TCO: Chapter Thirty-Four

Mordán tightened his cloak around him as he ducked his head and walked through the small entrance of a dark cave at the southwest edge of the Ice Mountains. A dim flickering light danced along the cave wall, reflecting the flames of a small fire. A thin woman with long black hair wearing a hooded, dark cloak was bent low over the fire. She spoke without looking up as Mordán came closer.

"Your anger and restlessness are with good reason, Sire," her soft voice said slowly. "The light warriors grow stronger with the new addition to their circle."

"Of course they do, Akila," Mordán retorted. "Was there any other possible result?"

Akila looked up slowly with a slight smile, her silver-blue chrome eyes reflecting the light of the fire. "There were many possible results, for when you mix new energy with stabilized energy it is uncertain how the new will influence the old. How the new is received determines whether or not the shared vibration becomes stronger or weaker."

Mordán dismissed Akila's words with an impatient wave of his hand. "How do I resolve this? I have an empire to expand, and I cannot afford for the warriors to thwart my plans."

Akila stood and stared at the fire for several moments in silence.

Mordán instinctively backed away from the fire as the flames spiked higher with a wave of Akila's hand. The flames cast dancing shadows over her snow-white skin, making her unusual appearance ever more eerie. She stared through the flames at Mordán.

"As you understand, strong empires begin with a solid foundation. You must seek out and destroy the light warriors' foundation before you chance weakening their Order. This is your first task."

Mordán nodded. "Where do we start?"

"I know not for sure, but the warrior foundation lies within the realms of Alsar. Malik's power is too strong. He darkens my sight from viewing all of the kingdom. You will have to do this part without my help. It is not yet time for me to reveal my existence."

"Have you released Kar's family from the cells yet?"

As punishment for allowing Tarak to escape, Mordán imprisoned many of Kar's relatives.

"I have not," Akila replied.

"Good. That is where his family will remain until Kar returns with news that amends his earlier mistakes. Perhaps it will motivate him to quickly gather the information we need."

"Indeed."

Mordán gave her a short nod and walked swiftly out of the cave.

***

Weeks later, Kar landed his small combat ship at the edge of Grey Forest and adjusted the frequency on the ship's transmitter to hear Mordán's voice clearly.

"What is your location, Kar?"

"We have reached the Grey Forest, Sire."

"What have you found?"

"Nothing so far…Akila might be mistaken."

"She is never wrong. Keep searching and do not return to Androsa until you have found a lead."

"As you wish." Kar shut off the transmitter and turned to Sinu, who sat next to him. "We enter Solara tonight."

After the stars of Elsaria had long set, the two Vaznaun entered a tavern at the edge of the Solara market. They sat down at a small table hidden in the shadows of a fireplace.

"I'm tired of traveling to the ends of Alsar and back," Sinu grumbled from underneath a hooded, dark cloak. "We've been gone for weeks and still nothing."

"Keep your voice down," Kar replied as three nearby men turned to look at them suspiciously. "We cannot rest until we find their location. Just keep your mouth shut and your ears open."

A few moments later, a large, burly man and his tall, lanky companion strolled into the tavern and sat at the bar within earshot of the Vaznaun.

"I'm tellin' ya, the temple here innit like the others," the large man said. "I ‘ave been in smaller uns all 'cross Alsar an' this un is different."

"So," said his tall companion, shrugging. "Do they all have to be the same?"

"They don', bu' this un seems, I dunno…quieter. It's only open for the communi'y ta visit once a week. Mos' of the time the ascetas go into the communi'y ta work or teach ratha than stay a' the temple. It innit like the other places. Maybe's nuthin', jus' seems weird."

Kar glanced at Sinu and nodded. The two threw back their drinks and stood abruptly to leave. The tall man at the bar gasped as Kar peered at the men on his way out the door.

"Wha' is it?" the burly man said to his friend as the Vaznaun passed.

"Nothing," the tall man replied with a shudder. He shook his head to rid the mental image of the piercing, orange eyes he had just witnessed beneath the hood of the stranger's cloak.

***