The metal spikes presented little in the way of an obstacle for Jieleen, long legs covered the ground the way a forest fire move over dry foliage. Dereniik fell behind, moving through the twisted conglomeration an agonizing struggle. Contorted shadows played havoc with his depth perception and shortened damaged crutches strained ill equipped muscles. He wasn't slowing Jieleem; the big man didn’t slow his pace. Dereniik suggested he continue without him, and was surprised when he heard Jieleen agree.

Grateful for darkness, hiding his dismay, Jieleen phantastic figure, disappear into gathering mist.

A surreal state, the combination of exhaustion and pain, slipped past Dereniik’s mental guard. An illusionary tune sung in a clear Alto voice drifted from the distance past. Xianees, his mother’s tongue, the language of her heart, and long-lost family. She had been of mixed ancestry and taught him Chinquaar as well, but the songs belonging to the people of the Twenty-Six hills, a people scorned and maligned. Despite the frigid air his heart warmed.

Right up until the heartbeat a metallic screeching reverberated in the too cold air.

Dereniik froze and closed his eyes. Had Jieleen triggered another trap? He was powerless to help, could hardly stay upright, but plodded on with renewed hast.

Devoid of reality, time took on a dreamlike quality. Dereniik stumbled over a metal edge, stubbing his toe. Sharp pain spurring him on to greater action and sharpening his mind.

Mist, why was there mist? The moments of clarity passed, caught by the swirling haze, and puffed away.

He needed to rest. To think about the quest. The question. Dereniik’s mind marched on as his body slumped to the ground.

*

“My Lord, My Lord Commander Dereniik. Wake up? Where is Commander Jieleen?”

Dereniik was being shaken. Strong arms forced his torso upright.

“Ly?” Why was his mouth full of sandpaper?

“Yes, my Lord, and your humble servant Dai is here as well.”

“The others?” He was sure there had been others, his team, no, somehow women had been involved.

“Your humble servant can account for everybody except Lady La’navikyya and Commander Jieleen.” Ly said.

“My lord, it is important we remove you from this environment. When the banks’ security systems become compromised a toxic gas is released into the lower zones. It does not appear to have reached its full potential, but that situation is likely to change.” Dia’s words were coming at him from a great distance.

A poisonous gas was released into the air. Yes, that fits the facts. He should do something about that. Or somebody should do something about it. Dim and clouded Ly’s face drifted from sight.

Vaguely aware he was being carried, it almost felt like flying again.

Secure in the pouch of a Nisayaan.

It's been a long time since he had felt safe.

***

It was so easy, waves of lethargy washed over her. Why not give up? Her parentals were dead. The clan didn't care. Nobody cared. She was just one little mushroom in a clump.

Unimportant and unloved.

The ceiling rolled with mist. Someone had made a soup with ink, now it was coming to the boil. Why was there ink in the air anyway?

A waste of a valuable resource.

Viky fought the increasing listlessness. She was in this situation because she tried to help somebody, somebody who flirted with her life partner.

Without a hint of remorse.

Where was the justice in that?

Only helping Isobeel hadn't been her only motive. Not even her primary reason. She'd wanted another manuscript. Unlike people, manuscripts didn't let you down. Only the women of her sisterhood hadn't let her down. She'd ask them to back up her plan and each of them, even self-righteous Gabrieel, had volunteered to help. And some small part of her had also wanted that. Isobeel hadn’t influenced her, hadn’t touched her or been close, she’d chosen to include the others. Of course, she had needed them for backup, for her plan to work.

Only it hadn’t. And she could have thought of something else. She should have worked through other alternatives. But she had wanted to feel part of something. There had been an ich, a desiring to belong, just a little, to something larger than just her own life.

Struggling against the cold and apathy Viky stood. Jogged on the spot and tried to rub circulation back into her arms and hands. And now her sisters would be walking into a series of traps when they followed her. The obligation to warn them burned against the chill. She needed to get back before they put themselves in danger.

Lady Briziit stumbled back through the imposing columns, tired and strained. The cold was detrimental to the older woman’s agility, she stumbled into some of the columns, needing the support. With a series of stops and starts her slow progress was hampered by a package strung over her shoulder. As Viky watched, the progress halted, and confusion played across the woman's features.

She reached out to touch one of the columns, hesitating, and draw her hand back. Turning she pointed to the columns behind, counting them off. Missing the column closest Briziit struggled to one across the diagonal. Reaching it she rested, leaning against the smooth marble.

Viky brought her mind to focus, and tried to work out a pattern to her movements. She had touched two in a horizontal row, one across the diagonal, one vertical, miss a row. Repeating the sequence as she struggled across the space.

The progress was pathetic.

Viky didn’t waste sympathy. Focusing on her own survival and warning her sisters her priority. The woman was not going to make it back through the framed string trap in her current condition, but it stood to reason there was some mechanism to control the trap from this direction. When she reached that, and activated it, Viky would follow.

Lady Briziit stumbled, slipping in a puddle to landing with a heavy ‘thunk’. She sprawled on the slick, moist floor, arms, legs, and the package all flying. One leg collided with the base of a column. With a hiss reminiscent of a cantankerous Slither the column skewed; a large floor tile tilted downward making a ramp leading to a gaping hole. The damp surface provided no grip, with a screech, clawing frantically, Lady Briziit slid down the incline and into the yawning mouth of an exposed cavity. The column righted itself, the floor levelled and the opening covering itself with synchronized movements. Lady Briziit’s cries became muffled.

Stunned, rooted to the floor, Viky took stock of the situation for a heartbeat.

With infinite care Viky limped to the package, grabbed a corner, and drew it toward herself.

Lighter than it looked her numb fingers struggling with the tight bindings.

The picture in the library hadn't done justice to the iridescent lustre of the fabric or brilliance of the sparkling gems. Viky conceded, the Body Chains were beautiful, but not worth the trouble they had caused.

Torn from her revelry muffled desperate pleas for help rose from the depths.

Stormblast.

Against her initial inclination, and even common sense, she began running through options to assist the woman.

The trap opened when you touched the wrong column. Viky needed to stand close enough to do so without sliding into the hole herself when the incline activated. The best scenario she could think of was if she had something to haul herself up the incline and out of dangers way. A rope attaching her to one of the stable columns would do the trick. The cord that had tied the package was neither thick enough or strong, but the fibre of the body chains was supposed to be almost indestructible, and the trailing sleeves were a ridiculous length.

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Selecting a nearby column Viky fastened one sleeve securely about it and the other around her girth. Then remembered she was pregnant and adjusted the sleeve till it was snug under her arms.

With each step moisture squelched between numb toes. Freezing puddles collected in the lines between the floor tiles, the cold negating some of the pain in her ankle.

Minimal exertion left Viky breathless and lightheaded, alarm bells and a migraine built in her head. Since the trap had been activated wafts of mouldy air become more predominant. Were they contaminated somehow?

Behind her the frame structure ground to life. Wood and rock scraping together like an animal in excruciating agony. The noise threatening to erode much needed concentration. Viky fort to be distracted, focused on not slipping. the task at hand. Forcing shaking legs and cold feet to keep moving.

How stupid was she?

Lady Briziit had spent the last few days trying to kill her and the pathetic entreaties now were annoying, not motivating.

Viky couldn’t even articulate why she wanted to help. It wasn’t worth thinking about now. Bracing herself, she slapped the column and leapt back.

The column listed and Viky experienced a sense of vertigo. One edge of the tile dropped, becoming a slick incline leading to darkness. Scrambling and yelling lady Briziit crawled across to the light. Her venomous glare made it clear she was not in a forgiving or repentant mood.

Before she could scramble up the ascent, it snapped back into place.

Viky remembered to breathe and gave herself a few heartbeats to recover. It was going to be tricky. The timing would have to be precise. The frames grinding made it impossible to understand what Lady Briziit was yelling, but Viky didn’t care to listen. She gathered the skirt part of the body chains, readied herself for another attempt, stepped forward, slapped the column, threw the skirt where she knew the hole would appear and leaped backward.

Her injured ankle gave way, she slipped in a puddle, and with a splash ended up on her backside.

The fabric pulled tight, dragging her closer to the edge of the hole. Jerking to a stop only when running out of material. She was now stretched taunt between the columns. From her position on the ground Viky didn’t sight Lady Briziit.

Next heartbeat the tile swung back, returning to level floor. The trailing edge of the skirt caught between column and tiles, leaving the gap unable to fully close.

Stormblast. The body chains strung between the column and the tile limited her mobility.

Not that she wanted to move anyway, her ankle throbbed, and tailbone was smarting.

Viky tugged on the garment, there was not enough wiggle room to reach the column without untying herself, and why risk that? Running alternative options through her mind she glanced towards the entrance to the passage containing the frames.

Rolling mist concealed the silken fibres. The entry was clear, the frames melted into shifting shadows, and coming towards her were two phantom figures. One very large, striding with a quick, confident pace leaving the smaller one running to keep up. They were not dodging and weaving over fibres strung in complex patterns. They came to her unimpeded. And she knew the long-legged lope of the larger figure.

Jieleen, weariness evaporating from his face as he caught sight of her.

“Stop,” Viky yelled. “Don’t step onto the tiles. You must move on them in a pattern.”

Jieleen halted anguish on his handsome features.

Ly trotting behind caught up.

“Viky, dear heart, are you alright? Why are you sitting there?”

She held the sarcastic reply that came to her mind at bay, the angst in his voice was raw and real.

“I'm not too bad, thanks for coming. I'm sitting here trying to work out how to rescue Lady Briziit. She's in a hole underneath the floor. But the tiles are slippery, and I can't risk untying myself or I may end up in the same situation. No, don't come across, stay where you are, just give me time to think.”

Out of the corner of her eye Viky noticed Ly, back against the wall, edging to the niche she had previously taken shelter in.

“Lady Briziit?” Jieleem hissed, looking angry enough to crush something with his bare hands. “Viky, Commander Dereniik worked it all out, she is behind all of this, she is the person that attacked you. It's a good thing she's in a hole, because I don't like her chances once I get a hold of her.”

Running fine fingers over the picture in the alcove, Ly applied pressure to certain knobs. “My Lord, Commander Dereniik will have by now alerted the correct authorities of the situation. She is perhaps a matter best left for the Deputized Operative Commanders.”

Viky frowned, typical, of course he had notified the authorities.

The betrayal smarted. “Pity, but we will have to leave her to them. Jieleen if you do anything rash there will be consequences for you as well. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

Ly turned to Jieleen and grinned. “My Lord, your humble servant is pleased to inform you floor is safe now.”

Jieleen didn't need a second invitation. Without hesitation in a few short strides, he was kneeling before her and trying to crush the air from her lungs.

“My love, my love I was so worried. What can I do for you?” The words were choked with emotion.

“What I'd really love is to get out of this place, and never come back.”

It felt good to be in his arms, she would have managed to find her way out without him of course. It wasn’t like she needed him, but his warmth was a comfort and he had come all this way. It would be ungracious not to show appropriate appreciation.

“My Lord and Lady, your humble servant would like to point out that getting out quickly is a very good idea. The toxic gas is not as thick here, but in this humble servant’s opinion if we stay too long it will have a negative effect.” Ly, with enviable fluidity came across and untied the body chains from the column.

“Do you think we could get the sleeve of the body chains out from between the tiles?” Viky didn't want to move, not just yet. “It would be a pity to leave without them.”

“Is this Isobeel’s Body Chains?” Jieleem asked as Viky unwrapped herself from the dress part of the garment.

Viky was surprised he didn’t know about them. Had he come all the way down here just for her? It didn’t seem possible.

“Yep. They were stolen and hidden down here. Lady Briziit dropped them when she slipped down the hole, and I was attempting to use them as a rope to get her out.”

Jieleen clung to her, reluctant to let go. Ly folded a portion of the garment and, avoiding the tile that had moved, attempted to pry the fabric loose, without success.

“My lord, it is your humble servant’s opinion that if you straddled these two tiles and shift the one in the middle, we may be able to free the fabric.” Ly said.

Jieleen hesitated, unwilling to leave her.

“It’s a good idea. Isobeel will be very happy, and that will make everyone happy. I guess.”

“You are the one I want to make happy, if I get them out, it’s because you ask me to help. I didn't come here for her; I came here for you.”

“You really mean that don’t you?”

“Yes.” His mouth brushed against the top of her head.

Viky wasn't sure if she reached for him or he reached for her, it didn’t matter. What if you could love someone and not lose them? She'd risked asking the sisterhood for help, taking a chance they would come through for her, and they hadn’t let her down. Jieleem had come. The body chains didn't matter, staring into Jieleen’s amethyst eyes Viky saw the truth of his words and realized she wanted to be loved, it was a risk, but maybe it was time to take a chance.

***

A huge weight lifted from Dereniik’s mind as Viky, leaning on Jieleen’s arm, exited the arched doorway and started across the foyer. Flagsteen checked them over and his ugly youthful features gave no indication of concern, although Viky’s clothing, or what was left of it, was in a sad state of disrepair. The couple were joined by Shaar, River, the Healer Zegreeb and Dia stood nearby to offer refreshments. Dereniik noted Ly, encumbered by a decent size package, slip across the foyer and out of the bank.

So, they had found the Body Chains.

“Good. Back, safe.” Kyd scripted on his arm.

“Yes, Lady Briziit isn’t with them, she may have found a secondary exit. I’ll have to alert the Continuum Council.”

“Not, already, done?”

Kyd had followed them from Viky’s enclave but unable to travel quickly lost track of them. He’d only working out where they were when sighting Healer Zegreeb heading into the bank.

“No, the women wanted minimal Commander involvement, but she is a dangerous criminal, it’s unavoidable.”

He should have left to make a report before now. Would offer as an excuse his need to recover from the ordeal but in really he was hoping for the opportunity to explain his reasoning to Viky. She was going to hate it, or perhaps not. She looked happier than he had ever seen her and whatever trouble Jieleen and she were experiencing appeared to be resolved.

Jieleen extricated himself from the group and strode over. “Commander Dereniik Sir.” He lowered his voice before continuing. “Just as well you told me to continue without you. Lady Briziit has got herself stuck in a hole under the floor. Viky was trying to rescue her. Can you believe it? I told her you had Commanders coming who could do that, otherwise she would still be down there. Anyway, all the traps are deactivated, and Ly is returning Isobeel’s lost body chains.”

“I am greatly relieved Jieleen.” Dereniik smiled.

“Thank you so much for all you help. If you ever need a favour, anything I can do for you, make sure you ask.” Jieleen looked back towards the group, but his eyes were only for Viky.

Dereniik nodded, but considered it was he who should be expressing appreciation. Between Flagsteen and Zegreeb’s powered Healing he was feeling better than he had since the beginning of the rotation. But it was so much more than that. He had not found the body chains; he had not rescued Viky. He hadn't even completed the quest. But he'd been part of something, he had been useful. Warmth blossomed from inside and filled his heart.

“The pleasure was mine Jieleen, the pleasure was mine.”

***

The manuscript was old, in codex form and the most dilapidated of the seven Isobeel insisted Viky choose from. Not comfortable with taking any reward it represented a reasonable compromise. The other volumes had been lavishly bound and gilded and Isobeel’s scrolls were made from expensive fine parchment and housed in delicate ornamented cases. Isabel proclaimed the dusty ancient manuscript next to worthless, of unknown origin, and was unfamiliar with the language. She was adamant studying would produce an agony she had no desire to submit herself to.

Viky felt the delight of anticipation as she opened the weighty tome. The fractal shaped symbols were vaguely familiar, possibly a prototype or dialect of Chinquaar. The enigmatic script adding to the appeal and intrigue. She ran her hand over smooth well-worn pages.

“You are smiling dear heart, is it a pleasant story you are reading?” Jieleen asked looking up from the small nest he was constructing.

“I am not sure about the story yet, but line variations hint at verse rather than prose. I think it’s the prospect of an academic adventure I find most intriguing.”

Jieleen nodded. “I think I would prefer you to have academic adventures. It’s quite a large manuscript, that will probably keep you busy for some time, do you think?”

“Yes, I will be very busy.” Viky grinned reaching for the plate of sweet-treats River had brought over earlier.

Maddie and she had done their first ‘exercise’ session together in the morning. Sheeli and Shaar had invited her over and they had practice with slings together tomorrow. At the library Jess had shown her a fascinating manuscripts detailing the complete adventures of Kyyl Anderseen.

“I am glad it makes you happy my beloved, I want you to be happy, safe and know you are loved.”

Viky nodded, and for the first time in a long time, considered that those feelings may not be beyond her grasp.

The End