The Way of the Power by Stuart Jaffe

Author:Stuart Jaffe [Jaffe, Stuart]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Epic, Sword & Sorcery, Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, apocalypse, Fantasy, action, blues, Magic
Amazon: B00O32ME7I
Publisher: Stuart Jaffe
Published: 2014-09-28T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Abrazkia moved as if seducing all around her — even the walls. She trailed her fingertips along the old wood, and the knots practically shivered. Though Malja never cared about carnal pleasures other than to fix a hormonal need once in a while, she did notice a single ping of jealousy at Abrazkia’s do-kha. It synchronized its motions to hers so that it never once looked wrinkled or even folded — a perfect fit no matter what shape Abrazkia’s movements took on. Until that moment, Malja had no idea that much control over a do-kha existed.

Abrazkia led the way to a metal door with three riveted bands crossing horizontally. “You are a remarkable woman, and you’ve proven yourself to be an excellent warrior. But there’s much more you can be. No matter the circumstances of your upbringing, you are Gate. That brings with it access and strength and power far beyond what you’ve seen or experienced.”

She shoved open the door and entered. Malja followed. Her eyes never stopped searching for an attack. Until she saw the room.

Her heart skipped — a room stark white like Abrazkia’s painted face. Sleek tubes lined the ceiling edges like a bizarre molding, except this molding provided all the room’s lighting. Eight small domes sat evenly spaced on the floor like smooth turtle shells. The room reminded Malja of what her homeworld had been like before the Devastation. She half-expected to find a window looking across a gleaming city as the room floated overhead.

Abrazkia presented the room with a flourish of her hands. “This is my command console. Here is where I accept the burden, the responsibility, of being Gate.”

With her foot, she tapped one of the domes and an image formed in the air above. Though it looked like a near-perfect painting, this painting moved. The image depicted a street — no, the street. The one Malja had rescued the Artisoll from. A drunk teetered along weaving into the middle before teetering back toward the sidewalk.

“Is this happening outside?” Malja asked.

Abrazkia nodded like a teacher proud of her student. “See that? You prove once again that Gate is your blood. Though you’ve never seen a surveillance system like this before, you instantly understand. To answer your question — yes, this is a view directly outside my home. I have numerous key locations all over this world that I can tap into from this room. I also have access to mobile cameras which will bring me images from any place else I need to observe.”

She tapped two more domes and other images formed in the air — soldiers sleeping in one of the northern camps and children playing in a schoolyard during a bright afternoon on the other side of the planet. As Malja watched, mesmerized by the images, Abrazkia walked to another dome. She paused as if contemplating whether or not to show this next bit of magic, but Malja saw the moment for what it was — dramatic flair meant to intimidate or strike doubt.

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