“You are telling me they managed to move through the entire harbor, and nobody stopped them?” Lady Kamira Liemon asked, a dangerous his in her voice.
The guards that stood in front of her took a small step back, the one that had been her main contact so far swallowing loudly.
“Lady Liemon, they had the Guard Captain with them! Nobody knows these streets like Annizar, he-”
“I don’t care,” Lady Liemon snapped, glaring across the dock at the large scouting ship that hung there.
A dozen of the warships already loyal to her hung around it, blocking its exit. What looked like half a dozen shadowy clones stood around its deck, while the red-eyed captain and his cardsmith had gone below deck as soon as her disastrous brother and the others had arrived.
“Fine,” she said, cocking her head back. “Make sure to let all of the guards know that my brother, Kimohn, has lost his mind and is no longer the leader of the Liemon family. They are to ignore his orders. Also, nobody is to listen to that Guard Captain’s orders either. Has anybody seen Nenina?”
The guards shared a quick look before shaking their heads.
Great, so either she fell unconscious like those others, or she is sneaking around, she thought, clenching her hands. The shadewalker was one of her best followers, even though she’d been too soft on her brother. She’d had a dozen chances to kill the fool over the years. Instead, she’d clung on to Liemon and her mother’s final orders to protect the brat.
She took a deep breath, then walked towards the ship, the guards following in her path.
The closer she got, the clearer it was that there were no normal people on the deck, and she glared at the shadowy figures. At the edge of the dock, she saw that the gangplank was pulled back and the ship had actually drifted a few feet back.
As if that will stop me, she thought, focusing on her teleportation card. Her soulforce was close to being full, at which point she could just teleport a few dozen guards aboard.
Still, as she examined the shadowy figures, she couldn’t help but run her fingers over the two bracelets that clung tight to her skin. Among the strongest shadewalker suppressors, they should make it so that those annoying things can’t get anywhere near her.
Perhaps after I break in that cardsmith, I’ll have her make me some shadewalking cards, she thought.
The mere thought of finally having a cardsmith again, the loss of which she’d always felt was the greatest shame of the entire plague, made her nod to herself. She’d gathered plenty of cards, as had the other nobles.
But first, I need to get rid of my brother.
“Get me Captain Greldo here,” she shouted, glaring at the shadowy figures. “I must speak with him!”
There was no response, and she clenched the hem of her robes in annoyance. She couldn’t wait till she’d weeded out her brother’s pathetic few friends and finally get the respect she was due. How dare all these nobodies act-
The shadowy figures all turned to her in a single motion, a similar smirk appearing on their face.
“What do you want?” six voices said as one.
It took Kamira a full second to regain herself, then she held back a scowl.
“My brother, Kimohn Liemon, has been officially removed from his position. He is to be handed over so he can be tried for his crimes,” she said, a story she’d planned for a few years now. “Those with him are collaborators, and are to be handed over so they can be hanged.”
She heard a soft hiss from a few of the guards behind her, which she ignored.
A burst of laughter echoed from the six clones, who all stared at her with what she could only feel was a sort of ‘I knew it’ look. As if she had just validated something they had expected.
“You seem to realize what is happening,” she said, expecting the shadows to stop laughing and nod, but all they did was laugh louder.
Perhaps he is somewhat crazed, she thought.
“If you hand over the collaborators, we can discuss the price you would want for the cardsmith with you,” she said. “I am sure-
The laughter died down instantly, and suddenly, dozens of shadows appeared all over the deck and the dock. A deep, dangerous growl came from everywhere, while hounds with heads that were level to hers glared at her with burning red eyes.
“Oh, dammit all!”
“Are we under attack?”
“Where did those come from?”
Lady Liemon took a step back, looking around to see hounds behind them, blocking the entire dock.
A hand locked onto the back of her neck, and the next moment she felt herself drawn away, the sounds dulling. Then she hung above a shadowy landscape, a horrid-looking swamp with a beautiful black building in the center. Screams of pain and agony came from within, together with a dull thudding, and she felt the blood drain from her face.
“What…” she muttered, her mind trying to comprehend what had just happened. “I am Lady Liemon, what are you-”
“Hush,” a dangerous voice growled from behind her.
The world shot towards her, and a moment later, she saw the pale Nyzir-like being she’d been told about, together with two women of a species she was unfamiliar with. The two were swaying, eyes locked on the person still holding her by the neck.
“Captain?”
“Gloom, keep this rat here until I figure out what to do with her. If she does anything foolish, feed her to that big crab.”
“Yes, My Lord!” the two women hissed, their tongues like those of snakes.
Kamira felt herself being dropped, and she fell the last few feet into the mud, which splashed across her robes. Pushing herself up, she looked around, but Captain Greldo was gone.
“Where am I? Where did he teleport me to?” she hissed, glaring at the three figures that were stalking towards her.
“You are in the shadowrealm of Lord Greldo,” one of the women hissed. “You should feel honored.”
“That is not possible,” Kamira muttered, as much to herself as to the three that now stood before her. She scrambled to look at the bands around her wrists. “I have shadewalker blockets, and-”
The two women laughed while the Nyzir leaned forward, his eyes holding a dangerous look that made her freeze. It reminded her of the time that she and Kimohn had been brought to Liemon Seven, the larger, older world in the Tweelak branch. She’d stared at one of the guards at a gate in a city that was bigger than all those she’d ever been to, and the woman had stared at her with similar eyes. Eyes that were cold and uncompromising. Eyes that promised a quick death if nobody stopped them.
“You will be quiet as you wait here, so I can enjoy watching the wildlife,” Gloom said, his voice soft and cold. “Yes?”
“Yes,” Kamira whispered, her voice jumping a whole octave.
“Good.”
The man turned away, took a few steps towards the edge of whatever bog they stood beside, crossed his arms, and looked around, humming a soft tune.
Were those fools right? Are these people from one of the central branches? Why are they even here… Kamira thought, shivering as the two snake-women stood closer to her.
--
Kimohn shivered as the screams finally stopped, looking to where Habriana was whispering soothingly to the three healers that had already had their heartcards done.
By Yilda, I forgot how horrible having your heartcard made can be, he thought.
Still, the three had returned conscious and able to talk, which was better than he recalled his own times going. The first had been the worst, as he’d been in and out of consciousness for the better part of a day. It showed that Dahlia was a better cardsmith than those who had done his.
His mind drifted off to what would happen after. They had been brought into what Captain Greldo had called a shadow pocket a day ago, and he felt tired. With the screaming finally done, he drifted off, only to be awoken by a soft touch on his shoulder.
Blinking, he looked up to see Habriana crouch beside him.
“We are done. Captain Greldo requested I wake you so you can discuss some things.”
Kimohn nodded as he pushed himself up, the smooth, well-made tunic making the movement easy. He’d managed to find a quiet room to finally get rid of the robes. Now, dressed in what his father had called working clothes, he felt much better.
“You are sure, Kimohn?”
He looked at Habriana, one of the few who knew him for who he really was, and who had been there for him after his father had died.
“Yes, Habriana,” she said, smiling. “You know I am not made for being a lord or a noble. The only benefit I see is enough soulshards to fund my work and research, but I already have enough of that.”
They walked towards the other side of the room, where the healers stood, shivering and swaying, one of them hugged by two others. Although all adults, they were still young, and he felt a stab of sympathy. In years passed, they would have done this in the Healers Guild, and they would have been among only friends and loved ones.
At least it’s worth it, he thought as he saw two of the healers look at him, their eyes drifting over what he was wearing and narrowing in a confused frown.
“Right!” the loud, slightly growly voice of Greldo called out, pulling their attention to where he stood, arms crossed. “Lord Liemon, we have a little issue. Your sister arrived at the ship and started spouting nonsense, so I have brought her in here. You said you didn’t want to get rid of her, but just to be sure-”
“No, no, please don’t,” Kimohn said, wondering what had happened. “I… promised my father not to act like the other nobles. Besides…”
He sighed as he recalled his sister’s action at the exit portal. He’d been thinking about it for hours now, and as much as he knew she wasn’t a good person, there was one upside.
“She is going to have to deal with the other nobles, and I think that is not going to go at all like she is hoping,” he said, remembering the many conversations he’d been forced to sit through the last few years.
With a weary sigh, he looked at Habriana.
“You understand, right? If we kill her-”
The words made his throat clasp, and he coughed before swallowing.
“Well, if we do that,” he managed after a few moments. “She will be replaced by one of the others, and worse, they will send someone from the main family eventually. Nobody wants that.”
He saw Greldo glance at Habriana, who nodded.
“He is right, although it pains me to admit it.”
“Fine. I’ll bring you and the healers to the exit portal. Will you be alright?”
“I can guard them,” a soft voice came from the back of the room, and Kimohn was surprised to see the Guard Captain was there, leaning against a wall. “Though I might have to ask the Healers Guild for a job…”
“You are welcome to join us,” Habriana said.
“Good. I won’t ask you if you are sure,” Greldo said, glancing at Kimohn before looking at the others. “I am about done with this world, no offense. Unless you want anything else?”
“Can I buy any healing cards from you?” Habriana asked.
Greldo blinked, then shrugged.
“We don’t have that many, and it depends on what you have to offer.”
Habriana nodded as a stack of cards appeared in her hands. She walked forward and handed it to the surprised-looking captain.
“These are an assortment of quartz and amethyst cards, that-”
A figure appeared beside them as if out of nowhere, and the cardsmith Dahlia took the cards, nodding to herself.
“Good, good. Let me see…”
Both Habriana and Greldo looked at her, then Kimohn saw them share a smile.
A few minutes later, four yellow-bordered cards and a single emerald one were placed in a stunned-looking Habriana’s hands.
“These… are too much,” she whispered.
“No, they are fine,” Dahlia said as she walked away to a small table, still flipping through the stack of cards.
Kimohn blinked as Habriana and Greldo talked for a few minutes, then the old healer walked to him.
“Lord Liemon,” she said, which she only ever called him when he wasn’t alone. “I hope you find what you are looking for, but if you ever want to find a place to live, go to Suderfuix and find my sister.”
She handed him a small piece of paper, then smiled.
“Good luck.”
Kimohn nodded, putting the paper into his soulscape as he held out his hand.
“Thank you for everything,” he said.
Habriana bowed, then turned to Greldo.
“Right, gather around,” the captain said, sounding slightly amused and also relieved.
A few moments later, the room was empty except for Kimohn and Dahlia, who seemed completely preoccupied.
I can’t believe all of this happened in a day, Kimohn thought as he sat on a couch, staring at his hand.
He yawned, lay his head back, and wondered what things would be like in a day… a week… a year.
--
Greldo watched the healers vanish into the exit portal, then he shot through the shadows to a far end of the harbor. Landing on the heavily damaged, old wooden boards of a section that seemed largely abandoned, he watched as one of his clones put Kamira onto the ground.
She looked at him, eyes narrow, arms wrapped around her upper body, and lips pressed together.
“We are going to be leaving now, but I have a warning for you,” Greldo said, feeling his always-present anger over nobles flare up as he glared at her. “You will leave the Healers Guild alone, and I will likely return in a few years. If I find you didn’t, I’ll gather that your brother’s decision was wrong and fix it. Are we clear?”
As he spoke, Greldo felt his anger flicker at the mention of Kimohn. Like some other nobles he’d gotten to know, the odd man seemed fine, and before he could stop it, a thought flickered through his mind.
Perhaps not all nobles are all that bad.
Kamira glared at him but said nothing, and Greldo just shrugged.
“Suit yourself,” he said as he took a step back, about to leave.
“Where is Nenina, the shadewalker you took?” Kamira asked.
“I left her on the other end of the harbor,” Greldo said before vanishing into the shadowrealm.
He remained where he was, watching the woman stare at the spot he’d disappeared for a minute. Then she let out a scream as she tore two bracelets from her arms, glared at them, and hurled them away.
Those would have worked fine, Greldo thought, as he sensed the shade-blocking runes on the bracelets. On a hunch, he had one of his shadowclones shoot forward and snatch it out of the air as soon as it was out of sight. Just holding them was annoying, as he felt the clone flicker, but a moment later, it was inside his shadow pocket, where it dropped them on the ground.
He watched Kamira stomp away, cursing constantly, her eyes blazing with anger.
What are you angry about, Greldo thought, shaking his head in disbelief. You could have been dead, and now you can take over without your brother.
He followed her until she reached a more populated region of the harbor before holding back. He could feel the weaker shadewalkers move around in the distance, and if he continued, they would sense him too.
He glanced around the harbor, one of the few that had managed to survive the Chained fleet, then shot backward towards the Nocturna.
Let's get out of here, he thought, as he landed behind the helm and caused the ship to move sideways into the shadowrealm in a manner no other could. At least, not without a shadewalker as strong as him.
A few moments later, they were rushing away from the harbor, unseen.
Two more stops, hopefully quiet ones, and then a straight line to where Irwin is, Greldo thought as he wondered what he should do with the former Lord Liemon.
--
“It works!”
Greldo blinked as he jerked awake from where he’d been slowly drifting off into sleep. Looking up, he saw Dahlia at the helm, grinning widely while her teeth reflected the purple light that oozed from the sails above her.
Kimohn Liemon stood below them, arms raised in triumph.
Greldo focused on the ship as it shot through the corridors, instantly sensing the increased speed and maneuverability. Part of the ship kept skimming through the outermost layer of the shadow realm in a way it hadn’t mere hours before.
Pushing himself up, he cracked his neck and walked towards Dahlia, who smiled at him.
“It’s way easier to steer,” she said, allowing the ship to almost skid across the left-most barrier of the two-hundred-feet-wide corridor they were flying through. “Here, try!”
Greldo grinned at the enthusiasm and quickly took the steering wheel. A few small adjustments told him she was right, with the ship reacting way faster than before.
“What do you think, Captain?!”
Greldo looked at Kimohn, who was walking forward, almost dancing as he did so.
Four months had passed since they left the Liemon branch, yet he barely recognized the previous Lord Liemon. A tension he’d not really noticed before was gone from the man, while he’d not worn a robe since they arrived. Instead, his hair stood in all directions, cut short by Greldo himself on the man’s request, and smudges of soulforce-carrying ink dotted his face, hands, and lower arms.
“It’s amazing,” Greldo said, meaning it. “You said it's also more efficient?”
“Yes! It should drain at least a third less soulforce for the same speed,” Kimohn said, bobbing his head up and down like a bird. “I think I can make it even better if you would allow me a shadow card.”
Greldo grimaced at the request, quickly shaking his head.
“You know what I said. Right now, I’m unable to control my power, and if you get one of those, you will start bowing and scraping like Pescliz and Keirniz.”
The mere thought of the Slughir women made him annoyed, and he was glad to sense them deep in his still-growing shadow shadowrealm sliver. They had taken it upon themselves to begin guarding and breeding certain rarer shadow animals, like the winged snakes. Gloom was the one who was mostly talking to them, because each time he saw them, they seemed ready to faint.
“We are going to reach Zarkon in a week or two, and you can ask Irwin for a Scathnaicht card,” he said, when Kimohn looked sad. “No need to rush.”
“Ah, you are right, sorry. I forgot again. It’s just… I haven’t been able to experiment this much in… well, at all really!” Kimohn said as he looked up at the runes that lined the wooden beam that held up the top of the sails.
“You should try the other thing you were thinking about,” Dahlia said as she walked towards them.
“Which one?” Kimohn asked, cocking his head in confusion.
“The teleportation idea you had,” Greldo said, already knowing what Dahlia was thinking about.
“Oh! To boost a teleporter's ability with a runic formation,” Kimohn said as his eyes began gleaming, a finger tapping on his chin. “Right. Right! That’s a good idea! It will give me something to do while we continue.”
He was already heading towards the door leading into the ship, where he would head to the small cargo hold, which he’d claimed for his experiments. As he vanished downstairs, Greldo shook his head.
“He’s going to be a great addition to Zarkon,” Dahlia said, stepping up beside him.
“I know,” Greldo said, as his mind wandered to the upcoming end of their journey.
The day passed without incident, as did the rest of the week. However, when he woke the day of what Dahlia and Juul’rish guessed would be the last one, he instantly knew something was wrong.
Greldo shot up as he sensed a very distant tension radiating from the direction he could sense the ship moving into.
“Whu… what’s wrong?” Dahlia muttered, rolling over beside him.
“There’s something going on ahead,” Greldo said as he got up and out of bed and grabbed his jacket.
Dahlia was quiet for a few moments, then sighed.
“Oculithar.”
Greldo just nodded as he ran out of the room, at the same time moving out of his shadowrealm pocket and onto the deck of the ship. Gloom stood behind the helm, eyes directed forward.
“Two big ones, captain. From what I can sense, they are fighting something else, but it's hard to find out what.”
“Fine, I’ll move the Nocturna into my shadow pocket,” Greldo said as he gazed ahead.
A few moments later, he was racing through the shadows of the corridor, rapidly crossing the distance. The closer he got, the more confused he became.
There are way more, and those two big ones are… heading this way?
He sensed hundreds, if not thousands, of tiny dots vanishing in the distance, and as he reached a cross that the maps told him would lead to a larger sub-branch, he saw two Oculithar rushing towards him. There was, however, a difference with them.
Are those regular Oculithar?
He stopped as a flaming figure appeared behind them, easily a hundred feet tall. He filled the corridor in front of the two Oculithar, grabbed their tentacles, and a moment later, it looked like a sun appeared before Greldo. Not, however, before he had recognized the man.
Irwin!