Terror of the Shadow

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Laban stepped outside to find that the Kannebore had moved even further downriver. The area around it was now covered in thick canvas tents, serving as small shelters and repair stations for their various hovercraft and other hardware. A few men shuffled about metal towers staked into the ground—what Laban assumed to be some sort of survey equipment. Their long, metal antennae stretched high into the sky, scattering invisible signals into the air.

"You've all been... busy," Laban said, eyeing the makeshift city with wonder.

"Yes, indeed, brother," Kol replied. "Some of the others have taken to calling it Riverbottom. This area is only fifty or so miles from where we originally landed, but it has been much more fruitful. Water is plentiful, and so life is too. There's even been talk of setting up a semi-permanent camp here."

"So far from the city? Why?"

"It would be a sort of a waystation between here and the lands to the south. We've been in contact with the Elders, and they want to begin some full-scale expeditions to map out the region. We've found evidence of some other Malkuth tribes that have passed through here very recently. If there are more tribes out there, we want to find them and bring them to safety. Or perhaps find other large settlements like our own."

"What about the War'acks?" Laban asked.

"They don't appear to be a danger. We haven't seen any evidence of War'ack activity anywhere near here. Ura-chan has reported the same. We are safe."

"Then... the body we found in the desert..."

Kol's face drooped. "One of our own. A man named Yohai."

"Oh..."

Kol slung his energy-staff over his shoulder. "Follow me, brother," he said. "I want to talk."

"Shouldn't be going out with the others?" Laban protested.

"They'll get on alright without us, brother. Besides, you should take it easy. Don't worry. I just want to talk."

Kol led them up out of the river gorge and onto the flat plain of the Outland. They set off west, so that their shadows were stretched out before them in the early morning light. They walked through the brush and into a maze of boulders, windswept and smooth after eons of erosion.

"Before we get to talking," Laban said. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course, brother," Kol replied.

"Are there other worlds?" asked Laban. Kol chuckled.

"What do you mean, other worlds?"

"Sorry," Laban said. "It's a dumb question. Nevermind."

"No, no, brother. Please, ask whatever you want. I will listen."

"I mean... it's hard to explain. Other worlds. Like this one, but... different."

Kol turned and pointed at the silvery moon, hanging in the sky above their heads.

"The ancients have written that our ancestors used to travel freely between worlds, flying on the power of Those Above. Lunis, the lady of the night, is said to be the oldest and closest friend to our world. Many of our people lived there and partook of her bounty. But the curse of the Shadow Man drove us back and banished us to this world only. Now Lunis can only weep over us as she continues her eternal journey through the heavens.

"And there," Kol said, pointing to a bright, unwavering point of light floating just above the horizon. "Is the world called Vogah. She was for many eons the protector of worlds, but the Shadow Man slew her in a rage in order to satisfy his lust for power. She is a dead world now, not unlike our own. It was her death that allowed the Shadow Man's curse to spread to our world.