energy pulsed from my hands up through hidden veins I hadn’t seen during the initial inspection of my arms. I felt warm, I felt stronger, I felt like a damn Christmas tree with all these things that “lit up” on me, but I was accepting it one LED at a time.
“There will be more to learn.” Largo said, “You’re free to do that wherever or however you want. But if you would consider staying, I will arrange for you to be taught. The truth is your discovery has knocked some instability to an already crumbling ‘understanding’ held between Amalgams and Slate leaders. Like your ancestors, I’m pledged to help keep peace in any way I can, but to do that I need help from special people like the girls, yourself, and anyone else we may come across in the coming days. That is if you’re interested?”
I really wasn’t sure if totally understood, but then I didn’t have to understand all the “why’s” and “how’s” of what he was saying. The only thing I knew was that he was a good person, and I needed to be around good people. I also knew that in some ways I had caused the problems that would come from the Street Vipers, and if I had a hand in making something happen that could spill over into hurting other innocents then I had to do something about it. I was the reason my father was dead. I couldn’t be responsible for anyone else dying. It was my duty.
I held out a hand. “I’m in.”
Largo shook it with a smile. “Excellent. Now that’s handled, let’s go get some pizza. I hope you like stone-moth and pepperoni.”
“Huh?”
I followed him inside, and he pulled a slice of pizza onto a plate and handed it to me. I sat and watched as the four of them burst into guffawing conversation that continued from a topic on which I was clearly out of the loop. They seemed like a family. I was still on the outside of it, but I smiled and felt something that resembled contentment as the realization dawned on me: This was the beginning of something special, and I couldn’t wait to see where this adventure was going to take me.
THE WHITE CHAMBER
Feringal made confident strides into the great White Chamber. He bowed before the four white robed figures. If not for the colored, featureless mask each wore from beneath their white hoods, the council would be all but invisible within the brilliance of their fabled hall.
The elders wasted no time with pleasantries. Their voices flitted with whispers that held the promise of death for any wrong word spoken. The Yellow Mask inquired first. “Is it true?”
“My master reports that the Heir of Thantosa has been found.”
The Blue Mask followed, he bobbed up and down, his feet were not touching the ground, “And it’s true he has already been united with the Dragonstones?”
“It is true my lords.”
“Unfortunate, but he is not the pressing concern,” Mumbled the Black Mask.
“Isn’t he?” Questioned the Yellow Mask.
Black Mask continued questioning Feringal, ignoring the Yellow Mask’s, concern. “What of the keys we sent your master to procure?”
Feringal, eager to please, dumped the content of the silk bag he carried out on the floor. A curved pearl-hilted blade, still covered in the Colorado dirt from which he snatched it, clamored at their feet.
“There is supposed to be another.” The Yellow Mask demanded.
“My master is working on it with haste.”
“Your master sends you with only half of the mandate? You and your master should pay for this outrage and failure with your lives.” The Black Mask hissed.
The Red Mask moved forward one step at a time, “Perhaps mercy is required, and senseless death be avoided.”
Feringal had not been expecting their ire. He thought certainly they would have been pleased with his prize. He shivered as the Red Mask slowly picked up the captured blade. He held it for a
“There will be more to learn.” Largo said, “You’re free to do that wherever or however you want. But if you would consider staying, I will arrange for you to be taught. The truth is your discovery has knocked some instability to an already crumbling ‘understanding’ held between Amalgams and Slate leaders. Like your ancestors, I’m pledged to help keep peace in any way I can, but to do that I need help from special people like the girls, yourself, and anyone else we may come across in the coming days. That is if you’re interested?”
I really wasn’t sure if totally understood, but then I didn’t have to understand all the “why’s” and “how’s” of what he was saying. The only thing I knew was that he was a good person, and I needed to be around good people. I also knew that in some ways I had caused the problems that would come from the Street Vipers, and if I had a hand in making something happen that could spill over into hurting other innocents then I had to do something about it. I was the reason my father was dead. I couldn’t be responsible for anyone else dying. It was my duty.
I held out a hand. “I’m in.”
Largo shook it with a smile. “Excellent. Now that’s handled, let’s go get some pizza. I hope you like stone-moth and pepperoni.”
“Huh?”
I followed him inside, and he pulled a slice of pizza onto a plate and handed it to me. I sat and watched as the four of them burst into guffawing conversation that continued from a topic on which I was clearly out of the loop. They seemed like a family. I was still on the outside of it, but I smiled and felt something that resembled contentment as the realization dawned on me: This was the beginning of something special, and I couldn’t wait to see where this adventure was going to take me.
THE WHITE CHAMBER
Feringal made confident strides into the great White Chamber. He bowed before the four white robed figures. If not for the colored, featureless mask each wore from beneath their white hoods, the council would be all but invisible within the brilliance of their fabled hall.
The elders wasted no time with pleasantries. Their voices flitted with whispers that held the promise of death for any wrong word spoken. The Yellow Mask inquired first. “Is it true?”
“My master reports that the Heir of Thantosa has been found.”
The Blue Mask followed, he bobbed up and down, his feet were not touching the ground, “And it’s true he has already been united with the Dragonstones?”
“It is true my lords.”
“Unfortunate, but he is not the pressing concern,” Mumbled the Black Mask.
“Isn’t he?” Questioned the Yellow Mask.
Black Mask continued questioning Feringal, ignoring the Yellow Mask’s, concern. “What of the keys we sent your master to procure?”
Feringal, eager to please, dumped the content of the silk bag he carried out on the floor. A curved pearl-hilted blade, still covered in the Colorado dirt from which he snatched it, clamored at their feet.
“There is supposed to be another.” The Yellow Mask demanded.
“My master is working on it with haste.”
“Your master sends you with only half of the mandate? You and your master should pay for this outrage and failure with your lives.” The Black Mask hissed.
The Red Mask moved forward one step at a time, “Perhaps mercy is required, and senseless death be avoided.”
Feringal had not been expecting their ire. He thought certainly they would have been pleased with his prize. He shivered as the Red Mask slowly picked up the captured blade. He held it for a
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