Skirmish (The Stork Tower Book 8) Read online

  As she approached the first set of cages which still had ma’nav she opened one of the cages, and as the first ma’nav reached for her she used one sword to deflect the charge and the other to remove its head. After killing the second ja’mar, she signalled for the doors to the central section to be opened and sensed that Kimtora was the only one headed in her direction. Leah had dealt with five of the ma’nav by the time Kimtora arrived and had lost another five percent of her ‘spirit’. With Kimotra’s help, she quickly killed the rest and stepped through the cage, which led to the next section of the maze.

  By the time the next section was finished, both Takobi and Rundar had arrived. As Leah stepped into the third cage, Takobi and Rundar waited at the door and made comments about her form and fighting style. When all the ma’nav were dead, she said, “While I appreciate the commentary, do you think you two could do something constructive?”

  “T: We are. We decided to come and impart our many years of wisdom. This is what good brothers do. You sat out the first few rounds, and we thought it only fair to let you improve your technique.”

  Leah stepped toward the next corridor and said, “That sounds fair. I understand you are both older, and with the lack of stamina that comes with age, you are quick to suffer from weariness. I suspect your wounds are also bothering you and you need time to recover from the shock. As the leader, I have a responsibility to keep you safe. Why don’t you both go sit with Jamaree while Kimtora and I clear the level? She is starting to stir and can protect you if necessary. I will ask one of the ma’nav to help you to the doors when the way is cleared.”

  Although the two were behind her, she could see that although her words had been in jest, the two brothers had, for the first time, shown something other than a cool nonchalance toward everything that was happening. The dreadlock-shaped sensory organs on their heads went almost rigid, and only Takobi’s quick action prevented Rundar from stepping through the door after her.

  Takobi got control of himself first and said, “T: Yuwata Mumuna, it is unseemly to compare our jesting with the craven behaviour of Jamaree.”

  “I don’t think she is craven.”

  “R: How could you not? She is a coward using any definition of the word.”

  Leah paused and without turning said, “Rundar, she stood firm against her entire culture even though she knew she was likely to be condemned to an existence as a ja’mar. She was vocal enough that her mother disowned her and condemned her to a public death. Her name was made a curse by her entire culture and not once has she stepped back from her views despite the abject and constant humiliation she has been subjected to. She is indeed filled with fear by the ja’mar, but she hasn’t got any of the skills we have. If she was to stand before them, she would have died immediately. She hates violence.

  “Even when you stood up for Thad and me during the Festival of Blood you knew that your people would revere your name and acknowledge your honour once they considered your actions in the cool light of day. When you stand up for something that is right and know that your entire culture will condemn you, and all those you love and trust will disown you, then you may be in a position to call her craven. Until then, you would be best served trying to follow her example of courage and honour.”

  Leah didn’t wait for a response but continued toward the next cage. Neither of the brothers said anything, but both helped her and Kimtora clear the rest of the way through the maze. As they waited for the rest to join them, there was silence. Leah spent the time considering the two doorways.

  Jamaree was conscious but limping from being used as a projectile, and Leah could see Rundar staring at her. Leah ignored both of them and pointing to the door on the left said, “I can feel dozens of ma’nav working behind here to get this open. The other opens into a tunnel which, to my senses, is empty, but I cannot sense more than a dozen paces as the walls are formed through a hanji deposit.”

  Takobi said, “T: We can hear those who are trying to open the first door, but there is no sound from the second.”

  “Then I suggest we open the right-hand door and then lock it from the other side. Let’s head toward the portals and see if we can either find a safer place to rest or a way back to Pyranthia or Aeropile.”

  Jamaree said, “X: If you wish to travel between planets you will need to use the opening to the capital, Partavar. Only in Partavar are the portals of sufficient size to be aligned to other worlds.”

  “Then let us hurry.”

  Leah had already traced the mechanism, and with Takobi’s help tore a panel from the wall and turned a large cog to open the door. Once they were through, she had Takobi remove a second panel and pull loose several springs which caused the door to slam shut. Once that was done, Leah had Takobi lead the way as she hadn’t discussed how to show the details that could have been picked up by her prosthetic eye using the different frequencies. She made a note to Three to discuss this with the SNAIL calibration AI.

  After travelling for almost thirty minutes, Takobi slowed and said, “T: There is the sound of fighting coming up the tunnel.”

  Leah said, “Then we must hurry. I suspect it is Purtinfors and his people. I’d hoped they might have helped at the arena, but it does make more sense to take control of the portals.”

  After another three hundred paces, the tunnel opened into a large cavern. Around the outer edge were dozens of large octagonal openings. Each of them was filled with a shimmering opaque cloud of shifting redness. Directly opposite the tunnel they were in, they could see a battle raging between two groups of ma’nav. The largest group had their backs to Leah and those with her, and were dressed in the colours of Taranna. They were slowly pushing back the smaller force made up of fighters from the Resistance, and Leah could see Purtinfors in the centre.

  Takobi said, “T: I suppose we should help.”

  “As we can. Why don’t you and the others go play while Jamaree explains the portals to me?”

  “T: While I am tempted to jest about you once more stepping free of the conflict, I do think your suggestion has merit.”

  “It is wise of you to show such self-discipline.”

  Takobi and Rundar led the others across the cavern, trying not to make a noise. While they engaged the guards, Jamaree explained the various portals and where they led to. All of them were fully enclosed, and Leah could not sense anything of their inner workings. On the floor of the cavern was a huge map of Grah in the form of a mural.

  The attack from behind was both sufficient in surprise and force to turn the tide. By the time Leah had a grasp of the different options, Purtinfors had set guards on the perimeter and was headed in her direction.

  11

  December 27, 2073

  PNEUMATICA - GRAH

  “P: We meet again, Commodore. I’m sorry, but although we canvased various options to free you and the others we determined it wasn’t possible. Instead, we made use of what we considered your sacrifice to take control of the portals. Even so, it seems you have not only saved yourselves but us as well.”

  “Indeed, but be that as it may, what benefit do you have by controlling the portals?”

  “P: Having control here isolates the city from the rest of our world. This will give us sufficient power to wrest control of the entire city, for without trade with the other sanctuaries it will wither and die. The populace fears isolation almost as much as it does the ja’mar.”

  “What will the Resistance do if it has control? Will you trade with the other Sanctuaries? How will you bring change without actually isolating the city as people fear?”

  “P: This gives us a base to bring change over time. We will now have a voice in the wider community and will work to change how hanji is used.”

  “I see. In effect, all you have done is taken power for yourself without any ongoing concern for the destruction of your planet or the enslavement of thousands. For all your talk, it seems you are nothing more than a more moderate aspirant to the Parishad. How quickly the rebel
is transformed into the oppressor they once despised.”

  “P: Your words are both offensive and ill-informed. Often we have pondered the way forward, and this is our only option to bring lasting change.”

  “Not so, General. In my experience, there are always options that are overlooked and dismissed as not viable because individuals lack the will to make the necessary sacrifices or to take the difficult steps to enact what they know to be right.”

  “P: Well then, Commodore, share your wisdom with us that we might be enlightened.”

  Takobi had been listening and interrupted to say, “T: Be careful Purtinfors, your tone suggests derision rather than honest inquiry. My sister’s plans have a habit of being crazy, dangerous and at the same time, highly effective. If you decide to listen, then you must be prepared to give proper consideration instead of being instantly and arrogantly dismissive.”

  “P: It shall be as you say. I do apologise for my derision, but we have considered this issue almost constantly over the years.”

  “T: Then I assume you considered Charlotte’s plan and rejected it as either foolish or impossible. The Commodore usually considers neither of those reasons as having any validity for determining a suitable course to head.”

  “P: I will listen.”

  “Good. What prevents you from using the portal to Partavar and wresting control of the larger interplanetary portals?”

  “P: It is logistically impossible to hold those portals against the might of the forces that would be brought upon us. Every sanctuary would send their elite to wrest back control from the Resistance. Even should we have access to all the soldiers from Taranna, we would not have sufficient numbers to prevail. We would hold them for only a short time, and in their anger, the other Sanctuaries would descend on us here and destroy the city. It would mean full-scale war.”

  “I suspect there are times when war is the most moral outcome in the face of injustice and unrepentant barbarism. I understand though that the greater portals are efficient users of hanji when kept open. What if your forces were bolstered by those from Pyranthia and Aeropile? Once news of how the Parishad has brought death to their citizens, then I suspect you will have sufficient additional fighters to hold both the portals of Partavar and Taranna.”

  “P: Would not the leaders of both Pyranthia and Aeropile be brought low by such an accusation?”

  “Perhaps. If they were complicit, then it seems the conflict might also rage within their own lands. That is of no moment, for if they are guilty, then of necessity, it is right that they have an opportunity to deal with the consequences of their own dishonourable behaviour. Would this make such a course of action feasible?”

  Purinfors stared at Leah for some time then said, “P: It may. Is such a course of action sustainable?”

  “Indeed. I suspect you will need to consider how to integrate such fighters into your forces. It would be advisable to provide some benefit for some who might desire to enter the wastelands to destroy the wandering ja’mar and make the land habitable again. Perhaps you could offer land to those who wished to settle in lands currently held by the ja’mar. Even those like myself who come from the aether worlds would desire the opportunity to show their prowess and skills in such a diverse locality as Grah. We have the ability to take a form other than that of humans. It is possible we could discover a means to help in the guise of ma’nav, Pyranthians, or even those from Julgon.”

  “T: Charlotte, is it reasonable to expect those of Aeropile and those of Pyranthia to put aside their enmity and work together?”

  “Such enmity is between those nations but in truth not between individuals. Just as I can work with a barbarian such as yourself, so my fellow humans will find themselves able to work with your people. I suspect the war will continue on the land and in the skies of Pneumatica. At the same time, here those same combatants will work together as brothers and sisters in the battle against tyranny.”

  “P: We would need to hurry before the guard in Partavar is strengthened. How soon can you arrange for help?”

  “Do you have the skills to open the great portals?”

  “P: We have the knowledge.”

  “Then as soon as we arrive, I suggest we open a portal to Pyranthia and send Takobi to gather a force from among his people. If it is possible then open another toward Aeropile and I will gather some of my forces. If the portal can be given a precise location, then my people will be prepared almost as soon as the portal is open.”

  Purtinfors looked at Takobi, who said, “T: I suspect many of my people will seek to find glory and honour through such an opportunity. I am also inclined to think that there will also be those who look for a change in our own leadership. That we were condemned to death and slavery without honour by those trusted to guide us will bring deep anger. I suspect some may even want to open a way to bring war on our home planet as well, for it is clear they have full knowledge of what has happened.”

  As Pertinfors considered the words, Leah received a message from Three. “3: Sharon wants permission to allow your current feed to be used by Pneumatica. Edison is considering launching early and using the ‘live’ nature of the conflict to naturally bring Grah online, along with the option for non-human avatars. He’ll pre-empt with a more detailed montage of your last few ‘days’ on Grah.”

  “OK, but let them know I only have four virtual hours left. Make sure Edison knows that with the way things are at the moment, I’ll be focussed more on Caoimhe and her position in Aeropile. After that, I’ll probably cut back a little on the time I spend here. As long as he understands that then tell Sharon that is fine. Can you see if Kate or Thad are free to get my forces prepared to help? I’ll try and have the portal open near the Privateer airfield. If something else fits Edison’s plans better, then let me know.”

  Purtinfors ended the short interlude. “P: We need to set a guard on this room and then we will do as you suggest. I would prefer not to become over time a replica of those I so despise.”

  “Is it possible to seal or block the other portals?”

  “P: Above each entrance there is a shield that can be lowered in times of war. Each requires a code to be entered and these are known only to those who lead the city. If we manage to take control of the city’s Parishad offices, then we will be able to close them. We do not yet have the support in the city to consider trying to take control. Having control of the portals is the first step. The next step is full control of the hanji mine.”

  Leah could almost feel the world quest AIs making changes to give her options in her play. Feeling already committed to too much, she ignored the offered quest, and said, “I see. How many will you leave here?”

  “P: Half my men will stay here. The rest will join you in taking control of the portals of Partivar.”

  Purtinfors words again highlighted that this was part of a quest that belonged to Leah. Leah said, “If it pleases you, I would appreciate a description of the room we are entering to best prepare our forces.”

  “P: It is maybe four times this size. It is shaped like a torus. The inter-sanctuary portals are on the inner wall while the larger world-portals are on the outer wall. Within the room are one-hundred elite soldiers. All those who use the portals suffer a form of disorientation as they exit the mists and this slows reactions for thirty beats of the heart in all who are not ja’mar.”

  Leah looked around and said, “If it is indeed to be my operation to take command of the portals, do you agree to follow orders until the objective is achieved?”

  Purtinfors stared at Leah for several seconds, then slowly nodded. He said, “P: It will be as you say, Commodore. I believe you will remain parsimonious concerning the blood of my soldiers and me?”

  “Indeed! Now, please have your men reclothe themselves in suitable attire that they give the appearance of the Taranna guards. Takobi, I can see several cages used to transport ja’mar near a wall. Perhaps you would bring two that you, Rundar, Kimtora, Adelia, Jamaree and I might
be transported through the portal without causing too quick an adverse reaction.”

  “T: We do not look like ja’mar.”

  “But we will. With the liberal application of blood and perhaps some ash from a small fire, we will soon look as though our souls have departed. I believe you and Rundar alone will be able to attract the attention of any guards. Even a simple discussion on something as mundane as ladies’ fashion with lots of arm-waving and screams will cause them significant disquiet. I suggest once you have their attention, it might be entertaining for your cage to collapse and you fall upon those who out of interest have stepped too close.”

  As Takobi went to get the cages with Kimtora, Rundar said, “R: Charlotte, unfortunately, I see a flaw in your plans.”

  “What is that?”

  “I know nothing about ladies’ fashion. Our conversation will of necessity be shortened. Perhaps you could give us some other topics for when we’ve said all we can on that one?”

  Leah and Rundar were still discussing topic options when Takobi returned. Altogether it took almost twenty minutes before Pertinfors and those coming with him were ready. By then, the non-ma’nav were ready. Leah and Kimtora had made changes to the cages and hidden weapons within their cages. Jamaree was unhappy with the plan but allowed Leah to change her appearance.

  Each cage had wheels and required six soldiers to drag them toward the large opening. As everyone got in position to enter the red mist, Purtinfors said, “P: Commodore, each portal is to some extent attuned to the species for which it is designed. Be prepared for some pain. I have heard that the pain is exacerbated if the mist is breathed in.”

  “Thank you. I have wondered at the mist when brought from here from Pyranthia. I did hold my breath as I was able, but the transit was of some duration.”

  “P: This portal will be only a matter of moments as the distance is only a hundred or so leagues.”