Chapter LXXXVIII: Departures and Arrivals

First light had not yet breached the horizon when Kkel Solaar struck.

Like a sudden monsoon, his attack breached the Lamiae defenses at Ilrusi Atoll. In a landscape dominated by half-submerged islands, little more than clumps of mud emerging from the shallows, he seemed to be everywhere at once. The sound of swords clashing against Lamian spears echoed through the fog which blanketed the area. From their makeshift bases, formed from the remains of half-a-hundred shipwrecks, the Undead Swarm rallied to meet their attackers. The reef which crowned the top of the Arrapago Islands became a nest of activity in moments as the Sunserpent made his presence known.

An explosion shook the early morning skies, sending wooden planks careening through the air as the mast of a long-beached trireme toppled like a redwood falling to the ground. The bones of the crew still aboard the vessel were splintered by the force, sinking into the mud as they hit the ground, unusable by the Lamiae which commanded them. Orders were hissed violently in the tongue of the snakewomen, and the rattle of their foot soldier's remains marked them spreading out to search for their foes, hidden deep in the dense fog surrounding the reef. They retreated almost instantly as fire flew from the haze, streaking towards their ranks and leaving the rotting wood of their sunken fortresses in flames.

The confusion was short-lived. A Merrow sorceress emerged from the depths, holding a staff aloft which blazed with intense heat. A wave of flames crashed through the morning fog like a living thing, eating it alive as it roared with great fury through the obscuring mists. Within moments, the fire had devoured enough to clear the air, and the undead charged forward to face their bold assailants head on.

Nothing was there to greet them. Not so much as a ripple creased the water to mark that anything was there. The Undead Swarm stood amongst the flaming husks of the ships which dotted the reef, indecision gripping the Lamiae which pulled their strings. Of the attackers there was no sign, not even a clue as to what direction they may have come from or gone. Angry voices hissed back and forth, and ultimately search parties broke in all directions to sweep the reef and find their hidden foes.

In the time it took for them to make that decision, the Sunserpent and his men were already back in Aht Urghan.


"Through the power of the Astral Wind, the soldiers of the Empire may come and go as they please."

True to his word, Captain Sefadin did look more impressive in armor. As the first vestiges of sunlight crept over the rooftops of Whitegate's Commoners Ward, the polished chain mail links beneath his surcoat glittered brightly. Heavy gauntlets and leggings gripped his limbs, and a scabbard hung from his side, the hilt of his sword never far from his grasp. Save for the grin on his face, the sandy-haired mercenary was unrecognizable from the man Jinxie had met the night before. In his silver armor, blade at his side and shield at the ready, he appeared far more the guardian she had been promised. At the moment, his gaze was locked intently on the massive iron doors which held behind them the Chamber of Passage.

"I'm not sure how it works, or why it can only take you to certain locations, but it's the most important strategic advantage we have." He appeared to be talking as much to himself as the others. "The ability to assault the enemy strongholds and return our soldiers back to their home sweet homes in an instant. I've even started writing a song about it." He cleared his throat, and then in a bold voice, declared "Take me to your heart, feel me in your bones, just one more night and I'm coming off this long and winding road." Pausing, he then gave a nod. "That's all I've got. You should finish the rest."

"Me?" Krista looked startled when her Captain's attention suddenly fell on her.

"Of course! I can't do everything for you, Private. Now finish that song."

She blinked repeatedly, and then began patting herself down. Gone was the heavy cloak and robes she had been wearing the night before. The Mithra was now suited in pants and boots with a simple cape around her shoulders and an open blue jacket with a shirt far too revealing for Jinxie's taste. She was definitely prepared to be mucking about in a swamp rather than performing in a city, and the belt at her waist held a dagger in addition to her flute. "I know a brought a quill and paper," she muttered, searching herself without much luck.

"We'll have to work on this," Sefadin chided, then looked back at the Chamber of Passage. "You never know when the urge to rock is going to strike, Private, you have to be ready. Where was I?" He paused briefly, and then looked towards Jinxie. "Right, using the portal inside. No one has ever attempted what General Solaar is doing today."

"Why is that?"

"Well, using the Hall multiple times is like trying to check out some baller concerts one after the other. You get to the first and it's awesome, and you hear some sweet tunes. Then by the time you get to the second, it's like, "hey man, this is cool, I'm still working a good buzz, let's enjoy it." But then you hit up the third and you're all like "damn, I should've quit drinking like an hour ago, this isn't even my jam, you know?"

Jinxie stared at him. Slowly, she nodded, and Sefadin smiled. "Sweet, I knew you'd get it."

"Using the Hall multiple times exacts a strenuous toll on the user." They turned to find Vaala standing before one of the tall columns lining the broad avenue. As daylight crept across the street, it chased away the shadows concealing her. Jinxie gave a start at her voice, not even realizing the Ninja had joined them until she spoke.

"That's what I said," Sefadin replied, then focused on the apparent newcomer. "So," he gave a low whistle. "they're bringing in the black ops for this one, are they?"

Vaala did not respond. Instead, she took a knee before Jinxie briefly, and then raised her head to await further instruction. Swathed all in black, there was no way of knowing where or how many weapons she had concealed on her person. The mask which hid her face from the bridge of her nose down gave away no expression, and her slim gray eyes never changed.

"The General faces the distinct risk of exhausting himself and his troops," she advised. "To act as we are doing currently goes against all the safeguards normally put in place for use of the Hall."

"Now those military guys, they can go in as much as they want," Sefadin folded his arms as he spoke, brow creasing in thought. "Mercs like us are allowed a few passes a week if we get hired for a mission. Part of it is so we don't stress the magic of the Astral Candesence, but another part is for our own protection."

"Will he be alright?" Jinxie had seen Kkel and Pixel off in the early hours before dawn, and neither had shown any concern for themselves. Pixel had assured the Red Mage she would be seeing the both of them again soon. "They have Pixel, and Gjallarhorn, and Kkel himself . . . "

"It is possible General Solaar's constitution will allow him to use the portals, and the Bard's spellsong will help the others endure as well," Vaala's words were matter-of-fact, "but they will wear out eventually."

"So," Sefadin interjected, his voice far more reassuring, "we'll just have to be done with our part before that can happen."


Bones crunched beneath Imperial boots as the soldiers beneath Kkel Solaar beat a hasty retreat from the Leujaoam Sanctum. The fallen undead at their feet were too battered to respond to the commands of their Lamian masters, torn apart by the powerful magic unleashed by the Sunserpent. From every cavern, the sounds of battle echoed throughout the subterranean lair of the beastmen. Centuries-old crystal formations which grew from the cold granite shook as Kkel's lightning barrage filled the corridors with combat.

Beneath the sound of steel against steel, an undercurrent of something entirely different ran through. A fast-paced March, performed at double the regular tempo, laced itself into the din of battle. It played almost constantly, only audible in between the shouted snarls of Lamian guards and the battle cries of Imperial soldiers. While the rest of the action ricocheted back and forth through the vast series of caverns, the song stayed stationary, its melody reaching out to those whom would hear it. Frequently, a patrol of the undead or even one of their masters would come in search of it. The area around the musician was littered with their remains.

Pixel finished weaving her spellsong for the twelfth time since they entered the underground Lamian domain, and lowered Gjallarhorn from her lips. Kkel nodded to her, and she fell back into the tunnels from which they came. Within moments, the absence of the music became a noticeable void in the rest of the cacophony around them. As soon as it was noted amongst the Imperial soldiers, they fell back from their position, obeying the signal to retreat.

"Are you alright?" Kkel asked with concern when one of his borrowed soldiers came back with a cut across his brow, blood mingling with the sweat which covered his face.

"I'm fine General, I'm fine," he gasped, lurching forward as he struggled to keep his sword in hand, "let's get to the next one."

Kkel clapped him on the back and sent him down towards their escape route. Both he and Pixel shared a look of concern as the last of their brigade made for the extraction point. The strain in their own eyes showed clearly.

The sound of a distant, angry chorus of hissing grew rapidly closer, and the pair followed after their soldiers as serpentine shadows appeared on the cavern walls.


The sun was breaking fully free of the horizon line when Isset arrived, a heavy pack slung over her shoulders. Shoki skittered faithfully by her side and, trailing distantly behind them, a forlorn-looking Speed followed them in.

"What a drag . . . " he complained, dragging his feet as they approached the others. "You shouldn't be able to get up this early, man, there should be like, a law, man."

"Speed!" Sefadin exclaimed. "What's up my man?" The Captain greeted him with a handshake so brief it appeared more like they simply clapped their hands together. "I didn't see you at the show last night."

"I was gonna go, but some major buzzkill made me stay home and get ready for this."

"I'm right here, Speed," Isset reminded him.

"You two know each other?" Jinxie asked, watching them share their greeting.

"Yes ma'am," Sefadin confirmed. "Speed and I met at last year's Crew Fest."

"Crew Fest?" She cocked an eyebrow curiously.

"Ma'am, Crew Fest is a gathering of all the biggest bands, or "crews" in the Empire for an all-day performance, ma'am." Krista received a look of approval from Sefadin as she explained. "It's a treat for Bards and those who just appreciate good music and a good time."

"Word," Sefadin nodded.

"Which word?" Speed scratched his head, confused.

"Doesn't matter, are we all here?"

Jinxie appraised her gathering. Isset and Speed had been with her almost since she had arrived in Aht Urghan, and certainly through all her greatest trials. The Puppetmaster was a true friend, and had proven herself one many times since their meeting outside the palace. Speed was not reliable by any means, but she would have been lying if she said his antics were not at least amusing, and when his head was clear he was the most formidable warrior she had ever come across. She was happy to count the two of them amongst her companions for this latest ordeal. The reminder of their presence, however, also served as one of Xaerus's absence.

Sefadin and Krista she remained unsure of. The Hume certainly looked the part of the Paladin, bedecked in shield and armor, but his disposition was troubling to say the least. And while his trainee certainly displayed an eagerness to perform, she was a greenhorn at best, completely untrained and unprepared for what they could be marching into. She reminded herself that he was a Captain of Salaheem's Sentinels, a higher rank than even Isset held, so he must have proven his mettle in some way or another. It was nothing she had seen with her own eyes, and thus her skepticism remained. They were a colorful pair, but Jinxie would have given much to have Kkel and Pixel by her side instead.

Then there was Vaala. The woman had barely moved and rarely spoken since revealing her presence. None of the others knew anything about her, and that worried Jinxie immensely. She knew the Imperial Palace had been infiltrated up to the very highest levels, who was to say Chiz and his allies had not left agents behind? She watched the Ninja watching all of them, and felt the fear of uncertainty creeping up her belly. She did not want to be uncertain of anything in this endeavor. Her son's life was at stake, there could be no risk of failure.

The thought of Drake in the hands of the beastmen tore through her again, like a wound reopening. She almost doubled over as the still-fresh pain of loss struck her, compounded with the absence of her power. She had surrendered her magic to rescue Kkel Solaar, and it was all for nothing in the end. That which she had been striving to save was taken from her.

She had no recourse, she knew. Whatever misgivings she had, this was the team she had to work with. They had to succeed, and that was all there was to it.

"Miss Jinxie," she turned, almost giving a start as an Imperial soldier appeared at the iron gates which marked the Chamber of Passage, "we're ready for you."


"The scouts are all reporting in. The Undead Horde is on high alert." Razfahd had donned his imperious black armor again, and gestured towards the pedestal before him. Jinxie was amazed to see that images of the Empire appeared on its surface, so real they looked like sculptures made from light. "Garrisons from all over their usual stations in Arrapago and Caedarva are being drawn towards the areas Kkel is assaulting. We will have no greater opportunity to get your unit past enemy lines."

"Alright, let's go get this witch," Sefadin was growing excited. "We'll drop right into Arrapago Reef and take Medusa down today."

"No," the Grand Vizier snapped, "don't be a fool. The Lamian fortress where she dwells is still crawling with snakes. No, you're going in through the ruins."

"Safe," Vaala remarked. "We often use the ruins to approach locations undetected."

Razfahd nodded. "Your window of opportunity is small, so make the most of it. The ruins will bring you as far as Caedarva Mire. Once there, it is up to you to find your way to the Lamian Queen and recover Jinxie's son."

"But that could take days!" Isset sputtered. "How long do you expect General Solaar to hold out?"

Razfahd managed to contain his sneer. "He will be given time to rest, mercenary. The other Serpent Generals are already lining up to take his place so he can recover. Truth be told, our offices are flooded with requests from volunteers wanting to help out the famous Jinxie in any way they can. We will not falter on our end of the operation. Make sure you uphold yours."

"I can guide us through the Mire," Vaala offered. "It will take us more than a day, but not by much. By dawn's breaking tomorrow we shall be near our goal."

"We're ready," Sefadin stated, indicated himself and Krista. The Bard nodded in affirmation.

"So are we," Isset clasped Jinxie's shoulders, looking at her compassionately. "Just say the word, Jinxie. Let's go make them pay for what they did."

She gave her friends, old and new, another look. After only a moment's pause, the Red Mage straightened the brim of her hat, affixed atop her mass of blond locks, and gave them a fierce nod. "Thank you," she managed to find some of her old strength in her voice. "but enough talking. Let's get going."

Isset smiled widely as they all clapped a salute in her direction. At Razfahd's order, they were allowed into the Chamber itself, which was little more than a single hall. Six portals through which soldiers returned to the city from missions abroad were separated by a broad walkway, and situated three on each side. At the end was a staircase, leading straight up to the central portal which would take them to their destination. It flared to life, pulsing waves of blue light towards the low ceiling.

Sefadin was first, ascending the stairs and turning as the light engulfed him. Before he even had time to grin at them, he vanished in a flash. Isset followed after him, both she and Shoki becoming points of brilliant light before blinking away entirely. Then Krista disappeared after them, and then Speed. Vaala gave a short bow to Razfahd and Jinxie before she stepped into the portal, leaving only Jinxie herself behind.

"Jinxie," she was surprised when Razfahd called out to her as she began walking up the stone steps, "I want you to know that I am sorry."

She gazed at him. She had not the energy left to hate this man. "I know, Razfahd," she told the Imperial. "I know."

"Good luck, Bastokan," he wished her sincerely, and then he was gone as her whole world became blue.

"Grand Vizier, sir?" The Tarutaru at the entry to the hall spoke, and Razfahd cast an eye down on him.

"Yes, Sharin-Garin?"

"Sir, I, er, I wasn't notified of any further rotations of Imperial soldiers to relieve General Solaar. Should I prepare the Chamber for . . . ?"

"That will not be necessary," Razfahd interrupted, clasping his hands behind his back. "Kkel Solaar will not be relieved. He knows our soldiers are stretched too thin at the moment. He is prepared to keep this up for as long as he has to."

"But, what you said to the others . . . "

"I said what was required to keep them moving," the Grand Vizier explained, "and to make sure Jinxie's son returns to her safely. I said . . . only what General Solaar and I agreed would be said when the question was raised."

He stared for a long time at the portal in front of him, hoping the Empire would not lose more than it already had by the time this was all over.


Jinxie arrived in the Undersea Ruins of Alzadaal and found the others waiting for her. Like them, she marveled at the expanse of the ruins, which went on endlessly in all directions. She gaped at the windows, revealing aquatic life she had never even dreamed of swimming past them. She admired the intricate work of the ruins, of which every inch from ceiling to floor had been delicately crafted from the finest metals. As Vaala led them through into the deeper parts of the massive underwater complex, it became clear that the astonishing place had an endless supply of surprises and marvels.

With the amazing location surrounding her and the task at hand, it was easy for Jinxie to forget the face she had seen in the moment of her transport from Aht Urghan to the Ruins of Alzadaal.

A masked face, hidden behind a horned white helmet, and mounted on a terrible steed. A knight, waiting for her in the space between worlds.

Watching her.