“That doesn’t look like Endla,” Rusa said as he stood before the large front window of the ship that was propelled by Pultine at close to light speed. A large planet of turquoise with tan continents hung in the black of space at a distance that closed with each passing moment.
“How do you know what Endla looks like?” Pultine stood next to him in front of the window.
“I’ve seen pictures,” Rusa said. “It looks like a huge cloud in the shape of a ball.”
“According to the xaxew scroll, Seraphiel isn’t expected to leave Endla anytime soon. We can rest here and the scroll will alert us when he is on the move. The scroll charts a course from this world that will allow us to cut him off and remain undetected for as long as possible.”
Rusa nodded. He looked tired. The light feathers on his face seemed to sag like the bags under his eyes. He looked like a man tortured by thoughts, locked in indecision, and he had been since he talked to Captain Fhal Truss, a supposedly black ops liaison of the Wiis Defense Ministry, through the emergency communicator. Pultine didn’t seem to be aware of the conversation and he wondered if his Pristine was actually the danger that the Defense Ministry and their coalition were so afraid of. She had been responsible for a lot of deaths of late and he felt a sense of dread at the possibility of more death on the new world that they approached. He felt guilty for his complicity in the deaths so far, but he also felt a slightly larger sense of pride and this was the source of his inner turmoil. Rusa did truly love Pultine and believed in her mission as steadfastly as she did and he thought she was justified in anything she did to make the realms safe. She was a pristine arbiter of right and wrong in his view and he was proud to be her companion. But he will never forget the smell of burning xaxews, their screams, the sounds of their bodies thudding to the forest floor like a rapid drumbeat. It would haunt him forever, and he wondered if she could mete out justice with considerably less casualties. Maybe this coalition could get through to her and help her understand that she should show respect for the customs of the beings she encounters to avoid conflict and violence. Rusa knew they wouldn’t be able to hold her like the captain explained they intended to, and they were simply incapable of killing her, they lacked the necessary tools and incantations. But maybe they would help her see that there were easier paths to her goals. She would kill him, he figured. You can’t betray Pultine twice and live to tell the tale, but he convinced himself that it was best for her to speak with the captain rather than face the full assault of the Ministry. Maybe Pultine could enlighten them and gain better allies in her fight against Seraphiel.
“I’ve never been to Bromeran before,” Rusa said after the two had stood in a long silence.
“So you know this world too?” Pultine asked.
“I’ve talked to people who have been there. The Bromeris are nice. Very large, but gentle. I like their horns.”
Rusa had only recently talked to a Bromeris for the first time. The captain had an assistant who contacted him twice after his first conversation with the captain. Rusa gave them the information they needed to trap Pultine and the assistant filled him in on their plans to imprison her on Bromeran.
“The worlds of this realm were exotic and new to me when I first encountered them. This place is always very welcoming and I’ve learned so much about the cultures of this realm in the extensive libraries. I imagine that this is secretly Lêgba’s favorite world, he loves libraries.”
“You can show me your favorite places,” Rusa said and forced a smile.
“Gladly. If you’re not still convinced that I am a dangerous murderer and you think it is safe to accompany me.”
“Forgive me,” Rusa said and he looked at her. A tear rolled slowly down his cheek. “I hope that your affection for me will always temper your heart to see my true intention and love for you, even in our disagreements. I do not fear you, Pristine. If you would kill me, it would be the most noble death that I could know because it would be by your pristine hands. There is nothing you could do to me that inspires fear, only appreciation and I hope that my presence in your life is for an ultimate good that is not always easy, but necessary.”
“Very serious, pretty boy. You seem to have a lot on your mind. This break will be good. Just peace and quiet. The entire place is practically a library.”
When they landed on Bromeran, the captain and her armed comrades of the large goat men of Bromeran were waiting for them. As Pultine began to crackle and glow in preparation for her attack, the air-tight mirrored box sprung around her, trapping her inside.
“I forgive you,” Pultine said to Rusa. She stood in front of him.
“There are allies here,” Rusa said. “They don’t understand your hatred of Seraphiel, but they know the aerphim are stripping their homeworlds just like Wiis and the rhasd. You can help them and they can help you.”
Pultine nodded. She imagined striking him hard across the face and her hand twitched at her side.
PRL Serials 