Call of Descent
Chapter Forty-One

Agift brother, Orric heard ring through his mind an instant beforethe pain flooded it. It was Reniko’s pain, their blocked Engagement now blazedwith fierceness. It was unfortunate for Orric that he was flying at the time,for the mental link suddenly plunged his whole body into the pain that Renikowas feeling and he fell. Minutes, that felt like hours, passed and Orric wasconscious again, the Engagement severed once more. He was alone in theTordaskan forest, his only comfort to the nightmare he had just been witnessto, was that he was alone. Had he had riders, had he been over the ravine atOcean’s Wall, some may have not lived through the experience. Shaken, he tookto the air once again, his destination Tordaskar castle. He had to tellDertrik, though he was unsure if Malik could bear the news that Reniko sufferedsuch things. He could barely bear it himself.

Renikoslept, not the sleep of peace, but a sleep of invasion. Trokar stood over herwatching the process begin. He watched Reniko’s eyes flit back and forth inagitation under her closed lids. She was in REM, forced there by Agger and thenannites that now invaded her mind. Trokar had always liked the impression thatthe nannites had on the subject. He was looking upon them now, a silver webspreading from the entry point down to Reniko’s left eyebrow, like frostforming on a glass window. The dose had been small, and Trokar had a feeling itwould take much more than this small mark to defeat this one’s mind. He hadseen the frosty tendrils reach right down to the chin on some subjects, Renikowould be no different. He caressed the web, anxious to add this girl to hiscollection. She was marked now and forever as Trokar’s, and he knew she wouldserve him well.

“Howfares it, Agger?” Trokar asked turning from Reniko’s still frame to the screenthat Agger was looking at, her manipulation beginning.

“Thereis almost one year’s worth of memory to alter, this could take a while,” Aggerreplied.

“Howlong, Agger?” Trokar asked.

“Amonth. I can finish in a month,” Agger replied, “but the dosage will have to beupped dramatically, I don’t have enough nannites to work with.”

“Dowhat you must. Inform me of any progress. I wish to speak with her in a week,to see for myself,” Trokar said and strode out of the room.

Orborokwas waiting outside the door and took stride with him as Trokar moved throughthe building toward a new destination. He wandered the building purposefully,elation building. A thousand years ago, the Levanith had done Trokar a greatservice. They had wiped out technology before dying by his hand. They sought tosave their world, but instead let Trokar gain a foothold. No morecommunications from Druagg had given Trokar complete control of the world.Severed from that link, he was finally in charge. He may have lost the vastmajority of the Levanith secrets, but the Rük technology would die only when hedid. Yet now, those lost Levanith secrets were within his grasp, this planetwas his for the taking. Once their goddess, their savior, their ruler, pledgedher loyalty to Trokar, the rest would follow like lambs to the slaughter. TheRebellion would finally be over and Trokar would own this world. If she hadnot escaped me all those years ago, I would already own this world. No matter,I have her now. Trokar smiled as he watched the city below bustle withactivity. The subterfuge ends here. My true reign begins now.

Malikwoke from fitful dreams. He hadn’t been able to sleep well since they had leftTordaskar. He glanced around their small camp. A mist clung to the groundcausing the gray morning to break slowly. The sun hadn’t shone for many daysnow, which was a fitting scene for Malik’s growing unease. Their band hadreached Ocean’s Gate without incident; they had chosen this route for thatreason. The Rük had massed on the other side of Ocean’s Wall so escape had beeneasy once they had fled in the opposite direction. Since Reniko’s capture, theRük army had mostly disbanded. Only a contingent was left, more to keep a watchon the Tordaskans than to invade. Malik felt like a coward running from theRük. He wanted with all his heart to run into the army outside Ocean’s Wall andkill every last Rük. The revenge he needed could not be sedated, not untilReniko was safe in his arms once again. Malik’s restless motion woke Dertrikwho had been sleeping close by.

“Wewill replace her, Malik,” Dertrik spoke as he did every morning to Malik. Thewords were a small comfort to him in this cold lonely world. Winter was coming,Malik could feel it in the air, and he felt his heart was as frozen as theworld would be soon enough. Dertrik grasped his arm in comradeship. “Be strong.Have faith.” Malik bowed his head at these words. Please let this trip notbe in vain.

Renikoawoke, her mind throbbing, her thoughts scattered and confused. The web ofnannites had spread down through her cheek now, but Reniko was unaware of thistattooing process. Her eyes caught sight of Trokar and her mind spun.

“Ialtered the key events mostly, I wanted to see if those moments would muddleover the others,” Agger said. Trokar nodded.

“Shylaya,how do you feel?” Trokar asked.

“Mylord?” Reniko asked. No. That’s not right. Reniko closed her eyes asmemories invaded her mind. She could remember this Rük rescuing her when shefirst arrived on Vespen, saving her in Reflaydun. She had executed someonethere, her enemy, a female. But other memories somehow did not make sense. ALe’a’to sitting with her in Mistfall, training with a man, a man she cared fordeeply. But she could see this man, Malik, the one that hunted her. They wereenemies. However, she remembered other moments, intimate ones. Malik holdingher tightly, protectively, teasing her, kissing her, loving her when no oneelse was there.

“Malik,”she screamed, tears running down her face, “don’t leave me.”

Trokarlooked at Agger. “That boy holds more of a grip on her mind than I thought.Give me two more weeks with her Trokar,” Agger said.

“Thatlong?” Trokar asked.

“Thatboy is entwined with most every memory she has of Vespen. Leaving any intactmay complicate the process.”

Trokarleaned in close to Reniko who had once again lost consciousness; he caressedthe web lacing her face. “She is already close to the limit,” Trokar said.

“We’llhave to break it. I’m sure she can endure it,” Agger replied.

“Weagreed to the limit because going further killed the others of her kind.”

“Killedmost every species really,” Agger said. “But they were not Levanith royals.Fighting is bred into her very blood. She can handle it. If not –” Agger letthe sentence trail of. Trokar turned on her and grabbed her forcefully.

“Ifshe dies, so do you,” Trokar said and stormed from the room. Agger was leftlooking after him, feeling fear for the first time. Trokar had big plans forthis girl, and Agger’s own involvement could make or break her own.

“Iwill not fail, Milord,” Agger called after him before the door to the lab fullyshut. She reached for the mercurial vial and pressed it to Reniko’s temple onceagain. Reniko’s scream rebound for the fourth time through the castle walls.

“Twentydays, Orric. It’s taken twenty days and now I’ve lost her forever,” Malikscreamed. He was standing in the ruins of a once flourishing town, now coveredwith hundreds of years of forest growth. There was nothing left. Fharlasina waslost to history, its secrets dying with it. Rimca too was leaning against thenearby remains of a once beautiful building as defeated as Malik.

“Weshould have followed the co-ordinates that we got from Reflaydun and Tordaskar.We’ve wasted so much time. And Renny… she may be too far gone to ever comeback,” Rimca said. She was crying.

Malikturned on her, clutched her arms, and dragged her to her feet. “What do youmean too far gone?” He received no reply. “What do you mean too far gone?”Malik repeated, a kingly tone ringing in his voice.

Rimcalooked past Malik to Orric. “You didn’t tell him?” she asked.

Malikheld Rimca and looked at Orric. Orric looked trapped.

“Icouldn’t tell you, Malik. I can’t tell you.”

“Youwill tell me what you know of the fate of my love, or I will let the Rük do asthey please with you,” Malik replied. Orric had never seen such venom inMalik’s eyes before. Love was a formidable foe.

“I’vebeen able to Engage with Reniko six times since she was taken from us,” Orricsaid.

“Whatof her? Why would you not tell me?” Malik asked and fell silent suddenlyknowing.

“Idon’t know what they are doing to her Malik, but Jekkah seems to replace pleasurein tormenting me with her plight. Rimca seemed to offer an explanation, thoughI don’t know how accurate her information is.” Malik looked back to Rimca whohe still held in his arms.

“Inthe Tordaskan archives I was reading a file about a drug, or a machine, Icouldn’t tell which, anyhow, it alters memory. The Rük used it on a fewLevanith, some of them escaped. Those that returned to Tordaskar had visibletattooing on their skin and they went insane. What the Levanith learned fromthe encounters was that the procedure went so far and failed, leaving the mindconfused with conflicting memories. From the survivors they learned that thosethat were in the procedure longer all died, their minds could not take the drugpast a certain point. Apparently there was a limit, a break point that couldnot be passed without death to any subject.”

Malikdeflated, he let go of Rimca and sagged to the ground. “So she’s either insaneor dead.”

“Don’tthink that way,” Dertrik said. “She’s stronger than all of that. She’s fightingMalik, as we are. She’ll be there waiting for us, wholly the Reniko we know andlove.”

“Malikthere is more,” Rimca said, “the breaking point was judged by sessions.” Shehesitated unable to complete her thought.

“Howmany sessions to the breaking point?” Malik demanded.

“Four.”

“Yousaid six, Orric, I know you did. She’s still alive.”

“Andnot insane,” Rimca said.

“Butnot wholly herself,” Dertrik replied. Malik looked in his direction unable toreplace a stem to this sudden dark thought. He followed Dertrik’s outstretchedhand to the point at which his gaze was enthralled. Standing before them wasReniko, but it was not his Reniko, it was Shylaya dark and calloused. Her newmaster stood by her side.

Renikotook a deep breath before she opened her eyes. She felt liked she had notbreathed for ages. Trokar greeted her as she opened her eyes and she smiled.

“Mylord Trokar, an honour for you to grace me with your presence,” she said risingfrom the cold metal slab she was lying on. Trokar took her hand and she lightlyrose to her feet only to realize she did not harbour the strength to stand.

“I’msorry Milord, I must be unwell,” Reniko said.

“Donot worry, Shylaya, you were unwell, but that is past us now. Come Princess,let me help you while you regain your strength.” Trokar helped Reniko to herfeet once again and she leaned on him for support. She smiled as she soaked inhis strength and his warmth.

“I’vemissed your embrace, Milord,” Reniko whispered, “I only wish I was betterattired. I must shame you to be clothed such.” Reniko looked down at thesterile gown that she was in and blushed.

“Youwill soon be yourself once again, my pet,” Trokar said.

“Yes,”Reniko said surrendering to Trokar’s embrace. “Yes, all is well now.”

Renikostood before a full-length mirror examining her appearance. It was early in themorning, and she had every intention of looking presentable to her Lord,Trokar. She could barely suffer the humiliation that she had had to endureyesterday. Illness was no excuse, not for her. Her human attendants had done afair job; Reniko was not displeased, not entirely. She wore tight revealingclothing, all in a blood red, Trokar’s preferred colour. She accented herensemble with black accessories; a black belt hung around her waist, as well asan ebony coloured neck choker, which had chains of beads trailing from it thatencircled her bare arms before linking back onto the choker. Her hair waspulled back tightly into a high tail that fell in pools around her neck. Shetouched the left side of her face lightly, tracing the silver frost down herface, to her chin and down her neck. It ended abruptly where her choker sat.The whole effect of her attire was sensual. She smiled wickedly and sat down toapply her makeup. Once finished, her face was an array of blacks and charcoalgrays. Trokar couldn’t possibly be displeased with her appearance today. Shestretched her wings delicately, noticing the stark contrast they brought to therest of her appearance, she wasn’t at all pleased. They should be black, shethought loathingly and stepped away from the mirror.

Dawnwas just rising over the mountains as she gazed through her window. As the suntouched her skin she revelled in the warmth, a contrast to the ever growingcold that late fall brought to the air. Trokar found her here gazing into thehorizon, startling her with his sudden presence.

“Idid not hear you enter my Lord,” Reniko said bowing low.

“Iwas unsure if you would be up, I had no wish to disturb your sleep if you werestill enshrouded by it,” Trokar replied.

“Yourkindness is too much, Milord,” Reniko said. Trokar cupped his hand around herchin and lifted her face toward his own as he bent down to meet her.

“Yourappearance pleases me greatly,” Trokar said.

“Ilive to please you, Milord,” Reniko said, colour growing in her face.

“Comejoin me in breaking our fast, then I have a task I wish to place upon you, if,that is, you feel ready to serve your Lord,” Trokar said taking Reniko’s handand leading her from her room.

“Iam ready my Lord. I will do whatever task that you ask of me,” Reniko replied.Trokar smiled. Agger is unbelievable; her reward for this will be great.I do wonder if that delicious spirit of Shylaya’s is broken forever or if aspark of it remains somewhere inside her. We shall see.

Breakfastwas lavish, though Reniko ate very little. This irritated Trokar.

“Whyis it that you so seldom partake of what is set before you?” he asked, nothiding the irritation in his voice. Reniko looked genuinely alarmed.

“Iam sorry my Lord, it’s just I am not used to eating so much before I havepartook of my morning training,” Reniko replied. “I’m always famished after Ihave broken a sweat.”

Trokardropped his food and smiled. Not broken indeed. “Well then Princess, shallwe go spar?"

“Ido not know if I may be in league to match blades with you, Sire, I am out ofpractice,” Reniko muttered.

“Isthat to say that if you were in practice that you feel yourself a match forme?” Trokar asked, the arrogance, the insolence.

Renikolooked at Trokar coyly. “We will never know until we try.”

“Ido believe that is a challenge, my pet.”

“Onefor another day maybe,” Reniko replied. They were on the training field momentslater, Reniko coming alive at the sound of clashing metal. It stopped themoment the two of them stepped onto the field, and those Rük that werescattered on the field all prostrated themselves before the sight of Trokar.

“Gochoose your weapon, while I choose your partner,” Trokar said as he walked awayfrom Reniko’s side to wander amongst his soldiers. Reniko went to the weaponsshed and emerged from it ten minutes later having found a weapon to hersatisfaction. It was a sabre smaller than her usual sword, but it was one ofthe few weapons in the shed that Reniko felt she could handle confidently. Itwas amazing to her that the Rük harboured such a weapon. Probably for thefemale assassin’s, she finally concluded. When Reniko emerged, she foundthat the field had been cleared, except for a lone forest green Rük who stoodin the centre waiting. Reniko stood at the edge of the ring and did her warmup, she found herself stiff and her muscles were burning slightly from thestrain. She was well out of practice, this would not do. Finishing her warm up,she unclasped the fabric of her skirt and let it slide to the ground. She woreblack hose underneath, and with her encumbrance shed, she took her stance inthe ring. She bowed slightly in respect of her sparring partner, but was notgreeted with the same response, this irritated Reniko. Do they not know whoI am? She thought and winced. That wasn’t the reason she was irritated. Norespect, she realized, I will gain that.

Thedeep green Rük that stood before her was wielding a larger weapon, a hammer,and a longer reach as the Rük towered above her a daunting nine feet.Hecame at her with rage. Reniko did not respond in kind, but instead parried theforceful blow and began dodging in kind using her speed to her advantage. Sweattrickled down her face early in the fight but her breathing was not yeterratic. End it fast, she thought, a thought that felt somehow familiar.She tried to recall why but came up blank, she had never sparred with a Rükbefore. The Rük’s attacks were becoming increasingly more aggressive the moreReniko eluded them and she realized suddenly that this was a test for him andhe felt he had been sorely mismatched, to his advantage. He was annoyed,angered even, that he had been chosen for such a fight, how could Trokarhumiliate him so? He couldn’t possibly win the fight against Reniko for fear ofTrokar’s wrath so he was holding back. Reniko smiled and decided to taunt him.She hated winning if she was not met with all that the person could give.

“Tolose to a woman what a terrible thing to have to endure,” she spoke so only hecould hear. “And not even a Rük; no, a mere lowly human.” She paused a moment, nothuman, she suddenly remembered her wings, which she had kept tucked closeto her body, not human, Levanith. The words, no matter that they werewrong, had sparked the exact response that Reniko had wanted and the deep greenRük came at her with unrestrained rage. She let her wings fly and sent a sprayof dust clawing at the Rük’s eyes as she hopped from the ground into the air toavoid the Rük’s onrush. He rubbed the dirt out of his eyes and turned to faceReniko as she landed on the ground. She was smiling devilishly.

“That’sbetter,” she said as the Rük rushed at her once again. Now that the Rük hadexploited his full potential, Reniko felt she would as well. The fight was overa few minutes later, Reniko standing over the Rük who lay in the dust, Reniko’ssabre at his throat. She stood on his chest, playing at pinning him down,though they both knew that the Rük could throw her off easily had the sword notbeen millimeters from his throat.

“Welldone, Shylaya. I did not believe you to be a match for one of my soldiers.Finish him them,” Trokar said.

Reniko’shand flinched at the thought. Kill him? Why? Her hand wavered over theRük’s throat. She couldn’t do it. Trokar stood over her now waiting.

“Whatare you waiting for? Finish it,” Trokar demanded.

Renikolooked at Trokar, a flash of anger passing through her calm eyes. Trokar sawit, but it passed, cowed as she put her head down and responded. “My lord?”

“Youhave won, finish it. Kill him,” Trokar said.

“Mylord, if you will. He is a skilled warrior. Can he not learn from his mistakeshere to better himself in the future?” Reniko inquired.

“Hehas reached his peak. This is the best he can offer. How could I possibly lethim live if he could not defeat such a frail thing as you? He is not worthy oflife, kill him now!” Trokar said.

Renikogazed at the Rük below her; his eyes were full of anger. Anger that he hadlost, as well as anger that Reniko stood over him and would not end his life.The disgrace he had to endure for this pitiful girl’s weakness. She looked intohis eyes, a feeling overcoming her until a flash of blood sprayed like a cloudin front of her. Pulling her sabre back startled, she looked to see Trokarholding a bloody blade before him, anger in his own eyes.

“Thisweakness will not do, Shylaya. Not in my pet. I will not tolerate such a thingagain,” Trokar said and turned from the field leaving Reniko to stand amongstthe very angry ranks of Trokar’s soldiers. She felt the hostility around her,knew that the instant Trokar left she would be alone amongst them, no longerharbouring his protection. She clutched the sabre tightly in her hand, turnedaway from the death that lay on the field, and walked to her skirt that lay onthe ground. Donning it once again, she turned back to the field of soldiers,all of them were seething with want, lust, and vengeance. I would be thedeath of them all, she thought standing her ground outside the sparringring.

“Whoof you would dare to lay a hand on me? I am Trokar’s, touch me and deal withyour Lord’s wrath,” Reniko shouted to the advancing Rük. Her words seemed tobreak the spell she seemed to cast on them and they stopped, staring at herindifferently.

“Justas I thought,” Reniko said and strode through the midst of them to place theweapon she held back in the shed and them she left them following after Trokar,smiling.

Trokardid not disturb her again until later that afternoon. He entered her room assilently as before, but this time, Reniko was prepared for the stealthyentrance. When Trokar entered her room, she was there doing obeisance to him.

“Quicklearner,” Trokar said in response to this greeting and help Reniko to her feet.“Are you ready for the task I mentioned earlier?”

“Atyour bidding, Milord,” Reniko replied and followed Trokar out of her room anddown a maze of corridors. They ended in a deserted part of the castle, a partthat looked apparently untouched, unlike the rest of the building that had beenmodified during Trokar’s long stay. Reniko walked up to the darkened corridorand was startled as lights flickered to life at her presence. A door was set inthe wall; it was metal, but carved intricately. It reminded Reniko distinctly ofthe city Reflaydun, she was sure it was the same material. She touched thecarvings; they were of winged people, Levanith and Teoko. Humans, Le’a’to andUnicorns stood on the earth below. There was a symbol placed in the centre ofthe five species, the same backward winged Teoko that Reniko still bore on herown hand, but this one was surrounded by four other symbols, smaller, eachrepresenting, by what Reniko could tell, the various other inhabitants of theplanet. For the Le’a’to there was a single leaf hanging down from the centre oftwo intertwining vines. The Teoko’s symbol was a flame encased in Teoko wings.Representing the unicorns was a single snaking line that created the shape of asingle horn and the human’s symbol was a simple three-petal flower hanging froma stem.

“Whatis this place?” Reniko asked.

“Itis the fruit of your people’s work. Your great grandparents sealed this part ofmy domain away from me. I have been unable to access it all these years,”Trokar said.

“Whywould they deny you such a thing?” Reniko asked.

“Theywere not loyal to me as you are, my pet. That is why they were destroyed. Theirinsolence far outweighed any worth they had to me. Can you open it?” Trokarasked.

Renikowalked over to the right side of the door, a familiar panel was inset in thewall. She tapped it lightly to activate it. When it began to glow, she gave herreply. “There should be no problem getting inside, Milord.”

Shepressed her hand solidly on the panel and felt a tingle start at the tips ofher finger and travel down the length of her hand. A hiss issued as the doorsopened pulling at Reniko as it sucked in the rich atmosphere around her. Lightsbegan flickering on in the distance. She walked to the opening where Trokarstood in triumph. She looked past the doorway and was met by familiarity. Shehad been here before. The doorway opened into an archive, much like the onethat she had visited under Tordaskar, but this one was more ancient and richerwith old culture. Tordaskar's archive was a hasty arrangement whereas this roomhad lived and breathed for many ages. Each generation had something to add.Paintings, tapestries, and murals covered the walls in a trill of colour andcomfort. The far wall housed a window and Reniko’s attention was firmly fixedon it. It gazed out into a world that was long ago destroyed, a world beforethe Rük. She entered the room without Trokar, in a trance, her gaze fixed onthe window. When she came near to it, she touched it, and a ripple issued forthfrom the tip of her finger. Not a window, but a screen of some sort. She feltTrokar’s presence behind her and turned away from the marvellous screen.

“Thisroom harbours everything I need to gain my grip on this world. Your reward willbe great, my pet,” Trokar said glancing at the screen behind Reniko withloathing.

“Iam only doing my duty to you, Milord,” Reniko said bowing to the presencebefore her. “If you wish I can run a search through the archive memory onanything you desire.”

“Iknow somewhere in this place is a communication system. I want you toreactivate it immediately. When you fulfilled my request, report to me.” Trokarsaid and turned from the room. He scanned the walls as he left and sneered.“We’ll have to do something about the condition of this room, it disgusts me.”When he passed the threshold, she watched the door slide shut behind him andwas left alone in the comfort of the room. She couldn’t help but feel at homehere. It was home. A memory tugged at her mind, but she tossed it aside as shemade her way to the closest archive console and began riffling through theinformation for Trokar’s desired communications.

Renikoawoke to a steady blinking light that hovered just in her vision. She openedher eyes to replace herself staring at the screen of the console she sat at. Shestretched and sat up. How long have I been sleeping? She thought toherself as she scrolled through the new data that awaited her on the screen.The previous day she had found the communication console and had activated itonly to discover that most of the connections had been severed. She had triedto re-establish the connections remotely only to discover that the entirenetwork had to be re-established manually. This required her to replace a list ofintact connections and one by one she had to rewrite the program data. She hadworked late into the night, and had finally figured out a way for the archivememory to duplicate her program for each connection. The blinking light thathad woken her was a message of completion. She was checking the data overquickly to make sure that her hybrid program would stand up. Satisfied, sheclosed the window and wandered out of the archives toward her room.

Shechose a midnight blue, despite Trokar’s innate love of red. The silky fabrichugged her like a second skin; she felt like a goddess as she stepped beforeTrokar, her hair bound back tightly. He didn’t seem at all displeased with herappearance, but instead smiled as she prostrated herself before him.

“Itis done, Sire,” Reniko spoke.

“Come,my pet, let us announce our allegiance to the entirety of Vespen. With you atmy side, they will cower before us.”

Hereached out his hand to help Reniko to her feet, but Reniko hesitated, tryingto keep hidden from Trokar’s intense gaze. She was conflicted, and she hopedwith all her heart that Trokar could not see that. She felt an anger rising inher, unbidden and unwanted. Suppressing it, she grabbed Trokar’s hand andglided to her feet before Trokar even noticed her hesitation.

Oncethey had entered the archives together, Reniko led the way into a smaller room,where a raised platform stood in the centre, a small console sat on the fluidlooking platform. Reniko gestured for Trokar to take his place on the platformand Reniko joined him.

“I’mgoing to activate the platform,” Reniko said, her hand flying across theilluminated panel. “When that light turns on, all of Vespen will be able to seeand hear us.” She said pointing at a sphere on the corner of the panel. Trokarnodded and seconds later the sphere glowed a soft white and Reniko was suddenlyfaced with eighty different screens. Slightly overwhelmed, she took a deepbreath and stood silent with a steel look. Probably should have done a testrun with an abandoned city. Reniko thought. She looked to Trokar and realized that he was not fazed by the arraybefore him at all. Of course he isn’t, he is far older than anyone else onthis planet. He has seen the likes of this before.

Malikstood frozen, unable to fix his thoughts on one choice long enough to move.Part of him wanted to run to Reniko and snatch her away from the creature shestood behind, and the other part wanted to run. He had faced the Rük before,and this was unlike any Rük he had seen. He was unsure if Reniko could best it,let alone him, untrained as he was.

Hewatched the smug face of the Rük as he glanced at Malik and his party andwatched Reniko looked up at him with admiration. That made his mind up for him,and with a fiery anger he withdrew Imako from its sheath, and headed toward theformidable black Rük, rage blinding him to his disadvantage. He almost turnedthe sword on Dertrik when Dertrik grabbed Malik’s forearm and held him back.

“It’sno use, Malik, they’re not really here,” Dertrik said as he pointed at theskiff of snow that covered the ground. There were no footprints on the groundaround Reniko and the Rük. A flicker on the hologram made the realistic imagejump momentarily. Malik clenched Imako tightly in his hand. This helplessnesswas infuriating.

“Humansof Vespen hear me,” the black Rük called out.

Reniko’sgaze fell from the Rük and her gaze settled back onto Malik and his smallparty, her gaze however was unseeing.

“Ihave a feeling we are not the only ones seeing this,” Rimca said. Dertriknodded.

“Icome before you to finally claim my rights to this world. I am Trokar, King ofVespen, given this right by the very being at my side, your Queen, yourgoddess, Shylaya.” Trokar gestured to Reniko who had been standing a stepbehind him. Reniko grabbed his hand and stepped forward, radiating a coldreverence.

“Wecome before you today so you can bear witness. Bear witness to the goddessShylaya as she pledges her allegiance, her very life to me.” At these words,Reniko stiffened. Malik could see something unfolding in her mind as Trokarturned to her awaiting her pledge of loyalty. She didn’t turn to him, she wasrooted in spot, a conflict was drawn on her face and as suddenly as it hadcome, it was gone, and Reniko faced Trokar and fell to her knees grabbingTrokar’s hand and kissing it tenderly.

“IShylaya of the Levanith of Sentralon, pledge my allegiance to Trokar, Lord andmaster of Vespen. I uphold all that he stands for, his words are my words. Hiswill my will. All who disobey him disobey me. From this day hence, my lifebelongs solemnly to my lord, Trokar.”

“Rise,my Queen,” Trokar spoke and Reniko rose to stare drunkenly into Trokar’s eyes.

“Defyme, and you defy the goddess herself,” Trokar said and he stepped away fromReniko and out of sight.

Renikowatched Trokar leave the platform and turned back to the console to deactivatethe feed. She hesitated as she spotted a barren picture on one of the screenswhere three people stood with a Teoko. Reniko touched the screen cutting allthe feeds but that one. As the screen enlarged, she stared at one of the facesbefore her. Her face filled with a cold rage.

“You!I know you,” she spoke. “I will make sure your death is long and painful forwhat you have done to me.” She ended the transmission, Malik’s face fresh inher mind. That traitor has my sword. I will enjoy getting it back from him.She left the platform and hurried after Trokar.

Malik’sheart felt like ice. He jabbed Imako into the ground and tried to supporthimself on it only to slide helplessly to the ground. Her words were likedaggers to his heart. What have they done to you, Lyss?

Rimcawas standing at his side, her hand reassuringly on his back. “Malik, she couldhave been talking to anyone,” Rimca said.

“Butshe wasn’t. Rimca, what has he done to her? She was so cold. The look in hereyes, I thought that look alone was going to strike me down. All I saw in herwas frozen. She isn’t Reniko anymore. Trokar won, he has her,” Malik said. Itwas beginning to snow again. The cold threatened to consume him and at thatmoment he wished that it would, let him sleep forever in death. He couldn’tbear to see Reniko like that. Not like that.

“Hemay have her mind, her memories, but you will forever hold her heart. She gaveit to you long before she gave her allegiance to Trokar,” Dertrik spoke.

“Shedoes not remember me, Dertrik, or if she does, it’s not the way it was before.She swore to kill me.”

“Butbeyond that, before that, she hesitated,” Orric said. Malik looked at his oldfriend recalling the hesitation in her.

“Allis not lost,” Malik said rising to his feet.

“Itwill be if we don’t replace a way to get to Reniko,” Rimca said. “We’re stillstuck here in Fharlasina without the last piece of the puzzle.

“Ohheavens,” Dertrik cried and ran to Malik, “give me the sphere from Reflaydun.”

“Why?”Malik asked.

“Notime for explanations, your Highness, just give it to me,” Dertrik demanded.Malik opened the pouch that the sphere was concealed in and handed it over toDertrik. Once Dertrik had a firm grasp on it, he ran to where the hologram hadbeen suspended and cleared away a skiff of snow on a small pedestal that stoodthere. He inserted the sphere into a hole and activated a screen. After a fewminutes Malik joined him where he stood. Dertrik looked frustrated and grabbed Malik’sright hand, ripped off the glove that enclosed it and shoved it against thecold surface of the pedestal. Malik’s hand began to tingle and he realized thatit wasn’t because of the cold. Words flitted across the screen, ‘AccessGranted’.

“Youcould have just asked,” Malik said rubbing his hand to regain its warmth.

Dertriklooked unconcerned. “Sorry, but I have to back trace the connection before theinformation is erased. Consoles like this don’t retain their memory for long,but if I can trace it –” Dertrik let his sentence trail off as he worked.

“We’llhave our last piece of the puzzle,” Rimca said joining them at the console.

Renikocaught up to Trokar just as he stepped outside of the archives. She trailedbehind him silently as he went. She sensed something was wrong. They made it tothe end of the corridor and Reniko couldn’t stand it any longer, she reachedout to Trokar.

“Sire,what is wrong?” Reniko asked.

Trokarturned on her with ardour. “Why did you hesitate, my pet?”

Renikoreeled at the question. Because I remembered something, something thatdoesn’t make sense to me. A memory of a long time ago. She had been twomaybe three, Trokar had loomed over her, grabbed her tightly in his arms andhis malicious grin had caused her to cry out. She had been in the archives. Herparents were there and they saved her, saved her from Trokar.

“I’msorry, Sire, I just remembered something,” Reniko said, gazing away from him.

Trokartook Reniko’s hand and pressed her close to him. Leaning down over her, hekissed her tenderly on the neck, sending shivers through Reniko’s body.

“Isthat all? Your sickness doesn’t seem to be healed completely yet, my pet. I canfix that for you,” he whispered in her ear. Reniko relaxed into Trokar’sembrace, he would make everything better, the confusion would go away.

“Willyou scream for me one last time, Shylaya?” Trokar said. Fear engulfed Renikoand evaporated as Trokar led her down the hallway. There would be no moreconflict, they were both sure of that.