The Rifts of Psyche by Kyle West (i love reading .txt) 📕

Everyone looked at each other, but to Lucian, there was no point in lying about it. “She’s after the same thing we are.”

“There’s more to it,” Osric said, his eyes shrewd and insightful. “Out with it.”

“She also knows I have the Orb of Binding. I don’t know how, but she does.”

“I see.” Osric frowned. “Well, that does make things more dangerous.”

“Father,” Cyan said, “you cannot risk yourself with these . . . outsiders. Allow me to take them to the moving floor.”

He held up a hand. “Peace, Cyan. I know the Darkrift better than anyone. And in case something happens to me, I’ll need you to lead the village.”

“Father, you’re exhausted. After that atomic blast—”

“Exhausted?” Osric laughed. “Boy, I’ve only just started. You’re here to learn, not to rule. Only when I’m dead, and let’s pray that doesn’t happen soon. I have big plans for the village, and if you don’t get ahead of yourself, my boy, you’ll live to see them.”

Cyan did not seem happy to be silenced, but he didn’t argue.

“Now,” Osric said, “see that their canteens are filled. We can do at least that much before we set out.”

Cyan, glowering, went off without a word and started barking orders at some of the frays of the community.

“Get some sleep,” Osric said. “Sleep is necessary to regenerate your magic. Something in my bones tells me we’ll need all we can get.”

32

Lucian couldn’t sleep a wink. All he could think about was the Queen’s soldiers edging closer and closer. And the closer they were, the harder it would be for Fergus to mask their presence. And was there any point to warding themselves when there was an entire community of mages down here? The Radiant hunters would be drawn here like sharks to blood.

Lucian only succeeded in a light doze before being shaken awake by Fergus.

“It’s time.”

Within minutes, the four of them, plus Elder Osric, were packed up and standing by the opposite gate from where they had come in. When Osric’s sharp blue eyes met his, Lucian felt a strange sense of foreboding. It seemed there was something the old man wasn’t telling them, but Lucian couldn’t have said what. He could only be on his guard. The path forward was going to be more dangerous than even Osric had let on, of that Lucian was sure.

Cyan arrived next, his arms folded with a grim expression on his face.

“Stop with that long face,” Osric said. “I’ll be back soon. Hear me?”

Despite his harsh demeanor, Cyan embraced his father. “You’re stubborn as hell, Pa. I just hope it doesn’t get you killed one day.”

“This is for our survival,” Osric said. “A chance at a better life. Wouldn’t you like to see the sun more than once a fortnight? Wouldn’t you like to wake up every day to feel its gentle rays on your face? This is the only way that can happen. The moving floor is only a day’s walk from here. If I can’t survive that, then I don’t deserve to be the Elder of Sanctuary.”

“Good men have died out there,” Cyan said. “Left in search of the Orb and never to return. Don’t be one of them.”

Osric nodded. “I don’t intend on dying. Keep the fires warm and bright for me.”

“What do we do if the Darans come? How will we defend against them without you?”

The old man gave a plucky smile. “If they want to fight, lose them in the darkness and let the gloombats have them.”

Cyan nodded. “Will do. I don’t like the idea of them trashing our community and taking our things . . . but if that’s what you want, I’ll see it done.”

“We can rebuild our larders,” Osric said. “But we can’t rebuild lives.” He turned to Lucian. “You sure you’re up to this?”

Lucian wasn’t sure in the least, but he made himself nod all the same. “I’m ready.”

“All right, then.” Osric nodded to the guard by the gate. “Open up.”

The gate rolled back. The darkness beyond the small pool of light was absolute. Lucian didn’t want to go into that, but there was no choice.

This was the only way forward.

As they walked into the darkness, Lucian couldn’t get his doubts about the Orb of Binding out of his head. Doubts the Sorceress-Queen had sown.

He had to own it. Didn’t he already own it? Didn’t the Oracle of Binding entrust the Orb to him? And if so, why wasn’t it obeying him?

There was only one answer that made sense to Lucian – the Orb was losing faith in him. That thought alone was terrifying. Was the Orb of Binding trying to sabotage him? And if so, how could he stop it?

Lucian had no answers as the path angled deeper underground, crossing streams and snaking down cliffs until there was no path at all, just a rocky landscape cloaked in darkness.

“Nearly there,” Osric said. “Just down this canyon, and—”

At that moment, a blinding light flashed at the top of the canyon. Lucian’s heart kicked into overdrive as he reached for his Focus.

It was an ambush.

The next moments were chaos. Fergus raised an arm, which became wrapped in intense green light. From his open palm, a single beam shot upward, a blue laser that pierced a man standing at the canyon rim. With a scream, the man toppled over, falling in slow motion. More bronze-armored soldiers appeared, their hands glowing red as fireballs rained from above. Cleon raised a heat shield just in time to eat the impacts.

The old man, Osric, was already scrambling up the cliff, as nimble as a mountain goat. Lucian realized the truth: he had led them to their deaths for some unforeseen payout.

And now, a hulking figure in bronze-armor and a violet cape stood at the canyon’s edge. From the shape, he was the very same one from the Greenrift. His voice, thunderous, boomed down, projected by magic.

“Stop at once, in the name of Queen Ansaldra! This canyon leads to nothing