The Silver Sphere (35 page)

Lito walked over, his countenance strained. "I am sorry.
He has passed."

"I know," said Zach softly, a tear sliding down his
face.

They sat in subdued silence, gulping water from their canteens.
The new girl, Morgana, slid over to Zach and placed her arm around him. The forest
grew silent, save the blast of horns a few miles off. The Nightlanders who had survived
were long gone.

Shelby kept looking over at Throg and the others, hoping there
was some way to end the battle for good.

The Assembly members began to stir. The Kin rose and circled
them.

Bianca propped up first, on her elbows, and gazed out to the
Kin. She smiled. "Oh, my dears. My dear, wonderful children."

Shelby strolled over to her and knelt down.

Bianca pulled her forward. "Beautiful Shelby, I am so proud
of you." Tears welled up in her green eyes as she drew closer still and hugged
Shelby.

For a moment, Shelby thought Bianca smelled like her mother.
It had been so long since Shelby had seen her mom. She held Bianca tightly for several
moments, wishing that this woman could have been her mother.

The Assembly members all came to. They rose groggily and set
eyes on the Kin. Each of Shelby's friends strode forward and hugged their Kin counterparts
instinctively.

Throg watched in silence, wearing a pleased grin.

Rowan Letty walked off with Riley, her arms around Riley's shoulders.
Max discussed his battles with Macklin Morrow, who beamed like a proud father and
fussed over Max's black eye. Stuart showed Satchel Spool his hand-cannon as he twirled
the weapon. Elita Ezmer caressed Emily's hair as they spoke over tea. Shelby looked
over to Zach as he huddled on the ground nearby, his knees in his chest.

"Don't worry, laddie. You have me," Throg said as he
sat down next to Zach and handed him some smoked ham.

Morgana moved closer too... gingerly. "And you are stuck
with me." She ran her fingers through his hair. She bore scrapes and bruises
from the battle, and a small gash bled at her shoulder.

"I love you both," Zach said. "I knew when Brock
died. He came to me, told me he was proud of me, honored to be my Kin. He said he
had to leave to join the truth seekers. 'Godspeed,' he said, and then he was gone."
Zach chewed on the ham as Morgana continued stroking his hair.

General Krupp walked over to Bianca and Shelby, and bowed. "Madame
Bianca, we are happy you are safe. Meracuse is under siege. We need to act quickly
before the city falls."

"Thank you, General. We must ride to Meracuse immediately,
and recruit along the way."

"The Battleswine are proud to be with you, madam. We have
another battalion en route to Meracuse already."

Bianca nodded.

General Krupp bowed again and then returned to his soldiers to
inform them of the plan.

Shelby watched Bianca's gaze shift toward Zach, who still sat
hunched between Throg and Morgana.

"Come with me, Shelby. I need to speak to Zach."

They sauntered over to them, and Bianca said, "Hello, Captain
Throg, great to see you. Thank you for coming through once again. You were always
our best."

He rose, and they hugged. "Don't mention it. This is Zach,
Brock's Kin."

"I know." Bianca knelt beside Zach. "My dear,
you have been so brave. Brock would have been thrilled." She held her hand
out, her caring eyes fixed on him. "Come with me. I have much to tell you."

Zach accepted, and the pair walked off, continuing to hold hands.

Shelby drew closer to Throg and Morgana, and sat down. "Is
he okay?"

"Yes. An emotional experience when a Kin loses their link."

She nodded. "Presage told us if our Kin passes, we inherit
the ability to operate the Sphere."

"Yes, Brock's power has passed to Zach. Bianca is explaining
everything to him now."

"He's been through a lot. The rest of us were together.
We worried about him. I feel like I already know him. I just wish we'd been able
to meet him sooner."

"The link is powerful among Kin," Throg said.

Shelby smiled. "Presage was thrilled when the Leshy informed
us he was with you. He thinks highly of you."

Morgana put her arm on his shoulder. "We all think highly
of Throg. He saved my life."

"I don't think much of the oaf." Brodeur came up behind
Throg with Blunderbuss. They both let out a snicker.

"We brought you a spot of ale," said Brodeur. He handed
Throg a small jug and sat down.

Blunderbuss lit up a pipe as he spied the Kin interacting. "Like
a family reunion, isn't it?"

"A soul family reunion," Throg said, and swigged the
ale.

They settled for a time, enjoying the happy faces of the Kin
and the Assembly as they socialized among each other. Shelby smiled at how well
Emily and her Kin got along. It was good to catch her so chatty. Shelby's gaze slipped
over to Max, and her heart clenched. What would happen once Meracuse was saved?
Would they all have to go home? Where was home anyway? Would she ever see Max again?

The thought made her despondent. She pushed it aside and accepted
a cup of tea from Lito. As she sipped, she considered everything that had happened.
The beast would cower in fear of her here. He'd run wailing from the woman she had
become.

Suddenly, through the forest, the thumping sound of hooves rang
in the air. Shelby and the others sprang to their feet.

"General Krupp, we need some arms," Macklin cried out
as he bounded forth. "They're coming!"

The general glared back, nodded, and sent one of his soldiers
off. The enormous Swine Shelby had met earlier stalked forward, but didn't stray
far from Krupp. The Battleswine hurried around the glade and prepared to defend.
A soldier rushed over to Macklin, cradling a bag of swords. The Assembly armed themselves
as the sound of thundering hooves grew closer.

"More Nightlanders?" asked Blunderbuss with disdain.

"If they are, let them prepare to be slaughtered,"
said Rowan with a hiss.

Through the clearing, Milo and the Stonecoats cantered in. The
Battleswine surrounded them, several of them jeering. Milo and his men still wore
their darker colors, blending well with the forest from a distance.

Shelby relaxed and gave a sigh.

"Drop your weapons, Milo," General Krupp commanded.

Milo retorted, "Drop yours, pig-head."

"Milo!" Shelby yelled, running out to him.

Max ambled forward. "It's okay, General. He's with us."

"Milo and the Stonecoats? We will not ride with these dissident
heathens," General Krupp snapped.

Shara pranced in place. "That's okay, Krupp, because we
don't ride with pigs." Milo spit on the dirt.

The mountainous Swine with the white fur streaked across his
snout, roared and bared his tusks. "Pigs, are we? What does that make
you
?"

"Gunther!" yelled Elita, but her voice was drowned
out as the Battleswine and Stonecoats bickered and shouted.

"Rock-brains!"

"Ham-butt!"

"Renegade traitors!"

"Enough!"

They stopped abruptly.

Bianca strode forward and cast a look of rage at the two sects.
"You are both allies to Meridia, and we are under siege by Biskara. Put your
differences aside. We need every sword in the coming battle, or we're all doomed."

The two parties grumbled as Milo and the Stonecoats dismounted.
They maintained their glares, though, refusing to say a word to any of the Battleswine.
Milo handed Shara's reins to another of the Stonecoats, then hurried to Bianca and
bowed his head.

"Milady, you are free." He embraced her.

"Yes, thanks to our Kin... and the Battleswine. Please be
kind to them, Milo. They came when we were in utmost need."

He seethed, but nodded.

"Where is everyone else?" Shelby asked with urgency.

"We retreated to lead the Nightlander army away from you,
and then regrouped. We have been scouring the woods for you since. We came upon
Blunderbuss's camp, and they led us this way."

"Sculptor and the others?" Secretly, she wondered if
Mr. Dempsey had just been wounded. She closed her eyes and, mustering all her courage,
asked, "What of Mr. Dempsey?"

"Sculptor, Barrick, and the rest are on their way to Meracuse."
He paused. "I'm sorry. Mr. Dempsey is... dead. We gave him a proper burial.
It is an honor, milady, to perish saving Kin."

Dumbfounded, Shelby's lips squeezed shut. When Max had said it,
there had still been a chance. Max mentioned that Mr. Dempsey had been knocked down
by a horse. The way Milo spoke, though... there was no mistaking it. Mr. Dempsey
was truly gone and buried. She held her tongue, unwilling to meet Milo's eyes.

Simon peeked around the Stonecoats. When he viewed her, he raced
to Shelby and hugged her. Shelby wiped away her tears and hugged him back.

"You did it. You did it!" he chirped.

"Not without your help," said Shelby, her voice cracking.

Throg jogged up. "They will not be well for long. Meracuse
is under siege. We have to mobilize."

Bianca said, "We should be strong enough to attempt utilizing
the Sphere by the time we reach Meracuse. There is a small hidden tunnel for the
Assembly to enter the secret chamber and operate the Silver Sphere."

"Yes, Bianca, it is time to ride," said Throg.

Throg stood with the six Kin. Brodeur, Morgana, and Simon joined
them. Simon gathered brush and built a fire, and they all sat in a circle as he
and Brodeur brewed some tea, the mood upbeat.

Shelby poured herself a cup, and sank back in the loop beside
Max, with Stuart on her other side.

"Are you all right?" asked Max, his brow pinched.

"Yeah," she whispered. "Just a little beat up,
inside and out. I thought... I know it's silly, but I was so sure that he didn't
die...." Tears brimmed, making her vision murky. She rubbed them away.

"He was a strong man, Shelby. He did it to save you."

"Thanks. Just hard."

She sat in silence.

The Battleswine dashed around the camp and packed. General Krupp
ordered them to bring armor and fresh clothes. Gunther, his second-in-command, the
gigantic Swine, hollered orders to the archers above.

Shelby and the girls slipped into the cave, and used the running
water inside to bathe. The rest of them did the same when they were finished. Everyone
relaxed a little after washing the blood from their bodies.

Max moaned a bit, and Lito came over and fortified Max's ribcage
with a wrap before he put his armor on.

"Take these for the pain," Lito said. "One every
couple of hours."

Shelby thought she could use some as well.

They mounted their steeds and rode back to the Gida Path. Despite
Mr. Dempsey's death, Azimuth felt like home. Shelby tightened her grip on the reins,
trying not to worry about what would happen when everything was over.

The battalion galloped on the Gida Path, over a thousand strong.
The Kin rode behind the Assembly, who marched along with General Krupp, Gunther,
Milo, and Throg. Behind them cantered Blunderbuss, Brodeur, Morgana, the Stonecoats,
and the rest of the Battleswine.