Aftermath

Lily trudged across soot-caked earth.

Darkmoor’s emptiness filled her.

Even with Gabriel and Sasha at her side, she felt alone. We’ve failed, she thought. And having failed to convince Virren to help, they now had a powerful enemy that would no doubt have to be faced once more. An enemy that doesn’t even see us as a threat, she realised. Since he didn’t even bother to kill us.

And that was before the terrible revelation that humans had been living in space for generations and that they’d abandoned the world.

Chosen not to fight for a future on earth.

Humans who were aware of what Virren was doing and chose only to watch…

She paused at a winding dirt road which would take them to the Honeyfields, or so she assumed.

If she turned back now and tried to offer Virren something else, would he listen? Because without his help, who else could they turn to?

Was there even anyone out there able to lead them to the Ringwood? To help them gain entry?

To uncover the Silversong?

If only Blue or Emerald were awake – she could ask them for advice.

A hand came to rest upon her shoulder. Gabriel, smiling at her. He lifted his hands to speak. [We did the right thing, you know. We’ll find someone else to guide us. It might take a long time, but we’ll find a way.]

It was just what she needed to hear.

To remind her of the promises she’d made to herself.

Lily pulled him into a hug. “Thank you.”

Nearby, Sasha was staring back toward the limestone platform.

Gabriel moved to her side. [Worried about Virren?]

Lily translated.

“I am.” She rubbed at her temples as she spoke. “I don’t know what to think… I don’t trust him but what’s going to happen to my people?”

“Hopefully nothing horrible,” Lily said. “But I promise that we will fight for them.”

“How?”

“We’ll keep searching. There are other settlements. For one, maybe the Westerners you mentioned will know of someone wise that we can ask?”

“Maybe.”

[Not to mention the kami. They were the ones who gave us the first clues. Elder Kami probably know more.]

Sasha nodded.

“Someone will be able to guide us,” Lily added. It had to be true.

“But what if Virren decides to threaten the Olana because I refused him?”

Lily took both Sasha’s hands. “I don’t believe he will. He has a plan and it’s already working. Time is on his side and you aren’t threatening him. If your people were a problem, he would have taken action already.”

“Right… that makes sense.” Sasha took a deep breath. “But there’s still time to stop him, right? I want to come with you.”

Surprise made Lily hesitate for just a moment, but she gave Sasha’s hands a squeeze. “You’re welcome to join us.” She glanced at her brother and brought him up to speed next, signing swiftly. “Right, Gabe?”

[Of course you are, Sasha.]

“Thank you,” the young woman said with a smile. “I’ll have to tell everyone first, but then I can take you to the Westerners. Their leader is supposedly a clever man who has nearly restored the city of Koy.”

A promising development… or a troubling one? Either way, it was probably a good starting point. “Let’s head back to the Honeyfields then,” Lily said. “And find a campsite before it gets dark.”

“All right.”

Lily led them along the road, and hills soon rose up around them. The rocky walls were uneven and crumbling in places, but no landslides barred their way as the day began to end. The temperature dropped quickly, though Sasha assured them they’d reach a campsite before nightfall.

And when dusk came and the sky turned pink, they had reached a small, stone-walled enclosure set off from the road.

Yet the site was not empty.

A Silver Kami sat before the flickering flames of a campfire.

Lily reached for her knife and Gabriel already had the rifle in his grip. Even Sasha had her talons ready.

The large kami only gestured to a pair of bench seats that had been arranged across from him.

Join me, for I am not here to attack you.

Virren’s voice echoed in her mind.

But it came from the kami… just what else were they capable of? And how long had Virren been watching them through the Silver Kami? Since the first sighting in the mist, obviously.

Lily kept one hand upon her weapon. “Why are you here?”

To congratulate you. The silver kami shrugged. Stand if you wish, but you’ll be more comfortable if you all sit and listen.

Lily waited for Gabriel and Sasha to nod before leading them to the bench seats.

But once settled before the warmth of the campfire, she drew her knife and pointed across the flames. “If this is a trick, we will fight and kill your servant.”

This is hardly a deception. Like a very small number of those who have come to me over the last century, I have deemed you worthy.

She lowered the knife. “What?”

Do keep up, Lily. I’d hate to change my mind now.

“But you said you wouldn’t help…”

Yes. Merely a final chance for you to fail. For if you’d returned to beg for my help, I would have been certain that you lacked the resolve to succeed.

Lily found herself speechless.

Instead, you proved your worth. You refused to abandon your home. You refused to sacrifice your kami. You banded together and you put the needs of others before your own. All of which pleased me greatly. And now, I’m going to give you a chance to best me in a fair fight.

“A fight? How could we fight a half-god?” she asked, at last finding some words. Even so, she found that she’d spoken slowly, shock not wearing off easily.

Gabriel and Sasha seemed just as surprised by their expressions.

The Silver Kami chuckled, though its mouth did not move. Well, it would be more accurate to say a fair race.

“… to the Ringwood?”

Yes. I will provide a map and you will have until the end of the year; the original deadline the kami have accurately estimated.

“That doesn’t seem fair, either. What’s to stop you flying to the Ringwood? Or just appearing there in an instant?”

My considerable sense of honour, of course.

“But aren’t you the one who turned your back on humanity?”

Ah yes, your most trustworthy fellow humans have long held on to that little tale about me.

[What else would we have to base our beliefs on?] Gabriel asked.

Until now, nothing. But that is far beside the point, since I assume you’re not going to abandon your quest now, are you?

Gabriel frowned. [What are the conditions of the race?]

You must merely reach the Ringwood alive.

[That’s all?]

Certainly not.

Lily leant forward. “What else?”

My Servants will attempt to stop you. You won’t know where, when, or how they will strike. But if you can best them all, if you can survive the journey and reach your destination together, then I will help you enter the Ringwood, where you can find the Silversong. You have already proven your resolve. Now, I expect you to prove your capacity. Virren paused, and the Silver Kami rose. What say you all?

“You know we don’t trust you,” Lily said.

You don’t have trust me. You only need to beat me. Well?

Maybe the god-spawn was right. And Lily realised didn’t need to check on Gabriel or Sasha – she knew what they would say.

And more, a raging fire had been rekindled within her chest.

“We accept.” She stood. “And we will beat you, Virren.”