The magitech chronicles.., p.107
The Magitech Chronicles- Complete Series Box Set, page 107
part #1 of The Magitech Chronicles Series
Bord stopped his massage, and Kezia’s eyes fluttered open. She brushed a lock of golden curls from her face, and blinked in his direction. “Down to the brig? Are you going to interrogate Nara, finally?”
“Something like that.” Apparently they’d all been waiting, which he should have expected. Nara’s betrayal didn’t impact only him. “Come on.” He turned and started after Crewes, taking his time as he made his way down the gently sloping corridor.
When he passed through the veil of silence into the brig, Crewes was already standing in front of Frit’s cell. He looked over his shoulder at Aran. “Get a load of this crap. Frit’s found herself a boyfriend.”
Kaho and Frit each sat on their respective benches so that they were as close to each other as they could get. It was impossible to miss their body language, and it killed something inside of Aran. There was definitely affection there, and a good degree of trust. Frit had gone over fully to the Krox, and if she had, it made it more likely Nara had as well.
“Sergeant, go get the collar from lockup,” Aran ordered. He needed to give Crewes something to do, so the sergeant didn’t have time to needle the prisoners. That would only make this harder.
He moved to stand in front of Nara’s cell, and found her staring up at him from her bench, her dark hair framing brown eyes and that sea of freckles. “I’m guessing we’re almost to Shaya? If you’re handing me over to Voria I’ll go quietly, but…do we have time to talk to first?”
“We’re not going to Shaya.” Aran folded his arms. A glance at Frit and Kaho confirmed that neither seemed interested in their conversation, though he assumed both were listening. “We have a minute before Bord and Kezia get here, and the sergeant gets back. Say what you need to say. I’ll hear you out.”
She exhaled a long, slow breath, and rose, then approached the bars. He steeled himself against whatever alibi she was preparing. “I mentioned that Talifax returned my memories.”
“From when you served Yorrak?” Aran asked, interested in spite of himself. She’d been a master manipulator, and if she had her memories back, she was once more. He couldn’t forget that.
“Some of them.” She nodded, then plucked absently at her sleeve, as if giving herself something to do. “Others are from before Yorrak, even. I was part of a Ternus program called the Zephyrs. Their version of tech mages, basically. Yorrak broke into the facility and kidnapped me. When these memories came back, it was an overpowering experience, especially at first. I had no idea where I was, or what I was doing. By the time I recovered from the first memory, Talifax had already used my body to steal the Talon, and I found myself in orbit near the umbral shadow.”
“So it wasn’t your fault.” Something eased in Aran. “You were just a pawn.” He so badly wanted this not to be her fault, though the detached part of him knew he wasn’t being objective.
“No!” Nara’s eyes flashed. The ferocity took him back a step. “The returning memories aren’t an excuse. I could have turned around right then, but I didn’t. I ran, because I was afraid, and because I wanted answers. I should have come back. Should have told you what happened.”
“Why didn’t you?” Aran asked quietly.
Nara shuddered again. “I first saw Talifax right after I woke up from a nightmare. A nightmare that he sent, and told me was a vision of the future.” She looked up at Aran searchingly. “Aran, in the dream I assassinated Voria. I saw it. It was like…a memory that hasn’t happened. Not just some illusion, or a binding. I gunned her down in cold blood, and I knew for certain it would really happen if I stayed. I had to get away. I couldn’t be the reason we lose this war.”
Aran didn’t answer immediately. It all sounded just plausible enough to accept. Nara had just the right amount of guilt. Just the right amount of justifications. Just the right amount of sympathy. Not too much, but enough that he wanted to wrap his arms around her.
She might be telling the truth. Or she could be playing him. He’d act like it was the former, and prepare for it to be the latter.
He was saved from having to answer by Kezia walking into the brig, closely followed by Bord. Bord had his hands in his pockets, and lounged sullenly against the wall near the door. He didn’t even look at Nara, or Frit.
Kezia, on the other hand, walked directly to Nara’s cell, and stared fiercely up at her. “Tell me you had a good reason.”
“Not good enough.” Nara’s shoulders slumped, and she returned to her bench.
Some of the fire went out of Kez, and she retreated to stand near Bord. She turned away from the cells, very pointedly, instead slipping into Bord’s arms and resting her blonde curls against his chest.
“What about him?” Aran nodded at Kaho. “How did you end up working with a Krox?”
Kaho’s scaly head turned in their direction, and Frit looked up a moment later. Both were staring at them.
“Talifax arranged it.” Nara pulled her knees up to her chest on the bench. “He sent me to the facility where Ternus housed the Zephyrs, at the same time Nebiat and Frit arrived. I was deliberately placed in their path so I could stop Nebiat from destroying Colony 3.” A ghost of a smile flitted across her face, then was gone. “We succeeded. We stopped her there.”
That was good at least, though it bothered Aran that Talifax wanted the Krox to fail at Colony 3. Why? It could be as simple as weakening all his enemies, but it could also be part of a larger plan.
“What happened to Ree?” Aran kept his tone neutral. He didn’t want her telling him what she thought he wanted to hear, especially since he’d already seen the footage.
Nara paled, but then she rose and began to pace. “She didn’t leave us any choice, Aran. Frit was only trying to escape captivity. That isn’t her fault.”
“Firing on Confederate fighters is,” Aran pointed out. “She killed Ree, or as good as.”
“That self-righteous bitch didn’t give me a choice,” Frit snarled. She wrapped her hands very pointedly around the crackling blue bars, and did not remove them, even when smoke billowed out from where her fingers brushed the energy. Hot, fiery tears fell down her dark cheeks. “Ree hunted me like an animal. She followed me across half the sector, because she’d rather see me dead than protect her own world. What other choice did I have? We asked her to stand down, but she just kept coming…”
Unexpected grief welled up in Aran. Not just the loss of Ree, who, even though he’d never much liked her, had been one of their staunchest allies. He’d also lost Frit, and Nara. He took a deep breath, and composed himself before answering.
“Ree was a fanatic, but the fact is that you killed several mages escaping Shaya.” Aran approached Frit’s cell. “I don’t blame you for trying to run, but I’ve read the report. You were going to carpet bomb the sector’s breadbasket with the most lethal weaponry manufactured in this decade. You don’t get to claim the moral high ground after that.”
Frit’s mouth worked but she had no answer. Her shoulders slumped, and she gave a single nod, then returned to her bench.
Metal steps thumped down the ramp, and the sergeant appeared a moment later, now wearing his bulky armor. The silver metal glittered menacingly under the lights, but it paled compared to the scowl he leveled in Nara’s direction. “I grabbed the collar and the control rod. I assumed you’d want to deploy soon, so I suited up. You want the lovebirds to get ready too?”
“No,” Aran replied, deciding out loud. “I want Kezia to stay here and look after the prisoners. I do not want to come back to any surprises.”
“Ah, man, we’re always getting left behind.” Bord kicked dejectedly at the wall.
“You aren’t getting left behind. Go get suited up, Bord.” Aran turned back to Nara. “You’re coming with us too. He sketched a void sigil in front of the magical panel, and the bars to her cell winked out. Sergeant, give her the collar.”
“Sir, this is a bad idea. She’ll put a knife in our back.” Crewes moved to block Nara’s cell, so she couldn’t exit.
“No, she won’t,” Aran countered. He faced Nara. “She’ll work with us for two reasons. First, I think she wants the same thing we do. Second, and more importantly, you’re going to be holding the control rod, Sergeant. If she steps out of line, then do what you need to do.”
Crewes reluctantly handed the collar to Nara, and she snapped the thin, golden necklace around her neck. The sigils flared, then it faded against her skin, almost invisible.
“I realize none of you will believe this,” Nara said quietly. Her gaze flitted between them, as if seeking a friendly face she didn’t find. “I never meant to hurt you, and I will do whatever I can to protect you.”
“Sir,” Crewes asked, his voice nearly cracking as he eyed Aran searchingly, “why, man?”
Aran tightened his hand around Narlifex’s hilt. “We’re walking into the unknown, Sergeant. I have no idea what to expect at the Temple of Shi, but Eros left Rhea here for a reason and I want the magical backup in case we run into any surprises.” He turned to face Nara, and looked her directly in the eye. “Honestly, though? The main reason is that if I leave her here, even in that cell, I feel like we’re going to come back and find out that our ride has been jacked. Again.”
“You know what? You’re right, sir. I don’t trust leaving her here either.” Crewes gave a nod of acceptance. “Come on, ex-friend. We’ve got a package to pick up.”
Aran headed for the ramp. He prayed that the Temple would be straightforward. They needed a win, and he needed to get to Shaya so he could help Voria get ready for Krox’s assault.
12
The Temple of Shi
Kheross was already waiting impatiently in the cargo hold when Aran arrived with the rest of the squad. Bord moved to don his scout armor, while Nara lurked as far from everyone else as she could get. Crewes loomed behind her, his cannon ‘accidentally’ wandering in her direction.
“This had better work out as you’ve promised,” Kheross growled, his eyes flaring with void magic. His muscles bunched under his archaic, crimson armor, a subtle reminder of the threat he posed.
After all the turbulence, Aran found the straightforward animosity refreshing. “It will, as long as you keep your temper in check while we retrieve her. These priests are supposed to be touchy. Voria was very specific about that. If I thought you’d stay behind I wouldn’t even bring you. You want your daughter back? Keep it in your pants for a bit, and we’ll get her.”
The Wyrm gave a non-committal grunt and moved to stand before the blue membrane protecting the bay from the vacuum outside. Yanthara lay below them, a lush, green world, orbiting a large, orange sun.
He walked to his Mark XI, and sketched a void sigil before the chest, then slipped inside the familiar armor. His HUD flowed to life, and a thin trickle of void magic flowed from his chest. The suit rose into the air, and he guided it over to hover next to Kheross, next to the membrane.
“It troubles me,” Kheross rumbled, “that I have never heard of this Temple of Shi. Who is this god, and why should I fear his priests?”
Aran realized that he wasn’t entirely equipped to answer the question. He turned to Nara. “Have you heard of it? Voria told me it was a dream Catalyst, and that the priests are very unpredictable.”
Nara pursed her lips for a moment, then brushed a lock of hair from her face. “I’m not familiar with it, no. But I think I understand why Eros would have hidden her here. Divination can be blocked, and the easiest way to obscure it is with dream. If he wanted to prevent her from being found, this would be a great hiding place.”
Aran nodded gratefully, then turned back to Kheross. “I guess it doesn’t much matter who they are, as long as they don’t give us any grief about retrieving Rhea.”
“Sir,” Crewes said quietly. He raised the faceplate on his armor, exposing a troubled expression. “I know the Temple. My ma used to take us when we were kids. She still worships Shi, even on Shaya. The major’s right. They don’t brook no nonsense, and I’d step lightly around their priestesses.”
“If you know of any customs we’re screwing up, make sure you tell us.” Aran glanced through the membrane, and saw the world rapidly rushing up at them. His connection to the Talon alleviated the need to fly the ship directly, which would be damned helpful when preparing for combat drops. If he’d known about this back when they’d assaulted the second burl they’d never have needed Pickus to save the ship.
They descended into a seemingly endless expanse of trees. There were redwoods, like on Shaya, but also dozens of other species Aran didn’t recognize. A haze of undulating magical energy permeated the trees, elusive but powerful just the same. The magic pooled in violet eddies, permeating the entire forest in all directions, and the forest seemed to cover the entire continent.
The notable exception was a vast tree stump, easily a kilometer across. A modern city sprawled across it, with Ternus-style skyscrapers competing with the trees to reach the sky. Smaller buildings clustered around the skyscrapers, like mushrooms, and countless streams of vehicles flowed between them, lines of marching ants.
The Talon glided lower of its own accord, and angled toward a steep-sloped pyramid constructed from long planks of redwood. Unlike many of the other buildings this one was surrounded by small groves of trees, and seemed much less crowded than the rest of the city.
Only a few figures walked the mulched pathways threading between the many gardens, and a few more stood at balconies on the Temple’s upper floors. Each wore robes of scarlet and purple, which obscured their entire body, save the eyes and a bit of dark skin around them.
Bord nodded down at one of the robed figures. “They must have some lovely ladies if they need to dress ‘em up like that.”
No one responded, and after a moment Bord sighed. “I miss Kez. I feel like I should punch myself for that joke.”
Aran caught Nara’s wistful smile, though it seemed no one else did. It vanished nearly as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by something approaching guilt. That surprised him. Not that she might feel that kind of emotion, but that she would express it. The Nara he’d met before the mindwipe was calculating, and always in control.
This new Nara, if she was on the level, didn’t much resemble the woman he’d encountered just after his mindwipe. Nor did she seem like the Nara he’d fought alongside. This new version was much more reserved, a blending of both women.
“Do you feel the immensity?” Kheross asked, those dark eyes focused on the forest around them. “Something is out there, and it does not like us.”
“Speak for yourself, scaly.” Crewes slugged Kheross lightly in the arm, then nodded at the trees. “This is home. Even the gods-damned trees think you’re a slimy stain. They’re just fine with the rest of us, though.”
Aran guided his armor into a fast walk and headed for the compound’s main structure. They received a number of looks from robed figures as they approached, but no one made a move to stop them. There was no fence ringing the grounds, and they were able to thread their way up the mulch-lined walk, all the way to the Temple’s wide double doors.
The doors swung open of their own accord, exposing a wide hallway lined with marble. Pedestals lined the entryway, each containing the bust of a fierce warrior. Aran could feel the dream radiating from each, and caught fire as well.
A robed figure appeared suddenly, just inside the Temple’s doorway. One moment the space was empty, and the next a purple-garbed figure blocked their entrance. Judging from the curves, they were looking at a woman, but beyond that the only other detail was her eyes. They were swirling pools of purple-pink that shifted and changed as he watched.
“Welcome, Aranthar, once of the Last Dragonflight, now agent of the Coalition of Light.” The woman’s clear voice rang out, the words accented so that consonants often blended together, and emphasis was placed in strange places. “Do you seek access to the house of Shi?”
“I do.” Aran drifted toward the doors, but the woman didn’t budge.
The priestess turned toward Crewes, and took a step closer to the sergeant. She stretched out a robed arm, and rested her gloved hand on the barrel of his cannon. “And what of you, Linus Crewes? Do you seek access as well?”
“Linus?” Bord asked, blinking. “Your first name is Linus?”
Crewes’s faceplate snapped up, and he leaned down toward Bord’s smaller armor. “Something funny about that name, Bord? You maybe wanna make a joke? Make it rhyme with something?” The malevolence made Bord wilt like a flower.
“No, no jokes. Sorry, sir.”
“Linus?” The priestess said, drawing the sergeant’s attention. There was emotion buried, but Aran valued Crewes’s privacy enough not to dig. “You do not recognize me, do you?”
Crewes shifted his attention to the priestess, and he gave a quick nod, then dropped his eyes to the deck. “Yeah, I remember, Sarala. A guy don’t just forget a woman like you.”
The fabric over her mouth whispered, and Aran suspected she was smiling. She patted his armor over the bicep. “You do remember. You look good, though your burdens are many. Be welcome, Linus Crewes of Yanthara. You have come home.”
“Uh.” Crewes looked more uncomfortable than Aran had ever seen him.
“He’s freezing up,” Bord whispered audibly. “Oh my god…he’s crashing and burning.”
Crewes eyes began to smolder. Orange and red flame licked out where the white used to be, and when he turned to Bord the orange went white-hot. “You’re getting on my last nerve, and we just got here, Bord. If you open your mouth again, without instructions, I will make basic your second least favorite memory. Are we clear?”
Bord’s face went pale, and a moment later the faceplate to his armor snapped down. His voice was a bare whisper. “Crystal, sir.”
Aran used the opportunity to get Sarala’s attention. “You seem to know who we are, and I’m hoping you’re expecting us. Eros, the Tender of Shaya before his death, left a…package for us.”
