SoulQuest (21 page)

“What
are
you?” asked Ekala.

“Trespassers!” the creature hissed before charging, her clawed hands flying towards Ekala. The young thief could barely keep out of reach, and the claws caught her cloak as she tried to dodge the strikes. Ekala dropped to the snow, leaving a clear path between the cat-person and Tanus, whose gun was pointed right at the her. Tanus fired a pulse blast on a lower setting, powerful enough to leave the creature reeling.
 

Swul swooped down behind, gripping his axe at both ends of the shaft, slipping it over the creature’s head and holding it against her throat. He struggled with her, the feline woman flailing from side to side to shake the faerie loose, but Swul was unwilling to release his grasp. She flipped forward, landing on her back, and by extension, Swul. That was enough to shake him loose and she scrambled to her feet, kicking up ice and clots of snow.
 

Tanus came at her again, firing more energy pulses. Her lithe form evaded them with incredible precision, and with each dodge, she moved closer to him, until she was within range to jump for his artificial arm. In mid-leap, she gripped the arm, pushing his aim awry. Her legs struck Tanus, driving his body into the snow.
 

Zarim came at her next, firing rounds from his pistol. Still, the creature moved nimbly. Zarim held the stone in one hand and he noticed her eyes locking onto it. The two circled each other, maintaining a distance. Each waited for the other to strike first. But their fracas was interrupted by the intervention of a third figure who jumped between them.

“Stop this!” said Reyche.

“Get outta the way,” said Zarim.
 

“Let’s see if we can figure out what’s going on here before someone is killed,” said Reyche. She now turned her gaze to their foe. “You can speak our language, can’t you?”

The cat-person nodded. “She speaks, yes.”

“Why did you attack us?” asked Reyche.
 

“They trespass on Felidae territory. She only defends what is hers,” answered the creature.”

“I’m sorry, we didn’t mean to trespass,” said Reyche. “We didn’t know anyone was out here, we were simply trying to get what is ours.”

“And what is theirs?” the creature asked.

Reyche looked to Zarim, who understood this was his cue. He kept his gun drawn, but slowly raised the Soulstone so the creature could see it clearly. Reyche again regarded her and asked, “is this your property?”

The strange cat-woman appeared puzzled as she studied the gem from afar. Gently, her head turned from side to side. “She has never laid eyes on that object.”

“It’s important for us to take it, important for the world,” said Zarim.
 

The woman watched them with a cautious curiosity. “They...are not here to harm Felidae?”

Reyche shook her head. “No, we’re not. My name is Reyche. Reyche Estry. Do you have a name?”

The woman nodded. “She is called simply Liran of the Felidae.”

“Will you allow us to leave peacefully?” asked Reyche. “We want no trouble.”

Liran pointed a clawed finger at the Soulstone. “So long as it is on Felidae land, it is Felidae property. They must not leave without permission from the Chieftain.”

“I suggest you count again, babe,” said Swul, hovering towards her while brandishing his axe. “There are five of us an’ one of you.”

Liran smirked. “She does not travel alone. She simply wished to test her mettle first.”

From over the hills, around a dozen more beings who resembled Liran appeared. They brandished spears, swords, and arrows notched in bows, prepared to be released. Liran folded her arms and stood upright as the other Felidae, all of whom appeared to be female, descended upon their party.
 

“This is starting to become a habit,” muttered Ekala.
 

A sense of
deja vu
was felt by Zarim, Tanus and Ekala while they, alongside Swul and Reyche, were escorted by the dozen or so feline warriors into the heart of the Felidae village. The Felidae colony wasn’t far from the spot where Liran had ambushed the crew of the Excalibur. The village was nestled in a valley between the snowy mountains of the northern region. There were homes arranged in the village made of thatched reeds. The Felidae themselves seemed unburdened by the weather, instead they wandered about the village, preparing meals over outdoor fire pits made of stone, while torches on pikes bathed the settlement in an orange glow.

An interesting switch the crew noticed was the reversal of gender roles. The warriors all appeared to be female, while the Felidae who were preparing food and watching after the children were all male. Liran led the crew and their garrison escort through the town, earning stares from the villagers. The children appeared baffled by the visitors, but the adults looked suspicious and some didn’t even bother hiding their hatred, baring their teeth and growling as the outsiders walked past.

“To Felidae, only two groups—Felidae and not-Felidae,” said Liran. “Only one is trusted. Many have never seen not-Felidae.”

“Where are you taking us?” asked Zarim.

“To see Chieftain,” said Liran. “Not-Felidae will explain their purpose in these lands. She will make judgment.”

As they moved through the town, they saw no doors on any of the homes. The entrances were wide open to accept any Felidae visitors. In the center of town was a ring, with stone marking the edges. The ring itself made of ice. In the ring, two Felidae squared off each other, while the others watched. The two female warriors circled each other, taking careful steps on the icy surface. One, with graying streaks in her fur, had her mane braided in an elaborate fashion , while her challenger’s mane was wild and untamed, her fur pure white. Clearly the challenger was the younger of the two.

Roaring, the young lioness sprang at her elder. The elder braced herself, and when the young one struck she took hold, spinning the two of them on the ice. The elder released, throwing the youngster across the ice. She slid, going over the edge of the ring and tumbling into the snow. Cheers erupted from the crowd gathered around the ring, and the elder held her arms up to the air, unleashing a victorious roar from her lungs.

As she stopped, she noticed Liran and the garrison, as well as the newcomers. The elder slid across the ice and gracefully hopped from the ring, walking towards the group. She stared at Liran, her gaze a mixture of anger and confusion.

“Why are not-Felidae in Felidae presence?” she asked.

Liran first bowed her head in reverence to the Chieftain. “She found them in the wild. They are skilled warriors.”

“More reason to bring them death,” said the Chieftain.

On that word, the garrison readied their weapons. Liran roared at the troops, and they relented. She stared down the Chieftain. “She means no disrespect. They say they are not here for Felidae.”

The Chieftain hissed. “Not-Felidae have said so in past. They always betray Felidae.”

“They discovered something in cave,” said Liran, gesturing to the Soulstone in Zarim’s hands. “They say they shall leave with it, never to return.”

The Chieftain found herself enthralled by the glow of the Soulstone. She gently pushed Liran aside and stepped up to Zarim. Her height was easily seven feet, and she dwarfed the cloaked pirate as she stared down at him. Zarim simply stared back at her, the ethereal glow of the Soulstone present in his eyes. She hissed once more.

“What is this sorcery?”

“This stone is important to us, we’re on a mission,” said Zarim. “Without it, there are forces that could threaten you and your people. If we don’t take it away, they will come for it.”

“Of what forces does it speak?”

“An empire,” said Zarim. “Led by a mad sorcerer. If you don’t let us take this stone, they will come for you. And they won’t come with a small group like we did, but with an army.”

“He ain’t fibbin’,” said Swul. “Last time this threat sent out some foot soldiers, they broke the defenses of the faerie kingdom. An’ that was only three of ‘em. Imagine what they’d do here with a whole lot more.”

“It speaks of war between Felidae and not-Felidae,” said Liran. “She believes this is bad for Felidae.”

“The Chieftain agrees.” She turned her back on the group and gestured to a larger reed home up on the slope. “Bring them to Chieftain’s hall. There it will be discussed.”

The garrison and Liran followed the Chieftain as she walked towards her home. One of the troops nudged Swul along with the blunt end of her spear and he grumbled in response. Ekala moved as close to Zarim as she could get and began to whisper to him. “We should’ve just killed that cat-woman when we had the chance. If not for that pacifist we picked up...” She shot a glare at Reyche. The vampire could hear her, and Ekala no doubt knew that. But Reyche didn’t give her the satisfaction of an acknowledgment.

“We were surrounded, just didn’t know it,” Zarim whispered back. “If we killed Liran, those Felidae would probably have killed us on the spot. Reyche inadvertently gave us a fighting chance.”

“So now what?” asked Ekala. “Gonna use the Soulstone power or whatever to get us out of this?”

“And go from fighting a dozen Felidae to fighting a whole village?” Zarim shook his head. “Uh-uh, we try diplomacy first.”

The Chieftain’s home, like the others, held no door. She simply entered and Liran followed. Zarim and his crew walked inside, but the garrison remained outside, barring their escape. Reeds were also used in the construction of the floor and a round, wooden table sat in the middle of the room, very close to the ground. Further in, they could see rolled mats, but no other furniture. There was a rug that appeared to be made from the fur of an animal. The Chieftain sat on her knees and Liran by her side, who motioned around the wooden surface.
 

“They are to sit,” she said.

They did just that. Reyche sat on her knees like the Felidae, folding her long dress beneath her. Tanus sat on one knee, with Swul plopping down beside him, knees held to his chest. Both Zarim and Ekala sat with their legs crossed.

“What power does this stone possess?” asked the Chieftain.

“It’s one of a set,” said Zarim. “When all five are gathered together, whoever has them will have the power of the gods. The man who’s after them, our enemy, he’ll use this power to plunge the world into darkness. Remake it in his own image.”

“And what will it do?” asked the Chieftain.

Zarim paused for a moment to decipher her meaning. “What will we do with them? Well, we’re going to make sure they don’t pose a threat to anyone.”

“It will destroy them?” asked the Chieftain.
 

“They can’t be destroyed, but they can be hidden,” said Zarim. “Make it so they won’t awaken for thousands of years.”

“What certainties does it provide?”

“Umm, certainties?” asked Swul.

“Power is dangerous. If it gains all stones, how can she be certain it will not be corrupted by the power?”

“Who else you gonna trust?” asked Ekala.

Zarim smacked her knee. “Forgive her. You have my word that we’ll see to it they never pose a threat to you again.”

“Hmph,” she huffed. “It gives its word. She has heard this promise before. From others of its kind.” The Chieftain rose to her feet. “The stone remains with Felidae. Felidae shall keep it safe.”

Zarim stood as well. “Sorry, but I can’t allow that.”

The Chieftain’s eyes narrowed. “It wishes to challenge the Chieftain?”

“Your people attacked
us
. We just wanted to get in and get out,” said Tanus.

Liran stood, staring at the Chieftain. “She believes their tale. Chieftain should release them.”

The Chieftain’s barely-restrained anger now directed at her subject. “She will obey the words of her Chieftain. The words of her mother.” Her head turned towards the door. “Remove them.”

The garrison entered the room, pushing the points of their spears against their prisoners. Before Zarim could react, the Chieftain pulled the Soulstone from his grasp and shoved him to the ground. Zarim sighed as looked up. “You’re making a big mistake here.”

“If it speaks the truth of this empire, then she shall deal with them if time comes,” said the Chieftain, staring at the stone. “But these creatures shall be removed from her presence.”

“Just remember we gave you a chance,” said Tanus.

The Chieftain laughed. “It thinks itself a threat.”

The garrison escorted the crew from the hut and the Chieftain was left alone with Liran. The younger Felidae scowled at her leader. The Chieftain took notice of this and finally addressed her subject. “Liran will explain her thoughts.”

“She believes their story,” said Liran. “This threat feels genuine. It was she who attacked first, not them. They hold no danger for Felidae.”

The Chieftain held up her head. “She questions her Chieftain? Questions her
mother
?”

Liran nodded. “She believes her Chieftain—her mother—is wrong.”

“Liran should take care how she speaks,” said the Chieftain. “If she still desires to remain Felidae.”

“She does,” said Liran. “But for that, there must
be
a tribe. Her Chieftain’s actions may mark the end of Felidae.”

Liran dropped low, sweeping her leg across the ground. She kicked her mother’s legs out and the Chieftain toppled. The stone hovered briefly in the air and Liran reached out, her clawed fingers tipping it towards her and allowing her to catch it in her grasp. Liran moved to the door, but heard a fierce growl behind her. She turned to face her mother, just as the Chieftain leapt at her, knocking the two of them through the wall. They rolled in the snow and down the slope, the garrison and the crew stopping to watch.
 

Liran got up first, still holding the stone. But the Chieftain was up in nearly an instant, her form slightly larger. Liran tossed the Soulstone away and engaged her mother, jumping to meet her head, her arms slashing at the Chieftain’s body. The Chieftain used her superior size and strength to her advantage, batting away Liran’s left hand then right, and throwing her arm at her child’s neck in an effort to bring her down.