Fontaine Beachhead

 

Vesti let her hand casually fall to her side as the last of the seeds dropped into their fleeting ripples. The witch had steadily let them go from her palm, watching as they sank softly in the flowing water, watching as they disappeared beneath shimmering circles expanding on the pane. They looked so minuscule against the wide current, but she knew holistically the magic would work. Whatever would transpire in the coming days would be blessed by the river's power, and this intention; these seeds given to the flow of the world. Ritual was important to her. It lent power to life because of the intention imparted in the acts, intuitive confidence stemming from knowledge of its power. She never considered whether her magic had an effect, but performed the spells and ceremonies knowing they were effective.

There had been a growing military presence around the river lately. Local troop exercises along the Winniaska were not unusual, but Vesti had felt a greater sense of unease than expected, especially west of here, where the river, passing around long bends, led into a series of gorges and tall urbanized waterfalls. Near to those metro areas along the river loomed the military fort, a sprawling complex above the north banks. Vesti stood on the south shore of the river, looking across the water at placid trees and farmland. No sound or sight out there gave clue to the situation. Trying as she was to read the signs, she could not quite tell what might be coming. There was only a feeling in the back of her mind, as if something had been left undone, some unknown window left open.

A sound entered the river landing, and Vesti turned to see another couple of black speeders enter the clearing. They came to a stop at the height of the beachhead and dismounted, walking towards the little group by the water. She had initially been put on alert, but saw that these soldiers did not bear the green hand-and-star that she had seen during her trip to the river. These had the same red and leaping mountain lion as the Commandant.

The meeting of the fort commander had been a bit of a surprise, as Riannath had come to the riverbank with an unlikely traveling partner. Among the squad of armored troops, Davai's brown cloak had stood out immediately. Vesti had rejoiced at the reunion with her old school friend, and enjoyed meeting Riannath as well. The military woman was surprisingly conscientious, and exuded an almost strange air of peacefulness along with her authority.

“Excellent, Geordi's arrived.” The Commandant inclined her head to address the approaching lead figure. “What news from your scouting Captain? How fare's the river valley?”

Geordi and his team stopped in front of Riannath and exchanged a salute with their commander. “Andrus has mobilized, for sure. We saw numerous patrols west of this point, doubtless it is worse on the other side of the river. The high bridge over the Gorge was under heavy watch.”

Riannath's look sharpened. “Could you tell what their business was? Were all of them really looking or waiting for me? You're right, it doesn't sound like the usual deployment.”

“You know better than anyone that these aren't normal movements ma'am. As far as Elgheny is concerned, you left the base under suspicion. It doesn't matter that you are the Commandant, he will have brought in help from the Imperium, and likely has turned the rest of the base against you by now.”

Vesti looked from the guard captain and back to Riannath. “I encountered quite a few such patrols on my way here from Jericho. They all bore different marks than your men do Commandant. Green hands reaching for the stars. I had to travel through some wild places just to avoid one of their checkpoints.”

“Then it is true.” Riannath turned her gaze out across the water to the far bank with its placid trees. “There are higher authorities, and powerful groups who do not want public acknowledgment of how the world is changing. They want to keep the understanding and power for themselves. This mobilization is Andrus' doing, but he has played his hand too early. I have done nothing outwardly to warrant this response. I will have my base and command returned.”

Davai could feel tension in the air, like a slight electricity underlying their words and movements. He realized though that the tension in the air was from more than their conversation, and at the same time realized that he had come to the awareness too late. The Commandant continued, “We will regroup d–” and was cut off by a blast from the nearby woods and an explosion where the speeders were parked. Whirling around, Davai saw that Vesti had gone from the bank, the spot where she had been standing wet with river-water.

Riannath had been about to discuss a possible fortification along the river when the attack actually came. It was like the compressed time of a dream, where the planning and preparation for a thing runs right into the middle of it happening. She turned to see the destruction of the speeders at the same time as she was directing the others to the nearby embankment. Geordi was right beside her, weapon hot and giving sparse fire back at the bushes to cover their retreat. Upon destroying their transports, the unseen enemy had attempted to shoot off their escape, firing into the sand. Riannath's crew were too quick though, and soon everyone had gotten to cover. They crouched by the side of a small ravine that held an inlet from the river. Behind them through the earthen bank they could hear the rumble of a military LDT entering the landing pad a short distance away. Soon the entire river landing would be swarming with Imperial troops.

In the situation, there were two things in which the Commandant found extreme fortune. One was the skill and training of her squad. They had responded to the threat with lighting speed, protecting the body of themselves while also firing back to maintain a line of engagement. Over the course of the retreat the whole guard had regrouped and not lost a single soldier to the surprise attack.

The second thing was the presence among them of a real witch, and a powerful one at that, though Riannath had little experience of their kind. Vesti had sensed something in advance of any of them. Though she did not have the confidence of vision to warn the others, Vesti had begun early on during her time by the river to tap into its energy. She had felt the water, deep beneath her feet, flowing and strong in its unyielding obstinance of force. She had let her own energy be embraced by that depth, holding the cord within herself so that she could pull that energy up for use; to flow with it as needed rather than be swept away in its current. She knew the methods of harmonizing with natural energy, and so her movements became precise and flowing, with no danger coming near to her being. Riannath was sure their should have been more casualties from the attack.

Ducking into safety, Davai had hardly been able to wonder where Vesti was, when he saw Geordi and the others helping her to ready a boat docked in the little cove. Once the troops had commandeered the vessel, the witch set herself in the prow, speaking words under her breath. All aboard, they sped out into the wide current, turning upstream to flee the landing. No sooner had they entered the open river, a horn sounded from the downstream side. A water patrol came right at their heels, the fast cruiser threatening to quickly overtake them. Vesti saw this and bent down towards the water, speaking some gentle, loving words. When she straightened in her seat, the river seemed to swell under their boat, and the current behind them picked up speed. The patrol cruiser seemed to have difficulty overcoming the flow of the river, and for a little while at least they were able to outrun their pursuers.

Kae-ri's Claim

 

They reached the settlement of Theron-Dean right before sunset. It had been a long day of traveling, with most of it downhill. The van's pace slowed in the afternoon, as the road pitched more steeply into a deep gap in the mountains. They traversed open rock slabs with great care, the repulsars having to catch at every little nick in the surface for traction. The surrounding sights of this treacherous road were beautiful though. At times during the day the sunlight would slant golden through the spruce and fir branches high above, intermittently lighting a world of mossy rock and fen.

Ayleah had seen so many wondrous places along the journey so far, drinking them in with her senses. They had passed through open grassy villages that seemed to rest high on the doorsteps of clouds. There had been dark stunted glades that pulsed with magic, and meadows so sweet the air seemed full of rainbows even in the clear day. Their seasoned driver guided the van safely across all terrain, even as they descended now and then through boulder-filled clefts in the mountain. Woodland hamlets sprouted here and there, often near some spring, or an outlook to the east or west. The ridge lay mostly within low clouds though, so there were no proper views of the valleys below. The whole world up here existed as a green corridor traversing through glowing white mist. It was only late in the day that the sky cleared.

As evening grew closer, the road grew darker and it seemed twilight had come upon them quickly. Looking up though, it was evident that the hour was still early enough, for the sky shone blue between the trees. The group could tell there would be a good view at the village; the road had simply passed onto the east side of the ridge where the sun had already set. Another few bends in the trail brought them to the sun again and the cliff-side township of Theron-Dean. A dual settlement that enveloped an outcropping at the north end of Stark Mountain; the large village had originally formed as two settlements, but unified into one township as the area developed. Theron's Outlook had been a small woodland hamlet settled by mystics drawn to the far views found among the spruce thickets. Below the rocks of the lookout though, the deep and dark Dean Cave had long been the focus of a rural mining town. The miners still oversaw much of the life below the precipice, and a lingering divide in the community was as evident as the bridge that connected Dean Cave to the overlook above. However, the two communities had a mutual appreciation for the beauty of their location, and shared their luck at least in that agreement. The contrasting influences of culture created a rich tapestry of qualities for the small town.

The small group headed for the local travelers offices to check in for the night, and Ayleah's eye was drawn to the clifftop opening. The view really was quite stunning. The sun had just begun to set out beyond the cliff's edge, painting the sky in myriad orange and purple-blues. It was a beautiful location for a village. The township stood on a small shelf, sheltered by dark evergreens that tinted gold at this time of day. Sunrise would probably have a similar effect, she thought, considering the cliff looked more north than west. Despite how wild and rough it is up in a place like this, she felt it must be wonderful to live here and see it change by the hours and weather. Ayleah was grateful her visit included such a nice sunset.

Check-in having been completed, the driver led them to a small encampment clearing where they set up for the night. Once everyone had briefly settled in, they proceeded to a nearby tavern for supper. It was now fully evening, and the sun had set below the horizon, but the sky still radiated fire among its purple hues. As they crossed the square, Ayleah was struck again by the sight from the cliff. Now she felt mildly disoriented though, because it seemed her sense of direction was off. She must have been mistaken about the direction of the lookout, because there now the sun was setting behind mountains directly in the middle of view. Streaks of fire painted the woods below as last bits of light gasped somehow over the hills from the hidden orb, contrasting almost too much with the darkening sky.

Now she furrowed her brow because she had been right. The sun never set behind those mountains. In all her time on the ridge it had been far further to the left, out over the valleys. Now it seemed too bright, the rays should have faded by now. The gleam had such an intensity that the view had drawn the attention of others nearby. Heln and Fen stopped in their tracks and turned to gaze at the strange glowing view. It was now such that the sun seemed to have set among the hills; nestled itself into the folds of land, controlling its fire as best it could. The light had begun to shift, its beams moving and flaking too much for natural sunlight in any case. The color master set his feet and looked braced but carefully studious, as if readying himself for combat. The look of curiosity in Heln's eyes had never been greater, but his muscles showed he was ready for whatever may come as well. Ayleah stepped forward towards the outlook clearing. The sunlight seemed to be drawing nearer and coalescing as its rays reached closer and closer reflecting points. Just when it became too bright and close for them to see, its approach halted, illuminating just the edge of the cliff. Out there, she saw a delicate foot step from the light, from nowhere, down onto the the rock. She wasn't sure if anyone else had seen.

By the time Kae-ri fully materialized, the being stood right before them on solid ground. The light had subsided to a warm glow about their skin. Fen and Heln (and the few others who remained standing nearby) had relaxed their expressions into ones of pure awe. The elemental took no notice of this, and gave only a passing, though friendly, acknowledgment of Ayleah, who had been standing ready for the meeting. Instead they walked right to the color-master and his apprentice, and held out a hand for greeting.

“Hello, good sir Golbein, pleased I am to make your acquaintance at last.”

Fen seemed utterly disarmed by the frank approach. “Th-the honor is all mine!” he managed to say, gingerly and curiously taking the elemental's hand.

Kae-ri then turned with a happy smile to Heln, clasping their hands together in a warm gesture. Heln's own hand that had been tentatively about to reach out dropped to his side.

“My dear Heln,” Kae-ri began, “I am so glad to meet you in body, finally. I am sorry for the long-time distress my interest in you may have been causing.”

They may have been saying more, but Heln had become distracted by the state of his mentor beside him. Upon releasing Kae-ri's hand, Fen Golbein had found himself enveloped in a sort of cocoon of light that suspended him a few inches above the ground. Once inside, he began to experience the most sensational visual patterns and colors, more beautiful and intricate than any he had ever seen in his life. The effect was beyond distracting and indeed almost overwhelming, as unceasing as it was. Within the floating cocoon his body contorted in a sort of paralyzed ecstasy that perhaps did not look so pleasant for those on the outside.

“Don't worry, I'm not hurting him. I just had to take him out of the scene for a moment.” Kae-ri said quickly, seeing Heln's distress. “I came to mingle with you in particular, and unfortunately think he might be a hindrance to our endeavors. This man is not as good as you probably think he is, Heln. He is no friend of mine, nor any other of my kind. Work with him as you will, but be warned on that regard.”

“Why are you so interested in me?” asked Heln, cautious now, his strength returning.

The elemental looked at both him and back at Ayleah. “You are both good specimens of humanity. You feel the world in ways that others do not, and thus have capabilities; potential. Ayleah, I wish you all the best, and am invested in your journey, if only really as a spectator. But Heln, you come from a far-away land, a land that you have a deep connection with, a land you have felt. I want to feel what you have felt -to learn from you.”

Ayleah could not say for herself why the elemental's voice sounded different, only that she was assured of it when it seemed to deliberately soften with their next questions.

“Are other places as magical as here?” Kae-ri seemed genuinely curious. “Do you have elementals in your western plains? If you do, what are they like? I would know more about the wider world Heln, and you are the perfect being to help me explore.”

Heln took a step back, hand now straying near his belt-line. “Okay, perhaps we can work together...but I think you should release Master Golbein first.”

In response the elemental held out its hand. “Shake on the agreement, and it will be done.”

Ayleah could not stay silent. “Hold on Kae-ri, what do you mean by this? What exactly do you intend to do with this man Heln?” Ayleah asked, concern intruding in her voice.

Kae-ri looked back again at her, their face placid with care, the face of a friend. Only the eyes burned with a bottomless fire of curiosity.

“All I intend,” they said, their voice hitting her with the inevitability of wind, “is to engage in a friendly partnership. A mutually-beneficial partnership to tell the truth.”

Thoughts racing in his mind, Heln's face was set in an inscrutable look. Gazing into the elemental's eyes, he could feel the fire reflected on his face. Slowly, and with all of his power in mind, he took Kae-ri's open hand.

On the Hunt

 

He was accustomed to travel, it was how he lived. He carried himself from around the land, with his long black cloak to hide both his person and the small but rich possessions he had. He had been hunting energies (actual beings, elementals, as he now knew them) for a long time, and enjoyed the lifestyle. He enjoyed the tastes of the different nexuses, each briefly coloring his spirit in a unique way. This time the hunt was a little more tedious, though he supposed this struggle was only a mirror of the possible reward at the end.

It was slow going, keeping as he was away from the population centers. He didn't want any attention from the local authorities, or the even locals themselves, and that was becoming harder the further north he traveled. He was traveling inconspicuously, only a dark-cloaked man on a shabby unassuming speeder, but something about his presence made people wary nonetheless. He had long ago shunned his trust in others, and it seemed that choice had had a rebounding effect. Of course he could purchase services when he needed them, he had no shortage of wealth, but there was never really a friendliness in the transaction.

It was just as well, he needed time to prepare his energies. He could travel faster if he wished, using the shadows in the ways he knew. It took more energy though, and he was certain he would need all his strength if he was going to confront the elemental he had seen in his mirror. He would use the shadows again, bend them to his will and bind the quarry. He had done so in his attempted capture of the girl back south, but this time he would be stronger. He would prepare his inner power and concentration, knowing now ahead of time what he was getting into. At times of great strength, he had even been able to bend his physical form into the shadows, and mingle with their quality. That kind of power would easily help him pass through the metro areas surrounding his destination. No, he thought, better to take my time and travel by normal means. I can use the space to organize my plan, and to grow my power.

He sometimes thought he could be on the path to becoming his own version of an elemental, if he developed his powers enough. They had strangely increased the more he rejected the kindness of community. He had found a sort of selfishness made his experiments more effective. It was not a demeaning of anyone else, he simply did not care about other lives. The only one he could control was his own, and so that was the only one that truly mattered. The perspective allowed for a stoic sense regarding calamity, as well as a focused mind for one's purpose in each moment. He was often a scientist; a seeker of the means to grasp esoteric knowledge. Lately though he was a hunter of bigger and bigger game, seeking the power source that would catapult his abilities to the heights they needed for his quest. If he could merge with this powerful elemental energy he was tracking, take it in to his own shadowed self...he shuddered at the thought of that potential. He had experienced the rush of power before when consuming the smaller nexuses. If those had been bits of poultry, then he thrilled at what the taste of venison might be like.

The land through which he traveled had become a mire of rocky hillocks rising above wide marshy swales. It was a pain to navigate, even on a speeder craft. He wondered what that other place was like, the one he had seen in his mirror. It had clearly been a different plane, somewhere with more flowers and delicate, naturally short grasses. He had seen trees flowering there, the blooms bursting where leaves should be! Perhaps that landscape was gentler as well. He had no disdain for this world, and had enjoyed what it had offered him throughout his life so far. If it was coming to some catastrophic end though, and a natural one it seemed as well, he had no second thoughts about leaving it behind. His true purpose was to persevere and survive. Needing to gain more power to accomplish that was only a necessary step.

-

The Man in Black found himself at the edge of a vast lake. It was not a part of the inland sea, as far as he could tell. Low green hills rose rounded along the far horizon, across a shallow expanse of murky water dotted with boats. He had just passed through a small village nestled on a rocky clifftop, where the road turned to follow a high bank out towards the water. This area was rural, but long-settled and with a vaguely proud quality to its inhabitants. There was some sort of history here, to judge by the faded “King St.” sign he had spied at the town center. It would be a good place to stay a while and regroup. Looking up the road, he had a strange sense that proceeding any further with the hunt at the moment would be unwise. As he set up his encampment and invoked the usual magics about it, he knew again that he was making the right decision. Although he could never explain the reasons for following his intuition, he had learned to always trust its guidance. This grove would serve as a base for him to grow his power and prepare for the confrontation with the purple elemental. The locals wouldn't bother him in his preparations. They never seemed to mind him settling in for a while, his shadows always took care of that.