“I would like to welcome you all to my world,” Laird said warmly to the arriving council. Five creatures of different shapes, colors, and sizes, all wearing white robes with purple sashes, entered the spacious room. In the center, a beautiful round table, carved from a single piece of light-colored wood, was surrounded by red cushioned chairs. The walls were covered with two-way mirrors through which her allies were watching. Laird motioned for the council to sit while she brought baskets of food to the table.
They sat and passed around the lavishly prepared snacks while Laird got comfortable. “I trust that all of you are well.”
“What do you want, Laird?” one asked, eating and speaking.
Laird smiled and tried to contain her annoyance. “Since you seem to be in a hurry, I’ll be brief.” She stood up and placed a glass jar on the table. “Jory is coming here because he believes he will get back the device he created along with another item he has been searching for.”
“Did you tell him we would do that?” the earlier speaker blurted out.
“Is there a problem with that?” Laird asked.
The other council members looked at each other and were quite confused.
She sat down again and waited until the side conversations faded. “Choose!”
“Why are you doing this?” another one asked.
“We all know what Jory will do if he can figure out how to move around in time like we can in space. So either we agree to eliminate him now, or I will give him what he needs to do it.” Laird leaned back and crossed her arms. “He will be here very soon.”
The furry gray-striped council member looked at the others. “Laird and I have been watching Jory closely. He will either kill us or control us if we get in his way.”
“He can’t control us, and you know it, Notomo!” another yelled.
Laird whispered something, and the creature fell off of its chair and twitched uncontrollably on the ground.
“How?” the creature managed to say while trying to gain control.
Laird took the jar, opened it, and stood. “Does anyone else need any more convincing?”
When the others were silent, she bent down and used the container to capture the thing as it oozed out. After closing the lid tightly, she helped the fallen creature to its chair. “I am sorry to shatter your delusions that Jory cares for any of us.” She returned to her seat and put the jar on the table.
“When did he do that to me?” the creature asked, rubbing its neck.
“To be honest, I have no idea,” Laird admitted. “I do know that we are all at risk.”
“When did you find out?” one asked.
“Recently. Jory used something similar to control a human on Storality named Merson. He said something about none of us feeling safe from his influence. I looked into it and found the proof I needed as well as how to reverse it.” Laird frowned. “There is a side effect.”
“What?” some asked.
“One can no longer open Ways once it is removed,” Laird said solemnly.
All the council looked at the one who was just freed.
“We deserve to be replaced for trusting so blindly,” it said, hanging its head.
“I say we remove them all,” the creature with gray-striped fur said. “Until then, none of us are safe. Agreed?”
The others nodded, and Laird repeated the process until only she was left. “I will need someone to remove mine,” she said, putting the glass jar on the table. After recovering from her own removal, the council sat around the table in silence. “We still need to decide what to do with Jory. If we can all agree that he needs to be removed permanently, I already have a plan in motion to do just that.”
“What is our part?”
“The rest of you can go home, and I will carry it out alone,” Laird said confidently.
“What about this council?”
Laird smiled. “I think Theterm and the others he has trained can—”
“No!” a few said vehemently shaking their heads.
“Is that because Jory has you convinced those Whisperers of Lore are somehow less than us Alkaskre?” Laird reacted in disgust. “We are equal! The only difference is the label. Without Jory’s influence, I am positive Storality will once again become all we hoped.” She watched all of them for their reactions. “Don’t any of you trust me?”
“I do,” one said, and then another, until they all agreed.
“Thank you,” Laird said sincerely. “All of you need to return home until Jory has been taken care of,” she said, standing and moving to a smaller table. Opening a drawer and retrieving a set of little boxes, she handed one to each council member. “I think our loss is permanent, but these devices will allow us to continue using Ways.”
“What about you?” Notomo asked.
“I will wait here until Jory arrives. It’s probably best if that’s all you know.” Laird smiled awkwardly. She motioned for them to follow her out. “We do need to hurry so you are safe before Jory arrives. There is another Way down here that you can use to leave.”
When all were gone, Laird returned, cleaned up the baskets of food, wiped off the table, and sat down.
That went well. Theterm’s voice rang out energetically in Laird’s head.
Laird waved in the direction where Theterm was watching.
If it goes that easy with Jory, I’ll be shocked. She leaned back and tried to relax. How is everyone doing in there with all those dusty memories?
I am sure a few of them are hoping to see some action soon, but most are relaxing and watching you. A beeping noise sounded throughout the place. Sounds like your next guest is here.
“Sir,” a guard said to Jory, “this platform will collapse if we try to bring anything other than our troops.” The guard stepped back when Jory spun quickly. “Some of the armor is quite heavy too,” he finished as Jory paced.
Jory walked to the edge of the platform and looked over. “She knew it,” he muttered.
After seeing a line of red and yellow flags leading to a gaping hole in the ground, he returned to the guard. “I want two guards to come with me, and the rest of you can keep watch from here. Do not let anyone go through this Way unless I personally escort them.”
Two guards, wearing armored shells, stepped forward on the platform cautiously. “Follow me, please,” Jory said.
The two guards and Jory used the cable from the devices on the platform to lower themselves to the surface. Jory led the way as the two behemoths stomped loudly in time with him. When they all arrived at the hole in the ground, it was obvious that the pair in armor would not fit without first painfully absorbing the shells into themselves. “Sir, we could remove these if you want,” one said when it was obvious that Jory was considering his options.
“Wait here, and I will signal you if you need to enter. If anyone other than me comes through here first, kill them. Are you sure you understand?” Jory asked, pointing at them menacingly. “Good,” he said when they responded in the affirmative and stood at attention.
Jory climbed down carefully and walked along a rock-hewn passage until he came upon a metal door on his left. He sensed another Way as well as other Alkaskre through the door. Trying it, he found it locked, so he kept going further where he sensed another Alkaskre. The area opened up and beautifully painted walls drew his attention. Scenes of Laird’s people during happier times reminded him of what was lost. An archway with an ornate emerald tapestry was at the end of the hall. He pulled it aside slowly and saw Laird eating and drinking alone.
“It’s good to see you again, Laird,” Jory said with fake exuberance as he entered.
“You found this place all right?” Laird asked as if she cared.
Jory pulled out a chair and plopped down roughly. “I guess so.” He shrugged. “Might have been easier if you would have told me about the other Way back there,” he grinned, pointing over his shoulder.
Laird laughed. “Do you remember when we first met?”
“Where is the rest of the council? Hiding by that Way just in case?” Jory slammed his fist down on the table. “Where are my things?”
Laird stood up and pushed some baskets toward Jory. “Please, Jory, you have it all wrong.”
Jory looked at the contents and picked something out and then threw it back in the basket. “Are you trying to tell me that you aren’t trying to kill me?”
“What would be the point in that?” Laird asked, leaning forward. “I don’t want you dead.”
“Then why have you been sabotaging everything I’ve been trying to accomplish?” Jory pulled another basket closer and grabbed a handful of tiny dark-green squares for closer inspection.
“I needed to get your attention so we could finish your project together.”
Jory popped some of the snacks into his mouth and nodded. “These are good. A little salty, but good. What are they?”
“I’ll give you the recipe later,” Laird said perturbed. “I want your word that the device is to be used to benefit both of us.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“The council and I fear that you will use it to go back in time to control everything.”
Jory pushed the empty basket away and pulled another closer. “You know it doesn’t work like that.”
“What’s the first thing you plan to do when you get that book and cube back?”
Jory wiped his mouth and sat back. “I think you know, but I’ll spell it out. That book should tell me the name of the Way where Lyssa went. I’ll open it and help her return.” He coughed.
“That’s what I thought.” Laird sat back and stared at Jory. “I can tell you that you are wasting your time.”
Jory stood up and stretched. “It really doesn’t matter what one of you think. You know how the council works.” He looked around the room. “So when are they coming in?”
“I think they would prefer that I talked to you first.”
Jory looked at himself in a mirror and straightened his robe. “I do remember the first time we met.”
“Then you remember why we let you be a part of the council, right?”
Jory sat down again and pulled a basket to himself. “You thought it would help us poor humans advance.”
“Did it?”
“It sure helped me.” Jory picked out a few more pieces and ate them greedily. “What’s your point?”
“You’ve already proven it!”
“What? That I helped myself too?”
“Only you!”
Jory coughed and cleared his throat. “I’ve devoted my life to projects that have helped so many.”
Laird sighed. “Yourself first, the Alkaskre second, but no one else.”
“Believe what you want.” Jory wiped his mouth. “Do you have anything that goes with this? It’s really salty.”
Laird nodded, stood, and carried a tray to the table. She grabbed a glass and poured the contents of a pitcher into it. Gently sliding the drink across the table, she smiled as Jory raised it high. “What do you want to drink to?”
Jory paused and thought for a moment. “To us,” he said, draining the contents and putting down the glass. He hiccupped and wrinkled his nose. “Wow, that has a kick.”
“Give it a few seconds, it will get better,” Laird said as Jory’s eyes opened wide, and he fell backward off the chair, grasping his throat. “You’ll be dead in no time,” she said loudly.
Shattered glass sprayed everywhere as Laird turned in time to see Ghera hopping through the opening with his curved dagger drawn. He held it out at Laird while he looked at Jory. “What did you do to him?” he demanded.
“I gave him a very potent venom from a creature that Fixx brought back,” Laird said, stepping away from the blade. “He won’t last long.”
Ghera put his blade away and fished through a pouch until he found a small tube. “Is he really the only one that knows my Way’s name?”
Laird nodded.
“You did this on purpose, planned it all along!” Grabbing Jory’s hand, he put the last vial of medicine in Jory’s palm and forced it closed.
Crushing the glass had an almost immediate calming effect on Jory. Within seconds though, his skin grew darker and drips of silver ooze stained his robe.
“What did you do to me?” Jory asked, straining to speak.
Ghera knelt next to Jory and balled his fist in his face. “Tell me the name of my Way now,” Ghera said, shaking Jory, who was losing consciousness.
Jory’s lips moved, and he uttered a single word before passing out. Ghera stood up and faced Laird. “What is all that stuff coming out of him?”
“Slivers of Ways that he has visited. With them inside, he could slip away too easily. I needed to remove that advantage.”
“You used me again,” Ghera said, rushing at Laird and pushing her against the table. “Who do you think you are?”
Laird grabbed Ghera’s wrists and kicked him away using the leverage of the table.
Ghera stumbled back, grabbing for his dagger.
“Stop it, Ghera,” she said commandingly. “Don’t you see what it proves?”
Ghera stood, pointing the dagger at Laird. “It proves I haven’t changed at all. I was willing to save Jory to ensure I would see my home again.”
“Is that how you see it?” Laird said, putting her hands on her hips. “You say that because I told you to use that last vial selfishly. If I told you to use it compassionately, would you see it differently? You saved him.”
Ghera put his dagger away and turned from Laird. “Stop trying to manipulate me again. I did it because I wanted to go home. I am no hero.”
Rushing into the room, Fixx and Omeran appeared just before Ghera reached the tapestry. “Did you try to lock us in, Laird?” Fixx asked. “I think you should explain what’s going on before anyone else gets hurt.”
Jory sat up slowly and wiped his face with his sleeve, leaving dirty gray streaks on the once clean robe. “You should have let me die,” he said, pulling out what looked like a marble from his pocket. Squeezing it tight in his hand, he grinned and shook his head slowly. “No escaping now.”
From down the hall, loud stomping could be heard approaching. Within seconds, the tapestry was ripped down and thrown aside as a guard in an armored shell stood in the archway accessing the situation.
“Only one?” Fixx chuckled. “Go ahead, Omeran, he’s all yours.”
Omeran pointed his staff at the hulking guard and fired. A ball of light and a wave of sound smashed into the armor, knocking the guard sideways as the once tough shell began to melt away. The exposed guard tried to run but got tripped up in the discarded drapery. Fixx rushed over and quickly pinned him, finishing the job.
Ghera watched the second guard sneak into the room full of old dusty shelves and turned to Jory. “You’ve lost, call off the other one before my new friends tear him limb from limb.”
Jory stood up slowly and held onto the table for support. “I know there’s another Way down here, Laird. No matter where you go, my troops will find you.”
“You are right. I only did all this to even out the playing field so we can talk as equals.” Laird put her arm around Jory. “I told all of them I would betray them, and now I am ready to prove my allegiance.”
Fixx reached for another throwing dagger when he heard something hit the glass hard from the other side. He turned to see huge spidering cracks forming as the pane buckled toward him. A second impact caused it to shatter as twisted green metal flew into the room. Diving to avoid the object only sent him into Omeran, knocking them both down. Jory removed an object from his pocket, crushed it, and threw it over the two fallen allies. A burst of sound and light confused them as the air around them filled with noxious fumes. Their eyes teared as breathing became difficult and consciousness faded into a painful blackening haze.
Ghera stood his ground and waited for Jory to make a move. “I won’t let you pass,” he growled.
“I thought you weren’t a hero, right?” Jory stared at Ghera’s every move while preparing another weapon in his pocket.
Ghera moved out of the way and motioned for them to pass. “Don’t make me regret this, Laird.” As they passed cautiously, he could tell Laird was relieved. “Should I follow?”
“Help get everyone out of here before the planet explodes,” she said, pushing Jory ahead.
Jory stopped and turned around. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“I altered the Way down here to set off a chain reaction to this world’s core. Once it is opened, there is no stopping it. There is no life here, so it no longer matters to me.” Laird tried to turn Jory around.
“What about my troops?” Jory was furious.
“Do you really care about them when you are so close to getting what you’ve always wanted? We have to go before the others defeat your guard.” Laird prodded Jory forward, and he turned, heading reluctantly toward the Way.
Ghera checked on Fixx and Omeran, helping them sit up before moving to the opening created by the thrown object. Jagged edges lined the hole, but Ghera hopped through anyway. Ghera climbed quickly to the top of the closest shelving and ran along, leaping toward the noisy battle. Sicar was holding the armored guard on the ground with all his legs, constantly moving to keep the advantage. Iris was using her staff to press the attack in hopes of finding a weak spot.
Maggie looked up and saw Ghera watching the fight. “Where’s Fixx and Omeran?”
“Recovering. We all need to get out of here now,” Ghera said loud enough for the others to hear. “Laird said opening the Way will destroy this whole place.”
Chad and Farah approached quickly, having had entire rows of shelving knocked over on them. “This place is too close to fight in,” Farah said as she began stomping on the guard.
“We need to leave now,” Ghera said slowly and loudly. “It doesn’t matter who is winning, we have to stop.” He jumped down to the ground and placed both hands on the armor. Concentrating, he pulled all the energy out of it, causing it to lose its shape and liquefy. “You need to leave with us too,” Ghera sneered at the trembling guard, who watched him in fear.
Dack signaled to the others, and they ran to him through the ruined mess of twisted metal. “Lucan and Theterm are already at the Way. Fixx and Omeran are making their way there now. Is anyone missing?”
Zara stumbled into view holding his wounded head. “Don’t forget me.”
“That is everyone then,” Dack announced. “Let’s get out of here.”
As they all approached, it was obvious that Laird and Jory had opened a Way and were preparing to leave. Theterm was pulling on Jory while Lucan was grappling with Laird.
“Let go of us,” Jory said, pushing Theterm down violently. The ground began to shake and everyone tried desperately to keep standing, but most were unsuccessful.
Laird pulled Jory close and stepped toward the Way. An explosion propelled them through while scorching wind whipped around them. Crashing roughly on the hard metal of the hub, he could see that everything on the other side was ablaze and raining down upon the others while he laughed loudly. She screamed in pain from the sudden heat and landing, abruptly shutting down the Way. Limping into the control room, she slammed the door closed and locked it.
Jory moved to the center of the now still room and looked around. “That was incredible! They had no time to escape that.” He sat down and waited patiently for Laird to come out of the tiny room that controlled the hub. “I see you are hurt. Open a Way, and we can get you some help.”
“Help?” Laird hobbled quickly to where Jory sat and leaned closely to him. “There is no need. I have planned everything all along to end exactly like this.” She balled her fist and shook it in his face. “We aren’t going anywhere.”
“Are you serious?” Jory looked into Laird’s eyes and could tell she was wavering about finishing her plan. “Open the Way, and let’s finish my project. We can rescue Lyssa and be together again like it used to be.”
Laird backed away from Jory and collapsed roughly on the ground. “Her calling out to you are only echoes, nothing more. She is gone now.”
Jory looked at Laird as she began breathing heavily. “If I am right, then all this does not matter, don’t you understand?” He looked around the room, looking for anything that would identify where they were. “Tell me where we are,” he said gently as he kneeled over her, wiping away her tears.
She sat up slowly and blinked a few times, trying to stay focused. “I made a promise to Lyssa to look after you when she left. I intend to keep that by dying here with you. You cannot go back and change the past. She is as good as dead, and now we will be too.”
Jory remained calm as he stood up and walked to the control room. He saw that Laird had destroyed as much as possible by ripping and breaking the equipment. After admitting to himself that he could not easily fix what was destroyed, he walked to her and stood over her. She looked at him and tried to smile, but the pain only allowed a weak grimace instead.
“I did not want to control you,” he began then stopped. “That is untrue. I have always wanted to control you, but have chosen not to, until now.”
“You can’t,” she pointed to her neck. “It’s been removed. We thought you would stoop to doing that, and we were right. There is no way you can escape. Go ahead and try.”
“I can control someone else. They will come.”
“Where? You have no idea where you are. Try pulling yourself home.” She enjoyed the momentary flicker of hope fade when Jory realized that option was gone.
“That’s right, you can’t, but you will live a very long time here,” Laird said.
“You and I share the same cage then.” Jory walked away from her and began looking at the walls. “Can others open Ways to this place?”
“Why would they?” She sat up and watched him examining the walls.
“The answer is yes then. Good, it is just a matter of time then until the right combination is found. They will do it.”
Laird’s confidence was shaken. “Who?”
“The council.” He tapped the wall and listened.
Laird relaxed again. “This was planned with their help. Everyone agreed that you should die. In the end, no one supported you or your plans.”
Jory continued searching, ignoring her until she stood up. “Are you going to help?”
“Do you understand that we are both going to slowly and painfully die here?”
He stopped and looked at her. “You can change that.” He walked over to her, and she saw he was crying. “Please.”
“You deserve this for all that you have done.” Rage welled up in her, and she stepped away.
“If you let me finish, I can undo everything. You saw what I’ve been able to accomplish already,” he pleaded. “I am sure she is alive. I hear her voice in my head. That is why I have done everything.”
“I know what you believe to be true, and I know that you have devoted your life to it, but you are wrong.” She poked him in the chest sharply. “You are deluded.”
“Why not just kill me?” He threw his arms up in the air. “You could have let that venom do the job. Why save me in a box?”
“Punishment.”
Jory laughed. “It must make them all feel so good. They finally stopped me. Shame you have to suffer alongside of me.”
“I annihilated my world. I deserve this too.”
“It should have been Theterm here instead of you. He died too quickly, as did the others. At least I outlived that fool.” Laird tried to hide her amusement, but Jory saw it and grew angry. “What is so funny?”
“Do you really believe that such a well-orchestrated plan would allow for so many to die?”
Jory stepped back and punched the wall. “They will come and get you.”
“They can’t.”
“One night while I am sleeping, you will disappear, and I will die alone.” Jory sat down roughly on the floor.
“I am truly sorry that it had to end this way.” Laird sat down next to him and rested her head on his shoulder.