Interphase (54 page)

=Inside an encryption layer?= David asked. Warning flags waved in his mind. This place was a defense mechanism, not a module. An access point would have no place here. =I'll take a look at it when we meet up.=

=You know, we might be able to use it to bypass this whole maze thing.=

=Leave it be, Lucas. Wait for me and Thomas to get—=

A shrieking alarm cut him off. David and Thomas clapped their hands over their ears.

=Shit,= Clyde shouted. =What the hell did you—=

The tell-channel went silent.

David swore and tried to load a connection monitor. "I'm getting some interference, but I think the two of them aren't with us anymore. It's just us now."

"Where are they?" Thomas asked.

The sound of whirring blades surrounded them. "Somewhere a lot safer than we're about to be. Move!"

Swarms of patrollers flowed down the corridors. David shifted into Rex; while the hallway was now a bit cramped, his shielding would help prevent them from being torn to shreds. "Stay within my shield," he shouted.

"David, I can barely see where we're going!" Thomas replied.

"Just pick a direction and start moving!"

Blades buzzed against David's shield, but the energy field held them back. The bots swarmed angrily outside the barrier as David and Thomas hurried down the corridor. The spinning noises stopped, and David looked up to see the blades fold into the bots, to be replaced by small cannons. As if controlled by a hidden signal, the bots all fired together.

The bolts fizzled harmlessly against David's shield, and the defenders paused again. A second, smaller piece swung down from their bodies and attached to the cannon. When they resumed firing, the energy streams flew unhindered into their targets.

David could feel the sting of the blasts through his armor, and he knew that Thomas's defenses would not hold for long. He pushed past Thomas to absorb the brunt of the attack, and they stumbled on, hardly paying attention to which passage they took. He raised his rifle and fired a spray of bullets ahead of them. Sparks showered the corridor, and dozens of bots fell to the ground, only to be replaced by hundreds more. The stinging bolts pounded relentlessly, and David wondered if they would make it through. Behind him, Thomas stumbled. The defenders swooped in, but David reached back and hauled Thomas to his feet. Ahead of them, the torchlight gave way to a flickering green barrier.

David pointed forward. "There. Run!" He poured every last ounce of strength he had into a final sprint and dashed through the opening.

The corridors and the bots disappeared. David slipped on a patch of damp weeds and fell to the ground, gasping. His control faltered, and he reverted to his natural form. It felt like someone was driving burning needles into every inch of his skin.

Thomas was in a similar state. Unlike David, he bore several scorch marks where his armor had not protected against the blasts.

But, though wounded, they had made it. The castle towered above them. David clambered to his feet and loaded the Wraith. The pain was transitory. The mission was imperative.

Analara is inside. I'm not leaving without her.

"How should we do this?" Thomas asked, struggling to his feet and reloading his avatar. "Do we directly assault the castle gates? Or do we hope that they left the front door unlocked?"

"Like any good designer, I left a back door open," David replied. He raised his mask and stared up at the castle. =Follow me, but stick to the tell channels.=

=I think Clyde and Lucas will be sorry they missed the fun,= Thomas sent dryly.

David led them into a forested area near the cliffs. The sun had already set, and the evening shadows were lengthening, but he moved unerringly through the trees to a clear stretch of rock wall. He pushed against an indentation in a outcropping, and a stone slab swung inward. They moved inside, and David took a burning torch from its holder.

They moved rapidly through the tunnel, and David signaled a halt once they reached a narrow doorway. He extinguished the torch and crept forward. =I know it might be hard in that jingling armor of yours, but try and keep quiet.=

Thomas paused, and in the dim light, David could see his armor shift into something smaller. Thomas snuck up beside him, and appeared to be wearing a suit of supple leather. =Just try and keep up with me.=

David blinked in surprise, then shook his head. He motioned forward, and they slipped into the castle basement. His cloak was indistinguishable from the shadows. His boots made no noise against the stone floor, and he kept the Wraithblade sheathed but ready. Thomas kept pace with him, equally silent. =Since when did you learn to be so sneaky?= David asked.

=I didn't start out in V-Net as a knight, if you must know,= Thomas replied, then moved ahead.

David blinked again. Obviously there was more to his friend than he'd first suspected. But they were there for a reason, and other topics would have to wait. He hurried up the stairs ahead, looking for Thomas.

=I see a guard,= Thomas sent from ahead. David caught up to him and peered around the corner. A figure waited, his gray tunic barely visible in the fading light from the window.

=That isn't one of the Siathrak,= David sent worriedly.

=Who is he then?= Thomas replied.

=That looks like the uniform of a guard from Ilinar.= David thought back, recalling the fight against Shalaron in Analath. The guards who had come to Shalaron's aid had worn the same tunics. Had Rupu led a rebellion against the Sage?

David shook his head. What had happened there was unimportant for now. The memory of the Anrathian he had killed the last time he'd gone to rescue Analara still burned in his mind. =I don't know what's going on between Rupu and Shalaron, but we will avoid killing any of the guards unless we have to.=

Thomas nodded and pulled a thick cudgel from his belt. He took a deep breath, then rushed forward and clubbed the waiting guard. He caught the limp body before it fell and slowly lowered it to the ground. =We should split up, David. I'll send a tell if I find her,= he sent, and slipped down the passageway into the shadows.

David walked back toward the stairwell and continued down the far passage. He searched room by room, his heart leaping with hope any time he saw a figure, but none were Analara. He finished the sweep of the first floor and counted three guards down. Creeping through the upper floors, he continued the hunt. He found nothing on the banquet hall balcony, the grand library, or the observatory, but the heavy doors to the throne room were shut. Peering through the keyhole, he saw two figures, one by the throne and another lying on the floor next to it.

Analara!

=Thomas, I found her. Get to the throne room.=

It seemed like hours passed before Thomas knelt beside him. =What can you see?=

=She's there, Thomas. Someone is guarding her. I can't tell if she's hurt, she's just… lying there!=

Thomas gripped his shoulder. =Be calm. Can you tell how many there are?=

David took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. =I can only see one. Let's hope that it isn't Shalaron.=

=We won't know until we enter.= Thomas stood up. An aura shimmered around him, and his plate mail returned. He reached back and drew his greatsword. David drew the Wraithblade and stood back. =Now!=

The two warriors kicked hard, breaking the door open. Thomas leapt forward and charged into the room. An unarmed man stood on the dais, with a powerful frame despite the gray at his temples. He held his hand up to them in a gesture of parlance. Thomas skidded to a halt and held his blade up, wary of any treachery. David advanced to his side and looked suspiciously at the figure.

"I am Halathas, seneschal to Lord Shalaron. I must admit, your response to our incursion was quicker than I had expected." Halathas stepped down from the throne and stood before them.

David lowered his sword slightly, still unsure about this encounter. "Where is Shalaron? What did you do to Analara? Why did you take her?"

Halathas held up his hands. "Patience, young one. I can answer no more than one question at a time. Shalaron is not here, nor will I reveal to you his location. We have not harmed the girl, despite the fact that she remains a traitor to her people."

David frowned, his gaze troubled, when he heard the word 'traitor'.

Halathas paused for several seconds, studying David intently. "I will admit my surprise, invader. I had thought that you merely wished to use the girl to your own ends, but it seems that you genuinely do care for her. For that, I will share with you that our purpose in capturing her is for the good of our people. We bear no ill will toward her."

Gripping the hilt of the Wraithblade tighter, David spared a glance at Thomas and saw that his friend was glaring at the grizzled warrior.

Halathas's gaze shifted between Thomas and David. After several seconds, a look of resignation passed across his face. "I will be frank with you. I have no desire to destroy either of you in battle. However, I will not allow you to stand in the way of my master's plans for our people. If our conflict is a foregone conclusion, then I shall meet it with my full resolve. Prepare yourselves!"

Halathas stepped back and pivoted, snatching his spear from the throne and assuming a battle stance in one smooth motion. He lunged toward Thomas, planted his spear against the ground and vaulted toward the knight, snapping his foot out in a powerful kick that knocked Thomas backward. David struck at his foe's exposed backside, but Halathas spun, deflecting the blow and landing a strike on David's shoulder with the shaft of the spear.

David backed away from his opponent, his shoulder aching. To the side, he saw Thomas clamber to his feet and approach from behind. David tried to maneuver Halathas in between them, but the old warrior was too crafty. He thrust the spear at David to shy him away, then turned and engaged Thomas. The knight fended off Halathas's attacks for several seconds, but he was not quick enough to parry the strike that pierced his leg.

Shouting a battle cry, David fired a lance of energy at Halathas's back. The warrior spun and reeled backwards as the force bolt tore into his shoulder. He leveled his gaze at David, who felt himself suddenly weighed and judged by a powerful foe. Raising the Wraithblade, he advanced cautiously. The first attacks were measured and tentative, each combatant testing the other's abilities. After that, the battle began in earnest.

There was a measure and a rhythm to the fight. Each move, each feint, each blow called for a different defense, led to a counterattack. David lost himself in the dance, his entire focus drained in the effort of keeping up with his opponent. A subtle shift in the pattern warned him of the incoming blow, but it was too late. Halathas struck with the full length of his spear, shoving David backward. Unknowingly, he had been maneuvered up against the dais, and he tripped and fell to the ground, the Wraithblade clattering away on the marble flagstones.

Time slowed to a crawl as David saw Halathas preparing the final strike. To the side, he saw Thomas creeping toward him. An idea flared in his mind, and he knew he would only get one chance. As the spear rushed toward him, he pushed against the ground and shoved himself into the thrust. His body tensed around the blade as it skewered his side, but he grasped the intruding weapon and held fast. Halathas sensed the impending attack from behind, but no matter his strength, he could not draw his weapon free from David's body.

Halathas closed his eyes, and a breathless moment passed before Thomas's blade tore through his chest. "Well fought…" he whispered. Thomas pulled his sword free, and the old warrior slumped lifelessly to the ground.

David wrenched the spear free with a groan. His hands were slick with blood. Faintly, he heard Thomas fall to his knees, but there was only one thing on David's mind. Wincing with pain, he rolled over onto his stomach and crawled toward the throne. In the back of the room, he saw a glowing doorway open, and Clyde, Lucas and VERA rushed into the room but he paid them no attention. Reaching Analara's body, David stroked a bloody hand across her cheek. Her eyelids fluttered and opened, her gaze meeting David's calmly.

David smiled to himself as his consciousness faded away.

Chapter 44

Shalaron looked away from the emerging stars and regarded the young man kneeling before him. "Are you prepared, Thal?"

"I am, Great Sage," Thal replied without looking up. There was no hesitation, and his voice was calm and steady. "I am prepared to carry out Siath's will."

"Hey," a harsh voice cried, echoing across the clearing. "Who the hell are you people? Don't you know what I am? Release me, damn you!"

A frown curled on Shalaron's lips, and he pointed at the offensive human. "He will be first."

Several guards moved over and hauled the human to his feet, ignoring his insults and feeble struggling. They shoved him to his knees at Shalaron's feet, beside Thal, and used the threat of their spears to hold him still.

Shalaron stepped forward and bade Thal look up. The former guardsman obeyed; his eyes shone with absolute trust. "You shall be the first of my scouts. The mortal arm of our people's restoration. Ready yourself." He pressed his palm over Thal's forehead and repeated the gesture with the trembling human. Closing his eyes, he sent the command to the Core.