The Enemy of an Enemy

Chapter Eighteen

I stood and walked back to where Kellyn wassleeping. I moved my bed next to hers in such a way that no onecould get to her without waking me first. Then I climbed into bedand began to integrate all the new information I had into the weavethat I had started when this mission began. That seemed like alifetime ago now. I slowly slipped deeper and deeper into mythoughts, and lost all connection with the outside world.

The problem with all this new information wasthat no matter what happened now, I could never go back to justbeing Commander Vydor. That life, that once held so much promisefor a shining career in the Imperial Navy, had ended. Indeed, whatI had learned and experienced during this mission had shatteredmany of the beliefs I had held since childhood. The cover-up aboutthe planet, the imprisonment of the Black Adders, the memory blocks- all that I had learned along the way had severely damaged my viewof the benevolence, infallibility and power of the Empire and theEmperor. In fact, they look rather weak and helpless in the face ofthis new threat.

I do not know how long I lay like thatpondering all that I had learned, but I was awakened by a touch tomy face. Without opening my eyes I reached out mentally and foundKellyn kneeling next to my bed. I silently said, “Good morning.Sleep well?”

She mentally gasped a bit, and thenresponded, “Sir, I am sorry to disturb you, but I was worriedabout you. You looked so lifeless.”

“It is okay, Kellyn. I have a lot to tellyou about what happened while you were asleep, but before I do Iwant to ask you something. What did you mean about the demon?”I asked.

“Sir, I saw a dark spirit chasing you; heis a very old and powerful spirit. I know that he has hunted yourentire family line. He will do anything to destroy you. When youwere wounded back at the gate the wound was not too bad. Your armorstopped most of the blast, but it weakened you briefly, and thatwas enough for the spirit to attack. I do not know how you survivedas long as you did under his attack, but you were seconds fromdeath when I finally reached you.” She paused to gatherherself, then said, “Sir, I do not yet have the power to beatthat demon, but I have forced him to retreat for now. I will oneday gain the strength to defeat him, and until then together we canhold him back.”

While she talked I found myself drawn to her.Beyond the outer layer of thought that we used to communicate, sheopened herself completely to me. I saw down into her core, herinner being. First I saw a bright and pure light, almost blinding,but beyond that was the most surprising thing. She had at her verycore a fierce fire that could outshine a million stars. I knew inmy heart the meaning of what I saw. I knew that she was pure atheart, and that nothing would sway her from my side.

I gasped as I made this realization and felther say to me, “I know all that is in you, and what is in you isnot the demon, but a good soul that is being suppressed by anger,fear and pain. Now you also know me through and through. I will gowith you as you fight to free your soul and defeat this demon thatstalks you. Together we will be victorious.”

“Kellyn, I hardly know how to reply tothat … “thank you” hardly seems enough …” I just trailed off,not knowing how to respond, but this was not normal speech. Thiswas the world of thought and emotion. She did not need my words toknow how I felt; she could read my mixture of surprise, relief andjoy for herself.

“It is okay, Vydor, I already know,”was her reply. Her tone had shifted. It was more informal, moreintimate. I felt a bond grow between us that I had never had withanyone before.

“Well, I had better fill you in on whathappened. Let me see if I can repeat Darnath’s feat of passing on amemory …” I pictured my mind as a big library with lots ofbooks, each book representing a different memory. I took up thebooks that contained all the memories from when I had seen Kellynpass through the gate until my recent awakening. I then picturedmyself handing her the books, which she took and opened. Suddenlywe were both reliving all the events, including my vision and fightin the gateway, which I had forgotten until now.

Once that was done she said with a tone ofhumility, “Vydor, I would be honored to serve on your Council ofWizards.” How did she do that? I had not yet realized that Ihad made up my mind, and here she was responding to a question Ihad not yet asked! I realized that she was right. At some pointalong the way I had decided to accept the position of grandmasterwizard.

“Vydor, even if the others decide not tocome along, I will be with you and I am sure we will eventuallyfind five more people to make up the council, but I believe thatthey will all join us,” she said with a high degree ofcertainty.

I rose then without breaking my link toKellyn; it brought me a sense of peace that I was not willing togive up. I looked around the room and saw the rest of the teamalready at the table. Kellyn and I walked over and took theremaining two seats. After getting some food I connected with therest of them, keeping my connection to Kellyn separate and secret,and asked, “I have no idea what time it is, but is everyoneready to discuss Mantis’ suggestion?”

“I think so, sir,” started Jerran.“Is Kellyn up to speed?”

“Yes, sir, fully so,” she replied.

“Well, sir, I did not get much rest, and Isuspect the others didn’t either. It seems to me that there areonly two options here. We can say no to Mantis’ plan and offer ofassistance, go back to our realm and fight them alone, or we canaccept his help and follow his plan. The reality is that thesorcerers are not going to go away; in fact, now that they think weare dead they are likely to move forward with whatever their plansare,” said Major Jerran.

“Sir, on the surface it seems like an easydecision. Why fight alone when you have all this power here to callon for help? But the problem is all the strings attached tothat,” said Gafar.

“I see it a bit differently, sir,”started Darnath. “The way I see it is that Mantis’ plans willmove forward, with or without us. They cannot risk our realmfalling to their enemy. That would give the sorcerers a safe placeto build a second army, which would spell the end for the wizards.War has come upon the Empire, and it’s a war the Empire cannot winalone. We can either stand and fight or watch others fight forus.”

After that others piped in with their views,and soon the discussion got repetitive with no real progress beingmade. During all this time that box sat on the table staring at us,daring us to make a decision. After some time, I stood and waitedfor the conversation to stop. I raised my hand and mentally reachedout and opened the box. I could feel the surprise from everyonearound me, especially as I lifted the seven rings out of the boxand moved them towards each person, resting them on the table infront of them. I said, “The choice before us is simple. Weeither stand and fight the sorcerers, or we fold and hope for thebest.” I took one of the rings, slipped it on my hand and said,“I never fold.”

Kellyn then scooped up a ring and put it onher finger, saying, “I stand with you, Vydor.”

There was a pause while the other five staredat the rings but then, one by one, they each picked up a ring andslipped it on, saying, “I am a Black Adder, and we never backdown. I stand with Vydor and the Council.”

As the last ring was placed on the lastfinger, I felt a change in the room. The order of events was notclear to me, but our uniforms all became dark robes, and the staveswe all carried were exchanged for others that looked like the oneMantis wielded. Our bodies felt different, too; I could not placethe feeling and no one else could either, but we were definitelydifferent.

Once all that had passed I rang the bell tolet Mantis know that we had made our decision. I was sure the soundhad not yet reached the door when he opened it and entered.

“I see you have made your decision, and Imust say I am glad at the choice you’ve made,” he said as he walkedover to a small table in the corner that I had not noticed before.He took from his robes an impossibly large hourglass and set it onthe table. Purple sand slowly dripped down as it counted out theseconds. “This timer will run out at the same time the first rockshit the colony. When that happens I will bring you back to the gateyou used to get here and send you back to your realm.” He walkedover to a section of wall and waved his hand over it. As he did sothe wall disappeared, revealing another room. We followed him intothat room where walls and walls of books greeted us. “Here is mypersonal library. Study what you can while you are here, and beforeyou leave I will copy some of the more important texts for you totake to start your own library. I suggest you start by learning thespell of many tongues so that you can read any of the books, butyou are welcome to start wherever you please.” With that heleft.

Looking around the room I was a bitoverwhelmed by all the books. “Well, I really did not get muchsleep during our break. I spent it all in thought, so I am going tolie down and deal with this later,” I said, heading back to mybed. The others made similar comments and left the room, but Kellynwas undaunted. She walked over to the stack of books and said,“I think I have slept enough for today. I will see what I canfind in here.”