“Something pretty big is going on here,” said Glissa, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “The vedalken have made deals with the nim and the goblins. They’ve attacked the leonin, the trolls, and the elves. It has something to do with some deep, dark secret about the world the vedalken have uncovered. There must be someone who knows something about this.”
Bruenna shrugged. “The vedalken are a lot smarter than humans. They treat us as if we are no better than beasts. It wasn’t always like that, though. I’ve heard tales from long ago of a time when humans and vedalken worked as equals, but the serum changed all that. It changed the vedalken.”
Glissa nodded. “I’ve heard about the serum, too. It expands your mind and gives you insight into the creation of the world.”
“The serum does more than that. It expands all your senses. You become aware of the connections between all living things. I have heard it can even unlock racial memories. You can learn everything your ancestors ever knew. Unfortunately the effect is only temporary, so the vedalken need a steady supply. Much of their research goes into finding faster ways to refine the serum.”
“I’ve also been told it comes at a terrible price,” muttered Glissa.
“It certainly did for the vedalken,” replied Bruenna. “They turned cruel and used the knowledge they gained from the serum to take control of the sea and everything in it.”
“It has another drawback as well,” said Glissa. “The vedalken have to murder millions of blinkmoths to maintain that steady supply.”
“That I did not know. I am glad I never took the serum.”
Glissa looked at her companion in some surprise. “How do you know of the serum if you’ve never taken it? Do the vedalken ever give it to humans?”
“Winds, no!” exclaimed Bruenna. “It is forbidden to humans. The vedalken keep it all for themselves. My father once worked refining the serum. Later he became a research assistant and was able to learn more about the serum.”
“Yet they trade small quantities to their allies,” said the elf. She pulled the vial from her boot sheath. “I got this from the leader of the nim. It was to be his payment for killing me. The vedalken probably assume a few vials won’t do any harm if the effects wear off so quickly.”
“You have a vial of serum?” asked Bruenna. She reached eagerly for the vial, but Glissa pulled it back.
“I’m loath to use it,” she said, “but it is my only link to the mage who killed my friend.”
Bruenna drew back her hand, a sheepish look on her face. “Sorry,” she said. “I don’t really want it, either. I gave up wanting to be like the vedalken long ago. However, there may be a way to get your answers with that vial.”
“Do I have to drink it?”
“Yes,” said Bruenna, “but not here. Not now. First, we have to get you into Lumengrid.”
“What is Lumengrid?”
“Lumengrid is the crystal fortress of the vedalken. It is where the Synod sits. It is where they keep their most prized possession-the Pool of Knowledge.”
“A pool of knowledge?” Glissa was skeptical. “I bathe in it and I magically get all of my questions answered?”
“Something like that,” said Bruenna, smiling. “I am not sure how it works. My father told me tales of it before he was killed. He even tried to use it once.”
“Did it work?” asked Glissa. “Did your father learn the knowledge of the vedalken? Is that why they killed him?”
“He only got flashes of images,” said Bruenna sadly. “It was enough for him to realize how horrible the vedalken are. That is why he tried to lead our village from under their control.”
Glissa ran her fingers along her jaw. “How is that going to help me?”
“I did some research of my own when I was younger,” said her human companion. “After the revolt, I took my father’s place as research assistant. I think the vedalken wanted to keep an eye on me. After a few cycles, I became nothing more to them than a piece of research equipment, but I never forgot what they did to my father. When my vedalken master wasn’t watching I went through his journals and personal research notes. From what I learned, I believe the Pool of Knowledge will only work correctly for someone who has taken serum.
“That’s why you wanted the serum?”
“Once,” said Bruenna. “I planned to gain the knowledge my father sought so I could use it to exact my revenge on those responsible for his death. But I learned-over time-that there are more important things than vengeance. I dedicated the last ten cycles to my people and to my mother.”
“Vengeance is a great motivator,” said Glissa drily. She reached out and touched Bruenna’s shoulder. “If there’s anything I’ve learned over the past week or two, though, it’s that it must be tempered by reason or it will consume you.”
The pause in the conversation grew uncomfortably long. Finally Glissa said, “So, I just down the vial and jump into the pool? That sounds easy enough.”
“It won’t be,” said Bruenna. “Lumengrid is impregnable, and the Pool room is closely guarded.”
“You have a plan, right?”
“I do,” agreed Bruenna. “I planned for a long time after my father’s death. First, we need to go back to the village.”
“What’s there?”
“My father’s legacy.”
* * * * *
Bruenna controlled the boat while Glissa, Slobad, and Bosh crouched in the stern, talking.
“You think we can trust her, huh?” asked Slobad.
“I don’t know,” said Glissa. “I think so. She lost her father to the vedalken.”
Slobad crossed his arms. “She don’t like goblins, huh?”
“Neither do you,” replied Glissa. “Her people have feuded with the goblins over mining rights forever. That’s all she knows of the goblins.”
“She could be leading you into a trap,” said Bosh.
“She could have turned us over to the vedalken as soon as we destroyed the aerophins,” said Glissa. “She didn’t. Now she’s risking her life and the lives of everyone in her village-including her mother-to help us. I think we can trust her.”
Bruenna whistled softly. “We’re almost there,” she said. “I’ll land the boat away from the town.”
Glissa joined her. “Then what?”
Bruenna looked nervous. “I built a copy of my father’s diver,” she said. “It took me five cycles to complete, but I never found a power source strong enough to make it work. I know the vedalken constructs, especially large ones the size of that golem-she gestured to Bosh-have a powerful mana source inside of them, usually a crystal or a stone of some sort. I thought we could deactivate the golem … Bosh … and use its power source in the diver.”
“Out of the question,” snapped Glissa. “I won’t kill my friend to get revenge on the vedalken.”
“I would be willing to make this sacrifice,” said Bosh. “My mana battery should be sufficient.” He opened up a cavity in his chest and began to reach inside.
“No,” said Glissa. She put a hand on his arm. “I know you are willing to die for me. You’ve proven that already. But I need you fighting by my side. I need you to remember your past. We will find another way to get into Lumengrid.”
“There is no other way,” said Bruenna. “We need the diver to get into Lumengrid. The diver needs a power source.”
“You just get us back to town,” said Glissa. “We’ll think of something.”
“I have idea, huh?” said Slobad. “If anyone want to hear what goblin has to say.”
* * * * *
“Are you sure this will work?” asked Bruenna later.
“Simple goblin solutions often best, huh?” said Slobad as he worked on the diver. “Goblins no need magic to make machines work. Goblins smarter than magic.”
Glissa chuckled. She left the mismatched pair to their work and wandered around the storage shed. After they landed the boat, the group had made their way to Bruenna’s personal shed. The human leader had hidden the diver behind several boats in various stages of repair.