Widderkin Interlude - 9. Chapter 9

Chapter 9.

The group of friends, apart from Nathan, who was still sound asleep with his head against his father's shoulder, watched the buddha eyes snap open and sweep locally round.

A big smile spread across Kieran’s features as he leaned against Rhys.

"Whoa! That was harder than I expected but the news is mostly good."

Corey gave an intent look.

"Something’s bad?"

"Not seriously bad, Corey. Which do you want to hear first? The positive or the negative?"

Rhys got in first.

"Negative, please. Get it over with and we can enjoy the positive more."

"Okay! The bad news is that we’ll be on our own when we face the Usurper."

"You’re kidding? Ranevargar always helps us."

"Of course he does.

I’ve just learned the Realms’ way of controlling Free Nexus energy because it’s not practical for Ranevargar to takeover and set it up through me."

"I don't get it. Isn't that what you’ve been doing for the last quarter hour?"

"Not quite, Rhys. It would have to be a full takeover, not just a two-way connection."

"I still don't get it. It’s always worked before."

Kieran's grin reappeared.

"How long is an Earth Day in the Realms, Rhys?"

"One quarter – what's that got to do with anything?"

"Remember when Ranevargar watched the session in Parliament? It was nearly two hours for us but for him it was eight hours, and he had to put himself in a trance to cope. We've got the same set up here."

"So? – He just goes into a trance again. – You’re playing funny buggers with us – what's the real story."

"It is real, Rhys, and it's kind of the good news as well."

Kieran's little nod told everyone that the back-and-forth was over.

"One hour here is eighteen in the Realms, and just keeping connected is so hard I had to use Opal energy the whole time."

Corey interrupted.

"Why is this good news, Kieran? It makes help more difficult."

"Well, it means four days here must be less than one day back at home. As far as Rory’s concerned we’re still out exploring the island and the rookery."

John, mindful of Nathan, turned his head to Arthur.

"What time did you schedule for a security call?"

"Six-thirty. It’s usually more frequent but because it was family time with an extended excursion in a low-risk situation, we switched to an ‘only if necessary’ protocol."

John looked at Corey.

"Can we figure the time at home?"

Kieran answered.

"Ranevargar did that for me. From his viewpoint current earth time is mid afternoon, so if we think of the security call as a deadline, we’ve got ten or twelve hours of Hexulate time up our sleeves.

The other positive is that Burrimul’s going to have a charter jet waiting after he picks us up at the meditation rock. If the security helicopters meet us we can be back with the boat before it gets dark."

Samuel surprised everyone with a strange noise and then a laugh at the wondering looks.

"This is impossible - but I’m laughing because I’m thinking about what our official report would sound like."

‘The Prime Minister went on a journey to a world where people talk to the trees and animals. Friendly whales carried us across the ocean and a flock of birds bombed us with stones. Oh, and by the way, I should mention that we managed to do some time travel as a sideline.’"

Rhys loved it.

"And a thunderstorm attacked us with lightning bolts. Don't forget that.

What do you reckon, Corey? It’s not really time travel is it?"

"Different time rates, Rhys. We’ll have one of Mr B's councils about what to do when we get back while Kieran takes some recovery time. – How long will you need, Kieran?"

"It’s not physical tiredness so half an hour will give me a really good bounce back. I’ll link the Ward to Ban’s Ruby in case the Usurper tries something new.

She’d better not though."

Rhys stared a moment.

"Do your trance thing, Kieran – now!"

Kieran stared back, then nodded.

"Yes, boss! I sounded a bit tetchy didn't I."

***

The half hour passed very quickly with a soft voice discussion about options after they reached the Mparntwe Nexus.

Woorawa kept a watchful eye on the build up of people on the other side of the Pest Barrier.

Ban, taking his responsibility very seriously, kept a close watch on the Ward, as well as a constant mind connection with Corey.

Rhys, with Kieran's head resting comfortably in his lap, was restrained and only offered a few softly spoken suggestions.

Makelan listened avidly to the casual mention of strange concepts and wonderful places. –

Chartering a jet? – These people would enter a machine that carried people through the sky?

Vast gatherings of people.

Maurice? – a creature of legend brought to life.

Trees tall beyond imagining.

"You are not saying anything, Makelan?"

"There is so much to understand, Corey. Our Hexulates are no longer the centre of all things and my mind seeks some way to delay your departure."

To Makelan’s surprise, Corey nodded.

"Yes, I agree with you, but you’ll certainly see most of us again. There’s unfinished business with the orcas of these Realms, and Kieran, wherever he is, will only be a thought away.

Makelan, is there some way you can call your friendly wardens to the Heartstone?"

"Only through a lengthy process of couriers and messages. If the Keyholder decides to convene a Warden Council she can invoke an instant summons through our Stones of Power, but that hasn't happened for a long time. Do you think Kieran might want to call a council?"

"I really don't know, but it has to be a strong possibility. – What do you think, Mr B?"

"We’ll just have to wait and see. Ranevargar’s advice is usually very calm and ordered but I don't know how he’ll react to the maltreatment of the wild orcas."

Woorawa interrupted with a strong gesture and a soft voice.

"Look! Something’s happening."

People were pouring from the buildings and, under the big guy’s direction, ranging along the Pest Barrier.

Ban checked the thoughts of a few random individuals.

"They’ve been ordered to stand and watch and nothing else. They’ve no idea what's going on and there’s a high degree of trepidation about the anger their leaders are showing – particularly the big man."

Corey nodded.

"Watching’s not going to hurt us.

Michael, what’s happening with Norkus?"

"Norkus? – He’s listening to the calming sounds coming from Pod Momma and the other leaders. – All the orcas are."

"I wonder what it sounds like? Can you relay it for us?"

When Michael gave him a puzzled look, Corey touched Makelan’s arm.

"You have a direct connection to Pod Momma's mind, Makelan. Share the calming sounds with us please."

Makelan was somewhat startled, because he’d only learnt the connection this morning.

"Do you think Pod Momma would mind, Michael? I wouldn't want to intrude if she’s busy with the calming song."

Michael went into orca talk mode for a moment.

"Any time at all, Makelan. Kieran explained to her how you’ll be looking after the orcas from now on, and she thinks of you kind of like she thinks of him."

"Hardly! She’s more like Kieran than I am."

He closed his eyes to concentrate and didn't see the exchange of wondering looks.

A strange song sounded in their minds for a few minutes then cut off abruptly.

"Why did you stop, Makelan? We’ll probably never hear anything like that again."

"Look to the buildings, Mr B. The Usurper and the warden who attacked Samuel are standing with the Proctor.

Attend the Ward, Bantellar. Power of some kind is flowing to the watchers and we should be prepared."

Ban looked uncertain.

"To the watchers, Makelan? I can't see it. Are you sure?"

"Certain. It has a warped resemblance to my tree energy."

Corey turned to John and Gwen.

"We need Nathan's help. If it’s like the Green Fog he’s the only one who can see it properly."

"You think we should wake him?"

"It might be important so, on balance, yes."

Gwen squeezed the hand she was holding, to no effect.

John gripped the nape of Nathan's neck, gave a firm shake, and called his name.

"What? - Dad, what’s happening?

"The Usurper’s doing something and Corey thinks we need your Power Eyes."

"The Usurper?"

Nathan sat up, twisted to look towards the buildings, then gave a yell and covered his eyes.

"Holy hell! It’s too bright."

Corey moved close.

"What can you see, Nathan? Makelan says she’s transferring power."

"Hang on a while my eyes adjust enough to see properly.

Wow! No wonder it dazzled me. There’s a huge amount of power, but what she’s doing is pretty weird."

"Is it weird enough to wake Kieran?"

"... No. It's just power and the Ward will hardly even get – Hey! How come Ban’s Ruby is connected to the ward? That’s new."

"Nathan, one thing at a time. What’s weird about the power?"

"She’s sending it to every one of those people and storing it with them. There’s already way more power than she used for the lightning attack. That’s why it dazzled me."

Corey turned to Mr B.

"I wonder if we should wake Kieran? The strange nature of what she’s doing is making me nervous."

"Not yet, Corey. He’ll wake himself in another ten minutes and Nathan sounds extra confident about the Ward."

Mr B turned to Nathan with a back me up look.

Nathan nodded.

"I was sharing with Kieran when he built it, and it’s got features he learned from Ranevargar."

"How could he? He was still blocked from Ranevargar."

"He called up the memories from when they helped Maurice break through Maynor’s Wards, Mr B, and worked out what they’d done."

Nathan turned to the buildings and every one waited while he concentrated.

"Wow! If she throws all that power at us before Kieran wakes up it’ll be wasted.

If I was still sharing I could grab it and store it in case Makelan needs it."

Rhys used a long-distance whisper.

"What about some for us? We might need it too."

Nathan shook his head and long-distance whispered back.

"There’s nowhere to put it. All our Rubies are chock-full, and because I’m not sharing I couldn't send it to Makelan’s Pearl or Kieran's Opal."

"Can you give us a clearer idea of how much power you’re seeing, Nathan? You sounded amazed a moment ago."

"Hang on while I count ... There are a hundred and seventeen people with a pool of energy and she’s pouring more in all the time. At the moment each pool holds a bit more than half the power she put into the lightning storm."

Rhys forgot to do the whisper thing.

"You must be kidding?"

"She’s drawing from two sources beside her own, Rhys."

Rhys studied Kieran's quiet repose and muted his voice again.

"You’re sure the Ward will hold? Against all that? Every bit of Kieran's recovery time is important."

"Pretty sure."

"Okay! We’ll wait and watch. Ban, can you strengthen the Ward, just in case."

"I don't need to. Kieran set one of his triggers so it automatically calls whatever it needs."

Rhys grinned.

"Typical Kieran. We’ve been waffling on for no reason.

Tell us if something changes, Nathan."

Nothing did change and every one waited quietly with eyes switching between the distant figures and Nathan's expression.

Finally, Kieran's head moved. He looked up and smiled at Rhys.

"I really needed that ... Has anything happened?"

"Big stuff. Talk to Nathan."

"He's awake? How come."

"Corey got nervous."

Kieran's attention flicked to the buildings.

"Hey! Look at them all. They can't get through the Pest Barrier though, so what’s to be nervous about?"

"Makelan sensed weird power. – Talk to Nathan."

"Yo, Nathan! What’s the weird power I’m not seeing?"

"It’s spectacular. Use my Power Eyes to check it out."

"... Wow! Spectacular’s right – and it’s still building."

"Merge, Nathan. I need to see more."

In a calm voice he spoke to everyone.

"It’s a lot of power but it’s chicken feed compared to what Maurice and I work with sometimes. If she throws it at us we’ll grab it for Makelan."

"Chicken feed? Nathan said it was more than fifty of the lightning storm, and that was enough to turn Arthur's hair white."

"Good thinking, Rhys. You got most of them smiling."

"Maynor threw far more at the High Castle and this Ward is way stronger."

"If she throws it at us, it means she intends to get rid of us."

"Maybe. How do you figure that, Corey?"

"Nathan tricked her into thinking the Ward was only just coping, so from her understanding fifty times as much power should annihilate us."

"Hmm! ... It’s about eighty times now so you’re right, and I’ll be very annoyed if she goes ahead."

"Annoyed? Is that all?"

"Yes, Samuel. Ranevargar has cautioned me against making rushed decisions on many occasions and, as usual, he’s right.

Makelan, what’s the wild orca situation? Are they spread through all six Hexulates?"

"Yes. They’re the symbol of her dominance and will."

"Well, we’ll have to let her keep that control until we can organise to heal and help them, and that’ll be a long-term project with many return visits involving Michael and Rhys."

Gwen was instantly alert.

"Won't you need Nathan's power eyes?"

"We’ll have to play it by ear, Gwen. He’s a wonderful help but the logistics will be a real hassle for all of us."

"That won't worry me."

"Yes it will, Nathan. It’ll have to fit in with family and school and lots of other things."

Nathan started to say something but Kieran shook his head.

"Later, Nathan.

The power’s still building, Makelan, and I'm going to show you how to store it in your Pearl for later use."

"I know how to store energy, Kieran."

"Not this amount you don't. Follow closely while I teach you something new."

"Nathan, take over the Pest Barrier and reduce it by fifteen metres. It’ll give them something to think about."

"Okies! Anything else?"

"I’ll be studying the other five sections of the Heartstone for a while, so if she throws the power, grab it and send half to my Opal, then the rest to Makelan’s Pearl."

"Will I make a white globe again, for show?"

"Good thinking! The more bamboozled she gets the better."

Kieran stood up, gave Rhys a smile, moved next to Makelan and, closing his eyes, went into yet another concentration mode.

Nathan was enjoying the closeness of his mum and dad too much to move, so he didn't.

"We won't hear from Kieran for a while. He’s helping Makelan, then studying the Heartstone again.

I’m changing the Pest Barrier, Woorawa, so keep an eye on what the people do."

"You must be merged then?"

"Yes, Tan. Full on, so Kieran can get the most from my Power Eyes."

"What kind of change? Are you making it stronger?"

"Nope! Bringing it back by fifteen metres. Kieran wants to keep them guessing for a while."

"He needs more time?"

"Not really. There’s as much time as he wants because she can't really do anything to us. – There, I’ve moved the barrier."

Reaction came after only a few seconds

"They’re all looking at someone who’s testing the new boundary."

Woorawa was right, and a moment later every watcher moved tentatively forward.

Nathan laughed.

"They were ordered to move and they’re not happy about it."

"Why not?"

"Rhys, they’ve watched rocks bounce off us, lightning disappear into a white globe, and three wardens get sent packing. They’d be pretty clueless if they didn't realise they were moving closer to trouble."

Corey's comment brought nods all round.

"I suppose. – Are there any signs from the Usurper, Nathan?"

"Not much. She used some of the incoming power to reinforce her own shield but now it's all going to the pools again."

Corey was very interested.

"Do you know where it’s all coming from?"

"Yeah! Kieran checked that and she’s grabbing every bit of Free Nexus energy she – hang on! Some thing’s – close your eyes!"

No-one had a choice because Nathan/merge closed their eyes for them, and an instant later turned the Ward completely opaque to sound and light.

Whoops! Turning the Ward completely opaque meant total darkness. A quick adjustment fixed that and a burst of calm settled the group shock.

"Sorry everyone! She’s starting an attack and I got a bit excited. I’ve set the Ward so we don't get blinded or deafened."

From every energy pool, a guiding filament reached to touch the Ward but, thanks to the preparation with Kieran, a white absorption sphere formed and captured the filaments.

Every skerrick of the Usurper's stored power discharged simultaneously. Every guiding filament flared with intolerable brilliance then faded and collapsed.

Protected by the Ward’s filter, the view for the friends was almost an anti-climax.

"Is that all, Nathan? – Flash of light and then nothing"

"It’s not nothing, Rhys. Everything she threw at us is in the globe. What did you expect?"

"I don't know. Lightning bolts going crazy or thunder shaking us in our boots."

"Oh! That’s easy. Watch this."

The Ward cleared. The white sphere floated towards the buildings and a single bolt of lightning obliterated the large mechanical crossbow.

"Yay! That’s better. Put one near the Proctor guy. He needs a good shakeup."

Nathan hesitated.

"It’s fun, Rhys, but mum doesn't look happy. You’d better ask Kieran when he’s with us again."

"I’m not sure what I am, Nathan. Understanding that my gentle, thoughtful son might throw lightning bolts at people is a big ask."

Nathan looked uneasy.

"Not ‘at’ him, mum. There's a filament thing that guides it really accurately."

"Gwen, Nathan backed away from the ‘near’ because it felt wrong. He wouldn't even contemplate an ‘at’."

Every head snapped around because this was Kieran, speaking with a touch of Realm Lord authority.

After a curious little moment of introspection Gwen’s arm slipped around Nathan’s waist. Nathan pressed close, and John pulled both of them even closer.

Kieran nodded then pointed.

"This won't hurt anyone, Gwen, but I’m going to use Rhys's idea as a warning for the Usurper."

The Proctor froze, unable to move a muscle, with a glowing mini ward surrounding him.

A stream of lightning flowed for several seconds, bathing the ward in controlled brilliance while it grounded to the paved pathway.

The Proctor fainted.

Whoops! He wasn't so tough after all.

A panicked rush for the buildings stopped in its tracks when angry shouts sounded and every watcher turned to the Usurper while the warden beside her bent to examine the prone body.

"What happened, Kieran? Did something go wrong?"

"He’s okay, Rhys. Just fright.

Woorawa, would you do a calling dance please? We’re ready to talk."

"Um ... A calling dance? Okay, how about I make up a chant that looks like I’m opening a way through the Ward as well?"

Kieran smiled.

"Good thinking! Except we’ll make it look like you’re dismantling it completely."

"Okay! And what if she ignores me?"

"Doubts! But if she does we’ll send Rom to collect her."

"Rom?"

"Yes, Arthur. She’s already seen him open the Ward, and this time we’ll give him the power of compulsion as well."

"How about Samuel and I go with him? That’s a lot of people if she decides to get nasty."

Nathan shared a look with his mum and dad then reached to hold Arthur's arm

"Rom won't get hurt, Arthur. None of us will. We’re all moving to the court area now and when Makelan and Kieran sit in the official council seats we’ll stand behind them."

Woorawa took his top off, maybe to emphasise the colour of his skin, maybe just to draw attention, and moved to the Ward interface. He looked to the watchers and shouted something in his people's language.

With a dramatic gesture he stretched his arms to touch the Ward. His body swayed rhythmically and the blue shimmer quivered, sparkled brightly, then collapsed and coalesced around his hands.

Another dramatic gesture brought the glowing hands together. At the moment of touch the flow disappeared and, with open palms, his arms spread in entreaty.

"That looked unreal, Kieran, but what if they all come?"

Nathan answered.

"That was me, Rhys. Kieran’s on guard.

The Pest Barrier’s gone, but the Ward’s still active and they won't see it even if they try something.

Here they come. Let's get in place."

***