Alongside him, Sophia struggled as well, but she battled the Old One in a different place. On the battlefield of Mildeth, she fought for the hearts and minds of the human defenders, of her people. But despite the distance, despite her own innate knowledge as a Tangata, she too was losing. The passion of battle was too great, the fears and rage and hatreds too deep between their peoples. Maya had only to nudge the minds of the warring factions to drive each to ever greater madness.
But like Lukys, Sophia would not give up, would not surrender so long as hope remained. If only they’d had time to practice this ability, or greater allies to support them. The Anahera who had remained in the city had raw ability, but the creatures were unpractised, easily distracted by the chaos around them. Perhaps together—
Lukys gasped as the overwhelming strength of Maya pressed against him again, her hatred washing through him, and for a moment he felt as though he stood alone, that he would be consumed…
…screaming, he tore himself from the battle in the caverns, surfacing for a moment on the walls of Mildeth. His vision flickered, clearing in time to see a Tangata leap over the crenulations. Quickly Lukys moved to shield Sophia from the bloodshed. He felt her pain with each death, but he could at least spare her the agony of fighting her own brethren. For now, at least.
But despite the memories crammed into his skull, Lukys was still human, and his strength was wanning. Their guard were struggling too, as he saw Travis fighting desperately at Isabella’s side, glimpsed Dale down on one knee as Keria stood protectively over him with another of the Perfugian guard, fighting off a maddened Tangata.
Slamming the butt of his spear into the face of the Tangata he faced, Lukys reversed the weapon and drove the razor tip through its throat. It fell back, crumpling to the ground, and he forced his will back to the cavern, even as he felt his friends wilting.
His protection was failing. Eroded by distance, he could not match Maya’s strength, not for long. Sooner or later, she would find her way into the hearts of one of the allies. When that happened, their fate would rest on the strength of that soul, on what lay in their heart, whether they had the will to resist…
Thinking of the mistrust held between the three women, Lukys shuddered. Gathered himself for one last effort, he hurled himself at the darkness assaulting his friends. He would not surrender, would not abandon them to the Voice of the Old One. He held the knowledge of generations in his mind, the will of all the Sovereigns who had come before him. It would be enough.
It had to be.
Withdrawing from the battle atop the wall, Lukys found himself back-to-back with Sophia, with his love. Without seeing her face, he could sense the tears in her eyes, her pain as she tried again and again to find the love in her peoples’ hearts, to remind them of the peace of New Nihelm.
They’re dying, Lukys, her voice came to him.
He scrunched his eyes closed, turning to hold her tight, even as chaos reigned around them. They fought and fought and would keep on fighting, but he no longer knew why. They were losing, crumbling. Maya could not be defeated, would destroy them all. It was inevitable.
Why suffer, why continue?
Why not finally give up, and have peace?
“I can’t lose you,” Sophia whispered to him, lips warm on his cheek as they held one another.
Lukys tightened his grip on her and said nothing. What more was there to say?
You do not have to perish with the rest.
A shudder slid down Lukys’s spine as the Voice of the Old One spoke into his mind. He tried to force it away, to close himself to her, but there was an exhaustion upon him now, a weariness he could not simply shrug off. It left cracks in his consciousness, gaps through which the Old One continued to whisper.
I sense my brethren, the true strength of the Chead, entwined in your souls. Surrender to it, give yourself to the power. Return to me, brother, sister, and we will rule this world as we were always destined.
Lukys’s skin crawled as she spoke, and something within him stirred in response to her command. Opening his eyes, he found Sophia staring back at him, saw the terror upon her and knew she felt that same stirring, like a giant that had long lain dormant, now waking…
An icy cold seeped through Lukys as he found himself frozen, his body torn between the memory of a creature long dead, and his own self. Looking around, he saw the bloodshed upon the battlefield and felt that creature grow stronger, sensed it gathering, its anger, its rage…
No!
With an effort of will, Lukys fought back, clinging to Sophia, sensing her own battle, her own fear. Instinctively, he reached out for her, their minds mingling, uniting in their battle against those other consciousnesses, filling them with strength…
…and with relief, they sensed those other minds subsiding, returning to the depths, to dreams of a world long since passed.
Letting out a long breath, the Sovereigns found themselves standing once more atop the walls of Mildeth, arms clasped around one another. They shivered, thankful for their sanity, and wondered…they were a hundred miles from the battle beneath the earth. Why then had Maya turned her attention towards them, tried to bring them to her side? Their minds raced, their thoughts as one as they came to a singular conclusion.
She fears us.
It was a spark of hope
