±

    Can¡¯t get anything past her, Callan thought with rueful grin. ¡°I suppose I do feel the need to apologize, Halari. My persistent failure to understand this world almost got you killed.¡±

    Halari chuckled and shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re such a man.¡±

    Callan gave her a good-natured glare. ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡±

    ¡°Taking responsibility for problems you can¡¯t control,¡± she listed, ¡°blaming yourself when people get hurt. I chose to fight Callan, and because I did, you got an opening to kill that damn bug.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Callan nodded heavily. ¡°Still, seeing you get hurt because I was too¡­ eager to recover an old system from my empire sat wrong with me. So, I am sorry.¡± He met her coppery eyes and held them.

    Her face softened and she smiled brightly at him again. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I promise. Now, the real reason I came¡­¡± She pulled a roll of Silvers out of her satchel. ¡°You gotta explain these. Everybody¡¯s walking around with them in their pockets.¡±

    Was it really that easy for her? Callan wondered, amazed. He pulled out his own bill  and showed it to her. ¡°These are Silvers, a type of money. The building was an old bank that I rightfully hoped had some in its vaults.¡±

    ¡°And money is¡­?¡± Halari spun the roll around and studied it.

    ¡°The most powerful form of exchange in history,¡± Callan said. ¡°While I was gone, the barter system resurrected itself in the face of the end of the world, but it doesn¡¯t work as well as this.¡± He flicked the bill up for emphasis.

    Halari quirked her head to side. ¡°But it¡¯s just¡­ a piece of paper.¡±

    ¡°If everybody uses it, if everybody values it, then it has power,¡± Callan explained. ¡°It used to start wars, corrupt men, change the very face of the world.¡±

    Halari frowned. ¡°This little thing? Really?¡±

    ¡°It also used to let parents support their kids,¡± Callan said with a small grin. ¡°It let them buy gifts, food, make their families happy. Used correctly, like Norio and I plan, we¡¯ll reshape trade going into the future.¡±

    Halari looked wholly unconvinced scrutinizing her roll of money. He¡¯d given everybody around a hundred to kickstart the economy with but had slipped her an extra fifty. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ take your word for it.¡±

    Callan chuckled. Her people had been equally hard to convince. Most of them just stared at the little slips of paper like they were some kind of divine toilet tissue, and an hour of explanations did little to convince them that Dragon¡¯s Silver was the future of their commerce.

    ¡°It¡¯ll take, believe me,¡± he said, thumbing his ring, ¡°I spent weeks figuring how to do this when I was king. And on a much bigger scale.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Halari said, replacing her roll in her bag. ¡°Well, anyways, militia training is about to start for the day. I think they might like to see you there. Some of them have been wondering if you¡¯ll come to watch.¡±

    ¡°Thinking about troop morale, hm?¡± Callan asked, a smirk curling the corner of his mouth. ¡°Naturally, of course.¡±

    Halari¡¯s cheeks reddened for whatever reason; it seemed to embarrass her when he pointed that she really was an organic leader. The people were catching onto that too, he knew, and looked at her a lot more than she said they used to in the past.

    ¡°Shut up,¡± she muttered, grinning awkwardly, ¡°Come on.¡±

    Callan followed her outside of the Temple. The Quarry¡¯s streets were active with people chatting, working, even trying to trade their new Silvers for whatever interested them. He saw one citizen offer a Silver to another, then point to the man¡¯s house.

    That¡¯s the spirit, Callan thought, even if it¡¯s not at all a fair trade. The place felt alive and much more familiar that it had when he¡¯d woken, and the people were proving to be tremendously adaptive to their upheaved world.

    The training yard was a strip of bare stone that hugged the cliff face. It was slightly wider than five men standing shoulder to shoulder and, for the time being, lacked any kind of training equipment. Old Bear stood before a group of twenty young men, watching carefully while they grappled and practiced tosses. With a limited selection of real weapons in the Quarry, the big man had suggested they work mostly on holds.

    ¡°How are they progressing?¡± Callan asked.

    ¡°Most of them are doing well, Great Flame,¡± Bear rumbled. ¡°¡®Cept for that one.¡± He gestured to a particularly mismatched pairing: one clearly a miner or hauler with the build to match, the other shorter and on the slighter side of physique. ¡°Probably gonna recommend him for a scout role.¡±

    Callan watched the shorter man fight. Like the rest of his fellows, he was entirely untrained in any formal kind of combat and his stature did him certainly no favors.

    However¡­

    The taller of the two went for a grab, nothing fancy, just a reach with his longer arms. He managed to get a grip on the smaller fighter by his arm and swung him around, then lifted him up awkwardly before slamming him to the stone. It was a hit that should¡¯ve knocked the shorter fighter unconscious, but he rose unsteadily and tried to the tackle his opponent.

    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Which ended with him tossed to the side in a heap.

    Up again, Callan thought, impressed, watching him stand once more to face his competition.  ¡°What¡¯s his name, the short one?¡±

    ¡°Dalvo,¡± Bear growled. ¡°Foam family. Tenth to volunteer.¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah, his sister was asking about him,¡± Halari said. ¡°Seemed worried since he¡¯s well¡­¡± She gestured with a light, vertical wave of her hand. ¡°I see what she means.¡±

    ¡°Fights like he has something to prove, though,¡± Callan said. Dalvo, now latched to his opponent¡¯s leg, tried to use his whole body to take the taller man off balance, but even with the right mindset, ten day of combat training wasn¡¯t enough to overtake years of foamwork. His larger foe fell on him, pinning him completely with his bulk.

    Ten seconds later, Dalvo stopped struggling and finally tapped out his defeat.

    Fights hard, Callan analyzed, but knows when to call it. Smart.

    He turned to Bear and gestured for him to call them to attention.

    ¡°Men, attention for the Great Flame!¡± Bear shouted, standing himself. The militia volunteers immediately separated from their sparring bouts and formed into an enthusiastic array of unrefined salutes. ¡°Tighten it up!¡±

    The volunteers sharpened their salutes, bringing their feet together tighter and straightening their backs even more.

    ¡°Very good,¡± Callan said to them, nodding appreciatively at their effort. ¡°You¡¯ve progressed fast in these last ten days. As you are the first company of this Quarry, this is encouraging to see.¡±

    A few looks of pride infused into a few of their faces, but Callan made a point to check on Dalvo. He looked proud like the rest, but more focused.

    Somebody to keep an eye on, Callan thought. ¡°Within the week, we should have more real weapons for you, but you show great promise with what you have to work with. You have every right to be proud of what you¡¯re doing here.¡±

    ¡°When do we fight, Great Flame?¡± one of them asked. It was the bigger man Dalvo had sparred with. ¡°The gildgrown, I mean.¡±

    ¡°Wait to be acknowledged first, boy,¡± Bear barked. ¡°Don¡¯t just ask questions!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s excused,¡± Callan said, waving dismissively with one man. ¡°He¡¯s enthusiastic, can¡¯t fault him for that.¡± He focused on the volunteer. ¡°We still have quite some time before any conflict is to be expected, so focus on your training. You¡¯ll be expected to train the next wave of volunteers.¡± This seemed to placate the larger recruit, who nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Keep up the good work, soldiers,¡± Callan said. ¡°Back to it!¡±

    The trainees returned to their exercises, but as Dalvo grimly looked to his enemy, Callan decided that if anybody needed a moment to breathe, it was him.

    ¡°Recruit Dalvo!¡± he called, waving him over, ¡°to the front!¡±

    Dalvo and his partner looked at each other confused. Then, his opponent shrugged and walked off to grab some water from the small bench of refreshment nearby.

    With a nervous look on his face, Dalvo approached the spot where his city¡¯s new leader, his militia¡¯s superior commander, and Halari stood waiting. Callan realized the young man might be quite intimidated, so he did his best to look regal, but not overbearing, and even welcomed the young soldier with a nod.

    Dalvo saluted sharply, much more practiced than his peers. ¡°How can I be of service, Great Flame?¡±

    ¡°I was curious about your commitment to the militia,¡± Callan said. ¡°I¡¯m told you¡¯re from a foam farm, what prompted you to volunteer?¡±

    ¡°When you told us about the gildgrown, I¡­¡± Dalvo chewed on his words for a moment. ¡°I guess I don¡¯t want to be someone who watches others protect what I care about, if that makes sense Great Flame.¡±

    ¡°It does, indeed,¡± Callan said. ¡°And it¡¯s a good reason to fight. What kind of role are you hoping to be placed in?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet, my lord,¡± Dalvo said. ¡°Somewhere I feel like I¡¯m being the most helpful, I guess.¡±

    ¡°Good answer,¡± Bear grumbled. ¡°Good to know we¡¯ve got some brains in the group.¡±

    ¡°I do hope to get an actual weapon soon,¡± Dalvo added. ¡°I¡¯m not really good at all this wrestling.¡±

    ¡°For you,¡± Callan said, ¡°lower is better. Try below the know for a throw. And pull, don¡¯t push.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s in the core.¡± Bear pounded on his own abdomen with a fist. ¡°Build that up when you have some free time.¡±

    Dalvo nodded slowly, then looked over to the taller man, eyes narrowed. ¡°May I be excused to get back to training, Great Flame?¡±

    ¡°Dismissed,¡± Calvo said, gesturing at the field.

    Dalvo returned to his fight with a new concentration in his gait and tried to use his newfound knowledge in practice. And while he did succeed in getting his opponent¡¯s leg out from him by the ankle, he failed to follow through.

    He¡¯ll work on it I¡¯m sure, Callan thought as Dalvo once again tapped out his defeat underneath the bulk of his opponent, this time folded uncomfortably in half.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Some hours later as the tragedy called the sky began to darken, Callan walked alongside Halari after checking on the rest of the Quarry. Everything was moving along quite impressively, leaving Callan to marvel at the efficiency of these people. They were truly hardy in an inspiring way; they worked fast and moved with a purpose that Halari said had been missing for quite some time.

    ¡°Your people work hard,¡± Callan said, stopping at the foot of the Temple steps. ¡°I¡¯ll admit I was worried that they would be resistant to changing so abruptly, but they¡¯re doing well I think.¡±

    ¡°It is nice seeing them like this,¡± Halari said. She took a big bite of her protein-paste flatbread, then offered him a chunk which he accepted. ¡°Even with Tel¡¯s preachers slowing things down some days.¡±

    ¡°Even if he opposes me,¡± Callan said, ¡°I do admire his dedication to his gods.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯ll come around,¡± Halari said. ¡°He¡¯ll see what you¡¯re starting to do. I know my brother; he¡¯s stubborn until he really realizes that he¡¯s wrong.¡± She tore him off another chunk of flat bread and offered it to him. ¡°Just give him some time.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not doing too much to slow us right now anyways,¡± Callan said. He spied one of her brother¡¯s agents sitting on a street bench with James¡¯s open book in his hands. He shouted proverbs and verses to those passing, even stopping some who lingered too long. Callan pitied the man, so taken by James¡¯s lies.

    ¡°How¡¯s the food?¡± Halari asked after a moment of chewing her own meal heartily.

    ¡°Unfortunately, the taste is growing on me,¡± Callan said, munching his own piece. ¡°I¡¯ll try to trade for some actual food first.¡±

    ¡°Pffft, good luck with that,¡± Halari scoffed. ¡°Scrag Fort¡¯s grub is barely any different than this. Their ashbuds are staler if you can imagine.¡±

    Callan made a face of disgust. ¡°Just give me one good cow, that¡¯s all I need.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Halari quirked her head at him. ¡°What¡¯s a cow?¡±

    Greatest loss of all. Callan sighed with a sad laugh. ¡°Forget it, hamburgers are dead.¡±

    They stood together watching the city for a few minutes, eating food made by the end of the world. Stargazer¡¯s Quarry slowed down when night came, almost going completely still when the miserable silver above became like smeared coal. The people were all rather firm on their schedules and usually followed a glare-up to glare-down day of work.

    ¡°Callan,¡± Halari said, turning to him with an odd expression. ¡°I know this is a random question, but¡­ have you slept? I heard some people talking about they see you out here every night sitting and watching until the sun comes up. ¡±

    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t actually,¡± Callan said. ¡°I don¡¯t actually need to sleep. It¡¯s part of the Great Dragon¡¯s blessing.¡± He grimaced, feeling cold metal on his back and inescapable weight around his wrists. ¡°More than that though¡­ the idea of being alone in a dark room¡­ I don¡¯t think I can do that quite yet.¡±

    ¡°I get it.¡± Halari took him comfortingly by the elbow. ¡°What you had to endure for so long definitely left its marks. I was just worried you were hurting yourself somehow.¡±

    ¡°Being somewhere I can see people, be in the light, helps,¡± Callan explained, turning to look at her. ¡°You help too. I would undoubtedly be lost in my head without you to talk with.¡±

    He saw her cheeks redden again in the dim light of the evening; but she held his gaze without unwavering. Callan suddenly realized that she had pretty eyes, coppery and shining in the ambient night¡¯s illumination of the Quarry.

    ¡®Are we forgetting somethi¡ª?¡¯ the skull began to ask, only to find itself yet again cut off by Halari¡¯s voice. It glared at her with hate inside his mind but said nothing more.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad I can help,¡± she said, grinning softly and tightening her grip on his elbow. ¡°We can¡¯t have you getting lost, can we?¡±

    ¡°Certainly not,¡± Callan said. ¡°We still have a lot of work to do.¡±

    ¡°My lord!¡± an energetic voice called from the main street. Callan reluctantly pulled his focus away from Halari and turned to see Norio dashing up the stone walkway. Perhaps dashing was too appraising a word; Norio more lunged with each step, his awkward build getting in the way of meaningful movement. ¡°I bring news! Good news!¡±

    Callan straightened up into a more regal posture and Halari let her hand slip away, although she still stood rather close to him. He didn¡¯t mind it at all.

    ¡°Tell me something promising, Administrator,¡± Callan said, stepping forward to meet the man.

    ¡°One of my workers,¡± Norio huffed; he¡¯d clearly hurried here from wherever he lived in town. Yet even out breath, the amusing man exuded an excited demeanor that only a certain type of person could contain. ¡°They received a response from the Scrag Fort. They¡¯ll meet with us the day after tomorrow, at noon.¡±

    And so we take the next step, Callan thought. ¡°That is good news,¡± he said to his trade master. ¡°Let¡¯s try to get a good deal, shall we?¡±

 Chapter Fifteen: Feral- Halari

    Halari trotted up to Callan and nodded sharply. It looked clear for now, and if they had anything up their sleeves, it was well-hidden from her keen eyes. She knew the people of Scrag Fort to be headstrong and blunt, so they most likely wouldn¡¯t have a trap to spring, but she also understood why Callan wanted to be careful.

    ¡°Nothing at all?¡± he asked, staring past her as if he was looking for threats in the far distance.

    ¡°I had a great viewing spot from my little hole in hillside,¡± Halari said, looping her rifle back over her shoulder. ¡°They look a bit tense, but then again, they always do.¡±

    ¡°And they didn¡¯t see you?¡± Callan asked.

    ¡°Not a chance,¡± Halari said with a small, proud grin. ¡°We should probably get moving, though. They don¡¯t like to be kept waiting.¡±

    ¡°Then let¡¯s move,¡± Callan said. He turned to the militia behind him. All looked serious and organized, but they were somewhat less threatening brandishing their picks and hammers. Halari was happy to see that still they held themselves with confidence; most actually looked ready to fight if the need arose. ¡°Remember, just stand and look like the impressive soldiers you are,¡± he continued. ¡°We¡¯ll get this trade completed and you¡¯ll be home by dinner.¡±

    Some of the soldier whooped softly, and Halari chuckled. Callan was very good at getting the men encouraged, something she found herself also wanting to be good at. She paid attention to how he spoke to them, how he stood when he addressed them, and how he met their eyes one by one.

    ¡°Recruit Dalvo, do you have our Cells?¡± he asked. The shorter man stepped forward and raised the two cases up for all to see. ¡°Good, don¡¯t lose those. Otherwise, we¡¯re trading you for our end of the bargain.¡±

    That got a good chuckle from the militia, even Dalvo himself, but Halari saw him tuck the two cases back into his rucksack and double-check the lock once it was closed.

    Then he checked it again.

    ¡°After you,¡± Callan said, gesturing for her to lead.

    They set off towards the shallow valley that Norio and others of his kind had deemed Fortune¡¯s Crossing, a place where Scrag Fort traders and other wasteland caravans did a lot of their deals. Halari remembered the last time she came to this spot; it was where she¡¯d gotten her latest crate of rifle ammo, which had cost her almost a whole year¡¯s worth of scrap and saved up food.

    ¡°Hey,¡± she whispered to Callan, slowing her pace to match his. ¡°Why do you do that? Just earlier you were telling to prepare for a fight, so why make jokes with them?¡±

    ¡°Stress stiffens the body,¡± Callan said. ¡°A soldier who¡¯s mind is only fixed on a battle to come is more likely to falter in the face of a fear realized. Sometimes, though, it doesn¡¯t help at all, especially in a real, large-scale battle.¡±

    ¡°How big was your army back in the day?¡± she asked.

    Callan went distant again, but not unpleasantly, more of a nostalgia added to his bearing than mourning. ¡°I had a force of around six hundred thousand troops at my command. All loyal men.¡±

    Six-hundred thousand! Halari was staggered at the thought of such a scale. Callan¡¯s old army alone dwarfed the population of Stargazer¡¯s Quarry by a landslide. ¡°And you had somebody to fight?¡±

    ¡°There was one battle,¡± Callan said, face turning hard. ¡°Only one, then they left us alone.¡±

    ¡°Your people must¡¯ve been strong,¡± Halari said softly.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get your people to that point,¡± Callan said. ¡°They have what it takes.¡±

    ¡°I sure hope so,¡± she said. Did they? Their ancestors were the stuff of steel by all accounts, but decades of bad leadership and worse trades had left them at a point of borderline uselessness. Hell, her grandfather had used the rifle she held to watch over his comrades as they took the Quarry from its old owners, sniping who he could see to protect his own.

    Pada¡¯s always been proud of that story, Halari thought. Could she do the same thing? If for some forsaken reason the Fort wasn¡¯t happy to see them, or at the very least cooperative, would she kill another person? It was a hard question to ask herself.

    Beasts of the wasteland were one thing, but another human being¡­

    ¡°Looks like we¡¯re here,¡± Callan said. He raised a hand and pointed his index finger to the sky, then traced a couple circles in the air. It was apparently some old hand signal that meant to form up. The militia responded quickly, having practiced their response for the last day, and moved into a good, but rough-edged formation behind them. Dalvo came to stand right behind them while the rest stacked up in loose triangle.

    ¡°They¡¯re better at that today,¡± Halari said. ¡°Maybe we really can learn fast.¡±

    ¡°Told you,¡± Callan chuckled, then he became serious. It was a subtle, yet distinct change that she saw seep into his posture, the focus in his eyes, and the gait of his walk. He moved rhythmically like this, a steady as an approaching thunderhead in which nothing could stand in his away. She resisted the instinct to step away for distance; the air around him was lightly weighted with some kind of charge.

    Fortune¡¯s Crossing was really nothing more than a pair of intersecting paths in the black stone. Rocky hills rose up around it, cutting off the view to the north and east. At each corner of the intersection, the remains of some old structures sat like headstones in a graveyard. Halari wasn¡¯t able to what they had been in the past, so fallen and destroyed as they were. All of them barely had walls rising more than a foot or two off the ground.

    ¡°Greetings to the Scrag Fort,¡± Callan called, stopping the caravan before the other party. Halari eyed them warily, recalling her conversation with Callan and Norio a couple nights before. The trade master was loathe to admit that, perhaps, he hadn¡¯t left their last exchange on good terms. ¡°We thank you for agreeing to meet with us.¡±

    The trade master of the Scrag Fort was a stocky man with a full, charcoal beard and braided mohawk to match. Jagged tattoos marked his face around his eyes.

    He looks kinda mad, Halari thought, attempting to keep her hands off the loop of her rifle.

    ¡°Where¡¯s that little dungweasel?¡± he asked without returning the greeting. His voice was like Old Bear¡¯s, gravelly and tonal. But this man had a far less amicable aura that big ol¡¯ softie.

    ¡°If you¡¯re speaking of my trade master,¡± Callan said, clasping his hands behind his back, ¡°he¡¯s on assignment elsewhere. You¡¯re dealing with me today.¡±

    ¡°And you are?¡± the trader grumbled, crossing his arms. He looked unhappy that Norio wasn¡¯t attending; she figured he was looking to make him pay for whatever slight had been done.

    ¡°I am Callan.¡±

    Halari waited for the rest of him to announce the rest of his titles, but they never came. She looked at him confused, but he kept his attention on the men before him.

    What¡¯s he doing? she wondered. She knew he decided to downplay his status, but to ignore it entirely¡­ Part of her wanted him to throw lightning at them until they cowered. But that wouldn¡¯t help anybody in the long run.

    ¡°And who do I have the pleasure of working with?¡± Callan asked.

    ¡°Kurt,¡± the trade master said simply.

    ¡°An honor, trade master Kurt,¡± Callan said with a respectful nod to the man. ¡°Now, would you like to see our wares?¡± He held out his hand, palm up, and Dalvo dutifully placed one case of Flame Cells into his hand. Halari smiled at the short man as a ¡®good job,¡¯ hoping to put the man at ease since he looked a bit nervous.

    ¡°The message said you have fresh Cells,¡± Kurt said. ¡°How¡¯s that possible?¡±

    Callan approached the Scrag Fort and opened the case before Kurt. ¡°We¡¯ve developed a method to recharge them. See for yourself.¡±

    Halari watched closely as Kurt took a Cell between his fingers. If he was going to try something, it was this moment when he had the prize in his hands. She saw the hunger materialize the moment Kurt realized the validity of their claim. The Flame Cell cast its light on his tattoos, emphasizing their contrast to his ghastly complexion.

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    ¡°I¡¯ll take it,¡± Kurt said.

    ¡°Wonderful,¡± Callan said. ¡°What will you trade for this case?¡±

    ¡°Nah, not the case,¡± Kurt said, closing his fist around the Cell. ¡°I want your recharge tool.¡±

    And there it is. Halari stiffened and allowed her hand to drift back to the barrel of her rifle. She failed to stop it from trembling.

    ¡°The recharge method is not for sale,¡± Callan said, calmly folding his hands behind his back again and taking the case out of Kurt¡¯s view.

    How¡¯s he so calm? Halari placed one finger on the metal of her gun, ready to swing it around and fire at a moment¡¯s notice.

    ¡°Then I don¡¯t think we have a deal,¡± Kurt said. ¡°Why would I take some Cells when I could have the real deal?¡±

    ¡°And if I asked for the method you used to make firearms?¡± Callan asked, arching a brow at the man. Kurt started, just seeming to notice his inhuman eyes, and took a warding step backwards. ¡°Would you be willing to give me that? Something like that would be worth the whole Quarry, I assume.¡±

    Kurt stared at him for a long moment. ¡°Fine,¡± he huffed. ¡°What do you want?¡±

    Halari relaxed, but only a little. They still weren¡¯t out of the danger zone yet.

    ¡°For this case and the other, I want those two trawlers,¡± Callan said, looking pointedly to the array of vehicles in the Fort¡¯s caravan. Halari sized them up, comparing them to her own vehicle. They looked to be in better shape, but she doubted they weren¡¯t anywhere near as reliable as hers. No bias, of course. ¡°While we both know that this is a vastly unfair trade, I¡¯m willing to make it in good faith to establish better relations going forward.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s as good a deal as people using underhanded tactics are gonna get,¡± Kurt grumbled. ¡°Spying on us like that before you showed up.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Callan said. He shot her a questioning look. She knew his next response depended on her reaction here.

    There¡¯s no way¡­ Halari scrunched her face. They weren¡¯t even looking in my direction. She gave him a very small shake of the head.

    ¡°We sent no spies,¡± Callan said. ¡°Differences aside, my trade master vouched for your trustworthiness.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Kurt glared at him, tattoos shifting as he did so. ¡°Big guy in yellow, you didn¡¯t think he¡¯d stand out?¡±

    His words slammed into her like a freezing gust of wind. ¡°Oh no¡­¡± Cold washed over Halari, inside and out. Her stomach turned to lead, and her fingers went numb. ¡°Callan, we need to go now.¡±

    ¡°How long ago was this?¡± Callan asked Kurt quickly, grabbing the man by the shoulder. ¡°How much time passed after you saw the spy and before we sho¡ª?¡± He cut off suddenly and his head snapped towards the east.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Halari asked, propping her rifle on her shoulder and chambering a bullet.

    ¡°You said their breathing sounds like fluttering, right?¡± Callan turned fully to face the eastern hill. ¡°They¡¯re here.¡±

    Halari stood frozen, watching as the even ridgeline of the terrain above broke. A single figure, covered in yellow rags, staggered into view and stared at them from above. He didn¡¯t move, didn¡¯t speak, just watched them.

    ¡°Get your men to arms,¡± Callan said without looking to Kurt. ¡°They are here to kill us.¡±

    Another figure broke the horizon, then another. The gildgrown conquered the horizon one by one until some twenty or so of them stood in a silent line, staring at them with eyes unseeable behind their masks.

    ¡°First company!¡± Callan shouted, balling his fists at his sides, ¡°to arms now!¡±

    Halari heard the men shuffle behind her with sounds of plastic scraping thick cloth as they drew their picks and hammers. The gildgrown looked similarly armed with harsh-edged cleavers held in their too-long arms, but some held strange devices in their free hands that resembled wide bore firearms.

    The lead gildgrown, she assumed, raised one arm and pointed down at them with his jagged cleaver.

    Then he screamed.

    It was a horrible sound like a dying beast drowning in heavy slog. Halari cringed under the noise, but she kept her rifle trained on him, as did the two Scrag Fort enforcers with their own firearms. Her finger trembled on the trigger, waiting for the moment.

    In a fluttering, golden rush, the gildgrown charged down the hill weapons high.

    Halari fired first. Her shot hit home on one of their shoulders, but the freak didn¡¯t slow even as their blood sprayed out behind them. Two other shots rang out to similar effect, with one catching a gildgrown in the eye and the other slamming into a third¡¯s gut. The first went down, but like the one Halari tagged, the other didn¡¯t stop moving.

    They didn¡¯t have time to shoot again.

    Within an instant, the gildgrown were on them and all she saw was yellow. Something slammed into her, knocking her away from Callan and to the ground, where she rolled and recovered quickly.

    People shouted, metal clanged against metal and the odd shot rang out.

    And everywhere, permeating all was that horrible fluttering wheeze.

    Halari saw one gildgrown face down a member of the Scrag Fort¡¯s caravanners, who swung a thick axe-like weapon at the freak¡¯s head. The gildgrown ducked under the blow with suprising agility, then raised its odd gun and fired.

    A burst of yellow smoke exploded from the muzzle and shrouded the man¡¯s face. He dropped his weapon immediately and raised both hands to his neck. Thin, yellow tendrils sprouted from the trader¡¯s face, eyes, and throat as he collapsed to the stone and writhed.

    Halari forced herself to move; otherwise she knew she¡¯d be totally frozen in shock. She pushed through a throng of bodies to try and reach Callan, but the chaos was too thick. She ducked a wild swing from a Quarry militiaman who was trying cave in his enemy¡¯s golden head, but quickly found a cleaver slammed between his neck and shoulder.

    Halari froze then, paralyzed by the sudden, metallic scent of blood that permeated the air as one of her people died in front of her, cleaved almost in two from neck to opposite armpit.

    The gildgrown turned to her, wicked blade dripping with fresh blood. He took a step towards and raised his weapon, then brought it down in a merciless strike.

    She barely blocked the blow with the stock of her rifle, holding it horizontally in both hands above her head. She wasn¡¯t fast enough to evade the kick though. The gildgrown rammed its foot into her gut, sending her sprawling back to the black stone, winded.

    I¡¯m gonna¡­die here. Halari rolled to the side desperately and pushed herself up, swinging her rifle as she did so. It was a panicked attack, but a lucky one at that. The polymer butt of her rifle smacked into the gildgrown¡¯s chin, just under its mask¡¯s tank. Her enemy reeled backward from the force of the blow but didn¡¯t so much as lose its balance and recovered quickly, shaking its head clear before advancing on her.

    It swung again; there was no form to its strike, just raw power, forcing Halari to backpedal on unsteady feet to evade the blade. Its uneven edge whizzed just centimeters from her nose and caught the toughened material of her trouser¡¯s knee guard where it glanced off.

    Halari smacked out again with the butt of her rifle, but this time her enemy was prepared. It caught her weapon in a thick, gloved hand and wrenched it away from her, sending it flying a few feet away. Without hesitating it swung to decapitate her, a blow she dove from in a clumsy heap.

    No options left, she thought frantically. She drew her hunting knife and struck with it as the gildgrown moved to attack. It deflected her knife with the flat of its own cleaver, then punched her in the face.

    Halari didn¡¯t even feel the blow. One second, she was standing off balance having been thoroughly blocked, the next she was on her back looking at a slowly spinning sky.

    How¡¯d I get down here¡­ Her vision faded in and out, but between moments of clarity she saw her golden enemy loom over and raise its weapon to cleave her head in half.

    Then, a small, dark shape slammed into the freak and knocked it out of her view. She sat up and shook her head, then quickly looked for her quarry. To her surprise, she saw Dalvo latched on to the gildgrown¡¯s leg where it couldn¡¯t get a good angle to chop at him. Dalvo pulled and successfully yanked the gildgrown¡¯s leg out from under it, then pushed. Caught off guard, the enemy was forced backwards and lost its balance, falling to its back in a golden heap.

    Before it landed, the gildgrown swung out with its free leg and caught Dalvo¡¯s face squarely. The shorter man was thrown off and sailed a few feet away to land on his stomach.

    He didn¡¯t rise again.

    Yet, the gildgrown was wide open. Halari, filled with a frenzied, cold instinct, jumped onto its chest and pinned its weapon arm with her knee.

    She slammed her knife into the freak¡¯s face, just under the cloudy lens where its left eye might be. Then she slammed it into its throat.

    Then, its chest.

    Then twice into where she thought its heart was.

    Halari stabbed the gildgrown over and over and over. Each strike came with an image:

    Tel¡¯s severed head.

    Viria¡¯s face cut in half.

    Her wonderful father with gold tendrils growing from his eyes.

    She stabbed the gildgrown again and again and again, each blow coming out with a spray of blood. It was going to kill her, it was going to kill her friends, it was going to hurt the people she loved. She didn¡¯t realize her enemy¡¯s fluttering, wheezing breaths went quiet or that its body went still. She just kept stabbing it so that it would die, so that it wouldn¡¯t hurt another of her people, so that¡ª

    A strong hand grabbed her knife hand by the wrist while an arm wrapped around her midsection and pulled her off her enemy. She came away kicking and yelling.

    ¡°NO! No!¡± she screamed, trying to break free. ¡°It¡¯s still breathing, it¡¯s gonna get up! Let me go! It¡¯s gonna get up!¡±

    ¡°Halari! Halari!¡± Whose voice was that? ¡°Halari, it¡¯s dead!¡± The person holding her spun her around.

    It was Callan. He looked bloodied; his hands were covered in fresh red liquid up to his elbows.

    He held her wrist tightly and his eyes were burning. Still, she struggled against him. That thing was going to get up, it was going to kill her and everybody that mattered in her life.

    ¡°Halari, stop,¡± he said firmly, jerking her head to meet his gaze. ¡°Halari, breathe. It¡¯s dead, you got it. It¡¯s not getting up. Breathe.¡±

    ¡°No, nonono,¡± she shook her head desperately. Her heart was pounding, her fingers were numb, and everything shook. ¡°It¡¯s not¡ª"

    ¡°You got it,¡± Callan said. ¡°Breathe in.¡±

    Halari took a shaky breath in, then she dared a look at her enemy.

    And went entirely numb.

    Did I... do that? she thought. The gildgrown was butchered like its whole body was recently out of a meat grinder. Not an inch of yellow showed on its front and some blood even dribbled out in rivers to the black stone ground.

    And it was dead. That much was obvious.

    ¡°oh gods¡­¡± Halari¡¯s body tensed, coiling on itself until she doubled over. All of the fear and stress from the past few minutes drained out of her¡­

    In a massive flood of vomit.

 Chapter Sixteen: Soothe

    Fortune''s Crossing

    Callan met the first gildgrown head on. He couldn¡¯t stop them all; some of their members pushed past him into the fray behind him. He hoped that they were ready, but he knew that nobody ever really was.

    His own oddly-proportioned foe hacked down at him with a strange blade, a double-edged cleaver that looked like it was torn from the bark of a tree. Callan smacked the incoming weapon away with the back of hand then sent a fist into the warrior''s gut. He felt its organs collapse under the force of his blow and the gildgrown folded around his fist. Callan threw him backwards, spinning at the same time to see who needed help in the throng of fighting bodies.

    Where¡¯s Halari? He punched one gildgrown in the knee, then snaked an inescapable arm around its neck as it fell and wrenched it upwards and to the side. Even as its corpse fell, he was already moving. Melokon¡¯s Fire urged him to unleash its power, to burn these foolish enemies alive and flay their flesh from their charred bones, but there were too many of his militiamen in proximity to them and he didn¡¯t want to risk striking one.

    ¡®Maybe if you were stronger¡­¡¯ the skull whispered as he was too slow to stop a gildgrown from blasting yellow smoke into the face of one of his fighters. It turned to find another victim just in time see Callan¡¯s Charged right fist smash through its mask and into its head cavity. ¡®Where is she, Callan? She¡¯s already dead.¡¯

    Shut up! Callan cried out and lunged for another gildgrown, sending his left fist through its back and out the front of its chest.

    He tore through more gildgrown, backing up whoever he saw needed the assistance. Sometimes he was too slow, as fast as his Blessing made him, but he saved more of his men than he lost. But where was Halari? He knew they¡¯d been separated right at the start, but how far had she been moved?

    Nearby, Callan saw Dalvo keeping a group of men together, shouting at them to stay close. And they listened, staying back-to-back while they fended off an assault.

    Callan snapped one gildgrown¡¯s back over his knee, then its neck with a merciless hammer fist to the face, whipping its head back so far it almost tore clean off completely. He whirled to look for Halari or others to assist.

    Instead he found the barrel of a gun aimed at his face. His vision filled with a yellow smoke, but besides a small tickle in his nose, nothing more happened. If a gildgrown could look shocked behind a mask, it was this one.

    ¡°No witnesses,¡± Callan whispered, then he caved in the gildgrown¡¯s chest with the heel of his boot. It crumpled to the black stone, mask gurgling as it tried and failed to pull in air. He left it to die on the ground, walking off to search for more.

    The last gildgrown cut down two of the Scrag Fort merchants before he reached it. It swung out at him, but Callan caught its wrist and crushed it, then caught the blade while it fell and swung it upwards. His strike caught the gildgrown under the chin and messily cleaved all the way through.

    Its body dropped limply to the stone while its head flew off in a random direction. Callan studied the battlefield and those who remained. Where was Halari? He dared a look at some of the corpses, but she wasn¡¯t among the ones in view; her auburn and dark green was hard to miss, so it was a relief he didn¡¯t see it among the prone corpses.

    Some of the men around sat empty-eyed on the ground, others tended to their own wounds. A short distance way, Dalvo and a few others from his force stood with their backs to him, all staring at something he was unable to make out.

    Callan dashed over to them, hearing sounds of a fight. Why weren¡¯t they helping? He pushed through them, ready to attack again.

    And saw Halari.

    Oh Great Dragon¡­ Callan paused for only a moment to take in the scene. Halari, clearly having gone feral from battle terror, stabbed at the corpse of a gildgrown with relentless fervor. Her eyes were wild, her face and clothes were covered with blood, and her arm moved on automatic.

    He glared at the men and started a word to chastise them for not helping- or stopping- her, but he cut off when he saw the looks on their faces.

    They¡¯re mortified, he realized. Some were pale, slightly green. Dalvo looked on to the scene without the same fear as his comrades, instead bearing an uncomfortable, hard expression. He even looked at Callan and grimaced. For him, Callan figured that Dalvo knew instinctively that Halari might lash out if he tried to interfere. The others were horrified, but this kid was just smart.

    Callan moved up behind Halari and caught her wrist firmly, then wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her off the corpse. She kicked at him, screaming that she wasn¡¯t done, that her enemy was going to get up, that it wasn¡¯t enough yet.

    ¡°Halari, it¡¯s over!¡± he said, turning her to look at him. ¡°It¡¯s enough, you got it!¡± She didn¡¯t see him, her pupils were huge and flying about frenetically in her face, and she struggled to pull away from him. He shook her gently and turned her head to meet his gaze. ¡°You did it. It¡¯s over.¡±

    ¡°No, nonono,¡± Halari whimpered, coming back to reality slowly as she stopped struggling. She looked over at her handiwork and went pale. ¡°Oh gods¡­¡± All the blood drained from her face; the sickly complexion contrasted heavily with the splashes red liquid on her skin.

    ¡°Let it all out,¡± Callan murmured as she coiled in on herself. After a traumatic event like these last few minutes, he knew normal people either began to weep uncontrollably or¡­

    Halari hurled her lunch up onto the toes of his boots.

    That. Callan helped her stagger over to a nearby short wall and held her hair back while puked up her breakfast into the ruined structure.

    Then the prior night¡¯s dinner.

    Then yesterday¡¯s midday snack? She groaned, shaking hard, then dry heaved.

    Quite a lot for such a lean frame, Callan thought. Part of him felt guilty for being level-headed in this moment, but he¡¯d seen all of this before. He gestured for Dalvo to approach. The shorter man prodded at a massive bruise on his face, flinching as he touched the sensitive skin.

    ¡°Find some water and a cloth,¡± Callan said softly. ¡°Then tend to the wounded if you have nothing in urgent need of attention yourself.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Great Flame.¡± Dalvo nodded dully and saluted before walking off to complete his task. His pick, looped back into his belt, was bloodied on both ends.

    Halari slowly rose from where was knelt and sat onto the lip of the short wall, leaning onto the short, broken pillar at its end. She said nothing, her face was distant, and everything from her legs to her fingers trembled.

    And she was staring at the body.

    ¡°Halari.¡± Callan crouched down in front of her, cutting off the view to the butchered gildgrown. It seemed to startle her back to focus on him and snap her out of her stupor, but she still shook like a scared fawn. ¡°You¡¯re alive. Say it.¡±

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    ¡°I-I¡¯m alive,¡± she whispered, blinking as if coming awake for the first. ¡°I¡¯m alive. Oh gods¡­¡±

    ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Callan asked.

    ¡°No, but¡­¡± Her face scrunched up like she wanted to cry, but no tears came. ¡°I¡­ what I did¡­¡±

    ¡°You haven¡¯t killed a person before.¡± Callan said. It wasn¡¯t a question. ¡°It¡¯s no small thing.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­ kill that thing, Callan, I¡­¡± Halari tried to cry again, but her eyes stayed dry. ¡°I carved them like a piece of meat. I slaughtered them. I thought people only did that when they were angry, but I was just scared.¡±

    ¡°You did what you had to in that moment.¡± Callan took a canteen of water and a cloth from the returned Dalvo, who saluted again before going to help anybody injured.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t have to do that,¡± Halari whispered.

    ¡°In that moment you weren¡¯t capable of anything else,¡± Callan said. He gently dabbed at a streak of blood on her cheek. ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as killing in cold blood, Halari, there never has been.¡±

    ¡°And now I can¡¯t even cry over it,¡± Halari said, never taking her eyes from Callan as he cleaned the blood off of her. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Because you aren¡¯t sad,¡± Callan said, wiping away a splatter that covered her from her left eye brown to her chin, ¡°are you?¡±

    Her face fell but hardened. ¡°Does that make me horrible?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Callan assured. ¡°It shows you¡¯re dedicated to the reason behind what you did: protecting your home.¡±

    ¡°Callan, will it¡­ get easier?¡± Halari asked, voice small. She already knew the answer, he realized, so lying to her wouldn¡¯t help.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Callan said. ¡°Especially as you become more and more sure in the reasons why.¡±

    She went quiet after that and allowed him to finish getting her cleaned off. Between the gore on his hands and her face, the rag didn¡¯t stand a chance; both were still a couple of ghastly sights that desperately needed to bathe.

    ¡°Can you stand?¡± Callan asked, rising and holding his hand out to her. ¡°I need to have a word with Kurt, and I¡¯d like to have you at my side.¡±

    Halari nodded and took his hand, then stood.

    Trade master Kurt sat uninjured before his largest caravan trawler, a tank of vehicle that looked like a brick with wheels. He wiped the head of his thick maul weapon with his own black cloth lovingly like it was his own child. When the two of them got close enough he glanced up just as they stopped in front of him.

    Callan kept his composure, deciding only to grab the man by his thick jacket collar and slam him into his vehicle¡¯s outer hull instead of throwing him across the street like he¡¯d initially wanted. Kurt wasn¡¯t a small man, but Callan held him up with one arm.

    The Scrag Fort¡¯s exhausted force bristled immediately, but their leader waved them down, clearly surprised at being restrained in such a way. Callan saw that some part of the man understood what was happening and probably didn¡¯t want any more trouble.

    ¡°Your attempt to be a devious businessman cost lives,¡± Callan growled. ¡°This all could¡¯ve been avoided if you had just been upfront from the start. Now¡­¡± He gestured to the bloody wreckage around them, and Kurt grimaced. Granted, the trade master could never have suspected this kind of an ambush, but Callan wanted to redefine negotiations going  forward.

    ¡°So, with my good faith gone,¡± he continued, lowering the man and brushing off the man¡¯s jacket, ¡°we are going to renegotiate our previous bargain. Along with the two trawlers, I want two crates of bolt action rifles and ammo to match.¡±

    ¡°I can do¡­ one crate,¡± Kurt relented, raising his hands defensively when Callan¡¯s draconic eyes flared. ¡°You don¡¯t understand, my people¡­ reputation¡¯s all that matters. If I make bad deals on top of letting my train get ambushed¡­ They¡¯ll cut me out. And whoever takes this train from me might not even deal with you.¡±

    Is the Fort really so unforgiving? Callan wondered. He glanced Halari, who shrugged, face still very distant.

    ¡°Very well,¡± Callan said, ¡°but I want a surplus of ammunition to make up for it.¡±

    Kurt rubbed his forehead in thought, then nodded. ¡°I can make that work. We¡¯ll bring them next week, but first we nee¡ª"

    ¡°We do this now,¡± Callan said. He grabbed the cases of Flame Cells from near where he¡¯d tossed them before the fight and handed them to Kurt  ¡°Otherwise all this blood was spilled in waste.¡±

    Kurt nodded, clutching the case in a way like he was scared Callan might take them back. He waved for his own bloodied, exhausted men to unload the agreed goods from their vehicles, which Dalvo and a few others with vacant expressions behind bloodied faces sorted and loaded. As much as Callan knew the men needed to go home and rest, the Quarry needed this trade and all others to come, so he hoped they¡¯d make it just a little longer.

    When all was exchanged and done, Kurt took the remains of his people, loading the ones he lost in the attack rather unceremoniously into empty cargo beds. Then they were gone, rumbling into the bleak horizon without another word; their vehicles disappeared around the turn of a hillside.

    ¡°My lord,¡± Dalvo said softly, coming up to his side opposite Halari, ¡°what should we do with our¡­ dead?¡±

    ¡°How does your people lay the dead to rest?¡± Callan asked.

    ¡°There¡¯s a stretch of land west of the Quarry,¡± Halari murmured. ¡°The families take their loved ones there and mine them a grave in the stone.¡±

    ¡°Then we¡¯ll take them back,¡± Callan said, ¡°and let them rest at home.¡± He patted Dalvo in the shoulder encouragingly. ¡°Now, there¡¯s something I need to see.¡± He walked over to the corpse of a gildgrown laying spread eagle on the stone. Judging by the thick hole in its chest, he figured one of his own men brought this one down.

    Callan reached down and grabbed its mask by the mouth tank, then pulled it off. He saw Halari step up behind him out of the corner of his eye, morbidly curious to see her enemy in the flesh.

    The gildgrown resembled a mummy inside its rags. This one, a man judging by the bone structure, bore rough, shrunken skin around its eyes and lips. His teeth were latticed with those golden tendrils while the whites of his empty eyes were really colored more of a pale yellow. Everything about him looked preserved from decay instead of healthy, living flesh.

    ¡°What¡¯s in the tank?¡± Halari asked.

    ¡°It may not be best to open it out here,¡± Callan said, giving it a gentle shake. He heard a noise like sand swishing about inside. ¡°We¡¯ll take it back and examine it safely.¡±

    ¡°Good idea,¡± Halari said. ¡°Let¡¯s also pile their bodies and burn them.¡±

    Callan glanced at her and wasn¡¯t at all surprised to see some anger in her distant expression. She glared at the corpse, looking tempted to attack it despite her prior disgust, but she held herself back. Even still, he could tell this might be something a deep part of her had to see for closure to this battle.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get the kindling,¡± he said.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A somber company returned to the Quarry in the evening, newly traded goods and fallen comrades in tow.

    This is always the hard part, Callan thought as the families of the dead were brought to identify their loved ones. Three of the five deceased only had siblings, but a couple had full families.

    All wept cried and wept over their bodies. A few cursed him for pulling their sons, brothers, nephews into an ambush, others thanked him for bringing them home. Callan bore everything stoically, but Halari finally did manage to find some tears. She stuck close to him, even defending his choices from the venomous words of the grieving.

    ¡°People of the Quarry,¡± Callan said to a large crowd before the steps of the Temple, ¡°as you are aware, our trade with the Scrag Fort was assaulted by the gildgrown. The five heroes who gave their lives guaranteed that their neighbors and comrades made it home when they could not. For that, there is no amount of gratitude we give them to make up for their sacrifice. For their sake, we must move forward to honor them. The threat is real, but today we showed them defeat and we must keep fighting until your home is safe.  I ask those to here to look for courage in your hearts. Your home needs you¡­¡±

    The bulk of the people nodded at his words, but in the back, partially hidden by throng, he saw Telero standing with his growing group of faithful. There still weren¡¯t many to their number, but was he going to make a scene here? Capitalize on the losses?

    Halari¡¯s brother merely glared at him while he spoke, but as the crowd dispersed, Callan saw him approach the mourning families and speak to them. More than few prayed with him.

    Smart, Callan thought. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± he asked Halari, who stood beside him on the landing.

    ¡°Exhausted,¡± she said, wiping her puffy eyes. ¡°How do you get past days like this?¡±

    ¡°However you can,¡± Callan said. ¡°Sleep will help, try to get some rest.¡±

    She nodded, then she walked up and hugged him. ¡°Thank you. For everything.¡±

    Callan gingerly returned the embrace, terror building as his arms wrapped around her carefully. His ring glittered angrily in the blank light of the dying day, and the skull screamed at him from a deep corner of his mind to let her go, to get away from her, to run as far away as possible. But Halari seemed to need this soothing moment of peace; who knew what was roiling in her mind from her ordeal just earlier in the day?

    She parted from him a moment later, then gave him a tired, sad smile before walking off towards her home.

    She¡¯ll have nightmares tonight, Callan thought, watching her go, but they¡¯ll fade quickly. She¡¯ll be alright.

 Interlude: Promotion- Dalvo

    Two days later

    Sweat dripped down into his eyes. His arms were sore, his back ached, and his legs were killing him, but still he fought. Dalvo locked his opponent¡¯s arm into a clumsy hold- something Old Bear was teaching him in the off hours- and bent the man forward. Then, he hooked one ankle around the man¡¯s own and pushed out, throwing his adversary¡¯s balance off. It wasn¡¯t clean at all, in fact Dalvo found himself atop the man on the ground struggling to reattain his arm trap, but he maintained his leverage.

    They scrabbled on the black stone like a pair of feral animals, each trying to find a way to either escape or maintain the holds. Dalvo got his opponent¡¯s arms pinned, but in his moment of relief at his imminent victory, he forgot the man¡¯s legs. Those found enough space to kick him off and seconds later Dalvo felt one arm pinned behind his back.

    Then, he panicked.

    No, don¡¯t! Davlo struggled, black stone of the training yard disappearing until his vision went yellow. He heard those horrible fluttering wheezes in his ear, felt warm blood on his hands. He thrashed, flinging his head back to a satisfying crunch as its mouth tank shattered. He didn¡¯t have much in height, but he had a hard head to use when needed.

    The gildgrown threw itself away from him, but he didn¡¯t let it get far. Dalvo  rose to a crouch and leaped on the figure, tackling him to the ground, then placed one knee on its chest and raised a fist¡­

    It wasn¡¯t a gildgrown at all. It was just Rilo holding his bleeding nose and looking far too frightened.

    What the¡­ Dalvo startled back to reality, then lowered his raised hand. ¡°Uh¡­¡±

    ¡°Whadda fugg Dalfo!¡± Rilo shouted, clutching his face. He pushed Dalvo off and staggered to a standing position, then tilted his head back. ¡°Yuh broge ma fuggin nothe!¡±

    ¡°Sorry, Rilo,¡± Dalvo said with an awkward, apologetic grin. The adrenaline of his momentary panic drained away, and he sagged to prop his arms onto his knees so as not to fall to the ground. ¡°Still not at full harvest up here.¡± He tapped his head.

    ¡°Luug, mahn,¡± Rilo huffed, almost bending backwards to keep the blood from dripping down his miner¡¯s outfit. ¡°Ah know you thaw some methed uhp shidd, but thith ahn¡¯t oggay.¡± He pointed one gangly finger to his face with a sharp jerking motion. His childhood friend was all meat and bone; he barely had any hair  on his head to his name, but he made up for it with some reputable endurance that his fellows in the mines were proud. He was also lanky enough to fit into some fissures that others wouldn¡¯t dare to dive into.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, bud.¡± Dalvo held his hands up defensively. ¡°What happened was¡­ terrifying. It¡¯s hard to talk about.¡±

    ¡°Well figgur id oud,¡± Rilot said. ¡°You hann¡¯t bin raght fer dayth.¡±

    ¡°I know, I know,¡± Dalvo said, standing back up. ¡°I¡¯ll get it together, I swear. Anyways, let¡¯s you get cleaned up, then we can go again?¡±

    ¡°Fugg dat!¡± Rilot actually bent his head down to stare at him like a spoiled ashbud, then shook his head in a way he probably he shouldn¡¯t have. ¡°Ahm goihn ohm.¡± He started walking off, leaving Dalvo to stare off at him dejectedly.

    ¡°You¡¯re still gonna enlist tomorrow, right?¡± Dalvo called after him.

    Rilot waved his question off like a swarm of disturbed fleshflies, then disappeared around a corner, all the while mumbling to himself about his poor, broken nose and how he¡¯d explain it to his father.

    ¡°Damn it,¡± Dalvo whispered, popping open his water canteen and taking a big swig. ¡°Get it together, dumbass.¡±

    Walking away with a bloodied face was his last willing training partner. He¡¯d practiced in every off hour he could spare for the last couple days, tiring out all those who¡¯d initially agreed to spar with him, and now¡­ Dalvo sighed again, then tossed his canteen into his rucksack and turned to leave.

    And saw the Great Flame walking towards him, Halari at his shoulder.

    Uh oh, here come the King and Que¡ª He caught that thought before it really set in; Halari might actually kill him if he let that little rumor slip. By all accounts, they weren¡¯t actually any kind of item, but they sure looked comfortable in each other¡¯s presence as they approached him. However, Dalvo knew that Halari had a bit of reputation of being elusive towards attention, even downright evasive. Rilo¡¯s own brother Abevo had tried his luck at her attentions, only to later see his basket of affection in the hands of Halari¡¯s sister.

    In any case, the two of them strode over to where he stood and Dalvo immediately saluted when they got close enough, bringing his right hand¡¯s outstretched fingers together and slashing them towards his left shoulder while keeping his clenched left hand behind his back.

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    The Great Flame nodded at him appreciatively. ¡°At ease, soldier.¡±

    Dalvo relaxed on the outside, but on the inside his heart was pounding. Sure, he¡¯d already fought for and with this man, this demigod, but still to stand before him like this was surreal. He didn¡¯t sweat this time at least. That first time at training when he made a total fool of himself, he¡¯d had to change his shirt afterwards from the nervous sweat.

    ¡°Good evening, Great Flame,¡± Dalvo said, praying that his voice wasn¡¯t betraying his jittering nerves. ¡°Lady Halari.¡± He respectfully nodded a greeting to her.

    ¡°Pffft!¡± Halari tossed her head back and groaned. ¡°Please don¡¯t call me that.¡±

    The Great Flame chuckled, then winked at Dalvo. ¡°I told you that would catch on, Halari.¡±

    ¡°I really don¡¯t want it to,¡± she said, slapping the demigod lightly on the shoulder. Dalvo was amazed at how casual she was with such a powerful being. ¡°Order him to just call me by name.¡±

    Maybe they really are¡­? Dalvo wondered, watching them interact. Her sister sort of thought so; he¡¯d overheard Viria a few days before the battle talking about how they spent so much time together, even during looting missions in to the city.

    ¡°Or I could ordain the title formally,¡± the Great Flame said with a grin, ¡°if only for my own amusement. What do you think, Dalvo? Shall I give Halari a title?¡±

    ¡°Uhhh¡­¡± Dalvo¡¯s mind raced. Was this a serious question he was actually supposed to answer? Halari definitely deserved something for fighting so hard during the battle. ¡°I¡¯d¡­ say so, my lord.¡±

    ¡°Oh Callan, don¡¯t joke with him, he¡¯s actually thinking about it,¡± Halari said, shaking her head. ¡°Anyways, Dalvo, it¡¯s just Halari like always, alright?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Lady Halari,¡± Dalvo said.

    The Great Flame laughed, a deep sound which somehow even held power. Or maybe he was just imagining that¡­

    ¡°Dalvo, we heard a disturbance over here,¡± he said after a moment. ¡°Is everything alright?¡±

    ¡°Oh! Yes, my lord, uh¡­¡± Dalvo shifted on the balls of his feet, somewhat embarrassed that his little moment of panic had drawn his king¡¯s precious time and attention. ¡°There was a bit of an accident with my sparring partner.¡±

    ¡°Sparring?¡± Halari  asked. ¡°But training¡¯s been over for hours.¡±

    ¡°I like to get some more time in than the others,¡± Dalvo explained. ¡°Especially since¡­¡± He spaced out for a second, picturing that gildgrown¡¯s gasping mask mere inches from his face as it bled from the wound where his pick was buried in its chest. ¡°I just feel the need to get better, faster, I guess. So I can protect the people like you did.¡±

    ¡°Protect, right¡­,¡± Halari said softly, her own eyes going distant. Dalvo saw the ghost of the battle etched into her own face along with the blood she¡¯d been covered in. The Great Flame placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, and she snapped out of her bad memory. ¡°I¡¯m definitely still working that out.¡±

    ¡°And how are you, Dalvo?¡± the Great Flame asked, turning to him.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s what caused the accident, I think,¡± Dalvo said. ¡°I¡­ lost where I was for a second. Lashed out in a panic and hurt my friend by mistake.¡±

    The Great Flame nodded heavily. ¡°You thought you were fighting a gildgrown didn¡¯t you?¡±

    Can he really read minds! ¡°How¡¯d you kn¡ª?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re suffering the aftereffects of a traumatic situation,¡± the king explained. ¡°A couple thousand years ago, there was an entire school of medicine dedicated to studying that affliction.¡±

    ¡°Did they¡­ cure it?¡± Dalvo asked.

    ¡°No,¡± the Great Flame said with a small frown, ¡°but they created methods in which the afflicted could live through it until it ran its course. One is doing what you¡¯re doing: working to be better.¡±

    The Great Flame locked his eyes to Dalvo¡¯s. ¡°But you can¡¯t allow whatever guilt that drives to consume you at the same time. I can¡¯t have my most valuable soldiers collapsing from fatigue.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not¡­ anything special, my lord,¡± Dalvo said, doing his best to not shrink away from the compliment. ¡°I¡¯m just lucky to be alive.¡±

    ¡°I saw you during the battle,¡± the demigod said. ¡°I saw you rally the men into a better position. And Halari said you later saved her life.¡±

    ¡°Those were just¡­¡± Dalvo failed to find the words.

    ¡°Instincts,¡± the Great Flame finished for him. ¡°Impressive instincts. I need men like that leading our army. That¡¯s why, tomorrow before the rest of the militia, you will be promoted to captain and given the first rifle of those we got from the trade.¡±

    That''s a terrible idea! Dalvo¡¯s heart rate skyrocketed with terror and any composure he had tossed itself off a cliff. ¡°My lord, I don¡¯t think I¡¯m worthy.¡±

    ¡°You are what I say you are,¡± the Great Flame declared. He had a small, almost knowing smile on his face that Dalvo felt even more terrified of. He was serious about this. ¡°So, when I say you¡¯re captain material, that means you get to be a captain. It¡¯s an order, soldier, not an offer."

    ¡°T-Thank you, my l-lord,¡± Dalvo stammered. Every bad possible scenario ran through his head at once. What if the men didn¡¯t respect him? What if they didn¡¯t listen to his orders? What if he made a bad call and got everybody killed? ¡°I won¡¯t let you down, I promise.¡±

    ¡°I know you won¡¯t,¡± the Great Flame said. ¡°You have potential, Captain Dalvo, try to find it for yourself.¡±

    ¡°Congratulations,¡± Halari said. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you and any others how to shoot. It¡¯s pretty fun.¡±

    ¡°And dangerous,¡± the Great Flame said. ¡°Halari, make sure they know that, please.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s only dangerous if you¡¯re an idiot,¡± Halari said. ¡°I¡¯ve had my rifle for almost my whole life and I¡¯ve never even so much as¡ª¡±

    ¡°You shot me in the leg,¡± the king said.

    ¡°We were fighting a cragbeast!¡± Halari threw her hands up in the air. ¡°You¡¯re invincible anyways!¡±

    Dalvo watched their exchange numbly, wondering if maybe he could pass his promotion to the first person who wanted it. The Great Flame bade him a good night, then he and Halari walked off back the way they came, still bickering about the dangers of firearm safety. Suddenly, he felt exhausted, but¡­ relieved. The Great Flame, a walking divine being on earth, thought he had capabilities beyond what he currently imagined. And that was comforting enough.

    No, he wouldn¡¯t pass on his promotion. Or abandon ship. Somebody, a somebody beyond human, had faith in him, so that had to mean something.

    <em style="font-weight: 400">I¡¯ll need to look extra sharp tomorrow, Dalvo planned, looping his satchel over his shoulder. Better get some rest. Maybe now I can order the men to train more with me.

 Chapter Seventeen: Matter of Metal- Halari

    Halari shrieked and clawed herself out of the nightmare drowning her. She tore up and away from the dense cloud of bloodied, yellow spores, gripping the edge of her dream in a white-knuckle death grip and heaving herself out and into the sweet darkness of her room.

    She bolted up into a seated position, panting hard, cold sweat running from her forehead to her chin, leaving a path under her eyes like fallen tears. Maybe she was crying anyways.

    Five nights, three nightmares, she thought, wrapping her arms around her knees and hugging them close to her body. She breathed deep, attempting to still her pounding heart. She wasn¡¯t in danger, she wasn¡¯t in battle, she was home in her bed, completely safe.

    ¡°Phewww,¡± she sighed, uncoiling and taking a deep breath to relax. Her room was nice and quiet, perfectly comfortable to doze off again, but for whatever reason, most likely the adrenaline of the nightmare, she simply wasn¡¯t able to get her eyes to stay closed. ¡°Damn it!¡±

    Halari slung herself out of bed and stretched, checking her clock as she wrung some last stubborn fatigue from her limbs. She grimaced, seeing that it was only the fourth hour of the new day. Maybe she¡¯d go see what Callan was doing; she knew he¡¯d definitely be awake at this awful time of morning.

    She slipped out of her door into the quiet house and made her way to front door, tip-toeing so as to not wake the rest of her family. Light snoring from Viria¡¯s room told brought a little grin to her lips; when her sister was out, she was out.

    Just as she stepped up to the door, it opened on its own and her brother stepped inside.

    ¡°Tel?¡± Halari was stunned to see her brother coming home so late. He usually was beat after a long shift in the mine. ¡°What¡¯re you doing home so late?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯re you doing up so early?¡± he asked, closing the door behind him and blocking her only exit. She noticed the thick tome in his hands: the Book of Jomens. What was he doing with that at this hour?

    ¡°Just heading out for a second,¡± she said. ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep.¡±

    ¡°You were going to see him, weren¡¯t you?¡± Telero¡¯s tone was accusatory, and his eyes grew hard. He clutched his book to his like he was trying to use it as a shield against the very mention of Callan. ¡°Weren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I am,¡± Halari said. ¡°Now it¡¯s your turn to tell me what you were doing, Tel.¡±

    Her brother¡¯s face softened, then he moved to the den¡¯s sofa to sit on its arm. He placed the Book of Jomens on his lap and put a reverent hand on its cover. ¡°I was leading a study of the scripture and it ran late. Would you¡­ like to hear what we were discussing?¡±

    Halari sighed and shook her head gently. ¡°We have a real Flame here, not in that book. I¡¯ve got all the divine presence I need.¡±

    ¡°But he¡¯s¡ª!¡± Telero started, but he stopped himself, then tried again in a much gentler tone. ¡°Hala, I don¡¯t like how he looks at you, or how you look at him for that matter.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Halari felt her cheeks got it and she shifted into a more uncomfortable posture, crossing her arms over his chest and glaring at her brother.

    ¡°Like he¡¯s salvation incarnate!¡± Telero hissed, clearly trying to not wake the rest of the household. ¡°Like he¡¯s the answer to all the problems.¡±

    ¡°Maybe he is!¡± Halari hissed back. ¡°And I¡¯m helping him to make to this place better. I thought you¡¯d be happy I¡¯m finally taking a bit more responsibility for our home.¡±

    ¡°Under normal circumstances,¡± Telero sighed, ¡°I would be overjoyed for you to show some initiative, but you¡¯re working with the Enemy!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s helping, are you just blind?¡± Halari asked. ¡°Are you and your little group able to see that?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re growing, Hala,¡± Telero, a resolve in his voice that made her skin crawl. ¡°Not fast, not steadily, but we are growing. And we will stop him, somehow. Even if it¡¯s just through devotion to the true Flames alone. They¡¯ll hear our pleas, come back, and destroy him.¡± Her brother looked right at her, a mixture of grief and worry knitted into his eyebrows and lips. ¡°And they won¡¯t show mercy to any of his¡­ conspirators. Please, turn from the Betrayer, set whatever¡­ feelings for him you have aside and save yourself.¡±

    Feelings for him? Her cheeks got hotter when she realized what he was implying, but she kept her focus on the discussion. ¡°I¡¯ll do what I think the Quarry needs, Tel, you do the same. And I¡¯ll ask you, please, don¡¯t let your fear or hate to push you too far.¡±

    Telero sagged. ¡°I¡¯ll do what I have to save your soul, sweet Hala.¡± He turned away from her and opened the book, his way of signaling that their talk was at end. Halari huffed and blew past him to the outside without another word.

    The dark night was chilly like usual, but less quiet. She saw some early workers in their farmyards plucking at some budding ashbuds and thick tams. They looked motivated, moved like their work mattered, and for the first time, she felt real pride realizing that she had a part in getting them the resources they needed to be happier. Some waved at her, smiling, even murmuring a greeting for the early morning.

    She found Callan standing at his little podium that he¡¯d had installed on the Temple¡¯s stair landing so he could look at requests or the rudimentary but improving status reports from various parts of his blossoming government.

    ¡°¡¯Morning,¡± she said, stepping up beside him. Immediately, the early morning chill retreated away from the heat he idly generated around him and allowed her to relax.

    ¡°What are you doing up so early?¡± Callan asked, making some space for her at the podium.

    ¡°Nightmare,¡± Halari said. She shivered from the faded memory of drowning in the flood of yellow spores; they were the same spores they¡¯d found in the canister taken off the gildgrown corpse. The tube was full of sand-like particles, but how they worked as a breathing method for those freaks was beyond any of them for now. ¡°Thought I¡¯d see what you were up to.¡±

    ¡°Going over the latest patrol report from Captain Dalvo,¡± Callan said, tilting a sheet up for her to study. He didn¡¯t press the nightmare issue, which she appreciated.

    The penmanship of the report was a little on the illegible side but was incredibly detailed in its accounting over the latest patrol. Dalvo even wrote about a random piece of debris that had blown by them during their walk around. ¡°He¡¯s very thorough. Makes for such an exciting read.¡±

    ¡°Well, you freaked him out dumping a promotion on him,¡± Halari giggled. ¡°He¡¯s probably trying to impress you.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps could you slip to him that his king would greatly appreciate abbreviated reports?¡± Callan asked, smirking. ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯d listen to Lady Halari.¡±

    ¡°Oh, gods¡­¡± Halari groaned. ¡°Why are they so formal? I¡¯ve begged them to stop.¡±

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    ¡°When you elevate yourself you get titles,¡± Callan said. He took the stack of papers and placed them into the podium drawer. However, he left a black case like the ones they used to carry Cells on top. ¡°So, since you¡¯re here early, can I get your help with something?¡± He grabbed that case and handed it to her, which she opened.

    Balls? Halari quirked her head at the sight of three silvery orbs about the size of her fist sitting in the case. ¡°What are these for?¡±

    ¡°Testing,¡± Callan. ¡°I had them made specially, and now that I have some time with everything settling into place, I need to figure out exactly where I stand with myself. I¡¯d like your help, as well as somewhere a little destruction won¡¯t cause any problems.¡±

    ¡°Yeah I know a spot,¡± Halari said.

    The ravine was about a twenty-minute trawler ride north of the Quarry. It was a deep, jagged gash in the black wasteland that was easy to miss from ground. Its walls rose high from the bottom, perfect for stopping stray strikes of Callan¡¯s lightning.

    Which is exactly what they did.

    Halari, standing at his shoulder, tossed an ultimium orb up and in front of him at a wide angle. Callan¡¯s hands sparked with his power, the purple and red arcs of his lightning flickered between his fingers. He flung one hand forward and a thick, crimson bolt flashed forward. It hit the metallic ball with a resounding ring, sending the object flying into the nearby black stone wall where it bounced off and fell to the ground.

    ¡°Good hit,¡± Halari said. She grabbed a second orb from where it laid at her feet and prepared to throw it.

    ¡°Yeah, I hit it,¡± Callan sighed, ¡°but I didn¡¯t hit hard enough. It should have made a crater in the wall. Another one, please.¡±

    This is kinda fun, Halari thought, tossing up the next ball. Callan let his power in his hand for a moment, then fired a brighter, louder bolt which sent the target about three inches into the stone.

    ¡°Wow!¡± Halari said. ¡°That was way better.¡±

    Callan frowned and shrugged his shoulders a few times like he was about to do some heavy lifting. ¡°One more.¡±

    ¡°Seriously?¡± Halari asked, lightly bouncing the third orb in the palm of her hand. ¡°That was awesome.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just not enough,¡± Callan groaned. ¡°I should be able to blast a hole in the rock, but I can barely push one of these balls out of the way. It¡¯s pathetic.¡±

    ¡°Well I thought it was cool. Ready?¡± Halari tossed the third ball upwards and out. Callan unleashed a two-handed blast of energy that flashed the world with bloody red and amethyst lights. Halari blinked away spots from the glare and saw the third orb buried about a foot into the dark rock wall. ¡°By the visionary¡­¡± she murmured, turning to Callan, ¡°that was in¡ª¡±

    She saw Callan on his knees, breathing heavily. Halari crouched beside him and grabbed him gently by the arm, worried that he hurt himself somehow.

    ¡°Are you ok?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Overexerted my abilities with that one,¡± he huffed, standing back up. ¡°I¡¯m going to need a moment.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll get the targets,¡± Halari said. ¡°Do you need some water or anything? I¡¯ve never seen you winded before.¡±

    Callan chuckled tiredly and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ll be alright.¡±

    Halari gathered up all the target orbs.

    Wow, not a mark on it. She held one up and studied its silver, glossy surface. The usual black lines that webbed Cells or raw chunks were gone, filled by more of the metal at Callan¡¯s command. So how can we smith it with normal fire, but Callan can¡¯t melt it with his lightning?

    ¡°Callan?¡± she asked, walking back to him while still looking at the metal orb with a new kind of wonder. ¡°What is this stuff?¡± She tapped the metal with one finger. ¡°We¡¯ve always known it¡¯s what makes Cells, but nobody knows what it actually is. You called it ultimium, right?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a natural metal, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re wondering,¡± Callan said, taking the ball from her. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ the metal of Melokon¡¯s kind. Suffused with power of the Great Dragon¡¯s father.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Suddenly she regretted asking. Those words rattled around in Halari¡¯s head, each with a meaning, but not coalescing in any way that made sense. If Melokon was a god, then how did he have parents? ¡°Your god¡­ has a father?¡±

    ¡°And many siblings,¡± Callan said as casually as if he was talking the weather rather than divine beings. ¡°He¡¯s not the only one out there. I¡¯ve had unpleasant dealings with the Great Dragon¡¯s eldest brother, Meldre the Sun Hawk, but that was a long time ago. Anyways, this metal represents the Ultimate and contains some of its essence.¡±

    ¡°And it¡¯s just always been around?¡± Halari asked, nervous to take the ball back now that she knew it was made of some kind of divine power. She¡¯d always known it was different, but only in the way that steel was different from copper.

    ¡°No, actually, it¡­¡± Callan grimaced and flicked unsure eyes at her. ¡°Halari, how prepared are you for a lecture about metal?¡±

    ¡°Can you shorten it up maybe?¡± she asked with shrug.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best,¡± Callan said with a light chuckle. ¡°Ultimium wasn¡¯t around before Melokon returned two thousand years ago. It¡­ regrew, I suppose is the best word, and anything made from it also regrew.¡±

    ¡°What did it grow from?¡± Halari asked.

    ¡°Just normal rock was our best guess,¡± Callan said. ¡°It really just showed back up in random places. We did a lot of experimenting with it. Which is how we figured out that it could conduct and hold power from Melokon. It can¡¯t be damaged or melted by that same power, but¡­¡± He trailed off and checked to see if she was still with him, so she gestured for him to keep going. It was hard to imagine, sure, but the man before shot lighting from his hands, so it wasn¡¯t really hard to believe.

    ¡°However,¡± he continued, ¡°ultimium, having an odd type of sentience, can be persuaded by another god¡¯s influence to be malleable to its power. My armor and weapon, which I still can¡¯t get to, is made of ultimium that is under Melokon¡¯s control.¡±

    ¡°Your prison!¡± Halari stepped closer, connecting the dots; she remembered that the Vault¡¯s metal looked off, unnatural. ¡°It¡¯s like what you¡¯re saying. And there¡¯s no way anything normal could¡¯ve held you.¡±

    ¡°Close,¡± Callan said, grinning softly at her excitement. ¡°That metal was under the influence of a different god; one whose power directly opposed the Dragon¡¯s. You were my only way out.¡± He added that last part softly and met her eyes. She realized then just how close to him she now stood having moved around in her excitement.

    Should I back up? She decided to brave out the situation. ¡°Callan, how did you get down there? I¡¯ve tried to avoid asking, but since we¡¯re kind of on the topic¡­¡±

    ¡°I was tricked, Halari,¡± he said after a moment. ¡°I was tricked by my kin, the other Flames. I trusted them. A poor decision on my part.¡±

    She saw that he didn¡¯t want to talk more about it, or couldn¡¯t, judging by the pain on his face. Even her starvation for details about the past fell before that look. ¡°I¡¯m sorry they did that to you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Callan said, shaking himself out of the turmoil. ¡°Now, should we get back to practice? There¡¯s one more thing I need try.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± she asked, reluctantly stepping away as he turned to the ravine wall.

    ¡°Lightning and mind control aren¡¯t the only things we Blessed Flames can do,¡± he said, raising one hand before his face and curling his fingers slightly. ¡°This might actually knock me unconscious, so be prepared.¡± He went quiet and focused on his hand.

    What¡¯s supposed to happen? Halari wondered. She waited, watching closely, then gasped.

    Around Callan¡¯s hand was the faintest outline of purple light. It surrounded his fingers and palm, even coalescing so far as his elbow like a sleeve.

    She peered closer, awed, as the aura around his arm grew brighter, more defined. Vicious, curved claws formed around his fingers, and after another couple seconds, the vague outlines of scales covered some of the apparition.

    That was when Callan struck.

    He swiped at the rock wall with one downwards slash and the claws around his fingers dug into the stone, gouging long marks into its surface about an inch deep.

    What the-¡ª Halari stared stunned at the damage, but Callan wasn¡¯t done. He struck again, criss-crossing the gouges with fresh one that were a bit deeper. Then, the aura around his arm faded, and Callan swayed on his feet.

    ¡°Oh shit!¡± Halari moved to catch him, wrapping her arms around his chest and propping him up before he fell. ¡°Callan, are you ok?¡±

    ¡°Ughhh,¡± he groaned, finding his footing tentatively. ¡°That gave me a massive headache. I need to sit down.¡± She helped to guide him to sit on the stone, then sat down next to him and made sure he didn¡¯t fall over.

    ¡°What was that?¡± Halari asked once he seemed capable enough to answer. ¡°It was amazing.¡±

    ¡°The Drake¡¯s Talons,¡± Callan said, voice heavy with exhaustion. ¡°Another thing all Flames have. I just need to get mine sharpened.¡±

    ¡°Well this ravine is all yours,¡± Halari said, pulling out a tam from her satchel and handing it to him. He took it gratefully and nibbled on it, but if it helped restore any strength, she didn¡¯t know. ¡°Just not when you¡¯re not about to pass out.¡±

    Callan laughed, a sound that she decided that she very much enjoyed hearing, and nodded his agreement. ¡°Sound advice, indeed.¡±

 Chapter Eighteen: Move Aside- Callan

    Callan reached down and grabbed Halari¡¯s hand once reached the top of her rope, then pulled her up over the lip of the ravine. His arm protested from the strain; a worrying sensation that caused to him wonder if he truly overexerted himself trying to summon the Talons. His very soul felt tired, well, more tired. It had been a long time since it burned bright, but today especially it was dimmed.

    I¡¯ll need to rest more once we get back, he thought. It¡¯s pitiful, how little I can do even almost after a month of freedom.

    ¡°You ready to get moving?¡± Halari asked, brushing herself off. ¡°We should get some real lunch once we get back, I bet you¡¯re starving.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll definitely need some recovery time,¡± Callan said. He massaged his temples in a futile attempt to relieve the splitting ache in his head. ¡°With any luck once I do I¡¯ll be able to use the Talons easier. My abilities are like a muscle, the more I use them, the stronger they¡¯ll get.¡±

    ¡°It was still pretty cool already,¡± Halari said with a shrug. She climbed into the driver¡¯s seat and revved the engine.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you think so,¡± he chuckled, Callan sat down on to the trawler in the back seat. He wanted to ask if he could drive them home, but he knew she¡¯d turn him down like she did every time they went out on excursions. ¡°You know, one day you should teach me how to drive this thing.¡±

    ¡°Over my dead body,¡± Halari giggled, getting them going across the black wasteland. ¡°What? You don¡¯t like my driving?¡±

    ¡°Well, you did almost drive us into the ravine,¡± Callan said, letting his foot drag across the stone while they traversed.

    ¡°It¡¯s easy to miss!¡± Halari reached back with one hand and thumped him on the shoulder. ¡°I bet you wouldn¡¯t even be able to find the ignition on this thing.¡±

    ¡°Probably not,¡± Callan said, smirking. ¡°I could always throw it where I needed.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± She thumped him again harder, but he heard the grin on her face even as she scolded him for daring to hurt her precious trawler.

    They drove back to the Quarry in good time; the white glare in the sky was just reaching its zenith when they began the descent back into town. At the top of the entry ramp, Callan spotted a strange sight near one of the smithing blocks. Even his perfected eyes didn¡¯t make out distinct faces across the distance, but he sighted a line of people standing close together before one of the buildings.

    Wonder what that¡¯s about, Callan thought, squinting. Each people in the line looked like they were linked by the elbows or hands. He got the feeling then that this was something he was going to have to deal with once they reached the bottom.

    No sooner had Halari parked the trawler than Captain Dalvo and a couple of his men ran up with concerned looks on their faces. Callan appraised their recently tossed-together uniforms, which were made from tough miner¡¯s fabric. They were black with silver trims painted on to the reinforced shoulder and knees pads. He¡¯d been going for a style from his old army, but like everything in this world, it just looked a bit decrepit.

    At least they¡¯ve been armed better. He eyed the freshly-forged blades strapped to their backs, satisfied to see that Dalvo¡¯s looked fantastically maintained as well as his rifle that gleamed darkly in the dim midday. Every day in the last week the man had proven to be a solid choice for leadership; he kept his men active and trained hard with them.

    ¡°Something the matter, captain?¡± Callan asked.

    ¡°My lord, we¡¯ve got a kind of situation,¡± the officer said, saluting sharply. His men followed suit, although their gestures of respect were messier. ¡°They¡¯re demanding to speak with you.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡± Callan pressed.

    ¡°They¡¯re protestors, Great Flame.¡± Dalvo glanced nervously at Halari. ¡°Religious protestors, sir. They¡¯ve blocked the entrance to our biggest forge and are preventing workers from getting in.¡±

    Halari groaned like something had hit her in the gut. ¡°And lemme guess, my brother¡¯s leading them, isn¡¯t he?¡±

    Captain Dalvo grimaced but nodded awkwardly. ¡°Yes, Lady Halari. He¡¯s the one making demands.¡±

    ¡°That idiot.¡± Halari pinched the bridge of her nose.

    ¡°How many are there?¡± Callan asked, folding his hands behind his back. The contentedness of the pleasant, productive morning with Halari drifted away, leaving him left with the sense of resolved duty he would need to deal with this tumultuous situation.

    ¡°We counted eighteen,¡± Dalvo said.

    ¡°And how many cells are open in the detainment office?¡± He gave the captain a pointed stare, looking for the constitution in the man to do what he was implying. The officer grimaced softly, but Callan watched him steel himself up, then nod.

    ¡°All six,¡± he said. ¡°Three can fit comfortably in each cell.¡±

    ¡°Very good,¡± Callan said. ¡°Now, lead the way.¡± Dalvo and his men saluted, then turned and guided them toward the production neighborhood. He heard the trouble before they turned the corner and saw a healthy-sized, very angry crowd of people shouting at the linked line of protestors blocking the entrance of a relatively larger building with three chimneys. According to what he¡¯d learned from Halari, the more chimneys the more respected and skilled the forge. The others around were adorned with one or two, but this was the oldest and most productive.

    It also has the most workers, Callan thought, studying the large number of frustrated faces and balled fists. He saw Telero standing dead center in the linked line, offering words of encouragement to his group.

    ¡°Callan, I think this might¡¯ve been my fault,¡± Halari whispered, leaning close so only he heard. He looked at her confused. ¡°Tel and I talked this morning about our¡­ commitments and I think what I said pushed him into this.¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t on you, Halari.¡± Callan met Telero¡¯s eyes across the way as he gave her a reassuring squeeze on the arm, then turned to grin at her softly. ¡°I think he already a plan to do this anyways.¡±

    She nodded in understanding, then gave him a worried glance. ¡°What¡¯re you gonna do?¡±

    ¡°Dissuade them from this line of resistance,¡± Callan said flatly. ¡°Some of them might end up incarcerated, though, are you alright with that?¡±

    She grimaced, head quirking to the side while she thought. It was an increasingly endearing trait of hers, but in this moment he was more worried that she wasn¡¯t going to bless his actions. He¡¯d still do them for the Quarry¡¯s sake, but he almost desperately wanted her at his side.

    ¡°Can you go easy on Tel?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go as easy as he lets me,¡± Callan said. Then an idea sparked, prompted by her request.

    All I need is a way to divide them, he realized, simultaneously cursing his own slowness. Back in his prime, this idea would¡¯ve come as easy as a breath and would¡¯ve been mid execution before the protestors even thought of this little stunt.

    ¡°I can live with that,¡± Halari said, nodding. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Callan turned away from her with a tight, grateful grin and faced the line blocking the forge. He approached them steadily and as the distance closed, the crowd quieted. Their yells and jeers slipped into silence under his presence. He wished he could summon a dark, thundering storm cloud overhead to follow him as he walked like he used to, but this dreary blank slate would have to do for today.

    ¡°Stand firm,¡± Telero ordered his rabble. ¡°We are protected by the Visionary¡¯s grace. He cannot hurt us.¡±

    ¡°I am told you have demands,¡± Callan said, coming to a stop a few steps before the line of protestors. ¡°What demands would you make of me?¡± He eyed each member of the line intensely, looking for weak points in their formation. Who among them looked the most doubtful? The least resolved?

    There¡­ A young man, a child really, stood pale and shaking three people from the center. He wouldn¡¯t meet Callan¡¯s stare when it fell on him and sweat beaded on his brow.

    ¡°Leave this place, demon,¡± Telero demanded. His voice was strong and sure, but his tightening grip on his comrades betrayed a hint of fear. ¡°We will not move aside until you are gone from this place.¡±

    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ¡°Then, I suppose we¡¯re at a standstill,¡± Callan said, ¡°because I have no intention of leaving. We still have so much work to do.¡±

    ¡°I will not see my home turned inside out at your whim,¡± Telero growled. ¡°Begone from here! In the name of our beloved Visionary, I cast you out!¡±

    Callan raised his brows and made a show of waiting for some kind of divine smite. He even looked up to the sky and frowned. The child in the group, most likely the younger brother of another member, whimpered almost inaudibly.

    Callan looked back to the line and locked his glare to the boy. He didn¡¯t like scaring such a young person, but he needed this line to break so the next part of his plan would work. The kid flicked his eyes to him, but just as quickly looked away, terrified.

    ¡°I believe in dissent,¡± he began slowly. ¡°I even encourage it. To oppose the rule is to keep the rule honest, that¡¯s why it¡¯s necessary for growth. A completely unified people is a stagnant people.¡±

    Telero glared at him, posture wavering with unsurety.

    ¡°However,¡± Callan continued, stepping forward. The young boy quivered, but kept looking at the ground even as Callan moved towards him. ¡°I cannot allow such dissent to be expressed as action against the Quarry and its people. What you¡¯re doing here is hindering the livelihoods of your fellows.¡±

    The child bared his teeth and shied away from him, tugging at the hands holding him.

    Line¡¯s straining, Callan thought. ¡°Under my new law, a crime such as this can cost days in the stockade. So, I will give those in this line one chance to think about their decisions. You can either move¡­ or be moved.¡±

    ¡°Hold,¡± Telero said, gripping the people next to him tighter. ¡°The Visionary will prote¡ª¡±

    The child wrangled free of the line and bolted into the crowd, barely even glancing at Callan as he fled. His sibling, a young woman, ran after him in a panic, shouting for him to come back.

    And so the line broke.

    Callan saw the rest of their resolve waver even as Telero tried to retighten the line. But the damage was already done; the little boy¡¯s moment of weakness infected six more, who all uncomfortably shambled past him to join the crowd or return to their homes.

    Eighteen became ten in a matter of seconds.

    ¡°Reform!¡± Telero called. ¡°Have faith, please!¡± His remaining fellows looped their arms together at the elbows, creating a solid, but much smaller line before the steps of the forge. Callan discretely nodded to Captain Dalvo, who signaled for his nearby men to take positions around the protestors, closing them off.

    ¡°To those who remain¡­¡± Callan walked back and forth down the line, testing the resolve of each protestor with his proximity. ¡°Those with impressive dedication to their convictions... I ask you this. Will you think of your families? Will they be alright while you sit unable to provide for them in the stockade? Or will your absence cause them discomfort that could be easily prevented?¡±

    He let the last word settle on them like a weighted blanket. After a long moment, it became too heavy for one. He unlooped himself from the others and mumbled an apology to Telero, then assimilated himself into the crowd.

    Two others followed, each drifting off with an awkward excuse. Telero glowered after them, but defeat flowed over his face like a sad waterfall.

    And so ten became seven. One each for a single militiamen to handle.

    ¡°You who remain, who show the most faith,¡± Callan said. ¡°I admire your will. However, the price for your choices cannot change. For these crimes, I sentence you all to three nights in the stockade.¡± He turned back to Captain Dalvo and nodded again, this time far more visibly so all in the line and crowd to see.

    This was the moment of truth. He needed all to know that the current militia stood at his side and enforced his law entirely.

    The officer didn¡¯t hesitate and yelled out orders for his men to surround the remaining protestors.

    That¡¯s my boy. Callan smirked softly.

    Almost all of the soldiers moved almost as one, some showing more hesitation than others, and moved behind each protestor, then began to separate them. Telero, for his part, made the smart choice in the face of foil and ordered his people not to struggle.

    Captain Dalvo gently took hold of Telero himself, then guided him over to where Callan and Halari stood.

    ¡°Why am I not going with my people?¡± Telero asked, staring after his posse with a mixture of worry and regret. But, Callan saw anger deeper within and knew that that this man¡¯s resolve remained unbroken. It wasn¡¯t over.

    ¡°Not to worry, Telero,¡± Callan said. ¡°I have something different in mind for your sentence.¡±

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Callan stepped into the stockade with Halari at his side. It was a smaller building on the eastern edge of the Quarry and  only two or so streets inside the town¡¯s limits. It was oblong in shape and stout, barely tall enough for him to walk inside unhindered.

    Inside was just as plain as the outside. The six cells stood side by side only separated by bars. Each came with a cot, a waste bin, a simple toilet and sink, and a slot in the bars where food could pass through. One detainee stood or sat in each cell, looking miserable or disappointed.

    Clearly they bought into Telero¡¯s promises of divine protection, Callan thought. He studied each of their expressions though the bars.

    ¡°It still kinda smells in here,¡± Halari said, scrunching her nose. ¡°

    ¡°Have you been inside before?¡± he asked, arching an inquisitive brow at her. ¡°Have I been conspiring with a former convict?¡±

    Halari giggled a scoff and lightly slapped him on the shoulder. He could tell she was trying not to think about her inevitable discussion with her brother, but he wasn¡¯t going to press that. ¡°I had to barter pada out of here once.¡±

    ¡°I have to hear that story,¡± Callan said. ¡°Later, perhaps over dinner tonight?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m definitely gonna need some time to rant after I talk with Tel,¡± she sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll bring the tams.¡±

    ¡°Wonderful,¡± Callan said, already tasting the bitter fruit on his tongue. He refocused on the detainees. They stared at him angrily or sorrowfully, but they all stayed quiet as if silence was there freedom. The guards stood at either end of the walkway at full attention, waiting for orders.

    He approached the one closest to the entrance, who saluted proudly.

    ¡°I want them fed and watered well, three ashbud canisters a day, each,¡± Callan commanded. The soldier nodded in understanding. ¡°And make sure they have blankets and toiletries.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Great Flame,¡± the guard said. Callan walked down the line of detainees. The first stared at the floor, the second looked right at him from where he sat at the end of his cot.

    ¡°Where is Telero?¡± he asked. ¡°What have you done with him, Betrayer?¡±

    Callan stopped before his cell. ¡°Your ringleader is¡­ home. Under house arrest.¡±

    The man blinked in surprise. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°While you sit here in this dingy stockade away from your families,¡± Callan said, coming closer to the cell, ¡°Telero is lying in his bed, eating his own food, hugging his father and mother.¡±

    ¡°W-why?¡± the man asked. ¡°How did he get that while we¡­¡±

    ¡°All good questions,¡± Callan said. ¡°Ones you should discuss with him in three days.¡± He turned away from the man and made for the entrance. Keeping Telero at home while his followers received far less hospitable treatment was a perfect wedge. He left the man to wonder in his incarceration. Did Telero sell his men out? Did he use his status as Halari¡¯s brother? Why didn¡¯t he do more for his gospel?

    He was a step from leaving the building when a new voice called out for him.

    ¡°Great Flame, Great Flame, wait up, please!¡± it sounded desperate. Callan crooked his head and glanced at the origin, a young, lean man with a mop of black and blonde hair. ¡°Please, just hold on a minute.¡±

    ¡°Speak, detainee,¡± Callan said, turning slightly.

    ¡°Can we see our families in here?¡± the man asked, voice strained with worry.

    ¡°For safety¡¯s sake,¡± Callan said, ¡°civilians are not allowed in the detainment center.¡±

    ¡°My lord, please.¡± The man rattled the bars lightly and leaned against them, causing both guards to stiffen and brandish their blades. ¡°Please, my girl¡¯s sick. She needs my help.¡±

    ¡°I gave you an out,¡± Callan said. ¡°You should have considered this when you remained in the line.¡±

    ¡°I thought- Tel told us we would be ok...¡± the man stammered, slumping to the ground. Callan approached him and loomed over his despairing figure.

    ¡°What is your name, detainee?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Galiar,¡± the man mumbled.

    ¡°Your daughter will be cared for in your absence, Galiar,¡± Callan said. ¡°I will personally make sure of it. However, perhaps this entire situation might make you rethink your¡­ faith going forward.¡±

    Galiar looked up at him, tears brimming in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, really, Great Flame. Just please let me see her.¡±

    He heard Halari¡¯s breath catch behind him. She really was an empathetic person for all her aloofness. Callan crouched down to Galiar¡¯s level and spoke softly.

    ¡°Do you truly want her to see you like this?¡± he asked. ¡°In three days, you could walk back to a loving hug from your daughter who¡¯s excited to see you home. Or you could ruin that now by having her brought here while you remain less than you are.¡±

    Galiar¡¯s face fell even more, but he nodded.

    ¡°You have my word that she will be cared for,¡± Callan said, extending his hand out the man. ¡°Do your time, then do your damndest to make sure you are never separated from her like this again.¡±

    He saw the moment Galiar made his choice, or rather, the moment he realized that there was nothing else he could do. Galiar took Callan¡¯s hand and shook it lightly, then pulled away from the bars and sat on his cot.

    Callan rose and turned back to Halari, then gestured for her to follow out the exit before any of the detainees saw the vulnerability on her face.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± he asked once they were away.

    ¡°Yeah, just¡­¡± She sighed heavily and shook her head to clear it. ¡°Did we do the right thing with this?¡±

    ¡°That question will eat you alive,¡± Callan said while they walked back to the Temple. ¡°I can tell you why I think it was the right call, but you have to decide whether and why you think so yourself. Try not to dwell on it too long.¡±

    Halari nodded, a small frown on her lips while she contemplated.

    ¡°Ugh, I need to get home,¡± she said after a moment. ¡°Meet you for dinner, later?¡±

    Callan nodded and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll bring the protein paste.¡±

 Chapter Nineteen: Reverence- Halari

    Approaching home

    Did we do the right thing? Halari wondered, letting each step towards her house bring a new answer to that question. Despite Callan¡¯s advice to not let it bug her for too long, she just couldn¡¯t shake it. She figured the decision was justified, at least under Callan¡¯s new laws which were still being written down. ¡®Codified,¡¯ he¡¯d called it. Those protestors were actively stopping the smiths from working, and that definitely wasn¡¯t ok.

    If the metal stopped flowing, then they¡¯d have less Cells to trade or parts for their homes. Even the hour or two the protestors had commanded probably clogged the forge for the day. Knowing all this, she understood why they needed to be locked up, but seeing her people in those cages¡­

    ¡°Callan¡¯s right,¡± she whispered sullenly, shaking her head to clear it up as she passed from the street to her home¡¯s gravel driveway. That question¡¯ll eat me up. I¡¯ll talk to him about it tonight.

    The guard watching her house¡¯s front door, a guy she knew from around, Rilot, she thought his name was, stopped her with a raised hand.

    ¡°Seriously?¡± she asked, glaring at him bemusedly.

    ¡°It¡¯s, uh¡­ just protocol, Lady Halari,¡± Rilot said. He blushed under her annoyance.

    ¡°I know, I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said with a sigh, forcing herself to soften her tone. ¡°Good job, Rilot, but I¡¯ll be fine in my own house.¡±

    The cadet beamed, clearly very proud of himself for doing a good soldier¡¯s work, and moved back into position at full salute. Halari internally chastised herself for making him feel bad at first; she was still getting used to having words that had weight with others in this new order.

    Moving past the cadet, Halari slipped inside quickly, hoping to get to Tel before her father returned from overseeing work in the mines.

    But, judging by the muffled yelling coming from her brother¡¯s room, Fedro came home early. Her mother wasn¡¯t in the kitchen, which meant she was either out running errands  or helping with the new Finance Sector get up and running.

    Halari drifted over to her brother¡¯s room and pressed her ear to the door.

    ¡°-done it anywhere else!¡± That was her father¡¯s voice, and he sounded pissed. She heard an unintelligible reply get cut off by more yelling, then decided to interject before her father truly flew into a rage. He was a patient man, but when he got mad, it was like a Flame Cell detonating: infernal and eruptive.

    She opened the door to yet another red-hot yell.

    ¡°You¡¯re lucky the man who owns that forge is a good friend of mine!¡± Fedro shouted, pressing a finger into Tel¡¯s chest. They were about the same height, but in this moment the older man he looked like a feral Cragbeast. Telero, brave and stubborn Telero, actually stared his father down unflinchingly. ¡°But I¡¯m still gonna have to work some magic to get this embarrassment off our family!

    ¡°I¡¯m embarrassing?¡± Telero snarled, fists balled at his sides. ¡°What¡¯s embarrassing is watching my family now before that¡­ thing! What¡¯s embarrassing is everybody¡¯s sudden love of heresy!¡±

    ¡°Get your head out of that book, son!¡± Fedro said. ¡°And look around! The Quarry¡¯s ten times better than it was just last month!¡±

    ¡°At the cost of everyone¡¯s damned souls!¡± Telero shouted. ¡°If I don¡¯t stop him, everybody here is spending eternity in the Abyss!¡±

    Fedro shook his head and glanced at Halari, pleading with everything but words.

    ¡°Tel, what were you thinking?¡± she asked. ¡°You got your people arrested. They¡¯re sitting in cages right now. How could you do that to them?¡±

    ¡°Leave this place, Halari,¡± Tel murmured. ¡°I don¡¯t even want to see you right now.¡±

    His words stabbed her right in the gut, stoking a new anger along with the sad pain of his demand.

    ¡°You idiot!¡± she spat once she regained her composure. ¡°I¡¯m trying to help you! I¡¯m the only reason you¡¯re here instead of some dark hole like Callan¡¯s laws say you should be. You organized a crime, Tel! You should be a lot worse off, but thanks to me you¡¯re home! So answer the question!¡±

    Telero glared at her, his bearing a mix of rage and disappointment, but he slumped, then slouched into his room¡¯s only chair.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know¡­¡± he mumbled, all out of energy now, ¡°how loyal the militia is to the fiend. I believed if they saw us all unified like that they¡¯d help our cause.¡± He sighed and sunk further into the seat. ¡°I thought they¡¯d see the strength of the Visionary¡¯s light and return to the good.¡±

    ¡°Of course they¡¯re loyal,¡± Halari said, pained by her brother¡¯s sadness. ¡°Callan¡¯s given them a real purpose in defending our home. Do you maybe see that now?¡±

    ¡°I see his hooks dig deep,¡± Telero said without a second¡¯s delay. ¡°I see I have even more work cut out for me than I thought.¡±

    Did I really expect anything else? Halari sighed heavily. ¡°Well maybe a few days in here¡¯ll change your mind. I¡¯m done trying to tell you he¡¯s only here to help.¡±

    ¡°Like I said earlier, Hala¡­¡± Telero stared at the ground. ¡°I don¡¯t really even want to see you right now. Or you, pada.¡±

    Fedro bristled at the disrespect, but Halari shook her head and gestured for them to leave; this conversation was clearly going nowhere. He followed her out and closed the door behind him.

    ¡°Never realized before now how stubborn of a child I raised,¡± Fedro said, pinching the bridge of  his nose.

    ¡°Children, pada,¡± Halari chuckled tiredly. ¡°All three of them are like that.¡±

    ¡°How did I ever survive?¡± Her father hugged her firmly, smelling of stone and oil from the mines. ¡°You three¡¯ll send me to an early grave.¡±

    ¡°Only after we¡¯re done putting gray in your hair, huh?¡± She hugged her dad tightly, then pulled away and glanced at Telero¡¯s door. She vaguely heard muttering and some loud thumps coming from within. ¡°He seems unreachable lately. I just wish I knew what to say.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯ll¡­¡± Fedro looked like he wanted to say, ¡®come around,¡¯ but changed his mind. ¡°He¡¯ll figure it out.¡±

    ¡°So how bad¡¯s the damage?¡± Halari asked. ¡°On the forge?¡±

    ¡°Delayed production,¡± Fedro huffed. ¡°Enough to put quotas in a crunch.¡± He plopped down on to the den sofa like a sack of tams and groaned. ¡°I know Cleome, though, the owner. I can fix it.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Halari said. ¡°It¡¯s definitely best when the forges are at full output. Those Cells really pay for themselves when we trade ¡®em.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re doing good work,¡± Fedro yawned, eyelids dropping. Once he sat on that sofa it wasn¡¯t ever long before he passed out. ¡°I¡¯m very proud of you.¡± After a few seconds of quiet, he started snoring lightly. Halari giggled, then kissed the man on his forehead and retreated to her own room.

    A fantastic shower cleaned off the wasteland and smell of heated metal from her time with Callan practicing his abilities, and a short nap helped relax her from everything else. Feeling clear-headed, she at her desk and pulled out her magni-pad and stylus. It currently displayed a short list of ideas for shooting lessons with the captains, but she wiped that jotted down a new header: ¡®Law ideas.¡¯

    She spent some time scribing thoughts regarding the currently imprisoned Quarrymen, and by the time the sky started to smear black across the horizon, she had one idea that she thought might actually work.

    Halari redressed into something comfortable, then grabbed a couple canisters of ash buds from her home¡¯s dry storage along with a couple of flavored syrups from the refrigerator unit. It was probably gonna be a long dinner with the ideas she wanted to run by him, so she grabbed a couple of canteens of salted tam milk as well.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    Callan stood waiting for her at the stair landing, small bag of tams in hand. He¡¯d extended his podium for a makeshift table and acquired a couple chairs.

    Suddenly, she felt strangely nervous as she got closer. It wasn¡¯t by any means the first shared dinner between them, but they usually just sat on the steps or stood watching the town. This felt¡­ formal, no, meaningful? It wasn¡¯t even close to what courting traditions called for, but¡ª

    He doesn¡¯t know what ours are! Halari realized, trying not to let the epiphany change her face. She knew he¡¯d been observing their culture worked so he could better relate with the people, but this part wasn¡¯t something she¡¯d talked with him about. Was this an old ritual that he remembered? No, don¡¯t think too much into it. Pay no attention to your fast-beating heart.

    She stepped up to the table with a nervous smile that she prayed look more warm than anxious. It clearly didn¡¯t take.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got an odd look on your face,¡± Callan said, pulling out a chair for her before sitting in his own. ¡°Everything go alright with Telero?¡±

    Oh thank the Flames. She held a sigh then nodded and started placing the food on the table. ¡°Good enough. He¡¯s really mad at me, though. And somehow even more fanatical.¡±

    ¡°I really should read James¡¯s book,¡± Callan said, twisting open the top of the ashbud canister and plucking a few plump ones from the top before handing it over. He left her the biggest that were always packed near the bottom like usual, which she appreciated. ¡°I¡¯d be interested to see what he¡¯s written that has such a hold on your brother and his friends. Have you read it?¡±

    ¡°More was forced to listen,¡± Halari answered. She recalled the mornings spent trapped by Telero while she refurnished the trawler¡¯s barren chassis. He¡¯d always read it in such a grand way, much like the way he¡¯d come to speak in the last year thanks to its influence. ¡°Tel¡¯s always been devout, but uh, you¡¯ve really kicked him into top gear with his whole preacher bit.¡±

    Callan grimaced awkwardly. ¡°That¡¯s mostly what I want to know. What does James write about me?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve heard most of it already,¡± Halari said, straining to think of the correct passages as she chewed on a big chunk of flavored ashbud. ¡°Just a bunch of different words saying the same thing: that you¡¯d destroy the world. Try to remove free will and all that. I can get you a copy if you¡¯d like.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d appreciate that,¡± Callan said, smiling warmly at her. ¡°Although you might need to bring an extra if the first one catches on fire when I touch it.¡±

    Halari laughed softly, then found herself scooting a bit closer to him, supposing that even if this was an old tradition on his part that it wasn¡¯t so bad. She lightened up and allowed herself to fall into lighter conversation.

    After the better part of an hour of pleasant talking, Halari found a good time to turn the conversation towards her ideas for the detainees, then immediately regretted it. Callan¡¯s face fell for just a second, and she realized that she¡¯d spoiled a perfectly good moment away from the workings of the day like he¡¯d probably hoped for in her company.

    ¡°Them being in there really bothers you, hm?¡± Callan asked, sipping at his half-empty canister of salted tam juice. He sparked his lightning in his fingers and used it to heat the drink until it steamed in the chill air of the evening.

    ¡°I guess I just feel kinda responsible,¡± she said. ¡°Tel got them there, so¡­ I don¡¯t know, I just want to help them somehow.¡±

    Callan nodded next to her, dragon eyes searching for something in her face. If she wasn¡¯t so accustomed to his unnatural gaze, his intensity would have made her shrink back. But she liked his eyes now, so all she did was meet his look with a steady one of her own.

    ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± he asked after a moment. ¡°They have to rectify their errors somehow.¡±

    ¡°Or¡­¡± Halari said, tipping her canteen back to finish off  its contents. ¡°We can show them that you really aren¡¯t what they think you are. Even a bit of mercy might break them out of that stupid book¡­¡± She told him the rest of her idea over the next few minutes, and he listened attentively, nodding along while she talked.

    ¡°We can go through with it,¡± Callan said. ¡°On one condition. It has to be you, not me. Their thanks must go to you.¡±

    ¡°What, why?¡± Halari drew back an inch from where she¡¯d unconsciously drifted closer to him while speaking. She blushed a bit realizing just how close she got.

    ¡°They have to thank you,¡± Callan repeated. ¡°You said you feel responsible for their current condition, so take some actual responsibility for their freedom.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want that kind of attention,¡± Halari insisted, putting her hands up defensively. ¡°It¡¯s a bit too close to being¡­ revered, I guess. And that¡¯s all you.¡±

    ¡°They won¡¯t follow me,¡± Callan said. She really wished he¡¯d just yield this topic, but she saw the sense in what he said. ¡°But they might follow you over your brother. Just give it a try.¡±

    ¡°Ughhh, fine,¡± Halari groaned. ¡°But if they start praying or something. I¡¯m running away to live in the city.¡±

    Callan laughed and Halari joined him a moment later. She let him weave the conversation back into less official, far more enjoyable topics, and this time, she made a point to not disrupt the discussion again.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We should rebuild this or something. Halari frowned at the stockade as it sat warming under the white glare of the mid-afternoon. It was such an ugly building; really more of an eye sore than the ruins of Atlanta were being inside the town itself. Its squat, trapezoidal face stared at her like a stupefied man.

    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe your dad spent a night in there for a fight,¡± Callan said, a truly amused smile on his face.

    ¡°Never cheat my pada in cards,¡± Halari said. ¡°The idiot that did got a nice black eye for the day.¡±

    Callan chuckled. ¡°Ready to go in?¡± He held an open hand toward the detainment center.

    ¡°After you,¡± Halari said, pushing him forward lightly. He always did that, attempting to let her go into places first before following. Maybe it was some kind of gesture or ritual like dinner two nights ago might have been? She tried to keep her mind off that particular uncertainty as they made their way inside the stockade.

    The smell smacked her upside the head again as soon she crossed the threshold from community into something more restricted. It was stale, like an ashbud that sat out too long or was accidentally dropped in a bucket of water for a few too many days. A sour, damp scent that made her want to take a shower.

    ¡°Detainees, rise,¡± Callan commanded. The guards already stood at salute, but the prisoners rose slowly from their cots or floors. They looked pitiful, ragged and sad. She was happy to see they¡¯d been bathed and fed well, but her heart hurt seeing them peer out to her from behind bars.

    Callan, in his ¡®I¡¯m the King¡¯ manner that she found both amusing and a little dramatic, even if mostly genuine, turned towards guards. ¡°Free them.¡±

    Murmurs of confusion and hope immediately broke out among the imprisoned Quarrymen, but the guards didn¡¯t hesitate to grab the keys and move for the cages.

    ¡°Detainees, your sentence was three full nights and days,¡± Callan said as the guards set about to free the line. ¡°However, Lady Halari gave me an impassioned argument as to why you should be shown some leniency.¡±

    Here it comes. Halari flushed under the grateful eyes that instantly fell on her like heavy raindrops.

    ¡°Make no mistake,¡± Callan continued while the cage doors slid open and hopeful faces stepped into the free air, ¡°another offense will put you right back here and no argument will fall on my ears. Lady Halari pointed out that due to the recency of my new laws, some leeway should be given, but this is your only second chance. Use it well. And show your gratitude. Telero got you into this mess, his sister got you out. Remember that.¡±

    Each of the prisoners walked up to Halari and gushed their thanks out like starving children given food. Two of them even cried and knelt at her feet, which made her extremely uncomfortable. She considered running like she¡¯d joked with Callan, but a reassuring nod from him set her feet with a little more strength.

    The last man, Galiar, straight up hugged her. She froze for a second, then gently patted the man on his back. He released her and turned to Callan, then bowed deeply.

    ¡°G-Great Flame, thank you for your mercy,¡± he said face to the floor. ¡°I see the truth now. I see how I was mislead. I am sorry, my-my lord.¡±

    ¡°Your gratitude is best shown as a father,¡± Callan said. ¡°Rise and go home to your daughter, Galiar. And if ever she asks for somebody to look up to, you tell her of Lady Halari and her compassion for the people.¡±

    Lay it on thicker, why don¡¯t you? Halari flushed deeply, but didn¡¯t contrast him. This was the plan, after all, even if it was a bit more emotional than she expected.

    ¡°I will, Blessed Flame,¡± Galiar said, standing and wiping his eyes. ¡°Thank you, Lady Halari.¡± At a nod from Callan, he left the stockade. Halari watched him go until he jogged around a corner and disappeared from view.

    ¡°Did you have to be so dramatic?¡± she whispered, giving him a good-natured glare.

    Callan shrugged with a sly grin, then patted her gently on the arm. Her skin buzzed a bit where his fingers touched. ¡°Well done, Lady Halari. Your idea was perfect.¡±

    ¡°I know my people,¡± Halari said. ¡°They love their work, their freedom, and their families. Taking them from that is agony. At the end of the day, they always just want to go home.¡±

    ¡°I understand that.¡± Callan''s eyes went distant. She saw the reflection of his old city in them and grew sad. He still missed that place, she knew, even if he was really coming around to this new world. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re connected to the people like this," he said, returning. "Despite your aversion to¡­ reverence.¡± His sly grin morphed into a more mischievous one.

    She slapped him on the shoulder lightly and rolled her eyes. ¡°If they ever kneel at my feet again, just know I found a good spot in the ruins to live out the rest of my days. It¡¯s got a really scenic view of the toxic pits and mantile nests.¡±

    ¡°Will I be allowed to visit?¡± Callan asked as they left the stockade.

    ¡°Only if you stop pushing your luck by putting me in the mine light,¡± Halari giggled. ¡°I mean it, Callan, no more after this.¡±

    ¡°At this point,¡± Callan said. ¡°It might be out of my hands.¡±

 Chapter Twenty: Message- Callan

    Temple of Melokide

    Callan thumbed to the next page of the Book of Jomens and sighed deeply in frustration yet again. More deceptions, more platitudes, more total heresies against the Black Drake himself. James devoted whole passages to the blatant disregard for their shared god and encouraged a horrendous lie that Melokon was actually the force holding them down rather than pushing them up.

    ¡°Listen to this,¡± he scoffed, reciting a passage that made his blood boil and his irises flare. ¡° ¡®We as a people must forsake the Dragon as we know him. His greatest servant¡ª'' ¡± Callan jerked a thumb at himself. ¡°¡ª ¡®is the greatest betrayer of Man. His flawed Empire of Obsidian cracks and crumbles while His Blessed Flames bicker and fail. Look to me, good people, look to me as your guide. I will take us to higher reaches than the Dark Serpent ever could.¡¯ People truly bought into this?¡± He clamped the book shut and tossed it onto his desk; the thick tome made a deep thump when it made impact.

    ¡°You¡¯ve read the whole thing four times this week, Callan,¡± Halari said with a consoling pat on his shoulder. She let her hand linger afterwards, much to his comfort. ¡°And every time you¡¯ve asked me that question after a different verse.¡±

    ¡°He left you with such deep lies,¡± Callan said glumly. ¡°I wondered why Melokon was such a faded religious figure here.¡±

    The skull, ever-cold and ever-present, which had been laughing at him and his legacy for the duration of his reading, now whispered darkly in his mind.

    ¡®Look at the destruction he wrought,¡¯ it hissed. ¡®Not only did he ruin our home, but he ruined your very purpose. You¡¯ll find no comfort in this girl, Cal. No matter how much you want to. Not while I¡¯m still down ther¡ª¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you just destroy all of them?¡± Halari asked, sitting down beside him on his office couch. Close, but farther than a guilty part of him wanted her to. The skull snarled at her; his mind was its to torment, not hers to soothe.

    ¡°Then I¡¯m no better than James,¡± Callan said, internally repressing his deathly companion deep into that cracking mental vault so he could enjoy Halari¡¯s presence. She smelled, like always, faintly of gunpowder and that plain soap so many of the Quarrymen seemed to use to bathe. ¡°I¡¯d be rewriting history to better fit my reign. I didn¡¯t even attempt that when I was first Coronated. I believe in true persuasion through action and word. Or force, in the case of my enemies.¡±

    ¡°Did you have many of those?¡± she asked, relaxing on to the thin, firm cushions of the couch.

    ¡°At first,¡± Callan said. ¡°But with the guidance of the real Melokon and my own instinct I was able to rid the Northern Dominion of them. Or convince them that my way was the only way forward.¡±

    ¡°Tell me about him,¡± Halari prompted. He saw that sharp curiosity in her bearing that meant she was ready to consume whatever tidbits of the past he had to offer. ¡°Was he really, you know¡­ a dragon? Big lizard thing?¡±

    Callan barked a sudden, amused laugh, then quickly petitioned Melokon for forgiveness. ¡°Yes, he really is a¡­ big lizard thing.¡± The image of his first meeting the Great Dragon jumped to the forefront of his mind. Staring into that vast amethyst, crimson-spotted eye, he had been awed, reverent. He remembered kneeling, not running, not screaming, but kneeling in worship at the dawn of a new age.

    ¡°He¡¯s the god of domination, conquest, control,¡± he continued. ¡°To worship the Dragon is to take command. To conquer fears and doubts. To be bold in the face of uncertainty.¡±

    He watched Halari stew that over, head quirked while the gears turned.

    ¡°Is there a like¡­ a prayer involved or something?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Is Halari the town apostate really so interested in my religion?¡± Callan asked, arching a humored brow at her.

    ¡°You don¡¯t talk about it like Tel does,¡± Halari said, shoving him lightly. ¡°You talk about it with a nostalgia that make it sound a lot more genuine. I love my brother, but he really comes off as an old man yelling at the clouds.¡±

    ¡°An act of piety in itself almost,¡± Callan said with a wry smirk. ¡°How is your brother? Still sitting in his self-imposed incarceration?¡±

    ¡°Yeah he¡¯s locked himself in his room,¡± Halari said. ¡°He gets a couple visitors, but otherwise I just hear him muttering to himself and writing stuff down. I just wish he¡¯d come ou¡ª¡±

    A light knock sounded at the office door.

    Callan rose and opened it to see Halari¡¯s sister, Viria, standing outside with an annoyed expression.

    ¡°Great Flame is my sister with you?¡± she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for her.¡± Callan stepped aside so that the blonde could see Halari sitting on the couch.

    ¡°Something wrong, Viri?¡± Halari asked.

    ¡°Did something happen?¡± Callan added, tensing. He¡¯d been waiting all day for some kind of news; yesterday was supposed to be the day of the next drop off to the gildgrown. According to Halari¡¯s city scouts, the enemies didn¡¯t even show, so he had to assume that they were aware of the Quarry¡¯s part in the skirmish of Fortune¡¯s Crossing. But that was weeks passed, so if that was the case, why hadn¡¯t they attacked yet?

    Perhaps today¡¯s the day, he worried, but Viria looked more intrigued than the bearer of bad news.

    ¡°Whatcha doing?¡± Viria asked innocently.

    ¡°Just talking with Callan,¡± Halari said with a shrug. ¡°And polishing my rifle.¡± She nodded to where her weapon stood leaning on the wall across from the sofa.

    ¡°Sure you are.¡± Viria nodded slowly, a small grin twisting at the corners of her mouth. ¡°Anyways, there is something happening. Kelot asked me to fetch you, Great Flame, since he¡¯s monitoring the situation downstairs.¡±

    ¡°Situation?¡± Callan pressed. ¡°Viria perhaps its best to start with something like that.¡±

    ¡°Mm-hm,¡± Viria chirped, nodding energetically. He saw his chastisement slide into one ear then go right out the other. Viria was sweet, but she was often lost in her own head and clearly more interested in whatever she thought was going on in the office. ¡°It didn¡¯t look too urgent, just a bunch of flashing screens.¡±

    ¡°Come on, Callan,¡± Halari said, slipping past into the hallway, ¡°let¡¯s go see what that little wasterat wants.¡±

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    He led them down from his office in the administrative section to the circular main floor of the observatory. Here, so close to its prison, the skull in the dark was at its most powerful; its presence pulsed out from the floor like a torrent of guilt and grief, slamming his mind so that he could barely see straight. Callan steered away from the central console in the middle, creating space between himself and the elevator door.

    Not yet, he thought, fear lancing through him. I can¡¯t yet.

    ¡°Great Flame!¡± Kelot rounded the console, looking completely out of sorts. His robe was in shambles and his usually styled hair was in disarray, most like from messing with it out stress. ¡°My lord, you need to see this!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s happening, priest?¡± Callan asked. Above him on a wall, the biggest screen in the building displayed the number five in purple coloring on a solid black screen.

    ¡°It¡¯s some kind of message, my lord,¡± Kelot explained, handing him a small remote. ¡°It overtook our entire system. Before it began counting down, it demanded we show you.¡±

    ¡°A message from whom?¡± Callan asked, clicking the remote at the screen. It began to count down steadily with deeps clicks like a metronome to mark each second.

    ¡°We¡¯re not sure, my lord,¡± Kelot said. ¡°We¡¯d never pry on matters of such divine affairs.¡±

    The message hit ¡®1,¡¯ then flicked to a black screen with the Dragon¡¯s  sigil emblazoned on the surface, identical to the one on any bill of Silver.

    Then, a smiling, impossibly beautiful woman appeared on screen. She sat empirically on a lavish chair, almost a throne, and stared into the camera as if she was seeing him directly.

    And she had eyes just like his.

    James and Byeol¡¯s daughter? He saw the resemblance immediately. Like her mother, this woman was otherworldly stunning, sporting glossy black hair that fell down her shoulders and back in an effortless flow like liquid onyx.  She bore some of the same sharp, aquiline features of her father, but they were softened by Byeol¡¯s feline, graceful traits. Her grin was warm and welcoming, but Callan saw a sharpened intelligence in that regal posture that he knew all too well. She had the mind of her father, but how was she going to use it?

    ¡°Wow, she¡¯s gorgeous,¡± Halari said, narrowing her eyes at the woman. ¡°Are all you Flames like that?¡±

    ¡°On the outside, at least,¡± Callan said.

    ¡°King Callan, rightful ruler of the Northern Dominion, Champion of the Dragon,¡± the woman began with a silken voice that carried power and presence across the air, ¡°if you are seeing this message, it means that you are free like I hoped. It also means that you have been given thirty days to acclimate to your new world. I pray that this pre-recorded message finds you in a sound state of mind.¡±

    ¡°Arguable,¡± Halari whispered with a smirk, bumping him with her elbow.

    Callan shot her a flat glare as the woman on screen continued speaking.

    ¡°I am Queen Kalia,¡± she declared, lifting her chin in pride, ¡°daughter of monarchs James the Fleetfire and Byeol the Star Empress. At the time of this recording, it has been nine-hundred, forty-three years since your imprisonment at my father¡¯s hands. As of now, the world approaches war, one that signals the end of mankind¡¯s dominance on this Earth. It is inevitable.¡±

    She knew the Mission, Callan realized. And she knew that they failed. There was a great sadness in Kalia¡¯s eyes that he felt resonate in his soul. Here was a woman that saw the failures of herself, her parents, and the others whose only purpose was the uplifting of humanity to utopia.

    ¡°I have foreseen the end of days, King Callan.¡± Kalia folded her hands into her lap in the video, bringing a sparkling array of adornments into view. ¡°My father cares for naught other than the great insult he¡¯s been dealt. My mother ignores all except my pleas for assistance, which she then declines. With no other options in the present to save those who will be left behind, I must turn to you, Favored Flame, in the future.

    ¡°I expect that you are already organizing whatever remains of our once-great Dominion and turning them to the Mission. However, I doubt that you have many resources, if any, to achieve this apex goal. These are what I wish to provide.¡±

    Halari quirked her head to the side and Callan watched quizzically as the screen changed. Kalia became a profile-sized window on the left side of the screen. On the right, a blue-print image of the Spire of Melokon appeared, bisected so the middle structure was discernible. Callan made out his old office at the top, just below where the Conference of Fire was held each week. The area below the building, however, was entirely new to him. He remembered the skyscraper having subbasements but not so many that they delved deep into the ground as the image displayed.

    ¡°War marches closer and closer every day, King Callan,¡± Kalia said. ¡°It will be a war that drives us off the face of the Earth, but I know there will be no room for everybody in the Departure. So, I will leave a boon at the bottom of the Spire the likes of which the world has never seen or will most likely never see again. In the vast storage spaces below, you will find everything you need to join us in the stars.¡±

    Callan perked up and a hush ran over the entire audience. Everybody inside was locked to this woman¡¯s words absolutely.

    ¡°You will find parts,¡± Kalia continued, a small grin curling her immaculate lips as if she knew exactly how they reacted, ¡°computer chips, instructions, and more in them to build a vessel which will carry you off the dying world and towards us. I will even leave an AI to slumber inside which, provided it is installed correctly, will be invaluable to navigation and logistics. All you need to do is get inside. In this millenia since your imprisonment, the Spire has been made the perfect fortress. It is impenetrable, so access would be no easy task if it were to be locked down.¡±

    ¡°Cause that would be too easy, huh?¡± Halari muttered, rolling her eyes.

    ¡°However, First Flame,¡± Kalia said, ¡°I will leave a code that will allow you to walk right in the front door. It is a word that only you know and that my father has tried to erase.¡± She stared pointedly into the camera and Callan immediately racked his head for the answer to this riddle.

    I¡­ don¡¯t know what she¡¯s talking about, he realized, dread bolting down his spine. He¡¯d tell Halari, but to sow doubt into the others might prove unwise.

    ¡°Now, King Callan¡­¡± In the video, Kalia leaned back into her throne. ¡°What I am about to say next is for your ears only, so I must petition you to pause this message and dismiss any company you find yourself in.¡±

    Callan clicked the remote and the video stopped with the beautiful Blessed Flame smiling pleasantly out from the screen. He turned to all those around him, and they knew his orders without any words. They drifted out, some grumbling, some without even a hint of protest. He caught Halari by the elbow when she tried to leave as well.

    ¡°Not you,¡± he said softly, restraining himself from pulling her close to him. He hadn¡¯t earned that yet. ¡°I want you here with me.¡± Halari flushed, somehow going pale at the same time, but she grinned warmly and stood next to him. Callan clicked the remote again.

    ¡°Now that I hope you are alone, or at least with people you trust,¡± Kalia began, ¡°I must tell you of the true prize in the storage rooms of the Spire. I have been alive a long time now, King Callan, and as such I have stored enormous quantities of Melokon¡¯s Rain. This reserve of power I will leave for you.¡±

    Callan gasped sharply and he almost dropped the remote in his shock. ¡°My god¡­¡±

    Kalia kept speaking and he barely recollected himself to listen. ¡°I imagine you have been diminished from your incarceration due to the interference of your connection with Melokon, but my reserves of His Rain will be more than enough to restore you. The world will need the Champion at full strength if it is rejoin us in the cosmos. I bid you farewell now, great King of the Northern Dominion, and I hope to see you¡­ relatively soon.¡± Kalia flashed a dazzling smile one more time, then the screen flicked back to the black background emblazoned with the Dragon¡¯s Sigil.

    ¡°Callan, what was that last part?¡± Halari asked, turning to him with wide, wondering eyes. ¡°What was that about rain?¡±

    ¡°The Rains of Melokon are what forged the Blessed Flames,¡± Callan said, voice hushed in awe. ¡°Me and my kin. They are waters of His power that when drunk, restore us to full strength when we exert ourselves. We can make our own, provided we already have an excess of power within our souls, but only those from Him directly can make a new Blessed one.¡±

    ¡°So, if you find this reserve she was talking about,¡± Halari said, visibly piecing the parts together in her mind, ¡°you¡¯ll be back to what you were entirely. Whole again.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Callan murmured, rewinding the video until it reached bisected x-ray of the Spire. ¡°Halari, we have to reach that tower.¡±

 Chapter Twenty-One: The Climb- Halari

    Command Center, next day

    Halari spread the old maps on the central table of the Command Center, unfolding them so that all in the room could make out their contents. She¡¯d found these in her early days of searching the city¡¯s outskirts and kept them as a kind of decoration in her room as a place mat on her desk.

    The room that Callan had deemed the Command Center was a wide conference room in the administrative part of the Temple; it was a floor below Callan¡¯s own office. Usually, she and him talked with the heads of his growing departments, but today she¡¯d requisitioned it for her city scouts so they could plan this scouting mission.

    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± she said, pointing to the area where the Quarry lay just north of the Ruins. Viria and the others in her team nodded dutifully, focused completely on her words and the map. ¡°The inner wall is about three miles into city limits.¡± She drifted her index finger to the thick black line that circled the metropolitan center.

    ¡°That¡¯s a bit of a distance, isn¡¯t it?¡± Dale asked, chewing on his thumb as he always did when she proposed something that stressed him out. Poor knuckle had to be worn out by now.

    ¡°And it¡¯s even longer on foot,¡± Halari said. She smiled grimly, causing her poor teammate to gnaw even more feverishly on his finger. ¡°Anything loud might call the mantiles, so once we¡¯re at the cleared zone border, we¡¯re boots to the stone.¡±

    A few of her party paled at this, but much to her pride, Viria stood up straighter and smiled. Halari appreciated her sister putting on a brave face for her comrades.

    ¡°Now, we leave in about an hour,¡± she continued. ¡°So I want you all to go home and make sure your short-range comms are fully charged. Double-check your packs, too. Also, who has the air filtration masks?¡±

    An awkward fell over the five of them and she watched as a few of them traded looks. ¡°Guys, come on.¡±

    ¡°Uhhh, Hala¡­¡± Viria pursed her lips, which Halari knew meant that the next words out of her sister¡¯s mouth were either an excuse or just plain bad news. The blonde reached into her waist satchel and pulled out a single mask. It was clear except for the bottom couple of inches where a mouthpiece for breathing was set and circular gauge on the upper right side. It fit over the whole face for perfect visibility. ¡°This is the only one we have.¡±

    ¡°What happened to the rest of them?¡± Halari asked, throwing her hands up. ¡°There were supposed to be enough extras for all of us.¡±

    ¡°Some of the regulars got damaged in a recent shaft collapse,¡± Viria explained, grimacing. ¡°So the crews had to take them. This one was all they left.¡±

    Halari groaned, but took the single piece of equipment from her sister and tossed into her own satchel. ¡°Guess I¡¯m going up alone. You''ll have to cover me from the bottom.¡±

    ¡°I mean, are we sure about the air?¡± Viria asked. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s fine.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re checking with the masks,¡± Halari said. ¡°I¡¯ve seen more than a few birds drop dead if they fly too high near the wall. If we¡¯re gonna get inside, we need to be sure.¡±

    ¡°I just don¡¯t like the idea of you scaling the wall all by yourself,¡± Viria murmured, finally losing her bravado in the face of endangering her family.

    ¡°You mean like how I explored the wasted by myself for years?¡± Halari winked at her, then tightened the satchel to her waist.

    ¡°Point taken,¡± Viria relented, smiling softly.

    ¡°Meet at the departure point in an hour,¡± Halari reminded her team, dismissing them with a wave. Once they were gone, Halari repacked the maps and shoved them next to the air mask. She was not looking forward to climbing the one-hundred, fifty-foot wall, but at least she¡¯d get to see the city center for the first time.

    Callan met her at the front door of the Temple, bowl of flavored ashbuds in hand.

    ¡°Come to see me off?¡± she asked, taking the offered bowl from him and popping one of the smaller buds whole into her mouth.

    ¡°Is everything set?¡± he asked. ¡°Got all the supplies you need?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a bit of a hiccup with the masks,¡± Halari said. ¡°We¡¯ve only got one to work with, but it¡¯s fine.¡±

    Callan frowned. ¡°And who¡¯s the lucky person who gets to use it?¡±

    Halari stared at him, both brows raised. ¡°Is that a real question?¡± She giggled as he huffed his disapproval of her plan and frowned deeper.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like the idea of you going up alone,¡± he grumbled. ¡°Are you sure I can¡¯t come with you? What if another mantile attacks?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re going straight from the cleared area to the wall,¡± Halari said. ¡°If anything gets in our way we¡¯ll turn right around. It¡¯s also a good exercise for my crew to do these type of things on their own, away from your divine protection. They¡¯ll grow faster if they learn to not rely on you.¡±

    ¡°How about I send Dalvo with you?¡± he tried. ¡°In case of¡ª¡±

    ¡°Callan¡­¡± Halari stepped close so he could see her resolve more clearly. ¡°This is one of the moments where you just gotta trust I know what I¡¯m doing. We¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    He sighed heavily, but nodded. ¡°I trust you, of course, but that doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t worry.¡±

    ¡°And I appreciate your concern,¡± Halari said. ¡°So long as you do it from here.¡± Callan groaned softly again, but she saw the moment he realized that this wasn¡¯t a winning argument on his part.

    ¡°Just be careful,¡± he said, meeting her eyes.

    Go for it. Quick. Halari leaned forward and pecked him on the cheek. ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon.¡±

    She slipped past him without another word, but did toss a look over her shoulder once she was a distance aways to see his reaction. He stood facing the Temple like she¡¯d left him, so she wasn¡¯t able to see his face, but the fact he hadn¡¯t moved said something, right?

    Was that too much? she worried, chewing on her next ashbud. Maybe they¡¯d discuss that later if need be, but she didn¡¯t want to expend the energy to trouble over it before a big expedition.

    After spending the better part of the next hour in her garage checking her own equipment and tuning up the trawler, she rolled onto the stone ready to go. A couple quicks raps to the bottom of the Great Tanks gave her even more confidence as she ascended the entry ramp.

    ¡°Scout captain Halari, checking out,¡± she said to the gate guards at the top. The gate itself was pretty rudimentary, little more than a couple of steel bars welded together in a rectangular latticed and set into the interior faces of a tall doorway constructed of polished, black stone bricks. ¡°Expect five more of my crew within the next ten minutes.¡±

    ¡°Logged,¡± one guard said after jotting down her name. She rolled through the gate, giving both of them a friendly wave on her way out. They saluted her- technically she was an officer- then locked the gate behind her.

    Halari drove hugging the rim of the Quarry¡¯s cliff and made her way to the departure point. It was a thin grove of thinner trees that barely had enough gravelly soil to support them. She saw all the way across it to the other side without much obstruction. She set the trawler to idle and relaxed back, kicking her feet onto the steering console while she pulled the maps out and refreshed herself on their predetermined pathing for the trip.

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    ¡° -Hrrzzt- Halari, can you hea¡ª hrrztt¡ª Halari, come in.¡± Viria¡¯s voice came through broken and fuzzy on her short-range communicator. The device was a black square about the size of her palm, and its surface was wiry like it was made entirely of thin cables. When power ran low in the Quarry, they¡¯d been the first to have their Cells transferred, but with Callan acting as a living generator, they¡¯d been restored back to full working order, making her excursions into the city a lot easier to coordinate with her team.

    ¡°Yeah, what¡¯s up, Viri?¡± Halari asked into the device.

    ¡°Just letting you -hrrzztt- five out,¡± came the response. ¡°Kanu had -hrzzt- with ride. All good -hrrzzt-¡±

    Halari jerked back as the device pulsed out a horrendous feedback noise in a few quick beats.

    ¡°Is this any better?¡± Viria¡¯s voice, much clearer, came through the line. ¡°Had to smack this damn thing a couple times.¡±

    Halari giggled. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re good.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re five away from the meeting spot,¡± Viria repeated. ¡°Kanu¡¯s ATV shit out in the garage. It¡¯s all good now.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take a look at it when you get here,¡± Halari said, shaking her head softly.

    Five minutes later, she heard the familiar rumble of engines and rose from studying her maps to see her team driving towards the grove. They stopped once they were close enough and saluted their greetings, all except for her sister.

    ¡°What¡¯s the issue, Kanu?¡± she asked her newest recruit. The young man, just turned seventeen, turned to his vehicle.

    ¡°It¡¯s uhhh, whining, I guess is the best word, when I hit the ignition, captain,¡± he said, blushing furiously under her scrutiny. The curly-haired youth got embarrassed easily, which provided no small amount of amusement for Viria and the others. They weren¡¯t too hard on him per her orders though. ¡°And it ummm¡­ wouldn¡¯t start up today.¡±

    ¡°Lemme see...¡± Halari unlatched the hood on his ATV and peered inside. The issue was made abundantly clear instantly. ¡°Kanu do you¡­ know how to clean this thing? You¡¯ve got some major corrosion along the Cell frame and disperser.¡±

    ¡°Uhhh¡­¡± Kanu blushed deeper. ¡°No, captain.¡±

    At least he¡¯s honest, Halari thought, shutting the hood. ¡°Stay behind once we get home and I¡¯ll show you how to polish her up. Can¡¯t have you exploding on us cause your ride¡¯s too dirty.¡±

    Kanu nodded abashedly.

    ¡°Alright, guys,¡± Halari called. She saddled into her own trawler and started it up. ¡°Let¡¯s get moving.¡±

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    It took them an hour to reach the end of their designated cleared zone: the area which she and her team had been looting for the last month. In that short amount of time, the blocks she¡¯d once claimed for herself almost tripled in length. Turned out having more people actually made for faster looting.

    Halari held up a fist about two blocks from where they¡¯d painted a line in the street marking their latest progress, bringing the party to a halt early to prevent any wandering mantiles from catching their arrival.

    The city was quiet. A breeze whispered through the refuse-strewn alleys, caressing them with the scent of ash and stone. The wall was visible in the distance; it was a straight shot down their street to the base of the grand fortification.

    But what lurked in the dark alleys between them and their goal? And more importantly, what was beyond that barrier? She knew the legends, the stories, the reports from caravan traders who said they¡¯d seen inside having dared to cross through as an ill-advised shortcut, but they were all different tales. Some said it was riddled with pits that they swore were the source of an unnerving howling. Others said it was full of a dense, green smog that produced hallucinations they never forgot. And still some said that there was fire everywhere that never went out.

    Halari gestured for them advance forward, low and slowly. They knew how to spot mantile eggs now, but locating the full-grown ones hiding in the nooks and crannies was an entirely different challenge.

    She took the lead for two of her party on the right-hand sidewalk, trusting Viria to guide the rest on the opposite side as they progressed beyond their designated line.

    Every alley felt like a death trap. They were completely illuminated by the midday glare, but in each instant where her eyes crossed the threshold between building and corridor, a mantile sprung at her with snapping pincers and amethyst eyes full of bloodlust.

    Maybe having Callan here wouldn¡¯t have been so bad, Halari thought, crossing the first street to the next block. She kept her rifle at the ready having already chambered a bullet. If anything with more than two legs so much as glanced in her direction, she planned to light it up like a mine shaft.

    Progress was slow, but faster than expected. They were efficient in clearing each alley and moving on, which filled Halari with pride at their improvement. As horrifying as the mantile attack had been, it had shown them the dangers of the city to the point they took their time in the ruins seriously.

    It took another hour to cover the roughly mile-and-a-half from their safe perimeter to the foot of the looming wall. Halari gulped as she looked up the face of it. It was taller than both of the cliffs wrapping Stargazer¡¯s Quarry, but far less smooth than the natural stone. Its metallic surface was pocked and scarred with craters, long gouges, and other blemishes of war that exposed its frame.

    ¡°Alright, Hala,¡± Viria sighed, staring up beside her, ¡°last chance to change your mind. We could always go around and check for a way through one of the gates.¡±

    ¡°Closest one¡¯s blocked off,¡± Halari reminded her. ¡°And it would take days to even reach the others, which are also probably blocked off despite those caravan tall tales. This¡¯ll take an hour or two max.¡± She stepped up to the nearest spot of damage she considered a first foothold and tied a long length of rope around her waist while simultaneously plotting up her path for the ascent.

    ¡°G-good luck, captain,¡± Kanu murmured. The others muttered similar well-wishes, but she knew all of them were relieved they weren¡¯t the ones about to take this job.

    Lucky bastards. Halari secured her climbing hook to the first exposed crossbeam.

    Then she began to climb.

    It was actually a lot easier than scaling the hazardous terrain of the wastes. She had plenty of regular footholds at measured intervals, and even at spots where her path directly upwards was blocked by smooth, intact metal, there was usually a patch of damage within arm¡¯s reach or a quick swing via rope tied to a super secured climbing hook.

    And yet, she felt more anxiety scaling the wall than she did anything in the roughs surrounding her home.

    The frame didn¡¯t feel sure and steady in her grip, unlike the black stone that she knew so well. The metal supports groaned or creaked when she moved or put too much pressure on them. And she studied each new hook anchor cautiously, especially when they showed signs of rust or strain. It was the one of the greatest feats of ancient human engineering she¡¯d ever seen, but it had nothing on good old rock.

    Her arms started to ache just after what she thought was the halfway point, so she hooked onto a bar in front of her and leaned back so her arms dangled, letting her stronger thighs take most of her weight.

    ¡°How¡¯s it going up there!¡± She heard Viria call from the ground.

    ¡°Doing great!¡± Halari shouted back, wiping a couple beads of sweat off of her forehead with the back of her hand. Just wonderful.  She methodically unlooped her canteen from her belt and took a long swig.

    The latter half of the climb was more challenging by far. Damage was more concentrated as if the wall had taken some kind of bombardment or artillery near the top. Some of the impact craters were so deep that she could stand in them and walk on the supports.

    She lost some time navigating a partially collapsed mess of metal that shook and creaked at her touch, but it remained intact long enough for her reattach to the wall proper.

    But as soon her foot left it, the pile gave way.

    Halari watched suspended midair by rope as beams, supports, panels, and other debris sloughed from the crater in a loud chorus of ringing metal.

    ¡°Look out!¡± she cried to her party, squinting below to see if they managed to get out of the way. It was hard to make out anything beyond the falling scrap as it fell until it finally landed in a scatter on the streets.

    After a worrisome moment, the speck figures of her team drifted out of a nearby building.

    ¡°Trying to kill us, Hala?¡± Viria¡¯s voice came over the comm and Halari breathed a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Everybody ok?¡± she asked into her own device.

    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re fine down here,¡± Viria said. ¡°Just watch your step, alright?¡±

    ¡°You got it,¡± Halari chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m almost at the top anyways. Be down soon.¡±

    ¡°Copy copy, sis,¡± Viria chirped. ¡°We¡¯ve got an eye on things down here. Over and out.¡±

    Might be time to throw on my mask. Halari fixed the air filtration device to her face, then pulled herself up to the next foothold and resumed her climb. The rest of the ascent was a breeze after that adrenaline rush and soon she felt her hand clench around the lip of the wall¡¯s top. With a ragged wheeze of effort, she heaved herself over the edge and propped herself on her knees while she caught her breath.

    ¡°Now let¡¯s get a look,¡± she muttered, voice echoing inside the mask. The little needle gauge on the right side of her view shot up into the yellow, then the red, as she approached the inner edge of the wall about twenty paces from where she arrived. Halari walked across the rampart and with each step, more and more of the city center came into view. ¡°By the Visionary¡­¡±

    If everything outside the wall was a ruin, then the urban area inside the fortification was the angry ghost of a warzone. There really were endless flames coming from some pits in the street billowing smoke that settled on the ground unnaturally.  Whatever they were fueled by, she couldn¡¯t tell. She also didn¡¯t hear any unearthly howling, but it was quite a distance to the ground.

    The sight was enough to stun her anyways. Halari stood stupefied by the visage of destruction below her until a chirp from her comms brought her out of her stupor.

    ¡°Come in, sis,¡± Viria said. ¡°What¡¯s it look like up there?¡±

    Halari ripped her eyes from the city and drifted back to the side where her team waited for her, then raised her comms. ¡°It¡¯s a nightmare.¡±

 Chapter Twenty-Two: Spore- Callan

    Overlooking the Ruins

    Callan stood at the top of the cliff facing the desolation of his home. It was such a disgrace to see in it in this state, broken and devoid of the sparkle that had once glittered so powerfully it was possible to see from an hour away. Now, its dark towers broke the horizon like the fingers of a great monster digging its way back to the surface.

    He remembered staring down from his balcony at the top of Melokon¡¯s Spire to the streets below where his people milled about and got to live their lives in a new era of peace and unity. Those same streets he knew were quiet now, and empty.

    Is she alright? Callan squinted fruitlessly in the direction where he knew Halari and her team were trying to scale the wall. His eyesight was almost perfect, but it wasn¡¯t that good. He shook himself out of his worry and turned back to the Quarry, eager to attend to the distraction he had planned for himself.

    ¡°My lord?¡± Kelot the Melokide priest stood at his side, tapping his foot impatiently while Callan brooded  ¡°Are you ready? We have quite the impressive report for you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Callan said. ¡°Lead they way, priest. It¡¯s best I learn more about this Kalia before fully trusting her word and moving on the people forward on it.¡±

    As they moved past it, the statue of his likeness haunted the corner of his vision, and no matter how hard he tried to avoid it, the weight of it in his mind pulled his attention right to it.

    ¡°These statues, my lord, I can have them removed if they so offend you,¡± Kelot said, bowing slightly.

    ¡°No, leave them for now,¡± Callan said. He gazed sullenly at his statue, recalling the truth of its sad posture. ¡°The pose for my depiction, do you know its true context?¡±

    ¡°The writings of James served to tell that it is the very image of your defeat,¡± Kelot said plainly.

    Callan scoffed and shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s the last blow I struck on a great enemy. There is truth in the fact that I was exhausted, but by no means was I defeated.¡±

    ¡°Shall we add this to the new writings of your great words?¡± Kelot asked. He pulled a thin pad and stylus from the cavernous depths of his robe and scratched something onto the surface.

    ¡°New writings?¡± Callan pressed.

    ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± Kelot said, finishing whatever scribble he was making. ¡°We of the Melokide Sect have been transcribing new words of worship for the people based off what you tell us. We¡¯ll have a draft ready for your divine scrutiny soon.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t embellish too much priest,¡± Callan said. ¡°The people have been force fed enough lies as is.¡±

    ¡°Of course, Great Flame,¡± Kelot said, bowing again. ¡°Now, this way. We¡¯ve set up the histories of Kalia in your office, as requested.¡±

    Three black-robed Melokide priests, goons as Halari called them, bowed deeply at the waist as soon as Callan entered his office and took a seat at his desk. They¡¯d placed a wide flatscreen television, a relic by the standards of the average Quarrymen, in front of him. It was paused on a screen showing what had to be a child Kalia standing between her parents, looking up at both of them. This likeness of James was one Callan remembered all too well; his old friend¡¯s devious mind always leaked out of his eyes like blood from a cut.

    Callan leaned back into his office chair and clasped his hands together. ¡°So tell me, how long is this presentation?¡±

    ¡°Old Queen Kalia generated a substantial amount of history, my lord.¡± Kelot brandished a little remote, one thin finger extended on a button, clearly ready to proceed. ¡°She was at the center of many dramatic events during her time, even before she took the Northern Dominion to reign. So, we humbly petition for a few hours of your precious time.¡±

    A curse of immortality, Callan thought. I can never give the excuse that I have no time. ¡°Very well, let¡¯s begin.¡±

    ¡°Great Flame Kalia was born to King Ja¡ª¡±

    ¡°No no no.¡± Callan waved his hand dismissively and tried not to roll his eyes; Halari did that enough for the both of them. ¡°Unless there was a grand war that she miraculously won as a toddler, skip to the important moments. For example, how did she come to power?¡±

    The priest deflated with a heavy sigh, then proceeded to scroll through a few dozen slides for the next two minutes before stopping on one where Kalia was now fully grown. In the image, she stood proudly with her hand stretched out to a man before a tall pair of gates set into a wall. The picture seemed to be taken at an angle behind her and to the left; it was also slightly askew as if this capture wasn¡¯t planned but taken on a whim.

    ¡°As we mentioned some weeks ago,¡± Kelot said, grinning tightly, ¡°your Northern Dominion was abandoned by King James and fractured over the course of roughly five years. By ten years from your ¡®death,¡¯ what remained was a feudalistic gallery of city-states. Each with their own laws and alliances and what not. The greatest of these was Atlanta, but after what James did, they were resistant to any influence by the Blessed Flames.

    ¡°Kalia, age twenty-five in this capture,¡± the priest continued, ¡°arrived to the city of Austin- shown here- with a contingent of the Obsidian Legion, which, from all known information, she more-or-less stole from her father.¡± He gestured to the image, emphasizing the intimidating, black-clad soldiers visible in the shot.

    ¡°The Legionnaires were quite the force,¡± Callan recalled, smiling softly as he reminisced. ¡°I¡¯m sure it was easy for her to conquer the city despite its fortifications.¡±

    ¡°She found Austin in a sorry state,¡± Kelot said. ¡°The governor signed it over to her without any conflict. However¡­¡± The priest flicked to the next slide, showing a torn-up plot of land strewn with bodies.

    A battlefield. Callan grimaced and sat up straight, planting both elbows on the desktop.

    ¡°Most of the other city-states weren¡¯t so agreeable,¡± Kelot finished. He clicked through a few more slides all showing similar displays of violence and war. ¡°Atlanta and its supporters led an armed resistance against Kalia. For ten years of backstabbing politics and heated conflict, the North knew no peace.¡±

    Callan didn¡¯t know how to feel about that. On one hand, he appreciated that his old home fought bravely for their own sovereignty, but what Kalia did in conquering the land was the essence of worship to Melokon.

    ¡°Eventually¡­¡± Kelot¡¯s voice brought him back to focus on the presentation. ¡°Through many battles and other such tribulations, Queen Kalia took the city of Atlanta in the Scorching Siege. She proved to be an insightful ruler and many accountings of her reign often use the word ¡®foresight¡¯ in association with her decisions.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s clearly a long-term thinker,¡± Callan agreed. ¡°That video was made over a thousand years in advance. Did she have the trust of her people?¡±

    ¡°Yes, as far as we can tell,¡± Kelot said with an enthusiastic nod. ¡°Under her rule, the reunified North returned to a state of prosperity like you left it, then took the lead in technological advancement over the next couple of centuries. By most standards, she can be considered a good queen, opposite to her father.¡±

    ¡°Give me your honest input,¡± Callan commanded. ¡°Can  we take what her message said as valid? I already put Halari on a scouting mission, but I need more if we¡¯re going to devote real resources into this.¡±

    ¡°If descriptions of her accurate, then yes,¡± Kelot said. ¡°We can expect those contingencies and their protections to be in place exactly as she told us.¡±

    Callan nodded softly, agreeing. He¡¯d need to wait for Halari¡¯s full report of the state of the city center, but with this information reinforcing that the Rains of Melokon were truly on the line, he was half a mind to storm the place himself.

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    No. He sat back and massaged his temples. They didn¡¯t actually hurt; his divinely-forged body didn¡¯t actually process mundane stress like that, but it was an old habit to help him think. No, it has to be the whole Quarry if we¡¯re gonna get everything out of there.

    ¡°Speaking of which, my lord,¡± the priest prompted, a meek look on his face, ¡°has your brilliance¡­ solved the riddle of the Spire¡¯s codeword?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Callan said. ¡°It escapes me for the time being.¡±

    ¡®Liar,¡¯ the skull whispered, glaring at him from the dark.

    ¡°Shut up,¡± Callan whispered. He smothered the voice under more weight, pushing it down further into the caverns of his mind. It was quickly becoming quite the skilled climber, unfortunately for his waking nightmares.

    ¡°My lord?¡± Kelot asked. ¡°Did you say something?¡±

    ¡°Please, continue,¡± Callan commanded, gesturing to the screen. ¡°Is there any information on Kalia¡¯s battle tactics? A lot can be learned from how a commander moves their troops.¡±

    Kelot perked up, brightening at the chance to show off his presentation work. He¡¯d clearly directed a lot of effort into this display of history.

    ¡°Ah yes, of course my lord,¡± the clergyman said, flicking to a new screen showing a rudimentary map of Atlanta with little icons representing Kalia¡¯s troops in an array around the city. ¡°During the Scorching Siege¡­¡±

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Two hours later, Callan stepped out into the bland, gray daylight and exhaled for a long three seconds.

    That man sure loves to talk, he thought, stretching his non-sore muscles. Kelot was right about one thing though, despite his over-enthusiastic rambling: Queen Kalia did generate a lot of interesting history for the duration of her time on Earth. Her battle strategy was quite impressive and equally familiar.

    She was smart to constrict them like that. Callan moved up to his podium to go over some requests from various departments. However, she definitely shouldn¡¯t ha¡ª

    The gunshot was faint. So faint that he knew only he heard it. His head snapped up and toward the direction it came from past the top of the cliff.

    Another went off. Then another.

    And Callan ran.

    He bolted for the cliff face, drawing on the power of the Talons to form over his hands like a gauntlet. With a lunge, Callan buried them in the rock wall and pulled, throwing himself upwards before repeating the motions all the way to the top. Chunks of rock scattered from where he pulled and fell to a clatter below.

    The gildgrown, it has to be them. Callan pulled his body over the lip of the cliff, panting from the exertion of his power, but he steeled himself and ran for the source of the gunfire. Two-hundred feet from the drop off, he picked out Captain Dalvo and his squad laying in prone position with their boltshots to the horizon.

    They were aiming at men in yellow who kept peeking out from behind cover. One of them went down in a spray of blood, catching a stray round from his men.

    Callan sprinted for his soldiers and slid on his knees next to Dalvo, coming to a stop in a spray of gravel.

    ¡°How many, captain?¡± he asked, taking a kneel to watch the enemy. Dalvo fired his rifle, gouging a piece of black stone off a boulder where a taller gildgrown tried to hide.

    ¡°Four now,¡± Dalvo said, chambering another round. ¡°We¡¯d move in, but they all have those smoke guns.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Callan stood up and pushed in towards the remaining gildgrown. One saw him and shouted something intelligible to its companions, then pointed to the distant horizon at the same time. Another yellow-clothed figure sprinted off in a golden flurry of rags.

    I¡¯ll have to chase that one down, he thought. Then, he was on them. The first gildgrown shot uselessly with one of those powder-blasting blunderbusses. Callan pushed through the cloud of yellow particles face first and cut down on the figure with the Talons. They carved through its rags and flesh like soft butter, spraying blood onto the stone in a velvet splash.

    A second rushed him with a hollow, wet bellow and tackled him around the waist, trying to push him off balance. Callan drove an elbow into the small of his opponent¡¯s back, shattering the vertebrae near the waist with a loud crunch! Just as he was about to break its neck next, he realized that it might be worth it to keep one alive. So, instead of forcibly rotating the gildgrown¡¯s head one-hundred, eighty degrees, Callan kicked the enemy off and spun to find the last one already swinging on him with a yellow, jagged machete.

    He was prepared to take the blow on his face before retaliating, but the crack of a boltshot went off and a chunk of the gildgrown¡¯s head exploded just above its goggles. Callan turned to see one of Dalvo¡¯s soldiers holding the smoking gun and nodded. The young man lowered his weapon and saluted.

    ¡°I need to get that one,¡± Callan growled, already sparking Melokon¡¯s Fire in his fingers as he focused on the gildgrown running away from the skirmish.

    ¡°My lord, allow me,¡± Dalvo said. He knelt and braced his forward elbow on his knee, then lined up the shot. He took a deep breath, then exhaled, squeezing the trigger as he did so. The shot was loud in the still empty wasteland.

    In the distance, the golden figure jerked, then fell. It didn¡¯t move again.

    ¡°Good shot, captain,¡± Callan said, genuinely impressed with the man¡¯s prowess with the firearm. ¡°You¡¯ve taken to Halari¡¯s lessons aptly.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s a great teacher, sir,¡± Dalvo said. He looped his rifle over his back and stood. ¡°And it doesn¡¯t hurt that I spend two extra hours at target practice.¡±

    Callan turned back to the only living gildgrown left. It writhed around on the stone, groaning with a sound more beast than human. He approached the figure and pinned it to the ground on with one knee, then grabbed its mask by the mouth tank and pulled it off.

    Immediately, the gildgrown panicked and began to flail wildly in a desperate attempt to grab its mask back from him. Its humanoid face was pallid, its irises were a sickly yellow, and its skin was shriveled. He couldn¡¯t tell if it was a man or woman due its baldness and ambiguous features.

    ¡°Can you talk?¡± Callan asked the pitiful creature. It gasped like a landed fish and its movements began to slow, pupils dilating.

    It¡¯s dying, he realized. Does it breathe the spores inside? When they¡¯d cracked open the first canister taken off a dead one, all they¡¯d found inside were the golden spores like fine sand. He placed the mask back on its face and the gildgrown calmed a bit. It still growled in pain from the break in its spine, but it stopped flailing.

    ¡°Can you speak?¡± Callan repeated.

    ¡°Ingkala¡­¡± came a wet, growling voice from behind the mask. ¡°Dole vir ingkala¡­¡±

    ¡°I know you speak our language.¡± He put more pressure down with his knee. ¡°You¡¯re our prisoner now, and we can treat you fairly, or we can treat you like the animal you appear to be.¡±

    ¡°Snake-devil,¡± the gildgrown gurgled, slapping weakly at his knee. ¡°Curse your vines, snake-devil.¡±

    ¡°So you know what I am,¡± Callan said. ¡°How?¡±

    ¡°You reject our Giltspore,¡± it hissed after a moment. ¡°No man alive can turn away from its power. Only the snake-devils can burn its blessing. You. You are supposed to be gone.¡±

    ¡°I remain,¡± Callan said. ¡°Unfortunately for you.¡± He stood and gestured for a couple of his soldiers to take the paralyzed gildgrown under its arms. ¡°What do your people want?¡± he asked once it was upright.

    The gildgrown stared at him, and Callan swore he could see it glaring behind the mask.

    But it said nothing.

    ¡°Very well,¡± Callan said, sparking Melokon¡¯s Fire in his hand. No use in hiding it now, since it was clear that his nature was not exactly a secret. He held the lightning up to the prisoner''s goggles so it saw each little crimson and violet arc flicker over his fingertips. ¡°You will tell me¡­ eventually. Take it away and put it in the stockade. Make sure you search it for hidden weapons first.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Great Flame,¡± the soldiers said in unison. They began dragging their new prisoner of war back toward the spot where they¡¯d parked their patrol ATVs. He watched them, more than a little amused, hesitate while they considered how to store the limp figure, then unceremoniously sling the gildgrown over the back of one vehicle like a bagged deer.

    ¡°So tell me what happened, captain,¡± Callan said, extinguishing the Fire.

    ¡°Rilot here,¡± Dalvo thumbed to the soldier who¡¯d shot the one enemy in the head, ¡°glimpsed one when it was too slow to hide from us on patrol. We moved in and pinned them down. Seems like they were more of a scouting party since they weren¡¯t big in number or arms.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm.¡± Callan scratched his chin. ¡°Were they looking for something?¡±

    ¡°Not that we could tell,¡± Dalvo said. ¡°Although it¡¯s interesting that one tried to run.¡±

    ¡°Indeed.¡± Callan stared at the body in the distance. ¡°Have your men search that one. I need to get back to the Quarry and inform the people.¡±

    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± The captain gave orders to a couple of his men.

    ¡°And Captain Dalvo,¡± Callan added. ¡°You¡¯ve done your home a great service today. Good work.¡±

    Dalvo saluted, smiling proudly. Then, he turned back to his men.

    Callan began walking back toward the Quarry¡¯s entry ramp, already chuckling as he imagined the ruckus Halari was going to make when she learned that they had a gildgrown prisoner.

    That poor creature was in for one hell of a bad day.

 Chapter Twenty-Three: Reputation- Halari

    On the road

    We¡¯ve gotta figure a way to get more masks, Halari thought. She weaved around a pile of debris, thinking about various options of getting enough people into the city center so they could move all the supplies. That air is poison. We¡¯re not getting anybody in without protection.

    ¡°Hala!¡± Viria called from where drove at her left. ¡°You good?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, just thinking!¡± Halari called back, slowing a bit so her sister could catch up and drive level with her. Both of their vehicles grumbled across the black rock at a steady pace; they¡¯d be back home within the next half hour. ¡°We¡¯ll need a lot more air masks if we¡¯re gonna get on the ground in the center!¡±

    ¡°Not even the mines have that many!¡± Viria said. ¡°We¡¯ll figure something out!¡±

    ¡°We always do!¡± Halari shouted back with a proud smile. They crossed out of the city limits and navigated the wastes effortlessly all the way home. At the entry gate, she instantly knew that something was wrong. A large crowd was visible in the courtyard in front of the Temple. Callan was definitely about to make an announcement or something.

    ¡°Hey, Alo, did something happen?¡± She stopped by one of the gate¡¯s guards.

    ¡°Yeah, we fended off a gildgrown scouting party,¡± the guard said, a smug look on his face ¡°We even got one of those fuckers in the stockade too. You should¡¯ve been there Halari, it was wild. The King tore those assholes apart with his bare hands.¡±

    ¡°Did you say we¡¯ve got a gildgrown in the stockade?¡± Halari pressed urgently. Her blood began to boil at the thought of coming face to face with one of those freaks again and her vision tinged just slightly red at the edges.

    ¡°Yeah we do,¡± Meloru mused, still smiling widely. ¡°King Callan snapped his spine like a tam shell. It was awesome!¡±

    ¡°I need to get down there,¡± Halari said, revving her trawler¡¯s engine. ¡°Open the gate.¡±

    Meloru and his shift partner unbarred the entrance and opened the gate wide for her and her party to roll down the ramp.

    Halari parked her trawler in front of her garage and jogged to courtyard. She caught Callan just inside the Temple, speaking to Dalvo about the imminent announcement.

    ¡°Are you going to be ok on stage?¡± Callan asked. ¡°You¡¯re the hero today, Dalvo. A military hero. So, the people are going to have questions for you. They might even want your autograph or for you to say something inspiring to their children. They¡¯re going to know it was you and your men, so expect some attention going forward.¡±

    The captain paled, but nodded shakily. ¡°I uh I can do that, Great Flame.¡±

    ¡°Callan.¡± Halari approached rapidly. ¡°I heard we got a gildgrown. Who¡¯s talking to it?¡±

    ¡°Hello to you, too,¡± Callan said with a small grin. Normally, she might find that comforting, but the presence of an enemy in the gates had her nervous wired. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s in our most reinforced cell.¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s interrogating it?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Nobody yet,¡± Callan said. He eyed her curiously. ¡°Do want first crack at it?¡±

    Do I? Halari¡¯s boiling blood flash froze in her veins. What would I even do with it? She remembered the feeling of gore on her face, dripping from her hands and chin.

    ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know,¡± she murmured. Then she met his gaze. ¡°Maybe.¡±

    ¡°Think on it,¡± Callan said. ¡°For now though, help me convince Captain Dalvo that popularity is in his interest.¡±

    Halari allowed herself to relax. That gildgrown wasn¡¯t going anywhere. She breathed out a lot of the tension that had built up in her spine and shoulders.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m convinced, Great Flame,¡± Dalvo said, paling even further. ¡°I just wasn¡¯t aware that being in the military came with any kind of fame.¡±

    ¡°War heroes usually make the best heroes,¡± Callan said, patting the shorter man on the shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ll probably get some romantic approaches in the coming weeks. Once the women get brave enough to talk to you, of course.¡±

    ¡°Wha¡­?¡± Dalvo looked totally lost, which caused Halari to giggle.

    ¡°You¡¯re gonna do fine, Dalvo,¡± she said lightly. ¡°Just say something up there. Anything¡¯ll do I bet.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ sure...¡± Dalvo shook himself, then snapped to attention. ¡°I¡¯m ready, Great Flame.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Callan chuckled. ¡°Halari, would you like to be up there as well?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Halari said.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get going, then,¡± Callan said, gesturing for the door. ¡°We¡¯ve kept them waiting long enough.¡±

    The people hollered greetings and small claps as soon as the main gate of the Temple. She figured they knew a little bit about the attack, but they didn¡¯t have all the details. Whatever the case, they cheered when Callan presented Captain Dalvo. The poor guy¡¯s paling had promoted itself to full-on shaking, and he stood like a leaf barely clutching to its branch.

    ¡°Good people!¡± Callan called in a loud, proud voice. Her fellow Quarrymen hushed, eager to hear what he had to say. ¡°Today, we were almost set upon by our enemies. They came to hurt us! To endanger our way of life! All they found in their search for our blood was their own!¡± The crowd clapped loudly, spitting curses at the gildgrown, and jeering their downfall.

    ¡°Thanks to our brave Militia¡­¡± Callan waved towards the soldiers ringing the crowd. ¡°The intruding party was driven off entirely! Our forces were led by Captain Dalvo, commanding officer of the Quarry¡¯s First Company.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead, captain,¡± she whispered. Halari smiled and nudged the captain forward with her elbow. Dalvo took a tentative step forward and raised his hand in a bashful wave. The people went crazy, whooping and yelling, screaming their thanks to the captain. Dalvo looked shell-shocked by the warm reception, waving on automatic and smiling like it hurt.

    ¡°Good people!¡± Callan waved them down before they worked themselves up into a frenzy. ¡°Take heart! Hear the words of your protectors!¡±

    Taking his cue, Captain Dalvo stepped forward again. Halari knew this feeling, standing before the scrutinous stare of Stargazer¡¯s Quarry while they waited for words of hope or truth. Dalvo chewed on his lips for a singl second, then spoke.

    ¡°My people,¡± he began, then cleared his and tried again, louder. ¡°My people! I vow here and now that while my soldiers stand, no harm will ever come to you! This I swear!¡±

    The crowd cheered wildly. Dalvo saluted and his soldiers followed suit around the crowd.

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    Wow he¡¯s actually kind of good at that, Halari appraised, impressed. Callan leaned close to her, carrying that static charge in the air around him that made her hairs stand on end like usual.

    ¡°Looks like your people have yet another leader,¡± he whispered. ¡°Seems like you set a standard.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s good they have people to look up to,¡± Halari agreed, smiling warmly at him. ¡°The more the better.¡±

    ¡°Agreed.¡± Callan moved so that his leaning proximity was permanent. ¡°The good captain here will be the very image of their shield. Feeling protected will boost morale.¡±

    Dalvo waved at the Quarrymen, then turned back to them and gave a quick thumbs up before stepping off the landing to reconvene with his men. Just as Callan predicted, the people tried to get the officer¡¯s attention, but he moved right past them with waves and some more relaxed smiles.

    ¡°Now, come,¡± Callan said, patting her softly on the elbow. ¡°We have a guest to attend to in the stockade. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll want to have a word with it.¡±

    Halari restrained herself from acting on an intense want to break into a mad dash so she could get to the stockade first and have at the prisoner. She walked stiffly beside Callan as he guided them away from the raucous party and toward the detainment building.

    ¡°Did you make it to the top of the wall?¡± Callan asked, clearly sensing her disturbance and trying to take her mind off of it. Not that the news was a better topic to talk about anyways.

    ¡°Yeah, um¡­¡± Halari frowned. ¡°The center¡¯s a mess, Callan. Smoke and fire everywhere, pits in the streets. We¡¯re gonna need a lot of air masks, trawler beds for hauling, and of course, a lot better weapons for the soldiers in case of mantiles.¡±

    Callan sighed, face falling. ¡°Part of me hoped it somehow survived, but I suppose this is more fitting for our challenge.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Halari said softly. ¡°I hate having to be the one tell you how rough things are.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad it¡¯s you.¡± He gave her a sad smile. ¡°You always soften the blow.¡±

    They entered the stockade to the salutes of guards.

    And that horrible, fluttering wheeze.

    It really is here, she realized completely. The dreadful noise drew Halari toward the farthest cell of the stockade like a warped, hypnotic lullaby. Callan followed after her, supporting her from losing it to a deep anger with his presence. She stopped just before the prisoner¡¯s cell and braced herself, then stepped so that she could see it in full horrific glory.

    The gildgrown, seated on the cell¡¯s cot against the back wall with its useless legs dangling off the edge, wheezed in greeting; its mask stared blankly at her, unmoving.

    ¡°Has it¡­ spoken?¡± Halari growled at the nearest guard. The unlucky man paled and she made a mental note to apologize to the man later for her intensity, but this thing had her on edge.

    ¡°N-no, Lady Halari,¡± he said, saluting even tighter. ¡°It¡¯s just been sitting there, breathing like that. Creeps me out, honestly.¡±

    ¡°Soldier,¡± Callan said. ¡°Be sure not to speak of your fear in front of the enemy.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Great Flame!¡± The guard straightened his back and put on a brave face.

    ¡°Lady Halari and I can take it from here,¡± Callan said, speaking to both guards. ¡°Both of you, guard the front door.¡± They moved out of the stockade quickly, leaving Halari alone with Callan and the gildgrown. She stared daggers at the thing through the bars, but it only kept gurgling its breaths in her direction, taunting her with its insistence on living in her proximity.

    ¡°Halari.¡± Callan gently tugged her away by the arm and prodded her to look him in the eyes. ¡°I am going to take this thing¡¯s autonomy away from it to get answers, but only with your agreement. If it bothers you, I¡¯ll find another way.¡±

    These things don¡¯t deserve another way. Halari ground her teeth against each other. ¡°Do it.¡±

    Callan nodded, then moved away from her and towards the detainment cell. His irises glowed softly and when he spoke, the force of his words were visible in the air as a light, violet aura that washed over the gildgrown like a thick wind.

    ¡°You will answer my questions,¡± Callan Commanded. Halari shivered as his most frightening power was unleashed, but she took some satisfaction watching it used on the gildgrown. ¡°Tell me what your people want.¡±

    After a moment of tense silence, the gildgrown hacked out a sound like a dustbunny choking on berry too big for its mouth. Then it did it again, then began a rapid series of them that made Halari cringe.

    Is it¡­ laughing? Halari glanced at Callan, who was masking any bafflement really well, unlike her. He glared at the freak, eyes flaring and lightning sparking between his fingers.

    ¡°You have no power over my mind, snake-devil,¡± the gildgrown gurgled. She hated the sound if its voice, like that of a drowning man. ¡°My mind is not mine alone. We are one in the Giltspore, our thoughts share strength. You have no more power over my actions than you do the wind.¡±

    ¡°Then, I¡¯ll make you talk the hard way, freak!¡± Halari spat, knife already in hand. She unlocked and threw open the thing¡¯s cell doors, then crouched in front of it and put the clip point tip of her blade near its goggle lens.

    ¡°Keret vir Hemataka,¡± it hissed, leaning its head back as far as it could, which was only a few inches until its hood met the wall. ¡°Keret vir!¡±

    ¡°Speak normally.¡± She tapped her knife against its goggle and pressed until the tip dug in just a millimeter. Enough to make a point, she hoped. Her vision was red around the edges again, focusing her hate on the yellow-clothed demon before her. She wanted so badly to slot her blade under its mask and into its neck, but she held. Barely.

    ¡°Get away from me, blood-witch!¡± the gildgrown almost screamed, trying to shy away from her in an attempt to avoid the knife. ¡°Stay away!¡±

    Blood-witch? She rose and backed away from the prisoner, both curious and concerned. ¡°What did you just call me?¡±

    ¡°We know you¡­¡± it whispered. ¡°You who savage the bodies of our dead. You who wear our blood like war paint. We know you. We hate you¡­¡±

    ¡®Blood-witch.¡¯ Its implication made itself clear and the word rang in her head like a siren. Halari felt numb. Her anger fled from her in an instant, leaving nothing but fear of her bloodthirsty wants in its cold wake.

    ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re keener to speak with the blood-witch,¡± Callan said. ¡°Alone, of course, since you will not speak with me. We¡¯ll leave you with that idea for a couple days. Think on it, invader.¡±

    The gildgrown bubbled out a growl; its lenses didn¡¯t leave Halari as she sheathed her knife and drifted out of the cell on jelly-like legs.

    Stay strong, you¡¯ll be out in a second. She followed Callan outside, then almost fell onto him as soon as the guards were back at their stations inside. He hugged her strongly while she shook.

    ¡°Is that really what I am to them?¡± she asked softly. ¡°Some frenzied maniac they call a blood-witch? I don¡¯t want- I didn¡¯t¡­¡± She trailed off, at a loss and confused about herself and her capabilities. The truth was she did want to kill those things, but that savage instinct towards them terrified her.

    ¡°Your capabilities¡­ when it comes to these enemies, they¡¯re at conflict with what you want for yourself,¡± Callan said into her hair. ¡°You are a warrior, Halari. You fight for your people, and no decision nor desire nor instinct can be wrong for a goal like that in times like this. One day, we¡¯ll change the world so that you aren¡¯t called to such action, but until then¡­¡± He pushed her away just a little bit so he could speak directly to her. ¡°I have to advise you to embrace that instinct. We can use this ¡®blood-witch¡¯ reputation as a weapon against them. With this one specifically, I think you can get it to talk.¡±

    ¡°Will I have to¡­¡± She gulped at the thought, but steeled herself. ¡°I can do it. For my people.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a hunter, Halari,¡± Callan said. ¡°Show that thing what the wasteland has taught you.¡±

    ¡°Not today, though, right?¡± she asked, feeling nausea twist her stomach.

    ¡°Not today,¡± Callan murmured, pulling her back to hug her again. She exhaled into his shoulder, relaxing. ¡°Now, look sharp, judging by the perfect march I hear coming, I think Captain Dalvo¡¯s escaped from his party.¡±

    Halari giggled, then reluctantly detached herself just as Dalvo and two of his squad rounded the corner. The officer, despite the massive amounts of glory he¡¯d just received, maintained a perfectly soldierly air and saluted cleanly. She eyed his rifle, appreciating that he polished it almost as well as she polished her own. He was very diligent in their lessons and took great care to study each part of the gun.

    ¡°All that attention¡¯s not going to your head, right, captain?¡± Halari asked.

    The captain flushed, but grinned sheepishly. ¡°Maybe a little, Lady Halari.¡±

    ¡°You deserve it, captain,¡± Callan said. ¡°Now, something to report?¡±

    Dalvo nodded. ¡°These two are the ones who searched that gildgrown who ran.¡± He waved for his men to come forward and they saluted. ¡°The corpse had nothing on it, but from some bloodstains, it seemed like it dragged itself for a ways before dying so it could drop something down a crack in the rock.¡±

    ¡°Were you able to retrieve the item?¡± Callan asked. ¡°Or at least see what it was?¡±

    ¡°It was too deep, Great Flame,¡± Dalvo said with a regretful frown. ¡°They lost sight of the glowstick they sent after it to test the depth.¡±

    ¡°Must¡¯ve been valuable,¡± Halari muttered. ¡°Any ideas?¡±

    ¡°Who knows?¡± Callan asked. ¡°Whatever it was, it''s probably best they don¡¯t have it, even if we don¡¯t either.¡±

    ¡°True,¡± Halari agreed. She glanced over to the stockade, picturing the prisoner within and hearing its horrid wheeze echo in her mind. Although maybe I can find out more.

 Chapter Twenty-Four: Paint- Callan

    Three days later

    Sitting in his desk chair, Callan stared into its beady, little eyes and watched as its nose twitched indignantly at him. Then, he spoke, drawing on the Serpent¡¯s Tongue to create a Command.

    ¡°Jump.¡± His word washed over the dustbunny, delving deep into its mind. The animal didn¡¯t understand the language of course, but his intent behind the word, the meaning of his Command wired itself into the creature¡¯s mind and triggered its natural instincts. The dustbunny hopped impressively high, almost reaching the ceiling, then landed back on the desk with a muffled thump! ¡°Good work.¡± Callan tried to scratch the animal behind the ears, but it bounded away from him as far as it could without falling off the flat top.

    The dustbunny was solid gray with fur so thick and fine that it appeared solid, as if molded from wet clay. Its ears were so long they almost reached its rump and were colored charcoal black in the inner ear. If not for the needle-like fangs that Halari said they used to siphon blood when desperate, he would have considered it a good pet for a child.

    Despite those deviant traits, it was a somewhat cute animal that resembled the rabbits he remembered from a better world. Halari had brought it back for him to test Commanding after the startling misfire with the gildgrown.

    <em style="font-weight: 400">I just need a bit more power. Callan frowned, recalling the sensation of resistance in that thing¡¯s mind. <em style="font-weight: 400">I should¡¯ve been able to shatter any willpower, collective thought<em style="font-weight: 400"> strength be damned.

    The door to his office opened and Halari herself walked in with an embittered look on her face. She tickled the dustbunny on its nose, which it allowed her to do readily, then dropped into the chairvopposite him with a stress-laden huff.

    ¡°They didn¡¯t find anything?¡± Callan surmised from her heavy bearing.

    Halari shook her head sullenly. ¡°It¡¯s like Jora disappeared from the face of the earth. Of course, if she got lost in the wastes alone that¡¯s probably exactly what happened.¡±

    ¡°And the only evidence we have is the guard testimony,¡± Callan said, leaning back in his chair. The dustbunny started cleaning its ears with its paws, a peculiar sight as its arms seemed to bend at unnatural angles to do so. ¡°How is Jora¡¯s brother?¡±

    ¡°Worried,¡± Halari sighed. She rolled her shoulders to relieve some tension he expected had built during her search and report-taking. ¡°But weirdly close-lipped. Something else is going on here, Callan. I just don¡¯t know what.¡±

    ¡°It sounds like we¡¯ve hit our last resort,¡± Callan said. He tried again to pet the dustbunny, but it full out leaped into Halari¡¯s lap to get away from him. ¡°I need to talk to him, Halari.¡±

    ¡°Ughhh¡­¡± Halari tossed her head back to rest on the chair and scratched idly at the animal¡¯s ears; Callan swore that the damned critter winked at him from her lap. ¡°He¡¯s not gonna talk to you, Callan. He barely talks to anybody at all. He hasn¡¯t been to work in the mines for nearly two weeks.¡±

    ¡°I expect your father¡¯s not exactly pleased about that,¡± Callan said, causing Halari to snort endearingly with a grim smile.

    ¡°Every time I walk in it¡¯s a yelling match,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s like they¡¯re competing to see who has the loudest voice and keep me awake the longest at night. And I¡¯m telling you, he¡¯s not gonna talk to you.¡±

    ¡°I imagine he¡¯d be a bit more considerate,¡± Callan said, rising with a bemused glare to the mocking gaze of the dustbunny while it groomed, ¡°seeing as how the missing person is one of his flock.¡±

    ¡°You can try,¡± Halari hummed. She stood and placed the dustbunny on the little bed he¡¯d placed by the door to his quarters. A small plate loaded with ashbud chunks sat next to it. ¡°All Tel¡¯s gonna do is curse your name and ignore me.¡± He saw a little pain in her eyes at that, but she contained it well and put on a strong face.

    ¡°We¡¯ll just make him aware,¡± Callan said, opening the door for her. ¡°Maybe ask him some questions.¡±

    At the landing , they found the missing Jora¡¯s brother, Thime, standing nervously by the main gate, wringing his tough, calloused hands together. Callan pitied the man. His mouth was creased worry as it had been for the last couple days and he¡¯d clearly been crying.

    ¡°Great one,¡± he greeted hoarsely, bowing his head. He was also one of Telero¡¯s, so Callan knew there wasn¡¯t much reverence to be found in the man, but he was impressed anyways at the man¡¯s persistence in the face of his religious enemy. ¡°Is there any word?¡±

    ¡°Nothing yet.¡± Callan grabbed the man by the shoulder, feeling him tense slightly at the contact. ¡°Thime, are you certain you know nothing? Even the smallest detail, no matter its¡­ nature, will help us find her.¡±

    Thime went white and his wringing hands picked up the pace.

    He know something. Ever so slightly, Callan tightened his grip on the miner¡¯s shoulder and flared his eyes gently. With the superstition Telero¡¯d accidentally built up around him, the sorrowful man probably figured Callan was reading his mind already. ¡°Speak, man. You cannot hide your thoughts from the Great Dragon.¡±

    ¡°Uh-uhmm¡­¡± Thime stammered for a second, then took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m not, I¡¯m not supposed to say, but, uh¡­¡± His red-rimmed eyes flicked to Halari, then back to his fingers. ¡°I just¡­ uh, Jora, uh she went to talk with Telero at your home the day before she vanished. She must¡¯ve missed you.¡±

    Callan turned to look at Halari, whose jaw worked as she processed the revelation. This was obviously not what she¡¯d wanted to hear.

    ¡°Thank you for telling us, Thime,¡± she said stiffly through bared teeth. ¡°I promise, my scouts and I will find your sister. I¡¯ve gotta squad in the city and another in the wastes.¡±

    Thime nodded, then, sensing his dismissal, drifted off without another word.

    ¡°If I¡¯d maybe stopped her¡ª¡± Halari began, but Callan cut that line quickly.

    ¡°Do not think that way,¡± he said firmly. ¡°This is not your fault.¡±

    ¡°And if it¡¯s my brother¡¯s somehow?¡± she asked, pinching the bridge of her nose.

    ¡°We don¡¯t know that,¡± Callan said softly, ¡°but now we definitely have to ask him some questions.¡±

    Halari nodded ruefully, then took the lead guiding him toward her home. Callan followed behind at a short distance, studying the progress of the main square around the Temple. To his pride, he saw a lot of Silvers being exchanged between stalls and patrons. It¡¯d taken a bit longer than expected, but the currency was really getting around these days.

    Militiamen were also getting a lot more attention. Plenty of children or young men often walked up to some of the soldiers and tried their best to salute, which usually was met with a proud smile and a sharp, professional salute from the men. He also caught sight of Captain Dalvo on an interior patrol with Old Bear, but it looked like their path was regularly stopped by random citizens who wanted to shake the officers¡¯ hands. A couple of attractive women even called and waved to Dalvo, who¡­

    Oh Melokon, he just saluted them. Callan reminded himself to help get the young captain a life outside the First Company; good soldiers needed a reason to live other than just being a soldier.

    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Halari said after a couple more minutes of navigating the streets. Callan decided to knock since they were technically on official business and didn¡¯t want to use Halari to gain unwelcome access.

    Halari¡¯s mother opened the door. She was a shorter woman, a few inches less than Halari, and was the source of the dark blue and red hair that was split between her daughters. Her own blue strands were silvering at the roots with age, but she still carried a younger energy and insistent attitude that brought Halari¡¯s personality into a much clearer light.

    ¡°Hello, Glorida,¡± Callan said with a warm grin. She was a pleasant woman to talk to and an exceptional cook, which was even more impressive considering what she had to work with when it came to food. Additionally, she was- according to Trademaster Norio- a fantastic asset to the half-baked Finance Department in town and had single-handedly saved them from some cataclysmic error early in their development.  ¡°Is your eldest in?¡±

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    ¡°Great Flame,¡± Glorida greeted with a bright smile of her own; he¡¯d insisted a while ago that she never bow to him, but in turn she now always made some religious motion with her hand when in his presence. ¡°Is something the matter?¡±

    ¡°Somebody¡¯s missing, mada,¡± Halari said, hugging the woman tightly in greeting. ¡°You remember Jora that I used to play with? She was reported missing yesterday.¡±

    ¡°Oh no!¡± Glorida gasped, putting her hand up to her mouth. ¡°Has anything been found?¡±

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Halari shook her head and frowned. ¡°But her brother said she talked to Tel the day before she vanished. And since he¡¯s¡­¡± She pointed awkwardly towards what Callan figured was Telero¡¯s quarters. ¡°We want to let him know and maybe see if he can tell us anything.¡±

    ¡°That man¡­¡± Glorida sighed, moving away from the door and waving them in. ¡°My boy¡¯s always getting himself in trouble lately. He won¡¯t even talk to his own mother.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid the trouble is partially my fault,¡± Callan said. ¡°Your son¡¯s piety is admirable, but it does put him at odds with me sometimes.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s always been such a practical man,¡± Glorida said. ¡°I don¡¯t know why he refuses to see how much you¡¯ve done for the Quarry. Unlike him, really.¡±

    ¡°Having been a young person once,¡± Callan said with a light chuckle, ¡°I can tell you from experience that we don¡¯t often make sense. It¡¯s a timeless trait, truly.¡±

    Glorida laughed softly and shook her head. ¡°Well, in any case, he¡¯s in his room as you¡¯d expect. I¡¯ll leave you to discuss with him.¡± With a gentle wave and a nice smile, the woman floated away to her and Fedro¡¯s quarters.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with,¡± Halari said, grabbing Callan by the elbow and pulling him toward her brother¡¯s room.

    She¡¯s anxious, Callan realized, patting her hand comfortingly. First the gildgrown, now this. It might be best to talk with her and see how she¡¯s doing. As if reading his mind, Halari sighed, then smiled at him tightly.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± she murmured. ¡°It¡¯s just been a hell of a few days. One thing after another.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, I understand,¡± Callan said. ¡°Lots to worry about. We¡¯ll do this quickly.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll need to get back out there after I¡­. question that gildgrown,¡± she said, gripping his elbow tighter for a second before releasing him. Then, she knocked on the door. ¡°Tel, it¡¯s Halari. You awake?¡±

    ¡°Go away,¡± came the muffled reply from behind the door. ¡°I have nothing to say to you.¡±

    ¡°Open up!¡± Halari called back. ¡°It¡¯s important. Jora¡¯s missing, Tel. One of your people!¡±

    Only silence emanated from the room for an extended moment, then the door slid open with a soft hiss. Telero looked ragged and worn down, paler than the average Quarrymen, and a margin thinner. His eyes widened in shock at seeing Callan and he backpedaled away in terror, allowing them to slip inside.

    Telero¡¯s room was a disaster. He¡¯d pinned pages of the Book of Jomens to the walls and clipped them to the windows. Some were scattered on his desk. Other grey sheets with what looked to be his own writings were strewn on the floor and bed. There were plates of food remains on various surfaces. It was not a living space that reflected somebody in an organized state of mind.

    ¡°You liar!¡± Telero yelled as Callan closed the door behind him. ¡°You brought him to¡­ to¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh, shut up, Tel,¡± Halari said. ¡°Jora really is missing, idiot, and we just have some questions. Pull yourself together!¡±

    Telero sat down onto his bed, stunned by the force of his sister¡¯s words. He stared at Callan like a frightened animal, but behind that fear was a dark rage. It was well-hidden, but hate like that was hard to conceal entirely.

    ¡°Jora¡¯s missing?¡± Telero asked. ¡°How long?¡±

    ¡°A couple days,¡± Halari said. ¡°Her brother Thime said you were the last person she spoke to before vanishing.¡±

    ¡°What did you discuss, Telero?¡± Callan asked. The man glared venom at him, so in that moment he knew it was a useless question.

    ¡°Nothing for the ears of the Storm Devil,¡± Telero growled. He moved his anger towards Halari with razors in his eyes. ¡°Or those of treasonous family.¡±

    ¡°Look here, you!¡± Halari jerked a finger up. ¡°One of our people is¡ª!¡± She cut off, shaking her head in irritation, then breathed in and out deeply while turning to Callan. ¡°I need air already. You deal with him.¡± She stormed out, leaving Callan alone with the man who hated him most in the whole world.

    ¡°Telero,¡± Callan said. There wasn¡¯t a point in trying to be gentle. ¡°what do you know? Perhaps something of a deal can be struck between us.¡±

    ¡°My original demand stands, Betrayer,¡± Telero spat, finding his feet and coming nose to nose with Callan. ¡°Leave these lands. Leave this world. Leave my sister.¡±

    ¡°You would endanger one of your people just to spite me?¡± Callan stared the man down, flaring his irises. ¡°Are you so really so petulant?¡±

    ¡°Petty?¡± Telero narrowed his eyes and balled his fists, and Callan knew that this discussion was entirely lost. It probably had been as soon as Halari opened the door. This was a complete waste of time. ¡°I know nothing about Jora¡¯s absence. I know nothing of where she went to in the city.¡±

    ¡°Nobody mentioned the city,¡± Callan said. ¡°In fact, no evidence has been found at all of her path.¡±

    Telero¡¯s mouth clenched shut and he glowered. ¡°Leave this place, Tyrant. I know nothing.¡±

    ¡°Shame, Telero,¡± Callan sighed, but he turned away and left the disastrous quarters without another word. He stopped just outside the door and massaged his temples. What to do with her brother¡¯s blatant lies? Halari was an objective woman, but she did love Telero to the point where her judgement might be compromised. He¡¯d positioned himself against Callan quite well as her family.

    Fedro, maybe? No¡­ Callan thought. He could no more force Telero to spill any more than he could the gildgrown due to the vow he made Halari. Her brother was a dead end with with bright, neon signs pointing to the hidden, correct path. What was his goal in this? What did Jora do for him in the city?

    He left the area before Tel¡¯s room to find Halari and Glorida sitting comfortably together on the couch, talking softly.

    ¡°¡­just try it, my dear,¡± Glorida was saying. ¡°I have a feeling it¡¯ll work.¡± She saw Callan approach and waved with an intriguing smile on her lightly creased face. Halari, however, snapped her head towards him and flushed deeply, which caused him some worry.

    ¡°Everything alright?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Mm-hm,¡± Halari chirped quickly, nodding far too energetically to be natural, which was saying something. She stood and brushed herself off. ¡°Did you get anything from him?¡±

    ¡°Not much, if anything,¡± Callan said. ¡°Although you might want to task all your squads to focus their efforts on the city. Within reason, of course. We don¡¯t need people getting eaten by mantiles.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, for sure,¡± Halari said. Why did she look so out of sorts? ¡°Anyways, let¡¯s get to the stockade. I had a thought that maybe the gildgrown has some answers since they were in the area around the same time.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s definitely worth investigating,¡± Callan said, moving to the door. ¡°Lady Glorida, a pleasure, as always. Let me know if you need anything.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Great Flame,¡± she said with another interesting grin. ¡°Don¡¯t be a stranger.¡±

    Callan waited until they were at the front door of the detainment building to ask Halari about her new plan. ¡°Do you want to question the gildgrown, or interrogate the gildgrown?¡±

    ¡°Given the situation,¡± Halari said, ¡°I grabbed the paint.¡±

    ¡°Very well,¡± Callan said. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this, if you truly don¡¯t want to.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not about what I want right now.¡± Halari pulled a little, flat tin out of her satchel and held it out to him. ¡°Can you apply it?¡± She popped the lid open with her thumb. Inside was runny, blood-colored grease paint. ¡°I¡¯m thinking three lines down my face. Maybe a little from my eyes.¡±

    ¡°Sure, I can do that,¡± Callan said, taking the little tin from her and applying a generous amount to his thumb. Halari stepped closer to him, very close, so he didn¡¯t have to reach far.

    Is this what she and her mother were talking about? Callan wondered as he gently drew a line of dark red down from the bottom lids of both her eyes, which were locked to his. It could be worse timing, I suppose. He traced another bloody line from her hairline to her left jaw, then a shorter one on the right side. She was very close to him now; her aura pulled on him.

    ¡®Go ahead, Cal,¡¯ the skull in the dark whispered, ruining this moment alone with Halari almost totally. ¡®Go ahead and make your promises to her. How long will you be able to keep them?¡¯

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Halari asked. Callan realized his thumb had frozen halfway down her right cheek and that she was only inches away from him now, close enough he could feel her breath. ¡°You¡¯ve got that lost look in your eyes again.¡±

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Callan said, pulling back a bit. He regretted it instantly when Halari¡¯s mouth twitched to a frown for just a moment. ¡°Got lost for a second.¡± He finished the last line on her face and realized that she did look quite intimidating like this.

    ¡°You can tell me what¡¯s in that head of yours, you know?¡± Halari assured.

    ¡°I will,¡± Callan said, ¡°when I don¡¯t think it¡¯s just me going insane sometimes.¡±

    Halari nodded and he knew she understood. Like always.

    ¡°How do I look?¡± she asked seriously, stepping back. The dark red lines that dripped down her face would look convincing, especially when they lowered the lights. ¡°Am I fitting of a bloodthirsty maniac?¡±

    ¡°If I were human, I definitely wouldn¡¯t want to meet you in a dark alley,¡± Callan said. ¡°Although, maybe a real pattern, true war-paint style, might be good in the future. Especially in a fight.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll think of one,¡± she said. ¡°Now, after you this time.¡± She held out an arm to the stockade door as a gesture for him to go in first. ¡°I¡¯ll follow in after you for dramatic effect. Remember to introduce me.¡±

    Callan scoffed, but smiled and stepped into the stockade. He nodded at the stationed guards to leave, then reached for the light panel on the wall and dimmed the building¡¯s illumination as soon as they were outside.

    ¡°Prisoner,¡± he said to the gildgrown. Its fluttering wheeze was loud in the dark, but heavier and faster than the regular, even rattle it normally was. ¡°You have information that we need. Since you have refused me, and since I cannot Command you, a much worse alternative is all that is available to us. You will now speak with the Blood-Witch. May Melokon the Great Dragon grant you mercy¡­ because she will not.¡±

 Interlude: Cluster- Jora

    Two days ago

    Jora stepped onto the gravelly path leading from the house to the main road and clutched the little cylindrical container to her chest in a trembling fist. Her initial destination, the gate in and out of the Quarry, was above her, and she eyed the cliff like it was her father come home from a bad shift in the mines.

    He said it was gonna be fine, she thought, taking her first step toward the ramp. That I¡¯d have no problem getting through. Everything¡¯s in place. Jora hugged the cliff face, keeping to its shadow under the morning glare. Was she acting too strange? Some of the neighbors glanced at her and waved from their foam farms, but otherwise said nothing.

    ¡°Visionary guide my way,¡± she whispered to her failing inner resolve. ¡°May his infallible sight light my path. May his inscrutable gaze protect my journey.¡± She made the gesture over her eyes and kept putting one foot in front of the other.  ¡°May your Tether¡¯s words be true.¡±

    She caught sight of Halari and the Storm Devil walking the streets side by side. Jora¡¯s stomach twisted taking in the Enemy, so false and perfect. He¡¯d clearly bewitched her childhood playmate somehow, perhaps through words or affections. The image of Halari in that fiend¡¯s presence strengthened her sense of duty to the assignment the Tether had tasked her; her success would lead to the woman¡¯s freedom.

    Halfway up the entry ramp, Jora paused and took in her home. It looked so small at this height; how had she never climbed up here? She promised herself that once she was back home she¡¯d join one of the outgoing crews and explore around a little more. If the Tether ever expected her to do more stuff like this, then it¡¯d be best if she got to know the area better. Her heart thudded loudly with each step toward the gate.

    The one on the right, the one on the right. Jora stopped at the metal gate, which wasn¡¯t much more than a trio of metal bars barricading the ramp, and cleared her throat.

    ¡°Um, hello, excuse me,¡± she chirped nervously to the guard on the right. ¡°Uh, I need to go outside.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± the left guard asked. He looked incredibly bored as he pulled out his magni-pad which she¡¯d been informed was their log. Jora almost choked on her breath. She wasn¡¯t supposed to talk with left one!

    ¡°Uh-um, resupply d-duty,¡± Jora stammered, feeling a single drop of sweat bead on her brow. ¡°Got some extra water for the patrols.¡± She patted the small duffel bag at her waist, which was absolutely packed with water bottles and certainly not canisters of ashbuds for a tribute.

    ¡°You¡¯re early,¡± the left guard said, checking another magni-pad for the itinerary of the day. ¡°Come back in thirty.¡±

    ¡°Oh give her a break, Diore,¡± the right guard said. ¡°She¡¯s clearly new.¡± He turned towards her and winked with his left eye so his partner wouldn¡¯t see. ¡°You know the checkpoint you¡¯re going to?¡±

    ¡°Um, mmhmm.¡± Jora pointed towards the northeast. ¡°Mile-and-a-half northeast. Purple flag.¡±

    ¡°On your way then,¡± the right guard said. He opened up the gate and Jora, holding her breath so as not to shake, walked through as easily as she did her own front door. She half-expected the lightning of the Tyrant to strike her down the second she crossed the threshold.

    ¡°T-Thank you,¡± she murmured. The black wastes weren¡¯t nearly as intimidating as she¡¯d been led to believe. It was really quiet and mostly empty, except for angry-looking rock formations that peeked out of the stone ground nearby. She made her way towards the indicated direction, then after a while double-backed once she was out of sight of the gate.

    I really should¡¯ve learned to drive one of those ATVs, Jora thought, panting. She plodded down the path that lead to the city for an hour, and by the time she reached the black flag with a purple stripe marking the city street she was to follow, her feet hurt and the duffel was getting heavy.

    ¡°There it is, finally,¡± Jora muttered. She spotted the yellow strip of cloth wrapped around some kind of ancient road marker shaped like an octagon.

    ¡°Uh, hello?!¡± she called into the empty streets, dropping the duffel onto the sidewalk and pulling out the small message canister. ¡°Hello! Are you here?!¡±

    A shadow fell over her from behind and Jora spun into a wall of yellow. She shrieked, backpedaling frantically to make distance and putting her arms up defensively.

    How did it do that? Jora stared up at the massive, looming gildgrown in terror. She was told that their breathing was audible at a good distance, but this one was almost completely silent. It also didn¡¯t match the descriptions she knew of. Over its standard rags, it wore a weird kind of golden armor that appeared both spongy and hard at the same time. It almost looked like biological carapace if not for the gaps and places where it pinched the rags. This gildgrown¡¯s mask did not have a tank- which explained how it was able to sneak up on her- but it also had no facial features at all. It was a perfect circle, like a plate that she might eat dinner off of and just as wide, and seemingly made from the same material as its armor.

    This weird gildgrown stared down at her and said nothing, so Jora figured it was best if she said something.

    ¡°Um, hello,¡± she said, proffering the little message cylinder to it. ¡°Our prophet, the Tether, sends his apologies for the incident yesterday. Here¡¯s the message he tried to get to you.¡±

    The gildgrown grabbed the cylinder between too-long fingers, popped it open, then pulled out the little slip of gray paper and unrolled it.

    Can it really see out of that thing? Jora wondered. After a few seconds, the gildgrown tore the sheet in half and dropped the remnants. Then, it stared at her again, eerily silent.

    ¡°Uh¡­um¡­ is there s-something I can t-tell the Tether for y-you?¡± Jora asked. That bead of sweat returned, followed by more than a few friends that collected at her hairline. ¡°Anyth-hing you want t-to tell him?¡±

    The gildgrown¡¯s mask remained silent and unmoving. Maybe this was its way of dismissing her? Jora bowed her head, then stepped past it so she could get home. All she wanted now was bowl of Thime¡¯s stew and a good bath.

    An armored, inescapable hand constricted around her bicep, stopping Jora with a jerk as her momentum was interrupted.

    ¡°Um, I-I¡¯m sorry.¡± Jora tried not to panic or free herself. ¡°If there¡¯s something you wanna tell the Tether, I¡¯m happy to¡ª¡±

    Fluttering wheezes suddenly arose from every alley around her, growing louder as they got closer. Ten normal gildgrown approached in pairs from in between buildings, behind broken doorways, and even from under small circular grates in the street itself. They surrounded her, closing in like a noose as the big one held her.

    And in the hands of the closest pair was an odd-looking, long length of vine-like rope.

    Jora panicked.

    ¡°No no no! Let me go!¡± She strained against the armored hand gripping her, but it was like the damn monster¡¯s fingers were made of mine lift cables. There was no escape from this thing¡¯s grip. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯ll tell him whatever you want just let me go! HEL¡ª¡±

    It clobbered her in the face with a thick, heavy fist and her vision blacked. When it faded back in, she was dangling from the thing¡¯s gripping hand and staring at the ground. The world spun in her view, popping and swirling like it was being mixed in a bowl, then all went dark again and did not return.

    Oh Visionary, where are you¡­ Jora begged before going completely limp and falling into unconsciousness.

    Stolen story; please report.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Groaning, Jora came to with a splitting headache that spread from just under her left temple, around her skull, and even somewhat near her jaw. She sat up from where she laid on a shaking, hard yet spongy floor that felt somewhat like a damp tam shell under her fingers. It smelled sickeningly sweet in a vile sort of way. Daylight shone above through a yellow tarp, casting her container in a golden, auburn hue.

    Are weee¡­ ¡°Ughhh, Betrayer¡¯s damnation¡­¡± Jora groaned, palming her temple to relieve some of the pain in her skull. Her thoughts came sluggishly, as if through boiled ashbud syrup. Her face hurt. Are we moving? She looked over to the farther end of the room and saw thick metal bars blocking its exit. It was the same at the other end; she was locked in entirely.

    Jora meekly shambled up to the far end and grabbed at the bars, pulling them softly, then in a frenzy. They didn¡¯t so much as creak in protest at the pressure, even when she kicked at it.

    ¡°HELP!!¡± she screamed. ¡°SOMEBODY HELP!!¡±  She punched at the tarp covering her prison and screamed until her voice went hoarse, but the shaking of movement didn¡¯t stop. The tarp itself was oddly stretchy and damp in texture, and too smooth to be cloth.

    Her captors kept moving through the night, only stopping once to peel the unnerving tarp aside and throw her two canteens of water along with some strange orb-like food item. They also gave her a small hammer tool. The edible had a shell like a tam, but furry, or¡­ viny was more accurate. She smashed it open with the hammer tool to find inside was a mess of fleshy tangles colored a deep, vile yellow. Her stomach twisted seeing it, but it growled louder, so she snagged one ribbon and forced it down. It wasn¡¯t actually too bad, but by no means was it some of Thime¡¯s stew.

    He¡¯ll come to get me, Jora told herself, chewing reluctantly on the weird food before starting to scream for help again and banging on the bars. She used the hammer this time to bolster her ruckus, successfully getting some attention.

    But from the wrong people.

    Sometime before the glare rose in the sky, a wheezing, growling gildgrown ripped open the tarp and flung the door to her bars wide open.

    ¡°DLERANKA BIM!¡± it yelled, stepping into her cage.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, wait please, I¡¯m sorry, just let me go!¡± Jora begged, failing to back away fast enough. The gildgrown flung a heavy fist into her gut, knocking the wind full out of her. She crumpled to the spongy floor gasping futilely. The gildgrown yelled at her some more in its language and kicked at her with a ragged boot.

    ¡°HUBIT BIM!¡± It raised its foot to bring down on her face.

    ¡°Fahel¡¯i¡¯igi!¡± another gildgrown called from outside the cage. ¡°Abim nak eduno.¡± It gestured at her with a yellow-clothed hand, then its own hooded head.

    ¡°Make no noise, empty-girl!¡± The angrier captor growled down at her, wheezing all the while. ¡°Make no noise or I kick! I kick more!¡± It drove the toe of its boot into her stomach again and Jora curled in on herself. The gildgrown stormed off, slamming the gate behind it. Its cohort locked it back up, then started at her for a moment. It disappeared for a second, then reappeared with one of those orb fruits in its hand, which it rolled to her.

    ¡°Th-thank you,¡± Jora gasped, clutching at the fruit absently. Everything felt disordered; it hurt to breathe and her mind clouded with agony.

    ¡°You are probably going to die, empty-girl,¡± it gurgled at her. ¡°I am not aware of the plans for you, but you are unlikely to leave us alive.¡±

    ¡°Why are you doing th-this?¡± Jora asked, coughing violently to catch her breath.

    ¡°The snake-devil killed a number of us,¡± it said, ¡°and took one of our own. It is only fair.¡±

    ¡°They won¡¯t know you took me,¡± Jora said, seeing an opportunity. ¡°The people who sent me hate the Storm Devil and won¡¯t say anything about my mission. I¡¯m worth nothing to you.¡±

    The gildgrown stared blankly at her for a few mortally heavy seconds.

    ¡°Again, I don¡¯t know the plans for you,¡± it wheezed, ¡°but if that¡¯s true, your chances for survival have plummeted. Do not wish to hope.¡± It turned to walk away.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Jora panicked, thinking of something to keep it there so she wouldn¡¯t be alone in the honeyed darkness again for a little while. Her mind raced for something to say. ¡°How can you¡­ how can you talk so much better than the other one?¡±

    It didn¡¯t say anything for a few seconds, then glanced at her over its shoulder. ¡°My Giltspore has consumed more minds than his.¡± With that, it shambled off with a rustle of rags and wet, gurgling breaths.

    That answer chilled Jora to the bone and crushed her appetite. She sat through the remainder of the morning wondering what it meant and staring at the viny fruit in her lap.

    It took them two days to reach their end of their journey. Two more whole days that Jora didn¡¯t see the daylight or set foot on the comforting surety that black stone provided. On the third morning of travel, the cart stopped. Jora sat at the back of her cell and clutched the pathetic, little fruit-cracking hammer in a shaking fist, ready to hit anything that came her way. Gildgrown voices sounded from the door of her cell, talking animatedly.

    Who the fuck am I kidding? she asked herself. This little hammer can¡¯t hurt a damn thing.

    The tarp opened up to three gildgrown staring at her, taking in her pose with indiscernible reactions.

    Until one unmistakably started laughing.

    Jora brandished the hammer as menacingly as she could manage. The gildgrown in the center of the trio unlocked the cell and stepped inside, causing Jora to shrink back and wave the hammer wildly to ward it off.

    ¡°I am the only one who won¡¯t hurt you, empty-girl,¡± it gurgled, holding its hand out palm upwards to take the hammer. It sounded like the same one that gave her the fruit, but it was hard to tell behind its mask. ¡°Come quietly or they will force you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m already gonna die, anyways, right?¡± Jora asked, lashing out with the hammer. The gildgrown caught her swing deftly by the wrist, then used its other hand to pry the hammer from her fingers and pocket it somewhere in the rags it wore.

    ¡°Now, come.¡± It pulled on her arm with unstoppable strength and drug her out of the cell. She kicked and screamed, but it only took a second to remove her from the cage.

    They were in the middle of nowhere. Black stone spread around them set with the customary crags and ravines splitting the surface. A midnight-hued mountainside rose above them like a charred wall, casting a long shadow over them. The gildgrown pulled her towards a dark, gaping hole in the rocky face from which yellow vines reached out across the ground and webbed over the surrounding stone. Jora felt like she was being eaten as the trio guided to the entrance.

    They passed the creatures pulling the prisoner cart on the way. Jora gawked at the sight of them.  They were massive, bulky things. Even on all fours, she stood only to their shoulders. Their heads were oblong with horns sprouting from the top, and their eyes¡­She almost hurled realizing that they had no eyes. Instead, long, gold tendrils sprouted from where there should¡¯ve been sockets and reached back towards their riders as the horrible equivalent of reigns.

    ¡°Hurry,¡± the gildgrown demanded, tugging her into the opening. The natural light of the morning abandoned her for auburn, unnatural illumination that came from glossy, organic bulbs growing in the thick vines covering the walls.

    And the air was saturated with spores.

    Jora held her breath for as long as she could, but after just a few seconds her body betrayed her and she inhaled deeply. Nothing happened.

    ¡°These spores will not hurt you,¡± the gildgrown gurgled. ¡°We have not bred them for warfare. All they do is allow us to breathe freely.¡± It pulled off its mask, then looked at her with a bare face.

    It barely looked human, all desiccated and ghastly pale with a bald head. Vines similar to the ones webbing the rock crawled up its face from the neck.

    ¡°Where are we?¡± Jora whimpered, fighting against its grip uselessly. Did all these freaks have unusual strength? ¡°What is this place? I want to go home.¡±

    ¡°This is our Cluster,¡± it said with a feminine, tonal voice not at all like the voice behind its mask. ¡°We gather here while we plan on how to deal with your¡­ unclean people.¡±

    The tunnel opened up into a vast  cavern that rose up for multiple stories. That hard, spongy material replaced the stone floor and walls here, covering every centimeter of visible space. Jora saw dozens of gildgrown milling about multiple floors, carrying crates of supplies, polishing their powder guns and longer weapons that resembled crossbows.

    In the middle of the ground floor, she saw the huge, armored gildgrown standing with a few others in a circle, pointing at something she couldn¡¯t see on the ground.

    Her captor pulled her all the way up eight floors, then pushed her into a small, carved out room with bars. It shut the gate behind her and locked it.

    ¡°You said you were gonna deal with my people?¡± Jora asked, orienting herself after all the travel and shock of the last few days. ¡°What are you gonna do to them? Tell me, please!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s of no matter to you, empty-girl,¡± the gildgrown said.

    ¡°Tell me anyways!¡± Jora begged, moving up to the bars. ¡°I have a brother! Tell me what you¡¯re gonna do to him! I deserve to know!¡±

    ¡°The Vine-thorn will take him,¡± she muttered quickly, as if it wasn¡¯t something to speak out loud. ¡°Him and all the rest.¡±

    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Jora asked, but the gildgrown was already walking away. ¡°What does that mean!!¡± She received no answer.

    She¡¯s wrong, Jora thought, backing away and dropping to the spongy floor. My brother¡¯s coming. Thime always saved her. He saved her when she wandered near the edge of the Temple cliff as a child and when she almost ate a bad ashbud. He always protected her.

    ¡°He¡¯s coming,¡± she whispered to her new prison cell. ¡°He¡¯ll be here soon.¡±

 Chapter Twenty-Five: Pain- Halari

    Stockade

    Halari forced herself to take a very, very deep breath to still her pounding heart. She leaned against the wall next to the door of the detainment building, listening to Callan¡¯s words as he introduced her while she dribbled some more of the paint on to the blade of her knife. What was about to happen in the next few minutes made her nauseous, but she focused on the ember of hate she felt for the gildgrown, the need to get a lead on Jora, and the want to figure out just what the hell they were up to.

    ¡°¡­because she will not,¡± Callan finished. That was her cue. Halari swung around so that her shadow filled the door frame and bowed her head. This all felt goofy and dramatic to her, but Callan insisted theatrics were often underestimated for how useful they could be.

    ¡®Fear of the pain is often good enough in an interrogation,¡¯ he¡¯d said over a shared bowl of ashbuds a couple nights ago. ¡®Especially if they¡¯re convinced you¡¯re gonna follow through.¡¯ That was the ticket question: was she going to follow through? Again, she reached inside herself to stoke that ember of her wrath; it grew especially hot and bright as the sound of her enemy¡¯s existence made itself known.

    The gildgrown¡¯s wheezing was harsh and fast, like the panting of a cornered animal.

    I¡¯m actually scaring it, Halari realized, stalking towards her target with measured steps. Grease paint dripped off the tip of her knife, adding to the appearance of her approach. She stopped in front of the gildgrown¡¯s cell. It was the only one with a light on but a dim one at that.

    ¡°Stay away,¡± the bound gildgrown gurgled. ¡°I have nothing to say to you, blood-witch.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s too bad,¡± Halari growled, unlocking the gate and sliding inside. She wondered she how she looked to this thing cowering on the bench. Was the paint enough? The gildgrown¡¯s body language definitely displayed some fear. ¡°I just got done talking to some of your friends.¡± She held up her knife for it to see the red on its metal edge and almost smiled when the freak¡¯s fluttering gurgles sped up. ¡°I¡¯m hoping you can be a little more helpful than they were.¡±

    ¡°Leave me be!¡± it screamed, wiggling away pathetically on defunct legs.

    ¡°One of our citizens is missing,¡± Halari said. She placed the tip of her knife against its clothed shoulder, praying all the while she wouldn¡¯t actually have to push it in. Inside, she begged the gildgrown to blabber everything it knew. ¡°Do you know anything about that?¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t speak to you!¡± it shouted, almost flopping off the bench in desperation. ¡°I will speak to no one!¡±

    Halari frowned and deflated inside. She didn¡¯t look to Callan for approval or support; this was going to have to be something she did alone. The tip of her knife pressed deeper into the yellow rags. ¡°Fine, have it your way then.¡± She cocked her arm back, then drove her blade into the gildgrown¡¯s shoulder, right under where she figured its collarbone should be, although it was hard to tell under the rags.

    The gildgrown screeched in pain, a sound like metal colliding under water, and writhed to make space between its body and her edge. Halari stayed on it, all going numb as she pressed down on the hilt, using the knife as a lever against the bone. It was like she saw all of this from a distance, like it wasn¡¯t really her inflicting this pain.

    ¡°Do you  know anything?¡± she asked again. Her voice sounded so hollow, so cold. The gildgrown thrashed, its legs unnervingly still. Too still. As if the pitiful creature was trying to keep them from flailing instead of them being assumedly useless.

    Halari narrowed her eyes. Shouldn¡¯t they at least be swinging about with all the movement? She slid the knife out, feeling something off about the way the yellow-clothed freak had fallen on its back in its agony.

    She was too slow to get away.

    The crippled gildgrown kicked her.

    Its heavy, booted foot collided with her gut at full force, knocking the wind out of her lungs in a rush. Halari flew back and hit the bars of the cell with a dull ring! The gildgrown scrambled to stand, but its chest-bound arms made it awkward to rise, so she had time to recover.

    What the fuck? Halari heaved in a breath, then readied herself to attack as her anger boiled in her blood. She was gonna carve this thing¡¯s spine out vertebrae by vertebrae if that¡¯s what it took!

    No need.

    Callan exploded into the room like a tempest and slammed the gildgrown into the back wall with his shoulder. He caught its body when it bounced off the stone, lifted it up horizontally and dropped it back-first down onto his knee.

    That¡¯s what you get, Halari thought with a gleeful snarl when the sound of snapping vertebrae echoed in the room. The gildgrown¡¯s scream of pain wasn¡¯t even louder than that. It flopped roughly to the ground, groaning like an old machine that¡¯s rust hadn¡¯t been cleaned in a decade.

    Callan was knelt at her side before its golden body even hit the floor. ¡°Are you alright? Are you hurt?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Halari growled toward the agonized gildgrown, standing with his helpful hand. ¡°How¡¯d it do that? I thought you said it was crippled.¡±

    ¡°It was,¡± Callan said. He grabbed the gildgrown by the back of its collar and held it up in one hand much like she did with small game she hunted in the wastes. ¡°I turned its spine near the hips into gravel. It should never be able to walk for the rest of its life.¡±

    Through groans of pain, the gildgrown started laughing again. It hacked out its amusement in ragged breaths and wheezed in agony in between them.

    ¡°Foolish snake-devil,¡± the gildgrown gurgled; Halari imagined that there was blood on its lips. ¡°You know nothing of the power of the Giltspore!¡±

    Callan growled, eyes flaring, then flung the freak back onto its cot like a bag of rotten tams.

    ¡°How did you heal like that?¡± Halari asked. ¡°Tell me or I¡¯ll just cut your legs clean off! See if they grow back!¡±

    ¡°My body feeds my Spore,¡± it hissed from where it lay haphazardly half-leaning on the wall. ¡°My Spore feeds my body. It is beyond you. So long as my cultivated heart beats, it will heal the worst wounds. There is nothing you can do.¡± It started laughing again, proud of the power in its body.

    ¡°Perhaps it would be wise to stop speaking, prisoner,¡± Callan said. ¡°If you were smarter, you might realize that might be exactlywhat the Blood-witch wants to hear.¡±

    The gildgrown¡¯s laugh cut off abruptly with a choking noise that prompted a dark giggle that Halari only felt a little a bit of shame for making. Its goggles turned to her, and, for the first time, she noticed her own reflection in the translucent, amber glass. She looked manic with grease paint ribboning down her face and a feral grin on her not-actually-bloody lips.

    ¡°What do you think?¡± Callan asked, turning to her.

    Halari thought hard, looking at herself in the gildgrown¡¯s lenses. Was this who she was going to be? A torturer? The Quarry¡¯s torturer. The gildgrown¡¯s blood witch. Her darker instincts begged ¡®yes,¡¯ and as much as she wanted to turn away from them, this enemy in front of her wanted to hurt her people.

    She made a choice.

    ¡°So he¡¯s saying we don¡¯t understand the Giltspore?¡± Halari held her knife back up for the gildgrown to admire. It dripped with real blood this time. ¡°Maybe a little bit of¡­ experimenting could teach us something.¡±

    ¡°I agree,¡± Callan said slyly. ¡°Research is always best to do when facing a new problem.¡±

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Halari stumbled queasily from the stockade, then sat onto a nearby bench and put her head between her knees.

    That was a lot of fingers, she thought, feeling Callan take a seat next to her. He put a hand on her shoulder while she fought her roiling stomach as it tried very hard to displace her breakfast.

    She held firm even against the gross images flashing in her head. Turned out when a gildgrown¡¯s fingers were severed, then held back to the cut that long, thin vines reached out and reconnected the digits to the hand. However, if they were held out a short distance, the tendrils still reached for them, but¡­ wiggled when they weren¡¯t able to touch flesh. It was a revolting sight live, and not at all diminished in her memory.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe we got almost nothing valuable from that,¡± Halari whispered. She uncoiled on the bench and sidled closer to Callan with a heavy, disgusted sigh.

    ¡°We know what they want now,¡± Callan said.

    ¡°Spread,¡± Halari repeated. The prisoner¡¯s mantra sounded in her ears: ¡®We spread, we spread, we spread.¡¯ That was all it said after nearly one hundred minutes of suffering at the hands of the Blood-Witch. Nothing about Jora, or even a place where its friends were located, just a declaration of intent chanted over and over and over. ¡°They won¡¯t stop, will they?¡±

    ¡°Most likely not,¡± Callan said. ¡°And I don¡¯t believe we¡¯ll get any more out of the prisoner.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to kill it,¡± Halari said with a small frown. ¡°It can¡¯t stay here.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of that for you,¡± Callan said. ¡°You¡¯ve already done more than enough.¡±

    ¡°My day¡¯s not over, I still gotta go look for Jora.¡± She glanced at the sky where the white glare was halfway into its descent. If she left now, she¡¯d have a few hours to search the city for signs of their missing Quarrywoman. ¡°Damn I was really hoping that thing gave us info to work with.¡±

    ¡°If they took her, they¡¯ve probably already killed her,¡± Callan said glumly. ¡°Otherwise, they¡¯ll have reached out for trade or ransom.¡±

    ¡°And that¡¯s betting they¡¯re reasonable,¡± Halari huffed. ¡°But their goal doesn¡¯t sound like logic to me.¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Callan sighed.

    They sat together on the bench in a pleasant, unwinding silence and Halari found some comfort in that warm static charge Callan generated around him, allowing herself to relax in it like a weighted blanket. Soon enough, far too soon, she forced herself to stand and stretched. It was time to go.

    ¡°You said the city was the best place to focus on?¡± she asked.

    ¡°According to something Telero hinted at,¡± Callan said, ¡°it might be worth it to look.¡±

    That filled her with a cold worry. Her brother was a locked door right now, but the idea that he had something to do with Jora¡¯s disappearance pricked at her like a splinter in her thumb. Part of her deep down knew for certain that he absolutely had something to do with it, but she wasn¡¯t ready to admit that to her conscience.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go in deeper today,¡± Halari said. ¡°Somewhere only I have the experience to navigate.¡±

    ¡°Will you be mad if I say¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡®Be careful?¡¯¡± Halari finished for him, shooting him a a mock glare as she did so. ¡°What do you think?¡±

    Callan chuckled softly. ¡°How about, ¡®come back soon?¡¯¡±

    ¡°Close to the line.¡± Halari kicked him lightly on the shin. ¡°But acceptable. Barely. I¡¯ll probably be back a bit after dark, so don¡¯t wait up too long. And for all my hard work today, I want some kind of reward.¡±

    ¡°Such as?¡± Callan asked, looking curious.

    ¡°Midnight bowl of buds?¡± she asked with a shrug.

    ¡°Very doable.¡± He grinned at her. ¡°Be careful out there.¡±

    Halari slapped him on the shoulder, then mock stormed off, shooting a wave and real smile back at him once she was a distance away.

    After briefing her team abroad on the area she planned to search over short-range comms, Halari was in the ruins of Atlanta before the next hour ended. The trawler rumbled along the broken streets, jolting every so often whenever it passed over a big pothole. Her pace was slower so she could keep an eye out for signs of Jora or wandering gildgrown, but nothing unusual from the standard display of desolation showed itself for blocks on blocks into the city. She footed the brakes to a squealing halt on reaching one of her own markers that designated the end of their currently surveyed zone.

    A new frontier past this flag, she thought, studying the buildings ahead with a wary eye. They didn¡¯t look too different than the ones next to her, but without knowledge to work off of, she might turn a corner and find herself plummeting into a sinkhole or a hive of mantiles. Deep breath, Halari, it¡¯s not really any different than your first time inside.

    She rolled past the flag into streets unknown, going even slower to check for signs of previous travel while trying to dismiss the thought that if Jora went this deep into the city for some Visionary-forsaken reason, she was definitely dead.

    ¡°Come on Jora where are you?¡± she asked the city. The empty buildings, different now than the ones she was used after a few blocks, watched her angrily. She was a trespasser in these streets; an interloper who¡¯d crossed boundaries into a new world in just a matter of minutes. Here, the standard building was around three stories and pocketed with circular windows. Most had wide yards in front of them which were bordered with the bones of wrecked fences.

    They slipped away once she turned a corner, giving way to the courtyard of the remains of the strangest looking building she¡¯d ever seen.

    What the hell is that? she wondered, stopping to take it in. It was the tallest building in the region by far, rising three times taller than the buildings nearby, and was also pyramidal in shape. Its top point was towards its front and its edges swooped away from that tip to give the whole building a look like that of a fin or ship sail rising from the ground. And that sail or fin was entirely made of glass. At least, she guessed it had been as there were plenty of panels intact near the bottom while a ton of shattered ones lined the top.

    ¡°Good enough place to look, I guess,¡± Halari muttered. Jora wasn¡¯t by any means a navigator, so if she went this way she might have holed up to gain some vantage.

    The courtyard itself was also weird. Its walking path winded downwards back and forth like a coiled serpent to the front door of the building. Rifle looped to her torso, Halari hopped the natural steps it made on her way to the door.

    She flicked on her shoulder-light once she was near the entrance, but once she got inside there wasn¡¯t any reason to keep it on.

    Because the building came to life.

    The lobby that she stood in lit up and illuminated her surroundings with crisp, flickering, white light. The whole place clearly didn¡¯t have enough power to sustain anything, but there was enough to activate the room.

    ¡°Wowww¡­¡± Halari breathed. Like everything else, the interior was a ruined, dilapidated mess, but it was plastered with screens showing broken images of strange, colorful creatures moving about in water. People reached out to them, smiling and happy as they stood with their children. ¡°What was this place?¡±

    She shot to attention with her rifle when a voice bellowed from the ceiling.

    ¡°HELL¡ª¡­ WELCO¡ª¡­THE¡­ OBSID¡ª¡­ QIUM¡­¡± it echoed in the room. ¡°PLEASE ENJOY¡ª¡­ JOUR¡ª¡­ SEA¡­¡± The voice went quiet.

    ¡°Hello?¡± she called, aiming down the nearby hallway. It was dark, but the second she crossed from the lobby into the passage, it also lit up, but the power left the room behind her. ¡°Hello?! Anybody there? Jora? It¡¯s Halari!¡± She kept her rifle up as she cleared the hallway. It was also decorated with screens, but they showed nothing different than the previous areas.

    ¡°Jora, are you here?¡± Halari called, moving into the next section. The hallway went dark, and when the area before her was given light, it shown on a vast cavern of a room stretching to her left and right. A staircase in front of her led up into darkness, but the dim light allowed to this part of the building was more than enough to see that she was in the middle of some kind of ancient gallery. Destroyed glass panels were set into divots in the walls that were empty, but clearly held something a long time ago.

    Her next step caught something on the floor, sending her sprawling. Halari twisted on her back on the ground, pointing her gun in the direction she¡¯d come from in case it was a trap. Nobody approached her, so Halari sat up and looked for the thing she tripped on.

    The floor was clear. Almost perfectly empty except for some usual debris and trash that she easily should¡¯ve been able to kick aside.

    Tripping on your own feet? She rose and brushed herself off, then grabbed her rifle from where it fell. That¡¯s not like you.

    Halari searched the massive room of displays for indications of life or camping, but found nothing except for an incredible tunnel made of glass. Outside the glass was an astounding amount of murky water. She couldn¡¯t see very far into it, but there were dark shapes in there that she prayed wouldn¡¯t move. The glass tunnel led to a chamber with a stunningly large window into more murk. Rows of seats were set before it like that room in the Temple where they¡¯d presented the past to her.

    This place is huge, Halari thought, moving to a metal door next to the window. It opened to a lightless staircase leading down into a sublevel of the building. She reactivated her light, held her gun up, then proceeded down the stairs slowly with a fluttering heart. A small splash sounded when she hit the bottom and her boot sunk up to its toe welt.

    ¡°Of course it¡¯s flooded,¡± Halari muttered, kicking some of the water up while she walked farther in. She doubted Jora was down here, but she felt obligated to finish checking the place out anyways being so far in already. Maybe there was some kind of boon in the building''s guts, something she could trade to the Scrag Fort for a big return. Her shoulder-light revealed little except for the brackish water she walked in and arrays of pipes on the walls and ceiling. She followed the water to a hole in the wall which she easily slid through.

    The lights returned in the next room. What it showed sent chills down her spine.

    It illuminated a large square room, entirely flooded. On the far side was another hole, this one round and reaching floor-to-ceiling, and led back outside to an old street. If she wasn¡¯t already petrified, she¡¯d curse her stupidity for not doing a perimeter check for the integrity of the building.

    What the fuck happened here? Halari checked her rifle¡¯s chamber while keeping her eyes glued to the half-dozen or so mantile carcasses that ringed a wide, deep pit at the center of the flooded floor. The water was just clear enough that she could make out its edge, but too dirty to see the bottom.

    The dead bugs were all missing their heads along with the meat in their abdomens. They¡¯d been hollowed out. Halari carefully paced the square perimeter of the room with her gun trained on the pit. The water was still except for her own ripples, so whatever was down there was either not at home or¡ª

    ¡°Oh shit!¡± Halari tripped on something again, this time rebalancing herself with a mighty splash instead of falling flat on her face into the water. She looked down, determined to find whatever she kept falling over, but saw nothing like last time. Slowly, she drug her foot back over the spot.

    Her toe stopped abruptly, blocked on something invisible protruding from the watery floor. Halari knelt, drawing her knife, and poked at the spot gently. The tip of her blade dug into something tough and rubbery about two inches above the water, but exactly the same color. She poked around it and realized it was some kind of thick tube that extended from the wall¡­

    Towards the pit.

    Go for that hole. Get out of here. Halari straightened up with the utmost of careful movements and tensed to bolt for the opening.

    The camouflaged tentacle below her, which had been the same color of the water, suddenly turned pitch black.

    As did a dozen others that webbed the walls, shot up through holes in the ceiling, and reached back into the hallway she¡¯d come from. In an instant, Halari stood trapped in an inky net of dark tendrils that all led to the center of the submerged floor.

    Then something in the briny depths of the pit moved.

 Chapter Twenty-Six: Not Again- Callan

    Temple of Melokon

    The darkening sky fought against him, ignoring his concentrated will to summon a storm cloud above. Callan remembered the true glory days of his forsaken strength when he¡¯d maintained a city-wide thunderhead with the same amount of thought it took to do basic mathematics.

    He understood how peculiar he must look to any passerby Quarrymen with his head bowed, eyes closed, and one hand up as if reaching for something in the silvery atrocity, but if he could just¡­

    Directly above him, a small speck of dark storm cloud materialized. Callan clenched his sparking, upraised fist and pushed on that speck with his will, demanding that it widen and cover the entire sky of the Quarry. It grew to the width of his podium, then tore itself apart. The remains whirled away in a light breeze, leeching a substantial portion of his own strength with them.

    ¡®Oh how pitiful you¡¯ve become.¡¯ The skull whispered, chilled tone mocking his weakness. ¡®Such little progress in all this time.¡¯ It ascended from the depths of his mind like a heavy fog seeping out of the ground and even faded lightly into his vision.

    Callan sagged and braced himself against the podium with both elbows and massaged at his pounding temples. His headache was hot as if his very brain was on fire.

    ¡°Be silent,¡± he muttered, not at all in the mood to argue with his deathly companion.

    ¡®You can¡¯t even summon a pathetic little rain cloud,¡± it continued. With Halari away in the city, it felt emboldened and took advantage of her absence. She wasn¡¯t here to banish it back into forced submission, so it came at him full of icy rage. ¡®Over a month of freedom and what do you have to show for it? No armor, no weapon, you can barely use the Talons without almost fainting. No wonder you couldn¡¯t prote¡ª¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Callan pounded the podium with a fist, barely restraining himself from shattering the surface with the force of his blow.

    ¡°My lord, is all well?¡± a voice came from his right. Callan turned to see Norio standing beside him. The awkwardly proportioned man looked both sheepish and concerned, clearly confused by his outburst. ¡°I can come back later, if it please you.¡±

    ¡°My apologies Trade Master,¡± Callan said, sighing deeply to relax. ¡°My frustration was not with you. I have many things on my mind.¡±

    ¡°Quite understandable, O Great One,¡± Norio said with a light bow. ¡°I too often find my own mind turning against me. ¡®More, more, more,¡¯ it says. And lately, ¡®more silvers, more silvers, more.¡¯ Those were quite the ingenious installment to the people if I do say so.¡±

    ¡°Took quite a while longer to integrate than I expected,¡± Callan said, ¡°but they seemed to have figured out. You did good work setting prices for products.¡±

    ¡°Many thanks, my lord,¡± Norio said with another bow. ¡°The Finance Sector is truly a beautiful bloom. I am excited to see what it becomes.¡±

    ¡°Just wait until I tell you about taxes,¡± Callan chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ll start foaming at the mouth. Now, what can I do for you, Trade Master?¡± Behind Norio, he spotted Captain Dalvo walking up. The soldier¡¯s posture was perfectly martial, but the look on his face was saturated with a need for audience.

    ¡°I was hoping to discuss upcoming resource distribution for the jubilee next week,¡± Norio said. He removed a thin stack of papers from the satchel under his bulging waist and read something on the first one. ¡°Now, assuming the generosity of the Scrag Fort, I think we can spare a few more gunpowder canisters for fireworks and not see a major hit to the militia''s inventory.- Also¡ª¡±

    ¡°A moment, Trade Master.¡± Callan held up a finger to pause the man¡¯s rambling. Norio was somebody with an endless supply of air when it came to speaking, especially about finances and resource management. ¡°What are you talking about? The jubilee?¡±

    Norio looked shocked, even putting a hand to his gut like Callan had wounded him. ¡°Have you not been told of the Quarry¡¯s Night of Burning Stars? It¡¯s quite the affair, my lord.¡±

    ¡°Apparently I have not,¡± Callan said, clasping his hands behind his back. ¡°Please inform me.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a night of indulgence,¡± Norio began, becoming somewhat wistful. ¡°A night of entertainment to recover from a year of hard labor. There are games to be won, once-a-year drinks to be shared, food stores to be broken out. It is the Quarry at its most pure and happy.¡±

    ¡°So it¡¯s a party,¡± Callan clarified. ¡°Norio, we¡¯re at war and one of our citizens has gone missing. Perhaps it might be best to cancel this jubilee.¡±

    Captain Dalvo, still waiting in line behind the trade master, made a noise as if he¡¯d been punched in the gut and Callan flicked his eyes over to him. The shorter man instantly stiffened, realizing his mistake.

    ¡°Step forward, Captain,¡± Callan mused with a small smile. ¡°Something to say on this matter?¡±

    The officer moved up beside Norio and cleared his throat. ¡°Great Flame, as your first officer, I can¡¯t advise that. On a troop-level, it would be a huge blow to morale.¡±

    ¡°It would be devastating to all of the people, Great One,¡± Norio added. ¡°You might even- and pardon my forwardness- lose so much of this wonderful progress you have made in the last few weeks.¡±

    ¡°Is it really that important?¡± Callan pressed, arching a brow at both men. Dalvo nodded energetically with wide eyes, then saluted for some reason, and Norio bellowed a laugh.

    ¡°My lord!¡± His chuckle came from deep in his distended belly. ¡°The Night of Burning Stars is the single most important event every year. Even when the Quarry has nothing, we have the jubilee. For the next week or more after, you¡¯ll see a refreshed vigor in the workers and soldiers.¡±

    If they¡¯re right, maybe this is what the people need, Callan thought, eyeing both of them. Dalvo was incapable of lying and the devious trade master looked mostly genuine; they also did know the people better than he did, at least for now.

    ¡°Very well,¡± he said, getting bright smiles from the unlikely duo. ¡°Captain, do you have men to provide a skeleton crew for protection? We can forego patrols for that night, but we¡¯ll still need a gate detail.¡±

    ¡°The militia¡¯s gotten a few more recruits lately,¡± Dalvo said. ¡°I can put some of the newer ones on the gate after it¡¯s died down. I¡¯ll take the first shift.¡±

    ¡°You argued for it only to not participate?¡± Callan asked. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s uh¡­ kinda only fun if you have a dance partner, Great Flame.¡± Dalvo grimaced and flushed, shifting uncomfortably on his feet. ¡°I¡­ uh¡­ don¡¯t usually have one.¡±

    ¡°Then find one,¡± Callan said. ¡°I order you to attend the first two hours as recompense for your earlier interruption.¡± He grinned at the man to let him know he wasn¡¯t actually in trouble, but Dalvo still shrunk back anyways, although more perhaps from nerves of following the order rather than fear of being disciplined.

    Stolen novel; please report.

    ¡°As for resources.¡± He turned to Norio. ¡°Be reasonable, but make me regret my earlier reticence. I want to see these people happier than I ever have.¡±

    ¡°Most thanks, O Great One!¡± Norio boomed. He bowed one more time in farewell, deep enough that Callan worried his protruding gut might burst, then turned and lunged off in his odd manner of walking.

    ¡°Did you have something else for me, Captain?¡± Callan asked.

    ¡°Yes sir, the men are ready for more formations,¡± Dalvo said. ¡°We¡¯ve pretty much perfected the ones you gave us, so I was hoping you had the time to meet with us five captains and teach us more to show our squads.¡±

    ¡°Tell the officers to gather in the command center in an hour,¡± Callan said. ¡°There¡¯s an advanced one I can show you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Great Flame.¡± The captain bowed and turned to walk away, but hesitated, lingering. Callan saw the militaristic mannerisms dissolve, then Dalvo the young man turned back around. ¡°Can I ask you something, my lord? Personal advice.¡±

    ¡°By all means, Captain,¡± Callan said. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ how do I¡­?¡± Dalvo chewed on his words. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ not really good at talking to girls. That¡¯s why I was just gonna take the first shift so I didn¡¯t stand around awkwardly at the jubilee, even though you were right about more approaching me lately. What do I¡­ do?¡±

    I thought as much. Callan chuckled lightly, then clapped the young man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Your first step is to not salute at the ones who come up to you. And try actually saying words that don¡¯t sound like you giving orders.¡±

    ¡°Heh-heh, yeah¡­¡± Dalvo chuckled nervously. ¡°And maybe if I wear my uniform they¡¯ll think I¡¯m on guard duty .¡±

    ¡°Addendum to my order,¡± Callan said, raising a finger at the man, ¡°you are not allowed to wear anything other than casual clothes during your attendance. You¡¯re a good soldier, a great one even, but I want my men to enjoy life, even if I have to force them. Understood?¡±

    Dalvo paled, but nodded lightly. ¡°So my orders are to have a good time?¡±

    ¡°Yes, exactly,¡± Callan said. ¡°And Dalvo, when it comes to asking for a dance partner, just be confident.¡±

    ¡°That¡­ doesn¡¯t really help, my lord,¡± Dalvo mumbled. ¡°What does that even mean?¡±

    Callan shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s just what I was told once upon a very long time ago. You¡¯ll figure it out.¡±

    ¡°I sure hope so.¡± The officer looked terrified and entirely unconvinced. ¡°Thank you, Great Flame. Command Center in an hour?¡±

    ¡°See you there, Captain.¡± Callan dismissed the man with a gesture and Dalvo drifted off with a blatantly nervous gait.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A while after the sky went that smeared black it became at night, Callan closed the door to his office behind him and sunk into his desk chair. The stubborn-little dustbunny squeaked at him from its bed in the corner, so he grabbed a chunk of salted tam from a bowl nearby and tossed it perfectly to land in front of its twitching nose, then he relaxed back and checked the clock on his desk.

    Later than I thought, he realized, reading the ¡®16:45¡¯ on its digital face. Midnight was in just over an hour. Shouldn¡¯t Halari be back by now? Some worry prickled at the back of his mind, but he reminded himself that she was more than capable out there, and she¡¯d probably just gone home right after returning so she could sleep.

    Still¡­

    And she did want that bowl¡­ Callan rose and left his office quickly and made his way into town, dismissing the placating thoughts that told him he was just being overprotective. Her absence felt off, uncharacteristic of how long she usually spent out in the city.

    His first stop was the gate guard at the top of the entry ramp.

    ¡°At ease, men,¡± Callan said to their salutes. ¡°Has Outcrew Captain Halari checked back in?¡±

    The guard checked his log, then frowned, sending a tremor through Callan that he didn¡¯t let them see. ¡°No, Great Flame. She logged out at eight forty-one, but she ain¡¯t come back.¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯ve been on shift the whole time?¡± Callan pressed.

    ¡°Yes m¡¯lord, I pulled a double today,¡± he said. ¡°I watched her go and she hasn¡¯t driven back in. That big ol¡¯ trawler of hers is hard to miss.¡±

    ¡°Yes it is,¡± Callan said tersely, mind already on his next destination. ¡°Thank you, back to work.¡± He trotted back down the ramp and towards Halari¡¯s house.

    He knocked on the door, hoping that somebody inside was awake enough to answer, even if it was unpleasant, angry Telero. Thankfully, a sleepy Viria answered, yawning wide. Her blonde-blue hair was matted down on one side as if she¡¯d just gotten out of bed.

    ¡°Callan?¡± She stared up at him with confused, heavy eyelids. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t suppose your sister is back from the ruins?¡± Callan asked, trying not to display his buzzing nerves. ¡°She¡¯s been gone for longer than normal in the city and the gate hasn¡¯t checked her back in.¡±

    ¡°I thought she was with you,¡± Viria said, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. ¡°She¡¯s done overnights, but never in the city, at least, that¡¯s what she told me.¡±

    ¡®Uh oh, Callan,¡± the skull murmured, surging back into his awareness with a dark, blistering laugh. ¡®It¡¯s happening again.¡¯

    ¡°Gather the scouts,¡± Callan ordered, ¡°and meet me at the departure point. I think she might¡¯ve gotten in trouble in the city. Hurry.¡±

    ¡°You got it,¡± Viria said, boots already halfway on. ¡°We¡¯ll be there in ten.¡±

    ¡°Good.¡± Callan left her there and ran back up to the gate, fear bubbling. Not again, not again, not again. ¡°Men, attention!¡±

    The gate guards snapped to salute.

    ¡°Lady Halari is missing,¡± he told them. ¡°This is no fault of yours, but be prepared for any assailants or an ambush. I¡¯m leading the scout team into the city. While we¡¯re gone, if you see even a hint of yellow, reach Captain Dalvo and get a squad up here as fast as you can! Engage as needed.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Great Flame!¡± they shouted in unison.

    Callan nodded at them, then passed them to reach the departure point. The hidden crates of checkpoint resources were undisturbed, so she hadn¡¯t come back since they¡¯d been restocked today, which usually happened near sunset.

    I¡¯ll turn that city inside out. The storm built in his chest, growing next to the fear. Vehicles rumbled closer to him and he turned, not at all surprised to see the Scout team driving to him at full speed. Viria was quick on the comms, it seemed.

    ¡°We¡¯re all here,¡± she said, more focused than he¡¯d ever seen her now that her family was at risk. ¡°We¡¯re good on charge and weapons.¡±

    ¡°Very good,¡± Callan said. ¡°Scouts attention!¡±

    The outgoing team snapped to their own version of the salute on their humming vehicles. Instead of a flat hand slashing upwards towards each heart, their hands made a circle with their fingers and placed it at their shoulder, like a mounted light; it was apparently some kind of inside joke, according to Halari.

    ¡®You¡¯re too slow,¡¯ the skull hissed in his ear. ¡®She¡¯s already dead. Rotting in some street with your name on her tongue. And you! Weren¡¯t! There!¡¯

    ¡°Earlier today your captain went into the city,¡± Callan explained, ¡°and she hasn¡¯t come back. Did she give any of you indication where she might have gone?¡±

    ¡°Southern dark zone!¡± a voice called.

    ¡°And did you let her go alone?¡± Callan asked the group. Nobody responded, and an uneasy silence fell over the whole party.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t a reprimand!¡± Callan said. ¡°Your captain is missing and I need to know all of the relevant details.¡±

    ¡°Great Flame¡­¡± Viria¡¯s mouth pinched together tightly. ¡°She doesn¡¯t usually let anybody tag along on her routes. We just kinda¡­ stopped asking.¡±

    ¡°So, she went alone,¡± Callan affirmed. ¡°When we get to the area, I want every building cleared, every street swept, and every¡ª¡±

    ¡°Callan!¡± Viria gasped, looking at something over his shoulder towards the dark wastes that were shrouded by night. He spun, fists flickering with Melokon¡¯s Fire in case some kind of beast had come to crash their gathering.

    Instead, he saw Halari limping up. He¡¯d been so focused on addressing the team that he hadn¡¯t heard her trawler rumble towards them. But that didn¡¯t matter at all; Halari looked as if she¡¯d suffered through a nightmare.

    By the Dragon what happened to her? Callan froze at the sight of her. Dried blood stuck to her face from a gash on her hairline while fresh scarlet rivulets dribbled from dozens of tiny puncture wounds on her left forearm. Her vest was missing and other garments were tattered, completely shredded in some sections. The only things that looked intact were her boots and her rifle.

    ¡°Hala!¡± Viria blasted past him and slammed into her sister with a hug. Callan rushed up behind the blonde, beyond concerned by Halari¡¯s wounds. He took her arm and caught a roll of bandages thrown by one of the scouts, then wrapped the little pricks tightly. The tiny holes were set in close pairs and flowed in a swirl down and around her entire forearm.

    ¡°Is this all for me?¡± Halari asked, voice faint and exhausted.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Callan asked. ¡°Where did you go?¡±

    ¡°Long story,¡± she sighed, pulling out of Viria¡¯s hug and embracing Callan. She felt cold and startlingly more fragile than usual in his arms, as if whatever happened had weakened her very muscles and stolen her warmth. ¡°Let¡¯s just say the southern dark zone is off-limits.¡±

 Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Brine Specter- Halari

    Previous afternoon

    All was still.

    All was quiet except for the regular small drip that fell into the water in the far corner from where Halari stood motionless, staring at the pit before her where a web of black tendrils all coordinated.

    She barely breathed. She barely thought.

    I have to go, Halari demanded of herself while cold sweat collected on her forehead and trickled down her face in streams. Thankfully, her legs refused to obey because they knew better than her brain did that the moment she did anything other stand completely still, whatever lived in those depths was going to attack. Already one of its tendrils was slithering along the wall near the dripping water, fading into different colors as it glided over them. All four walls were painted with some kind of picture, each a depiction of animals she didn¡¯t recognize.

    Move, Halari, do something. She slid her feet along the floor, not even daring to lift them an inch.

    Immediately, the sliding tendril across the room went still and the one closest to her, the one she¡¯d just tripped over, shifted. It crawled up the wall, then lifted clean off to swing through the air like a serpent tasting the wind for a prey¡¯s body heat. It moved right for her face and Halari forced herself not to gasp in fear or even gulp from nerves. She trembled- that couldn¡¯t be helped at this point- but kept her feet planted as she leaned back as far as her upper body allowed. The tip of the tendril barely missed her nose before retreating back to its original location and reapplying its almost-flawless camouflage.

    That¡¯s when her sweat, which had been ribboning towards her chin, fell free of her face.

    And plopped into the water below.

    Halari dove without a second thought, avoiding the barrage of tentacles that exploded from the depths of the pit and rushed her. She barely dodged the first few, splashing desperately in a mad dash for the huge hole that led outside.

    Then one got her around the left ankle and yanked.

    Halari cried out as she was wrenched backwards by her foot, then lifted into the air upside down. She awkwardly batted other tendrils away with her rifle and slashed at the one holding her leg.

    Both endeavors failed. Despite her core strength allowing her to basically sit up while inverted, Halari couldn¡¯t get an angle to sever the one restraining her, and in a dark flash, another smacked her rifle away and out of the big hole in the wall, then constricted around her left forearm like a tight, painful sleeve before biting her.

    She screamed, feeling dozens of points of searing pain pierce her skin as a third tentacle grabbed her other knee. She was spun her right-side up with only her knife hand unbound; the tendrils seemed to be wary of her blade, but not enough to stop them from trying now that they had her almost totally incarcerated. Through teary eyes, she saw a fourth spring for her arm, but she was swung at it.

    Her knife, which she cleaned and sharpened frequently, rewarded her for such loyalty to its maintenance by shearing clean through the flesh and muscle of the tentacle, sending a spray of crimson blood through the air to cloud the murky water below.

    A bellowing shriek emanated from below, so forceful that the water shivered and the air buzzed. From the depths of the flooded pit, a darker shape emerged. The monster¡¯s head broke the surface with an angry splash and its eight bloody eyes, each the size of her own face, glared at her in pain and fury. The massive head was disc shaped, black, and chitinous in texture. A wide ridge of small horns separated the two columns of eyes set into each side of its face. It rotated its head upwards, revealing a lipless array of shin-length fangs and mandibles at each corner of its mouth, then roared at her with a sound that would make a Cragbeast shiver in horror.

    Keep swinging, get free! Halari lashed out again and cut the tentacle wrapped around her right knee. The beast bellowed again, spraying crimson from two wounds, but it still didn¡¯t let her go. She couldn¡¯t reach across her body to get a good angle to sever the remaining binds, so she flipped her knife to hold by the blade, prayed to whatever was listening, and flung it. The weapon flew end-over-end in seemingly slow motion, then dug point first deep into its left, bottom-most eye. The monster screamed, spittle flinging from its maw, and, apparently deciding the pain wasn¡¯t worth it for the moment, launched her towards the hole in the wall.

    ¡°Oomph!¡± Halari hit its rim hard and was flipped around the edge to land painfully on the concrete outside. Dazed, seeing double, and bleeding a bit from her head, she grabbed the discarded rifle in her right hand and stumbled up a nearby set of stairs that led to the road. Her left arm was numb, limp, and unresponsive, a feeling that was quickly creeping down her side to her leg, which grew heavier by the second.

    Gotta find a place to hole up, she planned, head swimming. The trawler was too far on the other side of the building, but she aimed for a nearby four-story structure with a broken-down front door, shivering from being wet and cold all the while. The paralytic overtaking her was almost done with her left leg and started to spread to her right, forcing a limp to her panicky shambles that slowed her down.

    A liquid sound of movement behind drew her attention back to the aquarium.

    ¡°Betrayer¡¯s damnation¡­¡± Halari gasped through numbing lips. She¡¯d expected a couple of tentacles to chase her, but the whole monster glided out of its home on a whirling mass of ceaseless tendrils, some grabbing onto nearby walls, standing poles, or other objects so it could pull itself out and up. Its entire bulky, oblong body was capable of that perfect camouflage and she watched, somewhat amazed, blend into the city in real time as it moved, some patches recoloring to match the buildings, others the street.

    Halari felt a little relieved that its eight eyes were turned the other way for the moment, but she didn¡¯t slow down even when she made it into the building. On leaden legs, she lugged herself up two flights of stairs before finding a room which was open, then flung her body inside as her lower limbs shut off completely. Her eyelids were heavy and drooping, but she pulled herself to a nearby closet on her last good arm and slid its door shut before allowing her eyes to lock closed; she didn¡¯t have much choice in that matter.

    Halari did not pass out.

    Please don¡¯t let it find me, she begged, perfectly conscious and awake in her own mind, almost like normal. It was only her body that failed to respond or move at her commands. She laid there, breaths forced out on automatic, and helplessly listened to the unnerving aquatic sounds of the monster searching nearby. Please don¡¯t look here, please don¡¯t look here, please don¡¯t look here. The thing made a wet trumpeting sound right outside the building.

    Dread built in her heart when she heard a tentacle scraping in the walls nearby, most likely using an air vent to get around for its search. It moved into floor below her, slithering right under where her shoulders were, then into the main room.

    Oh gods it found an opening. She heard it approach then thump against the bottom of the door to the closet before continuing onwards for a while until, failing to find anything, it retreated back into the vent and left.

    Everything went silent after that. Halari remained flat on her back, breathing evenly thanks to the paralytic, on the hard, metal floor. Blood trickled down her temple for a while before drying, but she felt the tiny pricks on her arm continue to leak ever-so-lightly over the course of the next couple of hours.

    Feeling returned to her fingers first. Halari twitched her left hand as soon as warmth seeped back into the muscles, sighing gratefully as it quickly spread all over, allowing her control again.

    That was¡­awful. Halari sat up and shivered, unable to stop imaging what it would¡¯ve been like to be eaten alive while paralyzed but perfectly conscious. She gained her feet and cracked the closet door quietly to peer into the main room. It looked barren, empty except for some broken screens on the wall and rubble tossed about. I have to figure out how to see those tentacles. Sure, that one had slithered out, but who was she to assume that the beast didn¡¯t send another one more quietly.

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Halari took stock of what she did know. It was fast, a master of camouflage, and seemingly intelligent.

    Camo¡¯d¡­ but not invisible. She knelt and clicked on her shoulder light and panned it over the floors nearby. Since it wasn¡¯t invisible, it would definitely cast a shadow.

    Seeing none, Halari took a tentative step out into the main room and braced herself to run.

    Nothing happened.

    Let¡¯s just get to the trawler and go, Halari told herself. She kept her light on as she descended through the building to check for any tendrils lying in wait, but as soon she left the structure, she took a deep breath and flicked it to a lower setting, choosing to risk the illumination to get back to her trawler.

    Night had fallen, so the city was completely dark and terrifyingly silent. She crept down the streets with her rifle cocked, aimed up, and finger on the trigger. The trek took way longer to weave around the giant building than necessary; she even stopped every once in a while to listen when she swore that the whispers of tendrils moving about hissed in her terrified ears.

    Her trawler appeared in the violet of her shoulder light after fifteen minutes of slow, clumsy movement. ¡°Hey, baby,¡± she whispered, patting it softly. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±

    She didn¡¯t dare stow her rifle, instead bracing it like a forward turret between the vehicle¡¯s steering handles, then with a held breath, she hit the ignition. The trawler rumbled to life, headlights clicking on automatically to reveal a perfectly normal, debris-strewn, empty street leading into the city.

    ¡°I¡¯m never coming back here again,¡± Halari huffed, starting the trawler to roll forward.

    The street ten feet in front of her opened two blood red eyes about three feet in the middle of the air and fixed them on her with malicious intent. Then it opened five more and inky darkness spread out from them to fill out the mass of the monster¡¯s body. It had tentacles creeping up nearby walls and curled around random objects in the street.

    It gurgled at her and made its wet trumpeting sound that vibrated her bones.

    ¡°No fucking way!¡± Halari shot it immediately, not even bothering to aim. Her bullet shattered part of the ridge of wide horns, splashing blood up like a pebble tossed into a lake. The beast screeched and swung a tendril as thick as her leg at her. She barely ducked the incoming appendage, then tucked and rolled off her trawler with her rifle to fire again when she came to rest in a crouch.

    One of its crimson eyes popped like an ashbud, but rather than back off in pain, it roared and launched its oblong body at her, using a couple of tentacles as a slingshot. Halari threw herself backwards, just avoiding being bit in half, but the monster¡¯s fangs snagged her vest and ripped it off in tatters.

    Three more bullets into its shell, mouth, and mandible forced it into a retreat, but the beast put itself between her and the idling trawler to block her escape, spitting and groaning.

    Keeping an eye out for questing tentacles, Halari looked for weaknesses. Real vulnerabilities. The thing didn¡¯t seem to care that it was losing eyes, and it was clearly smart enough to hang back to study her, shifting and moving through too many tendrils for another good shot.

    Her mind raced with possibilities.

    Light armor up top, she analyzed, sighting iron sights on its head. Underbelly? Brain? The monster gurgled and shrieked at her in agitation. Halari feigned a lunge, but was immediately rebuffed by a couple of whipping tentacles. In the opening those made, she saw something promising. A thicker tendril dropped down from its center mass towards the real road. It wasn¡¯t moving at all and it became camouflaged after the first couple feet of length.

    Something different. It was a reach and she knew it, but at that point she didn¡¯t care. Halari lunged again, baiting another opening from attack, snapped up and aimed at it, then fired. The bullet tore through the tendril cleanly and blood started pouring from the wound, leaking like a broken faucet. It also lost its camo, so Halari saw that once it hit the ground, the inky length ran like an unbelievably long power cable all the way back in the direction of the thing¡¯s lair.

    The monster screamed and shook, each tentacle writhed, whipping in agony. Halari didn¡¯t let her guard down as she crept forward, plugging her last rounds into its soft shell and spraying blood on the road. When it¡¯s third eye exploded in a red burst, the creature wrapped itself in tendrils and started pulling itself away through an alley, covering its retreat with a wild lashes behind it.

    Go go go! Halari didn¡¯t waste time, sprinting for her trawler and slamming the accelerator before the beast changed its mind. She left its screams behind her and didn¡¯t look back. At some point in the battle, her arm bites had reopened; they stung and bled down her wrist, scarlet life trickling all the way to the handles.

    She drove as fast as the trawler allowed, which was still dishearteningly slow, but she didn¡¯t stop for anything and kept her eyes peeled for another ambush. Did that building wriggle? Was that a shadow or another reaching appendage of the beast? Did she drive over a puddle or was that splash the sound of it chasing her down having healed quickly in its watery pit?

    Halari¡¯s heart pounded in her chest, thudding loudly in her ears every time the trawler jolted or ran over something in the road. It only slowed once the city gave way to the secure stone of the wasteland. She found the bravery to toss a look over her shoulder, then sighed. There wasn¡¯t any sign of blood or pursuit behind her, so she dared to hope that it was finally gone.

    I think I got away this time, she thought, slowing the trawler to a less desperate and panicked speed. She made for the departure point, remembering the first aid supplies that were in the storage boxes there.

    Once she got close, the comforting vision of lights in the dark guided her. Their sources were a phalanx of ATVs circling around a single familiar figure, who faced them with hand on his hips.

    They were coming to get me. Halari spotted Callan, Viria, and her team preparing for a trip into the city. Her sister nodded at something Callan was saying, but then she glanced over in her direction and her eyes went wide.

    ¡°HALA!¡± Viria¡¯s shout was both relieved and worried; Halari didn¡¯t even have time to wave before she was slammed into and wrapped in a hug. Callan was close behind.

    After the chill of the night, the water, and the blood loss, the warmth he generated as he embraced her was very, very welcome.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ¡°¡­so nobody goes past the south marker,¡± Halari murmured, finishing up her story. ¡°Viri, make sure they all know. Hell, bring the line in a couple blocks for safety. That thing might not be dead.¡± She laid now on her bed and was buried under a couple warm blankets. After cleaning off her face, Callan had personally wrapped a bandage to her head and applied a tight dressing to her arm. A black pill bottle, which Callan said was full of painkillers, sat on her bedside table with its lid off in case she needed one easily.

    ¡°You got it, Hala,¡± Viria said, tucking a green lock of Halari¡¯s hair behind the bandage. The blonde looked so concerned, like Halari was going to shatter into a million pieces if she took too deep a breath. Halari would¡¯ve looked to Callan for an escape from the pity, but he looked worse: a mix of angry and ashamed for some reason. ¡°Can I get you something? Anything? Another water bottle or some food? Or maybe an¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m alright, Viri. Mada already got me all set up.¡± Halari squeezed her sister¡¯s hand weakly. Her parents, especially Glorida, had fussed over for a while as soon she stumbled inside. ¡°It was just one hell of a night. I might sleep for a week.¡± She tried a chuckle, but it came out more of a coughing wheeze.

    ¡°We¡¯ll go so you can rest,¡± Viria said, leaning down to kiss Halari on the forehead. ¡°Come on, Callan, let¡¯s let her sleep. She needs it.¡±

    ¡°Actually, Callan, hang back a sec?¡± Halari asked. She really didn¡¯t like that look on his face.

    Viria shot her an annoyed, but amusedly knowing look, then waved bye and drifted out, sensing that she was no longer needed.

    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Halari murmured as he sat back down on her desk chair.

    Callan scoffed grimly, frowning. His draconic eyes were narrowed and bright with negativity. ¡°I¡¯m thinking I should¡¯ve known something was wrong sooner.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t know the Blessed Flames were omnipotent,¡± Halari said with an exhausted, sly smirk. Her eyelids were pleasantly heavy this time, but she fought to keep them open. A losing battle. ¡°That¡¯s new.¡±

    ¡°Funny,¡± Callan said, still looking displeased. ¡°You had me very worried. No more solo escapades into unknown parts of the ruins, alright?¡±

    ¡°Is that an order?¡± Halari asked, turning her head to raise her brows at him pointedly despite her eyes being mostly closed. The expression must have unwound the tension in him because she heard him chuckle.

    ¡°It¡¯s a request,¡± he said, leaning forward. Then he spoke softer. ¡°For my sake, please. Just take somebody, anybody with you from now on. I¡¯ll codify the buddy system if I have to.¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± Halari yawned. ¡°But I get to pick. Because they better be able to keep up with me.¡±

    ¡°Certainly,¡± Callan said. He leaned back and through the crack of her fading vision, she saw him relax with a deep sigh. Had she really worried him so much?

    ¡°Talk to me about something nice, please,¡± she said, rolling to lay on her side facing towards him. ¡°So I don¡¯t fall asleep thinking you¡¯re still in a bad mood.¡±

    Callan went quiet for a moment. ¡°Well, I did approve something called the Night of Burning Stars today. Seems like I found the one thing Captain Dalvo will push against me for.¡±

    Halari laughed through drowsiness, imaging the officer standing up to him. It was for a good reason though; she always went to the jubilee, even it if was usually only with her family. The ember of an idea, brought up by her mother, stoked itself back into existence in her rapidly-fleeing consciousness.

    ¡°Remember the reward I was supposed to get for all my hard work today?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I do,¡± Callan said. ¡°Are you hungry?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve changed my mind, actually,¡± she whispered, sinking into that warm darkness that beckoned to her, wrapping her tightly. ¡°Now, I think... I want a dance at the jubil¡­ee...¡±

    Halari slipped away into slumber, finally surrendering to the trials of the day.

 Chapter Twenty-Eight: Amends- Callan

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 Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Stars- Halari

    One week later, Night of the Burning Stars

    The edge of the blade slid effortlessly through the bandages around her forearm, splitting the fabric cleanly in two and sending both halves to the desktop. Her skin was mostly healed underneath, but little dark dots dimpled the surface like a new gallery of freckles that spiraled from her wrist to her elbow.

    ¡°Guess those are gonna be permanent,¡± Halari muttered, twirling her new knife in her hand. It was an effective, sharp tool, but not exactly what she wanted; Callan had brought back three knives for her to test and this one was closest to what she liked, but it was almost too light. He said that the Scrag Fort trader claimed it was made from some type of local, specialty alloy and would be way more durable than her old weapon, but Halari worried that it might shatter is she tapped it too hard.

    ¡°They add mystery,¡± Viria giggled, leaning forward over the desk and poking her finger into the wounds. They didn¡¯t hurt to touch, but Halari felt them anyways like little points of pressure on her flesh. ¡°You can make up all kinds of stories for other people when they ask.¡±

    ¡°What really happened is already crazy enough,¡± Halari said, leaning back into her chair with a sigh. She rotated her arm around, inspecting it. ¡°Nobody¡¯s gone that way, right?¡±

    ¡°Uh-uh, fuck no,¡± Viria said with a vigorous shake of her head. ¡°Big invisible tentacle monsters are a good way to scare off the team.¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Halari stood up and stretched. ¡°And... no signs of Jora?¡±

    Viria frowned and the shaking of her head turned more sullen, more gentle. ¡°She¡¯s gone, Halari.¡±

    ¡°I figured,¡± Halari said. ¡°Betrayer¡¯s damnation! I just... where the hell did she go?¡± Over an entire week of searching produced absolutely nothing of value or even hinted at a lead to follow. The woman, in terms of evidence, had simply walked out of the Quarry and stopped existing.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll ever know,¡± Viria said, pulling her sister into a light hug. They stayed together like that for a long moment before separating. Halari pulled herself together and turned her mind away from the regretful thoughts. Tonight was supposed to be one of celebration and community, not failures.

    ¡°Ready for the party?¡± Viria asked, a mischeivous glint to her eyes that Halari prayed she wouldn¡¯t act on. But of course, her sister, ever the dramatic, let her mouth rule the moment. ¡°I bet you and Callan are gonna own the floor.¡±

    ¡°Pffft, ha-ha,¡± Halari chuckled, not allowing her nerves to show. There was plenty of excitement, for sure, but more than a bit of anxiety to match it. She tried to change the subject. ¡°How about you? Going with Davio?¡±

    Viria bared her teeth in an awkward grimace and shrugged. ¡°That didn¡¯t really work out. I¡¯m an open opportunity this year.¡±

    ¡°Oh. Sorry,¡± Halari said, shuffling about on her feet. Her sister didn¡¯t even skip a beat to keep talking on their way out of their home, so she figured Viria wasn¡¯t all that disappointed. The tension in the air was palpable as the people of Stargazer¡¯s Quarry prepared for the night. Tables were being set up, stores were closing the shutters and moving some good out into the open. Everybody moved with purpose and energy, smiles plastered to their faces while got ready. She saw a couple homes set rigging their very limited stock fireworks to launch.

    ¡°I can already taste the Fort ale that the traders brought back last week!¡± Viria beamed, definitely thinking about how many cups she was going to go through. ¡°And the pies from they got from the caravans a couple days ago.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s definitely gonna be a good one this year,¡± Halari said, failing to protect herself from her sister¡¯s infectious grin. They turned a corner and came in view of the Temple where she spotted Callan speaking with a group of citizens. Captain Dalvo, in plain clothes for once, stood nearby talking to some of his men.

    ¡°This is where I conveniently find something else to do,¡± Viria said slyly once they were close to the landing. ¡°Have fun.¡± Before Halari could protest, the blonde borderline dashed off somewhere, leaving her alone to approach.

    It¡¯s just Callan, Halari told herself. Her heart started thudding in her chest like a gravelizer hammer in the mines. We literally had dinner last night. Still, nerves crawled up her toes and spine, but she tried to clobber the shakiness back down. What had she been thinking asking him for a dance like that, half-unconscious and beat all to hell?

    The group around him dissipated and he glanced over to see her absolutely confidently step up on the landing, definitely not at all portraying any sign of stress at all.

    Callan grinned at her and those nerves stilled in an instant. She chided herself; of course there was nothing to worry about.

    ¡°You made it,¡± he said. ¡°I was beginning to think I¡¯d have to navigate this mess all by myself.¡±

    ¡°Had to take my bandages off,¡± Halari said with a light laugh, showing her arm. ¡°That new knife you got me really is sharp.¡±

    ¡°Glad you like it,¡± Callan said. He looked away from her over the town where the people had suddenly disappeared into their homes.

    What came next was part of the tradition.

    The Rush.

    ¡°So when is this supposed to start?¡± Callan asked.

    ¡°Soon.¡± Halari beamed brightly at her home, counting the seconds. ¡°Real soon.¡± She bounced up and down on her toes, feeling the buzz of excited furor in her very veins. Building in her skin. It drowned the nagging regret for Jora, the concern ab0ut the gildgrown, the perimeter of danger that surrounded the Quarry. She let it all go as this was the one day a year where she truly loved being part of the community.

    And this year she had a dance partner.

    ¡°Thanks to you we have the good stuff this year.¡± She could taste the puddings from Scrag Fort. ¡°Your whole trade system is really bringing in the good stuff.¡±

    ¡°Being a living Cell charger has its advantages,¡± Callan said, smiling again. Halari realized that his eyes were getting brighter, the amethyst-ruby glow prominent in the dwindling light of the day. ¡°How much ore is left in the current vein your father¡¯s crew is mining?¡±

    ¡°Enough for a while,¡± Halari said. ¡°And whatever we find in the Spire is really gonna help out¡±.

    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m playing too safe and moving too slow on that front?¡± he asked. ¡°Not doing enough?¡±

    ¡°No, not at all. Especially since we might get those masks and more people to help.¡± Halari shook her head and took hold of his arm. ¡°Even if we never make it to the Spire, Callan, you¡¯ve already done more for the Quarry than most.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re good people,¡± Callan said softly, gazing down at her. ¡°You work hard when you have a reason to have faith and somebody to stoke your potential.¡±

    ¡°We just needed a good leader.¡± Halari stepped close to him, eliminating the distance enough to make a point. She could do this, right? Take what she wanted like his faith encouraged? No fear, no hesitation, just an ambitious gambit. ¡°And here you are.¡± She leaned into him...

    A sizzling whistle interrupted the moment, snapping both of their attentions to the sky where a trail of white smoke swirled up above the rooftops.

    Halari barely made out the black dot that was the shell before it exploded into deep purple and green sparks with a thunderous crack!

    Then, the howl rose up from the city.

    And the Rush began.

    Halari smiled glowingly while the people of Stargazer¡¯s Quarry flooded from their homes in a manic horde of flailing limbs and trampling feet. Barrels and kegs of drinks and treats were planted on driveways as stores were broken open. There was more than last year since trade was reopened, giving the people more confidence to be a little more giving.

    ¡°So it begins,¡± Callan said while more shells launched into the air and exploded into showers of color. ¡°What¡¯s first?¡±

    ¡°You willing to let somebody else take charge for a little while?¡± Halari smirked at him, then held out her hand. Callan eyed suspiciously with a small grin.

    ¡°Only if I trust them.¡± He took her hand without another moment¡¯s hesitation, allowing her to pull him into the Jubilee.

    Even through their fervor, the people made space for Callan. Some had worship in their postures and even reached out to touch him, others shied away from the pressure of his approach. Halari saw some familiar faces; some of her brother¡¯s gang of zealots were attending, and they glared after them when they passed. No doubt Telero was going to hear about how his sister was seen hand-in-hand with the Storm Devil.

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    Can¡¯t wait for that talk. She didn¡¯t let that thought dampen her good mood, though. It was time to have some fun and no guaranteed reprimand from that idiot was enough to ruin that.

    Halari pulled Callan to the Bellit¡¯s house first. It was already swamped with a huge crowd in their front lawn. The family was known for its wide selection of party games, especially the ashbud barrel hunt.

    ¡°Hala!¡± Viria returned in a frenzy, face and hair already soaked from her turn hunting for buds. Knowing her, Halari guessed that she¡¯d been hovering near the yard to go as early as possible. had one bulbous fruit in her hand, a dud from the look of it. ¡°I got one but it¡¯s empty.¡± She frowned and flicked it on its fleshy surface.

    ¡°Is it supposed to have something in it?¡± Callan glanced at the barrel with a wary look.

    ¡°One of them is an actual prize,¡± Halari said. ¡°The Bellits hide a piece of jewelry in one each year. Usually an earring or bracelet they make out of scrap metal.¡± She grinned, an suddenly evil idea popping into existence, and turned to him. ¡°Why don¡¯t you see if you can find it?¡±

    He looked to her, then the barrel of water, then back to her. ¡°Absolutley not.¡±

    ¡°You have to,¡± Halari said, her smile stretching into something feral, almost manic.

    ¡°Says who?¡± Callan scoffed.

    ¡°Says me.¡± Halari patted him on the shoulder. ¡°You might have taken over as our leader, but if you really want to connect with the people even more, you want to ashbud hunt at least one. It¡¯s essential, I swear.¡±

    Callan groaned like he was in pain. ¡°Very well.¡±

    Great Visionary that actually worked. She covered her mouth and giggled, only feeling a tiny amount of guilt for using his want to connect with the people like that. But this opportunity was way too good to pass up. Callan walked up to the barrel and the crowd hushed, awed to see their Blessed Flame look into the water for a fruit.

    With an amused glare in her direction, Callan dunked his whole head into the barrel.

    ¡°Wooo!¡± Viria cheered and clapped wildy, giggling like a madwoman. Halari finally gave in and laughed hard enough to make her stomach ache, then doubled over as Callan came up with a large splash and an ashbud in his teeth. The onlookers hollered and cheered at the ridiculous sight of their ruler joining the party in such a grand way. He grabbed the bud in one fist, studied it for a moment, then struck with two fingers into its flesh.

    And pulled out the prize.

    Halari stopped laughing when Callan walked back and presented the silver stud earring to her in pinched fingers.

    ¡°I found it,¡± he said, golden hair soaking with water while a smug look soaked his face. He pushed the piece of jewelry toward her.

    You sly bastard. In that moment, it became one of the most valuable things she owned. Halari gazed at him and smiled warmly, fixing the stud to her ear. ¡°You cheated, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Of course not,¡± Callan said, dripping onto the street, ¡°but I do have vision perfected by the power of a dragon god, so...¡± A partygoer came up and handed him towel, bowing as they approached and bowing as they left. He dried himself off and his hair seemed to rearrange itself on its own back to the usual style.

    ¡°How does your hair do that?¡± Viria asked, staring stupefied. ¡°That¡¯s not natural.¡±

    Callan shrugged. ¡°Praise Melokon.¡±

    ¡°Come on,¡± Halari laughed, grabbing him by the elbow. She felt lighter in spirit than she had in some time and any nerves were completely at ease. Tomorrow was back to work, back into the worries of the war and the world, but tonight was a much-needed break. And it was almost time for the main event. ¡°I wanna see how much you let me get away with tonight.¡± She pulled him down the street, calling farewell to her sister as they ran off.

    They grabbed a couple canisters of the Zaxes¡¯s family homemade alcoholic brew on the way. It was made from fermented beanstalk and ashbud skins boiled in charcoal-filtered water. The Zaxeses made only made enough supply for one day a year.

    It was fantastic, warm and sour on her tongue, and heated her stomach pleasantly.

    ¡°Tastes like Miller Lite,¡± Callan said, studying the canister nostagically.

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Halari asked. They were getting closer to the dancing yard now; the beats of metallic pans and notes of string instruments grew in volume on the evening breeze.

    ¡°The worst good beer of my time.¡± He downed a bit of his can in a long drag, a wistfullness to his body language. ¡°We had more alcoholic brews back then than there are people in this city. At the peak of my old reign, you could a twelve pack for six silvers.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like a good deal,¡± Halari said. Callan chuckeld and shook himself back to the moment.

    ¡°Remember to stop me if I reminisce too much,¡± he chuckled.

    ¡°I like learning about your past,¡± Halari said. ¡°Especially after learning the truth from the Melokide, hearing about the old world from your eyes is like putting a missing screw back in my gun.¡±

    ¡°Anything specific you want to know?¡± Callan looked hopeful that she had some questions. He didn¡¯t talk about his time all that much, but Halari realized she didn¡¯t ask all that much. This was as good a time as any to learn something interesting.

    ¡°Hmmm...¡± She thought for a few seconds, sipping her drink while she sorted through all the curiosities at her fingertips. ¡°What was music like back then?¡± She nodded towards the noise coming from the dancing yard. ¡°Hopefully better than this.¡±

    Callan beamed. ¡°Good question.¡± He took another drink before answering.

    ¡°Every song,¡± he began, ¡°was a love story. I¡¯m happy to see it has persisted so long past the end of the world. Most weren¡¯t very good, but some with truly beautiful works of art.¡±

    ¡°What was your favorite?¡± she asked. He made it so profound and almost mystical, but then again his way of talking usually did that.

    ¡°I was pretty fond of one that argued against living forever,¡± Callan said. ¡°As ironic as that might sound.¡±

    They stopped outside the throng of dancing Stargazers as the current song came to a raucous close. The live musicians really needed somebody else on the clang plates because the newbie looked like he was just hammering like a brainless machine. Callan nodded along with the loose beat of the music, smiling warmly at the dancers. In the far corner, she spotted Captain Dalvo trapped against the fence, surrounded by a trio of pretty women. The poor officer looked scared, but he seemed to be talking well enough, judging by his audience¡¯s laughs.

    ¡°Oh, Callan, we¡¯re not here just to watch.¡± Again Halari held out her hand. He met her look steadily, but not without some trepidation. ¡°It¡¯s time I redeemed my reward.¡± She was mildly surprised when he didn¡¯t protest at all and just took her hand for her lead. Callan followed her onto the yard where a new song was just getting into rhythm.

    And they danced.

    By the Visionary, Halari thought, holding back a giggle when Callan almost stepped on her foot, he¡¯s terrible at this. She tried to show him a simple one at first, a set of moves that sprung from old miners made to keep beat, but a man who spent most of his time in a regal posture didn¡¯t move to music all too well.

    After ten or so minutes of hilarious failure that left her breathlessly giggling, the music slowed, and in a perfectly unintentional spin, Halari pushed herself closer to Callan.

    And they swayed.

    He did that well enough.

    Across the way, and much to her surprise, she spied Viria dancing with Dalvo, having seemingly rescued the militiaman from the ambush.

    ¡°I hope your toes are alright,¡± Callan said softly. Halari was happy to see that he looked at ease, a little more content than usual. He was so close to her that she felt him breathing.

    ¡°They might need some bandages,¡± she whispered. ¡°We should work on your footwork.¡±

    He chuckled and smiled, pulling her just a bit closer to him. They swayed quietly untl of the current song, Halari enjoying the warmth he generated like a cooking top that protected her from the chill of the night.

    ¡°You wanna get out of here?¡± Halari asked, looking up to meet Callan¡¯s eyes. ¡°There¡¯s something you should see.¡±

    ¡°Lead the way,¡± Callan said.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A few minutes later, she stalled the trawler on the top of a short plateau just north of where the Great Tanks were set into the cliff arround the city.

    ¡°What are we doing out here?¡± Callan asked, looking around at the empty, quiet wasteland. The Quarry¡¯s ambient light illuminated the area enough to show some details like big rocks and skeletal plans. Nothing special, like usual.

    Halari unrolled her shiny thermal blanket onto the ground and plopped onto the foil. ¡°Come sit down.¡± She tried not to let her excitement boil over and ruin the surprise; the look on his face when it started was going to be priceless.

    Callan sat down next to her, studying the landscape. Little did he know that it wasn¡¯t the land she thought he needed to see.

    ¡°Every year, Stargazer¡¯s Quarry has a big party,¡± Halari said, tilting her head and staring at the always-empty black smear that was the night sky. ¡°Also once a year, the same night, whatever¡¯s clogging the sky clears up. Just for a little while.¡± She smiled, proud of herself for timing this almost perfectly.

    ¡°What?¡± Callan looked confused.

    ¡°Look.¡± Halari pointed up. He followed her finger just as the first star broke into existence on the canvas of a dead sky.

    Then another.

    And another.

    And dozens more.

    Callan gaped at the sight of a miasma of cosmic lights. They lit up the world with a pure, blueish hue, dwarfing the Quary contribution by a mile. The ground mirrored its distant twin with minerals made by a nuclear forge. Whatever they were, they absorbed the starlight and reflected it back up, making a spectacular mirage that always gave Halari an impression of what it was like to be lost in space.

    ¡°Thank you for showing me this, Halari.¡± Callan¡¯s voice was awed and grateful. His eyes were locked onto the artwork that shone above them and basked them in a clean light. The dismay and grief that always dominated his face when looking at the landscape beyond the Quarry was nowhere to be found, just like she hoped.

    ¡°Your world¡¯s still here, Callan,¡± she said. ¡°Even though it doesn¡¯t look the same or only shows itself for a couple hours.¡±

    ¡°I have been thoroughly convinced,¡± he said.

    ¡°So, you asked earlier if I had questions about the old world¡­¡± Halari scooted closer to him, definitely just to synchronize the point-of-views better. No other reason. ¡°I¡¯m hoping you know the names of some of these.¡± She gestured to the heavenly artwork above them.

    Callan laughed softly. ¡°I do, actually.¡± He leaned back, propping himself on one arm that happened to wrap around her. Definitely an accident that definitely did not make her heart pump.

    "That one,¡± He pointed to a star just in front of them and to her left, ¡°is Muscida, one of the ears of the Ursa Major constellation. Think of a¡­ cragbeast with fur.¡±

    That¡¯s a weird animal. ¡°What about that one?¡± Halari pointed to one more to her right and slightly lower.

    ¡°Errai, a lone body,¡± Callan said. ¡°And just above that one is probably the most historically important and famous star: Polaris.¡±

    ¡°Why¡¯s it so important?¡± Halari scrutinized the cosmic object. It wasn¡¯t anything special, barely brighter than its neighbors and just as pearly as the rest of them. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look any different.¡±

    ¡°Old sailors used it to get home,¡± Callan explained. ¡°It¡¯s the North Star. Whenever they got lost or separated, it would guide them back to where they were needed.¡±

    ¡°Callan.¡± Her mind moved on instinct, taking over in a moment and getting away from her control. He looked at her, eyes steady, warmth steadier. ¡°If we ever got separated, would that guide you back to me?¡±

    Callan kissed her immediately.

    It warm, strong, and all too easy to return. She kissed him back, snaking an arm up and around his shoulders as they relaxed into each other to pull him as close as possible.

    Halari kissed the one man she wanted to under a gorgeous stellar mural that only ever showed up one night a year.

    It made for one perfect moment.

    Just the two of them, adrift in space.

 Chapter Thirty: Cold Grip- Callan

    Outside the Quarry

    Callan held Halari very close and named the rest of the stars that could think of for the next hour. He didn¡¯t know all of their names, but his study of Melokon and the world¡¯s true history in those first days when the Great Dragon arrived had provided some stellar knowledge.

    In truth, he spent more time looking down at her than he did at the sky.

    ¡°I¡¯ve always wondered what they were called,¡± Halari said, her head on his shoulder. ¡°Yet another mystery solved thanks to you.¡±

    ¡°Glad I could be of assistance,¡± he said.

    ¡°That was a pretty smooth line on my part, huh?¡± she asked, turning to grin at him smugly.

    ¡°Indeed,¡± he chuckled, tightening his arm slightly around her waist. ¡°Couldn¡¯t have done better myself.¡±

    Halari sighed happily, then stood and stretched after a few more minutes. ¡°I probably need to get back. Viria¡¯s gonna wonder where we got off to and I don¡¯t feel like putting up with her questions. You coming?¡±

    He couldn¡¯t leave yet. Not with it waiting dark and patient for its turn in the corner of his mind. He¡¯d known what the result of kissing Halari was going to be, but it hadn¡¯t mattered in that moment. The skull¡¯s prison was wide open now, and Callan knew it was something he needed to deal with before rejoining her below.

    ¡°I think I might stay for a moment.¡± He turned a soft smile to her. ¡°I¡¯d like to just keep watching for a little while. I can walk back.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I figured,¡± she said, leaning down to kiss him again. ¡°See you tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely.¡± Callan watched her go, still humming with a pleasant feeling that her company produced. That sensation disappeared like water on a red hot stovetop the instant her trawler dipped out of sight. Callan braced himself for the skull¡¯s fury, but it simply watched him from deep within, a great sadness to its bearing that made him tremble in shame.

    Then it vanished from his mind¡¯s eye.

    And reappeared, fully manifested with her old body, to sit right next to him on the stone

    No, please! Callan gasped a sharp intake of breath and kept his eyes on the sky, but his fingers started twisting the ring on his hand with a mind of their own.

    He didn¡¯t look.

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    He didn¡¯t dare look at her.

    In the corner of his vision, long and pure red hair trailed forward with the nightly breeze, tempting him to turn his head.

    But he didn¡¯t look.

    He just kept staring at the stars as tears brewed in his eyes. She slid one icy hand up his arm to hold him with a cold grip at the shoulder; the weight of her own ring pressed into his shirt and burned his flesh underneath.

    ¡°Please, go away,¡± he whispered hoarsely. ¡°Please, don¡¯t do this. I¡¯m so-sorr-¡± He cut off, unable to say the words because he was not sorry. To be sorry was to regret that wonderful moment with Halari, and he just didn¡¯t, even though he knew what it meant.

    ¡°I do want you to be happy again, Cal,¡± she whispered, her voice that horrible melodious perfection he remembered instead of a chilled, dead hissing. He prayed to Melokon it would just become that again. ¡°I just don¡¯t understand why you¡¯ve left me down there.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t mea¡ª I can¡¯t go ba ¡ª¡± Callan sputtered in agony. What could excuse could he possibly give her? That he was too weak to go down there again? Too terrified of the dark to ever step foot in that cage? Those were paper thin reasons, and she knew it. ¡°Please... stop.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s so cold down there,¡± she continued, freezing fingers digging into him with a desperate, fearful strength. ¡°And it¡¯s so dark, Cal. I just want to see the sun again, please, my lo¡ª¡±

    ¡°STOP!¡± Callan blasted to his feet with a burst of Melokon¡¯s Fire that scorched the surrounding stone, tore the ring off of his finger, then threw it at the ground. Being made of ultimium, it didn¡¯t so much as warp on impact, but sparks did fly as it skipped like a stone on a lake before coming to a rest a few feet away.

    She disappeared beside him.

    Oh Melokon, forgive me, Callan thought, wiping the tears from his eyes, but they kept coming, disobeying his will to cease so he could gather himself. On unsteady feet, he walked over and picked the adornment off the ground, brushing it off on his pants leg even though it was completely untarnished. He shakily replaced it on his hand, then closed his eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m so sorry,¡± he whispered. ¡°Please, I¡¯ll make it right somehow.¡±

    There was silence for a long moment, so long that he thought there wasn¡¯t going to be a response.

    Then she spoke inside his head; her voice bleak and pitiful. ¡°I know you are, Cal, but I need you to show me what I meant to you one last time.¡± Then, she went quiet, leaving him to the sound of the wind over the barren plains of rock.

    Callan wept.

    He doubled over and fell to the ground on all fours, and his tears wet the stone below to reflect the stars like little beads of light on the black.

    ¡°Halari, I need Halari,¡± Callan whispered hoarsely. ¡°She can help.¡± He rose and forced himself to stop the tears from falling, then stumbled back to the Quarry. He moved past the one entry with barely a word, then staggered down the entry ramp, legs shaking with every step.

    Just as he was about to cross into the town proper, he caught sight of Halari in a yard, chatting with her sister over a couple of canisters of that alcoholic beverage. She looked perfect, happy, and bright. By the Great Dragon she was beautiful; how could he ruin that?

    No, I can¡¯t spoil this for her, Callan thought, turning away before she saw him and came to comfort his pain. She was like a beacon of hope in his despair, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to tarnish this night for her, despite the moment they¡¯d just shared. It would be selfish.

    So, he drifted around the town, skirting the party until he reached the Temple and stumbled into the back entrance like a drunk.

    Callan reached his desk and braced himself on its surface, then collapsed into the chair. The dustbunny approached him and, without headbutting for his permission, jumped onto his lap.

    They stayed just like for the rest of the night.

 Chapter Thirty-One: Laid to Rest- Halari

Two days after the Jubilee

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 Chapter Thirty-Two: Decrypted- Callan

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 Interlude: Gold Glory- Zikijaga

    Three days ago

    The Cluster moved with life and purpose. Not an individual of his troop stood still or loitered. He was proud of each of them, one and all. Every single one of them was an achievement, a word of worship to the Giltspore itself.

    They were ready for this.

    Behind his golden, plate-shaped mask, Z¡¯iki¡¯jaga looked down on his people from the third story of the cultivated cave and smiled. He was particularly focused on the young buds maintaining the Vine-Thorn. They were practiced, but their youth made them clumsy. Yet, their reverence for the glorious tool of change incited them to move with the utmost care.

    ¡°Fon Z¡¯iki,¡± a familiar, deep voice sounded from his left near the cutout steps leading to the floor where he stood. Only his blood was allowed to call him that name and title. Z¡¯iki didn¡¯t even turn to his brother, but waved a massive hand to signal his presence was welcomed.

    ¡°Come, D¡¯ago, approach me,¡± Z¡¯iki said. Under his headwear, his voice came out deeper and very tonal, like a horn echoing through the alleys back home. ¡°We are almost ready to move on the unclean¡¯s main cluster.¡±

    D¡¯ago¡¯jaga thumped over on his armored boots to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him, allowing Z¡¯iki to feel a sense of irritation and urgency from his blood. His brother was usually impatient, but this mess with the Snake-Devil had him bristling with concern.

    He wore his helmet like always; it wasn¡¯t a plate mask like Z¡¯iki¡¯s but a perfectly-fitted golden piece that framed the spaces where his eyes would be visible if not for the yellow cloth covering his entire face. His giltshell sword, a long, single-blade that required both hands to wield, was tied to his back.

    ¡°My linked-troop received another message from the filth calling himself the Tether,¡± D¡¯ago growled. He proffered an unbroken canister to him. Z¡¯iki didn¡¯t doubt for a moment that his twin had kept himself from looking inside as ordered. ¡°It took two days for them to deliver it.¡±

    ¡°That fool makes too many demands,¡± Z¡¯iki said, taking the little container. ¡°He is unworthy of the gilding, unlike the Blood-Witch.¡±

    He clasped the lid in his large, gloved hand and popped it open, then dumped the roll of paper onto his palm and unrolled it. His mask painted everything in a honeyed hue, but the dark words scratched onto the page stood out.

    ¡®FIVE DAYS,¡± it started. ¡®STORM DEVIL MOVING ON BLACK TOWER. MUST STOP OR ALL ENDS. BLOOD-WITCH STAYS UNHARMED. HURRY.¡¯

    Z¡¯iki rerolled the page and put it back in its canister, then pocketed it in the clothes under his armor.

    ¡°What does the unclean priest say?¡± D¡¯ago put an idle hand on his weapon as if already imagining the blood it was going to spill.

    ¡°Our plans change,¡± Z¡¯iki said, crossing his arms. His giltshell plates clicked together pleasingly. ¡°The Snake-Devil is moving. We will bring the Vine-Thorn to the Black Tower and dismantle his army. Then, we will gild their quarry and take their people.¡±

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    ¡°My Spore wants death,¡± D¡¯ago said. ¡°Will it have it?¡±

    ¡°You will be filled with death, brother,¡± Z¡¯iki assured him. ¡°So much to satiate you for years. Go and prepare. We leave within the hour.¡±

    ¡°I am eager, Fon Z¡¯iki,¡± D¡¯ago said. ¡°With this, we expand gold to farther reaches than ever before.¡±

    ¡°Patience, D¡¯ago.¡± Z¡¯iki moved his mask to shine on his brother¡¯s face. ¡°The best spores are those that move carefully. Go.¡± His blood needed that reminder at least once a week, otherwise, he¡¯d rampage and raze every little settlement they came across.

    D¡¯ago¡¯jaga thumped off with blood on his mind and a desire for violence weighing down his shoulders. Z¡¯iki stared after him for a moment, then turned away from his scrutiny of the Vine-Thorn''s care and walked up the flight of carved steps to his right. His own armor clicked and clomped on the giltshell of the structure on his way up.

    One of his troop, a smaller bud brandishing a bloomgun saluted to him, then moved out of the way without a word. Z¡¯iki never told anybody to get out of his way, a result of his station and size. He opened the barred door to the cell of their captive.

    The small, unclean woman whimpered at the sight of him and shrank into the farthest corner. Z¡¯iki still didn¡¯t know her name. She was such an insulting sight to him, especially her hair. He¡¯d long ago shorn his own off, but he remembered it being gold with speckles of black. Hers was also black but ruined with that bright, garish color that pierced his mask¡¯s tone filter.

    How vile.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± she asked with a small voice. ¡°Where¡¯s T¡¯imi¡¯bala?¡±

    Was that who¡¯d been caring for this prisoner all these weeks? No wonder she looked healthy and well-fed; T¡¯imi was soft and heartfelt, especially to young women. Ever since her daughter died, she¡¯d been far too compassionate to even the most unclean if they were young girls.

    Z¡¯iki said nothing to her, just took a loop of spore-vine from the guard, and approached steadily.

    ¡°No, no, no!¡± The prisoner kicked at him, but her weak feet bounced off his torso armor like small pebbles. Z¡¯iki grabbed both of her wrists in one hand, pulled her up until her feet left the ground, then punched her in the face. Her eyes rolled back at the impact and she went limp, dangling in his grip like a wet stretch of cloth.

    Z¡¯iki bound her wrists with the vine, then dropped her in a heap and dragged her unmoving figure out of the room, down the steps, and outside the main chamber of the Cluster before tossing her into a nearby prison cart.

    ¡°Kon Z¡¯iki¡¯jaga,¡± one bud greeted him with a salute, using his full name and formal title as ordained by the Attuned. ¡°Should the unclean prisoner be fed on the trip?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Z¡¯iki said. The bud nodded, then returned to his duty of preparing auhorns for travel. It was a three-day trip at the pace they¡¯d make and they¡¯d be traveling heavily with the Vine-Thorn, so he equipped their biggest beasts with the best ropes.

    A healthy host of gildgrown flowed out of the cave some minutes later, over one hundred strong. They made space for the Vine-Thorn''s massive bulk as it emerged from the tunnel to loom above them, almost two heads taller than Z¡¯iki was.

    Once all was ready for travel, he stood before them and raised his hands, palms to the sky. Then he spoke, and the power of his words called to each of his troops and their Spores within.

    ¡°Soon!¡± he bellowed, ¡°Soon, we cleanse the Snake-Devil, the Blood-Witch, and all that follow them! Come, brothers! Let the Giltspore guide us to new lands!¡±

    The gildgrown cheered and screamed with their masks donned, producing a sound like screeching, wet metal. D¡¯ago riled them up further with his unsheathed sword, which he waved about like a standard.

    Z¡¯iki heaved himself onto the nearest auhorn that could hold him and pulled his own sword: a longer, double-bladed beast of a giltshell blade that shone glossily with golden hues in the pale light of day.

    He swung the weapon forward.

    And the gildgrown began to move as one towards the Black Tower. Towards the Blood-Witch. Towards the Snake-Devil.

    Yes, let us show them, he prayed to the Giltspore residing in his heart. Let us show them the glory of gold.

 The Spire of Melokon, Part One: Breach- Halari/Callan

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 The Spire of Melokon, Part Two: Reclaim- Callan/Halari/Dalvo

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 The Spire of Melokon, Part Three: Power of the Dragon- Telero/Halari/Callan

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 Epilogue: Promises- Telero

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