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Side Story Three
Two Years Ago
The Trap Four
“But why the Core Gate?” Chief Councillor Anahita said as platters of meat were brought into the central palace that evening. “It’s not like dragons can use it.”
The silver-haired air haltia had done most of the speaking since Aodh had brought them to meet the ruling council of Elapyron. She seemed friendly enough but something about the rest of the council was grating on Hannah’s nerves. They were so quiet – only addressing Anahita when they did speak – and only a couple had introduced themselves.
“No, but humans can,” one of the others – a daoine who hadn’t introduced himself – said. “Perhaps they mean to send these Dragon Knights through. It wouldn’t be the first time that one of them has tried to get to the Core.”
“We don’t think so, councillor,” Sean said. “They seem to be targeting things of power as energy sources to form some sort of grid. There’s no real pattern to what they are targeting.”
“A grid,” Anahita said sharply. “What are the other things they’ve targeted?”
“The Gaia gate at Esen Peak, an object called the key-” Sean began.
“From the fire affinity zone in Talora.” Anahita paled. “Damn. Tell me the others quickly.”
Sean listed them off carefully. Anahita looked more and more confused and worried. By the time he finished she had her head in her hands.
“Councillor?” Aodh asked. “Do you know what they’re doing?”
“I’ll need a few more attack details to check, but yes, I think I do.” Anahita stared at her hands. “What I can’t figure out is why. What good would the Heart wards do a dragon?”
“What are the heart wards?” Sean asked.
“Ah… that is… What were they would be a better question. They were part of the weave of the world. They were powered by the Heart, so when it was destroyed they went inert.” Anahita sighed. “There was a lot of the Heart’s energy flowing through them, which is why that gate to Gaia was built at Esen Peak. Even without the Heart’s power flowing through them, the nodes in the heartlands remained points of stability and power. That’s why we have a Core Gate. All of them are at former nodes.” She shook her head and frowned. “I still don’t see what use it would be to the dragons.”
“And the key thing?” Hannah asked.
“The extra stability makes former nodes good places to secure things,” Anahita said. “Perhaps your grid pattern is because it underlies their hiding places, not because the dragons intend to use it.”
“It’s possible,” Sean said hesitantly. “Except I’m sure they want these places and things to power something. I think we’re missing something.” He cocked his head at her. “How come you know so much about this?”
“I researched the wards while attempting to find some way to hold back the outlanders. It was a dead end, but I learned a lot.” She wrung her hands some more then took a breath. “Whyever they want it, we have to stop them from taking control of the gate. You have a pla-” She broke off as a sharp alarm sounded throughout the city.
“Sounds like we’re about to find out out,” Kyle said, but Anahita shook her head.
“No, that’s the alarm for an outlander attack. It’s not your problem, warriors. I’ll have Aodh escort you back to your chambers.”
This installment is dedicated to memory of Candace McBride, author of web serial “Tattoo”, who sadly passed away on Sunday. 🙁
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