Soul script chronicles o.., p.30
Soul Script (Chronicles of Valmaron Book 1), page 30
CHAPTER 68
“The Brightstar Passover is tonight,” said Jaron. He sat on the backyard bench in between Esmerelda and Chloe, watching the afternoon sun. The day was going by too quickly, and the girls were getting distressed the darker it got. Princess Valara locked herself away in Jaron’s room, and Lady Spellcraft waited in the dining room for Sephaeus to return with his new armor.
Jaron held their hands in his lap, fingers interlaced as they rested their heads against his shoulders. Chloe cried quietly, while Esmerelda kept a blank stare into the distance.
“It’s going to be alright. We have every Caster on our side, and Sephaeus will be with us,” Jaron reassured them. “Neither of you need to go.”
Chloe sniffled. “I do have to go. I won’t lose you again.”
Esmerelda reached down with her free hand and touched the place Ash stabbed her, she released a breath she’d been holding.
“If you fall, there’s no hope for the rest of us. I would rather die next to you than wonder what happened,” said Esmerelda.
Jaron put his arms around their shoulders and held their heads against him. The thought of possibly leaving them behind sounded worse the more he thought about it, and he honestly hated the thought of being apart from them. Golden aether glittered around their property like fireflies. He smiled in gratitude and kissed both of them on their heads. He looked down at their hands, admiring their wedding rings. Chloe got the pink emerald she asked for set in silver with green accent stones shaped like leaves. Esmerelda’s was a bold ruby set in a gold ring with the same leaf-shaped accent gems. Jaron wore two thin platinum bands that linked together on his ring finger. One band had a small stone matching Esmerelda’s ruby, the other matched Chloe’s emerald.
“This year has been madness, but you two were the best surprises of my life,” Jaron smiled. “I love you.”
Chloe broke down and turned toward him. She wrapped him in a hug while clutching Esmerelda’s nearest sleeve to pull them in tighter. Esmerelda used her free arm to stroke his cheek affectionately. Jaron held them both close to him in silence, sitting like that for another hour before going inside.
As much as he wanted to make love to them, they all needed to save their strength for what was to come. Changing into attire fit for battle was itself a somber affair. He got ready in a spare room, putting on the same armor he wore when he won the Battle of the Withered Willow. He could say he won it now, because the Two Terrors were both with him. Jaron walked downstairs with a heavy stride, fastening and re-fastening the Slicer’s scabbard.
“You look heroic,” said Lady Spellcraft as she stepped into the hallway. “How are the girls?”
“They’re upset, but they always focus when they need to,” said Jaron. “Have you made your preparations?”
“No worries,” said Lady Spellcraft. “I have everything in place.”
“And Devari?” he asked.
“Prettier than I was expecting!” Devari walked out of the lounge with the appearance of a teenage girl, and her hair was a little longer than before.
Jaron’s head recoiled from the sight of his adopted sister being older than she was an hour ago. “Devari, what happened?”
“You like it?” Devari curtsied. “I’ve been twelve for so long, I wrote a Script to catch things up a little.”
“And how old are you now?” asked Jaron.
“Still fifty-two, technically,” said Devari.
“We mean how old is your body?” Lady Spellcraft clarified.
“Fifteen. I didn’t want to skip all the fun parts, ” Devari smiled. “And it’s much easier to think with this brain than my younger one, which I’ll need if I’m to help you in the citadel.”
“You’re not going,” Jaron said flatly.
“Yes I am!” Devari protested. “Nobody else can do what I can. Maybe I can save you.”
“Now you’re starting to sound like your big brother,” said Lady Spellcraft.
“Little brother,” Devari winked.
Princess Valara emerged from the top of the staircase, dressed in a white and gold replica of her Unscrupulous uniform. “Devari? When did you get so pretty?”
“You’re wearing that?” Lady Spellcraft shook her head at Valara. “It looks like a battle uniform.”
“It’s not comfortable, but it won’t get snagged on anything like a dress will. I need to be fast,” Princess Valara confessed.
“So now you’re going too?” Lady Spellcraft put her hands on her hips.
“Yes, I am,” Valara affirmed.
“No,” Jaron stated.
Valara opened her mouth to argue, but his mother stepped in.
“Jaron darling, let her come. It’s clear that none of you want each other out of your sights,” Lady Spellcraft quipped. “At least this way you can protect each other, because you will be coming home. Have I made myself clear?”
He nodded with a smirk. Lady Spellcraft’s eyes became slightly bloodshot, and started fanning herself with her flattened hand. Jaron walked to his mother and hugged her. She held him tightly and sobbed once, before moving on to hug Princess Valara and Devari at the same time. Esmerelda and Chloe came downstairs, with Chloe also in a Valmari-style Unscrupulous combat uniform. Esmerelda had her Caster robes re-tailored to be less baggy. The hems went just below her waist, with white trousers underneath. Mobility seemed to be on everyone’s mind. Except for Devari, who decided style was the way to go in her violet satin dress.
A heavy knock at the door alerted everyone to the presence of Sephaeus, who opened the door in brand new armor. It shined like silver, styled after the first Sentinel. The plating was more form fitting, with smaller shoulder pauldrons and golden colored flaring on the edges and accents. His crystal was fitted in the middle of his chest.
“Are you all ready?” asked Sephaeus, who glanced at Devari with no reaction to her matured form.
The group nodded. He nodded back.
“Let’s move,” Sephaeus said curtly.
Out they marched to the dirt road winding away from the Spellcraft estate. Being at the top of a mild mound, the Spellcraft estate sat uphill from a rotunda on the bottom of the road. Erected during the month leading up to this night, stood a wooden pillar colored gold. The Dirty Dozen surrounded it, clearly waiting for them to arrive.
“Your Highness,” Trixia bowed. “Permit us to accompany you into the citadel while the other Casters await the signal.”
“Trixy…” Esmerelda shook her head. “Leave it to us.”
“I appreciate all your help Trixia, but we have a lot of power between us already,” Valara replied.
Trixia smiled and closed her eyes. She shook her head with conviction. “Begging your pardon Your Highness, but the Two Terrors would be better off protecting you instead of wasting themselves on fodder. We’ve been training with the Tolians under Master Gokiy himself. We will be your vanguard, and you can reach the inner sanctums without delay.”
Sephaeus uncrossed his arms and nodded to the Princess. Chloe stepped from behind Jaron and hugged Trixia, while the rest of the Dirty Dozen formed up behind the group.
“Alright Trixy,” Jaron agreed. “We’re glad to have you.”
She nodded in acknowledgement and turned around to face the wooden totem, moving blue and orange energy toward the artifact. Jaron took the initiative, and imprinted upon it his will to be moved to its connecting twin. The entire group summoned aether as he did so, instantly moving the collective across Valmaron. They appeared in the agricultural district a street down from the wagon repository, where countless carts rolled in and out of it under guard. The Sky Scar loomed overhead, with little bolts of lightning flickering within it. There were few pedestrians. When those they encountered saw Jaron marching in full battle-garb with a Sentinel-led squad, they hurried into their homes. Everyone arrived at the busy district where a fully staffed marquee kept their customized cooling tombs in a row where Xalia guarded them.
Her orange and yellow hair had been secured to her natural black braids, keeping the massive mane out of her face as she walked from the back of the tent to the front.
She exchanged a curt nod with all of the Casters accompanying Jaron, including the Sentinel Commander.
“Bright night my Lord,” she greeted before motioning to the cooling tombs. “I stand ready.”
“Bright night Xalia,” Jaron responded in kind. “See you when we win.”
“Excuse me my Lord,” Xalia looked straight at Devari. “But is there another way to do this? She can Script the citadel from the outside.”
“Zen Daaz is too clever for that,” Jaron lamented.
“Without knowing what he has done inside, we can’t risk Unsealing it. It would destroy all of Valmaron if it did,” Sephaeus added.
Xalia nodded politely and promptly started Casting. One by one the cooling tombs were opened. Sephaeus stepped toward the first one and pat it with his hand.
“Remain vigilant at all times,” he commanded the group. “Now we go to war.”
CHAPTER 69
Jaron laid sideways inside the modified cooling tomb with Sephaeus, who’s armor clunked with every bump of the wagon. He lit the interior with a gold orb, listening to the muffled exterior. They went up a slight incline, then the terrain leveled out as they stopped. Jaron heard faint murmuring from the workers moving the wagons. He put his hand down and flattened it on the bottom, preparing to jump. The Sentinel Commander shook his head.
“Wait,” Sephaeus urged.
More talking, and then knocking on the sides of the wagons. A slow tug and they were in motion again. The air became thick and warm, combined with a brief humming sound.
“We’re in,” said Sephaeus.
They stopped moving followed by complete silence. Jaron waited until Sephaeus frowned.
“We haven’t left the vestibule. Something is wrong,” he grumbled. “Let’s go.”
Jaron pushed the top door open and drew the Slicer as Sephaeus launched out of it with a mighty, blitz-assisted jump. Wagons filled the vestibule, but there were no workers, guards or horses of any kind.
“This isn’t right,” Jaron climbed out and walked from wagon to wagon, tapping with his knuckles to signal the others.
Sephaeus marched along the perimeter while the other lids opened. Chloe floated up and out of her wagon, while Esmerelda helped Princess Valara with a short hover of her own. Devari came out with Trixia, with the remaining Dirty Dozen hopping out and scouring around the room.
“Is this right?” Princess Valara asked.
“No,” said Sephaeus. He walked back to the entry wall and touched it. Solid. “They knew we were coming.”
“This is a trap,” Chloe said with fright on her face.
A red aether outline formed around Jaron’s body, alerting the Casters around him. They looked at him curiously as Esmerelda came quickly to put her hand on his shoulder. She winced in pain and quickly withdrew her touch.
“Ow! Hot!” she looked into his eyes. “Jaron? I need you to listen to me, please calm down.”
“Jaron…” Princess Valara approached slowly.
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. The light vanished from him, though he still felt irritated. Esmerelda framed his face with her hands and then hugged him.
“I knew something was wrong. Not once have they come looking. Not once did they leave the citadel,” Jaron clenched a fist. “They wanted me here.”
“Then they have signed their own death notes,” Sephaeus spoke. “Everyone form up in the center, don’t use the mirrors. They may be tampered with.”
The Casters encased the wagons in green light and effortlessly pushed them off the center platform until only they remained on the opal circle. Devari wandered and inspected the mirrors.
“Careful Devari,” said Valara. “Don’t look at the mirrors too long.”
Devari casually bent over and read some of the Script on the frames, nodded her head and then came back to the join the rest of them.
“What did you see?” Sephaeus asked Devari.
“Some sort of shuffle,” Devari responded. “I think they mean to split us up if we use them.”
“If they know we’re here, the Crowned Cluster will be defended,” Trixia pointed out. “We have to take a route they won’t anticipate.”
“We’ll go to the Cradle of Casters,” Sephaeus decided. “There’s an emergency exit in the Quartermaster’s armory in case the citadel ever needed to evacuate. It would kill Zen Daaz if he tried to alter it.”
A realization visibly dawned on Princess Valara. “They might know about Quartz! We have to help him.”
“Then we go to the armory first. Is this big mirror still good?” asked Jaron, looking up.
“May I have a lift?” Devari asked Esmerelda.
Esmerelda held Devari’s hand and extended a green aura around her. She pushed off with blurry air from her other hand and the two of them floated up toward the ceiling.
“I’ve got to learn how to do that,” Trixia muttered.
“It’s easier than you think,” said Chloe.
“Everything’s easier for you two,” Trixia countered.
“All we can do is make ourselves lighter,” a ginger-haired Caster commented.
“Makes for a good jump then,” Jaron quipped and then shouted up. “Can we use it?”
“We can,” Devari called down as Esmerelda landed them on the platform. “It looks like that one can’t be tampered with.”
“Alright girls,” Trixia addressed the Dirty Dozen. “To the Cradle. On three. One.”
Sephaeus summoned his gold aether great-sword.
“Two.”
Princess Valara’s eyes lit up blue.
“Three.”
Voom! A column of bright light connected the floor to the infinite mirror and took them all up.
CHAPTER 70
The group appeared on a matching platform to the one in the vestibule. The lights had all been turned down, rendering the circular chamber in royal blue instead of yellow and amber. A single wide corridor led out of it, leading into shadow. Sephaeus took point as Trixia and the Dirty Dozen formed a perimeter in front of Jaron and the Two Terrors. Devari stood next to the Princess.
“I don’t like it,” said Devari as she clutched onto Valara. “It’s dark.”
“Then you should feel right at home, Devari,” said a familiar voice.
A pair of glowing yellow eyes with black slits appeared in the darkness ahead of them. Slow footsteps echoed from the walls as Zen Daaz emerged, holding the Hex in his hand, and he was smiling. The Sentinel Commander acted on sight, immediately pointing his great-sword and firing a golden beam. Zen Daaz caught it with the Hex and converted the light into swirling dark purple. He cackled and released it back at them.
Jaron instinctively blitzed forward and knocked Sephaeus aside before cutting down with the Slicer, dispersing whatever Zen Daaz sent at him.
“Ooooh, that was arousing!” Zen Daaz wiggled and squirmed delightedly as his glowing eyes locked onto Jaron. “You’ve always been good with a sword! Isn’t that right, Chloe?”
“You don’t get to talk to her,” Esmerelda rebuked through bared teeth.
Jaron held his arm out and stood in front of the pack. Trixia and the rest of her team formed a reverse wedge so that Zen Daaz would be surrounded if he advanced. Sephaeus gave Jaron a look before stepping over to block Devari from view.
“Be careful everyone, there’s Miasma in that box. If he hits you with it—” Jaron was interrupted by Zen Daaz.
“Good idea, bad execution!” Zen Daaz taunted. “Like that time I tried to turn an innie into an outie.”
“I’ve had enough,” Sephaeus began glowing gold.
“Wait Sephaeus! This is already a trap, don’t let him suck you in,” Jaron warned.
Zen Daaz raised an eyebrow as the corner of his lip came up. “Seriously?”
“Lord Spellcraft, he’s not alone,” Trixia alerted.
“Right you are my little dove! What gave it away?” Zen Daaz bent forward at a hips.
“Those shadows behind you,” Trixia pointed. “…aren’t shadows.”
Zen Daaz straightened up and put his hands on his hips, the Hex clutched firmly in one of them. “Hmph! Way to spoil an orgy before it’s even begun! Alright Praetorian Guard, come on out.”
The shadows shifted, revealing a group of men in black Sentinel armor with black spears. No helmets, no eyes. And their skin was dead pale with black veins webbed over their faces.
“Those are my men…” Sephaeus growled. “He’s corrupted them.”
Zen Daaz shook his head. “My my you all surely like to make a habit of being wrong! Those aren’t your men, they’re not even men at all.”
“Girls, take them!” Trixia ordered.
The Dirty Dozen thrust their hands forward, sending purple aether lassos to snatch each guard by the neck. The Casters threw the ends they held toward the ceiling above Zen Daaz, attaching to a single point and lifting the Praetorian Guards into the air. They dangled them like limp puppets.
“Good execution, bad idea,” said Zen Daaz. “Purple aether works best on conscious beings and these beings are quite dead.”
The guards stabbed their spears up into the energy knot tethering them to the ceiling, dispelling the ropes in an instant. The guards landed safely away from Zen Daaz, forming flanks beside him.
“Go ahead Devari, try to Script something against them. Although, you might not like the results,” Zen Daaz taunted. “Any changes to their Soul Scrolls will result in an Annihilation more explosive than the event that impregnated Ash.”
Devari clutched onto Valara even tighter while Zen Daaz cackled to himself, stomping his boot heel on the floor.
“So what’s the plan Zen Daaz?” Jaron enunciated agitatedly. “Keep us detained with perverse jokes until we die of ennui? You can’t kill the Emissary without the Slicer, and the only way you’re getting it is through the chest.”
Zen Daaz’s mouth crept up into a toothy grin as his glowing yellow eyes became even brighter.
