Call of the Chosen- Broken Kingdoms Read online

  Ninn smacked his hands together, rubbing them and grinning ear to ear. “I’m ready.”

  “Get going then,” Ed said as Ninn bolted for the cliff wall. “And watch for us,” Ed shouted after him as the boy nimbly climbed up the cliff wall. Ed had never been to the Islands, let alone know which island Ninn was from, but from his graceful climb, Ed had to believe they were more than small flats of dry grass and sandy beach.

  As soon as Ninn disappeared down the cliff top to his position alongside the ruins, Glen grunted. “You really think this whole operation will make any difference?”

  Ed frowned. No, not from what he heard the Empire had for weapons. Stories and sketch drawings from other Chroniclers painted a fantastical picture of the Empire’s forces of metal machinery abominations, floating mountain monstrosities, and weaponry that could burn an entire city to ash. One of the Empire’s machines, he was already familiar. Glen had seen it before: steam-drivers, steam driven armored platforms used mainly as troop transport. That kind of technology made sense; Ladress was close to having their own if they could figure out to make the engine more efficient.

  “Yea, I didn’t think so either,” Glen answered his own question, as the three of them watched the far end of the gorge with heat rippling the air above the lake. “It’s like we’re playing a game with rocks while they have hand-cannons. I’ve read reports of entire city-states being eclipsed by the sun. Giant metal humans and safe-use runic bombs. What will a rock slide do against that?”

  “We’re not here to win a battle,” Ed reminded him. “Just to slow them down.”

  “Got to admit, Ed. If even half of it’s true, we’re out matched. Sig didn’t talk his way into conquering so much of the world.”

  Gene walked up beside them. “The Almighty has died,” she began, liltingly. “His body, broken. His spirit, gone. Yet his Champions live. What can be done? To the gods and goddess who keep the whole together. Vassals of the Almighty, what terrible fright. They lead us anew. And in our turn. We must endure the night.”

  Ed guessed Gene had recited some poetry from her studies, but whatever they meant, her words left him with a foreboding melancholy. No, he had that feeling already; something was very off about all of this.

  A warm breeze kicked up between them, rustling and scattering leaves, with a musky humid air. There was nothing more to do but wait and hope their work here would buy the Princes the time they needed. Ed clenched his fists, trying to dispel his worry.

  Glen suddenly cocked his head. “The Champion’s Lament,” he said. “Page eight.”

  Gene nodded.

  He laughed. “Are you tell me, you think the end times are coming?”

  “No,” she replied. “Just the end of our times.”

  Glen rolled his eyes. “How surprisingly ominous of you, and ambiguous too. ‘End of our times,’ that could mean anything. First of all, that translation’s all wrong.”

  “Leave it to you to quibble over grammar. The meaning is in the spirit of the writing.”

  “Grammar? Words, Gene, are chosen for a reason. ‘Broken’ isn’t the same as ‘pulled apart.’ And ‘whole together’ doesn’t even come…close…to...something like ‘filling in a hole.’ …Ed, you hear that?”

  Ed put his finger to his lips to silence them as a distant rumble vibrated the ground under them. Everyone fell silent, straining to locate the source. Then again, another rumble with a low whining that became higher in pitch. No, they can’t be here already?

  "You've got to be kidding me," Glen muttered. “They’re coming now?”

  “Just wait,” Ed said, watching that far lake for any movement. “Could just be echoes in the gorge. A storm or horses, stampede or…, yes, it could be them.”

  "Colonel, I believe the intel was wrong," Gene whispered.

  "No surprise there," Glen said, his voice shaky. "Ed, that...that does not sound like a stampede." Again, another rumble shook down the gorge like roar of mighty beast vibrating up its throat. And they were stuck in its mouth.

  “Gene,” Ed said. “Give the signal.”

  Another loud rumbling wave shook up the gorge, but it didn't fall completely silent this time. He could feel a persistent humming between pulsing roars as they became more frequent. Something was coming, and it was no scout.

  “But, we don’t know where they are,” she argued.

  “We don’t have time to find out anymore. Cast your magic!”

  “Cover your ears,” she shouted as Gene lifted her arm into the air, palm up toward the sky. A flash of red lightening cracked from her palm, momentarily blinding Ed.

  Gathering his senses, he watched both cliff tops above the lake when a series of small explosions popped from the cliff summit down the length of the cliff face until one last deafening explosion rocked the base of both cliffs. The two cliff-sides groaned before collapsing into thick rivers of trees, rocks and roots tumbling into the lake from both sides. The kicked-up dust obscured much of the flow, but Ed could still make out the top verandas of the old resort building as they slowly toppled over, disappearing into the cloud of debris. He smiled. If the slide formed a hill that high, maybe it’ll take even longer for the Empire to make it through.

  "Good," Ed shouted. The rumbling pulses had now overtaken his voice. "Alright, we gotta get out of sight," he tried to scream, but before they could move the rumbling stopped. The hum quieted. More sand and rocks sled into the lake, echoing their clatter around them.

  Ninn soon appeared, running down the cliff face to join them with amazing skill, shouting, waving his arms above him. "It worked! Ninn’s hands are quake-makers! They won’t pass! I saw them! They’re coming."

  "...Just in time," Ed added, studying the tops of the collapsed. "Good job. That should slow them down quite a bit." Though maybe he had been too hasty; it would have been nice to get a few them buried in that flow.

  "Higher than I thought too," Ninn said, out of breath. "That'll keep those blasphemers away."

  "Glen, you getting this," Ed asked.

  "Yea," he said, blinking his eyes on the debris. "It's in my memory now."

  "I wouldn’t celebrate so soon," Gene whispered. "The Empire's curse affects us all. The power they stole from the Almighty is far beyond us to control. A mere mudslide will not stop them."

  "Stopping them isn't what we're hoping for," Glen said. "Slow them down. Make it expensive for them. They can't wage war on everyone."

  Ed took in a sharp breath. Should they go, or conduct reconnaissance? Whatever made that roaring hum was something new. It would be a good idea to get a picture for intelligence. Ed rubbed his forehead. All was quiet again with the cloud of dust settling. The enemy had stopped, that was certain, but they weren’t making much noise, probably hunkered down waiting for some impending attack. And while they wait….

  "Gene, Ninn, get to your positions," Ed ordered. "Glen and I will see if we can get a look at what made all that noise. You still got that map in your—"

  The ground roared, deep and powerful, reverberating against the walls of the chasm, then a screeching whine along with a burst of hot air whirled down upon them. "Forget it. We go now," Ed yelled but his voice was drowned out.

  Ed saw Gene's tan eyes shoot open. Lifting her arm, she pointed toward the sky. Up high just above the roof of the gorge, an enormous object peeked over the cliff's edge. A seamless polished sleek mass of deep blues and blacks shined in the sun's reflection before eclipsing the gorge into twilight. The entire float —or whatever it was— extended its bulk down over the resort ruins and up over them, casting its long shadow over the entire length of the gorge. Underneath, painted in white, was the Empire's emblem —an outline of the world’s continents with gold stars in for capitals— and the words ‘Unified Countries of Gen Shemver.' A loud roar rang down the chasm as the massive structure slowly stalled over them. Another strong gust of hot wind almost knocked them to the ground. Then everything quieted to a low hum, a constant pressure pulsing from above.

>   "What in...," Ed muttered to himself.

  "That is not a stream-driver," Glen said, blinking.

  Gene let out a scream, ripping her outer cloak to her cassock underneath before falling to her knees. "Sacrilege," she shouted. "Killing with the body of God for vainglory!"

  Ed ran to her, pulling her up by the shoulders. "Get it together, Gene. We have to go."

  "It must be the Sea Roar Shard," she whispered with her voice cracking. "Lairgor had awakened it, resting his spirit inside that Shard and now they have hewed it like some rock. How can one person make reparations for all that?" Ed didn't understand what she meant and neither did he care right now. “Gene, we’re counting on you. We have to go.” But, her eyes were transfixed on that mass above as though she couldn’t pull away.

  He looked up too, and he had to admit to himself. It’s beautiful. The smooth reflective metal created an image of the entire gorge floor and walls on its hull, yet there was a depth to the reflection, a strange calling that melted his will to turn away. And captivating, he thought.

  "It's just floating there, in the middle of the sky,” Glen whispered. “Why haven't they attacked? Don't they see us?"

  With another deafening roar and a strong gust of hot air, the massive bulk lurched forward, up the length of the gorge toward…the Grand Kingdom.

  "No, no, no," Ninn shouted up at it. "Don't make Ninn's work useless!" But, nothing could be done; what could be done? Ed stood there, gapping and feeling helpless, dumbfounded and inept for the first time in his military career. Defeated without even a drawn blade or shot fired. How do you even fight that? The floating mass passed on toward the west in the direction of—

  "Alecka," Ed shouted. "We have to warn them!"

  "Ed," Glen said sternly. "I don’t think that flying mountain was alone." And he was right. On top of the heap of rock, dirt and roots; there in the middle of the lake were the first of the Empire's Third. Familiar steam-drivers: horseless platforms of a dozen regulars inside, armed with metal plating and projectiles scavenged from their Beast, maneuvered over the uneven hill. And something new. Taller, much taller, shaped like a man: legs, arms, head, all black and blue with their painted white emblem. Two of them! They climbed and descended the mudslide with long sure-footed strides; a strange red light, fire-like, wisped around what would be a man's hands.

  "It... it was all for nothing," Ninn said before shouting, "My voice is a curse! My breath will carry it to you! My voice is a curse! My breath—"

  "Gene, Ninn," Ed said, looking at Glen who was memorizing everything he saw. "New plan. We have to get Glen out of here."

  "I can't go yet, Ed. I have got to get closer. I have to see those things better. We need more information."

  "You've memorized enough!"

  Gene grabbed Glen's arm. "Orders given," she said, extending a ward spell over the two of them. Their entire surface, clothes, skin, and hair, sheened with a dim gray and gave off a low hum.

  Glen turned back, trying to pry away from her grip. "Damn it, woman, I have a job to do! They are still too far to make out any detail—"

  A loud thud sounded and then a whistle before an explosion stumbled them to the ground as bits of grass, dirt and rock rained on them. It came from one of the Empire's new weapons. One of those man-shaped metal machines raised its other arm toward them and again another loud thud sounded. A fiery projectile shot toward them, missing them by a few dozen yards. Warning shots, Ed thought. Why are they warning us? That new contraption stopped at the base of the rubble hill, lowered its arms, and turned away. The steam-drivers had stopped there too, unloading regulars. They don't even care that we’re here.

  Glen pulled himself away from Gene. "Arrogant bastards," he yelled. The metal monster raised his arm from afar as though taking notice. "Yea, you," he shouted again. "Are we not good enough for a fight?"

  "Stand down," Ed ordered.

  "Are we not good enough for a fight," Glen again shouted as loud as he could, his voice echoing against the walls. The new machine lowered his arm and turned away as if answering his question. "Are they really just going to ignore us and set up camp?" He drew out his hand-cannon, a one-shot flint lock weapon, and pointed it toward the enemy.

  "No," Ed shouted, grabbing the weapon before Glen could shoot. "We can't win against that," he said. "And we have no time. They don't care about us, fine. We have to warn the others. Gene!"

  Gene grabbed Glen's arm again and pulled him away as Ed led them back to their horses. He tried to concentrate on what to do next: That floating…whatever it was…appeared to travel slowly. There's time. First, he’d warn Alecka, then get Glen to the battalion to start drawing from his memory. But, his thoughts kept going back to what he'd seen. That flying mountain, those new weapons from the Empire, they were here and far worse than he was briefed. His tactical mind came to one solution –the same solution several other countries probably came to as well— unconditional surrender. And for a moment he almost understood why Sera joined them —a very brief moment. Ed cursed; there was no way to wait this war out, let alone win...against that? Those imperial soldiers didn't even bother. They didn't need to.

  "Well, isn't that just wonderful," Glen screamed. "The horses, Ed! They got scared off."

  "Then we walk," Ed replied.

  "It'll take all day and night on foot," Glen said. "Let's go back, damn it."

  "We have to warn the others." Ed continuing his march. "They might not care about fighting only four of us, but we have a battalion and Alecka's group out there waiting for us to get back."

  "We won't make it back in time," Gene said, coldly, giving voice to what Ed was already thinking. “They will be long destroyed.” Ed stopped walking. She was right, of course, terribly right. He hated that about her, that cold disciplined logic. Aren’t priests supposed to be compassionate? Not Gene; maybe that’s why she’s here and not back in the Holy City praying over people with fevers.

  He turned back and set his jaw. In the far distance, he could see small tents being erected, busy commotion of people shuffling and shifting and those new machines, three now, towering over the camp, watching everything like movable guard towers. He turned to Gene and locked eyes with her, then to Glen. “Those steam-drivers. They’re pretty fast, aren’t they?”

  "Yes, yes," Glen smiled, clasping his hands together. “Very fast.” Ed doubted Glen actually know, but they certainty would be faster than on foot.

  "If they don't see us as a threat, we can test their patience," Gene added. "Glen can get a closer look and maybe we can send a few to the Almighty."

  "Ninn," Ed called but Ninn's usual excited self didn't appear. Gene nodded behind Ed and there was Ninn sitting on the grass, meditating on a new mantra.

  "My skin is my armor. My armor breaks for no one. My hands are my weapons. My weapons break everyone."

  Ed lifted him up. "You're not going, Ninn." Ninn’s eyes widened, tearing. "I'm sorry, someone has to survive this."

  Ninn glanced at Glen.

  Ed chuckled. "You’re right," he said. "He should be the one going back."

  “I'm not going anywhere else, Ed," Glen chimed in.

  "Here's what's going to happen," Ed began. "Ninn, you're the youngest and fastest. You're going to run and run as fast as you can. Don't go to camp. No time. Get to the garrison back in Sosh’r. Uh...who was left behind—

  "—Adleson," Gene said. "And the Second. They’re waiting for the link-up."

  "Adleson, right. Tell him what happened here. He’ll know exactly how close the Main is and how to reach them. The three of us will get a closer look at what the Empire has over there. Glen, you have memories of anyone operating a steam-driver?"

  Glen took a moment before answering, "Uh, yea, I do. Just drawings, writings. It looks easy enough."

  "We're going to steal one," he said, releasing his grip on Ninn. "Ninn, if we manage it, we'll pick you up on the way." Ninn appeared lost, his eyes searching with a quiver on his lips. "I'm sorry. You did your jo
b, but if it were that easy to stop them, the Empire wouldn't even have tried. Now you can show them another surprise. Commander Adleson, get to him."

  Ninn stiffened his upper lip. "I will, C, c, colonel," he said before stretching his legs. "Back to the city. My legs are horse legs. They do not tire. Back to the City. My legs are horse legs. They do not tire." And with that, he bolted up the gorge quickly disappearing in the folds of the land. Ed could have sent him to the camp first but what good could he have done there anyway? Die? No, Ed banished the thought. Alecka, everyone, they'll manage. And with luck, the steam-driver they were going to steal would reach them before that flying mountain does.

  "That boy, if anything, sure is quick," Glen said.

  "Why don't you compliment him when he can hear you," Gene asked.

  Glen paused and turned toward the enemy far off in the distance. "If I see him again, I think I will."

  ***

  For this plan to work, Ed knew they had to be quick. As disinterested as they appeared, they wouldn’t ignore three soldiers strolling into their camp. ‘Arrogant bastards’ was right, but not stupid bastards. He scanned the northern red cliff top and grinned. He never heard of anyone stealing imperial technology. Until now.

  "Glen," Ed called, searching the cliff face for the way Ninn used to climb up. "In the map, there should be a few points at the base of the cliffs marking paths leading up onto the heights. Ninn used one of them. Up there, we'll walk along the cliff-side till we get right above their camp. The mudslide shouldn't be so steep. That’s where we’ll sneak down and grab ourselves a steam-driver."

  Glen closed his eyes. "Sure is, yea, I see it. Over there," he answered, reopening his eyes and pointing to some point at the bottom of the rock face. “The path on the heights is on the map too. No problem.”

  "Lead the way."

  Glen walked ahead with Gene in the middle and Ed bring up behind. The Empire appeared to be settling in well. Smoke rose from their camp bringing with it the scent of charred meats, spicing...and music?