Authors: Stuart Meczes
The Veil (2 page)
Alex
Invisible hands wrapped around my throat, choking me. My temples thumped in a drumbeat that matched the frantic pounding of my heart, and pressure raced outwards from my chest like a shockwave threatening to grind my bones into dust.
Then it was over.
I burst out of the Veil and stumbled forward a few steps. A second later Gabriella emerged, coughing and clutching at her chest. I placed a steadying hand on her shoulder and she nodded up at me.
I can’t believe we’re here… We’re in Pandemonia.
One by one the rest of Orion burst through the Veil, gasping and swearing as they stumbled into the new world. It wasn’t long before all eleven Guardians and five Unicorns had crossed the threshold between worlds. A couple of the Fera bucked and whinnied in distress, and it took several of the team to restrain them. In contrast, Isiodore – the stallion of the herd – stood like a regal statue, aquamarine eyes surveying the scene as if recalling forgotten memories.
“Everybody okay?” asked Gabriella once we had settled the Unicorns.
“Apart from feelin’ like I just got pushed through a grinder, ah’m awesome,” quipped Delagio, checking over his guns. Everyone else agreed that they were okay. My heartbeat was thumping overtime as I looked at my teammates, and a sudden wave of unease washed over me.
Have I really done this? Have I really bought the people I care about most to a war-torn world?
“What…is this place?” asked Sophia, her voice full of wonder. Her words snapped the tether connected to my panicking thoughts, and I turned to look.
It was a good question.
We had emerged onto an altar within some immense shrine. The towering Veil shard stood behind us – framed by horn-like silver arches – and in front, marbled steps led to a vast chamber covered with several inches of shimmering water. Flickering candelabras ran the length of the flooded room – scattering shadows in petals around them – and waterfalls ran down the walls, disappearing into narrow slits and filling the shrine with a
shushing
sound. Overseeing everything was the biggest statue I’d ever seen, carved from smooth rock the colour of milk. It had been crafted into a hulking whale-like creature of incredible detail, with spiked fins that ran the length of its body and a heaving tail that wrapped around a sword as tall as a house. The open mouth alone was wide enough to swallow us all.
“I’ve a feelin’ we’re not in Kansas anymore,” quipped Delagio.
I could send them back…
A set of impossibly large doors at the end of the cavernous chamber heaved open, sending water rippling towards us, and a series of tall figures marched into the room. They were clearly the Lightwardens Sage Faru had mentioned. Each wore a set of metallic armour resembling a bed of white leaves and matching helmets with a V-shaped peak and twin blades at the sides; they resembled the folded wings of a swan. To complete the look, they wore one-shouldered cloaks so blue they could have been cut from the ocean. And all of them were carrying what looked like the deadly offspring of a gun and a pike.
It didn’t do much to squash the uneasy feeling.
The twenty-odd Lightwardens split into two rows and took up position between the candelabras. Then in perfect symmetry they all spun their gunpikes and stamped them into the ground, sending water splashing up around them. A second later, a final figure stepped into the chamber. He walked between the guards, carrying an air of grace with him. He stood tallest of all – probably six foot seven – but wore it well. He took off his helmet, exposing angular features and keen purple eyes. His pale blonde hair was fixed into a ponytail by a jeweled band, and it swung lazily as he studied each of us in turn. The uniform he wore was a superior version of the others – each leaf of the plate armour had been stamped with decorative flourishes. His cloak was full and lay fastened around his collarbone with linked broaches designed to look like golden wings.
“Travellers,” he said in a voice that had been honed to command respect. “Please display the marks of the Alliance.”
Gabriella nodded and we all pulled back our uniform sleeves to display our left wrists. After a few seconds the universally known symbol carved with Dragon’s blood bloomed on the skin.
The Highwarden gave a satisfied nod. “Thank you. Sage Faru had made us aware of your imminent arrival, however these days one can never be too careful.” He opened his arms in a welcoming gesture. “Guardians, I am Aegis Caria, Highwarden of the Wardens of Light. Welcome to the Temple of Cetus.”
I glanced back over at the imposing statue.
Cetus…that’s the Water Elemental. They must worship it here. Makes sense…Fenodara is the Water City, after all.
Gabriella stepped forward, folding her arms behind her back. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Highwarden Caria. I am Gabriella De Luca, Huntmaster of Orion Squad, pledged to the Warren charter of the Alliance.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Huntmaster. And please, call me Aegis.”
“Thank you, Aegis.” She gestured towards Scarlett. “This is Scarlett Reid, my second in command.”
The Bloodling gave a respectful nod.
“A pleasure.”
“This is Alexander Eden,” Gabriella added, gesturing towards me.
I was surprised when the Highwarden placed a fist against his chest and gave a deep bow. “It is an honour to meet the Sorrowslayer in person. Your actions undoubtedly saved countless Luminar lives, not to mention put the fear of the Elementals into the Umbra. We are in your debt, and it is a privilege to have you here.”
I felt my face flush at Aegis’s unexpected compliment. It hadn’t really occurred to me that my defeating of The Sorrow had become such widespread knowledge.
Sorrowslayer?
As guilty as it made me feel, I had to admit that the name had a nice ring to it
.
“It is an honour to be here,” I said as confidently as I could manage.
Gabriella carried on introducing the rest of the team. I noticed Aegis frown slightly when his gaze landed on Iralia – who was busy folding her leathery Succubus wings up behind her back – but he said nothing. Once the introductions were over, the Highwarden leaned towards one of the guards and spoke in Shillah – a common Elf dialect. I tried to hear what he was saying but couldn’t, so when six of his guards suddenly paced towards us, my evolved body acted on autopilot. As soon as the first warden reached me, I seized his shoulder, fixing him in place. He tried to use his weapon to bat me off, but I grabbed it with my other hand and held tight, stopping him. The remaining guards reacted in an instant – aiming their gunpikes at me and glancing warily at the Highwarden. I kept my firm grip on the Lightwarden’s shoulder and his weapon, every inch of me ready to attack. After defeating the Darkness that had taken over my body, my power had grown infinitely. I didn’t know what they were planning, but if they tried something, they wouldn’t last long.
“Alex, what are you
doing
?” hissed Gabriella.
“What did you order your men to do?” I demanded, glaring at Aegis.
The Highwarden raised both his hands in a placating gesture. “I apologise if we alarmed you, Guardian Eden. The orders were simply for my men to assist you with the Unicorns.”
Oh…
Instantly I could feel the hot fingers of embarrassment creeping up my neck, and I knew I’d overreacted.
“I’m sorry,” I said, releasing my grip on the Lightwarden’s shoulder and gunpike. He shrank back away from me, trying his best not to show his pain. The others kept their weapons aimed at me.
“Vordor,” commanded Aegis, raising his hand. All of the Lightwardens instantly lowered their weapons. “No apologies necessary, Guardian Eden,” said the Highwarden in a diplomatic tone. His face broke into an easy smile as he gestured towards me. “You are in an unfamiliar world meeting unfamiliar people. Being apprehensive is the right attitude to take. However, I can assure you, you are among friends…not enemies.” As the Highwarden spoke, his wardens climbed the steps – my muscles twitching as they passed us – and took the Unicorns’ reins, whispering to them in a soothing foreign tongue as they guided them back down the stairs and out the temple door.
“We have a transportation Valoon ready to sail your Fera companions to Fenodara ahead of us,” he continued. “My Lightwardens will see to it that they are well cared for in the city stables and available whenever you might require them.” Aegis made a gesture for us to follow him and then turned on his heel, helmet pressed between his hip and arm like a giant shell.
After a quick glance, we all descended the steps, falling into rows, with Gabriella and me leading. “What was that about?” she whispered.
“Nothing,” I replied. “Like he said, it’s all unfamiliar. I think I’m just a bit on edge, that’s all.”
Gabriella squeezed my hand. “Everything is going to be okay.”
I smiled back.
God, I hope so.
The guards fell in around us as we walked, their heads fixed forwards and mouths closed. Aegis slowed his pace so he was walking next to Gabriella and me.
“Your arrival could not have been more perfectly timed,” he said. “Today is Ar’Quistis – the Fenodarian New Year. Tonight the whole city will be celebrating the Water Festival. There will be parades, games, shows, events and all sorts of other activities, which you can watch or even partake in should you wish to do so.”
“Sounds fantastic,” said Gabriella.
Aegis smiled. “It is. It also helps our citizens forget about the atrocities of this terrible war…for one evening at least.” He cleared his throat. “Anyway, I have been instructed to escort you into the city itself, where you will stay overnight. Tomorrow morning you will meet the Elder Council at the Tower of Ascension.”
“Thank you, Highwarden.”
Aegis nodded. “Each of your homesteads will contain the customary Fenodarian attire, which we do expect all visitors to wear when within the city. In addition the Alliance arranged for a portion of your salaries to be transferred onto currency cards, which you can spend at any festival stall, activity centre or shop you might chose to visit. Dinner is served in the Atrius half an hour after the second chime of the Great Clock.” He turned to look at Gabriella. “I would be honoured if you and your fellow Guardians would dine with me.”
“That is a very kind offer, Highwarden. We would be happy to.”
“Excellent. Before then, and any time up until tonight’s extended curfew, you are free to do as you wish.” We reached temple doors and the Highwarden stopped. “I only ask two things of you during your stay in Fenodara. One is to refrain from any attempt to enter restricted areas or venture beyond our gates. As I am sure you are aware, these are dangerous times and we can ill afford creating unnecessary risks.”
Gabriella nodded. “Of course. And the second thing?”
Aegis cast his eyes over the team, letting his eyes linger on me.
“Don’t cause any trouble.”
The Highwarden stepped across the threshold into the brilliant light of the outdoors. We appeared on a stone balcony and my breath rushed from my lungs. Around me, the others stifled gasps and made sounds of awe.
The beauty of the vista that stretched out beyond us was almost too incredible to describe. The temple was set high up in a cluster of mountains blanketed in a mixture of golden and green trees. All around us, water cascaded down between the rocks like liquid lightening, scattering out in a hundred different paths and dropping into countless pools of turquoise water. At the base of the mountains, the water converged into a gigantic cove before carrying on out to sea.
And rising from the cove, like a divine monument, was Fenodara.
The whole city had been constructed on a massive plate of land that towered a thousand feet above the water, held up by a colossal rock pillar. A landscape of golden buildings cut the skyline like celestial blades. The sky itself wasn’t the diseased black of a sick world - as I’d imagined it would be - but crystal blue and clear as far as the eye could see. Large ships patrolled the water around the column, sporting sails that flapped like tiny folds of paper in the distance.
This is nothing like what I expected. This is…this is incredible.
As if hearing my thoughts, Aegis gestured out towards the beautiful landscape. “Fenodara is one of the few areas left standing that hasn’t been completely ravaged by the curse of the war. We fight hard to keep it that way.”
“Looks like what you’re doing is working,” I said.
“Have you ever seen anything so amazing?” Sophia whispered to Midnight. I could hear the excitement bubbling in her voice and felt a stab of emotion in my gut. I glanced at Gabriella, whose smile widened. Sophia had been through so much: physically abused by her junkie mother and then losing the man who had become her father, and now living on borrowed time, victim of an irreversible ageing spell. Her story was one of absolute tragedy, so seeing her with an expression other than abject misery or resigned apathy reminded me of the innocent girl she had once been.
Midnight stared up at her, cocking his head to the side. She rolled her eyes theatrically. “Go on then.”
The Familiar shifted into a majestic black hawk and then hopped into the air, sweeping towards the distant city until he became a tattoo on the shimmering skyline.