Favorable winds brightened Lucan’s mood as the sun began to set. For the last several weeks, he had been pushing himself hard in hopes of getting to Storality as quickly as possible. With the winds at his back, he was able to use a patchwork sail to help speed the journey to its conclusion. He had no further sense of the Way being used, but he expected that since it had been left unused for roughly twenty years.
By the time he was ready to end another day’s rowing, it was very dark. Clouds were gathering in the sky as though it was going to rain, but nothing happened as Lucan curled up and looked skyward. His eyes were closing with increasing frequency when he saw a small flicker on the horizon.
Fire floating on water, he thought. He sat up when he realized what he was looking at in the distance. Through the darkness he could now make out the outline of something large, most likely the island with a tiny fire burning on the beach.
“Only a couple more hours and I’ll know for sure,” he said, standing up. “This calls for something to eat.” He moved cautiously to his food supply and felt the remaining items, looking for a particular one. An unlabeled can with a distinctive ridge pattern in the middle was what he was hoping for and instantly produced a smile when it was found. Holding it up to the feeble moonlight reassured him that he had the right one. After opening the can, he paused, took a deep breath, held it, and released it slowly.
Almost home, he thought as he gingerly pulled out a little orange slice and popped it into his mouth. He had learned on this trip that simple things gave him great pleasure, like this particular canned good. Lightning briefly lit up the sky several times before it started to rain heavily. Rushing to his shelter, he sat inside, eating and enjoying the soft sounds of the rain bouncing off of the raft.
Hours later, when the rain had stopped and the clouds had cleared, he was positive that he was approaching an island. Whether it was Storality or not, he wasn’t completely sure, but his hopes were rising quickly. After another four hours, when the sun began to rise enough to light the whole area, it was obvious that he would know for sure with a couple more hours of paddling.
Scorching winds whipped up violently as he jumped off the raft into waist-high water. He pushed the raft from behind in an attempt to get it as far onto the beach as possible. After securing the raft to a large piece of driftwood, he scanned the beach for any signs of life.
No one here to greet me.
“Hello,” a voice called from the tree line. “Over here.” Lucan took a moment to find the man who was waving both arms, trying to get his attention. “I have fish.”
Lucan stood motionless, wondering how long it would take for someone to recognize him. He rubbed the back of his neck, looked at the raft, and decided to at least find out if this was indeed Storality.
“Coming!” he called. “Be right there.”
“Been on that thing long?” the man asked while cautiously eyeing him.
“A little over a month, I think. I wanted to travel around Storality, but I’m a little lost. What territory is this?” he asked, hoping the man would believe the story.
“Northern, close to the Western. Where did you start?”
“Southern, near the cliffs past the orchards,” Lucan lied.
“Never been there, but it sure sounds beautiful.” The man smiled. “So, what are your plans now?”
“I would like to catch up with some old friends from the Central Territory—” Lucan stopped when the man gave him an odd look. “Is something wrong?”
“What friends do you have in the Central Territory?”
“Theterm,” Lucan said slowly.
“He’s your friend?”
“An old friend. I haven’t seen him for a long time.”
“Have you heard any of the news about the new Whisperer?”
“Whisperer?”
“Remember Lucan?”
“Yes.” Lucan smiled awkwardly. “Vaguely.”
“Well, this new kid can open Ways too. I was there when he did it. Killed two kings and a general, blew the roof off the portal area fortress, and nearly killed me. Funny thing is, he tried to give me a ride home. I wasn’t interested then. Snubbed him good.”
“Did Theterm get rid of him like Lucan?” Lucan asked angrily.
“Why would he?”
“He got rid of Lucan, right?”
“Lucan killed the kings and started a war.”
Lucan smiled and rubbed his chin. “He did?”
“Yes, and he unleashed creatures through the Way to help him.”
“You mean those Shadow Cult things?”
“No, these were different. He was building an army for years some say.”
“Years. Wow.” Lucan feigned interest. “I never knew any of this. So, what about this new Whisperer? Why did he kill the kings?”
“They were trying to stop him.”
“From?”
“From starting the King’s Tournament again. They didn’t want to lose the power they were holding on to since Lucan’s war. He had the help of the Scarlet Brotherhood and the Shadow Cult, but the kings’ armies wiped out most of them. It was truly tragic, and I’m sorry I took part.”
“The Scarlet Brotherhood and Shadow Cult were actually helping him?” Lucan shook his head slowly. “What is his name?”
“Does it matter?” a voice asked from behind the man. Both the man and Lucan turned in the direction of the voice. “It’s good to see you again, Lucan.”
“Lucan?” the man asked, terrified, backing away from both of them.
“Ghera?” Lucan moved quickly toward the creature. “Is it true? Do people believe what this man says?”
“You don’t remember doing all those things?” Ghera laughed. “Of course it is all true.”
“Aren’t you that thing from the Northern Territory?” the man asked as Ghera began moving toward him. “I thought—”
Ghera knocked him down and hunched over him.
“Please,” the man pleaded.
“Don’t mind if I do,” Ghera said as he put his hand over the man’s face.
“What are you doing?” Lucan demanded, trying to pull Ghera off the man.
“Surviving,” Ghera said casually. “Almost finished.”
Lucan wrenched Ghera’s hand away from the man’s face and managed to drag Ghera off the man’s still body. “Stop!”
Ghera moved over to where the man’s fish were still cooking. “We can’t let this go to waste,” he said, eating greedily. “Do you want any?”
“What did you do to that man?”
“Nothing.” Ghera continued eating. “He’ll be fine.”
“How did you know I would be here?”
“You know how. Just let yourself remember.”
Lucan rubbed his temples and closed his eyes. “Tell me,” he demanded.
“I can track something about you, something that makes me stronger.” Ghera finished the last fish. “A little over a month ago, I was blind and wasting away in a cell. Dack, he’s the new Whisperer, started making me feel better. I escaped, and the closer I got to you, my eyesight returned. It’s not perfect, but I’m sure it will continue to improve.” He stood up straight and stretched.
“I need to find Theterm. Where is he?”
“Should be in the Central Territory, at his keep.”
“How about Dack?”
“He’s not been on Storality for a while.”
“Is there something wrong with the Way?”
“I don’t know. Why?”
Lucan sulked. “I don’t sense it at all, as if it doesn’t exist. Did Dack or Theterm do something to it?”
“I came here after I escaped,” Ghera abbreviated the facts. “We can ask Theterm if you would like,” he sneered.
“I do want to know why he sent me away and how come everyone believes such lies about me.”
“I’m not sure you are going to like the answers.” Ghera shrugged.
“I deserve the truth,” Lucan said, heading for the raft to get his supplies. “How long do you think it will take to get to Theterm’s keep?”
“There was a horse at the place that man was staying,” Ghera said, pointing to the man still lying in the sand. “Maybe two days’ ride.”
“It has been a long while since I’ve even seen a horse. There are some things I need to show Theterm.” Lucan patted one of his bags. “Some things he needs to explain.” Lucan followed Ghera away from the beach and into the forest.
After a few minutes, Chad slowly descended the tree he was hiding in, pulled the unconscious man into the shade, and then quietly raced to catch up with the others. By the time he caught up with Lucan and Ghera, they were inside the small house where the man on the beach had been staying. Through the front door that was left open, Chad could see Ghera ransacking the place while Lucan was washing his face.
“I had no idea,” Lucan said as he splashed cool water onto his face and neck.
“It doesn’t matter, does it?” Ghera said as he sat down to look through some of the valuable things he found.
“What people think about me is very important. Don’t you care?”
“Not about that.”
“I don’t remember much about my last day on Storality, do you?”
“Sure.”
“I need to talk to Theterm. He has more to teach me about being a Whisperer of Lore—I’m sure of it.”
“Do you really think he is going to walk up to you, shake your hand sincerely, and sit down like nothing has happened?”
Lucan looked at himself in a mirror hanging on the wall. “I know I didn’t do those things.”
“Yes,” Ghera said firmly, “you did.”
Lucan continued looking at his reflection. “Do you think I should cut my hair and trim my beard? I do look terrible,” he said, pursing his lips. “I’m glad I didn’t have a mirror.”
“We should get going,” Ghera said, standing up and moving toward the door.
“The gentleman from the beach had a razor. It won’t take long,” Lucan said as he started cutting his hair.
“Fine, we’ll do things your way,” Ghera said disappointedly. “I’ll be outside looking around.” Chad moved away from the door and hid in the shadows as Ghera came outside. “I am so close,” Ghera mumbled as he walked over to the horse. Through the trees he could see another horse roaming freely. “That’s odd,” Ghera said as he looked around for signs of other people. He walked up to the horse cautiously, and it didn’t react. “Who owns you?” he said gently as he looked through the saddlebags.
“Please don’t do that,” a raspy voice echoed through the woods.
“Show yourself,” Ghera called, turning frantically.
“Take the other horse, but leave this one alone.”
“Cheap tricks. I will find you!”
“Doubt it. What are you doing with Lucan?”
“So you know who he is?”
“Yes. I am here to watch.”
Ghera kept turning his head slightly, trying to get a better bearing on the voice, but it was always moving. “Who sent you?”
“We both know that, right?”
“Then he already knows?”
“He is waiting for him, to talk.”
“He wants to talk?”
“Bring him to the portal area fortress.”
“He wants to stop at Theterm’s keep first.”
“Theterm won’t be there.”
Good, Ghera thought. “Lucan is very unstable. He can’t remember what he’s done.”
“No matter. I will be watching. You should get back before he gets suspicious.”
“All I want is to go home,” Ghera said, but there was no reply. After looking around the area one last time, he slowly walked back to the house. Lucan, finished with grooming himself, was sitting in a chair with his eyes closed, his arms folded, and his mouth slightly open. He did look a little nicer with his hair cut to shoulder length and his beard trimmed shorter, but now he would be much more recognizable. “Time to go,” Ghera said softly, startling Lucan awake.
“I was dreaming again. I’ve been doing a lot of that lately,” Lucan said, standing up and stretching.
“That’s great,” Ghera lied. “We should go before anyone else shows up.”
“Fine,” Lucan said, walking out of the house and toward the horse. “I would like to get to Theterm’s keep as quickly as possible.”
Ghera looked through the trees and didn’t see the other horse. “We should be there in roughly two days if you don’t want to stop too often.”
“I thought about going to see where I grew up.”
“No,” Ghera said tersely.
“Really?”
“I think talking to Theterm as soon as possible would be best.”
“I guess you are right. How about the Shadow Cult? Are they still in the forest north of Theterm’s keep?”
“Yes, but like the man on the beach said, most of them are dead.”
“That’s right.” Lucan remembered sadly.
“Are you going to be able to handle this?”
“What?”
“Coming back after being away so long.”
Lucan looked around the area. “I truly wanted what was best for this island at one time. Now, I just want to understand what happened.” He mounted the horse and motioned for Ghera to do the same.
Lucan rolled over, trying to get comfortable on the forest floor after a hard day of riding almost nonstop. Sleep came reluctantly.
“Tie those ropes tighter!” Ghera shouted to the others. “He cannot escape, do you understand?” The others nodded and secured the net around the captive more snuggly.
“You have to let me go. This is all a mistake,” Lucan pleaded.
“I do not believe that. I do believe you are going to help me escape this place,” Ghera sneered.
“I’ll do anything, I promise.” Lucan nodded. “I can take you back to my world.”
“That is my plan, but you can never remember that.” Ghera grabbed Lucan roughly by the face with both hands. “I hope you don’t mind if I take a look around.” Lucan’s body convulsed slightly and then went limp. “I am going to ask you a few questions, and I expect that you will answer them truthfully. Do you understand?”
“Yes.” Lucan moaned.
“Good. Who sent you to this place?”
“No one.”
“How did you get here?”
“I can open Ways.”
“Who is your master?”
“No one.”
“All Alkaskre are controlled. Who trained you?”
“Theterm.”
Ghera let go of Lucan and scrambled away from the net. “Revenge!” he shouted to the others. “Prepare, everyone, prepare!” He grabbed Lucan again. “I see no traces of control.” He frowned. “Why did you come here?”
“Randomly.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“I flipped through a book, stopped on a page, and opened that Way.”
“Impossible. What game is Theterm playing?”
“Theterm doesn’t care.”
“Did he tell you about us?”
“No.”
“What do you want?”
“I want to rule Storality.”
Ghera laughed. “Is that all?”
“Yes.”
“You will want more when I am done with you. We will rule everywhere we go, and you won’t remember a thing, will you?” Lucan did not respond. “You will not remember!”
Lucan sat up abruptly and looked around, confused. Another dream, he said, shaking his head slowly. The memory of it gradually faded as he stood up, trying to get his bearings. Ghera screamed when Lucan stepped on him in the dark. “Who is there?” Lucan backed away, afraid.
“Who do you think it is?” Ghera asked, trying to get comfortable. “Go to sleep.”
“What did you do to me?” Lucan demanded.
“Do? I’m sleeping, and so should you. We’ve got another day of riding.”
“That man on the beach. What were you doing to him?”
Ghera sat up. “What?”
“I pulled you off him. What were you doing to him?”
“I was using some of his energy to make me feel better.”
“I thought you said I did that.” Lucan moved a few steps away from Ghera.
“Even plants do it. What is your problem?”
“I had a dream.”
“So?”
“Did you make me forget things?” Lucan demanded.
Ghera stood up and looked at Lucan in the dim starlight. “What do you think?”
“I am not sure. It was so real.” Lucan rubbed the back of his neck. “Tell me about when we first met. I can’t remember.”
“You came through a Way to my world and invited me back to this world,” Ghera said calmly. “There was nothing special about it. Maybe that is why you don’t remember anything.”
“How did you end up in that cell?”
Ghera struggled to maintain his composure. “Because you killed the kings and started a war. The humans rounded up every creature that you brought through the Way and either enslaved us, killed us, or threw us into prison.”
“I only remember that fast little thing and the Shadow Cult. I don’t even remember bringing you.”
Ghera stepped toward Lucan again. “You went through a lot. Theterm was not a good master to you.”
“Alkaskre. Why did that word come into my mind?”
“I don’t know. What does it mean?”
“You called me that.”
“When?”
Lucan reached down and grabbed a sharp stick and held it toward Ghera. “Tell me the truth, Ghera.”
Ghera laughed. “Send me home. That’s all I want.” He turned away from Lucan and lay down again on the ground. “Get some sleep, and stop dreaming about things that never happened. Take responsibility for what you’ve done.” He rolled so his back was to Lucan.
Lucan eventually calmed down enough to get some more rest. When he awoke in the morning, he was quite determined. “I need to talk to Orex. Let’s go,” he said, nudging Ghera with his foot.
Ghera stood up quickly, ready to object, but stopped when he saw Lucan was mounting the horse. “Aren’t you hungry?”
Lucan threw a piece of fruit to Ghera. “We need to get going so we get there before sunset.”
“It will take longer than that. We haven’t even gotten to the main kings’ road that leads south,” Ghera said with a mouthful of fruit. “If you push the horse too much, we might be walking the rest of the way.”
“All right, but I still want to try.”
Although they only stopped sparingly, it was well after dark when they arrived near the Shadow Cult forest. Off the kings’ road, Lucan could barely see two individuals walking near the dense forest. They wore tan robes and moved slowly toward the horse when Lucan dismounted.
“I will stay here, if you don’t mind,” Ghera said quietly to Lucan, who was already moving into the forest toward the individuals.
“Orex!” Lucan called.
“Who are you?” one returned.
“Lucan.”
The two individuals laughed to each other. “Good one. Orex isn’t here.”
“Where is he?”
“He went with the others to the portal area fortress to wait for Lucan.”
“How many Shadow Cult and Scarlet Brotherhood are still alive?”
“Some of the injured Cult are still here, but the rest, about twenty, are with Orex. Many of the Scarlet Brotherhood survivors decided to rally more support in the territories. Only Faith and Petrose are with the others. They all left a few days ago. You better catch up before Lucan arrives.”
“Is there something wrong with the Way?”
“I don’t think so, but there’s been no news since Dack left.”
“Well, you have been very helpful.” Lucan waved and began walking to the horse. “I am glad it is dark out tonight.” He grinned when he approached the horse. “Those two really did not want to believe me.”
“That was not a very smart thing to do,” Ghera muttered when Lucan mounted the horse. “We should make it to Theterm’s keep by morning if we keep up this pace.”
As the morning light began showing over the treetops, they could see Theterm’s keep. “I have something to retrieve, even if Theterm is not here.”
“What?” Ghera asked, not really caring.
“Before I left, I buried two of Theterm’s books. I am not sure if they are still there, but I need to look.”
“Why did you do that?”
“I can’t remember, but I recall it was important for me to do so at the time.” Lucan could see himself digging in his mind’s eye but felt detached emotionally. “Hopefully it will remind me of all the things you have insisted that I’ve forgotten.”
Ghera wasn’t listening as he looked cautiously at the keep as they arrived. “I will stay with the horse, if you don’t mind,” he said, glancing around nervously.
“Theterm!” Lucan called out loudly. “It’s Lucan!” After a few moments, he shrugged and moved slowly inward. What happened to this place? he wondered as he surveyed the burned sections of the keep. “Is anyone here?” he called one last time. In the distance he could see something on top of a table near a fire pit. Intrigued, he walked quickly to the bundle and sat down on a bench. A note was pinned to the bag, which he removed and opened.
The message read, “Lucan, I trust you will want to talk. I’m sorry I didn’t listen before. Please bring the item inside with you to the Way. Many things have changed, but the truth will be our constant. Until then, Theterm.”
“What is it?” Lucan asked aloud as he held up a metal nut with a string through it like a necklace. “I guess I should wear it,” he grumbled as he put it on and tucked it into his clothes. He looked through the bag one last time to make sure nothing else was in it. “Well, time to dig,” he announced as he stood up quickly.
He surveyed the area, looking for something to help him retrieve the books, and was pleasantly surprised when he saw a small shovel next to a spit. Walking back to the entrance with a confident bounce in his stride, he whistled a tune from his childhood. Smiling as he went, he tried to remember how many paces it was from the front gate. “Twenty, twenty, twenty,” he sang with his back to the wall.
Walking off twenty paces, he turned left, walked twenty more, turned right, and took twenty last steps. He was standing in a small clearing surrounded by several tall trees. Kneeling down to push away the fallen leaves and sticks, he felt a wave of sorrow pass over him. He blew out a breath and stuck the shovel into the dirt. After a few more times, he saw something in the shallow hole.
A decaying piece of leather and fabric ripped apart when he attempted to pull out the bundle. More digging to widen the hole helped him get a better grip, but the package came out abruptly with a shower of small stones. He sobbed as he unwrapped the folds cautiously until he could see the cover of the top book. Both books had fared poorly, but both survived.
“Is this why you tried burning down the keep?” a raspy voice asked.
“Ghera?”
“No, he is hiding behind the horse, hoping Theterm won’t show up.”
“Who are you?”
“I was hoping you could fill in the details without my sister being here.”
“If you come out and face me, I will behave.” Lucan faked a smile. “Promise.”
“Actually, you have been extremely well behaved. I will make sure everyone knows that.”
“Come out, or this conversation is over.”
From behind Lucan, a bush moved, and he swung violently in that direction with the shovel.
“Are you trying to kill me?” Ghera demanded.
“I thought—”
“You did not think! Stop being so jumpy. Did you find what you were looking for?”
“Yes. They held up all right, but they need to be handled with care. I didn’t have a lot of time to wrap them properly. Do people think I tried to burn down Theterm’s keep?”
“Are your memories coming back again?”
“I did not do that.”
“Of course you did. Actually, I think it is almost time I help you remember everything,” Ghera said, hunching over Lucan with a wide, toothy grin. In the distance they both heard a horse galloping away on the loose gravel. “Is that our horse?” Ghera ran out of the clearing with Lucan close behind him.
“We must be hearing things.” Lucan chuckled.
“No.” He pointed at something heading south on the kings’ road. “There was another rider.”
“Well, that’s a relief. I thought I was going mad.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Ghera looked at Lucan intently.
“That one was trying to talk to me,” Lucan said, pointing in the direction the rider took.
“So close, so close,” Ghera mumbled. “We need to get to the Way quickly.”
“I was planning on it.” Lucan pushed past Ghera, carefully put the books into a saddlebag, and mounted the horse. “Let’s go.”
“We should get to the portal area fortress close to sundown.”
“You keep talking about the portal area fortress. What is that?”
“After you left, the leaders built a monument to your defeat on the location of the Way. They hoped to box it up and forget it all happened. The wall around the Central Territory was another one of their brilliant ideas. Most of the things you brought through ended up dying to build it,” Ghera said sadly.
“Are you talking about the Shadow Cult?”
“Not them. They betrayed you and went into hiding. I’m talking about all the other places you opened Ways to.”
“I raised an army, right?”
“That’s right. You wanted to pay everyone back for what they did to you. Revenge!” Ghera mounted the horse and held on to Lucan. “Before we get there, I promise you, it will all come back like a flood.”
“I am telling you, he does not remember anything,” Chad insisted.
“I am sure that is all part of an act.” Theterm waved his hands in the air.
“He did not know I was listening. I don’t think Ghera knew either.”
“Ghera?” Theterm looked puzzled. “Who is that?”
“He said Lucan brought him through a Way. He knew where Lucan was going to beach.”
“I don’t recognize the name. Anything else you can remember?”
“Ghera kept reminding him of all the things we believe he did, as though he was rehearsing it. At one point Lucan was afraid of him because of a dream he had. I don’t know what else to say. I think we need to hear it from Lucan though. He stopped at your keep and dug up two books and put them in the horse’s saddlebag.” Chad scratched hard behind his ear.
“Interesting. Did he get the thing I left him?”
“Yes, he is wearing it.”
Theterm patted Chad on the back. “Thank you so much for all you have done.”
“I’m going to get some rest, if you don’t mind. They should be here very soon.” Chad walked slowly toward Farah and Alix.
“What’s going on, Chad?” Farah snorted.
“I think the three of us need to sneak out of here,” Chad whispered.
“Why?” Alix asked, getting closer.
“I have a feeling that the real threat is hiding in the shadows.”
“Tell us straight,” Farah demanded.
“Either Lucan is the most forgetful fool I’ve ever met, or someone was pulling his strings all those years ago.” Chad looked around as the others gathered.
“Theterm,” Farah growled.
“No, there is another riding with him. We need to keep our eye on that one. Are you with me?”
“Lead on.” Alix shrugged.
Farah pulled Chad close. “So you really think Lucan is innocent?”
“I did not say that. Now let go of me.” Chad tried to wiggle free.
“You know this is important to me.” Farah breathed heavily in Chad’s face.
“I would take you more seriously if your rank breath and tusks weren’t tickling my whiskers,” Chad said, hoping to defuse her anger. Farah pushed Chad away roughly. “Thank you. This situation is not as cut-and-dry as we thought it was, that’s all I’m saying.”
“Fair enough.” Farah nodded. “We can hide by the kings’ road.”
Chad, Farah, and Alix snuck away as Theterm entered the portal area fortress. “How’s it going?” he asked the individual leaning over the device that Zara had brought through the Way. “Do you think you can do what we discussed?”
“I have to tell you, I am a little concerned,” the man said with a deep voice. He stood up and took off a leather glove and rubbed sweat from his forehead. He had been kneeling on his stained apron while examining the object. “I am very creative when I need to be, but I am not sure I can do what you want. Moving it once would be easy. Moving it and putting it back, then moving it again fast…” He paused and looked at the barrel next to him. “I don’t know how quick I can do that safely.”
“To be safe, how much time would you need?” Theterm asked, looking at the barrel.
“I can blow it up and keep it hoisted up. No problem. I could lower it quick too. To reset the explosives to do it again.” He squinted and rubbed his nose. “Safely…one minute, maybe less.”
Theterm smiled. “A lot can happen in less than a minute, but I think that will be quick enough. I am not sure how many times we will have to do that, but do you have enough powder for four or five explosions?”
“That barrel will give you three, maybe four times max. I will pack it into four bundles. It should be okay. I still have to rig up the rope and pulley. Everything should be ready in an hour or so. You have the torches so we can light this from the outside, right?”
“Everything else is right outside.” Theterm pointed over his shoulder.
“When I bring out the barrel, you will know I am ready.” The man turned and continued working as Theterm exited.
“Is all going to plan in there?” Petrose asked as Theterm walked up to him.
“We should be able to do what we need.” Theterm nodded. “Chad said Lucan should be arriving very soon. I think we should get everyone in place now.”
“Good idea,” Faith agreed.
“Orex, can you tell the others to stay out of sight as much as possible unless we signal them?” Theterm asked quietly. “I do not want to provoke him.”
“It would be best that my people were farther away anyway. I wouldn’t want a stray arrow to kill him too early.” Orex sniffed.
“He is so funny when you know he’s kidding.” Petrose slapped Theterm hard on the back. “No red eyes is a good thing, see?”
“Shadow Cult humor. Great.” Theterm shook his head slowly and walked away. All that is left is for Lucan to arrive, he thought. I hope Dack is faring well.
Ten minutes after the man with the multicolored, stained apron exited the portal area fortress carrying an empty barrel, Lucan arrived, walking his horse toward the area.
“So, this is where you all are hiding?” Lucan called loudly, stopping several yards away from those standing in front of the portal area fortress.
“It is good to see you, son,” Theterm answered.
Lucan laughed loudly. “I see my extended family is still here too. Hello, Orex.” He waved. “It’s gotten too dark to see everyone else hiding in the shadows, but I am sure they are there. Thanks for coming.”
“Are you ready to talk privately?” Theterm said, walking closer to Lucan.
“I think I would like witnesses this time, if you don’t mind,” Lucan said, holding his arms out to his sides. “I have nothing to hide. How about you?”
“That is fine. We can talk openly.” Theterm shrugged. “I am sorry for sending you away without listening to everything you had to say. I regret that deeply.”
“You were right to do it though. I am never going to stop trying to take over this world and every other one that has the misfortune of having its name in one of our books.”
“Sounds like nothing has changed,” Petrose said quietly.
“What was that? Speak up if you have something to say!” Lucan exploded.
“You haven’t changed one bit,” Petrose spoke up.
“And you are?”
“Scarlet Brotherhood.”
Lucan chuckled. “Tan robes? In my day they wore—let me see if I remember this right—” He paused and put his finger to his temple. “Pink, was it? Oh no, it was scarlet, sorry.”
Faith held Petrose back when he tried to move. “He wants a reaction. Let Theterm handle this.”
“Isn’t that sweet? I can see why she would be in the group. At least one of you buffoons got it right,” Lucan said, ruffling his hair. “Nothing like brotherhood, right, sis? Are you here to ruin my chances again?”
“What are you talking about, Lucan?” Theterm asked.
“Where is the one who started it all? You remember him, don’t you, Theterm?”
“I am not sure I know what you are talking about.”
“Merson. His name was Merson. Remember me complaining about them trying to ruin my chances?” When Faith and Petrose looked at each other, Lucan knew he had struck a nerve. “The Scarlet Brotherhood had been trying to rig the King’s Tournament for years. Theterm knew that. Bet you two didn’t, right? Well, it was Merson who succeeded.”
“Merson has recently betrayed us too,” Faith said.
“He made me lose the King’s Tournament. I tried to tell you that was going to happen, but you would not listen to me.” Lucan threw his arms up in the air. “Do you believe me now?”
“How did he do that?” Petrose asked.
“I had won almost all of the events, so the Brotherhood asked for the points for the last race to be altered so the winner would be king if I lost. I didn’t care; I had beaten them all before. What I did not know was they had arranged for me to have an accident out of sight.”
“So you decided to kill the kings?” Faith demanded.
“No.” Lucan held his hands to his head. “I mean, yes. That is why. I wanted revenge, so I ordered my army to attack. The Shadow Cult…” He paused and grimaced as he tried to continue.
“What did we do?” Orex yelled.
“You betrayed me, so I had to get others to help.” Lucan began breathing heavily.
“You lied to us. You promised us that this world would be safe, and then you told us to fight against other humans in order to stay.” Orex stepped forward. “Isn’t that right?”
“You knew what I wanted you to do. I told you over and over again!”
“Liar! You used us and left us here to die.” Orex’s eyes were glowing red. “Tell the truth!”
“The truth is,” Lucan began, “I need a moment, please.” He closed his eyes and screamed.
“Where is Ghera?” Theterm called.
“Who?” Lucan composed himself. “I don’t know anyone by that name.”
“You rode here with him. Where is he?”
Lucan turned around, nervously looking at the others, trying to remember. “You are trying to confuse me.”
“Did you try to burn down my keep?” Theterm asked, walking closer to Lucan.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don’t remember.”
“Where are my books?”
“I lost them trying to escape.”
“Are you sure about that?” Theterm asked as he stood next to Lucan’s horse.
“Sure.”
“So, I shouldn’t find them in here?” Theterm asked, pointing at the saddlebag.
“Of course not.”
Theterm opened the saddlebag and removed the two missing books carefully. “What are these?”
“I don’t—”
“These are the two books you and Ghera unearthed at my keep earlier today,” Theterm said gently. “You were trying to protect them, weren’t you?”
Lucan collapsed to his knees and shook his head rapidly. “I am not a bad person,” he said softly before falling over unconscious.
“What is going on, Theterm?” Orex demanded.
“Lucan was right about one thing; a lot of what happened was about revenge. Has anyone seen Chad?” Theterm asked, looking around the area.
“I am over here,” Chad called from far away. “We have more proof if you still need it,” he said, pushing a creature held firmly by Farah and Alix. “You might want to gather around.”
“Please, I just want to go home,” Ghera called out while trying to avoid looking at Theterm. “This is all a big misunderstanding.”
Theterm laughed loudly when Ghera was placed roughly down in front of him. “Going by the name ‘Ghera’ now?” He patted the creature on his head. “Are you ready to tell these good people the truth?”
Ghera nodded. “Will you send me home again? You have your books back. You could do it easily.”
“We both know what will happen if I open that Way.” Theterm smiled.
“Then let Lucan do it.”
“It won’t matter who opens it. We both know what will happen, right?” Theterm grabbed Ghera’s head and forced him to look up. “Tell the crowd what will happen.”
Ghera unsuccessfully struggled to wiggle out of the grip of Alix and Farah. When he realized there was no chance of escape, he relaxed. “Fine. There are many others waiting to invade this world. They all hate humans, as I do, and will stop at nothing to kill you all. Is that all?”
“How long have you been controlling Lucan?” Farah kicked Ghera.
“Does it matter?” Ghera sighed.
“It does to her,” Alix said, applying more pressure.
“After his parents were killed, he opened the Way to my world. All he wanted to do was forget, so I helped him,” Ghera sneered. “It that such a bad thing?”
Orex stepped up and knelt down beside Ghera. “Did you tell him to lie to us, or was that his idea?”
“I helped him see the need for an army. He really liked your people. If you would have only accepted the offer, none of this would have happened.” Ghera locked eyes with Orex. “When you ran away, we opened lots of Ways and took whatever I could control. Night and day he was opening Ways just to recruit whatever we could.”
“Who killed the kings?” Petrose asked.
“The army did, under my control, but in his name. Lucan had no idea what he was doing. He was too upset about being cheated out of being king that afterward he stormed off to Theterm’s keep. All he wanted to do was leave quietly, I think. That didn’t happen, did it, Theterm?”
“No, I was too hasty in my judgment. The wrong one paid the price. What should we do with this one?” Theterm asked those standing close.
“He deserves to die for what he did to me and this entire island,” Lucan said, staggering over to the others. “Is there anyone here who disagrees?”
“I do,” Ghera spoke up. “If that matters.”
“He can tell the others that are coming that it was all his fault,” Theterm said firmly. “If you are willing to do that, then maybe I would be willing to spare your life.”
“All my fault?” Ghera looked shocked. “All I did was help push Lucan along the way he was too afraid to take on his own. We all need to take some responsibility for this happening, don’t you think?” When he realized his approach was only going to get him ripped apart by those standing nearby, he changed his tactics. “Okay, I will tell anyone you want whatever you want. I would like to say good-bye to Dack, please.”
“He is not here,” Theterm said.
“I know that,” Ghera sneered. “I am sure he will be back before the Alkaskre arrive, right?”
“Is there still a problem with the Way?” Lucan asked Theterm.
“I would suggest that we secure our new guest,” Theterm said, tapping Ghera’s head. “After that, we can talk.”
Alix and Farah followed Theterm to a group of tents set up for those waiting for Lucan’s return. They entered one and found a post driven deeply into the ground with shackles attached at the top.
“It was for Lucan in case things didn’t work out,” Theterm said, smiling awkwardly at the others. “It should hold our guest. One size fits all, as they say.”
Ghera did not struggle or talk until after he was secure. “Do I have to stand the entire time, or will you bring me something to sit on?” Theterm nodded to Alix, who left with Farah. “Was that a yes or no?” he demanded.
“You did not have to ruin Lucan’s life to get back at me,” Theterm whispered.
“Twenty years is nothing. We’ve both been imprisoned against our wills much longer than that. Well, you know what I mean.” Ghera moved, trying to get comfortable.
“This time I will have the others take care of you. I should have done that in the first place.”
“It seems you make the wrong decision every time you get the opportunity. Really surprised they haven’t put you away permanently.”
“You are right. I believe the only reason I am still allowed to live is because someone is counting on me making poor choices. Actually, I’ve recently had confirmation of that fact by a bounty hunter sent to kill me.”
Ghera chuckled. “They should’ve freed me. I would have done it for free. There is an entire world devoted to your end.”
Theterm paced as he thought. “What do you really want?”
“Right now, freedom would be nice.”
Theterm leaned close to Ghera. “I am serious. Name it.”
“A new game?”
“No game, no strings attached. All I want is Dack to be safe from all harm. Lucan too, but ultimately, if a choice needed to be made, just Dack. So, what do you want?”
Ghera looked shocked. “That’s all?”
“Yes.”
“My list is much longer. I’m not sure it is a list, more like…” He paused. “…a never-ending series of demands.”
Theterm stood up and was about to leave. “If you can narrow it down a bit, let me know, and I’ll see what I can do,” he said with a wink and then exited the tent. “Orex!” he called, motioning to Orex. When they were both standing outside of the tent, he asked, “Can you have a couple of your best guards posted here?”
Orex nodded. “What is next?”
“I want to get Dack back safely and then prepare for others like us to arrive.”
“I am not sure I can ever completely trust Lucan again,” Orex admitted.
“Do you trust Dack completely?”
“Yes.”
“Good. In the end, that is all that matters to me.” Theterm looked up when he heard loud noises racing above him in the dark sky. “Sounds like we need to move fast. Tell the others to meet in my tent as soon as possible. I need to check on something first.”
Orex quickly gathered the group and told them to wait in Theterm’s tent. By the time Theterm arrived, they were all present and anxious to begin. “What was all that loud commotion earlier?” Petrose asked, pointing upward.
“Since the Way is still disabled, the others I have spoken about have used other methods of travel. Ships that can fly very fast and travel great distances are now above Storality from the sounds of it. I expected this to happen, so I am not worried. What I did not plan for was Dack being stuck in Fixx’s world.”
“You want me to get him?” Lucan asked.
“Yes, and that is why I have secured the services of an old friend to help. Since having the Way disabled can be used to our advantage, we will try to remove the blocking device, use the Way, and then disable it again quickly.”
“Do you think those you spoke of will be waiting for an opportunity to use it?” Faith asked, genuinely concerned.
“It is possible. Timing will be important.”
Chad stood up. “Why don’t you blow up the device and let them through?”
“I am trying to save Lucan and Dack from being taken away.”
“Lucan can go and hide in Fixx’s world with Dack. We all could, right?” Chad questioned.
“My purpose is not to have us all live like fugitives moving from world to world, trying to stay one step ahead of them.” Theterm sighed. “That is what will happen unless I can convince them that it is better to have Lucan and Dack stay here to help this world.”
“You could still let them through,” Chad said as he sat down.
“Chad is right. I could end this by letting the Alkaskre invade and take our chances on them being kind.” Theterm laughed. “They would likely kill us all, imprison Lucan, and then hunt down Dack. Now granted, that’s all a guess based from my experiences and firsthand encounters.”
“Chad’s only trying to help,” Farah growled.
“He is helping.” Theterm nodded. “Helping us understand what needs to be done. They want control of all worlds. If they believe Lucan and Dack will do as they are told, you will all live. The problem, as I see it, is that Dack isn’t here, we have creatures from numerous worlds on Storality, and even the humans need to work better together again.”
“The Scarlet Brotherhood is working on that now,” Petrose announced.
“I can send most of the creatures home now that we have all three books,” Lucan added.
“First, however, you will need to get Dack. If we present them with a plan and proof that we will work toward it, then the only one leaving will be me.” Theterm frowned. “But I deserve it.” He waved them into silence when they began to murmur. “Are we all in agreement?”
One by one, everyone in the tent looked around, nodded, and then stood in front of Theterm.
“Yes,” they agreed.
“Good. Now it is time to blow something up.” Theterm smiled widely.
As a group they moved quickly to the portal area fortress and stood around it at a safe distance, holding lanterns. “You will all need to begin pulling as soon as I light the powder. Do you understand?” the man with the stained apron asked, holding a torch. “After the explosion, you must keep pulling until Theterm tells you to let go.” They put their lanterns down, walked over to the rope that came through a hole in the roof, and began pulling. “Awaiting your signal, Theterm.”
Lucan stood next to Theterm near the door. “When that thing blows up, get in there and open the Way to Fixx’s world. If you can see Dack and the others, have them come through. If not, go through and close the Way. We will lower the device. In four minutes we will repeat the process, and I will open the Way to Fixx’s world. A minute here is approximately a half hour there, so you will have almost two hours to find them. Any questions, Lucan?”
“How many times will you reopen the Way?”
“We should be able to do it two or three times. You remember the name of Fixx’s Way and this one too, right?” Lucan nodded. “Then let’s begin,” Theterm announced.
The man lit the powder, which sent a small flame following a trail into the portal area fortress while everyone was pulling the rope. An explosion sent the device upward so that it hung above Lucan’s head when he entered. As the group strained to keep it in midair, he quickly found the Way and whispered the name of Fixx’s world while opening it so that both sides could cross. When he was sure that Dack was nowhere to be seen, he entered, turning to wave at Theterm.
Lights from above bathed the portal area fortress, while accompanying noise grew more deafening as multiple objects from above descended nearby. “Close it, close it!” Theterm tried to scream above the din. Before Lucan had a chance to do as Theterm wanted, the device came crashing down again, snuffing out the Way, as those holding the rope chose to save their hearing.