Crimsoncrest (The Weirkey Chronicles Book 10), page 18
Each one produced a small field that resisted weirkey transportation, like rocks in the fabric of space-time that refused to be folded. Usually a person needed a large number of overlapping fields to produce a strong effect, as was commonly done in a city's foundation. The Deuxans had tried to spread the stones over an area to create an impromptu field, with moderate success.
Theo began carving armored shells out of Asplundat stone, hammering enormous amounts of mass into them. Someone using physical strength alone would struggle to budge them, while he could deploy them with gravitational fields easily enough. All he needed was a coating to resist cantae attacks and each individual stone would be fairly resistant. Given enough time, in theory he could create a variety of different shells, both for different purposes and so others could deploy them without his assistance.
Even if he finished work on all of them, however, he'd need some practice to place them properly. Once he figured out the details, however, he might be able to keep Authority-tier opponents from running off via weirkey.
This was something he never could have accomplished before and Theo found himself grinning as he worked. So many of his tools had been reinforced by the ascension and this was just the beginning. What might he be able to create once he mastered the skyvenom, or managed to infuse materials with his singularity? The possibilities spread out before him, more every time he brought the hammer down...
While he was in the middle of things, someone popped into existence not far from their quarters. Since Outpost #127 did have some anti-weirkey defenses, it was unusual for someone to get so close. Theo was alarmed until he emerged and saw Senka floating through the window, flopping over as if hanging on the air.
"I'm sporping exhausted, but I found something." She looked up and grinned. "Not a river, but one of my old caches is intact. I just can't open the nlerm thing. Let's go, right now."
"You have awful timing." Theo wiped his hands again and glanced wistfully at his work. "The political situation has gotten really complex, including aeon-class organizations. I was actually just talking to Fiyu about our obligations to Blacksilver."
"Ugh, come on. This is going to be way more exciting."
"Can you promise that it'd be a quick trip?"
Senka mumbled something noncommittal.
"If the cache survived for centuries, it can probably survive a few more weeks," Theo pointed out. "I want to see what it has, but can it wait a little longer?"
"Okay, but I'm going to be a real gurfoop about it." Senka sprawled over one of the chairs and yawned loudly. "Why are you in the Asplundat Movement, by the way? They have such boring blueprints, why would anyone serious get excited about them?"
"Well..." Theo smiled as he began to tell her about the Asplundatcrest. He'd been annoyed at the disruption, yet somehow, as they discussed the heights of sublime materials, he didn't mind so much.
Chapter 18
Even though the Asplundat Movement was much more welcoming than the Deuxan courts had been, Fiyu found herself strangely wistful for them. There they had been threatened from all sides, but at least they had been able to travel and fight together. Here they were always taken in separate directions, battling not against stated opponents but against hidden forces that never acted directly.
For a brief moment she had a traveling band again: Friend Nauda, Relative Guchiro, and Ally Homez. Even Prisoner Tythes, who could not be trusted but still made things more lively. The problem was that as soon as they completed their journey, the band would separate again.
Only one step remained, and Ally Homez would be the one to transport them. He already had his weirkeys in hand, but he paused to look at them.
"Azureton is not like other cities in the Asplundat Movement," he told the group somberly. "It is equal before the law, of course, but our guests from another world naturally change its character. I ask that you take no actions to disrupt this balance."
"We only intend to help," Fiyu said. "Do we really require additional warnings?"
"Likely not, but there have been troubles in the past, so I wanted to warn you. Now, hang on..."
They were all snatched from Fithe, briefly twisting through space her senses could not fully grasp, then they returned in a new location. Ally Homez was a talented weirkey user and he was extremely familiar with the Asplundat Movement, so they arrived smoothly in the air a short distance from this city of Azureton.
Anyone could see the differences, even without proper senses: this was the first Asplundat city she had seen that sometimes broke from the conventional architecture. Some of the buildings in local stone had smoother edges, some even had numerous windows. More striking was that there were strange objects floating in the air: they appeared to be plucked flowers from a distance, but they felt surprisingly solid to Fiyu's senses. They ranged in size from buildings to city blocks and many had buildings atop them, their weight apparently causing no trouble.
This was unusual, but not particularly troubling, so Fiyu searched for what might have caused difficulties for Ally Homez. She noted that the grid layout still followed the general rules of Asplundat cities, unremarkable but highly efficient. The people moving about from place to place appeared to be roughly 75% Fithan, 25% Siatan.
That meant an unusually high number of the fey Siatans, floating about from store to store. They still seemed unusual to Fiyu's senses, more like energy than matter. In a gesture that seemed almost comical to her, however, many of them wore Asplundat tunics. As if the Asplundat Movement didn't care what size or shape people were, only that they wore sack-like clothes.
Was that a humorous observation? Would Friend Nauda find it so? Fiyu puzzled over that as they descended toward the streets. Flying would have been faster, but it was considered polite for Authorities to walk within cities.
"You're all taking this well," Ally Homez said after a time.
"Taking what well?" Friend Nauda asked. "It's strange seeing buildings on top of flowers, but they seem pretty sturdy, so it's not like I'm worried about them falling."
"Uh, I was actually talking about the Siatans. A lot of people have only seen other Fithans, so they can be a bit of a shock. Once someone even thought they were demons, and that almost damaged our relationship. Not that anyone was harmed, but the Siatans take even threats seriously."
Friend Nauda snorted and rolled her eyes, which Fiyu understood but still feared might be considered rude, so she spoke up herself.
"Others may have traveled further," Fiyu told him, "but we are not inexperienced. We have spent much time in other worlds."
"You honestly expected us to be shocked?" Relative Guchiro asked. Based on the tension in his jaw, he seemed to be irritated in the same fashion as Friend Nauda.
"I guess I should have given you more credit," Ally Homez said apologetically. "I just didn't want-"
"What are those things?" Prisoner Tythes shrieked. He fell to his knees, alternately clutching his head and pointing at all the Siatans with both shackled arms. "Alien imps! Stop them before they eat my eyeballs! Aah, my precious eyeballs, don't let... these monsters..." He paused and looked back at them. "Isn't someone going to stop me? I'm trying to cause an international incident here."
Fiyu shook her head in disapproval. "My relative enclosed you in a stealth technique when you began to act out," she explained, "so you did not cause any offense."
"Subtle." Prisoner Tythes hopped to his feet, examining the edge of the bubble. "I'd say you're no fun, but this could actually be fun, put to the proper use."
"No more wasting time," Relative Guchiro said. "What is this opportunity you allegedly have for my ward?"
They walked more quickly toward the gate and Prisoner Tythes made no further attempts to cause trouble. Along the way Ally Homez reiterated what they already knew about a chance to work in Siata, including asking them to work as representatives of the Asplundat Movement. Fiyu had already discussed this with Friend Nauda and they had agreed that was acceptable.
Ally Homez naturally cared for his home, and he was particularly concerned with the gate cities like Azureton. If Tymetron invaded the Asplundat Movement, connected worlds would be incentivized to break their gates to protect themselves, which would weaken the Fithan side. If Friend Theo was right about everyone needing to band together against the greater enemy, this would help them all.
When they reached the gate, it had what appeared to be a reasonable number of Asplundat guards as well as a strange circle of flowers. Fiyu was unable to determine their true nature, but they were unquestionably sublime materials that must have defensive properties. In any case, it seemed that their identities would take them through without trouble.
"Mitaeo!" Ally Homez raised a hand cheerfully as they approached. "These are the people I spoke of."
He was speaking to a Siatan who floated from one of the nearby buildings. Like all Siatans, Stranger Mitaeo was somewhat troubling to Fiyu's senses, a sprite-like being of energy. He or she was roughly half Fiyu's height, with strangely slender limbs. The face was dominated by three large eyes and the head sloped back into three spike-shaped tentacles that descended down the back of the neck almost like hair.
"Welcome." Stranger Mitaeo spoke with a voice that emanated from no visible mouth. "It is good that you brought Authorities, as this is a host-class problem, but it may still be difficult. This task requires extraordinary physical strength."
"I'm actually going to be doing most of the work," Friend Nauda said. She stepped forward and gave a polite curtsy. "I may not look it, but I have multiple chambers dedicated to strength and resilience."
Stranger Mitaeo regarded her silently with absolutely no indication of emotions and Fiyu felt adrift without any muscles or other tissues to sense. The Siatan might have been indifferent, elated, or hateful. Even the eyes remained unnaturally large, without lids or corner muscles or anything else that might betray emotions.
"You will be able to do more than we can," Stranger Mitaeo said after a time. "This problem is a troublingly corporeal one. Come this way and I will show you."
That seemed to be all that was required for them to pass, so they stepped through the gate into Siata. Fiyu tensed for multiple reasons, partially concerned about the sudden change and partially fearing that Prisoner Tythes would attempt an escape. But Relative Guchiro was highly alert and Prisoner Tythes had his soulhome bound, so they entered one of the great columns of light that characterized Siata without trouble.
The other side was clearly one of the massive columns that her relative had told her about. There was no sun or moon in the sky, simply an endless blue that seemed to glow in the air itself. Though much more light than Fiyu would have preferred, it was less hostile than most suns, almost pleasant. More importantly, this one was not merely a natural environment like she had seen before, but a city.
"Welcome to the Great Azure," Stranger Mitaeo told them. "Please do not smash anything, no matter how much you may wish to. Fortunately we need only move a short distance to the relevant edge."
At first it seemed like there was no pathway, then Fiyu realized that the field of light blue flowers was actually a line guiding them into the city. The flowers did not seem unduly harmed by being stepped on, even though the Siatans could float over them, so Fiyu followed and observed.
Where Siata had strongly influenced the Fithan side, the reverse had limited impact: there were almost no stone buildings here, and certainly no grim blocks of architecture. Practically everything was built atop flying flowers, except that only some of these were cut: most extended from tower-like vines as wide as her body.
Though the results appeared to be a mad profusion of buildings at all heights and angles, when Fiyu extended her senses she realized that it was not so unreasonable. Despite the Siatans using floating plants as building material, they still followed common patterns: there were some places for solitude, some clusters for communal activities, and pathways for travel between them. Those pathways simply existed in three dimensions, as the inhabitants all appeared able to float regardless of soulcrafting tier.
As they progressed, Fiyu identified a small cluster of Asplundat buildings. They had been poorly concealed by flower petals and vines, almost as if they had been built and then plants had grown over them. There were a small number of Fithans about, most moving in market areas or working in specific sectors.
"Looks like you actually made an effort to blend in," Friend Nauda said. "I didn't know that was allowed."
"We have common standards, not laws." Ally Homez stiffened slightly in response, mildly offended. "Of course in other worlds we must follow other customs, so we adapt our designs in order to blend in."
Fiyu could hardly disagree more. Regardless of what material might cover them, the Asplundat buildings stood out in her senses like thorns. They were huge blocks of crude stone squatting within an environment of ethereal beauty. It occurred to her that "ethereal" was now a loaded word thanks to her advanced soulcrafting, but she couldn't shake the sense that this place was somehow more than ordinary matter.
In any case, they had regrettably little time to explore. Stranger Mitaeo led them away from the central area toward a wall of darkness. Fiyu had seen the edges of the columns before, but they still seemed unnatural: bright warmth on one side, void on the other. As they walked closer she sensed only cold mud outside, and those relying on sight would likely be able to observe nothing at all.
"And now you see the problem, yes?" Stranger Mitaeo spoke at almost the same time her senses picked up the stones.
Dark boulders, ranging in size up to Fiyu's height, marred one edge of the city. Despite being native to Siata, they seemed even more out of place than the Asplundat buildings. Each was a violation of the peaceful atmosphere of the city: ugly and heavy and hostile. They clearly belonged on the other side.
"It is rare for storms to breach the barrier," Stranger Mitaeo told them, "but there were demons kicking up sublime stones. These are not simply heavy, they bear a fell energy that destroys cantae and enervates those who touch them. We are, regrettably, ill-suited to remove them ourselves."
Friend Nauda stepped forward and picked up one of the medium-sized boulders, hefting it with both arms. She grunted as she did, but lifted it without trouble. "Do I need to do anything in particular with it?"
"Any method that places it on the other side will be acceptable."
"Alright." Friend Nauda took a step and put her weight into throwing the stone, which sailed through the barrier with a slight ripple. Fiyu traced its path on the other side, where it bounced harmlessly into the darkness and lay still.
"Hmm." Stranger Mitaeo turned to regard Friend Nauda and seemed to examine her. "You had less difficulty than the other workers who made an attempt. Such fleshly bodies must have certain advantages."
"Nauda is unusually strong," Fiyu spoke in her defense. "If she is suited to the task, does that mean we can make an agreement?"
"Yes, certainly. If you can actually repair this damage to the Great Azure, it will be worth some of our most potent sublime materials."
Ally Homez moved closer along with Friend Nauda to discuss the exact details of the contract. Allegedly Siatans did not create legal documents, but wouldn't break the spirit of their word, so the trick was making sure that both sides had communicated clearly. This agreement would allow them to gain access to spiritual materials, including those suited to Immortality Conduits, that they were unlikely to find on Fithe. This was the opportunity they had learned about from Unknown Tythes.
The thought made Fiyu turn to him, now Prisoner Tythes. He had not attempted to squirm away during the walk or conversation, but now that Fiyu and Relative Guchiro turned toward him, he pretended to do so. She could tell by the way he set his back legs that his movements were more theatrical than serious.
"You will be assisting her," Relative Guchiro ordered.
"That's a terrible idea," Prisoner Tythes said, "A tender soul like myself is horribly unsuited to-"
"Your soulhome may be broken, but you still have an Authority's strength. It will simply be a matter of putting in a hard day's work."
"That's the part I'm unsuited to! You're really forcing me to do this? It's inhumane, I tell you, a violation of common decency. I'll tell my father!"
Fiyu tilted her head to consider his deceitful words. "Doesn't your father hate you?" she asked. "It seems unlikely that he would intercede on your behalf."
"Of course he wouldn't, but my whining would really annoy him."
Once they confirmed that Prisoner Tythes had few opportunities to escape, they retreated along with the others. They had already checked him thoroughly for weirkeys, which he would have been likely to use earlier in any case, and he seemed unable to escape his shackles. This city had only a single gate, which was guarded on both sides and which Relative Guchiro would watch. Given their varying obligations, that would have to be sufficient.
It seemed that Friend Nauda had been given the full terms of her employment. She smiled at Fiyu, meaning to encourage, but Fiyu was more heartened by the joy evident in her body. This would not be merely an ordeal she endured for Fiyu's sake, the other woman was looking forward to spending some time in the Siatan city.
Truthfully, Fiyu wished that she could stay. It would have been so wonderful to explore this strange world together, to share everything she observed and to see it anew through Friend Nauda's eyes. But this could be only a detour, when there were so many threats on Fithe, so after a brief embrace they had to move in separate directions.
On the other side, Ally Homez needed to attend to his own business, thanking them and leaving. Suddenly Fiyu felt more isolated than she expected - she was comfortable traveling alone, but abruptly losing so many left a void. Worse, she would need to leave Relative Guchiro as well.
"I will keep an eye on the gate," Relative Guchiro said as soon as they stepped into a shared stealth bubble. "I don't know exactly what technique Tythes was using to disguise himself, but I'll be watching any travelers that emerge closely."
