Skirmish (The Stork Tower Book 8) Read online

  As the Günahkâr harvested the dead, Leah and Mĕi landed.

  “Y☼: Thank you, War Leader. It was good to have experience with the moves we’d learned from our brothers.”

  “It was my pleasure. Now, let’s go and choose another group. This time I get to go first.”

  “Y☼: Perhaps one of us should go with you?”

  “What if you stay on Mĕi and come if I need help?”

  Yürek nodded and said, “Y☼: While I prefer the other, I understand your desire. Why not choose a larger group and we can all have some practice?”

  “What a great idea, let’s go find one.”

  Minutes later they were once more above the battlefield on Mĕi.

  As the day continued, Leah’s army curled inwards, slowly destroying the enemy. Most of the players were average at best, and while they matched many in Leah’s clan in skill, they didn’t have the clan’s resources nor planning. Every time one of Leah’s army died, they returned stronger and better equipped. For the few on the other side who’d brought their own resurrection stones, they returned without resources and were forced to use old equipment.

  Very few of the enemy were skilled enough to face Leah or Mĕi for more than a few minutes, and none were near the level of Fetheden or Severin. By the time the five groups reached and encircled the largest of the enemy groups, there were dozens of tall statues of Thad interspersed across the plain from Leah’s golems.

  Leah’s expectation had been accurate, and she and Mĕi, with the help of the guards, had dealt with almost two hundred of the Elite Demons. Mĕi had done the most damage. The demons had no defence against Mĕi’s green mist of life, and it had washed over them like a toxic cloud. When Leah had followed this with a blast of Divine Chain Lightning, the demons were finished.

  For the final part of the battle, Leah had teleported herself and her guards to the edge of the group led by Thad. The Günahkâr had warned him, so he was ready when she approached. He had a huge smile, and she said, “Have you had fun?”

  “T: I have, what are you doing here?”

  “I thought it would be good to fight together. You know, side by side.”

  Thad’s face lit up, and he said, “T: I’d love that. When do we attack?”

  “Everyone is in place and ready.”

  “T: Then let’s go.”

  Leah smiled, and Yürek sent the command. Leah had asked Yürek to oversee the five-pronged attack, and while she stayed aware of what was happening, she let herself enjoy the time fighting next to Thad. At one stage she created the golem and told Thad it would copy his moves. Thad’s face lit up as he controlled the huge granite construct. It was still standing when the last of the enemy group was killed. Thad struck a proud, rather pompous pose just as Leah cancelled the spell, and despite his pleas, Leah left it like that to the great amusement of Amy and Wisp.

  Altogether the battle had taken seven hours, and over thirty-thousand enemy had been killed, many of them having died two or three times before their resurrection stones had been claimed. The average level of the enemy was just under two-hundred. Almost three-quarters of Leah’s forces had died at least once. Most of them were players, although six Günahkâr had also been killed.

  With the extra experience from the clan level, the proportion of the experience for being the battle leader, the doubling because it was in a war, and from those she’d personally killed, Leah amassed over eight-hundred-million experience points. The clan reached Level Twenty-two, and Leah herself had reached Level 452. It took an hour to harvest everything and make sure everyone had received their allocations. Leah split most of her share among the crafters, only keeping some spells and the various maps. With many of the clan ready to leave, Leah asked Yürek to have the clan come together.

  When everyone was assembled, Leah waited for calm then said, “I hope everyone had a good time.”

  There was a cheer and laughter which Leah let die out naturally before continuing. “I was proud as I watched you work together. Over the next few days some of you will receive additional gifts from the clan for your actions. For those of us who are Travellers, we have the ability to return, and I know many here experienced that today. Six of my guards also died, and those brave warriors will not return. Let us pause for a moment to honour their sacrifice.”

  The entire group bowed their heads, and Leah let it continue for a minute before saying, “Thank you. We remember them, but we also need time to give thanks for those who lived and for what was learned. The enemy isn’t going to stop any time soon so we’ll get another chance to do this again. I also understand many of you will want to tell your friends about your bravery and adventure.”

  Leah pointed over at the statue of Thad and said, “So, I would love to hear the story of what was going through Thad’s mind when he struck that pose.”

  Everyone laughed. Leah said, “The Imperial guards will be here remembering their fallen, and you are welcome to join them. For those travellers who must leave, I have booked a feasting hall on Valhalla for those in the clan who can make it. Those of you who fought today will enter free of charge.”

  There was a huge cheer. The Valhalla World was famed for its celebrations. Once in the hall, the beer, wine, food, and entertainment was free. What Leah had done was set the permissions so any member of Clan Guàn could enter. She’d arranged that she would subsidise the entry fee for those who had not fought, leaving them with one-hundred Virtual Credits, while for those who had fought she paid the entire amount. If everyone attended, it could cost her over a million Virtual Credits. She knew that was unlikely, but even if it happened, it was a great investment, and she’d easily claimed that and more during the battle.

  When the cheer died down, she raised her hands and said, “I’ve also more than halved the entry fee for other clan members because I thought you might need people to listen to your tall stories.”

  After the laughter died down, she said, “I wish I could join you, but I’ve other battles to fight. I’ve asked Thad to be there in my place. Tomorrow we’ll move near to the next dungeon I have to face. For those who want, I’ll arrange for guides to show you where the entrance to the Kemirmek Dungeon is.”

  She then raised her left fist and yelled, “To Clan Guàn, Integritas! Prospertas! Praesidium!”

  The clan responded with a massive chant of, “Integritas! Prospertas! Praesidium!” Leah took a step back.

  Thad stepped close and said, “T: Are you sure you can’t make it?”

  “Yeah, I’ve been away from Pneumatica for too long. Is Caoimhe still OK?”

  “T: Yes, I’ll send a message so you know where we are. She’s soaking up information about her family and is itching to solve some riddles about who betrayed us. How long will you be before you get back?”

  “No idea, I hope it’s soon. I mean I’ve enjoyed the experience of where I am, but I want some closure on that quest myself.”

  Leah shook her head then, reached up to kiss Thad. She then walked to a small tent Yürek had set up before logging out.

  8

  December 27, 2073

  PNEUMATICA - GRAH

  After a break in the real world, Leah found that her meeting with Alan had been rearranged for later in the day. Instead, she stepped into the Pneumatica portal and found herself lying on the floor of the cell she’d been put in. Her hand was still bandaged, but a quick check showed her that the bones had healed. Her movements must have been audible for she heard Takobi say, “T: Ahh, the sleeping one awakes. It must be time for some excitement. Just sitting in these cells gets tiring.”

  “I take it nothing has been happening.”

  “T: Nothing interesting, every few hours a new ma’nav in their finery comes down to glare at us and make all manner of threats. When they see you just lying there, they get all upset and try and wake you, then stomp away in a childish rage. If they could only control their tempers, I’d be tempted to side with the ja’mar.”

  “I’d need some assuranc
e that their eating habits would be worked on.”

  “T: True, I’d forgotten that aspect of their culture. Perhaps you should raise it with them.”

  “I’ve tried, every time I think they understand they try and eat me.”

  “T: The guards must have heard you. I can hear them walking toward us.”

  Leah could feel the ma’nav approaching and got to her feet to stand in the middle of her cell. Altogether there were ten ma’nav. Seven were dressed in simple attire, but the other three were covered in silks, jewels and precious metals, with their facial horns inlaid with hanji. The oldest of the three was a female. She said, “So, this is the human who killed the hero of Taranna. You don’t look like much, but somehow you managed not only to kill Kiptanfors but you almost destroyed this great city by bringing the ja’mar within the walls. Why would you do this?”

  “Tell me your name and why you deserve an answer.”

  “Answer, don’t answer, it is of no importance. Your punishment will be the same, your unending death just as certain.”

  Leah was going to ignore the woman before remembering it was a game. Almost every single one worked on the same premise: the player has to make a move to progress.

  She said, “As is yours. Do you not recognise the power of the ja’mar outside your walls? Taranna is doomed, as are all the sanctuaries if you keep following the foolish path the Parishad has set you on. As for Kiptanfors, he threatened my friend.”

  “As was his right. We cannot allow the sick, lame or wounded to threaten our way of life.”

  “Why hold so firmly to a way of life that assuredly leads to the end of life itself? The problem is not with those who are infirm, but with the way you hold on to your privilege so strongly. Your insistence on mining hanji has caused the problem, but instead of dealing with the cause, you force the blame on the weak and then hide yourselves away in fortresses made of sand. Your desire for hanji, power and privilege will destroy you more indubitably than you will destroy me.”

  “Such foolishness is often sprouted by the weak, the young or the uneducated. Indeed, you are a fit companion for the fool who was my daughter.”

  “Again, you show the insanity of your views. You declare something which is true to be a lie and think your words change reality. Jamaree is your daughter. Saying she is not, does not make it so. All that does is show how deranged you are to think your words have the power to change what is true. On my world, it is no different. For a while people believe the lie, but in the end the truth will make itself known. Almost always that declaration means the eventual destruction of the liar, but they do not bear the cost alone. Their lies affect a multitude of other souls who either agree with the lie or are forced to live in its expression. What cost do you, a member of the Pramukh, pay? None. The cost is born by the death of your planet and of your people.”

  “You dare to lecture me?”

  “At the risk of sounding repetitious, do you even listen to yourself? You ask a question to which the answer is self-evident. I did just lecture you. Somehow you think that by a show of indignation my words will somehow become unspoken, or perhaps be declared untrue. What a fool they have made one of the Pramukh.”

  Jamaree’s mother just stared at Leah as if not reacting would remove the insult. In the end, she turned away, and the group disappeared up the steps. Takobi said, “T: Charlotte, what are the requirements in your culture for someone to gain the position of Commodore? It seems diplomacy is not one of them.”

  “Dear brother, that was me being diplomatic.”

  Leah couldn’t hear Takobi’s laughter as it echoed through the prison.

  It was less than ten minutes later when dozens of guards arrived to escort the prisoners from their cells. They were loaded into a steel-barred prison wagon and driven along city streets in the direction of what Jamaree said was the city’s amphitheatre. Besides Leah, there were nine other prisoners. Three were Pyranthian—Takobi, Rundar, Takobi’s brother, and Kimtora. Five were ma’nav—Jamaree and the four who had helped Rundar. One was human—the girl Adelia who was a foster child of the leader of the Resistance.

  As they moved along the streets, the number of ma’nav moving in the same direction increased until the wagon had to slow down and have the soldiers riding with it open a passage through the crowds. As they passed the ma’nav, there was a cacophony of screeches and hisses. Jamaree said, “X: They are yelling abuse. It seems our fate has already been decided and the city is gathering to watch our punishment. We are to be the main event in the arena.”

  Leah said, “Jamaree, can’t you see there is something wrong with a culture that finds enjoyment from the death of real people? I can understand a simulated battle, but here you watched your fellow citizens be torn apart while you cheer.”

  Jamaree looked embarrassed, then said, “X: I’m afraid it is worse than that.”

  “How could it be worse?”

  “X: Many of the ja’mar we will face are owned by wealthy ma’nav within the city. I suspect my mother will have brought some of her own fighters for today’s proceedings. After the sentence is carried out, they will auction any of us who are not to be granted peace. As the one who killed Kiptanfors, you will have many interested in owning you. Mother may even buy me to have on display in the arena near our home, as there is no way she will release such a valuable prize as the one declared ‘cursed’. Owners pay to have their ja’mar included in the arena. They do this for fame but also because the owners of those who bring about our change will be rewarded. Also, many of those who attend will place bets on each release of ja’mar.”

  “The ja’mar we face will be whole?”

  “X: They expect us to survive several bouts, especially as there are ten of us and three are Pyranthian. The first of those released will be freshly captured from the wastelands. The pens beneath the arena are made from steel, not hanji, so they do not become incensed and begin to heal. No ma’nav are allowed near the pens, and the ja’mar are released into the arena using levers and clockwork. Once released, the ja’mar can hear and see the crowd and they become enraged.”

  Leah sat up a little straighter and asked, “How then are the ja’mar released into the arena?”

  “X: There are numerous ramps which open into different parts of the arena. When the cage holding the ja’mar is opened, a way is provided for them into the arena using one of these ramps.”

  “How many ja’mar enter the arena at a time?”

  “X: It depends on the Arena Master and what they decide will satisfy the crowds. The Arena Master here in Taranna is one of the most famous on Grah. She has been invited to coordinate the last three annual offering culls in the Grand Arena.”

  “Offering culls?”

  “X: The demand for hanji is high, and the tribute demanded is excessive. We often get more beings offered than we really need for the mines. Some of the best are kept for the Grand Arena. I suspect that as escaped prisoners, we might have been transferred to the capital and entered in the cull. Your assassination of Kiptanfors means we will be culled from the living without delay.”

  Leah smiled as she said, “Maybe, maybe not. Tell me more of the way the arena is constructed.”

  Takobi said, “T: Ah, that’s what I wanted to hear. Already your mind is considering a crazy and almost certainly suicidal action which will lead us into even more danger and an even greater certainty of bloody conflict. I had thought you might be tired, but your smile gives me hope. Quick Jamaree, entertain Charlotte with your stories while I rest in anticipation of what is to come.”

  “X: You are all crazy.”

  “Without a doubt! Now, when you are in the arena, how can you tell that the ja’mar are going to be released?”

  As Jamaree talked, a plan slowly took shape in Leah’s mind. There was little time for it to be to fleshed out, however, as Leah could sense the amphitheatre drawing closer. All around the crowd began to get even denser, and even without understanding the language or hearing the sounds, L
eah could feel the anger and hatred pouring from the images she could discern on those close to the cage.

  It wasn’t long before the wagon passed through a checkpoint and the prisoners were unloaded. As they left the cage, they were surrounded by soldiers and ushered along a corridor and into a large enclosed room where they were ordered to line up. The leader of their guards said, “One by one you will be taken to the preparation area. Everyone except the traitor and the murderer will be allowed to choose a weapon and some armour. From there you will be led into the arena.”

  Leah was the last to be brought through, and she was led past rows of cracked and torn leather armour and racks filled with bent and rusted swords and spears. When she reached the others, Takobi was crouching forward and trying to sharpen his new blade on the stone paving stones. Hearing Leah, he stood and said, “T: You aren’t really missing out on anything?”

  “It would be good to have the extra distance.”

  “T: You can have mine if you like. I have claws.”

  “Thank you, but you keep it for now. When we get into the arena, I’ll need some time to get a read on the layout of the area beneath our feet. I also want to rile the Arena Master a little so she starts releasing new ja’mar into the arena close to us, instead of at a distance.”

  “T: Then she’ll do it. I’m convinced you annoy people without even trying so I’m a little disturbed by what will happen when you purposefully try to make someone angry. How will you upset her?”

  “Once we get inside, I was planning on ignoring everything that’s happening. I’ll sit on the ground and meditate with my eyes closed. If you and Rundar keep the ja’mar away, she’ll be forced to try and reduce your ability to protect me with more ja’mar, or by reducing the time you have to get between the ja’mar and me.”

  “T: So, your plan is to increase the number of ja’mar we have to fight, and besides just sitting and not helping, you also want to force the Arena Master to try harder to kill you.”