Reality's Plaything 4: Savants Ascendant Read online

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  Chapter Three

  Power Play

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  After the war on Karanganoi Homeworld, I thought it real unlikely I’d ever be a part of a team that capable again. It’s always interestin’ to get proven wrong when you’re talkin’ about a group of people who can, when riled, make pantheon lords cry like babies…

  —Talorin “Tal” Falor,

  Protectorate Tactical Officer

  The way back home was far easier than the one to get to Quasar’s fortress. After several dives through the crystalline tube systems that wound their way through Homeworld’s titanic structure, they were back in the void accelerating toward Titaan and Green Run.

  As the lights of the universe exploded around them Bannor began steeling himself for the ordeal to come. He knew for certain that even if the team arrived before the Baronian assault, Quasar would somehow manage to delay them so that avoiding confrontation was impossible.

  They shot down into an inky-dark Malan, the cities far below scattered pinpoints of lights and gleaming ribbons of water reflecting the light of the moons. As the young first one slowed to approach Green Run, Bannor spoke into her mind.

 

  Daena hummed in his thoughts. She paused above the roof of the east wing, where the quarters he and Sarai shared, lay.

  he prompted.

  Daena wondered. She sighed in his mind.

 

  He felt her roll her eyes.

  Bannor felt the warmth of her spirit recede as she unwound from around him like a snake uncoiling from around its prey.

  As he hovered there in the night air above Green Run, he felt different… changed somehow. He stared at Daena who floated near him smiling.

  She asked with a tilt of her head.

  It was difficult to look at his own pattern. Everything appeared the same. He couldn’t account for the different feel though. Well, there was nothing for it, they were already late.

  He dived through the roof into their chambers.

  He was ready for a confrontation with Sarai, who had probably already summoned help to get them unstuck.

  “There they are,” he heard Sarai’s unmistakable growl.

  Bannor froze near the ceiling. The room was packed with people. He thought they would meet on the citadel south steps! Arms folded, tapping her foot, Sarai stood in the center of the conference circle staring up at him. Around her, the entire assault team was sitting on the various couches and chairs. There were new faces he did not know; a tall brown-maned woman who had herself draped around Tal who was sitting on the floor. A shorter extremely broad man, sat on the couch behind Tal. Counsel Solaris had another woman with her with pale skin and long, straight, black hair. As expected, Idun was there with Euriel and Vanidaar. Desiray the white-haired guildmistress, now dressed in shiny black leather stood with her arm around Loric. Even in his astral form, Bannor could feel the staggering power of that group.

  “Fascinating,” Marna breathed, looking up at him.

  “I don’t recall this being part of the plan,” Aarlen mused from another part of the circle.

  Daena had stopped in surprise a little below him. She looked around. Her thought trailed off.

  “Yes,” Euriel said, staring up at them. “We do hope you have good intelligence after scaring us like this.”

  Bannor murmured.

  “Bannorrr…” Sarai cut him off. “Get in your body… and talk… normally. Damn you, always cutting things close…”

  Him cutting things close! She was the one always taking risks! Feeling drained, he drifted down to his body and began synchronizing with the threads of his physical self. After a brief dive into darkness, he pulled up through multicolored light to consciousness.

  He drew a breath with real lungs. His body ached and his skin burned. He looked down at his arms. They were toasted red as if he’d been out in the sun too long. The burning had actually been echoed to his physical body.

  He grimaced.

  Sarai loomed over him. She took hold of his hand and lifted his burned arm and gestured to it. “Was that part of the plan? You scared me… we thought you were dying!”

  “Star, I’m okay,” he soothed.

  Daena tried, still hovering over them in her marble white spirit form.

  “You stay out of this!” Sarai pointed a finger at her.

  “Arminwen,” Loric said in a low but firm voice. “Can you scold him later? He was about to tell us what information they uncovered.”

  Sarai subsided but continued to scowl at him.

  Bannor glanced up at her and winced. He tried not to let those burning violet eyes distract him. With effort he sat up and pushed himself to his feet. His legs felt rubbery underneath him. That trip took even more out of him than he realized.

  “Well,” he said. “We found Quasar, Wren, and Azir. They are in what I’m guessing is the bottom-most layer of one of those world sections they have there. There is this giant circular valley with a silver spire in the center. Wren and Azir are in a chamber near its top.”

  “That is Estate Lorning,” Eclipse remarked.

  “Security?” Tal asked from where he was sitting on the floor polishing a sword.

  “None,” Bannor answered. “Quasar said that Wren and Azir were free to leave as soon as Counsel Solaris came to personally take them away.”

  Marna who stood with her daughter and the new woman, leaned her head to one side and raised an eyebrow.

  Daena added.

  Dulcere responded. The thought was so sharp it made Bannor wince. Others around the room pressed a finger to their temple from the volume.

  Eclipse sighed.

  Tal growled. “I say we snatch Wren and Azir outta there and leave her to her own devices. I like a good fight, but I ain’t jumping through nobody’s hoops.”

  “If only we had that luxury…” Loric said. He paused and frowned up at Daena. “Miss Sheento, would you mind returning to your body?”

  The young first one flinched. “Uhhh, right.” She dived into the flesh of her body where it reclined on the divan.

  Marna shook her head. “Truly astonishing ability.” She looked to Bannor. “And you projected all the way to Homeworld and through its shields?”

  He rubbed the back of his head. “What took us so long was you have the doors camouflaged. We had to search. That took a bit.”

  The ancient creature’s eyes widened. “You—searched…”

  “It’s really big,” Bannor added.

  “Yes…” Marna’s voice trembled. “I am aware.” She let out a breath. “Quite incredible.”

  Daena sat up and ran a hand through her hair. She blinked at the group. “Sorry.” She rose, put an arm around Janai and pulled her close in a hug.

  “So,” Tal said. “We got the team. What’re we sittin around for?”

  Loric looked around at the group. “Indeed.” He focused on the male Kriar. “Eclipse?”

  The gold male rubbed the crescent on his cheek and nodded. He focused on Marna with his luminescent blue eyes for a moment and his features tightened. “Bannor, Daena, we’ll give you two a little time to gather any gear you want to take with you. Everyone else is ready.”

  “When you get back, I will treat those burns,” Marna offered.

  “Our thanks,” Sarai said with a nod to Marna. To him she said, “I had the stewards bring your leathers and pack to our chambers.”

/>   “I’ll make it quick,” Bannor offered to the group. “Sorry.”

  He and Sarai retreated to their chambers, leaving the powerful team behind them.

  “I hate this,” Sarai murmured, next to him as they hurried down the corridor. “And I’m really unhappy with you.”

  He rubbed her shoulder and brushed back a few strands of her silvery hair. “Star, we needed to do it.” He paused and opened the doors to their suite, and stepped in. His leathers were lying on the bed. He went to them directly and began changing.

  “I don’t have to be happy about it,” Sarai grumbled. “I should be going with you.”

  “You know you can’t,” he said stepping out of his dress pants and pulling up the leather breeches. “You have to get those treatments to keep you and the baby healthy.”

  She scrubbed her face with her hands. “If it wasn’t so damn embarrassing, I could have one of them out there do it. That Ziedra girl could probably do it.”

  “Probably,” he responded. He pulled the leather hauberk over his head, and pushed his arms out through the sleeves. He laced up the front as he spoke. “Star, there’s no way—your mother would have a fit that would eclipse everything else we’ve seen put together. Jhaan would be worse. Please don’t do that to me.”

  Fists clenched, Sarai growled in response.

  Sitting down on the bed he stepped into a boot and laced it up. He pulled on the second and looked up at his wife to be. “Star, I’ll be okay. I’m just going as a tracker.” He rose, found his axe sheaths and belted them on. He glanced in the pack that had a smattering of food, some utensils and small tools. He probably wouldn’t need it, but better to be safe. He cinched down the flap and shouldered the knapsack.

  Sarai frowned. She reached down and adjusted a lose buckle. She sighed and gave him a hug. She pressed her cheek against his. “Damn it, I love you.”

  He put his arms around her. “Tell you what.” He ran a hand through her hair. “Most of those folks out there have telepathy. We can keep in contact, would that be better?”

  “Better than nothing,” she drew a breath. “Come on, they’re waiting.” She pulled back from him and lead him back to the team waiting in the conference area.

  Back in the conference circle, an already prepared Daena stood with an arm around Janai while the elder princess fussed over her. The rest of the team stood together ready to step into what would likely become an incredibly violent enterprise.

  Burly Tal, his willowy wife, powerfully built Algernon, Lord Loric, Magestrix Frielos and the enigmatic Eclipse, the strength of those six probably exceeded the prodigious strength of the group that laid Odin’s High Jury low. Goddess Idun and her half-god daughter Euriel by themselves had ample strength to make any creature think carefully. Add to the mix two more Kriar, four savants that included himself, Daena, Vanidaar, and Ziedra, Lord Loric’s wife Desiray, Marna’s pale warrior friend, and Cassandra’s golden son Radian.

  He let out a breath. The Baronians would have their hands full if they took on this team. He gave Sarai a squeeze. “Star, look at them, I’m going to be okay.”

  She sniffed and nodded.

  “So,” he spoke up as he stepped up. “Who do I call ‘Boss’?”

  “I will be strategic authority,” Eclipse said in a firm voice. “Lord Loric and Magestrix Frielos will be our magic tactics experts. We’ll have three teams. Team one will be Tal, Terra, Daena, Belkirin Dulcere, Loric and Desiray. Team two will be Aarlen, Bannor, Counsel Solaris, Dominique, Damay and Idun. Team three will be Algernon, Euriel, Vanidaar, myself, Ziedra and Radian.” He looked around. “I hope no-one has issues with those groups, I tried to balance skills, experience, and people who had worked with one another.”

  “Works for me,” Tal rumbled, his face splitting into a grin. “Almost like you make a living doing this sort of thing.”

  The corner of the Kriar’s mouth quirked up. “Indeed.”

  “I do have one request,” Bannor said to them. “Is there a way I can keep in contact with Sarai while we’re gone?”

  Marna stepped forward. “I considered that. We should keep in contact with the citadel. I will be in contact with Sabre-team but the T’Evagdurans may wish to keep apprised of what goes on.” She held out her hand, in her palm were four blue jewels, small flat ellipses a little larger than a coat button. “Each of you take one.” She held them to Bannor and Sarai, then to Daena and Janai. “Press it here behind your ear.” She brushed back her long hair and indicated the spot where she already had a similar jewel.

  “This won’t fall off?” Sarai asked, placing the gem as Marna indicated.

  “No,” the elder demurred. “Not unless it is struck very hard or you pull on it with the intent to remove it.”

  Bannor did as directed. The jewel felt curiously warm. When he pressed it behind his ear he heard a strange crackling and felt an odd tingle. When he let go, the jewel did not move. In fact, as he ran his finger over the spot it felt as if it had become a part of his skin.

  Daena and Janai with a little reticence had done the same.

  “The operation is simple,” Marna continued. “Though you don’t need to, touching the jewel with a finger helps the focus. Touch the jewel and think of the person you want to speak with, then just speak the words.”

  Sarai frowned. She touched the jewel and spoke. “Hello?”

  *Hello?* Bannor jerked. He heard her voice in the room and inside his head at the same time. “Whoa, that was weird!”

  He frowned and pressed his finger against the jewel. He thought of Sarai and speaking to her. “Can you hear me, Sarai?”

  He saw by his fiancé’s flinch and expression of surprise that she had.

  Daena and Janai experimented with equal success.

  “This will work as far away as Homeworld?” Daena wanted to know.

  “The device itself does not have the power,” Marna answered. “The Sabre-team brought Kriar magic with them which will allow you to remain in communication.” She tilted her head and focused glowing green eyes on Sarai. “I trust that is satisfactory?”

  “I’d rather Bannor not go, but this is an acceptable alternative,” Sarai answered.

  “Now,” Marna said. “If Bannor would allow me to be a little familiar I can deal with those burns.”

  He stared at the ancient Kriar for perhaps an instant and stepped forward.

  “This won’t hurt,” the Counsel told him. She drew a breath closed her eyes for a moment, then raised a glowing hand to his arm. He saw threads spin-out from her hand and whirl through the flesh of his stinging arm. He felt a tingling and his flesh bubbled. Slowly, the angry red burns turned the normal tanned color of his skin. The pain was gone. She repeated the process on his other arm and touched his neck and the other burned areas. In moments all the pain was gone.

  “There,” she said. “That’s the worst of it.”

  He rubbed at his arm and stretched it out a few times. “Yes, thank you.” He turned his head to one side. “You did that all without magic, and without any devices.”

  “Mind power.” She grinned and winked. “There are some things where good old fashioned brain power still gets the job done.”

  “Team members, prepare yourselves for transport,” Eclipse said.

  Tal stood up and the others gathered close.

  Bannor gave Sarai a hug. “I’ll stay as safe as I can.”

  “You better,” she growled, kissing him.

  “Jumping in five—” Eclipse intoned. “Four—three—two—one.”

  Almost before the last word finished echoing in Bannor’s ears, his view of the conference circle and Sarai vanished. For an unfathomable instant, it seemed like all the threads in the universe aligned around him, bent, then snapped taut again.

  The chambers at Green Run were gone. Instead, cold sterile smelling air pushed in around them. The entire team stood in an enormous chamber with the walls streaking upward to some distant point dizzyingly far away. Only a few paces away a ledg
e dropped off into an unknowably deep metallic canyon. Needle-prowed void ships the size of cities floated in the vast space beyond.

  The sight had been impressive enough when he had visited this place in spirit form. Feeling the hum of the metal beneath his feet and the vertigo of his body, the sensations it evoked in him were all but overwhelming.

  Even sturdy Euriel and her goddess mother Idun were staggering back in awestruck wonderment.

  “Take a moment to acclimate yourselves,” Eclipse advised. “I know the scope of things is disconcerting to first timers.”

  He drew a slow breath. He reached up to the jewel behind his ear and touched it. He focused on his fiancé now unimaginably far away. “Star, can you hear me?”

  After a pause of only a heartbeat, he heard a clicking sound. **I hear you, my One. You’re there?**

  “We are.” He looked at the others who were looking at him. “I can’t believe how easily Eclipse did that. I wish I could describe this place. The way-point we showed you is a like drip compared to an ocean.”

  Bannor felt the growl in her voice. **You can describe it to me when you get back.** He heard her a draw a breath and he could visualize her tight expression. **Just get Wren and get out of there. Don’t stay an instant longer than you need to.** She paused. **Thank Marna again for her marvelous communication magic. It is as if you are right next to me. It will make all of this—easier.** The way she said ‘easier’ showed how upset she really was. She was worried.

  “I’ll call you later with a progress report,” he told her. “I love you.”

  **Love you,** she responded. He tapped the communication jewel off and straightened up.

  The others were staring at him. Why? Had he suddenly sprouted a second head?

  “Come,” Eclipse said, gesturing to the group. “We need to check in and get our equipment.” He turned and started heading toward the metallic canyon wall. In what Bannor could only call a cleft in the gigantic vertical face was a place where a counter and gate had been placed. Several Kriar in red uniforms were going about unknown duties, milling around unfamiliar machines.