Race Against Time

Nayra was hesitant to say anything that could set Ryun off as they waited. He seemed to be struggling with the failure. She knew that he had hoped that Eratemus would be able to tell them exactly where Anatalien was. But reality was often not so accommodating.

They waited for more than the hour that Eratemus had told them, and just as she could feel Ryun getting more impatient the vessel moved again, the light coming back in its eyes.

"I have something, though it is not much," he said slowly.

"Tell us," Ryun said.

"I have a location of a place that they use every couple of months," Eratemus said. "My agent reports that it is only ever visited by one of the Unchained, and never for long. Maya Rebadotter goes there and apparently picks up information from their people in person."

"Where is it?" Ryun asked.

"Far south," Eratemus said. "In the coastal town called Kiselt. Maya Rebadotter is scheduled to arrive in three days which is too soon. The next time will be in five months, which is too long. It is unfortunate, but she would be a prime chance of learning where their headquarters are. Assuming that we could get it out of her, which might not be that easy."

Ryun grimaced, then knelt on the ground and pulled out the map they purchased from the Framework. "Where is the town?"

Eratemus pointed at the coast that was southeast of the Warden Citadel. They were currently in the mountains East of the Triumphant Hive's territory, in the northern part of the Settled Territories. Nayra could see that Eratemus was right, it was too far for them to reach in time. Especially since they would have to go through the territories that were now under the influence of the Exalted Empire. The Empire had been keeping a much tighter grip on the teleporters that were again active. And with the way Ryun's and the Herald of the Machine's relationship was, it was unlikely that they would be allowed to use them, not in any timely manner. Ryun wasn't known for his skill in politics.

"The people there won't know where their headquarters are," Eratemus continued. "My agents reported that they had tried interrogating people in their other stations, as well as copying documents and other recordings. None but the core members of their organization know where their home is. They keep a tight grip on that information. Anyone that joins and moves up the ladder enough to be allowed to their headquarters never leaves again. Not unless you are strong enough to be part of their core team."

"I can get there in time," Ryun said.

Nayra blinked, and Eratemus tilted his head. "Many of the teleporters have been activated again, but the Exalted Empire doesn't allow travel as freely as it used to be."

"Ryun," Nayra started. "You can't force your way in."

Ryun met her eyes, and she saw just a deep resolve in the endless black orbs of his gaze. "For Tali, I would kill anyone in my way. But I do understand, even as angry as I am. Doing so would put the Sect in danger, and I won't lead more harm to what is mine. I can make it there in three days without the teleporters," Ryun said.

Nayra frowned. "Ryun..." She knew that he could move fast. He had crossed the entire Empire and returned to the Settled Territories in a record time.

"But I must go alone," he added. "I'm sorry, but you would only slow me down."

Nayra grimaced at his words. She opened her mouth to argue, but then closed it. She could move very fast, but her flight was still bound by the laws of the world around her. Ryun could... Bend those laws at will. Perhaps if there was a lot of Death all the way there, but she knew that wasn't the case.

"I don't want to leave you to go alone," she said instead.

"I know," he said slowly, then he glanced at Eratemus. "Selia has informed me that she is gathering a group to rescue Tali once we find where she is being kept. Will you help us?"

Eratemus's vessel tilted its head. "Anatalien is my friend, I... Yes, I will help. I can finish my project in a day if I hurry. Then I can carry myself and Nayra to your Sect and make ready."

Ryun nodded. "You should head back, yes, but keep your Far-link Orb on you and be ready to move anywhere else. Once I know the location, I will tell Selia and we can gather somewhere before we hit them. You might not make it all the way to the Sect before I call."

"Do you think that you can learn where it is from her?" Nayra asked.

There were so many unknowns, too many. They didn't know where the Unchained's headquarters even was, for all they knew it could be outside of the Settled Territories, or even in the Sect Territories. And they didn't even know if they still had Anatalien, if she was still alive. They knew nothing, they were making assumptions and hoping. And Nayra wasn't big on trusting hope. She had a bad feeling about everything, but she couldn't find it in her to say all of that to Ryun. The look in his eyes scared her, but it also made her feel... Good. It was a paradoxical feeling. But somehow, seeing how he was made her understand that he would do this for anyone he cared about. He would do the same for Nayra herself, if it had been her in the situation.

"I will do what I must," he whispered. "No one comes after what is mine."

Ryun didn't delay, he stood, nodded at them, and then stepped from the tower's ledge, launching himself in the air from an invisible step. She saw and felt his power wrap itself around him. Saw it distort the world as he started leaping across the sky, boring holes through Space itself. There were no shock waves of him breaking the sound barrier, or anything else of the sort. Just streaks of nothingness that were quickly filled up with Essence once he passed through.

He was out of sight faster than she had believed him to be able to move. In less than a second he had moved beyond what her eyes could track.

"I must get ready, I have a vessel to finish," Eratemus said and Nayra turned to look at him. "Antaro will make sure that you are comfortable while you wait, let him know if you need anything."

As soon as he said that his vessel sat down and the light left its eyes, his Soul moving to another body. Antaro, the skeleton that took care of his estate waited for her at the door leading back down the tower.

Nayra glanced again at the sky, in the direction where Ryun had gone to, and then turned and walked back inside.

The feeling of unease didn't leave her.