Crowned (Beholder #4)(36)

“What is this place?”

“This is the Meadow of Many Gateways. From here, we’re connected to every world that contains life.”

I scanned the landscape. Around me stood gateways of many different shapes and sizes with one thing in common: they all glowed with bright purple light. Another realization appeared. “Hybrid magick created this place. It’s the power that connects everything together.”

Kila Kitu tilted his head. “Somewhat.”

Implications whirled through my mind. “Then it really is true. Our world is some kind of hub to control all the passages between realms.”

Kila Kitu stared up into the night sky. “The Sire and Lady created the gateways. Every two thousand years, another Elea and Viktor are born, their bodies brimming with Necromancer power. The Sire and Lady believe they must recharge the gateways.”

“So the Sire and Lady can control all the worlds.”

“Yes. Even so, others believe the Martyr’s Comet has a different purpose. They believe that the comet gives you extra magick not to power the gateways.”

“Mlinzi and Walinzi told me about this. They want me to ensure they are freed from the gateways.”

“There is more at stake than the tricksters. You might have the power to free all the captive worlds.”

For a long moment, I could only stare at Kila Kitu, open mouthed. Once I found my voice again, I couldn’t stop the words from tumbling out. “So this is more than merely saving my own world, but freeing all of them? This is too much.”

Kila Kitu sighed. “You don’t have a heart like my Elea. She would have leapt at the chance to help others. Perhaps we should return.”

“Wait. This is a representation of the past. The gateways here were just powered with the energy of another Elea and Viktor.”

“Yes, what you see here? The sacrifice was just made by my Elea. She created my people, the Zaidi. She gifted me with extra power.”

“Take me back further in time. Show me how she died.”

Pain glistened in Kila Kitu’s eyes. “I won’t do that.”

“Then show me how the gateways were created.”

Kila Kitu sniffed. “I can’t do that. I’m not powerful enough.”

“Then show me what you can. If I see how she died, there might be a clue about how to save all the gateways. I do want to save them. I’m just different from your Elea. A little ore cautious, that’s all.”

“I will take you back. Then we’ll see what you truly are.” Kila Kitu waved his arm and a cloud of purple smoke appeared around us. A moment later, the violet-colored mists disappeared.

Kila Kitu and I still stood on the Meadow of Many Gateways. However, this time all the arches only shone with only the palest purple light. They were almost out of magickal energy.

Soon, someone would need to recharge them by losing their life.

The thought made me nauseous, but I leaned into my Necromancer training and kept my focus on the gateways. I simply had to stay alert. Seeing this so-called sacrifice might help me figure out how to power the gateways without losing my life.

I scanned the skies once more. The last of the Blood Comet was disappearing by the horizon.

Behind us, a gateway flared with a pale lavender light. Out of it stepped two figures I’d seen before in my visions.

First, there was an Elea who wasn’t me.

And at her side, there walked a Viktor who wasn’t Viktor.

The two were dressed in long purple robes that flowed behind them as they crossed the checkerboard grass. About twenty Zaidi followed behind them, all warriors who were carrying bows and arrows. The entire company marched right through both me and Kila Kitu, oblivious to our presence.

Kila Kitu gestured toward the Not-Elea and Not-Viktor. “You asked to see this. Why not have a closer look?”

What I wanted to do was run home and hide, but I nodded instead. With hesitant steps, I approached the Not-Elea. Her eyes were smaller than mine, her mouth a bit larger, and her nose a tad longer. She wasn’t me, and yet she was.

After that, I looked to Viktor. It was the same with him; there were a series of subtle differences that added up to a single conclusion. This wasn’t the same man I’d fought so many times before. The pair paused in the center of the long rectangular board. Viktor patted Elea’s head and smiled.

They were friends.

I stared at them, my mind blank with shock. They liked each other? I’d assumed the two were mortal enemies, the same as me and my Viktor. Something about their friendship knocked at the back of my mine—this was important. I pictured my last battle with Viktor, the one where I raised the Necromancers from the dead. He’d cut his cheek and the same injury appeared on me.

And this Elea and Viktor were friends.

Together with the joint injuries, that meant something.

Before I could contemplate further, another gateway flared to life. Two new figures stepped onto the chessboard.

The Sire and Lady.

The Lady appeared resplendent as ever in her long green gown with golden tresses trailing behind her. For his part, the Sire wore his black armor and a dour look on his pale face. As the two approached the Not-Elea and Not-Viktor, the ground shook. Long fissures opened up in the checkerboard pattern of the meadow.

The Sire and Lady paused before the Not-Elea and Not-Viktor. The Lady gestured to the fresh breaks in the earth. “We don’t have much time.”