How long has it been… a day… a week? Time slips by as I still try to grow more accustomed to the violence that rages inside my body. Every time I think it will abate the pain finds new depths to explore within me. Memories flash through my mind, I dwell on the futures that the demon showed me in the Realm of Dreams. So many of them only held pain. So many of them showed things that would break me if they came to pass. I will not let them happen. Only one future will become reality. It will be the one I choose.
The pain increases again, my body steams against the cold of the cave. I do not know how long it has been since it began. When there is abatement of the pain my mind often falls asleep, only to be woken too soon. Sometimes when I wake Lunara cradles me in her arms, her eyes seem distant now when I see her. There is a hunger beginning to rise in me, my body has not eaten in what feels like many days.
“You need to drink.” She says to me as the pain disperses briefly.
My hand pushes the cupped water in hers away. My stomach growls.
“Drink.” She says pushing it more firmly to my face.
Reluctantly I swallow the cool water from her hands, as I do, the hunger begins to rise higher, my belly growls louder. Lunara reaches into her bag, pulling out a familiar wrapped item, a nutritional bar. My mouth salivates at the sight of it, hoping to embrace it. This is the longest reprieve I have had from the pain. Even in my dreams it follows me.
“How long has it been?” I ask her, but my eyes linger on the nutrition bar.
“You should eat while you can.” She says, ignoring my question, handing it to me.
I barely have the wrapper off before I shove it into my mouth, when it hits my tongue something strange fills my senses. I stop chewing and look at the bar, the coloration is different from the ones the masters gave us, it is yellow. The ones I am used to have no taste and are grey like ash. This one I realize after a moment of puzzlement, does taste like something… like the salt that comes from sweat but pleasing to the mouth. I find myself wanting more of it, my tongue aflame with inspiration as for the first time I taste something more than bitter sand flowers and blood. I look to Lunara, my mouth finding words that surprise me.
“It tastes… good.” I say, taking another bite of it.
“It is the savory variety.” She says, the hint of a smile brushes her face.
I feel my own face, there is a small smile on it as well. Strange, I had never given much thought to taste before. There was never a reason to. It makes me wish to try the things I saw during the markets in my old city, the things I smelled from the Colosseum stands. As I finish the last bite the lingering taste from it fills me with a question.
“What variety is the one my people eat?”
Her eyes hollow as she meets my gaze, her eyes falling back almost immediately. Words do not come from her even as I search for them. Why does she not answer? Before I can think further on it, I feel something changing.
My hand clenches as the enjoyment begins slipping, the pain slowly seeping back into me. Soon the whispers from the demon will follow. I feel it moving from the corner of my vision, crawling into my perception. It glides towards me, its smile no longer chills my bones, I almost welcome it – for with its pain I am becoming stronger, the weakness I felt before has been replaced with strength. My resolve to help my tribe resonates deep within me.
It is almost time
All of the Nine begin to rise from their slumber
They hunger for the tears of the False Gods chosen
Do not disappoint us with an unworthy death
The Nine? Are there more demons in the Black Edict like this one? I push the questions back. It does not matter, so long as they help me grasp the future I desire. They can claw for my corpse once they give me what I want. The demon looks upwards towards the roof of the cave of ice, its smile deepening.
Boom – something strikes the ice ceiling above us with tremendous force, causing a large crack to form in it. Lunara grasps me tightly, her hand reaching towards the hilt of her retracted sword of light.
Boom – Boom – Crash, the center of the ceiling smashes onto the floor, showering us in shards and frost. Howling wind from above enters the cave.
Slam – metal strikes ice, my eyes see large boots painted black, they travel upwards slowly, thick metal armor wraps the legs up to the torso. The helmet opens and folds into the shoulders of the armor revealing the face of a tall woman. Perhaps the tallest I have ever seen.
“There you are.” The woman says looking at Lunara, her voice is coarse. She moves towards her, before she reaches her, she stops dead in her tracks slowly turning to look at the Black Edict, then me. Her eyes looking at the tracing black lines on my body.
She comes towards me now, moving her hand for something on her hip. Every fiber of my being screams danger, it is like when I looked upon Keeper Dargo for the first time. Instinctually, I know she could slay me. Lunara leaps up, outstretching her arms in front of me, blocking the woman.
“Wait – Kotina hear me out.” Lunara pleads.
“Step aside girl.” The woman says.
My mind spins, remembering Lunara has said her name once before. I remember Fennec saying she was a Knight Commander and an Edict Holder. The demon moves behind me, leaning into my ear to whisper.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Another chosen by a False God
Soon the Nine will assemble
Then your worthy death will come
A feast of souls you will bring us
“I told him I would help him.” Lunara says to the woman named Kotina.
“Girl, you know as well as I what those markings mean.” Kotina says, her hand on her hip, something in her metal suits grasp.
“If you can take him before the Senate…”
Kotina laughs loudly, a hoarse laughter.
“Take him before the Senate looking like that? Luna, have you lost your fracking mind? Every Edict holder in the Republic will be called to put him down before he even reaches a hundred paces of it.” Kotina says collecting herself again.
“Etherius Prism Flower could hide it and slow the…” Lunara begins.
“Etherius – do you even know the cost of such a thing? Wars have been fought over a mere handful; you want to waste it on the dead?” Kotina scoffs rolling her eyes “No, as an Edict holder my duty is clear.”
“The Senate…”
“The Senate does not care about his plight, the House of Helenius has already resolved the issue privately with them over a week ago. You know your father will not allow you to appear before them, incriminating our House, implicating us all in treason.”
How long have I been here? At least a week if what she says is true. Last I heard the Senate was still discussing whatever issue required my presence. My heart sinks at the revelation, soon my people will face the next challenge if they have not already.
“They have committed atrocities against the Kuwathi, perhaps others as well. They have clearly violated the laws set by the Senate, I don’t care if they present themselves as an upstanding House, they are anything but.”
“I know that, I would love to see House Helenius burn to cinders. However, perception is reality, and reality is rarely perceived.” Kotina says with a sigh “Girl, this is the way of things.”
“Please, Kotina, we can help him. Even if he alone, without our House’s direct support were to present the evidence I have collected, surely, they would see reason.”
“They will see what they want to see.” Kotina says shaking her head “Your faith in the Senate is admirable girl, it would have made your mother proud – but it is misplaced.”
“Then we elevate it to the Theocratic Imperium, they will…” Lunara begins but Kotina interrupts her, there is anger swirling in her eyes as she speaks.
“You have no idea what you are saying girl. If they found out you were even remotely involved in the theft of that thing,” Kotina points to the Black Edict “They could level the House of Raven to serve as an example, burning every world in our domain. Trillions upon trillions could die. You should have returned as soon as the Edict was lost. Instead, you have made a nightmare of loose ends for us to clean up.”
She moves forward, Lunara pulls from her belt a blade holding it to her own neck. Kotina’s jaw flexes.
“Girl, I am in no mood for games. I did not travel halfway across the galaxy for a tantrum.”
“He saved my life – twice now.” Lunara says, a drop of blood rolling down the blade “My honor dictates…”
The air rushes in the chamber. My eyes blink twice, not believing what they see. Kotina has closed the gap between us, so fast it was only a blur. Her metal gauntlet grasping Lunara’s blade now.
“Your honor does not trump the needs of those whom you have sworn to protect. You have foolishly put at risk all who reside in the domain of House Raven.” Kotina says, shattering the blade in her grasp.
The demon leans into my ear, its voice prickling it.
Tell her what you seek
She is a warrior
She will understand
Standing slowly, my body feeling lighter than when I first came here. I form my will into words.
“I do not care for the plight of your House, nor the sickness that is your Republic – I seek only one thing.” I say, my Kuwathi eyes beginning to burn brightly.
“Speak.” Kotina says, her gaze falling upon me.
“Vadula.” I say in the old tongue.
“Kale no…” Lunara begins, her eyes wide as she understands the meaning.
Kotina’s eyebrow raises slightly, I can tell she understands as well.
“In exchange for you saving my charges life not once,” she says looking back to Lunara “but twice, I accept your request.”
“Kotina, please there are other ways to help him.” Lunara pleads, she reaches for something.
Kotina’s hand blurs as it strikes her. Knocking Lunara out cold, she slumps into Kotina’s grasp.
“You understand you go alone?” she asks me.
“I do.”
“When you lose control to that cursed thing.” Kotina says, her gaze upon me again “The last mercy I will give you is a swift death.”
“I understand.”
***
“Nerium Corp alloy outer weave, paired with Hakel Corp thermal displacement inner weave. Good enough to absorb most shockwaves and prevent overheating. Should be able to take a couple of plasma shots when your Berkara Corp shield inevitably fails. Slaggers always cheap out on the Etherium ratio.” Kotina says pointing to the wall that opens on the side of the shuttle we are on now. A black suit of fabric with thin plates lining it hangs from a rack.
Looking around at the vessel we are in, I see it is unlike any of the other vehicles or ships I have seen, everything appears to focus on function rather than form. There are no flowing patterns or stylized designs on the craft, no emblems or crests, it is extremely practical. Recesses in the wall begin to open as we walk by. Weapons of different styles reveal themselves. Rifles, pistols, swords, axes, my eyes take in the multitude of other choices.
She moves towards a larger recess, waving her wrist over it. Metal doors open, and I see a plethora of mechanical parts, bionic eyes, limbs and other things that look to be shaped like organs are neatly fastened to the walls.
“You’ll be needing a replacement for that stump and that awful excuse for a leg. Just like the rest of your gear, I can’t give you our House's state of the art equipment, as I don’t want it leading back to us when they examine your corpse. However, these are leagues above the slag you're used to.” She says.
My flesh hand touches the edges of the black metal arm I see.
“How long can it hold the Black Edict?” I ask, not turning to her as I admire the design. It is not like the rusted arm Lunara installed, much like this ship we are on now, it was built for function over form. To my eyes which seek purpose over style, it is beautiful.
“A normal Edict’s energy displacement about ten, maybe twenty minutes, depending on the user’s efficiency and control. The Black Edict – maybe three minutes tops under someone with extreme control and years of training.”
I look at her now asking “For me?”
“Thirty seconds to a minute if you’re really lucky.” She shrugs.
My jaw tenses, I will have to wait for the right time to call it. These weapons here must get me to that point. My eyes search now for the weapon that Lunara used, the one that sheers things making dust clouds in its wake.
“The blade of light that she uses,” I say pointing to Lunara, she lays motionless in cuffs upon the floor “I do not see one like it here.”
“You mean this?” Kotina says pulling from her hip a similar fashioned hilt.
Nodding to her, she gives a smirk, putting it back on her hip.
“It’s called an Ionic Blade. The closest you’ll ever get to having one of them is when I use mine to sever your head.” She says, pointing towards another tray of weapons “Best I can do for you is some plasma edge weapons.”
Disappointing, but as I look upon the blades she pointed to, their edges begin to sing to me. A smile forms on my mouth as I pick one up.
“Let’s get that piece of junk off you and…” Kotina says, her voice trailing off as she grasps the rusty half melted arm, her eyes lingering on the remaining inscriptions that the being swathed in lights blessing left.
The word in the old tongue I spoke to Kotina before lingers in my mind as I test the weight of the blade. In the old tongue Vadula means – A worthy death.