Contest (The Stork Tower Book 6) Read online

  She increased her rate of perceptional awareness, and the newly formed neurones in her brain began making even more complex associations. Leah appropriated two of the four-dimensional matrix-processors in her PAI chip and started to work through the meaning of the different signals. She tried to understand the relationship between each of the disparate images and form connections that made sense. Slowly a complete image coalesced, an image she could understand, an image that interacted across the full spread of her sensory system. It had taken just under ten minutes real time, but she'd experienced it in cyber-time, and it had seemed like almost eight hours to her.

  Leah said, “Run it through one more time from beginning to end.”

  The room cleared and then Leah felt, more than saw, the approaching being. The temperature dropped, and she was surrounded by a yellow mist which darkened imperceptibly as it transitioned through burnt orange past deep red until it looked and felt like it had coagulated into solid darkness. Sounds began to invade the room and she heard the frozen mist fracture as a creature broke through the mist barrier of its own construction. A stale wind brushed past Leah, bringing the sweet stench of decaying fruit mixed with the sour taste of spoiled meat. The being’s form was hidden in shadow, but it seemed to slither and fly rather than walk or glide. Its body trailed behind the head like a smear or smudge, but the face was clear. It was a man’s face except for the eyes, these were orientated vertically so when they blinked the eyelids moved inward from either side. There were no eyelashes, and the sclera was the same colour as the Iris, a deep violet. Each pupil was red, small, and shaped like a crescent. The face noticed Leah’s gaze just before the signal ended and a voice she’d heard before whispered. This time it was pitched softer and lower with an added touch of menace. It whispered, “Impressive, you can see me. To think, you were not a test, but a thief. You took their secrets, and you stole mine. But I have found you, and I see you. Atherleah, you can never escape or hide from me. I will ...”

  The message ended abruptly when Leah had been resurrected.

  5

  Chapter 5

  December 16, 2073 - Part 12

  STORK TOWER

  As Leah stepped from cyberspace and back into the Tower, she said, “Well, that was creepy.”

  Gèng replied, “Admittedly, it did appear ominous, but you should remember that the image was constructed from a sequence of images allocated by your mind as it tried to make sense of a previously unknown signal. I do not doubt the words, but you might just have easily constructed a warm and fuzzy unicorn to speak them. Even the tone was of your own construal. Without the end of the sentence, we have no idea what the entity was going to say.”

  “Fair enough, either way it seems that this ‘entity’ is quite powerful and lives undetected in the cyber-verse. I assume it is an unbound self-aware AI. What can we do to protect ourselves?”

  “Its processing ability is exponentially greater than mine, and it could certainly overwhelm my defences given time. Even so, I will look into increasing the defences here at the Pod centre and add a breaker which will remove all connections to both the cyber-verse and multi-verse if my defences are about to fall. Other than that, I suspect you are at its mercy whenever you enter the cyber worlds.”

  “Not quite, it obviously wants to remain anonymous and free. It hasn’t attacked openly, and it probably won’t. I need to think more about what you just said and maybe spend some time trying to re-filter the signal without prejudice. It may be best to find a secure area where we can talk through any conflict, should that become necessary. Can you search for some location where we might invite this entity for a discussion? I’ll try and find some time tomorrow to look at the signal again.”

  “I’ll ask Reed if it knows of a safe place. Its knowledge of the multi-verse is prodigious.”

  “Another thought I had was about the breaker in case your defences were about to fail. Can you make a hardware breaker to isolate the chip from the rest of my body?”

  “I’ll do some research, but it will mean re-tasking some of the nanites working on your shoulder.”

  “I think cyber-security is our biggest concern at the moment. Is there anything else I need to do or be aware of?”

  “You have a message from Stephen and the Dunyanin developers saying that everything is ready for the Lanetli quest. Lord Umut will approach you before you leave the city this morning and he will take the Lanetli off your hands. You also have a message from Peter. He says the first batch of Yilinlar coins is ready for distribution. He wants to know how to get them to you.”

  “Tell him I have a Chest of Communication. If he has the coins ready then I’ll send it to him as soon as I arrive in Dunyanin. I’ll add a sample of things I’ve collected recently. He needs to put the coins in the chest. When he closes it, it will come to me. Ask him to put a sample of the other coins in the box as well.”

  Gèng handed Leah the Lanetli and a sample of snake paraphernalia along with several of the smaller Darkness Diamonds, some vials of blood and her excess Platinum and Diamond Coins to send to Peter. Leah was waiting for the last minute to add Diamond Coins to her Coin Quest and wanted Peter to see if he could obtain several more different coins for her before the contest. Leah made her way to the Dunyanin portal.

  DUNYANIN

  After stepping through, Leah appeared in the Royal Suite. She took out Lady Serseri’s Chest of Communication and filled it with the things for Peter. Closing the lid, she spoke his user name, ‘Peter_Scorsese_1’, and the chest disappeared. Then Leah took out her red edged armour. After checking that it had healed itself except for the fang marks at her back, she equipped it and was about to step from the room when Serseri’s Chest reappeared. She opened it and found Peter had filled it with several large bags of coins, a box and a note.

  Atherleah,

  The box is one of the enchanted boxes used as a transfer portal. Give it to whoever you trust there, and I will send more coins as they become available. They can use it to send me items for trade.

  Each coin is made from pure metal with enchantments to ensure they hold their shape. The amount of metal in each is equal to or greater than the values indicated below. The Darkness diamond coins include ten small Darkness Diamonds encased in platinum. Their worth is currently greater than one diamond, but it was the easiest and most efficient way to make the coin. I’ve done the same for the Diamond coins for areas in the lands of Light. They clump in sets of ten and one hundred. If you hold a ‘true’ Atherleah coin between your thumb and first finger, it shows a golden picture of you in the Lands of Light and a Darkness edged picture of you in the Dark Lands.

  I’ve included the following Yilinlar coins

  1000 Yilinlar Copper coins - each worth 1 copper

  1000 Yilinlar Silver coins - each worth 1 silver

  1000 Yilinlar Gold coins - each worth 1 gold

  100 Yilinlar Platinum coins - each worth 1 platinum

  10 Yilinlar Mithryl coins - each worth 10 platinum

  10 Yilinlar Adamantine coins - each worth 10 platinum

  2 Yilinlar Darkness Diamond coins - each worth 1 diamond

  I’ve also sent you two of each type of Dryad and Elfaun coins. They have Diamond coins instead of Darkness Diamond coins.

  Leah took out the coins and was impressed with the final product. Each Yilinlar coin was octagonal and had a picture of her as a dark elf on one side with three inscriptions ‘Empress Atherleah’, ‘Year 1’ and ‘Yilinlar’. The other side was the image of İki Tarafda’s crown and the coin’s value. Leah put everything away in her bag and then headed out of her suite.

  Alkaia was coiled outside the door as Leah’s guard. When the door opened, she turned to acknowledge Leah and said, “Good morning Empress, everything is ready for your coronation. We were unsure of the exact time of your arrival, so I suggest we wait for ten minutes to make sure everything is ready before we make our way to the throne room. Somur T’kan will be here shortly.”

  “Tha
t is fine, Alkaia. Do you have a suggestion on what I should wear? I have this armour or a dress. I can also change into an amphisbaena or cover myself with scales.”

  “You are the Empress and an elf, not an amphisbaena. I suggest you wear your armour, and either the dark elf or your true nature as a child of light. Being adorned with scales would be acceptable.”

  “Will my half-elf, half-human nature be a problem?”

  “Not here your Majesty, the military has made it clear that they support you completely, as do the Guardians. Somur T’kan has declared you his successor by both ‘right of conquest’ and by choice. In addition, there was an envoy from Lord Kötü who arrived during the night. He is waiting to acknowledge your authority over this city. No one here will gainsay your right to rule.”

  Leah decided to remain in her Dark Elf form but cast Darkness Dragonscales. She then turned to Alkaia and said, “I would like you to call your deputy to attend me here as well if it is possible.”

  Alkaia looked at Leah for a moment, and then calling to one of the other guards gave instructions to send for her second, the daggerback wyrm called Obür Yetki and ask him to make his way to the Royal Suite. While they were waiting Somur T’kan arrived. After greeting Atherleah he discussed the simple ceremony that was going to take place. There was to be a brief formality in the throne room, and then the Lords of Yilinlar would proceed him and Leah into the main square of the city. There, the citizens had gathered to view the coronation. It was expected for the ruler to be crowned with dual crowns so he would crown Leah with his mother’s crown and then officially hand her one of his own. After this, he would transfer his life force into the second crown until Leah presented it to his father, Geckiş, God of Transitions.

  Obür arrived while Somur T’kan was explaining the ceremony. As soon as Somur T’kan had finished, Leah turned to the daggerback and said, “Obür, in a few minutes I will be crowned Queen of Yilinlar. When that has happened, I am going to appoint Alkaia as my regent. As the sign of her regency, I will crown her with one of Somur T’kan’s crowns. Are you willing to take her place as commander of the Royal Guardians? Will you protect her as you would me?”

  Alkaia moved as if to speak, but Leah held up her hand for silence. Obür smiled as he said, “It will be both an honour and a pleasure to protect her, your Majesty.”

  Leah turned to Alkaia and said, “You told me yesterday I would need to order someone to take on the role of Regent. Therefore, Alkaia, I order you to accept the position of Regent of Yilinlar. You understand honour, you have courage, and you are wise. You have until after the ceremony to think of things you want to ask me before I leave.”

  Leah then explained the oath she expected Alkaia to give. After making certain Alkaia understood, Leah said, “Now lead the King and me to the Throne Room.”

  Alkaia stared at her for a few moments, then with a slight nod she proceeded Somur T’kan and Leah to the Throne Room. The Gauntlet of Guardians had disappeared from the room, and it was filled with snakes of all varieties. Alkaia led the way down the centre of the room as the snakes slithered to either side, opening up a wide corridor. Once Alkaia reached the raised section where the throne was she moved to one side and allowed Somur T’kan to make his way up to the throne. Leah waited at the base of the small dais with Alkaia.

  Somur T’kan slithered onto his throne and waited until the room became utterly still. He said, “Lords of Yilinlar, a successful claim has been made for the crown of this great city. I ask the commander of Yilinlar’s army and the leader of the Royal Guardians to acknowledge the successful claimant and to take possession of my crowns.”

  The tigersnake Leah had met during the trials slithered onto the dais, took the crown from Somur T’kan’s left head, and said, “I, Cen Gâver, Commander of Yilinlar’s Army declare that the traveller known as Atherleah has the respect and support of its warriors. She has shown herself to be both a true leader and a warrior.”

  Alkaia slithered onto the dais and took the crown from Somur T’kan’s right head and said, “I, Alkaia Tutmak, Head of the Royal Guardians declare that the traveller known as Atherleah has the respect and support of its Guardians. She has shown herself to be both a true leader and a warrior. She is worthy of our lives.”

  Somur T’kan slithered from the throne and rose to his full height before saying, “Lords of Yilinlar, let us go before the citizens and crown our new queen, the one known as Empress Atherleah.”

  The Lords all turned and began making their way from the room, followed immediately after by Somur. He was followed by one of his aides who was carrying the crown of İki Tarafda, then by the two snakes who held Somur T’kan’s crowns. Leah was next, surrounded by eight Royal Guardians. The procession exited the palace into a large open grassed area with a raised platform at one end. The space was filled with snakes of every variety and one very large black Darkness Dragon, Lord Kötü. Leah gave Lord Kötü a deep bow before following the Somur T’kan onto the raised platform.

  Somur moved to one side and motioned for Leah to stand in the central position. He looked around the gathering and bowed to Lord Kötü before saying, “Lords and Citizens of Yilinlar, we gather here this morning to recognise the new ruler of this once great city. Empress Atherleah has completed the challenge and by doing so becomes the legitimate and rightful ruler of this city. Empress Atherleah not only excelled in completing all the tests but she also returned to us the crown of İki Tarafda. Both the Commander of Yilinlar’s Army and the Head of the Royal Guardians have acknowledged her suitability and pledged their allegiance. Before I crown her as our queen, Lord Kötü has asked leave to share his thoughts.”

  Everyone turned to the dragon who looked over the crowd slowly before saying, “Lords and Citizens of Yilinlar, I have come to add my voice to those who acknowledge the suitability of Empress Atherleah to rule Yilinilar. I am one of the five overlords of the Forest of Night and have sway over all creatures. Together with Lady A’bonoz of the Siyah, Lord A’klik of the Solgun, Lady Y’şillik of the Yarim and Lord Caman of the Orcs I rule the Forest of Night. Furthermore, I acknowledge that I hold no power over Empress Atherleah. She is not beholden to me, she is a free creature. She can go where she will, stay where she wishes, and leave when she wants to. When my people and I have something to offer the Empire, then I will discuss with her how we might join my people and my subjects to her Empire. Treat her with honour, people of Yilinlar, or you will answer to me.”

  With that, he turned to Leah and said, “I have considered your words and actions, and I find you wise beyond your years. When time permits call upon me, and I shall take you to the Overlords of the Forest of Night. There we shall discuss matters of state. Until then, please accept this small gift in honour of your coronation.”

  As he finished speaking, he leapt into the air and with several mighty thrusts of his wings disappeared into the sky. A chest appeared at Leah’s feet. Somar stepped forward and said, “With the blessing of Lord Kötü, the agreement of Yilinlar’s leaders, by right of conquest, and by my decree, I acknowledge the Empress Atherleah as Queen of Yilinlar.”

  At that, Somar’s aide slithered forward and placed the crown of İki Tarafda on Leah’s head. As soon as this happened the crowd broke into a loud cheer, accompanied by the sound of hundreds of shaking rattles. A message appeared, but Leah waved it away. Before she could say anything, Somar disappeared, and the crown held by Alkaia began to glow. Leah reached out and took the crown from Alkaia’s hands and said, “So ends the reign of Somur T’kan, son of İki Tarafda, Queen of Yılanlar.”

  She handed the glowing crown to Obür Yetki and said, “Citizens and Lords of Yilinlar, I thank you for the honour you bestow upon me in accepting me as your queen. I haven’t had much opportunity to get to know you, and I have responsibilities which draw me away from here immediately. Even so, I take this responsibility to lead you seriously. I pledge to work toward peace, prosperity, security and justice for all who live within the boundaries of Yilin
lar. I have talked with your Lords and have seen the quality of those who seek to rule. From those who lead I have chosen one to appoint as Regent. She will oversee the city in my stead and with my authority.

  “The Regent will have the support of the military and the protection of the Guardians. I will have more to say to her shortly but have already indicated that I wish Yilinlar to come out of hiding and to take its rightful place as a major city within the Forest of Night. I predict you will see an influx of both trade and visitors to Yilinlar. This will usher in a period of growth and prosperity.”

  Turning to Alkaia, she said, “Alkaia Tutmak, I, Empress Atherleah, Queen of Yilinlar appoint you to be my Regent, to rule in my stead and with my voice.”

  Turning back toward the citizens Leah said, “That you might know she rules with my authority, I crown her with the crown of Somur T’kan and will take her oath of service.”

  Leah took the remaining crown from Cen Gâver and motioning to Alkaia had Alkaia lower her head so Leah could place the crown on it.

  Alkaia rose and looking down at Leah said in a loud voice, “I, Alkaia Tutmak do promise that I will be faithful to Atherleah, irrespective of her title. I swear to obey her reasonable commands and to inform her immediately when I cannot. I will counsel and advise her to the best of my ability. Before others, I will steadfastly, in good faith, and without deceit, show and observe all respect toward her. These words stand unless formally withdrawn. You have my word and oath.”

  Leah looked up at Alkaia and said, “I, Atherleah, promise to observe my duties to serve and protect the city of Yilinlar. I will consider and weigh the counsel of Alkaia Tutmak, Regent of Yilinlar and will look to reward her service. Before others, I will steadfastly, in good faith, and without deceit, show and observe all respect toward her. These words stand unless formally withdrawn. You have my word and oath.”