and scant trees, and the Basilica’s belfry stood nearby, symbols of dragon authority and rule over Starlight.
Jason spat on the ground. This planet wasn’t Starlight. It was the darkest place in the universe. If any planet deserved to be called Darksphere, this was it.
He checked the sky. No dragons flew anywhere in sight. With a quick swing, he hacked a branch from a fallen tree. Although the leaves had turned brown, they were dense enough to conceal him if necessary.
Regripping his sword, he marched ahead. Someone had to bring light to this dark world, and rescuing two innocent boys from the grindstone would be the first step.
six
I nside Exodus, Koren alternately walked and slid closer to Brinella, who stood beside the untouched stardrop at the lowest point of the sloping floor. Although regal in expression and dress, Brinella still wore no crown, contrary to Taushin’s expectations. Yet, crown or no crown, they had to resurrect this star so the slaves could be freed.
When she reached Brinella, Koren turned and surveyed the breach in the wall. “At the rate the star deflates, we’ll have to work together to have any hope of success.” She glanced at the red stain on Brinella’s dress. “Especially since you’re wounded.”
Her expression softer now, Brinella touched her side. “I thought it would eventually heal. It hurts, but it doesn’t bleed. It simply makes me feel weak all the time.”
“That’s why we have to work together.” Koren compressed Brinella’s hand. “Since Starlight gives you all the stories, it’s up to you to let them flow to me. I’ll see if I can absorb them and retell them with more power. If I direct them away from the hole, maybe we can fill the sphere before they exit.”
“It’s worth a try.” With her face again displaying a rainbow of flashing colors, Brinella took a deep breath. “I have been holding them in for several minutes, so prepare yourself.”
Koren walked across the curved floor and settled back against the hole, blocking it with her body. “Okay. Let’s see what happens.”
Brinella’s face, now dark purple, swelled. Her chest expanded, and her back bent inward. Then, like a striking viper, her body snapped forward, her mouth opening as her head whipped. Colorful light roared from her throat and streamed toward Koren, splashing against her waist. The colors washed over her body and filtered through her clothing, soaking her with multihued radiance. Like a confused mob, a thousand voices spoke at once, some angry, some lamenting, some as quiet as a whisper. Yet none seemed clear enough to distinguish.
With the influx, it seemed as if Koren’s own thoughts were pushed to the side while the competing voices took control. A stream of light, blue and glittering, spewed forth from her lips, and a frightened tone spiced her voice. “She has the plague! There is no hope!”
As the blue flow headed toward the sphere’s ceiling, a radiant magenta stream followed, this one with a calmer, soothing voice. “We are paying a severe penalty for our foolishness. Our only hope is to heed Magnar’s advice.”
Then, like a sporadic fountain, gush after gush erupted from Koren’s mouth, displaying more colors than she had ever seen. With each one, she provided a louder voice, but they came so quickly, it seemed impossible to tell where the statements began and ended.
“The plague will devour your body until it’s a useless relic, perishable unless you consume the substance of the cause …” And the words rambled on. Streams of radiance continued to shoot toward the ceiling, collecting there as if drawn by the light in the opening above. The transparent wall vibrated. Rocks surrounding the sphere crumbled, striking the outer surface before falling to the chamber floor. Then, as if buoyed by an unseen cushion of air, Exodus began to rise.
Finally, Brinella’s eruption ceased. Now without a source, Koren’s flow ebbed until a final globule of light
Jason spat on the ground. This planet wasn’t Starlight. It was the darkest place in the universe. If any planet deserved to be called Darksphere, this was it.
He checked the sky. No dragons flew anywhere in sight. With a quick swing, he hacked a branch from a fallen tree. Although the leaves had turned brown, they were dense enough to conceal him if necessary.
Regripping his sword, he marched ahead. Someone had to bring light to this dark world, and rescuing two innocent boys from the grindstone would be the first step.
six
I nside Exodus, Koren alternately walked and slid closer to Brinella, who stood beside the untouched stardrop at the lowest point of the sloping floor. Although regal in expression and dress, Brinella still wore no crown, contrary to Taushin’s expectations. Yet, crown or no crown, they had to resurrect this star so the slaves could be freed.
When she reached Brinella, Koren turned and surveyed the breach in the wall. “At the rate the star deflates, we’ll have to work together to have any hope of success.” She glanced at the red stain on Brinella’s dress. “Especially since you’re wounded.”
Her expression softer now, Brinella touched her side. “I thought it would eventually heal. It hurts, but it doesn’t bleed. It simply makes me feel weak all the time.”
“That’s why we have to work together.” Koren compressed Brinella’s hand. “Since Starlight gives you all the stories, it’s up to you to let them flow to me. I’ll see if I can absorb them and retell them with more power. If I direct them away from the hole, maybe we can fill the sphere before they exit.”
“It’s worth a try.” With her face again displaying a rainbow of flashing colors, Brinella took a deep breath. “I have been holding them in for several minutes, so prepare yourself.”
Koren walked across the curved floor and settled back against the hole, blocking it with her body. “Okay. Let’s see what happens.”
Brinella’s face, now dark purple, swelled. Her chest expanded, and her back bent inward. Then, like a striking viper, her body snapped forward, her mouth opening as her head whipped. Colorful light roared from her throat and streamed toward Koren, splashing against her waist. The colors washed over her body and filtered through her clothing, soaking her with multihued radiance. Like a confused mob, a thousand voices spoke at once, some angry, some lamenting, some as quiet as a whisper. Yet none seemed clear enough to distinguish.
With the influx, it seemed as if Koren’s own thoughts were pushed to the side while the competing voices took control. A stream of light, blue and glittering, spewed forth from her lips, and a frightened tone spiced her voice. “She has the plague! There is no hope!”
As the blue flow headed toward the sphere’s ceiling, a radiant magenta stream followed, this one with a calmer, soothing voice. “We are paying a severe penalty for our foolishness. Our only hope is to heed Magnar’s advice.”
Then, like a sporadic fountain, gush after gush erupted from Koren’s mouth, displaying more colors than she had ever seen. With each one, she provided a louder voice, but they came so quickly, it seemed impossible to tell where the statements began and ended.
“The plague will devour your body until it’s a useless relic, perishable unless you consume the substance of the cause …” And the words rambled on. Streams of radiance continued to shoot toward the ceiling, collecting there as if drawn by the light in the opening above. The transparent wall vibrated. Rocks surrounding the sphere crumbled, striking the outer surface before falling to the chamber floor. Then, as if buoyed by an unseen cushion of air, Exodus began to rise.
Finally, Brinella’s eruption ceased. Now without a source, Koren’s flow ebbed until a final globule of light
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