Call of Descent
Chapter Thirty-Nine

“Holdup,” Reniko shouted, cursing under her breath as the pain of impactreverberated through her wing. She held her bokken aloft, gripping it tightlyin anger. Dertrik was beside her in an instant touching her wing gingerly.

“Areyou okay?” he asked.

“Onlymy pride is hurt,” Reniko said sighing with frustration. “I can’t believe Ikeep hitting myself. This is pathetic. It feels like everything I have done forthe past twelve years was done for nothing.” Reniko threw her bokken into thedirt, frustrated.

“Howare your lessons in flight coming along?” Dertrik asked.

“Aboutas poorly as this, Orric says I’m thinking too much about it. I haven’t a cluehow to change that though. Even Engaging didn’t help. Sure, I can fly when histhoughts are with me, but on my own, I’m just as hopeless as usual.”

“Whatabout Engaging?”

Renikolooked at Dertrik and sighed. “Well that is actually going well. Brium is awonderful teacher.” Reniko thought back to her lessons with Brium. She hadlearned so much from him.

“Aboutthat question I had the other day?” Reniko asked Brium who had his eyes closedas he warmed himself in the afternoon sun.

“Aboutforming words in your mind?”

“Yes,”Reniko said. She was sitting under the shade of a tree perched precariously ona boulder.

“Well,just form your thoughts into words,” Brium said.

Renikosat in thought, silent. Brium chuckled and sighed.

“Ithink first, you must unlearn what you have learned.”

“Thatsounds difficult.”

“It’sas easy or as hard as you make it. All I’m asking is for you to look at theworld upside down.”

“Thewords come when you have more control, don’t they.”

Briumopened his eyes and looked at Reniko. “How do you do that?”

Renikolooked at him confused. “Do what?”

“Youecho my thoughts without Engaging.”

“Yousaid look at it upside down, did you not.”

“I’venever had a student able to do it so easily before.”

“I’venever had trouble seeing things as another would.”

“Yourempathy is incredible, Reniko. No wonder Engaging is no chore for you. Let’stry some focusing exercises, shall we.”

Renikowas broken out of her thoughts when she heard metal ringing as it was withdrawnfrom a scabbard.

“Whatare you doing?” Reniko asked as she was suddenly clutching Imako, which Dertrikhad thrown to her.

“Ithink I have an idea as to what Orric meant, about thinking too much.”

“Andyou think real swords are going to help in this?”

Dertrikshrugged.

“Fightme, Reniko. Fight me like your life depends on it.” Dertrik didn’t give Renikoa chance to think about the comment, but instead advanced on her. Renikoreflexively let Imako fly in defense of Dertrik’s onslaught. They fought,Reniko quite awkwardly, as she tried to fend Dertrik off as well as trying toavoid slicing into her wings. She was sloppy and Dertrik could see it. Hepressed her, forced her back, and suddenly he was upon her, his blade inchesfrom her neck and Imako was parrying uselessly low. Frightened by the suddencontact with Dertrik’s blade, she reacted. A gust of wind blew dust intoDertrik’s eyes as Reniko lifted lightly off the ground, the movement of herwings forcing her backward. She settled onto the ground seconds later, now outof reach of Dertrik’s advancing blade. Dertrik was wiping the dust from hiseyes.

“Nowwe’re getting somewhere,” he said.

Renikolooked at him abashedly. “Thinking too much suddenly makes a lot of sense.”

Bythe end of summer, Reniko felt confident in her flying ability. She spent mostof her morning flying around the borders of Tordaskar, out by Ocean’s Wall, andthe afternoons she spent with Dertrik, Malik, and Ryne training with the blade.Now that Reniko had figured out how to use her wings properly, no one couldmatch her in skill. Rumeum’antra was her master. It was an art made for her kindand every one of them knew it.

Briumhad released her from his watchful eye, telling her that she had learned allshe was going to from him. However, Reniko kept up her mental training, as wellas her physical. She spent most of her time in flight Engaged with either Briumor Orric; they both felt the same about her training, which was that she wasusing it to hide from other responsibilities. Reniko never admitted to it, butneither did she deny it. Whenever she found herself back at the castle, she wasengaged with the King and Queen discussing tactical measures. She was in heavycontact with the rest of the Ravvon family that was spread around the world.Dertrik had brought with him Levanith devices that resembled the sphere Renikohad acquired in Reflaydun, the same device her mother had used to speak withher father in her memory.

Earlyin her communications with the Ravvons, Xanthus, Tobias and Callum had had torelocate to Corbasin, since the threat of the Rük on Mo’an Delar was everincreasing. Reniko knew she would be unable to hide behind Ocean’s Wallforever. The Rük still crowded the borders around Tordaskar and whatever theywere planning to do was on the horizon. Reniko realized soon enough thatdespite how intuitive she was in tactical manoeuvres, she despised it. Everymoment she spent in communication with the Ravvons she thought increasinglymore of replaceing the archives. She knew there was slim chance of replaceingsomething that would avert a war, not after hearing that the Levanith had rageda hundred years war with the Rük a thousand years ago, however, the more Renikothought about it, the more she realized that they had even less going for themthan the Levanith who had lost the first war all those years ago. She had thenagging feeling that if this did come to war, they would be fighting yetanother losing battle. No one seemed to see this but her and so she keptsilent, realizing that she would have to be the one to think of something elseto save this world.

Asautumn dawned, Reniko felt her time slipping away. That morning, she creptsilently away and headed to Ocean’s Wall. She had always flown high above thedarkened abyss, afraid to go down, worried not only by the wind patterns thatswept through the ravine, but also of things she couldn’t see, like the bottom.After circling high above the ravine, she finally made her way slowly down intoit, careful to keep aware of the air as she scanned the cliff wall for signs ofan entrance. This is impossible, she thought after she had spent a goodthree hours soaring by endless amounts of rock, I could be completely in thewrong place. It could be years before I found the entrance. She wascircling lower now, close to the never-ending darkness below when she decidedthat she should head back to Tordaskar before someone began to worry about her.With a few beats of her wings she found a thermal and began riding it up, stillscanning the cliff face. She stopped, flapping her wings furiously, to keep thewind from carrying her away, when she noticed something glinting in thesunlight that had suddenly lit up the cliff side. She dove toward it, backwinging as she came to her destination. She landed softly on a small ledgewhere a sandy coloured door stood closed. The sunlight had caught sight of thesmall access panel that was set on one of the nearby walls. Reniko wiped awaythe dust that had settled on top of it and noticed a palm scan underneath.Touching it softly with her fingertips, she saw the screen light up. She placedher palm on the screen and felt a slight tingle as her hand sunk into itssurface. The door slid open hesitantly moments later and Reniko was leftstaring into a darkened corridor. Relieved, and extremely excited, she palmedthe door shut and headed back to Tordaskar.

Asshe manoeuvered back up the cliff wall, a shadow passed over the sun. Haltingher upward movement, she cast her gaze upwards. A cloud? She thought,unable to discern what else it could have been. Shrugging off her concern, andtoo excited to investigate, she proceeded up the cliff face and back toTordaskar.

Shewas quite tired by the time she got back to the city walls and landed softlyjust outside them. Stretching her wings, and folding them, she proceeded to thetraining grounds.

Rynewas the only person there. He was cleaning up, clearing out the broken bokkenand polishing the weaponry. Reniko greeted him.

“Ryne,where is everyone?”

“Theyall went back to the castle. You’ve been gone a long time. We were all gettingworried about you.”

“Iguess Orric hasn’t gotten here yet,” Reniko said.

“Youpresume correctly. Where have you been anyway?"

“Flyingout by Ocean’s Wall. I found the entrance to the archives,” Reniko saidexcitedly.

“Flyingby yourself out by Ocean’s Wall? Somehow that doesn’t seem like a smart thingto do,” Ryne said setting aside the sword and cloth he had been handling. “Comeon, I’ll escort you back to the castle.” Reniko felt suddenly silly beingscolded by Ryne and blushed.

Theywalked the streets of the city together. Reniko was glad of his company. Shewas still not used to the stares she got from the citizens of Tordaskar. Eventhough they had been told that she was not an immortal goddess, being aLevanith was hardly any better. She had a feeling that Ryne and Zanith hadn’treally cleared up the misunderstanding at all, but created another, that shewas in fact a higher power than the King himself. While she tried to ignorethis position that she had been forced into, the citizens were a constantreminder that everyone else viewed it to be true. She was thankful for thesafety of the castle walls that guarded her from reverent eyes.

Rimcawas the first person that Ryne and Reniko encountered when they stepped intothe courtyard. She looked flustered and worried. When she spotted Ryne withReniko she visibly relaxed.

“Mistress,where have you been? Everyone has been very worried about you,” Rimca saidrushing to Reniko’s side, glancing over her to make sure she was all right.Reniko frowned, she hated that Rimca had taken to calling her mistress, despiteReniko’s protests.

“I’mfine Rimca, and stop calling me that,” Reniko said, walking toward the castlewhile Ryne and Rimca came behind.

Rimcaignored Reniko’s protests and instead asked her question again. “Where wereyou?”

“Iwas flying, like I do every morning,” Reniko said somewhat irritated by thelack of freedom that she had been feeling since she had awoken as Levanith. Shemissed the days when people had been less concerned with her whereabouts. Shehad spent the first few days arguing with Dertrik about flying alone and hadfinally had to assert her authority to gain that little semblance of freedom.

“Flyingis one thing, but you’ve been gone most of the day. We were just about to go tothe Teoko and see if they could replace out where you were.”

Renikosighed, not really wanting to tell Rimca where she had been, knowing that alecture would be forthcoming. “I was out at Ocean’s Wall. I found the entranceto the archives. I told Orric as soon as I found them.”

“Ocean’sWall?” Rimca said exasperated.

“Don’tstart,” Reniko said.

Rimcalooked at Ryne and he shrugged. “I think being scolded once about it isenough,” he whispered to Rimca who grinned in response.

“Doesanyone know where Malik and Dertrik are?” Reniko asked turning to look back ather entourage. She collided with something at the same time.

“Righthere,” Dertrik said rubbing his head.

Renikoturned around and laughed. “Sorry Dare, let me help you up.” She said reachingout her hand and helping Dertrik to his feet. Malik stood by the wall trying tokeep from laughing himself.

“Wherehave you been, Lyss?” Malik asked, his concern the only one that didn’taggravate Reniko.

“Iwas out at Ocean’s Wall,” Reniko said and halted Malik before he could sayanything. “I found the entrance to the archives. I apologize for going therealone, but it’s done now, so can you please leave me alone?”

“We’rejust concerned about your safety, Renny,” Dertrik said.

“Wellyour concern is making me want to be reckless with my safety,” Reniko replied.

Thefour of them stood by abashedly. “We have been a little over protective as oflate,” Rimca finally said.

“Sowho’s coming with me?” Reniko asked.

“Going?Now?” Dertrik questioned.

Renikolooked at him and frowned. “Don’t tell me. I have a conference with the rest ofthe Ravvon family,” Reniko said and sighed, “first thing tomorrow?”

“Iwon’t complain about that,” Malik said.

“Iexpect you all to come,” Reniko said as she headed off with Dertrik and Rimcato the conference room.

Renikoflew to the practice grounds early the next morning. She stood by and watchedas Ryne and Dertrik instructed a group of guards in the rudiments ofRumeum’antra. She did not envy the job that the Ravvons had taken up. Trainingan army seemed almost as arduous as leading them. Malik joined her an hourlater and they both watched from the sidelines. After another few minutes,Reniko became restless.

“Wantto go a few rounds,” Reniko asked Malik.

Heshrugged. “As long as you go easy on me.”

Renikopushed him playfully and smirked. She took to the air and a few minutes laterhad returned with Imako and another sword for Malik. Malik looked at hercuriously.

“Don’tthink you’re ready for real combat?” she asked, “I could go get some bokkens ifyou prefer. It was Malik’s turn to smirk and he just grabbed the offered bladefrom Reniko and took his opening stance.

“Readywhen you are?” Malik said.

“Youought to know by now I prefer not to take the opening move,” Reniko said.

“Ihave a feeling that is why you always win,” Malik said, but advanced on hernonetheless. Reniko just smiled. They both fought aggressively, Malik a littletentative now that he was holding an actual weapon against Reniko. Reniko hadgood control, having used real blades in most of her training with Dertrik. Aftera few minutes of heavy fighting, both of them were perspiring.

“You’reholding back,” Malik said when their blades had locked, their face inches fromeach other.

“Yousaid go easy on you,” Reniko said teasingly.

“Itake it back,” Malik said jeeringly.

Renikogrinned and they pulled apart. “I have to admit, I do have an unfair advantageover you, Mal,” Reniko replied.

“Quitea few actually,” he said and shrugged. Reniko tossed a glare back and advanced.She was a flurry of motion having enacted the whole extent of her skill. Herwings gave her a formidable advantage as she used them to leap over Malik’sblows. As she came down after she had avoided yet another of Malik’s advancesshe felt a hand grab her from behind and suddenly she was down on the ground, Malikstanding over her, his sword at her neck. Dertrik looked over her fallen frameas well and sighed, he being the culprit to her sudden descent.

“Alittle overconfident are we?” he said and glanced at Malik, “next time we takeher on together.” Malik laughed and pulled his blade away from Reniko.

“Thatwas not fair,” Reniko huffed.

“Ohdon’t be a sore loser,” Dertrik said helping Reniko to her feet, “you were theone that wasn’t paying attention to what was going on behind you. Malik wonfair and square.” Reniko glared at Dertrik and glanced at Malik who was tryingto keep from smiling.

“Youknew he was there,” Reniko said. Malik just shrugged and Reniko advanced on himangrily.

“Hey,don’t get mad at me,” Malik said as Reniko came inches from his face. Hetensed, afraid what she was going to do. Reniko laughed and held him closekissing, him gingerly on his lips.

“Dertrikalways seems to be reminding me that I still have a lot to learn,” shewhispered as she parted from Malik. “Don’t tell him I said so.”

“Arewe ready to go?” Dertrik asked. Rimca had come into the clearing shortly afterMalik and Reniko had begun their spar, which had also caused an interruption ofRyne and Dertrik’s class. All three of them stood, waiting for Reniko and Malikto say something.

Renikotossed Imako to Dertrik, “Can you put that back for me, I just want to checkand make sure I have everything we are going to need.” Dertrik nodded andheaded back to the storage shed while Reniko went over and grabbed the belt shehad laid to one side during their spar. She checked the pouches, making sureshe still had her torch as well as making sure that the sphere from Reflaydunwas secure. After the lightning bolt had struck it, she had not been able toget it to function, but she owed it to the hologram to try and get a linkupestablished with the archives. Sure that she had everything, she secured thebelt around her waist. Rimca walked over to her and looked at herdisapprovingly.

“What?”Reniko asked and realized that Rimca was unhappy with her wardrobe. “You tryflying in a skirt.” Reniko said and tossed her backpack to Rimca. “Can youcarry that, it’s kind of impractical for me to have that since I can’t wear it,but it has things that we need.”

“Fine,”Rimca said putting the pack onto her back.

Dertrikcame back and Reniko looked around the assembled group.

“Nowall we have to do is wait for Orric and Brium to get here,” Reniko said. Ashadow past over them and Orric landed in the now deserted clearing, Briumclose behind.

“Thanksfor coming,” Reniko said. The four passengers spilt into two groups. Dertrikand Malik climbed onto Orric and Rimca and Ryne stationed themselves on Brium.Both Dertrik and Ryne looked uneasy about flying, which was the reason thatReniko had made sure that both of them were riding with a more experiencedflyer. All of them secure, Reniko took to the air followed shortly by Orric andBrium.

Oncethey were all a comfortable distance into their flight, Reniko veered back andcame up by Orric’s head.

“Theentrance is too small for you and Brium, you don’t mind waiting topside doyou?” she asked.

“Ofcourse not, Lyss, the sun will keep me and Brium company just fine. Besides,you’re adept enough now to give us updates on your progress.”

Renikosmiled and took point once again. She kept glancing back behind her as theyflew, she couldn’t help feeling strange with Orric and Brium behind her. Theywere like small airplanes flying behind her; it felt almost comical having themfollow her like this.

Threehours later, the small party had made it to the edge of Ocean’s Wall. Renikowent down into the ravine to scout the area once again and a few minutes latershe landed on the cliff edge where the rest of the company was waiting.

“Thisentrance was built strictly for Levanith use. I brought my rock climbingequipment with us, but I don’t know if the ropes are going to be long enough,”Reniko said as she returned. Rimca gave Reniko her pack and Reniko unpacked thecoils of rope that were within. She disappeared down the cliff face again withthe rope and a few tools, leaving her companions waiting once again. When shereturned a half an hour later, she looked more confident.

“Thereare a couple of ledges you’ll have to land on and switch ropes, but other thanthat, it should be smooth sailing,” Reniko said. She handed Dertrik her harnessand he helped get Rimca into it and showed her how to use the apparatus. Rimcalooked a little flustered and nervous as Dertrik helped her hook onto the ropehanging over the cliff.

“DidI ever tell you that I hate heights?” Rimca whispered. She was shakingslightly.

“Afterall that flying we did on Orric?” Reniko said.

Rimcanodded her head. “It’s not like I had a choice.”

“Youseemed fine to me. But, if you don’t want to do this, you don’t have to.”

Rimcalooked down the ravine and took a deep breath and rappelled down the rope.Reniko smiled at her courage and got ready to follow her down the ravine, butstopped and looked behind her into the forest instead. She watched the yellowand orange leaves falling from the smaller deciduous trees like rain, Orricnoticed her sudden preoccupation.

“Somethingtroubling you, Lyss?” he asked staring into the forest as well.

Renikoshook her head. “It’s nothing. Just thought I heard something.”

“We’llkeep a watchful eye out,” Brium said.

Renikonodded, still staring into the bushes trying to filter passed all the fallingleaves. She saw something moving, something big, but she doubted herself, therewere just too many leaves in the way. Turning back to Ocean’s Wall, she jumpoff the ledge and took flight watching Rimca as she landed on the first ledgeand hooked onto the second rope. When Rimca had safely landed on the ledge thatconcealed the doorway, Reniko landed beside her and palmed the door open. Takingthe harness from Rimca, she headed back up the cliff face.

Malikwas next and he made it safely down the cliff face landing on the last ledge towait with Rimca as Reniko took the harness up once more. When she handed theharness to Ryne he shook his head in protest.

“Ithink I’ll wait up here with Orric and Brium,” he replied. Reniko looked atDertrik and he was shaking his head as well.

“Whydid you two come all this way if you were not planning on coming down?” Renikoasked.

“Stilla little bit overprotective,” Dertrik said with a smirk. “Go on, Rimca andMalik are waiting for you. Orric and Brium will keep us informed.” Reniko flewdown toward the archive entrance, the harness clutched firmly in her hands.When she had landed and left the harness on the ground, Rimca looked at herpuzzled.

“They’renot coming?” Rimca asked.

Renikoshook her head. “I guess the older you get, the less adventurous you become.”

“That’snot entirely true,” Rimca said.

“Wellfor humans then, not Le’a’to.”

Thethree of them moved deeper into the passageway. Reniko pulled her torch fromher belt and switched it on.

“Ifthere was a passageway back at the castle, you do realize that it’s going totake us the better part of two days to get to these archives.”

“Iwas thinking about that,” Reniko said as she scanned a nearby wall with her torch.“It seemed a little impractical.” She found what she was looking for, acomputer console set into the wall. She touched the surface and the panelilluminated. “It’s all in Levanith,” Reniko said and spoke a command, “displayinformation in Vespian.” Reniko felt the wall shutter slightly and felt atingling as a beam of light washed over her.

“Securityclearance confirmed,” a voice said in Vespian and the screen flickered and thewords changed from Levanith to Vespian.

Renikoscanned through the processes and Malik and Rimca watched as the lights in thepassageway flickered on.

“Justas I thought,” Reniko said in triumph as she pushed a series of buttons, whichwas accompanied by a rather large noise as the ceiling a few feet down thepassageway creaked open and dropped down a circular craft that settled a fewinches above the ground, hovering in place. “That should get us where we needno problem,” Reniko said as she walked over and sat on one of the empty seatson the craft. Rimca looked open mouthed at Malik who just shrugged and joinedReniko on the craft. Rimca followed a little more hesitantly.

“Thisis incredible!” she said as she stepped onto the craft looking down at her feetto see that the craft was, in fact, still hovering over the ground. Renikograbbed her and sat her down just as the device started forward. Rimca nearlytumbled off.

“Yes,very,” Reniko said smiling.

“Alot like Reflaydun,” Malik said.

Rimcalooked at him incredulously. “I can’t imagine a whole city with devices likethis. It must have been amazing to see.”

“Moreso for me than Reniko, I imagine,” Malik said.

“Ihave to admit, Earth isn’t too far from where the Levanith were in some areas,but in others… it’s beyond my comprehension.”

Thethree of them chatted about Earth until the craft came to a stop. The wholetrip had only taken them half of an hour. This impressed Rimca as well.

“Ittook us an eighth of the time to get back to Tordaskar this way than by flying.That’s amazing.”

Renikosmiled, she couldn’t help but think of her car back home. She had alwaysthought that getting around Vespen was very slow no matter if they werewalking, riding or flying. It was nice to be able to travel on something fastagain; she hadn’t realized how much she had missed the speed. Reniko lookedaround the corridor they were in and noticed a closed door at the end of it.She got off the hovercraft and made her way over to the door where anotherpanel was inset in the wall. She touched the surface of the panel and waitedfor it to light up, relieved when it did. Putting her hand on the surface, shewatched as the door slid open. Stepping into the soft-lit room she stumbledback Malik catching her in his arms.

“Somethingwrong?” Malik asked.

“I’vebeen here before,” Reniko said looking around the room. She saw the computeraccess panel in the centre of the room, a level higher than the floor theystood on. Hibernation chambers spotted the walls. Reniko saw two missing ones. Two?She thought and pushed the thought aside as she stepped deeper into the room.She saw the shaft that she and her mother had used to come down here fromTordaskar, it was destroyed, a heap of rubble filling the spot where it hadbeen. She walked gingerly into the room, memories flooding her mind. She sawher mother and her grandmother, both talking to each other, as they filteredthrough information on the holographic image that floated above the computerconsole. She could see her mother standing outside her hibernation chamber. Thememory flooded her mind and ended abruptly as she was frozen for a thousandyears in a deep sleep. She awoke from her memories when Malik laid a hand onher shoulder. She realized that she had walked over to the spot where hermother had stood outside her prison and there were tears streaking down herface. She wiped them away and turned back to her companions.

“Thereis nothing in here that we need. I think it’s the next room over,” Reniko saidfighting back the painful memories. She tried to forget that this was the placethat had changed her life forever. Inever would have met Malik, if my mother had not sent me, a thousand yearsseparated us. Malik said nothing, only followed Reniko as she wandered tothe other side of the room and palmed open another door. This next room wasperfectly preserved. The room was awash with a soft blue light that was beingemitted from the walls. Seven consoles sat in the centre of the room for accessto the computer mainframe that surrounded them.

“Theseconsoles should give you access to whatever information we need. Take a seatand start browsing. If you think of it like a book then it should be easy tonavigate through. Whatever you touch should come up. If it doesn’t, a spokencommand should do the trick.” Reniko said.

“We’llwatch you for a few minutes anyway,” Rimca suggested and they followed Renikoas she went to a nearby console and interfaced with it. A holographic image wasdisplayed in the air above the console, all the information encoded in Levanith.

“Translateall data into Vespian,” Reniko spoke.

“Unableto comply,” a voice sounded from the computer in Levanith.

Renikofurrowed her brow. “Did anyone else understand that?” Reniko asked. Malik andRimca both shook their heads. Must have heard that a lot when I was little.Reniko thought and shrugged.

“Translateall available data into Vespian,” Reniko retranslated.

“Onemoment please,” the computer said now in Vespian. A few minutes later Renikosaw data scrolling past her in Vespian.

“Thereisn’t very much here that can be translated from Levanith to Vespian,” Renikosighed. “Why don’t you two start cycling through what we have and I’ll see if Ican interface the computers at Reflaydun with the ones here.”

“Iunderstood about half of what you just said,” Malik said. Rimca sighed andpulled him away.

“Startreading, Mal,” Rimca translated and the two of them flitted off to their ownconsole leaving Reniko alone at hers.

Renikopulled out the sphere from her pouch and set it in a slot located on theconsole. Nothing happened.

“Completea preliminary analysis of data sphere,” Reniko said.

“Analysiscomplete,” the computer said a few minutes later.

“Pleasedisplay results,” Reniko said and was confronted with an onslaught of data.Sighing she began reading from the top looking for anything that lookedrelevant. A half an hour later she ran into some translatable data. The powercell on the sphere was completely fried.

“Initiateexternal power linkup,” Reniko said. Instantly the sphere came to life, thehologram in Reflaydun hovering above it.

“GreetingsReniko. I see you have finally come into your own,” the hologram greeted.

Renikogave the hologram an annoyed look, which it could not translate.

“I’min the Tordaskar archives. Think you can re-establish that link now?” Renikoasked.

“Yes,I’ll just need use of this console for two standard hours.”

“Great.While you’re at it, do you think you can get us more translation access tothese restricted files?”

Thehologram was silent for a moment and then it spoke. “I can translate in thefollowing languages.” The hologram displayed a list of available languages onthe screen and Reniko scanned through them, most of them were foreign to her,but near the bottom she saw a few Earth based languages and pointed to one.

“Englishis good,” Reniko replied.

“Youcan now access all files you wish in the chosen language,” the hologramreplied.

“Thanks,”Reniko said as she wandered over to another console that was free.

Anhour later, her eyes were glazed. She pushed away from the screen that wasbefore her and looked back at Rimca and Malik who were now at separateconsoles.

“Anythinguseful?” Reniko asked.

“Everythingthat has been translated to Vespian is pretty much useless,” Malik said, Rimcaagreed.

“Doyou now any earth based languages?” Reniko asked.

“Iknow a bit of Latin,” Rimca replied. Malik shook his head.

“Askit to translate the restricted files into Latin,” Reniko replied.

Rimcadid as she was told and hit the console in frustration. “It won’t let me.” Renikolooked down at the tattoo on the back of her hand and back at Malik.

“Malikcould you help her out?” Reniko asked waving her tattooed hand in the air.Malik nodded and ran over to Rimca’s console to give her the access she needed.Reniko turned back to her own console with a sigh. This is worse thanschool, Reniko thought as she scanned through a new series of files. Ireally wish that this stupid console had a search engine. I guess they didn’twant their restricted files easy to navigate. Reniko watched another seriesof files scroll passed on her console, and finally registering the words shehad seen, she sat up in her chair and scrolled back. This could beinteresting, She thought as she accessed a file called ‘Rük rulingstructure’.

BriumI think I may have found something. Something big, sheengaged Brium excitedly as she read over the file that she had opened.

“MalikI think I may have found something,” Reniko said, still keeping her link withBrium open as she had not yet received a response.

“Really?That’s a relief. I was going crazy over here looking at all these wordsflashing by on the screen.”

“Haveyou ever encountered a black Rük?” Reniko asked and paused. Brium, are youthere? Getting no response she furrowed her brow.

“What’sthe matter Reniko?”

“It’sBrium, I –” Reniko didn’t finish her thought for in an instant, she feltunheard of pain, and suddenly she felt death. She screamed, clutching her head,and fell to the ground throwing up. She passed out moments later, leaving aterrified pair behind.

Shewoke up a few minutes later and looked up at Malik who was clutching herprotectively in his arms.

“Lyss,what happened? Please tell me you’re okay,” he said. His body was shaking withworry. Rimca was at his side looking just as concerned. Reniko burst intotears.

“Ohgod, no. Brium… Brium is dead,” Reniko said through sobs.

“Dead?”Rimca questioned. “By what. By whom?”

Renikolooked at her. “I don’t know. But it was so sudden.”

“Youwere Engaged with him when he died?” Malik asked staggered by the implication.

“Yes,oh god, yes,” Reniko said sobbing. She stood up and headed for the doorway. “Wehave to go back. I can’t Engage Orric. I don’t know what’s happened to them.” Dertrik,Ryne, Orric hang on, I‘m coming.

“Renikowait, we don’t know what’s out there. What if it’s the Rük?” Rimca said

“Jekkah!Jekkah must be here,” Malik said. He was seething now with as much emotion asReniko. He grabbed Reniko’s hand and they both ran out of the archivestogether, Rimca chasing after them with protest.

Thirtyminutes later they stood at the edge of the ledge looking up toward the forestsurrounding Tordaskar.

“Idon’t hear anything,” Reniko said her heart pounding in her chest. She leaptoff the ledge and took flight. Rimca tried to grab her to call her back, but itwas to no avail. Malik had the same idea as Reniko and soon he was back in theharness and on his way back up the ropes toward the forest. Rimca was leftstanding on the ledge unable to do a thing.

Renikoreached the top of the cliff a few minutes later. The grove above was silentand void of life. Brium’s still body was lying exactly where it had been whenReniko, Malik and Rimca had left. The sight of it brought tears back toReniko’s eyes. I felt him die. She went to his side and touched hisstill warm body. She was crying over his still frame when she heard movement inthe brush behind Brium. She looked up, but all she saw was yellow and orangeleaves floating to the ground. She almost realized too late that she wasn’t infact looking at leaves but at the scaly hide of a Teoko, Jekkah. Reniko halfran, half flew, to the edge of the cliff and dove off just narrowly avoidingJekkah’s outstretched hand.

“Whata transformation,” Jekkah said turning back to Reniko who was flyingerratically, not sure where to go to avoid encountering Jekkah. “Not anearthling at all, but Levanith. What an interesting turn this has taken.”Reniko didn’t respond, just flew, scanning her surroundings as she went. Shenearly halted when she saw Malik climbing back up the cliff wall. He wasglancing in her direction and suddenly he was glancing up. Reniko hadn’t beenthe only one that had noticed Malik’s precarious position. Jekkah was clingingto the rocks just above Malik.

“Thinkyou can save him?” Jekkah asked, flashing Reniko a malicious grin.

“No,”Reniko shouted lunging toward Malik as Jekkah cut the rope that Malik wassuspended from. Malik let out a startled cry as the tension broke and he wasfalling down into the ravine below. Reniko sped after him, reaching out toMalik’s outstretched hand. She grasped his hand with both of hers, and felt hisweight snap into her hands, her wings straining to hold them both aloft. Thestrain was excruciating, but she refused to let go. Rapidly, she beat herwings, gaining altitude slowly. She had since lost track of Jekkah, tooconcerned with saving Malik to track the path of that venomous creature.

“Malik,whatever happens don’t let go,” Reniko said, the weight taking a toll on her.She beat steadily upward, slowly and with much strain. Looking up at the cliffside, she saw the forest floor just above her, and with all the reserve shecould muster, she beat her wings toward her goal, dropping Malik solidly on theground and dropping beside him moments later, panting from the effort.

“Where’sJekkah?” Malik asked.

“Righthere,” a voice said as a yellow, clawed hand sent Malik flying across the cliffedge; his body settling to the ground after it had hit a nearby tree. Renikomade to react but suddenly felt her body pinned to the ground, Jekkah’s clawsdigging into the dirt all around her.

“Notso fast, Lyss,” Jekkah spat and grinned menacingly. “Not so hard to catch afterall.”

Renikostruggled under Jekkah’s grasp only to alight Jekkah’s cold laughter.

“Whybother? Your strength is no match for my own.”

“Whatdo you want?” Reniko asked finally giving up her useless struggle.

“It’snot what I want, now is it? It’s what Trokar wants, and he happens to wantyou,” Jekkah said and turned to stare into the woods. “Is that not right, Milord?”

Renikolooked in the direction of Jekkah’s gaze, her eyes falling upon a horrid sight.Five Rük were coming out from the forest. The one in the lead was a threateningsight. He loomed near ten feet tall, a good foot taller than all the others,and his skin was an engulfing pitch black.

Malik,have you ever seen a black Rük?