Sound returned a split second later. Dan, blinking, saw that nothing had changed, but slowly the light in the middle of the floor was dimming, and the speed of whatever was circling them was slowing. He glanced at Gideon and Otonashi in the half-light; both were perfectly calm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soon the light dimmed to its former muted glow, and the rumbling overhead stopped. Gideon went to the door, turned the wheel and opened it, and rapped lightly on the second door. There was a moment of scraping, and it opened. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daylight flooded into the room. A kyrie with brown wings appeared, and motioned them out. Dan followed Gideon out of the building, Otonashi close behind, and then stopped, stunned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When they had left, it had still been dark, and the shadow of Montfre Citadel had dominated everything. Here, the rays of a brilliant sunrise were striking them, and Montfre had been replaced by what looked like a town too big for the stone walls confining it. If Dan remembered the map he had seen correctly, and this was Hyleran, they had traveled two hundred fifty miles in a matter of seconds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTime slippage,\u201d Gideon said, noting Dan\u2019s reaction. \u201cThat\u2019s why the sun is rising, even though we\u2019re west of Montfre. To us, the journey takes a few seconds, but we were actually gone for more around two hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan didn\u2019t hear him. He was too busy trying to see everything at once. Hyleran was full of people, mostly soldiers, but some clearly civilians. It wasn\u2019t like Llynar, where the people were mostly returning families. Here nearly everyone wore armor or carried a weapon. There were no children in the streets, though many of the soldiers passing by \u2013 all wearing the emblem of Einar \u2013 seemed quite young. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan looked up, and saw walls ringing the city, topped with what he instantly recognized as soulborg guns. He had seen identical ones when Darren showed him the soulborg prison block he had been in. These were pointed outwards and were motionless, although Dan was sure they would spring to life the instant an enemy was spotted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond the wall stretched a full blue sky, scattered with wisps of clouds, hanging motionless impossibly high up, far above anywhere Dan could imagine being. A few birds flew across the sky, twittering for no apparent reason other than the ability to do so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan looked back down at Gideon and Otonashi. Now that the sun was bathing everything in light, he could see them properly. Otonashi was wreathed in black, the dark gray armor of Vydar hidden beneath a black cloth robe. A short sword hung at her hip, partially concealed by the robe, but Dan could see no other weapons. Gideon wore the same tactical pants which Dan had been issued, complete with the metal knee pads. In fact, the only difference between Dan\u2019s gear and that of Gideon was that Dan was wearing an armored vest over a simple shirt, and Gideon had on a thick-looking gambeson in the dark gray of Vydar, over which he wore a vest of chainmail, the links stained dark. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gideon had long hair, most of which was pulled back and tied behind his head, though a few strands had escaped and outlined his face. He had deep-set green eyes and thick eyebrows, which combined to give him a fierce appearance, even though his voice was quite calm. His skin was quite a bit lighter than his father\u2019s, though it was still a rich brown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Otonashi\u2019s skin was pale in comparison to Gideon\u2019s, and she looked small, with her black hair drawn back tightly into a long ponytail. Based on her clothing and choice of weapon, Dan guessed she must be a ninja. Aviir had told him of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGideon!\u201d a voice called nearby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
All three of them looked at the source of the voice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLaelia!\u201d Gideon replied, striding forwards quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A young woman, Dan\u2019s age or younger, approached. She smiled as Gideon strode towards her. Her skin was tan, either from birth or sun, Dan couldn\u2019t tell. Her face was small, a bit sunken in places, but nonetheless striking. Her eyebrows were dark and sharply defined against her face, making her light brown eyes all the more alive. Black untamed hair whipped about her face in the light breeze which, until then, Dan had not noticed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGideon,\u201d Laelia said as they met. \u201cEinar\u2019s force is mostly here, the others\u2014\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gideon interrupted her by wrapping her in a hug. Laelia resisted for a moment, but then gave in with a smile, and hugged him back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As they embraced, Dan noted that Laelia didn\u2019t seem to fit with the other soldiers passing by. She was too clean. Her armor, the same brown and gold of the kyrie, was spotless and shone in the sunlight. There was no speck of dirt on her face. Her hands looked soft, the skin smooth and clean. Next to the soldiers passing them by, many spattered with mud and sporting calloused hands and greasy hair, she looked like a creature from a different land. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They pulled apart, and Laelia brushed some stray dirt from her uniform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow are you?\u201d Gideon asked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Laelia said. \u201cHonestly, I\u2019m ready to get started. I think Einar\u2019s been holding me back on purpose, trying to keep me out of harm\u2019s way for my mother\u2019s sake. He couldn\u2019t keep me from this though. Knowing that I\u2019m going on this mission \u2026 It\u2019s all I\u2019ve been able to think about for weeks.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat about your mother though?\u201d Gideon asked. \u201cEinar was right to keep you from the war; she needs you.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Laelia fixed Gideon with a look. \u201cShe\u2019s not infirmed, Gideon,\u201d she said. \u201cShe can take care of herself. She has plenty of friends to look after her. Besides, it\u2019s time that I did my part in this war.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gideon looked like he was about to reply, but they were interrupted by another voice: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re late,\u201d it said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan turned, and saw what he guessed was another ninja approaching them. She wore black armor not unlike their own, but the gold symbol of Einar was clearly visible on her shoulder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSorry,\u201d Gideon said, \u201ca few people wanted a word back at Montfre. Are the others here yet?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d the ninja said. \u201cJust my group. Einar\u2019s supposed to be sending Jandar\u2019s division from Liesic \u2013 they arrived there last month. They\u2019re expected to show up any moment, but you know how Liesic is \u2013 it\u2019s always busy.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe capitals always are,\u201d Gideon said. \u201cWhere are we staying?\u201d he asked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll show you,\u201d the ninja said, beckoning for them to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As they followed the ninja into the depths of Hyleran, Otonashi brushed past Dan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t believe I know you,\u201d she said, coming up beside the ninja leading them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKaori,\u201d the ninja said, pausing in her step and bowing slightly to Otonashi. Otonashi returned the motion. \u201cA hundred years before you, I\u2019m afraid.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo matter,\u201d Otonashi said. \u201cPleased to meet you.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kaori led them through the narrow and packed streets of Hyleran, past blacksmith shops and small homes, until they came to a row of long familiar-looking barracks. \u201cThis one has been set aside for your group tonight,\u201d Kaori said, placing a hand on the nearest bunker. \u201cWe can\u2019t be late in moving out, either. A big detachment of minutemen are supposed to come through here early tomorrow.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre all your troops here?\u201d Gideon asked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kaori nodded. \u201cThey arrived with me earlier this morning. We\u2019re still waiting for Jandar\u2019s knights though, plus the healers from Einar.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Gideon asked Kaori further questions, Dan turned on the spot, taking in Hyleran again, and the sky and sun. Was Valhalla always like this? Always sunny, just the right temperature, with a brilliant blue sky overhead? How could he have ever wanted to return to Isadora, to the gray walls and lifeless cameras? Heleer would probably want to go back too, at first, when Vydar summoned her, but after a few days in Valhalla she would change her mind. How could she not? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan quickly stepped to the side of the road as a column of men passed by, filling the center of the street. They wore strange plated armor, and seemed to be adorned in an unnecessary amount of red. Dan didn\u2019t remember Aviir mentioning them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He quickly forgot about what they were, however. As he watched, their faces paraded past him, and for a moment, he was oblivious to all else. Only in the hall at Vydar\u2019s Citadel had he seen such difference in quick succession. He barely had time to take in one face, before it moved on and a completely new one took its place. And no face was identical to another. They were all different. As he watched them, Dan found himself smiling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan was temporarily distracted as several kyrie flew low over the city in a tight formation, the wind from their wings slamming down onto Dan and blowing his hair back. Gideon looked up too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cScouts,\u201d Kaori said. \u201cMaking sure your way is clear to the south.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was a sudden rumbling sound from where they had come. It grew in volume, shaking the very ground on which they stood, and then quickly lessened. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019ll be Jandar\u2019s knights,\u201d Kaori said. \u201cThey\u2019re here sooner than I expected.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Otonashi glanced at Gideon. \u201cI\u2019m sure you and Laelia have a lot you want to catch up on,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019ll meet the knights.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gideon nodded his thanks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on,\u201d Otonashi said, beckoning to Kaori and Dan. Leaving Gideon behind with Laelia, the three of them moved back into the busy street. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They went back the way they had come, squeezing past rows of soldiers as they went. When they turned a corner and Dan saw the transporter, the door was open again, and men were filing out of it, all wearing highly polished metal suits of armor. They each had a sword at their hip and a blue shield on their back, with the crest of Jandar emblazoned on it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They filed out of the transporter and lined up in front of it, the sunlight glinting off of their armor and flashing off of their helmets. \u2018They had better wear something else if we\u2019re supposed to go unnoticed,\u2019 Dan thought to himself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following the twenty or so knights came three unarmored figures, a man and two women. Once they had exited the transporter, a kyrie closed the door. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kaori hurried over to them, but Dan stayed behind, taking in the whole scene. His attention was caught by two of the unarmored figures, who were talking to each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou wanted to come here,\u201d one of the women was saying to the man. Her voice was gentle. \u201cStop fretting about the mission. In and out. Easy as that. Nothing to worry about.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t want<\/em> to come here,\u201d the man said. \u201cI had to.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou could have stayed put,\u201d the woman suggested gently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd be sent to the front with the other healers? No. I had about two seconds to decide; I could see the captains headed my way, and Drake was standing right there: the only way out.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut it\u2019s no less dangerous here than on the front.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The man shrugged. \u201cAt least here I\u2019m with you.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The woman smiled, but Dan saw her sigh as she turned away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDan,\u201d Kaori called, beckoning him over. Dan made his way to the end of the line of knights, where Kaori stood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is Francois, Dan,\u201d Kaori said, gesturing towards a knight who could only be the captain. \u201cThese are his men. Jandar has lent them to our cause.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dan shook Francois\u2019 metal gauntlet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd these are the healers Einar sent,\u201d Kaori continued, motioning towards the three unarmored individuals. \u201cJaseff and Trela Imber,\u201d \u2013 the two who had been speaking to each other nodded to Dan \u2013 \u201cand the one hiding behind them is Ana Karithon.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m not hiding,\u201d said the woman, coming forward. She looked younger than Dan, small and thin with pale skin, though her light green eyes were those of a much older woman. She had long red hair which she had braided away from her face, and she smiled as she held out a hand to Dan. Dan shook it, noting how small it felt in his own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jaseff and Trela were dressed similarly, both with tactical pants almost identical to Dan\u2019s, though they wore dark robes rather than armor. Both looked to be older than Dan by a few years. However, despite the similarities in clothing, the two could not have been more different from each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Trela had brown hair which she wore tied back, but Jaseff\u2019s hair shrouded his face, partially obscuring it on the sides. Where Trela stood tall and looked straight ahead of her, Jaseff seemed to walk with a slight crouch, and his eyes were constantly darting from side to side. Dan also noticed that, plainly visible on the right side of Trela\u2019s neck, there was a mark, some sort of brand, where the flesh had been burned in the shape of a foreign symbol. He wondered what it could mean, and why Trela was making no attempt to hide it with her hair (which she could easily have done, for it was quite long). He wisely decided not to mention it. He wasn\u2019t in SR any more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAre you all from Toril?\u201d Kaori asked the three of them. Toril? What was Toril? A place? A person? <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes,\u201d Trela said. \u201cRife with drow, Toril. I suspect that\u2019s why Einar sent so many of us on this mission \u2013 we\u2019ll be fighting a lot of them.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Drow? What were drow? Dan suddenly had many questions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is Dan,\u201d Kaori said to them. \u201cVydar sent him with us as a scout.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re glad to have you, Dan,\u201d Trela said. \u201cWe can\u2019t have enough scouts on this mission.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re all healers?\u201d Dan asked, remembering Kaori\u2019s words. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ana nodded. \u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d she said, noting Dan\u2019s look. \u201cJust because there are three of us doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019ll need<\/em> three of us. Einar was just being overly cautious. It\u2019s an important mission, after all.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSpeaking of which,\u201d Kaori said, drawing their attention, \u201cGideon is waiting for us all at the bunker. I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll want to speak with you.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLead the way,\u201d Trela said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Kaori turned and began weaving her way across the street. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Francois turned to his knights. \u201cRang!<\/em>\u201d he shouted. The knights immediately snapped to attention. \u201cEnvoyer!<\/em>\u201d As one the knights marched forwards, the crowded street parting for them like a river before a stone. Dan and the three healers followed in their wake, and together, they returned to the bunker. Sound returned a split second later. Dan, blinking, saw that nothing had changed, but slowly the light in the middle of the floor was dimming, and the speed of whatever was circling them was slowing. He glanced at Gideon and Otonashi in the half-light; both were perfectly calm. Soon the light dimmed to its former … Continue reading Chapter Thirty-Five – Hyleran<\/span>
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"