When War Calls(137)

‘Then we must make sure Kobin does not lose our forces attacking Waikor.’

‘He will not fail,’ said Liet.

‘How can you be sure?’ asked Xosis. ‘Their EMP strikes could cause us to lose another ten thousand men.’

‘That will not happen. We are aware of the range and have a map of where the mines are located. We know exactly where to use our own EMP weaponry.’

‘Our own EMP weaponry?’ repeated Xosis. ‘Alkon did not use it?’

‘Alkon did not know of it,’ said Liet.

Xosis looked suspiciously at Liet.

Liet laughed at the expression. ‘If you were to see the extent of Kobin’s web, you would understand why my fear of him is justified. I do not know how long he has been in communication with Ethan, but we have the means of taking Waikor. Kobin will simply put them to use. I believe we will move onto Waikor by the end of the week. We should make further plans for Corsec.’

With a shake of his head, Xosis followed Liet back to their living quarters, where they spent the rest of the evening discussing how they could best deal with the resistance at Corsec, and how Kobin Guyde would be stopped before he became too powerful.





Chapter Twenty-Five





When one path ends, find another.





March 7, 997 R.E.





There were lights ahead. Jaden slowed his run in the darkness, trying to see the source of the lights. After two weeks of travel, he had left Raquel far behind. Part of him wanted to remain with her, to learn more about her and her ways, but he couldn’t wait any longer to return to Alyssa. He had spent most of the time running without rest, stopping only to rejuvenate within the crystal’s realm and practise what Raquel had taught him. He could feel the power available to him growing, allowing him to run for longer periods without his breath quickening or his muscles seizing up.

The essence was becoming a part of him. He knew he was now reliant upon it. It didn’t matter to him, though. He welcomed it. It helped him travel faster and would one day allow him to protect Alyssa. Without avalanches or training sessions from Raquel, he had trouble finding ways of testing his abilities, but he knew Alyssa would be safe with him now. Even if he were not able to defeat his opponents, he would surely be able to counter them enough so that he and anyone near could flee to safety. This was why he showed no fear as he walked along the mountainside toward the lights as two heavily armed soldiers approached him.

Jaden glanced up at the rings in the clear night sky as spotlights were directed down at him, and then he proceeded toward the two soldiers.

‘Who approaches?’

A third man became apparent, pushing through the two soldiers. Jaden said nothing as the man walked up to him, his silhouette revealing little more than a slim frame and short hair. His voice had been harsh and raspy, as if he had been continually choking on dust for most of his life.

There were no trees here, Jaden now saw, and there were large machines stationed in every direction. They reminded him briefly of what the Alliance had used, and for a moment he became sceptical, thinking that he had just stumbled upon an Alliance unit, but dismissed the possibility of being overtaken by them so quickly. Whoever was in charge must have been from the Resistance.

‘Speak. Who are you?’ said the man.

When Jaden failed to reply a second time, the man clumsily fumbled for something on his belt.

‘Where is a torch?’ he asked the soldiers. ‘Give me yours!’

Before the man was able to turn the torch on, white light engulfed them, Jaden raising one of his hands to aid the man’s eyes. Jaden could now see them all clearly. Helmets hid the faces of the two soldiers, their visors too dark to see through. Jaden wondered at how they were able to see, but they had managed to navigate the area and even see him perfectly through them.

The man between them was just past his midyears, with wrinkles under his eyes and a sharp straight-bridged nose. He was regarding Jaden with curiosity as well as surprise, and then his nose began to crease upward and his eyes moved up and down quickly.

‘A sentinel,’ said the man. ‘I should have known. What do you want?’

Jaden now studied the man in return, wondering at the resentful tone he used.

‘I bring news from Callibra. Is this Corsec?’ asked Jaden.

‘No, this is not Corsec,’ snapped the man, as if the question had been childish and stupid. ‘Corsec is an hour’s flight from here. Don’t they teach you anything before giving you those ...’ the man paused and looked briefly at the endobraces, and then he withdrew slightly in fear, ‘things?’

Confused, Jaden ignored the man’s question. ‘Where am I?’