Bloodlord (Soulguard Book 3) (9 page)

Chapter 16

              "Apparently," I said, "Whatever this metal the Makers created can stand up to the Source flowing through it without degrading."

              "That's interesting," Darrel said, looking closer at the walls of the building built around the spot where the Great Gate opened. "It would make for a much better material for the Source Weapons."

              "I wish we knew what it was," I said. "I should try to cut a piece of it and take it back with me."

              "Definitely," he said.

              This was the most I had spoken with Darrel Barnes since First Kansas and I found that I missed talking with my friend. He and Paige had been my friends at the Academy. We had gone our separate ways but had kept in touch. Until I ripped his Soulstream wide open and left him unconscious from too much of the Source flowing through him.

I had made many mistakes that day. Mistakes that I would change if I could. I had healed my mom, but something in her abdomen, where the huge cut had been, hadn't been in the right place when I did it. She was still strong and fast but her movements were limited after that.

I had tied myself to the Source with huge tendrils of power to finish cutting the huge Source cables that held that gate open. Behind me were two hundred new Mages who could have supported me and I didn’t realize. I spent a week or so in a Source Coma for that one. I would have died without my friends supporting me and Lyrica traipsing through my head to bring me back.

I lost men when they lost focus and the Source burned them up. Friends who died because I didn't know what I was doing. Pat Shoffner had been a good kid. He was one of those who hadn't held focus well enough.

I'd learned a lot since then. Brute force isn't always the answer. Since the machine is powered by the Source, perhaps I could manipulate the Gates in some way. Maybe, after this war is over, if I survive it, I can experiment on one to find out.

"Maybe we can find an out of the way spot and see if you can cut it," he said.

We headed around the building to a spot on the back side. I had crafted a smaller version of the cutter I had used in Kansas some time back while experimenting. This one would focus a six inch feeder down to a quarter of an inch and it would burn hotter than a plasma torch.

              I Pulled and sent it into that six inch feeder. The quarter inch cutter glowed white as it fired. I couldn’t actually see if it was cutting because I needed a welding helmet. But I ran the beam around in a sguare.

When I shut it off, Darrel looked closer.

"Son of a bitch," he said, "That barely scratched it."

He was right. I could see where my cutter had ran around the square, but the cut was hardly even there. How the hell had Merlin destroyed a whole building made of this stuff?

I heard people running around the building.

"What the hell is goin on?" Sam asked, looking for the enemy. They had felt my Pull and come running.

Gorvelis was right behind Sam.

"I wanted a sample of this metal to take back with me," I said, "I was trying to cut a piece out of the wall. It doesn't cut very easy."

"No need for desecrating our Capitol building, Rash'Tor'Ri," Gorvelis said, "There are many small scraps of this metal. I will send some with you."

"I guess I should've asked," I said, "Sorry of I desecrated something, I didn't think."

"You didn't," he said with a chuckle, "I was being, what did you call it? A smart ass?"

"I go to another friggin' world and I still get the same shit."

"Maybe ya shoulda thought of that before you put a Mark of your smart assed self into the minds of a bunch of telepathic assassins," Sam shrugged, "Just sayin'"

"What's your damn excuse?"

"Oh, I'm just a smart ass, by nature."

"I see," I said, "I'm just surrounded by smartasses."

"It seems so."

***

I stood in the center of  the clearing in front of the Gate that Pos'Far'Nadir had just come through with eighteen Kresh'Ma'Nar. Among them were my four Ma'Nar.

"Welcome Dun'Fil'Resaf, Pas'Lod'Tores, Sin'Kol'Wari, Jor'Som'Marak," I greeted my four Ma'Nar, "Are you ready to make history?"

"It worries me when Rash'Tor'Ri wants to make history," Dun'Fil'Resaf said, "It is never a small thing with you. What is it you wish from your Ma'Nar?"

Parts of what Dun'Fil'Resaf said was in English and other parts in Kresh. I had no trouble understanding them since my telepathic link with them was so strong. My bond with those I Mark is much stronger than the telepathic connection I can form with anyone else.

"Here's what I'm gonna want," I said, "This goes for all of you. When I give the word, you all will focus on the Mark inside you and, just as you would Mark another, you Lash that Mark at me."

"It is your Mark, Rash'Tor'Ri, it will do nothing."

"I intend to show you that it will do something," I said, "Something you have never even imagined."

"We will do as you say, Rash'Tor'Ri," Pos'Far'Nadir said.

Dun'Fil'Resaf nodded, as did the rest of the Kresh arrayed before me. There were a hundred and fifty Shak'Tar, which was a better number than I had expected. It had just worked out that a group had been on their way through Hub and slipped through to join us.

I was a little nervous. I'd seen Gorvelis do this in a memory of one of his scouts. He had used the combined power of five hundred Shak'Tar to Mark Pos'Far'Nadir. It was a powerful Mark but four of the Ma'Nar standing here could make one that powerful if combined.

The mental strength of what I had standing before me was staggering in comparison.

What if I failed?

"You are Rash'Tor'Ri," Kil'Sin'Deres said from behind me, "Your men say you don't even know how to fail."

"I'm glad they have all that faith in me, cause this is a pretty big move."

"But look around you, Rash'Tor'Ri, at what has been accomplished already," he said, "From a single Mark."

"Most fight the Mark," he said, "Worry not, I have no intention of fighting. I welcome it."

"All right," I said and turned to face Kil'Sin'Deres. "Are you ready?"

He nodded.

I raised my hand in the air and focused my will on the Mark. In essence, it was everything that made me who I am. The loyalty I had learned from Kharl and Kyra, the honor I had learned throughout my years serving with the brave men and women in the Soulguard. The hope I held for the end of a war that had already consumed much and would consume much more. My losses of friends and family, and the gaining of more of them. My love that centered around the woman that I adore. My hate of all that stood in our path. My fears and my dreams. And my bottomless pit of rage.

All of this, I focused and said, "Now!"

The wall of mental strength hit me and It was all that I had brought forward. I landed on my knees as it hit me like a physical blow. Then I added all of my will and Lashed forward at the lone figure standing before me.

I saw his Soul as the Lash hit him and he staggered backwards to stumble and fall. It was as if parts of his Soul were obliterated in the massive wave of mental power that washed over him.

Then it was done and I staggered forward toward my new brother. I could feel his mind as he was studying the Mark. I could see the surprise at the changes he felt inside himself.

"You ok?"

"That was different," he said as he sat back up from the prone position he had landed in.

"But are you still you?" I asked.

"Oh yes," he answered, "and much more, now."

"Good," I said and turned back to see the utter astonishment rolling through the Souls of the Kresh that had been a part of the Mark.

The Shak'Tar had known what to expect but they had no idea of the scale of power that would be used. They had done the single group Mark. This had been hundreds of times more powerful.

"History," I said as I walked past a stunned Dun'Fil'Resaf.

He just nodded.

Chapter 17

"It was a good thing you sent all of your Soulguard friends back across to Hub before you did the Mark," Gorvelis said, "That powerful of a Lash would have Marked everything within ten of your miles."

"It might have been a little overkill," I said.

"No," he said, "for what Kil'Sin'Deres plans, he will need that powerful of a Mark. He plans to Mark other Farrara'Ti with it."

"I must use the Mark sparingly," Kil'Sin'Deres said from behind us, "Used in the right places, we can build our clan large enough to rival the largest of clans. We must be large enough to defeat the largest of clans without so many losses that we cannot face the next one."

"I can see that."

"If I Mark the Farrara'Ti, we gain his clans. If I were to try to Mark all who I see the Mark would lose its potency."

"So, it takes some time to accomplish," I said, "I can understand that. In the meantime, Build forces here and in the Cerres facility. Keep this place safe and we keep the others busy trying to kill us on Earth. I know it’s the best plan we can come up with right now, but I wish it could be something that doesn't cost so many lives."

"There is something I wish to speak to you about," Gorvelis said, "We have heard rumors of someone who calls himself the Prophet of Rash'Tor'Ri. He is moving from village to village on Kresh. Where he goes, the villages are abandoned. They say he has killed Kresh in defense of humans and he talks of freedom."

"I like him already," I said, "Does anyone know who he is or where he came from?"

"I have sent agents to find him and report back with what they learn. One agent is to report here, the other to report to you, personally. I am of a mind to help this Prophet but I will await your orders on this one."

"It all depends on where these people are disappearing to," I said, "If it's some trick and these folks are bein hurt then we stop him. If he is real and he's hiding people, we should tell him of a certain place I know where he could hide millions of people."

"I agree," Gorvelis said, "If he is real, we will help. There is much room on Cerres."

"From what I understand, there's a lot of room in Hub to hide people. All those buildings and no one uses any of the upper floors."

"True," he said, "we used one of the buildings at one point to gather all of the Shak'Tar. There is room to hide thousands up in those buildings. The Kresh are uncomfortable in the small spaces that were designed for the Makers. They just keep them blocked off and use the lower floors that are designed to house the Gates."

"Is the Cerres facility the same?"

"Yes."

"If you don't mind the cramped spaces, Kil'Sin'Deres, I'd like to look at the upper floors on the way back."

"I can stand them, Rash'Tor'Ri," he said, "I have been in worse places than that on your world. All of the caverns were the price I paid to bring my plan to fruition. As it happens, it came by a different set of actions. At least it has come. What I saw yesterday tells me that this plan will work. You taught those who would never have believed how to unify."

"We have Gorvelis and his men to thank for that one," I said, "it had never even occurred to me until I saw what they did, here."

There was another of the Shak'Tar over on the other side of the room. He was in conversation with one of the Soulguards that had come across with us. David Mitchell was explaining how to tie the Soulstream into the knotted stream of a Guard.

I could already see the Shak'Tar, Sain Kifert's, Soulstream twitching as he was listening to Mitchell.

Mitchell motioned like he was looping around and the Shak'Tar followed with his mind. I saw the Stream bend and loop around and His aura blazed in surprise and awe as the first step, which was the hardest for most, was completed.

David slapped him on the back with a huge grin.

"I knew telepathic recruits would progress fast, but, damn."

Gorvelis looked over and his eyes widened as he read in Sain's mind what had just happened.

"That will be quite useful," he said.

"It's been quite useful on my world, Touran," I said with a grin.

"Are you ready to return to Earth, Rash'Tor'Ri?" Kil'Sin'Deres asked.

"Yeah," I said, "I guess so. I need to talk to Sam before we go. I want him to come take a look at the upper floors of the Cerres building. I have some ideas."

"I will be ready at the gate."

"I'll be there in a few minutes," I said and went on the search for Sam Keller.

It didn't take long to find him. He was talking to Golin Frey, one of Gorvelis' scouts.

"Hey, Sam," I said, "I'm about to head back and I wanted you to join me for a minute, if you have time."

"I'll get back with ya on this, Golin," he said and turned to me. "What ya got in mind?"

"On our way out, we're goin to look into the upper floors of the Cerres building. I'm thinkin it would be a good place to use as a posting for the new Guards as they get through training. They say there's room for thousands up in the tops of these buildings. Seems like a waste of space that we could be usin."

"Now, that's a good idea," he said, "I heard one of the scouts say the Kresh don't use anything above the lower floors cause of the cramped spaces. We can take care of that for ya, though. I'm sure Lyrica is pacin the floor the longer you're here."

"You do have a point," I said, "As soon as you get a report ready, send it. We also need to know when it's safe to send another group of Guards through, as well as family members. The Shak'Tar seem to be able to move around, even when the wars are goin on."

"Will do, Boss," he said, "Now, get back home and get ready for the bastards to poke their heads back out."

"Sure thing, good luck over here."

"Same to you, I think you need it more than I do. There are about twenty million Kresh between us and them after Kil'Sin'Deres gets his people in place."

"True enough."

I turned and headed toward the Gate. I met Touran who carried a satchel.

"Your metal samples," he said.

"Good deal," I said, "If we can figure this stuff out we can use it for the guns."

"Is it so strong, it can't be cut?"

"No, I can cut it with more power. It's just stronger than the hardened steel we've been usin. A plasma torch could cut it, given enough time."

"I hope it is useful."

"Me too, Touran," I said and shook his hand, "You've done an incredible thing here."

"Thank you," he said, "I, actually expected to see more anger after the information that was sent to me."

"In all honesty, I was angry. But I've learned some since then about the world you and all of these people were raised in. You did what comes natural to you and I can't really fault you for that. It helps that, the second I stepped onto this world, I felt at peace. Like I had come home."

"It is the way of the Mark."

"I know it's selfish of me to want something like this," I said, "Part of me longs for peace. The other part wants to rip everything apart. Here, I don't feel them warring with each other. Does that make any sense to you?"

"We have the Blood in us, Rash'Tor'Ri," he said, "but the things you can do have brought you more changes than come to us. You can touch their Source as well as your own. It makes you strong, but it feeds the Blood inside. You must be careful and avoid this if you wish to remain who you are. I once told you to embrace that which is inside you. I'm glad that you refused. I think, in your case, it would have been the wrong thing to do."

"The peace you feel here is real and we would welcome you with open arms," he said, "But if you came here now, it would be a temporary peace at best. They would finish your world and come for us next. You have charged me to end my war and govern these people. I charge you to fight that war until you can come and take my place. Make the protection of these people something that is not needed any more. Then you can come home and be at peace."

My eyes burned as his words sank in. I couldn't say no to what he was saying. It's what I was born for. I was born to fight this fight.

But I could also see a glimmer of a hope that I could live after the war. I always worry about the monster I have inside me. About what I would be if I didn’t have the Kresh to fight. Thanks to Gorvelis and his people, I know there is a place that I can go when it is all over and be at peace.

"I swear it, Touran," I said, "I'll fight the war. You keep this place safe. When it's all over we'll have the biggest damn party this world has ever seen."

"That we will, Rash'Tor'Ri."

I turned and walked toward the glow of the Great Gate. Kil'Sin'Deres stood beside the gate, waiting.

"Time to start covering your mind glow, Rash'Tor'Ri," he said, "We are about to go back into danger. A group of humans with a group of Kresh is not uncommon. A single Human and a Farrara'Ti is less common. Calm your mind as we proceed."

"Alright," I said, "Let's do it."

We stepped through the gate.