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The Price of Freedom copyright Shawn Reed, 1999 As I lower my head and close my eyes, I can feel the soft touch of rain upon my neck. The gray walls of the abandoned chapel are a comfort, a protection from the outside world. If you listen hard, it's sometimes possible to hear the ocean surf beating at the cliffs outside. One day, this place will be a place of happiness once again, but as of today, it is only a place of long buried, half forgotten memories. I can tell you my story, if you'll listen. It's been with me so long, and I've no one left to share it. The death of an age... You, you're the first of this new world, this brave, new world. Promise me, though, one thing? Tell me you'll never forget. Tell me, that when you find the others, you'll pass on my story. Don't let them forget. You may have heard stories, maybe even a few truths, if anyone is still living down in the town. None of them really know what happened. None of them lived it. It's been so long... I don't even know if any of them still remember my name. Mayhap you'll come to find out... so you can remember. Thus, I begin... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Hey! What're ya doing?" called Robert Shade to his older sister, startling her out of her meditation. Rebecca jerked, concentration lost. "How do you expect me to... never mind. Why are you here?" she asked, resigned. Slowly, she stretched, using the tree for support. Her knees gave away with small popping sounds, and she almost went back down again. "Mom said the food's almost ready. She bought some of that pro-produce-" he blurted, stumbling over the unfamiliar word. "Yes, produce. So it's coming back now, is it?" She asked absently, a distant look in her crystal-blue eyes. "What's back?" asked Robert, wild eyed. "You know, science. I've told you all those stories, about when science was more abundant than magic? Like that. It's starting to make a comeback. People are starting to discover the old truths. I bet if it makes a full recovery, then there won't be any more use for magic" "Why?" Rebecca sighed. "Ask a mage." "No! Uh-uh. I don't like any of them! They give me the chills. 'Specially the lizardy ones and drueys-n' witches- those ones that do all the stuff with animals and those dark elves with their black robes and black staves and..." "Enough! I know enough about them! Better there weren't any!" screamed Rebecca. "Sorry, Becca." squeaked Robert, jumping back. "N-no. I didn't mean to yell. I'm just high strung. Forgive?" "Kay, forgive." smiled Robert. "Right then, let's go eat." Rebecca chirped as she started the grassy hill just south of Canterbury. "So what where ya' doin' there?" asked Robert, starting after her. After a moment, when he didn't get an answer, he asked "Where ya' medi-tationing?" He watched his older sister as she nodded, absently biting her lip. "You know you shouldn't be!" he exclaimed excitedly. You'll get in trouble! Mom says the guild looks for people like that an' when they find 'em take 'em away!" "Well, mom doesn't know everything." "Yes she does!" retorted Robert. "Then why doesn't she know about your little midnight walks?" smiled Rebecca. "She won't unless I tell her. Maybe that proves I know more than her?" "I don't know. I'll think 'bout it." he said, looking rather puzzled. Comical, even, with slightly puffy cheeks and knit brow. "How'd you know 'bout that? I never told." "Simple." she grinned. "I'm learning to read minds." "Neato! So what am I thinkin' now?" "Unless it's food, then I don't know." she sighed benignly. "Wow! You're gettin' better. Hey, Becca?" "What now?" "Do you think maybe you could come with me tonight when I go spyin'?" he rushed. Rebecca almost dismissed the request as another overblown idea of his childish imagination, but something kept her from rebuking him. Call it a whim, but there was a feeling settling in her gut... "Sure. Wake me when you're ready to go." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The cathedral bells had just struck midnight. It crept down the hall, silent, its dark scaled hide nothing more than a shadow against the wall. It was an Argonian, or, in the more common tongue, a Lizard Man. Earlier, he had tied hides around his feet to keep the claws from clicking against the stone floor. Now his passage made no sound, and, like any master of the craft, none had seen him. At least, none that would wake in the morning. He had also coated his claws with Dragon's Tongue sap. A beautiful flower, but also a deadly poison to any non-Argonian. He had also strapped a spring-action clip to his forearm. When activated with a certain flick of the wrist, the spring would fire a dart, stained yellow with the sap. So be it to those who say this "technology" brings no uses. Most of the torches in the halls were extinguished, it being the time when honest folk should be long asleep, dreaming of things to come. How like they who call themselves people, never to expect the worst until too late. Rage burned in the Argonian's yellow slit eyes. It should not be, that humans could die so easily, yet have the gall to claim themselves the strongest race of the thirteen lands. Not that they had ever said such aloud, but they had spoken clear enough during the great wars at the fall of science. The way had been ripped from the Argonian people, and now only a bare trace remained. The humans had done a thousand more misservices to his people even before that. The Argonian passed one of the Royal Guards, the "strongest" and "most honorable" of the human warriors. Saying such was like spitting in the Argonian's eye. No human he knew had ever displayed honor! The Royal Guard wasn't entirely composed of humans, granted, just the vast majority. What did it matter? Anyone who would sell service to the humans deserved their fate. The guard was still awake, and seemed to be keeping a vigilant watch. He never saw what hit him, though. One of the first things he'd had to do was take care of the guards on patrol outside. As the Argonian passed he shot out a hand. The claws caught the man's throat and ripped four deep gashes into the flesh. The guard slumped against the wall, making a slight bubbling sound. Then he slid down to the floor, dead or dying. The Argonian cast a quick glance at the man, and noticed it wasn't a human, it was an elf. Such details made no difference. It was human now. If fate was kind to the man, then he was already dead. It would be more painful the other way. The Argonian flexed his claws, now coated with both yellow poison and red blood. Nightmares could walk, although there never existed a waking nightmare. The Argonian grinned, his razor sharp teeth flashing in the dim glow of one solitary torch. It was reflexive, but such mistakes should not be made again. He had killed humans before just because they had shown the whites of their eyes or teeth. There could be no risks taken whatsoever in turnabout. Another mistake could cost him a lot more than a few gold coins. The Argonian's passage through the castle took him to the Royal sleeping chamber. No one would say they had seen him in the morning. The chamber door was locked, a small protection humans often used to help them feel safe. With one hand the Argonian pulled out two small wires and inserted them into the lock. It gave with a small *snick*. The chamber was unlit. It didn't matter, for the Argonian was perfectly capable of seeing the heat rising from the two sleeping figures. He made one small cut on each, careful not to wake either. Death would not come immediately, for the claw he used was covered with a carefully chosen nerve poison. It was one that worked in a more sinister fashion and more slowly than Dragon's Tongue. By the time they woke up to the pain, they wouldn't be able to scream. Carefully he made his way to a small dresser, and picked up a small object lying on top. This was it for sure. Both objectives had been remarkably easy. Now came the hardest part... getting back out. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Becca! Becca, wake up!" piped a squeaky voice just beyond her sphere of consciousness. She felt small hands shaking her, but for the most part, she could distinguish neither. Instead, she was floating in an inky darkness. A dream, where there was a road beneath her, and there was something on the road behind her. Something... indescribable, as if entropy itself was traveling this path. She could only stumble blindly ahead, knowing that with one misstep, she would tumble off the road into obscurity. Then (something important) startled her out of the dream, but not yet out of sleep's dark veil. There was (something urgent) what was like an open sore knawing at her temples. Somewhere distant, a psionic flare suddenly lit up like a wildfire. Rebecca shot bolt upright, fully awake now. She felt cold, numb, and covered in sweat. The window sat wide open. "What? Robert, what is it? What's wrong?" "Come on, Becca! I tried and tried to wake you before I went, but you wouldn't get up. I tried but you wouldn't get up so I went alone. Becca, you gotta come see! Something' kinda weird's goin' on at the castle!" "Right. Just let me get my boots on. I'm ready, I just hoped you'd wake me sooner." "But I tried!" "Never mind. Come on." she shushed as she pulled on the last boot, slipping out the window. The two crept silently into the night. A chill breeze tugged at Rebecca's hair, a sure sign of Autumn coming in. They passed the quiet houses of the town, a few reconstructed street lamps flickering with an unsteady glow. Rebecca could hear the wind whistling through the streets, undercut by the distant dull roar of the pounding ocean surf. The road ran steadily up a mile to a split. One side led to the Baron's castle, the other to the old Cathedral. The ocean cliffs hung to the right, flanking all. "C'mon. We gotta turn off the road here." whispered Robert, tugging on Rebecca's sleeve. She didn't ask why, instead turning to scramble up the left bank into the copse of trees there. Soon Robert had led them to an old tree with a few boards nailed into it. Rebecca started up, finally coming to a small perch some twenty feet up. The castle was visible, and from this view she could just barely see the courtyard over the walls. The watchfires were burning along the walls, and everything seemed to be in order. "What's wrong?" she called down. "I don't see any kind of disturbance." "X'actly! Where are the guards? There should be two on the walls- walkin' 'round, and another one up on the tower. 'Cept on every end of the week, o'course." "But this is the end of the week!" "X'actly! So there should be two on the tower an' a battle-mage spyin' with a lookee-scope, 'long with the others!" Rebecca's jaw felt like dropping. Although not everything fell into place, Robert was right. Where were the guards? Just then something did catch her eye. It looked as if someone was moving through the courtyard. It was the Baron's battle-mage. He was unhooded, tiny distant features still coming across as elven. But something.. Rebecca almost choked. The air around him shimmered, and she watched in horror as he lifted his hand and began to peel away his face. Revealed beneath was shiny, glistening black skin. His hair turned white, as did his robes and staff. A drow! A dark elf, in the castle! Then, another shadow seemed to detach from one of the walls. Her heart skipped a few beats as it passed in front of one of the torches, silhouetted for a moment. An Argonian! She watched as they met, seeming to exchange a few words. What could they be up to? "Robert! I spoke too soon the last time. There's something really wrong over there." She paused a moment, waiting for an answer. None came. "Robert?" She looked down, but he wasn't there. Panicked, she almost tumbled out of the tree before spotting him. He was running waist-deep through the tall grassy fields toward the castle. Soon she was down and running after him. So wrapped up in her chase was she that she forgot to watch where she was going. Her foot hit a half-concealed rock, and she landed face-down in the grass. She groped for something to help her up and caught a hand. "Need some help, Rebecca?" chuckled a vaguely familiar voice. She struggled upright, dripping and cold with dew. "Thank you sir." she muttered. "Come on Rebecca, surely you remember me?" chuckled the voice. "Lucian? Is that you?" she asked, trying to place the silhouette in front of her. I thought you were gone! You haven't been in town, and I thought... but what are you doing here at this time of night?" "I was coming back to town." replied Lucian. "I saw you running through the grass and had already started toward you when you fell." In the dim light of the moon she could see he was smiling grimly. "Although that doesn't explain why you're out here at this time of morning." "Morning? It's just past twelve! Anyway, have you seen Robert? He was running towards the castle. Oh, Lucian, I'm worried about him. Something's wrong over there." The smile on his face vanished. "Like what?" "There was a drow and Argonian in the courtyard." "What?!" he exclaimed, grabbing her wrist and starting toward the castle. He was dragging her before she had a chance to claim her footing. "There!" he exclaimed, pulling her to her feet and pointing at the wall. Robert's small form was running along the ramparts. "How did he get up there? The gates are closed." "Why are you asking me? I have no idea! Kid's can get anyplace." "Well that's it then." "What is?" "We'll need to think like a kid." Rebecca was still trying to puzzle out what he meant when he'd grabbed her wrist again and started leading her to a tree growing near the wall. "Can you climb that tree?" "Yea, at least I think I can. It's been a few years since I gave up on climbing trees." "Then I'll give you a boost. You go first." Rebecca stepped up on his hands and felt herself lifted to the lowest branch. She was soon on the wall, and Lucian was not far behind. Little did either know that they had used the exact tree that both Robert and the Argonian had. They both began running along the wall. The courtyard stood deserted, no trace of either Argonian or Dark Elf remained. Then she spotted Robert, pulling on a cannon nestled in the wall. It was groaning and had perhaps slipped sideways a couple of inches. "Robert! What are you doing?!" cried Rebecca, lunging toward him. Once again though, she lost her footing momentarily and hit the cannon. There was a crack as it shifted sideways. "Becca! I was goin' to fire the warning! I need to alert the castle!" "Not now, Robert!" she cried, rubbing her bruised elbow. "Did you see them?" "See who? The badman? There was a lizardy-man shadow that scrambled over the wall. He was headin' toward the old cathedral." Lucian stood for a moment, transfixed with a look of fury. For a moment, only a moment, Rebecca could feel his mind. She bit her tongue recoiling from the backlash. "We have to go after it, Rebecca." he stated solemnly. "We're the only ones. Don't worry, though, I've got a few cards up my sleeve." And then he was off, running through the darkness. Robert followed. She called out to them, but to no avail. They didn't pay any attention. Wincing at what she realized was a scraped knee, she got up and began to stumble after them. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Argonian stole swiftly through the night, little more than a shadow. The dark-elf had made good his promise, granted, but one day he would die. The dark elves, like humans, have no concept of honor. Eventually, the dark-elf would break the contract. Now, though, the time would again come when the Argonians would become the supreme race. Leaping with cat-like grace, the Argonian jumped off the back of one of the stone lions on either side of the massive cathedral doors. With a grunt, he clutched one of the gargoyles above the tall gothic windows. Using his tail for balance, he pulled himself up. He had acquired the keystone. The dark elf had had one piece, he had obtained another in the Baron's chamber. The dark-elf would be laughing now. A third piece was needed to complete the stone, one the dark-elf knew of. Of course, he didn't know that the Argonian already had the third piece. If he ever found out, he'd be furious. Then again, they have no concept of honor. He was almost to the roof now. How sweet the smells this night. The night air crawled with the smells of blood, death, and victory. Just a few minutes more, and he'd be swimming away to safety. A small pebble tumbled by. It was all the warning he needed. He leaped to the side with all his strength, and felt the hot blast of air pushing him forward into another stone outcropping. His mind reeled. No one had spotted him, he was sure! At least he still had enough gumption to sense magic when it was cast. A grim idea came to him that the dark elf had already found out and had come to kill him. That could not be, not yet. He barely had time to glance down, able only to catch the outline of two figures, one smaller than the other. Then he was jumping again, feeling the warm air trailing behind him. The air crackled with electricity. Sparks danced between his claws and teeth. Blast the fact, he had been spotted after all. No matter. He knew a few old tricks. Grinning, he seemed to disappear into the wall. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "What happened?" gasped Robert, gazing at Lucian with nothing short of complete awe. "He escaped. Not for long, though. We're going after him. He can't run forever." "Was that magic?" he squeaked. "Yes, it was." "Wow! Are you a.." "Yes, it was." growled Lucian with such bitterness that Robert didn't finish the question. "We've got to get to the roof. We'll use the stairs to the bell tower and drop down from there." he muttered, running along the Cathedral walls, little by little leaving Robert behind. Something whistled through the air, barely two inches in front of his nose. He fell backwards, ducking as another brick flew over his head. The stairs to the tower were only a few yards away. Before any rational thoughts could enter his train of thought, he was running. His legs seemed to have a mind of their own, lifting him away just before one of the massive stone gargoyles crashed down where he had been. Then he was inside, safe. The stairs were old, spiraling up around the tower. There were four bell towers in all, each containing a massive copper bell at the top. He heard Robert yelling up from the bottom of the tower, but paid no attention. There was only one purpose for him. Then he was at the top, on one of the four highest points for miles around. The wind yanked at his cloak, billowing it out behind him. On all four sides, only a thin guardrail protected him from a nasty fall. On one side, the ocean roared almost three-hundred feet below. Then Robert appeared from the stairwell, puffing and panting. Something began to shift behind him. "Robert! Look out!" he cried, lunging forward. He was a second too late. Before he could tell what was happening, Robert was flying through the air, striking his head on one of the guardrails. The Argonian's hide was outlined for a moment before darkening once again to a dull, lusterless black. Lucian's lunge carried him forward, and then the Argonian's claws, latching on his shirt collar and whirling him around into the bell. His back struck the copper and then his ears exploded with pain. Only blind instinct made him reach out and catch the rope as he slid off the bell. The rope began swinging, then gave way in his hands, and he was again suspended in the air. Then his shoulder connected with stone, and he collapsed onto the top of the stairs. Biting back the pain in his shoulder, surely now dislocated, he scrambled up the few remaining stairs. Something crashed into his back. It was as if the wall had run into him. The breath was knocked from him as the Argonian leapt onto his back. He could feel claws on one of its feet ripping furrows into his thigh. No magic could help him now. This was the end. He expected to be hacked into, but instead he heard and felt a low boom, and then the weight leapt off him. He recognized what it was immediately. "Oh, light." he muttered, pushing up and back. The cannonball slammed into one corner of the tower, sending shards of stone flying over his head. The frail arched roof flew off, as if hit with a massive club. Almost half the tower disintegrated in front of him, and the great bell began a loud descent down the stairwell. They had finally decided to raise the alarm! The fools were finally firing the signal cannon. Only its aim had been thrown off, hadn't it? Instead of flying harmlessly out to sea, it had crashed into the cathedral's bell tower. Blinking, he saw the Argonian perched on the railing, below him a three-hundred foot drop to the ocean. There was another dull boom, and the Argonian leapt, gracefully falling to his sure demise in the angry ocean below. The second cannonball hit, and the tower began to tip. Lucian heard the supports give way as the whole tower began slowly slipping towards the sea. With a gasp of horror, he saw that Robert was slipping over the side. With a final lunge, he lunged. Almost overbalancing, stopped only by the guardrail, he grasped Robert's sandal. Then the tower lurched again, and the sandal gave way. Robert seemed to float, silently, to the sea. Lucian didn't think, he jumped. Then everything went black. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - He stood on the windswept cliffs just as the sun began rising in the west. His black hide glistened with moisture. He'd been spotted, but he'd escaped to the sea. Now he stood with all three keystones, the great metal arch standing majestically in front of him. This was the pinnacle of his life. The moment his great-grandfathers would approve. Never since the end of the great wars had the gate of the elders been unlocked. His people, those who had lost the war, had been sealed away in a bubble of un-reality. Much of the Argonian way had been lost then. But now, as the ancient texts of prophecy had foretold, he stood before the gate with all three of the keystone's pieces. Slowly, carefully he set each piece into their respective slot. The moment would be savored. He would be written forever into the texts as the great Sss'Ra! As the third piece slid into place, he stepped back, awaiting the return. There came a great grinding sound and the earth began to tremble. Then suddenly, the breath was whisked from his lungs as the gate opened. It stood untouched and beautiful for a moment, like a pool of shining black oil. And then a figure emerged, flanked by two others. The Argonian swept low, sticking his nose to the ground as per the Argonian sign of respect. "State your name and order code." ushered a flat, metallic voice that crackled like rotting leather. "My name is Sss'Ra, of the tribe of Issalu. I have come to set you free, honorable ancestor." he replied proudly. "Tribe of Issalu? X20115, run a scan on Issalu." "Confirmed." stated another, voice broken with a small hissing sound. "The tribe of Issalu existed before the war, since it has been scrapped. The tribe of Issalu does not currently exist. The concept of tribes do not exist." The Argonian, startled, looked up. Three figures stood before him. Dirt and grime caked their bodies and on each, the pale, rotting skin and empty eye sockets were clearly visible. In places the tissue had rotted enough to reveal metallic pistons. In places, old oily tubes and wires projected from the patchwork of metal and flesh. One appendage of each held a strange collection of machinery, wires and spikes and long metal tubes. "His program is defective." stated the leader. "He must be scrapped." The Argonian's eyes had time to grow wide, no more. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - He awoke at dawn in a soft bed. His back and shoulder throbbed, and his leg was bandaged and splinted. His head hurt. "So, you're awake." whispered a voice beside him. His ears throbbed. "So, what happened up there?" Rebecca asked quietly. "I-I, it went to pieces." "Robert?" Dreadfully, he shook his head slowly. "I, I thought so. I sensed his mind at the end. So calm..." she paused for a long while. "What about the Argonian." "He jumped. I saw him dive three-hundred feet to the sea. Nothing could survive that." "He escaped! Lucian, Argonians are at home in the water! They can out swim even the best human swimmers!" Lucian's ears rang, and his temples felt hot, fevered. "Rebecca, I've got to go." he croaked, throwing the covers into a pile. "No, you're not well!" she said sternly, trying to push him down by his bad shoulder. "Rebecca, you don't understand! Let go!" he shouted, pushing her into the chair and stalking out the door. "Then I must come too." cut Rebecca, and to Lucian's amazement, there were tears in her eyes. "If you must." he replied coldly, beginning his trek. The day was bright and cheery, and the sun hurt his eyes. It seemed to mock him. Rebecca might not know it, but the strength was leaving him. His control was beginning to slip. Rebecca tagged after silently for almost an hour. She couldn't even reach his mind. "Now, I must face my fate." he replied suddenly, stopping at the top of a bluff. Below, the gate stood open like a gangrenous wound, and the undead cyborg Argonians now swarmed around it. Slowly, Lucian descended the bank. The cyborgs stopped, watching the stranger approach. He stopped not fifteen feet away. Slowly, they closed into a circle around him, ash-grey in the daylight. "State your name and purpose." one stated in its off-metallic voice. Then, suddenly, Lucian's voice spoke clearly in Rebecca's mind. All her mental defenses simply crumbled like dust. "Lend me your strength." he was asking. Something broke. A wave of emotion swept her, and she let go. She felt him drawing on her, building on her mental power. She gasped, sunk to her knees. It was too much! He would leave her without her powers! And then, she couldn't sense him any more. The tears fell, and she looked up. Lucian stood in the center of the cyborgs, riddled with bullets. Then she was enveloped in a blinding white light. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - So you see? I have spoken of the tale. The destruction- was vast. Lucian sacrificed himself. The gate no longer exists. Neither do psionics. Magic, even, has been wiped from this earth. Perhaps we are better off. Now, you must tell the others. I cannot. My time is over. There shall be new heroes, but perhaps never to such a degree. Tell them, do not make the mistakes we did, and you shall live long. Farewell, young one, until we meet again. |
