The Stars Below, page 28
part #4 of Vega Jane Series
Inside, the place was now filled with Maladons. I saw in the dining hall that they were having a victory feast and poor Pillsbury, now battered and blackened, was forced to serve them as they threw objects at him and called him vicious names.
Mrs. Jolly came out with the food cart and was subjected to this same harassment.
I could see that the portraits of our kind on the walls had been slashed and burned or else had foul names painted across them. My beautiful Empyrean was no more.
And, in a scene that actually made me retch, I saw that they had piled all the bodies of the dead in the Great Hall, and set them … afire. Some of them actually danced around the flames, hooting and calling out horrid names.
However, Necro was not there and I wondered why.
I manipulated the Seer-See until I finally found him.
What that creature was doing was more diabolical than even I could give him credit for.
He was in Jasper’s laboratory. Astrea’s headless body was behind a glass.
There was an enormous bottle under the glass collecting Astrea’s magical dust.
As I watched, the bottle filled. Necro waved his wand over it and the dust swirled out and … was absorbed into his body.
He had just taken Astrea’s considerable magic for his own.
I had no idea such a vile thing was possible.
Necro had been a force to be reckoned with before this.
Now, now he would be truly invincible.
I watched as he smiled, pointed his wand at the wall and gave it a tiny wave.
I could see that he had conjured a shield enchantment in front of the wall.
Next, he pointed his wand at the shield and flicked it.
The blast of power that came out of the wand was so strong that the shield enchantment was instantly punctured and the massive stone wall was obliterated. I mean there was nothing left.
I dispensed with the Seer-See and resumed my watch.
It seemed likely to me that the Maladons, after celebrating their victory, would commence their hunt for us. They would know how few there were left of us, and that we were injured and hardly prepared to fight. They would think they could finish us off easily.
And they might not be wrong about that.
“Vega?”
I turned to see my brother standing there.
“Yes, John?”
“We have to continue the fight.”
“I know that.”
“We have to avenge Dad.”
“We have to avenge many.”
I told him what the Maladons were doing right now. When I got to the part about their burning the bodies, my brother turned to the side and vomited.
He wiped off his mouth and straightened.
“Do you think they’ll be coming after us?”
“I think it quite likely, yes.”
“We need to have a plan.”
“Yes.”
“Do you have one?”
“I’m trying to come up with one, John! Do you realize what just happened at Empyrean? Do you understand how many people we lost? Including our father?”
“I understand all of that, Vega. And I think we need to find the villagers you met. Russell? Delph told me. They can help us fight.”
“I was thinking about that. But they’re not magical. They can fight and I know they can kill Maladons, but I’m not sure that it will be enough now. Not with our depleted numbers. To fight would be sending them to their deaths.”
John squatted down next to me and clasped his hands, his head bowed as though in deep thought.
“Better to die than be ruled by the Maladons.”
I mulled over his words. “I guess I should give Russell and the others the choice. But there’s something else,” I added. I told him about Necro taking Astrea’s power for his own. “Now he will be even more formidable. I’m not sure that he can be stopped at this point.”
“He can be stopped, Vega.”
“How?” I demanded.
“You will stop him.”
“How can you be so sure of that?”
“Because it’s the only reason you’re here. It’s the only reason you’ve survived everything that’s been set against you. It was why you lived tonight when so many others died.”
“No one can know the future,” I said.
“One person can.”
I looked more closely at John until the truth hit me.
“You were in Jasper’s laboratory. You were reading through his books. What did you find?”
“I found that he went into the future. I found that he knows your fate. But he can’t tell you, because that would mean awful consequences for you.”
“And how can you be sure that in the future I’m the winner and not Necro?”
“Because I’ve never known you to be beaten. Ever. Every time you were knocked down, you got back up. Every single time when it would have been easier to stay down, you stood again. And you won. You fought Necro today. You knocked him into the air and slammed him against a wall, Vega. You did that. You stunned him. He knows how powerful you are. That was why he sought out Astrea’s magic.” He paused and then simply said it. “He fears you.”
He rose, his gaze downcast, but for some reason I could feel the burn of its intensity.
“That’s what I think anyway,” he said.
And he turned and walked off.
I watched him go for a long while, until I could see him no more.
Then I huddled in my cloak, for it was chilly here, and thought about all that he had said.
It was true that I had survived much. That I had always gotten up after being knocked down. That I had come up with some way to emerge victorious when all looked dark against me.
And still, the future was guaranteed to no one. I could come all this way and still lose. I knew that.
But my brother’s belief in me, well, it bolstered me. It made me feel that what he was saying at least could be possible.
Maybe, at this darkest point in my life, that was enough.
All I could do was try.
BLIMEY,” SAID RUSSELL.
Blimey indeed. I had flown to Russell’s hiding place to meet with him. I had just told him of the Maladon attack against our stronghold.
“What will you do now?” he asked.
“Regroup. Join our remaining forces with yours, if you’re still willing. We’re not as strong as we used to be, Russell. The result might be a slaughter. I just want you to know that. And if you decide not to help, I completely understand.”
“Are you nutters? Didn’t we already pledge our allegiance to you, Vega? Do you really think we’d go back on our word simply because you lost a battle? Hel, you need us now more than ever, I reckon.”
“Thank you, Russell. And you’re right, we do.”
“What do you need right now?”
“Give me five of your best fighters,” I said.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to take the fight to the Maladons.”
“How?”
“Leave it to me.”
I had a plan, just not one I wanted to divulge.
He said, “When do you want them? And by the way, that number will include me.”
“Tomorrow night.”
“Do you need shelter, food?”
“That would be good, yes.”
“Then bring your army here.”
I thought to myself that when he saw my ragtag band, he might use a different word than army.
I returned to the others and told them of the plan to unite with Russell’s group.
I gathered all the survivors, tethered them and did the requisite incantation.
Seconds later, our feet, and in Harry Two’s case, paws, hit the dirt smack in the middle of Russell’s encampment. They were expecting us, as a crowd had gathered around with Russell at the head.
I will never forget the kindness showed to us that night. They could see that we were battered and bloodied, tired and hungry.
The outpouring of food and water and blankets and tents to sleep in was instant and overwhelming. In some cases it was simply a helping hand, a kind word of sympathy or encouragement.
One lad who couldn’t have been much older than John came over to me. He was dressed in rags and already bore the wounds of battle.
He said eagerly, “You’re Vega. I heard you speak last time you were here.”
“What’s your name?”
“Donovan. Donovan McDougal.”
“Well, I appreciate you fighting with us, Donovan.”
“Appreciate? Blimey, Vega, ’tis an honor. If I survive this, I’ll be telling me kids, ‘Oi, your father, he fought with Vega bloody Jane.’”
I kept smiling at this comment long after he left.
Before I really knew it, my lot was fully integrated with Russell’s people. They were chatting away as though they had known one another their whole lives.
I watched as my mother sat in front of a small campfire warming her hands and sipping from a tin cup she had been given. She had spent most of her time nursing the wounded, and I was glad to see her take a moment for herself.
I looked around at the primitive camp. It was certainly not the grandeur of our existence at Empyrean, but I was even more moved by the beauty of acceptance.
John and Miranda were under a tree having a conversation with some of the younger members of Russell’s band.
Delph was sharpening his ax with a tool given to him by a bloke who was nearly as large as he was.
Harry Two lapped water from a bowl while two other dogs sat peacefully watching him.
I took Russell by the arm and led him over to a private spot to discuss matters.
“Okay, have you got your five yet?”
He nodded. “All good fighters. I spoke to them after you left. They’re ready to be led by you, Vega. As am I.”
“I’m not sure you coming is a good idea, Russell. If something happens to both of us, we’ll have no one to lead the survivors.”
Surprisingly, he smiled. “Well, Vega, I reckon if we fall, there are others here who can take up the mantle. I’m not saying you’re not special, a lot more than me actually. But leaders aren’t so much born as made, I believe. They rise to the occasion. Daphne was like that. She had her opinions. And she stood up for others. But she wasn’t the only one in the world. And neither are you or me.”
His statement struck me on a number of levels. I involuntarily glanced over at Delph and John, and then my mother and Thansius.
Russell was right. In their own way, they could all lead, given the chance. They did rise to the occasion, doing what needed doing.
You git, Vega, I thought to myself. A bit of humility never hurt, did it? And on the other side of the ledger, a bloke like Necro no doubt believed that he was the only possible one to lead his lot. He would never believe that he had an equal. Maybe I had fallen a little too much into that trap.
I shook my head clear. “You’re right, Russell.”
“So you said tomorrow night, then?”
“Yes.”
“Right you are. Well, you and your lot should get some sleep. Will any of them be coming with us?”
“Yes, they will,” I replied.
I bade Russell good-bye and took up a place with my mother.
She handed me a cup of hot tea, and I drank it gratefully.
“Empyrean?” said my mother. “Will we attempt to take it back?”
I shook my head. “I have seen what they are doing there. It is too well protected now. There is another, better target.”
“What?”
“Maladon Castle,” I replied.
My mother said, “Do you think that wise, Vega? What will we have to gain by attacking there?”
“I think several important things,” I answered.
“Such as?”
“Do you trust me?” I said suddenly.
“What?”
“Do you trust me?”
I didn’t expect a quick answer and I didn’t get one.
“Mum, I know that when we last parted, I was still a little girl who needed her nose wiped and her hand held.”
She smiled. “You haven’t needed your nose wiped or your hand held since you were two, Vega.”
“I can do this. I have been doing this.”
My mother looked at me wistfully, running a hand through my hair. “I think all parents believe their children will always need them, even when they’re all grown. We just want to feel like we’re still a part of your lives. That we’re still necessary.”
I took her hand. “You will always be a part of my life. And I actually need you now more than ever.”
“Then Maladon Castle it is,” said my mother. “When do we leave?”
“Mum, you’re not coming.”
“What do you mean? You can’t go there alone.”
“I’m not. I’m taking Delph, Harry Two, Miranda and John. And five of Russell’s blokes.”
“Your brother?” said my mother anxiously.
“John can fight. He’s not a little boy anymore either.”
“And if you are successful?”
“Then we will undertake the next step.”
“Which is?” she asked breathlessly.
“We take back our home. And we destroy the Maladons, once and for all.”
I SLEPT FITFULLY that night, lying under the stars, my body pressed into the dirt.
By the time the dawn broke, I was already up and taking a short walk through the dense trees. I needed to be alone right now as I contemplated what lay ahead.
I took several deep breaths and drew in the scents of the flowers arrayed all around. The path I was following was well worn and meandering.
I had just followed it to veer around a large poplar tree when I stopped dead.
Shimmering right in front of me … was Alice Adronis.
“Alice?” I said.
She nodded curtly and strode forward.
I could never see Alice without glancing at least once at her awful mortal wound.
“I’m so sorry about Empyrean,” I said.
She cut me off with a dismissive thrust of her hand.
“It is not your fault. Uma has explained matters to me. Necro’s plot was quite brilliant, I will give him that.”
“Insanely brilliant,” I added, for I had long since concluded that the man did indeed have to be insane to do all that he did.
“I have seen what they have done there. And I was told of … of Gunther’s remains.”
This was the first time I had ever seen Alice look the way that she now did, as though she were about to cry. But she composed herself and said, “Fortunately, my dear husband knows nothing of it. They desecrated his mortal remains. They did nothing to harm the spirit and legacy he left behind.”
“Alice, why didn’t Gunther come back as you have, in spirit form to Empyrean?”
“I died in battle. Gunther was murdered by Necro.”
“I know that, but what does that matter?”
“By murdering Gunther, Necro was able to keep his spirit from his rightful home. He wanders elsewhere, but always looking for his home. Always looking … for me. All this time.”
This saddened me almost more than I could bear.
“So Uma and Morrigone?”
“Uma was not murdered. She is free to go where she pleases. But she chooses Empyrean because her father, Bastion, was killed by the Maladons, and thus cannot return to his home. Morrigone can never go back to her home in Wormwood.”
“What about our side?”
“Our side does not slit the throats of unsuspecting people,” snapped Alice. “We fight honorably. And we die honorably. When you murder, you are a coward, but the victim of a murder will never be free until …”
“Until what?” I said.
“Until his murderer is, in turn, killed.”
“So if Necro dies?”
“I will be reunited with Gunther. And Uma with her father.”
“Then I will do my best to see you reunited with him.”
She gave a curt nod.
I said, “I also saw what he did to Astrea. He took her powers.”
Alice did not seem all that upset about this startling development. In fact, I could have sworn that a tiny smile had escaped her lips. But it was gone so quickly that I convinced myself that I had imagined it.
“Tell me your plans, Vega.”
“To destroy Maladon Castle, absolutely and completely.”
I was prepared for her to argue with me, to voice her opinion that another tactic would be superior to mine. To my astonishment, she nodded.
“Good, Vega, I quite agree.”
“You do?”
“Of course I do. Do you know how you will accomplish that objective?”
“I have a pretty good idea, yes.”
She scrutinized me for several long and uncomfortable moments. Why was it that Alice always put me on guard, as though I had to continually prove myself in her eyes?
Do you really have to ask that question, Vega?
“I believe it would need to be somewhat better than ‘pretty good.’”
The next instant, she vanished.
I sighed. Leave it to Alice to make me feel like a git.
WE LANDED SOFTLY and looked around.
There were ten of us, all tethered together.
We were invisible. I hoped we’d stay that way.
Delph was right at my shoulder, as always.
I unharnessed Harry Two and set him down.
Russell was at my other shoulder. He gazed carefully over the castle.
“So this is it, eh?”
I nodded.
“Where they took Daphne and killed her?” he said grimly.
“Yes.”
“How do we get in?” asked one of Russell’s men.
I took out the Elemental and sent a wand wire to Victus.
A few minutes passed before I received an answer in my thoughts.
“This way,” I said.
I led them to the rear of the castle.
Victus was there holding the same door open. We hurried inside, and he closed the door after us.
I whispered, “Thanks, Victus. Can you tell us how many Maladons are here?”
