Ghera sat sulking by himself as the others were talking amongst themselves in smaller groups. Laird was talking to Lucan, Dack, and Maggie about the next steps in her plan. Fixx and Omeran were examining the weapons they were carrying. Alix and Iris were talking and translating for Alin as they discussed the Shadow Cult. Feeling alone in a crowd was something Ghera had gotten used to working with his current group. While they all seemed nice, he did not know if they trusted him, and, at times, he couldn’t care less, but something was different now.
Maggie walked past Ghera and smiled as she sat next to Fixx.
“Ghera,” Laird called and motioned for him to join her. “We would like to talk to you.”
Ghera was happy to be included and walked quickly to Laird’s side. “Are we getting ready to go somewhere?”
“Lucan, Dack, and Maggie told me that you mentioned being able to get help from your people. Do you think you could convince them to help?” Laird saw that Ghera was speechless. “Is that something you would like to try?”
Ghera looked at Laird and then sighed. “I want to go home, not back to that place.”
“Don’t you think your people will want that too?” Dack asked. “They could come back with you.”
“And go where?” Ghera pointed at Laird. “She told me that only one knows the name of the Way to my home.”
“Theterm?” Dack asked.
“No.” It was obvious that Laird did not want to talk more about the subject.
“Then who?” Lucan demanded.
“Jory.” Laird looked at Ghera. “I promise you, he will tell you when the time is right.”
“I’ll wait.” Ghera turned and walked away, sitting by himself again.
“That didn’t go well.” Lucan looked at Ghera and then Laird. “Do we really need his people?”
Laird crossed her arms and stared at Ghera. “He needs them.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Dack asked.
“When you first met your people, it helped to change you,” Laird said to Dack. “You learned more about yourself and felt connected to someone other than Theterm. Even though you didn’t spend much time, you went away a different person, with a better sense of purpose.” Laird looked at Lucan. “Your time away changed you too, slowly, but for the better. If you had come back immediately, the outcome would have been totally different.”
“You’re right about that,” Lucan admitted.
“Then what are we supposed to do?” Dack asked. “We can’t force him to do it.”
Laird looked at Dack and shrugged. “Why not?”
Lucan laughed. “She’s serious.”
Laird moved forward and stood near the others. “It is time for us to rescue the last of your allies. Ghera will go with Lucan and Dack. All of the others can go with Maggie. Alix, you are welcome to stay with me.” She opened a Way and looked at Maggie. “I will keep this open until you return. Ready?”
“What about Iris?” Alin asked. “She won’t understand us without Lucan or Alix.”
Laird spoke to Iris, and she nodded. “Iris is willing to try.”
“I thought Iris was going to stay with me,” Ghera said nervously. “Alix, what did Laird say to her?”
“Laird told Iris to show no mercy.” Alix looked at Laird. “She also said that you would be safe.”
“Who are you going to rescue?” Ghera demanded, pointing at Maggie.
“Faith, Petrose, Chad, and Farah.” Maggie scratched the top of her head. “Why?”
“Who is left?” Ghera walked over to Dack. “Who are we going after?”
“Your group should leave now,” Laird said to Maggie. “Remember to stay in touch if you need help.”
Maggie waved, and the others went through the Way with her.
Ghera ran for the open Way, but Laird grabbed him by the back of his cloak.
“Why are you doing this?” Ghera said as Laird dragged him over to Lucan. “I’m going to tell them everything if you don’t stop it.”
Laird opened a Way. “I’m counting on it,” she said pushing him toward the Way. “Dack, I’m going to close the Way when you and Lucan are through. The flow of time is so fast you’ll only be gone a short time no matter how much time you spend there. Hopefully there’s still something left.”
“What is this going to accomplish?” Dack asked.
Laird cocked her head to the right and stared at Dack. “We’ll find out soon enough.” She managed to throw Ghera through the Way into the pitch-black hole. “Get going!” she yelled, pushing Lucan and Dack. They disappeared too, and she closed the Way.
“I don’t like lying,” Alix said to Laird.
Laird jumped, forgetting that Alix was still in the hub. “You did that all on your own.”
“You told Iris that Ghera was going home with Lucan and Dack.” Alix sat down on the floor. “Is that true?”
“He is going back where Theterm put him. I tried to convince him to go, but he didn’t want to, so I made him.” Laird sat next to Alix. “I am giving him the chance to bring back as many of his people that want to leave. Is there anything wrong with that?”
“Maybe he isn’t ready to do that. Maybe he doesn’t want to go back.” Alix tapped his fingers on the floor. “Now what?”
“We wait.” Laird looked around the hub. “This place will get really crowded if a lot of them return.” She shrugged. “Either way, they should only be gone a few minutes of our time.”
In complete darkness, Ghera began flailing around for the others. “Who does she think she is?” he screamed. “I told her I didn’t want to go back.” He tripped over something hard on the ground and ran into Dack.
“You need to calm down,” Dack said to Ghera, who was lying at his feet. “Are you okay?”
“I can’t feel anything,” Ghera mumbled, groping at the ground. “All gone. All gone!”
Lucan kneeled down to Ghera’s level. “Are you ready to leave? We don’t have to stay.”
“Wait,” Ghera growled. He placed both palms down on the hardened ground. “Yes.”
“Can you see anything?” Lucan asked Dack.
“Nothing at all. If I had even a little bit of light, maybe I’d be able to see,” Dack admitted.
Ghera began clawing at the surface, hoping to break through the thick dry crust under him. “How are we supposed to get through?”
“Is this how your world looked when I came the first time?” Lucan asked.
“No. Something has changed. They are still here, below the surface. Life must be down there, that’s why.” Ghera began pounding hard on the ground. “There has to be a way down. Maybe a hole.”
“We can’t see, how are we supposed to help?” Lucan asked while standing up.
Ghera stood up. “Are you both really willing to help me? If so, I need to drain you both.”
“What?” Dack took a step back. “I don’t think I like the sound of that.”
“With that medicine coursing through your veins, you might not even feel it.” Ghera waited.
“What do we have to do?” Dack asked.
“Both of you need to give me your hands. I’ll drain you while you look around. Come on.”
“Again, we can’t see.” Lucan reached out for Ghera. “How are we going to help?”
Ghera grabbed Lucan’s hand and held it tightly. “I can convert your life into light, but it won’t last long, maybe a few seconds.”
Dack reached out, and Ghera took hold.
“Thank you, both,” Ghera said.
“What exactly are we looking for?” Lucan asked.
“Anything but this hard ground. Ready?”
“Go ahead.” Dack felt a tingling in his fingertips that grew more painful the longer it lasted. His heart began racing, and he was fighting for breath. “How much more?” he asked gasping for breath.
Ghera began to glow faintly.
Lucan scanned the horizon quickly with no success before he felt his strength fade, and he passed out.
Dack saw something in the distance and faced toward it as his knees buckled. Looking up, Dack could see that they were in what looked like a dark dome of shimmering lightning. “Found something, please stop.”
Ghera let go and helped wake Lucan. “Dack saw something,” Ghera said excitedly to Lucan.
“I’m going to need a minute.” Lucan sat on the ground and held his head. “I hope you don’t need to do that again.”
“Do you remember something covering this area when you were here?” Dack asked.
“Nothing like that at all. This place was covered with lots of different kinds of plants. We were able to grow food and had everything we needed. Something killed all the life. Probably the Alkaskre,” Ghera sneered. “They destroy everything they can’t control.”
“Before we left, you said something to Laird about telling us everything. What did you mean?” Dack asked as he stood, stretching his legs.
“How much has Theterm told you about what he has done?” Ghera asked.
“He has always admitted he’s made mistakes, but never anything more.” Lucan stood.
“That’s about all he ever said to me too,” Dack added.
“Let’s talk about this after we get somewhere nicer. Dack, what did you see?” Ghera asked, changing the subject.
“There was some kind of low stonewall, like a well maybe. Lucan, are you all right?” Dack asked concerned.
“The pain has passed, I’ll be okay.” Lucan reached out and found Dack’s shoulder. “If you lead the way, we can stay right behind you. Just let us know if you need to stop.”
Ghera bumped into Lucan, and Lucan laughed. “We haven’t started moving yet Ghera.”
“Let’s go,” Dack said, moving at a slow but steady pace in the direction of the rocks he saw. In a few minutes, his hand touched something. “Stop,” he called. The rocks were smooth, and he could see a faint glow far below. “Look down and tell me what you see.”
Ghera and Lucan moved around Dack and held on to the wall.
“Something is down there, but I can’t tell.” Lucan was disappointed that he couldn’t be more helpful.
“How far do you think that goes?” Ghera asked.
“It’s hard to say.” Dack focused his senses in an attempt to gain more detail. “Even if we manage to get down there, how are we going to get back up?”
“I can sense life is down there. It is faint though.” Ghera was mad that he was so close to seeing his kind again but might have to turn back. He yelled down the hole, and they all listened.
“Anything?”
“I don’t hear anything.” Dack leaned back when one of the rocks fell into the hole. “Step back, it’s not safe.” He looked in again when the rock landed. “It’s not that deep.”
“Are you sure?” Lucan asked.
“I’m sure. I can see what fell in.” Dack managed to loosen another stone and drop it next to the other one. “Less than twenty feet. The light down there is very dim, but it has to be coming from somewhere.”
“I’ll go first.” Ghera was very excited. “Even if I get stuck down there, you can come back with a rope or something.”
“What do you think?” Dack asked Lucan.
“I thought you didn’t want to come back,” Lucan commented to Ghera. “Are you sure you want to plunge down there?”
“Laird is going to hear about how she treats us, but now that we are here, we might as well keep going.” Ghera climbed on top of the rock wall. “I should be able to climb down,” he said as his head disappeared below the lip.
When Ghera reached the bottom, he looked around. “It’s a little cramped. Something is painted on the walls, making everything glow.” He snickered. “There are lots of tunnels going in every direction.”
“Are you willing to risk it?” Dack asked Lucan.
“I’m curious enough to try. Ghera can track his people, and we can feel where the Way is when we’re leaving. Laird did say we could stay as long as we wanted.” Lucan looked into the hole. “He does seem to be enjoying himself. A few hours here will only be minutes at the hub. I’m willing to take a little break from Laird and her secret plan.”
“Why do you think Theterm used his people?” Dack wondered.
“Let’s go ask him,” Lucan said as he swung his leg over the wall and straddled it. “See you at the bottom.” He descended carefully and managed to land easily.
Dack rubbed the back of his neck and stared up at the sky. In the dim light, he watched the eerie moving of the dome. It stretched in all directions into the darkness and must have a purpose he thought. “Is everything safe down there?” he called to Lucan.
“You really need to see this for yourself.” Lucan moved away from the bottom of the well. “It’s clear for you to climb down.”
Dack hopped onto the wall and quickly descended. His eyes adjusted to the glowing walls and found it was enough to see the faces of the others. He watched Lucan and Ghera tapping on the walls and looking down some of the tunnels. While the others were talking, he wandered down one of the wider passages when something caught his attention. Some sort of metal rails led deeper away from his friends. “Did you see those?” he said, pointing over his shoulder as he returned.
“What?” Lucan asked.
“Some kind of metal tracks. Did you have them before?” Dack asked Ghera.
Ghera moved past Dack to look. “No, but they should lead somewhere.”
“Can you tell which one of these directions is best? Do you get a stronger feel in this one?” Lucan ran his foot over the rail to wipe off the fine layer of dust.
“All I can sense is that something is deeper. Each one of these could be right as long as we don’t get lost. I think we should follow this,” Ghera said, pointing at the tracks. “It has to lead somewhere.”
Ghera went first, and the others followed behind. The walls became smoother as they continued, and occasionally, water dripped from above. Eventually, wires and pipes ran along the ceiling and along the walls, often disappearing and reappearing as they went further. When the tracks turned a gentle curve, the passage opened up significantly. Once glowing walls came to an end and a solitary light source hung down from above, a rusty door with white painted symbols brightly illuminated.
“Do you want to keep following the tracks or try the door?” Dack asked.
Ghera ran up to the door and tried to pull it open. “It’s stuck.” He felt around the edges and turned to the others. “I think if all of us try, it will budge.” Removing his belt, he hooked it around the knob and yanked hard. “We can use this, come on.”
Lucan was impressed by Ghera’s determination and resourcefulness. He grabbed the belt, as did Dack, and all three tugged until after a long grinding screech, the door swung open.
Lucan was glad that it opened because his interest was piqued by the challenge. “Good work,” he said as Ghera began putting the belt on again.
“What are all the things you are carrying?” Dack asked.
“Not much really, mostly little things I find,” Ghera shrugged.
“I recognize some of those pouches,” Dack said, smiling at Ghera. “You may have them.”
“I already do,” Ghera cackled. He looked at the others and frowned. “Theterm isn’t his real name, it’s Martin. What else do you want to know?”
Dack laughed. “Laird said only Jory knows the name of the Way to your world. How then did Theterm get your people to my world?”
Ghera started to speak and then stopped. “Theterm was there,” he growled.
“I’m sure he was, but if Laird is telling the truth, then it had to be Jory’s idea, not Theterm’s.” Dack crossed his arms. “Don’t you think?”
“Well, it was definitely Theterm’s fault for sending us here.” Ghera pointed his finger at Dack. “I know that for sure.”
“Why did he do that?” Lucan asked.
“I guess we served our purpose.” Ghera looked at the ground. “Or he couldn’t control us,” he added quietly.
“What was your purpose?” Dack wondered.
“I’m not sure.” Ghera smirked. “He let us run amok doing whatever we wanted.”
“Then he sent all of you here?” Lucan pursed his lips. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
“How long were you on Storality?” Dack asked.
“A couple of days. It wasn’t called Storality then. Can’t remember the name, but it was nothing like it is now. The buildings were all tall, and the streets were filled with metal things of all colors and shapes.” Ghera stopped and held his head. “That’s right. I remember some people telling Theterm they would do whatever he wanted if he could get rid of us.”
“Your people were used for just that reason. The question is, what did he want, or was it really Jory’s plan?” Lucan rubbed his chin. “Anything else?”
“That’s all. Theterm rounded us up, and we all came here.” Ghera looked around. “It was a wonderful place once, but it wasn’t our real home.”
“If he didn’t know the name of that Way, he couldn’t send you there. It sounds like he tried to find at least a nice substitute. No excuse, but that makes sense.” Lucan put his arm around Ghera. “The next time we see Theterm, we’ll find out for sure.”
Ghera rubbed his eyes. “We should keep going now that the door is open.” He moved to the opening and looked in cautiously. “Looks like there’s some light further in, but it’s hard to tell.”
Dack moved closer to check. “Let me go first again.” He began walking and could tell that the air was getting thicker and harder to breath. The temperature was slowly rising as steam occasionally released through pipes lining the walls. Looking down, he could tell that the metal grills they had to walk on covered deep pits filled with stagnant water and greasy trash. “It feels like we are starting to go deeper.”
“I would agree.” Ghera nodded. “I can feel a stronger sense of life as we’ve been walking.”
“That’s good.” Lucan wiped his forehead. “I think a break and something to drink would be perfect right about now.”
“Unless you brought it, we don’t have it.” Dack stopped. “Hold on,” he whispered. Moving slowly, he crept to the end of the passage and peered around the corner. Bright lights startled him, and he fell as he stumbled backward. The area shook momentarily as something large rattled through the tunnel they were approaching. Pungent odors whirled around them as a hot breeze blew over them after the thing passed.
“Dack, are you okay?” Lucan asked, rushing to Dack’s side.
“What was that?” Dack stood up and looked into the tunnel. “There are more of those tracks ahead. If we were standing there.” He shuddered. “We need to be more careful until we find someone.”
“It looks like there are more doors ahead.” Ghera pointed. “I’m sure one of them has to lead to my kind.”
“We should run across one at a time and try the doors,” Dack agreed. “I’ll go first.” He looked both ways and sprinted to the area with more hanging lights and several doors. “It’s a little slippery,” he cautioned as he waved for the others to cross.
Lucan and then Ghera crossed to where Dack was standing.
“Should I knock on the door or just open it?” Ghera asked. “I think I can feel life on the other side.”
“Knock then.” Lucan nodded. “Go ahead.”
Ghera straightened himself and smiled at the others. He knocked three times loudly on the metal door and called, “Hello?”
Some noise from the other side confirmed there was someone there. The sound of keys jangling and then a mechanical clicking preceded the door opening inward a tiny bit.
“What?” a whiny voice answered.
“We need some help,” Ghera said calmly as he pushed on the door.
“No one is supposed to be walking around up here. It’s not safe.”
The creature opened the door and saw Lucan and Dack.
Ghera smirked. “Can you help us?” He had to lean on the door when it started closing abruptly. “Hey, what are you doing?”
“What are those things?” The creature asked while trying to shut the door.
“My friends.” Ghera looked at Dack and Lucan. “Anytime you want to help push, I’d appreciate it,” he growled.
The door swung open, and they saw the creature inside talking to itself while holding a small device to its head. “They will be here soon. I advise you to leave before they arrive.”
“We came to rescue you.” Ghera was confused. “I’m one of you.”
From everywhere, sirens and running feet echoed through the tunnels, making it difficult to tell from which direction the sound was coming. Lucan and Dack stood still waiting for Ghera’s kind to arrive. Two groups arrived almost simultaneously, preventing them from escaping easily. Ten creatures dressed in light-blue overalls, carrying a variety of objects, stood watching the scene.
“What are you doing up here?” one addressed Ghera. “What are these things?” it asked, pointing a dirty brush at the humans.
“I came back to take all of you home, away from this place.” Ghera stepped toward the group and held out his hands. “What has happened to this world?” He could tell the others were puzzled. “Don’t you remember how Theterm trapped us here?”
Two of them stepped forward and looked at Ghera. “I’ve heard that name before, but that supposedly happened close to two thousand years ago. They’re harmless.”
“Supposedly?” Ghera stood with his hands on his hips. “I was there.”
The group laughed and walked away, disappearing down numerous passages. “Where are they going?”
The creature inside the room peered out and motioned for Ghera to come closer. “One of those from the lower levels would like to talk to you.” It held out something to Ghera. “Take it and talk.”
Ghera took the device and held it like the other one had earlier.
“Yes?” Ghera paused. “Okay, we will.” Handing the device back, Ghera turned to Lucan and Dack. “Someone wants to meet us.”
While looking at a large key ring, the remaining creature searched for a certain key, found it, and opened another door. “Through here you will find a way down to the lower levels. When you arrive, there will be someone waiting.”
“I was telling the truth,” Ghera insisted.
“Does it really matter?” The creature motioned insistently for them to exit.
Ghera was furious but nodded and began walking down a bright clean hallway that sloped steeply downward.
In silence, Lucan and Dack followed Ghera, who was stomping loudly, mumbling, and, occasionally, hitting the walls. Another door at the end was locked, so he banged loudly.
When the door opened, a hunched creature was standing there eyeing Ghera. “How did you come to this world?”
“We used a Way.” Ghera tried to step forward, but the creature held out its hands.
“What?”
“You are not welcome.” The creature bared its teeth and growled.
“There’s a Way nearby,” Lucan whispered to Ghera.
“We did not come here to hurt anyone,” Ghera said calmly. “I was hoping to take anyone home that wanted to leave.”
The creature stomped its foot. “We are where we belong. How dare you suggest otherwise.”
“You can’t even go out on the surface. That doesn’t sound right, does it?” Ghera leaned forward. “Our kind needs the light.”
“Opening the Way is what scorched all life and brought the darkness. No one cares, though, because this planet’s core warms us and keeps us alive. We don’t need you to save us from anything.” The creature looked at Lucan and Dack. “Are you the same kind as Theterm?”
“We only wanted to help,” Dack said, bowing. “If you want us to leave, we will go.”
Lucan stepped forward and looked at the creature. “Did you know there is a Way down here too?” He pointed, and the creature turned. “What will you do if one of your kind does the same thing with that one?”
“That is impossible.” The creature was quite animated. “We wouldn’t let that happen.”
“So, you let the surface be destroyed?” Lucan pursed his lips. “Come now, I know that isn’t true. Wouldn’t it be better to understand how it works and use it wisely?”
“We don’t need it.” With arms crossed, the creature moved away from the door.
“Do you sense any other Whisperers nearby?” Lucan said quietly to Dack.
“No, only the Way where you pointed.” Dack looked at Ghera. “Are you okay?”
“I am ready to leave now. Aren’t you?” Ghera glared at Dack.
“Your people have changed and so have you.” Dack poked Ghera. “Don’t be disappointed.”
“I thought I was going to be received as a returning hero.” Ghera shrugged. “They don’t need me.”
“I disagree, but we still want you to help us.” Dack patted Ghera on the back. “At least you can be focused on that for now.”
Dack and Ghera turned and saw Lucan writing something and handing it to the hunched creature.
“Are you both ready?” Lucan smiled.
“Is he going to let us use the Way down here?” Dack asked.
“Lucan has told me how we can come to your world if one of our kind can open the Way.” The creature looked at Ghera. “Thank you for coming.”
Ghera hugged his kin and sighed. “I am happy that you all are doing all right without me.” He wiped his eyes. “We should get going.”
Dack moved to the location of the Way and moved his hands around until he had the right spot. He whispered the name of the hub where Laird was waiting and opened the Way wide so they could cross.
“Good-bye.” Dack waved and waited until Ghera and then Lucan went through before he stepped across, closing the Way behind him.
The hunched creature took the paper Lucan gave him and wrote down the word Dack whispered. “I guess we could go there too some day.”
The creature took the paper and walked over to a shelf of books. “I’ll have to put this some place I’ll remember.” He pulled down the fourth book from the left on the top shelf and looked at its cover. “This one will do perfectly.” After placing the note in the middle so it stuck out a bit, he put it back, and headed to the upper levels for the first time in years. “We must get ready.”
“That was quick,” Alix said as Lucan, Dack, and Ghera entered the hub.
“You will never treat me like that again,” Ghera said as he walked up to Laird. “You had no right to throw me through the Way.”
“I am sorry,” Laird said as she stood. “It won’t happen again.”
“Good.” Ghera looked around the hub. “When I was on Storality a lot of time passed in the world where my people are now. Did you know that?”
“I had my suspicions, but I’ve never tested to know for sure.” Laird looked at Dack. “Didn’t any of his people want to return?”
“We only met a few, but I think they aren’t interested in leaving.” Dack shrugged.
“Do you know any reason why there would be something blocking out the light in Ghera’s world? The one that we met said it happened when they opened a Way that scorched the surface.” Lucan moved closer to Laird. “I wasn’t sure if the two events were related.”
“I was able to get a quick look, but it definitely covered a large area,” Dack added.
Laird was annoyed by the questioning but knew it was time to give some answers. “I keep forgetting you weren’t told anything by Theterm.” She looked at Lucan. “The Way can protect itself, that is most likely what you saw.”
“By blocking out the light? My people need that to survive.” Ghera rubbed his nose. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“The Way is protecting the planet itself, not what is on it.” Laird looked at Ghera. “The Alkaskre have spent a lot of time trying to understand how they work, but there is still a lot to learn.”
“Why is there only one Way on our world?” Dack asked Laird.
“There is only one now,” she admitted. “Theterm should be the one telling you all this. Actually, the three of you should go get him now.”
“Are you joking?” Dack asked, unable to stop grinning widely. “Where is he?”
“If I’m right, he should be safely at his keep.” Laird scratched her head. “I think that’s where he is. At least that’s where he should end up.”
“Why don’t you use your bond to talk to him?” Dack wondered.
“I can’t. In order to keep him safe, I made sure he would be shielded from being contacted. I did not want Jory or any of the other Alkaskre controlling him or locating him before he was safe with us.” She laughed. “I also had to keep him believing that I had betrayed him, just in case.”
“You are devious, that’s for sure. I’m glad we are on your side.” Ghera snickered.
Laird held up her hand to the others and then turned away. Go ahead, Maggie.
We arrived safely, but there’s a problem.
Laird frowned. What is it?
Chad and Farah aren’t with the others.
So?
If we go in to get Faith and Petrose that might put Chad and Farah at risk.
Laird clenched her fists. I will send Lucan and Ghera.
We will stay out of trouble until they arrive.
Good. Laird turned back to the others. “Slight change of plans. Maggie told me that Chad and Farah have been separated from Faith and Petrose. It will only take one of you to get Theterm, so Dack can do that.” She looked at Ghera. “You and Lucan need to help the others.”
Lucan was disappointed but nodded. “Fine, I can talk to him later.”
Laird leaned close to Ghera. “Like I told Iris, show no mercy.”
“What does that mean?” Ghera sneered.
“The people that have your allies will not hesitate to kill. This is an entire planet dedicated to enslaving whatever they can to make money.” Laird grabbed Ghera. “Do whatever you have to.”
Ghera pulled away from Laird’s grip. “Stop telling me what to do,” he growled. “Do you understand?”
Laird looked at Ghera in silence.
“I am willing to help, isn’t that enough?” Ghera said.
“Yes.” Laird held out her hand to Ghera. Ghera shook it and stepped away.
“Okay, we need to get going before anything else happens.” Laird walked to the open Way that led to where Maggie and the others were waiting. “We will all meet back here soon.”
Lucan and Ghera stepped through, and the others watched as they ran toward a large stone fortress, trying to catch up with their allies.
“I’m ready,” Dack said when they could no longer see the others through the Way.
“Right,” Laird said, momentarily forgetting about Dack. She walked over to another Way and opened it to Storality. “You can push yourself to him at his keep and return when you are both ready. Your island should be mostly clear of the Alkaskre troops, but be careful.”
“Is Merson still in the Southern Territory?” Dack asked.
“Probably. He has no help coming and, most likely, a rebellion rising from those he tried to keep captive.” Laird smiled. “If he is still alive when this is over, I will be surprised.”
Dack rubbed his chin. “What is left to do?”
“Not much. Stay focused on one step at a time. I am sure everyone will be ready when the time comes.” She turned him toward the Way, he crossed quickly, and then she closed it.
“How come you can still open Ways to Storality?” Alix asked.
“I altered it so only this hub can go there, but from there, it will still work to leave.” Laird sat next to Alix.
“Won’t someone figure that out and come here?” Alix asked stretching and yawning.
“I am counting on that happening, but we have enough time before that happens.” Laird tapped her fingers on the floor. “I’m glad you are here to talk to me.”
“I think I know where your plan is going, but I still haven’t figured out all the pieces.” Alix leaned his head against the wall. “When I do, will you tell me if I’m right?”
Laird looked at Alix with a sense of deep respect. “Only if you are wrong.” She closed her eyes in hopes of getting some rest as they waited.
Lucan shielded his eyes from swirling debris that pelted him as he and Ghera approached the others. Clouds were gathering above, and the once bright day was quickly turning gloomy. On the ground, surrounded by his allies, a guard was struggling to gain his freedom. Ghera arrived first and saw something was stuffed in the guard’s mouth to keep him from attracting more attention.
“What’s the plan?” Lucan asked the group.
“According to this guard,” Fixx said, moving closer to Lucan, “Chad and Farah have been separated from Faith and Petrose. So we need to split up.”
“Ghera and I can go after Chad and Farah.” Lucan scratched the back of his neck. “Is that okay?”
“We have no idea what we’re going to find, so there’s no way to know.” Alin looked at Ghera. “Can you tell how many we are up against?”
Ghera could sense life all around him. “This place is full of all different kinds of creatures. I have no idea, though, if they are prisoners or guards. Sorry.”
“We can’t stay here much longer,” Omeran interrupted. “Make a decision.”
“Fine, Ghera and I will go by ourselves. Maggie and I can use our bond to stay in touch.” Lucan looked around and saw a smaller building apart from the fortress where they were standing. “We’ll go over there and look around. How are you going to get into this place,” he asked, pointing at the high walls.
“I’m sure we’ll think of something.” Fixx chuckled, rubbing his hands together.
Lucan pulled his hood over his head as he turned his attention to where he was going.
Wind continued to blow strongly as a light rain began to fall. By the time Lucan and Ghera made it to their destination, both were soaking wet. Ghera pointed to a small door that looked like the only entry point. Lucan nodded, and they stood outside while Ghera listened at the door briefly.
“I don’t hear anything,” Ghera whispered. He pulled a curved blade from his belt and signaled for Lucan to open the door quickly. Ghera entered and ran to the end of a brightly lit hallway. Looking around the corner, he saw lots of doors but nothing else.
Lucan walked quietly, looking at the clean walls and shiny floors as he caught up with Ghera.
“This is definitely not a prison,” Lucan commented. “Is there anyone even in here?”
“Up ahead there is someone, or maybe multiple things. How do you want to do this?” Ghera asked while still looking around the corner.
“What do you mean?” Lucan asked.
“Stab and grab, or do you want to be a little more subtle?” Ghera sneered. “You know I don’t like standing around.”
“If we can do this without drawing any attention to ourselves, I would prefer that.” Lucan heard something and stepped back a few paces. Ghera waited and saw that someone dressed in white came out of a door and continued down the hall away from them.
“What’s happening?” Lucan asked, trying to remain hidden.
“Nothing, but now I know which door to try first.” Ghera put his blade away and crept down the hall when it was clear. “Hurry up,” he called back as he arrived from where the individual left.
Lucan caught up as Ghera opened the door slowly. Poking his head into the dark room, he knew there was still something alive inside. He moved into the room and motioned for Lucan to enter quickly so he could close the door. Feeling around the wall, Ghera’s hand found a switch that turned on the lights. In two separate beds, there were humans in dark-blue gowns hooked up to machines with tubes and wires going everywhere. Clear masks covered their noses and mouths with a hose leading back to a single tall green metal canister.
Ghera looked at Lucan, and they both shrugged. “I’m not sure what we can safely pull off them. Do you?” Ghera asked.
“We’re looking for Chad and Farah. I hate to say this, but we probably don’t have the time to rescue everyone we find. Anyway, we might kill them if we do anything.” Lucan turned ready to leave.
“Stop,” Ghera called. “This is Chad and Farah. I’ve met them before. They give off an odd sense.”
Lucan leaned his head on the door. “Then what’s wrong with them?”
“How am I supposed to know? Maybe they are experimenting with them or keeping them in this form to control them.” Ghera touched Lucan’s shoulder. “What is your problem?”
“I don’t know.” Lucan turned and looked at them lying in the beds. “They were made using my blood.”
“Who cares about that right now? Just help me figure out how to free them.” Ghera approached Chad and looked at the complex maze of medical equipment going in and out of his body.
Lucan grabbed Ghera’s arm and spun him around. “What if you hurt them?”
Ghera crossed his arms and stared at Lucan. “You have some kind of feelings for these two?”
Lucan sighed. “It’s complicated.”
“Can we rescue them and deal with the strange family issues later?” Ghera turned again to Chad. “There’s no telling how much time we have before someone returns or Fixx does something dumb and this place goes into lockdown.” He turned the knob on the canister to the right slowly and waited to see what happened.
A machine above their heads beeped a few times and then was silent again. Chad’s eyelids flickered and opened. He frowned when he saw Ghera and Lucan. “I was expecting Dack,” Chad said when Ghera removed the mask. “I guess you both will do.” He breathed deeply. “Is Farah here?”
“She’s next to you,” Lucan said, pointing. “Not awake yet though.”
Chad tried to move, but couldn’t, so he turned his head slowly. “Something is wrong with her.”
“What?” Lucan asked concerned.
“I’ve been able to turn back to my animal self, but she’s had no success.” Chad slowly became more hairy as they watched. “I think all this stuff connected to me is probably safe to remove.”
Ghera took out his blade again and began cutting things carefully, listening to the machines responding. Lucan removed Farah’s mask and watched for any sign that she was waking. By the time Ghera was finished with Chad, Farah began to twitch.
Chad sat up and stretched before he put his feet on the ground. “Come on, Farah, we have to go,” he said calmly as he stood over Farah.
Farah’s eyes opened, and she tried to sit up.
Chad covered her mouth when she yelled from the pain. “We are not out of danger yet, so keep it down,” he told her as he removed his hand.
When Ghera approached with blade drawn, she almost screamed. “I’m here to free you,” he said quickly. He began cutting as she watched everything he was doing. “I wanted to thank you for freeing me on Storality,” he added when he finished.
Farah sat up and saw Lucan. She bit her lip and looked at Chad. “They are both here to get us home.”
Chad helped Farah stand. “I think we should both put on our fur coats because these gowns are pretty revealing.” He turned into what looked more like a rat than a human in a matter of seconds. “Your turn,” he said with his normal raspy voice.
Farah slapped Chad and sat down roughly on the bed. “You know I can’t,” she sobbed.
Ghera moved over to the door and listened. “We don’t have much time, they must know we are here.”
Lucan took off his cloak and shook it. “Put this on,” he said, draping it around Farah. “It’s raining outside.”
Chad laughed. “It’s always raining here. Come on, Farah, there’s no time for crying about it.” He tugged on her arm and made her stand up. “Get that thing on and keep yourself safe.”
Farah put her arms in the sleeves and wrapped the cloak around her thin frame.
“Good,” Lucan said
“Thank you,” Farah said to Lucan. She looked at the ground in an attempt to hold back her tears.
“You and I have a lot to talk about later,” Lucan said, hugging her tightly. “This is all so strange.”
She looked up at him, and he could see her eyes filling up.
“For both of us,” he added.
“Make that all three of us,” Chad said.
“Now can we go?” Ghera growled. He turned the lights off and opened the door.
Running toward them were numerous guards carrying a variety of weapons.
Ghera closed the door and leaned against it. “The three of you need to stay put while I take care of the guards in the hall.” In the near darkness, he could see his friends moving away from the door.
“No mercy,” Ghera mumbled as he put away his blade, opened the door, stepped into the hall, and closed the door calmly. The guards stopped abruptly within yards of Ghera as he looked at them.
“What are you doing in here?” a guard demanded, pointing his weapon at Ghera.
Ghera put his hands up in the air and moved slowly toward the guards. “What?” he asked, closing the distance.
“Stop,” another guard said. “That’s close enough.”
“Closer?” Ghera asked, ignoring the guard and continuing.
The guards all pointed their weapons directly at Ghera. “One more step, and we will kill you.”
Ghera stopped and put his hands on his hips. “No need,” he said.
One of the guards approached Ghera slowly, weapon still trained on him. “Turn around and put your hands up again.”
Ghera complied and waited until the guard touched his wrist. Spinning around quickly, Ghera grabbed the guard by the shoulders and turned him around. Ghera’s claws dug firmly into the guard as he stepped into his mind, controlling the guard’s actions. The guard raised his weapon and pointed it at the others.
“He cannot help himself,” Ghera called out. “If you move, he will end your life. If you fire, he will end your life. In a few hours, he will return to normal and forget this all happened. Do you understand me?”
“You step out from behind him, and you will die,” a guard shouted.
“I am giving you all a chance to let this end with no one getting hurt. Isn’t that what you want?” Ghera sneered.
“Step out in the open and find out,” the guard said defiantly.
“Lucan, get Chad and Farah out of here and back to the Way,” Ghera said loudly as he began to walk backward with the guard he was still controlling. “Do you hear me?”
The door opened, and Chad and Farah bolted out, disappearing around the corner.
Lucan came out and looked at Ghera. “Will you be okay?”
“I’ve got a clear shot,” a guard said, and then three shots rang out.
Lucan fell down hard as Ghera felt the guard he was controlling move to target the other guards. More shots and three of the guards dropped as Ghera also felt the life ebb from the guard shielding him. Two more shots and the remaining guard died, as did the one Ghera held.
Ghera stepped back, allowing the guard to slump slowly on to the once shiny floor. He ran to Lucan as Chad and Farah peeked around the corner. Two small holes in the wall let Ghera know that only one shot hit Lucan.
“She told me what to do, and I tried something different,” Ghera muttered to himself. “I’m sorry.”
Chad knelt down and held Lucan’s head. “Is he dead?”
“He’s not moving, but I think he’s still breathing.” Ghera felt Lucan’s wrist. “I can feel his heartbeat. It’s weak, but he’s still alive.”
Farah approached slowly. “What are we going to do?”
“We have to carry him back to the Way,” Ghera said, looking up at Farah. “I think Chad and I should be able to do that.”
“What should I do?” Farah asked.
“How about turn into a boar and carry him yourself,” Chad said, standing up, locking eyes with her.
“You know I can’t,” she insisted.
“You also used to tell yourself that you couldn’t turn human.” Chad nodded. “Right?”
“That was different.” Farah sniffed.
Chad tapped his head. “It’s all in your head.”
“Stop it,” Farah demanded, pushing Chad away.
“Go ahead, deny it.” Chad pushed Farah, and she fell down.
“What are you doing?” Farah cried, standing up again. “This isn’t the time.”
“I agree,” Ghera interjected. “There’s no telling if more guards are coming. You and I can do it,” he said to Chad. “Farah can make sure no one is following us.”
Lucan drew in a deep breath and coughed loudly. He shook his head and yelled.
“What’s wrong?” Farah said, kneeling at Lucan’s side.
“What happened?” Lucan asked softly.
“A guard shot you,” Ghera informed him. “Do you think you can walk?”
“How can he? He was just shot,” Farah said, concerned.
“One of the Alkaskre gave us some medicine that helps us to heal quickly. I’m glad it works this well,” Lucan said, smiling.
Farah hugged Lucan and began sobbing. “I am too.”
“It’s a little hard to breathe,” Lucan complained. “You’re pretty strong.”
“It looks like she’ll be a lot stronger now,” Chad said, pointing at the course hair beginning to cover Farah’s body. “Shame those tusks are part of the change.” He chuckled.
Farah let go and looked at her hands, which were changing as her body grew more muscular. “It feels different,” she said.
“You are in control of it, not the other way around.” Chad patted her on the head. “I knew you could do it.”
Farah stood and hugged Chad. “You never gave up on me. Thank you.” She let go before she crushed him. “Do we still need to go back?”
Ghera helped Lucan up. “It’s up to you, Lucan.”
“I think I’ll be okay. Let me talk to Maggie and find out how they are doing.”
Lucan focused his attention and called out to Maggie. Chad and Farah are safe. How is your team doing?
After a few seconds, Maggie responded. Fixx is scouting ahead for us. There’s a lot of security watching.
Do you want us to come and help?
Sure. We snuck in through a door around the far side, probably close to where you are now. Follow the line of unconscious guards. Iris and Omeran are making it look easy.
Lucan smiled. Okay, we’ll catch up. Let me know if anything changes. See you soon.
“Let’s help the others,” Lucan said to Ghera.
“Is there anything wrong?” Ghera asked.
“No, but I’m sure they’ll be glad that we did.”
Lucan and the others walked out of the building and toward the larger fortress. It was still raining lightly, but there was no wind, and the sky wasn’t as foreboding.
“How long have you been here?” Lucan asked, happier now that he was with the others.
“It’s hard to tell, but at least five or six months, maybe more. We tried to escape once and found there isn’t anything around here, except the prison.” Farah looked at Chad. “I convinced Chad that we had to return.”
“They did something to us that stopped us from changing for a while, but then it started again for me.” Chad shrugged. “I think they were more interested in experimenting on us after that. They moved us to where you found us, and we haven’t seen Petrose and Faith since.”
“What were they making you do before that?” Ghera asked.
“We were digging up stuff from the ground. All kinds of different metals, stones, and whatever else we could find.” Farah looked at her hands. “When I wasn’t changing back to this form, they were very harsh to all of us. They threatened to separate us, and eventually, they did. I know Faith was having a really bad time and Petrose was sick all the time.”
As they approached the high stonewall, they saw several bodies rolling in the mud, struggling to free themselves from ropes. A door, still open, was where their allies had entered the prison.
“Maggie said they went in here and are taking care of the guards.” Lucan looked at the group. “Are we ready for more?”
“I wouldn’t mind a little payback.” Farah balled her fists. “I’m ready.”
“We are only here to get Faith and Petrose. Once they are with us, we are leaving. Understood?” Lucan asked Farah.
“She’ll behave,” Chad said, punching Farah’s arm. “Do you want me to skulk ahead to find the others?”
“Sure, just be careful the others don’t mistake you for a guard.” Ghera motioned for Chad to go first.
Chad’s body began to shrink and hunch as he turned even more like a rat. With a tail, whiskers, and red glowing eyes, he scurried silently into the shadows of the prison. “How can he get smaller and you get bigger?” Ghera wondered.
“Chad told me he thinks it’s because we are part plant too.” Farah shrugged. “I don’t know how that explains anything, but it’s his guess.”
“He is very good at sneaking around. When we were on Storality, I could sense him but could never find him.” Ghera grinned. “You both are very impressive.”
“I’d like to learn more about both of my natures when all this is over,” Farah said, smiling at Lucan.
Lucan rubbed his chin and looked at Farah. “I’d like to know more too. Maybe we can ask Iris if she knows anything about that plant that made you and Chad.”
“Who is Iris?” Farah asked.
“We should keep going before someone spots us,” Ghera insisted.
“We’ll talk later.” Lucan winked to Farah as they moved through the door and into the prison.
“Faith,” Fixx called out in a singsong voice. He listened at a door and then stood in the middle of the corridor. “Petrose,” he said with a deep voice. Knocking on a few doors, he waited for a response and then kept moving. “Has anyone here seen Faith and Petrose?”
Omeran caught up to Fixx and tried to catch his breath. “What are you doing?”
“Looking for Faith and Petrose.” Fixx shook his head and stared at Omeran. “Weren’t you listening when we went over the plan?”
Omeran sighed and leaned on his staff. “I know that. Why are you yelling?”
“How are they supposed to hear us if I don’t?” Fixx banged on a metal door. “I am sure these things are pretty thick.” He turned when the sound of more guards echoed through the passage. “Ready to keep moving again?”
“Go ahead, I’ll be right behind you.” Omeran pointed his staff in the direction of the incoming guards and waited. “Keep moving, Fixx,” he demanded.
Fixx blurred into motion and called out as before in the hopes of finding Faith and Petrose. As the hall curved, he could see there was a guard dragging a prisoner from a cell. Fixx slowed down and leaned against the wall to watch. Even far away, he could hear the struggling one calling the name Petrose.
“Faith?” Fixx yelled.
The guard stopped and looked at Fixx.
“They are here already. Do it now,” the guard in the passage called to someone that must have been in the cell. “I’ll take care of her.” As he said that, he drew a sword and pushed Faith to the ground.
Fixx reached into his cloak and pulled out a throwing knife as he began running to intercept the strike. Spinning the knife, he held the tip, and raised his hand up. “You can’t stop us both,” the guard announced proudly, bringing the blade down swiftly.
Just before Fixx threw the knife, the passage filled with an almost deafening boom as a blue sphere of light streaked over his head, slamming into the guard’s chest. The guard spun as he fell unconscious, the sword clanking loudly on the ground. Fixx smiled, knowing Omeran had once again caught up. Ignoring the fallen guard, Fixx kept running as he pounced on the back of the guard in the cell. He saw Petrose lying still on the ground with fresh wounds and bruises on his face. The guard stood and began pulling Fixx from his massive body.
“Omeran,” Fixx called. “There’s another one of those big ones in here.”
Omeran entered the room and dropped his staff. “You need to get off him.” He pulled the orb from his arm and threw it at the guard’s head.
“Where’s Iris?” Fixx asked as he hopped off the guard’s back.
As the orb spread over the guard’s face, he struggled to pull it off as it blocked the air from flowing into his mouth and nose. Fixx chuckled as the guard flailed at the air, trying to grab anything that might help. Within moments, the guard was down on the ground next to Petrose.
“She’ll have to carry Petrose,” Fixx said, snapping his fingers in Petrose’s face.
“Go take care of Faith,” Omeran said quietly to Fixx. “I’ll look for Iris and the others.” He touched the orb, and it oozed onto him, hardening around his wrist. After picking up his staff, he left quickly.
“Thank you,” Faith said to Fixx, wiping her eyes. “Will he be okay?”
“When this is over, I’m sure he’ll be fine.” Fixx sat next to Faith, who still looked very scared. “Now that we have you all, we can leave.”
“Why didn’t you come sooner?” Faith demanded. “Do you have any idea what we went through?”
Fixx looked at Faith. “It has only been a short time for us. We did come as soon as we could.” He shrugged. “What did they do to you?”
“Every day, we dug in the dirt while it rained. Every night, we hoped it would be over. Repeat that over and over again for months.” Faith stood up and walked into the cell. She knelt down next to Petrose. “He stayed sane for both of us.”
“Now you’ll have to be strong for him while he heals,” Fixx said as he watched Faith tending to Petrose. “You will see, it’ll be okay.”
Faith laughed. “That easy?”
“What do you mean?” Fixx wondered.
“Why don’t you wait outside until everyone gets here.” Faith held Petrose’s hand and put it to her face. “Please.”
Fixx walked slowly into the hall and sat down. As each of the others arrived, Fixx told them that Faith wanted to be alone with Petrose. Until everyone was present, they all sat quietly.
“We should get going,” Maggie said. “Who is going to tell her?”
“I will,” Lucan said, standing up and entering the cell. “Faith,” he said calmly, “We are ready to take you both out of here.”
“And go where?” Faith turned and looked at Lucan. “Is Storality safe now?”
“It will be.” Lucan knelt next to Faith. “I am so sorry that all this happened.”
Faith looked at Petrose and then at Lucan. “We both knew what we were getting into.” She smiled. “Well, not months of this place, but we expected trouble. It tested me, and I broke.” Her eyes closed, and a single tear fell to the floor.
Lucan helped Faith stand. “We are all different from going through this.” He smiled and let her have a moment. “Ready?”
Faith nodded, and they left the cell.
“Farah, do you think you can carry Petrose?” Lucan motioned for her to step closer.
“Probably,” Farah guessed. She removed Lucan’s cloak, gave it back to him, and entered the cell, looking very muscular. “If not, I’m sure Chad can help.” She gently lifted Petrose to her shoulder and held him firmly, walking again into the corridor. “He’s a lot lighter now than I remember months ago.”
“The less we dug, the less they fed us.” Faith scratched Farah’s back. “It’s good to see that you found your fur and tusks again.”
“You should wear my cloak until we get out of the rain,” Lucan said, helping Faith put it on. “A little big, but you’ll be drier with it.”
“It’s good to see you all again,” Faith said, looking around at the group waiting patiently. “Thank you for coming to get us.”
“I just spoke with Laird,” Maggie interrupted. “It would be a good idea to return now. She said that the Alkaskre are massing troops to retake the prison.”
“Should we go back the way we came or keep going?” Alin asked.
“Are there any other Ways closer?” Ghera asked.
“It won’t matter because I don’t know the name of the one at the hub.” Lucan rubbed the back of his neck. “I think we should go back the same way we came in. At least we know what to expect.”
With Fixx leading the group, they exited quickly and were within sight of the Way within minutes. Above them, they heard the loud roar of ships crisscrossing the sky above the clouds. Bright lights beamed down on the prison, searching for any movement as they crossed through the Way.
Laird closed the Way. “Any longer and you would have found the Way closed,” Laird said as the others sat down, many trying to catch their breath.
Faith looked at Alix and then at Alin. She knelt in front of Alix and frowned. “What happened to you?”
“Life,” Alix said softly. “I was alone with Orex for close to fifty years, and then, by myself for almost ten.”
“Where is Orex?” Faith asked, looking around at the growing group.
“He died.” Alix pointed to Iris. “That is his daughter.”
“That’s terrible,” Faith said, looking at Alix’s cane.
“We’re all back together again. I’m okay with what happened.” Alix looked at Alin. “I have some catching up to do when this is all over, but now everyone can tell us apart.”
Faith laughed. “You are amazing.”
“How is Petrose?” Alix asked Farah.
“He’ll need to sleep for a while.” Farah walked over to Alix and nudged him. “You are old.”
“You smell bad,” Alix shot back, and they both grinned. “Just like old times.”
Laird cleared her throat to get everyone’s attention. “Now that you are all free from Jory’s grasp, it will soon be time to break his grip on the Alkaskre.” She stroked the feathers on the top of her head and paced. “When Dack returns, we will all be leaving this place. Most of you will need to stay somewhere safe, but I still need some of you to help finish what I started. I have called for a council meeting of the Alkaskre, and Jory will be there. Now is the time to decide if you really want to see this through, so get some rest.”