Echoes of a Shattered Age (15 page)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Szhegaza watched Brit standing in the center of the dark room. He had been in meditation for half the day, standing still as a statue, preparing himself. The only light present pulsated from his glowing, red-purple eyes. Szhegaza, although notoriously eccentric and oftentimes impatient when it came to ritual of any kind, knew well not to make a sound in the Drek’s presence. After an hour of waiting, the light in his eyes dimmed and Brit turned to regard her.

“Thank you for your patience, Szhegaza,” he said.

“I would wait an eternity if that be the master’s wish,” Szhegaza replied.

A chuckle came in response. “Your loyal appearance is noted and appreciated for what it is, zitarian.” His naming of her devious race was not at all lost on Szhegaza. She stepped forward and presented Brit with a black orb, which he took from her and held in the palm of his hand. After a moment it began to hover.

“I encountered two interesting humans.” As she spoke, the Drek eyed the orb as it began to show the details of Szhegaza’s visit to the human town.

“Interesting,” he said. “There is some unusual power about those two.”

“I don’t see any reason to be concerned about them,” the Szhegaza remarked, waving a dismissive hand. “How would they know of your plans? They are only humans, after all. Could there be a more limited perception than that of a human? They are oblivious and totally powerless to stand against you alone, much less your new allies.”

Brit never lifted his gaze from the orb as he responded. “Underestimation is a deadly adversary. The power I sense from those two is far greater than any homo sapiens I would expect to inhabit this world. It would surprise me if they were not involved in the defense for Takashaniel.”

Szhegaza let slip a raspy-sounding guffaw. “In my travels I have heard nothing of a rising defense for the tower. You believe that there will be …”

“It is you who is oblivious, Szhegaza,” Brit interrupted. “There is never a battle without a defense. If you believe that the most powerful structure on this world is completely oblivious of our mounting offensive then you are more fool than naive. These powerless humans that you speak of may have innumerable shortcomings, but they have survived through many ages.”

Szhegaza lowered her eyes in response to the insulting but correct observation. Harsh words or not, Brit was right. Takashaniel was the most powerful structure in the world, and it was be absurd to think that it would be unprepared to stand against an assault.

“Come.” Brit opened a set of tall double doors. Zreal spun about as the two entered and immediately dipped into a bow, sparing a covert glare for his counterpart.

Brit glanced between the smirking Szhegaza and Zreal. “Put away your nonsense and come with us.” The Drek led his two subordinates to yet another set of double doors.

Brit, Zreal and Szhegaza stepped out onto a semicircular balcony overlooking the largest horde of demons either of them had ever seen. Brit smirked as the shocked pair stared in disbelief, entranced at the sight of so many dark world denizens in one place outside of the abyss. Fiends of many different kinds flooded an area bordered by what Zreal guessed to be more powerful versions of the same seals Brit had used when first he’d summoned Kabriza.

“Master,” Zreal ventured. “I have no doubts of your wisdom and power, but is it a good idea to align ourselves with such a vast number of unpredictable fiends as these?”

“I must admit my similar curiosity,” Szhegaza added. “This is a large variety of fiends in one place and could prove difficult to control.”

Brit eyed the two of them. “You need only fear me,” he responded. “Be assured that I am prepared to deal with any … issues. The management of these ‘guests’ falls to one of their own wretched species.” Zreal and Szhegaza looked at each other, still concerned.

At that, to the left of the nervous zitarian, a black portal opened, and out stepped a mighty figure, fourteen feet tall with clawed hands hanging close to the ground. The horns protruding from its forehead hooked upward and ended in razor-sharp points.

As it emerged from the blackness, Szhegaza carefully backed away, staring in shock at the hideous thing. Her blade-like nails extended by pure reflex to the horror that towered over her. Although Zreal had seen it before, he felt no less intimidated by the frightening demon.

“You have done well in assembling the forces,” Kabriza observed. “Perhaps it may be a bit more difficult to dispose of you than first I thought.” The fiend managed what appeared to be a grin.

“You are amusing, Quentranzi,” Brit said, his dark face a mask of calm. “One day we may see who is the stronger, but now is not the time for small-minded challenges.” The red fire in the Quentranzi’s eyes burned bright while Brit’s entire body began to glow.

Zreal and Szhegaza slowly backed away from the face-off until they were out of the room.

“Zreal,” Szhegaza whispered once they were alone. “I think we should put our differences aside, at least for now. If we are to survive this, we’ll need to combine our efforts. I believe Brit would be able to defeat that thing, but we would be fools to think that he will extend his protection to us. I doubt Brit has given much thought to our lives outside of his plans. If we are to survive this alliance, we must work together.”

Zreal considered her words. “You’re right. We will put our survival above our differences. That mass of demons would rip us apart in the midst of battle no matter what side we are on. I would sooner add to their number of casualties than become one.”

Szhegaza responded with a wicked smile.

* * *

Kenjiro stood at the edge of their campsite, enjoying the sunrise while Akemi finished packing the last of the breakfast supplies.

“Next time
you
cook,” she complained. “I hate having to clean up everything while you get to enjoy the dawn.”

“Have you forgotten who stood the first and longest watch while you slept most of the night?” Kenjiro smiled at her, and Akemi nearly fell over into the hot embers of the campfire. She hid her surprise and gave herself a silent pat on the back. It had been a good idea to rest in Toyotomi after all. The stern samurai seemed to be actually enjoying himself since their stop in the village.

“We should move on soon,” he said, turning back toward the sunrise. “Our destination is not far from here and we can reach the city before dark.”

The ninja woman nodded and secured the sack to one of the two horses they had bought. “I have a feeling that Kyokoza will be the place where many pieces to this puzzle will be filled in.” Akemi looked moved beside him. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

“I do. There is more at work here that we haven’t discovered yet. I think there are more players in this game.”

The ninja tied the last sack to her horse and mounted, turning toward the road while her brother did the same. “Then let’s get back in the game and see when these players reveal themselves.”

Kenjiro grunted. “The pawn never sees the player. We know little and less, yet are compelled by some unknown force. Warriors are rarely the players in the game of war.” He looked at her. “Are we the pawns, or the players?”

Akemi shrugged. “At this point, it matters little. Aside from dispatching a few demons, we’ve seen no strings tying us to the fingers of any would be puppeteers.”

Again, the samurai grunted. “Like the pawn, the puppet never sees the strings that move
his
body.” Before Akemi could express her exasperation, he changed the subject. “What do you think of the strider?”

“Tough to say,” she replied. “He seemed genuine, yet cryptic as to his intentions. But he’s a strider. They’re not known for being even as social as he was, let alone explaining anything to anyone.”

“Striders. They have existed for as long as the samurai, yet I have never met one. I have a feeling we will see him again.”

“Time will tell,” Akemi yawned.

* * *

Kita took the lead on the narrow trail across the ravine leading into a patch of forest.

“I’ve seen
this
before,” Kenyatta called from behind. Kita shuddered at the thought of passing through another forest. Their narrow escape from death in the previous passage still fresh in their minds, neither man was eager to pass through any place that had more than a handful of trees. Their weapons were not yet charged with this demon-fighting enhancement that Taliah promised, which meant that the most they could do was slow the shadow creatures. Both prayed they did not encounter anything else unnatural before they reached Kyokoza.

Once inside the forest, they slowed their mounts and proceeded to a nearby stream. While the horses drank, the two warriors had a snack of cheese and bread.

“You feel that?” Kenyatta asked, swallowing his last bite. “Someone’s nearby.”

“You think so?” Kita replied.

“Don’t you feel it? It’s like that same feeling back in Nijika.”

Kita rolled his eyes. “You mean
Toyotomi
.” His voice dripped with sarcasm with the reminder of the two-named village, as they’d come to learn.

“Yeah, right,” Kenyatta said, equally sarcastic. It can be pretty confusing to folks not from around here when locals call it by two different names. Thought we were in da wrong place when first we got der.

“Nijika to the country folk, Toyotomi to the people who actually live there.” Kita shook his head. What the hell is all that about, anyway?”

“Forget it,” Kenyatta said. “A pointless stumble along the way. Nothing more.”

“And back to the other point,” Kita said, “someone is following us for sure, but what I’m
not
sure of is whether or not they know they are following us.” Kita pointed to the path they had just traveled. “This road hasn’t been easy for horses to travel. If someone was pursuing us with purpose, they would have caught up to us a while ago.”

Kenyatta stared back at the trail. “Good point. But I still won’t feel any better about dis ting until we find out.”

“Guess we’ll find out when we do.” They saw that the horses had finished their drink and were now lazily grazing next to each other. “Let’s get moving.” Kita said. “I’ve had my fill of forests.”

* * *

Miles from humble Toyotomi, Kenjiro and Akemi came to a forest where they were forced to move at a slower pace, mindful of the shadow dwelling Kalistyi. On instinct, they dismounted and scanned the woods. The forest was eerily quiet and the horses began to whicker and shuffle nervously.

They took defensive stances with the horses between them. A dark figure dropped from the trees and landed in a crouch so low, its knees were side by side with its shoulders. Akemi moved around the horses to stand beside her brother. No one said a word, all waiting for the other to make the first move.

The figure slowly and deliberately straightened into an unorthodox stance, its right foot in front and facing the two warriors. Its left leg was positioned directly behind the right, with its foot also facing forward. From the shadows of the dense foliage, the two warriors could not see much of the stranger, but it seemed to be analyzing them.

“We are travelers passing through this place,” Kenjiro began. “If you wish us to leave you need only step aside.…”

Before the samurai could finish, the figure darted backward into the shadows and disappeared. An instant later, both warriors leapt in opposite directions just as a large disc with four long straight blades sliced into the ground where they had been standing.

Kenjiro and Akemi turned as soon as they landed, only to find that the weapon was gone, and there was no sign of the attacker.

A high-pitched sound cut through the air and Kenjiro ducked as the vicious weapon sliced through the space where his head had been only an instant earlier. The samurai rolled to the left and crossed his sword before him defensively. Again, there was nothing there.

Akemi had watched the attack, but it happened so fast she was barely able to follow. Her instincts screamed at her, and she rolled to her left just as the bladed disc sliced through the ground from behind. As soon as her feet were under her, Akemi spun and released a dozen shurikens in the direction the disc had come.

She couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw every one of the blades deeply embedded in the trees in the distance. The ninja did, however, catch a glimpse of the strange chain-like cord that the disc weapon was connected to. The cord bent into a wide arc and pulled the disc into the air following the dark figure that glided through the air to land between them.

This guy is good,
Akemi thought. She could see by the look in his eyes that Kenjiro was having similar thoughts. Anyone who would intentionally land between them and put himself at a disadvantage was worthy of their respect. The dark fighter stood between the two warriors, not facing either of them, but merely standing in that strange stance as if waiting for them to make the next move.

Now granted a closer look, Akemi could see that it was a male barely above five feet in height. He wore nothing more than a thick, tattered loincloth covered by old shredded strips of leather hanging from his waste. His brown skin contrasted sharply with shoulder length hair that was so black it looked blue. His small frame was covered with lean, rod-like muscles.

This fighter had the frame of one who lived his life in the jungles and used wit and skill to survive. Akemi was pulled from her consideration of the man by a nod from the samurai, and both warriors dashed in for the attack. To their surprise, the warrior did not leap away from them as before, but held his position while parrying and dodging every attack. They had never seen such technique before. This man, whoever he was, fought with unorthodox but tremendous skill.

Kenjiro delivered a short vertical strike, which the dark fighter avoided by leaning backward. Akemi smirked as she struck horizontally at his head. To her surprise, he ducked the attack with impossible speed and agility. Both warriors hopped back and watched him.

“I can think of a more friendly way to test your skill, strange one,” Akemi remarked. The dark fighter slowly turned his head to face the ninja. His eyes could not be seen through the wild hair that hung over his face. “Now it is time for you to make a choice.” She winked.