The Legendary Warrior (Book 5) (8 page)

“What do they have to do with this?”

“I know they’re waiting for the right moment to take back the throne. Though we’ll keep this a secret, I’m sure they have ways of finding out that Lakrymos has died. They will make their move soon, and I’ll be waiting to intercept. Their presence has always been a disconcerting variable in our war with the Yama, for we didn’t know how their inevitable attack would weaken us. Now we can get it out of the way.”

“And if they don’t act?”

“Then I will know you told them that I am waiting. In which case, you cannot be trusted, and I will have you killed.”

“But
I’m now the strongest one there is,” Bastion replied, taking a step from the wall. He was nowhere near full power, but already he could feel his warrior spirit rising within him. Ever since he was a small child, he had to hold back his words and his abilities, but that wasn’t the case anymore. There were now opponents that could challenge his strength, and he yearned to see what he could do. Deep down, he knew that if he was allowed time to rest, he could defeat Orchid without too much effort. But if he fought her now, while he was still exhausted, he would have a true battle on his hands. He could push himself to the limits once more.

Still, he couldn’t be too hasty. He didn’t know Orchid like he did
Lakrymos. She was constantly in the background, observing. It was possible that she was hiding the full extent of her abilities as well.

“You’re the strongest,” Orchid admitted, “but not the smartest. Make no mistake. There is a reason
Lakrymos grabbed me over the other Sages when the ether was destroyed. He knew how easily I could sway a situation in my favor without so much as a twitch of my finger. My weapon lies in my words, not my eidolon.”

“I’m going to leave Allay with my friends,” he said adamantly, but Orchid gave him a smile.

“Not if you don’t want to see us all slaughtered. And besides, it would be foolish to do so. I have no plans on challenging you. You can stay here and train at your leisure. Attend classes. Get stronger…or you could leave. Become lazy and complacent. Lose your warrior’s edge. And then after the Yama are done with the three Kingdoms, they can come to your cabin or treehouse or whatever you happen to build for yourself, and they will strike you down with the force of their entire army.”

“Even if I stay,” Bastion said carefully. “I plan on coming and going as I please.”

“Fine,” she said, and he was sure that it must have hurt for her to say it. “Do as you will. All I ask is that you lend us your strength in the war.”

“We’ll see,” he said, feeling like he had won a small battle of
his own. “So…everything is okay? No retaliation for what I did to Lakrymos?”

“He was stupid to put you in that position in the first place,” she muttered. “I told him not to push you too far. Now he’s paying for his stupidity.”

“And what about the students? What will they be told?”

“That
Lakrymos found a Yama scout in Training Room D last night. He was able to defeat the intruder, but it’s now a possibility that the invasion will happen sooner than expected. He’s gone off to assess the enemy and their army. The reason the village shouldn’t be told the truth is because they will start growing afraid unnecessarily and they need to conserve their energy. I think that lie will work for now. The students will feel like they are a true part of the Academy, learning of secrets not released to the general public. This, of course, will only work if you keep your mouth shut.”

“I can’t promise that I won’t tell my roommates. I need others to know this information. You know, in case you’re planning on taking me out at some point.”

“I understand.”

“So what now? We go to class? Act like it’s a normal day?”

“As much as possible,” she said, extending a hand behind her and signaling for him to leave the room. Bastion kept an eye on her as he took the long way around her, sticking to the edge of the walls.

“This is all a complication,” Orchid said. “But we can work around it.” Bastion didn’t reply. He kept moving until he reached the exit, and he opened the door slowly, waiting for her to strike. But she remained still, watching him intensely as he crept out. Once he shut the door behind him, he nearly collapsed onto the floor.

That was intense.
Bastion took a deep breath, pushed himself from the door and began walking past the other training rooms and straight to the classes. He wasn’t sure if he could take a whole lecture from Orchid, without thinking she was going to suddenly leap across his desk and strangle him, but it would only cause alarms if he didn’t attend.

He had survived for now. He would have to be satisfied with that.

“Oh wow!” Catherine whistled as they passed through Prattle’s entrance. “They’ve made some improvements!”

“I can’t look up right now,” Zhou groaned as Talia tightened the grip she had on his forearm, which was currently draped over he
r shoulders. She had been carrying him through the forest between Languor and Allay for nearly the entire journey. They had made sure to avoid the pocket of forest that the Quietus had made their home. Catherine was sure they were still sore with her for having them imprisoned and taking the stone from their possession.

“You shouldn’t have been fighting all night,” Talia replied. “I told you we were leaving in the morning.”

“I had to try making it through the whole bracket. Zain even requested that all the fighters show up for me specifically. It was glorious.”

“Doesn’t look glorious,” she said, raising an eyebrow. Zhou’s clothes were tattered and blood stained. Cuts were all over his body, just adding more future scars to his fleshy collection
, and his hair was still damp from sweat as a fever had begun to creep upon him. Talia blew her hair out of her eyes and kept up the pace with Catherine, who was looking all around her in awe.

The old Prattle had been atop a mountain and covered in snow. Considering that now they were currently next to Allay and they had no mountain to work with, they decided to have their
new Kingdom at least simulate the experience. Using massive mounds of rock and stone, they created a small manmade mountain that was multilayered. After guests climbed up the small set of stairs and walked through the marble archway that served as the entrance, they found themselves in a strange new world.

Starting on a p
olished grey stone platform the size of a house in width, they looked out in the distance and saw hundreds of other platforms in like manner, suspended in the air at different levels—some high above the entrance’s platform, and others so low that they had to be underground, hovering mid-air over what looked to be a lit up bottomless pit. Each platform had either a field, a garden or a building, and the people ran from platform to platform as if they were playing, laughing excitedly as they bumped into each other or narrowly missed a fellow Prattlian.

The most breathtaking element of the new
Prattlian Kingdom however, was how they were able to simulate a sky-like atmosphere. Using their expertise with strange devices and technology, the sky above the Kingdom was baby blue and filled with clouds that were like cotton candy, in both consistency and shape. They were still white in color and as airy as the real thing, but Catherine couldn’t help but think that she had just stepped into Paradise. Everything was bright and open. The air was crisp and untainted. The people were still talking as loud and as fast as ever, but it was different now. The debates were cleaner, and an emphasis on learning was upon them. Catherine recognized the source of the change immediately. Since they had nearly faced extinction, the Prattlian people realized that they needed each other, and while debate would never be void in their culture, they could learn to at least hear each other’s opinions.

“Are the platforms hanging in mid-air?” Talia asked, and Catherine smiled.

“I think they are.”

“How is that possible?”

“They have similar floors at the Sage Academy. How did they do it there?”

“I don’t know,” Talia admitted. “The
Prattlians installed them based on the blueprints of the old Academy.”

“Then it appears we have much to learn here.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“I think I’m going to throw up,” Zhou replied, and Talia shook her head.

“Please don’t. We don’t want to be kicked out before we’ve even had the chance to look around.”

“Are we going to have to jump from platform to platform? Because I don’t think I’m going to be able to manage that.”

“Would you rather I leave you here at the entrance?”

“Yes
, please.” Talia groaned and sat him down. He immediately fell backwards and lay face up, staring at the sky and watching the clouds drift past. Catherine looked at him for a moment and then she turned to Talia.

“Shall we?” she said excitedly. “I’m so curious to learn why they decided to create these platforms instead of flat land like they had before.”

“Are we going to speak with Tyuin?”

“That would be best,” Catherine said, “but at the same time, I don’t want anyone to know we’re here.”

“A little too late for that, Queen Catherine,” a male Prattlian said, stepping in front of them and bowing. “Excuse my interruption. My name is Oliver. I will be your tour guide today.”

“Tour guide?” Catherine asked.

“A recent addition to the status quo. We want all guests to enjoy this new Prattle as it is meant to be experienced. At the same time, we like to get a good look at all of our visitors. Ever since the old Kingdom was destroyed, we have taken a more proactive approach in getting to know our neighbors. No more hiding and keeping to ourselves. I take it you haven’t been here in quite some time?”

“It’s been a few years,” Catherine admitted. “Last time I was h
ere, the platforms weren’t present. It was only the bottomless pit down there. I thought the Prattlians had decided to imitate the Langorans.”

“While we do admire their underground structures, and we’ve taken it upon ourselves to add a few of our own, our true love will always be toward the skies. Strange enough, we are further from the sky than before, and yet, we feel like we’ve never been closer.”

“I know what you mean,” she said, looking around her. “I feel like I can dance on the clouds.”

“Please don’t actually try to do that,” he laughed. “They will not hold you.”

“So will you be able to take us to Tyuin?” Talia asked. “Is there a new castle?”

“King
Tyuin has actually chosen a humble cottage toward the north end of our Kingdom. It’s a way that he can maintain his privacy while still being close to his people.”

“But what if the King is attacked? I find it strange that there are no walls. Don’t you have any defenses?”

“Oh we have plenty,” he smiled. “But none that I am willing to recite at this moment. Your worries can be put to rest. We don’t need walls to protect ourselves. Besides, it would ruin the ambience.”

“
So requesting an audience with the King won’t require an extensive background check?”

“Perhaps we already performed it,” he said, winking at Talia. Talia brushed back her hair and laughed. Catherine tried to hide her amusement. It was strange to see someone break down the barriers Talia kept up for herself.

“I will take one of you with me, and then we will go ask the King if he is willing to speak with you. In the meantime, those that are left behind will be asked to wait near the entrance. Of course you don’t have to stay exclusively on this particular platform, but we ask that you stay in the vicinity.”

“A few precautions?” Talia asked. Oliver smiled at her, grabbed her hand and kissed the top of it.

“It’s required. Especially in your case. I am finding you…quite dangerous.”

“I’ve been known to strike fear in the hearts of a few men.”

“Then I take it they were too paralyzed by your presence to court you.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m asking if you are seeing anyone, m’lady.”

“No one at the moment,” she said, trying to hide her smile. “Though I am not opposed to the idea.”

“Excellent,” he said, letting her hand go. “Then perhaps after you’ve procured your audience with the King, you can request a private session with me.”

“Oh, what do you have to teach me?”

“Are you not familiar with the Prattlian tongue?”

“
Ew,” Catherine giggled, pushing Talia into Oliver. “Okay, that’s enough you two. Talia, I think you should go with him to see Tyuin. The King knows you so I don’t have to be there. I’ll wait here with Zhou. I would be the most recognizable between the three of us anyways.”

“Are you sure?” Talia asked, brushing back her hair again. Cat
herine tried not to giggle. Oliver grabbed Talia’s hand and intertwined her fingers into his.

“When your Queen gives you an order, it is best to see it through!” Oliver said, pulling her forward. Talia let out a gasp as they fell down together to the platform below. Catherine ran to her platform’s edge and glanced down, watching the two jump from square to square, waving to
the people that were stepping out of their houses or tending their gardens. A few debates were even interrupted, but those arguing weren’t cross. They merely bowed and waved hello. Even from a distance, Catherine could see Talia laughing. She was usually so serious so it was nice to see her drop her guard for once.

“It looks like it’s just you and me,” she said to Zhou, walking back to the Sage and sitting down next to him. Zhou groaned and sat up.

“I blacked out for a second,” he said in a gruff voice. “What time is it?”

“That was barely ten minutes,” Catherine chuckled. “Talia’s going to the King right now to see if we can speak with him. We have some time to waste while we wait.”

“Good,” he muttered, rubbing his entire face with the palm of his hand, forehead to chin. He sniffed and began searching his dingy pockets. “It seems I’ve forgotten my snack.”

“What in the world were you carrying?” Catherine giggled. “I imagine it can’t be in good shape if it’s still there.”

“It was an apple…I think. I don’t know. It looked like food.”

“
There’s probably a fruit cart or something of that nature nearby. We could go check it out.”

“I’m good,” he said, bringing his hand out of his pocket. A mushy green substance was in his palm, and he pitched it into his mouth and began chewing. “Eh. I don’t think it was food.”

Catherine shook her head and looked forward, watching the people talk and banter. Zhou began laughing unexpectedly, and she turned to him in alarm. His laugh sounded like a cross between a cough and a bubbling brook.

“What’s so funny?”

“Those guys over there reminded me of myself,” he said, pointing toward a couple of merchants shoving each other back and forth. They couldn’t hear what they were arguing about, but Catherine eyes widened in alarm when one of the merchants pushed the other over the edge of their small platform. Thankfully, he only fell a few yards down before another stone square broke his fall, and probably a few other things along with it.

“Which of those men are you?” Catherine as
ked warily.

“The one doing the pushing.”

“Ah,” she said, nodding slowly. Zhou looked at her and laughed.

“You know I was a merchant before I became one of your bodyguards?”

“No, I didn’t,” she said. “I let James do all the vetting. What did you sell?”

“Hats,” he said with a dead serious tone. Catherine couldn’t help but laugh. When she was done, she wiped the tears from her eyes and looke
d at Zhou. His completely stone-set face sent her into another bout.

“Women’s hats,” he said, and she laughed even harder. She punched him in the shoulder when her stomach started hurting.

“Be serious,” she said, sniffing and rubbing her eyes.

“I am,” he chuckled. “My mother was the original owner but she had gotten sick when I was a teenager. I had to take over the business. No one took me seriously so I had to assert my authority. In a few years’ time, I was the best-selling women’s hat store in the village.”

“Oh c’mon,” Catherine chuckled. “How many could there really be? Like two?”

“There was, but I was still the best,” he said, reaching into his pocket for some more mush and putting a small amount back into his mouth. “Ah, it’s an acquired taste.”

“So what happened to the shop? Is it still running?”

“Nah. Alexander took care of that. Shop was burned down and I hadn’t a clue on what to do next. I was so pissed. I had forced so many villag
es to pay top prices for my wares, and mind you, I had to do all the sewing and weaving. My mother couldn’t manage the needles anymore since her arthritis had flared up. And my hats were hideous. Let me tell you, when those things were burned in the flames, they went straight to where they belong. The depths of Oblivion.”

“So you went from women’s hat maker to Sage,” Catherine snickered, covering her mouth. She couldn’t help it.

“That I did. I decided that I had used my fists so often in the past. I might as well start doing it for a noble cause. Wasn’t that way at first, of course. I figured that if I became a Sage, no one would say no to me once I rebuilt the shop, but once I saw my soul—my eidolon emerge…and I started feeling what people thought about me. Once I felt how scared they were, and how it affected their lives…I didn’t feel so good about what I was doing. Kept to myself mostly. I didn’t know how to say I was sorry. I’m glad James came along and gave me a job. I probably would have gone off roaming the lands if not for him. He gave me some direction when I had none. Hey, I can make you a hat if you like, Your Highness.”

“No, thank you,” she laughed.
“Perhaps another time.”