Silluka stared out from the first sled, her arm around Cosquella, Lugopo on her shoulder, and Ichu not far behind. He’d been quiet lately, deferential. She thought Elder Quilqi said something to him, but it would have to wait for at least another day. The sun was just peeking over the horizon, and many of the travelers had gathered on the sleds, once the towers of Chimor appeared.

The city was immense. Silluka’s village could have fit in the front gates. The distance from the village to her parents’ farm—likely buried in the face of a mountain after the last few weeks—was less than the distance from the gates to the center of the city. Spires rose higher than all the sleds put together, standing on end. She could see bridges connecting at different heights, and tiny figures walking the walls. She wouldn’t have believed it was real if she wasn’t seeing it for herself, even though Elder Quilqi told them about it.

A patrol on a steaming sled, much like the one Lugopo had crafted, but far larger, rode out to meet their sleds. Elder Quilqi, of course, was the one to step out in front to greet them, once the jakua had been persuaded to stop with strips of meat and the handlers performing Sleeping Beast. Elder Papaki and Elder Kuchiki—who had taken over most of Elder Sinchi’s duties—were with her, but the rest stayed back with the other villagers, obviously intimidated. The elders seemed to have faded into the background over their travels, and the old men and women she thought were so powerful, ruling over their village, had almost no true power.

As they got closer, Silluka saw the little Allwiya perched at the head of the steam sled, pulling lever after lever with their many arms.

“Such potential!” Lugopo crooned in her ear. They had been hard at work the whole trip, repairing and adjusting the suit, and making a second one for Cosquella. They had drafted all the other Allwiya on the sled to help them. “See the design Crawling Dark of Squirming sends to their most trusted acolyte! I have received such power as only those of Chimor might have!” They chuckled and rubbed their tentacles together. Silluka refrained from reminding them of the giant vehicles of the desert Allwiya, crazed though they were.

“Do you think they’ll let us in?” Cosquella’s voice wavered, just slightly.

“Look at the size of their city.” Silluka pointed. “We could all live there without anyone even noticing. I bet there’s entire populations that stay in hiding their whole life.” She thought of the alleys in their village which she’d mapped out in her head, finding the quickest route between stealing food and returning to her latest nest. She’d need a much bigger map for Chimor.

“Then we’re going hide in there, are we? I wonder if they need a gardener.”

Silluka took a closer look at her girlfriend. Both hands were in front of her, clasped together, tough hands working over each other. “I’m sure they just hand out wealth. They don’t even have to worry storms or volcanoes! This is the stable desert, remember? Look at all they have. We’ll be fine until we figure out how to get food and shelter here.” The winds and rain that had plagued their travels had dried up in the desert. Aside from the occasional dust storm there had been no hurricanes, no tidal waves, not even any rain. No wonder Chimor was so big, if the residents didn’t have to move all the time. How long had it been here? A hundred years? More?

Elder Quilqi was making hand gestures to the leader of the patrol, a man even larger than her brother. Now Silluka looked closer, she could see the person next to him had pointed ears, high on their head and…whiskers?

“Ichu, look.” She pointed, making space as her brother approached.

“They look like a jakua, they do,” Cosquella said. “And look there. That one has spines.”

As another of the patrol turned, scanning the horizon, she saw quills on their back.

“Huaca, Allwiya, and turtlemen,” Ichu said. “What’s to say there aren’t other people, from other islands? Elder Quilqi said this place was bigger than we thought.”

Just then the elder turned, pointing to them, then down next to her. Silluka exchanged uncertain glances with Cosquella and Ichu.

“Onward, to your mighty destiny!” Lugopo called from her shoulder.

They jumped off the sled and went to the elder.

“Sunrise and dewdrops! Taking your time,” She gruffed as they came up beside her. “I can’t handle everything, you know.” She turned back to the leader of the patrol.

“Lieutenant Ati, these are the ones I was telling you about. They have news from the coast, and carry the favor of Akamu’s storm warriors.” She turned back to them. “The lieutenant has a place for us to stay—all of us—but I have a question for you four specifically.”

She turned fully toward them.

“You have a chance to learn more than you ever dreamed here. Are you ready to take it?”

“All four of us?” Ichu sounded hesitant.

“Yes, all of you. You reach for more, fight with honor, and want to understand the gods. Its more than I can say for the rest of your village, hiding like barnacles on the coast.”

Silluka looked back to the sleds, where faces she had known her whole life, if from a distance, stared back. Waskar and Tamaya watched her. They had practiced with Elder Quilqi at the beginning, but once they were called away to help organize the migration, their interest had dropped off. She’d barely talked to them after the fight with the Allwiya. They hadn’t trained with her group recently. Elder Quilqi was right. Silluka had figured out how to fly through the air, even if it had almost killed her.

Maybe she was different.

Lieutenant Ati was watching them with bored interest, waiting for them to finish whatever games they were about, or at least it seemed to Silluka. She frowned. Elder Quilqi obviously knew much more than she claimed. She could clearly see now the jakua-looking person and the spiny-backed person on the sled. If their village was to survive in Chimor, they would need all the help they could get.

“I’m ready,” she said.

“I have nowhere else to go, me.” Cosquella snaked a rough arm around Silluka’s stump.

“I shall devise great and power weapons of destruction!” Lugopo tapped his circlet. “that is, great new inventions!”

“I will find a cure,” Ichu said quietly. Silluka cast a quick glance at him. She really needed to learn what the elder told him.

Elder Quilqi nodded at them. “Then it’s settled. Lieutenant, please lead the sleds to the refugee center. I’ll be taking these four to report to the head of the warrior patrols.”

“Yes, ancient one.” Lieutenant Ati leapt off the sled, two others with him. One went to each remaining sled. The one originally crafted by the undesirables had been improved by the Allwiya, and they had done much to turn it into a solid structure during their journey.

* * *

The sleds were pulled through the gates of Chimor together, tied to the one small steam sled driven by Lieutenant Ati’s team. It generated as much power as all their jakua by itself, towing three sleds ten times its size with ease.

Silluka stared, her mouth agape, as the massive iron doors, each as thick as she was tall, passed by either side of the sled. There was plenty of room for the rest of the traffic coming into the city, and a creation with many legs, reminding her of the Allwiya’s construct, passed them, leaving the city.

The walls soared above their head, and as they passed underneath, Silluka could see slits above, with eyes watching their every move.

Then they entered the city proper.

Lieutenant Ati turned sharply and the train of sleds followed him to the left, sliding between the base of two buildings rising like mountains above her. They were made of stone, but all of one piece. She’d seen Akamu manipulate earth like that. Had stone warriors built these?

There were so many people. They passed all kinds on the streets, some of whom watched the train of sleds passing by, but not all. Most here were Huaca, like her, but Allwiya swung along on poles attached to the wall, or sped by on steaming sleds or walkers. The jakua-like people seemed to be next in number, and then the spiny people, with other ever stranger ones mixed in. A thing sort of like an Allwiya, but with many more arms, seemingly lighter than air and with no visible eyes, was running a stall selling fruits and vegetables, though not ones she recognized. She even thought she saw a turtleman passing through an alley.

They stopped not far from the gates, in what looked like a city within the city. Low stone and wood buildings with no coherent theme popped up like mushrooms behind a short wall, three blocks high. A fountain bubbled in the middle of the buildings. In fact, it looked a lot like the village back on the coast.

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Lieutenant Ati went to a small hut near the entrance, and came out with a rotund Huaca, who eyed the sleds with professional disinterest. They began talking, and Silluka jumped at a hand on her shoulder.

“Let Elders Papaki and Kuchiki bargain for their place here. That’s what’s they’re good for, after all. Get your brother, the big girl, and the squid, and I’ll show you the real Chimor. Stones and iron! It’s good to be back.”

Silluka soon followed Elder Quilqi, Lugopo in their usual place on her shoulder, and Cosquella and Ichu close by her. She felt comforted by their bulk. The two of them could probably fight off anyone in the city much better than a girl with one full arm, no matter what new chayus she could perform now.

They’d entered the city in early morning, but the streets here were still dark, the buildings so tall they obscured the sun. Elder Quilqi led them fearlessly through twisting alleys, her white bun bobbing behind her as she strode between hulking buildings. They walked until the sun began to peek through buildings ahead, striping the cobblestone street with morning light.

“Where are we going?” Ichu finally asked.

“Glaring light! Don’t you listen?” The elder didn’t even turn around. “I’m taking you to the one who sends the warriors out across the land. We need to tell her about what you experienced at the coast.”

“But…wouldn’t Akamu tell her when he gets back?” Silluka asked. She trusted the elder, but something seemed off about her story.

“Yes, yes, but even better to hear it now, when the news is fresh. Hurry up. It’s right here.” Elder Quilqi turned suddenly and pushed open a door to a large building. It was many stories tall, like the ones at the gate, but this one had a veneer of a shiny rock that seemed polished to perfection. The doors were of a dark wood she’d never seen before. The elder waggled a hand at them to go through. Was she…nervous?

Inside, the sounds of the city fell away, leaving them in unnatural quiet. It reminded Silluka of the elder’s testing hall, back in the village. Elder Quilqi marched up to a desk in the center of the entrance hall, addressing the woman behind it. She wore armor twinkling with points of light, like little blue jewels, and with a start, Silluka recognized it. It was the same as the storm warrior who had died outside their village.

She should have realized the similarities by now. Akamu’s armor was very similar in cut, though it glowed amber instead of blue.

“I bring news of Loma Tika’s death, though you likely know of that already,” the elder said without preamble. “Is Nina available?”

“She is, if you will wait—” the storm warrior at the desk looked up, then did a double take. “Ancient one! Yes, she’s always in for you. Go right up.”

Silluka stared at Ichu as they followed the elder. Her brother’s face was closed in thought. Akamu had also called her “ancient one,” as had Lieutenant Ati at the gate. Would they finally learn more about the mystery of the elder?

There were two flights of stairs leading to the office Elder Quilqi aimed for. She knocked briefly, then pushed inside, waving them on behind her.

Inside sat the biggest woman Silluka had ever seen, even with Cosquella right beside her. This woman was head and shoulder taller than Ichu, wearing armor similar to both the storm warrior and Akamu’s stone warriors, but distinct, layered with what looked like night-black jewels.

“Nina. Tell me you know how far the Eztli Mecatl have pushed into the interior,” the elder said.

The woman—Nina—the one who commanded the storm warriors and the stone warriors? Looked up placidly.

“Mother. Couldn’t even be bothered to send a message ahead, as usual.” Her voice was lower than Ichu’s.

Silluka stared, the words catching up to her. That didn’t sound like a term of respect. In fact, there was very little respect in her words at all.

“Mother?”

“Hm, yes. And as ungrateful as they come.” Elder Quilqi folded her thin arms.

“We already have the problem in hand. You’ve wasted your time coming here, and bringing—” Nina’s gaze swept over them and Silluka blinked at the intent behind those eyes. Nearly as much as she’d felt from Elder Quilqi, not long ago. “Who are these, anyway?”

“New students,” the elder snapped. “Well, not the Allwiya. They’re an associate, of sorts.”

“And why did you bring them here, Mother?”

“We bring news of the turtle—the Eztli Mecatl attack on the coastal village…” Ichu broke in. He trailed off as Nina pinned him with a glare.

“Correction. Why did you bring this broken collection of individuals here? None of them looks like they’ve even touched the core before.”

“Give it time.” Elder Quilqi looked off balance for the first time since Silluka had known her. “We have important news.”

“But the stone warriors and the storm warriors already know about the Eztli Mecatl, they did,” Cosquella suddenly put in. “That’s why they were there in the first place. The storm warriors have been out at the wall of storms for years. Surely them, they know more than we do about the new island.”

Silluka blinked. Cosquella was right. Nina, and Chimor by extension, must know all about the turtlemen already. She’d even seen one here, and Cosquella had told them about the small enclave fleeing their new god.

“Why did you bring us here?” she asked, staring at Elder Quilqi.

“Ah, so you’ve picked another clever one,” Nina commented, leaning back in a large chair that creaked ominously under her bulk. “Want to tell them or should I? You obviously want to share some secrets, or you wouldn’t have waltzed back here. Mother.”

Elder Quilqi paced two more steps, then sighed. The sun was just peeking through a window behind the massive woman.

When she turned, her eyes were serious. “I didn’t have anywhere else to go, Nina.”

Nina lifted both hands, palms up, inviting more explanation. One of her hands could have fit around Silluka’s middle.

“You all know I’m not an elder from your village.”

“That much was obvious from the start.” Ichu had positioned himself near Silluka, still protecting her unconsciously.

“Yes, well, I’m not from Chimor originally either.” She waved an old hand. “Doesn’t matter where for now. You’ve never heard of it. But I’ve been traveling this island for longer than you or your parents have been alive. The Eztli Mecatl are only the most recent to join us here. Before them were the Allwiya. The point is, many of the islands that roam the seas are coming together again, something that hasn’t happened for hundreds or even thousands of years.”

“My sea warriors tell me there are another two islands within six years of colliding, and ten more ranging farther out.” Nina was studying Cosquella, who swallowed visibly, then she turned her gaze to Ichu. Silluka saw her brother’s back stiffen.

“How did they get past the wall of storms?” Silluka asked.

Nina actually laughed, a loud, deep guffaw. “Wall of storms? That’s what you yokels call it?”

Ichu took one step forward, but Nina leaned across her desk, dark armor glinting in the morning sun. “Your ‘wall of storms’ is what my storm warriors create to hold back the winds and rain lashing the coast of the island. It’s only been there because we decided to save your little village from being completely wiped out when the Eztli Mecatl’s island aimed itself directly toward you. Ridiculous perfectionists, going off on their own.”

Perfectionists? Silluka wanted to know more, but it seemed like a bad time to open her mouth. Cosquella gripped Silluka’s hand in hers, almost to the point of pain. Silluka bumped her girlfriend with her shoulder.

“If we can get back to the point at hand, Nina.” Elder Quilqi faced what could only be her daughter. That was another story Silluka needed to hear.

“And I suppose you think you’ve found the next champion of the gods here?” Nina snorted. She pointed her chin toward Cosquella. “That one at least looks well put together. Not a whiff of the gods on her though.”

“Champion? What’s she talking about?” Ichu naturally had perked up at the mention of any sort of prowess.

“You’re really going to train these bumkins? After what happened last time?” Nina was shaking her head.

“Can someone please explain in small words for us bumpkins?” Cosquella’s voice rang out like an iron axe ringing from a cut.

“The islands are coming together.” Elder Quilqi’s words were flat. “It is something the world has not seen in most people’s lifetimes.” She stamped a foot on the polished wood floor. “This place, Chimor, is in the middle of a very large island. So large it could be considered something bigger than that. A continent in the world ocean. The Huaca are the people with the most gods. Eight of them. You remember I said the gods are tied to their islands?”

She seemed to be waiting for a response, so Silluka said “but if an island merges with this one, then what happens?”

Nina pointed a finger. “Clever. I thought so.”

“When the gods come together, all magic is in the same place. Conflict ensues between them,” Elder Quilqi said.

“The Aunts, Uncles, and Entles are going to fight?” Ichu looked worried.

“How does that even work? Don’t the chayus come from Uncle Earth, or Aunt Sea, or one of the others? Would chayus just stop working?” Silluka was getting more confused by the moment.

Elder Quilqi gave them a rueful smile. “Not conflict between the gods of the Huaca—well, maybe some—but conflict between the factions of gods.” She pointed to Lugopo. “Their creepy crawly gods will be rooting for their people. So will the Eztli Mecatl’s.”

“A fiery death with whirling knives! I will design new tortures from the abyss!” Lugopo raised two tentacles in triumph, then used another to tap their circlet. “All in good fun, naturally.”

“They speak?” Nina raised a bushy eyebrow. “I think I prefer signing.”

“Lugopo is quite inventive,” Elder Quilqi said.

Silluka was suddenly aware of Lugopo’s weight on her shoulder. “So…are you going to be fighting us now? Like the desert Allwiya?” She didn’t want to brush them off, but their many exultations of destruction and chaos didn’t seem as lighthearted, now.

“Tangling tentacles! Don’t go estranging your friends, girl.” The elder paced between them and Nina. “Gods will come into contention, yes. But they don’t want to destroy their followers either. Even gods have limits, and the core is stronger than us all. Most likely, we will hear of contests and tournaments soon.”

“There’s already a match between Misini and Huaca, scheduled for next week,” Nina offered. “The Misini claim their magic is stronger, of course.”

Silluka didn’t know what that name meant, but something else had grabbed her attention. “Wait. Who is deciding contests between gods?”

“Who has something at stake?” Elder Quilqi fixed her with a stare.

“The gods themselves,” Ichu breathed.

“And it must be something they can only decide when they are near each other, in the core, and under their islands,” Nina confirmed. “Though I don’t know why you think these people will be worthy champions, Mother.”

“Wait, that’s why you brought us here, you did?” Cosquella stood up to her full height. Silluka frowned at the elder. Was that all she saw in them? Pawns for a fight?

“Shifting lands, girl, I’m not tying you a sled and dragging you through the desert. You did that on your own. There are big events coming, once in a lifetime events. You can be a part of them, or you can watch them change the world around you.” She looked at all of them, in turn. Ichu flinched back almost immediately, Cosquella hunched her wide shoulders forward, and Lugopo went rigid on her shoulder. Then it was Silluka’s turn. Even braced for what was coming, Elder Quilqi’s eyes were a physical weight in her head, bearing down on her. Her eyes started watering, but she held the old woman’s gaze as long as she could, then broke, panting.

“Are you in, or out?” There was a feeling of finality to the statement.

Silluka pulled in a long breath. There was no question.

“I’m in.”

“I shall rain destruction on my enemies!” she assumed Lugopo meant that as a “yes.”

“I go where my sister goes,” Ichu said quietly.

“And I have nowhere else to go,” Cosquella said, “but I have friends here, I do.” She clasped Silluka’s hand.

Nina gave a low whistle from behind her desk. Silluka, somehow, had half-forgotten the giant woman.

“You’ve done it again, Mother. I don’t know how, but you have.” She turned a baleful glare on their little group.

“You have no idea what you’re in for.”