Revin, Shifra, and Kaiato stepped out of their ceratops-drawn carriage and into the torrential rain. The sky was dark with clouds, and night was fast approaching. Birdy sat on Revin’s shoulder glancing curiously at everything. He held on to Birdy’s foot. He’d lost too many tamed animals lately. Maybe he should have left Birdy behind?

A gust of wind reminded Revin why he was grateful for his cloak, which kept the water off his metal-weave mastersuit. Cleaning off the mud and the water was no small task.

In front of them was a huge building. Hundreds of feet tall, a series of long narrow windows lined its sides. Revin couldn’t count them. Beyond that, however, details were hard to pick out. Light shone from the windows on either side of the grand door. Wide and shallow steps let the way from the road to the entrance. The Grand Library of Solinia. The door swung wide, letting in more orange light. An elderly man stood just inside, hood up to keep out the rain. They worked their way up the steps.

“I don’t appreciate being called to work as I’m climbing into bed,” the man said with a scowl. “I’m Scholar Yesaf. Now, get inside so I can dry you off.”

Scholar Yesaf grumbled under his breath. Something about “we have open hours for a reason.”

Revin stepped inside first and looked around. They were in a massive domed chamber. Five hallways broke out from the round room, each one lined with book-filled shelves. He couldn’t keep his jaw from dropping. He didn’t know so many books existed.

Shifra was right, his library of several hundred books back home was tiny .

“May my service help you, Ms. Lady Speartip,” Scholar Yesaf grumbled at Shifra, “Sorry, I can never keep up on each new leader’s set of stupid rules.”

Shifra smiled at the old man. “Thank you for meeting us here.”

“Wasn’t really my choice,” he said shortly, “Yishai would’ve had me whipped if I didn’t.” He looked around and his scowl deepened. “Nethered guards. Probably asleep in the back.” He shook his head and grumbled again under his breath.

He walked to the windowsill next to the great doors and pointed to a rack of hangers. “Hang your cloaks there and clean your boots with those towels.” He pointed to a stack of towels next to the rack. “I’d rather not have you dripping mud on any priceless literature.”

He handed them the towels and they attempted to dry themselves.

“Now, what are you searching for that’s so important to disturb an old scholar?” he said to Shifra flatly.

“I’ve got that,” Revin said, drying off. “We’re looking for references to Kerdun, an ancient nation.”

Scholar Yesaf frowned at Revin, “Why?”

“Because this nation had ancient powers similar to the weapons being used by our current invader.”

Scholar Yesaf’s eyes widened. “I’ve heard about them, metal monsters going about in flying boats. Sounds ridiculous.”

An image of a spear through his gut. Revin twitched. Was it a memory, or his imagination? He turned his attention away from the flood that threatened to drown him.

“It’s not,” Revin snapped. “We were there, it’s true.”

The scholar looked to Shifra and Kaiato, who both nodded in agreement.

“I fought them,” Shifra said, “They’re as real as you or I.”

His eyebrows went up with a nod. “Alright then,” Scholar Yesaf said, pursing his lips, “let’s go investigate. Can you give me a where and a when?”

“The far north. A long time ago.”

The scholar frowned.

“That’s all I have,” Revin said with an apologetic shrug. “And a name. Kerdun.”

The scholar sighed audibly. “Follow me.”

After Scholar Yesaf poured through references and indexes, he grabbed a lantern and lead them down one of the large hallways. As they walked down rows and rows of books, guided by orange lantern-light, Revin was filled with awe and wonder. “It would take a lifetime to read these.”

Scholar Yesaf turned and smiled. “More.”

Most of the library was made of stone, and each shelf was made of metal or stone as well. Yesaf said it was to keep it from burning down. How much work would it take to keep those shelves from rusting? You’d have to remove the books and polish each shelf.

From Revin’s shoulder, Birdy smelled something in the air. Revin hardly registered the smell in his own mind, not knowing if it was wooden or metallic. But the smell of metal sent a chill down his spine.

They entered another chamber, with even older stone architecture.

“This is the old library, we built the larger around it to preserve it,” Scholar Yesaf said, “What we’re looking for should be right over here.” He approached a large metal cabinet, covered in intricate designs. He gasped.

“What is it?” Shifra said. Revin came up closer to inspect.

The scholar looked at the broken lock. “That was a priceless artifact!” He opened the doors and gasped again, they squeaked loudly as they swung wide.

Revin looked in surprise at the ancient records, or what was left of them. Someone had gone through and bashed them, shot them, and some even looked… melted.

Birdy squawked excitedly. Revin sensed his worry and surprise. He looked up.

A large, domed window was above them, the rain hitting it in a dull rattling. Thunder echoed through the archives, the windows trembling in their panes. There was nothing there.

With another flash of lightning, closer this time, the windowed ceiling was illuminated, revealing several forms. Lean men in black with yellow-glass goggles, and a bulky turquoise-eyed automaton.

Revin’s eyes widened. Almost painfully. He blinked. He must be dreaming while awake.

An image rushed over his vision. Blood ice-crusted on hands. Frozen dirt in his nails. The tingling sensation of anticipating a blade through the back. His muscles seized painfully. He stared up at the eyes. He couldn’t move. His mouth opened, but nothing happened.

“Who would do this?” the scholar said.

The lightning flashed again. Revealing the intruders once again.

“Ah, ah…” Revin gasped, touching Kaiato’s arm.

“What is it?” Kaiato turned to Revin, then followed his gaze up. Kaiato drew a pistol. The three men flipped and landed softly. A fall that should have killed them. The metal monster fell, cracking the tiled floor as it landed on its feet.

The enemy drew their swords. Shifra drew her own. She glared as they approached, her stance spreading.

Revin stepped backward, away from the forms. A force in his mind screamed a single, primal impulse.

Run.

“What are you doing here?” Scholar Yesaf shouted. “Did you do this?” He pointed to the ruined documents.

The men in the masks stepped forward. The third man, who wore only a hood, raised a stopping hand.

“We don’t have time for games,” the hooded man hissed. “Kill them and let’s go.”

Kaiato leaped between them. He shot one in the head and the man fell with a spray of blood and shattered glass.

The other man glared at Kaiato, pulling out his own pistol.

It was the same gray design as what the metal monsters used.

“No!” Revin yelled. Obeying his instinctive command, Birdy grabbed the gun out of the man’s hand and flew off. He growled in frustration.

The scholar turned and ran, shouting for help.

“You should have stayed out of my Lord’s way,” Revin heard Narazoth’s voice in his head.

Metal monster. Lifeless eyes. Its feet slamming on the stone floor, shooting up sprays of rubble. Revin froze. The force inevitably moving toward him.

The monster swung down an angry fist, and something tackled Revin from the side, knocking him to the ground.

Revin rolled onto the tiles and looked at his assailant. Shifra pushed off him, hardly sparing him a glance as she swung for the metal monster. Revin looked down. The stone tiles where he’d just been standing were cracked, shattered.

That could have been him.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

When Revin looked up again, the metal monster was reaching for him, Shifra’s blade grinding across its back armor.

A low whistle rang out and the metal monster tripped, its leg shattering into broken gears.

Revin looked over to see Kaiato with the grey pistol in his hand, Birdy hovering over his shoulder.

The hooded man aimed a pistol upward. There was a loud whistle and the glass above exploded. Revin hid under his arms. A rush of water and glass shards fell in a sparkling torrent, falling on all in the room.

Revin finally looked up. Random bits of glass and metal framing remained, and now the rain itself fell into the room, cascading into a growing puddle.

Ropes fell from above. The two survivors grabbed them and didn’t look back as the ropes retracted, ascending the men through the completely open window.

The metal monster lay on its back. Twitching but unable to stand.

Amid the chaos, a clear thought rang in his mind.

Master it.

Digging his knuckles into his palms, Revin ran forward and touched it on the head, closing his eyes.

He searched for its mind. Ready to master it as his own, to understand his enemy, but he found nothing. There was no mind, only a sheet of cold metal.

“My warriors are not so easy to tame ,” Narazoth’s voice echoed.

“Revin, look out!” Shifra’s voice called.

Revin looked up as a large shard of glass fell toward him. This time, panic controlled him more than terror. He jumped off the metal monster, tripping in the deep puddle. The shard fell with a crash.

Grappling hooks held on to the various limbs of the metal monster, slowly taking his only clue away. Revin stood and jumped up, his water-soaked clothes pulling him down.

He had to know who was up there.

On Revin’s command, Birdy flew up through the window. Revin looked through Birdy’s eyes. The attackers climbed up onto the roof, lifted by other men in masks. The man who had given the orders removed his hood and glared.

It was Jebuthar himself.

“Flee while you can.”

Jebuthar turned away. A ship sat on the roof of the library. It wasn’t nearly as big as the massive troop transports, but it was enough to hold the dozen or so men climbing into it. It was long and sleek. It glowed with lights in the rain, and the back opened into a mouth-like entrance with a ramp. Jebuthar stepped in, the back closed, and the ship flew away.

Revin returned his mind to his own senses. Kaiato knelt over the man he had shot, checking for a pulse. He looked up at Shifra and shook his head.

With a shout a dozen men rushed into the room, swords and pistols raised. Scholar Yesaf led them, looking enraged. Their fervor died down when they saw that the enemy had already gone.

“How could they do this?” Scholar Yesaf said, “Why?”

Over Scholar Yesaf’s shoulder, Revin noticed something sticking out of an aisle.

Revin approached. Another man in scholar’s robes lay there, dead. As were two men in lightly armored uniforms. The missing guards.

Scholar Yesaf came behind Revin, gasping. He kneeled at the dead scholar’s side.

Revin looked at the men, their forms lifeless. Flesh without life. He blinked his eyes against the memories that came.

They didn’t have the information they needed. This whole trip had been a dreadful waste of time.

They were no closer than before.

✦✦✦

Kaiato and Shifra explained to Omrai what happened. Sitting on a chair around the large table covered in maps, Revin couldn’t stop thinking about the bodies, about that look on Jebuthar’s face. There was no regret in those eyes.

“We won’t find anything else there,” Shifra said, her face in a tight scowl, “Jebuthar was gone before the soldiers arrived. The scholars will keep digging, but Scholar Wirgo was the specialist in the ancient northern records, and not only is he dead, but he was forced to lead the saboteurs to the records we wanted. Jebuthar knew exactly what we were after.”

“Good,” Omrai said.

Shifra cocked her head, “Good? Three men are dead and priceless records are forever ruined just to cover Jebuthar’s tracks. How can that be good?”

“You misunderstand me,” Omrai said calmly, sitting at the table, “Those are tragedies. But it’s good he tried so hard to cover his tracks. Because that means there is a weakness we could have found. That means he has one.”

“But the records are gone,” Kaiato said. “What can we do now?”

Omrai nodded and turned back to Revin, “You said you needed a live metal warrior, correct?”

Revin nodded. “I tried to take one today, but Jebuthar hauled it out of there, fast. If I figure out how he masters them in the first place, maybe I could steal them from him.”

“And if you can’t,” Omrai said, “we should at least learn how they work.”

Revin didn’t know what he expected to find with capturing a metal monster. Those eyes, they bore no life. Narazoth was cheating. But how? “Were your men able to get any from where we first met?”

Omrai shook his head. “They’re gone, as are the ones from our recent battle. Only scrap metal and gears. Jebuthar is keeping them from us.”

“He’ll miss one, eventually,” Shifra said, her arms folded in a show of calm, but her whole body looked tense. “He can’t keep them from us forever.”

“I don’t think it’s going to be as easy as popping one open and taking a look,” Kaiato said, “This is technology and sorcery far beyond anything we’ve ever seen. I mean, he makes stone weigh nothing and men weigh a thousand pounds. Those who hadn’t seen it themselves would call you mad. What we need most is someone on the inside.”

“You’re saying we don’t need a metal monster at all?” Revin said.

“No, we need one. I’m saying we need a scientist . Someone who knows how these work.”

“My spies will keep their ears and eyes open,” Omrai said. “The only humans on Jebuthar’s side that my spies have seen are Jebuthar himself and the Sendevalians, and he hasn’t armed them with this technology.”

“Maybe he has engineers in hiding,” Kaiato said.

“What if he’s building all this in the north?” Revin said, “What if we can’t find anything here?”

Omrai frowned, “Going north is a last resort. If we want the remotest chance of success, we at least must know how to break his power, not necessarily how to use it. Kaiato is right, he must have some engineers out on his campaign.”

Omrai turned to Shifra “Every city has been commanded to evacuate at the first sign of attack. I’ve also sent messages for your mother and siblings to be moved to the far west. I want you to go with them.”

Shifra’s eyes widened. “No. I’m going with you .”

“I should have sent you home sooner, you got far too close to that battle.”

“No,” Shifra snapped, “You need me.”

“Shifra-”

“Just hear me out,” Shifra said, “if you don’t take me, you’ll have to take a saurian master who can’t fight, or a warrior who doesn’t know how to take care of saurians. You need to keep this group small. And Revin needs to master more saurians, right?”

She looked at Revin. Hoping he would help her.

He nodded. “It would be helpful. The beasts here are alien to me. And, let’s be honest, your men don’t seem comfortable around me.”

Omrai furrowed his brow.

“I know their migration patterns, their psychology. If you’re going in a small group, you need someone competent to care for the saurians you bring. Not some soldier with hardly enough training who’ll kill them with incompetence. Nor do you want an expert in saurians who can’t defend themselves. You need me.”

Omrai tightened his lips into a thin line. After a long moment, he nodded. “Shifra, you make a good point. But know I’m only making this exception since this is a fact-finding mission and not a military operation. You can explain it to your mother when we return.

Shifra smiled.

“Despite Atin’s reports of your progress, I don’t want you fighting.”

Shifra frowned. “I won’t unless it comes to it.”

“And no more standing your ground like at that last battle,” Omrai said with a sigh, “If you are ever in danger, you run.”

Shifra nodded reluctantly.

Omrai said, “Now get some rest. We leave in the morning.”

✦✦✦

It was still dark when Kaiato snuck out. The time to meet the messenger had far passed, but perhaps there would be a clue left behind.

His heart pounded. What if it were Johuto? What if she had wanted to tell him he could come home? Speaking Ateyan every day was starting to grate on his nerves.

Ateyan nightlife was livelier than Koyejians’. Moving with stealth, he finally made his way to the accountants’ tower. He lit the lantern he’d brought and moved carefully to the alleyway behind it. Glancing over his shoulder to be sure no one followed.

He carried the lantern above his head watching carefully. A dark smudge in the corner turned out to be a homeless man. The man growled, almost feral. Kaiato half-drew his sword and glared. The man cowered, retreating under his ragged blanket.

Kaiato’s hope faltered as he reached the alley’s end. There was no sign, no further notes or clues.

He made his way back, sneaking into his room through a side window, ready for his much belated sleep. The agent would try again, whoever they were. Hopefully it was Johuto, and not a trap. That alley would have been an excellent place to murder him in the night. In the future, he’d be more careful.