“They already closed it!” Fixx called out to the others as they ran to catch up. “We need to get out of here quickly, right?”
Dack saw that all around the area, guards were approaching slowly. “Should I try Storality or your world?” he asked quietly while trying to find the Way with his hands behind his back. He smiled at the others, closing the distance, trying not to appear nervous.
“We might only have time for one, so make it Fixx’s world,” Alin answered, and the others nodded.
“Your world is no more, you know that, right?” a guard spoke gruffly.
“He’s probably bluffing,” Maggie said angrily.
“It is the truth, I assure you,” one of the creatures in a white robe said calmly, stepping forward. Small, dull tan, and pale grey feathers covered her head instead of hair. A small triangular area on the back of her hands also had black plumage. Her lips were yellow and curled up gently as if she were smiling, although her dark brown eyes fixed menacingly at them. “We are all in agreement that there is no point.”
“Point?” Alin asked.
“It didn’t sound like any of you were in agreement in your little glass house,” Fixx blurted out. “Before we go, are there any other lies you would like to tell?”
“You misunderstood.”
Fixx ran to within feet of the robed creature. “Sounded like a fight to me.”
“Oh, you are right that it appeared that way, but in time, Storality, even that whole world, will be under our control again. You are welcome to leave. We will not pursue.”
“So, if I were to kick you in your scrawny shin, you wouldn’t get mad enough to come after us?” Fixx asked, flapping his arms rapidly, as if he was trying to fly.
“Stop it, Fixx,” Dack commanded. “It is time to leave.”
Fixx stomped his foot. “Can’t you see what they are doing?”
“Let’s go!”
“They want us to think they are in complete control and that they all work together,” Fixx argued.
“We are, and we do.”
“No you are not.” Fixx was infuriated as he walked back to Dack. “I’m ready to go now.”
Dack opened the Way to Fixx’s world, they entered, and he closed it quickly. “What do you think you were doing?” he yelled at Fixx.
“I know what I saw. They were all leaving right before the sirens went off. ‘Control or death,’ the one guy said. The ones in white robes didn’t agree. You have to believe me,” Fixx pleaded.
“It doesn’t matter now. If it was telling the truth, then we won’t have to run and hide from them,” Dack said, turning to the others.
“Something’s different,” Maggie said, looking around. “The grass is all gone and the ground is hard. How long were we gone?”
They looked around and could now tell that the seasons had changed.
“At least I can breathe better.” Alin smiled.
A tent was pitched nearby, and it looked like someone was moving inside. They watched as a man emerged carrying a blanket. He stopped and looked at them. “I only know one of you,” he said, airing out the blanket.
Fixx squinted and moved closer cautiously. “You’re kidding me, right?”
“I never did thank you for helping me on at least two occasions that I can remember,” Lucan said, stepping closer. “I see you made it home finally.”
Dack and Alin grabbed Fixx’s arms in time to stop him from pouncing on Lucan. “You stranded me!” Fixx yelled as he was held in midair, kicking his feet vigorously. “You better start running.”
Lucan laughed. “Run? I thought that was your thing.”
“Who is this?” Maggie demanded.
“He’s nobody,” Fixx said, calming down. “What are you doing here?”
“Do you promise to be good?” Alin asked Fixx. “If so, we’ll let you down.” Fixx looked at Maggie and winked. “Was that a yes?”
“I promise I will not harm Lucan in any way, shape, or form. Is that good enough for you?” Fixx said, crossing his eyes while looking at Lucan. Dack and Alin let go, and Fixx walked up to Lucan. “Are we supposed to be happy to see you?”
“Happy? I do not know about that, but I would like another chance.” Lucan knelt down in front of Fixx and looked him in the eye. “I really was mean to you, and all you ever did was help me. You captured that lizard for me and saved many from the fires, right?”
Fixx grinned. “Actually, that one over there is one I saved.” He pointed to Alin. “His brother is still on Storality.”
Lucan looked at Alin and smiled. “I’ve met his brother, Alix. He was working with Farah and Chad.”
Fixx touched Lucan’s shoulder gently. “I don’t know if they told you, but you are Chad’s and Farah’s father.”
Lucan laughed awkwardly. “What?”
“When I followed you on the lizard hunt, I found them in the back of your cart. All kinds of vines were connected to you and them. They were growing in some kind of disgusting egg stuff.” Fixx stuck out his tongue and distorted his face. “All slimy and gooey.”
Lucan rubbed his eyes. “I remember tripping over something that I brought back to the cart.” He pursed his lips. “I thought they were lizard eggs, so I put them into the cart. The next thing I remember was the Shadow Cult waking me up and the lizard in the cart.”
“Well, those eggs used you to make Chad and Farah,” Fixx said.
“What about the boar in the back of the cart?” Lucan wondered.
“There wasn’t one when I arrived, just the kids. That would explain why Farah can change from human to boar. I guess there was a rat nearby too because Chad can do the same thing.” Fixx looked at Lucan. “I took them to Storality and raised all four kids.”
“Why didn’t they say anything?” Lucan asked.
“Probably because you executed the kings, had an army destroy everything, and then got yourself killed. Well, maybe not the last one.” Fixx grinned. “In case you didn’t know, people really do not like things that aren’t human. Add having you as their dad, and…wow.” Fixx shrugged. “Do you get that?”
Lucan stood up. “I understand completely.” He scratched his head and added, “We really didn’t have time to talk anyway.”
“Well, Farah hates her human form because she is ashamed of you. Chad is a loner—very smart but sometimes too impulsive. Farah really is soft and charming, but she would rather have you think she’ll snap you in half for no reason at all. I raised them the best I could, and I am sure they all turned out all right. Don’t you think, Alin?” Fixx asked.
“I guess.” Alin rolled his eyes. “Fixx told us the fires weren’t your fault, but very few know that, and I am sure most would choose to continue believing the other stories.”
“What about the Shadow Cult? Why did you lie to them?” Dack asked.
“I did not lie to them directly. It was Ghera controlling me,” Lucan answered.
“Ghera?” Dack asked.
“I know. I don’t like that whole control thing,” Maggie added.
Lucan glanced at Maggie then turned to Dack. “He said he met you in a cell.”
“Oh,” Dack said.
“He put memories into my head of things that never happened and suppressed others in order to control me. The effect was not permanent, but it lasted long enough. When I returned to Storality, I did not know what was true. Ghera was still trying to convince me that I had done it all, but when I resisted, he tried again to alter my memory.” Lucan felt betrayed. “Theterm helped me fight through it.”
“So how did you get here?”
“After you left, someone named Zara used a device that stopped the Way from opening. Theterm had it hoisted up so I could come through to find you. The others arrived, and the Way was closed.”
“Others?” Alin asked.
“Alkaskre, Theterm called them.”
“Will the Way to Storality open now?” Dack asked.
“I stopped trying, but you are welcome to try.” Lucan motioned.
“How long have you been here?” Alin asked.
“Almost three months,” Lucan said.
“That would be three days on Storality,” Alin added. “How much time passed here?”
“From the looks of it, close to a year, maybe more,” Maggie said.
“You are a Whisperer, right?” Lucan asked.
“Untrained but willing to learn,” Maggie admitted shyly.
Good, Maggie heard Lucan say in her mind. He winked to her, and she blushed. We can talk later.
“So, are we ready to go back to Storality?” Dack asked the group. Everyone agreed to try, so Dack put his hands in the Way and whispered the name while opening it to observe. To everyone’s surprise, it reluctantly worked.
“You did it,” Lucan said excitedly. “That is great.”
“What is that?” Maggie pointed at something huddled on the floor of the portal area fortress in Storality. “It is very dark there.”
“It’s the creature from the cell,” Dack said. “I do not see anything else.”
“What do you suggest?” Alin asked, leaning close to see.
“I could close it and reopen it, so we could go through and get back again,” Dack said. “Maybe we could grab him and bring him back here.”
“I am not sure how much we can trust him,” Lucan admitted.
“As much as we can trust you.” Fixx grinned. “Go ahead, Dack. Drag him back here.”
Dack closed the Way, reopened it, grabbed Ghera, and closed it again. “He looks terrible,” Dack said, leaning over Ghera’s unconscious body.
“It looks like he was beaten severely. What is that thing he is holding?” Maggie pointed at the shackles around his wrists that were still connected to a small piece of the post that Ghera was clutching.
“Theterm was holding him prisoner until the others arrived. It looks like he escaped,” Lucan said.
Ghera’s body shook, and he screamed. “One more time, one more time,” he mumbled, trying feebly to swing his arms. “Last chance…only hope,” he whispered and passed out.
“Do you have food and water?” Dack asked Lucan.
“Bring him over to the tent,” Lucan said, trying to stay ahead of Dack and Alin, who were carefully carrying Ghera. “Put him in there, and you can use whatever you think you’ll need.”
Maggie entered the tent and located something to eat while Fixx opened a water skin and poured some of its contents into his hands. He wiped Ghera’s forehead and put a pillow under his head. The others waited outside, looking in, but watched cautiously.
“Can you hear me?” Maggie asked calmly.
Ghera’s eyes flickered a few times, and he drew in a deep breath. He closed his eyes tightly and grimaced as waves of pain flowed violently through his entire body. After a moment, he opened his eyes slowly. “Three?” he laughed and then coughed. “I’ll be better in no time. Who is the new one?”
“I think you mean Maggie,” Lucan said, kneeling. “Ghera draws strength from being close to us. Is that really true?”
“Yes, that is true. Most things do, but somehow, being Alkaskre accelerates the process. I can track you too. That’s why I knew Lucan wasn’t dead.” Ghera looked down at his hands. “Where are we?”
“This is Fixx’s world,” Dack said. “I can try to get you home when you are better.”
Ghera looked shockingly at Dack. “I can see why Theterm wants no harm to come to you.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Dack demanded.
“I was planning on using you to open the Way to my home so I could have those there finish what I started with Lucan. I am sorry,” Ghera admitted. “Theterm told me he wants you and Lucan to be safe.”
“What happened after I left?” Lucan asked.
“Theterm had Farah pull the post out of the ground in order to free me. I ran and hid,” Ghera said as he sat up.
“I don’t believe that.” Lucan frowned.
“He told me in order to prove myself that you should give Dack the thing around your neck. Dack will know what it is,” Ghera said, looking at the others.
Lucan removed the string necklace and handed the metal nut to Dack. “Here,” Lucan said, confused.
Dack smirked as he put the necklace in his pocket. “Theterm gave that to you?”
“Yes. What is it?” Lucan wondered.
“It’s a piece of the Way from Storality. I have a sliver from this world too. Theterm used it to send you away from the island,” Dack admitted.
“Really?” Lucan looked shocked. “He never told me that he had something like that.”
“Imagine that. Theterm withholding vital information.” Fixx giggled.
“How does it work?” Lucan ignored Fixx.
“It doesn’t matter now, does it?” Alin asked.
“I was thinking that maybe we could rescue some of the people I’ve met during my wanderings. We can talk about that later though,” Lucan said excitedly. “Who beat you up, Ghera?”
“No one.” Ghera blinked. “After I hid, the Alkaskre came out of their ships and rounded up your friends. I think they got everyone, but I am not sure. The ships they came in flew up and away, but I waited almost a full day just in case. They didn’t take that thing that was stopping the Way from opening, so I figured it needed to be removed.
“I noticed that it was damaged, cracked in several places, so I kept hitting it over and over with the post. Honestly, I was hoping to break the shackles too, but it started sparking and making funny noises. When flames shot out of the top, I tried to back away and run, but it exploded suddenly.” Ghera closed his eyes. “It hurt really bad.” He laughed.
“Now what?” Maggie asked.
“We should return to Storality and see if anyone else escaped,” Alin said.
“Theterm thought the Alkaskre would allow us to make things better,” Lucan said to Dack. “Personally, I think they need to be stopped.”
“I only want to see everyone returned safely,” Dack said.
“That is never going to happen, and you know it,” Maggie blurted out. “Whatever they cannot control, they destroy. I thought that New Kwiglin was a wonderful idea, but maybe the plan all along was to destroy our world slowly. I agree with Lucan.”
“I have to remind you that they were arguing, no matter what that one said,” Fixx said. “They do not all want the same thing. Maybe that is why Theterm never used that name but called you all something different,” he said, looking at Lucan, Dack, and then Maggie. “I agree, something has to be done, but we need a plan and lots of help.”
“I know somewhere you could find a whole world of help if you need it. Of course, I would need to convince them that what I told them about Theterm wasn’t exactly correct,” Ghera sneered.
“We all need time to think through this,” Dack said honestly. “Let’s eat, plan, and then get a good night’s rest. I do not want to begin something until we all completely understand what each of us wants. When we can all trust each other to tell the truth all of the time, then we will be ready,” Dack said, confidently looking kindly at each of them.