Heir of Shandara (Book 4) (35 page)

“These were all we could salvage,” Verona said.

“What are they?” Bayen asked.

“They house focusing crystals that can shoot bursts of energy. They have limited range, so we’ll need to get in close to use them,” Aaron said.

Bayen frowned. “They won’t last long against the Zekara.”

“They don’t need to. We need to get them into position at key locations. Take a few shots and get out again,” Aaron said.

“All at once?” Bayen asked.

Aaron shook his head. “No, in succession. I want to pull their attention into as many directions as I can.”

“There are still Forsaken there,” Verona said.

“I’m counting on it. Let’s keep this simple. We get in and out quickly. If we can do that and salvage this equipment, great; if not, we’ll leave it. The focusing crystals have a full charge,” Aaron said.

Verona leveled his gaze at him. “Is the Eldarin still there?”

Aaron nodded.

“That’s the part that worries me, my friend,” Verona said.

“Let me worry about the Eldarin,” Aaron said.

They split into six groups, each with their own keystone accelerator. The men with them were all battle hardened and ready to go. They would take some time to get into position and then strike. He glanced at the palace, and his thoughts went to Sarah. She was on her way here, bringing the vaccine against the Ryakul virus.
Forgive me.
Aaron gave the command, and the portals opened up. Aaron took a deep breath and charged through.
 

C
HAPTER
27

BELIEF

The Zekaran mobile command center lurched forward. The bronze holo displays flickered for a moment, which was a subtle reminder to Halcylon of their depleting power. Chinta waved him over to the private display he was working from.

“Sir,” he began quietly, “I have the results of the investigation you ordered. They found that some records have been deleted, but the guilty party had to rush and didn’t cover their tracks very well. You were right. Someone released the maul-cat while we were still on Hytharia.”

Halcylon nodded. The doors on the opposite side of the operations center opened, and Ronin entered, leading a small team of scientists. They were preparing to go back out to study the Dragon hybrid.

“Were you able to get an ID?” Halcylon asked.

“Not from the actual holding areas, no, but we did find them in the entrance logs,” Chinta said.

The display showed encrypted characters. Halcylon authenticated and was immediately granted access. His gaze narrowed as he quickly read through the log entries. Halcylon spun around, and for a moment he and Ronin locked gazes.

“Stop him!” Halcylon shouted.

Surprise didn’t register on his science officer’s face. Just resignation that his gambit was finally up and the betrayal had finally come to light.

Alarms blared, and the lighting inside the operations center shifted to red. They were being attacked. The military operations staff immediately went to work. Halcylon looked back where Ronin had been, but his chief science officer was gone.

Chinta glanced at the log display. “It was him? This whole time he was right there. Why would he betray you?”

Halcylon slammed his fist onto the table. “Because he’s loyal to the traitors. I want him found.”

A Zekaran soldier approached. “Sir, FNA forces are attacking us. We have three marks—no, make that four marks and counting. Ground assault only,” the soldier said.

“On-screen,” Halcylon ordered.

The main holo display showed an aerial display from the drones they had deployed. The soldiers were using some sort of energy weapon. Halcylon clenched his teeth, searching for the one human he was sure would be there. The beams were wreaking havoc on the smaller units. Smoking wrecks were evident across the display. To the untrained eye, the attacks appeared to crop up at random, but Halcylon knew better.
 

“Have them fall back to the away points. Operation Trident authorized. We take Shandara now,” Halcylon said.

***

“They’re retreating,” Verona said.

Moments before, the Zekara had been attacking in force. Aaron narrowed his gaze, following the Zekara’s retreat. He engaged the recon drone only a few minutes ago. The small metallic drone zoomed away from them. To minimize the chance of drawing the Forsaken, he had purposefully not used his swords. They hadn’t seen any so far, which Aaron didn’t like. He knew they were somewhere close by.
 

“What now, my friend?” Verona asked.

“Have the men fall back to Shandara. We don’t have enough to go toe to toe with them,” Aaron said.

Verona gave the orders through the comms device. These had been secure against the Zekara. The FNA started falling back, but only after taking a few more shots with the Khamearrian focusing crystals. Very few were intact and would not be brought back to Shandara.

Tanneth’s signal came over Aaron’s comms device.

“The drone is working. I’m in their systems. They just sent a signal about something called Operation Trident,” Tanneth said.

“They’re falling back here. If I had to guess, I think they’re getting ready to leave. Tell Gavril I’m sending the rest of the men back to see if they can slow them down a bit,” Aaron said.

Verona and Bayen looked at Aaron expectantly.

“Let’s go start some trouble,” Aaron said.
 

“You know I’m in. What is it you intend to do?” Verona asked.

“Make the Forsaken work for us. We find where they are and lead them to the camp,” Aaron said.

“Simple enough plan. Just don’t let them catch you,” Verona said.

Aaron drew in the energy and sped off with Verona and Bayen close on his heels. He drew his swords, and a few random notes from the bladesong could be heard. Aaron extended tendrils of energy to Verona and Bayen, strengthening their own connections so they could keep up with him. When they first arrived, it was hard to see the smoldering remains of Rexel. The only thing worse than that sight was the stricken look on Verona’s normally happy face. He promised Verona he would help rebuild the city with him when this was all done. They sped along the ground, which blurred by. If he had been alone, he might have risked a jump, but soaring through the air might prove too tempting a target for the Zekara.

They circled the remains of Rexel’s walls, covering the long distance in minutes, closing in on what remained of the eastern gates. Hundreds of dark shadows were clustered together so tightly that they formed a large mound. Aaron came to a stop a few hundred yards away. There was hardly anything left even remotely human in the Forsaken’s appearance. The clothing of their human hosts was little more than rags all stretched and torn. Blackened skin stretched over elongated bones that poked through in harsh spikes. Great clawed hands dragged on the ground by their slumped forms.
 

“Goddess be merciful,” Verona gasped.

“No, let the Goddess lend us her speed. Here they come,” Bayen said.

Aaron wielded his swords, and the pure notes of the bladesong pierced the air. A rage filled howl spread across the Forsaken. They rose up, forming a massive dark wave pierced by yellow eyes that barreled toward them. The ground rumbled beneath their feet, and the great mound shifted.

“Go!” Aaron said.

Verona and Bayen sped off toward the Zekaran encampment. Aaron stayed a few more seconds to be sure the bulk of the Forsaken were coming. An enormous head poked through the dark forms that dropped off it like a shroud made up of bodies. The mound that the Forsaken had clustered around was the Eldarin. The Dragon lord stirred in response to the bladesong and fixed Aaron with a baleful glare. The Forsaken moved quickly and were almost upon him. Aaron spun, taking in a torrent of energy, and darted away from the horde.

Come on,
Aaron urged in his mind as he sped forth.

He quickly caught up to Verona and Bayen and slowed down to match their pace. They were closing on the Zekaran encampment with a horde of Forsaken on their heels. The Zekara began firing their weapons at them. They dodged plasma bolts as they raced by. The Forsaken shrieked as they closed in on their quarry. Aaron reached out, grabbed the others, and engaged the travel crystal. They emerged at Shandara and skidded to a halt, barely keeping their feet beneath them.

“That was close,” Verona gasped.

Aaron gulped mouthfuls of air and nodded. Towering over them were statues honoring the Safanarion Order.

Bayen collapsed to the ground, clutching his chest.

“What’s wrong with him?” Verona asked.

Aaron seized the energy. Bayen’s lifebeat was a spinning mass of gold and black. He tried to bolster the pattern as he had done before, but it didn’t work. It was like trying to capture running water. Aaron reached out and took Bayen’s hand. Bayen’s eyes were a mix of pain and terror.

“I’m not gonna let you go,” Aaron said.

Bayen struggled to speak but couldn’t.

Aaron looked at Verona. “The staff,” he said, and gestured with his head toward the rune-carved staff that leaned against the fallen white tree.

Verona raced to get it.

“What’s this?” a voice said, approaching them from the opposite direction.

Aaron turned and saw Tolvar racing toward them.

“Please, Tolvar, I don’t know how to help him,” Aaron said.

Tolvar knelt down next to them, his eyes going from Aaron to Bayen in shock. The lines along his forehead seemed more pronounced on his bald head.

“Here is the staff,” Verona said.

Aaron grabbed the staff, and the runes flared.

“Bind him to you,” Tolvar said.

“I don’t know how,” Aaron said.

Tolvar smiled at Aaron sadly and mouthed a single word.

Aaron closed his eyes, focusing on Bayen’s lifebeat. The arguments rallied up inside him, and he swept them aside. He had to believe. He opened up his lifebeat and extended a golden tendril that came from his core. He urged it toward Bayen, and it latched onto his chest. The spinning core of Bayen’s lifebeat slowed down, and he sagged in a great sigh. His breathing returned to normal. Bayen squeezed Aaron’s hand, and he let go. The glowing runes of the staff diminished.

“You’re all right,” Aaron said.

Bayen nodded and slowly sat up. His ashen face still remained pale, and Aaron didn’t know what to do.

“The time lines are separating. I don’t know how much time I have left,” Bayen said.

“Verona, warn the others that the Zekara are going to attack,” Aaron said.

“Would either of you care to explain to me what’s going on?” Tolvar asked.

Aaron was about to answer when several people came from around the fallen tree. Sarah rounded the corner, looking none too pleased with him. Her golden hair hung in a braid, and her hand rested upon the hilt of her sword.

“Well, don’t keep us waiting, my love. Answer the question.”
 

C
HAPTER
28

BATTLE

“They’re attacking us,” a tech said. Despite years of training, he couldn’t keep the surprise from his voice.

The main display showed the Forsaken barreling toward their encampment. Halcylon frowned at the screen.
Well played, human.
Halcylon thought.