Maia and the Xifarian Conspiracy (The Lightbound Saga Book 1) (21 page)

“Don’t know of any others in Armezai.”

“Even if we somehow find out about the Grotto, how will we ever get there?” Dani questioned. “We can’t just ask someone to take us there.”

“We can figure out how once we know where to go,” replied Kusha.

“And what if we’re caught?” Nafi asked, frowning. “It would—”

“I don’t want any of you to get punished because of me,” Dani said firmly, not letting Nafi finish.

Maia could guess what Nafi was worried about. Nafi’s biggest concern was the contest—winning it to be precise—and this new quest could jeopardize it all. She felt a little annoyed at Nafi.

How can she not realize that stopping these saboteurs from harming thousands of people—thousands of their own—was more important than coming out on top? Winning a challenge would mean nothing if they simply passed on a chance of hindering this horrible plot.

“It’s not just about you, Dani,” Maia said as emphatically as she could. “They’re going to hurt innocent people. And we can’t let that happen.”

“And we won’t,” said Ren, his voice hard with conviction. The steely determination on his face quickly gave way to confusion. “But what about the Afterlight and the search on Tansi? What’s that supposed to mean?”

If Ren did not know, no one else had a clue either.

35: The Seliban Challenge

Days rushed past. Understanding the maddening control system of the Raptor took up most of Maia’s time. Remembering the countless controls and their functions was not easy, particularly when Master Demissie peered over their shoulders, barking orders and reminding them of the seriousness of the assignment.

“Not only is this a tremendously expensive piece of equipment,” Master Demissie said, “but you also need to remember that making a mistake on a mock control panel is one thing, but the same mistake on a craft hurtling through space can cost you your life and the lives of others.”

Of course we are all very aware of the consequences of a mistake.
Maia grumbled to herself. They were trying as hard as they could, and the master’s yelling did more harm than good.

“Concentrate,” the Flight Master passed by, bellowing. “Understand the gravity of the task at hand.”

“Blah, blah, blah.” Ren rolled his eyes.

The master stopped immediately and threw a suspicious gaze in their direction. Before he could figure out what had happened, Maia sprang into action in an instinctive urge to protect, dropping a load of charts off their worktable. What followed was a hullabaloo of magnificent proportions, and it was enough of a diversion to successfully hide Ren’s outburst. Since then, the team closely watched each other every single moment, especially when they were around the master.

The stress was piling up quickly, patience was wearing thin, and every conversation was like lighting a fire under a box of tinder. Every night, as Maia plodded back from Flight Training session, starved and exhausted, she wondered how much more they could endure, and for how long. On the last day of that week, the principal sent a message, asking all teams to assemble below the glass staircase. The final challenge was about to be announced.

***

By the time Maia and her team reached the hall, it was already packed. At the foot of the staircase, Vice Principal Geir-Sei stood, flashing his beautiful smile. Resident Master Kehorkjin was next to him, looking wound-up as usual.

“Pleeeaaase calm down, dear friends,” Geir-Sei pleaded over and again while Master Kehorkjin studied the ceiling.

Sadly, very few of the contestants paid attention to the vice principal, and the hubbub subsided only after Principal Pomewege took the stand.

“Do I have everyone’s attention?” Principal Pomewege hollered. “First, I will announce the twenty-five teams that have received the best scores in the Prototype Challenge. If your team number is not called, please leave to pack your belongings. We will arrange for transportation to take you back home this afternoon. Thank you for your participation.”

Principal Pomewege bowed his head and acknowledged the crowd of participants; Geir-Sei and Kehorkjin followed suit. Maia stood holding her breath, fists clenched in anticipation as the principal started to read.

“Top honors go to . . . Core 7—”

From the far side of the congregation came shouts of glee bringing an abrupt stop to the principal’s announcements. It was Karhann’s team; Maia could see Loriine’s head, bobbing up and down among the crowd. Nafi looked sour, and Maia knew her own face was grim as well.

Thankfully, the principal soon called their number and although they did not have top honors, Maia was relieved to have made it past the first challenge. More than half of the teams were eliminated, including Lex and his rowdy bunch, and after these teams trickled out, the area suddenly took on a desolate look.

“I know you are eager to know whose craft was selected to be made into the prototype for the miners on Ti,” Principal Pomewege continued, “but unfortunately that detail is still being processed. We will announce a name soon, but it will not be today.

“Now, it is time to announce the final challenge for the first leg of the Alliance Initiative. Your goal is to retrieve a relic housed in the Seliban Temple in Quadrant 8 based on clues you will receive. You have one month to prepare for this mission.

“Plan and submit the complete list of your provisions and equipment, including the specifications of all the tools you intend to use. You will be allowed to carry your personal protection weapons. Please do not forget to submit their details as well. Also remember that you will not be allowed to use telekinesis of any sort during this challenge—it will be a violation of the codes of honorable combat if you do. Your flights will be guided by your group counselors, so do get in touch with them.”

The principal stopped and smiled.

“The winning team will not only receive the highest honors and move on to the next stage of the series, but will also be awarded a special trip to Armezai, our beautiful capital, to take part in the annual Carnival. And most important of all, you will receive an invitation to the Grand Gala at the Chancery where you will receive your winners’ medals.

“One last thing,” he said after a brief pause. “We recommend that during the course of this challenge you do not imperil the lives of your opponents or endanger your own. Unnecessary and excessive risk taking might not win you any extra credit. Good luck to you all. Play fair and may the best team win!”

As soon as the masters left, the room began to buzz again. The teams knotted together to discuss their plans. On the far side of the hall, Karhann and his teammates were still celebrating, and Maia stared at them enviously. She tore her eyes away as someone nudged her.

“Let’s get out of here. Come on.” Kusha was rushing to round up the team.

“Did you hear what he said?” Kusha asked as they walked toward a shady corner in the Sakoro grove.

“Can’t believe those pompous and brainless nincompoops won the challenge,” Nafi fumed.

“I meant the principal . . . and the award.” Kusha’s brows puckered. “Can’t believe you weren’t paying attention.”

“Well, at least Lex and his gang are gone,” Dani commented.

Kusha fidgeted and shook his head impatiently.

“Yes, and I’m glad we are still in the running,” Maia said to Dani. It was strange how upsetting it was not to win the first challenge. Maia knew she was not supposed to care, yet the hurt simply refused to budge.

“Will you listen to me, please?” Kusha almost yelled, drawing startled stares from the rest of the group. He continued breathlessly, “The principal said that the winning team will be awarded a special trip to Armezai to take part in the annual Carnival. Ring any bells?”

“Yes, I’ll need to get a brilliant new costume for the Carnival if we win,” Ren said. “What do you think I should dress up as, a Mogreal Flatfish?”

Maia collapsed in a frenzy of giggles on imagining Ren dressed up as the ugliest fish that inhabited the Tansian oceans.

“If you’re aiming for good looks, then you should pick the square-humped Camellete, don’t you think?” Nafi suggested so matter-of-factly that even Dani joined in, laughing, forgetting all her worries for a moment. Soon, they were all rolling on the ground, clutching their sides as they laughed hysterically, while Kusha watched on.

“Some attention from your teammates when you discuss something important . . . is that too much to ask?” Kusha burst out finally, gazing in despair at his four inattentive teammates. “I’m considerate and quiet. I don’t throw tantrums, I don’t talk back at people, and I don’t go launching half-made Raptors at the masters. And when I ask you to show some interest in what I’m about to say, all I get is . . . this?”

“Having too much fun?” a very familiar voice interrupted. “I presume you have it all figured out then.”

Miir had walked up unnoticed, and now stood looking at the group curiously. Under the keen gaze of the mentor, the rolling foursome desperately tried to sober up.

“So, Kusha, what do you think of the challenge?” Miir asked as the laughter subsided a bit.

“Who cares what I think?” Kusha said with a sigh.

“Oh, Kusha. We all do,” Dani replied.

“You are our strategist, Kusha. What would we do without you?” Nafi said in mock lament.

“Hopefully you would talk less,” Kusha snapped back.

If Miir had not been appraising them, Maia would have laughed some more. But mindful of his presence, she just giggled a bit and so did her teammates. Kusha glowered for a few more moments, and then gave in. He shook his head and with a small helpless smile turned toward Miir.

“Well, we’ll need to study the topography of Quad 8 and the architecture of the fortress of course. Then solve the riddle of the relic. I think our main competition is Core 3 and Core 7.”

“I agree about Core 7. Their counselor, Amanii, is a flying ace, and we will have to be wary of them,” Miir agreed.

“Isn’t Amanii that cute girl with red hair? She’s the one who hosted the TEK club tryouts, right?” Nafi piped up.

“Hmmm,” Miir replied.

“Core 7 is Karhann, Yoome, Loriine, that other tag-along girl, and that pasty-faced boy,” Maia added.

“That tag-along girl is Baecca, one of the best cartographers in the competition,” Ren reminded, sprawling lazily on the grass.

“They are obviously quite talented,” Maia said with a sigh, thinking of Core 7’s win at the Prototype Challenge.

“There is plenty of talent in everyone around here,” Miir remarked. “Focus on the challenge, gather information. Remember, this mission has to be led by you. I will simply advise you during your planning sessions and assist you in flying the craft. From now on, we will meet every week to go over your plans. I hope to see some good strategies and detailed maps and calculations.”

They continued to sit under the trees after Miir left, solemnly discussing the assignment.

“You guys still don’t get it, do you?” Kusha asked after they had sketched out a basic plan of action. “If we win, we get a chance to visit Armezai during the Carnival, our only chance to be near the Grotto. I have no idea what we could do when we get there, but at least we’ll be there.”

And suddenly, the significance of winning the second challenge grew to enormous proportions.

36: The Book of Treasures

Preparations for the Seliban Challenge kept the team busy, and their hard work soon paid off. At the next strategy evaluation, Miir surprised everyone with a few nice remarks on their planning efforts. He also seemed exceedingly pleased at the progress each one of them made in their combat skills.

Dani and Kusha had devoted themselves to a thorough study of the volcanic fields. On realizing that some of the oldest scrolls and manuscripts had not been integrated into data vaults, they started making frequent trips to the Archival Center to find these ancient records. The duo appeared one day, carrying some dusty books. These, they announced, were the first-hand descriptions of Quadrant 8 by some of the best-known explorers and travelers. Ren studied the material, which often had obscure references in ancient Xifarian script and needed translation.

“This is what Historian Jenis writes,” he read aloud from a huge book bound in dark brown leather. “Quadrant 8 consists of an enormous volcanic field. Originally a wasteland of bubbling lava and volcanoes spewing ash and fire, this area was finally tapped during the Trosjnic Passage to meet the planet’s increasing energy needs. Most of the power plants in this area were made possible by Seliban metallurgical technology that could resist the intense heat of molten rocks.

“As the Xifarians’ technological prowess grew and they switched to other sources of energy, Quadrant 8 was abandoned. With time the power plants that were plugged into the boiling lava fields crumbled and the volcanoes took over the area again. Only the Seliban Temple, a feat of engineering envisioned by the brilliant minds of the Selib System, remained hidden in the depths of the volcanoes.”

Ren closed the Jenis book and picked up a sheet of paper.

“This is the recent P’golan Survey from Yilosario’s data vault,” he announced. “A masterpiece of Xifarian architecture was the temple-fortress built as a shrine to the all-powerful forces of nature, as well as a hold to protect the energy field. The structure, erected into one of the biggest of the dormant volcanoes, the Origesa-8, was large enough to house a whole squadron of Xifarian Space Fleet. Later, as the field was abandoned, it lay buried somewhere underneath the ever-changing landscape, and it became a part of nature itself.

“Only a few entrances of the temple-fortress are accessible from the outside at present time. The rest of the gates, as well as the hold, can be opened, but they remain locked from within. The open entrances, including the Gate of Spires and Spines, the Gate of the Rising Sun, the Coronation Gate, and the Gate of T’lmath are barely big enough to fit a small shuttle pod, and lead to the heart of the Seliban fortress.”

Ren stopped and looked at his spellbound audience. “That’s all.”

“But how do we find it if it’s sunk below the ground somewhere?” Dani rubbed her chin, immersed in thought.

“We could use radio sensing to detect the temple and the entrance, probably on a smaller craft, like a Cylopede maybe?” Kusha suggested.

“All we have now are the original coordinates of the temple. I’ve been studying that location,” Dani said, pulling out a few charts and maps, “and there’s a problem.”

“What is it?” Kusha asked.

“We have a few possible ways to go,” Dani explained, pointing at the maps she had unfolded. “Our destination, the area around Origesa-8, is ringed by a field of sulfuric gases called the Curtains of Vostl. It’s so strong and caustic that crafts cannot pass through it. The first choice is to fly over the curtain at twice the normal cruising altitude.”

“What else do we have?” Maia leaned forward to look at the maps.

“We have the Faith’s End canyon. The name kind of tells it all. Narrow, dark, and twisty—that will be one scary ride.” Dani stopped for a moment to catch her breath. “Then there’s the third way; it’s a course through a group of twenty volcanoes called the Draegen that are erupting right now, spewing out fire, rocks, and ashes.

“The first is the safest way, but will also take the longest. We have to climb to a higher altitude, pass the curtain of sulfur, and then drop down to the surface. Needless to say, almost all the teams will likely crowd that route.” Dani paused and looked around. “Flying a craft through the other two needs great expertise, and since we have Miir, we might have an edge over the others.”

“Only if we live through it,” said Maia dryly.

“And if Miir is willing to take the risk,” Kusha added.

“Of course he will,” Nafi said.

Maia nodded in agreement, immediately thinking of the Siroccan Spiral that Miir had performed when he was just a boy of ten. Now in hindsight, she respected the skills required to make something as enormous and as complex as a Raptor spin.

“We have to present a plan to Miir in three days,” she said. “Let’s complete calculations based on all three routes and see what he says.”

***

Over the next few days, Dani worked on the flight maps and detailed all their routes and trajectories. Kusha and Ren made calculations with model crafts designed to their exact proportions and thruster powers. Maia, along with Nafi, started deciphering the clues about the relic. A small cryptic verse, intended to identify their prize, had arrived at the team communicator.

The path of the light leads into the darkness

In the shadows the chambers of life breathe