** Erik **

  Erik’s eyes opened hours later, and for the briefest of moments, he panicked, pawed for the Goggles he couldn’t feel on his face. Sara was no longer there beside him, but his body had adjusted somewhat to the cooler temperature. In fact, he was almost cold, but his anxiety overrode everything else until he got a look around and convinced himself he wasn’t in immediate danger.

  So, it was real. But this place looks like something out of Star Trek.

  Physically, he felt as recovered as he was gonna get, but killing the body was only one of the ways someone could kill you, here.

  I’m at the end. Valla… even thinking the name sent a cold chill down his spine… Valla has finally pulled me to the edge. Never broken, but regardless… I’m at the edge.

  Clearing his head some, he stretched and pulled his arm out from under a blanket someone had draped over him. He rubbed his eyes and as his vision readjusted, he took a much closer look around.

  A decently sized room, unmistakably metal, even through Erik’s bleary eyes. Racks came out of the matte steel-blue walls along both sides of the room; each one covered in the same thick cloth he was lying on. The material was brown and rather scratchy, but it was at least clean. Thankfully, Oskar was leaning back in a chair nearby, napping.

  He’s grown so damn much. In so many ways, he’s twice the man I’ve ever been. Doesn’t wanna take care of himself, but the more you lean on him, the more he comes alive. I hate leaning, but I’m proud of how he handles it all. But I really do hate leaning.

  Erik smirked, but didn’t wake his brother, who probably needed sleep as badly as he had, and instead continued his inventory of the room.

  The lights pulsed slowly from the joints between the walls and ceiling and along the floorboards. The matte walls reflected the dim, slowly pulsing ambient in a cold, hard sheen, casting an odd glow that felt sterile after living outdoors for so long.

  pointed downward over the racks themselves, but as far as Erik could tell, they were all technological rather than magical. That raised more questions than answers, and since there was no one to ask and therefore no one to answer, he did his normal Erik thing and looked around quietly.

  His new, bright blue eye didn’t really give him much information, but he could see the particles of magic in the air that looked exactly like Wayspring magic. He finally found his Goggles, clean and laying on his rack to his left. He grunted with irritation and awkwardly worked on getting them situated properly over his head.

  The air is thick with magic, but it doesn’t seem to be doing much. I feel pretty good, physically at least, considering the day I had. Is this room somehow promoting passive healing?

  His PUB, which was getting annoyingly proficient at responding to his more structured or strong internal dialogue, answered him.

  [[ Yes. ]]

  Stop reading my mind without permission. I… appreciate what you do for us, but I don’t like that.

  [[ You literally asked a question. Don’t query shame me. ]]

  It was a musing, not a question.

  [[ Does that make me your muse? ]]

  That wasn’t even witty. That was just… weird.

  [[ Nailed it. Also, your irritating bother hasn’t left your side. Insufferable. ]]

  It’s ‘brother,’ not ‘bother.’

  [[ Sorry, autocorrect. ]]

  ** Oskar **

  Oskar straightened up in his chair, or rather, the curved seat coming out of the wall at the head of Erik’s rack. The room was freezing cold, and he was wearing every bit of clothing he owned as he stretched himself awake and pushed his Goggles up to rub his eyes.

  He stood with a grunt, seeing Sara standing atop the flat console near the door pawing at the motion lights that appeared as she moved , and sped over to the door, snatching her up as one of the racks slid smoothly into the wall.

  Its bedding hit the floor in a pile and Oskar gave the cat a gentle correction, “Seriously, you gotta stop.”

  Erik couldn’t help but ask, “You think she understands you?”

  Oskar stared at Erik, assessing him, and finally smiled, “Oh yeah. Cat or no, I’ve wondered if she wasn’t the smartest of us more than once. Who else in the group doesn’t even have to walk if they don’t want to? Even Penny hunts, helps with watch, and walks.” Oskar raised his eyebrows and tilted his head in an “Am I right or what?” motion.

  His brother conceded the point with a tired smile.

  “Speaking of…” he trailed off, and Oskar answered him.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  “Penny’s out there. Couldn’t bring herself to come inside. Not yet at least,” Oskar said, flinging a hand out in what seemed like a casual motion, but Oskar could have drawn a line straight from his pointer finger to the Pangolor.

  With a grunt, he sat down on the edge of Erik’s rack, now holding Sara- who’d flopped over onto her back and offered her belly in what everyone knew was a trap.

  He tried to still his face, struggling to stop himself from asking the obvious “How are you feeling?” question.

  Which was good. It was a question Erik wouldn’t give an honest answer to. There wasn’t any need to. Oskar’s power had grown to the point that he could tell the truth himself, by now. The Rakiyu, or more specifically the Concept of Life Oskar could feel inside Erik was faint… flickering like a candle in a breeze. Erik wouldn’t survive using his power like he had that last battle… ever again.

  Sara, bored, hopped down and went over to curl up in the mess of covers she’d caused to fall onto the floor when she’d attacked the console by the door.

  He curled his arms around himself in the chilly room. Erik looked like he was about to say something stupid to lighten the mood, but there was a small beep from the console, and the door light changed from orange to blue.

  The door slid open to reveal Benedictus, followed by Fox, and all three Myelome. Their faces were somber, and so Oskar stood. Beside him, Erik sat up as well, glaring at the Myelomes before looking over at Benedictus.

  The older Kobold bowed. “Please, sit. My apologies for the abrupt visit. I had hoped to give you all the time you needed to rest. Please know that as a truth.”

  His voice was surprisingly deep for such a wiry frame, but the Kobold was easily half a foot taller than Touwon, close to normal human height. His speech was more proper that what he’d heard of the Kobold’s at Gramms and Myelome. The old Kobold spoke like Fox, or more likely, she spoke like him since she’d spent almost her entire life looking up to him. Benedictus’ next words came out at the end of a long sigh.

  “Unfortunately, we must have been followed back to our base after coming to assist you.”

  There was no accusation in his tone, just weariness. “It seems our time to recover from the atrocities done to us is at an end,” he paused, deep in reflection, before continuing, his face growing stern.

  “Fortunately, we have not been idle in our recovery, and we believe we have a way to survive the coming assault.”

  Oskar saw Fox looking up at the old Kobold like he was about to pull the whole world out of quicksand. Oskar reserved his judgement in order to pay as much attention as he could to Benedictus and the worried, earnest faces of the three Myelomes standing behind him.

  Taking the offered conversational bait the Kobold leader’s prolonged pause offered, Oskar said, “They are lucky to have you. I’ve heard such incredible things about you. We are honored to finally meet you, the one who’s done so much for Fox and Touwon.”

  Benedictus took the compliment gracefully, bowing his head in humble acknowledgement before one of the Myelomes reached over and pressed a single button on the console. Without looking, the Kobold sat down in the seat that slid out noiselessly from the wall at the foot of Erik’s rack and shifted his stone topped staff into his left hand.

  “Alas, it is never enough, is it?” Benedictus said.

  Oskar paused, but slowly shook his head in agreement, his face serious.

  “You’re right, wise one.”

  “Unfortunately, it is a truth. And yet, we all have our part to play.”

  He waved a lavender and white claw around the room and continued.

  “This place that we call our home still has a few tricks up its sleeve, however. We have assigned duties, and my people are well versed in their roles. We will be attacked by a mix of shadow beings on the north side, and Crocodilian from the south, with Hyenaman Wind Gliders flying overhead to keep anyone from escaping.”

  The old Kobold paused, and then adopted a tired, regretful look.

  “There is one piece, though, that we did not account for on top of what we will soon face.”

  Benedictus watched Oskar for a moment. Oskar watched the Kobold closely, but finally answered, leaning in, “What is that piece, and what can I do to help?”

  There was a slight hesitation as the old Kobold furrowed his brows and looked thoughtfully toward the ceiling, but then he spoke, sounding very much like he hated to say the words.

  “Their leader. I believe she goes by the name of Valla. A dark Shaman… tainted and evil beyond compare. We have a contingent plan for her, but we believe drawing her away from here is the only way my people can survive the assault.”

  “I understand. That probably makes sense. You mentioned a contingency plan for her?”

  “Yes. I have here…” he reached back and one of the Myelomes, not the one they’d traveled with, placed a small white stone in his hand, “a Light Crux. When thrown, this stone will explode with enough Light magic to completely dissipate her shadowed form.”

  “Well then. Alright.” Oskar said, staring down at the small white stone the Kobold leader had gently dropped in his hand. “Would you look at that.” He held up the stone for Erik to see.

  “Alright. When she arrives, we‘ try to draw her away from the structure while you defend it,” Oskar said.

  “Ah… well, you see, we fear that only you, with your Warding ability, would be able to weather the effects of the Light crux without injury.”

  Oskar didn’t react for a long moment, his face neutral, trying to stop himself from giving Fox… poor sweet Fox… a flat stare.

  Guess she told them everything. She means well, but we’re gonna have to have a serious talk about operational security later on.

  “I see,” Oskar replied.

  “Indeed you do, Druid. Besides, in the event of a pitched battle, as unlikely as that may be, Erik’ shielding or healing might save lives. It would be best for everyone if he remained here.”

  Oskar spoke before Erik could lose his cool, “I know Erik doesn’t enjoy being separated from me, and I feel the same, but it sounds like you have this all figured out. I hope my brother will be in safe hands when I leave… which if I had to guess, would need to be soon if I want to get out before we are besieged? Correct?”

  Benedictus bowed his head in agreement and then looked to Fox in appreciation, “He does you justice, Foxune. You were wise to trust him. His strategic mind rivals my own.”

  Did she just blush?! How does a Kobold blush?

  “And yes, we will keep a close eye on your brother. Worry not.”

  Benedictus went to lean in and place a hand on Oskar’s knee in thanks, but as his hand drew near to Oskar’s knee and the prosthetic below, he stared at it, hesitating before straightening and absentmindedly wiping it on his robe instead.

  “Very well then, I shall leave you.” The Kobold clapped twice and stood. “Please be careful with the Light crux. It would take more time that we have to replace, and we have only the one.”

  “Oh, I’ll plan my entire battle plan around everything you’ve shared with me, don’t you worry, wise leader.”

  Benedictus let out a sigh of relief and said, “Then hopefully we will live to fight another day, and if you can defeat Valla, we might even keep our home.” He nodded at the brothers and walked out, the three Myelome in tow. Fox unexpectantly ran over to hug Oskar and grin at Erik before turning around and running after him, leaving the brothers alone, other than Sara-without-an-H, who was still sleeping in the pile of covers.

  Thankfully, Erik waited until the door shut behind them before he burst out laughing.