Brinks in Time: The Unification Read online

  BRINKS IN TIME:

  THE UNIFICATION

  TOM ROGAL

  Copyright © 2003, 2008, 2013, 2018

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  One thing I have learned as an author, is that it takes more than oneself to not only write a book, but to also get it published, self-published or conventionally. Although writing is very much an individual sport, it was with those closest to me that I can say are the reason that I kept it going, even in moments when I thought it would never get released. This one has been a long time in the making so I am very excited to finally be releasing the true beginning of the Brinks in Time series. I wanted to thank all my friends and family for all the support and patience while finishing this book. For me, they are the true heroes of my story. Once again, thanks to Indie Designz for working on the cover art. Simply amazing work! And thanks to Therese Arkenberg for copy editing my work.

  BRINKS IN TIME

  TIMELINE

  1 BU

  The Legend of Valendri's Relic

  1 AU

  The Unification

  DYYROS

  THE MAINLAND

  CHAPTER 1

  Arrival at Night

  The murky waters of the Dyyros Gulf rippled gently against the hull of a small ship as it pulled near Porsita. The port city rose like a shadow along the coast, backlit by one of the moons. Its sister hid her face behind a drifting fog. A silhouette leaned over the edge of the ship, playing with her ponytail as strands of hair caught on the salty breeze.

  She did not look the part of a sailor. She wore a leather vest far too thin to keep out the cold. And the strips of cloth she wore as a skirt seemed to only make her warm, robed companions shiver more themselves. The only thing she carried was what looked like a walking stick. No, nothing about her seemed to belong on a ship.

  From out of the shadows on the far side of the ship, a man in a bluish robe approached the girl. He could see the chill in his daughter’s skin, but she wasn’t shivering. That was well enough. He watched his daughter for a short time, two strangers in the dark.

  “Is the sea really all that fascinating, Divi?” he asked.

  Divi was startled, but she quickly turned her attentions once again to the dark waters below. She swore the waves were trying to reach out at her . . . to take her from the ship and to pull her away to wherever lost things go.

  “Why did we leave home so quickly?”

  The old man leaned next to his daughter. His long, white beard and bald head glistened in the moonlight.

  “It was necessary for us. That is all you need to know for now.”

  He tried to lay his hand on her shoulder, but she shoved it away. He returned to leaning on the rail.

  “You haven’t answered my question, Divi.”

  Divi snapped back, “You haven’t answered my questions for ten years, Neeza. Why should I answer yours now?”

  Neeza sighed heavily. It had been ten years since Mierena died. They were still coping with the loss. He had hardly failed at much in his life, but he always felt that he had failed his wife because it seemed like the gods were against him. Because of his age, especially as the leader of Myyril, remarriage was not an option for him. And Divi would never accept whoever he tried to replace her mother with Divi was so much like Mierena. Another beautiful woman he wanted to love, but didn’t know how. He was too important a figure in the Myyril government to spend time with his family, a regret knowing the loses he suffered. After his last mission on Mount Hrithgorn, he was resolved to change that. He just never realized how bad it had gotten until this trip started. As Captain Mimerck told him when they first departed, Neeza had a lot of work ahead of him.

  “Divi, I understand how you feel. Trust me. One day, I will answer all your questions.”

  Divi mumbled, “Don’t waste your breath.”

  She stared at the sea. The conversation was over. Neeza went back to the shadows; there was business to attend to. He had to meet with the other council members who joined the trip before they landed, which was nearly all of them. He excused the Illusion School's headmaster, because although Dinermar was the same age as him, broken bones and a back injury from long ago made him less suitable for long travels. Neeza hated to bring so many important mages with him, but he wanted to prove to that man and his group they were serious about a possible alliance. The negotiations would have to be quick, as time was ever so important.

  Halfway there, he felt an itch on his chest. Although it was annoying, it did remind him how lucky he was to still be alive after the Mount Hrithgorn adventure. He didn’t suspect Orznaii missed his mark too often. Condarin’s spell may have saved him, but because she wasn’t fully aware of its intricacies, it was going to be years before the injury healed properly. Still, he was happy she did it. He found himself wondering what fate the Ettui general met. Did he escape? He knew the answer would present itself. He just had to be patient.

  Divi continued to watch the sea, how its waves moved to−and−fro. She wished she had that kind of freedom. The sea never had to answer to anyone; it had no one to answer to, no obligations, and no expectations. Deep down, really deep down− keep going, yeah right about there−she admitted she loved her father. He was all she had now, and he was doing his best since her mother died. But she knew he had secrets. He kept them from Mom and now he was keeping them from her. And she hated him for it.

  Of course, the biggest strike against him was how he was attempting to force her to learn magic, one time even going so far as to have the Kittara, the main Mage policing unit, harass her. Why couldn't he accept her decision? Making the kids mock her was the least serious thing he had done. She knew her father changed the day her mom died. From what Haldirin explained briefly, Neeza had put a huge burden on himself, claiming he was the reason for her passing. Divi wasn’t dumb. She knew what Gerund’s disease was. It wasn’t his fault that she passed away. But he shut Divi out of his life since that fateful day. Haldirin and her friend, Tasi, probably knew her better than her own dad did− a fact she found irritating.

  Divi looked up at Porsita. The city was quiet, and a few lights shimmered from the buildings. She could see the dock clearly, as it was well-illuminated by several lanterns and torches. She could already imagine the sway of the boards as they supported her weight before she stepped on the famed concrete this city was known for. Divi once more looked deep into the water. Something was different now. There was something moving, something rippling. At first, she thought it was the water, but it wasn’t the water. It was her own mind.

  Suddenly, her eyes opened wide. Fire engulfed a town, coughing up plumes of hot smoke. The air was filled with ash, the wind by screams. Then the image was gone, replaced by . . . something. Was it an random item brought by the tide? Was she imaging it? It floated up toward her, an image appearing to her only when it was near. She could see a man in a dark cloak with dark skin and a dark symbol across his back. She could feel the flames burning behind him. They were so cold. Divi put her hands over her head and fell to the deck. Neeza rushed to his daughter’s side.

  “Divi! Are you all right? What happened?”

  She shoved her father out of the way and hauled herself to her feet.

  “Leave me alone!”

  Neeta’s eyes followed his daughter as she ran down the steps into the ship's hold. He wished he knew what troubled her. She had had episodes like this before, ever since her mother passed away. Why do I lie to myself? They happened even before that . . . A robed figure put his hand on Neeza’s shoulder, startling him. Neeza wiped sweat off his brow and sighed.

  “I don’t know, Sydis. My daughter and I are growing so much further apart.”

  Sydis replied, “I’m sure sh
e’ll understand. She is still young. Besides, your retirement is only a few months away. Then a steward will be elected until she comes of age . . . and until she decides to . . . you know.”

  He knew, and that was going to be the hardest part. For years he had been doing everything he could to encourage her to learn, but nothing worked. Since the trip to Hrithgorn, he concluded he would no longer try and force her. He wanted her to learn, but had come to realize that she would do so when she was ready. If she wanted to succeed him as ruler, she would have to.

  Neeza murmured, “I only hope that it’s not too late."

  Divi wiped the tears that streaked her face. She carefully locked the door to her cabin and stared accusingly at her reflection in a mirror.

  “Why me? Why do I have these visions? I didn’t ask for them and I don’t want them!”

  No one knew about the visions. She told not a soul. If anyone knew . . . anyone . . . she would lose whatever little control she still had over her life. Porsita once again met her gaze as Divi peered out the window. The ship was preparing to dock. The dock master already barked orders to his crew. Divi took a deep breath, stepped away from the window, and turned to walk back up to the deck.

  As she left the ship, Divi’s senses were assaulted by the caustic stench of oil and sulfur. The cold, salty breezes of the sea, which had grown familiar over the past few hours, were chased away by torchlight and civilization. She was soon joined by her father, who laid a heavy hand on her shoulder. Divi turned, brushing her hair out of her eyes.

  “I don’t want to lose you, especially in these foreign surroundings.”

  “I would rather be lost.”

  Neeza smiled as they walked together. Footsteps echoed from the rare cement portion, being a luxury only three cities in the world enjoyed, of the dock. Divi had never walked on such a thing; back home, the dock was made completely of wood and had to be repaired almost daily. And the buildings were so tall here! Buildings in her city were sometimes no bigger than the man who had built them. Divi’s cheeks flushed with an unusual sense of gratitude. She had a nice house because of her father’s "job". But those creature comforts were but some of many things which made her different from the rest of the mage populace. And she so desperately didn’t want to be different anymore.

  Divi squeezed her father’s hand tighter at the thought. Neeza squeezed back. It’ll be all right, he wanted to tell her. It’ll be all right, if you just let it be so. But he held his tongue, and the moment, for now. The cool wind started to blow his beard again. This was Neeza’s third trip to the small city of Porsita, but none had been this important. He would probably stay an extra day for Divi. Dyyros could be bleak, but he knew a few spots that were positively beautiful and he had a good idea she might like it. It could only be a day, though. He didn’t want to cross paths with Dyyros’ new dictator, about whom he had heard bone-chilling tales. At least, not yet . . .

  Porsita was unchanged and remained true to Neeza’s memories. The eloquently constructed dock and buildings, which incorporated art and new architectural designs only seen here, contrasted with the, pothole-ridden gravel and mud of the street. Indeed, not much has changed in three hundred years. Somehow five hundred thousand people crammed themselves in the crowded city. He often pondered how human cities continued to stand despite the many problems they faced. He knew one thing for certain: if this were his city, things would be better.

  A loud bell from a church tower disrupted his thoughts. He knew the sound of that bell, last hearing it three hundred years ago. It couldn’t be! How did they know he was coming? Workers from the dock reached for their swords while Neeza’s companions, though it gave their identities away, grabbed their staves.

  “Father, what’s going on?” she asked.

  Neeza almost didn’t hear her in the panic as men and women sprinted past them.

  “Divi, leave here now! Find shelter outside of town!”

  “But . . .”

  “Leave now! I’ll be all right! Now go!”

  Divi looked at her father once more before sprinting toward the main street. Running was difficult because her staff kept hitting her heel. As she reached the gravel main road, she was greeted with nothing but chaos. People were screaming inside their homes from the flames engulfing their buildings. Civilians were desperately trying to find safety crossing street knocking over baskets, carts, or whatever got in their way. A man fell in front of her. Her words fell silent as he crawled slowly toward her with a fire-laced arrow embedded in his spine.

  Neeza, who was giving orders to Cedes and Darcoul, spotted his daughter was still in harm’s way. What was she doing? “Run, Divi!”

  After hearing her father's voice, Divi mustered enough courage to leap over the dead man in front of her. The dark city was now lit as if it were a torch. To her left, a large group of men riding dragon-like creatures came storming toward her. That wasn’t the way to go. She turned right in hope of outrunning them, but that was unlikely. The creatures caught up to her as a few arrows the riders fired at Divi barely missed her.

  Neeza reached the main street watching nervously as Divi maneuvered her way through the burning city. He hoped to the gods that his decision was correct. Would this path he chose lead to the death of his only child? If anything happened to Divi, he didn’t know if he could live with himself.

  A man screamed behind him. Another group of blue-uniformed soldiers stormed though the flames, primed to fire their arrows at the Mage leader. Neeza drove his staff into the ground, passing through the gravel of the road with ease, and raised his hands.

  Neeza shouted what seemed to echo: “Iczera temmponi!”

  In front of him, a thick wall of ice formed. The fire-laced arrows crashed violently against the frozen shield. That was close. As Neeza wearily examined the area, he could see many of his companions lying dead on the street, and a regretful tear escaped. This was not how it was supposed to happen. What has he done?

  Exhausted, Divi struggled to keep moving. She had been knocked down several times and slipped once on a muddy section. Feeling like she couldn’t move her aching body, she leaned on the wall of the building. She sighed, seeing she had only moved about eighty yards from the dock entrance. Despite her own fears, the only thing she could think about was her father. She looked everywhere, but she couldn’t see him.

  Divi yelled, “Father!”

  It was very difficult to see through the haze and smoke. The creatures and their riders were all that she could make out. Finally, in the midst of the flames, she spotted him. She wanted to run to him, but with all the soldiers it would be impossible. It was the first time she had seen her father . . . scared.

  Neeza wiped the sweat off his face as he caught his daughter’s gaze. Why wasn’t she running? He knew that there was a lack of trust, but of all the times, why not listen to him now? Neeza waved his staff signaling for her to continue, but something was wrong. He started to lose feeling in his arm and dropped his weapon. His blood became ice cold. Looking down, Neeza saw the pointed tip of a sword protruding inches above the scar left by Orznaii's blade on Mount Hrithgorn. How did this man know about a mage's weakness? That stranger in The Casteel was right! No, Divi . . .

  “Father!”

  Neeza slumped forward until the sword's wielder pulled it out, his limp body dropping to the ground. Divi shook her head. This isn’t happening! This can’t be happening! After wiping her eyes, she could finally see the man clearly, even through the fire. He was dressed differently from all the other soldiers in the black, leather armor. Instead, he wore many metals that glowed dully from the flame’s light. After wiping the blood off his blade, he sheathed it.

  Divi stared in the eyes of her father’s slayer as he lifted his head. His one green and one blue eye pierced her very soul. He unflinchingly kept his gaze in Divi’s direction. Did he see her? Or did she only imagine he had? Whatever the case, she had to get out of here.

  The long, white-haired general looked down at his lat
est kill, by far his most important one. He kicked Neeza’s body onto his back and smiled wryly. The master would be pleased, yet their work wasn’t done yet.

  One of the soldiers reported to him, “Porsita has fallen. We have just taken the Governor’s House. Awaiting your next orders.”

  “Leave some men to establish control here. Take all but two riders back to Fort Kerran and have General Alcatar report to Lord Ulcinar.”

  The girl he saw had disappeared in the shadows, but knew she couldn't have gotten far.

  “I will join you shortly. Going to capture our little runaway.”

  The soldier saluted and jogged toward the rest of the troops. The general looked once more at Neeza’s body and said, “We finally got you, old man.”

  Cold mud kicked up in the wake of her steps as Divi sprinted off the path as the buildings of Porsita fell behind her and she plunged into the nearby forest. The cool mist of the dew replaced the heat of the fire. Divi tripped on the underbrush, but barely broke stride. When she came to a small hill with a clearing at the summit, she felt safe enough to turn around. Her breathing was heavy and her tears rolled down her cheeks. The mud on her legs was baked onto her skin.

  She could see the glow of the fire staining the sky. She was sure the flames were visible for miles. Even from this considerable distance, the hiss of the blaze drowned out the surrounding forest sounds. Divi found a place to rest, curled up into a ball, and began to sob. The thought finally hit her, Father is dead, and the blow caused her to shake violently. She watched him die, saw the look on her father’s face as that man... That man... Why did this have to happen? What was she to do? She didn’t even know where she was. She realized, though, that she had to escape. That man with the two-colored eyes must have seen her. He would be after her. As far as she knew, she was one of the only people who had escaped the attack and could tell others about it. Divi slowly got herself up and began to run away from Porsita. She had to find someone. Anyone.