Alara Unbroken - Doug Beyer [105]
THE MAELSTROM
What is it?” shouted Kresh, shielding his eyes. The storm of light before them was huge, filling the valley between the worlds. It arced and thrashed with power as streams of energy poured into it from four directions.
“It’s mana,” said Ajani, his eyes tearing as he stared into its center. “It’s raw mana.” It would have taken staggering amounts of funneled mana to create such a manifestation, Ajani thought.
That was the key, he realized. That was the goal of all the machinations. That was the meaning behind the destruction of worlds slamming into worlds—the storm of raw mana, that naked spectacle of power. Rakka, Marisi, Chimamatl, Mayael, and dozens, perhaps hundreds of unwitting minions throughout the five worlds of Alara—all their work was in the service of that maelstrom. And the master of all those unwitting minions, the nexus of that plane-spanning web, was Bolas, the dragon of shadow.
And, no doubt, he would be there soon—if he wasn’t there already.
“It’s beautiful,” said the elf prophetess Mayael, the power glinting in her irises.
“Anima,” said Ajani. “You’ve come to war?” Behind her, elvish legions stood in formation.
“Greetings, white cat,” said Mayael. “We come to help however we can, for the sake of Naya, and all worlds.”
“I thank you for your help,” said Ajani. “But you should go. This storm is not stable. Your people are in danger here.”
“Ajani,” said another voice he recognized.
Ajani turned, and saw Zaliki. Behind her stood an army of nacatl.
“Zaliki, what are you doing here?” said Ajani. He blinked. “Who are …How did—”
“I needed answers,” Zaliki said. “I followed the stream of mana from the obelisk at Qasal, and it led me here. “And an army came with me. They wanted answers too. They’re Cloud Nacatl, Ajani.”
“I don’t understand,” said Ajani flatly. “But you, you all need to go. It’s very dangerous here. Something dire is about to happen.”
“Ajani,” she said, her face serious. “I have to tell you something. This is very important.”
“No, you need to go, now. I can’t have you here. There’s a dragon coming, and he’ll—”
“I’m Jazal’s murderer.”
Ajani’s words petered out, until his mouth was just hanging empty.
Ajani ushered Zaliki aside, away from the glare of the mana maelstrom.
“I’m so sorry,” said Zaliki. “I’ll understand if you want to kill me, or never see me again. But you have to know. I was given the task by Marisi.”
“What? Marisi? You know he’s alive?”
“I’ve known for over a year, Ajani. The witch Chimamatl contacted him, because she heard there might be a threat to his plans, and hers.”
“Jazal.”
“Yes. Your brother was seeking answers. Why had the nacatl clans divided? Why did the humans have a prophecy that required your death? What was the meaning behind the celebrations for Marisi, breaker of the Coil? But these questions interfered with Chimamatl’s plans for the pride, and with the plans of far greater forces.”
“So they killed him.”
“I killed him. It was I who planted the magics in the bonfire that night. I caused those horrors to emerge at our den.”
“Zaliki, why?”
“I’m so sorry. They told me it would just scare everyone, that it would help the pride unify around a common enemy. They told me it would be a convincing illusion, to help quiet the voices against Marisi. I had no idea it would be … an assassination.”
Ajani’s heart pounded. The pain of Jazal’s death flooded over him anew.
Ajani, said Jazal’s voice in his mind. The sound of his voice was jarring.
“Brother,” Ajani answered silently.
This isn’t the end of your road, said Jazal. Remember who she is.
“She killed you,” said Ajani. “She brought the spell vessel to the pride. She brought those creatures to harm you.”
She was given the task blind, brother, said Jazal. She meant to scare me. She didn’t know what it would cause. You would destroy Zaliki for delivering another man’s poison? Look at her. You’ve been friends your entire lives. She’s the only one alive who sees under that white fur of yours.
Ajani boiled with rage. Zaliki’s eyes didn’t rise