Children of the Lonely Stars: Part Nine

      That was the bit they were discussing now. Subi gathered from listening to Arabel, Ruska, Migradar, and Captain Elsoreth of the guard that they'd been wanting to put off trying to rescue Almaril by force, because they hadn't really thought it would work. But now they didn't have any options – if they didn't get it back, the Light would fail, and the Tower would soon become uninhabitable. There was no firewood on Filion, no alternate sources of energy. The Light was everything. Without it, they'd have to go to the Spire and the Deeps, the two other holdings of these people, neither of which would be equipped for the amount of refugees that they'd receive. The loss of the Tower could very well doom civilization on Filion.

      Ruska sighed. "You cannot come with us, Laitri. You are needed here, to maintain the Light. I shall go, and Arabel. If we can contact Almaril, free her to use her power, Arabel's presence shall make all the difference."

      Migradar said gruffly, "Then you'll need me. If you intend to be throwing magic around, you need a fellow big enough to throw you over his shoulder and run away should you faint."

      Paloma said, "I need to go. I'm the one who can hear Almaril calling. Maybe I can help you find her in the fortress once we get away from the Tower."

      Ruska nodded slowly. "I believe that you are right." The Halloween Kougra looked weary, and Subi could see the white threads in the black side of her parti-colored hair. She normally seemed so powerful and vibrant that Subi hadn't realized that she was no longer young.

      Rin said, "Well, that counts me in." And with him, Subi as well. That decision has been made when Paloma spoke up – Rin certainly wasn't going to let her go on the mission without him, and Subi wasn't going to let either of them charge into danger without her.

      Captain Elsoreth, a tall, dark-haired Maractite Eyrie, stated, "I shall send Hildern with you. He has served well. I must stay in case the Tower is attacked again."

      Migradar rumbled, "That's seven – that's as many as should come. We all know well that the full might of the Children of the Lonely Stars would not be able to defeat Diamal alone, even had we the time to muster reinforcements from the Spire and the Deeps. Hildern, Rin, Lady Subi, and myself will be enough to keep the mages safe."

      The look Elsoreth gave Subi and Rin was more than a little doubtful. At least she didn't actually say anything. Subi didn't want anyone trying to talk her out of it, because she was afraid she might actually let them. She didn't want to go back now. Not with everyone else thinking she was brave. She didn't want to remember that she was just a clerk with a choral habit and a piece of scrap metal in her hand.

      Ruska said, "We shall pack and leave as soon as possible. Elsoreth, will you have staffs issued for Rin and Subi?"

      Elsoreth nodded and departed.

      Subi didn't take any time to pack – she was given a knapsack with travel food, some water, and spare Filion clothes in the form of a long-sleeved tunic, trousers, and boots, all with close-fitting sleeves to keep out space dust and lining against the cold. She had a light chest plate to wear over the tunic, as well, and decided that it wasn't too heavy and was certainly worth the protection. She threw some hair ties and her brush into the bag, and after a moment of wondering whether she'd gone crazy went ahead and added her copy of the Kreludan Nocturnes. It wasn't that big, and she didn't want to lose track of it – she'd owe Maestro Magnus a hundred Neopoints if she failed to turn the score back in.

      Finally, she pulled her beanie back onto her head, and went down to the door to the Tower. Rin was already there – he handed her a thin staff with a translucent orb at the top, which came up to Subi's chin. He said, "I think this shoots energy blasts like Hildern's does – it'll be useful for keeping those guys away from us."

      Subi examined it, looking for any directions. "Unless we accidentally shoot each other into space." There were several slightly recessed buttons – Subi decided that those must control the device, and resolved to avoid touching them until she was given some instruction.

      Paloma ran out – she was dressed in the same tunic, trousers, and coat as the rest of them, but instead of any armor she had an amulet on her chest. "Look! Madame Ruska says it'll help absorb energy weapon blasts. Then I can throw them out again as magic. Once I learn how to throw things, at least."

      The princess and Ruska followed – they were both in the same plain journeying clothes as the rest of them, except for a bit of silver embroidery at the hem of Arabel's tunic, some gold stars at the collar of Ruska's, and the numerous charms that they both wore.

      Finally, Migradar and Hildern arrived. Migradar was wearing a black cloak instead of his red one, but both he and Hildern wore full armor, and each carried a staff in his hands and a sword in a sheath. Subi was glad that no one had tried to hand her a sword – she wouldn't have had the faintest idea of what to do with it.

      Finally, Laitri and Elsoreth arrived. Laitri said, "Mira go with you all."

      Elsoreth vowed, "The Tower will hold strong until you return with Almaril."

      Migradar said, "Don't be proud, Elsoreth of Jiamai – should the Light begin to fail beyond Laitri's power, and we come not, send our people to safety in the Spire and the Deeps, and activate the beacons in the hope of attracting the Aisha ships."

      Elsoreth nodded once, clenching her beak tightly. Subi could tell she didn't like the thought of failing like that. Subi didn't either – because she didn't want to know what would have happened to her if Elsoreth was forced to resort to that.

      Then they were off.

      As they left the main gate of the Tower, Ruska cast some sort of spell. She explained, "I am creating a field that will dampen the dust around us. Without it, it would be entirely too easy for spies to spot us from afar. It will be easier to hide, especially as the day grows older."

      It was still dim on Filion, compared to the bright synthetic lighting of Virtupets or the daylight of the Neopian surface. Subi really had no idea how to tell what time it was, since her internal clock was entirely out of whack. She'd just have to trust the Children of the Lonely Stars to bring them somewhere safe to rest – Migradar had said it would take a few days to reach Diamal's stronghold. They had blankets and warmth-charms, so they'd be able to shelter at a place Migradar knew about.

      They bounded out, with Ruska in the lead and Paloma right beside her. Subi could hear Paloma talking about what she was seeing and feeling. They knew where Diamal's fortress was, generally, but they'd need Paloma to be as connected as possible to what Almaril was sending her so that they'd be able to get to her inside.

      No one else really talked, and so Subi contented herself with looking at the scenery and enjoying the bounding leaps that she could make, as well as the look of everyone else doing the same, especially Migradar barreling along like a massive juggernaut.

      Filion was even more gorgeous the longer Subi traveled through it, with its dim, rocky landscape lit by the swirling auroras in the sky. Sometimes they'd just be green, and other times they'd pulse and flow with all imaginable colors. The auroras brought out different, subtle colors in the silver-grey dust and rock of the mountainous asteroid, backlighting the jagged, piercing mountains and rock formations in such a way as to make them look so dramatic they were beyond believing. Could something real truly be this beautiful, so beautiful that it almost made Subi's heart ache?

      But even that beauty began to dim after a while, as Subi's legs began to ache in addition to her heart. Even the scarf she'd wrapped around her face – all the others had them, as well – wasn't keeping the grit that escaped Ruska's spell from scouring her face, and even the charms for warmth weren't keeping her fingers from getting cold beneath their gloves. At least her new staff helped her land well, so she could look around without worrying about losing her balance.

      Finally, when the faint light of the sun had become noticeably dimmer behind the aurora, Migradar led them down a slope to a place where a small, square building squatted in the dell. The Mutant Grundo said, "This was a traveler's outpost upon a time. It is no longer manned, but will still provide us with safety for a night's rest."

      Subi followed the others into the building, and looked into the side rooms just like the others did. No one there – but she still shut all the doors that led away from the main room. It was too creepy looking into black holes.

      Arabel made a globe of light in her hand and lifted it to the ceiling in the center of the room. Paloma put the warmth charms in the corners, whispering a few words as she laid them down. Ruska shut the door and seemed to lift a glowing cobweb over it. Paloma asked, "What's that?"

      Ruska said, "A ward. That door will not be opened unless it is defeated or the stone wall is breached. Hildern, Rin, will you get out our food?"

      It was flatbread and jam, with some fruits that Subi didn't recognize but eagerly ate. Ruska prepared the tea, and Subi helped Paloma lay out the blankets for people to sleep. The light spell and the warmth charms had already made this bleak little outpost cozy.

      Then Rin took out his violin. Subi hadn't even realized he'd brought it. Migradar grinned. "There's a good lad! Give us a song!"

      Rin asked, "How about 'The Lay of the Star-Mariner,' Subi? We never got the chance earlier today."

      Had the scene in the hall been earlier today? It felt like a year ago – and if that had been a year ago, then Virtupets was a dream of another life. But Subi was always glad to sing, especially when she saw the way the eyes of the others brightened. Most of all for little Arabel, who bore too heavy a burden, and Paloma, who looked strange with only a few of her hair clips and her black curls braided fiercely back. Subi sang,

     "Heave-and-ho and turn the wheel,

     Hull of iron and sails of steel,

     Shining bright in the frozen night,

     On to find the morning!

     "Out in the deeps where darkness grows,

     Man will fear what no man knows.

     Hearts must fight where there is no light,

     On to find the morning!

     Deepest dark and brightest day,

     We have found along our way.

     Still we go with the heave-and-ho,

     On to find the morning!"

      They played and sang until at last, despite aches, pains, worries, and fears, everyone was able to roll up in their blankets and fall asleep.

To be continued...