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When a Soryan flew, the power of their song provided them with a natural grace that helped them navigate and adjust to the temperament of the wind and other weather. Some of the most powerful Soryans could fly through a lightning storm and never notice.
Shaine could not help but wish he were flying in one right now. It would have to be an improvement over this damnable Kelland flying box!
He and Anton were both uncomfortably strapped down in chairs bolted to the metal flooring of the craft. Said craft was shaking and vibrating in an alarming manner.
Well, it was alarming to Shaine and Anton. Heather, the Kelland Regulatory Agent they had just met, was piloting the craft and talking at them in a cheerful manner that (to Shaine) was entirely unwarranted.
Shaine called it talking at them because she certainly wasn't talking to them. She was not facing them for one thing. She was in a separated chamber in front of them. The girl's voice was crackling out of some sort of communications devices fastened to both sides of the windowless chamber above the two boys' heads.
For once, Shaine could not take pleasure in Anton's discomfort. The young Holy Priest was gritting his teeth, squinting his eyes and clenching his fists around the heavy harness securing them to their seats.
Shaine hoped he was thinking of a spell to save them in case this rickety craft fell apart mid-journey, as it seemed likely to.
All it would have taken was one song -less than one! Shaine could have already had them in Kelland. This was no way to fly. The noise and the shaking. How could they stand it? He decided to wait a few more moments, then enact a song of transport. Sister Nayala would just have to punish him later...
Just then, the shaking subsided greatly, and the noise reduced itself to an almost tolerable level. Heather's voice sprang out of the hanging devices.
"We're here! See, we got here in no time!", Shaine and Anton both shared a look.
"She seemed pleased." Shaine said in a bit louder voice than usual to overcome the noise of the craft.
Anton snorted. "I don't know what for! Not only has she wasted our time, she almost killed us!"
Shaine smirked. "I wouldn't go that far, but that was most unpleasant."
"I can agree with that, Soryan. I tell you this much, I'll not travel back this way. I'll let you teleport me before I ride in this..."
Before he could finish the craft began a swift descent. Shaine thought they were in freefall. He quickly began to sing.
"WAIT!" Anton yelled, arm outstretched.
Shaine stopped, mostly because he was surprised. Then Heather's voice came again. "We're beginning our descent. Please stay strapped in."
Again the two boys shared a look. Shaine laughed, then spoke. "How did you know we weren't crashing?"
Anton's face was even more sour than before. "I expected no less. As horrible as that flight was, I knew the landing would be even worse."
Heather's voice once more. "Brace yourself for landing, please." The tone was matter of fact, but Shaine and Anton gripped their harnesses aggressively, preparing for the worst.
There was a sudden jolt. It wasn't enough to harm them, but Shaine thought if they hadn't been strapped in they might have flown across the chamber.
The craft was obviously rolling across the ground now. Shaine could hear Heather communicating instructions with someone. He felt exhausted, even though he hadn't truly expended any energy. He looked up and caught Anton's eye.
"Anton, this is no way to fly."
He meant it, but he also tried to say it as a joke. As usual, the Holy Brother was not in the mood for joking. He was struggling with his harness as he spoke.
"Let's just get out of here and kill that revenant so I can go home."
Removing his harness, Shaine stood up and moved toward the front of the craft. He could feel the ship was slowing its forward rolling. Just as Shaine was thinking that the end of the ride seemed very smooth, the ship then came to a jarring halt, almost throwing him to the ground. He caught himself by throwing his arms out and grasping the wall.
Stupid Kelland flying box!
The front compartment door slid open and there was Heather, all smiles and very relaxed. They were in her element now.
"Gentlemen. I hope you enjoyed your flight?" She smiled and Shaine couldn't tell if it was an honest question or if she was making fun of them. He decided to let Anton answer for the both of them. he would probably say something crass that Shaine was thinking but would never say.
He didn't disappoint.
"Enjoyed?? Only as much as I enjoyed having the insides of my body forced up and down my throat over and over as my head felt like it was going to implode and be crushed like a grapefruit! What in Aeremon's name have we ever done to you to be subjected to this farce?!"
Shaine couldn't help but laugh. He was used to the young boy's outbursts, though. Heather's face was frozen in shock. Shaine stepped in front of her. "Thank you for a pleasant journey. Do you mind if we exit your fine ship now? I'd love to feel my feet on the ground." Shaine gestured toward the hatch.
Heather snapped out of it. "Oh, of course. This way." She worked the lever on the hatch and the door sprung outward, becoming a ramp of sorts to walk down. Shaine wasted no time getting out and moving down to the ground.
The sky was gray here. It was not really cold, but definitely cooler than Il'Doran. There was also an unfriendly wind snapping at him. He was in Kelland now.
Anton soon stood beside him, and Heather followed, closing the door to the ship behind them.
Heather gestured all around them. "This is Hangar 2, where we store our ships."
They were at the very edge of the hangar. With the doors wide open, it was almost like being outside. Shaine could see many people wearing similar uniforms running here and there, apparently responsible for the maintenance of the vessels.
There were row after row of ships. The hangar was so vast Shaine could barely make out the end of it. He realized Heather hadn't spoken again and he turned toward her. She was looking at him and seemed to be expecting something.
He thought she wanted him to be impressed. He shrugged his shoulders. "It's wonderful?"
The girl rolled her eyes and started walking. Shaine and Anton fell in behind her.
"We'll need to go through a checkpoint before we reach the command bunker." She was keeping a brisk pace and did not turn around to look at them as she spoke. They moved out of the hangar and into a series of long hallways. Shaine could feel them sloping downward slightly.
As they walked, Shaine saw many of the Kelland workers staring at them as they passed by. He had to admit, they must look very different. Dark skin and hair, vastly different style of dress, and what stories they must have heard about the magic?
The stares were a bit uncomfortable, but Shaine supposed it was only fair. Kelland envoys were often stared at in the same manner back in Il'Doran.
Anton sidled in close to him. He whispered. "You realize they're all staring at that ridiculously overgrown sword you're wearing stuck to your back, correct?"
Shaine smirked. "Maybe they're staring at your dress? Did you ever think of that?"
"This is a ceremonial robe of Aeremon! Everyone knows that!" Anton was spluttering.
Heather rounded on them. "We're about to reach the first checkpoint. Please behave yourselves." The last was spoken in a fierce whisper. It sounded to Shaine like a fervent plea.
The trio approached a guarded portal blocking the hallway. Two men stood to either side, each with a large Kelland firearm in hand.
Heather produced some sort of emblem and handed it to one of the men. He quickly pulled a device from his belt and scanned it over the item. Shaine saw a minor flash of light, then the man handed the item back to Heather, then issued a curt command.
"Go on through...Agent." Heather stiffened a bit when he said it. Shaine heard the condescension in the man's voice when he said the word "Agent". Whatever was going on, Shaine hoped it was nothing to do with them.
She walked through the portal, Shaine and Anton following her. Just beyond them was a glass door, through which Shaine could see many flickering lights and movement.
"The bunker is through here. You'll meet Commander Balke and we'll discuss plans."
Anton scoffed. "Plans? There's not much to plan when it comes to a revenant. You just find it and kill it as quickly as possible."
Shaine nodded in agreement. "No disrespect to your Commander, but he speaks the truth. We should not delay any further."
Heather looked at both of them. Probably surprised they actually agreed on something. She shook her head then. "Let's go, guys."
She opened the door and stepped through. Anton followed next. Shaine stepped through the doorway, then stopped. Quickly he looked left and right, then in a sharp motion he drew his sword off of his back. The sigils inscribed on the sides of the blade burst into an angry red glow.
Anton covered his eyes and stepped back. "You Soryan fool! What are you doing?!"
Shaine hissed at him. "Don't you feel that!?" Shaine was crouched and wary. By now the Kelland Regulatory Agents in the bunker had all stopped to view the glowing disturbance in their midst. Anton noticed that some had drawn weapons.
"Shaine, they draw their weapons on you!" Anton knew neither he nor Shaine had anything to fear from Kelland firearms, but still it wouldn't look good for this sort of thing to happen on a supposedly diplomatic mission to help an ally.
Heather had not drawn her weapon, but she came running back to stand in front of Shaine. "What are you doing? You're embarrassing me!" She had a look of horror on her face.
Shaine almost laughed. She was horrified at being embarrassed. She had more than that to be afraid of.
He turned to Anton. "The revenant. It's here."
Click to read Chapter 15 - Revenant's Shadow |
